CN116032028A - Charging device for a hearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A charging device for a hearing device comprising a hearing device housing having a side surface, the hearing device being an ear level device, the charging device comprising: a housing having a receiving area configured to receive a hearing device, wherein the receiving area is configured such that the hearing device will be in a position where the side surface contacts the receiving area during charging; a charging source configured to provide a charging current to the hearing device; the receiving area includes a first holding area configured to engage with a first portion of the hearing device that directs the hearing device to have a particular orientation relative to the receiving area.

Description

Charging device for a hearing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a charging device configured to charge one or more hearing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a charging device for wireless or wired charging of a hearing device, such as a single hearing device or a group of hearing devices. The hearing device may be a hearing aid or an earplug/audible wearing product or a similar ear level device.

Background

When charging a device, such as a hearing aid or a hearing device or an ear bud, configured to be located at the user's ear via a wire or wirelessly, it is necessary to have a place to locate the device, such as an ear bud, a hearing aid, a set of hearing aids, while charging. This may be achieved in the charging device disclosed herein.

Furthermore, when charging small devices such as hearing devices, hearing aids, ear plugs, these applications will benefit from receiving some sort of feedback that the devices are properly positioned, i.e. the devices are in a position where they can receive energy to charge/recharge the energy storage in the housing of the device. As mentioned above, this may be a wireless or wired charge.

Hearing aids typically have a range of different styles, commonly referred to as behind-the-ear, in-the-ear receiver, in-the-ear. All these hearing aids have different shaping coefficients and even hearing aids of the same style have different sizes. This may result in the need for specially shaped chargers/storage devices, however, providing specialized/custom chargers for specific hearing devices/hearing aids is expensive and/or difficult to handle.

Earplugs are typically shaped to be at least partially located in the ear canal of a user/wearer, with a portion shaped/formed to face the user's environment. When a user places a device in a charger to charge it, the user may accidentally misplace the device so that the device does not receive any charge.

It is therefore desirable to provide a solution to at least some of the above mentioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides at least an alternative to the prior art.

The present invention relates to a charging device for (re) charging a hearing device. The charging device may be powered by a mains connection. The charging device may comprise a battery configured to provide charging energy to the hearing device when there is no mains connection or a mains connection is not available, for example when the user travels. The internal battery may then be charged when the charger is connected to an external power source, such as a mains power supply. Mains power may be supplied from, for example, a 12/24V car power supply or a 110/220V wall socket or the like or a 5V USB connection to a computer or suitable power supply. The charging device may include one or more visual indicators, such as LED lights and/or a graphical display. The visual indicator may be used to communicate information such as "device present", "device being charged", "device partially charged status", "device fully charged". The charging device may comprise a data interface configured to communicate with a server apparatus for providing e.g. software/settings updates, such as firmware updates, etc. to the hearing device, or may be configured to collect data, such as usage data, status data, crash data, etc. from the hearing device. Such collected data may be stored, for example, in the charging device until the device is checked/read at the hearing health care professional or service personnel, or may be transmitted from the charging device via a communication interface, or directly, for example, via WIFI, or via a connection through a smart phone to, for example, a server, etc. In these cases, the charging device may include a wireless interface, such as WiFi and/or bluetooth or another suitable communication interface.

According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a charging device configured to charge hearing devices having different geometries and to receive these hearing devices. This may be achieved by a charging device as disclosed herein configured to receive a hearing device. The charging device may comprise a housing having a receiving area configured to receive a hearing device, such as a hearing aid. The receiving area may be open upwards so that the hearing device to be charged may be placed therein in an easy manner by the user. The charging device may include a charging source configured to provide a charging current to the hearing device. The charging current may be provided via a charging point, sometimes referred to as contact charging, or via wireless transmission, often referred to as wireless charging. A combination of contact charging and wireless charging may also be provided. In the charger disclosed herein, the receiving area may comprise a first holding area configured to engage with a first part of the hearing aid, which directs the hearing device to have a specific orientation with respect to the receiving area. In this way, the hearing device is led into a position where charging may be better, for example during wireless charging, so that the receiving antenna in the hearing device receives enough energy from the transmitting antenna in the charging device, in which case the charging receiving point in the hearing device may be brought into contact with the corresponding contact in the charging device. In this way, the receiving area may in fact be shaped such that a number of different geometrical hearing devices may be allowed to be received and placed in the receiving area and properly charged. This may for example be two different types of hearing devices with housings of different sizes and/or shapes, both of which may be charged in the same charging device.

