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
  • H04R25/658—Manufacture of housing parts
• • 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
  • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
  • H04R25/654—Ear wax retarders

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an in-the-ear hearing device with an electrical / acoustic transducer arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing an in-the-ear hearing device according to the preamble of claim 9.
• a desired damping can also be achieved with such a membrane.
• At least the free-swinging part of the membrane is made of a single material, is preferably rubber-elastic, e.g. made of latex or silicone rubber.
• the membrane provided according to the invention has a constant thickness at least at the said part.
• the structural design for the hearing aid is thus increased only insignificantly by providing the membrane mentioned.
• the preferred membrane material e.g. Latex or silicone, is extremely inexpensive and is made with a uniform, small thickness, is resistant and harmless in terms of behavior in contact with living tissue.
• the above-mentioned membrane is attached in the immediate area of the device outlet, with which cleaning-problematic indentations and indentations on the device are eliminated at least in the area of its acoustic outlet.
• the acoustic output of the transducer arrangement can be connected to the acoustic output opening of the hearing device housing by means of a hose connector, but in a preferred embodiment the acoustic output of the electrical / acoustic transducer arrangement is direct is arranged in the region of the exit opening of the hearing device housing.
• the exit opening of the hearing aid is formed by a plate-like connection, for example welded or glued, to the rest of the hearing aid housing.
• the membrane closing the outlet opening of the device is formed in one piece with the mentioned part or is provided as a separate part on the mentioned part. If necessary, the membrane can also be placed like a sock over the hearing aid housing.
• This section is then preferably made of rubber-elastic material, e.g. made of latex or silicone.
• the manufacturing method according to the invention for the mentioned in-the-ear hearing aid is further characterized according to the wording of claim 9.
• the transducer arrangement is positioned in a sack opening of a carrier plate, the bottom part of which is formed by a membrane. By relative movement of the carrier plate and the hearing device housing, the transducer arrangement is then inserted into the hearing device housing from the end forming the acoustic output of the hearing device housing. Then the carrier plate is connected to the hearing device housing, for example glued or welded, and then the carrier plate is molded along the contour of the hearing device housing.
• the membrane is formed in one piece with the carrier plate, the carrier plate preferably made of a rubber-elastic material, for example of latex or silicone, or the membrane is applied as a film-like element to the carrier plate, initially with through openings, as glued on , whereby the bag openings are formed first.
• the present invention aims to significantly reduce the manufacturing effort required for this.
• this is basically achieved by automatically inserting the transducer arrangement into the hearing aid housing.
• the transducer arrangement is inserted into the opening through an opening forming the acoustic output of the hearing device housing Housing introduced.
• this is done by positioning the transducer arrangement in a receptacle opening of a carrier plate, then by moving the carrier plate relative to the hearing aid housing, the transducer arrangement from the end forming the acoustic output of the hearing aid housing into the housing mentioned.
• the carrier plate is then connected to the hearing device housing, for example by being glued or welded, and then the carrier plate is molded along the outer contour of the hearing device, it is achieved that the transducer arrangement remains positioned and held in the mentioned carrier plate and thus the positioning of the transducer arrangement in the device housing is only a question of the exact feed movement of the device housing and carrier plate. As already mentioned, this procedure is ideal for automated assembly.
• FIG. 1 shows the diagram of a converter arrangement which is designed as a module
• FIG. 2a shows a further embodiment of the converter according to FIG. 2, schematized, with a membrane according to the invention
• FIG. 3 further schematically shows the installation of a transducer arrangement on an in-the-ear hearing device according to the invention with a membrane provided according to the invention;
• FIG. 4 in a representation analogous to that of FIG. 3, a further possibility of installing a transducer arrangement with the membrane according to the invention on an in-the-ear hearing aid according to the invention;
• FIGS. 3 and 4 in a representation analogous to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further preferred embodiment variant which acoustically see part of a device of an in-the-ear hearing device according to the invention.
