Dynamic Gain Control for Hearing Assistance Audio Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless audio systems for hearing assistance, such as FM systems, often provide a fixed gain ratio between remote and hearing instrument microphones, which is not optimized for varying auditory scenes, leading to suboptimal signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and listening comfort.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that analyze the present auditory scene using a classification unit to dynamically adjust the gain applied to audio signals from remote and hearing instrument microphones, optimizing the SNR by varying the gain ratio based on the detected scene category.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed gain ratio is used between remote and hearing instrument microphones, then the system is simple to operate, but the signal-to-noise ratio is suboptimal for varying auditory scenes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic gain adjustment by continuously analyzing the auditory scene and adapting the gain ratio between remote and hearing instrument microphones based on detected scene categories. This transforms the static fixed-gain system into a dynamic adaptive system that optimizes SNR for different listening conditions while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the gain parameter dynamically based on auditory scene classification. By detecting different scene categories (e.g., speech, noise, music) and adjusting the gain ratio accordingly, the system optimizes signal-to-noise ratio for each specific listening condition without requiring manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the gain is constantly applied to audio signals, then the system is simple to manufacture, but the listening comfort is reduced when the speaker is silent
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing the auditory scene and adjusting gain parameters without user intervention. The classification unit detects scene categories and the system autonomously optimizes listening comfort by applying gain only when beneficial, eliminating the need for manual configuration while improving user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the auditory scene and using this information to adjust the gain applied to audio signals. This closed-loop approach ensures that gain is applied dynamically based on actual listening conditions, improving comfort by reducing noise amplification during silent periods while maintaining signal enhancement when needed.
3Reliability
If FM systems are used to transmit audio signals wirelessly, then the speech level is increased, but the background noise is also amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between speech and noise components in the auditory scene and applying different gain treatments to each. By classifying scene categories and selectively enhancing speech signals while suppressing or maintaining noise levels, the system improves speech intelligibility without uniformly amplifying all background sounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes gain parameters dynamically based on scene classification. When speech is detected, the gain is increased to boost speech level; when noise dominates or the scene is silent, the gain is reduced or maintained at baseline, thereby preventing noise amplification while preserving speech enhancement benefits.
4Reliability
If the gain ratio is fixed for FM plus hearing instrument combination mode, then the system is easy to operate, but the SNR is not optimized for different auditory scenes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static gain ratio configuration into a dynamic adaptive system. By continuously analyzing auditory scenes and adjusting the gain ratio between FM and hearing instrument microphone signals based on detected categories, the system optimizes SNR for each listening condition while maintaining automated operation without manual configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the gain ratio parameter based on auditory scene classification. Different scene categories trigger different gain ratio settings, allowing the system to optimize SNR for speech-dominated, noise-dominated, and other listening conditions while the automated classification handles the complexity of signal processing.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method for providing hearing assistance to a user (101), comprising capturing audio signals by a microphone arrangement (26) and transmitting the audio signals by a transmission unit (102) via a wireless audio link (107) to a receiver unit (103), analyzing the audio signals by a classification unit (134) prior to being transmitted in order to determine a present auditory scene category from a plurality of auditory scene categories, setting by a gain control unit (126) located in the receiver unit (103) the gain applied to the audio signals according to the present auditory scene category determined by the classification unit, and stimulating the user's hearing by stimulating means (136) worn at or in a user's ear according to the audio signals from the gain control unit (126).