Hearing aid environment echo elimination method
By using components such as microphones, analog-to-digital converters, and digital signal processors to process and synthesize sound wave signals in hearing aids, echoes are eliminated, solving the problem that echo amplification in hearing aids affects normal use and improving the performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410595226.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing hearing aids amplify and play echoes from the surrounding environment during use, which affects normal use.
It employs components such as a microphone, analog-to-digital converter, digital signal processor, contrast signal generator, digital signal comparator, and digital signal synthesizer to process and synthesize the received sound wave signal to eliminate echo.
It effectively eliminates echoes in hearing aids, improving clarity and comfort during use.
Smart Images

Figure CN120957073A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hearing aid technology, and specifically relates to a method for eliminating environmental echoes in hearing aids. Background Technology
[0002] A hearing aid is a small amplifier that amplifies sounds that are otherwise inaudible. By utilizing the residual hearing of the hearing-impaired person, the sound can be sent to the auditory center of the brain, allowing them to perceive the sound. This brings great convenience to the hearing-impaired. A hearing aid mainly consists of five parts: a microphone, an amplifier, a receiver, a power supply, and a volume control. The amplifier in the hearing aid amplifies the received sound and inputs it into the ear of the hearing-impaired patient, making the sound heard by the hearing-impaired person clear and loud.
[0003] When existing hearing aids are in use, they amplify all the received sound waves and then play them after noise reduction. However, in addition to normal ambient sounds, there are also a lot of echoes in the surrounding environment. These echoes are also collected by the hearing aids, amplified, and played back. These echoes can affect the normal use of the hearing aids. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing a method for eliminating environmental echoes in hearing aids.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: Design a hearing aid environmental echo cancellation method, including a microphone, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal processor, a contrast signal generator, a digital signal comparator, a digital signal synthesizer, and a receiver; A microphone is used to receive sound waves from the surrounding environment. Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts acoustic signals and digital signals to each other. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the converted digital signal, eliminating short, continuous segments and amplifying the frequency of the digital signal. The comparison signal generator copies the processed digital signal from the digital signal comparator to generate a comparison signal. A digital signal comparator compares the subsequently received digital signal with a comparison signal. If the frequencies of the two signals are different, the digital signal is input to an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. A digital signal synthesizer combines two signals when they share a large number of identical frequency bands, eliminating the identical bands, and then inputs the synthesized digital signal into an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. The receiver is responsible for transmitting the converted sound wave signal. The steps of this method are as follows: S1. First, the sound waves in the surrounding environment are received through the microphone, the received sound waves are converted into sound wave signals and input into the analog-to-digital converter, and then the sound wave signals are converted into digital signals through the analog-to-digital converter. S2. The converted digital signal is processed by a digital signal processor to eliminate short and continuous parts in the digital signal, and at the same time amplify the frequency of the digital signal. The amplification frequency of the digital signal is synchronously amplified according to the ratio. At the same time, the frequency range of the amplified digital signal is set. The digital signal exceeding the range is scaled proportionally according to the excess multiple, and the frequency threshold of the digital signal is controlled. S3. The digital signal comparator copies the processed digital signal to generate a comparison signal, and compares the subsequently received digital signal with the comparison signal. When the frequencies of the two signals are different, the digital signal is input into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. S4. When two sets of signals have a large number of the same frequency bands, control the digital signal synthesizer to synthesize the two sets of signals, eliminate the same frequency bands, and then input the synthesized digital signal into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. S5. The receiver converts the converted sound wave signal into a sound wave for playback.
[0006] Preferably, the frequency range of the digital signal in S2 is selected according to the user's hearing range. First, digital signals of different frequencies are selected and converted into sound wave signals, and then played to the user. The user selects the lowest frequency that can be heard clearly and the highest frequency that can be listened to for a long time according to their actual hearing. Then, the frequency value between these two frequencies is selected as the frequency range value for digital signal amplification.
[0007] Preferably, the comparison signal in S3 is generated by sequentially copying the digital signal processed by the digital signal processor. The comparison signal is generated in segments, and the length interval of each comparison signal is set according to a time interval of two seconds. Each comparison signal is stored for 5 seconds. Each comparison signal is compared with the subsequently input digital signal in the digital signal comparator for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, the comparison signal is automatically deleted. Multiple comparison signals are deleted sequentially according to the time order.
[0008] Preferably, in step S3, when comparing the digital signal and the comparison signal, the frequencies of the two sets of signals are overlapped and compared. When the repetition rate of the two sets of signals exceeds 90% during the comparison, it is determined that the received digital signal is an echo. By reversing the frequency of the comparison signal and overlapping and merging it with the digital signal, the corresponding digital signal can be eliminated.
[0009] Preferably, in step S4, if the repetition rate of the two sets of signals is less than 90%, it will be determined that the received digital signal is not related to the digital signal at the front end, and then this digital signal can be directly converted into a sound wave signal for playback.
