Claims
- 1. An acoustical switch for a directional microphone of a hearing aid device, the hearing aid device including a faceplate having a switch aperture, a front port, and a rear port, the microphone including a front inlet in communication with the front port within the face plate and a front chamber of the microphone, and two rear inlets in communication with the rear port within the faceplate and a rear chamber of the microphone, the acoustical switch comprising a switch actuator having a body portion and a lever portion, the body portion including a first closure surface and a second closure surface, the switch actuator adapted to be disposed within the switch aperture of the face plate of the hearing aid device such that the body portion is disposed adjacent to the inlets of the microphone, the switch actuator moveable between a first position wherein the first closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover one of the rear inlets of the microphone, and a second position wherein the second closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover the other of the rear inlets of the microphone, the body portion including a side surface having an acoustical resistance associated therewith, the acoustical resistance substantially greater than an acoustical resistance between either of the ports and its respective microphone chamber.
- 2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the switch actuator pivotably engages the faceplate of the hearing aid device and the faceplate is adapted to engage the microphone.
- 3. The switch of claim 1, further including a switch housing having the switch actuator moveably disposed therein, the switch housing adapted to engage the microphone.
- 4. The switch of claim 3, wherein the switch actuator further includes a detent that engages a detent spring disposed adjacent thereto within the switch housing.
- 5. The switch of claim 1, wherein the switch actuator further includes a detent that is adapted to engage a detent spring disposed adjacent thereto within the hearing aid, the detent causing the spring to deflect as the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 6. The switch of claim 1, further including at least three electrical contacts disposed within the hearing aid and each having a portion juxtaposed to the side surface of the body portion of the switch actuator, wherein the side surface includes a swiping contactor disposed therein and adapted to make selective contact with the portions of the electrical contacts when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 7. The switch of claim 3, further including at least three electrical contacts each having a portion disposed within the switch housing and juxtaposed to the side surface of the body portion of the switch actuator, wherein the side surface includes a swiping contactor disposed therein and adapted to make selective contact with the portions of the electrical contacts when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 8. The switch of claim 1, wherein the side surface of the body portion has a surface area greater than a surface area of each of the closure surfaces individually, the greater surface area effectively lengthening an acoustical path associated with the side surface of the body portion.
- 9. An acoustical switch for a directional microphone of a hearing aid device, the hearing aid including a faceplate having a switch aperture defining a side surface, the microphone including a front inlet in communication with a front chamber of the microphone and two rear inlets in communication with a rear chamber of the microphone, the acoustical switch comprising a switch actuator having a body portion and a lever portion, the body portion including a first closure surface and a second closure surface, the switch actuator disposed within the switch aperture of the face plate such that the body portion is disposed adjacent to the inlets of the microphone, the switch actuator pivotably connected to the faceplate to facilitate movement between a first position wherein the first closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover one of the rear inlets of the microphone, and a second position wherein the second closure surface of the body portion is adapted to cover the other of the rear inlets of the microphone, the body portion further including a side surface extending transverse to the closure surfaces that cooperates with the side surface of the faceplate to define an acoustical path having an associated acoustical resistance that minimizes acoustical leakage signals.
- 10. The switch of claim 9, wherein the switch actuator further includes a detent that is adapted to engage a detent spring disposed adjacent thereto within the faceplate of the hearing aid, the detent causing the spring to deflect as the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 11. The switch of claim 9, further including at least three electrical contacts disposed within the hearing aid and each having a portion juxtaposed to the side surface of the body portion of the switch actuator, wherein the side surface includes a swiping contactor disposed therein and adapted to make selective contact with the portions of the electrical contacts when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 12. The switch of claim 9, wherein the side surface of the body portion has a surface area greater than a surface area of each of the closure surfaces individually, the greater surface area effectively lengthening an acoustical path associated with the side surface of the body portion.
- 13. An acoustical switch for a directional microphone of a hearing aid device, the microphone including a front inlet in communication with a front chamber of the microphone and two rear inlets in communication with a rear chamber of the microphone, the acoustical switch comprising:
a switch housing having an interior surface; and a switch actuator moveably disposed within the switch housing between a first switch position and a second switch position, the switch actuator having a body portion and a lever portion, the body portion including a first closure surface and a second closure surface; the switch actuator adapted to be disposed adjacent to the inlets of the microphone when the switch is installed into the hearing aid such that when the switch actuator is in the first position, the first closure surface of the body portion covers one of the rear inlets of the microphone, and when the switch actuator is in the second position, the second closure surface of the body portion covers the other of the rear inlets of the microphone; the body portion further including a side surface extending transverse to the closure surfaces and juxtaposed to the interior surface of the housing, the side surface cooperating with the interior surface of the housing to establish an acoustical resistance therebetween that minimizes acoustical leakage signals.
- 14. The switch of claim 13, wherein the switch actuator further includes a detent that engages a detent spring disposed adjacent thereto within the switch housing.
- 15. The switch of claim 13, further including at least three electrical contacts each having a portion disposed within the switch housing and juxtaposed to the side surface of the body portion of the switch actuator, wherein the side surface includes a swiping contactor disposed therein and adapted to make selective contact with the portions of the electrical contacts when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position.
- 16. The switch of claim 13, further including at least four electrical contacts each having a portion disposed within the switch housing and juxtaposed to the side surface of the body portion of the switch actuator, wherein the side surface includes a swiping contactor disposed therein and adapted to make selective contact with the portions of the electrical contacts when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position, the contacts together defining three electrical positions of the switch.
- 17. The switch of claim 13, wherein the side surface of the body portion has a surface area greater than a surface area of each of the closure surfaces individually, the greater surface area effectively lengthening an acoustical path associated with the side surface of the body portion and the interior surface of the housing.
- 18. The switch of claim 13, wherein the body portion of the switch actuator has a shape of a sector of a circle and the lever extends from a curved surface defined by the sector shape.
- 19. The switch of claim 13, wherein the switch housing includes an opening adapted to receive the microphone.
- 20. The switch of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a first portion and a second portion that enclose the body portion of the switch actuator when connected together.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/373,119, filed Apr. 17, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60373119 |
Apr 2002 |
US |