• the converter module 1 shows, schematically, a converter module for the basic explanation of the acoustic coupling ratios.
• the converter module 1 comprises a loudspeaker housing 3, in which the loudspeaker membrane 5 is mounted.
• the loudspeaker diaphragm 5 is excited by a motor drive 7, which is only shown schematically.
• a front space R ⁇ and a rear space R 2 are formed by the loudspeaker membrane 5.
• One of the two mentioned spaces, for example the rear R 2 is acoustically coupled to an intermediate space 11, formed between the loudspeaker housing 3 and an encapsulating housing 13, via acoustic decoupling openings 9.
• the encapsulating housing 13 and thus the intermediate space 11 surround the loudspeaker housing 3 in essentially completely, apart from resilient bearing parts 15, by means of which the loudspeaker housing is spaced within the encapsulation housing 13, is mounted essentially "floating".
• the front space Ri is connected to the acoustic output A A of the converter module 1.
• a diaphragm is provided on the acoustic output A A , as shown schematically at 17.
• the membrane 17 is free-swinging apart from its marginal clamping. It preferably consists of a homogeneous material phase, preferably of a rubber-elastic material, for example of latex or silicone rubber, and, more preferably, has a constant thickness of approximately 100 ⁇ m, preferably of at most 0.09 mm.
• the membrane 17 By coordinating the acoustic impedance of the space 11 with the space R 2 , the space R as far as the membrane 17, the membrane 17 and the acoustic conductor, which may be further propagating to the environment U of the transducer module 1, the membrane 17 is practically achieved looks acoustically transparent.
• the loudspeaker housing 3 with the coupling openings 9 is mounted on the encapsulation housing 13 by means of rubber-elastic bearing blocks 19.
• the encapsulating housing 13 is formed by a cup 20, which preferably acts simultaneously as a magnetic shield and, for this purpose, preferably consists of ⁇ -metal. In any case, the cup 20 is preferably metallic.
• the cup 20 is closed by a closing part 22.
• the membrane 17 already presented in FIG. 1 can be mounted directly on the end part 22.
• the end part 22 and the membrane 17 can be formed in one piece, but then the material of the end part 22 meets the material requirements for the membrane, for example regarding rubber elasticity, has to suffice.
• the entire part 22 is then made of latex or silicone rubber. Otherwise, the membrane 17 is anchored as a separate part on the end part 22.
• the membrane 17 can also be provided between the acoustic output A 3 in the loudspeaker housing 3 and the clear opening in the part 22.
• the membrane 17 is preferably provided flush with the clear opening in the end part 22, with the result that the entire converter module 1 appears as a self-contained, encapsulated unit and can be easily cleaned. This is particularly important if, as will be shown, the output A A of the converter module 1 is located directly at the acoustic output of a hearing aid.
• the converter module or its encapsulation housing 13 can be cubic, cylindrical or in another, essentially any shape, provided that the required space 11, essentially enclosing the loudspeaker housing 3, is stretched between the loudspeaker housing 3 and the encapsulation housing 13.
• a further embodiment is shown only schematically in FIG. 2a, starting from the explanations for FIG. 2.
• a rubber-elastic stocking 17a is pulled over the encapsulation housing 13. It forms the end part 22 and membrane 17 at the same time.
• FIG. 3 schematically shows the section of an in-the-ear hearing aid 24 with the acoustic output opening A 24 .
• the transducer module 1 constructed according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2a is installed within the device housing 26, namely by holding and positioning it in the housing 26 of the hearing aid in a positive or non-positive manner, as schematized with the mounting and positioning tabs 28 in FIG. 3 is. This is made possible by the acoustic decoupling of the outer coupling housing 13 with respect to the loudspeaker housing 3, which is implemented on the converter module explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2a.
• the structure of the in-the-ear hearing device is essentially as previously known, in that the acoustic output of the transducer module 1 is connected to the acoustic output opening A 24 of the device via a pipe socket 30.
• the membrane 17 provided in a preferred embodiment is installed in the immediate area of the acoustic output A 24 on the hearing device housing 26.
