Electroactive Hearing Instrument Sealing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hearing instruments face challenges in minimizing the occlusion effect, particularly in complex and fast-changing listening situations, as traditional solutions like ventilation tubes have limitations in adjusting acoustic impedance effectively across the entire hearing frequency band.
Innovation Solution
An occlusion control system using an electroactive material that dynamically adjusts acoustic properties by varying its compliance with an electric control signal, allowing for active control of sound waves to minimize occlusion and maximize hearing comfort across different environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a ventilation tube is used to reduce occlusion effect, then the occlusion effect is reduced, but the ability to dynamically adjust acoustic impedance across the entire hearing frequency band is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element's acoustic impedance is made dynamically adjustable through an electroactive material that changes its mechanical properties in response to an applied electric field. This allows the system to adapt the occlusion effect dynamically across different frequencies and listening situations, resolving the contradiction between reducing occlusion and maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic impedance parameter of the sealing element is changed by applying an electric field to the electroactive material, which alters its compliance and density. This enables continuous adjustment of acoustic properties to optimize both occlusion reduction and adaptability across the hearing frequency band.
2Reliability
If the ear canal is sealed off to improve hearing aid performance, then hearing aid performance is improved, but the occlusion effect increases causing hollow voice perception
Solution Approach 1:
The electroactive material's acoustic impedance parameters are dynamically adjusted by applying an electric field, allowing the sealing element to maintain effective sealing for hearing aid performance while simultaneously reducing the occlusion effect by becoming more compliant in the relevant frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element utilizes an electroactive material that combines sealing functionality with electrically controllable acoustic properties, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves reliable sealing and reduced occlusion effect through active impedance control.
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 system effectively reduces the occlusion effect by dynamically adjusting acoustic impedance, minimizing the amplification of the user's voice and environmental noise, while improving bass response and signal processing, such as noise reduction and beamforming.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing element is at least partially made in an electroactive material. Acoustic impedance of the electroactive material varies as a function of an applied electric field determined by the content of the electric control signal.
Implementation Method 2
a sealing element that physically seals off the ear canal when said system is positioned in the ear canal
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein operation of the sealing element is controlled by an electric control signal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material, wherein an acoustic impedance of the electroactive material of the sealing element varies as a function of an applied electric field, the applied electric field being based on a characteristic of the electric control signal.