WO1994013116A1 - Transducteurs enfichables dans des protheses auditives - Google Patents

Transducteurs enfichables dans des protheses auditives Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994013116A1
WO1994013116A1 PCT/US1993/011344 US9311344W WO9413116A1 WO 1994013116 A1 WO1994013116 A1 WO 1994013116A1 US 9311344 W US9311344 W US 9311344W WO 9413116 A1 WO9413116 A1 WO 9413116A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
transducer
hearing aid
socket
passage
ear
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1993/011344
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas F. Longwell
Mark S. Gorder
Michael P. Geraci
Original Assignee
Knowles Electronics, Inc.
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 Knowles Electronics, Inc. filed Critical Knowles Electronics, Inc.
Priority to AU56747/94A priority Critical patent/AU5674794A/en
Publication of WO1994013116A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994013116A1/fr

Links

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
    • H04R25/60—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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to hearing aids and more particularly relates to an ear-insertable hearing aid which includes two acoustic transducers, one microphone and the other a receiver or acoustic reproducer.
  • Miniaturization of hearing aids is and has been a prime objective of the hearing aid industry.
  • Hearing aids have been miniaturized to where they can be fully inserted into the ear so that the hearing aids are not visible except in a close-up, full profile view of the user's ear.
  • miniaturization of hearing aids presents a number of problems, including the manufacture and replacement of components which do not operate in the intended way. For example, the replacement of a spent battery becomes more difficult in a miniaturized hearing aid because of tight space requirements.
  • the battery housing must be accessible through the chamber wall of the hearing aid, preferably without necessitating the complete disassembly and reassembly of the hearing aid. This difficulty has been reasonably well met in the prior art.
  • hearing aids for use in today's environment are also customized for a particular user.
  • an in- dividual user may require a receiver or a microphone which is more sensitive to particular bands of frequencies or may require one or more components that are primarily operational in a particular intensity range.
  • a hearing aid is assembled and completely sealed, only to determine that it is not suitable for the intended individual user. In that case, the hearing aid must be disassembled to replace the defective or unsuitable component or components with a component that is suitable for the required use.
  • Disassembly of a prior art hearing aid has often required the cutting of the housing wall to provide access to the component requiring replacement.
  • the hearing aid of Carlson U.S. Patent No. 4,800,982 it may be necessary to cut the outer portion of the housing assembly open in order to replace a microphone or an acoustic transducer. Convenient, ready access to the inside of the housing for quick and easy replacement of hearing aid components is thus highly desirable.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug-in transducer in a hearing aid which is easily replaceable and can be quickly and conveniently removed and replaced within the housing of the hearing aid without requiring cutting or mutilation of the outer wall of the hearing aid housing.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide access to components which are disposed within a hearing aid housing, which access is admitted through apertures in the housing wall.
  • the invention relates to a hearing aid of the kind that fits into an ear of a user, the hearing aid including a housing having a size and configuration adapted to fit into a human ear and including plural housing walls defining an enclosed hearing aid chamber and amplifier means mounted in the chamber, the housing having a sound transmission passage through one housing wall.
  • the improved construction of the invention comprises a transducer socket mounted in the housing in alignment with the sound transmission passage with a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the socket and electrically connected to a plurality of electrical leads within the hearing aid chamber, the leads being connected to the amplifier means.
  • An electroacoustical transducer is mounted in interfitting relation with the socket, through the sound transmission passage, the transducer including a plurality of electrical contacts engaging the socket contacts when the transducer is mounted in place in the sound transmission passage.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevation view of one embodiment of a hearing aid constructed in accordance with the invention, showing various elements as seen from the outside of the housing;
  • FIG. 2 is a detail section view, on a greatly enlarged scale, which illustrates the inventive hearing aid, taken approximately along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away view of the cover, aperture and acoustic opening of the transducer
  • FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away view similar to FIG. 3 with the cover removed;
  • FIG. 5 is a detail view, in partial cross section, of a transducer according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a detail side view in partial cross-section of the transducer shown in FIG. 5, taken approximately along line 6-6 in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the intended environment in which the invention is to be used.
  • the ear 11 of a hearing aid user is shown in phantom; a hearing aid 10 has been inserted in ear 11.
  • the outermost portion of hearing aid 10 is a faceplate 12.
  • the faceplate 12 is provided with a battery access door 14, a volume control knob 16, and a transducer cover 18.
  • the transducer cover 18 includes a pair of tabs 17 which are disposed on opposite side walls of the cover 18 ahd an aperture 19 in a central portion thereof.
  • the faceplate 12 may also support an optional switch 20 which can turn the hearing aid on or off or which can provide other functions for the invention not discussed herein.
  • the on-off switch 20 may be integral with the volume control knob 16, as is common in many applications.
  • this cross section of the hearing aid 10 illustrates, in enlarged detail, the configuration and disposition of the components comprising the inventive hearing aid.
  • the faceplate 12 is attached by adhesive or other appropriate attachment means to an inner housing wall defined by a projecting portion 22 which tapers to a shape which can project into the user's ear canal. Faceplate 12 and the projecting portion 22 together generally define a housing chamber 24 which houses the hearing aid components, as discussed below.
  • the hearing aid components comprise a volume control 26 which is in communication with control knob 16 through an aperture 28 in the faceplate 12, the connection being made by means of a shaft 30. Shaft 30 is connected to both the knob 16 and the volume control 26, and rotation of the knob 16 provides the user with control over the intensity of the signal passing through the volume control 26.
  • Another aperture in the faceplate 12 defines a passage 32, including a pair of oppositely disposed retention slots 31, and a pair of projecting eaves 33.
  • the passage 32 provides a receptacle for an electroacoustical transducer, the microphone 34.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates in greater detail that portion of the faceplate 12 which includes the passage 32 and the transducer 34, in partial cutaway view.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates in partial cross-section a side view of the faceplate 12 and transducer 34 which is shown in FIG. 5.
  • the transducer 34 is retained within the passage 32 by a socket 36 that is firmly attached to the inside surface of the faceplate 12.
  • the socket 36 is attached to the faceplate 12 by a pair of flanged socket lips 38 which extend along opposing corner walls of the socket 36.
  • a pair of corresponding projections 40 extending outwardly from the opposing walls of the socket 36 together with the lip 38 provide a catch for providing a secure connection to the projecting eave 33 of faceplate 12.
  • the transducer 34 can slide into and out of the socket 36 which retains the transducer 34.
  • the position of the microphone 34 in the socket 36 provides a tight enclosing fit when transducer cover 18 is inserted over the passage 32 so that the cover tabs 21 fit into the corresponding slots 31 of faceplate 12.
  • the transducer 34 further comprises a sound port extension 44 for receiving an acoustic signal that generally requires amplification to enable the user to hear it.
  • the sound port 44 is slightly smaller than the aperture 19 in the transducer cover 18 and projects into the aperture 19 so as to more efficiently receive the acoustic signal.
  • the socket 36 and the transducer cover 18 together retain the transducer 34 within the sound transmission passage 32 under conditions of normal use.
  • the transducer 34 further includes a slotted groove 45 (FIG. 6) for retaining the transducer 34 within the socket 36 and also includes a set of transducer contacts 46 which provide electric connection to the transducer 34. Preferably, there are three transducer contacts 46 as is shown in FIG. 5.
  • the socket 36 preferably includes a set of three socket terminals 42 (FIG. 5) which are directly attached to lead wires 74 at the end of the socket 36 which is inside the housing. Placement of the transducer 34 within the socket 36 provides electrical connection between the transducer contacts 46 and the socket terminals 42, and thus electrically connects the transducer 36 into the system of elements comprising hearing aid 10.
  • Each socket terminal 42 comprises two strips which in a preferred construction are opposed to each other thus affording an opening 43 which has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of transducer contacts 46. Insertion of the contacts 46 into the opening 43 spreads apart the opposing strips of each terminal 42 and provides a friction connection between the respective terminals 42 and contacts 46.
  • the socket 36 further provides an upraised retention dimple 47 which, matches corresponding slotted groove 45 when the microphone 34 is inserted completely within the socket 36.
  • the socket comprises a high temperature thermoplastic material and the terminals are metallic strips which are gold plated for increasing the effectiveness of the electrical contact to the transducer contacts 46.
  • a battery aperture 48 disposed within the faceplate 12 and located behind battery access cover 14, provides a receptacle for a battery 50 that engages contacts 52, 54 at either of two opposed battery ends.
  • the battery 50 can slide into the battery aperture 48 and is retained within the aperture 48 by the spring force of the spring contact 54.
  • the battery access door 14 fits over the aperture 48 and provides a further means of retaining the battery within the battery aperture 48.
  • An amplifier 56 normally comprising an integrated circuit amplifier or hybrid circuit, is located within the chamber 24 of the hearing aid housing. The amplifier 56 can be attached to one of the housing walls so as to retain it in place.
  • a second passage 60 for receiving a second transducer, the receiver or acoustic reproducer device 62.
  • the transducer 62 is retained in place by a second socket 64 which is attached to the inner wall of the conical projecting housing portion 22.
  • the tip of the conical projecting portion 22 has parallel cylindrical side walls and ends in the second sound transmission passage 60 which is enclosed by a cover 66.
  • the socket 64 is similar in structure and function to the socket 36 in that it retains the transducer 62 by means of a friction fit and also provides electrical contact to an electrical connection 68 of the second transducer 62.
  • Transducer 62 is a receiver transducer in that it is disposed at that portion of the hearing aid 10 that is closely adjacent the ear drum of the user.
  • the receiver transducer 62 generates an acoustic signal that is delivered directly to the ear canal of the user.
  • the transducer 62 further comprises a second sound port 70 which projects toward the user's ear canal.
  • the second sound port 70 is slightly smaller than an aperture 72 within the cover 66.
  • This sound port 70 projects through the aperture 72 to provide direct transmission into the user's ear canal of the acoustical signal emanating from the transducer 62.
  • the cover 66 and the socket 64 together retain the transducer 62 within the hearing aid housing.
  • the cover 66 is attached by adhesive or other attachment means to the end walls of the projecting portion 22; alternatively a friction fit may be used.
  • the amplifier 56 is provided with electrical power from the battery 50 and further obtains a signal from the transducer 34, and is amplified by the amplifier 56.
  • the volume control 26 is used to adjust effective gain of the hearing aid.
  • the amplified signal is then provided to the receiver transducer 62, which in turn utilizes the amplified electrical signal to generate an acoustical signal that passes out through sound port 70 and becomes audible to the user.
  • volume control 26 merely acts to increase or decrease the amplitude of the signal as desired by the user.
  • the electrical signal is transmitted from the volume control 26 to the amplifier 56 for amplification.
  • the amplified electrical signal is then passed through the additional leads 74 to the receiver transducer 62 which, in turn, converts the electrical signals to an acoustic signal.
  • the acoustic signal is then passed through the second sound port 70 and exits out of the hearing aid 10 and into the user's ear canal where it is heard by the user.
  • the battery 50 Electrical power for the device and for the amplification process is obtained from the battery 50 which is connected to the amplifier 56 by leads 74.
  • the battery 50 could be directly connected to the volume control 26.
  • Other modifications may be possible as long as it is understood that the battery 50 provides power to the hearing aid 10 as a whole.
  • the output transducer, receiver 62 may not generate sufficient volume in the acoustic signal output, or the microphone transducer 34 may be unduly sensitive to high frequency ranges of impinging acoustic waves but not adequately sensitive in the low ranges. In this case, the hearing aid 10 is returned to the point of purchase, usually a qualified service technician, to whom the problem is made evident.
  • a replacement transducer for device 34 or device 62 which will provide a suitable hearing aid 10 for the user.
  • a microphone 34 is illustrated in greater detail positioned in its socket 36 and also with a cover 18 covering the sound transmission passage 32 (FIG. 3). The technician first removes the cover 18 to obtain access to the transducer 34 in the sound transmission passage 32 (FIG. 4).
  • the transducer 34 is then removed from the socket 36 in which it is retained by dimple 47; the microphone 34 is withdrawn to a position outside of the faceplate 12.
  • the transducer 34 now has an exposed rear face which provides easy access to transducer contacts 46.
  • the transducer 34 is next replaced in the socket 36, making sure that the contacts 46 of the transducer 36 make a good connection to the socket terminals 46 (FIG. 6) of the socket 36.
  • the socket terminals 46 are already connected to the lead wires 74.
  • the small cover 18 is then replaced to fit over the sound transmission passage 32, making sure that the aperture 19 fits around the microphone sound port 44.
  • the cover 18 is secured in place in the faceplate 12 by depressing the cover 18 until the cover tabs 21 of cover 18 project into the corresponding retention slots 31 of the faceplate 12. Adhesive or other appropriate connection means may be used as desired.
  • Replacement of the receiver transducer 62 is similar in that cover 66 is first removed, exposing the receiver transducer 62, which is removed from its socket 64. A replacement for the receiver transducer 62 is then inserted into socket 64. When it is determined that electrical contact is made between the receiver transducer 62 and the socket terminals contacts (shown in phantom, FIG. 2) of the socket member 64, the cover 66 is again placed over the assembly and attached by adhesive or other means to the conical portion 22. A friction fit or a retention dimple (not shown) which matches a corresponding depression (not shown) in the socket member 64 may be used to retain the receiver transducer 62 in socket member 64. As before, the aperture 72 in cover 66 must be aligned over the sound port 70 of transducer 62.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Measurement Of The Respiration, Hearing Ability, Form, And Blood Characteristics Of Living Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

Une prothèse 'intra-conque' est constituée d'un support de transducteur (36) raccordé à un amplificateur (56) par une pluralité de conducteurs électriques (74) alignés avec un passage (32) dans la paroi du boîtier (12) et le fermant. Un transducteur (34) s'enfiche dans le support depuis l'extérieur du boîtier, une gaine de protection (18) pouvant être prévue pour l'extérieur du transducteur. Ledit transducteur peut être un microphone (34) placé dans la paroi extérieure du boîtier, ou un récepteur (62) placé dans une paroi interne du boîtier.
PCT/US1993/011344 1992-11-23 1993-11-22 Transducteurs enfichables dans des protheses auditives WO1994013116A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU56747/94A AU5674794A (en) 1992-11-23 1993-11-22 Plug-in transducers in hearing aids

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US98054892A 1992-11-23 1992-11-23
US07/980,548 1992-11-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994013116A1 true WO1994013116A1 (fr) 1994-06-09

Family

ID=25527651

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1993/011344 WO1994013116A1 (fr) 1992-11-23 1993-11-22 Transducteurs enfichables dans des protheses auditives

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5674794A (fr)
WO (1) WO1994013116A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000004743A1 (fr) * 1998-07-14 2000-01-27 Sarnoff Corporation Appareil electroacoustique modulaire
WO2001069963A2 (fr) * 2000-03-13 2001-09-20 Sarnoff Corporation Trou de passage et technique de montage en surface pour recepteurs d'appareil auditif hautement automatisables
WO2007013853A1 (fr) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Support de microphone pour prothèses auditives
EP1626612A3 (fr) * 2004-08-11 2009-05-06 Sonion Nederland B.V. Structure de montage d'un microphone dans une prothèse auditive et procédé de montage correspondent
EP1287721B2 (fr) † 2000-06-06 2009-08-05 Phonak Ag Procede permettant de produire une prothese auditive situee dans l'oreille

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4550227A (en) * 1983-08-16 1985-10-29 Topholm & Westermann I/S In-the-ear hearing aid
US4854415A (en) * 1987-03-23 1989-08-08 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Hearing aid whose components are mounted in a hearing aid housing
US4937876A (en) * 1988-09-26 1990-06-26 U.S. Philips Corporation In-the-ear hearing aid

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4550227A (en) * 1983-08-16 1985-10-29 Topholm & Westermann I/S In-the-ear hearing aid
US4854415A (en) * 1987-03-23 1989-08-08 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Hearing aid whose components are mounted in a hearing aid housing
US4937876A (en) * 1988-09-26 1990-06-26 U.S. Philips Corporation In-the-ear hearing aid

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000004743A1 (fr) * 1998-07-14 2000-01-27 Sarnoff Corporation Appareil electroacoustique modulaire
US6389143B1 (en) 1998-07-14 2002-05-14 Sarnoff Corporation Modular electroacoustic instrument
WO2001069963A2 (fr) * 2000-03-13 2001-09-20 Sarnoff Corporation Trou de passage et technique de montage en surface pour recepteurs d'appareil auditif hautement automatisables
WO2001069963A3 (fr) * 2000-03-13 2002-06-27 Sarnoff Corp Trou de passage et technique de montage en surface pour recepteurs d'appareil auditif hautement automatisables
EP1287721B2 (fr) † 2000-06-06 2009-08-05 Phonak Ag Procede permettant de produire une prothese auditive situee dans l'oreille
EP1626612A3 (fr) * 2004-08-11 2009-05-06 Sonion Nederland B.V. Structure de montage d'un microphone dans une prothèse auditive et procédé de montage correspondent
US7961899B2 (en) 2004-08-11 2011-06-14 Sonion Nederland B.V. Hearing aid microphone mounting structure and method for mounting
WO2007013853A1 (fr) * 2005-07-28 2007-02-01 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Support de microphone pour prothèses auditives

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5674794A (en) 1994-06-22

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