Hearing Aid Amplification Factor Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing aid devices face difficulties in reliably determining an amplification factor, especially in poor signal-to-noise ratios, leading to numerical handling challenges and restricted amplification due to quantization errors.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining an amplification factor by forming a numerator with weighted components of undisturbed and disturbed signal strengths and a denominator including the interference signal, allowing for a quotient-based amplification factor calculation that restricts the amplification range in a constantly differentiable manner, enabling easier numerical handling and adaptive adjustment based on signal-to-noise ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the amplification factor is calculated using the quotient of undisturbed signal strength divided by total signal strength (Xpi/(Xpi+SSpi)), then the amplification factor can be determined based on signal-to-noise ratio, but in poor signal-to-noise ratios the amplification factor becomes very small and difficult to handle numerically due to quantization errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the amplification factor calculation from a quotient-based approach to a weighted sum approach. Instead of calculating Q1=Xpi/(Xpi+SSpi), the patent uses Q2=W1·Xpi+W2·Ypi where W1 and W2 are weighting factors. This parameter transformation avoids the numerical instability of division operations when the denominator becomes very small in poor signal-to-noise conditions, while still achieving adaptive amplification based on signal characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the amplification factor is restricted downwards to handle poor signal-to-noise ratios, then numerical handling becomes easier, but the amplification range is limited and may not provide sufficient noise suppression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic weighting factors W1 and W2 that adapt based on signal conditions. The weighting factors are not fixed but change according to the estimated signal-to-noise ratio and other acoustic parameters. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain numerical stability while preserving the ability to provide appropriate amplification and noise suppression across varying listening conditions, resolving the contradiction between ease of handling and effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the amplification factor is calculated to provide strong noise suppression, then interference signals are reduced, but the amplification factor may become very small or zero in extreme cases, causing numerical handling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a small epsilon value (Q2=W1·Xpi+W2·Ypi+ε) in the weighted sum calculation to prevent the amplification factor from becoming exactly zero. This beforehand cushioning ensures numerical stability in extreme cases where both weighted signal components might be very small, avoiding division by zero or extremely small numbers that would cause computational errors, while still maintaining effective noise suppression through the weighted sum approach.
Data Source
AI summary
An amplification factor for a hearing aid device is generated by way of the following steps: forming a numerator, wherein the numerator includes a total with a first total component which is formed by means of multiplication of a strength of an approximately undisturbed signal with a first weighting and a second total component, which is formed by multiplication of a strength of a disturbed signal with a second weighting; forming a denominator, which includes the numerator as a first summand and a strength of an interference signal as a second summand. The amplification factor is finally determined by forming a quotient from the numerator divided by the denominator. An apparatus is configured to implement and carry out the novel method.