WO2009123561A1 - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Hearing aid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009123561A1
WO2009123561A1 PCT/SG2008/000104 SG2008000104W WO2009123561A1 WO 2009123561 A1 WO2009123561 A1 WO 2009123561A1 SG 2008000104 W SG2008000104 W SG 2008000104W WO 2009123561 A1 WO2009123561 A1 WO 2009123561A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
behind
hearing aid
microphone
ear
pinna
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SG2008/000104
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Koo Wee Haw
Ng Wee Loong
Ho Wai Kit
Original Assignee
Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. filed Critical Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
Priority to PCT/SG2008/000104 priority Critical patent/WO2009123561A1/en
Publication of WO2009123561A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009123561A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/40—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic
    • H04R25/402—Arrangements for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic using contructional means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/021—Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
    • H04R2225/0216—BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/025—In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/607—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of earhooks

Definitions

  • Embodiments of the invention relate to a hearing aid.
  • One type of hearing aid is a so-called behind-the-ear aid, which usually includes a behind-the-ear component to be worn behind the ear.
  • the sound may be conducted to the ear by means of a sound tube or by means of a wire, and a speaker
  • the speaker (which may also be referred to as a receiver in the field of hearing aids), wherein the speaker is usually placed in the ear canal or inside the behind-the-ear component.
  • the behind-the-ear component usually further includes a microphone for collecting sound waves and a signal processing circuit (also referred to as speech processing circuit) for processing the collected sound waves.
  • a signal processing circuit also referred to as speech processing circuit
  • An omnidirectional behind-the-ear component (which usually includes one or more omnidirectional microphones being usually positioned at or in the omnidirectional behind-the- ear component such that the one or more omnidirectional microphones are pointing towards one direction, conventionally in upward direction due to the contour of the hearing aid design) has no directional information about the source of the collected sound waves.
  • Directional behind-the-ear component may also be provided in another conventional behind-the-ear hearing aid.
  • a behind-the-ear hearing aid usually has a plurality of directional microphones, wherein a first microphone may be arranged in upward direction and a second microphone may be arranged at a position to be at the same level as the first microphone, and may point horizontally.
  • a hearing aid is provided with an improved natural sound experience for a user.
  • the embodiments of the invention provide a hearing aid with an improved natural sound experience, using the function of the pinna of an ear (in the context of this description, a pinna may be understood as being the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the ear) .
  • the pinna collects sound waves and illustratively acts as a funnel to amplify the sound and direct the sound to the ear canal of the ear. While being reflected from the pinna, the sound waves undergo a filtering process, wherein directional information is added to the sound waves collected by the pinna .
  • the hearing aid may include a behind-the-ear component and at least one microphone being configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component and the ear canal or in the ear canal.
  • the at least one microphone is connected to the behind-the-ear component.
  • the hearing aid By providing a microphone being configured to be located in the pinna or in the ear canal, the hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention makes use of the reflecting and filtering function of the pinna to provide improved natural sound experience for a user.
  • the behind-the-ear hearing aid may further include a loudspeaker, also referred to as a receiver or transducer, which outputs sound waves to be emitted into the ear (e.g. into the pinna or the ear canal) of the user of the hearing aid.
  • a loudspeaker also referred to as a receiver or transducer, which outputs sound waves to be emitted into the ear (e.g. into the pinna or the ear canal) of the user of the hearing aid.
  • the loudspeaker may be configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind- the-ear component and the ear canal, or in the ear canal of the user.
  • the loudspeaker may be connected to the behind-the- ear component, for example, via at least one wire.
  • the behind-the-ear component may include a loudspeaker (e.g. integrated into the housing of the behind-the-ear component) , such that the loudspeaker is located within the behind-the-ear component.
  • the loudspeaker may be coupled with the ear canal of the ear e.g. via a sound tube of the behind-the-ear hearing aid.
  • the behind-the-ear component may further include a signal processing circuit (e.g. also referred to as speech processing circuit) , which may be used to process, such as filtering and/or amplifying, the electrical signal, e.g. received from the at least one microphone.
  • the loudspeaker may be coupled with the signal processing circuit, for example, via one or more wires.
  • the microphone is coupled with the signal processing circuit.
  • the microphone may be coupled with the signal processing circuit via at least one wire.
  • the microphone may be coupled with the signal processing circuit via any other suitable connection such as radio connection, if appropriate.
  • the at least one microphone may be configured to be positioned in the pinna at at least one of the following positions: • the helix of the pinna;
  • the at least one microphone may be configured to be positioned in another location within the pinna, if desired. By using at least some filtering function of the pinna, the sound waves collected by means of the at least one microphone gains some directional information, thereby improving the sound experience for the user.
  • the at least one microphone may be configured to be mounted in the desired position in the pinna in any suitable manner.
  • the at least one microphone may simply be configured to be put at a position of the pinna which is large enough for accommodating the at least one microphone and holding it in a sufficiently secure manner (in an example, the concha of the pinna may be such a position) .
  • the at least one microphone may be configured to be mounted to a desired position by means of an additional fixing member such as e.g. a clamp.
  • the hearing aid having at least one microphone as described in the embodiments may provide an improved natural sound experience for the user.
  • the size of the behind-the-ear component according to the embodiments of the invention may be reduced, as the space to hold the microphone inside the behind-the-ear component can be saved.
  • Embodiments of the invention may provide a high power hearing aid with improved sound performance.
  • the behind-the-ear component may include a printed circuit board.
  • the signal processing circuit as described above may be mounted on the printed circuit board.
  • other circuits or elements, which may be provided or desired in a hearing aid may be provided on the printed circuit board as well.
