Range Control for Wireless Hearing Aid Signal Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless hearing assistance devices face challenges in conserving power due to the difficulty in detecting signals of interest in radio frequency environments with multiple signal sources, leading to inefficient power usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a range control system that uses a separate, lower-power 'advertisement' range for initial signal detection and a higher-power 'streaming' range for data transmission, allowing devices to quickly acquire and maintain reliable audio streams while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the device continuously monitors all radio frequency signals to detect signals of interest, then signal detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless communication process into two distinct phases with different power requirements: advertisement phase (low power, short range) and streaming phase (higher power, longer range). The advertisement phase uses minimal power to announce presence and basic parameters, while the streaming phase activates only when needed, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining signal detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs periodic advertisement transmissions at predetermined intervals instead of continuous monitoring. The hearing assistance device periodically wakes up to transmit advertisement packets containing basic information, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic action reduces power consumption while ensuring signals of interest are detected within acceptable timeframes.
2Reliability
If the device uses high power transmission to ensure reliable signal detection in noisy RF environments, then signal detection reliability is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission power is segmented into two levels: low power for advertisement transmissions and high power for streaming transmissions. Advertisement packets are sent at low power over short distances, consuming minimal battery life. When a connection is established, streaming transmissions use higher power to ensure reliability, but only for the duration of actual audio streaming, not continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The advertisement phase performs preliminary actions by establishing basic connection parameters and device presence before high-power streaming begins. This preliminary exchange of information allows the devices to negotiate and optimize streaming parameters, ensuring reliable high-power transmission only when necessary and for the minimum required duration.
3Area of stationary object
If the device maintains a wide transmission range to cover multiple signal sources, then coverage area is improved, but power consumption and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coverage area is segmented into two zones: advertisement zone (small, close-range) and streaming zone (larger, extended range). Advertisement transmissions cover only the immediate vicinity, requiring minimal power. When streaming is initiated, the coverage area expands to the larger streaming zone, but only during active streaming periods, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate coverage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different transmission qualities and ranges are applied locally to different communication phases. Advertisement transmissions use low power with limited range suitable for device discovery in close proximity. Streaming transmissions use higher power and extended range, but only in the local context of active audio streaming, optimizing power consumption by matching transmission characteristics to local requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for wireless hearing assistance devices and in particular to a controllable range control for wireless hearing assistance device systems. An advertisement is used to allow the receiver to quickly receive streaming information, thus conserving power. In various embodiments, a system for communications with a hearing assistance device includes a wireless streaming device having a range control. The range control is configured to provide a first range for an advertisement transmission and a second range for a streaming information transmission. The first range is less than the second range, in various embodiments.