EP2835987B1 - Hörgerät mit steuerbarer Entlüftung - Google Patents

Hörgerät mit steuerbarer Entlüftung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2835987B1
EP2835987B1 EP13196025.4A EP13196025A EP2835987B1 EP 2835987 B1 EP2835987 B1 EP 2835987B1 EP 13196025 A EP13196025 A EP 13196025A EP 2835987 B1 EP2835987 B1 EP 2835987B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vent
hearing aid
hearing
receiver
acoustical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn - After Issue
Application number
EP13196025.4A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2835987A1 (de
Inventor
Christian C. BÜRGER
Regin Kopp Pedersen
Troels Rygaard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oticon AS
Original Assignee
Oticon AS
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Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to EP13196025.4A priority Critical patent/EP2835987B1/de
Publication of EP2835987A1 publication Critical patent/EP2835987A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2835987B1 publication Critical patent/EP2835987B1/de
Withdrawn - After Issue legal-status Critical Current
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/45—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
    • H04R25/456—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback mechanically
    • 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
    • H04R2225/41—Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
    • 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
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/09—Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/11—Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
    • 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
    • H04R25/30—Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a hearing aid.
  • the present invention more particularly relates to a hearing aid that is configured to reduce the acoustical feedback and occlusion effects for hearing aid users.
  • Some types of hearing aids comprise an earmould or a hearing aid shell to be placed in the user's ear canal.
  • One of the challenges associated with these types of hearing aids is the acoustic leaks between the earmould (or the hearing aid shell) and the ear canal.
  • occlusion effect or just occlusion
  • a ventilation channel referred to as vent is typically used on the earmould or the hearing aid shell.
  • an open dome solution which allows the ear to remain partially open can be applied.
  • EP2071872A1 describes one such solution wherein a valve is connected to a servo device allowing movement of the valve and a consequent variation of the acoustic attenuation of the channel.
  • US6549635 deals with a hearing aid device that can be directly inserted in the ear or worn with an otoplastic that can be inserted in the ear having an arrangement for adjusting the ventilation channel that is situated in the ventilation channel or at an opening of the ventilation channel.
  • the arrangement has one or more adjustment elements that is/are positioned by electrical and/or magnetic miniature drives, initiated by corresponding operating elements or by the signal processing unit of the hearing aid device, or by programming the hearing aid device.
  • US2007007858A1 deals with a microphone with a membrane.
  • the membrane has a first side, which is in fluid contact with the surroundings and a second side which is facing a back chamber, where a barometric relief opening or vent opening is provided between the back chamber and the surroundings.
  • control means are provided for controlling the barometric relief opening.
  • the impulse response of feedback paths in a hearing aid is determined by the acoustic leaks, the vent size, parameters of the microphones and loudspeakers including the amplification circuits.
  • Hearing aid users are often suffering from occlusion effects but at different levels. Occlusion occurs when noises generated by the hearing aid user (e.g. chewing cornflakes or talking) are amplified as the hearing aid seals the inner ear. Occlusion can be reduced by use of vents in the hearing aid, but too large a vent will affect the effective hearing aid gain as well as provoke acoustical feedback.
  • noises generated by the hearing aid user e.g. chewing cornflakes or talking
  • Occlusion can be reduced by use of vents in the hearing aid, but too large a vent will affect the effective hearing aid gain as well as provoke acoustical feedback.
  • Hearing aids that are provided with a vent are subjected to acoustical feedback as the vent allows the amplified sound from the hearing aid receiver to escape and couple to the hearing aid microphone(s).
  • an open fitting (dome or mould with a large vent) supports high listening comfort and reduces the occlusion effect.
  • an open fitting does not attenuate environmental noise and further attenuates the lower frequencies in the ear. Accordingly, an open fitting type hearing aid has limited control of the sound scene in loud noise entering directly through the open fitting/large vent.
  • Environmental noise can therefore be uncomfortable and mask sounds of interest such as speech or music from the environment or wirelessly or wired transmitted to the hearing aid that the user wants to listen to and focus on. Comfort, sound quality and speech intelligibility is compromised by the noise.
  • the hearing aid according to the invention is a hearing aid comprising an earpiece for insertion into the ear canal of the user of the hearing aid, the earpiece comprising a through-going vent, and a receiver, as defined in claim 1.
  • the hearing aid further comprises activation means for automatically (e.g. controllable by electrical means, e.g. according to a predefined criterion or algorithm) changing the acoustical impedance of the vent.
  • the earpiece may comprise an earmould provided with a vent.
  • the earpiece may e.g. form part of a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
  • BTE behind-the-ear
  • the earpiece may alternatively constitute or form part of an in-the-ear model (ITE) hearing aid or a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid or an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid with an integrated vent.
  • ITE in-the-ear model
  • CIC completely-in-canal
  • ITC in-the-canal
  • the vent is preferably a through-going vent that is provided for the purpose of preventing/reducing occlusion effects.
  • the vent may have any desirable (longitudinal and transversal) shape.
  • the vent may by way of example be cylindrical or conical.
  • the activation means for automatically changing the acoustical impedance of the vent may be of any suitable type and shape.
  • the activation means comprises regulation means for providing a magnetic field and for changing the orientation of this magnetic field and that the activation means comprises at least one moveably mounted body member that is configured to change the acoustical impedance of the vent upon changing the magnetic field by means of the activation means.
  • the activation means is arranged within the vent.
  • the activation means is detachably arranged in the vent.
  • the activation means is detachably arranged in the vent.
  • the activation means comprises a magnet.
  • the magnet comprises a permanent magnet.
  • the magnet comprises an electromagnet, comprising an inductor coil wound around a core of a soft magnetic material (e.g. iron), whose magnetic field can be influenced (e.g. controlled) by varying the current though the inductor coil (and reduced to a minimum value (e.g. substantially zero), when no current flows through the inductor coil).
  • the activation means comprises an electromagnet in combination with a permanent magnet.
  • the activation means comprises one or more magnets (e.g. permanent magnets), a rotably or slidably mounted armature made in a magnetisable material and a coil arranged in such a manner that the coil is capable of magnetising the armature, where the permanent magnets are arranged in such a manner that the armature can be positioned in at least two positions, and that the permanent magnets are arranged in such a manner that the armature can be maintained in one or two or more positions by means of the permanent magnets.
  • magnets e.g. permanent magnets
  • a rotably or slidably mounted armature made in a magnetisable material and a coil arranged in such a manner that the coil is capable of magnetising the armature
  • the permanent magnets are arranged in such a manner that the armature can be positioned in at least two positions, and that the permanent magnets are arranged in such a manner that the armature can be maintained in one or two or more positions by means of the permanent magnets
  • the activation means comprises an electrical coil and one or more (permanent) magnets, a rotably or slidably mounted magnetic plug member configured to be arranged in at least a first position and a second position, where the electromagnet is arranged in such a manner that it can generate magnetic field(s) that causes movement of the plug member between at least a first position and a second position.
  • the plug member comprises a conical portion and that the electrical coil has a conical portion or is arranged in a housing having a corresponding a conical portion corresponding to the shape of the conical portion of the plug member, where essentially no gap (or a gap that is significantly smaller than the width of the vent) is provided between the plug member and the electrical coil when the plug member is arranged in the first position and where a larger (non-zero) gap is provided between the plug member and the electrical coil when the plug member is arranged in the second position.
  • the activation means comprises a first permanent magnet arranged in such a manner that the permanent magnet is capable of maintaining the plug member fixed in a first position without activating the electrical coil.
  • the activation means comprises a second permanent magnet arranged in such a manner that the permanent magnet is capable of maintaining the plug member fixed in a second position without activating the electrical coil.
  • plug member in a second desired position without using electrical power to maintain the position. It is beneficial that the plug member can be maintained in two different desired positions without using electrical power to maintain the position and that, a firm attachments of the plug member can be achieved in both positions.
  • the plug member is detachably mounted in the vent.
  • the electrical coil is integrated in the vent.
  • the electrical coil is integrated in the vent.
  • the magnetic field generated by the electrical coil may be regulated by changing the current flowing through the wires of the coil.
  • a receiver is arranged in the vent and the receiver comprises means for changing the acoustical impedance of the vent.
  • the hearing aid comprises means for monitoring sound signals.
  • the means for monitoring sound signals includes means for detecting acoustical feedback.
  • the means for automatically changing the acoustical impedance of the vent changes the acoustical impedance of the vent on the basis of sound signals provided by the means for monitoring sound signals.
  • the hearing aid comprises means for manually changing the acoustical impedance of the vent.
  • Such change may e.g. be implemented via an activation element on the hearing aid or via a user interface on another device, e.g. a remote control, e.g. implemented as an APP of a SmartPhone.
  • the smartphone may be used to illustrate for the user a current recommended setting of the acoustical impedance of the vent, e.g. based on an analysis of the frequency content of a current acoustic environment (e.g. as picked up by a microphone of the SmartPhone or remote control).
  • the hearing aid according to the invention makes it possible for the user to change the open fitting to a more closed fitting when the situation calls for it.
  • the environmental noise may be reduced, so that listening comfort, the perceived sound quality and speech intelligibility can be improved.
  • the invention makes it possible to optimise the sound characteristics to take full benefit of different types of attached earpieces, including an open fitting (domes or moulds with a large vent) for normal use and alternatively a closed or semi-closed fitting (earpieces).
  • the hearing aid according to the invention can switch either automatically or by manual operation to alternative settings when the (semi)closed earpieces are mounted (and put in place).
  • the hearing aid provides a better control of the acoustic scene and can apply all its implemented sound processing schemes with full effect and user benefit.
  • the hearing aid comprises control means in which automatic settings switching to match alternative sets of earpieces can be triggered by monitored sound signals including changes in the acoustic feedback path.
  • the hearing aid according to the invention may comprise means for performing active reduction of acoustical feedback by use of phase cancellation.
  • the hearing aid may comprise a microphone attached to the vent to estimate the sound passing through the vent.
  • the hearing aid may comprise a feedback system provided in the hearing aid, which feedback system is configured to estimate the acoustical feedback caused by the vent.
  • the hearing aid comprises a receiver arranged in the vent and that the receiver is adapted to generate an electrical signal propositional with the sound in the vent.
  • the hearing aid may comprise a vent that is designed with a secondary branch forming an acoustical filter that will allow for phase cancellation of the acoustical signal coming from the hearing aid receiver.
  • a hearing aid refers to a device, such as e.g. a hearing instrument, a listening device or an active ear-protection device, which is adapted to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the user's surroundings, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears.
  • a “hearing aid” further refers to a device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to receive audio signals electronically, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears.
  • Such audible signals may e.g. be provided in the form of acoustic signals radiated into the user's outer ears, acoustic signals transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through the bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of the middle ear as well as electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to the cochlear nerve and/or to the auditory cortex of the user.
  • a hearing aid may be configured to be worn in any known way, e.g. as a unit arranged behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal, as a unit entirely or partly arranged in the pinna and/or in the ear canal, as a unit attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone, as an entirely or partly implanted unit, etc.
  • a hearing aid may comprise a single unit or several units communicating electronically with each other.
  • the hearing aid may comprise multiple speakers. A purpose of using several speakers may be to reduce vibrations and feedback or to improve LF and HF performance (e.g. by using specific units for each frequency range).
  • a hearing aid comprises an input transducer for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal and/or a receiver for electronically receiving an input audio signal, a signal processing circuit for processing the input audio signal and an output means for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.
  • Some hearing aids may comprise multiple input transducers, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing.
  • the receiver may be a wireless receiver.
  • the receiver may be e.g. an input amplifier for receiving a wired signal.
  • an amplifier may constitute the signal processing circuit.
  • the output means may comprise an output transducer, such as e.g. a loudspeaker for providing an air-borne acoustic signal or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal.
  • the output means may comprise one or more output electrodes for providing electric signals.
  • An aid may be a part of a "hearing system” that refers to a system comprising one or two hearing aids, and a “binaural hearing system” refers to a system comprising one or two hearing aids and being adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears.
  • Hearing systems or binaural hearing systems may further comprise "auxiliary devices", which communicate with the hearing aids and affect and/or benefit from the function of the hearing aids.
  • Auxiliary devices may be e.g. remote controls, remote microphones, audio gateway devices, mobile phones, public-address systems, car audio systems or music players.
  • Hearing aids, hearing systems or binaural hearing systems may e.g. be used for compensating for a hearing-impaired person's loss of hearing capability, augmenting or protecting a normal-hearing person's hearing capability and/or conveying electronic audio signals to a person.
