Hearing Device Wireless Receiver Beamformer Audio Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aid users face challenges in effectively isolating audio signals from a TV, as they receive both acoustically propagated and wirelessly streamed audio, leading to degraded sound quality and the need to turn up volumes excessively, which can be annoying for others.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a beamformer filtering unit that cancels or attenuates sound from the direction of the audio signal source, using a combination of microphone signals and wirelessly received audio to create a beamformed signal, minimizing correlation between acoustically and wirelessly received sounds while maintaining noise from other directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the user increases the volume to compensate for degraded sound quality, then the sound quality is improved, but it disturbs others
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TV audio signal from the acoustic environment by using a wireless receiver to obtain a direct representation of the audio signal, separating it from the acoustically propagated sound that reaches the microphones. This extraction allows the system to eliminate the need for high volume compensation while maintaining sound quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of sound transmission by using wireless transmission instead of acoustic propagation. This allows the audio signal to be delivered directly to the hearing device without being subject to acoustic degradation, thereby maintaining sound quality at normal volume levels.
2Device complexity
If the user relies on acoustically propagated sound, then no additional equipment is needed, but sound quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wireless receiver functionality with the existing hearing device, combining the direct wireless audio reception with the acoustic signal processing capabilities. This integration provides enhanced sound quality without requiring completely separate equipment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can process acoustically propagated sound through microphones and simultaneously receive wirelessly transmitted audio signals. This multi-functionality allows the device to operate effectively with or without the wireless connection, maintaining versatility while improving sound quality when the wireless signal is available.
3Measurement precision
If the beamformer attenuates sound from the audio signal source direction, then the TV audio signal is isolated, but noise from other directions may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by comparing the wirelessly received audio signal with the acoustically propagated signal from microphones. The beamformer uses this feedback information to selectively attenuate the TV audio signal from the acoustic path while preserving other environmental sounds, thereby isolating the TV audio without excessively suppressing other noise sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamformer applies local quality by creating a spatial filter that specifically targets the direction of the TV audio signal source. This directional filtering allows the system to isolate the TV audio signal from specific directions while maintaining sensitivity to sounds from other directions, thus preserving environmental awareness.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, adapted for being located at or in an ear of a user and/or for being fully or partially implanted in the head of the user, comprises • A multitude of input units each providing an electric input signal representing a mixture of an audio signal from an audio signal source and possibly acoustic signals from other acoustic signal sources around the hearing device as received at the input unit in question; • A wireless receiver for receiving and providing a direct representation of the audio signal; • A beamformer filtering unit configured to receive said multitude of electric input signals, and providing a beamformed signal; • A combination unit for providing a mixed signal comprising a combination of said direct representation of the audio signal and said beamformed signal, or signals originating therefrom; • An output unit for presenting stimuli perceivable to the user as sound based on said mixed signal. The beamformer filtering unit comprises an audio signal cancelling beamformer configured to provide that sound from the direction from the hearing device to the audio signal source is cancelled or attenuated compared to other directions in said beamformed signal. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing device.