Binaural Hearing Aid Synchronization via Counter Pre-Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Binaural hearing aid systems face synchronization issues with the conversion and acoustic output of signal tones, leading to noticeable time differences, particularly with beeps, due to the lack of synchronized processing between the right and left hearing aids.
Innovation Solution
A method where a first hearing aid transmits a synchronization signal with a counter value to a second hearing aid, accounting for signal transit time, allowing both to emit signal tones simultaneously or with a predetermined time difference, using identical counters in both devices for synchronized output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wirelessly connected hearing aid systems are used for binaural coverage, then communication between hearing aids is enabled, but the conversion and acoustic output are not synchronized, causing noticeable time differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting a synchronization signal from the first hearing aid to the second hearing aid before the actual signal tone output. This synchronization signal includes a counter value that is set in advance, allowing the second hearing aid to pre-adjust its counter to match the first hearing aid's counter state. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when signal tones are subsequently output, both hearing aids are already in sync, eliminating time differences without requiring complex real-time synchronization during signal generation.
2Manufacturing precision
If completely synchronized microphone signal processing is implemented using high data rate transmission, then synchronization is achieved, but the system becomes very costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential synchronization information from the complex microphone signal processing system. Instead of transmitting complete processed signals at high data rates, the invention extracts just the counter value from the first hearing aid and transmits only this minimal synchronization data to the second hearing aid. This extraction approach achieves synchronization precision while dramatically reducing system complexity and cost, as only simple counter value transmission is required rather than complete signal processing transmission.
3Manufacturing precision
If counter values are transmitted and processed in both hearing aids, then synchronized signal tone output is achieved, but additional transmission and processing requirements are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by having the second hearing aid create a copy of the first hearing aid's counter state through the synchronization signal. The counter value transmitted from the first hearing aid is copied into the second hearing aid's counter, ensuring both counters are synchronized. This copying approach achieves precise synchronization with minimal processing overhead, as only simple counter value copying is required rather than complex signal processing or continuous synchronization maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
The output of signal tones from hearing aids for binaural coverage is to be synchronized. To this end, it is provided that the counters of the two hearing aids are equalized by a synchronization signal. By transmitting a control signal with a count value or before a predetermined count value, the simultaneous emission of a signal tone from the two hearing aids is initiated. Alternatively, for the indirect synchronization of the counters the respective differences of the counter readings may also be stored in the individual hearing aids.