EP2234412A1 - Electronics device for connecting to a hearing aid component with two-section shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a cable connected to a receiver (10) in a housing (13). The cable comprises a sleeve (12) arranged around a part of the receiver and the housing, and a part of the cable. The sleeve mechanically connects the both parts. Another sleeve (20) surrounds another part of the receiver and the housing. The sleeves are coaxially and directly connected to one another such that both sleeves completely surround the receiver and the housing in the axial direction. The sleeves are connected to one another by laser welding and made of material consisting of plastic.

Description

The invention relates to an electronic device for connection to a hearing device with an electronic component, a cable which is connected to the electronic component, a first sleeve, which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects both, and a second sleeve that surrounds another part of the electronics component. The term hearing device here is understood to mean any acoustic device that can be worn in or on the ear or on the head, in particular a hearing device, a headset, headphones and the like.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), hearing aid with external receiver (RIC: receiver in the canal) and in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO), e.g. Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (ITE, CIC). The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is standard integrated into a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in FIG. 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 2 for receiving the sound from the environment are installed. A signal processing unit 3, which is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular the signal processing unit 3 is effected by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

Hearing aids can be equipped with an external electronic component arranged outside the housing. The need for a BTE hearing aid external electronic components such. As speakers to connect, for reasons of feedback or space requirements. So far, hearing aids with external listeners are known in which the electrical connection lines for the in-ear speaker 10 to the hearing aid by a flexible molding tube 11 according to FIG. 2 be guided. This molding tube 11 is connected by means of a Schlauchendstücks 16 with a first sleeve 12 fixed to a receiver inner housing 13, wherein the handset 10 is glued or poured.

The attached to the hearing aid in-ear 10 must be configured by means of another unit on the geometry of the ear canal and the acoustic requirements of the user. Flexible earmolds (Domes) and custom earmolds (Ear Molds) are currently being used for this purpose FIG. 2 but not shown. The connecting piece 14 (Spout) between the receiver 10 or the receiver inner housing 13 and the earmold must be as small as possible because of the space problems within the ear canal. to make the in-ear system usable for as many customers as possible. Furthermore, an indispensable requirement is that the connecting piece 14 is well connected to the plastic housing 13 so as not to break off the ear canal during removal and thus remain stuck in the channel.

For example, the DE 10 2007 037 024 A1 a listening device for hearing aids with an external handset. It has an earmold with a hole into which the handset is inserted. An elastic intermediate piece takes on the listener in a large part of its longitudinal extent. For this purpose, the intermediate piece is frictionally pressed into the bore of the ear mold. The thus-mounted receiver can be so using a tool together with the intermediate piece of the earmold - for example, for replacement - pushed out.

The US 2008/0298618 A1 discloses an earpiece for a hearing device with a retaining ring. In order to hold a Cerumenschutz safer in an ear piece of a hearing device worn in the ear, the ear piece is made of an elastic material. It is provided together with a sound outlet and with a wax guard with an annular support. A safety ring surrounds the sound outlet opening and is firmly integrated into the ear piece. As a result, the sound outlet is stiffened so that the wax guard can not slip out of it.

Due to the position of the in-ear earphone in the ear canal, this unit is thus exposed to contamination (cerumen, sweat, etc). As a result, it is necessary to provide a dirt protection to increase the life of the earphone.

The improvement of hearing aids should always take into account the habits and well-being of hearing-aid wearers. So it is necessary to select the materials that are in skin contact, so that the highest possible comfort arises and the mechanical loads can be met.

