Hearing Aid Shell with Nested IC and Coil Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Custom hearing aids present a complex 3D puzzle for internal component placement due to varying internal volumes, making efficient design and assembly challenging.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid design featuring a customized shell for the user's ear canal with an integrated rechargeable battery, charging arrangement, microphone arrangements, and an integrated circuit, where the charging arrangement and microphone module are combined, and a coil is used for wireless communication and charging, allowing for a more flexible and efficient component placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom hearing aids are molded specifically for each user's ear canal, then the hearing aid fits the user's ear canal perfectly, but the internal placement of components becomes a difficult three-dimensional puzzle due to varying internal volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the integrated circuit board within the curved surface of the coil assembly, effectively nesting one component inside the space created by another. The IC is positioned in the hollow center of the coil's winding, utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently without requiring additional volume in the constrained hearing aid shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear or planar component layouts to a three-dimensional arrangement where the IC board is curved and positioned within the hollow center of the coil's winding. This dimensional approach allows components to be arranged in the available space more effectively, solving the packaging challenge of custom-fitted hearing aids with varying internal volumes.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional component layouts are used in custom hearing aids, then manufacturing may be simpler, but assembly becomes more difficult due to the three-dimensional puzzle of fitting components into varying internal volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the IC mounting function with the coil assembly structure by positioning the IC board within the hollow center of the coil's winding. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and simplifies assembly, as the IC board and coil form a unified sub-assembly that can be installed as a single unit into the hearing aid shell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-positioning the IC board within the coil assembly during manufacturing, creating a pre-assembled unit with predetermined orientation. This preliminary arrangement ensures correct component placement before the final assembly step, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures during hearing aid assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If components are arranged to fit varying internal volumes, then customization is improved, but the predetermined orientation for directional sound indication becomes more difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the IC board and coil assembly in a specific asymmetric orientation within the hearing aid shell, with the hollow center of the coil's winding deliberately positioned to receive the IC. This asymmetric arrangement ensures predetermined orientation for directional sound indication while adapting to the custom-fitted shell geometry.
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
The design ensures a predetermined orientation of the hearing aid for directional sound indication and enables contactless charging, simplifying the assembly and enhancing the environmental robustness of the device.
Implementation Method 1
The coil is configured for charging the battery wirelessly
Implementation Method 2
The coil is an antenna for wireless communication
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement in an ear canal, the hearing aid having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is inserted into the ear canal to face the tympanic membrane, the distal end is opposite. The hearing aid comprises a shell customized for the ear canal. The shell comprises an inner space configured for at least partly receiving a rechargeable battery, a charging arrangement, at least one microphone arrangement, and an integrated circuit. The hearing aid comprises a faceplate comprising an upper face and a lower face, the upper face being exposed at the distal end when the shell is placed in the user's ear canal. The faceplate is configured for closing the inner space, wherein the IC is arranged between the faceplate and the proximal end.