US-12620402-B2 - Hearing device with acceleration-based beamforming

Abstract

A hearing device includes: a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively; a beamforming module configured to process the first microphone input signal and the second microphone input signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a beamformed input signal; a processor configured to process the beamformed input signal for provision of an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal from the beamforming module; a receiver configured to convert the electrical output signal to an audio output signal; and a motion detector; wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamforming controller coupled to the motion detector, and wherein the beamforming controller is configured to control the beamforming module based on motion data from the motion detector.

Inventors

• Jesper UDESEN

Assignees

• GN HEARING A/S

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230207

Priority Date

20181220

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A hearing device comprising: a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively; a beamforming module configured to process the first microphone input signal and the second microphone input signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a beamformed input signal; a processing unit configured for provision of an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; a receiver configured to provide an audio output signal based on the electrical output signal; and a motion detector configured to detect a movement of the hearing device; wherein the hearing device is configured to: determine whether a movement parameter MP corresponding with the detected movement satisfies a movement criterion that includes a movement threshold THM, determine whether a noise parameter NP satisfies a noise criterion that includes a noise threshold THN, and apply a first beamforming mode if the movement parameter MP satisfies the movement criterion, and if the noise parameter NP satisfies the noise criterion; wherein the movement threshold THM of the movement criterion and the noise threshold THN of the noise criterion together form a first focus criterion; and wherein the hearing device is configured to determine if a second focus criterion is satisfied, wherein the second focus criterion comprises another movement threshold THM2 and another noise threshold THN2.
2. 2 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamforming controller.
3. 3 . The hearing device according to claim 2 , wherein the beamforming controller comprises a noise estimator for provision of the noise parameter NP indicative of a noise level.
4. 4 . The hearing device according to claim 2 , wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamformer, and wherein the beamforming controller is configured to control the beamformer of the beamforming module.
5. 5 . The hearing device according to claim 2 , wherein the beamforming controller is coupled to the motion detector.
6. 6 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured to: apply the first beamforming mode if the movement parameter MP is less than the movement threshold THM, and if the noise parameter NP is larger than the noise threshold THN.
7. 7 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement parameter MP is based on motion data from the motion detector.
8. 8 . The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the noise threshold THN is for detecting interfering sound.
9. 9 . The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is a hearing aid configured for wear at or behind an ear of a user of the hearing device.
10. 10 . The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured to determine if a third focus criterion is satisfied, the third focus criterion being different from the first focus criterion and the second criterion.
11. 11 . The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured to apply the first beamforming mode by increasing a directionality of a current beamforming.
12. 12 . The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing device is configured to apply a second beamforming mode if the movement parameter MP does not satisfy the movement criterion.
13. 13 . The hearing device of claim 12 , wherein the hearing device is configured to apply the second beamforming mode by applying no beamforming directionality or by reducing a directionality of the current beamforming.
14. 14 . A method performed by a hearing device, comprising: obtaining a first input signal and a second input signal; processing, by a beamforming module, the first input signal and the second input signal for provision of a beamformed input signal; providing an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; providing an audio output signal based on the electrical output signal; detecting motion of the hearing device; determining whether a movement parameter MP satisfies a movement criterion that includes a movement threshold THM, wherein the movement parameter MP corresponds with the detected motion; determining whether a noise parameter NP satisfies a noise criterion that includes a noise threshold THN; and applying a first beamforming mode if the movement parameter MP satisfies the movement criterion, and if the noise parameter NP satisfies the noise criterion; wherein the movement threshold THM of the movement criterion and the noise threshold THN of the noise criterion together form a first focus criterion; and wherein the method further comprises determining if a second focus criterion is satisfied, wherein the second focus criterion comprises another movement threshold THM2 and another noise threshold THN2.
15. 15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein an entirety of the hearing device with the beamforming module is configured for wear at a head of a user.
16. 16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the noise threshold THN is for detecting interfering sound.
17. 17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the hearing device is a hearing aid configured for wear at or behind an ear of a user of the hearing aid, and wherein the method is performed by the hearing aid.
18. 18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising determining if a third focus criterion is satisfied, the third focus criterion being different from the first focus criterion and the second criterion.
19. 19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the act of applying the first beamforming mode comprises increasing a directionality of a current beamforming.
20. 20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising applying a second beamforming mode if the movement parameter MP does not satisfy the movement criterion.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/667,883 filed on Oct. 29, 2019, which claims priority to, and the benefit of, European Patent Application No. 18214347.9 filed on Dec. 20, 2018. The entire disclosure of the above application is expressly incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a hearing device with adaptive processing and in particular to a hearing device with acceleration-based processing and related methods including a method of operating a hearing device. BACKGROUND Environments where multiple sources provide audio signals continue to present a challenge to hearing device users and hearing device manufacturers. SUMMARY Accordingly, there is a need for hearing devices and methods with improved capability of adaption to different listening situations. A hearing device is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a set of microphones comprising a first microphone and/or a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively; a beamforming module connected to the first microphone and/or the second microphone for processing the first microphone input signal and/or the second microphone input signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a beamformed input signal; a processor for processing the beamformed input signal for provision of an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal from the beamforming module; a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal; and an optional motion detector, wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamforming controller connected to the motion detector. The beamforming controller is optionally configured to control the beamforming module based on motion data from the motion detector. Further, a method of operating a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising: obtaining a first input signal and a second input signal; applying a beamforming mode to the first input signal and the second input signal for provision of a beamformed input signal; processing the beamformed input signal for provision of an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; and converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal. The method optionally comprises obtaining motion data and adjusting the beamforming mode based on the motion data. The present disclosure allows for improved listening experience by automatically detecting a user focus and adjusting beamforming. Further, improved control of situations where a user of a hearing device is in a noisy environment where it may be advantageous to spatially focus the hearing device to a specific sound source. This may e.g. be advantageous if a user of the hearing device is in a social setting, such as in a cocktail party environment, where there are a number of people surrounding the user that are talking. It is an advantage of the present disclosure that beamforming processing of microphone input signals is automatically adjusted when a user focuses on a source and optionally only when there is a need for beamforming e.g. when the user is in a noisy environment. Only applying beamforming when necessary may lead to a power-efficient hearing device while still providing a satisfactory listening experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary hearing device according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method according to the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter, with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as a limitation on the scope of the invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described. A hearing device is disclosed. The hearing device may be a hearable or a hearing aid, wherein the processor is configured to compensate for a hearing loss of a user. The hearing device may be of the behind-the-ear (BTE) type, in-the-ear (ITE) type, in-the-canal (ITC) type, receiver-in-canal (RIC) type or receiv