Ultrasonic Audio System for Hearing Impaired Bone Conduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hearing aids struggle to effectively deliver audio to individuals with hearing impairments, particularly in frequency ranges where they have significant disabilities, due to limitations in sound conduction and amplification.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a HyperSonic Sound (HSS) or ultrasonic audio system that modulates audio content onto an ultrasonic carrier signal, which is then converted into an ultrasonic pressure wave and demodulated within the listener's skull or inner ear, optimizing sound delivery based on individual hearing response profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hearing aids use traditional sound amplification methods, then they can provide basic volume increase, but they fail to effectively deliver audio to individuals with hearing impairments in specific frequency ranges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio delivery effectivenessVSAvoidfrequency range adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms audio signals into ultrasonic frequency ranges (above 20 kHz) for transmission, then uses demodulation to recover the original audio at the receiver. This parameter transformation allows the system to bypass conventional hearing aid limitations and deliver audio effectively across different frequency ranges, particularly benefiting users with hearing impairments in traditional audio bands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional approach by using ultrasonic carrier waves as an intermediate dimension for audio transmission. Instead of directly amplifying audio frequencies, the system modulates audio onto ultrasonic carriers, transmits them through air, and demodulates them at the receiver, adding a temporal and frequency dimension to the audio delivery process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hearing aids amplify all frequencies uniformly, then they provide general volume increase, but they cannot address individual hearing response profiles and specific frequency disabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual hearing profile adaptationVSAvoidhearing aid system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary equalization of the audio signal based on the user's hearing profile before modulation onto the ultrasonic carrier. This pre-processing step adjusts the audio spectrum to compensate for the user's specific hearing deficiencies, ensuring that the demodulated audio delivers enhanced clarity in frequency ranges where the user has impairments, without requiring complex real-time adjustments during playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conventional hearing aids use air conduction, then they can deliver sound through the ear canal, but they struggle with sound clarity and amplification in specific frequency ranges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound clarityVSAvoidacoustic energy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct acoustic energy transmission through air with an electromagnetic-based ultrasonic carrier wave system. By modulating audio onto high-frequency ultrasonic carriers and using demodulation to recover the audio signal, the system achieves more efficient energy utilization and improved sound clarity, particularly in frequency ranges where conventional acoustic transmission is less effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances audio perception for the hearing impaired by directly conveying audio signals through bone conduction, improving sound clarity and amplification in specific frequency ranges tailored to the user's hearing needs.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic transducer having an input communicatively coupled to the output of the amplifier and being configured to generate a pressure wave representing the modulated ultrasonic carrier signal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

This approach enhances audio perception for the hearing impaired by directly conveying audio signals through bone conduction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBone conduction:

Data Source

PatentUS8929575B2Hearing enhancement systems and methods

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 TURTLE BEACH CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing audio content and hearing-enhancement devices are provided. Systems and methods can be tailored to providing audio content to the hearing impaired, and can include evaluating a response profile of a listener; determining preferred ultrasonic signal parameters based on the listener's response profile; configuring an ultrasonic audio system according to the determined ultrasonic signal parameters; and using the ultrasonic audio system to transforming an audio signal into an ultrasonic pressure wave representing the audio signal.