  • a SmartPhone may comprise
  • FIG. 1 different views of a valve 20 of a hearing aid not according to the invention are illustrated in Fig. 1 .
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates cross-sectional view of a valve 20 of a hearing aid not not falling under the scope of protection as defined by the claims.
  • the valve 20 is shown in a closed state of operation.
  • the valve 20 is configured to be arranged in or integrated in a vent of a hearing aid.
  • the valve 20 comprises a basically cylindrical vent tube 4 having a longitudinal axis X, first opening 22 and a second opening 24.
  • the vent has an inside comprising the volume confined by the vent; the confined volume comprising (mainly) air.
  • the cross-sectional form (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X) of the vent may take on any form that is appropriate for the function of the valve.
  • the vent has a rectangular (e.g. square) cross-section.
  • the valve 20 comprises a first radially polarised ring-shaped permanent magnet 6, where the North Pole N is on the inside.
  • the valve 20 also comprises a second radially polarised ring-shaped permanent magnet 8, where the South Pole S is on the inside of the vent.
  • An electrical coil 18 is provided at the central portion of the vent tube 4.
  • the coil 18 comprises a conical portion 14 and a straight portion 26.
  • the coil 18 is sandwiched between the two permanent magnets 6, 8.
  • a plug member 10 is sealingly arranged in the vent 2.
  • the plug member 10 has a conical portion 16 that matches the conical portion 14 of the coil 18.
  • the plug member 10 also has a straight portion 26' that matches the straight portion 26 of the coil 18.
  • the plug member 10 is a magnet having a North Pole N at the right side (facing first opening 22) and a South Pole S at its left side (facing second opening 24).
  • Fig. 1 a the vent 2 is closed.
  • the plug member 10 has been arranged in a position in which the South Pole S of the second permanent magnet 8 attracts the North Pole N of the plug member 10 and hereby maintains the plug member 10 in a fixed position relative to the vent tube 4.
  • the coil 18 is electrically connected to control means (not shown). These control means can send a current through the windings of the coil (not shown) and hereby create a magnetic field that can cause a resulting force capable of mowing the plug member 10 to the left. Accordingly, the plug member 10 can be moved to the left (towards the second open end 24 of the vent 2) along the longitudinal axis X of the vent tube 4 simply by coupling the coil 18 to an electrical power source that may be electrically connected to the battery of the hearing aid.
  • the position of the plug member 10 can be maintained merely by means of the second permanent magnet 8. Accordingly, no energy source is required in order to keep the plug member 10 fixed in the shown position.
  • Fig. 1 b illustrates the valve 20 shown in Fig. 1 a) in a semi open state of operation.
  • Current is running through the coil 18 of the vent 2 and accordingly, a magnetic field is generated.
  • the generated magnetic field will move the plug member 10 along the longitudinal axis X of the vent tube 4 towards the second opening 24 of the vent 2 (by proper choice of the direction and size of the current in the coil).
  • the straight portion 26' of the plug member 10 will slide on the straight portion 26 of the coil 18.
  • a gap 12 is provided between the plug member 10 and the coil 18. The size of the gap 12 influences the (acoustically) attenuating effect of the vent 2.
  • Fig. 1 c the plug member 10 has been moved into an open position.
  • the South Pole S of the plug member 10 is fixed to the first permanent magnet 6 by means of attraction between the North Pole N of the first permanent magnet 6 and the South Pole of the plug member 10.
  • a gap 12 is provided between the plug member 10 and the coil 18. The gap 12 has its maximum size when the plug member 10 is arranged like shown in Fig. 1 c) , thereby providing minimum acoustic attenuation.
  • the angle of the conical portion 14 (and the corresponding part of the plug) with the longitudinal axis X and/or the difference in extension of the respective conical parts along the longitudinal axis X By varying the angle of the conical portion 14 (and the corresponding part of the plug) with the longitudinal axis X and/or the difference in extension of the respective conical parts along the longitudinal axis X, the difference in acoustic attenuation (gap) between the closed (or minimally open) and maximally open state of the valve 20 can be controlled.
  • vent 2 Due to the magnetic attraction between the North Pole N of the first permanent magnet 6 and the South Pole S of the plug member 10 it is possible to maintain the plug member 10 in the shown open position without use of any power.
  • vent 2 has to be closed in order to passively reduce the acoustical feedback, the plug member is moved along the longitudinal axis X of the vent tube 4 towards the first opening 22, in order to form an acoustical filter that attenuates the sound traveling through the vent 4.
  • the detection means may be applied to provide data that can be used to establish an automatic regulation of the vent 2 according to predefined settings.
  • a hearing aid that has a build-in automatic vent regulation function that ensures that the most appropriate vent settings are applied (e.g. in dependence of the level and/or frequency spectrum of the current sound signal; the valve being e.g. automatically shifted towards a more closed state, the larger the magnitudes of signal components at relatively low frequencies, e.g. below 2 kHz, and vice versa.
  • an algorithm relating frequency content to valve opening is stored in a memory of the hearing aid and applied (e.g.
  • the hearing aid comprises a frequency analysing unit allowing an analysis (preferably continuous) of magnitude (or magnitude squared, or power spectral density (psd)) versus frequency of a signal of the forward path of the hearing aid ('the sound signal').
  • Fig. 2 a schematically illustrates a (longitudinal) cross-sectional view of a portion of a housing 28 being part of a hearing aid not according to the invention.
  • a removably mounted insert member 32 has been inserted in a vent 2 of the housing 28.
  • the housing 28 may be the housing of an earmould with a build-in receiver by way of example.
  • the housing 28 may also be a housing of an ITE hearing aid.
  • the housing comprises a valve 20 consisting of the insert member 32 and an electromagnet 30 (comprising an inductor coil) integrated in the housing 28.
  • the vent 2 is basically cylindrical and comprises a vent tube 4 having an opening 22.
  • a vent tube 4 having an opening 22.
  • the insert member 32 may have an opening that can be changed in size so that the sound traveling through the vent 4 can be attenuated in different ways.
  • the hearing aid comprises regulation means that can control the acoustical filter properties of the vent, 2 e.g. in dependence on monitored parameters, e.g. of a current sound signal around the hearing aid and/or a current direct electric input signal (e.g. wired or wirelessly received by the hearing aid and played for the user via an output transducer of the hearing aid).
  • regulation means that can control the acoustical filter properties of the vent, 2 e.g. in dependence on monitored parameters, e.g. of a current sound signal around the hearing aid and/or a current direct electric input signal (e.g. wired or wirelessly received by the hearing aid and played for the user via an output transducer of the hearing aid).
  • Fig. 2 b schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portion of a housing 28 illustrated in Fig. 2 a) .
  • the removably mounted insert member 32 has been removed from the vent 2 of the housing 28. This may be desirable during service of the hearing aid.
  • By having a removably mounted insert member 32 it is possible to replace the insert member 32 by a new one.
  • the removably mounted insert member 32 is maintained in its position by means of magnetic forces or by means of other suitable mechanical means, e.g. a threaded portion configured to be screwed into a threaded portion provided in the first opening 22 of the vent 2.
  • Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a view of a ventilated hearing aid receiver 36 of a hearing aid according to the invention.
  • the ventilated hearing aid receiver 36 comprises a casing 40 (e.g. a metal casing).
  • the ventilated hearing aid receiver 36 is placed as a part of the traditional hearing aid vent.
  • the ventilated hearing aid receiver 36 comprises a first opening (or port) 22 and a second opening (or port) 24.
  • the hearing aid receiver 36 is a two-port component that is configured to be an integrated part of a vent 2. Accordingly, the sound must pass through the hearing aid receiver 36.
  • the term 'two-port' is intended to refer to the receiver comprising a vent inlet and a vent outlet (2).
  • the hearing aid receiver 36 comprises a coil 14 arranged to generate a magnetic field when current is flowing through the wires of the coil 14.
  • the windings 141 of the inductor coil are arranged around a central longitudinal element 341 of a soft magnetic material (i.e. magnetically soft, easily (reversibly) magnetisable, such material comprising e.g. iron), so that a current sent through the windings of the coil induce a magnetic field along the axis of the central longitudinal element 341 and (amplified by the magnetic material) in the element.
  • a soft magnetic material i.e. magnetically soft, easily (reversibly magnetisable, such material comprising e.g. iron
  • the hearing aid receiver 36 comprises a rotably mounted (E-form) iron armature 34 configured to be magnetised by the coil 14 when current is flowing through the wires 141 of the coil 14 (the polarity of the resulting armature magnet being determined by the direction of the current in the coil).
