EP3094111A1 - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

An inventive hearing device (1) comprises a housing (2) which has a mounting opening and a housing cover (14) for closing the mounting opening. Furthermore, the hearing aid (1) comprises a signal processing unit (8) arranged in the housing (2) and a sealing body (18) for sealing the housing (2) against the entry of contaminants. In addition, the hearing aid (1) comprises an antenna body (24) for wireless signal transmission with a separate device. This antenna body (24) is embedded in the sealing body (18).

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid, in particular to a hearing aid.

Hearing aids are usually used to output (acoustic) sound signals to an ear or the hearing center of the respective hearing device user. In most cases, hearing aids include a loudspeaker, often referred to as a "handset", which is worn directly in the auditory canal of the respective ear of the hearing device user or is acoustically connected, for example, by means of a sound tube to this auditory canal. Alternatively, a hearing aid for transmitting the sound signal may also be associated with a bone conduction implant, a cochlear implant or the like. In this case, hearing aids are designed in particular as hearing aids to compensate for a reduction in the hearing of the hearing device user and thereby usually additionally comprise at least one microphone for detecting (ambient) noise and a signal processing unit, by means of which the detected sounds optionally filtered and then amplified to the speaker be issued. Alternatively, a hearing device may also be a so-called tinnitus masker, by means of which a background or noise signal specific to the hearing device user is generated and output.

Modern hearing aids partly have means for (wireless) communication with a separate device. In such a separate device is usually a control unit by means of which (wireless) processing settings can be transferred to the respective hearing aid, or - in the case of a binaural hearing aid system for supplying both ears of the hearing device user - to a second hearing aid. The control unit may again be, for example to act a smartphone on which a software application for controlling the hearing aid is installed. Furthermore, the separate device may also be an audio signal source which transmits audio signals to be played back to the hearing aid, such as a TV set, a smartphone or the like. Such audio signals are, for example, pieces of music which are otherwise sound signals output via the loudspeakers of the TV set or, in the case in which the hearing device is a headset, also voice signals of a telephone.

It is known that for wireless communication (signal transmission) as an antenna serving electrically conductive components in the hearing aid is required. These are usually formed by metallic structures, in particular arranged on a printed circuit board tracks. In this case, these structures can be integrated in a signal carrier carrying the signal processing unit or galvanically connected thereto. Against the background of a progressive miniaturization of hearing aids, however, often the space requirement and the installation of a separate antenna is problematic.

The invention has for its object to improve a set up for wireless communication hearing aid.

This object is achieved by a hearing aid with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the description below.

The hearing aid according to the invention is preferably a hearing aid. The hearing aid comprises a housing which has a mounting opening and a housing cover for closing this mounting opening. The hearing device further comprises a signal processing unit, which is arranged in the housing, as well as a sealing body for sealing the housing against the entry of impurities, such as liquid, earwax, dust, etc. The sealing body is preferably arranged thereto and provided to seal the housing from the inside thereof. This means that the sealing body in the intended mounting state of the hearing aid - that is, when the housing is closed - arranged in the interior of the housing and is preferably not visible from the outside of the hearing aid. The hearing device also comprises an antenna body for wireless communication (ie signal transmission) with a (preferably separate from the hearing device), preferably electronic device. This antenna body is embedded in the sealing body (ie integrated in this).

The separate device is, for example, a control unit which is set up and provided to transmit setting parameters for the signal processing unit wirelessly to the hearing aid. Alternatively, the separate device is a second, binaural hearing device or an electronic device that transmits audio signals wirelessly to the hearing aid, such as a smartphone, a TV set or the like.

The signal processing unit is preferably for processing, d. H. for example, for evaluation, filtering, analog-to-digital conversion and the like, the signals received by means of the antenna body ("radio signals"). Furthermore, the signal processing unit is also used in particular for processing sound signals which are detected by means of a microphone which may be included in the hearing aid. The signal processing unit is designed in particular as a non-programmable electronic circuit (eg ASIC). Alternatively, the signal processing unit is formed by a microcontroller in which the functionality for carrying out the signal processing in the form of a software module is implemented.

The integration of the antenna body in the seal body leads to a reduction in the number of handled during assembly of the hearing aid items. As a result, assembly effort is saved advantageously. Furthermore, advantageously, space can also be saved.

