EP4099720A1 - Dispositif auditif - Google Patents

Dispositif auditif Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4099720A1
EP4099720A1 EP21177424.5A EP21177424A EP4099720A1 EP 4099720 A1 EP4099720 A1 EP 4099720A1 EP 21177424 A EP21177424 A EP 21177424A EP 4099720 A1 EP4099720 A1 EP 4099720A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing device
inner compartment
sealed inner
compartment
receiver
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21177424.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Henrik Nielsen
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.)
GN Hearing AS
Original Assignee
GN Hearing 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 GN Hearing AS filed Critical GN Hearing AS
Priority to EP21177424.5A priority Critical patent/EP4099720A1/fr
Priority to US17/715,932 priority patent/US20220394401A1/en
Priority to JP2022084798A priority patent/JP2022185574A/ja
Priority to CN202210597959.2A priority patent/CN115442692A/zh
Publication of EP4099720A1 publication Critical patent/EP4099720A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • 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
    • H04R25/602—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of batteries
    • 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
    • H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04R2225/31—Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
    • 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
    • H04R25/607—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of earhooks
    • 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
    • H04R25/609—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of circuitry

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hearing device. More particularly, the invention relates to a hearing device comprising a rechargeable battery.
  • Hearing devices such as hearing aids and ear buds, are increasingly being made with rechargeable batteries for convenience and environmental reasons. Improvements in rechargeable battery technology has made it possible to achieve batteries with high capacity and high voltage in a compact package. However, these advances necessitate the rechargeable batteries be encapsulated.
  • an improved hearing device would be advantageous, and in particular a more efficient and/or improved hearing device with a rechargeable battery would be advantageous.
  • the hearing device comprises an outer shell, the outer shell defining an outer compartment.
  • the hearing device further comprises a receiver, and a rechargeable battery.
  • the hearing device comprises a sealed inner compartment arranged in the outer compartment, wherein the receiver and the rechargeable battery are both arranged in the sealed inner compartment.
  • a good acoustic sealing of the receiver may be achieved, eliminating or reducing sound leakage from the receiver out of the hearing device and/or to one or more optional microphone(s) of the hearing device.
  • an efficient mechanical and electrical sealing of the rechargeable battery is obtained. Sealing both the receiver and the battery in a single inner compartment achieves a particularly space efficient and/or mechanically simple solution.
  • the microphone(s) may be arranged in the outer compartment outside the inner compartment.
  • the sealed inner compartment is airtight.
  • the receiver and the rechargeable battery may be sealed from humidity and contamination from ambient air, thus limiting corrosion or other types of degradation of the device.
  • airtight it is meant that at atmospheric pressure the gas flow of atmospheric gas between the inside and outside of the inner compartment will be substantially zero.
  • the sealed inner compartment is watertight.
  • the hearing device may be more resilient to influence from fluids, such as rain, sweat, etc.
  • watertight it is meant that the sealed inner compartment fulfills the requirements of at least the IP67 rating.
  • the receiver and rechargeable battery combined take up at least 40% of a volume of the sealed inner compartment, such as at least 50% of the volume of the sealed inner compartment, or even at least 60% of the volume of the sealed inner compartment.
  • the hearing device further comprises a power management circuit arranged in the sealed inner compartment.
  • the sealed inner compartment is fixed to the housing frame.
  • the sealed inner compartment is fixed by an adhesive to the housing frame.
  • the sealed inner compartment is fixed to the housing frame by one or more of heat soldering, ultrasonic welding, interference fit, and snap fit.
  • the sealed inner compartment is integrally formed in the housing frame.
  • the hearing device further comprises a magnetic induction (MI) coil arranged in the outer compartment, outside the sealed inner compartment.
  • MI magnetic induction
  • hearing device further comprises a magnetic induction (MI) coil arranged in the sealed inner compartment.
  • MI magnetic induction
  • the hearing device further comprises an inductive charging coil, the inductive charging coil being arranged inside the sealed inner compartment.
  • the hearing device further comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), the printed circuit board assembly being arranged in the outer compartment, outside the sealed inner compartment.
  • PCBA printed circuit board assembly
  • the hearing device further comprises a signal processor, the signal processor being arranged in the outer compartment, outside the sealed inner compartment.
  • the signal processor is coupled to the microphone(s) to process audio signals by frequency dependent amplification based on a user's frequency dependent hearing loss.
  • the signal processor is coupled to the receiver so that the receiver may generate an audible acoustic signal representing sound captured by the microphone(s) compensated for the user's hearing loss.
  • the sealed inner compartment is made from metal, plastic, composites, or a combination thereof.
  • the sealed inner compartment comprises a lid.
  • the sealed inner compartment comprises one or more openings for electrical connections between units of the hearing device arranged in the sealed inner compartment and units in the outer compartment, outside the sealed inner compartment.
  • the one or more openings comprises sealings, the sealings being arranged to seal with respect to sound and/or humidity leakage along the electrical connections.
  • the sealings are separate from the sealed inner compartment.
  • the sealings are molded using two-component moulding together with the plastic frame.
  • the hearing device is a hearing aid.
  • the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear, BTE, hearing aid.
  • the hearing device is an ear bud.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a partly assembled hearing device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the hearing device 100 is here illustrated as a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises an outer shell (not shown) that defines an outer compartment.
  • the outer shell is mounted onto and supported internally by a housing frame 102.
  • the housing frame 102 defines an inner limit of the outer compartment.
  • a sealed inner compartment 108 is arranged within the outer compartment and is configured to hold a receiver 104 and a rechargeable battery 106.
  • the receiver 104 comprises a speaker, which in this embodiment is in communication with a wearer via a sound port 110 and a sound tube connected thereto (not shown).
  • the hearing device 100 may be reduced in size while maintaining a desired level of protection of both the battery 106 and receiver 104. For instance, it is seen from the figure that no wall is needed between the rechargeable battery 106 and receiver 104, which directly enables a space saving.
  • PCBA printed circuit board assembly
  • Other components of the hearing device 100 may then also be arranged outside the sealed inner compartment, such as one of more of a microphone, a push button, a volume control, a magnetic induction (MI) coil, and a wireless antenna.
  • MI magnetic induction
  • FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the hearing device 100 according to the invention.
  • This embodiment relates to the embodiment of figure 1 , where like reference numerals refer to like parts, and only the differences will be described here.
  • a power management circuit 220 is arranged on top of the rechargeable battery 106, i.e. within the sealed inner compartment 108.
  • the power management circuit 220 may be arranged in a metal housing for noise protection.
  • An advantage of this embodiment is that the power management circuit 220 is then also environmentally protected inside the sealed inner compartment 108.
  • the power management circuit 220 arranged in the sealed inner compartment may optionally comprise a MI coil. In other embodiments, the MI coil may be arranged in the outer compartment.
  • FIG 3a shows details of the housing frame 102 according to embodiments of the invention. These embodiments relate to the embodiments of figures 1 and 2 , where like reference numerals refer to like parts.
  • the housing frame 102 shown is similar to the housing frames 102 of figure 1 and 2 , but shown without the receiver 104 and rechargeable battery 106 mounted.
  • the inner compartment is seen in this embodiment to comprise a receiver section 330 suitable for housing the receiver 104, and a battery section 332 suitable for housing the rechargeable battery 106.
  • the receiver section 330 and the battery section 332 are seen to be connected via a narrowing 334.
  • the two sections 330, 332 are open towards each other and not separated by wall. This is advantageous for reducing the dimensions of the assembled hearing device 100.
  • a top opening 336 of the housing frame 102 may be shaped with an architecture such as an edge for placement, fixation, and sealing of a lid.
  • a recessed edge part may be arranged along the top opening 336 of the housing frame 102.
  • a lid 338 is shown to match up with the top opening 336 of the housing frame 102. Mounting the lid 338 on the housing frame 102 may for instance be achieved by use of an adhesive to fixate the lid 338 and seal the inner compartment 108.
  • the lid 338 may be mounted with ultrasonic welding, ultra-violet (UV) cured glue, a press fitting, or the like.
  • the lid 338 may for instance be made from a metal, a polymer, or a composite material.
  • Figure 3c shows a bottom side 340 of the housing frame 102.
  • the housing frame 102 and the bottom side 340 are integrally formed, for instance by casting or moulding.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a hearing device 100 according to the invention.
  • the shown hearing device 100 is a behind the ear hearing aid configured for placement behind a user's ear.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises an outer shell 114, which defines an outer compartment 118.
  • a sealed inner compartment 108 is arranged in the outer compartment 118.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises multiple microphones 112 arranged in the outer compartment 118 outside the inner compartment 108.
  • the microphones 112 are configured for capturing sound and providing an electric input signal representing the captured sound.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises a signal processor 116 arranged in the outer compartment 118 outside the inner compartment 108.
  • the signal processor 116 is coupled to the microphones 112 and configured for processing the electric input signal to provide an electric output signal based on the electric input signal.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises an antenna 120, preferably an MI coil, configured for wireless communication, i.e. transmission and/or reception of wireless signals, with another hearing device and/or an external device, such as a smart phone or external microphone.
  • the antenna 120 is coupled to a wireless communication device, such as a radio.
  • the wireless communication device is incorporated in the signal processor 116 but it may also be provided by a separate unit, such as a radio chip.
  • the signal processor 116 may also process signals received by the antenna 120 so that the electric output signal may be based on both the electric input signal and received wireless signals.
  • the hearing device 100 comprises a rechargeable battery 106 arranged in the inner compartment 108.
  • the hearing device 100 further comprises a receiver 104 arranged in the inner compartment 108.
  • the receiver 104 is coupled to the signal processor 116 and is configured for generating an acoustic signal based on the electric output signal.
  • the sealed inner compartment 108 is provided with an electrical interface 122, which allows for coupling between electric components arranged inside the inner compartment 108, such as the rechargeable battery 106 and the receiver 104, and electric components arranged outside the inner compartment 108, such as the microphones 112, the signal processor 116, and the antenna 120, while maintaining the seal of the inner compartment 108.
  • Some or all of the electric components arranged outside the inner compartment 108, such as the microphones 112, the signal processor 116, and the antenna 120, may be provided on and/or in a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) arranged outside the inner compartment 108.
  • PCBA printed circuit board assembly

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
EP21177424.5A 2021-06-02 2021-06-02 Dispositif auditif Pending EP4099720A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21177424.5A EP4099720A1 (fr) 2021-06-02 2021-06-02 Dispositif auditif
US17/715,932 US20220394401A1 (en) 2021-06-02 2022-04-07 Hearing device
JP2022084798A JP2022185574A (ja) 2021-06-02 2022-05-24 聴覚装置
CN202210597959.2A CN115442692A (zh) 2021-06-02 2022-05-30 听力设备

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21177424.5A EP4099720A1 (fr) 2021-06-02 2021-06-02 Dispositif auditif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4099720A1 true EP4099720A1 (fr) 2022-12-07

Family

ID=76250221

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21177424.5A Pending EP4099720A1 (fr) 2021-06-02 2021-06-02 Dispositif auditif

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4099720A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090208045A1 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-20 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Water-resistant hearing device
US20150256941A1 (en) * 2012-09-18 2015-09-10 Phonak Ag Cic hearing device
WO2021041843A1 (fr) * 2019-08-30 2021-03-04 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Appareils auditifs avec récepteur postérieur à la batterie

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090208045A1 (en) * 2008-02-15 2009-08-20 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Water-resistant hearing device
US20150256941A1 (en) * 2012-09-18 2015-09-10 Phonak Ag Cic hearing device
WO2021041843A1 (fr) * 2019-08-30 2021-03-04 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Appareils auditifs avec récepteur postérieur à la batterie

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9628881B2 (en) Speaker
US7292700B1 (en) Microphone for a hearing aid
US7680292B2 (en) Personal listening device
US8254609B2 (en) Microphones sharing a common acoustic part and volume
KR102447696B1 (ko) 웨어러블 오디오 장치용 통합 서브-어셈블리
US7706559B2 (en) Apparatus for suppressing radio frequency interference in a microphone assembly with preamplifier
CN106162479A (zh) 助听器
EP3101914B1 (fr) Ensemble microphone avec port acoustique intégré
US20100208927A1 (en) Microphone module for a hearing device
US10362419B2 (en) Hearing aid with electronics frame and antenna integrated therein
WO2006038943A1 (fr) Procede et dispositif d'alimentation d'un appareil auditif
US20200059739A1 (en) Filter for a microphone system, a microphone system, a miniature electronic device and a method of equipping a printed circuit board
CN104581591A (zh) 具有可中断麦克风电源的听力仪器
EP4099720A1 (fr) Dispositif auditif
US8295521B2 (en) Hearing apparatus comprising a membrane on the battery compartment interior
US20220394401A1 (en) Hearing device
DK202170285A1 (en) Hearing device
US8755551B2 (en) Hearing apparatus having a special sound channel
CN114640915A (zh) 入耳式声学装置
US20230300546A1 (en) Hearing device
CN214708021U (zh) 一种无线耳机
CN217388924U (zh) 一种音箱箱体结构
CN209806086U (zh) 一种发声装置模组和终端设备
US20180317032A1 (en) Method for producing a supporting frame of a hearing aid, supporting frame and hearing aid
EP1209758A1 (fr) Antenne pour appareil mobile de télécommunication, et appareil équipé d'une telle antenne

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20230606

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR