Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Woods, William S.

Pruthi, Tarun

Xiao, Jinjun

Jinjun Xiao

Tao Zhang

Ivo Merks

Buye Xu

William S Woods

Martin McKinney

Srikanth Vishnubhotla

Wenqiang Pu

Tarun Pruthi

Eric Durant

Zhi-Quan Luo

John Ellison

Zhiquan Luo

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.

EEG-assisted beamformer, beamforming method and ear-worn hearing system

Disclosed is a beam former, comprising: an apparatus for receiving a plurality of input signals; an apparatus for optimizing a mathematical model and solving an algorithm, which obtains a beam forming weight coefficient for carrying out linear combination on the plurality of input signals; and an apparatus for generating an output signal to the beam forming weight coefficient and the plurality of input signals.

Beam former, beam forming method and hearing aid system

A hearing assistance system obtains a first input audio signal that is based on sound received by a first set of microphones. The system also obtains a second input audio signal that is based on sound received by a second, different set of microphones. A first adaptive beamformer generates a first output audio signal based on the first input audio signal, the second input audio signal, and a value of a first parameter. A second adaptive beamformer generates a second output audio signal based on the first input audio signal, the second input audio signal, and a value of a second parameter. The value of the first parameter and the value of the second parameter are determined such that a magnitude squared coherence (MSC) of the first output audio signal and the second output audio signal is less than or equal to the coherence threshold.

Adaptive binaural beamforming with preservation of spatial cues in hearing assistance devices

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for annoyance perception and modeling for hearing-impaired listeners. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for improving noise cancellation for a wearer of a hearing assistance device having an adaptive filter. In various embodiments, the method includes calculating an annoyance measure or other perceptual measure based on a residual signal in an ear of the wearer, the wearer's hearing loss, and the wearer's preference. A spectral weighting function is estimated based on a ratio of the annoyance measure or other perceptual measure and spectral energy. The spectral weighting function is incorporated into a cost function for an update of the adaptive filter. The method includes minimizing the annoyance or other perceptual measure based cost function to achieve perceptually motivated adaptive noise cancellation, in various embodiments.

Methods and apparatus for reducing ambient noise based on annoyance perception and modeling for hearing-impaired listeners

An audio system processes a speech signal to maintain a target value of the speech intelligibility index (SII) while minimizing the overall speech level so that speech intelligibility is preserved across different environmental sound levels while possible distortions and overall loudness are mitigated. In one embodiment, a hearing aid processes a speech signal received from another device to maintain a target value of the SII while minimizing the overall speech level before mixing the speech signal with a microphone signal.

Method and apparatus for pre-processing speech to maintain speech intelligibility

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise in audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter includes a method for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise for audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The method includes receiving an audio signal using a microphone array and processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise. A barrier-type beamforming process is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array. The beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier function, according to various embodiments.

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Chanhassen, MN, United States of America

Jinjun Xiao