Minimum Processing Beamformer for Hearing Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hearing aids and headsets face challenges in noise reduction, often either over-processing sound, leading to a sense of isolation, or distorting speech in the process of noise suppression.

Innovation Solution

A beamforming system that dynamically combines the original microphone signal with a processed noise-reduced signal, adapting to the noise level to minimize processing and preserve speech quality, using a minimum processing beamformer that optimizes beamformer weights based on input signals, a reference signal, and a performance criterion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If aggressive noise suppression beamformers are used, then noise reduction performance is improved, but speech quality is distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction performanceVSAvoidspeech quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using a speech-preserving beamformer that performs minimal necessary processing rather than aggressive noise suppression. The beamformer is designed to provide only the minimum level of processing required to achieve fully intelligible speech, avoiding excessive noise suppression that would distort speech quality. This is achieved by dynamically adjusting the processing level based on noise conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing parameter from aggressive noise suppression to minimum necessary processing. The beamformer dynamically adjusts its processing level based on the noise condition, switching between minimal processing in low-noise environments and enhanced processing in high-noise environments, thereby optimizing both speech quality and noise reduction performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If minimum processing beamformer is used, then speech quality is preserved, but noise reduction performance is inferior

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeech qualityVSAvoidnoise reduction performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic beamforming system that adapts its processing level based on real-time noise conditions. The system switches between speech-preserving beamforming in low-noise environments and enhanced noise reduction in high-noise environments, making the noise reduction performance superior by being context-dependent rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing parameter dynamically based on noise conditions. In low-noise environments, minimal processing is applied to preserve speech quality, while in high-noise environments, enhanced processing is applied to improve noise reduction performance, thereby achieving both goals at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic combination of original and processed signals is used, then adaptability to noise levels is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to noise levelsVSAvoidprocessing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12225351B2Hearing device with minimum processing beamformer

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 OTICON

AI summary

A hearing device adapted for being worn at or in an ear of a user, comprises a) an input unit comprising at last two input transducers each for converting sound around said hearing device to an electric input signal representing said sound, thereby providing at least two electric input signals; b) a beamformer filter comprising a minimum processing beamformer defined by optimized beamformer weights, the beamformer filter being configured to provide a filtered signal in dependence of said at least two electric input signals and said optimized beamformer weights; c) a reference signal representing sound around said hearing device; d) a performance criterion for said minimum processing beamformer. The minimum processing beamformer is a beamformer that provides the filtered signal with as little modification as possible in terms of a selected distance measure compared to said reference signal, while still fulfilling said performance criterion. The optimized beamformer weights are adaptively determined in dependence of said at least two electric input signals, said reference signal, said distance measure, and said performance criterion. A method of operating a hearing device is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids or headsets.