  • the hearing aid may further include a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
  • a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
  • Any other type of fixing member to fix the behind-the-ear component behind the ear may be provided in an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • the hearing aid may further include a sound tube coupled with the behind-the-ear component, for example, as a sound transmission channel.
  • the sound tube may be made of flexible material, such as plastic, in an embodiment, or inflexible material, such as a metal (e.g. titanium) in another embodiment.
  • the at least one microphone may be mounted on or in the sound tube.
  • the microphone may be mounted on or in the sound tube . at the position in the pinna or in the ear canal when the hearing aid is worn by the user.
  • the hearing aid may include an earmould coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
  • the earmould may be custom made to suit for individual users.
  • the at least one microphone may be mounted on or in the earmould in one embodiment.
  • the loudspeaker may be mounted on or in the earmould in another embodiment .
  • the at least one microphone may be an omnidirectional microphone, also referred to as a spherical microphone, which is configured to record in all direction.
  • Embodiments of the invention may provide directional information even when using an omnidirectional microphone in a very easy and inexpensive manner.
  • like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a hearing aid in use according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a hearing aid according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig.l shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the hearing aid 100 includes a behind-the-ear component 102 and at least one microphone 104.
  • the at least one microphone 104 is configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component 102 and the ear canal or in the ear canal, and the at least one microphone 104 is connected to the behind-the-ear component 102.
  • the hearing aid 100 further includes a loudspeaker 106.
  • the loudspeaker 106 which resides external to the behind-the-ear component 102, may be configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component 102 and the ear canal, or in the ear canal of the user, when being worn by a user as will be described with reference to Fig.2.
  • the behind-the-ear component 102 may further include a signal processing circuit 108, which is used to process the electrical signal received from the microphone 104.
  • the behind-the-ear component 102 may include a printed circuit board 112, and the signal processing circuit 108 may be mounted on the printed circuit board 112.
  • the at least one microphone 104 and/or the loudspeaker 106 may be coupled with the signal processing circuit 108 of the behind-the-ear component 102, for example, via at least one wire 110.
  • the at least one microphone 104 is configured to collect sound waves and to transmit the electrical signal
  • the signal processing circuit 108 may process the electrical signals received from the at least one microphone 104, e.g. by means of filtering, dynamically compressing, amplifying, etc.
  • the thus processed electrical signal provided by the signal processing circuit 108 at an output thereof may then be transmitted to the loudspeaker 106, e.g. by means of another one of the at least one wire 110.
  • the at least one microphone 104 may be configured to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal, which will be illustrated in Fig.2 in more detail.
  • the hearing aid 100 may include an earmould (not shown in Fig.l) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 102.
  • the at least one microphone 104 may be mounted on or in the earmould, so as to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal.
  • the loudspeaker 106 may also be mounted on or in the earmould in another embodiment.
  • the at least one microphone 104 may be an omnidirectional microphone configured to record sound in all direction.
  • the hearing aid 100 may include a sound hook (not shown in Fig.l) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 102, so as to fix the behind-the-ear component 102 on the ear.
  • Fig.2 shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention worn by a user 200.
  • the hearing aid 100 of Fig.l is worn on an ear 202 of the user 200.
  • the behind-the-ear component 204 is mounted behind the ear 202, and the at least one microphone 206 is positioned in the ear canal 208 of the ear 202 or in the concha 210 of the ear 202.
  • the at least one microphone 206 may also be positioned, e.g., by clamping, in the pinna 212 at at least one of the following positions:
  • the loudspeaker 214 may be positioned in the ear canal 208 as shown in Fig.2. In this way, the hearing aid 100 may provide better quality sound with less distortion.
  • Fig.3 shows a hearing aid 300 according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • the hearing aid 300 includes a behind-the-ear component 302 and at least one microphone 304.
  • the at least one microphone 304 is configured to be positioned in the pinna of an ear between the behind-the-ear component 302 and the ear canal or in the ear canal of the ear, and the at least one microphone 304 may be connected to the behind-the-ear component 302.
  • the at least one microphone 304 may be connected to the behind-the-ear component 302 via at least one wire 306, for example .
  • the behind-the-ear component 302 may further include a loudspeaker 308 and a signal processing circuit 310.
  • the signal processing circuit 310 may be mounted on a printed circuit board in the behind-the-ear component 302.
  • the at least one microphone 304 and/or the loudspeaker 308 may be coupled with the signal processing circuit 310 of the behind- the-ear component 302, for example, via at least one wire 306.
  • the signal processing circuit 310 processes the electrical signal received from the microphone 304, and transmits the processed signal to the loudspeaker 308.
  • the at least one microphone 304 may be configured to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal, similar to Fig.2.
  • the microphone 304 may be an omnidirectional microphone configured to record sound in all direction.
  • the hearing aid 300 may include a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302, so as to fix the behind-the-ear component 302 on the ear.
  • the hearing aid 300 may further include a sound tube 312 coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302.
  • the sound tube 312 may be made of flexible material, such as plastic, in one embodiment, or, of inflexible material, such as a metal (e.g. titanium), in another embodiment.
  • the at least one wire 306 may be housed in the sound tube 312.
  • the at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the sound tube 312.
  • the at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the sound tube 312 at the position in the pinna or in the ear canal when the hearing aid is 300 worn by the user.
  • the hearing aid 300 may include an earmould (not shown in Fig.3) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302 through the sound tube 312.
  • the at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the earmould, so as to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal.
  • the hearing aid 300 may include a sound hook coupled between the behind-the-ear component 302 and the sound tube 312.
  • a soft silicone dome or a molded soft tip may be arranged at the end of the sound tube 312 so as to hold the sound tube 312 inside the ear canal.

