# US 10,455,336 B2 · Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,455,336 B2 - Document ID: US10455336B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/052,224 - Filed: 2013-10-11 - Published: 2015-04-16 - Granted: 2019-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-11 - Assignees: Cochlear Limited - Applicants: Cochlear Limited - Inventors: Johan Gustafsson; Tommy Bergs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455336B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/606: {acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window} - H04R 25/305: {Self-monitoring or self-testing} - H04R 25/70: {Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting} - H04R 2225/021: Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: applying an input signal to a transducer within a housing, wherein the transducer comprises an adjustable assembly within the housing affecting operation of the transducer; analyzing a harmonic distortion of an output signal generated in response to the input signal; and positioning the adjustable assembly based at least in part on the analysis, thereby modifying ongoing operation of the transducer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the input signal is a sinusoidal signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises positioning the adjustable assembly to reduce harmonic distortion; 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the adjustable assembly comprises balancing a spring force applied to the adjustable assembly against a magnetic force applied to the adjustable assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6, wherein analyzing the output signal comprises performing a harmonic analysis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 7, wherein performing the harmonic analysis comprises performing a fast Fourier transform. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6, wherein the adjustable assembly is repositioned to minimize a harmonic distortion of the output signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a warning based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising storing information regarding the comparison. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the stored information is used in a subsequent test. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the reference is a balanced harmonic distortion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the determination is based on a calibration table. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the recommendation comprises at least one of a repair command, a return command, and a dispose command. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: determining a harmonic distortion of an output signal from a coil of an electromagnetic actuator within a housing and having an adjustable assembly; and based upon the harmonic distortion, repositioning the adjustable assembly within the housing to minimize the harmonic distortion, thereby modifying ongoing operation of the electromagnetic actuator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising applying an input signal to the coil of the electromagnetic actuator, prior to determining the harmonic distortion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising positioning the adjustable assembly relative to a counterweight prior to determining the harmonic distortion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising securing the adjustable assembly to the counterweight after repositioning the adjustable assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein repositioning comprises adjusting a component of the adjustable assembly. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising recording an initial position and an adjusted position of the adjustable assembly. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 27 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first component comprises a yoke and the second component comprises a bobbin. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the adjustable assembly includes: modifying a balance point of the adjustable assembly. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) 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. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) 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.