20240015449. MAGNIFIED BINAURAL CUES IN A BINAURAL HEARING SYSTEM simplified abstract (Cochlear Limited)
Contents
MAGNIFIED BINAURAL CUES IN A BINAURAL HEARING SYSTEM
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
[[:Category:Benjamin Dieudonn� of Leuven (BE)|Benjamin Dieudonn� of Leuven (BE)]][[Category:Benjamin Dieudonn� of Leuven (BE)]]
Zachary Mark Smith of Pymble, NSW (AU)
MAGNIFIED BINAURAL CUES IN A BINAURAL HEARING SYSTEM - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240015449 titled 'MAGNIFIED BINAURAL CUES IN A BINAURAL HEARING SYSTEM
Simplified Explanation
The binaural hearing systems described in this patent application are designed to enhance the perception of sound for individuals with hearing impairments. The systems utilize different techniques to capture and process sound signals for improved binaural cues.
- The first technique involves using static sideways beamforming with interaural magnification. This means that the sound signals are captured by the binaural prostheses in a directional pattern facing away from the head of the recipient. These captured signals, referred to as sideways directional signals, are then used to perform interaural magnification, enhancing the binaural cues.
- Another technique described in the patent application involves the use of constrained adaptive beamformers to capture sound signals. These beamformers are able to adapt and focus on specific sound sources, improving the quality of the captured signals for subsequent processing.
- The patent application also mentions the automatic selection of different microphone directionality options. This means that the hearing device of the binaural hearing system can automatically switch between static sideways beamforming with interaural magnification, adaptive beamformers, and other types of microphone directionality based on the specific listening environment and needs of the recipient.
Potential applications of this technology:
- Hearing aids and cochlear implants: The binaural hearing systems described in the patent application can be implemented in hearing aids and cochlear implants to improve the perception of sound for individuals with hearing impairments.
- Assistive listening devices: The techniques presented in the patent application can be used in assistive listening devices to enhance the clarity and localization of sound for individuals in challenging listening environments, such as noisy or reverberant spaces.
Problems solved by this technology:
- Limited perception of sound: Individuals with hearing impairments often struggle with accurately perceiving and localizing sounds. The binaural hearing systems described in the patent application aim to address this problem by enhancing the binaural cues and improving the overall sound perception.
Benefits of this technology:
- Improved sound localization: By capturing sound signals in a directional pattern and using interaural magnification, the binaural hearing systems can enhance the ability to localize sounds, providing a more natural listening experience.
- Enhanced speech understanding: The use of adaptive beamformers and other microphone directionality options can improve the clarity of speech signals, making it easier for individuals with hearing impairments to understand conversations in various listening environments.
- Automatic adaptation: The ability of the hearing device to automatically select the most suitable microphone directionality option ensures optimal performance in different listening situations without requiring manual adjustments from the user.
Original Abstract Submitted
binaural hearing systems presented herein are configured to provide a recipient with magnified binaural cues. in certain embodiments, the techniques presented herein use static sideways beamforming with interaural magnification to capture and prepare sound signals for subsequent processing. that is, sound signals are captured at each of the binaural prostheses in accordance with a sideways directional pattern (e.g., directional patterns facing away from the head of the recipient). the sound signals captured with the sideways directional patterns, referred to as sideways directional signals, are then used to perform interaural magnification. in other embodiments, the techniques presented herein use constrained adaptive beamformers to capture sound signals for subsequent processing. in further embodiments, a hearing device of a binaural hearing system is configured to automatically select between the use of static sideways beamforming with interaural magnification, the use of adaptive beamformers, and/or other types of microphone directionality.
