Audio processing in a portable listening device
First Claim
1. A method of reducing power consumption in a binaural listening system that processes an audio signal in a portable hearing aid of the binaural listening system, the audio signal comprising a low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth Δ
- fLF and a high-frequency part having a HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF, the method comprising;
providing a first portable hearing aid and a second portable hearing aid;
receiving power in each of the first and second portable hearing aids from a local source of energy in each respective portable hearing aid;
providing an audio input signal consisting of said low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF to the second portable hearing aid;
performing signal processing on the low frequency part of the audio signal by the second portable hearing aid;
wirelessly transmitting the low frequency part from the second portable hearing aid to the first portable hearing aid;
receiving the transmitted low frequency part by the first portable hearing aid; and
performing a bandwidth extension process on said low frequency part of the audio signal by the first portable hearing aid to generate said high-frequency part of the audio signal, thereby generating or regenerating an audio output signal with a full bandwidth Δ
ffull comprising said LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF and said HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF, whereinthe LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF constitutes 0.7 times or less of the full bandwidth Δ
ffull of the audio signal, andthe performing of said signal processing includes performing at least a majority of the processing steps ofintroducing frequency dependent gain;
compression;
noise reduction;
feedback suppression; and
extraction of directionality information on the low frequency part of the audio signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of processing an audio signal in a portable listening device, the audio signal comprising a low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth ΔfLF and a high-frequency part having a HF-bandwidth ΔfHF. The invention further relates to a listening device and to a listening system. The object of the present invention is to improve performance or save power in a portable listening device. The problem is solved in that the method comprises a) providing an audio input signal consisting of said low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth ΔfLF; b) performing at least one signal processing step on the low frequency part of the audio signal; and c) performing a bandwidth extension process on said low frequency part of the audio signal to generate said high-frequency part of the audio signal, thereby generating or regenerating said audio output signal with a full bandwidth Δffull comprising said LF-bandwidth ΔfLF and said HF-bandwidth ΔfHF. An advantage of this is that power consumption is reduced. The invention may e.g. be used for portable communication device, mobile telephones or listening devices, such as a hearing aids, ear protection devices, headsets, head phones, etc.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of reducing power consumption in a binaural listening system that processes an audio signal in a portable hearing aid of the binaural listening system, the audio signal comprising a low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth Δ
- fLF and a high-frequency part having a HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF, the method comprising;providing a first portable hearing aid and a second portable hearing aid; receiving power in each of the first and second portable hearing aids from a local source of energy in each respective portable hearing aid; providing an audio input signal consisting of said low frequency part having an LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF to the second portable hearing aid;performing signal processing on the low frequency part of the audio signal by the second portable hearing aid; wirelessly transmitting the low frequency part from the second portable hearing aid to the first portable hearing aid; receiving the transmitted low frequency part by the first portable hearing aid; and performing a bandwidth extension process on said low frequency part of the audio signal by the first portable hearing aid to generate said high-frequency part of the audio signal, thereby generating or regenerating an audio output signal with a full bandwidth Δ
ffull comprising said LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF and said HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF, whereinthe LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF constitutes 0.7 times or less of the full bandwidth Δ
ffull of the audio signal, andthe performing of said signal processing includes performing at least a majority of the processing steps of introducing frequency dependent gain; compression; noise reduction; feedback suppression; and extraction of directionality information on the low frequency part of the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11)
- fLF and a high-frequency part having a HF-bandwidth Δ
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7. A binaural listening system, comprising:
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first and second portable hearing aids, each being configured to present an electrical output audio signal to a wearer of the hearing aid, the electrical output audio signal having a full bandwidth Δ
ffull comprising a low frequency part with LF-bandwidth Δ
LF and a high frequency part with HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF,wherein the second portable hearing aid includes a local source of energy within the second portable hearing aid powering the second portable hearing aid, a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the low frequency part of the electrical output audio signal with the bandwidth Δ
fLF to the first portable hearing aid,the first portable hearing aid includes a wireless receiver for receiving said low frequency part of the electrical output audio signal, a signal processor configured to process the low frequency part of the electrical output aidio signal and configured to provide a processed low bandwidth signal, a local source of energy within said first portable hearing aid powering the first portable hearing aid, and a bandwidth extension unit for constructing or re-generating the high-frequency part of the electrical output audio signal, the high-frequency part having the HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF, and for forming the electrical output audio signal having the full bandwidth Δ
ffull based on or comprising said low frequency part having the LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF and said high frequency part having the HF-bandwidth Δ
fHF,the LF-bandwidth Δ
fLF constitutes 0.7 times or less of the full bandwidth Δ
ffull of the audio signal, andsaid signal processor is configured to perform at least a majority of introducing frequency dependent gain; compression; noise reduction; feedback suppression; and extraction of directionality information on the low frequency part of the audio signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 12)
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Specification