Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses

Abstract

An actuator provides vibrational stimulation to a recipient of a bone conduction device. To ensure proper operation of the actuator, a known signal is delivered to a coil associated therewith. An output signal from the coil is analyzed for distortion, the presence of which indicates that the actuator is out of balance. If distortion is present, adjustments are made to the position of certain embodiments within the actuator to obtain a properly balanced device. Methods also include testing for distortion, after manufacture of the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 applying an input signal to a transducer within a housing of a hearing device, wherein the transducer comprises an adjustable assembly within the housing affecting operation of the transducer;   analyzing a harmonic distortion, frequency, current and/or voltage of an output signal generated in response to the input signal and/or analyzing movement of the transducer resulting from the input signal; and   positioning the adjustable assembly based at least in part on the analysis, thereby modifying ongoing operation of the transducer; and   placing the transducer into a housing, wherein   positioning the adjustable assembly comprises modifying a position of a first component of the adjustable assembly relative to a position of a second component of the adjustable assembly, and   the first component comprises a yoke and the second component comprises a bobbin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input signal is a sinusoidal signal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises positioning the adjustable assembly to reduce harmonic distortion;distortion and wherein distortion is minimized when the output signal is a low and even harmonic distortion; and wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a electromagnetic actuator coil and a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the adjustable assembly comprisesincludes balancing a spring force applied to the adjustable assembly against a magnetic force applied to the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the adjustable assembly comprises modifying a position of a first component of the adjustable assembly relative to a position of a second component of the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer storage medium encoding computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method comprising:
 applying an input signal to an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises an adjustable assembly affecting operation of the electromagnetic actuator;   analyzing a harmonic distortion of an output signal generated in response to the input signal; and   repositioning the adjustable assembly based at least in part on the analysis, thereby modifying ongoing operation of the electromagnetic actuator.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein analyzing the output signal comprises performing a harmonic analysis. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein performing the harmonic analysis comprises performing a fast Fourier transform. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein the adjustable assembly is repositioned to minimize a harmonic distortion of the output signal. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein repositioning the adjustable assembly comprises balancing a spring force applied to the adjustable assembly against a magnetic force applied to the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 applying a test signal to an input of a transducer;   detecting a harmonic distortion level at an output of the transducer;   comparing the harmonic distortion level to a reference; and   making a recommendation based at least in part on the comparison.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending information regarding the comparison to a remote storage device; and   receiving instructions from the remote storage device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating a warning based at least in part on the comparison. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising storing information regarding the comparison. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stored information is used in a subsequent test. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reference is a balanced harmonic distortion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein generating the warning further comprises:
 determining whether the harmonic distortion level is within a tolerance of the reference; and   responsive to determining that the harmonic distortion level is not within the tolerance, generating a warning.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determination is based on a calibration table. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the recommendation comprises at least one of a repair command, a return command, and a dispose command. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 determining a harmonic distortion of an feature of an output signal from a coil of an electromagnetic actuator within a housing and of a bone conduction device having an adjustable assembly; and   based upon the harmonic distortion feature, repositioning the adjustable assembly within the housing to minimize the harmonic distortion feature, thereby modifying ongoing operation of the electromagnetic actuator, wherein the action of repositioning the adjustable assembly moves a balance point of the actuator; and   placing the electromagnetic actuator into a housing of the bone conduction device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising applying an input signal to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator, prior to determining the harmonic distortionfeature. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising positioning the adjustable assembly relative to a counterweight prior to determining the harmonic distortionfeature. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising securing the adjustable assembly to the counterweight after repositioning the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein repositioning comprises adjusting a component of the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising recording an initial position and an adjusted position of the adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after positioning the adjustable assembly, fixing the position of the adjustable assembly using a mechanical fastener or a chemical adhesive.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first component comprises a yoke and the second component comprises a bobbin. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the adjustable assembly includes:
 modifying a balance point of the adjustable assembly.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the balance point is a configuration where mechanical spring forces produced by one or more springs of the transducer balance with electromagnetic forces produced by one or more permanent magnets of the transducer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning the adjustable assembly includes:
 modifying a first air gap size and a second air gap size of respective air gaps defined within the transducer.   
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the coil is surrounded by other components of the electromagnetic actuator.    
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin having a core about which the coil is wound, and the core is an inboard portion of the actuator with respect to a lateral direction of the actuator, and the bobbin extends outboard of the coil with respect to the lateral direction of the actuator.  
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic actuator is configured so that at least a portion thereof is placeable in a housing of a bone conduction device, wherein the actuator is configured to be connected to the housing.  
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is a method of manufacturing the transducer.  
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the transducer into the housing is part of a method to make the hearing device.  
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the action of repositioning the adjustable assembly moves a balance point of the actuator.  
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising accessing a history of the bone conduction device for troubleshooting and/or maintenance procedures.