Patent classifications
H04R25/405
SPATIALLY DIFFERENTIATED NOISE REDUCTION FOR HEARING DEVICES
Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for spatially differentiated noise reduction for hearing device applications. A method includes sensing sound signals with a hearing device. A front-facing directional beam and a rear-facing directional beam are produced using the sensed sound signals, and the front-facing directional beam and the rear-facing directional beam are combined to obtain an output directional beam. The front-facing directional beam or the output directional beam is compared to the rear-facing directional beam to determine a front-rear differential. Responsive to a determination that the front-rear differential indicates that the rear-facing directional beam is dominant, the amount of noise reduction of the output directional beam is increased. Responsive to a determination that the front-rear differential indicates that the rear-facing directional beam is not dominant, an amount of noise reduction of the output directional beam is reduced.
EEG-assisted beamformer, beamforming method and ear-worn hearing system
Disclosed is a multi-mode beam former, comprising a device for receiving a multi-mode input signal, and a device for constructing an optimization model and solving the optimization model to obtain a beam-forming weight coefficient for performing linear or non-linear combination on the multi-mode input signal. The optimization model comprises an optimization formula for obtaining the beam-forming weight coefficient. The optimization formula comprises: establishing an association between at least one electroencephalogram signal and a beam forming output, and optimizing the association to construct the beam-forming weight coefficient associated with the at least one electroencephalogram signal.
Ear-mount able listening device with voice direction discovery for rotational correction of microphone array outputs
Techniques described herein include generating first audio signals representative of sounds emanating from an environment and captured with an array of microphones disposed within an ear-mountable listing device. A rotational position of the array of microphones is determined. A rotational correction is applied to the first audio signals to generate a second audio signal. The rotational correction is based at least in part upon the determined rotational position. A speaker of the ear-mountable listening device is driven with the second audio signal to output audio into an ear.
Binaural hearing aid system providing a beamforming signal output and comprising an asymmetric valve state
The present disclosure relates to a binaural hearing aid system comprising hearing aids for placement at, or in, a user's left and right ear, the hearing aids each comprising a microphone arrangement, a wireless communications unit, a receiver, and a sound channel with a valve, which is movable from an open state to an closed state and from a closed state to an open state. The binaural hearing aid system further comprises a signal processing arrangement adapted for generating a beamformed signal based on microphone signals supplied by either or both of the microphone arrangement(s) and for applying the beamformed signal to either or both of the receiver(s), and a valve control arrangement configured to asymmetrically control the valves in each hearing aid by moving the valves into positions wherein one of the valves is opened more than the other.
Multifunction system and method for integrated hearing and communication with noise cancellation and feedback management
Systems, devices, and methods for communication include an ear canal microphone configured for placement in the ear canal to detect high frequency sound localization cues. An external microphone positioned away from the ear canal can detect low frequency sound, such that feedback can be substantially reduced. The canal microphone and the external microphone are coupled to a transducer, such that the user perceives sound from the external microphone and the canal microphone with high frequency localization cues and decreased feedback. Wireless circuitry can be configured to connect to many devices with a wireless protocol, such that the user can receive and transmit audio signals. A bone conduction sensor can detect near-end speech of the user for transmission with the wireless circuitry in a noisy environment. Noise cancellation of background sounds near the user can be provided.
HEARING DEVICE COMPRISING A NOISE REDUCTION SYSTEM
A hearing device adapted for being located at or in an ear of a user, or for being fully or partially implanted in the head of a user comprises a) an input unit for providing at least one electric input signal representing sound in an environment of the user, said electric input signal comprising a target speech signal from a target sound source and additional signal components, termed noise signal components, from one or more other sound sources, b) a noise reduction system for providing an estimate of said target speech signal, wherein said noise signal components are at least partially attenuated, and c) an own voice detector for repeatedly estimating whether or not, or with what probability, said at least one electric input signal, or a signal derived therefrom, comprises speech originating from the voice of the user. The noise signal components are identified during time segments wherein the own voice detector indicates that the at least one electric input signal, or a signal derived therefrom, originates from the voice of the user, or originates from the voice of the user with a probability above an own voice presence probability (OVPP) threshold value. A method of operating a hearing device is further disclosed.
HEARING AID WITH VOICE RECOGNITION
A system for selectively amplifying audio signals may include a microphone configured to capture sounds from an environment of a user. The system may also include a processor programmed to: receive audio signals representative of the sounds captured by the microphone; cause selective conditioning of at least one audio signal received by the microphone from a region associated with the recognized individual; and cause transmission of the at least one conditioned audio signal to a hearing interface device configured to provide sound to an ear of the user.
METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEARING DEVICE, AND HEARING DEVICE
A hearing aid has at least two input transducers and at least one output transducer. The input transducers generate an input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings. At least two directional signals with different directional characteristics are formed from the input signals and the directional signals are examined for the presence of a useful signal. A first weighting factor is assigned to the directional signal with the largest signal component of the useful signal and a second weighting factor is assigned to the other directional signals. The directional signals are multiplied by the respectively assigned weighting factor, and an output signal is then formed from the multiplication result. The output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer.
EARPHONE SMARTCASE WITH AUDIO PROCESSOR
A system for generating processed audio signals may include an earphone comprising a microphone configured to capture sounds from an environment of the earphone, a first communication component, and a first processor; and an earphone case comprising an earphone compartment configured to receive the earphone, a second communication component, and a second processor. The first processor may be programmed to receive a captured audio signal representative of the sounds captured by the microphone; and transmit the captured audio signal via the first communication component. The second processor may be programmed to receive the captured audio signal via the second communication component; generate a processed audio signal based on analysis of the captured audio signal; and transmit the processed audio signal via the second communication component to the first communication component.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND ACTING ON A PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION OF A STIMULATION SYSTEM RECIPIENT
An illustrative system includes a stimulation device configured to apply stimulation to a recipient, a sensing device configured to detect a physiological condition of the recipient, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the stimulation device and the sensing device. The processing unit determines a stimulation strategy that is customized to the recipient and includes stimulation frames and stimulation gaps. The processing unit then directs the stimulation device to apply the stimulation to the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by applying the stimulation only during time that corresponds to the stimulation frames. The processing unit also directs the sensing device to detect the physiological condition of the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by detecting only during time that corresponds to the stimulation gaps. Based on the detected physiological condition, the processing unit performs an action. Corresponding systems, methods, and apparatuses are also disclosed.