EP0139106B1 - Hearing-aid to be worn in the ear - Google Patents

Hearing-aid to be worn in the ear Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0139106B1
EP0139106B1 EP84108460A EP84108460A EP0139106B1 EP 0139106 B1 EP0139106 B1 EP 0139106B1 EP 84108460 A EP84108460 A EP 84108460A EP 84108460 A EP84108460 A EP 84108460A EP 0139106 B1 EP0139106 B1 EP 0139106B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
fact
accordance
ear hearing
ear
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EP84108460A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0139106A1 (en
Inventor
Christian Töpholm
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Topholm and Westermann IS
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Topholm and Westermann IS
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Application filed by Topholm and Westermann IS filed Critical Topholm and Westermann IS
Priority to AT84108460T priority Critical patent/ATE35495T1/en
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    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2300/00—Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H
    • H01H2300/004—Application hearing aid
    • 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
    • H04R2225/61—Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
    • 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
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a hearing aid to be worn on the ear for the hearing impaired or the hearing impaired with a microphone, amplifier, earpiece, battery and connection to an earmold.
  • BTE devices behind-the-ear devices
  • H. hearing aids connected to or integrated into spectacle frames.
  • the progressive miniaturization of the components has always been used to improve and / or reduce the size of the devices, but was also aware of the fact that this was prosthetics that it was believed to be hidden .
  • the first devices of this type were manufactured in such a way that a hollow, so-called ear cup, was produced with the help of a casting of the outer tube, which fit the ear in question and was provided with a continuous sound channel, which protruded somewhat into the ear canal, after which the components of the Device were attached in the ear cup, which was finally provided with a lid.
  • ear cup a hollow, so-called ear cup
  • the manufacture of simpler and cheaper hearing aids in the outer ear can be achieved by installing the components in a device housing which is shaped in such a way that it fits somewhat into the concha of a normal ear.
  • a device housing which is shaped in such a way that it fits somewhat into the concha of a normal ear.
  • Such a device is shown, for example, by CH-A-528 198.
  • This device has a two-part housing with standard dimensions, which contains the handset, the battery and contact elements in one part, the microphone, the amplifier with connection contacts and the volume control in the other part. This device is being assembled and could be worn in the ear canal.
  • this device housing be accommodated in a recess which is adapted to the shape of the housing in an ear mold which has been individually adapted, but which can also be a standard design which approximately fits most ears.
  • Hearing aids of this type can then have a clumsy and ugly appearance, and different manufacture is necessary for the right and left ear.
  • Such a device can only be used to a limited extent by a hearing care professional.
  • the object underlying the invention was therefore to create a hearing aid that is as small and inconspicuous as possible, which can be used for both the right and the left ear and which, despite its small size, contains all the parts required for the hearing aid as such, including the battery, simply to use and easy to adapt to the ear.
  • a hearing aid of the type mentioned at the outset in that all of the above-mentioned parts are accommodated in a single flat cylindrical housing in the device to be worn directly on the concha, the cover of which is rotatably mounted about a hollow axis serving as sound input channel and on the one hand interacts with an on / off switch and on the other hand carries at least one grinder on its inside, which serves as volume control in contact with at least one resistance track, and that the sound outlet connection is arranged eccentrically on the underside of the housing opposite the cover.