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a hearing aid. The hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear component and at least one microphone being configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component and the ear canal or in the ear canal. The at least one microphone is connected to the behind-the-ear component.

Description

HEARING AID
DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the invention relate to a hearing aid.
One type of hearing aid is a so-called behind-the-ear aid, which usually includes a behind-the-ear component to be worn behind the ear. The sound may be conducted to the ear by means of a sound tube or by means of a wire, and a speaker
(which may also be referred to as a receiver in the field of hearing aids), wherein the speaker is usually placed in the ear canal or inside the behind-the-ear component.
The behind-the-ear component usually further includes a microphone for collecting sound waves and a signal processing circuit (also referred to as speech processing circuit) for processing the collected sound waves.
An omnidirectional behind-the-ear component (which usually includes one or more omnidirectional microphones being usually positioned at or in the omnidirectional behind-the- ear component such that the one or more omnidirectional microphones are pointing towards one direction, conventionally in upward direction due to the contour of the hearing aid design) has no directional information about the source of the collected sound waves.
Directional behind-the-ear component may also be provided in another conventional behind-the-ear hearing aid. Such a behind-the-ear hearing aid usually has a plurality of directional microphones, wherein a first microphone may be arranged in upward direction and a second microphone may be arranged at a position to be at the same level as the first microphone, and may point horizontally. In various embodiments of the invention, a hearing aid is provided with an improved natural sound experience for a user.
The embodiments of the invention provide a hearing aid with an improved natural sound experience, using the function of the pinna of an ear (in the context of this description, a pinna may be understood as being the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the ear) .
The pinna collects sound waves and illustratively acts as a funnel to amplify the sound and direct the sound to the ear canal of the ear. While being reflected from the pinna, the sound waves undergo a filtering process, wherein directional information is added to the sound waves collected by the pinna .
One embodiment of the invention provides a hearing aid. The hearing aid may include a behind-the-ear component and at least one microphone being configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component and the ear canal or in the ear canal. The at least one microphone is connected to the behind-the-ear component.
By providing a microphone being configured to be located in the pinna or in the ear canal, the hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention makes use of the reflecting and filtering function of the pinna to provide improved natural sound experience for a user.
In an embodiment, the behind-the-ear hearing aid may further include a loudspeaker, also referred to as a receiver or transducer, which outputs sound waves to be emitted into the ear (e.g. into the pinna or the ear canal) of the user of the hearing aid.
According to another embodiment, the loudspeaker may be configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind- the-ear component and the ear canal, or in the ear canal of the user. The loudspeaker may be connected to the behind-the- ear component, for example, via at least one wire. By providing the loudspeaker of the hearing aid near to or into the ear canal, a good quality sound experience is achieved due to less distortion of the sound waves received by the eardrum.
According to another embodiment, the behind-the-ear component may include a loudspeaker (e.g. integrated into the housing of the behind-the-ear component) , such that the loudspeaker is located within the behind-the-ear component. In other words, in accordance with this embodiment, the loudspeaker may be coupled with the ear canal of the ear e.g. via a sound tube of the behind-the-ear hearing aid.
The behind-the-ear component may further include a signal processing circuit (e.g. also referred to as speech processing circuit) , which may be used to process, such as filtering and/or amplifying, the electrical signal, e.g. received from the at least one microphone. The loudspeaker may be coupled with the signal processing circuit, for example, via one or more wires.
In an embodiment, the microphone is coupled with the signal processing circuit. For example, the microphone may be coupled with the signal processing circuit via at least one wire. In an alternative example, the microphone may be coupled with the signal processing circuit via any other suitable connection such as radio connection, if appropriate.
According to another embodiment, the at least one microphone may be configured to be positioned in the pinna at at least one of the following positions: • the helix of the pinna;
• the anti-helix of the pinna;
• the concha of the pinna; or
• the scapha of the pinna. Alternatively, the at least one microphone may be configured to be positioned in another location within the pinna, if desired. By using at least some filtering function of the pinna, the sound waves collected by means of the at least one microphone gains some directional information, thereby improving the sound experience for the user. The at least one microphone may be configured to be mounted in the desired position in the pinna in any suitable manner. For example, the at least one microphone may simply be configured to be put at a position of the pinna which is large enough for accommodating the at least one microphone and holding it in a sufficiently secure manner (in an example, the concha of the pinna may be such a position) . Alternatively, the at least one microphone may be configured to be mounted to a desired position by means of an additional fixing member such as e.g. a clamp.
