Omni-directional perception in a binaural hearing aid system

A method for providing audio signals in a hearing aid system comprising a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid, the method comprising:

• providing a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic in a first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic in the first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a first output signal based on the first audio signal;
• providing a second output signal based on the second audio signal;
• providing a first audio output based on the first output signal;
• and
• providing a second audio output based on the second output signal;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic has a first main lobe with a first direction associated with a forward direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic has a second main lobe with a second direction associated with a backward direction;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic corresponds with the second primary spatial characteristic, and the second direction of the second main lobe of the second primary spatial characteristic is more than 60° from the first direction of the first main lobe of the first primary spatial characteristic;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic is attributable to a beamformer, and wherein the method further comprises providing a mode controller to control the beamformer;
• and
• wherein the mode controller is configured to control both the beamformer, and an additional beamformer.

A hearing aid system comprising:

• a first hearing aid comprising:
• a first set of microphones for provision of one or more first electrical input signals,
• a first beamformer connected to the first set of microphones,
• a first processing module for provision of a first output signal, and
• a first receiver for provision of a first audio output;
• and
• a second hearing aid comprising:
• a second set of microphones for provision of one or more second electrical input signals,
• a second beamformer connected to the second set of microphones,
• a second processing module for provision of a second output signal, and
• a second receiver for provision of a second audio output;
• wherein in the first operating mode, the first beamformer of the hearing aid system and the second beamformer of the hearing aid system are configured to provide a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic, and a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic, the first primary spatial characteristic having a first main lobe with a first direction associated with a forward direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic having a second main lobe with a second direction associated with a backward direction;
• wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is anywhere from 160° to 200°;
• wherein the hearing aid system further includes a first mode controller configured to control the first beamformer;
• and
• wherein the first mode controller is configured to control both the first beamformer and the second beamformer.

A hearing aid system comprising:

• a first hearing aid comprising:
• a first set of microphones for provision of one or more first electrical input signals,
• a first beamformer connected to the first set of microphones,
• a first processing module for provision of a first output signal, and
• a first receiver for provision of a first audio output;
• and
• a second hearing aid comprising:
• a second set of microphones for provision of one or more second electrical input signals,
• a second beamformer connected to the second set of microphones,
• a second processing module for provision of a second output signal, and
• a second receiver for provision of a second audio output;
• wherein in the first operating mode, the first beamformer of the hearing aid system and the second beamformer of the hearing aid are configured to provide a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic, and a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic, the first primary spatial characteristic having a first main lobe with a first direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic having a second main lobe with a second direction;
• wherein the first direction is anywhere from −45° to 45° with respect to a first reference direction, and wherein the second direction is anywhere from −60° to 60° with respect to a second reference direction that is opposite the first reference direction, and wherein the first reference direction is a forward direction;
• wherein the hearing aid system further includes a first mode controller configured to control the first beamformer;
• and
• wherein the first mode controller is configured to control both the first beamformer and the second beamformer.

A method for providing audio signals in a hearing aid system comprising a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid, the method comprising:

• providing a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic in a first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic in the first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a first output signal based on the first audio signal;
• providing a second output signal based on the second audio signal;
• providing a first audio output based on the first output signal;
• and
• providing a second audio output based on the second output signal;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic has a first main lobe with a first direction associated with a forward direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic has a second main lobe with a second direction associated with a backward direction;
• wherein an angle between the first direction and the second direction is anywhere from 160° to 200°;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic is attributable to a beamformer, and wherein the method further comprises providing a mode controller to control the beamformer;
• and
• wherein the mode controller is configured to communicate with the beamformer, and an additional beamformer.

A method for providing audio signals in a hearing aid system comprising a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid, the method comprising:

• providing a first audio signal in accordance with a first primary spatial characteristic in a first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a second audio signal in accordance with a second primary spatial characteristic in the first operating mode of the hearing aid system;
• providing a first output signal based on the first audio signal;
• providing a second output signal based on the second audio signal;
• providing a first audio output based on the first output signal;
• and
• providing a second audio output based on the second output signal;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic has a first main lobe with a first direction, and the second primary spatial characteristic has a second main lobe with a second direction;
• wherein the first direction is anywhere from −45° to 45° with respect to a first reference direction, and wherein the second direction is anywhere from −60° to 60° with respect to a second reference direction that is opposite the first reference direction, and wherein the first reference direction is a forward direction;
• wherein the first primary spatial characteristic is attributable to a beamformer, and wherein the method further comprises providing a mode controller to control the beamformer;
• and
• wherein the mode controller is configured to control both the beamformer and an additional beamformer.