Hearing Device Virtual Auditory Display Spatial Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing devices lack intuitive and efficient user interaction methods due to limited and hidden controls, making it cumbersome for users to adjust settings without visual displays, especially as device functionality becomes more complex.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device system generates a virtual auditory display with stationary sound field zones and quiet zones, allowing users to navigate and select options through sensors, such as voice commands, head movements, or EEG signals, enabling interactive control of the device without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional electromechanical switches and controls are used in hearing devices, then the device can provide basic interaction functionality, but the controls are limited in number and often out of sight while wearing the hearing devices, making interaction cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electromechanical switches and controls with an auditory display system that uses sound fields and acoustic cues. Users interact with the hearing device through audio-based interfaces rather than physical controls, eliminating the need for visible or accessible mechanical switches while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial audio dimension for interaction by creating sound fields with multiple zones and acoustic contrast. Instead of relying on physical control dimensions, the system uses spatial positioning of audio elements to provide navigation and selection capabilities, adding a new dimension of interaction through sound space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of controls is increased to provide more functionality, then the device can offer more features, but the controls become more complex and harder to access while wearing the hearing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The auditory display system serves multiple functions through a single unified interface. The sound field zones and acoustic contrast mechanisms provide navigation, selection, and information display capabilities all through audio cues, eliminating the need for separate physical controls for each function and improving accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an auditory intermediary layer between the user and device functions. Instead of direct physical control, audio cues and sound field manipulations mediate the interaction, allowing users to access multiple functions through intuitive audio-based commands rather than complex physical control sequences.
3Ease of operation
If visual displays are added to hearing devices to improve user interaction, then users can see controls and options, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes visual display mechanisms with an enhanced auditory display system. Instead of adding screens or visual indicators that would increase device volume, the system provides feedback and information through spatial audio and acoustic contrast, maintaining compact device size while improving user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from visual to auditory dimension for feedback. By using spatial sound fields and acoustic contrast to convey information and enable control, the system provides rich interactive feedback without requiring visual displays, thus avoiding increases in device volume and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device comprises a processor configured to generate a virtual auditory display comprising a sound field, a plurality of disparate sound field zones, and a plurality of quite zones that provide acoustic contrast between the sound field zones. The sound field zones and the quiet zones remain positionally stationary within the sound field. One or more sensors are configured to sense a plurality of inputs from the wearer. The processor is configured to facilitate movement of the wearer within the sound field in response to a navigation input received from the one or more sensors. The processor is also configured to select one of the sound field zones for playback via a speaker or actuation of a hearing device function in response to a selection input received from the one or more sensors.