Impact-Enabled Reboot for Sealed Hearing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-wearable hearing devices with rechargeable batteries and no user-accessible controls face challenges in rebooting a digital processor that enters a dead-end failure mode, as users cannot manually reset the device by opening and closing a battery door.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an impact sensor that generates a reset signal when the device is physically impacted, allowing the reset circuit to place the digital processor in a predetermined logic state, effectively rebooting the device without external controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rechargeable battery is used with a sealed housing and no user-accessible controls, then device reliability and moisture resistance are improved, but the ability to reboot the digital processor when it enters a dead-end failure mode is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs the reboot function automatically through an impact sensor that detects physical impact and triggers a reset signal to the digital processor, eliminating the need for user intervention or accessible controls while maintaining reboot capability
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical action of opening and closing the battery door is replaced by an impact sensor that detects physical impact and converts it into an electrical reset signal, allowing the digital processor to be rebooted without mechanical access to the battery compartment
2Device complexity
If control buttons or switches are removed from the device surface, then device size is reduced and reliability is improved, but the user loses the ability to manually reset the digital processor
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically detects impact through the impact sensor and triggers the reset function without requiring user interaction with buttons or switches, maintaining reset capability while keeping the device surface control-free
Solution Approach 2:
Manual button pressing is replaced by impact detection that automatically generates the reset signal, eliminating the need for physical control elements on the device surface
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
Provides a simple and convenient user-operable reboot mechanism for head-wearable hearing devices with rechargeable batteries, allowing users to reset the device by physically impacting it, thus resolving the issue of dead-end failure modes without needing accessible controls or battery doors.
Implementation Method 1
an impact sensor responsive to an impact on the device housing to generate a corresponding impact signal or impact pulse
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a head-wearable hearing device comprising an impact sensor responsive to an impact on the device housing to generate a corresponding impact signal or impact pulse. A reset circuit is configured to generate and apply a reset signal to a digital processor of the head-wearable hearing device in response to the impact pulse to place the digital processor in a predetermined logic state.