Hearing Aid Event Control for TVs, Doorbells, and Alarms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals with degraded hearing face challenges in interacting with devices that generate sound, as they may not understand audio content or perceive alarms, leading to difficulties in utilizing the full functionality of these devices.
Innovation Solution
A hearing assistance device system that can control other devices based on specific events or status, such as being worn, in-use, recharging, or shut-down, to adjust sound mode or alert settings, using wireless communication or accessory devices to send commands to controllable devices like TVs, doorbells, and alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing assistance devices are used to improve hearing, then hearing quality is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration with multiple controllable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing assistance device is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only provides hearing assistance but also controls various controllable devices (televisions, doorbells, alarms, etc.) based on its operational state. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would otherwise require separate hearing assistance and device control systems, thereby improving hearing quality while managing system complexity through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing assistance device acts as an intermediary between the user and controllable devices. It receives sensor inputs, determines its operational state, and sends appropriate control commands to external devices. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the control logic in one device rather than requiring complex direct connections between multiple independent systems.
2Ease of operation
If hearing assistance devices automatically control other devices, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to event detection and command sending mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing assistance device automatically monitors its own operational state through integrated sensors and autonomously determines when to send control commands to external devices. For example, when the device detects it is not being worn or is in a specific operational state, it automatically adjusts corresponding devices without requiring user intervention. This self-service capability significantly improves ease of operation by eliminating manual control steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor the operational state of the hearing assistance device, and this state information is used to automatically adjust controllable devices. The feedback loop includes sensing operational conditions, processing the state information, and sending appropriate control commands, creating an automated system that responds dynamically to changes in device state without requiring complex user input mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hearing assistance devices integrate multiple sensors and communication interfaces, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing assistance device integrates multiple sensor types (motion sensors, proximity sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) and communication interfaces (wireless communication, electrical contacts) to perform diverse functions including hearing assistance, device control, and environmental sensing. This multi-functional integration allows the device to adapt to various operational scenarios and control different types of controllable devices, significantly improving adaptability while managing complexity through unified device architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to hearing assistance devices that can control other devices based on hearing assistance device events and/or status. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance system includes a hearing assistance device that can include a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit. The hearing assistance device can be configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event. The hearing assistance device event can be raised by detection of at least one of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject, the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state, the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode, and the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence. Other embodiments are also included herein.