Acoustic Valve Assembly for Hearing Aid Vent Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing instruments face challenges in switching between open and closed fitting modes, which affects directional microphone functionality and noise reduction, often requiring multiple microphones or complex electronics to compensate for differences, increasing cost and reducing reliability.
Innovation Solution
Acoustic valve assemblies that can be actuated mechanically or electromagnetically to create a vent within the auditory system, allowing the microphone to switch between directional and non-directional patterns, eliminating the need for closely matched microphones and reducing the number of microphone openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more than one microphone is used to switch between directional and non-directional patterns, then the microphone directionality can be changed, but the manufacturing cost increases and reliability reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the acoustic environment dynamic and adjustable through an acoustic valve that can switch between open and closed states. This allows a single fixed-directionality microphone to dynamically change its effective directionality by controlling the acoustic path, eliminating the need for multiple microphones and their complex electronic switching while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic valve acts as an intermediary element between the microphone and the acoustic environment. By introducing this intermediate component, the system can control the acoustic coupling and effectively change the microphone's directionality without requiring multiple microphones, thus simplifying the system and improving reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If closely matched microphones are used, then the directional pattern switching is effective, but the manufacturing expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acoustic path into controllable sections using an acoustic valve mechanism. This segmentation allows a single microphone to effectively create different directional patterns by opening or closing specific acoustic paths, eliminating the need for multiple matched microphones and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic valve serves as an intermediary that enables directional pattern switching with a single microphone. By controlling the acoustic coupling through this intermediate element, the system achieves effective directionality change without requiring expensive closely-matched microphone pairs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If three microphone openings are required, then the directional and non-directional microphone functionality is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling a single microphone to perform multiple functions (directional and non-directional patterns) through the acoustic valve mechanism. This multi-functionality is achieved by controlling the acoustic path rather than using multiple separate microphones, thereby reducing the number of required openings and overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple microphones into a single microphone system by using an acoustic valve to control the acoustic environment. This combining of functions reduces the number of required microphone openings from three to one, simplifying the device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient switching between open and closed fitting modes, improving noise reduction and intelligibility while simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs by allowing a single microphone to function like a pair, with minimal power consumption and robust operation.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic valve assemblies which allow a vent to be created within an auditory system
Implementation Method 2
actuated mechanically or electromagnetically to create a vent
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A valve for a personal auditory system is described. The auditory system is capable of converting between an acoustic signal and an electrical signal. The auditory system has an acoustic pathway through which an acoustic signal may travel between a first point exterior to the auditory system and a second point interior to the auditory system. The valve includes a free floating electrode and a second electrode adjacent to free floating electrode. An electric signal that is generated by the second electrode moves the free floating electrode to substantially open or close the acoustic pathway.