In an expedient embodiment, the antenna body has a flat, foil-like structure. "Film-like" means here and below that the wall thickness of the antenna body is small compared to its surface area. The surface of the antenna body is preferably chosen so large that even comparatively weak radio signals can be received. Preferably, the area covered by the antenna body occupies about half or three quarters of the area covered by the housing, in particular by the housing cover. Due to the film-like structure, the antenna body is known to have a low dimensional stability (i.e., it may collapse or be easily damaged during handling), so that the stability and manageability of the antenna body is advantageously increased due to integration into the seal body.

The antenna body is expediently formed from a metal, in particular from copper. This allows a particularly good electrical conductivity and thus also a high reception quality.

In a preferred embodiment, the antenna body is encapsulated with a plastic forming the sealing body, in particular an elastomer. That is, the antenna body forms an insert which is wrapped in an injection molding with the plastic of the seal body. The plastic is preferably an injection-moldable liquid silicone (also known as "liquid silicone rubber", in short: LSR).

In a further expedient embodiment, the sealing body is in particular of a half-shell-like design so that it covers the signal processing unit, preferably at least one side of a circuit carrier supporting the signal processing unit and possibly a number of printed conductors, completely or at least partially like a hood in the intended mounting state. The shape of the sealing body is preferably adapted to the shape of the housing cover. The sealing body is thus designed in such a way that, during assembly, it is similar to the housing cover via the signal processing unit (or the circuit carrier arranged there) in the housing. is placed on and then covered with the housing cover. As a result, a particularly simple assembly of the sealing body, as well as the antenna body is made possible. In this case, the antenna body occupies approximately at least half the area of the sealing body. As a result, the antenna body has a three-dimensionally curved structure which is advantageous with regard to the reception quality of radio signals, and advantageously has a comparatively large surface area.

In a preferred embodiment, the antenna body has an exposed, ie not overmolded with plastic, contact portion, by means of which the antenna body is preferably contacted by a solder connection to the signal processing unit, in particular indirectly via a conductor track of the circuit carrier. In the case of a solder joint, the use of an LSR as the material for the sealing body is particularly useful because such a liquid silicone regularly has a high temperature resistance compared to conventional injection moldable elastomers and thus is not damaged during the soldering process. As an alternative to the solder joint, the antenna body is contacted to the signal processing unit, for example, by means of a clamping connection, a plug connection or a spring contact. In the latter case, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention for the antenna body to be exposed only on an inner side of the sealing body at a partial area of its surface. In the intended mounting state, this exposed portion is in contact with the corresponding contact spring. In the case of a spring-loaded contacting the antenna body is also preferably supported via the sealing body against the housing, so that a reliable electrical contact is made possible by means of the spring contact. In the context of the invention, however, it is also conceivable that the antenna body is completely integrated in the sealing body and thus exposed at any point. In this case, the antenna body is contacted via a pointed contact pin with the signal processing unit. This contact pin pierces during assembly of the seal body this at least on the inside and thus is in galvanic contact with the antenna body. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, an inductive or capacitive, ie not galvanic, coupling of the antenna with the signal processing unit possible. In this case, in particular, there is no fixed connection between the antenna body and the signal processing unit.

In an expedient embodiment, the hearing device comprises at least one microphone for the detection of acoustic signals, preferably from the surroundings of the hearing device. In this case, the sealing body preferably has a damping portion for the elastic support of the respective microphone against the housing. This damping section is preferably a region of the sealing body with an increased wall thickness, i. H. to a thickening of the seal body. Due to the elastic support of the respective microphone vibrations of the microphone itself are advantageously reduced and a transmission of structure-borne noise, d. H. Vibrations of the housing or other components of the hearing aid, prevented or at least reduced to the respective microphone. By integrating a damping function in the sealing body advantageously the number of parts of the hearing aid can be further reduced and so assembly effort can be saved.

In a preferred development, a microphone opening corresponding to the respective microphone is arranged in a region of the housing closest to the microphone in the intended mounting state, in particular in the housing cover. By virtue of this microphone opening, the acoustic signal originating from the environment (sound signal) can strike the respective microphone virtually unattenuated. Expediently, the sealing body also has an opening in the area of the respective damping section, preferably within the respective damping section, which opening (in the intended mounting state) is arranged and designed corresponding to the respective microphone opening. The damping section here expediently lies annularly around the respective microphone opening on the housing, in particular on the housing cover.

