Dual Timer Architecture for Continuous Time Tracking in Hearing Aids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids typically only allow for relative time measurement, which does not enable continuous time tracking across usage and idle phases, limiting their ability to recognize and adapt to usage patterns and requiring external devices for absolute time synchronization.
Innovation Solution
The use of two timers, a precision timer for active usage phases and a low-energy timer for idle phases, allows for continuous time measurement independently of external devices, enabling absolute time tracking and synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single precision timer is used for time measurement in hearing aid, then time measurement accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases and continuous operation during idle state is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The time measurement function is segmented into two separate timers: a first timer for usage state and a second timer for idle state. Each timer is optimized for its specific operating condition, allowing the hearing aid to achieve continuous time measurement without requiring a single high-power timer to operate continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the active timer based on the operational state parameters. When the hearing aid transitions between usage and idle states, the active timer is switched accordingly, allowing the system to maintain measurement capability while adapting power consumption to the current operational requirements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the hearing aid is switched off during idle state, then energy consumption is reduced, but continuous time measurement is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The time measurement system is divided into two independent timer units that can operate independently. The second timer specifically handles idle state measurements, allowing continuous time tracking even when the main signal processing unit is deactivated, thus maintaining measurement continuity without requiring the entire system to remain active.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual timer architecture ensures that time measurement action continues uninterrupted across state transitions. While the first timer operates during usage state, the second timer takes over during idle state, creating a continuous measurement timeline without gaps that would occur if a single timer had to be continuously active or if measurement stopped entirely during idle periods.
3Device complexity
If relative time measurement is used, then simplicity is maintained, but ability to recognize usage patterns and link usage phases is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time measurement and logging during both usage and idle states using the dual timer arrangement. By continuously recording time stamps and state durations in advance, the hearing aid accumulates sufficient data to later analyze usage patterns, recognize preferences, and make adaptive adjustments without requiring complex real-time processing during each state transition.
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 solution enables continuous, absolute time measurement in both usage and idle states, improving data analysis and user experience by allowing the hearing aid to link usage phases and recognize patterns without relying on external devices.
Implementation Method 1
The two timers are each in particular configured as an oscillator and accordingly each generate a cyclic or periodic signal and thus oscillations, by the counting of which a time measurement is carried out
Data Source
AI summary
A method is indicated for operating a hearing aid, wherein the hearing aid is switchable between a usage state, in which a signal processing unit of the hearing aid is activated, and an idle state, in which the signal processing unit is deactivated. The hearing aid has a time measuring unit, which has a first timer and a second timer. The first timer is activated in the usage state and is deactivated in the idle state, for time measurement during the usage state. The second timer is activated in the idle state for time measurement during the idle state. Furthermore, a corresponding hearing aid is indicated.