Bleeding Circuit Messaging in Hearing Device Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern hearing devices require additional communication hardware for battery status communication with chargers, increasing manufacturing costs and device size.
Innovation Solution
Implement a bleeding circuit in parallel with the charging circuit to generate electrical pulses that convey battery status information, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware by interpreting these pulses as messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate communication hardware is added to enable message exchange between hearing device and charger, then communication capability is improved, but manufacturing expense, weight, and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging circuit is designed to perform dual functions: charging the battery and communicating messages between the hearing device and charger. By making the charging circuit universal, separate communication hardware becomes unnecessary, resolving the contradiction between communication capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication function with the existing charging circuit by adding a bleeding circuit that generates current pulses during charging. This combines two previously separate functions (charging and communication) into a single integrated system, eliminating the need for additional communication hardware
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate communication hardware is added for battery status communication, then message exchange capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging circuit is enhanced to serve both charging and communication purposes simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication hardware components, directly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining message exchange capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing charging infrastructure to provide communication services. The bleeding circuit leverages the charging current to generate communication pulses, allowing the system to communicate using its own operational resources without requiring additional dedicated communication components
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 battery status communication without additional hardware, allowing chargers to adjust power parameters and provide visual or acoustic feedback based on interpreted pulses.
Implementation Method 1
the bleeding circuit is configured to generate bleeding current pulses from the electrical power
Implementation Method 2
the charging device comprises a current monitor configured to detect the bleeding current pulses and to interpret the bleeding current pulses as a hearing device message
Implementation Method 3
the hearing device comprises a coil to transform the alternating electromagnetic field to an alternating voltage
Implementation Method 4
a rectifier to transform the alternating voltage into a direct voltage
Data Source
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AI summary
A system of a hearing device and a charging device that sends a message via electrical pulses from a bleeding circuit to the hearing device. The electrical pulses may communicate information about a battery state of charge or the presence of a fault in the charging of the hearing device. The charging device may, based on the hearing device message, perform at least one of changing a parameter of the electrical power, presenting a visual indication by a visual indicator on the charging device, or producing an acoustic signal.