Hearing Amplifier Gain Compensation for Supply Voltage Offset Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amplifier systems in hearing devices suffer from variations in acoustical signals due to variations in amplifier gain, primarily caused by fluctuations in supply voltage.
Innovation Solution
An amplifier system that includes a battery for providing a supply voltage, a digital signal processor for generating acoustical signals, a controller unit that receives enablement signals to predict offset modes in the supply voltage, and a first analog-to-digital converter for measuring the supply voltage. This system generates a compensating signal to minimize variations in the acoustical signal by adjusting the amplifier gain accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the amplifier gain is increased to improve signal amplification, then the acoustical signal output is improved, but variations in supply voltage cause gain fluctuations that degrade sound quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measured supply voltage is fed back to the controller unit, which then generates a compensating signal to adjust the amplifier gain. This closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors and corrects gain variations caused by supply voltage fluctuations, maintaining consistent sound quality while preserving the desired amplifier gain level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the amplifier gain parameter based on the measured supply voltage. The controller unit adjusts the gain in real-time by applying a compensating signal that counteracts voltage variations. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal performance across varying supply conditions without degrading sound quality.
2Reliability
If predictive feedback compensation is implemented to suppress distortion, then distortion caused by supply voltage variations is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller unit as an intermediary between the supply voltage measurement and the amplifier gain control. This intermediary component processes the measured voltage, predicts variations using fitting algorithms, and generates appropriate compensating signals. By using this intermediary layer, the system achieves effective distortion suppression while managing complexity through modular design and software-based prediction algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure presents a method and an amplifier system for minimizing variation in an acoustical signal caused by variation in gain of an amplifier, comprising a battery for providing a supply voltage to the amplifier, a digital signal processor for providing the acoustical signal to the amplifier, a controller unit receiving an enablement signal when the supply voltage is in an offset mode, and based on the enablement signal requesting a measured voltage during a time period, and a first analog-to-digital converter configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier when receiving the request from the controller unit or the first analog-to-digital converter is configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier continuously, and where variations in the measured voltage relates to variations in the supply voltage during the time period. Furthermore, the controller unit is configured to predict offset modes (i.e. changes) in the supply voltage based on the enablement signals and a fitting of the measured voltages, and wherein the controller unit is configured to generate a compensating signal based on the fitting and transmit the compensating signal to the digital signal processor, the digital signal processor is then configured to minimize variation in the acoustical signal at the output of the amplifier by compensating the variation in gain of the amplifier based on the compensating signal.