Hearing Aid Proximity Detection for Bluetooth-Free Call Presets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids without Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity cannot determine when a mobile phone is near, leading to ineffective preset changes between ambient noise and noise cancellation modes, causing feedback and loudness control issues during phone calls.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing ultrasonic, radar, or inductive proximity sensors to detect the proximity of a mobile device and adjust hearing aid presets accordingly, enabling ambient noise and noise cancellation settings without requiring a Bluetooth connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Bluetooth or WiFi connection is used to detect mobile device proximity, then accurate distance determination is achieved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the proximity detection function from the Bluetooth/WiFi connection module and implements it through a separate, simpler sensor system. This allows cost-effective hearing aids to detect mobile device proximity without requiring expensive wireless communication hardware, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting mobile device proximity, determining distance thresholds, and triggering appropriate preset changes. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity for proximity detection, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining accurate distance determination.
2Loss of information
If Bluetooth or WiFi connection is required for preset changes, then accurate context awareness is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid system preliminarily detects mobile device proximity and automatically switches to appropriate presets before the user initiates a phone call. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual preset selection and ensures optimal audio settings are already in place when the user needs them, improving ease of operation while maintaining accurate context awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the presence of a mobile device and switching presets without requiring user intervention or Bluetooth connection. The hearing aid monitors sensor data continuously and autonomously adjusts settings based on detected proximity, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining accurate context awareness.
3Quantity of substance
If ambient noise preset is used during phone calls, then background noise is captured, but feedback and loudness control issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic preset switching based on real-time sensor data. When a mobile device is detected in proximity, the system automatically transitions from ambient noise preset to noise cancellation preset. This dynamic adaptation ensures the hearing aid captures ambient sound when appropriate while eliminating feedback and loudness issues during phone calls, resolving the contradiction between sound capture quantity and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback to continuously monitor mobile device proximity and automatically adjusts presets accordingly. When the sensor detects a mobile device within threshold distance, the feedback loop triggers a preset change to noise cancellation mode, preventing feedback and loudness issues. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by dynamically balancing ambient sound capture with harmful factor reduction.
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
Enables effective preset changes based on device proximity, reducing feedback and improving loudness control during phone calls without the need for Bluetooth connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
first sensor is selected from the group of an ultrasonic sensor, radar, an inductive proximity sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and combinations thereof
Implementation Method 2
first sensor is selected from the group of an ultrasonic sensor, radar, an inductive proximity sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and combinations thereof
Implementation Method 3
first sensor is selected from the group of an ultrasonic sensor, radar, an inductive proximity sensor, a photoelectric sensor, and combinations thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A first hearing aid includes a first sensor that receives first sensor data associated with a mobile device. The first hearing aid determines, based on the first sensor data, that a first distance between the first hearing aid and the mobile device is below a first distance threshold. The first hearing aid changes a first preset associated with the first hearing aid to a second preset. A second hearing aid changes a first preset associated with the second hearing aid to a third preset.