Hearing Device Port Debris Detection via Capacitance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ingress of debris such as earwax into the ports of hearing devices can cause functional issues, including low-throughput distortion, reduced high-frequency gains, decreased hearing, tinnitus, and improper fit, leading to user frustration and potential need for technician intervention.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a housing containing electronic components like a speaker, microphone, and controller, along with sensors disposed adjacent to or within the ports to detect changes in capacitance or sound pressure levels, allowing for the identification of debris occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ports are left open for acoustic functionality, then acoustic performance is improved, but debris ingress occurs causing functional degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes wax filters and other protective components from the hearing device ports, allowing direct acoustic access while implementing electronic detection systems to monitor for debris occlusion. This extraction eliminates the mechanical barriers that previously blocked debris while maintaining acoustic performance through electronic monitoring and alerting mechanisms.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sensors are added to detect debris occlusion, then debris detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs existing hearing device components (microphones, speakers, and current sensors) to perform multiple functions: their primary hearing functions plus additional debris detection capabilities. By making these existing components multi-functional, the system achieves debris occlusion detection without adding separate dedicated sensor systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Device complexity
If wax filters are removed to simplify the device, then device complexity is reduced, but debris protection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-monitoring system where the hearing device automatically detects debris occlusion using its existing sensors and components. The system continuously monitors acoustic properties and provides real-time feedback to the user about port occlusion status, enabling self-service monitoring without requiring additional protective physical barriers like wax filters.
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
The solution enables users to efficiently detect and potentially resolve debris-related issues independently, reducing frustration and the need for technician intervention, while eliminating the need for wax filters.
Implementation Method 1
The controller can be adapted to detect a change in capacitance of the sensor, where the change in capacitance is associated with debris at least partially occluding the port
Implementation Method 2
direct an acoustic signal to the first diaphragm such that the first diaphragm converts the acoustic signal to a reference sound wave that is transmitted into an ear canal through the acoustic port
Implementation Method 3
detect a second sound wave utilizing the second diaphragm, where the second sound wave includes at least a portion of the reference sound wave that is reflected by an eardrum within the ear canal and directed into the acoustic port
Implementation Method 4
direct a first electrical pulse to the microphone diaphragm; determine a reference decay rate of a mechanical resonance signal of the microphone diaphragm in response to the first electrical pulse
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a hearing device and a method of using such device are disclosed. The hearing device includes a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, electronic components disposed within the housing, and a port disposed in the housing and extending between a first end at the outer surface of the housing and a second end disposed within the housing, where the port is acoustically connected to at least one of a speaker or a microphone of the electronic components. The hearing components also include a controller that is electrically connected to a sensor and that is adapted to detect a change in capacitance of the sensor, where the change in capacitance is associated with debris at least partially occluding the port.