Wireless Hearing Aid Charging Without Corrosion-Prone Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing aids require comfortable wear and diverse configurations to accommodate varying degrees of hearing loss, but existing designs often face challenges with size, reliability, and the need for external electrical contacts that can be vulnerable to corrosion and interference from earwax.
Innovation Solution
A wireless charging and communication system that uses a microphone and wireless charging circuit to transmit data in ultrasonic frequencies, eliminating the need for external contacts by integrating multiple functions into a compact design, allowing for bidirectional communication and firmware updates without exposing the hearing assistance device to corrosive environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external electrical contacts are used for charging and data transfer, then the device can be charged and communicate with external devices, but the contacts are vulnerable to corrosion and interference from earwax
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical electrical contacts with wireless electromagnetic field-based power and data transfer. The charging case uses electromagnetic induction to wirelessly charge the hearing aid battery, and uses acoustic waves (speaker-microphone communication) for data transfer, eliminating all mechanical contacts that would be exposed to earwax and moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging case serves as an intermediary device that handles all external connections. The case contains the wireless charging coil and communication speaker, acting as a buffer between the hearing aid and external world, so the hearing aid itself never exposes electrical contacts to harmful environments.
2Volume of moving object
If the hearing assistance device is made compact for comfortable wear, then the device size is reduced, but integrating multiple functions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the charging case: wireless power charging, data communication via acoustic waves, and firmware updating. The hearing aid uses its speaker and microphone for bidirectional data communication with the case, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid's speaker and microphone are used for multiple purposes: audio output/input for hearing assistance, and wireless data communication with the charging case. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate communication hardware, allowing compact design.
3Reliability
If wireless communication in ultrasonic frequency range is used, then data transmission can occur without external contacts, but the microphone must receive audio frequency communication from the speaker
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different frequency ranges for different functions. The wireless charging circuit operates in ultrasonic frequencies for power transfer and downlink data, while the hearing aid speaker-microphone channel operates in audio frequencies for uplink communication, optimizing each channel for its specific purpose.
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 enables reliable and efficient wireless charging and communication, reducing the device's size, improving reliability, and preventing interference from earwax, while allowing for seamless firmware updates and data logging, thus enhancing user experience and device durability.
Implementation Method 1
The wireless charging circuit of the wireless charger is configured to act as a wireless data transmitter to transmit wireless data in an ultrasonic frequency range, via a charging coil, to the hearing assistance device
Implementation Method 2
The microphone is configured to receive a wireless communication, including data, in an audio frequency range from a speaker built into a hearing assistance device
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless charger for a hearing assistance device can include a microphone and a wireless charging circuit. The microphone is configured to receive a wireless communication, including data, in an audio frequency range from a speaker built into a hearing assistance device. The hearing assistance device is configured to amplify sound into a user's ear. The wireless charging circuit of the wireless charger is configured to act as a wireless data transmitter to transmit wireless data in an ultrasonic frequency range, via a charging coil, to the hearing assistance device.