EP3197180A1 - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing aid (1) comprising a housing (5) and a switch module (3) arranged on the housing (5), wherein the switch module (3) comprises an externally actuable, movable switching element (7) for changing settings of the Hearing instrument (1), characterized in that a coil antenna (17) for the inductive transmission of information signals to the hearing aid (1) in a cavity (13) of the switching element (7) is inserted.

Description

A hearing aid is used to supply a hearing-impaired person with acoustic ambient signals, which are processed according to a compensation of the respective hearing impairment and in particular amplified. A hearing device for this purpose usually comprises an input transducer, usually in the form of a microphone, a signal processing unit with an amplifier, and an output transducer. The output transducer is usually implemented as a miniature speaker and is also referred to as a handset or receiver. It generates for the hearing aid wearer the acoustic output signals.

To accommodate the numerous individual needs of the hearing aid wearers, different types of hearing aids are offered. In the case of the so-called ITE hearing aids (in-the-ear, also IdO or in-the-ear), a housing which contains all the functional components, including the microphone and the receiver, is carried at least partially in the auditory canal. Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are similar to ITE hearing aids, but are worn fully in the ear canal. BTE hearing aids (behind-the-ear, or behind-the-ear or BTE) wear a housing with components such as a battery and the signal processing unit behind the ear. A flexible, also referred to as "tube" sound tube directs the acoustic output signals of the receiver from the housing to the ear canal.

Some hearing aids are additionally equipped with so-called coil antennas. Such coil antennas are referred to in the field of hearing aid technology as telecoils or telecoils. They are usually in the form of a formed with wire, in particular ferromagnetic, core formed. A coil antenna or telecoil is used for the inductive transmission of information signals to a hearing aid and thus enables the wireless reception of electromagnetic signals in a near field, which are emitted for example by induction loops in lecture or lecture rooms, churches or museums to inform the hearing aid wearer. In particular, a coil antenna also enables the direct wireless coupling of audio signals transmitted to an electromagnetic loudspeaker, eg in a telephone, without a detour via sound signals.

A coil antenna is usually mounted on the printed circuit board within the housing of a hearing aid and requires space on the printed circuit board and in the housing. Depending on the type of hearing aid in this case, both the structure of the housing and the printed circuit board differs. In this respect, sufficient space for the coil antenna in the housing and on the printed circuit board must always be considered when constructing different types of hearing aids. Optionally, to ensure sufficient package space for a coil antenna, the array of other electronic components resident on the printed circuit board, such as e.g. the signal processing elements to be adjusted. Accordingly, the design costs, but also the production costs, apart from the additional installation of the coil antenna, by a non-optimized arrangement of the electronic and electrical components, undesirably high.

As a first object of the invention is to provide a hearing aid, which allows the use of a coil antenna in a hearing aid with respect to the prior art lower manufacturing costs and manufacturing costs.

The first object of the invention is achieved by a hearing aid, comprising a housing, and arranged on the housing switch module, wherein the switch module comprises an externally operable, movable switching element for changing settings of the hearing aid, characterized in that a coil antenna for inductive Transmission of information signals is inserted on the hearing aid in a cavity of the switching element.

In a first step, the invention initially starts from the consideration that not every hearing aid wearer would like to use a hearing aid with a coil antenna. Rather, according to the current state, the vast majority of hearing aids without coil antenna manufactured and delivered. For example, in BTE hearing aids currently only about 10% of the manufactured hearing aids are equipped with a coil antenna. In hearing aids with a coil antenna used their function is partially switched off when not in use by the hearing aid wearer by the hearing aid acoustician by means of an appropriate software.

Nevertheless, all common hearing aids are still designed so that the use of a coil antenna is basically possible. This is independent of whether a coil antenna is actually to be inserted into the hearing aid. In this way, although a range of products is provided, the possible customer requirements, but as mentioned above, the necessary design and manufacturing processes difficult and expensive.

The invention now overcomes this problem in a second step by providing an arrangement of the coil antenna which differs from conventional hearing aids. For this purpose, the invention uses an already necessary switch module of a hearing aid, which comprises an externally operable, movable switching element for changing settings of the hearing aid. The switching element typically has a cavity into which the coil antenna is inserted.

