EP2412174B1

EP2412174B1 - Hearing device with user control element in battery door

Info

Publication number: EP2412174B1
Application number: EP09779207.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul C. Aquilina
Original assignee: Sonova AG
Current assignee: Sonova Holding AG
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2009-03-26
Publication date: 2015-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-26
Also published as: DK2412174T3; WO2010108543A1; EP2412174A1

Description

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of hearing devices.
Under a hearing device, a device is understood, which is worn in or adjacent to an individual's ear with the object to improve the individual's acoustical perception. Such improvement may also be barring acoustic signals from being perceived in the sense of hearing protection for the individual. If the hearing device is tailored so as to improve the perception of a hearing impaired individual towards hearing perception of a "standard" individual, then we speak of a hearing-aid device. With respect to the application area, a hearing device may be applied behind the ear, in the ear, completely in the ear canal or may be implanted.
A hearing system comprises at least one hearing device. In case that a hearing system comprises at least one additional device, all devices of the hearing system are operationally connectable within the hearing system. Typically, said additional devices such as another hearing device, a remote control or a remote microphone, are meant to be worn or carried by said individual.

Background of the Invention

From WO 2008/110210 A1 , a hearing device is known, which comprises a socket which is usually hidden under a battery door of the hearing device, the socket comprising two electrical contacts. The hearing device comprises a switch, wherein said switch comprises said two electrical contacts of said socket. Operating said switch by levering said battery door, a shorting member of the switch is moved towards said two electrical contacts and shortens these. With the battery door open, a plug can be connected to the socket, so as to provide a communication connection to the hearing device.
From WO 2007/068136 A2 , a hearing device is known, which comprises a battery door which can be attached to the rest of the hearing device and has two protuding contacts. A switching element is integrated in the battery door.
From EP 1 435 758 A1 , a hearing device is known which comprises a battery door in which a switch is provided. Attached to the battery door, a clamping element is provided which comprises two contact strips electrically connected to said switch. Closing the battery door, said clamping element is moved into the hearing device, and said contact strips provide electrical contacts with contact tongues of a hinge element connected to a face plate of the hearing device.
In DE 200 22 231 U1 , an in-the-ear hearing device is disclosed which has a face plate which provides the function of a battery door and in which functional modules such as a volume control, a microphone and an amplification unit are integrated.
From US 5,588,064 , a hearing aid battery cover switch for a hearing aid is known, which has a shorting contact mounted to the battery cover for actuation of various modes of a hearing aid by a user. A contact member is positioned to be engaged by the shorting contact when the contact is moved by a user.
CH 667 766 A5 shows the use of an improved user control incorporating a plurality of user control elements connected by a flexible circuit board, the user control elements being placed in the battery compartment door of a hearing aid.
It is desirable to provide an alternative way of realizing a hearing device with a battery door having an integrated user interface.

Summary of the Invention

Therefore, one object of the invention is to create an alternative hearing device with a battery door having an integrated user interface. In addition, a corresponding hearing system shall be provided.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing device with a particularly versatile user interface integrated in a battery door of the hearing device. Another object of the invention is to provide a possibility of very flexibly designing a user interface provided in a battery door of a hearing device.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing device with a battery door having an integrated user interface, wherein the hearing device can be of particularly small dimensions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing device with a battery door having an integrated user interface, wherein the user interface is particularly safely operable.
Another object of the invention is to minimize the size of a hearing device having a user interface.
Further objects emerge from the description and embodiments below.
At least one of these objects is at least partially achieved by apparatuses according to the patent claims, in particular by the hearing device according to claim 1 and the hearing system according to claim 12.
The hearing device comprises

a hearing device body;
hearing device circuitry comprised in said hearing device body;
comprised in said hearing device body: a connector comprising N ≥ 1 electrical contacts;
a battery door movably connected to said hearing device body;
comprised in said battery door: a user interface comprising one or more user controls;
comprised in said battery door: M ≥ 1 contacting elements operationally connected to said one or more user controls;
wherein
said battery door is movable from an open position into a closed position and vice versa;
when said battery door is in said closed position, a permanent electrical contact is present (or exists or is established) between at least one of said M contacting elements and at least one of said N electrical contacts;
said connector is configured to enable to provide, when said battery door is in said open position, an operational connection between said hearing device and an appliance external to said hearing device.

