Hearing Aid Dynamic Gain Control for Chewing Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing assistance devices face feedback issues due to chewing and related jaw motions, which disrupt the seal between the device and the ear canal, leading to acoustic feedback problems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control circuit, microphone, motion sensor, and sound processor in hearing assistance devices to detect chewing through signal evaluation and dynamically adjust gain values to prevent feedback, using techniques like binary classification and weighting factors based on posture and ambient sound environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing assistance devices maintain continuous seal with ear canal for optimal sound transmission, then sound quality is improved, but feedback occurs during chewing and jaw motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by continuously monitoring jaw motion through accelerometers and microphones, then dynamically adjusting the seal pressure of the hearing device in the ear canal. When chewing or jaw motion is detected, the device reduces seal pressure to prevent feedback; when jaw motion is minimal, the device restores optimal seal pressure for sound transmission. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining seal quality and preventing feedback during jaw motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors detect jaw motion and sound characteristics, the processor analyzes these signals to determine feedback conditions, and the device adjusts its seal pressure accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the device to automatically respond to changing jaw positions and maintain optimal performance without user intervention, resolving the contradiction between seal integrity and feedback prevention.
2Reliability
If hearing assistance devices provide continuous sound amplification, then hearing benefit is improved, but feedback issues arise during eating and chewing activities
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adjusts amplification levels based on real-time detection of jaw motion and chewing activities. During chewing, the device temporarily reduces amplification gain to eliminate feedback noise while maintaining baseline hearing assistance. When chewing ceases, full amplification is restored. This dynamic gain control resolves the contradiction between providing continuous hearing benefit and preventing feedback during eating activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the amplification parameter dynamically based on detected jaw motion intensity and chewing patterns. By adjusting the gain parameter in response to sensor inputs, the device maintains effective hearing assistance while eliminating feedback noise during chewing. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between continuous amplification benefit and feedback prevention.
3Device complexity
If hearing assistance devices use fixed gain settings, then device simplicity is maintained, but optimal performance across different activities cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device performs self-adjustment by autonomously detecting jaw motion through onboard sensors and automatically modifying its own gain settings and seal pressure without external user input. This self-service capability enables the device to adapt to different activities (talking, chewing, listening) while maintaining relatively simple user interaction, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and activity-specific performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates multiple sensors (accelerometers, microphones) that serve dual purposes: monitoring jaw motion for feedback prevention and detecting ambient sound characteristics for adaptive processing. This multi-functionality allows a single device to handle diverse activities effectively without requiring separate control mechanisms for each function, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to hearing assistance systems and devices. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance device is included having a control circuit, a microphone, a motion sensor, a receiver, and a sound processor. The hearing assistance device is configured to output sound to a wearer of the hearing assistance device with the receiver based on sound detected with the microphone, detect chewing of the wearer by evaluating signals from the microphone and/or the motion sensor, and modulate a gain value of the sound processor for sounds output through the receiver based on the chewing detected. Other embodiments are also included herein.