  • E-form iron armature 34
  • the central longitudinal part 341 of armature 34 between a first permanent magnet 6 (applying current in a first direction) and a second permanent magnet 8 (applying current in a second direction).
  • the first permanent magnet 6 as well as the second permanent magnet 8 have a North Pole N in the top portion of the magnets 6, 8 and a South Pole S in the bottom portion of the magnets 6, 8 (it might alternatively be the reverse).
  • the permanent magnets 6, 8 are magnetically coupled to the armature 34.
  • the term 'rotationally mounted' is in the present context taken to mean that the central longitudinal element 341 (the central part of the E-form) can flex around rotational point R, as indicated by the two-way arrow).
  • the armature 34 (here the central longitudinal element 341 of the armature) is mechanically connected to a membrane M via a (schematically indicated) connecting element CE to thereby transfer the movements of the central longitudinal element 341 of the armature 34 to the membrane M.
  • the central longitudinal element 341 of armature 34 When current is applied to the coil 14 and the armature is magnetised, the central longitudinal element 341 of armature 34 will be mowed towards either the first magnet 6 or the second magnet 8 due to magnetic attraction and/or magnetic repulsion. Thus, the magnetic field of the coil 14 will change the acoustical resistance of the hearing aid receiver 36. In this manner it is possible to reduce acoustical feedback by attenuation of sound from the main hearing aid speaker (through the vent).
  • the 'main hearing aid speaker' is preferably (but not necessarily) another receiver element than receiver element 36 described in Fig 3 .
  • the hearing aid comprises means for estimating the amount and the nature of the acoustical feedback through the vent. Estimation of the feedback through the vent can be performed by means of a microphone (not shown) that is attached to the vent and configured to estimate the sound passing through the vent. It is also possible to provide a feedback system in the hearing aid and use this feedback system to estimate the acoustical feedback caused by the vent (e.g. using an adaptive filter). It is possible to arrange a receiver that is capable of generating an electrical signal propositional to the sound pressure level (measured in the vent), in the vent.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a schematical view of a regulation member 42 according to the invention.
  • the regulation member 42 comprises an outer two-port casing 40 that basically has the same shape as the hearing aid receiver 36 shown in Fig. 3 .
  • Schematic (two-port) entries of a vent 2 e.g. a tube
  • the exact location of each of the vent entries is not decisive for the function the component.
  • the connections allowing air from the vent to be exchanged with the volume of the regulation member 42 are e.g. through going holes in the casing to which the vent-canal is connected (e.g. in a flange tube arrangement).
  • the regulation member 42 has an internal armature 34 that is airtight connected to the casing 40 by means of flexible material.
  • the regulation member 42 moreover comprises a coil (solenoid) 14 adapted to magnetise the armature 34.
  • the regulation member 42 also comprises a permanent magnet 6 magnetically coupled to the armature 34 at one terminal and havening the other terminal at the distal end of the armature 34.
  • An air gap 50 is provided between the distal end of the armature 34 and the magnet 6.
  • the regulation member 42 will attenuate sound transmitted through two-port regulation member 42.
  • the stiffness of the armature 34 can be regulated by the current applied. If current is applied to coil 14 to induce a magnetic field in armature 34 providing a south pole of the armature at the air gap 50, this will create a stiff structure having a relatively large attenuation of acoustic vibrations in the vent.
  • the regulation member 42 cannot generate sound but only alter its acoustical impedance when subjected to selected stimuli (because no membrane is included).
  • Fig. 5 shows schematical views of a regulation member 42 according to the invention arranged in three different states of operation (providing a multi-state element, here tri-state).
  • the regulation member 42 comprises a two-port casing 40 and an internal armature 34.
  • the regulation member 42 has a coil (solenoid) 14 adapted to magnetise a rotably mounted armature 34.
  • the regulation member 42 comprises a first permanent magnet 6 and a second permanent magnet 8 arranged in a distance from each other.
  • the armature 34 extends through the space between the two magnets 6, 8 and a plug (or aperture) member 38 is attached to the distal end of the armature 34.
  • the permanent magnets 6, 8 are arranged with their North Pole N upwards and the South Pole S downwards.
  • the permanent magnets 6, 8 are not magnetically coupled to the armature 34 (the armature is located in a stable position (e.g. midway) between the two magnets 6, 8).