According to the above embodiments, by having a microphone positioned in the pinna, the sound waves are reflected and filtered in the pinna, such that directional information may be added to the sound waves received by the at least one microphone. Similarly, in another embodiment wherein the at least one microphone is positioned in the ear canal, the sound waves are also reflected and filtered in the pinna before being collected by the microphone. Therefore, the hearing aid having at least one microphone as described in the embodiments may provide an improved natural sound experience for the user.
Furthermore, the size of the behind-the-ear component according to the embodiments of the invention may be reduced, as the space to hold the microphone inside the behind-the-ear component can be saved.
Embodiments of the invention may provide a high power hearing aid with improved sound performance. In another embodiment, the behind-the-ear component may include a printed circuit board. The signal processing circuit as described above may be mounted on the printed circuit board. In another embodiment, other circuits or elements, which may be provided or desired in a hearing aid, may be provided on the printed circuit board as well.
The hearing aid may further include a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component. Any other type of fixing member to fix the behind-the-ear component behind the ear may be provided in an alternative embodiment of the invention.
In one embodiment, the hearing aid may further include a sound tube coupled with the behind-the-ear component, for example, as a sound transmission channel. The sound tube may be made of flexible material, such as plastic, in an embodiment, or inflexible material, such as a metal (e.g. titanium) in another embodiment.
According to an embodiment, the at least one microphone may be mounted on or in the sound tube. For example, the microphone may be mounted on or in the sound tube . at the position in the pinna or in the ear canal when the hearing aid is worn by the user.
In another embodiment, the hearing aid may include an earmould coupled with the behind-the-ear component. The earmould may be custom made to suit for individual users. The at least one microphone may be mounted on or in the earmould in one embodiment. The loudspeaker may be mounted on or in the earmould in another embodiment .
The at least one microphone may be an omnidirectional microphone, also referred to as a spherical microphone, which is configured to record in all direction. Embodiments of the invention may provide directional information even when using an omnidirectional microphone in a very easy and inexpensive manner. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a hearing aid in use according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a hearing aid according to another embodiment of the invention.
Fig.l shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention.
The hearing aid 100 includes a behind-the-ear component 102 and at least one microphone 104. The at least one microphone 104 is configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component 102 and the ear canal or in the ear canal, and the at least one microphone 104 is connected to the behind-the-ear component 102.
In an embodiment, the hearing aid 100 further includes a loudspeaker 106. The loudspeaker 106, which resides external to the behind-the-ear component 102, may be configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component 102 and the ear canal, or in the ear canal of the user, when being worn by a user as will be described with reference to Fig.2.
The behind-the-ear component 102 may further include a signal processing circuit 108, which is used to process the electrical signal received from the microphone 104. In an embodiment, the behind-the-ear component 102 may include a printed circuit board 112, and the signal processing circuit 108 may be mounted on the printed circuit board 112.
The at least one microphone 104 and/or the loudspeaker 106 may be coupled with the signal processing circuit 108 of the behind-the-ear component 102, for example, via at least one wire 110. The at least one microphone 104 is configured to collect sound waves and to transmit the electrical signal
(generated based on the collected sound waves) to the signal processing circuit 108. The signal processing circuit 108 may process the electrical signals received from the at least one microphone 104, e.g. by means of filtering, dynamically compressing, amplifying, etc. The thus processed electrical signal provided by the signal processing circuit 108 at an output thereof may then be transmitted to the loudspeaker 106, e.g. by means of another one of the at least one wire 110.
According to an embodiment, the at least one microphone 104 may be configured to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal, which will be illustrated in Fig.2 in more detail.
In another embodiment, the hearing aid 100 may include an earmould (not shown in Fig.l) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 102. The at least one microphone 104 may be mounted on or in the earmould, so as to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal. The loudspeaker 106 may also be mounted on or in the earmould in another embodiment.
The at least one microphone 104 may be an omnidirectional microphone configured to record sound in all direction.
The hearing aid 100 may include a sound hook (not shown in Fig.l) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 102, so as to fix the behind-the-ear component 102 on the ear. Fig.2 shows a hearing aid according to an embodiment of the invention worn by a user 200.
The hearing aid 100 of Fig.l is worn on an ear 202 of the user 200. As seen, the behind-the-ear component 204 is mounted behind the ear 202, and the at least one microphone 206 is positioned in the ear canal 208 of the ear 202 or in the concha 210 of the ear 202.
