Dual-Vibrator Hearing System Rectifier Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transcutaneous hearing devices experience a significant loss of energy in the wireless link, resulting in reduced driving energy for the vibrator element compared to percutaneous hearing devices, leading to weaker performance.
Innovation Solution
An implantable unit with a receiver element that wirelessly receives an electromagnetic wave and a rectifier element generating upper and lower half waveforms, driving two vibrators (one high-frequency and one low-frequency) to produce vibrations, utilizing anti-parallel diodes to pass both waveform halves, thereby increasing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a transcutaneous hearing device uses a wireless link to transfer energy from external unit to implanted unit, then the device achieves non-percutaneous operation and improved user comfort, but energy loss of around 10 dB occurs resulting in reduced driving energy for the vibrator element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single vibrator into two separate vibrators (first vibrator and second vibrator), each driven by separate half-waveforms (upper half waveform and lower half waveform) generated through full-wave rectification. This segmentation allows both halves of the rectified waveform to be utilized, effectively doubling the energy utilization and compensating for the 10 dB wireless link loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters by using full-wave rectification to generate both upper and lower half waveforms from the received electromagnetic wave, then applies these waveforms to two separate vibrators. This parameter transformation converts the problematic single-waveform single-vibrator system into a dual-waveform dual-vibrator system, recovering the energy that would otherwise be lost.
2Device complexity
If a single vibrator is driven by a rectified electromagnetic waveform in a transcutaneous device, then the system structure is simple, but the sensitivity and frequency response are limited compared to percutaneous devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vibration function into two separate vibrators, each optimized for different frequency ranges. The first vibrator is driven by the upper half waveform and the second vibrator by the lower half waveform, creating a broader frequency response and higher overall sensitivity that matches or exceeds percutaneous device performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension by utilizing both the upper and lower half waveforms of the rectified signal, effectively using the full cycle of the electromagnetic wave. This dimensional expansion from single-waveform to dual-waveform operation doubles the energy utilization and significantly improves sensitivity.
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
The dual-vibrator system compensates for the energy loss, achieving similar or higher sensitivity as percutaneous hearing devices and providing broader frequency sensitivity, outperforming conventional transcutaneous devices.
Implementation Method 1
a receiver element configured to wirelessly receive an electromagnetic wave
Implementation Method 2
a rectifier element configured to generate upper and lower half waveforms of the electromagnetic wave
Implementation Method 3
a vibrator element configured to electromechanically or piezo-electric produce vibration
Implementation Method 4
a vibrator element configured to electromechanically or piezo-electric produce vibration
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable unit of a transcutaneous hearing device and a transcutaneous hearing device comprising the same are disclosed. The implantable unit comprises a receiver element configured to wirelessly receive an electromagnetic wave, a rectifier element configured to generate upper and lower half waveforms of the electromagnetic wave, and a vibrator element configured to electromechanically produce vibration using the half waveforms of the electromagnetic wave. The vibrator element comprises a first vibrator and a second vibrator. The first vibrator is configured to be driven by the upper half waveform of the electromagnetic wave, and the second vibrator is configured to be driven by the lower half waveform of the electromagnetic wave.