Binaural Hearing Aid Signal Delay Reduction via Segmented Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current binaural hearing devices face significant time delays due to limited bandwidth in transmission technologies, resulting in an overall delay of around 18 ms, which disrupts the tactile-acoustic coupling and is felt as a time offset, especially when processing ambient sounds.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a hearing device with a beamforming device that generates directed output signals using fewer channels than the multi-channel signal processing device, allowing for low-delay transmission of directed monaural signals between earpieces, and utilizing time-domain filtering to reduce signal delay, enabling efficient binaural beamforming with minimal processing delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multi-channel signal processing is used for binaural beamforming, then directional sound detection sensitivity is improved, but signal delay increases to around 18 ms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the binaural signal processing into two distinct parts: a first signal processing unit that performs multi-channel processing for high directional precision, and a second signal processing unit that performs single-channel processing for low delay. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between precision and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using full multi-channel processing only for the first signal path where precision is critical, while using simplified single-channel processing for the second signal path where speed is more important. This partial application of complex processing resolves the contradiction by avoiding excessive processing delay in paths where it is not necessary.
2Loss of time
If bandwidth of transmission technology is increased to reduce delay, then signal delay is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing parameters (from multi-channel to single-channel) rather than changing transmission bandwidth parameters. This parameter change in the signal processing domain achieves delay reduction without requiring increased transmission bandwidth, thus avoiding the complexity associated with high-bandwidth transmission systems.
3Loss of time
If single-channel processing is used for low delay, then signal delay is reduced to around 13 ms, but directional sound detection sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outputs of two different processing paths: the high-precision multi-channel processed signal and the low-delay single-channel processed signal. By combining these complementary signals, the system achieves both directional precision and low delay simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The hearing device according to the invention for a binaural fitting comprises a first ear part (10) to be worn on one ear with several microphones (12) and with a first signal processing device (V) which is designed to generate a local listener signal (H1) for a listener (22) of the first ear part (10) from microphone signals (M1, M2) of the microphones (12) by means of multi-channel signal processing of each of the microphone signals (M1, M2).In the first ear part (10) a beamforming device (34) and a transmitter device (32) are additionally provided, wherein the beamforming device (34) is designed to generate a directional output signal (S2) from the microphone signals (M1, M2) by means of signal processing which has fewer channels than that of the first signal processing device (V), and wherein the transmitter device (32) is designed to transmit the directional output signal (S2) as an electrical or electromagnetic signal from the first ear part (10).