In other embodiments of the invention, the at least one microphone 206 may also be positioned, e.g., by clamping, in the pinna 212 at at least one of the following positions:
• the helix of the pinna 212;
• the anti-helix of the pinna 212; or • the scapha of the pinna 212.
According to the above embodiments, by having the at least one microphone 206 positioned in the pinna 212 or in the ear canal 208, the sound waves are reflected and filtered in the pinna 212, such that directional information may be added to the sound waves received by the at least one microphone 206, e.g. at least one omnidirectional microphone 206.
The loudspeaker 214 may be positioned in the ear canal 208 as shown in Fig.2. In this way, the hearing aid 100 may provide better quality sound with less distortion.
Fig.3 shows a hearing aid 300 according to another embodiment of the invention.
The hearing aid 300 includes a behind-the-ear component 302 and at least one microphone 304. The at least one microphone 304 is configured to be positioned in the pinna of an ear between the behind-the-ear component 302 and the ear canal or in the ear canal of the ear, and the at least one microphone 304 may be connected to the behind-the-ear component 302. The at least one microphone 304 may be connected to the behind-the-ear component 302 via at least one wire 306, for example .
The behind-the-ear component 302 may further include a loudspeaker 308 and a signal processing circuit 310. The signal processing circuit 310 may be mounted on a printed circuit board in the behind-the-ear component 302. The at least one microphone 304 and/or the loudspeaker 308 may be coupled with the signal processing circuit 310 of the behind- the-ear component 302, for example, via at least one wire 306. The signal processing circuit 310 processes the electrical signal received from the microphone 304, and transmits the processed signal to the loudspeaker 308.
According to an embodiment, the at least one microphone 304 may be configured to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal, similar to Fig.2.
The microphone 304 may be an omnidirectional microphone configured to record sound in all direction.
The hearing aid 300 may include a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302, so as to fix the behind-the-ear component 302 on the ear.
In one embodiment, the hearing aid 300 may further include a sound tube 312 coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302. The sound tube 312 may be made of flexible material, such as plastic, in one embodiment, or, of inflexible material, such as a metal (e.g. titanium), in another embodiment. The at least one wire 306 may be housed in the sound tube 312.
According to an embodiment, the at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the sound tube 312. For example, the at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the sound tube 312 at the position in the pinna or in the ear canal when the hearing aid is 300 worn by the user. In another embodiment, the hearing aid 300 may include an earmould (not shown in Fig.3) coupled with the behind-the-ear component 302 through the sound tube 312. The at least one microphone 304 may be mounted on or in the earmould, so as to be positioned in the pinna or in the ear canal.
The hearing aid 300 may include a sound hook coupled between the behind-the-ear component 302 and the sound tube 312. A soft silicone dome or a molded soft tip may be arranged at the end of the sound tube 312 so as to hold the sound tube 312 inside the ear canal.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:
• a behind-the-ear component; and • at least one microphone being configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component and the ear canal or in the ear canal, wherein the at least one microphone is connected to the behind-the-ear component.
2. The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker being configured to be positioned in the pinna between the behind-the-ear component and the ear canal or in the ear canal, wherein the loudspeaker is connected to the behind-the-ear component.
3. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the behind-the-ear component comprises a loudspeaker.
4. The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the behind-the-ear component comprises a signal processing circuit.
5. The hearing aid of claim 4, wherein the microphone is coupled with the signal processing circuit.
6. The hearing aid of claim 5, wherein the microphone is coupled with the signal processing circuit via at least one wire.
7. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 6, at least one microphone being configured to be positioned in the pinna at at least one of the following positions :
• the helix of the pinna;
• the anti-helix of the pinna; • the concha of the pinna; or
• the scapha of the pinna.
8. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the behind-the-ear component comprises a printed circuit board.
9. The hearing aid of claims 4 and 8, wherein the signal processing circuit is mounted on the printed circuit board.
10. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a sound hook coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
11. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: a sound tube coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
12. The hearing aid of claim 11, wherein the sound tube is made of plastic or metal.
13. The hearing aid of any of claims 11 or 12, wherein the at least one microphone is mounted on or in the sound tube.
14. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: an earmould coupled with the behind-the-ear component.
15. The hearing aid of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one microphone is an omnidirectional microphone.
PCT/SG2008/000104 2008-03-31 2008-03-31 Hearing aid WO2009123561A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SG2008/000104 WO2009123561A1 (en) 2008-03-31 2008-03-31 Hearing aid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/SG2008/000104 WO2009123561A1 (en) 2008-03-31 2008-03-31 Hearing aid

