Elastic Hearing Device Charging Port for Multi-Size Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing device chargers are typically designed for specific sizes and shapes, limiting their ability to accommodate rechargeable hearing devices of different dimensions, necessitating multiple chargers for varying devices.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable hearing device charging port with an elastically adjustable outer-wall that can expand to fit hearing devices of different sizes and shapes, ensuring proper contact with charger contacts for efficient charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a charging port is designed for a specific size and shape, then it can provide stable electrical contact and reliable charging, but it cannot accommodate hearing devices of different sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The charging port incorporates an elastically adjustable outer-wall that can dynamically change its internal dimensions. When a hearing device is inserted, the outer-wall expands elastically to conform to the device's specific shape and size, ensuring both adaptability to different devices and maintained electrical contact stability through continuous pressure on the charging contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging port utilizes elastic material properties to change its physical parameters (dimensions and shape) in response to the inserted hearing device. The outer-wall's elastic modulus and dimensional characteristics are designed to allow controlled expansion that adapts to various device geometries while maintaining sufficient contact force for reliable charging.
2Reliability
If multiple chargers are manufactured for different hearing device sizes, then each device can be charged reliably, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging port is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of hearing devices through its elastically adjustable outer-wall. This single multi-functional charging port replaces the need for multiple size-specific chargers, reducing device complexity and manufacturing variants while maintaining reliable charging across different hearing device models.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the holding cavity dimensions are reduced to fit smaller devices, then smaller devices can be charged, but larger devices cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The holding cavity is formed by the elastically adjustable outer-wall that can dynamically expand and contract. When accommodating smaller devices, the outer-wall maintains a compact configuration; when larger devices are inserted, the outer-wall expands elastically to provide sufficient space while maintaining secure holding through elastic pressure on the device body.
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 the charging of various hearing devices without the need for multiple chargers, reducing manufacturing costs and providing interoperability with different hearing device designs.
Implementation Method 1
The holding outer-wall is configured to be elastically adjustable so that it can expand elastically to accommodate the part of the hearing device and elastically couples with the that part of the hearing device to hold the hearing device in the adaptable hearing device charging port
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An adaptable/adjustable hearing device charging port (10) for a hearing device charger (7) that can adapt/adjust in size to accommodate and hold hearing devices (2) of different sizes and / or shapes. The adjustable hearing device charging port (10) adapts elastically so that hearing devices (2) of different sizes can be inserted into the hearing device charging port (10) and can be hold in a charging position in the hearing device charger (7), in which charging position hearing device charging contacts (6) of the hearing device (2) are electrically contacted with charger contacts (8) in the hearing device charger (7).