Hearing Aid Wireless Data Transmission via Backscatter Modulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless data transmission methods in hearing aids require significant energy, especially when using higher frequency electromagnetic methods like Bluetooth, which increases the energy demand further.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless data transmission arrangement where a high-frequency carrier signal, potentially in the UHF range, provides energy for data transmission between hearing aids, eliminating the need for additional energy in the devices, using transponders with antennas and an external unit like a hearing aid remote control to modulate and backscatter the carrier signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electromagnetic transmission methods with higher frequencies (e.g., Bluetooth) are used for wireless data transmission in hearing aids, then data transmission rate and range are improved, but energy requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an external unit as an intermediary that generates the carrier signal and provides energy for the transponder. This external unit acts as a mediator that enables high-frequency electromagnetic transmission without requiring the hearing aid itself to generate the energy, thus resolving the contradiction between high data transmission rates and energy consumption in the hearing aid device
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional approach where the hearing aid generates its own transmission energy with a system where energy is provided externally through electromagnetic coupling. The transponder in the hearing aid modulates the externally provided carrier signal, substituting the need for internal power generation with external energy provision
2Use of energy by moving object
If inductive transmission at low frequencies is used for wireless data transmission in hearing aids, then energy requirement is reduced, but data transmission rate and range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the frequency parameter of the transmission system by using high-frequency carrier signals (e.g., UHF range) instead of low-frequency inductive transmission. This parameter change enables higher data transmission rates and ranges while the energy provision is handled externally, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission performance and energy consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless data transmission components are added to hearing aids, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex energy-generating and carrier signal-producing components from the hearing aid device and places them in an external unit. The hearing aid itself only contains a simple transponder that modulates the externally provided carrier signal, thus achieving data transmission capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity
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
This approach enables energy-efficient high-data transmission rates and ranges with minimal additional energy required in the hearing aids, leveraging existing external units for data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
The transponder (13, 14) receives the carrier signal (20) via the antenna (17, 18) and modulates it with data to be transmitted to another hearing device (12, 11) and backscatters the carrier signal (21) modulated in this way
Implementation Method 2
backscatters the carrier signal (21) modulated in this way
Implementation Method 3
An external unit (15), for example a hearing aid remote control, includes a UHF transmitter unit (16), the one Carrier signal (20) emits in the range of 856 to 920 MHz
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention discloses an arrangement and an associated method for wireless data transmission between hearing aids (11, 12). The arrangement comprises: - an external unit (15) that generates and transmits a carrier signal (20), - a first hearing aid (11) with a first transponder (13) that modulates and backscatters the carrier signal (20), and - a second hearing aid (12) with a second transponder (14) that receives the carrier signal (21) backscattered or forward-scattered and modulated by the first transponder (13). The external unit (15) is, for example, a hearing aid remote control. The invention offers the advantage that little to no additional energy is required for wireless data transmission in a hearing aid. The energy for powering the first transponder (13) is supplied by the carrier signal (20) of the external unit (15).