In an expedient development is in the or each (microphone) breakthrough of the seal body, a preferably hydrophobic and sound-permeable barrier element to protect the respective microphone from moisture and arranged other impurities. The barrier element preferably comprises a "breathable" membrane which is formed, in particular, from a finely porous (mesh or fleece-like) and hydrophobic or hydrophobically coated material. Optionally, the membrane is also waterproof, for example in the form of a plastic film of polyetherester or microporous polytetrafluoroethene (short: PTFE). In this case, the respective barrier element is arranged interchangeably in particular in the opening, ie the barrier element can be removed for cleaning or repair purposes. For this purpose, the respective opening preferably has an undercut, which forms a pocket for the barrier element. In this undercut, the respective barrier element is preferably held positively. For insertion into the respective undercut, the barrier element is preferably pressed into the undercut via an edge of the opening which delimits the undercut. The respective edge is elastically deformed and then "snaps" back over the barrier element, so that this rests positively in the undercut. As a result of this development, the sealing body has a particularly high functional integration, so that the assembly effort can be further reduced.

FIG 1

in schematischer Seitenansicht ein Hörgerät,

FIG 2

in einer schematischen Perspektivdarstellung einen Dichtungskörper des Hörgeräts gemäß FIG 1 mit einem darin integrierten Antennenkör-per,

FIG 3

in einer Schnittdarstellung den Dichtungskörper gemäß FIG 2, und

FIG 4

in Ansicht gemäß FIG 3 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel des Dich-tungskörpers.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

FIG. 1

in a schematic side view of a hearing aid,

FIG. 2

in a schematic perspective view of a sealing body of the hearing aid according to FIG. 1 with an antenna body integrated therein,

FIG. 3

in a sectional view of the seal body according to FIG. 2 , and

FIG. 4

in view according to FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the sealing body.

Corresponding parts are always provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

In FIG. 1 is a hearing aid 1, which is designed as a hearing aid device shown. The hearing device 1 comprises a housing 2 for enclosing electronic components of the hearing device 1. The electronic components are formed in the present embodiment by two microphones 4, a loudspeaker 6 and by a (signal transmission technology) between the two microphones 4 and the speaker 6 signal processing unit 8 , Furthermore, the electronic components comprise a circuit carrier not shown in detail on which a number of conductor tracks 10 for electrically contacting the microphones 4 and the loudspeaker 6 with the signal processing unit 8 are formed. For mounting the microphones 4, the speaker 6 and the signal processing unit 8 (and the circuit substrate) in the housing 2, this comprises a base body 12 in which a mounting hole is formed, and a (shell-like) housing cover 14 for closing this mounting hole. In order to seal off a closing edge 16 formed between the base body 12 and the housing cover 14 against the ingress of contaminants, specifically moisture or liquids (eg body perspiration, rainwater and the like) and thus protect the electronic components, the hearing aid 1 comprises a sealing body 18 (in FIG. 1 indicated by a dot-dash line). This sealing body 18 is arranged in the interior of the housing 2, the closing edge 16 overlapping.

As in FIG. 2 and 3 is shown, the sealing body 18 of the (shell) shape of the housing cover 12 is modeled. Consequently, the sealing body 18 also has a half-shell shape. The sealing body 18 is placed in this case during assembly as well as the housing cover 12 via the electronic components of the hearing aid 1. In this case, the sealing body 18 has two openings (correspondingly referred to as microphone passages 20) which correspond to the microphones 4 and which, in the intended installation state according to FIG FIG. 1 with two (not shown) microphone openings in the housing cover 12 are arranged in alignment. Furthermore, the seal body 18 in the present embodiment, openings for a "user interface" such. B. button (not shown) on. These openings are referred to below as interface passages 22.

