Hearing Aid Audio Selection Using Beamformed Focus Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aid systems struggle to determine the candidate signal of interest to the user effectively, especially in noisy environments, as external microphones may not accurately identify the user's focus of attention.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid system that utilizes a front-facing beamformed signal to determine a prime candidate signal based on a similarity measure with remote audio signals, enhancing the focus on the user's point of interest while discarding background noise, utilizing beamforming techniques and source separation algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external microphones are used to pick up sound, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the ability to accurately identify the user's focus of attention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the audio signal processing into two independent parts: local audio signals processed by the hearing aid's beamformer to determine the user's focus of attention, and remote audio signals processed separately to provide the candidate signal of interest. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage that combines local and remote audio signals. The system uses the local beamformed signal as a mediator to identify the user's focus, then uses this information to select and process the appropriate remote audio signal, effectively mediating between the two signal sources to achieve both high SNR and accurate focus identification.
2Measurement precision
If remote microphones are used to pick up sound, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the complexity of determining the candidate signal of interest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using the local audio signals and beamformer to pre-determine the user's focus of attention before processing the remote audio signals. This preliminary determination simplifies the subsequent selection process for the candidate signal of interest, as the system already knows which direction the user is facing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing remote audio signals first and then trying to determine user focus, the patent inverts the approach by first using local signals to determine focus, then using this information to guide the processing of remote signals. This inversion simplifies the overall complexity by establishing a clear processing sequence.
3Measurement precision
If beamforming is applied to local audio signals, then the focus on the user's point of interest is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by using beamforming only on the local audio signals rather than processing all audio signals through the full beamforming process. This selective application reduces processing time while still achieving the desired focus, as the local signals provide sufficient information about user orientation without requiring extensive processing of remote signals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hearing aid system comprising a hearing aid configured to be worn by a user configured to provide a plurality of local input audio signals. A remote input unit configured to provide a remote audio signal. One or more processing units configured to obtain the plurality of local input audio signals, obtain the remote audio signal, beamform the plurality of local input audio signals to determine a front-facing beamformed signal, and determine a prime candidate signal based on the front-facing beamformed signal and the remote audio signal.