• the converter module 1 is mounted in the area of the acoustic output A 24 of the hearing aid 24 or the housing 26 in a positive or non-positive manner, as shown with the schematically illustrated brackets 28a.
• the free-floating membrane 17 is provided at the end.
• the housing 26 of the in-the-ear hearing aid 24 is formed on the one hand by a main housing part 24a, but at the end, plate-like, a terminal part 24b is placed on the part 24a, glued or welded to the part 24a.
• the or a preferably provided membrane of the type described above is shown in a preferred position.
• the structure according to FIG. 5, whether for hearing aids with a converter module according to FIGS. 1, 2, 2a, or for hearing aids with known converter arrangements, ie with a loudspeaker housing located directly outside, has significant advantages.
• the membrane 17 can be formed in one piece with the part 24b, in particular because the part 24b which is separated from the rest of the housing 26 can be used to select the material of this part in accordance with the requirements of the membrane 17.
• 6 (a) to 6 (c) schematically show the sequence of a preferred production process for in-the-ear hearing aids.
• receiving openings 36 are provided in a carrier plate 34 and the transducer arrangements 30 to be provided on in-the-ear hearing aids are inserted therein.
• the transducer assemblies 30 are of a known type, i.e. 1, 2, 2a, then the transducer arrangements 30 are preferably firmly anchored in the carrier plate 34, such as glued to it, for example, with an external loudspeaker housing and without an encapsulation housing. 1, 2, 2a, the arrangements 30 need not be held firmly in the carrier plate 34, because, as has been shown, they can be shown in dashed lines in the corresponding device housings 24a indicated at 28b, held positively or non-positively. In terms of process technology, it is now essential that the transducer assemblies be moved relative to the plate 34 with the transducer assemblies 30 and a corresponding number of housing parts 24a
• the carrier plate 34 can be removed after the transducer arrangements 30 have been pushed into the housing 26, the transducer arrangements or modules are held and positioned in the housings 24a. In the event that there are transducer arrangements without an encapsulation housing, the transducers 30 remain in the openings 36 of the plate 34 provided for this purpose.
• the plate 34 is connected to the housing 24a, for example glued or welded, and starting from the position according to FIG. 6 (b), the plate 34 is then machined flush with the outer housing contour (transition to FIG. 6 (c)).
• the in-the-ear hearing aid then arises, as shown in FIG. 5.
• this procedure is also preferably used for converter modules, constructed in accordance with FIGS. 1, 2, 2a, i.e. with encapsulation housing.
• the base plate 38 according to FIG. 6 (a) of the openings 36 which are preferably designed as a bag opening, is formed directly as a membrane. This is done either by selecting the material of the carrier plate 34 in accordance with the requirements for the membrane material and thus the membrane being formed in one piece with the plate 34, or, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 6 (a), by the sack openings 36 only through Lamination of the carrier plate 34, with openings 36 which are then still continuous, are formed with a film-like layer 34b which then forms the membrane 17 according to FIG. 5.
• both converter modules according to FIGS. 1, 2, 2a and conventional converter arrangements ie to be mounted with an external loudspeaker housing in the in-the-ear hearing aid housing. This from the side of the housing on which the acoustic output is located. This enables a largely automated assembly. If, as preferred, the acoustic hearing aid outlet is to be protected from the environment with regard to contamination and designed to be easy to clean, the possibility is also created at the same time of installing a covering membrane 17, as has been explained.

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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)
• Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)
• Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=4358084

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2000
  • 2000-06-06 EP EP00929195A patent/EP1287721B2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-06 AU AU2000247402A patent/AU2000247402A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-06-06 DK DK00929195T patent/DK1287721T4/da active
  • 2000-06-06 WO PCT/CH2000/000312 patent/WO2000048443A2/de active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-06-06 DE DE50010852T patent/DE50010852D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-06 JP JP2000599249A patent/JP2004500734A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-06-06 CA CA002412476A patent/CA2412476C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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