Auditory Prosthesis Power Adjustment via RF Signal Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Auditory prostheses face power intermittencies due to imbalances between power supplied and load demand, leading to inefficiencies and potential over-voltage issues, which existing technologies struggle to dynamically address based on instantaneous sound intensity.
Innovation Solution
The system dynamically predicts power demand by measuring sound characteristics and adjusts parameters such as RF frame rate, power level, and encoding settings in real-time to match the anticipated power requirements of the internal unit, ensuring efficient energy use and stable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power in the RF signal is increased to avoid underpowering the implanted unit, then sufficient energy margin is maintained, but excessive power consumption and over-voltage issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power level of the RF signal based on real-time monitoring of the implanted unit's power status and load demand. The external unit modifies transmission parameters such as frame rate, power level, and encoding settings to match instantaneous power requirements, preventing both underpowering and excessive power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The implanted unit periodically telemeters measurements of unregulated voltage and current back to the external speech processor. This feedback loop enables the external unit to adjust RF signal power levels to maintain optimal power margins while avoiding over-voltage conditions and excessive energy consumption.
2Reliability
If power level parameters are increased to ensure sufficient power supply, then intermittent operation is reduced, but transients overpower the implanted unit causing over-voltage protection circuits to conduct
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of power requirements by monitoring sound intensity and predicting upcoming power demand. Configuration parameters are adjusted in advance to prepare for anticipated power needs, preventing both intermittent operation and over-voltage transients before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The external unit dynamically changes multiple transmission parameters including RF frame rate, power level, and encoding settings to precisely match the implanted unit's instantaneous power requirements. This multi-parameter adjustment enables fine-grained control to avoid both power deficiency and over-voltage conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF signal power is dynamically adjusted to match load demand, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to real-time monitoring and parameter adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The implanted unit autonomously monitors its own power status by measuring unregulated voltage and current, and periodically reports this information back to the external unit. This self-monitoring capability reduces the need for complex external control systems while enabling efficient power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The RF signal serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transfers power to the implanted unit and carries telemetry data for power status monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by combining power transmission and communication functions in a single signal path.
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
This approach enhances the continuous battery life of auditory prostheses by optimizing power consumption and reducing operational intermittencies, ensuring consistent performance without discernible phase lag in sound perception.
Implementation Method 1
The radio-frequency (RF) signal sent to the implanted unit transfers energy that is used to power the implanted unit
Data Source
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AI summary
In an auditory prosthesis having an external unit and an internal unit for implantation in a recipient, a method of operation includes: characterizing an acoustic signal received by the auditory prosthesis; adjusting at least one parameter of the auditory prosthesis based on the characterized acoustic signal; and processing the acoustic signal to provide an encoded signal for transmission to the internal unit; wherein an amount of energy transmitted in the encoded signal depends on the at least one parameter.