Hearing Device Head Direction Audio Source Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid users face challenges in easily switching between sound sources while receiving wireless audio streams, leading to isolation from their environment, as existing technologies lock them to a single audio source and fail to effectively manage multiple sound sources.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device equipped with an antenna, radio transceiver, microphones, a pre-processing unit, processor, and a processing controller with a direction estimator, allowing users to estimate their head direction and apply processing schemes to selectively focus on different sound sources, enabling seamless switching between external audio streams without requiring an external microphone close to the source of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless audio streaming is used from an external source, then the signal to noise ratio is improved and perception of the external sound source is enhanced, but the hearing impaired person is locked to that source and cannot easily focus on other sound sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different processing schemes based on the user's head direction. When the user turns their head toward a different sound source, the system adapts by applying appropriate beamforming or directional processing to maintain audio focus on the new source, rather than being locked to the original streaming source
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes processing parameters (such as beamforming weights, directional filters, or gain settings) based on detected head direction. This allows the audio processing characteristics to be adjusted in real-time, enabling the user to shift attention between the wireless streaming source and other environmental sound sources
2Measurement precision
If an external microphone is placed close to the source of interest, then the audio quality from that source is improved, but the user is required to position the external microphone precisely which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts audio processing based on the user's head direction without requiring manual positioning of external microphones. The hearing device itself performs the function of directional selection and audio focusing through automated processing scheme selection, eliminating the need for precise external microphone placement by the user
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device includes: an antenna for converting a first wireless input signal of a first external source to an antenna output signal; a radio transceiver for converting the antenna output signal to a transceiver input signal; a set of microphones comprising a first microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal; a pre-processing unit connected to the radio transceiver and the first microphone for pre-processing the transceiver input signal and the first microphone input signal; a processor for processing input signals and providing an electrical output signal based on the input signals; a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal; and a processing controller comprising a direction estimator configured to estimate a head direction of a user of the hearing device; wherein the hearing device is configured to select and apply a processing scheme based on the estimated head direction.