Hearing Beat Signal Leveling for Agreeable Binaural Perception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binaural hearing systems do not effectively generate acoustic output signals that produce an agreeable perception of monaural or binaural beats for users with hearing impairments.
Innovation Solution
A binaural hearing system with at least one hearing device featuring a primary signal path for processing input signals and a secondary signal path with a signal generator for producing frequency-shifted beat signals. The system includes a summing unit to combine the beat signals with the primary signal path signals, and an adjusting apparatus to set the signal level of the beat signals based on the instantaneous signal level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If beat signals are generated with fixed amplitude, then the structure is simple, but the perception of beats is not agreeable across varying ambient noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beat signal amplitude adjustable rather than fixed. The signal level of the beat signal is dynamically adapted to the instantaneous signal level of the ambient noise, allowing the system to maintain agreeable beat perception across varying acoustic environments while managing user exposure to beat signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the amplitude parameter of the beat signal based on the instantaneous signal level. By adjusting the signal level parameter dynamically according to ambient noise conditions, the system optimizes the perception quality of beats without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If beat signal level is increased, then beat effect is more prominent, but it may become disturbing to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the instantaneous signal level and using this information to adjust the beat signal level. This closed-loop approach ensures that the beat effect remains effective while preventing excessive amplitude that could disturb the user, as the system automatically adapts to current acoustic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the beat signal amplitude based on real-time signal level measurements, allowing the beat effect to be prominent when appropriate while reducing amplitude when it might become disturbing, thus balancing effectiveness with user comfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively generates acoustic output signals that produce an agreeable perception of monaural or binaural beats, enhancing user experience by aligning the amplitude of the beat signals with the ambient noise level.
Implementation Method 1
an input transducer that first converts an acoustic or streamed input signal into an electrical input signal
Implementation Method 2
an output transducer that converts the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal
Implementation Method 3
Monaural beats or binaural beats are understood to mean known effects of a sensory perception in the human brain that involves the user perceiving a pulsating tone (beat) if they are presented with two identical acoustic signals having slightly differing frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing system in particular a binaural hearing system that is configured to produce monaural or binaural beats and, to that end, has at least one hearing device containing a primary signal path. The hearing device moreover has a secondary signal path, containing a signal generator for generating a first beat signal. The first beat signal being frequency-shifted in relation to a further signal by a beat frequency in such a way that the effect of the monaural or binaural beat is produced for the user during operation. The signal generator has an associated adjusting apparatus that has an adjustable amplifier element. The adjusting apparatus has an analysis unit for determining an instantaneous signal level of the input signal, and the respective adjusting apparatus is configured to set a signal level of the first beat signal on the basis of the instantaneous signal level.