The charging device may include one or more openings that may receive moisture or water droplets from the device being charged. There is also the possibility or risk of perspiration and/or cerumen/ear wax being expelled from the device being charged. The earwax/cerumen and/or sweat may more easily flow out of the device being charged during charging, as the charging process may increase the temperature of the device being charged and/or the charging device. One or more channels may be formed beneath the aforementioned opening to direct collected waste away from the element beneath the opening, for example from beneath the receiving area.

The first holding area may comprise a protrusion and/or a groove configured to mechanically engage said first part of the hearing aid. This may enable the first holding area to be shaped to accommodate a variety of hearing device housing shapes and/or sizes while ensuring that the hearing device is held in a certain orientation with respect to the charging area/connection.

The charging device disclosed herein may further comprise a magnet disposed at the receiving area, which may be configured to provide a magnetic field that intercepts the magnetizable element in the hearing aid. Such an arrangement may help align the hearing device with respect to charging current application, i.e., the charge applied via wireless charging or spot charging. More than one magnet may be used for this purpose in the charging device. Further, the magnet or at least one of the plurality of magnets may be or may comprise a coil and non-magnetic material configured to generate a magnetic field, or while the charging device is powered, or following instructions from a user, such as a button being pressed or operated, or instructions from an app on a smart phone to start the charging device.

The first part of the hearing aid may advantageously be at least one of: a sound hook, a wire and a tube. In other words, the first portion preferably extends from the housing such that a portion of the charger may engage the first portion and guide the hearing device to be correctly or near optimally arranged with respect to the charging area. These portions of the hearing device may be more constant features across a range of different styles and/or sizes of devices.

The charging source may be provided as a wireless charging signal to the hearing aid and the charger may then comprise at least one coil arranged at the receiving area. The number and shape of the coils may depend on the desired field strength and/or the desired field distribution at the receiving area.

The coil may be arranged in a cylindrical or spiral shape and at least part of the receiving area may be arranged in a space inside the cylindrical or spiral body. This may be advantageous for establishing a charging area or space for a custom shaped housing of a device that does not have a fixed profile, such as a hearing aid. Alternatively or additionally, this may provide a charging field profile suitable for charging multiple devices at once.

The receiving area may comprise a bowl. This may enable the user to simply put the hearing device into the bowl, regardless of the orientation of the hearing device, when the user wishes to charge the hearing device. The bowl also provides a geometric minimum shape where the object seeks to rest.

If the upper surface of the charging device is rounded in a bowl-like manner, with the centre being lower than the periphery, the device placed on/in the charger will slide towards the centre of the charging bowl area due to gravity and thus be centred by itself unless placed outside the best digest area by the user. This is particularly advantageous when charging small devices where large planar coils may be impractical, as the device may be placed in an area with predictable charge field characteristics, for example near the middle of the charge coil.

The charging device may be configured to determine that the hearing device is in a position to be charged, the charging device comprising an output transducer configured to provide tactile feedback when the hearing device is determined to be in the position to be charged. This is useful for people with low dexterity and/or impaired vision, as the hearing device may be quite small and light. The detection may be achieved by another means, such as an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, a contact sensor arranged with respect to the contact charging pins.

By providing the user with a tactile feedback when properly inserted, the state of the hearing device can be transferred much better. The hearing device charger may already be able to detect the insertion/presence of the hearing device, so that the solution is complete by implementing, for example, a shaftless vibration motor for sending haptic feedback to the user when the hearing device is detected. The solution greatly improves usability, user experience and compatible design principles. By adding additional sensory stimuli to the user, the state of the hearing device is more clearly transferred to a user with impaired vision and/or hearing, which may contribute to a person with impaired vision or better experience in challenging environments. The tactile feedback may be combined with visual and/or acoustic feedback that the hearing device is properly placed in the charging device. There may even be feedback information implemented to the user that the hearing device is placed in the receiving area but has not yet reached its chargeable location, e.g. for a specified period of time. This may be, for example, an alarm sound/vibration/light to the user, in combination with or individually, indicating that the hearing device is detected as being within a given area of the charging device but not yet charged. Such an alarm may for example be given when the presence of the hearing device is detected within 5 seconds, as yet not supplied with charging energy.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a charging device configured to receive at least one hearing device, wherein the hearing device is configurable to be placed at a user's ear. The charging device may be configured to determine that at least one hearing device has been located in the charger such that it is capable of receiving energy to charge a battery device in the hearing device. This may be achieved by determining that the hearing device is in a position where it receives energy above a certain charging threshold. Alternatively, this may be achieved by determining that the hearing device has reached a certain position within the cavity of the charging device.

