Telecoil Tick-Artifact Mitigation in Binaural Hearing Instruments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aids face challenges in designing the internal layout to minimize interference from internal components like Bluetooth radios, which affects the sensitivity and sound quality of telecoil signals.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involve selectively deactivating the wireless radio of a hearing device when in telecoil listening mode, and using near-field communication to transmit the sensed telecoil signal to a paired hearing device, thereby reducing interference and enhancing sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless radio is kept active in the hearing device, then wireless connectivity and communication capabilities are maintained, but interference with the telecoil signal is introduced causing ticking artifacts and reduced signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the wireless radio by selectively deactivating it only when telecoil mode is active, while maintaining wireless connectivity capability when needed. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting the radio state based on operational context, ensuring telecoil signal quality during telecoil usage while preserving wireless connectivity for other operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between wireless radio active and inactive states based on the operational mode. When telecoil mode is detected, the radio is deactivated; when wireless mode is needed, the radio is reactivated. This periodic action allows the system to maintain both telecoil signal quality and wireless connectivity at different time periods as needed.
2Volume of moving object
If the telecoil is positioned closer to other internal components to reduce device size, then device compactness is improved, but magnetic field interference from components like Bluetooth radios increases causing signal artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wireless radio operation from the telecoil operation by deactivating the radio during telecoil mode. This separation removes the source of magnetic field interference (the active radio) when the telecoil is sensing, allowing the telecoil to be positioned closer to other components without suffering from radio-induced interference artifacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by deactivating the wireless radio before telecoil signal sensing begins. This preventive measure eliminates the magnetic field interference from the radio before it can affect the telecoil signal, allowing compact positioning of components without compromising signal quality.
3Reliability
If the telecoil is angled away from internal magnetic fields to reduce interference, then signal artifacts are reduced, but sensitivity to the desired inductive signal is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the wireless radio state based on operational mode. By deactivating the radio during telecoil mode, the system eliminates magnetic field interference dynamically, allowing the telecoil to maintain its optimal fixed orientation for maximum sensitivity without suffering from radio-induced artifacts during operation.
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 approach effectively mitigates telecoil ticking artifacts, improves sound quality, and maintains wireless connectivity, allowing for better reception of inductive signals while reducing design complexities and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic sensor configured to sense an inductive signal
Implementation Method 2
a first near-field radio configured for near-field communication
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for mitigating interference within a telecoil signal for hearing devices. A system includes a first hearing device and a second hearing device. The first hearing device includes a magnetic sensor configured to sense an inductive signal, a first wireless radio configured for wireless communication, and a first near-field radio configured for near-field communication. The second hearing device includes a second wireless radio configured for wireless communication and a second near-field radio configured for near-field communication. The first hearing device is configured to selectively deactivate the first wireless radio when using the magnetic sensor to reduce interference in the sensed inductive signal, and further configured to transmit the sensed inductive signal to the second hearing device using the first near-field radio. The second hearing device is configured to receive the sensed inductive signal using the second near-field radio.