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A directional adaptive least-mean-square acoustic array for hearing aid enhancement
1School of Electrical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman 73019-0631, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|July 1, 1995
Summary
This study introduces a novel directional microphone array for hearing aids, enhancing sound quality by reducing background noise. The system improves the signal-to-noise ratio, offering clearer audio for users.
Area of Science:
- Acoustic engineering
- Signal processing
- Hearing aid technology
Background:
- Traditional adaptive arrays struggle with focus in hearing aids due to microphone limitations.
- Existing systems face challenges in attenuating diverse interference noises effectively.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a hybrid fixed and adaptive microphone array system for hearing aids.
- To enhance desired signal reception while suppressing interference and background noise.
- To investigate the performance of a directional adaptive least-mean-square (LMS) four-element array.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing directional microphones in a restricted geometry adaptive array.
- Implementing a hybrid system combining fixed and adaptive array principles.
- Employing least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm for adaptive beamforming.
Main Results:
- Achieved a directivity index improvement of 8.6–11 dB with four hypercardioid microphones.
- Demonstrated significant reduction in interference noise (29.7–42.3 dB).
- Provided a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement of 11.5–12.2 dB compared to a single microphone.
Conclusions:
- A compact four-element directional microphone array can effectively filter spatial interference.
- The proposed system significantly enhances SNR performance in hearing aid applications.
- This technology offers a viable solution for improving audio clarity in noisy environments.