The charging device may comprise a sensor configured to detect that the hearing device is located in/at the charger. The sensor may be configured to provide a signal to a processor configured to determine the location of the hearing device, e.g., to determine whether the hearing device is in contact with a charging area or a welding spot.

The charging device may be configured to provide haptic feedback to the user indicating that the hearing device is in a position to receive energy to charge the hearing device. This will help the user to determine if he/she has correctly placed the hearing device, thus reducing the risk that the hearing device does not receive energy. The haptic feedback may be vibration.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a charger having a receiving area configured to receive one or more hearing devices to be wirelessly charged via the charger. The receiving area may comprise at least one geometrical nadir, which the hearing device will naturally find when the hearing device is located in the receiving area. Such nadir may be established by having a bowl-shaped geometry for receiving one or more hearing devices. When it is desired to create a charger configured to charge, for example, a set of two hearing devices, a bowl-shaped charger may be provided having two nadir, for example, a geometry having two low-profile, each configured to receive a hearing device. In this way, an easy-to-use charger may be provided to a user with two hearing devices to be wirelessly charged. The nadir may provide a natural sliding motion that aligns the hearing device with a corresponding charging coil disposed below or around/at the nadir/depression.

Features from the above aspects may be combined individually or in their entirety.

Drawings

Various aspects of the invention may be best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of clarity, these figures are schematic and simplified drawings, which only give details, which improve the understanding of the invention, while other details are omitted. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts. The various features of each aspect may be combined with any or all of the features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effects will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:

fig. 1 schematically illustrates a hearing device;

fig. 2 schematically shows a charging device;

fig. 3 schematically shows a charging coil of a charging device;

fig. 4 schematically shows a bowl of a charging device;

fig. 5 schematically shows a charging device with a bowl and a charging coil;

fig. 6 schematically shows a charging device with a bowl and two charging coils.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings serves as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described in terms of a number of different blocks, functional units, modules, elements, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer programs, or any combination thereof, depending on the particular application, design constraints, or other reasons.

Electronic hardware may include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), (e.g., application specific integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital Signal Processors (DSPs), field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) (e.g., flexible PCBs), and other suitable hardware configured to perform a number of different functions described in this specification, such as sensors for sensing and/or recording physical properties of an environment, device, user, etc. A computer program is to be broadly interpreted as an instruction, set of instructions, code segments, program code, program, subroutine, software module, application, software package, routine, subroutine, object, executable, thread of execution, program, function, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other names.

The hearing device (or hearing instrument, hearing aid) may be or comprise a hearing aid adapted for improving or enhancing the hearing ability of the user by receiving an acoustic signal from the user's environment, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal, and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one ear of the user. "improving or enhancing the hearing ability of a user" may include compensating for a particular hearing loss of an individual user. "hearing device" may also refer to a device such as an audible wearing device, a headset or a headphones adapted to electronically receive an audio signal, possibly modify the audio signal, and to provide the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one ear of a user. The audible signal may be provided in the form of: acoustic signals radiated into the outer ear of the user, acoustic signals transmitted as mechanical vibrations through bone structures of the head of the user and/or through portions of the middle ear to the inner ear of the user, and electrical signals transmitted directly or indirectly to the cochlear nerve and/or auditory cortex of the user.

