Hearing Instrument Own Voice Shaping via Signal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hearing instruments struggle to provide a pleasant perception of the user's own voice, especially in closed fitting setups, as they cannot effectively separate and shape the own voice signal from ambient sounds without compromising the optimal setting for ambient sounds, leading to a trade-off in sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that process signals from both outer and ear canal microphones to estimate and separate ambient and own voice portions, using statistical signal separation techniques and adaptive filters to generate a receiver signal that maintains pleasant own voice perception while optimizing ambient sound processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hearing instruments process only air-conducted own voice signals, then ambient sound processing can be optimized, but own voice perception becomes unnatural and unpleasant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the own voice signal into two distinct components: air-conducted portion (captured by outer microphone) and bone-conducted portion (captured by ear canal microphone). Each component is processed separately through different signal processing paths, allowing independent optimization of both ambient sound quality and own voice naturalness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing system that includes separate processing paths for air-conducted and bone-conducted portions. The bone-conducted portion is processed through a second path that includes a second amplifier and additional signal processing, acting as an intermediary to restore naturalness while the first path maintains ambient sound optimization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If active occlusion control is used to reduce bone-conducted own voice, then low-frequency occlusion effect is minimized, but ampclusion effect increases and ambient sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing of own voice signals by capturing bone-conducted portions through the ear canal microphone and air-conducted portions through the outer microphone. This allows independent processing of each path, enabling occlusion effect reduction through selective processing of bone-conducted signals without compromising ambient sound quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing characteristics to different signal paths: the first path (air-conducted) uses standard ambient sound processing, while the second path (bone-conducted) uses enhanced processing with a second amplifier and additional signal processing to specifically address occlusion effects locally without affecting overall ambient sound quality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If hearing instrument settings are changed during own voice activity, then own voice perception is optimized, but ambient sound perception becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal processing into parallel paths that operate simultaneously and independently. The first path processes air-conducted signals for ambient sound optimization, while the second path processes bone-conducted signals for own voice naturalness. This segmentation allows both processing goals to be achieved concurrently without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic signal processing where the system automatically adjusts processing parameters based on detected own voice activity. During speech, the second amplifier and additional processing are activated to enhance own voice naturalness, while the first path continues to optimize ambient sound processing, allowing dynamic adaptation without sacrificing either function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively separates and processes own voice and ambient sound signals, allowing for a pleasant own voice perception even in closed fitting setups without compromising ambient sound quality, by using different signal processing paths and corrections to account for signal path differences and individual preferences.
Implementation Method 1
a first signal from an outer microphone (1.1) and a second signal from an ear canal microphone (1.11)
Implementation Method 2
at least one receiver (5) capable of producing an acoustic signal in the ear canal
Implementation Method 3
processing a first signal from the outer microphone (1.1) and a second signal from the inner microphone (1.11) to yield an ambient sound portion signal estimate and an own voice sound portion signal estimate
Implementation Method 4
using statistical signal separation techniques and adaptive filters to generate a receiver signal
Data Source
AI summary
A method of processing a signal in a hearing instrument with at least one outer microphone oriented towards the environment, an ear canal microphone oriented towards the user's ear canal, and at least one receiver capable of producing an acoustic signal in the ear canal includes the steps of:Processing a first signal from the outer microphone and a second signal from the inner microphone to yield an ambient sound portion signal estimate and an own voice sound portion signal estimate;Processing the ambient sound portion signal estimate into a processed ambient sound portion signal;Processing the own voice sound portion signal estimate into a processed own voice sound portion signal; andAdding the processed ambient sound portion signal and the processed own voice portion signal for obtaining an input for the receiver.