Hearing Device Frequency Shifting for Simultaneous Speech Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for handling conference telephone calls and hearing devices struggle to effectively distinguish individual speakers when multiple participants speak simultaneously, leading to difficulties in understanding who is speaking.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device that shifts the frequency components of speech data if multiple participants are speaking simultaneously, maintaining the relative values between components to preserve the character of each voice, by multiplying the first and second frequencies by a factor, ensuring the frequency shift does not exceed 5 octaves, and adjusting the shifting based on predetermined criteria such as simultaneous speech duration or specific times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequency filtering is applied to separate speech components, then speech clarity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies frequency shifting by multiplying frequency components by a factor (e.g., 1.2) to separate simultaneous speech signals. This parameter change in the frequency domain allows speakers to be distinguished without complex filtering operations, resolving the contradiction between speech clarity and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or digital filtering systems with a simpler frequency scaling operation. By multiplying frequency components by a constant factor, the system achieves speech separation with less computational complexity than traditional filtering methods
2Productivity
If multiple speakers are allowed to speak simultaneously, then communication efficiency is improved, but speech distinguishability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a frequency scaling dimension to distinguish simultaneous speakers. By applying different multiplication factors to frequency components of different speakers, the system maintains simultaneous speech capability while adding frequency-based differentiation to preserve speech distinguishability
3Loss of information
If frequency shifting is applied to distinguish speakers, then speech distinguishability is improved, but voice character preservation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses moderate frequency multiplication factors (e.g., 1.2) that shift frequencies enough to distinguish speakers but remain small enough to preserve the relative frequency structure that defines voice character. This controlled parameter change resolves the contradiction between distinguishability and character preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial frequency shifting rather than complete spectral transformation. By using multiplication factors close to 1, the system achieves sufficient speaker differentiation while maintaining the majority of the original voice characteristics, balancing distinguishability with character preservation
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of printing speech data such as having at least a first component at a first frequency and a second component at a second frequency different from that first frequency is performed in a device (100, 200) which receives such speed data and outputs same to a loudspeaker (40, 240) within a time period of not more than 1 second upon receipt. The device determines whether or not a predetermined criterion is fulfilled. If so, the first component (70) of first speech data is shifted to the third frequency and the second component (71) of the first speech data is shifted to a fourth frequency different from said third frequency.