  • the arrangement is such that two resistance tracks and two grinders are provided, that the lid also carries an extension on its underside, which serves as an end stop and as a switching cam for the on / off switch, and finally on the top of the battery compartment, battery contact springs are provided which can be actuated by the switching cam.
  • FIG. 1 to 3 you can now see in detail a cylindrical housing 1 with a flat, slightly curved cover 2 with a closure bushing 3 which can be inserted from above and has a sound inlet opening 4.
  • This closure bushing is inserted with slight pressure into the hollow central axis 5, which has a diametrically extending slot and is expanded somewhat by inserting the bushing, as a result of which the cover is rotatably fastened to the axis 5. This prevents the cover from being removed, but it still remains rotatable. This is necessary because all of the operating functions are to be performed by the rotatable cover alone.
  • On the inside of the cover there is a cam 7 which interacts with the battery contact springs 8 and 9 for closing and opening the switching thereby formed.
  • This cam 7 also serves as a stop for limiting the rotational movement of the cover 2.
  • Two sliding contact springs 10 are also attached to the cover 2, which in the preferred embodiment are attached to the hub of the cover 2 by means of a common contact ring and small protruding knobs. These sliding contact springs slide on two resistance tracks 11, which are provided for a volume control and for a sound pressure control. This means that even with such a small device, it is possible to reduce the sound pressure at the same time as the volume is reduced, as was only possible today with much larger devices.
  • Another important feature is the sound inlet opening 4 in the middle of the cover and the hollow central axis, which has a slot 12 in its central part, into which a sound channel leading to the microphone is inserted.
  • a space 13 for a microphone, a space 14 for electrical components for the amplifier and a space 15 for the amplifier itself are provided in the housing.
  • the microphone 16 can be seen in FIG. 3, as can the receiver 17.
  • the planes of the membranes of the microphone and receiver are perpendicular to one another.
  • a battery compartment 18, a battery 19 and a connecting piece 20 for an earmold can also be seen purely schematically.
  • the connecting piece 20 is arranged eccentrically. This is again of particular importance, in particular because the housing 1 is rotationally symmetrical and therefore no prescribed orientation of the housing to the concha has to be observed.
  • the device is first inserted into the concha without an earmold and rotated as a whole until the sound outlet connector 20 comes as close as possible to the entrance of the auditory canal. This position is recorded.
  • the counterpart of a sound channel which can be snapped into the connecting piece is molded into the earmold to be produced thereafter. If you want to clean the earmold, you can easily separate it from the new hearing aid.
  • Such an earpiece normally has a coupling ring into which an annular spring or an annular wire or a rubber ring is cast, so that the sound outlet of the hearing aid can be snapped into the earpiece.
  • the latching mechanism is now moved into the sound outlet nozzle, while the earmold only has a cast-in ring without a spring.
  • the newly designed sound outlet nozzle therefore has a thin wall 21 that thickens downward on the outside and yields when the earmold is put on.
  • a circular cylindrical cavity Between this outer thin wall and the inner tube 22 is a circular cylindrical cavity which is filled with a rubber-like material 23. This rubber-like material prevents possible adverse effects on the acoustic properties of the device through this type of coupling.
  • the sound tube leading to the listener is then clamped into the inner tube 22.