Through this, it is possible to realize a particularly small hearing device and moreover, a hearing device having a user interface integrated in the hearing device's battery door which can be designed rather freely.
Said connector has an at least two-fold function, in particular a first function when said battery door is in said closed position and a second, different function, when said battery door is in said open position. More particularly: When the battery door is closed, the connector provides said permanent electrical contact for operationally connecting said one or more of said user controls to said hearing device circuitry; and when the battery door is open, the connector allows to connect the hearing device (more particularly: said hearing device circuitry), e.g., via a plug, to an external device, in particular to a programming device for programming (fitting) the hearing device.
Of course it is not excluded that the hearing device comprises one (or more) additional user interfaces and/or one or more additional user controls, besides those mentioned above.
In one embodiment, said permanent electrical contact persists (at least) as long as the battery door is closed.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said permanent electrical contact is broken when said battery door is in said open position.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said permanent contact persists also during operating said at least one user control.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said contacting elements are electrically connected to said one or more user controls.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said battery door is a means for receiving an energy storing unit, also simply referred to as a battery, wherein that battery, when inserted in said battery door, can be (and usually is) electrically contacted when said battery door is in said closed position, so as to provide said hearing device circuitry with energy. When the battery door is in said open position, the battery is accessible; this way, it is possible to take the battery out of the battery door or to insert the battery (or a new battery) into the battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said movability of said battery door means that it is rotationally movable or tiltable or pivotable.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said N electrical contacts are operationally, in particular electrically connectable to or connected to said hearing device circuitry.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, in said closed position, a pair-wise permanent electrical contact is present between at least two of said M contacting elements and at least two of said N electrical contacts.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, in said closed position, a pair-wise permanent electrical contact is present between at least three of said M contacting elements and at least three of said N electrical contacts.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said user control is integrated in the hearing device during normal operation of the hearing device.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, at least one of said one or more user controls, in particular all of said one or more user controls, is/are fully comprised in said battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said operational connection between said hearing device and said appliance is an electrical connection; in particular an electrical connection between said hearing device circuitry and said appliance.
Said external appliance can be a device or an apparatus, e.g., a fitting device or a fitting apparatus such as a computer system configured for fitting hearing devices.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, operating one (or any) of said user controls leaves the battery door substantially unmoved.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said connector is configured to be used for transmitting information in electrical form to or from said hearing device when said battery door is in said open position, and in particular, also to or from said appliance.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said connector is a connector for providing a communication connection to said hearing device.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said connector is or comprises a socket or a plug.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said N electrical contacts are contact pins.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments except with the last one, said connector comprises a printed circuit board, and said N electrical contacts are contact pads of said printed circuit board.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said at least one of said N electrical contacts is in electrical contact with a contacting portion of said appliance when said operational connection between said hearing device and said appliance is present when said battery door is in said open position.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, at least one of said N electrical contacts is (in particular two or more of them are) capable of serving at least two different purposes, in particular a first purpose such as providing said permanent electrical contact when the battery door is in said closed position and a second, different purpose such as allowing to transmit data or signals into or out of the hearing device when the battery door is in said open position.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said appliance is not operationally connected to said hearing device during normal operation of said hearing device; accordingly, when the hearing device is used in everyday life by a hearing device user wearing said hearing device, said operational connection does not exist.
The hearing device comprises in said battery door a printed circuit board providing said operational connection between said M contacting elements and said one or more user controls. This provides large degrees of freedom in designing the user interface. Said printed circuit board can be or comprise a flexible printed circuit board and/or a rigid printed circuit board. On the printed circuit board, said user controls can be electrically mounted, and it can provide electrical connections between the user controls.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments comprising said printed circuit board, at least a portion of one or more of said one or more user controls is attached to said printed circuit board.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments comprising said printed circuit board, said battery door comprises an outer shell and an inner shell, and at least a major portion of said printed circuit board is arranged between said inner shell and said outer shell. In particular: Said outer shell substantially covers one side of said printed circuit board, and said inner shell covers a major portion of, in particular substantially in full, the other side of said printed circuit board. A corresponding (partially) removable double-wall allows for a simple assembly. It can be provided that said inner shell is removable from said outer shell, and that said printed circuit board is removable from said battery door, more precisely from said inner and outer shells. When servicing is required because of a failure of said printed circuit board, the failed printed circuit board can be replaced / exchanged / repaired, and it is not necessary to replace the whole battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments comprising said printed circuit board, at least one electrical component is attached to said printed circuit board which is different from said one or more user controls and also different from a portion of one or of more of said one or more user controls.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said hearing device body comprises a shell, and said battery door comprises an outer shell, wherein, in said closed position, a closed shell of said hearing device is substantially formed by said shell of said hearing device body and said outer shell of said battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, information related to an electrical state of said one or more user controls is transmittable from said one or more user controls via said permanent electrical contact to said hearing device circuitry, i.e. is transmittable from said one or more user controls via said at least one of said M contacting elements and said at least one of said N electrical contacts to said hearing device circuitry.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said user interface comprises at least two user controls.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said N electrical contacts of said connector are different from one or more electrical contacts configured to provide an electrical connection between said hearing device circuitry and a battery inserted in said battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, at least one of said one or more user controls is different from a control for establishing and breaking an electrical connection between said hearing device circuitry and a battery inserted in said battery door upon closing and opening, respectively, of said battery door.
In one embodiment which may be combined with one or more of the before-addressed embodiments, said hearing device is a behind-the-ear hearing device.
The hearing system according to the invention comprises at least one hearing device according to one of the preceding claims.
With the invention may be used a connector of a hearing device wherein said connector is usable, when said battery door is in said open position, for providing an operational connection between said hearing device and an appliance external to said hearing device.
The invention comprises hearing systems with features of corresponding hearing devices according to the invention, and vice versa.
The advantages of the hearing systems correspond to the advantages of corresponding hearing devices and vice versa.
Further embodiments and advantages emerge from the dependent claims and the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below, the invention is described in more detail by means of examples and the included drawings. The figures show:

Fig. 1: a side-view of a hearing device;
Fig. 2: a cross-section through the hearing device of Fig. 1, with battery door closed;
Fig. 3: a cross-section through the hearing device of Figs. 1 and 2, with battery door slightly opened;
Fig. 4: a perspective view of a cross-section through a detail of the hearing device of Figs. 1 to 3, with battery door closed;
Fig. 5: a perspective view of the battery door of the hearing device of Figs. 1 to 4;
Fig. 6: a perspective view onto the battery door of Fig. 5, with portions of user controls removed;
Fig. 7: a schematical cross-section through a connector with plug attached;
Fig. 8: a schematical cross-section through a connector comprising a printed circuit board with contact pads, with battery door closed, contacting elements realized as contact pads;
Fig. 9: a schematical cross-section through the connector of Fig. 8, with battery door open and with an attached contacting portion of an external appliance realized as a printed circuit board with contact pads;

The reference symbols used in the figures and their meaning are summarized in the list of reference symbols. The described embodiments are meant as examples and shall not confine the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows a side-view of a hearing device 1. Hearing device 1 comprises a hearing device body 1a and attached thereto a battery door 5. Shell 3 of hearing device 1 comprises shell 3a of hearing device body 1a and outer shell 5a of battery door 5. Hearing device 1 comprises integrated in battery door 5 a user interface 7, which comprises two user controls 8, namely a pushbutton and a rocker switch. The schematized hands indicate where a user of hearing device 1 can manipulate (press) the user controls 8.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the hearing device 1 of Fig. 1, with battery door 5 closed. Integrated in battery door 5, hearing device 1 comprises a printed circuit board 11 to which portions 8a of user controls 8 are attached. Printed circuit board 11 is arranged between outer shell 5a of battery door 5 and an inner shell 5b of battery door 5. The provision of printed circuit board 11 in battery door 5 provides the possibility to readily arrange two or more user controls in battery door 5. Having user controls 8 in battery door 5 saves space in hearing device body 1a. Either all user controls 8 (i.e. the whole user interface 7) can be integrated in battery door 5 (cf. Fig. 2), or further user controls can be provided in the hearing device body (not shown).
Hearing device 1 comprises in its body 1a a connector 2 such as a socket. Connector 2 comprises at least one electrical contact 6 (two pins are shown in Fig. 2), which is operationally (usually electrically) connected to hearing device circuitry 10 of hearing device 1 arranged in hearing device body 1a.
With battery door 5 in closed position as shown in Fig. 2, at least one electrical contact 6 (two in Fig. 2) is continuously electrically connected to at least one contacting element 9 comprised in battery door battery door 5 (by being in touch therewith). Contacting elements 9 are operationally (usually electrically) connected to at least one of (usually each of) user controls 8.
During normal operation of hearing device 1 - such as when it is worn by a user, operating as a hearing device (processing audio signals to be perceived by said user), and having battery door 5 closed - electrical signals indicative of the state of user controls 8 can be transmitted from the user control (more particularly from its portion 8a attached to printed circuit board 11) an printed circuit board 11 and contacting element(s) 9 and electrical contact(s) 6 to hearing device circuitry 10. Accordingly, if the user operates one of the user controls 8, a corresponding change in the operation of the hearing device 1 can be provoked, e.g., the output volume is reduced, or a different hearing program is selected, or the like.
It is, e.g., possible to use one (or more) contacting elements 9 and one (or more) electrical contacts 6 for each user control 8 (depending on its complexity: for a pushbutton, one is sufficient; for a rocker switch two would be indicated), and is also possible - in order to minimize the number of required contacting elements 9 and electrical contacts 6 - to use one or two only, together for all user controls 8. The latter case can be realized, e.g., by encoding the operation of each user control 8 in different resistance values. For example, two contacting elements 9 and two electrical contacts 6 are used, and hearing device circuitry 10 permanently (usually in short time intervals) measures a resistance value between the two lines it is provided with (via said permanent electrical contact), and operating a user control 8 closes the circuit between the two lines via a specific resistor, e.g., operating (pressing) the pushbutton closes the circuit probed by hearing device circuitry 10 enclosing a 1000 Ω resistor, rocking the rocker switch in one direction will enclose a 10000 Ω resistor in the circuit, and rocking the rocker switch in the other direction will enclose a 100000 Ω resistor in the circuit. Discontinuing operating / pressing a user control will open the circuit, corresponding to a very high resistance. From the measured resistance, it is readily deduced, which manipulation of the user interface has taken place.
