Electronic pressure‑regulating earplug system with adaptive closed‑loop control, wireless charging, and connected monitoring platform

Abstract

An electronic earplug system configured to dynamically regulate ear canal pressure using a controllable microvalve, pressure sensor, and microcontroller executing a closed-loop control algorithm The system constrains rate of pressure change to reduce tympanic membrane strain, incorporates safety override mechanisms with normally-closed fail-safe operation, and supports wireless charging and encrypted wireless communication. The airflow pathway has a diameter between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, and the system maintains acoustic isolation of at least 20 dB when the valve is closed. A connected monitoring platform includes a mobile application and backend server. The invention reduces discomfort during rapid environmental pressure changes encountered in aviation and altitude environments.

Description

[0001] Title: ELECTRONIC PRESSURE-REGULATING EARPLUG SYSTEM WITH ADAPTIVE CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL, WIRELESS CHARGING, AND CONNECTED MONITORING PLATFORM

[0002] 1 . Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to electronic hearing protection devices and more particularly to an earplug system incorporating active pressure regulation using a controllable microvalve, closed-loop control algorithms, wireless communication, and wireless charging.

[0004] 2. Background Art

[0005] Passive pressure equalization earplugs rely on fixed airflow pathways and cannot dynamically respond to rapid ambient pressure changes experienced during aircraft ascent and descent, altitude transitions, or diving. Such passive systems frequently result in delayed pressure equalization, user discomfort, and inconsistent performance. Increasing airflow capacity to improve pressure relief often compromises acoustic isolation, reducing the effectiveness of hearing protection. Existing devices do not provide active closed-loop regulation of ear canal pressure using electronic sensing and valve actuation.

[0006] 3. Disclosure of the Invention

[0007] The invention provides an electronic earplug system including a housing configured for insertion into an ear canal, an airflow pathway extending through the housing, acontrollable microvalve disposed within the airflow pathway, at least one pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the ear canal and external ambient pressure and determine a pressure differential, a microcontroller configured to generate control signals for actuating the controllable microvalve based on the pressure differential, and a rechargeable battery with associated power management circuitry.

[0008] The microcontroller regulates airflow by actuating the microvalve based on both magnitude and rate of change of a detected pressure differential. In certain embodiments the control algorithm comprises proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, adaptive control updating parameters using stored pressure history data, or predictive modeling based on time-series pressure measurements.

[0009] In operation during aircraft descent, the microcontroller constrains the rate of pressure change within the ear canal to remain below a predefined maximum rate threshold, thereby reducing tympanic membrane strain. This rate-limiting feature provides a physiological benefit not achievable with passive pressure-regulating devices.

[0010] The predictive model may be implemented as a recurrent neural network trained on pressure profiles collected during actual aircraft descents, enabling the system to anticipate pressure changes before they occur and pre-emptively actuate the micro valve.

[0011] A safety override module limits valve actuation when calculated ear canal pressure exceeds predefined safety thresholds. The microvalve may default to a normally-closed fail-safe state in absence of electrical power.

[0012] The airflow pathway preferably has a cross-sectional dimension between 0.5 mm and 3 mm to balance airflow capacity with acoustic isolation requirements. In preferred embodiments, the system maintains acoustic isolation of at least 20 dB when the controllable microvalve is in a closed state.

[0013] Wireless communication may be implemented using Bluetooth Low Energy protocol with encrypted data transmission and over-the-air firmware update capability. Wireless charging may be achieved via an inductive receiver coil integrated within the housing and configured to comply with Qi wireless charging standards.4. Brief Description of Drawings

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a system block diagram of the electronic earplug architecture showing the pressure sensor, microcontroller, controllable microvalve, and power management circuitry.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the earplug housing showing the airflow pathway, component placement, and relationship to the ear canal.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a closed-loop pressure regulation control flow chart depicting sensing, computation, safety checking, and valve actuation steps.

[0017] FIG.4 illustrates a wireless charging receiver architecture showing the receiver coil, wireless power receiver IC, battery management circuit, and rechargeable battery.

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a connected monitoring system including the electronic earplug, mobile application, and backend server with communication pathways.