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  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
  • Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
  • Details Of Audible-Bandwidth Transducers (AREA)
  • Gyroscopes (AREA)

Abstract

A hearing aid which can be worn in the ear concha and which contains a microphone, an amplifier, an earphone, a battery and a connection to an ear adapter. All components are mounted in a flat, cylindrical housing (1), whose cover (2) can be rotated around a hollow shaft (6) which acts as the sound inlet channel (4), actuates the on/off switch (8, 9) and carries on its inner side at least one wiper (11) which, in contact with at least one resistive strip (10), acts as a volume control.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein am Ohr selbst zu tragendes Hörgerät für Schwerhörige oder Hörbehinderte mit Mikrofon, Verstärker, Hörer, Batterie und Anschluß an ein Ohrpaßstück.The invention relates to a hearing aid to be worn on the ear for the hearing impaired or the hearing impaired with a microphone, amplifier, earpiece, battery and connection to an earmold.

Bei der Entwicklung von Hörgeräten kam man von Kästchengerät allmählich ab und entwickelte hinter dem Ohr zu tragende Geräte, sogenannte HdO-Geräte, im Ohr zu tragende Geräte und auch Hörbrillen, d. h. mit Brillengestellen verbundene oder in diese integrierte Hörgeräte. Bei all diesen Entwicklungen hat man zwar immer die fortschreitende Miniaturisierung der Bauelemente benutzt, um die Geräte vielseitig zu verbessern und/oder zu verkleindern, war sich aber ebenso der Tatsache bewußt, daß es sich hierbei um eine Prothetik handelt, die man verbergen zu müssen glaubte.With the development of hearing aids one gradually got away from Küsselgerät and developed behind-the-ear devices, so-called BTE devices, devices to be worn in the ear and also hearing glasses, i.e. H. hearing aids connected to or integrated into spectacle frames. In all of these developments, the progressive miniaturization of the components has always been used to improve and / or reduce the size of the devices, but was also aware of the fact that this was prosthetics that it was believed to be hidden .

Neuere Entwicklungen haben zu Hörgeräten geführt, die so klein sind, daß das ganze Gerät in dem Hohlraum (Concha) untergebracht werden kann, der von verschiedenen Teilen des Außenohres begrenzt ist.Recent developments have led to hearing aids which are so small that the entire device can be accommodated in the cavity (concha) which is delimited by different parts of the outer ear.

Die ersten Geräte dieser Art wurden auf die Weise hergestellt, daß mit Hilfe eines Abgusses des Außenrohres eine hohle sogenannte Ohrmulde hergestellt wurde, die zu dem betreffenden Ohr paßte und mit einem durchgehenden Lautkanal versehen war, der etwas in den Gehörgang hineinragte, wonach die Komponenten des Gerätes in der Ohrmulde angebracht wurden, die zum Schluß mit einem Deckel versehen wurde. Eine derartig individuelle Anpassung machte die Herstellung sowohl zeitraubend als auch kostspielig.The first devices of this type were manufactured in such a way that a hollow, so-called ear cup, was produced with the help of a casting of the outer tube, which fit the ear in question and was provided with a continuous sound channel, which protruded somewhat into the ear canal, after which the components of the Device were attached in the ear cup, which was finally provided with a lid. Such customization made the production both time consuming and costly.

Bekanntlich kann die Herstellung von einfacheren und billigeren Hörgeräten im Außenohr dadurch erreicht werden, daß die Komponenten in ein Gerätegehäuse eingebaut werden, das so geformt ist, daß es einigermaßen in die Concha eines Normalohres hineinpaßt. Ein derartiges Gerät zeigt beispielsweise die CH-A-528 198. Dieses Gerät weist ein zweiteiliges Gehäuse mit Standardabmessungen auf, das in einem Teil den Hörer, die Batterie und Kontaktelemente, im anderen Teil das Mikrofon, den Verstärker mit Anschlußkontakten und den Lautstärkesteller enthält. Dieses Gerät wird zusammengesetzt und könnte so im Gehörgang getragen werden.As is known, the manufacture of simpler and cheaper hearing aids in the outer ear can be achieved by installing the components in a device housing which is shaped in such a way that it fits somewhat into the concha of a normal ear. Such a device is shown, for example, by CH-A-528 198. This device has a two-part housing with standard dimensions, which contains the handset, the battery and contact elements in one part, the microphone, the amplifier with connection contacts and the volume control in the other part. This device is being assembled and could be worn in the ear canal.

Es ist jedoch empfehlenswert, daß man dieses Gerätegehäuse in einer der Form des Gehäuses angepaßten Aussparung in einer Ohrmulde unterbringt, die individuell angepaßt wurde, die aber auch eine Standardausführung sein kann, die ungefähr zu den meisten Ohren paßt.However, it is recommended that this device housing be accommodated in a recess which is adapted to the shape of the housing in an ear mold which has been individually adapted, but which can also be a standard design which approximately fits most ears.

Hörgeräte dieser Art können dann ein plumpes und häßliches Aussehen bekommen, und es ist eine unterschiedliche Herstellung für das rechte und das linke Ohr notwendig.Hearing aids of this type can then have a clumsy and ugly appearance, and different manufacture is necessary for the right and left ear.

