WO2007118166A1

WO2007118166A1 - Multifunctional digital pulse generator and manufacturing method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007118166A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/066096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan Repplinger; John P. Mcswiggen; John T. Kuettler; Christopher Fitzsimons
Original assignee: Knowles Electronics, Llc
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2007-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: CN101410920A; DE112007000852T5; DK200801361A

Abstract

A multifunction signal generation device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention as described herein may include a housing for the device. A rotor is supported for rotation within the housing and is shiftable within the housing between a first position and a second position. The rotor is coupled to a knob extending from an exterior of the housing. An actuator is also disposed within the housing and engaged with the rotor for movement therewith. A first set of contacts is disposed in the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the first set of contacts are engaged or disengaged based upon rotation of the actuator to provide a first output signal. A second set of contracts is also disposed within the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the actuator is disengaged from the second set of contacts and with the rotor in the second position the actuator is engaged with the second set of contacts and the first set of contacts are decoupled from the actuator.

Description

MULTIFUNCTION DIGITAL PULSE GENERATOR AND MANUFACTURING

METHOD THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to United States Provisional Application No. 60/744,302, filed April 5, 2006 and entitled Monitor Transducer System and Manufacturing Method Thereof, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This patent relates to audio devices such as hearing aids and in particular to control devices that may be used with hearing aids and other types of audio devices.

BACKGROUND

[00031 To date, there have been proposed a wide variety of conventional digital pulse generators for use in various audio devices. With continual advances in the performance of the devices, ever-increasing demands are placed upon improving the performance, fabrication, and miniaturization of such devices like communication devices, audio devices, and listening devices including hearing aids and in-ear monitors. As the size of listening, communication and other such devices decreases, the utility of conventional digital pulse generators likewise decrease for use in these devices.

[0004J Conventional hearing aids may include a faceplate and a hollow plug shaped to conform to the wearer's ear canal. A signal processing circuit and a receiver are retained in the hollow plug. The faceplate may include as many as four separate openings for receiving and retaining a battery compartment, a digital pulse generator, a push-button switch, and at least one microphone. In the typical hearing aid, the digital pulse generator and the push-button switch perform a number of functions. For instance, the digital pulse generator may provide signals from the user to the signal processor to set functions of the device such as adjusting the volume. The push button switch may provide signals to the signal processor to configure other functions of the device such as changing from a normal mode (in a quiet environment) to a background cancellation mode (in a noisy or loud environment) during operation of the hearing aid. [0005] In order to meet the needs of smaller devices with limited space available to accommodate the digital pulse generators and the push-button switch, the size of the components of the generators and the switches have also become smaller. Apart from the pursuit of miniaturization, there is a need to minimize the components so as to provide multiple functions, a cost effective, easily assembled product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] For a more complete understanding of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein: [0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a multifunction digital pulse generator embodying the teachings of the present disclosure; [0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view illustrating a base portion of a multifunction digital pulse generator shown in FIG. 1 ;

[0009] FIG. 3A-3C are cross-sectional views of the multifunction digital pulse generator shown in FIG. 1 ; and

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the multifunction digital pulse generator shown in FIG. 1.

[0011] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, certain embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and these embodiments will be described in detail herein. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. [0013] It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence "As used herein, the term ' ' is hereby defined to mean..." or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word "means" and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.

[0014] A multifunction signal generation device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention as described herein may include a housing for the device. A rotor is supported for rotation within the housing and is shiftable within the housing between a first position and a second position. The rotor is coupled to a knob extending from an exterior of the housing. An actuator is also disposed within the housing and engaged with the rotor for movement therewith. A first set of contacts is disposed in the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the first set of contacts are engaged or disengaged based upon rotation of the actuator to provide a first output signal. A second set of contracts is also disposed within the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the actuator is disengaged from the second set of contacts and with the rotor in the second position the actuator is engaged with the second set of contacts and the first set of contacts are decoupled from the actuator. [0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary multifunction digital pulse generator 10 that can be used in virtually any type of electronic device such as computers (e.g. desktops, laptops, notebooks, tablets, hand-held computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), etc), communication devices (e.g. cellular phones, web- enabled cellular telephones, cordless phones, pagers, etc), computer -related peripherals (e.g. printers, scanners, monitors, etc), entertainment devices (e.g. televisions, radios, stereos, tape and compact disc players, digital cameras, cameras, video cassette recorders, MP3 (Motion Picture Expert Group, Audio Layer 3) players, etc), listening devices (e.g. hearing aids, etc) and the like. The multifunction digital pulse generator generates a first output signal based upon rotation of a knob and a second output signal based upon axial displacement of the knob. In one exemplary application, the generator 10 may serve as a digital volume control device and a programming function device in a hearing aid.

