Hearing Device Ear Canal Gain Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing devices that are partially or fully inserted into the ear canal degrade the fidelity of acoustic sounds from the surroundings, particularly when in hear-through mode, due to passive dampening, leading to a lack of natural sound perception.
Innovation Solution
A method to obtain frequency band-specific gain values for a flat insertion gain filter, which improves sound fidelity by communicating band-limited audio test signals through both ears and determining gain values to equalize perceived loudness, thereby compensating for the hearing device's occupation of the ear canal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hearing device is inserted in the ear canal, then the hearing device can amplify sounds and compensate for hearing loss, but the passive dampening of acoustic waves degradation the fidelity of sounds from the surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the audio signal into multiple frequency bands and applies different gain values to each band. This segmentation allows the system to selectively amplify specific frequency ranges while preserving the natural characteristics of other frequencies, thereby maintaining sound fidelity while compensating for hearing loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements frequency-band-specific gain adjustment where different parts of the frequency spectrum receive different amplification levels. This local quality approach ensures that amplification is applied precisely where needed for hearing compensation without uniformly affecting all frequencies, thus preserving overall sound naturalness.
2Ease of operation
If a hear-through mode is engaged to compensate for passive dampening, then the user can hear acoustic sounds from the surroundings, but the lack of acoustic fidelity and sound colorization occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts gain parameters for different frequency bands based on the operational mode. When hear-through mode is engaged, the system modifies the gain values to compensate for the passive dampening effect while maintaining natural sound characteristics, thus improving acoustic fidelity without sacrificing hear-through functionality.
3Reliability
If the ear canal is blocked by the hearing device housing, then the hearing device can be securely positioned, but the natural sound perception from the surroundings is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful passive dampening effect caused by ear canal blockage into a beneficial feature by using it as a reference for measuring and compensating sound transmission characteristics. The system measures the dampening effect and applies inverse filtering to compensate for it, thereby transforming the problem of sound blockage into an opportunity for precise sound fidelity correction.
4Manufacturing precision
If frequency band-specific gain values are obtained through a method involving headphones and test signals, then the flat insertion gain filter can be created, but the complexity of the calibration process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses headphones as an intermediary device to deliver known test signals to the user's ears during calibration. This intermediary approach allows the system to measure and determine accurate gain values for each frequency band by comparing the test signals with the user's perceived loudness, thereby simplifying the calibration process while maintaining high accuracy.
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 method enhances the natural reproduction of acoustic sounds from the surroundings by equalizing loudness between ears, reducing sound colorization and improving fidelity in hear-through mode without requiring connection to an electronic device.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic input transducer, e.g. a microphone or an array of microphones, typically capturing acoustic waves from the surroundings
Implementation Method 2
coupled to an acoustic output transducer, e.g. a miniature loudspeaker, arranged close to and/or facing a the user's eardrum
Implementation Method 3
the passive dampening is deliberately compensated for by amplification
Implementation Method 4
The claimed method obtains frequency band specific gain values for a so-called flat insertion gain filter. The flat insertion gain filter improves fidelity in the reproduction of sounds from the surrounds
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by an electronic device, includes: enabling first communication to a pair of headphones having first and second acoustic output transducers; enabling second communication to a first hearing device that has a first gain stage; communicating a band-limited portion of a first audio test signal via a second gain stage and via the first acoustic output transducer to the first hearing device while the first hearing device is in a first ear canal of a first ear, and communicating a band-limited portion of a second audio test signal via the second acoustic output transducer to an eardrum of a second ear; and determining a first gain value based on a gain value of the first gain stage and/or a gain value of the second gain stage, the first gain value being associated with the user's perception of equal loudness at both the first and second ears.