Folded PCB Assembly Around Battery for Compact Hearing Aids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing small and compact hearing devices lack sufficient space for additional components and functionality, and there is a need for improved design to enhance performance and user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a folded printed circuit board assembly comprising four interconnected circuit boards, including a flexible circuit board that wraps around a battery, allowing for a compact design with increased space for components and improved functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the hearing device uses a conventional linear circuit board layout, then the device structure is simple, but the device size cannot be reduced and functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is folded into a three-dimensional configuration where multiple circuit board layers are nested around the battery, similar to nested dolls. This allows the circuit board to wrap around the battery in multiple layers, maximizing space utilization and reducing overall device volume while maintaining sufficient circuit functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board transitions from a two-dimensional linear layout to a three-dimensional folded structure. By utilizing the vertical dimension and folding the circuit board around the battery, the design achieves compact volume reduction while providing sufficient surface area for circuit components and functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hearing device includes more components and functionality, then performance is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple circuit board layers are nested around the battery, creating a compact multi-layer structure. This nesting approach provides extensive circuit board surface area for additional components and functionality while maintaining a small overall device volume, as each layer utilizes the space around the central battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is configured in three dimensions around the battery, utilizing vertical stacking and radial arrangement. This dimensional transformation allows significantly more circuit board area to be packed into a compact volume, enabling enhanced functionality without increasing device size.
3Ease of repair
If the battery is made replaceable, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device structure becomes more complex and size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is integrated with the circuit board assembly into a single unified structure. The circuit board is folded around the battery, creating a compact combined assembly that eliminates the need for separate battery compartments and replacement mechanisms, thereby reducing device size while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is nested around the battery in a tight integrated configuration. This nesting creates a compact combined assembly where the battery and circuit board occupy the same spatial envelope, eliminating the need for additional space for battery replacement mechanisms and reducing overall device volume.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~4c
AI summary
Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a user. The hearing device is configured to provide an audio signal to the user. The hearing device comprises a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly comprises a printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly comprises: a first circuit board; a second circuit board; a third circuit board interconnected with the first circuit board and the second circuit board; and a fourth circuit board. The circuit assembly comprises a battery, wherein the printed circuit board assembly is folded about the battery.