EP3059977A1 - Hearing aid and plug connector for same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing aid (2), in particular BtE hearing aid, having a housing (4) for carrying behind an ear of a user, and having a receiver (16) for transmitting sound to the ear with a sound tube (18). is connected, which has a housing-side end (24) on which a connector (26) is arranged, which is releasably connected to the housing (4). The hearing aid (2) is characterized in that the connector (26) comprises a holder (34) for the handset (16) and the handset (16) is a component of the connector (26). Furthermore, the invention relates to such a connector (26).

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid, in particular BtE hearing aid, with a housing, for carrying behind an ear of a user, and with a handset, which is connected for transmitting sound to the ear with a sound tube, which has a housing-side end to which a Connector is arranged, which is releasably connected to the housing.

Such a hearing aid is for example in the EP 2 654 322 A2 described.

A hearing aid usually comprises a housing with a number of microphones arranged therein, for recording noises from the environment, and a receiver, that is to say a loudspeaker, for outputting the recorded noises, in particular in reinforced form. In addition, there is usually an electrical circuit for processing and / or processing the recorded sounds prior to output via the handset.

If the hearing aid is a so-called BtE hearing aid, that is to say behind-the-ear hearing aid, the housing is usually worn by a user, ie a person wearing the hearing aid, behind the ear with respect to the viewing direction of the user. In principle, two variants are known with regard to the positioning of the hearing aid in such hearing aids: in a first variant, the earpiece is housed and fastened in the housing. Here, the sounds generated by the listener by means of a so-called sound tube, also referred to as sound tube or simply tube, led by the housing or in the ear. The sound tube is essentially a tubular or channel-like hollow body, which is often connected via a connector releasably connected to the housing. In a second variant, in a so-called RiC-BtE hearing aid, it is against the handset is inserted directly into the ear and is connected via a cable to the housing.

Depending on the extent of the user's hearing loss, the latter requires a handset of a corresponding power class, that is to say with a certain output power, with listeners with a higher output power typically also having larger dimensions than listeners of a lower power class. In particular, it is also possible that the extent of hearing loss changes with time and therefore a change of the listener is necessary. Such BtE hearing aids, in which the handset is housed on the housing side, offer more options here than RiC BtE hearing aids, since in the latter the selection of the handset is additionally limited by the size of the ear. However, a change of the listener in BtE hearing aids is often difficult because the handset is firmly connected to the housing and / or the housing must be opened consuming to replace the handset.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved hearing aid that is particularly easy to handle and is particularly flexible in use. Furthermore, a suitable connector for the hearing aid should be specified.

The object is achieved by a hearing aid with the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a connector with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments, developments and variants are the subject of the dependent claims. In this case, the developments mentioned in connection with the hearing aid and their advantages apply mutatis mutandis to the connector.

The hearing aid is in particular a BtE hearing aid and comprises a housing for carrying behind an ear of a user, as well as a receiver, that is to say in particular a loudspeaker, which is used to transmit sound to the ear with a sound tube connected is. This in turn has a housing-side end, on which a connector is arranged, which is releasably connected to the housing. This connector includes a holder for the handset, the handset being part of the connector.

A significant advantage of the invention is, in particular, that the handset is firmly connected to the connector in particular and not just with the housing, whereby the handset by pulling out the connector in a particularly simple manner is removable and replaceable from the housing. For example, a broken handset is particularly easy to replace without the user having to buy a completely new case. Due to the plug connection, the hearing aid is also particularly easy to handle and the handset is particularly easy to separate from the housing.

Due to the detachable connection between the connector and the housing results in accordance with a detachable connection between the handset and the housing. As a result, an increased flexibility in the use of the housing is advantageously achieved, since this can be used depending on the connected connector both as BtE hearing aid with earpiece in the housing and as RiC-BtE hearing aid. In order to switch between these two embodiments, only a corresponding module needs to be connected to the housing. This module then comprises either a connector in which a handset is arranged as well as an adjoining sound tube; or in the case of training for a RiC-BtE hearing aid, a connector, by means of which a cable is guided to a listener to be inserted into the ear. In this way, the user is a particularly flexible and cost-effective change between several hearing aid types possible.

