325results about "Electronic input selection/mixing" patented technology

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid or a headset, configured to be worn by a user. The hearing device comprises at least one input transducer for providing at least one electric input signal representative of sound in the environment of the hearing device, wherein said at least one electric input signal comprises a target signal component assumed to be of current interest to the user, and a noise component. The hearing device further comprises a noise control system configured to provide an estimate of said target signal component and an estimate of said noise component and to apply a statistical structure to said noise component to thereby provide a modified noise component comprising said statistical structure; and to determine a modified estimate of said target signal component in dependence of said modified noise component. Thereby an improved segregation of sound sources may be provided.

A hearing aid comprises a multitude M≥2 microphones adapted for providing M electric input signals (x) representative of an environment of a user, at least one beamformer for generating at least one beamformed signal in dependence of beamformer weights (w) configured to be applied to said electric input signals, thereby providing said at least one beamformed signal (Y) as a weighted sum of the M of electric input signals. The beamformer weights (w) are adaptively optimized to a plurality of target positions (θ) by maximizing a target signal to noise ratio (SNR) for sound from the target positions (θ).

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus for processing audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

A hearing device comprises a) at least one input transducer configured to pick up sound from an acoustic environment around the user when the user is wearing the hearing device, the at least one input transducer providing at least one electric input signal representative of said sound, b) at least one analysis filter bank configured to provide said at least one electric input signal as a multitude of frequency sub-band signals, the at least one analysis filter bank comprising b1) a plurality of M first filters hm(n), whose impulse responses are modulated from a first prototype filter h(n), where m=0, 1, . . . , M−1 is a frequency band index, and n is a time index, c) a processor for processing said at least one electric input signal provided by said at least one analysis filter bank, or a signal originating therefrom, and providing a processed signal, d) an output transducer configured to provide stimuli perceivable as sound to the user in dependence of said processed signal, and e) a controller for controlling said analysis filter bank by applying a different first prototype filter to said at least one filter bank in dependence of said current acoustic environment. A method of operating a hearing device is further disclosed.

Disclosed in the present application are an audio enhancement method and apparatus, and a computer storage medium. The method comprises: generating a group of audio collection signals by means of a microphone array; performing delay-and-sum processing on the group of audio collection signals, so as to generate a delay-and-sum signal; performing blocking matrix processing on the group of audio collection signals, so as to generate a blocking matrix signal; using an adaptive filtering matrix to filter the blocking matrix signal, and removing the filtered blocking matrix signal from the delay-and-sum signal, so as to obtain an enhanced audio output signal. The adaptive filtering matrix is based on at least one attenuation function, and each of the at least one attenuation function is updated at an interval of a corresponding predetermined update interval T.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a binaural hearing aid system. The system includes a position detector providing a position detector control signal indicative of a current position of at least one target sound source relative to the user's head. An input gain controller can be configured to provide relative weight in dependence of said position detector control signal.

A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid or a headset, configured to be worn by a user. The hearing device comprises at least one input transducer for providing at least one electric input signal representative of sound in the environment of the hearing device, wherein said at least one electric input signal comprises a target signal component assumed to be of current interest to the user, and a noise component. The hearing device further comprises a noise control system configured to provide an estimate of said target signal component and an estimate of said noise component and to apply a statistical structure to said noise component to thereby provide a modified noise component comprising said statistical structure; and to determine a modified estimate of said target signal component in dependence of said modified noise component. Thereby an improved segregation of sound sources may be provided.

A hearing system includes an input unit for obtaining an input audio signal, a processing unit for processing the input audio signal to obtain an output audio signal, and an output unit for outputting the output audio signal. The processing unit includes a first audio signal path having a noise cancellation unit for obtaining a target audio signal from the input audio signal, the noise cancellation unit comprising a neural network for contributing to obtaining the target audio signal, a second audio signal path bypassing the noise cancellation unit, and a mixing unit for mixing the target audio signal from the first audio signal path with audio signals from the second audio signal path for obtaining the output audio signal, wherein the second audio signal path comprises a delay compensation unit for compensating processing times in the first audio signal path.

The present application discloses a hearing device comprising a directional system configured to adaptively optimize sound from a plurality of target locations, the hearing device comprising: a microphone system comprising a plurality of microphones; a directional noise reduction system connected to the microphone system, the directional noise reduction system comprising at least one beamformer for generating at least one beamformed signal according to beamformer weights configured to be applied to the plurality of electrical input signals, thereby providing the at least one beamformed signal as a weighted sum of the plurality of electrical input signals; the beamformer weights are adaptively optimized for a plurality of target locations by maximizing a target signal-to-noise ratio of sounds from the plurality of target locations, where the signal-to-noise ratio is determined from a first and a second output variance of the at least one beamformer or a time-averaged version thereof, the first and second output variances are determined when the electrical input signal or the at least one beamformed signal is marked as a target (T) and a noise (V), respectively.