[0016] The generator 10 may include a knob 12, a knob base 14, a cylindrical housing 16, an actuator 18, a rotor 20, a first spring member 22, an encoder disc 24, a second spring member 26, a movable ball 28, and a base portion 40. The encoder disc 24 and the first spring member 22, such as a spring disc, are held in contact with a lower portion of the rotor 20. The actuator 18 includes an aperture 17 to receive an upper portion of the rotor 20 and a leg portion 18a to retain the movable ball 28 within the recess of the base portion 40. The leg 18a of the actuator 18 provides engagement with the contact members 42, 44 to complete a circuit, which will discussed later. The housing 16 includes an elongate aperture section 15 to receive the upper portion of the rotor 20 and the knob base 14 is secured to the housing 16 via the rotor 20. The knob base 14 is attached to the knob 12 by a snap-on engagement, mechanical fastening, crimping, welding, adhesive bonding or any other suitable attachment arrangement. The knob 12, the knob base 14, the actuator 18, and the rotor 20 constitute a moveable structure. Such movement may be accomplished either sliding within the aperture 15 or rotation by turning the knob 12. Each motion may be associated with performing different functions or generating different signals. [0017] The second spring member 26, such as a torsion coil spring or any suitable bias member, and the movable ball 28 are held in contact with the base portion 40. When the components are secured or placed in a final position within the closed housing, the knob 12 is mechanically connected with the actuator 18 via the knob base 14 and the rotor 20. The second spring member 26 may include a coil portion 26a and a leg portion 26b extended from the coil portion 26a. The second spring member 26 restrains the actuator 18 from overload during operation and restores the movement to digital volume control function. That is, the second spring member 26 restrains sliding movement of the rotor 20 toward a second position and restores the rotor 20 to a first position. The rotor 20 is rotatable based upon torque applied to the knob 12 when in the first position. The base portion 40 includes a post 45 to position the spring member 26.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged exploded view of the base portion 40 illustrated in FIG. 1. The base portion 40 includes a plurality of contact members 42, 44, 48, a base 46, a plurality of terminals 50, 52, and a retainer 54 for keeping the working components in place, when in the final assembly. The contact members 42, 44 include a terminal leg 42a, 44a and a contact portion 42b, 44b adapted to be held in contact with the actuator 18. The contact members 42, 44 are inserted in a groove 46a, 46b defined at the base 46 with the terminal legs 42a, 44a extending through the groove 46a, and 46b of the base 46. A first through pocket 56a, a second through pocket 56b, a third through pocket 56c, and a recess 56d wherein the second and third pockets 56b, 56c reside in the recess 56d constitute a guide pocket 56 defined at the top surface of the retainer 54 to receive the contact member 48, the terminals 50, 52, the movable ball 28, and the leg 18a of the actuator 18. The contact member 48, which may be formed from a blank (not shown), includes a terminal leg 48a, a contact member 48b, and a connecting portion 48c. The terminals 50, 52 positioned within the recess 56d include terminal legs 50a, 52a and contact members 50b, and 52b. As shown, the terminal legs 50a, 52a of the terminals 50, 52 extend through the pockets 56b, 56c and then the contact member 48 is placed on top of the terminals 50, 52, such that the terminal leg 48a inserts and extends through the pocket 56a and the connecting portion 48c. The contact member 48b is held in contact with the top surface of the contact members 50b, 52b to provide electrical contact with the terminals 50, 52 when the movable ball 28 engages either one of the contact members 50b, 52b via the contact member 48b during movement to provide a digital pulse output signal, e.g., a signal that may be used to indicate an increase or decrease in volume within a hearing aid or other listening device.

[0019] FIGs. 3A-3D illustrate in cross-sectional the exemplary multifunction digital pulse generator 10. The upper portion of the rotor 20 extends through the apertures 15, 17 of the housing 16 and the actuator 18 while the knob base 14 positioned adjacent to the housing 16 is aligned and secured to the upper portion of the rotor 20 to prevent removal of the rotor 20 and the actuator 18 from the knob base 14. An opening 1 1 (See FIG. 3A) defined at the bottom portion of the knob 12 is fixedly attached to the knob base 14 by any suitable method of attachment. The lower portion of the rotor 20 may further cooperate with the spring disc 22 and the encoder disc 24 for providing biasing of the movable ball 28 and the coil spring 26. The coil spring 26 in turn, is in contact with the actuator 18 to restrain the actuator 18 from overload upon movement toward the second position during operation. Further, the coil spring 26 helps to restore the movement of the system 10 to a digital volume control function by returning the actuator 18 toward the first position. As shown, the spring disc 22 and the encoder disc 24 include apertures 23, 25 for receiving the lower portion of the rotor 20.

