Hearing Aid Sound Processing With Variable Delay Noise Canceling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid devices face challenges in synchronizing sound processing to prevent delays and echoes, particularly in noisy environments, which affect user comfort and communication clarity, while existing noise reduction methods often require fixed delay amounts that may not optimally suit individual hearing needs.
Innovation Solution
A sound processing device and method that estimates control information based on hearing thresholds and input sound information to determine acceptable delay amounts and noise canceling characteristics, allowing for variable delay in signal processing to enhance noise reduction and reduce echoes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If noise reduction process is performed with fixed delay amount, then processing simplicity is maintained, but user comfort deteriorates due to time differences between visual and auditory information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the delay amount variable rather than fixed. The delay amount determination unit dynamically adjusts the delay amount based on multiple factors including hearing threshold information, input sound level, and noise characteristics. This allows the system to adapt to different listening conditions and user preferences, improving user comfort while maintaining reasonable processing complexity through structured decision-making.
2Reliability
If delay amount is increased for noise reduction, then noise canceling performance is improved, but hearing acuity measurement accuracy deteriorates in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing hearing acuity measurement before conducting hearing aid fitting. The hearing acuity measurement unit measures the user's hearing threshold in advance, and this pre-obtained hearing threshold information is then used by the delay amount determination unit to set appropriate delay amounts during noise reduction processing. This preliminary measurement allows the system to adapt noise reduction parameters to the user's specific hearing characteristics, maintaining measurement accuracy while improving noise canceling performance.
3Measurement precision
If hearing threshold information is obtained through formal hearing acuity test, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement time and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the hearing aid device itself to perform hearing acuity measurement functions. The hearing acuity measurement unit integrated in the hearing aid device can measure the user's hearing threshold using the device's own speaker and microphone, eliminating the need for separate formal hearing tests at medical institutions. This multi-functional approach allows the device to both measure and treat hearing loss, significantly reducing measurement time and user burden while maintaining adequate measurement accuracy for fitting purposes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If noise canceling is applied during hearing acuity measurement, then measurement environment tolerance is improved, but measurement result accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using the measured hearing threshold information to adjust and optimize noise canceling parameters. The delay amount determination unit continuously references the user's specific hearing threshold characteristics when determining the optimal delay amount for noise reduction. This feedback mechanism ensures that noise canceling is tailored to the individual user's hearing profile, maintaining measurement accuracy even in noisy environments by adapting the canceling parameters to the user's actual hearing needs rather than applying generic noise reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A sound processing device that performs sound processing mainly for a hearing aid device is to be provided.The sound processing device includes: an information estimation unit that estimates control information, on the basis of hearing threshold information regarding a hearing threshold at each frequency, and input sound information; and a signal processing unit that processes an input sound signal, on the basis of the estimated control information. The hearing threshold information is a threshold measurement result obtained by measuring the hearing threshold of the user of the sound processing device at each frequency. The information estimation unit estimates information regarding an acceptable delay amount or noise canceling characteristics in the signal processing unit.