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for mitigating interference within a telecoil signal for hearing devices. A system includes a first hearing device and a second hearing device. The first hearing device includes a magnetic sensor configured to sense an inductive signal, a first wireless radio configured for wireless communication, and a first near-field radio configured for near-field communication. The second hearing device includes a second wireless radio configured for wireless communication and a second near-field radio configured for near-field communication. The first hearing device is configured to selectively deactivate the first wireless radio when using the magnetic sensor to reduce interference in the sensed inductive signal, and further configured to transmit the sensed inductive signal to the second hearing device using the first near-field radio. The second hearing device is configured to receive the sensed inductive signal using the second near-field radio.

To provide a hearing aid device.SOLUTION: A hearing aid device comprises: a plurality of microphones configured to receive an initial audio signal and convert the initial audio signal into an electrical signal; a processor configured to process the electrical signal and generate a control signal; and a speaker configured to convert the control signal into an assisted audio signal. The processing includes adjusting a directivity for receiving the initial audio signals of the plurality of microphones such that the intensity of sound from the direction of the speaker in the initial audio signal received by the plurality of microphones is always greater or always smaller than the intensity of sound from other directions of the environment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

A hearing system comprises a hearing device configured to be worn by a wearer, the hearing device comprising one or more microphones, an acoustic transducer, audio circuitry coupled to the one or more microphones and the acoustic transducer, and a controller coupled to the audio circuitry. The controller is configured to detect a wearer interaction with the hearing device, determine a context of the wearer's use of the hearing device, obtain user data for groups of a population of hearing device users based on user interaction with, and context of use of, the users' hearing devices, determine an operational change to the hearing device based on the wearer interaction, the context, and the user data that corresponds to the wearer's interaction and context, and apply the operational change to the hearing device.

A hearing aid comprises a multitude M ≥ 2 microphones adapted for providing M electric input signals (x) representative of an environment of a user, at least one beamformer for generating at least one beamformed signal in dependence of beamformer weights (w) configured to be applied to said electric input signals, thereby providing said at least one beamformed signal (Y) as a weighted sum of the M of electric input signals. The beamformer weights (w) are adaptively optimized to a plurality of target positions (θ) by maximizing a target signal to noise ratio (SNR) for sound from the target positions (θ). The signal to noise ratio may be determined in a number of different ways, e.g. in dependence of first and second output variances (|YT2, |YV|2) of said beamformer, when said electric input signals (x) or said beamformed signal (Y) are / is labelled as target (T) and noise(V), respectively.

A system, such as an ear-wearable device or a hearing aid, can receive multiple audio signals representing a same audio content, can cross-correlate the multiple audio signals to determine relative delays between the audio signals, can apply the determined delays to at least one of the audio signals to form multiple synchronized audio signals, and can mix at least two of the synchronized audio signals in time-varying proportions to form an output audio signal. The system can optionally adjust the mix proportions, in real time, to increase or optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of the output audio signal. The system can optionally perform the cross-correlation repeatedly, at regular or irregular time intervals, to update the relative delays. The system can optionally divide the audio signals into frequency bands, and apply these operations to each frequency band, independent of the other frequency bands.

A feedback cancellation function is operable to cancel feedback through a receiver of the hearing device. An audible indicator to a user of the hearing device is emitted via the receiver. The audible indicator has a primary purpose unrelated to characterization of the feedback cancellation function. A response of the audible indicator is detected at a microphone of the hearing device while the hearing device is being worn by the user. Subsequent feedback path characterization data of the hearing device is determined based on the response. The feedback cancellation function uses the subsequent feedback path characterization data.

The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal. The apparatus includes a controller to receive an incoming signal and provide a controller output signal; a neural network engine (NNE) circuitry in communication with the controller, the NNE circuitry activatable by the controller, the NNE circuitry configured to generate an NNE output signal from the controller output signal; and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuitry to receive one or more of controller output signal or the NNE circuitry output signal to thereby generate a processed signal; wherein the controller determines a processing path of the controller output signal through one of the DSP or the NNE circuitries as a function of one or more of predefined parameters, incoming signal characteristics and NNE circuitry feedback.

