Hearing Aid Low-Latency Beamforming via Segmented Signal Processing

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional hearing aids face challenges in achieving low delay signal processing, which is essential for maintaining sound quality while implementing beamforming and frequency-dependent amplification.

Innovation Solution

The proposed hearing aid system incorporates at least two microphones, a digital signal processor, a combiner, a minimum phase filter, and an electrical-acoustical output receiver. It uses adaptive linear combinations of omnidirectional and directional signals to achieve low delay beamforming, with the digital signal processor determining target gains and applying them through the minimum phase filter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional beamforming and frequency-dependent amplification are implemented in hearing aids, then sound quality and hearing deficit compensation are improved, but signal processing delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound qualityVSAvoidsignal processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing into distinct functional blocks: omnidirectional signal path, directional signal path with beamforming, and a combining stage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the beamforming applied only to the directional component rather than the entire signal, thereby reducing overall processing delay while maintaining sound quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beamforming partially - only to the directional signal component rather than the complete audio signal. The omnidirectional signal path bypasses the beamforming processing, and only the processed directional signal is combined with the omnidirectional signal. This partial application of beamforming reduces computational complexity and processing delay while still providing the desired directional enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If beamforming is applied to enhance directional sound, then sound quality is improved, but artifacts such as comb filter effect increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound qualityVSAvoidcomb filter effect

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary combining stage that merges the omnidirectional signal path with the beamformed directional signal path. This intermediary structure allows the system to benefit from directional enhancement while the omnidirectional component acts as a mediator to smooth out artifacts and reduce the comb filter effect that would otherwise be prominent in pure beamforming approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex signal processing is implemented to customize sound to user preferences, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound customizationVSAvoidsignal processor complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing into distinct functional blocks: omnidirectional signal path, directional signal path with beamforming, and a combining stage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the beamforming applied only to the directional component rather than the entire signal, thereby reducing overall processing delay while maintaining sound quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beamforming partially - only to the directional signal component rather than the complete audio signal. The omnidirectional signal path bypasses the beamforming processing, and only the processed directional signal is combined with the omnidirectional signal. This partial application of beamforming reduces computational complexity and processing delay while still providing the desired directional enhancement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12279091B2Hearing aid and a method of operating a hearing aid

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 WIDEX AS

AI summary

A hearing aid with a low-latency filter and a method of operating such a hearing aid (500).