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through the hearing device 1 of Figs. 1 and 2, with battery door 5 slightly opened. Opening battery door 5 opens the contact between electrical contacts 6 and contacting elements 9. In an open position, user controls 8 integrated in battery door 5 will not work anymore. But: Further opening battery door 5 will give access to connector 2 for purposes discussed further below in conjunction with Figs. 7 to 9.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view onto a cross-section through a detail of the hearing device 1 of Figs. 1 to 3, with battery door battery door 5 closed. Printed circuit board 11 and inner 5b and outer 5a shell of battery door 5 are better visible. The "mechanical portions" of user controls 8 are removed in Fig. 4 allowing to better see portion 8a attached to printed circuit board 11 of user controls 8 ("electrical portion"). Inner shell 5b is removable for simplified assembly and servicing.
Electrical components 11a attached (besides said portions 8a) to printed circuit board 11 are also visible in Fig. 4. These can be, e.g., the resistors mentioned above. Capacitors, integrated circuits and other electrical components may be provided on printed circuit board 11, too. A connection 16 from electrical contacts 6 leading to hearing device circuitry 10 are also visible.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of battery door 5 of hearing device 1 of Figs. 1 to 4. A schematically sketched battery 12 with the open arrow indicates that the battery door 5 is meant to receive a battery 12 which is to power the hearing device 1 (when battery door 5 is closed). Battery 12 can be removed from hearing device 1 when battery door 5 is open (usually when battery 12 is exhausted). Note that, usually, there is provided in hearing device body 1a at least one (usually two) contacting members which establish an electrical connection between hearing device circuitry 10 and battery 12, when battery door 5 is closed, said electrical connection being broken when battery door 5 is in open position. One such contacting member is visible in Figs. 3 and 4 (negative) battery contact 13. The corresponding positive battery contact is not visible because Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views.
Contacting elements 9 as well as battery contacts 13 are usually metallic, e.g., made from sheet metal. It is also possible to use a conductive polymer, e.g., a molded conductive polymer.
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of battery door 5 of Fig. 5, with portions of user controls removed. Printed circuit board 11 is a flexible printed circuit board, such that it can adapt to the shape (and in particular the curvature) of battery door 5.
Fig. 7 shows a schematical cross-section through a connector 2 with a plug attached. When battery door 5 is in open position, connector 2 is accessible, and can be used for connecting hearing device 1 to an external appliance 20 such as a computer, in particular a computer configured for adjusting ("fitting") the hearing device, or a device streaming audio signals or (digital) data representing audio signals into hearing device 1, or for other purposes.
A contacting portion 4 of appliance 20 (such as said plug and connections 18 and 19) allows to connect said appliance 20 to hearing device circuitry 10 by contacting at least one electrical contact 6 of connector 2.
Instead of using a socket and its contact pins as a connector 2 and its electrical contacts, respectively, it is, e.g., also possible to use a connector 2 based on a printed circuit board, as sketched in Figs. 8 and 9.
Fig. 8 shows a schematical cross-section through a connector 2 comprising a printed circuit board 2a with contact pads as electrical contacts 6, with battery door 5 closed. Contacting elements 9 can be, e.g., realized as contact pads of printed circuit board 11 integrated in battery door battery door 5, as shown in Fig. 8. The open arrow symbolizes that the contacting element(s) 9, which in the embodiment of Fig. 8 are comprised in printed circuit board 11 will be moved into connector 2 when closing the battery door 5, and will be removed from connector 2 when opening battery door 5.
This embodiment requires only very little space, thus allowing a high degree of integration.
Fig. 9 shows a schematical cross-section through the connector 2 of Fig. 8, with battery door 5 open, and with an attached contacting portion 4 of an external appliance (cf. Fig. 7). The contacting portion 4 is realized as a printed circuit board 4a with contact pads 4b. The open arrow symbolizes that the contacting portion 4 can be inserted into and removed from connector 2 while battery door 5 is in the open position.
As has become clear, connector 2 serves (at least) two purposes. One with battery door 5 closed, namely providing a permanent electrical contact allowing to transmit data or signals related to the status of user controls to hearing device circuitry; the other with battery door 5 in open position (connector 2 accessible), namely to allow to transmit data from an external appliance to hearing device 1 and/or vice versa. This two-fold operability of connector 2 provides considerable space savings.

