Biomimetic Microphone for Accurate Sound Localization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing implants, including cochlear and vibrating implants, face challenges in providing accurate sound localization and speech understanding in noisy conditions due to unreliable integration of binaural cues, leading to poor spatial and frequency resolution, and inadequate beam-forming capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a biomimetic microphone with at least one dynamic microphone, such as a rotating or pulsating microphone, in combination with a static microphone, provides reliable and systematic audio input to the brain, enabling accurate spatial localization of sound by processing audio signals using a processor that performs Fourier transformations, noise filtering, and directional filtering within specific frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bilateral cochlear implants are used to provide hearing assistance, then hearing ability is improved, but accurate sound localization and spatial resolution deteriorate due to unreliable integration of binaural cues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a microphone array system as an intermediary device that captures spatial audio information externally and transmits it to the implant. This mediator provides reliable spatial cues without requiring complex binaural integration from dual implants, thereby resolving the contradiction between hearing improvement and localization accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/biological system of dual cochlear implants with electrical/neural stimulation through a single implant combined with external microphones. This substitution allows for more reliable spatial information processing by using electronic beam-forming and signal processing techniques rather than relying on biological binaural integration
2Device complexity
If static microphones are used in hearing implants, then device simplicity is maintained, but spatial audio processing and beam-forming capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable microphone element that can change its position relative to other microphones in the array. This dynamic configuration allows the system to electronically steer beam-forming patterns in different directions without mechanically moving the entire device, thereby improving spatial resolution while maintaining reasonable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds temporal dimension to the spatial audio processing by using multiple microphones that can be positioned at different locations. The system processes signals from multiple spatial dimensions and combines them with time-delay processing to achieve three-dimensional sound localization capabilities
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
This approach results in improved speech perception in noise and accurate sound localization, even with a single hearing implant, as the biomimetic microphone effectively transmits spatial audio cues to the brain, surpassing the limitations of bilateral implant integration and enhancing sound detection in noisy environments.
Implementation Method 1
The biomimetic microphone comprises at least two audio receivers, such as two microphones
Implementation Method 2
processing audio input with at least one processor, such as by Fourier transforming the audio input
Implementation Method 3
filtering background noise, reducing background noise
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a biomimetic microphone, a product comprising at least one biomimetic microphone, such as a hearing implant, wherein the hearing implant may comprise a cochlear implant, or a vibrating implant, or both, a method of operating a hearing implant, and a hearing implant computer program comprising instructions for operating the hearing implant.