Hearing Aid Audio Stream Classification and Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing assistive devices struggle to differentiate between utility and entertainment audio streams from external sources, leading to potential hearing damage from prolonged exposure to loud entertainment audio.
Innovation Solution
A hearing assistive device equipped with an audio stream analyzer that classifies incoming audio streams as utility or entertainment audio, enabling a variable attenuator to adjust sound levels based on classification, ensuring exposure limits are not exceeded, using Bluetooth Low Energy for communication and employing a sound dosimeter to monitor and adjust output accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hearing assistive device streams audio from external devices without classification, then the user can access entertainment audio content, but the user's hearing may be damaged from prolonged exposure to loud entertainment audio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments audio streams into two distinct categories: utility audio and entertainment audio. This segmentation allows the device to apply different processing strategies to each type, enabling entertainment audio to be attenuated to protect hearing while maintaining full functionality for utility audio communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an audio stream analyzer as an intermediary component that classifies incoming audio streams before they reach the output transducer. This intermediary analyzes audio characteristics and determines whether the stream is utility or entertainment audio, enabling selective attenuation without user intervention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearing assistive device attenuates all streamed audio to protect hearing, then hearing damage is prevented, but utility audio intelligibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective attenuation based on audio type classification. Utility audio streams receive no attenuation and maintain their original quality and intelligibility, while only entertainment audio streams are attenuated to protective levels. This localized processing ensures that hearing protection is applied only where necessary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearing assistive device automatically classifies and attenuates entertainment audio, then hearing is protected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the audio stream analyzer to automatically classify incoming audio streams and trigger appropriate attenuation without user intervention. The device monitors its own input, makes autonomous decisions about audio type classification, and adjusts output levels accordingly, eliminating the need for manual user configuration.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
A hearing assistive device has an input transducer (12) converting sound into an audio signal applied to a processor (14; 65). The processor (14; 65) is configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing assistive device and to output a compensated audio signal. An output transducer (16; 65) converts the compensated audio signal into sound. The hearing assistive device (10) further comprises a wireless transceiver (21) enabling audio streaming from an external device (30) to the hearing assistive device, an attenuator (23) associated with said processor (14; 65) applying attenuation to the compensated audio signal, and a sound dosimeter measuring during audio streaming a parameter representative of a sound exposure of the compensated audio signal output by the output transducer. The attenuator (23) is controlled in accordance to the parameter measured by the sound dosimeter. The invention further provides a method of operating a hearing assistive device.