  • the plug (or aperture) member 38 can e.g. be arranged to cover holes in an appropriately formed plate (not shown) to thereby allow a different opening area (and this acoustic attenuation) depending on the location of the plug (or aperture) member 38 ( Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c ).
  • the regulation member 42 is a bi- (or tri-) stable electromechanical system as the armature 34 can be brought into a position in which the armature 34 is magnetically attached to one of the two permanent magnets 6, 8.
  • the magnetic attachment is established by supplying current to the coil 14 and hereby magnetising the armature.
  • a positive current is supplied to the coil 14.
  • the current will magnetise the armature 34 and cause a rotation (or bending) of the armature 34 into the position shown in Fig. 5 b) .
  • the armature 34 is brought into physical contact with the first permanent magnet 6. When the contact is established there is no need for keeping the armature 34 magnetised as the iron armature will be maintained in the position by magnetic attraction from the first permanent magnet 6. Alternatively, it is only bended towards the first permanent magnet 6.
  • the regulation member 42 will only need current in order to change the configuration of the regulation member 42.
  • the regulation member 42 has will acoustically have two different modes (e.g. closed or open).
  • Such bistate (or tri-state) components providing 2 (or 3) different acoustic attenuation values of the vent, which can be electrically controlled, and which require only a minimum of power (to change its state from one value to another) can be of high value in a hearing aid device comprising a part for being located in an ear canal of a user (cf. e.g. Fig. 6 ), in particular if such part comprises an earmould comprising a loudspeaker and a vent to minimize occlusion.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a schematical view of a hearing aid 44 according to the invention.
  • the hearing aid 44 is a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) type hearing aid 2 comprising (instead of an open dome-like part) an earmould 46 for insertion into the ear canal of the user of the hearing aid 44.
  • RITE receiver-in-the-ear
  • Fig. 6 b) illustrates a schematical close-up view of the earmould 46 of the hearing aid 44 shown in Fig. 6 a) .
  • a cylindrical vent 2 extends through the earmould 46.
  • a receiver 36 is arranged in the vent 2. The receiver 36 is electrically connected to the amplifier (not shown) of the hearing aid 44 by means of electrical wires 52. The sound leaves the earmould 46 through an outlet 48.
  • the receiver 36 is configured to vary it's acoustical impedance so that the sound traveling through the vent 4 can be attenuated in different ways, as e.g. discussed in connection with Fig. 3 (or in combination with features of Fig. 3 , 5 ).
  • Fig. 6 c) illustrates a schematical close-up view of another earmould 46 of the hearing aid 44 shown in Fig. 6 a) , but not falling under the scope of protection as defined by the claims.
  • a cylindrical vent 2 extends through the earmould 46.
  • a regulation member 42 is (e.g. centrally) arranged in the vent 2.
  • the receiver 36 is electrically connected to the amplifier (not shown) of the hearing aid 44 by means of a electrical wires 52. The sound leaves the earmould 46 through an outlet 48.
  • the regulation member 42 is configured to vary it's acoustical impedance e.g. by means of electric stimuli of a coil (not shown) or by means of any suitable mechanical means, e.g. an actuator. By changing the acoustical impedance of the regulation member 42 the sound traveling through the vent 4 can be attenuated according to specific demands (e.g. depending on the nature, e.g. its frequency content, of the acoustic signal).

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Electrostatic, Electromagnetic, Magneto- Strictive, And Variable-Resistance Transducers (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Hörgerät (44), das ein Ohrteil (46) zum Einsetzen in den Gehörgang des Nutzers des Hörgeräts (44) aufweist, wobei eine durchgehende Öffnung (2) in dem Ohrteil (46) vorgesehen ist, das Hörgerät (44) ein Aktivierungsmittel (36, 42) zum automatischen Ändern der akustischen Impedanz der Öffnung (2) und einen in der Öffnung (2) angeordneten Hörer (36) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Hörer (36) das Aktivierungsmittel (6, 8, 141, 341) zum Ändern der akustischen Impedanz der Öffnung (2) aufweist, und wobei das Hörgerät weiter ein Mittel zum Überwachen von Schallsignalen aufweist, einschließlich einem Mittel zum Erkennen einer akustischen Rückkopplung, und wobei das Aktivierungsmittel zum automatischen Ändern der akustischen Impedanz der Öffnung (2) die akustische Impedanz der Öffnung (2) auf Basis der Schallsignale, die von dem Mittel zur Überwachung von Schallsignalen zur Verfügung gestellt werden, verändert.