1. 1. Verbindung 17 des Formschlauchs 11 mit einer Kunststoffhalterung, d. h. der ersten Hülse 12:
   • Diese Verbindung 17 wird in der Regel durch ein Umspritzen des flexiblen Schlauchs 11 mit einem Thermoplast (Halterung) realisiert.
2. 2. Verbindung 18 der Kunststoffhalterung 12 zu dem Gehäuse 13 des Hörers 10:
   • Diese Verbindung 18 wird in der Regel durch eine Klebeverbindung realisiert. Problematisch hierbei ist, dass eine Kunststoffoberfläche mit einer Metalloberfläche verklebt werden muss, wenn das Hörerinnengehäuse 13 aus Metall besteht. Aufgrund der sehr unterschiedlichen Oberflächenenergien dieser beiden Materialien ist eine Klebung sehr schwierig und teilweise nicht zuverlässig.
3. 3. Verbindung 19 zwischen dem Hörergehäuse 13 und dem Verbindungsstück 14 (Spout):
   • Diese Verbindung 19 ist in der Regel durch Punktschweißen eines Metallspouts direkt auf dem Hörer beziehungsweise das Hörerinnengehäuse 13 realisiert. Diese Schweißung ist nicht durchgehend und zeigt daher einige Schwachstellen.

To the concrete structure of the external listener according to the example of FIG. 2 the following features should be particularly emphasized. In order to connect the external receiver unit with the forming tube 11, which serves as a guide for electrical connection lines, as well as the connecting piece 14 to the earmold, three interfaces are usually required:

1. 1. Connection 17 of the molding tube 11 with a plastic holder, ie the first sleeve 12:
   • This connection 17 is usually realized by molding the flexible tube 11 with a thermoplastic (holder).
2. 2. Connection 18 of the plastic holder 12 to the housing 13 of the receiver 10:
   • This connection 18 is usually realized by an adhesive connection. The problem here is that a plastic surface must be bonded to a metal surface when the listener housing 13 is made of metal. Due to the very different surface energies of these two materials, bonding is very difficult and sometimes unreliable.
3. 3. Connection 19 between the receiver housing 13 and the connector 14 (Spout):
   • This connection 19 is usually realized by spot welding a metal spout directly on the handset or the listener housing 13. This weld is not continuous and therefore shows some weak spots.

Basically, it is problematic in this realization of the external earphone unit with multiple interfaces that the interface carries the risk of failure and a part of the component may thus be stuck when removing the handset in the ear canal. The fact that, moreover, the receiver inner housing of the listener comes into direct skin contact from metal, gilding of the listener is necessary in order to prevent biocompatibility. and get a grip on allergy problems. In addition, the direct contact of metals to the ear canal for the hearing aid wearer is perceived as unpleasant. Another disadvantage is that the pollution protection 15 is usually a separate component. It usually consists of a plastic membrane or a plastic grid.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an electronic device for connection to a hearing device component, which is more stable and easier to manufacture.

According to the invention the object is achieved by an electronic device for connection to a hearing device with an electronic component, a cable which is connected to the electronic component, a first sleeve, which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects both, and a second sleeve, which surrounds another part of the electronic component, wherein the first sleeve coaxially connected directly to each other so that both sleeves together completely surround the electronic component in the axial direction.

Advantageously, therefore, only one housing interface, ie an interface between the two sleeves and an interface between the first sleeve and the cable or hose is necessary. Ie. It may interface with the state of the art (compare here FIG. 2 ) are waived. As a result, the assembly can be simplified, and by reducing the interfaces is usually also given an improvement in stability.

Preferably, the electronic component is a handset. Thus, for example, an external earphone unit of a hearing aid can benefit from the invention.

In a particular embodiment, the two sleeves overlap at their juncture. This has advantages, in particular with regard to the assembly but also with regard to the strength of the device.

The two sleeves can be welded together. In particular, laser welding is suitable for connecting the two sleeves.

Conveniently, the two sleeves have different optical absorption coefficients at the same wavelength. Thus, for example, a laser during laser welding penetrate through a sleeve and melt the other.

It is particularly advantageous if the two sleeves are made of materials whose basic component is the same plastic. In this case, the two sleeves can be better glued or welded together.