Für den Hörgerätefachmann ist ein solches Gerät nur begrenzt brauchbar.Such a device can only be used to a limited extent by a hearing care professional.

Die der Erfindung zugrundeliegende Aufgabe bestand also darin, ein möglichst kleines, unauffälliges, sowohl für das rechte als auch für das linke Ohr brauchbares Hörgerät zu schaffen, das trotz seiner Kleinheit alle für das Hörgerät als solches erforderlichen Teile, auch die Batterie, enthält, einfach zu bedienen und leicht an das Ohr anzupassen ist.The object underlying the invention was therefore to create a hearing aid that is as small and inconspicuous as possible, which can be used for both the right and the left ear and which, despite its small size, contains all the parts required for the hearing aid as such, including the battery, simply to use and easy to adapt to the ear.

Es ist klar, daß diese Forderungen einander zunächst vielfach widersprechen. Allein die Unterbringung der Batterie, die ja eine Mindest-Standard-Größe haben muß, wenn die Betriebsstundenzahl nicht unter eine erträgliche Grenze abfallen soll, bedingt eine bestimmte Mindestgröße. Ebenso wichtig sind Bedienungselemente und auch die Ankopplung an ein Ohrpaßstück, das ja individuell angefertigt werden sollte, da bekanntlich die Lage des Eingangs des Gehörganges von Ohr zu Ohr verschieden ist. Es wäre daher wünschenswert, wenn man alle diese Forderungen in einem besonders unauffälligen Gerät verwirklichen könnte, das mit im unteren Teil der Concha, also etwa zwischen Tragus und Antitragus untergebracht werden könnte.It is clear that these demands initially contradict each other in many ways. The storage of the battery alone, which must have a minimum standard size if the number of operating hours should not fall below an acceptable limit, requires a certain minimum size. Operating elements and the coupling to an earmold, which should be made individually, are equally important, since it is known that the position of the entrance of the ear canal differs from ear to ear. It would therefore be desirable if all of these requirements could be met in a particularly inconspicuous device that could be accommodated in the lower part of the concha, that is to say between the tragus and the antitragus.

Dies wird erfindungsgemäß in einem Hörgerät der eingangs genannten Art dadurch erreicht, daß in dem unmittelbar an der Concha zu tragenden Gerät alle oben genannten Teile in einem einzigen flachen zylinderförmigen Gehäuse untergebracht sind, dessen Deckel um eine als Schalleingangskanal dienende hohle Achse drehbar gelagert ist und einerseits mit einem Ein-/Aus-Schalter zusammenwirkt und andererseits an seiner Innenseite mindestens einen Schleifer trägt, der in Kontaktberührung mit mindestens einer Widerstandsbahn als Lautstärkesteller dient, und daß der Schallaustrittsstutzen an der dem Deckel gegenüberliegenden Unterseite des Gehäuses exzentrisch angeordnet ist.This is achieved according to the invention in a hearing aid of the type mentioned at the outset in that all of the above-mentioned parts are accommodated in a single flat cylindrical housing in the device to be worn directly on the concha, the cover of which is rotatably mounted about a hollow axis serving as sound input channel and on the one hand interacts with an on / off switch and on the other hand carries at least one grinder on its inside, which serves as volume control in contact with at least one resistance track, and that the sound outlet connection is arranged eccentrically on the underside of the housing opposite the cover.

Vorzugsweise ist die Anordnung dabei so getroffen, daß zwei Widerstandsbahnen und zwei Schleifer vorgesehen sind, daß ferner der Deckel an seiner Unterseite einen Ansatz trägt, der als Endanschlag und als Schaltnocke für den Ein-/Aus-Schalter dient, und daß schließlich auf der Oberseite des Batteriefaches Batteriekontaktfedern vorgesehen sind, die durch die Schaltnocke betätigbar sind.Preferably, the arrangement is such that two resistance tracks and two grinders are provided, that the lid also carries an extension on its underside, which serves as an end stop and as a switching cam for the on / off switch, and finally on the top of the battery compartment, battery contact springs are provided which can be actuated by the switching cam.

