Hearing Aid Active Occlusion Reduction with Flattened Frequency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids with active occlusion reduction (AOR) circuitry suffer from low frequency amplification artifacts due to limited bandwidth and processing delays, leading to annoying resonance peaks and inefficient occlusion reduction, especially in quiet acoustic situations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an active occlusion reduction system with vented AOR transducers that have a flattened frequency response for low frequencies, utilizing small-sized vents (0.01-0.05 mm diameter) and acoustic resistors to minimize low-frequency amplification and improve occlusion reduction across a wider frequency range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional vent is used in hearing aids with AOR circuitry, then occlusion effects are reduced, but low frequency amplification artifacts and resonance peaks occur due to limited bandwidth and processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the vent by making it adjustable or removable, allowing the system to modify its acoustic characteristics dynamically. This enables optimization of low-frequency response while maintaining occlusion reduction benefits, directly addressing the contradiction between reducing occlusion effects and avoiding low-frequency amplification artifacts
Solution Approach 2:
The vent is designed to be adjustable or removable rather than fixed, allowing the hearing aid system to dynamically adapt its acoustic properties based on listening conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to minimize low-frequency amplification artifacts while maintaining effective occlusion reduction when needed
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent diameter is increased to reduce occlusion effects, then body-conducted voice dissipation improves, but acoustic bypass effects and feedback increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable or removable vent design allows the system to dynamically control the vent diameter or presence based on acoustic conditions. This enables optimization of the balance between body-conducted voice dissipation and minimizing acoustic bypass effects, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements
Solution Approach 2:
By making the vent parameter (diameter or presence) changeable, the system can adapt to different acoustic situations, allowing large vent openings when occlusion reduction is prioritized and small or closed vents when acoustic bypass minimization is prioritized
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the vent diameter is decreased to minimize acoustic bypass effects, then feedback is reduced, but occlusion reduction efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable or removable vent allows the system to dynamically switch between small vent configurations (when acoustic bypass minimization is needed) and large vent configurations (when occlusion reduction is prioritized), resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the vent parameter (diameter or presence) based on acoustic conditions, enabling optimization of either acoustic bypass minimization or occlusion reduction depending on the listening situation
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
The solution effectively reduces low-frequency amplification artifacts and enhances occlusion reduction, providing a smoother frequency response and improved hearing aid performance in both quiet and loud acoustic situations.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing small-sized vents (0.01-0.05 mm diameter) and acoustic resistors to minimize low-frequency amplification
Implementation Method 2
the hearing aid having AOR circuitry uses the occlusion sound signals to generate compensating sound signals ('occlusion-negating sounds') that are projected by the receiver into the residual volume
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3c
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A hearing aid (10) having an active occlusion reduction system (50) that counteracts occluded sounds generated within the volume (24) of the ear canal (20) that is not blocked when the hearing aid (10), or an ear piece thereof, is inserted into the ear canal (20) and an AOR transducer (44, 52) that has a flattened frequency response for low frequency portions of the occlusion sounds to enable a wide range of frequency response by the active occlusion reduction system (50). The low frequency portions of the occlusion sounds may be in the range of 10 - 100 Hz.