In addition, a connecting piece, to which an earmold piece can be attached, integrally formed on the second sleeve. This gives the sleeve the additional functionality of an adapter for an earmold.

The connecting piece may in particular be spherical. Thus, there is the possibility that the earmold can be adjusted individually in its angle relative to the listener.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a cerumen protection can be integrated into the connecting piece. As a result, the number of parts of the electronic device can be further reduced.

In a specific embodiment, the hearing device component is a part of a hearing device which has a housing with signal processing elements and which has a housing-external earpiece as an electronic device.

FIG 1

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Hörgeräts gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 2

den Aufbau eines externen Hörers eines Hörgeräts gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 3

den Aufbau eines externen Hörers eines Hörgeräts gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung und.

FIG 4

den Aufbau eines externen Hörers, bei dem die beiden Hülsen auf Stoß aneinandergeschweißt sind.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

the basic structure of a hearing aid according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

the construction of an external handset of a hearing aid according to the prior art;

FIG. 3

the construction of an external handset of a hearing aid according to the present invention and.

FIG. 4

the construction of an external handset, in which the two sleeves are welded together on impact.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 3 an external receiver of a hearing aid of the invention type is shown in cross-section. Most of the components are identical to those of the listener FIG. 2 , It is therefore in this regard to the above description of FIG. 2 directed.

The essence of the invention is that the number of interfaces between tube 11 and connector 14 is reduced to two. The first interface, so the connection 17 remains identical to the known listener of FIG. 2 , In particular, a cable is inserted into the molded tube 11 (not shown), which leads to the receiver 10 in the receiver housing 13. At the end of the molding tube 11, the slightly thicker hose end 16 is molded. The first sleeve 12 is positively and / or frictionally connected to the Schlauchendstück 16 and thus forms the first interface or first connection 17th

The second connection 18 (plastic holder 12 to listener inner housing 13) and the third connection 19 (listener housing 13 to second sleeve 20 or connector 14) are now according to the example of FIG. 3 to a compound 21 summarized. This is achieved in that the second plastic sleeve 20 is inserted from the opposite side of the listener inner housing 13 of the listener, the sleeves 12 and 20 are selected so long that they touch in the plugged state, or overlap. In the example of FIG. 3 results in the attached state of both sleeves 12, 20, an overlap 22, in which in a certain axial region, the first sleeve 12 is radially above the second sleeve 20. In this overlapping region, the wall thickness of the sleeves 12, 20 can be correspondingly reduced, so that in the overlapping region, the total wall thickness approximately corresponds to that of the sleeves 12 and 22.

In a special embodiment, the plastic holder or the first sleeve 12, which hangs on the molding tube 11, be extended so that the listener inner housing 13 of the receiver 10 can be inserted with more than half of its total length in the first sleeve 12. This results in better leverage when inserting and removing the external handset from the ear canal, so that damage can be avoided.

The two sleeves 12 and 20 thus constitute housing halves, and the connection 21 can be considered as a housing interface. The plastic of the sleeves 12, 20 is chosen so that a connection is preferably achieved by a laser welding process.

The second sleeve 20 here consists of an injection-molded part into which the spout, ie the connecting piece 14, is integrated. In addition, the cerumen or contamination protection 15 can be integrated directly into the connecting piece 14. A directly injected grille in the front of the spout meets the protection requirements.

The spout may for example consist of a ball that can be clicked into a ring adapter. This ball can be made of different materials such as metals, but also of plastics. Here, the ball material must be very resistant to abrasion and have a high elongation at break. Suitable plastics for this purpose include PEEK or LCP. An advantage of manufacturing the plastic ball is that the ball and the outer casing of the listener, d. H. the two sleeves 12 and 20 together, as a unit may be of the identical material, whereby the mechanical reliability of the overall system can be optimized. In this way, problematic interfaces of different materials can be avoided. In addition, such a predetermined breaking point of almost any strength can be attached.

