Binaural Hearing Instrument Directional Signal Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binaural hearing instruments face challenges in directional signal processing, particularly in situations without a dominant noise source, leading to suboptimal directional characteristics and potential mislocalization of noise sources.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating forward and backward signals from input signals in each individual hearing device, processing these signals to form a first directional signal with an adaptation parameter, and synchronizing these parameters if they fall below a threshold, to generate a second directional signal with improved directional processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If adaptive directional microphony is used to minimize signal energy from the posterior hemisphere, then noise attenuation is improved, but mislocalization of noise sources occurs in diffuse noise situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the adaptation parameter adjustable and context-dependent. The system transitions from a fixed adaptation parameter to a dynamic one that can be synchronized between devices or adjusted based on the acoustic environment, allowing the directional characteristic to adapt to different listening situations and avoid mislocalization while maintaining noise attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the adaptation parameter itself. By introducing a threshold value and synchronization mechanism, the system modifies the adaptation parameter based on the acoustic scene, switching between different directional characteristics (e.g., cardioid vs. omnidirectional) to resolve the contradiction between noise attenuation and localization accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different adaptation parameters are used in left and right hearing devices, then directional characteristic is optimized for each side, but asymmetrical attenuation causes mislocalization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses asymmetry by introducing a synchronization mechanism that coordinates the adaptation parameters between left and right hearing devices. When the acoustic environment requires it, the system synchronizes the parameters to create symmetrical attenuation patterns, preventing mislocalization while preserving the ability to optimize directional characteristics when asymmetry is appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the synchronization mechanism that monitors the adaptation parameters and adjusts them based on binaural acoustic input. This feedback loop ensures that the hearing instruments work together coherently, maintaining spatial perception accuracy while optimizing noise attenuation.
3Measurement precision
If synchronization of adaptation parameters is implemented, then spatial perception is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by establishing a common reference frame for the adaptation parameters through synchronization. By ensuring both hearing devices operate with coordinated parameters, the system achieves uniform spatial perception performance across the binaural field, simplifying the overall system behavior despite the added synchronization complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method operates a binaural hearing instrument which has two signal-coupled individual hearing devices. In each hearing device, a first input signal is generated from a sound signal by a first input transducer. A second input signal is generated from a sound signal by a second input transducer. Forward and backward signals are generated from the first and second input signals. A first adaptation parameter is determined as a linear factor of a linear combination of the forward and backward signals, and a first directional signal resulting from this linear combination has one-directional attenuation. The adaptation parameter is compared with a stored threshold value. If at least one of the adaptation parameters falls below the threshold value, the adaptation parameters of the individual hearing devices are synchronized with one another. A second directional signal is generated in each case based on the synchronized adaptation parameters for generating an output signal.