The hearing device 1 is also set up for wireless signal transmission with a separate from the hearing aid 1 electronic device. For this purpose, the hearing aid 1 comprises an antenna body 24, which is set up and provided for the reception of radio signals. This antenna body 24 is embedded in the sealing body 18, specifically cast by injection molding in this. For contacting the antenna body 24 with the circuit carrier and thus with the signal processing unit 8, the antenna body 24 has two tabs each referred to as contact portion 26, which are arranged in a (contact) window 28 of the seal body 18 and thus not embedded in the seal body 18. In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the contact portion 26 protrude from a lateral edge of the seal body 18. The antenna body 24 is in accordance with the intended mounting state FIG. 1 connected by means of these contact portions 26 via a solder connection to the circuit carrier.

The antenna body 24 has a (similar to the sealing body 18 formed) three-dimensionally curved, sheet-like and sheet-like structure. Specifically, the antenna body 24 of a plurality of sheet-like - d. H. in comparison to the covered surface of thin, strip-shaped sections made of metal (copper). As a result, a large effective antenna area is formed with comparatively low material expenditure. The integration of the antenna body 24 into the sealing body 18 also improves the operability of the antenna body 24 during assembly since the sealing body 18 supports (i.e., supports) the sheet-like structure of the antenna body.

The seal body 18 is injection molded from LSR (liquid silicone rubber). As a result, the sealing body 18 has a high temperature resistance, so that the sealing body 18 is not damaged during soldering of the contact portions 26.

In FIG. 4 a further embodiment of the seal body 18 is shown. The sealing body 18 has two damping sections 30, each associated with one of the microphone passages 20. Specifically, the damping sections 30 are local thickenings of the sealing body 18, by means of which the two microphones 4 are elastically resiliently supported against the housing cover 12. In order to prevent passage of moisture and other contaminants through the microphone openings of the housing cover 12 into the interior of the housing 2, specifically up to the respective microphone 4, the hearing aid 1 in each case has a respective barrier element 32 associated with the respective microphone 4. This barrier element 32 is formed by a sound-permeable, hydrophobic membrane, which is spanned by an annular frame. The respective barrier element 32 is reversibly supported in the seal body 18 within the respective microphone passageway 20. Specifically, the respective microphone passage 20 has an undercut, in which the respective barrier element 32 is used by utilizing the elastic deformation capacity of the housing cover 12 facing edge 34 of the respective microphone passage 20. In the intended mounting state of the hearing aid 1 according to FIG. 1 is the respective microphone 4 from an inner side 36 of the seal body 18 to the respective damping portion 30 and presses the opposite edge 34 sealingly against the housing cover 12 at.

The object of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, other embodiments of the invention may be derived by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. In particular, the individual features of the invention described with reference to the various exemplary embodiments and their design variants can also be combined with one another in a different manner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

hearing Aid

2

casing

4

microphone

6

speaker

8th

Signal processing unit

10

conductor path

12

body

14

housing cover

16

closing edge

18

seal body

20

Microphone passage

22

Interface passage

24

antenna body

26

Contact section

28

contact window

30

sealing section

32

barrier member

34

edge

36

inside

Claims (8)

Hearing aid (1), - With a housing (2) having a mounting hole and a housing cover (14) for closing the mounting hole, with a signal processing unit (8) arranged in the housing (2), - With a sealing body (18) for sealing the housing (2) against the entry of contaminants, and with an antenna body (24) for wireless communication with a separate device, wherein the antenna body (24) is embedded in the sealing body (18). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 1,
wherein the antenna body (24) has a flat, foil-like structure. Hearing aid (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the antenna body (24) with a sealing body (18) forming plastic, in particular an elastomer is overmolded. Hearing aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the sealing body (18) is formed like a half shell, so that the sealing body (18) covers the signal processing unit (8) at least partially like a hood in the intended mounting state. Hearing aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein the antenna body (24) has an exposed contact portion (26), by means of which the antenna body (24) via a solder connection with the signal processing unit (8) is contacted. Hearing aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5,
with at least one microphone (4) for detecting acoustic signals, wherein the sealing body (18) has at least one damping section (30) for elastic support of the respective microphone (4) against the housing (2). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 6,
wherein in the housing (2) to the respective microphone (4) corresponding microphone opening is arranged, wherein the sealing body (18) in the region of the respective damping portion (30) in the intended mounting state with the respective microphone opening corresponding aperture (20). Hearing aid (1) according to claim 7,
wherein in the respective opening (20) a barrier element (32) for the protection of the respective microphone (4) is arranged reversibly used against moisture.

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