The housing of the hearing aid is designed, for example, slightly curved and designed in particular for carrying behind the ear, ie in particular behind the ear and slightly above of the ear canal. The housing thus has an underside, which then rests against the ear, and a facing away from the ear top. The housing also has an inner and an outer side with the inner side abutting the user's head and the outer side facing outward as viewed from the user's head.

In the housing, a number of, for example, two, microphones are arranged to receive ambient noise, which are preferably arranged one behind the other in the viewing direction of the user and at approximately the same height. In order to achieve a particularly optimal result with regard to the recording of noises, one of the microphones is arranged as a front microphone in a frontmost position of the housing and another microphone as a rear microphone in the direction behind it. In order to enable in particular such an arrangement, the connector is preferably on the underside of the housing to this attachable or plugged into this. In order to additionally transport the highest possible output power to the ear, the connector is also arranged as possible at the foremost position, and positioned, for example, below the microphone, whereby accordingly the handset is positioned particularly close to the ear.

The housing additionally comprises, in particular, an electronic circuit with electronics for processing the signals generated by the microphones. For example, the electronics perform filtering and / or amplification of the signals. The electronics also serve in particular for the preparation of the signals for output via the receiver. Conveniently, the electronics are arranged on a circuit board, which is in particular fixedly mounted in the housing. For power supply, in particular a battery is provided, which is also housed in the housing. Furthermore, the housing in particular comprises a number of operating elements by means of which the hearing device can be suitably configured by the user.

With the connector, a sound tube is either detachable or firmly connected. In this case, sound tube is understood in particular to mean any tubular or channel-like element for sound guidance. Preferably, this is a hose or a bracket with an elongated cavity for carrying sound. The sound tube also has two ends, wherein the end connected to the connector is a housing-side end and the other end an ear-side end. The latter is especially led to the ear canal and either applied near this to the ear or even led into the ear canal.

The connector comprises a holder in which the handset is held and in particular fixed. For example, the holder is pot-shaped or tongs-like and surrounds the listener at least partially. In a particularly simple and inexpensive embodiment of the connector and the holder are integrally formed and in particular as a plastic injection molded part. In a suitable variant of the handset is designed substantially cylindrical and fixed in the axial direction and / or radial direction in the holder.

For a particularly stable arrangement of the handset in the holder, for example, a corresponding latching or click mechanism is provided. Alternatively, the handset is glued into the holder, soldered or fastened in another way suitable. In particular, due to the fixation of the handset in the holder of the handset is thus a part of the connector. The connector with the receiver and a connected sound tube then forms a particularly easy replaceable module.

In order to simultaneously ensure a detachable connection and optimum stability in the connected state, a corresponding locking mechanism is preferably provided, by means of which the connector with respect to the housing lockable. For example, the locking mechanism is realized for this purpose as a latching connection or by means of a locking pin. In this way, unintentional disconnection of the connector is advantageously avoided. To release the locking mechanism is then released accordingly and the connector is separable from the housing. When releasing the connector, the handset advantageously remains in the holder and is accordingly easily separable from the housing.

In a suitable embodiment, the connector comprises a number of contact elements for producing a number of electrical connections with a number of contact elements of the housing. As a result, in particular a signaling connection of the listener to the housing can be realized. In other words, by means of the respective contact elements, it is possible to forward the sound picked up by the microphone or the microphones via a corresponding electrical connection to the listener, in order then to be converted there into a sound signal. When releasing the connector from the housing then the electrical connections are interrupted accordingly. The respective contact elements are in this case made of an electrically conductive material and formed, for example, as metallized surfaces. In particular, in this context, an embodiment of the connector as a so-called MID component, that is as injection-molded circuit carrier advantageous since in this case the connector is particularly cost-effective and robust as a particular one-piece plastic part with directly applied thereto contact elements.

In a preferred development, the holder has a number of receiver contacts for connecting the receiver. In particular, in this embodiment, it is then advantageously possible to loop through a transmitted via the contact elements of the housing to the connector electrical signal to the handset. For example, the contact elements are also arranged on the holder such that in connected Condition with the housing, these contact elements are connected to a correspondingly arranged in the housing electronics and are connected in the connector with the receiver contacts. In other words, the contact elements are connected to the receiver contacts in a suitable manner for looping through an electrical signal to be transmitted from the housing to the listener. The handset contacts are then arranged in particular in the holder, for example, at the bottom thereof and the handset is held in such a way that its connection contacts are in communication with the handset contacts. In a suitable alternative, the receiver contacts are designed as spring contacts between which the listener is simultaneously held and thus fixed. Additionally or alternatively, the handset is suitably soldered by means of its connection contacts to the receiver contacts, resulting in a particularly stable integration into the connector.

In an advantageous embodiment, the handset comprises a number of contact elements for producing a number of electrical connections with a number of contact elements of the housing. In particular, in this embodiment, it is possible to make a connection between the listener and the housing in a direct manner, i. without having to redirect the electrical signal to be transmitted. In particular, it is then advantageous to dispense with an additionally arranged in the connector board or electronics. Alternatively, however, a design is conceivable in which a number of contact elements are arranged both on the receiver and on other parts of the connector in order to allow a corresponding connection to the housing.

Appropriately, the handset is reversibly inserted into the holder, whereby the listener with respect to the module of connector, handset and sound tube is particularly easy to replace. In this way, it is then possible for a user to replace only the handset and continue to use the remaining part of the connector and the sound tube. Because of this modularity Overall, the flexibility in handling the hearing aid is significantly improved. In addition, the handset is exchangeable as an individual part in particular by the user, while the other components of the hearing aid continue to be used.

In order to achieve a particularly compact design of the hearing aid and in particular of the housing, the connector sits in the connected state in a recess in the housing. This is understood to mean, in particular, that the plug connector is completely accommodated in the housing in the inserted state, and correspondingly has an outer surface which forms part of the housing. In particular, the outer surface faces outwardly with respect to the housing and is preferably aligned with the surface of the housing, i. the outer surface is adapted to an outer contour of the housing.

Preferably, the connector is disposed below a front microphone, resulting in a particularly short path to the ear canal, so that the output power provided by the listener is optimally utilized.

In a preferred embodiment, the connector is arranged on an underside of the housing. Especially with such a positioning an arrangement of the listener is possible as close to the ear canal, with simultaneous positioning of the front microphone in a corresponding forwardmost position with respect to the housing. A designed in this way hearing aid is also very compact. Furthermore, in particular in this embodiment, the outer surface of the connector on the ear of the user, so that in combination with the already mentioned above adaptation of the outer surface to the outer contour of the housing results in a significantly improved comfort.

In a suitable variant of the connector is mirror-symmetrical, with respect to a plane extending in a vertical direction and in a viewing direction of the User extends. In other words, the housing has an inner and an outer side, with the inner side abutting the user's head and the outer side facing outward as viewed from the user's head, and the two sides being mirror-symmetrical to each other. Conveniently, the housing with respect to its surface and outer contour is mirror-symmetrical in the same way. As a result, the flexibility in the application of the hearing aid is advantageously improved, since this can be worn by the user both on the left and on the right side. The symmetrical design advantageously also allows a cost reduction in the production, since only one type of connector, in particular only one type of housing must be made, which is then used for both sides.

