Hearing Prosthesis Multi-Frequency Encoding for Complex Sound Perception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing prostheses struggle to effectively capture and deliver multiple fundamental frequencies from multiple sound sources or harmonics, limiting the perception of complex sound environments such as music or speech with multiple talkers.
Innovation Solution
A hearing prosthesis that extracts multiple frequencies from sound signals and amplitude modulates stimulation pulse sequences to be delivered via different channels, using a multi-frequency sound processor to identify and track sound sources, encode frequencies, and adapt stimulation resolution based on periodic probabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hearing prostheses are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to capture and deliver multiple fundamental frequencies from multiple sound sources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sound signal processing into multiple frequency channels, each handling a specific fundamental frequency. The sound signal is segmented into different frequency components using filter banks, and each channel independently processes its assigned frequency range. This segmentation enables the prosthesis to handle multiple sound sources simultaneously while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular channel design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a frequency dimension to the traditional single-channel stimulation approach. By extracting multiple fundamental frequencies and assigning them to different stimulation channels based on their frequency content, the system transforms a one-dimensional (single channel) problem into a multi-dimensional (multiple frequency channels) solution, enabling simultaneous representation of multiple sound sources.
2Loss of information
If multiple stimulation channels are used to deliver different frequencies, then the perception of complex sound environments is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each stimulation channel multi-functional by enabling it to process not only its primary fundamental frequency but also harmonic components from different sound sources. Each channel can dynamically adjust its function based on the detected sound environment, serving as both a fundamental frequency channel and a harmonic channel when needed. This universality reduces the total number of channels required while maintaining comprehensive sound representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the processing of harmonics from multiple sound sources into the same stimulation channels used for fundamental frequencies. Instead of creating separate channels for harmonics, the system combines harmonic information with fundamental frequency channels, allowing efficient use of available stimulation channels while preserving information about multiple concurrent sound sources.
3Measurement precision
If frequency extraction and amplitude modulation are applied to multiple stimulation channels, then the accuracy of frequency perception is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary frequency extraction and identification of fundamental frequencies before the amplitude modulation stage. By pre-processing the sound signal to identify and separate fundamental frequencies from harmonics, the system simplifies subsequent processing steps. Each channel receives pre-organized frequency information that requires minimal additional processing, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining high frequency perception accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented herein are techniques for enhancing a hearing prosthesis recipient's perception of multiple frequencies present in received sound signals. The hearing prosthesis is configured to extract a plurality of frequencies from the received sound signals and to use the plurality of frequencies to modulate the amplitudes of different stimulation pulse sequences that are to be delivered to the recipient via different stimulation channels. The hearing prosthesis may also adapt a stimulation resolution of the stimulation pulse sequences when delivering the modulated stimulation pulses sequences to the recipient.