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Gaze Steered Microphone Array for Understanding Speech in Noisy Areas

Award Number: R44DC013216
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2013
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2023

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Gaze Steered Microphone Array for Understanding Speech in Noisy Areas - Project Summary/Abstract Advanced Medical Electronics (AME) proposes the development of a novel portable wireless hearing aid accessory that utilizes head pose and eye tracking of the hearing aid user to steer a microphone array in the direction of interest. A common problem for hearing aid users is the difficulty of participating in conversations in a noisy environment such as at a workplace or restaurant. While hearing aids can improve speech intelligibility in certain types of noise, it is difficult to distinguish between multiple talkers where some might be “noise” and others are not. Two of the best solutions for improving hearing aid performance in these scenarios include: 1) moving a separate companion microphone closer to the source or 2) aiming a beamforming array microphone, which is more sensitive to sound in a particular direction, towards the desired sound source. While companion microphones have been shown to be effective, they have drawbacks that have limited their use. Companion microphones require an active involvement of the speakers to use microphones. There are many situations where this is impractical or socially awkward. There are also microphone beamforming array solutions on the market, but there are challenges with steering or pointing the array to the source of interest as well as making the array unobtrusive. This Proposal presents an innovative solution for using a beamforming array microphone that solves the issues of being cumbersome and slow to point, especially in a fast moving conversation of many people. The front facing camera (the side with the screen) on a smartphone will be utilized to detect the head pose and eye direction of the hearing aid user's focus of attention. The microphone array, attached to the back of a smartphone, will be electronically steered with signal processing to collect sound from the direction the user is looking. The processed audio will then be transmitted directly to the user's hearing aid via a digital wireless link. The user will simply hold the smartphone in a natural manner for someone using a smartphone and look at the person in a group they want to listen to. In Phase II, AME will build a production prototype system and test it with hearing impaired individuals.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$1,654 )
2023	2018	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORP	6901 E FISH LAKE RD	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	9/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1,654
														Subtotal = -$1,654

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2018	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION	6901 E FISH LAKE RD STE 190	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	3/22/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2018	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION	6901 E FISH LAKE RD STE 190	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	3/23/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2020	2018	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION	6901 E FISH LAKE RD STE 190	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	3/19/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $533,247 )
2018	2018	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION	6901 E FISH LAKE RD STE 190	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	4/11/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$533,247
														Subtotal = $533,247

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $442,768 )
2017	2017	ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION	6901 E FISH LAKE RD STE 190	MAPLE GROVE	MN	55369	HENNEPIN	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	3/23/2017	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$442,768
														Subtotal = $442,768

Grand Total All Awards = $974,361

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Gaze Steered Microphone Array for Understanding Speech in Noisy Areas

Award Number: R44DC013216

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2013

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2023

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