Multilayer PCB Reception Coil for Contactless Hearing Aid Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing devices require converter electronics for voltage conversion due to varying voltage outputs from secondary cells, making battery replacement inconvenient and requiring additional charging electronics for contactless charging, which complicates energy efficiency and design.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a multilayer circuit board featuring a conductor track forming a spiroplanar helical reception coil for contactless inductive charging, integrated charging and converter electronics, and a ferrite layer for enhanced inductance and magnetic field coupling, allowing for compact and efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If converter electronics are added for voltage conversion, then compatibility with different secondary cells is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the converter electronics and charging electronics into a single integrated circuit board, merging multiple functions (voltage conversion, contactless charging control) into one component. This reduces the overall number of separate components and simplifies the device architecture while maintaining compatibility with different secondary cell voltages through the converter electronics.
2Ease of operation
If charging electronics are added for contactless charging, then convenience of use is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging electronics are integrated onto the same circuit board as the converter electronics, combining contactless charging functionality with voltage conversion capabilities. This merging approach enables convenient contactless charging while minimizing the increase in device complexity by sharing the circuit board infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit board serves multiple functions: it provides voltage conversion for different battery types, enables contactless charging through the reception coil, and manages power distribution to various components. This multi-functionality approach consolidates several subsystems into one universal platform.
3Loss of energy
If the distance between reception coil and transmission coil is reduced, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but mechanical design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar coil arrangement to a three-dimensional spiroplanar helical coil structure. This spatial configuration allows the coil to achieve an compact form factor with optimized magnetic coupling while maintaining mechanical flexibility for integration into wearable devices of various shapes and sizes.
4Loss of energy
If a spiroplanar helical coil structure is used, then energy transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters of the spiroplanar helical coil structure, including the conductor track width (200-500 μm), thickness (10-100 μm), and the spacing between adjacent turns (0.1-0.5 times the track width). These parameter optimizations balance the achievement of high energy transfer efficiency with manufacturability using standard PCB fabrication techniques.
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 enables efficient contactless charging with improved energy transfer efficiency, reduced component thickness, and increased durability by eliminating the need for mechanical connections and additional components, while maintaining a compact design suitable for wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
Contactless charging is possible inductively by means of a charging coil of the hearing device, which is inductively coupled during charging operation to a transmission coil that is a part of a charger for the hearing device
Implementation Method 2
A circuit board according to the invention contains a conductor track, which forms a spiroplanar helical reception coil (18) and furthermore contains a ferrite layer (58), which completely covers the conductor loops (34)
Data Source
AI summary
A hearing device has a battery module. The battery module has a secondary cell and a reception coil for contactless charging of the secondary cell. The battery module has a circuit board with a conductor track which forms the reception coil. The circuit board contains a plurality of layers. The conductor track extends over the plurality of layers while containing a conductor loop, which has at least one turn, in each of the plurality of layer. A corresponding circuit board is furthermore specified.