Hearing Aid Multiplexer Switching for Low-Power Wind Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids face challenges in effectively suppressing wind noise while managing limited battery power, as existing wind-noise-reduction schemes consume significant power and can introduce distortion or musical noise.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid with a multiplexer that switches between multiplexing and static selection operations based on wind noise levels, reducing power consumption by suspending power-intensive multiplexing when wind noise is low and resuming it when needed, while maintaining effective wind noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiplexing operations are performed continuously to reduce wind noise, then wind noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between multiplexing and static selection modes based on real-time wind noise level detection. The wind noise controller monitors wind noise levels and controls the multiplexer to perform multiplexing operations only when wind noise exceeds a threshold, otherwise performing static selection, thereby adapting the power consumption to actual environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous multiplexing operations, the system implements periodic wind noise level measurements and switches operations based on these periodic assessments. The multiplexer alternates between multiplexing mode (when wind noise is detected) and static selection mode (when wind noise is low), creating a periodic action pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining effectiveness when needed
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiplexing operations are suspended to save battery power, then battery power consumption is reduced, but wind noise reduction effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wind noise controller continuously monitors wind noise levels and provides feedback to control the multiplexer operation. When wind noise levels exceed a predetermined threshold, the controller activates multiplexing operations; when levels drop below the threshold, it switches to static selection mode. This feedback mechanism ensures wind noise reduction effectiveness is maintained only when actually needed, optimizing power consumption
3Manufacturing precision
If dynamic selection with weighing scheme is applied to favour beamformed signal, then directional signal quality is improved, but risk of introducing musical noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between multiplexing and static selection modes based on wind noise conditions. In static selection mode, the beamformed signal is selected without applying weighing schemes that could introduce musical noise. In multiplexing mode, dynamic selection with weighing is applied when wind noise is present. This dynamic approach maintains directional signal quality while avoiding musical noise artifacts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the weighing scheme application to only specific conditions (when multiplexing is active and wind noise is detected). By separating the weighing operation from continuous operation and applying it only when necessary for wind noise reduction, the system improves directional signal quality when needed while minimizing the risk of introducing musical noise in normal conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a hearing aid with two or more microphones and a processor; wherein the processor includes a first filter bank, a beamformer, a multiplexer configured to perform multiplexing operations outputting time-frequency values, and a wind noise controller configured to, recurringly, determine a first wind noise level.