Ear-Level Device Control via Companion Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ear-level devices, such as headphones and hearing aids, have limited functional elements due to their small size, reducing flexibility and usability.

Innovation Solution

Establishing a communication link between an ear-level device and a companion device, like a mobile phone, using Bluetooth, to enable control and monitoring of functional elements, such as sound levels and mode changes, through a voice menu and graphical user interface, allowing users to select and execute functions via the companion device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the size of ear-level device is reduced, then it can be worn comfortably on the ear, but the number and placement of functional elements is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of ear-level deviceVSAvoidfunctional elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two parts: the compact ear-level device containing essential audio functions and a remote companion device containing the control interface. This segmentation allows the ear-level device to remain small while functional control capabilities are distributed to the companion device, resolving the contradiction between size and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication link acts as an intermediary between the ear-level device and the companion device. This intermediary enables control signals and data to be transmitted between the two devices, allowing full functionality to be accessed remotely without adding physical controls to the small ear-level device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more functional elements are added to ear-level device, then flexibility and usability are improved, but the device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional elementsVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The companion device serves multiple functions: it acts as a remote control for the ear-level device, provides a display for information, and functions as an independent mobile device. This multi-functionality allows comprehensive control capabilities to be available without adding physical elements to the ear-level device itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control interface is moved from the spatial dimension of the ear-level device to the wireless communication dimension. By transitioning control from physical buttons on the device to wireless signals received from a companion device, the system gains functional versatility without increasing the physical volume of the ear-level device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2596620B1Method of remotely controlling an ear-level device functional element

Publication Date: 2018.07.18 HIMPP

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AI summary

A method controls a functional element of an ear-level device (10) of a type including a functional element (42, 44, 45), a memory (54), a microphone (64, 65, 66) and a speaker (58), each coupled to a processor (52). Communication between the ear-level device and a companion device, such as a mobile phone (11, 300), is established. A functional element for control is selected through the user interface (304) of the companion device. A control instruction for controlling the selected functional element is chosen using the user interface and is transmitted from the companion device to the ear-level device to provide instruction to the ear-level device to control the selected functional element in the chosen way.