List of Reference Symbols

1: hearing device
1a: hearing device body
2: connector, socket, CS44 socket, portion of printed circuit board
2a: printed circuit board
3: shell of hearing device
3a: shell of hearing device body
4: connecting portion, plug, plug of external appliance
4a: printed circuit board
4b: contact pad
5: battery door
5a: outer shell of battery door
5b: inner shell of battery door
6: electrical contact, contact pin, contact pad
7: user interface
8: user control, switch, pushbutton, rocker switch
9: contacting element
10: circuitry, hearing device circuitry, hearing device electronics
11: printed circuit board
11a: electrical component
12: energy supply member, battery
13: contacting member, electrical contact, battery contact
16: connection, wire, pin, sheet metal
18: connection, wire
19: connection, cable
20: appliance, external device, fitting system, computer system

Claims

Hearing device (1) comprising
- a hearing device body (1a);

- hearing device circuitry (10) comprised in said hearing device body (1a);

- comprised in said hearing device body (1a): a connector (2) comprising N ≥ 1 electrical contacts (6);

- a battery door (5) movably connected to said hearing device body (1a);

- comprised in said battery door (5): a user interface (7) comprising one or more user controls (8);

- comprised in said battery door (5): M ≥ 1 contacting elements (9) operationally connected to said one or more user controls (8);

- a printed circuit board (11) comprised in said battery door (5) and providing said operational connection between said M contacting elements (9) and said one or more user controls (8);
wherein
- said battery door (5) is movable from an open position into a closed position and vice versa;

- when said battery door (5) is in said closed position, a permanent electrical contact is present between at least one of said M contacting elements (9) and at least one of said N electrical contacts (6);

- said connector (2) is configured to enable to provide, when said battery door (5) is in said open position, an operational connection between said hearing device (1) and an appliance (20) external to said hearing device (1)
The hearing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said connector (2) is configured to be used for transmitting information in electrical form to or from said hearing device (1) when said battery door (5) is in said open position.
The hearing device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said connector (2) is or comprises a socket or a plug.
The hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during normal operation of said hearing device, said appliance (20) is not operationally connected to said hearing device (1).
The hearing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion (8a) of one or more of said one or more user controls (8) is attached to said printed circuit board (11).
The hearing device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said battery door (5) comprises an outer shell (5a) and an inner shell (5b), and wherein at least a major portion of said printed circuit board (11) is arranged between said inner shell (5a) and said outer shell (5b).
The hearing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one electrical component (11a) is attached to said printed circuit board (11) which is different from said one or more user controls (8) and also different from a portion of one or of more of said one or more user controls (8).
The hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein information related to an electrical state of said one or more user controls (8) is transmittable from said one or more user controls (8) via said permanent electrical contact to said hearing device circuitry (10).
The hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said user interface (7) comprises at least two user controls (8).
The hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said N electrical contacts (6) of said connector (2) are different from one or more electrical contacts (13) configured to provide an electrical connection between said hearing device circuitry (10) and a battery (12) inserted in said battery door (5).
The hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said hearing device (1) is a behind-the-ear hearing device.
A hearing system comprising at least one hearing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and at least one additional device, all devices of the hearing system being operationally connectable within the hearing system.