Hearing Prosthesis Dereverberation Using Reference Signal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal dereverberation algorithms for hearing assistance devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, suffer from estimation errors due to their reliance on blind methods that lack additional reference signals, leading to reduced signal quality and increased computational complexity.

Innovation Solution

The use of a dedicated reverberation reference signal measured by a microphone in a hearing prosthesis system, either through a separate remote control device or an external database, to determine and reduce reverberation effects in the acoustic environment, thereby improving audio perception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If blind estimation algorithms are used to determine reverberation characteristics, then no additional reference signals are required, but estimation errors increase and signal quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealgorithm applicabilityVSAvoidreverberation estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A dedicated reverberation reference signal is introduced as an intermediary element to enable accurate reverberation measurement. This reference signal serves as a mediator between the acoustic environment and the measurement system, allowing precise determination of reverberation characteristics without relying on error-prone blind estimation methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the reverberation characteristics by measuring the decay of a known reference signal. This copying approach allows the system to capture and analyze reverberation properties directly, rather than attempting to estimate them indirectly from speech signals alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If blind estimation algorithms are used for dereverberation, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but computational complexity increases and energy consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealgorithm implementation complexityVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of reverberation characteristics using a dedicated reference signal before processing speech signals. This preliminary action captures the reverberation impulse response in advance, allowing subsequent dereverberation processing to use these pre-measured characteristics rather than performing complex real-time estimation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex computational estimation mechanisms with a simpler measurement-based approach. Instead of using computationally intensive blind algorithms to estimate reverberation parameters, the system substitutes this with a direct measurement process using a known reference signal, reducing both computational complexity and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If blind estimation methods are applied to speech signals, then speech processing is simplified, but signal quality deteriorates due to estimation errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech processing simplicityVSAvoidsignal quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A dedicated reverberation reference signal is introduced as an intermediary to enable reliable measurement of reverberation characteristics. This reference signal acts as a mediator that provides accurate information about the acoustic environment, allowing the system to maintain simple speech processing while improving signal quality through reliable dereverberation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates an accurate copy of the reverberation impulse response by measuring the decay of the reference signal. This copied reverberation model can then be used to reliably remove reverberation from speech signals without introducing estimation errors, maintaining both simplicity and signal quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10869140B2Determination of room reverberation for signal enhancement

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 MED EL ELEKTROMEDIZINISCHE GERAETE GMBH

AI summary

A hearing prosthesis arrangement is described for a hearing assisted patient. A microphone senses an acoustic environment around the hearing assisted patient and generates a corresponding microphone output signal. An audio signal processor processes the microphone output signal and produces a corresponding prosthesis stimulation signal to the patient for audio perception. The audio signal processor includes a dereverberation process that measures a dedicated reverberation reference signal produced in the acoustic environment to determine reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment, and reduces reverberation effects in the hearing prosthesis stimulation signal based on the reverberation characteristics.