[0010] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention generates a comparison signal by using a comparison signal generator. The subsequently received digital signal is compared with the comparison signal. When the frequencies of the two sets of signals are different, the digital signal is input into an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. When the frequencies of the two sets of signals have a large number of the same bands, the digital signal synthesizer is controlled to synthesize the two sets of signals, eliminating the same bands. Then, the synthesized digital signal is input into an analog-to-digital converter for conversion, thereby eliminating echoes in the environment and preventing echoes from affecting the use of hearing aids. Attached Figure Description
[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a hearing aid environmental echo cancellation method proposed in this invention. Detailed Implementation
[0012] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.
[0013] Reference Figure 1 A method for eliminating environmental echoes in a hearing aid includes a microphone, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital signal processor, a contrast signal generator, a digital signal comparator, a digital signal synthesizer, and a receiver. A microphone is used to receive sound waves from the surrounding environment. Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts acoustic signals and digital signals to each other. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the converted digital signal, eliminating short, continuous segments and amplifying the frequency of the digital signal. The comparison signal generator copies the processed digital signal from the digital signal comparator to generate a comparison signal. A digital signal comparator compares the subsequently received digital signal with a comparison signal. If the frequencies of the two signals are different, the digital signal is input to an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. A digital signal synthesizer combines two signals when they share a large number of identical frequency bands, eliminating the identical bands, and then inputs the synthesized digital signal into an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. The receiver is responsible for transmitting the converted sound wave signal. The steps of this method are as follows: S1. First, the sound waves in the surrounding environment are received through the microphone, the received sound waves are converted into sound wave signals and input into the analog-to-digital converter, and then the sound wave signals are converted into digital signals through the analog-to-digital converter. S2. The converted digital signal is processed by a digital signal processor to eliminate short and continuous parts in the digital signal, and at the same time amplify the frequency of the digital signal. The amplification frequency of the digital signal is synchronously amplified according to the ratio. At the same time, the frequency range of the amplified digital signal is set. The digital signal exceeding the range is scaled proportionally according to the excess multiple, and the frequency threshold of the digital signal is controlled. The application of gain reduction technology in hearing aids is primarily to improve the wearer's hearing comfort in noisy environments, especially in situations with high background noise. The basic principle of this technology is to reduce gain based on the noise level or environmental signal-to-noise ratio, thereby minimizing the impact of noise masking on speech intelligibility. Noise reduction techniques such as filter design, spectral subtraction, and wavelet transform can achieve high processing results in simple noise environments by manually adjusting parameters, and have a certain degree of interpretability and flexibility in parameter adjustment.
[0014] S3. The digital signal comparator inputs the processed digital signal into the comparison signal generator to generate a comparison signal. The subsequently received digital signal is compared with the comparison signal. When the frequencies of the two sets of signals are different, the digital signal is input into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. The frequency of a digital signal typically refers to its frequency characteristics within a discrete-time series. In digital signal processing, the frequency of a digital signal is usually represented by the digital frequency ω, which is the radian interval between each time-domain sampling point in the discrete signal, measured in rad. The relationship between the digital frequency ω and the analog frequency f and angular frequency Ω is ω = Ω / fs, where fs is the signal's sampling frequency. The frequency of a digital signal can be measured through spectrum analysis, primarily using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. Spectrum analysis is performed by transforming the signal from the time domain to the frequency domain and then analyzing its behavior at various frequencies. This method reveals the frequency components and energy distribution of the signal, aiding in signal understanding and processing. The frequency of a digital signal can be represented by a waveform diagram.
[0015] S4. When two sets of signals have a large number of the same frequency bands, control the digital signal synthesizer to synthesize the two sets of signals, eliminate the same frequency bands, and then input the synthesized digital signal into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. S5. The receiver converts the converted sound wave signal into a sound wave for playback.
[0016] Preferably, the frequency range of the digital signal in S2 is selected according to the user's hearing range. First, digital signals of different frequencies are selected and converted into sound wave signals, and then played to the user. The user selects the lowest frequency that can be heard clearly and the highest frequency that can be listened to for a long time according to their actual hearing. Then, the frequency value between these two frequencies is selected as the frequency range value for digital signal amplification.
[0017] Preferably, the comparison signal in S3 is generated by sequentially copying the digital signal processed by the digital signal processor. The comparison signal is generated in segments, and the length interval of each comparison signal is set according to a time interval of two seconds. Each comparison signal is stored for 5 seconds. Each comparison signal is compared with the subsequently input digital signal in the digital signal comparator for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, the comparison signal is automatically deleted. Multiple comparison signals are deleted sequentially according to the time order.