Weitere Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung sind den weiteren Ansprüchen zu entnehmen.Further refinements of the invention can be found in the further claims.

Die Erfindung wird nunmehr anhand eines Ausführungsbeispieles in Verbindung mit den beigefügten Zeichnungen beschrieben.The invention will now be described using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In den Zeichnungen zeigt:

  • Fig. 1 stark vergrößert eine Schnittansicht durch das neue Hörgerät;
  • Fig. 2 stark vergrößert und schematisch eine Draufsicht auf das neue Hörgerät;
  • Fig. 3 eine stark vergrößerte Ansicht in einer anderen Ebene und
  • Fig. 4 eine stark vergrößerte Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform des neuen Hörgerätes.
In the drawings:
  • Fig. 1 greatly enlarged a sectional view through the new hearing aid;
  • Fig. 2 greatly enlarged and schematically a top view of the new hearing aid;
  • Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged view in another plane and
  • Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of another embodiment of the new hearing aid.

Die Schwierigkeiten, die bei der Konstruktion des neuen Hörgerätes zu überwinden waren, ergeben sich sofort, wenn man die tatsächlichen Abmessungen des Gerätes in Betracht zieht. Bei einem Durchmesser von etwa 16 mm und einer höchsten Bauhöhe von etwa 7 mm und einem Durchmesser der Batterie von etwa 8 mm war an eine Unterbringung von Bedienungselementen an der Außenseite des Gehäuses nicht zu denken. Andererseits mußten Batterie, Schalter, Lautstärkesteller plus Schalldrucksteller, Mikrofon, Verstärker und Hörer in sinnvoller Weise untergebracht werden, und das Ganze mußte dann auch noch bedienbar sein, ohne dazu eine Pinzette benutzen zu müssen. Man erkennt jetzt mühelos, daß diese Forderungen nicht leicht zu erfüllen waren.The difficulties with the construction of the new hearing aid had to be overcome, if the actual dimensions of the device were taken into account. With a diameter of approximately 16 mm and a maximum height of approximately 7 mm and a diameter of the battery of approximately 8 mm, it was unthinkable to accommodate operating elements on the outside of the housing. On the other hand, the battery, switch, volume control plus sound pressure control, microphone, amplifier and handset had to be housed in a meaningful way, and the whole thing had to be operable without using tweezers. It is now easy to see that these demands were not easy to meet.

Unter Berücksichtigung dieser Umstände sollen jetzt die einzelnen Figuren betrachtet werden.Taking these circumstances into account, the individual figures should now be considered.