The hearing device may be adapted to be worn in any known manner. This may include: i) Arranging the unit of the hearing device behind the ear (with a tube for guiding the air-borne sound signal into the ear canal or with a receiver/speaker arranged close to or in the ear canal and connected to the behind-the-ear unit by wires (or wirelessly)), such as a behind-the-ear hearing aid; and/or ii) disposing the hearing device wholly or partially in the pinna and/or ear canal of the user, such as an in-the-ear hearing aid or an in-the-canal/deep-the-canal hearing aid; or iii) providing the unit of the hearing device to be connected to a fixation device implanted in the skull bone, such as a bone anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant; or iv) arranging the hearing device unit as a wholly or partly implanted unit, such as a bone anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant. The hearing device may be implemented in a single unit (housing) or may be implemented in a plurality of units each connected to each other.

"Hearing System" refers to a system comprising one or two hearing devices, and "binaural hearing system" refers to a system comprising two hearing devices, wherein the hearing devices are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both ears of a user. The hearing system or binaural hearing system may further comprise one or more auxiliary devices in communication with the at least one hearing device, which auxiliary devices influence the operation of the hearing device and/or benefit from the functionality of the hearing device. A wired or wireless communication link is established between at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device to enable information (e.g., control and status signals, possibly audio signals) to be exchanged therebetween. The auxiliary device may comprise at least one of: a remote control, a remote microphone, an audio gateway device, a wireless communication device such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone) or a tablet or another device (e.g., including a graphical interface), a broadcast system, an automotive audio system, a music player, or a combination thereof. The audio gateway device may be adapted to receive a plurality of audio signals, e.g. from an entertainment apparatus, e.g. a TV or a music player, from a telephony apparatus, e.g. a mobile phone, or from a computer, e.g. a PC. The auxiliary device may also be adapted (e.g. to enable a user) to select and/or combine appropriate ones of the received audio signals (or signal combinations) for communication to the at least one hearing device. The remote control is adapted to control the function and/or operation of at least one hearing device. The functionality of the remote control may be implemented in a smart phone or other (e.g. portable) electronic device, possibly running an Application (APP) controlling the functionality of the at least one hearing instrument.

In general, a hearing device comprises i) an input unit, such as a microphone, for receiving acoustic signals from around a user and providing corresponding input audio signals; and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving the input audio signal. The hearing device further comprises a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to a user based on the processed audio signal.

The input unit may comprise a plurality of input microphones, for example for providing direction dependent audio signal processing. The aforementioned directional microphone system is adapted to (relatively) enhance a target sound source of a plurality of sound sources in a user environment and/or attenuate other sound sources, such as noise. In one aspect, the directional system is adapted to detect (e.g., adaptively detect) from which direction a particular portion of the microphone signal originates. This can be accomplished using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may comprise an amplifier adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may also be adapted to provide other suitable functions such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may comprise an output transducer such as a speaker/receiver for providing an air-borne optical signal to the skull bone percutaneously or transdermally or a vibrator for providing a structurally or liquid-borne signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing electrical signals, for example in a cochlear implant.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a hearing device HD, wherein the hearing device is shaped as a hearing aid for a behind-the-ear hearing aid. As disclosed herein, the hearing device may be provided with other shaping factors and without hearing loss compensation, i.e. as a headset, e.g. music and/or telephone conversations for wireless headsets. The hearing device HD comprises an interconnection element IC connecting the behind-the-ear housing BTE with the in-the-ear housing ITE. Two microphones constitute the input system of the hearing device, which are connected to the processor SPU and the memory MEM arranged in connection with the substrate SUB. The battery BAT powers the hearing device. Here, the battery BAT is a secondary battery, i.e., rechargeable.

The hearing device HD comprises a charging interface CI configured to receive energy from an external source during a recharging process and to provide this energy as charging energy to the battery. The charging interface CI may be a wired interface and/or a wireless interface. The wired portion of such a charging interface may include one or more, e.g., two pins configured to connect to corresponding pads in the charging device. The wireless portion of the charging interface may include one or more coils configured to receive a wireless charging field emitted by a charging device having a charging coil. The charging interface CI may be connected through a converter to charge the battery BAT.