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009123561A1 true WO2009123561A1 (en) 2009-10-08

Family

ID=40032682

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SG2008/000104 WO2009123561A1 (en) 2008-03-31 2008-03-31 Hearing aid

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2009123561A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2466556A (en) * 2008-05-27 2010-06-30 Panasonic Corp Behind-the-ear hearing aid with microphone mounted in opening of ear canal
EP2608576A3 (en) * 2011-12-21 2015-04-22 Sonion Nederland B.V. An apparatus and a method for providing sound

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1078175B (en) * 1958-08-08 1960-03-24 Micro Technic Hueber & Co Hearing aid for the hard of hearing to be worn behind the auricle
US3098127A (en) * 1961-07-03 1963-07-16 Walter H Huth Hearing aid
US4291203A (en) * 1979-09-11 1981-09-22 Gaspare Bellafiore Hearing aid device
DE3638747C1 (en) * 1986-11-13 1987-10-08 Audio Service Gmbh As Hearing aid
DE29801567U1 (en) * 1998-01-30 1998-04-16 Siemens Audiologische Technik Hearing aid portable behind the ear
US6181801B1 (en) * 1997-04-03 2001-01-30 Resound Corporation Wired open ear canal earpiece
WO2003015470A2 (en) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-20 Advanced Bionics Corporation In the ear auxiliary microphone for hearing prosthetic
DE102004044318B3 (en) * 2004-09-10 2005-11-24 Hansaton Akustik Gmbh Tube type conductive connector for a hearing aid to be worn behind the ear and having one lumen as a sound channel and another to receive a conductor