As already mentioned, the housing interface 21 can be realized by connecting the overlapping sleeves 12 and 20 together by a laser welding process. However, this requires that the melting temperature of the two joining partners are as close to each other as possible. This can be achieved particularly simply by the fact that both joining partners are based at least on the same plastic. Another prerequisite for laser welding is that the two joining partners have as different optical absorption properties. This can be achieved by different filler types or concentrations for almost every plastic. The light can then penetrate the upper layer and essentially melts the lower layer.

In an alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4 overlap the two sleeves 12 and 20 (at least substantially with FIG. 3 matching components are provided with the same reference numerals) in the region of their abutting ends 122 not. Rather, these are in this case connected at their junction 121 "on impact" with each other, preferably welded together by laser welding. The two sleeves 12 and 20 can then also have a similar or the same absorption coefficient.

The advantages of the outer housing according to the invention of the handset are that the connection of the external handset on the one hand the molding tube 11 and on the other hand, the spout or the connector 14 can be realized by laser welding for a complete system of plastic, which contains the Spout directly. The advantages of this connectivity are that it eliminates an interface as compared to known solutions, thereby reducing the risk of mechanical failure. In addition to this, it is generally customary in the presented connection to place the interface, which represents a possible predetermined breaking point, at almost any point along the length of the external receiver in order to achieve optimized low lever forces on the connecting seam. By reducing the leverage, the risk of breakage when extending the ball adapter is additionally greatly reduced.

An advantage of using plastic laser welding, as opposed to current metal spot welding, is that laser welding creates a continuous seam that hermetically seals the listener from external stresses. The damage to the listener by the action of sweat, etc is thus reduced. In addition, a continuous connection is mechanically more stable than a punctual weld.

In addition, it is very advantageous that the cerumen protection of the present variant is no longer to be installed as a separate part, but is integrated directly into the ball Spout. Thus, on the one hand again ensures a higher mechanical stability and on the other hand, the user-friendliness increased, since a further step in the construction of the external receiver unit can be saved.

Another advantage is to be considered that a better "wearing" the use of a single material can be achieved and no metal-plastic transition comes into contact with the hearing aid wearer. In addition, because no metal comes in skin contact, allergy problems (eg by nickel) can be avoided. The gilding of listeners currently used is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the laser welding of the two plastic halves eliminates the bonding process, which is a mechanical weak point due to the low chemical stability of bonds. In addition, there is also no risk of closure of the molding tube by adhesives, because the listener can be inserted almost freely in the plastic holder and must not be held by any adhesives or casting resins. As a result, a ventilation of the listener through the molding tube is easily possible. In addition, the use of plastics as a connection unit allows a virtually free choice of color, whereby only the laser weldability has to be considered.

Claims (11)

Electronic device for connection to a hearing device component with an electronic component (10, 13), a cable connected to the electronic component (10, 13), - A first sleeve (12) which is arranged around a part of the electronic component (10, 13) and a part of the cable and connects both mechanically, and a second sleeve (20) surrounding another part of the electronic component (10, 13),
characterized in that - The first sleeve (12) are coaxially connected directly to each other so that both sleeves (12, 20) together completely surround the electronic component (10, 13) in the axial direction. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component (10, 13) is a listener. An electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two sleeves (12, 20) are welded together. The electronic component of claim 3, wherein the two sleeves (12, 20) are butt welded together at their junction (121). An electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two sleeves (12, 20) overlap at their junction (21). Electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two sleeves (12, 20) have different optical absorption coefficients at the same wavelength. Electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two sleeves (12, 20) consist of materials whose basic component is the same plastic. Electronic device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a connecting piece (14), to which an earmold piece is attachable, is integrally formed on the second sleeve (20). An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the connector (14) is spherical. An electronic device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein in the connecting piece (14) a wax guard (15) is integrated. Hearing device which is designed as a hearing aid, which has a housing with a signal processing elements as a hearing device component, and having a housing-external electronic device according to one of the preceding claims.

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