[0018] Preferably, in step S3, when comparing the digital signal and the comparison signal, the frequencies of the two sets of signals are overlapped and compared. When the repetition rate of the two sets of signals exceeds 90% during the comparison, it is determined that the received digital signal is an echo. By reversing the frequency of the comparison signal and overlapping and merging it with the digital signal, the corresponding digital signal can be eliminated.
[0019] Preferably, in step S4, if the repetition rate of the two sets of signals is less than 90%, it will be determined that the received digital signal is not related to the digital signal at the front end, and then this digital signal can be directly converted into a sound wave signal for playback.
[0020] Specifically: First, a microphone receives sound waves from the surrounding environment, converts the received sound waves into sound signals, and inputs them into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC then converts the sound signals into digital signals. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the converted digital signals, eliminating short, continuous segments and amplifying the frequency of the digital signals. The amplification frequency is synchronized proportionally, and a frequency range for the amplified digital signals is set. Signals exceeding this range are scaled proportionally by the excess. A frequency threshold is controlled. A digital signal comparator inputs the processed digital signal into a comparison signal generator to generate a comparison signal. Subsequent received digital signals are compared with this comparison signal. If the frequencies of the two signals differ, the digital signal is input into the ADC for conversion. If the two signals share a large number of identical frequency bands, a digital signal synthesizer combines the two signals, eliminating the identical bands. The synthesized digital signal is then input into the ADC for conversion, and finally, the receiver converts the converted sound signals into sound waves for playback.
[0021] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for eliminating ambient echoes in a hearing aid, characterized in that: Includes microphone, analog-to-digital converter, digital signal processor, contrast signal generator, digital signal comparator, digital signal synthesizer, and receiver; A microphone is used to receive sound waves from the surrounding environment. Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts acoustic signals and digital signals to each other. A digital signal processor (DSP) processes the converted digital signal, eliminating short, continuous segments and amplifying the frequency of the digital signal. The comparison signal generator copies the processed digital signal from the digital signal comparator to generate a comparison signal. A digital signal comparator compares the subsequently received digital signal with a comparison signal. If the frequencies of the two signals are different, the digital signal is input to an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. A digital signal synthesizer combines two signals when they share a large number of identical frequency bands, eliminating the identical bands, and then inputs the synthesized digital signal into an analog-to-digital converter for conversion. The receiver is responsible for transmitting the converted sound wave signal. The steps of this method are as follows: S1. First, the sound waves in the surrounding environment are received through the microphone, the received sound waves are converted into sound wave signals and input into the analog-to-digital converter, and then the sound wave signals are converted into digital signals through the analog-to-digital converter. S2. The converted digital signal is processed by a digital signal processor to eliminate short and continuous parts in the digital signal, and at the same time amplify the frequency of the digital signal. The amplification frequency of the digital signal is synchronously amplified according to the ratio. At the same time, the frequency range of the amplified digital signal is set. The digital signal exceeding the range is scaled proportionally according to the excess multiple, and the frequency threshold of the digital signal is controlled. S3. The digital signal comparator copies the processed digital signal to generate a comparison signal, and compares the subsequently received digital signal with the comparison signal. When the frequencies of the two signals are different, the digital signal is input into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. S4. When two sets of signals have a large number of the same frequency bands, control the digital signal synthesizer to synthesize the two sets of signals, eliminate the same frequency bands, and then input the synthesized digital signal into the analog-to-digital converter for conversion. S5. The receiver converts the converted sound wave signal into a sound wave for playback.
2. The method for eliminating environmental echoes in a hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frequency range of the digital signal in S2 is selected according to the user's hearing range. First, digital signals of different frequencies are selected and converted into sound wave signals, and then played to the user. The user selects the lowest frequency that can be heard clearly and the highest frequency that can be listened to for a long time according to their actual hearing. Then, the frequency value between these two frequencies is selected as the frequency range value of the digital signal amplification.
3. The method for eliminating environmental echoes in a hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The comparison signal in S3 is generated by sequentially copying the digital signal processed by the digital signal processor. The comparison signal is generated in segments, and the length interval of each comparison signal is set according to a two-second time interval. Each comparison signal is stored for 5 seconds. Each comparison signal is compared with the subsequently input digital signal in the digital signal comparator for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, the comparison signal is automatically deleted. Multiple comparison signals are deleted sequentially according to the time order.
4. The method for eliminating environmental echoes in a hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: In S3, when comparing the digital signal and the comparison signal, the frequencies of the two sets of signals are overlapped and compared. When the repetition rate of the two sets of signals exceeds 90% during the comparison, it is determined that the received digital signal is an echo. The corresponding digital signal can be eliminated by reversing the frequency of the comparison signal and overlapping and merging it with the digital signal.
5. The method for eliminating environmental echoes in a hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: When comparing the two sets of signals in S4, if the repetition rate is less than 90%, it will be determined that the received digital signal is not related to the front-end digital signal. In this case, the digital signal can be directly converted into a sound wave signal for playback.