  2. Hörgerät (44) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mindestens ein Teil des Aktivierungsmittels (20, 36, 42) in der Öffnung (2) vorgesehen ist und dass das Aktivierungsmittel (20, 36, 42) ein Regelmittel (18, 30) zum Bereitstellen eines magnetischen Feldes und zum Ändern der Orientierung dieses magnetischen Feldes aufweist und dass das Aktivierungsmittel (20, 36, 42) ein beweglich angebrachtes Körperelement (10, 32, 34) aufweist, das ausgebildet ist, die akustische Impedanz der Öffnung (2) bei einer Änderung des magnetischen Felds durch das Aktivierungsmittel (20, 36, 42) zu ändern.
  3. Hörgerät (44) nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Aktivierungsmittel (20, 36, 42) innerhalb der Öffnung (2) angeordnet ist.
  4. Hörgerät (44) nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, welches ein Steuermittel aufweist, in dem das automatische Umschalten von Einstellungen zum Anpassen an alternative Ohrteilsätze durch die überwachten Schallsignale, einschließlich Änderungen in dem akustischen Rückkopplungspfad, ausgelöst werden kann.
  5. Hörgerät nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, das mehrfache Hörer aufweist.
  6. Hörgerät (44) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 5, das ein Mikrofon aufweist, das an der Öffnung befestigt ist und ausgebildet ist, den durch die Öffnung tretenden Schall abzuschätzen, um eine Rückkopplung durch die Öffnung abzuschätzen.
  7. Hörgerät (44) nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Hörgerät (44) Mittel zum manuellen Verändern der akustischen Impedanz der Öffnung (2) aufweist.
  8. Hörgerät nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Mittel zum manuellen Verändern der akustischen Impedanz der Öffnung über ein Aktivierungselement auf dem Hörgerät oder über eine Nutzerschnittstelle auf einem anderen Gerät implementiert sind.
  9. Hörgerät nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, das ein an der Öffnung befestigtes Mikrofon zum Abschätzen des durch die Öffnung tretenden Schalls aufweist.
  10. Hörgerät nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, das ein Rückkopplungssystem aufweist, das zum Abschätzen der durch die Öffnung verursachten, akustischen Rückkopplung ausgebildet ist.
  11. Hörgerät nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, wobei der in der Öffnung angeordnete Hörer ausgebildet ist, ein elektrisches Signal im Verhältnis zu dem Schall in der Öffnung zu generieren.
  12. Hörgerät nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche, das einen Eingangs-Signalgeber zum Empfangen eines akustischen Signals von der Umgebung des Nutzers und zum Bereitstellen eines entsprechenden Eingangs-Audiosignals und/oder einen Empfänger zum elektronischen Empfangen eines Eingangs-Audiosignals, eine Signalverarbeitungsschaltung zur Verarbeitung des Eingangs-Audiosignals und ein Ausgabemittel, um dem Nutzer ein hörbares Signal in Abhängigkeit des verarbeiteten Audiosignals bereitzustellen, aufweist.
  13. Hörsystem, das ein oder zwei Hörgeräte nach einem der vorherigen Ansprüche und ein Hilfsgerät aufweist, welches mit den Hörgeräten kommuniziert und die Funktion der Hörgeräte beeinflusst und/oder von der Funktion der Hörgeräte profitiert.
  14. Hörsystem nach Anspruch 13, wobei das Hilfsgerät eine Fernbedienung, ein Fern-Mikrofon, ein Audio-Zugangsgerät oder ein Mobiltelefon aufweist.
  15. Hörsystem nach Anspruch 14, wobei die Nutzerschnittstelle des/der Hörgerät(e)(s) als App eines Smartphones implementiert ist.
EP13196025.4A 2013-12-06 2013-12-06 Hörgerät mit steuerbarer Entlüftung Withdrawn - After Issue EP2835987B1 (de)

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EP3937514A1 (de) 2020-07-09 2022-01-12 GN Hearing A/S Hörgerät mit aktiver lüftungs-klick-kompensation

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