Cochlear Implant Coding Scheme Selection for Sound-Adaptive Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital hearing aid devices face challenges in efficiently managing frequency bands to minimize computational power consumption and reduce acoustic feedback, while maintaining effective sound processing and resolution.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid device with a frequency band bundling and allocation scheme that dynamically or statically allocates input frequency bands to processing channels based on the likelihood of feedback, using a matrix to determine bundling and applying filter coefficients to reduce feedback and conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of input frequency bands is increased to maintain high frequency resolution, then frequency resolution is improved, but computational power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency spectrum is segmented into multiple input frequency bands that are processed independently. By dividing the full frequency range into smaller segments, the system can process each band with appropriate computational resources, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high frequency resolution where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The bundling scheme is dynamically adjusted based on the acoustic environment and feedback characteristics. The system transitions between different processing configurations (bundled vs. unbundled bands) depending on real-time conditions, optimizing the balance between frequency resolution and computational power consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If frequency bands are bundled to reduce computational power consumption, then energy usage is reduced, but frequency resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality levels of frequency processing are applied to different frequency bands based on their characteristics and feedback risk. Critical frequency bands maintain high resolution (unbundled), while less critical bands are bundled for energy efficiency, creating a non-uniform processing strategy that optimizes both resolution and power consumption locally
3Power
If gain is increased to improve hearing amplification, then hearing assistance is improved, but acoustic feedback increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful feedback signal into useful information by analyzing feedback characteristics to identify critical frequency bands. This feedback analysis is then used to adjust the bundling scheme and apply targeted feedback cancellation, transforming the harmful feedback into a basis for improving system performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback cancellation mechanisms that use detected feedback signals to adjust processing parameters. By continuously monitoring feedback and adapting the bundling scheme and filter coefficients accordingly, the system reduces acoustic feedback while maintaining high amplification gain for hearing assistance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a hearing aid a cochlear implant comprising a) at least one input transducer for capturing incoming sound and for generating electric audio signals which represent frequency bands of the incoming sound, b) a sound processor which is configured to analyze and to process the electric audio signals, c) a transmitter that sends the processed electric audio signals, d) a receiver/stimulator, which receives the processed electric audio signals from the transmitter and converts the processed electric audio signals into electric pulses, e) an electrode array embedded in the cochlear comprising a number of electrodes for stimulating the cochlear nerve with said electric pulses, and f) a control unit configured to control the distribution of said electric pulses to the number of said electrodes. The control unit is configured to distribute said electric pulses to the number of said electrodes by applying one out of a plurality of different coding schemes, and wherein the applied coding scheme is selected according to characteristics of the incoming sound.