The coil antenna thus becomes part of a switching element which is present in many hearing aid types, in particular in a BTE hearing aid, and offers sufficient space for accommodating a coil antenna. However, the invention is not limited to a BTE hearing aid.

Since the space for the coil antenna now no longer needs to be provided on the printed circuit board or in the housing of the hearing aid, the construction of new hearing aid types is simplified. In the design and manufacture of new hearing aids, the arrangement of the components and the shape of the housing can be optimized, detached from housing the coil antenna, for example, in terms of manufacturing costs, the manufacturing process or functionality. Incidentally, a simple production of the hearing aid with and without coil antenna is possible by the arrangement of the coil antenna in the switching element. Without providing variants of the hearing aid itself, only a switching element with or a switching element without coil antenna used is mounted on the hearing aid. By replacing the switching element in a hearing aid, a coil antenna can even be subsequently integrated into the hearing aid or a switching element with coil antenna can be exchanged for such without a coil antenna.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the switching element is designed as a hollow body. This is a common design of a switching element, which is made for example of a plastic and must have a corresponding mechanical stability. The hollow body typically offers on its side facing away from the user in a cavity located there sufficient space for receiving and arranging the coil antenna.

Preferably, the switch module comprises a printed circuit board attached to the housing, on which the switching element is counter-mounted. The switching element is thus supported on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board of the switching module itself is mounted on the housing of the hearing aid and is supported via corresponding receiving and / or fastening means on the housing. The printed circuit board of the switch module may be manufactured separately or be formed as part of the printed circuit board of the hearing aid, on which the hearing aid electronics, so in particular the components of the electronic signal processing, is arranged.

Typically, the switching element is made of plastic, wherein preferably on the switching element electrical contacts for electrical contacting of the coil antenna are arranged. These contacts are used in particular receive signals the coil antenna read out. The electrical contacts of the switching element are preferably inserted positively and / or non-positively in this. Preferably, the electrical contacts are pressed into the switching element.

As mentioned, the coil antenna is preferably in the form of a wire wound, in particular ferromagnetic, core. The coil antenna itself expediently has electrical connections, via which the contact with the electrical contacts of the switching element takes place in the installed state. For this purpose, the electrical connections of the coil antenna with the electrical contacts of the switching element, for example, soldered or mechanically contacted.

More preferably, the switching element is movably mounted on a stand. The stand itself is conveniently mounted on the printed circuit board. The stand comprises a base body, which is preferably made of a non-conductive plastic. For contacting the coil antenna, which is arranged in the mounted switching element, the stator more preferably itself comprises electrical contacts. The stator is in particular soldered via its electrical contacts on the printed circuit board, and thereby mounted. Optionally, mechanical support is provided for attachment to the printed circuit board. The electrical contact between the stator and the built-coil antenna is advantageously carried out via the electrical contacts of the switching element.

The electrical contacts of the stator meet in an advantageous development in addition to contacting the coil antenna another function. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts of the stator at the same time form a bearing for the switching element. The electrical contacts of the stator suitably include a bearing pin. Preferably, each electrical contact of the stator comprises a separate bearing pin. The design of the electrical contacts of the stator as a bearing has the advantage of a robust storage of the movable switching element with a safe way at the same time of electrical contact regardless of the position of the switching element. Conveniently, the electrical contacts of the Switching element in the bearing electrically contacted with the electrical contacts of the stator. About a double-sided storage built into the switching element coil antenna is switched directly into a circuit.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the switching element is designed as a rocker extending along a longitudinal direction. A hearing aid wearer can make changes to the settings of the hearing aid by pressing the rocker switch. Depending on the hearing aid, this includes, for example, changes to the hearing program and / or volume adjustments. To change the settings, for example, via the ends of the rocker switch corresponding buttons are pressed. The coil antenna is preferably used parallel to the longitudinal direction of the switching rocker. In this direction, there is sufficient space for the usually elongated coil antenna.

The hearing aid further comprises within the housing an input transducer, a signal processing unit connected to the input transducer, and an output transducer connected to the signal processing unit, wherein the switch module and the coil antenna are signal technically connected to the signal processing unit.

