Partial Band Signal Exchange in Binaural Hearing Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binaural hearing systems face high energy consumption and computing requirements due to the need for high data transmission rates for broadband communication between hearing devices, which is disadvantageous, especially for low frequencies where noise issues prevail with minimal microphone distances.
Innovation Solution
A hearing system where only partial frequency bands of the input signals are transmitted between devices, with low frequency parts processed binaurally and high frequency parts processed monaurally, reducing data exchange and computing load, and utilizing directional microphones or blind source separation algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If broadband communication is used between hearing devices to enable binaural signal processing, then spatial signal processing capability is improved, but energy consumption and computing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency spectrum is divided into multiple bands, with only selected bands (e.g., low frequencies below 1-2 kHz) being transmitted binaurally between hearing devices, while other bands are processed monaurally. This segmentation allows the system to maintain essential binaural processing capabilities for spatial hearing at low frequencies while avoiding the high energy costs of full-bandwidth binaural transmission.
2Loss of information
If high data transmission rates are used for broadband communication between hearing devices, then complete signal information is transmitted, but computing load and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Only the essential spectral components (low frequency bands) are extracted and transmitted between hearing devices for binaural processing. The higher frequency bands are processed locally without inter-device transmission, thereby reducing data transmission rates and computing load while preserving the most critical information for spatial hearing and binaural benefits.
3Volume of moving object
If minimal microphone distances are used in hearing devices, then device compactness is improved, but noise issues increase especially at low frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The audio frequency spectrum is segmented into low and high frequency bands. Low frequency bands, which are most susceptible to noise from minimal microphone spacing, are processed binaurally with spectral transmission between devices to mitigate noise issues. High frequency bands are processed monaurally, allowing the use of minimal microphone distances without compromising overall sound quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A binaural supply with a hearing system is to be enabled, whereby the computing outlay and energy consumption are to be kept as minimal as possible. A hearing system comprising a first hearing apparatus including a first signal input facility and a first communication facility and a second hearing apparatus including a second signal input facility, a second communication facility for receiving a signal from the first communication facility and a second signal processing facility for processing signals from the second signal input facility and the second communication facility are provided to form a common output signal. The signal transmitted from the first to the second communication facility corresponds to a real spectral part of the overall frequency spectrum of the first input signal. As only one part of the overall spectrum is transmitted and/or binaurally processed, the computing outlay and energy consumption is reduced.