Hearing Aid Pulse Sensing With Bone-Sound and Low-Power Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulse measurement methods in hearing systems, such as those using photoplethysmography (PPG), consume high energy and are not efficient with limited battery power, particularly in hearing aids.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a hearing system with at least one hearing instrument to measure pulse frequency by receiving a first input signal through a bone conduction transducer and an auxiliary signal from a sensor, determining pulse frequency based on amplitude profiles and switching between normal and special modes for energy-efficient measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If photoplethysmography (PPG) is used for pulse measurement in hearing systems, then measurement reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two measurement modes: normal mode using the electroacoustic input transducer for routine pulse monitoring, and special mode using the PPG sensor only when the correlation coefficient falls below a threshold, indicating measurement uncertainty. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the correlation coefficient between the electroacoustic input signal and the reference signal. When the correlation coefficient drops below a predetermined threshold, the system triggers a switch to special mode, activating the PPG sensor to obtain a new reference signal. This feedback mechanism ensures measurement reliability is maintained through automatic mode switching based on real-time signal quality assessment.
2Measurement precision
If continuous PPG operation is used to ensure accurate pulse measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but battery power is depleted rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous PPG operation, the system uses periodic sampling of the electroacoustic input signal and compares it with a reference signal obtained during a previous special mode operation. The correlation coefficient is calculated periodically to determine when mode switching is necessary. This periodic action maintains measurement precision when needed while dramatically reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a disposable reference signal obtained during special mode to enable extended periods of low-power normal mode operation. The reference signal is updated only when necessary (when correlation coefficient falls below threshold), allowing the system to leverage this pre-obtained reference for multiple measurement cycles without requiring continuous PPG operation, thus extending battery life.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the electroacoustic input transducer is used for pulse measurement, then energy consumption is reduced, but measurement reliability deteriorates when ambient noise is present
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary correlation coefficient calculation that compares the electroacoustic input signal with a reference signal. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to assess signal quality without requiring continuous PPG operation. When the correlation coefficient indicates poor signal quality (below threshold), the system switches to special mode to obtain a new reference signal, thereby maintaining reliability while using the lower-power electroacoustic transducer during normal operation.
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 reliable and energy-efficient pulse measurement by minimizing energy consumption, especially in hearing aids, by using the first input signal in normal mode and auxiliary signal only when necessary, thus extending battery life.
Implementation Method 1
a first body sound signal is received at one ear of the person by the first input transducer
Implementation Method 2
determining a pulse frequency based on the amplitude profile of the first input signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention describes a method for measuring a person's pulse using a hearing system, which comprises at least one first hearing instrument (1) with an electroacoustic first input transducer (22), wherein a first bone-sound signal (24) is received at one ear of the person by the first input transducer (22), thereby generating a first input signal (26), and a pulse frequency (fp) is determined based on the amplitude profile of the first input signal (26). The invention further describes a corresponding hearing system configured for pulse measurement according to the method.