The input transducer is preferably realized as a microphone and absorbs the ambient sound. The signal processing unit processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit is then transmitted to the output transducer, expediently a loudspeaker or listener, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is transmitted to the eardrum of the hearing aid wearer. The power supply of the hearing aid, and the signal processing unit is advantageously carried out by a likewise disposed within the housing battery.

The signal processing unit detects an actuation of the switching element preferably via corresponding switch contacts on the printed circuit board. These switch contacts are expediently designed as a button.

FIG 1

ein Hinter dem Ohr- Hörgerät mit einem Schaltermodul,

FIG 2

ein Schalterelement mit einer Spulenantenne,

FIG 3

ein Ständer für ein Schalterelement,

FIG 4

das Schaltermodul gemäß FIG 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung, sowie

FIG 5

das zusammengebaute Schaltermodul gemäß den FIG 1 und 4.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Showing:

FIG. 1

a behind the ear hearing aid with a switch module,

FIG. 2

a switch element with a coil antenna,

FIG. 3

a stand for a switch element,

FIG. 4

the switch module according to FIG. 1 in an exploded view, as well

FIG. 5

the assembled switch module according to the FIG. 1 and 4 ,

FIG. 1 shows a hearing aid 1 with a switch module 3. This is a behind the ear hearing aid 1 with a housing 5 made of plastic. Within the housing are an input transducer, a signal processing unit connected to the input transducer, and an output transducer connected to the signal processing unit. Due to the closed representation of the housing 5, these components are not visible in the present case.

The switch module 3 is arranged on the housing 5 and comprises a movable, operable from the outside switching element 7. The switching element 7 is presently designed as a along a longitudinal direction 9 extending rocker switch 11 and also made of a plastic. The longitudinal direction 9 of the rocker 11 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the housing 5.

The switching element 7 is used for example for changing settings of the hearing aid 1. In the present case, the switching element 7 on its side facing the housing 5 a cavity 13 which is not visible in the installed state. In this cavity 13, a coil antenna is used, as in FIG. 2 you can see.

The switching element 7 is according to FIG. 2 formed as a hollow body 15, in the cavity 13, a coil antenna 17 is inserted parallel to the longitudinal direction 9. The coil antenna 17 is used for inductive transmission of information signals to the hearing aid 1. It is in the form of a particular ferromagnetic core 19 which is wrapped with a copper wire 21.

For electrical contacting of the built-in switching element 7 coil antenna 17 are on both sides of the rocker switch 11 electrical contacts 23 arranged in the form of bent metal clips. In the present case, the electrical contacts 23 are inserted into corresponding recesses of the switching element 7 or pressed in under mechanical tension. The coil antenna 17 further has two electrical connections 25, via which the contacting with the electrical contacts 23 of the switching element 7 takes place, for example by means of soldering. The electrical connections 25 of the coil antenna are formed by the ends 27 of the copper wire 21.

Fig. 3 shows a stand 29, on which the switching element 17 of the switching module 3 is movably mounted. The stand 29 is made with a base body 31 made of a non-conductive plastic and has on its narrow sides two metallic electrical contacts 33 for contacting the built-in the rocker switch 11 coil antenna 17. The electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29 in this case simultaneously form a bearing 35 for the switching element 7. For this purpose, both electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29 each comprise a bearing pin 37, which are mounted in the assembled final state designed as metal clips electrical contacts 23 of the coil antenna 17.

The assembly of the switch module 3 is off FIG. 4 seen. Here, the switch module 3 is shown in an exploded view. The electrical contacts 23 of the switching element 7 are laterally inserted or pressed transversely to the longitudinal direction 9 in the switching element 7. Then, the coil antenna 17 is inserted into the cavity 13 of the switching element 7 and contacted the terminals 25 of the coil antenna 17 with the electrical contacts 23 of the switching element 7, for example by soldering. The coil antenna 17 holds in particular by adhesion in the cavity 13. However, it is additionally secured by gluing, for example.

The switch module 3 further comprises a on the housing 5 of the hearing aid 1 gem. Fig. 1 attached printed circuit board 39, on which the switching element 7 is counteracted via the stator 29. The switching element 7 is thus supported on the printed circuit board 39. The stator 29 is soldered via its electrical contacts 33 to the printed circuit board 39. For this purpose, the electrical contacts 33 are each extended accordingly and angled with their ends on the underside of the stator 29. When installing the switching element 7 this is placed with its correspondingly shaped electrical contacts 23 on the bearing pins 37 of the electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29, whereby a movable electrical contact 23 of the coil antenna 17 is realized with the electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29.

On the printed circuit board 39 further buttons 40 are arranged, which are actuated by the ends 41 of the rocker switch 11. A signal processing unit, not shown, of the hearing device 1 detects a corresponding actuation of the push-button 40 and evaluates this with regard to a change of settings.

The assembled switch module 3 is in FIG. 5 shown. Here, the switching element 7 is shown translucent, so that the components located below the switching element 7 can be seen. The housing 5, in which the printed circuit board 39 is arranged in the assembled hearing aid 1, is not shown here.

The coil antenna 17 is movably mounted on the bearing pins 37 of the electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29 via the formed as metal clips electrical contacts 23 of the rocker switch 11 and at the same time electrically contacted. About the soldered to the circuit board 39 electrical contacts 33 of the stator 29, the coil antenna 17 is turned on in a corresponding circuit for evaluating the inductive reception of information signals.

Overall, a hearing aid 1, in which the coil antenna 17 is used instead of the printed circuit board 39 in the switching element 7, a simplification of the planning and manufacturing of the hearing aid 1 and thus a cost savings. In addition, customer requirements can be met flexibly. In a subsequent request to use the advantages of a coil antenna 17, the possibility of retrofitting by replacing the switching element 3. In the hearing aid 1 no space for a coil antenna 17 must be kept. The switching element 7 is designed such that it can be mounted on the switch module 3 or on the hearing aid 1 without structural alteration with or without coil antenna 17 being used. Accordingly, a uniform switching element 7 is manufactured. In a certain proportion of these switching elements 7, a coil antenna 17 is used. By assigning the switching elements 7 to the hearing aids 1 hearing aids 1 are manufactured with and without a function of the coil antenna 17. An upgrade is also subsequently made easy by replacing the switching element 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

hearing Aid

3

switch module

5

casing

7

switching element

9

longitudinal direction

11

rocker

13

cavity

15

hollow body

17

coil antenna

19

core

21

wire

23

electrical contact switching element

25

electrical connection coil antenna

27

End of the wire

29

stand

31

body

33

electrical contact of the stator

35

camp

37

bearing pin

39

printed circuit board

40

button

41

The End

Claims (14)

Hearing aid (1) comprising a housing (5) and a switch module (3) arranged on the housing (5), wherein the switch module (3) comprises an externally operable, movable switching element (7) for changing settings of the hearing aid (1 ), characterized in that a coil antenna (17) for inductive transmission of information signals to the hearing aid (1) in a cavity (13) of the switching element (7) is inserted. Hearing aid (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (7) is designed as a hollow body (15). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the switch module (3) comprises a housing (5) fixed to the printed circuit board (39) on which the switching element (7) is mounted counter-mounted. Hearing aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (7) is made of plastic, and that the switching element (7) electrical contacts (23) for electrically contacting the coil antenna (17) are arranged. Hearing aid (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrical contacts (23) in the switching element (7) are inserted positively and / or non-positively. Hearing aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (7) is movably mounted on a stand (29). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the stator (29) comprises electrical contacts (33) for contacting the coil antenna (17). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the electrical contacts (33) of the stator (29) form a bearing (35) for the switching element (7). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical contacts (33) of the stator (29) comprise a bearing pin (37). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 4 and one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the electrical contacts (23) of the switching element (7) in the bearing (35) with the electrical contacts (33) of the stator (29) are electrically contacted , Hearing aid (1) according to claim 3 and one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the stand (29) in particular via its electrical contacts (33) is soldered to the printed circuit board (39). Hearing aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (7) is a along a longitudinal direction (9) extending rocker switch (11). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the coil antenna (17) is inserted parallel to the longitudinal direction (9) of the switching rocker (11). Hearing aid (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that within the housing (5) an input transducer, a signal processing unit connected to the input transducer, and an output transducer connected to the signal processing unit are arranged, wherein the switch module (3) and the coil antenna ( 17) are signal-technically connected to the signal processing unit.

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