In den Figuren 1 bis 3 erkennt man jetzt im einzelnen ein zylinderförmiges Gehäuse 1 mit einem flachen, leicht gewölbten Deckel 2 mit einer von oben einsetzbaren Verschlußbuchse 3, die eine Schalleintrittsöffnung 4 aufweist. Diese Verschlußbuchse wird mit leichtem Druck in die hohle Mittelachse 5 eingesetzt, die einen diametral verlaufenden Schlitz aufweist und durch Einsetzen der Buchse etwas aufgeweitet wird, wodurch der Deckel drehbar an der Achse 5 befestigt ist. Dadurch wird das Abnehmen des Deckels verhindert, der aber trotzdem drehbar bleibt. Dies ist erforderlich, da alle Bedienungsfunktionen von dem drehbaren Deckel alleine bewirkt werden sollen. Auf der Innenseite des Deckels befindet sich eine Nocke 7, die mit den Batteriekontaktfedern 8 und 9 zum Schließen und Öffnen des dadurch gebildeten Schalten zusammenwirkt. Diese Nocke 7 dient auch gleichzeitig als Anschlag für eine Begrenzung der Drehbewegung des Deckels 2. Am Deckel 2 sind außerdem zwei Schleifkontaktfedern 10 befestigt, die in der hier bevorzugten Ausführungsform mittels eines gemeinsamen Kontaktringes und kleinen vorstehenden Noppen an der Nabe des Deckels 2 befestigt sind. Diese Schleifkontaktfedern schleifen auf zwei Widerstandsbahnen 11, die einmal für einen Lautstärkesteller und zum anderen für einen Schalldrucksteller vorgesehen sind. Damit ist es selbst bei einem so kleinen Gerät möglich, gleichzeitig mit der Verminderung der Lautstärke auch den Schalldruck zurückzunehmen, wie das heute nur bei wesentlich größeren Geräten verwirklicht werden konnte.In Figures 1 to 3 you can now see in detail a cylindrical housing 1 with a flat, slightly curved cover 2 with a closure bushing 3 which can be inserted from above and has a sound inlet opening 4. This closure bushing is inserted with slight pressure into the hollow central axis 5, which has a diametrically extending slot and is expanded somewhat by inserting the bushing, as a result of which the cover is rotatably fastened to the axis 5. This prevents the cover from being removed, but it still remains rotatable. This is necessary because all of the operating functions are to be performed by the rotatable cover alone. On the inside of the cover there is a cam 7 which interacts with the battery contact springs 8 and 9 for closing and opening the switching thereby formed. This cam 7 also serves as a stop for limiting the rotational movement of the cover 2. Two sliding contact springs 10 are also attached to the cover 2, which in the preferred embodiment are attached to the hub of the cover 2 by means of a common contact ring and small protruding knobs. These sliding contact springs slide on two resistance tracks 11, which are provided for a volume control and for a sound pressure control. This means that even with such a small device, it is possible to reduce the sound pressure at the same time as the volume is reduced, as was only possible today with much larger devices.

Ein weiteres wichtiges Merkmal ist die in der Mitte des Deckels liegende Schalleintrittsöffnung 4 und die hohle Mittelachse, die in ihrem Mittelteil einen Schlitz 12 aufweist, in den ein zum Mikrofon führender Schallkanal eingefügt ist.Another important feature is the sound inlet opening 4 in the middle of the cover and the hollow central axis, which has a slot 12 in its central part, into which a sound channel leading to the microphone is inserted.

Wie aus Fig. 2 zu erkennen ist, ist in dem Gehäuse ein Raum 13 für ein Mikrofon, ein Raum 14 für elektrische Bauteile für den Verstärker und ein Platz 15 für den Verstärker selbst vorgesehen. Das Mikrofon 16 ist in Fig. 3 zu sehen, ebenso der Hörer 17. Die Ebenen der Membranen von Mikrofon und Hörer stehen dabei aufeinander senkrecht.As can be seen from FIG. 2, a space 13 for a microphone, a space 14 for electrical components for the amplifier and a space 15 for the amplifier itself are provided in the housing. The microphone 16 can be seen in FIG. 3, as can the receiver 17. The planes of the membranes of the microphone and receiver are perpendicular to one another.

Man erkennt ferner rein schematisch ein Batteriefach 18, eine Batterie 19 und einen Anschlußstutzen 20 für ein Ohrpaßstück.A battery compartment 18, a battery 19 and a connecting piece 20 for an earmold can also be seen purely schematically.

Man erkennt, daß in der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 1 der Anschlußstutzen 20 exzentrisch angeordnet ist. Dies ist wiederum von besonderer Bedeutung, insbesondere deshalb, weil das Gehäuse 1 rotationssymmetrisch aufgebaut ist und somit keine vorgeschriebene Orientierung des Gehäuses zur Concha eingehalten werden muß.It can be seen that in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 the connecting piece 20 is arranged eccentrically. This is again of particular importance, in particular because the housing 1 is rotationally symmetrical and therefore no prescribed orientation of the housing to the concha has to be observed.

