Hearing Aid Wireless Unit Frequency Oscillator Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless hearing aids face noise interference and certification challenges due to the shared clock frequency between wireless transmission and digital operations, making it difficult to maintain sensitivity and comply with certification standards.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication unit in the hearing aid featuring an active unit with at least one inductor and an oscillator circuit, allowing independent operation of the transmission frequency, thus avoiding digital noise and enabling compliance with various certification standards by determining the operating frequency through the oscillator circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the wireless transmission frequency and digital clock are related to the same master clock generator, then synchronization is improved, but noise interference increases and sensitivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesynchronizationVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frequency generation system into two independent parts: a master clock generator for digital operations and a separate oscillator circuit for wireless transmission. This segmentation allows each subsystem to operate independently without noise interference while maintaining their respective synchronization requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oscillator circuit is extracted from the master clock generator system. The wireless transmission frequency is generated by a dedicated oscillator with its own frequency determining circuit, separated from the digital clock system. This extraction eliminates the noise coupling path while preserving wireless communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a fixed frequency is used for wireless transmission, then certification compliance is improved, but adaptability to different standards deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecertification complianceVSAvoidfrequency adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency determining circuit introduces dynamic adjustability to the oscillator circuit. By allowing the oscillation frequency to be dynamically tuned within a range, the system can adapt to different certification standards while maintaining reliable operation. The dynamic frequency control enables compliance with various frequency requirements without sacrificing stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the wireless communication unit operates independently from the digital clock, then noise interference is reduced, but synchronization control becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise interferenceVSAvoidfrequency control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency determining circuit acts as an intermediary between the oscillator circuit and the digital clock system. It provides the necessary frequency control and stabilization while allowing the oscillator to operate independently from digital noise. This intermediary component simplifies the overall control architecture by centralizing frequency management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces noise interference and allows the hearing aid to operate at any chosen frequency, ensuring low power consumption and compliance with certification standards, while maintaining effective wireless communication.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless communication unit for communicating RF signals, said wireless communication unit comprising an active unit comprising at least one inductor and an oscillator circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2056626B1Wireless transmission principle
Publication Date: 2012.07.25 OTICON
  • EP2056626B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

This invention relates to a hearing aid system having a communication unit for inductively transmitting and receiving signals. The communication unit comprises an active unit, which is excited by a data stream signal. The data stream drives an inductive antenna in a transmission state by means of a first inductor coupled to the antenna. Further, the communication unit comprises a frequency determining unit coupled to the antenna by means of a second inductor and controlling transmission frequency in the transmission state and to provide received signals to a receiver front end in a reception state. The data stream signal is disabled during said reception state.