To further improve the flexibility of the hearing aid, in particular with respect to the exchange of the handset, the hearing aid is advantageously designed for connecting different connectors with handsets of different dimensions. As a result, it is easily possible for a user to continue to use the same housing when changing the handset to a different performance class. The connector is then designed in such a way that it is compatible with receivers of different dimensions, i. different performance classes, can be equipped. For this purpose, in particular corresponding recesses and / or free spaces are provided in the housing, which are then available depending on the space required by the listener for receiving it.

FIG 1

ein Hörgerät mit Gehäuse und damit verbundenem Steckverbinder,

FIG 2

den Steckverbinder gemäß FIG 1,

FIG 3

eine Variante des Steckverbinders,

FIG 4

den Steckverbinder gemäß FIG 3 in einer anderen Ansicht,

FIG 5

eine weitere Variante des Steckverbinders, und

FIG 6

den Steckverbinder gemäß FIG 5 mit einem alternativen Hörer.

Below exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. In each case schematically show:

FIG. 1

a hearing aid with housing and associated connector,

FIG. 2

the connector according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a variant of the connector,

FIG. 4

the connector according to FIG. 3 in another view,

FIG. 5

another variant of the connector, and

FIG. 6

the connector according to FIG. 5 with an alternative listener.

In the FIG. 1 a hearing aid 2 is shown in a side view, in which also its interior is shown. The hearing device 2 here is a so-called. BtE hearing aid, which comprises a housing 4, which can be worn behind one of the ears of a user, not shown here. Thus, the hearing device 2 here comprises a plurality of microphones 6, 8, one of which is a front microphone 6 and a rear microphone 8. With respect to a viewing direction B of the user not shown here, the two microphones 6, 8 are arranged one behind the other, wherein the front microphone 6 is arranged in the direction B front of the housing 4, in particular at a frontmost point V. The housing 4 also has a respect to the user upwardly facing top O on which the rear microphone 8 is arranged. Opposite the upper side O, the housing 4 has a lower side U, which rests in the worn state on the user's ear.

The microphones 6, 8 are each used to record ambient noise, ie the conversion of sound into electrical signals. These are forwarded to an electronics 10 also disposed within the housing 4. For this purpose, the microphones 6, 8 are connected in a manner not shown here with a circuit board 12 on which the electronics 10 is arranged. For the power supply, the hearing device 2 shown here also comprises a battery 14, which is in particular also connected to the circuit board 12.

For sound output, i. For reproducing the recorded noises, the hearing device 2 comprises a receiver 16, which is positioned within the housing in the embodiment shown here. The sounds emitted by the receiver 16 are coupled into a sound tube 18 and transported by means of this to the user's ear. In the embodiment shown here, an earpiece 22 is attached to an ear-side end 20 of the sound tube 18, which can be inserted into the auditory canal of the user. At a housing-side end 24 of the sound tube 18 is then the coupling of the sound generated by the receiver 16 sound.

The sound tube 18 is not directly connected to the housing 4, but rather via a connector 26 which is seated here in a corresponding recess 28 of the housing 4. In this case, the connector 26 has an outwardly facing outer surface A, which in the embodiment shown here is formed such that it is aligned with an outer contour K of the housing 4. The connector 26 thus sits completely in the housing 4 and does not build up to the outside, which in particular improves the wearing comfort of the hearing aid 2.

The connector 26 according to FIG. 1 is in FIG. 2 shown enlarged. In order to pass on the electrical signals generated by the microphones 6, 8 in conjunction with the electronics 10 to the handset 16, this is electrically connected to the circuit board 12. In the in FIG. 1 shown variant, the handset 16 to a plurality of contact elements 30, which are in a connected state with corresponding contact elements 32 of the board 12 in connection. The contact elements 30, 32 are designed, for example, as spring contact connections. The handset 16 is thus electrically connected to the housing 4 directly.

Out FIG. 2 It is also clear that the handset 16 is held in a holder 34 of the connector 26. The holder is here designed with two arms, between which the handset 16 is arranged.

In FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of the connector 26 is shown, in which the handset 16 is not electrically connected directly to the housing 4, but only indirectly via the contact elements 30, which are arranged here on the holder 34 and not shown here corresponding contact elements 32 of the board keep in touch. The contact elements 30 of the connector 26 are each in turn connected to receiver contacts 36, which are in electrical connection with corresponding mating contacts 38 of the receiver 16. In other words, the electrical signals are first looped through the holder 34 from the circuit board 12 and then guided via the receiver contacts 36 to the receiver 16.

In FIG. 3 the connector 26 is shown in an enlarged side view, in FIG. 4 in contrast, in a front view. Clearly recognizable in each case is the holder 34, which here is partially designed in the manner of a pot and has two arms, between which the receiver 16 is arranged and, in particular, also fixed by fixing elements, not shown here. The contact elements 30 are arranged on the upper side of the holder 34, ie on the side facing the housing 4 with respect to the inside. At the bottom of the holder 34, however, the not visible here listener contacts 36 are positioned.

In the FIGS. 5 and 6 a further variant of the connector 26 is shown, in which the handset 16 is fixed by two opposite handset contacts 36 in that they are designed as spring contacts. The Indian FIG. 6 shown handset 16 also belongs to a lower power class than the handset 16 in FIG. 5 and has correspondingly smaller dimensions, ie in particular a smaller diameter here. Due to the configuration of the receiver contacts 36 as spring contacts, however, this smaller handset 16 is also can be used without problems in the holder 34 and fixed in this. In an alternative embodiment, however, is dispensed with such a fixation and the handset 16 instead, for example, soldered to the receiver contacts 34. To replace the handset 16, this is then correspondingly unsoldered and an alternative handset 16 soldered. Also in this way it is possible to use different receivers 16 different performance class in the holder 34 and to use the same housing 4.

In general, the handset 16 is a best part of the connector 26. When loosening the connector 26 and removing it from the housing 4, the respective handset 16 is solved in accordance with. The connector 26 with the handset 16 and the sound tube 18 and in particular the ear piece 22 also forms an independent module, which is interchangeable by an alternative module. In this way, a wide variety of modules can be connected to the housing 4, depending on the needs of the user. Thus, the same housing 4 can be used for modules with different receivers 16, different sound tubes 18 and / or different ear pieces 22. In addition, those modules are also useful in which the handset 16 is not part of the connector 26, but rather on the ear-side end 20 of the sound tube 18 is arranged, for example in the earpiece 22. In this way, both for conventional BtE hearing aids 2, as well not shown here RiC-BtE hearing aids the same housing 4 usable.

Claims (11)

Hearing aid (2), in particular BtE hearing aid, with a housing (4) for carrying behind an ear of a user, and with a receiver (16) connected to a sound tube (18) for transmitting sound to the ear a housing-side end (24) on which a connector (26) is arranged, which is detachably connected to the housing (4),
characterized in that the connector (26) comprises a holder (34) for the receiver (16) and the receiver (16) is a part of the connector (26). Hearing aid (2) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that the connector (26) comprises a number of contact elements (30) for making a number of electrical connections to a number of contact elements (32) of the housing (4). Hearing aid (2) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in that the holder (34) has a number of receiver contacts (36) for connecting the receiver (16). Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the earphone (16) comprises a number of contact elements (30) for making a number of electrical connections to a number of contact elements (32) of the housing (4). Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the receiver (16) is reversibly insertable into the holder (34). Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the connector (26) in the connected state in a recess (28) in the housing (4) is arranged. Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the connector (26) below a front microphone (6) is arranged. Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the connector (26) on a bottom (U) of the housing (4) is arranged. Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the connector (26) is mirror-symmetrical, with respect to a plane which extends in a vertical direction and in a viewing direction (B) of the user. Hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that it is designed for connecting different connectors (26) with receivers (16) of different dimensions. Connector (26) for a hearing aid (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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