Zur Anpassung wird das Gerät zunächst ohne Ohrpaßstück in die Concha eingesetzt und als Ganzes solange gedreht, bis der Schallausgangsstutzen 20 möglichst nahe am Eingang des Gehörganges zu liegen kommt. Diese Stellung wird festgehalten. In das danach herzustellende Ohrpaßstück wird das Gegenstück eines in den Anschlußstutzen einrastbaren Schallkanal eingeformt. Wenn man das Ohrpaßstück reinigen will, kann es ohne größere Anstrengungen von dem neuen Hörgerät getrennt werden.For adaptation, the device is first inserted into the concha without an earmold and rotated as a whole until the sound outlet connector 20 comes as close as possible to the entrance of the auditory canal. This position is recorded. The counterpart of a sound channel which can be snapped into the connecting piece is molded into the earmold to be produced thereafter. If you want to clean the earmold, you can easily separate it from the new hearing aid.

Normalerweise weist ein solches Ohrpaßstück einen Kupplungsring auf, in den eine Ringfeder oder ein ringförmiger Draht oder ein Gummiring eingegossen ist, so daß der Schallaustrittsstutzen des Hörgerätes in das Ohrpaßstück eingerastet werden kann.Such an earpiece normally has a coupling ring into which an annular spring or an annular wire or a rubber ring is cast, so that the sound outlet of the hearing aid can be snapped into the earpiece.

Die außergewöhnlich kleinen Abmessungen des neuen Hörgerätes haben aber zudem zur Folge, daß auch das dazugehörige Ohrpaßstück entsprechend sehr viel kleiner ausfällt. D. h. mit anderen Worten, daß dieser Normalanschluß nicht mehr möglich erscheint.The exceptionally small dimensions of the new hearing aid also have the result that the associated earmold is correspondingly much smaller. I.e. in other words, this normal connection no longer seems possible.

Wie aus Fig. 4 weiterhin zu erkennen ist, ist der Rastmechanismus nunmehr in den Schallaustrittsstutzen hineinverlegt, während das Ohrpaßstück nur noch einen eingegossenen Ring ohne Feder aufweist. Der neu gestaltete Schallaustrittsstutzen hat daher außen eine dünne sich nach unten etwas verdickende Wand 21, die nachgibt, wenn das Ohrpaßstück aufgesetzt wird. Zwischen dieser äußeren dünnen Wand und dem innenliegenden Röhrchen 22 liegt ein kreiszylinderförmiger Hohlraum, der mit einem gummiartigen Material 23 ausgefüllt ist. Dieses gummiartige Material verhindert evtl. mögliche nachteilige Einflüsse auf die akustischen Eigenschaften des Gerätes durch diese Art der Ankopplung. In das innenliegende Röhrchen 22 ist dann der zum Hörer führende Schallschlauch eingeklemmt.As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the latching mechanism is now moved into the sound outlet nozzle, while the earmold only has a cast-in ring without a spring. The newly designed sound outlet nozzle therefore has a thin wall 21 that thickens downward on the outside and yields when the earmold is put on. Between this outer thin wall and the inner tube 22 is a circular cylindrical cavity which is filled with a rubber-like material 23. This rubber-like material prevents possible adverse effects on the acoustic properties of the device through this type of coupling. The sound tube leading to the listener is then clamped into the inner tube 22.

Mit diesem neu gestalteten Schallaustrittsstutzen ist es jetzt auch möglich, das neue Hörgerät in noch so kleine Ohrpaßstücke sicher einzurasten.With this newly designed sound outlet, it is now also possible to securely snap the new hearing aid into the smallest earmolds.

