Binaural Hearing System Frequency Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some hearing aid users experience difficulty hearing certain frequencies on one ear, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution, termed Frequency Transition, involves transmitting frequencies that are not audible in one ear to the hearing aid on the other ear, ensuring critical speech sounds and environmental sounds are made audible to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Frequency Lowering is applied to make high frequency sounds audible, then hearing capability is improved, but the perception of speech sounds is altered and sounds are added within a smaller frequency range
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lowering frequencies to make them audible (Frequency Lowering), the patent inverts the approach by transmitting the high frequency signals to the other ear where the hearing capability is better, and letting the user's natural hearing process handle the frequency perception. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining correct speech sound perception while still improving hearing capability for frequencies that would otherwise be inaudible.
2Reliability
If Frequency Transition is used to transmit frequencies to the other ear, then all critical sound frequencies become audible, but the system complexity increases compared to traditional single-ear processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by using the second ear (with better hearing capability) to serve dual purposes: its normal hearing function and the additional function of receiving and processing high frequency signals from the first ear. This approach improves the audibility of critical sounds while avoiding the need for separate dedicated processing systems, thereby managing system complexity effectively.
3Quantity of substance
If Frequency Lowering is applied, then high frequency content is made audible, but the frequency range available for speech sounds is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not compressing high frequency content into lower frequency ranges. Instead, it transmits the high frequency content to the other ear where it can be perceived at its original frequency, thereby maintaining the full frequency range available for speech sounds while still making high frequency content audible.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing system includes first and second hearing devices adapted for being located at first and second ears of a user, or for being fully or partially implanted in the head at the left and right ears of the user. The first hearing device includes a forward path having a1) an input transducer for converting a sound at the first hearing device to a first electric input signal including the sound; a processor for processing the first electric input signal, or a signal originating therefrom, and providing a first processed signal in dependence of a reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the first ear based on the first processed signal. The first hearing device further includes an analysis path having a first filter for filtering the first electric input signal and providing a first filtered signal in dependence of the reduced hearing ability of the user at the first ear; and transmitter circuitry configured to allow transmission of the first filtered signal to the second hearing device. The second hearing device includes receiver circuitry configured to allow reception of the first filtered signal from the first hearing device, and an output unit adapted for providing stimuli perceivable as sound for the user at the second ear based on the first filtered signal or a processed version thereof.