Hearing System Feedback Path Estimation via Offline Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing aid feedback cancellation systems have limited estimation accuracy and require lengthy measurement times due to their implementation constraints.
Innovation Solution
A hearing system that temporarily buffers and transmits digital loudspeaker and microphone data from the hearing device to a programming device for offline feedback path estimation using advanced algorithms, allowing for more accurate and faster calculations independent of the hearing aid's feedback cancellation system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If feedback path estimation is performed using the hearing device's built-in feedback cancellation system, then the measurement can be performed within the hearing device, but the estimation accuracy is limited and measurement time is lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feedback path estimation function from the hearing device's built-in feedback cancellation system and relocates it to an external programming device. This allows the use of more powerful computational resources and advanced algorithms outside the constrained hearing device environment, thereby improving estimation accuracy and reducing measurement time while the hearing device only needs to provide data buffering and transmission capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary buffering of digital loudspeaker and microphone data signals in the hearing device before transmission to the programming device. This preliminary action prepares the data in advance for offline processing, enabling the programming device to perform computationally intensive feedback path estimation without real-time constraints, thus improving both accuracy and speed
2Measurement precision
If advanced estimation algorithms are used for feedback path estimation, then estimation accuracy improves, but computational requirements increase beyond what the hearing device can provide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feedback path estimation system into two parts: the hearing device handles data collection and buffering (simple function), while the programming device handles advanced algorithm processing (complex function). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific role, enabling the use of computationally intensive algorithms without overloading the hearing device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a programming device as an intermediary between the hearing device and the feedback path estimation process. This intermediary receives buffered data from the hearing device, performs advanced offline processing using powerful algorithms, and returns results, thereby bridging the gap between the hearing device's limited computational capabilities and the requirements for high-accuracy estimation
Data Source
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AI summary
The application relates to a hearing system comprising a hearing device (HD), and a programming device (PD), and a feedback path analyzer (FPA) for providing an estimate of a feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer of the hearing device. The hearing device (HD) and the programming device (PD) each comprises a programming interface (PI, PD-PI) allowing the exchange of data between the devices. The feedback path analyzer (FPA) is located in the programming device (PD), and the hearing device (HD) comprises respective input (IBUF) and output (OBUF) buffers for storing corresponding input and output time segments of the electric input signal or a signal derived therefrom and of the processed output signal or a signal derived therefrom, respectively.