Da das neue Hörgerät nur klein und unauffällig im unteren Teil der Concha zu tragen ist, alle Bedienungsmittel durch den Deckel betätigbar sind, ist es in der Tat gelungen, die zunächst miteinander unvereinbar erscheinenden Forderungen gemeinsam zu erfüllen.Since the new hearing aid is only small and inconspicuous to wear in the lower part of the concha, all operating means can be actuated through the cover, it was in fact successful at first to fulfill mutually incompatible requirements.

Claims (10)

1. In-the-ear hearing aid for persons with impaired hearing, containing microphone, amplifier, earphone, battery and connector for an ear adapter, characterized by the fact that the device, which is worn directly in the concha, contains all above mentioned parts in a flat, cylindrical housing (1), whose cover (2) can be rotated around a hollow shaft (5, 6) which acts as the sound inlet channel (4); the cover actuates an on/off switch (8, 9) and carries, on its inner side, at least one wiper (11) which, in contact with at least one resistive strip (10), acts as a volume control; and that the sound outlet connector (20) is positioned on the lower side of the housing (1) eccentrically opposite to the cover.
2. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that two resistive strips (10) and two wipers (11) are provided.
3. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cover (2) carries a projection (7) on its lower side which acts as an end stop and as a switching cam for the on/off switch.
4. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 3, characterized by the fact the upper side of the battery compartment (18) carries battery contact springs (8, 9) which can be actuated by the switching cam (17).
5. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1 or 4, characterized by the fact that the hollow shaft (5, 6) consists of one part which is mechanically rigidly connected to the housing (1) and a sleeve (3) which can be inserted through the cover from the outside, and by the fact that the part connected to the housing (1) has an outlet opening (12) on the side leading to the microphone.
6. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 5, characterized by the fact that the sleeve (3) is in the shape of a rounded, conical crater and is equipped with a dirt filter at its inner end.
7. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 5, characterized by the fact that the hollow shaft (5, 6) has diametrically opposite slits and that insertion of the sleeve (3) pushes the two halves of the shaft apart and thus clamps the cover (2) to the shaft.
8. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the microphone membrane and the earphone membrane are aligned approximately orthogonally.
9. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the microphone (16) is rigidly connected to the housing and that the earphone (7) is mounted flexibly.
10. In-the-ear hearing aid in accordance with Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the sound outlet aperture (20) consists of an outer, relatively thin wall (21), an inner tube (22) for connection to the earphone, and an intermediate, cylindrical hollow space which is filled with a rubbery material (23).
EP84108460A 1983-08-16 1984-07-18 Hearing-aid to be worn in the ear Expired EP0139106B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84108460T ATE35495T1 (en) 1983-08-16 1984-07-18 EAR WEAR HEARING AID.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3329473 1983-08-16
DE3329473A DE3329473A1 (en) 1983-08-16 1983-08-16 HOER DEVICE TO WEAR ON THE EAR

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0139106A1 EP0139106A1 (en) 1985-05-02
EP0139106B1 true EP0139106B1 (en) 1988-06-29

Family

ID=6206611

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EP84108460A Expired EP0139106B1 (en) 1983-08-16 1984-07-18 Hearing-aid to be worn in the ear

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Country Link
US (1) US4550227A (en)
EP (1) EP0139106B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS60105400A (en)
AT (1) ATE35495T1 (en)
DE (3) DE8323464U1 (en)
NO (1) NO160640C (en)
YU (1) YU138984A (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3329473A1 (en) 1985-03-07
NO160640C (en) 1989-05-10
JPS60105400A (en) 1985-06-10
JPH0446519B2 (en) 1992-07-30
NO160640B (en) 1989-01-30
YU138984A (en) 1987-02-28
NO843228L (en) 1985-02-18
DE3472521D1 (en) 1988-08-04
ATE35495T1 (en) 1988-07-15
DE3329473C2 (en) 1992-01-09
US4550227A (en) 1985-10-29
EP0139106A1 (en) 1985-05-02
DE8323464U1 (en) 1983-11-10

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