The hearing device HD may comprise an RF antenna together with a suitable wireless interface, for example a radio configured to communicate using a data protocol such as bluetooth/bluetooth low energy or the like. The hearing device HD may comprise an inductive communication interface with a coil, wherein the inductive communication interface is configured to communicate with a hearing device placed at the opposite ear of the user. The inductive communication interface may be configured to communicate with other devices than another hearing device. The coil of the inductive communication interface may be the same coil as the charging interface coil used to collect wireless charging energy.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a charging device 10 with a housing. At a top or upper surface portion of the housing 12, the receiving area 14 is configured to receive a hearing device. Here, two such receiving areas 14 and 16 are formed, so that the charging device 10 can charge two hearing devices simultaneously. The situation where two hearing devices 18 and 20 are placed in the respective receiving areas 14 and 16 is shown in the upper right part of fig. 2.

The charging device 10 includes a charging source configured to provide a charging current to a hearing device being charged. In the charging device 10, the receiving areas 14, 16 comprise a first holding area configured to engage with a first portion of the hearing aid 18, 20. The holding area is configured such that it guides the hearing aid with a specific orientation with respect to the receiving area. As shown in fig. 2, the retention areas engage with the hook areas of the hearing aids 18, 20 (i.e., the areas or portions of the tube or wire connecting the behind-the-ear housing with the in-the-ear housing (not shown in fig. 2)).

As shown in fig. 2, the receiving area may be larger and/or have a different shape than the housing of the hearing device/hearing aid. In the upper right part of fig. 2 the housing of the hearing aid 18, 20 is (significantly) smaller than the receiving area, but due to the holding area/section 26 the hearing aid housing is held in an orientation that ensures that the hearing aid can be charged in an approximately optimal way.

Other orientations are here shown with the hearing device housing on one side of the receiving area, but are presently considered advantageous. The lateral orientation provides the user who charges the hearing device at the receiving area with an intuitive cue that the hearing device is properly or at least approximately properly/optimally placed.

In the lower left part of fig. 2, two hearing devices 22, 24 with larger housings are placed in the receiving areas 14, 16. Here, the housing of the respective hearing device 22, 24 is more closely adapted to the receiving area geometry and size. In the lower right part of fig. 2, the larger hearing device 22 and the smaller hearing device 20 are located in the receiving areas 14, 16. This shows that the user may have hearing devices of different sizes and/or shapes, but still be able to charge them with the same charging device, thus reducing the need for the user to provide a series of different/customized charging devices, which also has a positive impact on the environment by reducing the need to produce a large number of different types of charging devices, and furthermore, although the user has hearing devices of different shapes, the user does not need to be provided with two charging devices, but can achieve charging of different hearing devices with only one charging device.

As shown, each retention region includes a tab and/or groove 26 configured to mechanically engage a first portion of the hearing device 24. Thus, the channel is configured to engage a portion of the device to be charged to maintain the device in a desired orientation. This alignment/retention may be further enhanced by a magnet, which may be provided at/below the receiving area in the charging device and configured to provide a magnetic field that intercepts the magnetizable element in the hearing aid. In this way it is possible to establish two contact points for the hearing device to be charged and to enhance the chance that the hearing device is held in a desired orientation relative to the charging device while charging is taking place.

As shown in fig. 3, at the receiving area, the charging device may include one (30) or more (28) wireless charging coils configured to provide wireless charging energy to the device receiving the charge. The coil may be shaped to cover an area where the charging interface of the hearing device will most likely be placed. When more than one charging coil 28 is used, it is possible to provide a charging field that is a combination of fields from multiple charging coils. The charging coils may be provided as an array. When more than one charging coil is used, it is also possible to adjust the number of coils used during a particular charging operation. This may be to selectively use only a single coil, e.g. to select the coil with the best charge transfer to the charging interface of the hearing device.

The charging device may be configured to communicate with the device being charged. This may be implemented as in-band communication via a charging channel, such as a signal superimposed on a charging signal. The communication may be implemented intermittently with charging, e.g., a first period of time to charge the device and a second period of time for communication. This may help ensure that the receiving device has the ability to respond to queries related to, for example, battery status. A separate communication channel may be established between the charging device and the charged device. This may be a wired or wireless channel, e.g. an electrical connection via one or more pins of the hearing device, or as a bluetooth-based channel, e.g. bluetooth low energy, or an inductive communication channel.

