Hearing Aid Remote Control Mediator for Home Network Integration

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hearing aid systems cannot establish direct communication with conventional home networks or alarm systems, relying on oversized and power-hungry additional modules for signaling, which limits their functionality and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A hearing aid system with a remote control or relay station that uses the ZigBee standard for data transmission, acting as a mediator between the network and the hearing aid, enabling full participation and allowing for energy-efficient, space-saving connectivity and control of household appliances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional modules (MLX) or induction loops are used to establish acoustic connection to hearing aids, then communication with hearing aids is enabled, but the system becomes significantly oversized with increased power consumption and size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control serves as an intermediary device between the home network and the hearing aid. It receives signals from the home network via radio frequency communication and transmits them to the hearing aid through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for oversized MLX modules or induction loops in the hearing aid itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical connection methods (MLX modules, induction loops) with a wireless radio frequency-based system. The remote control communicates with the home network via radio frequency and transfers signals to the hearing aid through electromagnetic field coupling, eliminating physical connections and reducing size requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If additional modules (MLX) or induction loops are used to establish acoustic connection to hearing aids, then communication with hearing aids is enabled, but the device size increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control serves as an intermediary device between the home network and the hearing aid. It receives signals from the home network via radio frequency communication and transmits them to the hearing aid through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for oversized MLX modules or induction loops in the hearing aid itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical connection methods (MLX modules, induction loops) with a wireless radio frequency-based system. The remote control communicates with the home network via radio frequency and transfers signals to the hearing aid through electromagnetic field coupling, eliminating physical connections and reducing size requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If hearing aids directly participate in home networks, then full network functionality is achieved, but the hearing aid requires oversized components and higher power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork participationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control serves as an intermediary device between the home network and the hearing aid. It receives signals from the home network via radio frequency communication and transmits them to the hearing aid through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for oversized MLX modules or induction loops in the hearing aid itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into three functional components: the home network, the remote control (which handles network communication and signal processing), and the hearing aid (which only needs basic electromagnetic reception capability). This segmentation allows the hearing aid to remain small and low-power while the remote control handles the complex network interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If hearing aids directly participate in home networks, then full network functionality is achieved, but the device size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork participationVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control serves as an intermediary device between the home network and the hearing aid. It receives signals from the home network via radio frequency communication and transmits them to the hearing aid through electromagnetic induction, eliminating the need for oversized MLX modules or induction loops in the hearing aid itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into three functional components: the home network, the remote control (which handles network communication and signal processing), and the hearing aid (which only needs basic electromagnetic reception capability). This segmentation allows the hearing aid to remain small and low-power while the remote control handles the complex network interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 convenient, energy-efficient, and space-saving participation of hearing aids in home networks, allowing flexible reporting and control of household appliances, with customizable acoustic signals and visual status feedback, enhancing user mobility and independence.

Implementation Method 1

a hearing aid system with a hearing aid and a hearing aid remote control or relay station which can be inductively coupled in particular to the hearing aid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP1720378B1Hearing aid remote control as a network component and corresponding use

Publication Date: 2008.01.02 SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBH

AI summary

The hearing device control unit has a data interface to transfer data between the hearing device (HG1,HG2) and data network which is a low-rated network e.g. low-rated home network. The data interface has bidirectional connection to the low-rated network and a display device and operating elements controls the components in the low-rated network. An independent claim is included for hearing device system.