Hearing Device Audio Prioritization via Position Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing devices struggle to effectively separate audio signals from multiple sources in crowded environments, limiting user experience by failing to prioritize audio cues accurately.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device equipped with a first antenna, transceiver, primary processing unit, acoustic output transducer, secondary processing unit, and position controller, which processes wireless input signals based on position data to prioritize audio signals and improve user experience by enhancing the correspondence of visual and auditory cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless audio streaming is used in crowded environments with multiple audio sources, then audio distribution capability is improved, but audio signal separation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces position data as an intermediary parameter that mediates between multiple audio sources and the hearing device. By incorporating position information from position controllers in the audio system, the hearing device can distinguish and separate audio signals from different spatial locations, enabling effective audio signal separation even in crowded environments with multiple simultaneous audio sources.
2Ease of operation
If position data processing is added to the hearing device, then audio signal prioritization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates position controller functionality directly into the existing audio system components that are already present for wireless audio streaming. The same audio system infrastructure is used to provide both audio transmission and position data, eliminating the need for separate position sensing hardware in the hearing device and reducing overall system complexity despite adding position-based prioritization capabilities.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple audio streams are received wirelessly, then audio source coverage is improved, but bandwidth limitations reduce audio quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts position information as a separate data element from the audio streams. By obtaining position data from position controllers in the audio system, the hearing device can identify and prioritize relevant audio sources without requiring increased bandwidth for audio transmission itself. This allows multiple audio streams to be managed effectively while maintaining audio quality through selective processing based on position data.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device includes: a first antenna; a first transceiver coupled to the first antenna and configured to wirelessly receive one or more audio streams from an audio system, the one or more audio streams including a first audio stream; a primary processing unit; an acoustic output transducer coupled to an output of the primary processing unit; a secondary processing unit with a first input coupled to an output of the first transceiver for receiving a first wireless input signal representative of the first audio stream from the first transceiver; a position controller for determining position data, the position controller having an output for sending a position control signal to the secondary processing unit; and at least one microphone coupled to the secondary processing unit; wherein the secondary processing unit is configured to process the first wireless input signal from the first transceiver based on the position control signal.