US 6,983,055 B2
Method and apparatus for an adaptive binaural beamforming system
Fa-Long Luo, San Jose, Calif. (US)
Assigned to GN Resound North America Corporation, Redwood, Calif. (US)
Filed on Dec. 05, 2001, as Appl. No. 10/6,086.
Application 10/006086 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/593266, filed on Jun. 13, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2002/0041695 A1, Apr. 11, 2002
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 381—313 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A hearing aid, comprising:
a first microphone configured for outputting a first microphone signal;
a second microphone configured for outputting a second microphone signal, wherein said first and second microphones are configured for being positioned as a first end-fire array proximate to a user's left ear;
a third microphone configured for outputting a third microphone signal;
a fourth microphone configured for outputting a fourth microphone signal, wherein said third and fourth microphones are configured for being positioned as a second end-fire array proximate to a user's right ear;
a left spatial filter comprising:
a first fixed polar pattern unit configured for outputting a first unit output;
a second fixed polar pattern unit configured for outputting a second unit output; and
a first combining unit comprising a first adaptive filter and configured for receiving said first and second unit outputs and for outputting a left spatial filter output signal.
a right spatial filter comprising:
a third fixed polar pattern unit configured for outputting a third unit output;
a fourth fixed polar pattern unit configured for outputting a fourth unit output; and
a second combining unit comprising a second adaptive filter and configured for receiving said third and fourth unit outputs and for outputting a right spatial filter output signal;
a binaural spatial filter comprising:
a third combining unit configured for combining said left spatial filter output signal and said right spatial filter output signal and for outputting a reference signal;
a third adaptive filter configured for receiving said reference signal;
a fourth combining unit configured for combining said left spatial filter output signal with a third adaptive filter output and for outputting a left channel output signal;
a fourth adaptive filter configured for receiving said reference signal; and
a fifth combining unit configured for combining said right spatial filter output signal with a fourth adaptive filter output and for outputting a right channel output signal;
a first output transducer configured for converting said left channel output signal to a left channel audio output; and
a second output transducer configured for converting said right channel output signal to a right channel audio output.