[0019] 5. Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 , the electronic earplug system 100 comprises a pressure sensor 130, a microcontroller 140, a controllable microvalve 150, and power management circuitry 170. The pressure sensor 130, preferably a MEMS-based barometric pressure sensor having a resolution finer than 10 pascals, detects pressure within the ear canal and external ambient pressure. The microcontroller 140 receives pressure data from the pressure sensor 130 and generates control signals for actuating the controllable microvalve 150 based on the determined pressure differential. The power management circuitry 170 is connected to a rechargeable battery 160 and distributes power to all electronic components. An optional temperature sensor 132 may be connected to the microcontroller 140 to provide temperature compensation for pressure measurements. All components are contained within a housing 110 configured for insertion into an ear canal.Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view shows the housing 110 with an ear-canal-facing opening 112 at the insertion end and an ambient vent 114 at the opposite end. An airflow pathway 120 extends through the housing 110 between the opening 112 and the vent 114. The airflow pathway 120 preferably has a cross-sectional dimension between 0.5 mm and 3 mm to balance airflow capacity with acoustic isolation requirements. The controllable microvalve 150 is disposed along the airflow pathway 120 and regulates bidirectional airflow between the ear canal and the ambient environment. The pressure sensor 130 is positioned near the ear-canal-facing opening 112 to accurately detect pressure within the ear canal. The microcontroller 140, rechargeable battery 160, and power management circuitry 170 are arranged within the housing 110, isolated from the airflow pathway 120 to prevent contamination. A wireless charging receiver coil 172 is disposed around the inner circumference of the housing 110, preferably near the ambient vent 114. The ear canal 200 is shown in dashed lines for anatomical context.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the closed-loop control algorithm begins with sensing the pressure differential at step 210. The microcontroller computes a control output at step 220 based on both the magnitude and rate of change of the pressure differential. A safety threshold check is applied at decision step 230. If the pressure remains within predefined safety thresholds, the microcontroller proceeds to actuate the microvalve at step 240. If the pressure exceeds safety thresholds, a safety override limits or prevents actuation. After actuation, the algorithm returns to step 210 for continuous closed-loop regulation. The microcontroller may implement proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, adaptive control with parameter updating using stored pressure history, or predictive modeling based on time-series pressure measurements.

[0022] Referring to FIG.4, the wireless charging receiver architecture comprises a receiver coil 172 that receives inductive power from an external charger. The receiver coil 172 is connected to a wireless power receiver IC 174, which converts the induced AC power to regulated DC power. The receiver IC 174 is connected to a battery management circuit 176 that controls charging of the rechargeable battery 160. The battery management circuit 176 is further connected to the power management circuitry 170, which distributes power to the system components. The wireless charging system may comply with Qi wireless charging standards.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, the connected monitoring system comprises one or more electronic earplugs 100, a mobile application 190 running on a user device, and a backend server192. The electronic earplug 100 communicates with the mobile application 190 via encrypted Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. The mobile application 190 may display telemetry data, receive user configuration parameters, and enable selection of predefined operating modes corresponding to aircraft travel, diving, or altitude sports scenarios. The mobile application 190 may communicate with the backend server 192 via cellular or Wi-Fi networks for data synchronization, firmware updates, or cloudbased analytics. Multiple electronic earplug systems may synchronize wirelessly to coordinate valve actuation and maintain bilateral pressure balance.

[0024] In operation during aircraft descent, the system detects increasing ambient pressure via the pressure sensor 130. The microcontroller 140 evaluates the pressure differential and its rate of change, then actuates the microvalve 150 to equalize ear canal pressure within a predefined tolerance band. The microcontroller constrains the rate of pressure change within the ear canal to remain below a predefined maximum rate threshold, reducing tympanic membrane strain. The system may equalize pressure within 200 milliseconds of detecting a threshold differential. When the microvalve 150 is in a closed state, the system maintains acoustic isolation of at least 20 dB.

[0025] The pressure-regulating assembly may be implemented as a standalone component suitable for integration into electronic earplugs, hearing aids, in-ear monitors, or other ear-worn devices requiring active pressure regulation.

[0026] 6. Industrial Applicability

[0027] The electronic earplug system may be manufactured using conventional printed circuit board assembly techniques and injection-molded biocompatible housings. The invention is applicable to commercial aviation, defence aviation, altitude sports, diving, hyperbaric environments, and consumer travel markets.

[0028] Reference Signs List

[0029] Numeral Component

[0030] 100 Electronic earplug system

[0031] 110 HousingEar-canal-facing opening Ambient vent

[0032] Airflow pathway

[0033] Pressure sensor

[0034] Temperature sensor Microcontroller

[0035] Controllable microvalve

[0036] Valve actuator

[0037] Rechargeable battery

[0038] Power management circuitry Wireless charging receiver coil Wireless power receiver IC Battery management circuit Wireless communication module Mobile application

[0039] Backend server

[0040] Ear canal

[0041] Sense pressure differential step Compute control output step Safety threshold check step Actuate microvalve step

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMSClaims received by the International Bureau on 18 August 20261. An electronic earplug system comprising:a housing configured to be received in an ear canal;an airflow pathway extending through the housing;a controllable microvalve disposed within the airflow pathway;at least one pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the ear canal and pressure external to the ear canal and determine a pressure differential;a microcontroller configured to generate control signals for actuating the controllable microvalve based on the pressure differential; anda rechargeable battery and associated power management circuitry,wherein the microcontroller executes a closed-loop control algorithm that computes a control output based on both a magnitude and a rate of change of the pressure differential,wherein the microcontroller constrains a rate of pressure change within the ear canal to remain below a predefined maximum rate threshold,wherein the microcontroller equalizes ear canal pressure to within a predefined tolerance band in less than 200 milliseconds following detection of a threshold differential, andwherein the system maintains acoustic isolation of at least 20 dB when the controllable microvalve is in a closed state.

2. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop control algorithm comprises proportional-integral-derivative control.

3. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop control algorithm comprises adaptive control that updates control parameters using stored pressure history data.

4. The electronic earplug system of claim 3, wherein the adaptive control comprises a predictive model trained on time-series pressure measurements.

5. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, further comprising a safety override module configured to limit actuation of the controllable microvalve when calculated ear canal pressure exceeds a predefined safety threshold.

6. The electronic earplug system of claim 5, wherein the controllable microvalve defaults to a normally-closed state in absence of electrical power.

7. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a MEMS-based barometric pressure sensor having a resolution finer than 10 pascals.

8. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, wherein the airflow pathway has a diameter between 0.5 millimetres and 3 millimetres.

9. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless charging receiver coil disposed within the housing.

10. The electronic earplug system of claim 9, wherein the wireless charging system complies with a Qi wireless charging standard.

11. The electronic earplug system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication module configured to communicate with a mobile application.

12. The electronic earplug system of claim 11, wherein communication between the electronic earplug system and the mobile application is encrypted.

13. The electronic earplug system of claim 11, further configured to receive firmware updates wirelessly.

14. A method of regulating pressure within an ear canal of a user, comprising:detecting a pressure differential using at least one pressure sensor;processing signals using a microcontroller executing a closed-loop control algorithm that computes a control output based on both a magnitude and a rate of change of the pressure differential; and actuating a controllable microvalve to reduce the pressure differential,wherein the microcontroller constrains a rate of pressure change within the ear canal to remain below a predefined maximum rate threshold, andwherein the microcontroller equalizes ear canal pressure to within a predefined tolerance band in less than 200 milliseconds following detection of a threshold differential.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein processing comprises predictive modeling of anticipated aircraft cabin descent pressure profiles.

16. A pressure -regulating ear protection system comprising the electronic earplug system of claim 1 and a mobile application configured to receive telemetry data and transmit configuration parameters.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile application enables selection of predefined operating modes corresponding to aircraft travel, diving, or altitude sports scenarios.International Bureau of WIPOAugust 17, 2026 To,International Bureau of WIPO34, chemin des ColombettesCH- 1211 Geneva 20, SwitzerlandREF: International Application No.: PCT / AU2026 / 050132International Filing date: February 19, 2026Priority Date: March 14, 2025Applicant: AUSTRALIA TRAVEL SAFE PTY LTD.SUB: Statement under PCT Article 19(1)Dear Sir,I. Novelty of amended claims 1 and 14 under PCT Article 33(2)The Applicant respectfully disagrees with the conclusion that original claims 1 and 18 lack novelty over DI and D2. The independent claims have been amended using subject matter disclosed in the application as filed, including limitations of original claims 2, 6, 10 and 17.Neither DI nor D2, considered individually, discloses the claimed combination of rate-sensitive closed-loop control, a maximum pressure -change-rate constraint and equalisation to a predefined tolerance band in less than 200 milliseconds. DI and D2 also do not disclose the quantified acoustic-isolation limitation of amended claim 1. Accordingly, neither DI nor D2 anticipates amended claims 1 or 14, which therefore satisfy PCT Article 33(2).II. Inventive step of amended claims 1 and 14 under PCT Article 33(3)DI and D2 disclose threshold-responsive active vent arrangements, D3 uses a sensor-triggered micro air pump, and D4 concerns predetermined therapeutic pressure profiles. None discloses or suggests the claimed coordinated control architecture in which the control output is based on both magnitude and rate of change of the pressure differential, the ear-canal pressure -change rate is constrained below a predefined maximum threshold, and equalisation to a predefined tolerance band is achieved in less than 200 milliseconds. Amended claim 1 further requires at least 20 dB acoustic isolation when the microvalve is closed. Accordingly, D1-D4, individually or in combination, do not render amended claims 1 and 14 obvious.Claims 2-13 depend directly or indirectly from amended claim 1; claim 15 depends from amended claim 14; claim 16 defines a pressure-regulating ear protection system comprising the electronic earplug system of amended claim 1; and claim 17 depends from claim 16. These claims therefore incorporate, directly or by reference, the relevant limitations of the amended claims and likewise involve an inventive step over the cited prior art.The amendments are supported by the international application as originally filed and do not introduce subject matter extending beyond that disclosure.Respectfully submitted,AUSTRALIA TRAVEL SAFE PTY LTD

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