Optimized Energy and Data Transfer in Hearing Implant Systems

• US 20130108091A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Stoffaneller, Martin, Schleich, Peter, Schwarzenbeck, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An external device for a hearing implant system and a hearing implant system having an external device is described. An external transmitter generates a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver including a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver. A data word pause controller controls the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule.

Claims

1. An external device for a hearing implant system comprising:

an external transmitter for generating a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver, the inductive link signal including;

i. a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and

ii. a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver; and

a data word pause controller for controlling the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule reflecting current energy needs of the implanted receiver.

2. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the energy management rule includes maintaining a supply voltage within the implanted receiver above a minimum supply voltage level.

3. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the energy management rule includes reaching a desired supply voltage level within the implanted receiver before the beginning of each data word segment.

4. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the energy management rule reflects a probability of a next data word segment occurring in a non-deterministic data processing system.

5. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the data word pause controller controls a duty cycle of a gating signal for the inductive link signal according to the energy management rule.

6. An external device according to claim 5, wherein the data word pause controller uses a plurality of different gating signal duty cycles.

7. An external device according to claim 6, wherein the gating signal duty cycles steadily increase during the data word pause segments.

8. An external device according to claim 1, wherein the data word pause controller controls the inductive link signal to be:

i. OFF for a period immediately following each data word segment, and

ii. ON for a period immediately before each data word segment.

9. A method for operating an external device in a hearing implant system comprising:

generating a radio-frequency inductive link signal to an implanted receiver, the inductive link signal including;

i. a sequence of data word segments which communicate data to the implanted receiver, and

ii. a sequence of data word pause segments between each data word segment which communicate energy without data to the implanted receiver; and

controlling the inductive link signal during the data word pause segments according to an energy management rule.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the energy management rule includes maintaining a supply voltage within the implanted receiver above a minimum supply voltage level.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the energy management rule includes reaching a desired supply voltage level within the implanted receiver before the beginning of each data word segment.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the energy management reflects a probability of a next data word segment occurring in a non-deterministic data processing system.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein controlling the inductive link signal includes controlling a duty cycle of a gating signal for the inductive link signal.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein controlling the inductive link signal includes using a plurality of different gating signal duty cycles.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the gating signal duty cycles steadily increase during the data word pause segments.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein controlling the inductive link signal includes controlling the inductive link signal to be:

i. OFF for a period immediately following each data word segment, and

ii. ON for a period immediately before each data word segment.