EP3136752A1 - Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux - Google Patents

Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3136752A1
EP3136752A1 EP15182177.4A EP15182177A EP3136752A1 EP 3136752 A1 EP3136752 A1 EP 3136752A1 EP 15182177 A EP15182177 A EP 15182177A EP 3136752 A1 EP3136752 A1 EP 3136752A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
light source
disclosure
light
button
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP15182177.4A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Michael Frydendal Larssen
Michael Frank PETERSEN
Troels Holm Pedersen
Lars Monroy
Brian Spidsbjerg
Lars Persson
Søren WICHMANN
Oliver Sundberg
Nicolai Alexander Clausen
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
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oticon AS filed Critical Oticon AS
Priority to EP15182177.4A priority Critical patent/EP3136752A1/fr
Publication of EP3136752A1 publication Critical patent/EP3136752A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • 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
    • H04R2225/021—Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
    • H04R2225/0216—BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
    • 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
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/77—Design aspects, e.g. CAD, of hearing aid tips, moulds or housings
    • 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
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
    • 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
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658—Manufacture of housing parts

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a hearing aid provided with a light indicator.
  • Hearing aids are continuously developed in order to reduce their physical size. Accordingly, attempts are made to make modern behind-the-ear hearing aids as small as possible, so they can fit almost "invisible" behind the user's ear.
  • One possible way to reduce the size of a hearing aid includes a reduction of the number of parts to a minimum and optimise their position inside the device.
  • a light indicator on the hearing aid in order to provide a visual feedback to the user.
  • a light indicator is typically arranged at the back side of the hearing aid, between the microphones and a push button. In this position the light indicator will be clearly visible for the user and the people near the user, when the hearing aid is placed on the ear of the user.
  • a typical light indicator in a hearing aid includes a light guide part, that transmits the light illuminated from a light emitting diode (LED) on a printed circuit board (PCB) to the outside of the device for making the light indicator visible for the user.
  • LED light emitting diode
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • a separate light guide part requires space in a crowded area inside the hearing aid. Accordingly, this solution is not suitable for achieving the object of reducing the physical size of the hearing aid.
  • the small light guide part is difficult to handle in the production process.
  • fixation of the light guide part in the top shell of the hearing aid is challenging.
  • the hearing aid is a hearing aid having a housing and a light source for emitting light, wherein the light source is arranged below a structure that comprises a transparent section and a surrounding opaque section, wherein the light source is arranged in a position that allows for transmission of light through the transparent section of the structure.
  • the hearing aid can be produced in a compact manner with a reduced number of parts.
  • the housing of the hearing aid may be referred to as a shell. It may have any suitable geometrical shape.
  • the structure below which the light source is arranged may be a plane structure, an arced structure or a combination thereof.
  • the light source may be any suitable type of light source including a LED.
  • the structure is a one-piece body.
  • the one-piece body constitutes part of the periphery of the hearing aid.
  • the light source is arranged in a short distance from the periphery of the hearing aid (e.g. integrated in the housing or shell of the hearing aid).
  • the one-piece body is a button.
  • the button may preferably be a push button.
  • the light source is integrated in the button.
  • the hearing aid comprises two switches and the light source is arranged between the two switches.
  • the light source can be provided in a position, in which the light can be easily reached by the user of the hearing aid and the people surrounding the user.
  • the hearing aid comprises two tactile switches and the light source is arranged between the two tactile switches.
  • the hearing aid comprises a button provided with two switches and the light source is arranged between the two switches.
  • the hearing aid comprises a button having two tactile switches and the light source is arranged between the two tactile switches.
  • the light source can be integrated in a prior art press button.
  • the one-piece body is the housing of the hearing aid.
  • the light source can be integrated in the housing of the hearing aid. This solution provides large design freedom.
  • the opaque section comprises a painted structure or surface.
  • the opaque section may be an injection moulded plastic component made in a transparent material that is painted. Accordingly, a transparent section can be provided by removing the paint in the desired area.
  • the transparent section is a painted structure that has received a surface treatment.
  • the surface treatment may be any suitable type of surface treatment including laser treatment and mechanical surface treatments.
  • the surface treatment is a laser treatment.
  • a well-defined area can be treated and a high precision can be achieved.
  • the light source is a light emitting diode (LED).
  • the one-piece body is a moulded structure that is painted.
  • the moulded structure may be moulded by means of injection moulding (e.g. an injection moulded plastic component).
  • the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
  • BTE behind-the-ear
  • the one-piece body is provided with an indentation.
  • the indentation may be configured to converge or diverge light like an optical lens.
  • the one-piece body is provided with an indentation provided in the transparent section.
  • the indentation is provided in the central portion of the button.
  • the thickness of the transparent section equals the thickness opaque section.
  • the thickness of the transparent section is smaller than the thickness opaque section. According to another aspect of the disclosure, the thickness of the transparent section is larger than the thickness of the opaque section.
  • a hearing aid is adapted to improve or augment a user's hearing capability by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears.
  • the "hearing aid” may further refer to a device adapted to receive an audio signal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears.
  • Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear.
  • the hearing aid is adapted to be worn in any known way. This may include i) arranging a unit of the hearing aid behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a receiver/ loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal such as in a behind-the-ear type hearing aid, and/ or ii) arranging the hearing aid entirely or partly in the pinna and/ or in the ear canal of the user such as in an in-the-ear type hearing aid or in-the-canal/ completely-in-canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing aid attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in bone-anchored hearing aids or cochlear implants, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing aid as an entirely or partly implanted unit such as in bone-anchored hearing aids or cochlear implant.