A hearing device and an accessory device for a hearing device is disclosed, the accessory device comprising an interface, one or more processors, and a memory, the memory having an audio configuration of the hearing device stored therein, the audio configuration comprising a visibility setting indicative of the hearing device, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive, via the interface, a configuration request for update of the audio configuration, the configuration request comprising an updated visibility setting; determine, in response to the configuration request, an updated audio configuration including the updated visibility setting; and transmit, via the interface, the updated audio configuration to the hearing device.

A method for noise suppression in a hearing instrument includes using an acousto-electric input transducer of the hearing instrument to generate an input signal from ambient sound. A frequency-band-wise noise suppression is applied to a processing signal derived from the input signal. Stationary noise is detected in the respective frequency band, and depending on the detected stationary noise, an amplification factor of the processing signal is set for the relevant frequency band. An analysis adapted to detect stationary and non-stationary noise is applied to the processing signal. The analysis has a lower frequency resolution than the frequency-band-wise noise suppression and, upon detected presence of stationary and / or non-stationary noise in the analysis of the processing signal, the stationary noise in the frequency-band-wise noise suppression is presumed to be detected in each frequency band, and the corresponding amplification factors are set.

The present application discloses an active echo canceller for a hearing device, where the hearing device comprises an output interface configured to output a first sound based on a far-end signal, an input interface configured to provide a plurality of input audio signals indicative of the first sound and a near-end sound, and one or more processors, a filter configured to: filter a first filter input signal based on a far-end signal using a first filter to provide a first filtered signal, the first filter configured to estimate an echo signal originating from a first sound; combining the first filtered output signal with a first input signal to provide a first output signal; filtering a second filter input signal based on the plurality of input audio signals using a second filter to provide a second filtered signal, the second filter configured to attenuate the near-end sound; combining the second filtered output signal with the first filtered output signal to provide an update signal; one or more first filter coefficients of the first filter are updated based on the update signal.

This electronic device may comprise: a memory; a communication interface for communicating with an external server; and at least one processor including a processing circuit, wherein the at least one processor can obtain audio data for ambient sound, obtain a preset type of target audio signal from the audio data, obtain sound quality information about the target audio signal, transmit the target audio signal to the external server through the communication interface if the sound quality information is not greater than or equal to a threshold grade, receive, from the external server through the communication interface, a source audio signal corresponding to the target audio signal, identify a playback time point of the source audio signal on the basis of the target audio signal, and provide, on the basis of the playback time point, a synthesized audio signal obtained by synthesizing the source audio signal and an inversion signal corresponding to the audio data.

The present invention relates to an over-ear headset-type hearing aid that has a Bluetooth audio function and that is configured to prevent howling, and provides: an over-ear headset-type hearing aid with a Bluetooth audio function, which is equipped with over-ear type headsets that cover ears of a user, a headband that connects the headsets and elastically supports same, and a head cushion, and which has microphones embedded between the head cushion and respective microphone holes in the headband; and an embodiment of a circuit configuration.

An electronic device includes: at least one speaker; an external microphone; an internal microphone; a first filter; a second filter; and at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one speaker, the external microphone, and the internal microphone, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: estimate a passive feature based on a first signal acquired through the external microphone and a second signal acquired through the internal microphone, identify a target frequency response for the passive feature based on a reference passive feature, and filter a third signal acquired through the external microphone through the first filter and the second filter sequentially and output the filtered third signal through the at least one speaker, wherein the second filter is based on the target frequency response.

The invention describes a method for noise reduction in a hearing instrument (1), wherein an acousto-electrical input transducer (E1) of the hearing instrument (1) generates an input signal (E1) from ambient sound (2), wherein a frequency-bandwise noise reduction (21) is applied to a processing signal (V1) derived from the input signal (E1), in which stationary noise in the respective frequency band (Bj, Bk) is detected, and depending on the detected stationary noise, a gain factor (Gk) of the processing signal (V1) for the respective frequency band (Bj, Bk) is set, wherein an analysis (12) is applied to the processing signal (V1), which is configured to detect both stationary and non-stationary noise, wherein said analysis (12) has a lower frequency resolution than the frequency-bandwise noise reduction (21).and wherein, in the case of a detected presence (Y) of stationary and / or non-stationary noise in said analysis (12) of the processing signal (V1), the stationary noise is assumed to be detected in the frequency-bandwise noise suppression (21) in each frequency band (Bj, Bk), and the corresponding gain factors (Gk) are set.