Hearing Instrument Telecoil Contextual Determination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing instruments face challenges in determining contextual information and user activities accurately, relying on acoustic environment classification alone, which can be limited in noisy or complex environments, and lack effective noise reduction strategies.
Innovation Solution
The use of telecoil signals to determine contextual information and user activities, combined with machine learning models trained on telecoil and microphone signals, to generate modified microphone signals and initiate appropriate actions, such as noise reduction or activity monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acoustic environment classification is used to determine contextual information, then the hearing instrument can provide basic sound amplification, but the accuracy of contextual determination deteriorates in noisy or complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces telecoil signals as an intermediary source of contextual information. Instead of relying solely on acoustic environment classification which fails in noisy environments, the telecoil provides magnetic field-based contextual data that is independent of acoustic interference. The telecoil signals act as a mediator that complements or replaces acoustic classification when acoustic methods are unreliable.
2Reliability
If telecoil signals are used to determine contextual information, then the accuracy of contextual adaptation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the telecoil serve multiple functions: it continues to provide its traditional function of receiving magnetic signals from hearing loops while simultaneously serving as an additional sensor for contextual determination. By enabling the telecoil to fulfill both its original purpose and the new contextual sensing role, the patent avoids adding separate hardware components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system utilizes existing telecoil hardware and its inherent signal processing capabilities to extract contextual information. Rather than requiring entirely new dedicated hardware, the system repurposes the telecoil's existing functionality and computational resources to perform contextual determination, reducing the need for additional specialized components.
3Reliability
If machine learning models are trained on telecoil and microphone signals to generate modified microphone signals, then the noise reduction effectiveness improves, but the loss of time for signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent trains machine learning models in advance using telecoil and microphone signal pairs. This preliminary training phase allows the system to learn optimal noise reduction strategies beforehand. During actual operation, the pre-trained models can quickly apply noise reduction without requiring extensive real-time computation, thereby reducing the time loss during signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine learning model learns to generate modified microphone signals that resemble ideal telecoil-based signals by training on paired data. The model creates a computational copy or approximation of the desired noise-reduced signal pattern, allowing fast inference during operation without requiring complex real-time processing of raw microphone signals.
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
Enhances the accuracy of contextual adaptation and noise reduction in hearing instruments, improving user experience in diverse environments and monitoring activities of daily living.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining, by a processing system that includes one or more processors implemented in circuitry, a signal from a telecoil of a hearing instrument
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This disclosure describes a method comprising: obtaining, by a processing system that includes one or more processors implemented in circuitry, a signal from a magnetic sensor of a hearing instrument; determining, by the processing system, a context of the hearing instrument based at least in part on the signal from the telecoil; and initiating, by the processing system, one or more actions based on the context of the hearing instrument.