Segmented Hearing Aid for Wireless Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices positioned deep within the ear canal, such as CICs, are difficult to maintain as users find it unpleasant to insert and remove them frequently for battery changes, risking damage and requiring professional assistance, and alternative designs with less deep placement are inefficient with occlusion effects.
Innovation Solution
A hearing apparatus with two components, one deep in the ear canal for signal reception and another outside for wireless signal and energy transmission, allowing user-friendly battery changes and improved sound transmission efficiency, using a transmitter coil or magnetically active membrane for inductive or magnetic energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the hearing device is positioned deep within the ear canal (CIC design), then the acoustic performance and sound quality are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users find it unpleasant to insert and remove frequently for battery changes
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device is divided into two separate components: a first component positioned deep in the ear canal for acoustic performance, and a second component positioned more superficially for user access. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally while resolving the contradiction between deep placement for acoustics and shallow placement for ease of access.
2Manufacturing precision
If the hearing device is positioned deep within the ear canal, then the acoustic performance is improved, but the risk of damaging the eardrum or sensitive skin increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the hearing device into two components with different positions, the first component can be placed deep for acoustic performance while the second component remains more accessible and less likely to cause damage during user handling and battery changes.
3Ease of operation
If the hearing device is positioned less deeply in the ear canal to improve ease of access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the acoustic performance deteriorates due to large residual volume and occlusion effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hearing device into two spatially separated components, allowing the first component to be positioned deep in the ear canal for optimal acoustic performance while the second component is positioned more superficially for ease of user access and battery replacement.
4Ease of operation
If the hearing device is positioned less deeply in the ear canal, then the ease of operation is improved, but occlusion effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the first component deep in the ear canal and the second component more superficially, the system maintains effective acoustic performance while reducing occlusion effects that would occur with shallow placement of the entire device.
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 efficient and user-friendly battery replacement with reduced risk of damage, maintaining effective acoustic performance and sound quality, combining the benefits of deep placement with user-accessible design.
Implementation Method 1
a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and having a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and/or of energy to the receiver unit of the first component
Implementation Method 2
The second component can comprise a magnetically active membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Changing batteries in hearing apparatuses worn in the auditory canal is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, a hearing apparatus is provided with a first component which can be worn in the auditory canal, said component comprising a receiver unit for the wireless reception of signals. The hearing apparatus also exhibits a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and/or energy to the receiver unit of the first component. The first component can be designed to be battery-less. The second component, which is positioned further outside in the auditory canal, can be easily removed from the auditory canal in order to change the battery.