Wireless Hearing Assistance Gain Control for Stable Soft Speech
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless hearing assistance systems face challenges in maintaining stable sound levels, particularly in quiet conditions or when the speaker is at a distance, as the fixed gain model does not adequately amplify soft voices or voices at varying distances, leading to uneven sound and reduced user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A gain model that adjusts the knee point based on ambient noise levels, allowing the gain to vary with speech levels, thereby stabilizing sound levels and increasing the acceptable microphone-to-speaker distance, with a linear range and compressive range where the gain decreases with a fixed slope, and the knee point shifting to lower speech levels at lower ambient noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed gain model is used in wireless hearing assistance systems, then the system is simple to operate, but the sound level becomes unstable in quiet conditions or when the speaker is at a distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gain model adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the gain based on detected speech levels and ambient noise conditions, allowing the knee point and gain characteristics to change in real-time according to the acoustic environment, thereby maintaining stable sound output across varying input conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the gain model based on ambient noise levels and speech detection. The knee point position and gain slope are adjusted as functions of ambient noise level, transforming the static gain model into a parameter-adaptive system that optimizes performance for different listening conditions
2Device complexity
If the knee point is fixed in the gain model, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system becomes sensitive to distance variations and cannot adequately amplify soft voices
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the knee point position based on ambient noise level detection. Rather than using a fixed knee point, the model adapts its characteristics in real-time, making the system more reliable across different acoustic environments without requiring complex manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The gain model performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting ambient noise levels and speech presence, then autonomously modifying its knee point and gain characteristics accordingly. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual calibration while maintaining consistent performance
3Reliability
If the gain is increased to amplify soft voices, then the signal-to-noise ratio improves, but the maximal distance between microphone and speaker must be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the gain model parameters (knee point position and gain slope) as functions of ambient noise level. In quiet environments, the system increases gain for soft voices while in noisy environments, it adjusts parameters to handle higher overall levels, effectively extending the usable distance range without compromising SNR
4Stability of the object's composition
If the gain model is adapted to ambient noise levels, then the sound level stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptive gain model serves itself by automatically detecting ambient noise levels and speech characteristics, then autonomously adjusting its parameters without external intervention. This self-service approach maintains sound level stability while minimizing the need for complex external control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring ambient noise levels and speech presence, then using this information to adjust the gain model parameters in real-time, creating a closed-loop system that maintains stable output despite varying input conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing hearing assistance to a user by capturing input audio signals; estimating a speech level of the input audio signals and an ambient noise level of the input audio signals; applying a gain model to the input audio signals to transform the input audio signals into filtered audio signals, wherein, for a each ambient noise level, the gain varies as a function of the speech level and wherein the function varies according to the ambient noise level changing the ratio of the gain at low speech levels and at high speech levels as a function of the ambient noise level; wirelessly transmitting the filtered audio signals to a receiver unit forming or being connected to a user hearing stimulator, the stimulator being worn at or in the user's ear; and stimulating the user's hearing by the stimulator according to audio signals supplied by the receiver unit.