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1078175B (en) * 1958-08-08 1960-03-24 Micro Technic Hueber & Co Hearing aid for the hard of hearing to be worn behind the auricle
US3098127A (en) * 1961-07-03 1963-07-16 Walter H Huth Hearing aid
US4291203A (en) * 1979-09-11 1981-09-22 Gaspare Bellafiore Hearing aid device
DE3638747C1 (en) * 1986-11-13 1987-10-08 Audio Service Gmbh As Hearing aid
US6181801B1 (en) * 1997-04-03 2001-01-30 Resound Corporation Wired open ear canal earpiece
DE29801567U1 (en) * 1998-01-30 1998-04-16 Siemens Audiologische Technik Hearing aid portable behind the ear
WO2003015470A2 (en) * 2001-08-10 2003-02-20 Advanced Bionics Corporation In the ear auxiliary microphone for hearing prosthetic
DE102004044318B3 (en) * 2004-09-10 2005-11-24 Hansaton Akustik Gmbh Tube type conductive connector for a hearing aid to be worn behind the ear and having one lumen as a sound channel and another to receive a conductor

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2466556A (en) * 2008-05-27 2010-06-30 Panasonic Corp Behind-the-ear hearing aid with microphone mounted in opening of ear canal
GB2466556B (en) * 2008-05-27 2011-02-09 Panasonic Corp Behind-the-ear hearing aid whose microphone is set in an entrance of ear canal
US8014551B2 (en) 2008-05-27 2011-09-06 Panasonic Corporation Behind-the-ear hearing aid whose microphone is set in an entrance of ear canal
US8526653B2 (en) 2008-05-27 2013-09-03 Panasonic Corporation Behind-the-ear hearing aid whose microphone is set in an entrance of ear canal
EP2608576A3 (en) * 2011-12-21 2015-04-22 Sonion Nederland B.V. An apparatus and a method for providing sound

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11540036B2 (en) Flanged earbud and hearing device including same
US8150084B2 (en) Hearing aid and a method of processing a sound signal in a hearing aid
US6681022B1 (en) Two-way communication earpiece
US8243971B2 (en) Behind-the-ear hearing device having an external, optical microphone
EP2601795B1 (en) Receiver system for a hearing instrument
US8165332B2 (en) Earpiece with bars
US8411890B2 (en) Hearing aid
US20090252362A1 (en) Hearing device to be carried in the auricle with an individual mold
US8542858B2 (en) Hearing device with a space-saving arrangement of microphones and sound openings
WO2007014950B1 (en) A hearing device with an open earpiece having a short vent
US8098866B2 (en) Receiver device with manipulable sound outlet direction
EP3099082A1 (en) Self-aligning comfort fit retention arm for a hearing assistance device
US7076074B2 (en) Bearing of an electroacoustic miniature transducer in a device, particularly a hearing aid device, as well as an electroacoustic miniature transducer
EP3952332A1 (en) Hearing device for occlusion reduction and components thereof
US20090087006A1 (en) Sound tube for a hearing device
WO2009123561A1 (en) Hearing aid
US9485594B2 (en) Connector arrangement in hearing instruments
US8233653B2 (en) Receiver facility with a moveable receiver
US20160037272A1 (en) Microphone module latching configuration for a hearing instrument, microphone module and hearing instrument
US20130028455A1 (en) Hearing apparatus having a special sound channel
EP4231662A1 (en) Hearing device with active noise control
US20220225011A1 (en) Antenna designs for hearing instruments
CN108886646B (en) Sound receiver, personal audio system with the sound receiver and application thereof
WO2022146627A1 (en) Ear-wearable electronic hearing device incorporating microphone array with enhanced wind noise suppression
US20090041278A1 (en) Hearing apparatus with adjusted components

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 08724368

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 08724368

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1