Hearing Instrument UV Sensor for Indoor Outdoor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing instruments face challenges in determining the user's environment, such as indoors or outdoors, and in accurately measuring light exposure, particularly due to variables like skin pigmentation and hair coverage, which affect temperature readings and UV exposure monitoring.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor and a spectrometer, along with an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, to measure ambient light levels, UV exposure, and infrared light, allowing the processing circuitry to determine the user's environment and adjust settings, such as heat balance equations, and to detect hair or head coverings that may obstruct the hearing instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UV sensor is added to the hearing instrument to detect UV exposure and enable charging, then UV monitoring capability and power charging are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV sensor serves dual functions: it monitors UV exposure levels for user safety and simultaneously charges the hearing instrument's battery by converting UV light to electrical energy. This multi-functionality approach resolves the technical contradiction by maximizing the utility of the added sensor while minimizing the impact on device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors (PPG, spectrometer, UV sensor) are integrated to accurately determine environment and UV exposure, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides environmental detection into specialized segments: PPG sensor for blood flow and temperature-related measurements, spectrometer for spectral light analysis, and UV sensor for UV exposure detection. Each sensor handles a specific measurement task, improving overall precision while allowing modular integration that manages complexity through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors are integrated into a unified processing system that uses data from all sensors to determine both indoor/outdoor environment and UV exposure levels. The processing circuitry coordinates multiple sensor inputs to achieve comprehensive environmental awareness, making the multi-sensor system work as an integrated whole rather than separate components.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the hearing instrument uses UV light for charging, then power availability is improved, but potential harm from UV exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts potentially harmful UV radiation into beneficial electrical energy for charging the hearing instrument battery. The UV sensor captures UV light that would otherwise be harmful exposure and transforms it into useful power, simultaneously providing charging capability and monitoring UV levels to alert users of excessive exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV sensor provides real-time feedback on UV exposure levels to the processing circuitry, which can then alert the user or adjust settings to prevent excessive exposure. This feedback mechanism ensures that while UV energy is harvested for charging, user safety is maintained through continuous monitoring and appropriate responses to high UV conditions.
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
Enables accurate determination of the user's environment, adjusts settings for improved performance, and provides reliable UV exposure monitoring, ensuring accurate temperature readings and user safety from excessive UV exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet (UV) sensor configured to convert received UV light into electrical power
Implementation Method 2
measuring the ambient light level with a photoplethysmography 'PPG' sensor
Implementation Method 3
measuring the ambient light level with a spectrometer, to determine a spectral range and intensity correlating to ambient light
Implementation Method 4
A power source within the charger powers a UV light source located within the charger configured to provide UV light to the UV sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for determining whether a user of a hearing instrument is located either indoors or outdoors. The hearing instrument has an ultraviolet (UV) sensor, a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor and/or a spectrometer to determine whether the user is located indoors or outdoors. The hearing instrument uses energy converted by the UV sensor to charge a power source used by the hearing instrument. The UV sensor is used to determine whether an adhesive is properly cured and thus improve the manufacturing process for the hearing instrument. The UV sensor also works with other onboard sensors, such as the PPG sensor to determine if the user has hair or a head covering which is blocking the hearing instrument. If a user's hair or head covering is detected, the processing circuitry may adjust a pre-established heat balance equation, which determines a user's temperature.