Single Microphone Hearing Aid Noise Reduction via Bluetooth Chip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hearing aids relying on single microphone noise reduction algorithms are deficient in suppressing ambient noises and murmurs without an adaptive intelligent learning filter, leading to high costs due to monopolization by a few manufacturers.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using a Bluetooth headset chip that acquires sound signals, identifies noise characteristics, iteratively trains noise reduction formulas, optimizes parameters, and calculates the signal-to-noise ratio to effectively suppress background noises, eliminating the need for special hearing aid chip hardware.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single microphone noise reduction algorithm is used without an adaptive intelligent learning filter, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the noise suppression capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidnoise suppression capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the hardware-based adaptive intelligent learning filter with a software-based iterative training approach. The noise reduction formula is trained iteratively using sound signals to learn noise characteristics, substituting the need for specialized hardware with a programmable software solution that achieves similar noise suppression performance without requiring dedicated filter hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts parameters in the noise reduction formula through iterative training. By continuously optimizing parameters based on learned noise characteristics from training data, the system adapts to different noise environments and maintains effective noise suppression using a single microphone, eliminating the need for complex hardware configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a special hearing aid chip with adaptive intelligent learning filter is used, then the noise suppression capability is improved, but the cost increases due to monopolization by a few manufacturers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise suppression capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the noise reduction technology universally applicable by implementing it as software that can run on standard Bluetooth headset chips. The iterative training approach and noise reduction formula can be deployed on existing consumer electronics platforms, eliminating the need for proprietary hearing aid chips and enabling multiple manufacturers to produce affordable noise-reducing devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, specialized hearing aid chips with inexpensive, mass-producible Bluetooth headset chips. By using off-the-shelf components and software-based processing, the system achieves noise suppression capability at a fraction of the cost of proprietary solutions, making the technology accessible to broader markets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If iterative training is performed to optimize noise reduction formula parameters, then the noise suppression performance is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise suppression performanceVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs iterative training in advance to pre-optimize the noise reduction formula parameters. By conducting the computationally intensive iterative training process during device initialization or offline, the system learns noise characteristics beforehand, allowing for fast real-time noise reduction during actual use without repeated training overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous noise reduction processing after iterative training by applying the optimized formula parameters in real-time. Once the parameters are learned through iterative training, the system continuously applies the noise reduction algorithm to incoming sound signals without requiring repeated training cycles, ensuring both high performance and efficient processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11871183B2Single microphone hearing aid noise reduction method based on bluetooth headset chip and bluetooth headset

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 ZHUZHOU SHENGYU MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention discloses a single microphone hearing aid noise reduction method. The method comprises: acquiring an original sound signal, identifying the noise characteristics of noise in the original sound signal; iteratively training the noise reduction formula obtained by noise identification, optimizing the noise reduction formula, and acquiring the optimal values of parameters in the noise reduction formula; calculating the original sound signal according to the noise reduction formula optimized by iterative training and the specific value of each parameter, and outputting the signal to noise ratio of the noise; and judging whether the signal to noise ratio is qualified, and if qualified, carrying out hearing aid processing of the processed sound signal. The present invention can quickly identify, suppress and converge unsteady noise by single microphone noise reduction without the aid of special iterative adaptive learning filter hardware built in a hearing aid chip.