Binaural Hearing Aid Spatial Audio Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid devices that receive wireless audio signals often fail to accurately reproduce spatial cues from multi-channel audio sources, leading to a disappointing hearing experience for users, as they require multiple loudspeakers and specific speaker placement, limiting the spatial area of perfect surround sound and excluding others without the device from high-quality sound.
Innovation Solution
A binaural hearing aid device with microphone and receiver units in each ear, an audio processor that adjusts time delay and sound level of wireless rear communication signals to create a surround sound experience without the need for multiple loudspeakers, allowing dynamic adjustment based on user position and movement, and enabling multiple users to receive the rear part of the surround sound wirelessly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple loudspeakers are used to provide surround sound, then spatial sound quality is improved, but device complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple loudspeaker functions into a single hearing aid device. The hearing aid integrates microphone units, receiver units, audio processors, and speaker units to perform both front sound capture and rear sound reproduction, eliminating the need for separate loudspeakers while maintaining surround sound capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid device performs multiple functions: it captures front sounds via microphone units, receives wireless rear communication signals, processes audio signals with spatial positioning, and reproduces both front and rear sounds through speaker units. This multi-functional integration replaces the need for dedicated surround sound loudspeakers
2Measurement precision
If multiple loudspeakers are used for surround sound, then spatial sound experience is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to speaker placement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rear sound reproduction function from the traditional loudspeaker system and integrates it into the hearing aid device. The hearing aid receives wireless rear communication signals and reproduces rear sounds locally, eliminating the need for physical rear loudspeakers and their associated placement requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the audio source and the hearing aid. Instead of requiring physical loudspeakers to transmit rear sounds, the system uses wireless signals to convey spatial audio information, which the hearing aid then converts into acoustic output
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional loudspeaker systems are used, then surround sound is provided, but adaptability to user position and movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability through the audio processor, which continuously adjusts the processed electric rear signal based on the user's position and head movements. The system dynamically modifies time delay and sound level parameters to maintain accurate spatial sound representation regardless of user orientation or movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the microphone unit to continuously monitor the acoustic front tone and compares it with the wireless rear communication signal. This feedback mechanism allows the audio processor to adjust the processed electric rear signal in real-time, ensuring accurate spatial sound reproduction that adapts to changing user position and environmental conditions
4Measurement precision
If hearing aids process both front and rear sound components, then surround sound experience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the surround sound processing into distinct functional modules: microphone units for front sound capture, receiver units for wireless signal reception, audio processors for signal processing, and speaker units for sound reproduction. This modular segmentation manages complexity by dividing the overall processing task into specialized, manageable components
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The binaural hearing aid device provides an improved surround sound experience without the need for additional loudspeakers, adapting to user position and movement, and allowing multiple users to receive high-quality sound, while enhancing wearing comfort and natural hearing experience by processing both rear and front sound components effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The microphone unit is arranged and configured to receive an acoustic front tone and to convert the acoustic front tone into an electric front signal
Implementation Method 2
The receiver unit is configured to receive a wireless rear communication signal and to convert the rear communication signal into an electric rear signal
Implementation Method 3
The speaker unit is configured to receive the processed surround signal, to convert the processed surround signal into an acoustic output
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a binaural hearing aid device, comprising a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid, respectively. Each hearing aid comprises a microphone unit, a receiver unit, an audio processor and a speaker unit. The microphone unit is configured to receive an acoustic front tone, indicative of a front part of a surround sound, and to convert the acoustic front tone into an electric front signal. The receiver unit is configured to receive a wireless rear communication signal, indicative of a rear part of the surround sound, and to convert the rear communication signal into an electric rear signal. The audio processor is configured to receive the electric front signal and the electric rear signal and to determine a processed electric rear signal with respect to the electric front signal, by adjusting a time delay between the electric rear signal and the electric front signal and by adjusting a sound level of the electric rear signal according to a sound level of the electric front signal, wherein the audio processor of the first hearing aid is configured to adjust the time delay and the sound level of the electric rear signal differently than the audio processor of the second hearing aid, such that the combined acoustic output of the first hearing aid and of the second hearing aid form the rear part of the surround sound.