[0020] Once the terminals 50, 52 are positioned within the recess 56d of the retainer 54, the contact member 48 is placed over the terminals 50, 52 and communicates with the terminals 50, 52. The base 46 attached to the retainer 54 by any suitable method of attachment includes an opening 47 (See FlG. T) to receive the coil spring 26, the movable ball 28, the contact member 48, and the terminals 50, 52. As shown, the opening 47 of the base 46 is aligned with the guide pocket 56 leaving the portion of the members 48, 50, 52 exposed to the movable ball 28 and the actuator 18. The movable end 26b of the spring member 26 provides intermediate contact with the actuator 18 when the rotor 20 is rotated, caused by the knob 12. As shown in FIG. 3B, rotation of the encoder disc 24 shifts the ball 28 between the contacts 50b, 52b via the contact 48b (e.g., the open and closed contact positions) to produce a digital pulse. The digital pulse may act as an input to a device that can, in turn, form an input to a circuit to affect control of the volume or other functions of the device. As shown in FIG. 3C, shifting of the actuator 18 restrains the ball 28 from direct contact with the contacts 50b, 52b thus decoupling the actuator 18 from the contacts 50b and 52b and further engages the contacts 42b, 44b to produce a momentary pulse that may forms a second output from the device. For example, the momentary pulse may form an input to a circuit coupled to the device to adjust operating coefficients of signal conditioning circuitry of the listening devices.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the multifunction digital pulse generator 10. Once the internal components are held in place, the base portion 40 is attached to the housing 16 locking the internal components in position. [0022] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extend as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incoiporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A multifunction signal generation device that may be used with a hearing aid comprising: a housing for the device; a rotor supported for rotation within the housing and being shiftable within the housing between a first position and a second position within the housing, the rotor being coupled to a knob extending from an exterior of the housing; an actuator disposed within the housing and engaged with the rotor for movement therewith; a first set of contacts disposed in the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the first set of contacts being engaged or disengaged based upon rotation of the actuator to provide a first output signal; and a second set of contracts disposed within the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the actuator is disengaged from the second set of contacts and with the rotor in the second position the actuator is engaged with the second set of contacts and the first set of contacts are decoupled from the actuator to provide a second output signal.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of terminals that extend from the housing, the terminals being electrically coupled to at least one of the contacts of the first set of contacts or to at least one of the contacts of the second set of contacts.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising an encoder disc coupled to the actuator and a moveable ball disposed within the housing, rotation of the actuator with the rotor in the first position causing the encoder disc to engage the movable ball to selectively engage and disengage the first set of contacts.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising a first spring member engaged with the rotor and axially biasing the rotor.

5. The device of claim 1, comprising a second spring member disposed within the housing and biasing the actuator toward the first position.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the second spring member restrains the actuator from an overload condition based upon movement of the actuator toward the second position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first signal comprises a digital pulse signal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second signal comprises a momentary pulse signal.

9. The device of claim 1, the actuator comprising a leg portion, the leg portion being engaged with the second set of contacts with the rotor in the second position and being disengaged from the second set of contacts with the rotor in the first position.

10. A signal generator capable of providing a first signal and a second signal, different than the first signal; the signal generator comprising an actuator disposed within a housing, the actuator being coupled with a rotor and rotatable therewith within the housing and slideable between a first position and a second position, a first set of contacts disposed in the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the first set of contacts being engaged or disengaged based upon rotation of the actuator to provide a first output signal; and a second set of contracts disposed within the housing such that with the rotor in the first position the actuator is disengaged from the second set of contacts and with the rotor in the second position the actuator is engaged with the second set of contacts and the first set of contacts are decoupled from the actuator to provide a second output signal.

11. The signal generator of claim 10, comprising a plurality of terminals that extend from the housing, the terminals being electrically coupled to at least one of the contacts of the first set of contacts or to at least one of the contacts of the second set of contacts.

12. The signal generator of claim 10, comprising an encoder disc coupled to the actuator and a moveable ball disposed within the housing, rotation of the actuator in the first position causing the encoder disc to engage the movable ball to selectively engage and disengage the first set of contacts.

13. The signal generator of claim 10, comprising a spring member engaged with the rotor and axially biasing the actuator.

14. The signal generator of claim 10, comprising a spring member disposed within the housing and biasing the actuator toward the first position.

15. The signal generator of claim 14, wherein the spring member restrains the actuator from an overload condition based upon movement of the actuator toward the second position.

16. The signal generator of claim 10, wherein the first signal comprises a digital pulse signal.

17. The signal generator of claim 10, wherein the second signal comprises a momentary pulse signal.

18. The signal generator of claim 10, the actuator comprising a leg portion, the leg portion being engaged with the second set of contacts with the actuator in the second position and being disengaged from the second set of contacts with the actuator in the first position.