Hearing Aid Feedback Cancellation Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern hearing assistance devices face challenges in efficiently allocating resources for acoustic feedback cancellation due to limited computational power, often compromising performance and introducing artifacts.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a processor with an event detector that adjusts processing blocks to efficiently manage resources based on detected events, such as feedback onset, using dynamic and long-term feedback information to optimize the adaptive feedback canceller's parameters and resources, balancing feedback elimination with artifact avoidance and computational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If computational resources are increased to improve feedback cancellation performance, then feedback elimination is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback cancellation performanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the feedback canceller adapts its computational resources based on real-time feedback detection. When feedback is detected, the system increases processing resources for feedback cancellation; when feedback is absent, resources are reduced. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making power consumption variable rather than constant, improving feedback cancellation performance only when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (processing block activation, filter coefficients, adaptation rates) based on feedback conditions. By modifying these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high feedback cancellation performance when required while maintaining low power consumption during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between performance and power usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If computational resources are increased to improve feedback cancellation performance, then feedback elimination is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback cancellation performanceVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback cancellation system into multiple processing blocks that can be independently activated. Instead of running a complex full-featured feedback canceller continuously, the system divides functionality into modular components that are selectively engaged based on feedback detection, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining performance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The feedback canceller is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate in high-performance mode when feedback is detected and in low-power mode when feedback is absent. This multi-functionality allows a single system to adapt its complexity level, resolving the contradiction by making the device complexity variable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If processing resources are reduced to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but feedback cancellation performance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfeedback cancellation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic feedback detection and conditional processing activation. Instead of continuous high-power processing, the system periodically checks for feedback conditions and activates intensive processing only during feedback events. This periodic action pattern reduces average power consumption while ensuring feedback cancellation performance is maintained when actually needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If aggressive feedback cancellation is applied to eliminate feedback, then feedback elimination is improved, but artifacts are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback eliminationVSAvoidartifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial feedback cancellation action by activating processing blocks selectively based on feedback detection rather than applying full aggressive cancellation continuously. This partial action approach eliminates feedback when present while avoiding the excessive processing that would otherwise generate artifacts during normal operation without feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8917891B2Methods and apparatus for allocating feedback cancellation resources for hearing assistance devices

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 STARKEY LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for allocating feedback cancellation resources for improved acoustic feedback cancellation for hearing assistance devices. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone and a processor configured to receive signals from the microphone and process them according to a plurality of processing blocks. The processor is adapted to include an event detector that can provide detection of an event and an output to adjust one or more processing blocks of the overall process to more efficiently use resources of the processor for the event detected, in various embodiments.