SYSTEM

 

SOLAR BATTERY CHARGER FOR HEARING AID BUTTON CELLS

 

REQUIREMENT

 

A variety of hearing aids are available from the smallest type to the very low cost 'Body Level' type. The smaller hearing aids are expensive and are worn behind the ear making them almost invisible. The small hearing aids used behind the hearing aids are known as BTE hearing aids. The BTE hearing aids use small button cells. The batteries in such hearing aids need to be changed once every 3 to 9 days depending on usage.

 

Young hearing impaired specially girls prefer BTE hearing aids over the popularly used body level hearing aids. The BTE hearing aids are being distributed by the Government of India free of cost to economically weaker section of the population in India but the aid users specially in the rural areas found it difficult to afford the frequent battery replacement cost and many a times its availability was also a major issue. A solar battery charger was designed to solve the issue. The Solar charger was supplied with 2 rechargeable button cell batteries and would charge a battery for use in the hearing aid. The users could now use their hearing aids with no cost or at all with no geographic restriction anywhere without bothering about battery availability or its cost.

 

 

TARGET AREA / POPULATION

 

The target population for the solar battery charger is Body level hearing aid users from the economically weaker sections specially those in rural and far flung areas.

 

INNOVATION and DESIGN FACTOR

 

The innovation factor in the system are ;

 

• Design of a rugged all weather solar charger.

• Design of portable ergonomic design for ease of use.

• Designing a device which can be used even by an unskilled illeterate user.

• Low cost of device

• Long life of all components.

• To charge R13 size of batteries.

 

ROAD AHEAD

 

To provide a charger to charge larger variety of button cell sizes / types.