Orthogonal Coil Array for Hearing Device Signal Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductive audio transmission in hearing devices experiences reduced signal quality due to suboptimal alignment of transmitter and receiver coils, exacerbated by the increased mobility of digital hearing aid remote controls which can assume unfavorable orientations relative to the magnetic field.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with three orthogonally arranged coils, where all coil signals with the same sign are summed for a first output signal, and two coil signals with the same sign and the third signal with the opposite sign are summed for additional output signals, with an evaluation circuit selecting the signal with the highest level for processing, allowing optimal reception in all spatial directions regardless of coil alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single receiving coil is used in the hearing aid, then the device structure remains simple, but signal quality deteriorates when the coil is not optimally aligned with the transmitting coil
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving coil is segmented into three orthogonal coils (first, second, and third coils arranged perpendicular to each other along x, y, z axes). Each coil detects magnetic field components in different spatial directions, allowing the system to maintain signal quality regardless of the transmitting coil's orientation. The evaluation circuit then processes these segmented signals to determine the optimal reception signal.
2Ease of operation
If the remote control is made mobile and freely movable, then ease of operation improves, but signal quality deteriorates due to unfavorable alignment with the magnetic field
Solution Approach 1:
The solution transitions from a single-dimension coil alignment problem to a three-dimensional solution by introducing three orthogonal coils arranged along x, y, and z axes. This dimensional expansion allows the receiving system to detect magnetic field components from any spatial direction, ensuring that the remote control maintains optimal signal reception regardless of its orientation or position in three-dimensional space.
3Reliability
If multiple coils are used to counteract poor alignment, then signal quality improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation circuit dynamically selects the optimal reception signal from the three orthogonal coils based on real-time signal strength assessment. Rather than using all coils simultaneously or requiring complex signal processing, the system dynamically identifies and processes the strongest signal, adapting to the current spatial relationship between transmitting and receiving coils. This dynamic selection approach maintains signal quality while minimizing processing complexity.
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 configuration ensures optimal audio reception in all orientations, minimizing disruptions from signal switching and maintaining high quality even when the remote control is moved freely, outperforming previous methods that only achieved optimal reception for specific coil alignments.
Implementation Method 1
a first coil for inductive transmission and a second coil for inductive transmission, the two coils being arranged orthogonally to one another, a third coil for inductive transmission being arranged orthogonally to the first and second coil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The device has an evaluation circuit connected to three coils (S1, S2, S3), where three coil signals are added with same sign for an output signal (as1). Two of the three coil signals are added with same sign and the other coil signal is added with another sign for another three output signals (as2-as4). The coil signal of the coil (S3) is assigned for the output signal (as2) of the coil (S1), for the output signal (as3) of the coil (S2) and for the output signal (as4) of the coil (S3). One of the output signals, which possess the highest level, is selected by the circuit for processing.