Fig. 4 schematically shows a receiving area comprising a bowl-shaped part. If the charger has a receiving area with its upper surface rounded in a bowl-shaped manner and the centre of the bowl being lower than the periphery, the device placed on/in the charging device slides towards the centre of the bowl-shaped part due to gravity and thus is centred by itself unless the user deliberately places the device outside the best digest area. This may be combined with one or more permanent magnets which may exert a pulling force on the device to draw the device closer to an optimal orientation/position in the bowl.

The bowl-shaped holding area is considered useful when charging small devices where large planar coils are impractical, and thus placement of the device in an area with predictable electromagnetic field characteristics becomes important, for example in/near the middle of the charging coil.

Fig. 5 also illustrates the principle of the hearing device 32 sliding along the sides of the bowl-shaped receiving area (as indicated by the dashed arrow), the charging coil 34 being arranged below the bowl-shaped receiving area. As shown, there is a region or space 36 where charging is more efficient or even optimal than at a location farther from the center of the charging coil.

Fig. 6 also shows that it may be beneficial to provide a bowl-shaped receiving area with an elongated z-axis, i.e. the side wall 38 of the bowl is higher/the bowl is deeper.

A single (generally planar) charging coil will have some usable/optimal area in the charging field. The size of the available/optimal field space will be larger if the charging coil is elongated/raised in the shape of a cylinder, for example. This effect can be achieved using two coils 40 and 42, as shown in fig. 6.

The charging device may include a first coil disposed below (at the bottom of) the receiving area and a second coil at the top of the receiving area, such that a charging space is established at least between the first and second coils.

As shown in fig. 6, two (Helmholz) or more coils may be provided to effectively form a longer coil, thereby expanding the optimal field region. Here, in addition to the coil arranged below the bowl-shaped receiving area, a second coil is also placed on top of the receiving area. The principle can also be used for receiving areas of other geometries, for example the receiving areas shown in connection with fig. 1 and 2. The charging device shown in fig. 6 thus places the coil in a cylindrical or spiral configuration, with at least a portion of the receiving area being disposed in the space within the cylinder or spiral.

The structural features of the apparatus described in detail above, "detailed description of the invention" and defined in the claims may be combined with the steps of the method of the invention when suitably substituted by corresponding processes.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents (i.e., having the meaning of "at least one") unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "has," "comprises," "including" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may also be present unless expressly stated otherwise. The term "and/or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an aspect" or "an included feature" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one implementation of the present invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the invention. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" but rather "one or more". The term "some" refers to one or more unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the claims.

Claims (13)

1. A charging device configured to receive a hearing device, the hearing device comprising a hearing device housing having a side surface, the hearing device being an ear level device, the charging device comprising:

a housing having a receiving area configured to receive a hearing device, wherein the receiving area is configured such that the hearing device will be in a position where the side surface contacts the receiving area during charging;

a charging source configured to provide a charging current to the hearing device;

the receiving area includes a first holding area configured to engage with a first portion of the hearing device that directs the hearing device to have a particular orientation relative to the receiving area.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the first retention region comprises a protrusion and/or groove configured to mechanically engage the first portion of the hearing device.

3. The charging device of claim 1, further comprising a magnet disposed at the receiving area and configured to provide a magnetic field that intercepts a magnetizable element in the hearing device.

4. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the hearing device is at least one of: a sound hook, a wire and a tube.

5. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging source is provided to the hearing device as a wireless charging signal, the charging source comprising at least one coil disposed at the receiving area.

6. The charging device of claim 5, wherein the coil is arranged in a cylindrical or spiral shape, wherein at least part of the receiving area is arranged in a space inside the cylindrical or spiral body.

7. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the receiving area comprises a bowl.

8. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging source comprises a first coil disposed at a lower portion of the receiving area, the charging source further comprising a second coil disposed at a top portion of the receiving area.

9. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the charging device is configured to determine that the hearing device is in a position to be charged, the charging device comprising an output transducer configured to provide tactile feedback when the hearing device is determined to be in the position to be charged.

10. The charging device of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate with a device located at the receiving area, wherein the communication is wired or wireless communication.

11. The charging device of claim 10, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with the charging device in an interleaved manner or is configured to communicate using a different channel than the charging channel.

12. The charging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface configured to communicate with an external computer device to receive instructions from the external computer device.

13. The charging apparatus of claim 12, wherein the external computer device is a smart phone or a personal computer or a server device.

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