Head-worn Device Flight Mode via Battery Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a head-worn device, such as a hearing aid, that can enter flight mode to disable signal transmission and reception functions while allowing operation of other functions on commercial aircraft, without requiring additional user interface hardware due to space constraints and existing limitations in user control areas.

Innovation Solution

A head-worn device with a transceiver and a controller that disables the transceiver by monitoring repeated opening and closing operations of the battery cover, using a timer and short boot counter to determine flight mode status, allowing users to enter flight mode without additional hardware, thereby enabling other functions during flights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If additional user interface hardware is added to enable flight mode, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery cover serves multiple functions: it protects the battery compartment, provides access for battery replacement, and acts as a user interface control for entering flight mode. By making the battery cover multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate hardware controls while enabling flight mode capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing battery cover mechanism is repurposed to serve the additional function of flight mode activation. The cover's opening and closing actions, already part of the device's normal operation, are detected by the controller to trigger flight mode without requiring dedicated control hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If the transceiver is disabled in flight mode, then power consumption is reduced, but loss of information occurs due to inability to communicate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The transceiver's operational state is dynamically adjusted based on the flight mode status. The controller monitors flight mode conditions and automatically disables the transceiver when flight mode is detected, enabling power savings during flights while maintaining communication capability when not in flight mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2712210B1A head-worn device with flight mode
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 GN HEARING AS
  • EP2712210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2712210B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2712210B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A head-worn device is disclosed with a flight mode in which the wireless transceiver is disabled and that is entered into by repeated opening and closing operations of the battery cover.