Binaural Hearing System ILD Preservation via Synchronized Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Binaural hearing systems fail to effectively preserve and enhance interaural level difference (ILD) cues, leading to difficulties in sound source localization and segregation, especially in noisy environments, due to processing-intensive and error-prone detection and reproduction of spatial cues.
Innovation Solution
A binaural hearing system that includes audio detectors generating directional signals using end-fire polar patterns and synchronized gain processing between sound processors to enhance and preserve ILD cues, minimizing processing resources and eliminating noise and artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If independent signal processing (gain processing, noise cancelation, etc.) is performed at each ear, then signal quality and noise reduction are improved, but spatial cues (ILD) deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal processing operations at both ears by computing a single set of gain processing parameters based on signals from both ears, then applying these same parameters to both ears. This combining approach ensures that noise reduction is achieved while preserving the interaural level difference spatial cues, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and spatial cue preservation
2Measurement precision
If spatial cues are detected, estimated, converted, and reproduced through complex processing, then sound source localization is improved, but processing complexity and error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and preserves the essential spatial information (ILD cues) by maintaining the natural level differences between ears through synchronized gain processing, rather than attempting to detect, estimate, convert, and reproduce complex spatial cues. This extraction approach achieves accurate sound source localization while minimizing processing complexity and avoiding errors associated with complex cue manipulation
3Productivity
If gain processing parameters are independently adjusted at each ear, then signal optimization is improved, but ILD preservation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal gain processing parameter set that serves both ears simultaneously, enabling the same processing to be applied to both channels. This multi-functional approach optimizes signal quality for both ears while preserving the relative level differences (ILD) between ears, resolving the contradiction between processing efficiency and ILD preservation reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A binaural hearing system ("system") enhances and/or preserves interaural level differences between first and second signals. The system includes first and second audio detectors associated with first and second ears of a user, respectively. The audio detectors detect an audio signal presented to the user and generate the first and second signals to represent the audio signal as detected at the first and second ears, respectively. The system also includes a first sound processor that receives the first signal from the first audio detector and the second signal from a second sound processor via a communication link with the second sound processor. The first sound processor generates a directional signal representative of a spatial filtering of the audio signal detected at the first ear according to an end-fire directional polar pattern and presents an output signal representative of the directional signal to the user at the first ear.