Adjustable Hearing Aid Vent for Occlusion and Sound Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices often have fixed vent sizes that fail to adapt to changing user situations, leading to discomfort due to occlusion effects during talking or inadequate sound attenuation in different acoustic environments.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with an electrically controllable valve that adjusts vent size based on control signals from feedback estimation, own voice detection, and external inputs to optimize acoustic feedback and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vent size is made large to reduce occlusion effect during speaking, then user comfort is improved, but sound attenuation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the vent size adjustable rather than fixed. The valve mechanism allows the vent to dynamically change its opening size based on operational requirements - closed for sound attenuation during music playback, and open for comfort during speaking. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt to different usage scenarios rather than being compromised by a fixed design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of vent size from a constant value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted. By controlling the valve opening degree as a changeable parameter, the system can optimize both sound attenuation (when closed) and user comfort (when open), thereby resolving the technical contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent size is made small to improve sound attenuation, then sound isolation is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to occlusion effect
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vent opening based on the operational mode. During music playback, the valve closes to maximize sound attenuation. When the user needs to speak, the valve opens to eliminate occlusion effects. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve both good sound isolation and user comfort at different times, resolving the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent opening parameter is changed from a fixed small size to an adjustable parameter. The valve control mechanism enables the system to switch between a closed state (for sound attenuation) and an open state (for user comfort), thereby resolving the contradiction between sound isolation and comfort.
3Device complexity
If the vent size is fixed to simplify device design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different hearing situations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic valve mechanism that adds adjustability to the vent system. This allows the hearing device to adapt to different hearing situations (music playback vs. speaking) without requiring multiple separate devices or complex manual adjustment mechanisms. The automated valve control provides adaptability while keeping the overall device design relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve control unit automatically adjusts the vent opening based on detected hearing situations, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The system self-adjusts the vent size according to whether the user is listening to music or speaking, providing adaptability without adding significant complexity to the user interaction interface.
4Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical parts like domes are used to change vent size, then vent adjustability is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical dome adjustment mechanisms with an electrically controllable valve system. Instead of requiring physical domes that can be manually or mechanically adjusted, the system uses an electrical actuator to control a valve, thereby achieving vent adjustability with simpler, more reliable electronics that are easier to manufacture and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the method of vent adjustment from mechanical dome movement to electrical valve control. This parameter change in the control mechanism allows for more precise and reliable vent size adjustment while reducing the complexity of mechanical parts and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device with an adjustable vent is disclosed. The device includes at least one microphone configured to provide an input signal representing sound, a processor configured to process the input signal and provide a processed signal, at least one loudspeaker configured to receive the processed signal from the processor and to provide an acoustic signal based on the processed signal to the ear of a user, an earpiece comprising a vent, and an electrically controllable valve configured to control the vent, and a valve control unit configured to receive one or more control signals in dependence of a current hearing situation of the hearing device, wherein the valve control unit is configured to adjust the electrically controllable valve in dependence of the one or more control signals to provide the vent to be in a state between an acoustically more open and an acoustically less open state.