# US 2019/0174235 A1 · Hearing device and method with intelligent steering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174235 A1 - Document ID: US20190174235A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/832,641 - Filed: 2017-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Assignees: GN Hearing A/S - Applicants: Gn Hearing A/S - Inventors: Changxue MA; Rob De Vries; Andrew Dittberner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174235A1 ## CPC - H04R 25/407: {Circuits for combining signals of a plurality of transducers} - H04R 25/405: {by combining a plurality of transducers} - H04R 25/43: {Electronic input selection or mixing based on input signal analysis, e.g. mixing or selection between microphone and telecoil or between microphones with different directivity characteristics (H04R25/407 takes precedence)} - H04R 25/505: {using digital signal processing} - H04R 25/552: {Binaural} - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04R 25/60: {Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654)} - H04R 2225/41: Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest - H04R 2225/51: Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids - H04R 2430/20: Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic (H04R2203/12 takes precedence) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal. The method comprises obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method may comprise obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method comprises determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal. The method may comprise combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. The method comprises providing the output beamform signal for further processing including hearing loss compensation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a hearing device, comprising: obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal; obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal; obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal; determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal; combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal; and providing the output beamform signal for hearing loss compensation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal comprises reducing a first gain for the first beamform signal from a first primary gain to a first secondary gain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal comprises increasing a second gain for the second beamform signal from a second primary gain to a second secondary gain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining a third beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal are combined with the third beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of the output beamform signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the first beamformer based on the first beamform signal and/or the first parameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a second parameter based on the second beamform signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining a third parameter based on a third beamform signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the act of combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal is also based on the second parameter and/or the third parameter for provision of the output beamform signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining a contralateral signal from a contralateral hearing device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal comprises increase a gain for the second beamform signal from a primary gain to a secondary gain. ### Claim 12 A hearing device comprising: a set of microphones comprising a first microphone for provision of a first microphone signal, and a second microphone for provision of a second microphone signal; a beamforming module connected to the first microphone and the second microphone, wherein the beamforming module comprises a first beamformer for providing a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal, and a second beamformer for providing a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal, wherein the beamforming module comprises a beamforming controller; a processing unit configured to provide an electrical output signal based on an input signal; and a receiver configured to provide an audio output signal based on the electrical output signal; wherein the beamforming controller is configured to: determine a first parameter based on the first beamform signal; and combine the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hearing device according to claim 12, wherein the beamforming controller is configured to combine the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter by reducing a first gain for the first beamform signal from a first primary gain to a first secondary gain. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hearing device according to claim 13, wherein the beamforming controller is configured to combine the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter by increasing a second gain for the second beamform signal from a second primary gain to a second secondary gain. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The hearing device according to claim 12, wherein the beamforming controller is configured to obtain a third beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The hearing device according to claim 12, wherein the beamforming controller is configured to combine the first beamform signal, the second beamform signal and the third beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of the output beamform signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The hearing device according to claim 12, wherein the beamforming controller is configured to combine the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter by increasing a gain for the second beamform signal from a primary gain to a secondary gain. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The hearing device according to claim 12, further comprising: an antenna for converting a first wireless input signal of a first external source to an antenna output signal; a radio transceiver coupled to the antenna for converting the antenna output signal to a transceiver input signal; wherein the radio transceiver is coupled to the processing unit.