  • a hearing aid in general, includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal.
  • the hearing aid further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.
  • the input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing.
  • a directional microphone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment.
  • the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods.
  • the signal processing unit may include an amplifier that is adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal.
  • the signal processing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc.
  • the output unit may include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal.
  • the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electric signals such as in a cochlear implant.
  • Fig. 1A illustrates a schematic view of a hearing aid 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14, a sound hook 16 and a button 4.
  • the button 4 is a push button configured to be pushed down in a first configuration and in another configuration.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises an indentation 10 and a light source provided below the indentation 10.
  • the light source 6 emits light 12 indicated by lines.
  • the light source 6 may be a LED.
  • the push button 4 is a one-piece body that constitutes part of the periphery of the hearing aid 2.
  • the press button 4 may be a painted structure and the indentation 10 may have has received a laser treatment for removing the paint in order to be transparent.
  • Fig. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a hearing aid 2 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14, a sound hook 16 and a press button 4 configured to be pushed down in a first configuration and in another configuration.
  • the press button 4 is a one-piece body.
  • a light source 6 is provided below a transparent section of the housing 14.
  • the emitted light 12 is indicated with lines.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of hearing aid 2 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14 and a press button 4 provided with an indentation 10 arranged in the central area of the button 4.
  • the indentation 14 is semi-cylindrical and comprises a longitudinal axis Y extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the button 4.
  • the first tactile switch 8 is configured to be activated upon pressing the button 4 into a first configuration by pressing down the first end 28.
  • the second tactile switch 8' is configured to be activated upon pressing the button 4 into a second configuration by pressing down the second end 30.
  • the light source 6 is arranged between the two switches 8, 8'. The light source 6 emits light 12 that is transmitted through the transparent indentation and absorbed by the remaining portion of the cover of the button 4.
  • Fig. 3A illustrates a schematic side view of a hearing aid 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a light source 6 arranged below a transparent area provided in the housing 14 of the hearing aid 2.
  • the housing 14 may be produced in a transparent material (e.g. an injection moulded plastic material) that is painted.
  • the paint may be removed (e.g. by laser treatment) in the area intended to allow for transmission of light 12.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a press button 4.
  • Fig. 3B illustrates a schematic perspective view of BTE hearing aid 2 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14, a sound hook 16 and a press button 4 provided as a one-piece body.
  • a light source 6 is integrated in the housing.
  • the light source 6 is provided below an oval transparent section of the housing 14 and the emitted light 12 is indicated with lines.
  • Fig. 4A illustrates a close-up view of the lower portion a hearing aid 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 4 comprises a housing 14 provided with a press button 4.
  • a light source 6 is arranged below the central portion of the cover of the button 4.
  • the light source 6 emits light 12 that is transmitted through a transparent section of the button 4 surrounded by an opaque section.
  • the light source is arranged in a position that allows for transmission of light 12 through the transparent section of the button 4.
  • Fig. 4B shows a schematic perspective view of hearing aid 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14 and a sound hook 16 attached thereto.
  • a button 4 is provided in the lower portion of the housing, whereas a light source 6 is provided below a transparent section of the housing 14.
  • the light source 6 emits light 12 indicated with lines.
  • Fig. 4C illustrates a schematic perspective view of hearing aid 2 according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14 and a sound hook 16 attached to the housing 14.
  • An earmould 18 is attached to the distal end of the sound hook 16.
  • a light source 6 is provided below a transparent section of the top portion of the housing 14.
  • the light source 6 emits light 12 and functions as a light indicator.
  • the hearing aid 2 is a BTE hearing aid 2.
  • Fig. 4D illustrates a schematic perspective view of hearing aid 2 according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the hearing aid 2 comprises a housing 14 and a thin tube 22 attached to the top section of the housing 14.
  • a micro-mould 20 is attached to the distal end of the tube 22.
  • a light source 6 is provided below a transparent section of the top portion of the housing 14.
  • the light source 6 emits light 12 and functions as a light indicator.
  • the hearing aid 2 is a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid 2.
  • Fig. 5A illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a structure according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the structure is a housing 14 of a hearing aid 2.
  • the housing 14 is formed as a plane plate-shaped structure.
  • the housing 14 comprises a transparent section 24 surrounded by an opaque section 26.
  • the thickness D 1 of the transparent section 24 equals the thickness D 2 opaque section 26.
  • the thickness D 1 of the transparent section is smaller than the thickness opaque section.
  • the thickness of the transparent section is larger than the thickness D 2 of the opaque section.
  • the thickness D 1 of the transparent section is larger than the thickness opaque section.
  • a light source 6 is provided in a distance D 3 below the housing 14.
  • the light source 6 is a LED.
  • Fig. 5B illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a structure according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the structure is a button 4 of a hearing aid 2.
  • the button 4 comprises a plane plate-shaped structure provided with a transparent section 24 surrounded by an opaque section 26.
  • the thickness D 1 of the transparent section 24 equals the thickness D 2 opaque section 26.
  • a light source 6 is provided in a distance D 3 below the plane plate-shaped structure of the button 4.
  • the thickness of the transparent section is larger than the thickness D 2 of the opaque section.
  • the thickness D 1 of the transparent section 24 is larger than the thickness opaque section 26.
  • connection or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled.
  • the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method are not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
EP15182177.4A 2015-08-24 2015-08-24 Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux Withdrawn EP3136752A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15182177.4A EP3136752A1 (fr) 2015-08-24 2015-08-24 Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15182177.4A EP3136752A1 (fr) 2015-08-24 2015-08-24 Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3136752A1 true EP3136752A1 (fr) 2017-03-01

Family

ID=53969276

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15182177.4A Withdrawn EP3136752A1 (fr) 2015-08-24 2015-08-24 Prothèse auditive avec indicateur lumineux

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3136752A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3407628A1 (fr) * 2017-05-24 2018-11-28 Oticon Medical A/S Prothèse auditive comprenant une unité d'indicateur
US11388530B2 (en) 2018-07-19 2022-07-12 Cochlear Limited Sub-surface indicator lighting

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060245611A1 (en) * 2003-06-04 2006-11-02 Oticon A/S Hearing aid with visual indicator
EP1722597A1 (fr) * 2005-05-11 2006-11-15 Oticon A/S Procédé pour l'identification d'une prothèse auditive et prothèse auditive avec une identification visuelle
US20130016861A1 (en) * 2011-07-15 2013-01-17 Hansaton Akustik Gmbh Hearing aid with optical signal transmission and charge system with optical signal transmission
US20140011013A1 (en) * 2010-12-20 2014-01-09 The Regents Of The University Of California Superhydrophobic and superoleophobic nanosurfaces
WO2014113044A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Advanced Bionics Ag Support de batterie amovible dans un dispositif d'aide auditive
US20150163606A1 (en) * 2013-12-06 2015-06-11 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Visual indicators for a hearing aid

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060245611A1 (en) * 2003-06-04 2006-11-02 Oticon A/S Hearing aid with visual indicator
EP1722597A1 (fr) * 2005-05-11 2006-11-15 Oticon A/S Procédé pour l'identification d'une prothèse auditive et prothèse auditive avec une identification visuelle
US20140011013A1 (en) * 2010-12-20 2014-01-09 The Regents Of The University Of California Superhydrophobic and superoleophobic nanosurfaces
US20130016861A1 (en) * 2011-07-15 2013-01-17 Hansaton Akustik Gmbh Hearing aid with optical signal transmission and charge system with optical signal transmission
WO2014113044A1 (fr) * 2013-01-15 2014-07-24 Advanced Bionics Ag Support de batterie amovible dans un dispositif d'aide auditive
US20150163606A1 (en) * 2013-12-06 2015-06-11 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Visual indicators for a hearing aid

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3407628A1 (fr) * 2017-05-24 2018-11-28 Oticon Medical A/S Prothèse auditive comprenant une unité d'indicateur
US10433080B2 (en) 2017-05-24 2019-10-01 Oticon Medical A/S Hearing aid comprising an indicator unit
US11388530B2 (en) 2018-07-19 2022-07-12 Cochlear Limited Sub-surface indicator lighting
US11956599B2 (en) 2018-07-19 2024-04-09 Cochlear Limited Sub-surface indicator lighting

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