Hearing Device Electrodes for Multi-Function Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices intended for placement at the ear or in the ear canal have limited surface area, making it difficult to combine functions requiring thermally conductive areas, electrodes, and charging pads effectively.
Innovation Solution
The hearing device shares electrically and thermally conductive surface portions between different functional elements, allowing for reduced surface area usage and increased freedom in placement, incorporating features like thermoelectric generators, brain-wave measurement circuits, communication circuits, and touch-sensing circuits while using electrodes as charging pads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate thermally conductive areas, electrodes, and charging pads are provided for different functions, then functional versatility is improved, but device surface area is excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by making the electrodes serve dual purposes: they function as both EEG measurement electrodes and as charging pads for wireless power transfer. This allows the device to perform multiple functions (brainwave detection and power charging) using the same surface components, thereby improving functional versatility without increasing the device surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the charging pad function with the existing electrodes. Instead of providing separate charging pads that would occupy additional surface area, the invention combines the charging functionality into the electrodes themselves, allowing them to serve both as sensing elements for brainwave measurement and as receiving elements for wireless power transfer.
2Device complexity
If multiple functional elements are combined in one device, then device integration is improved, but placement freedom is restricted due to limited surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - serving as both EEG measurement electrodes and wireless charging pads. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby improving device integration while maintaining placement freedom since the same components fulfill multiple roles rather than requiring separate dedicated areas for each function.
3Reliability
If electrodes occupy significant portions of the outside surface, then electrode effectiveness is improved, but available surface area for other functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the electrodes multi-functional by enabling them to serve as both EEG measurement electrodes and as charging pads for wireless power transfer. This allows the device to maintain effective electrode surface area for brainwave detection while simultaneously providing charging functionality through the same surface components, thereby avoiding the need to sacrifice additional surface area for separate charging pads.
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 approach enables efficient power generation and data transmission while minimizing the device's surface area usage, allowing for a more compact design that combines multiple functions without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
The thermoelectric device converts a temperature difference between the user's skin and the solar cells into an electric current
Implementation Method 2
the other side is thermally connected through thermally conductive material to solar cells subjected to ambient temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Devices intended for placement at the ear, in the ear or in the ear canal of an individual, i.e. a user, generally have a relatively small surface area, which limits the number, the size and the freedom for placement of thermally conductive areas, electrodes and/or charging pads such a device may have. This makes it difficult to combine functions requiring such thermally conductive areas, electrodes and/or charging pads in one and the same device. The hearing device (1) according to the invention has a housing (8) and a first electrode (9) arranged to abut the skin of the individual. The hearing device (1) further comprises at least two different elements selected from the group comprising: a brain-wave measurement circuit (12) receiving measurement signals from the first electrode (9) and from a second electrode (10) arranged to abut the skin of the individual; a communication circuit (15) receiving communication signals from and/or transmitting communication signals to the first electrode (9); a touch-sensing circuit (16) transmitting sensing signals to the first electrode (9); a thermoelectric generator (17) thermally connected to the outer surface of the housing (8) mainly through the first electrode (9); and a charge control circuit (20) sinking a charging current in dependence on a voltage across the first electrode (9) and a third electrode (10). By sharing electrically and/or thermally conductive surface portions (9, 10, 11) between different functional elements (12, 15, 16, 17, 20) in the hearing device (1), the required surface area may be reduced and/or the surface portions may be placed with increased freedom.