Hearing Implant Inductive Link Energy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implant systems face challenges in power management, particularly in maintaining stable supply voltage and reducing energy inefficiency due to the need for continuous energy transfer during data transmission, which increases energy losses and can lead to undervoltage issues and thermal heating.
Innovation Solution
An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal with data word pause segments that control energy delivery based on an energy management rule, adjusting the duty cycle and timing of the inductive link signal to maintain a minimum supply voltage and optimize energy transfer, reducing energy inefficiency and supply voltage ripple.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If continuous energy transfer is used during data transmission, then data can be continuously transmitted to the implant, but energy losses increase and supply voltage becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic data transmission with distinct data word segments separated by pause segments. During pause segments, no data is transmitted allowing the implant to conserve energy and stabilize voltage. This periodic interruption of continuous transmission resolves the contradiction by allowing data transmission when needed while preventing energy waste during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The data transmission is divided into discrete data word segments separated by pause segments. Each segment transmits a specific amount of data, followed by a pause where energy transfer is minimized. This segmentation allows the system to transmit necessary data while avoiding continuous energy transfer that causes losses and voltage instability.
2Reliability
If energy is continuously transferred to the implant, then the implant can maintain operation, but thermal heating increases and component lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic transmission with pause segments between data word segments, the system allows the implant to rest and cool down during pause periods. This prevents continuous energy transfer that would cause excessive thermal heating, while still maintaining operational reliability through periodic data updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary energy transfer during pause segments before the next data transmission, allowing the implant to accumulate necessary energy reserves without the thermal burden of continuous high-power transmission. This preliminary charging during low-activity periods maintains operation while reducing thermal heating.
3Stability of the object's composition
If voltage regulation circuitry is added to stabilize supply voltage, then voltage stability improves, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage stabilization function from the implant side and moves it to the external transmitter side. By controlling the timing and amount of energy transfer during pause segments, the external system pre-regulates voltage levels, eliminating the need for complex voltage regulation circuitry within the implant. This resolves the contradiction by achieving voltage stability without adding complex regulation components to the implant.
Solution Approach 2:
The external transmitter acts as an intermediary that performs voltage regulation before energy transfer to the implant. By pre-regulating voltage in the external system and transferring stabilized energy during pause segments, the implant receives stable voltage without needing its own complex regulation circuitry, thus reducing implant complexity while maintaining voltage stability.
4Loss of energy
If data transmission is optimized to reduce energy use, then energy efficiency improves, but data transmission capability may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic data transmission with pause segments where no data is sent. During active data word segments, full data transmission capability is maintained, while during pause segments energy consumption is minimized. This periodic approach optimizes energy efficiency without permanently impairing data transmission capability, as data transmission is fully restored during active segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transmits data in partial segments rather than continuous streams. Each data word segment transmits a complete unit of data, followed by a pause. This partial transmission approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous transmission, while each individual data segment maintains full transmission capability and integrity.
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 reduces overall energy consumption, minimizes power dissipation, and extends the lifetime of implanted components by optimizing energy delivery during data word pause segments, while maintaining stable voltage and reducing thermal heating.
Implementation Method 1
An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal with data word pause segments that communicate data to an implanted receiver
Implementation Method 2
the radio-frequency inductive link signal from the external signal processor is used both for transferring data and also to provide energy for powering the implanted components
Data Source
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AI summary
An external device for a hearing implant system and a hearing implant system having an external device is described. An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver including a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver. A data word pause controller controls the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule.