US 12,219,325 B2
Method for localizing a sound source for a binaural hearing system
Matthias Müller-Wehlau, Erlangen (DE); Niklas Harlander, Erlangen (DE); and Christoph Lüken, Erlangen (DE)
Assigned to Sivantos Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed by SIVANTOS PTE. LTD., Singapore (SG)
Filed on Mar. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/610,533.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2023 202 437.3 (DE), filed on Mar. 20, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0323620 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/552 (2013.01) [H04R 25/405 (2013.01); H04R 25/407 (2013.01); H04R 25/505 (2013.01); H04R 2225/43 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for localizing a sound source for a binaural hearing system having a first hearing instrument and a second hearing instrument, the method comprising:
generating, by a plurality of first input transducers of the first hearing instrument, a plurality of first input signals from an ambient sound signal;
generating, by a plurality of second input transducers of the second hearing instrument, a plurality of second input signals from the ambient sound signal;
generating a plurality of first directional signals based on the first input signals by way of directional signal processing, such that each of the first directional signals has a minimum sensitivity in a different minimum direction with respect to a preferred direction of the binaural hearing system, and determining on a basis of the first directional signals a first source direction of the sound source with respect to the said preferred direction, starting from the first hearing instrument;
generating a plurality of second directional signals based on the second input signals by way of directional signal processing, such that each of the second directional signals has a minimum sensitivity in a different minimum direction with respect to the preferred direction, and determining on a basis of the second directional signals a second source direction of the sound source with respect to the preferred direction, starting from the second hearing instrument; and
determining, based on the first source direction, the second source direction, and a distance between the first and second hearing instruments, a distance of the sound source from a reference point of the binaural hearing system and a main direction of the sound source with respect to the preferred direction, and thereby localizing the sound source.