Hearing Aid Receiver Two-Part Sleeve Laser Welding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids with external receivers face challenges in connecting components due to multiple interfaces, which are prone to failure, require difficult adhesive bonding between dissimilar materials, and pose biocompatibility and allergy risks, especially with metal contact.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with a two-part sleeve system that coaxially surrounds the electronic component, reducing interfaces and using laser welding for connection, allowing for a single housing interface and integration of earwax protection, eliminating the need for separate components and adhesive bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interfaces are used to connect components, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate connection interfaces into a single integrated connection piece that simultaneously connects the flexible molded tube, the spout, and the earwax protection device. This merging reduces the number of interfaces from multiple separate connections to one unified connection point, thereby maintaining adaptability while improving reliability by eliminating additional failure points.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive bonding is used to connect dissimilar materials, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to bonding difficulties between different materials
Solution Approach 1:
The connection piece is manufactured from the same material as the flexible molded tube (both made of flexible plastic material). This material homogeneity eliminates the adhesive bonding problem between dissimilar materials while maintaining ease of manufacture through integral forming or simple joining processes, and significantly improves reliability by ensuring consistent bonding characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If metal components are used for connectivity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but harmful factors increase due to biocompatibility and allergy risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces metal components with flexible plastic material throughout the connection assembly (flexible molded tube, connection piece, and earwax protection device). This material substitution maintains ease of manufacture through molding processes while completely eliminating biocompatibility and allergy risks associated with metal contact, as the plastic material is biocompatible and suitable for ear canal contact.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate earwax protection components are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The earwax protection device is merged with the connection piece and flexible molded tube into a single integrated assembly. The connection piece simultaneously serves as the structural connector and houses the earwax protection function, eliminating the need for separate earwax protection components while maintaining the protective functionality and reducing overall device complexity.
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
This solution enhances robustness, simplifies assembly, reduces mechanical failure risks, improves biocompatibility, and increases wearing comfort by using a single material, eliminating the need for gold-plating and separate earwax protection components.
Implementation Method 1
using laser welding for connection
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic component and, in particular, an external receiver of a hearing aid, are intended to be capable of being configured to be simpler and more robust. To this end, it is proposed that the electronic apparatus, which has an electronic component and a cable which is connected to the electronic component, is equipped with a first sleeve which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects the two, and a second sleeve, which surrounds another part of the electronic component. The first sleeve and the second sleeve are coaxially directly connected to one another such that both sleeves together also completely surround the electronic component in the axial direction. The two sleeves can possibly be connected to one another by laser welding.