Contact Hearing Coil Modulation for Cerumen-Tolerant Signal Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact hearing aids using light as a transmission mechanism face challenges such as blockage by substances like cerumen in the ear canal, inefficiency in converting electrical signals to light and back, and alignment issues due to the ear canal's shape and mobility, leading to reduced battery life and impaired sound transmission.
Innovation Solution
The use of inductive coupling between a transmit coil in the ear tip and a receive coil on the contact hearing device, allowing for electromagnetic wave transmission through the ear canal, reducing sensitivity to tissue and cerumen presence, and maintaining power output consistency despite distance variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light is used as a transmission mechanism in a contact hearing system, then bandwidth is expanded and gain before feedback is increased, but transmission is blocked by substances like cerumen in the ear canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical transmission system (laser and photodetector) with an electromagnetic induction system (transmit coil and receive coil). This substitution eliminates the vulnerability to optical blockage by cerumen and tissue, as electromagnetic fields can penetrate these materials without significant attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter from optical wavelength to electromagnetic frequency. By operating at electromagnetic frequencies rather than optical wavelengths, the system achieves penetration through cerumen and tissue that was impossible with light-based transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If a laser is positioned laterally in the ear tip and a photodetector medially on the contact hearing device, then alignment is achieved, but transmission is impeded by tissue between the laser and photodetector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the line-of-sight optical alignment system with an electromagnetic induction system. The transmit coil and receive coil can be positioned without requiring direct line-of-sight alignment, as electromagnetic fields penetrate tissue effectively. This eliminates the constraint of precise lateral-to-medial alignment through tissue.
3Productivity
If the output of the laser is placed as close as possible to the photodetector to ensure adequate light reception, then transmission efficiency improves, but the system remains sensitive to ear canal movement and shape changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical system requiring close proximity alignment with an electromagnetic induction system. The electromagnetic field coupling between transmit and receive coils maintains efficient power transfer even with variations in distance and orientation, providing tolerance to ear canal mobility and shape changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the electromagnetic coupling automatically adapts to changes in distance and orientation between the transmit and receive coils. The inductive coupling maintains functional connection despite ear canal movement, eliminating the need for rigid alignment.
4Ease of operation
If electrical signals are converted to light and back to electrical signals, then wireless transmission is achieved, but significant power is lost during conversion reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical conversion system (electrical-to-optical-to-electrical) with an electromagnetic induction system. The transmit coil converts electrical signals directly to electromagnetic fields, which are then directly converted back to electrical signals by the receive coil, eliminating the inefficient photodetector conversion step and reducing overall power loss.
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 method enhances sound transmission efficiency, reduces battery drain, and improves patient comfort by minimizing the impact of ear canal shape and mobility on signal transfer, while maintaining consistent power output across varying distances.
Implementation Method 1
exciting a transmit coil to generate an oscillating magnetic field; the oscillating magnetic field induces an electrical current in the receive coil
Implementation Method 2
inductive coupling between a transmit coil in the ear tip and a receive coil on the contact hearing device, allowing for electromagnetic wave transmission through the ear canal
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.