Hearing Aid Sub-Band Combining for Smooth Channel Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aids face challenges in managing noise reduction and compression systems due to varying signal-to-noise ratios, leading to issues such as over-compression or inadequate noise management, especially when the number of channels is adjusted adaptively, creating unjustifiable hard lines between channels.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid with a sub-band combiner that creates dependencies between sub-bands, parameterized by a contextual parameter like signal-to-noise ratio, to determine processing parameters, balancing sound quality and noise management by adjusting dependencies based on the sound environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of noise reduction or compression channels is increased, then accurate gain shaping and narrowband noise management are improved, but unnecessary compression occurs in high signal-to-noise ratio conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation of the number of active noise reduction or compression channels based on the estimated signal-to-noise ratio. The system transitions from a static channel configuration to a dynamic one where the effective number of channels varies with acoustic conditions, thereby preventing unnecessary compression in high SNR scenarios while maintaining accurate gain shaping when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of channel count adaptively based on SNR estimation. By modifying this discrete parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the trade-off between noise management capability and avoidance of excessive compression, directly addressing the contradiction between improved noise handling and reduced harmful compression effects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of noise reduction or compression channels is adaptively adjusted, then noise management is optimized, but unjustifiable hard lines are created between neighboring channels
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating hard boundaries between channels in the frequency domain, the patent introduces a temporal dimension by using smooth transition functions that gradually activate or deactivate channels over time. This dimensional transformation converts the abrupt spatial discontinuity into a continuous temporal process, eliminating the unjustifiable hard lines while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs transition functions as intermediary mechanisms between the discrete channel states. These intermediary functions create gradual overlaps and fades between adjacent channels, serving as mediators that smooth the transition and prevent abrupt hard lines, thus maintaining both adaptability and channel continuity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dependencies are created among independent channels, then the effective number of channels varies smoothly, but the actual number of channels where gains are applied remains constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple independent channels by creating controlled dependencies among them through the sub-band combiner. This merging allows the effective number of independent processing paths to vary smoothly while using a constant actual number of physical channels, thereby achieving smooth transitions without requiring additional hardware or processing structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an aspect of the present application, a hearing aid comprises an input unit. The input unit is configured to provide an audio input signal based on a sound signal. The sound signal is indicative of a sound environment. The hearing aid comprises a signal processor. The signal processor is configured to determine a plurality of sub-band signals based on the audio input signal. The signal processor comprises a sub-band combiner. The sub-band combiner is configured to combine a plurality of sub-band combiner input signals based on the sub-band signals. The sub-band combiner is configured to determine a plurality of combined sub-band signals based on a contextual parameter indicative of the sound environment. The signal processor is configured to provide, based on a processing parameter, a processed audio signal based on the audio input signal. The processing parameter is determined based on the combined sub-band signals. The hearing aid comprises an output unit. The output unit is configured to receive the processed audio signal. The output unit is configured to provide, based on the processed audio signal, an auditory output sound. The auditory output sound is indicative of the sound signal.