Method for operating a hearing device and a hearing device optimized for being powered by a mercury-free battery
First Claim
1. A method of operating a hearing device that includes a battery compartment with a battery door, a power management unit, a loudspeaker, a plurality of electronic units, and a plurality of power gates operably connected to the plurality of electronic units, the method comprising the steps of:
- powering the plurality of electronic units with a battery in the battery compartment that provides a battery voltage;
stabilizing the battery voltage and providing a supply voltage to the electronic units with a buffer capacitor that is connected in parallel to the battery;
monitoring the supply voltage of at least one of the plurality of electronic units; and
in response to a monitored low supply voltage condition, initiating a low battery leakage shutdown state by activating a power gate to disconnect the electronic unit operably connected thereto from the supply voltage and discharging the buffer capacitor in response to the battery door being opened.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention proposes a method for operating a hearing device 1 which prevents battery leakage, especially in the case when the hearing device 1 is powered by a mercury-free battery 2. The method comprises monitoring a supply voltage of at least one of a plurality of electronic units 7, 8, 9 of the hearing device 1, initiating a low battery leakage shutdown state when a low supply voltage condition is identified based on the monitoring, wherein the initiating a low battery leakage shutdown state includes activating at least one power gate 10 to disconnect at least one of the plurality of electronic units 7, 8, 9 from the power supply when entering the low battery leakage shutdown state, and discharging a buffer capacitor 4 provided for stabilizing the battery voltage. Moreover, a hearing device 1 optimized for being powered by a mercury-free battery 2 is provided.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of operating a hearing device that includes a battery compartment with a battery door, a power management unit, a loudspeaker, a plurality of electronic units, and a plurality of power gates operably connected to the plurality of electronic units, the method comprising the steps of:
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powering the plurality of electronic units with a battery in the battery compartment that provides a battery voltage; stabilizing the battery voltage and providing a supply voltage to the electronic units with a buffer capacitor that is connected in parallel to the battery; monitoring the supply voltage of at least one of the plurality of electronic units; and in response to a monitored low supply voltage condition, initiating a low battery leakage shutdown state by activating a power gate to disconnect the electronic unit operably connected thereto from the supply voltage and discharging the buffer capacitor in response to the battery door being opened. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21)
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9. A hearing device for use with a battery, comprising:
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a battery compartment with a battery door and a battery contacts; a loudspeaker; a plurality of electronic units; a buffer capacitor, operably connected to the battery contacts and to the plurality of electronic units, that stabilizes the battery voltage and provides a supply voltage to the plurality of electronic units; at least one power gate that connects at least one of the plurality of electronic units to the supply voltage; a power management unit that monitors the supply voltage and identifies a low supply voltage condition, and that controls the at least one power gate to disconnect at least one of the plurality of electronic units from the supply voltage in response to the detection of a low supply voltage condition; and discharge circuitry, operably connected to the buffer capacitor and to the battery door, that discharges the buffer capacitor by establishing an electrical connection between the battery contacts and ground via the discharge circuitry when the battery door is opened and that interrupts the electrical connection when the battery door is closed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22)
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19. A hearing device for use with a battery, comprising:
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a battery compartment with a battery door and a battery contacts; a loudspeaker; a plurality of electronic units; a buffer capacitor, operably connected to the battery contacts and to the plurality of electronic units, that stabilizes the battery voltage and provides a supply voltage to the plurality of electronic units; at least one power gate that connects at least one of the plurality of electronic units to the supply voltage; a power management unit that monitors the supply voltage and identifies a low supply voltage condition, and that controls the at least one power gate to disconnect at least one of the plurality of electronic units from the supply voltage in response to the detection of a low supply voltage condition; and discharge means, operably connected to the buffer capacitor and to the battery door, for discharging the buffer capacitor by establishing an electrical connection between the battery contacts and ground via the discharge circuitry when the battery door is opened and that interrupts the electrical connection when the battery door is closed.
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Specification