Hearing Device Vent Valve for Self-Cleaning and Acoustic Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-the-ear hearing devices often become clogged by cerumen and skin particles, affecting their functionality and lifespan, necessitating an improved solution for monitoring and cleaning the receiver module.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a receiver module featuring a vent valve device that can be electrically manipulated to open and close, producing detectable sounds to indicate cleanliness and functionality, allowing for self-cleaning by moving obstacles and enhancing the device's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vent is kept open for acoustic purposes, then the acoustic performance is improved, but the risk of clogging by cerumen and skin particles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve device dynamically opens and closes the vent based on detected clogging conditions. The controller receives signals from input transducers that detect the presence of cerumen or skin particles in the vent, and automatically actuates the vent valve device to close the vent when clogging is detected, or to open it when the vent is clear, thus adapting the vent state to actual conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses input transducers to continuously monitor the vent for cerumen and skin particles, providing feedback signals to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically controls the vent valve device to open or close the vent, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to real-time conditions in the ear canal
2Reliability
If the vent valve device is manually cleaned, then the functionality is restored, but the complexity of maintenance and user intervention increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by using input transducers to detect clogging conditions and automatically controls the vent valve device to respond to detected issues. The controller monitors the operational status of the vent valve device and can automatically actuate it to restore functionality without requiring user intervention or manual cleaning procedures
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent is closed to prevent clogging, then the protection against particles is improved, but the acoustic performance and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve device dynamically adjusts its state between open and closed positions based on real-time detection of clogging conditions. When the vent is clear, it remains open for optimal acoustic performance. When cerumen or skin particles are detected, it automatically closes to prevent further clogging, thus dynamically optimizing both acoustic performance and protection
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent valve device is actuated multiple times, then the self-cleaning effect is enhanced, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller actuates the vent valve device in periodic cycles when clogging is detected, opening and closing the vent multiple times to create a self-cleaning effect that dislodges cerumen and skin particles. This periodic actuation continues until the input transducers detect that the vent is clear, at which point the controller stops actuation to conserve energy
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 effectively monitors and maintains the cleanliness of the receiver module, preventing clogging and extending the device's lifespan by enabling self-cleaning and providing users with timely maintenance notifications.
Implementation Method 1
When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the first position a first sound is produced. When the vent valve device enters/arrives in the second position a second sound is produced.
Implementation Method 2
the first sound and/or the second sound are detectable by one or more input transducers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is a hearing device (1). The hearing device (1) comprises a receiver module (2) for insertion into an ear canal of a user of the hearing device (1). The hearing device (1) comprises a signal processor (22), and a controller (10). The receiver module (2) comprises an output transducer (3), a vent (4) having a vent valve device (6) configured to open and close the vent (4). The controller (10) of the hearing device (1) is configured to electrically manipulate the vent valve device (6) to be in a first position or in a second position based on a first signal received from the signal processor (22) whereby the vent valve device (6) is configured to move between the first position and the second position in response thereto. When the vent valve device (6) enters/arrives in the first position a first sound is produced. When the vent valve device (6) enters/arrives in the second position a second sound is produced. The first sound and/or the second sound are detectable by one or more input transducers (8, 9, 58).