Hearing Instrument Acoustic Environment Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art hearing instruments face limitations in accurately distinguishing between various acoustic environments, leading to suboptimal performance in specific scenarios like driving a car, quiet at home, quiet in nature, and watching TV, due to broad detectable classes, increased hardware requirements, and high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using complex coherence calculated from sound information received by multiple transducers, such as pressure and particle velocity microphones, to refine the classification of acoustic environments, allowing for more precise adjustment of sound processing parameters and reducing power consumption by eliminating the need for additional hardware and real-time communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If broad acoustic environment classes are used for classification, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of acoustic environment differentiation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic environment classification into multiple levels: broad classes (clean speech, speech in noise, noise, music) and specific scenarios (driving, quiet at home, quiet in nature, watching TV). This hierarchical segmentation allows the system to maintain low complexity at the broad level while achieving high precision at the specific scenario level through the coherence-based differentiation method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces complex coherence as a new dimension for acoustic environment classification. By calculating coherence between microphone signals in the frequency domain and using both magnitude and phase information, the system adds a new dimension to the classification space, enabling differentiation of scenarios that have similar spectral characteristics but different spatial coherence properties.
2Measurement precision
If extra hardware is added to improve acoustic environment detection, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing microphone array perform multiple functions: it simultaneously captures sound for hearing enhancement and provides data for acoustic environment classification. The complex coherence calculation uses the same microphone signals that are already being processed for hearing aid functionality, eliminating the need for separate classification hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational data (microphone signals already being processed for hearing enhancement) to perform acoustic environment classification. The hearing instrument's existing signal processing pipeline serves dual purposes: both hearing assistance and environmental classification, making the system self-sufficient without external sensors or hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If real-time communication between hearing devices and external modules is implemented, then adaptability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing instrument performs acoustic environment classification autonomously using its own microphone signals and internal processing capabilities. The system determines complex coherence, classifies acoustic scenarios, and adjusts hearing parameters without requiring real-time communication with external modules, thereby eliminating the power consumption associated with continuous wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the communication-based classification approach (mechanical/electronic system requiring wireless transmission) with a signal-processing-based approach that uses mathematical operations on locally captured acoustic signals. This substitution eliminates the need for power-intensive wireless communication while maintaining classification functionality.
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 enables more accurate differentiation of acoustic environments, improving hearing performance in challenging scenarios while reducing power consumption and hardware requirements, leading to enhanced user experience and extended battery life.
Implementation Method 1
receiving sound information with at least a first transducer and a second transducer
Implementation Method 2
the at least one characteristic feature comprises a complex coherence calculated based on the sound information received by the first transducer and the second transducer
Data Source
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AI summary
Method of controlling a hearing instrument comprising at least one hearing device, the method comprising determination of an acoustic environment at least partially by means of calculating the complex coherence of signals from either a pressure microphone and a particle velocity transducer; a pair of pressure microphones in a single hearing device; or a pair of pressure microphones, one situated in each of a pair of hearing devices. This enables finer determination of acoustic environments, thus improving the hearing experience for the wearer of the hearing instrument. The invention further relates to a corresponding hearing instrument.