Hearing Aid Controller for Occlusion Effect Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aids fail to effectively and robustly compensate for the occlusion effect, which varies among individuals due to differences in ear anatomy and insertion methods, leading to unsatisfactory results with both mechanical and adaptive solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method for designing a controller that measures the nominal secondary path, determines a tolerance band, and specifies a desired sensitivity function, using optimization techniques to implement a digital controller that compensates for the occlusion effect by processing error signals and emitting compensation signals to minimize interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed controller is used for occlusion effect compensation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the compensation effectiveness deteriorates due to individual variations in ear anatomy and insertion methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adaptive controller that dynamically adjusts its parameters based on real-time measurements of the secondary path characteristics. The controller continuously adapts to individual user variations in ear anatomy and insertion depth, transforming a static fixed controller into a dynamic system that optimizes compensation effectiveness for each user while maintaining reasonable device complexity through automated adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the controller by measuring the actual secondary path transmission function and adjusting the controller's filter coefficients accordingly. This parameter adaptation allows the system to compensate for individual anatomical differences and insertion variations, improving reliability without requiring a completely redesign of the controller architecture.
2Reliability
If adaptive controller adjustment is implemented to account for individual variations, then the compensation effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-adjusting controller that automatically measures the secondary path characteristics and adapts its parameters without requiring manual intervention. The system performs self-diagnosis and self-tuning by injecting test signals, measuring the response, and automatically optimizing the compensation algorithm, thereby improving effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity and setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurement and adaptation of the controller parameters during the initial setup phase or during idle periods. By pre-characterizing the secondary path and pre-adjusting the controller parameters before actual use, the system achieves high compensation effectiveness without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If manual parameter adjustment is required for each user, then the compensation effectiveness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates manual parameter adjustment by implementing automated measurement and adaptation algorithms. The system automatically characterizes the user's ear canal acoustics, determines the optimal controller parameters, and configures itself without user intervention. This self-service approach maintains high compensation effectiveness while dramatically improving ease of operation, as users simply need to insert the hearing aid and the system handles all adjustments automatically.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the earbud is deeply inserted to prevent occlusion, then the occlusion effect is reduced, but the wearing comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical solution of deep insertion with an electronic/algorithmic solution. Instead of physically positioning the earbud deeply in the ear canal to prevent occlusion, the system uses active noise control algorithms with adaptive filtering to electronically compensate for the occlusion effect. This allows the earbud to be inserted at a comfortable depth while maintaining effective occlusion compensation through signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from mechanical parameter adjustment (insertion depth) to electronic parameter adjustment (controller filter coefficients). By measuring the actual acoustic transfer function and adapting the digital filter parameters, the system achieves occlusion compensation without requiring changes to the physical insertion depth, thereby maintaining wearing comfort while reducing the occlusion effect.
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 provides effective, user-specific and robust compensation of the occlusion effect, improving the perception of one's own voice by reducing interference and enhancing the stability of the feedback system.
Implementation Method 1
a speaker (2) for emitting a compensation signal y'(t), y(t) into the auditory canal
Implementation Method 2
a microphone (3) for receiving an error signal e'(t) from the auditory canal
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing aid for compensating for an occlusion effect while emitting an acoustic useful signal into an auditory canal of a human ear comprises an earbud that can be inserted into the auditory canal, a speaker for emitting a compensation signal into the auditory canal, a microphone for receiving an error signal from the auditory canal, and a control unit for processing a recorded signal to be emitted. The controller is designed by measuring a nominal secondary path between a speaker and the microphone and determining a transmission function that describes behavior of the nominal secondary path, determining a first requirement as a tolerance band about the transmission function, determining a second requirement as a desired sensitivity function of the hearing aid, designing the controller using an optimization method while simultaneously taking the first and second requirements into consideration, and implementing the controller in the control unit.