Compact test apparatus for hearing device

Abstract

An apparatus for testing of a hearing device is described, which includes the following components:

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to drawings.

The figures show:

FIG. 1 an inventive device for testing the function of a hearing device with a compact housing and a hearing device arranged in the test apparatus; and

FIG. 2 the typical internal layout of an inventive test apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an example of an inventive test apparatus 1 with a hearing device 2 arranged in it. Preferably this test apparatus 1 is embodied as a compact pocketable unit in the form of a simple test box so that users can always carry it with them. The housing 10 of the test apparatus features an area to accommodate a hearing device 2, referred to below as the test area 11. This test area 11 can be specifically adapted to accommodate a particular hearing device. Preferably the accommodation area 11 features special cutout shapes which correspond to the relevant hearing device 2. To fix the hearing device 2 in a predetermined position in the test apparatus 1 further retaining devices can be provided (not shown here).

The test area 11, only shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1, includes a microphone area 111 and an earpiece area 112. These areas are preferably arranged so that, when a corresponding hearing device 2 is placed in the holder, the hearing device microphone 21 lies in the microphone area 111 and the earpiece 22 of the hearing device lies in the earpiece area 112. To clarify this arrangement, FIG. 1 shows a hearing device 2 already arranged in the test area 11.

An acoustic signal generator, preferably a loudspeaker 12, is arranged in the microphone area 111 so that it outputs sound directly to the microphone openings 21 of a hearing device 2 arranged in the test apparatus. A test microphone 13 is provided in the earpiece area 112 which is preferably arranged so that it lies directly in front of the earpiece opening 22 of the hearing device 2 arranged in the test apparatus. Sound is supplied directly to the test microphone 13 in test mode by the earpiece 22 of the hearing device 2.

Both the loudspeaker 12 and also the test microphone 13 are connected to an electronic test circuit 14, shown in simplified form in FIG. 1 as a block. This test circuit 14 includes a sound generator 141 and an evaluation circuit 144. The sound generator 141 creates a defined acoustic test signal which is reproduced via the loudspeaker 12 at the hearing device microphone 21. The evaluation circuit 144 is used for the evaluation of the response signal of the hearing device 2 received by the test microphone 12.

The test apparatus 1 further features a display device 15, preferably embodied as an optical display. The display device 15 is used to display the functional state of the hearing device 2 determined on the basis of the response signal. As is shown in FIG. 1 the display device 15 merely has two small lamps 151, 152 for this purpose, with which it can be indicated whether the function test has been passed or not passed respectively. It is especially advantageous to use a green and a red light emitting diode, with the red light emitting diode indicating “function test not passed” while the green light emitting diode indicates “function test passed”.

The test apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is typically embodied to accommodate what is known as a BTE device 2. With such a BTE device, microphone, earpiece and amplifier are accommodated in a housing which is worn behind the ear. The sound passes from the earpiece via the ear support hook and an otoplastic into the auditory canal. The functions of such a device 2 are preferably tested without the associated support hook, with the test microphone 13 being arranged directly at the earpiece output 22 of the hearing device 2. Alternatively however it is also possible to arrange the test microphone 13 so that a function test of the hearing device 2 can be undertaken including the support hook and if necessary including the otoplastic. A corresponding design of the test area 11 is sensible in this case, to guarantee a fixing of the support hook or of the otoplastic respectively at a defined distance from the test microphone 13.

The housing 10 of the test apparatus 1 is preferably embodied to enable it to accommodate the entire hearing device 2. It is especially advantageous for the hearing device 2 to be acoustically isolated from its environment during function testing. To this end it is necessary for the test apparatus housing 2 to completely enclose the hearing device 2 arranged in the test area 11. To this end the test apparatus 1 can for example be equipped with a hinge mechanism, with the test apparatus 1 being closed after the insertion of the hearing device 2 and the hearing device 2 thus soundproofed. Alternatively a sliding mechanism is also conceivable. To improve the function test and if necessary to avoid feedback, it can further be necessary to acoustically isolate the microphone area 111 from the earpiece area 112. To this end for example special Silicon or foam cushions can be arranged in the test area 11, so that, with a hearing device 2 inserted and the test apparatus housing 10 closed, an acoustic separation is obtained between the two areas. It is further possible to model the earpiece area 112 on the earpiece 22 of the hearing device 2 such that the latter can be fixed in the earpiece area 112. In this case both a positive-fit fixing and a non-positive-fit fixing are conceivable. By using elastic materials the earpiece area 112 can be suitably acoustically isolated from the rest of the test area 11.

To also detect such malfunctions in the hearing device 2 as only arise under specific conditions, especially with particular mechanical stresses, such as an interruption by damage to an earpiece suspension unit or a loose contact, it is sensible to simulate these conditions during the function test. To this end the housing 10 of the test apparatus 1 is preferably embodied flexibly in at least in a part of the test area 11, so that the hearing device 2 can be mechanically stressed during a function test by mechanical pressure on the flexible part of the housing 10. This can be implemented by the use of a flexible plastic material which is simultaneously suitably soundproof.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the microphone 21 of the hearing device 2 is corrected because of the specific arrangement through the test loudspeaker 12 directly to an acoustic test signal. The test microphone 13 subsequently receives at the earpiece 22 of the hearing device 1 the response signal produced by the hearing device 2 and directs it for evaluation to the test circuit 14.

The test apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is preferably embodied as a storage or transport box for the corresponding hearing device 2. Further it is possible to provide the test apparatus 1 for a pair of hearing aids. To keep the design of the test apparatus as simple as possible, it is advantageous for the test circuit or also the test loudspeaker to be jointly used by both hearing devices.

The internal layout of the test circuit of the inventive test apparatus shown in FIG. 1 simply as a block is explained below in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2. As already stated, the test loudspeaker 12 is connected to a sound generator 141 which generates a predetermined test signal. Preferably noise is used as a test signal. Depending on the application however signals of individual frequencies or specific frequency bands can also be created. Furthermore it is also possible to generate more complex noises during a function test, e.g. to reproduce stored speech.

The audio signal used as a test signal primarily depends on the respective application as well as the technical outlay which is necessary for the purpose concerned. Simple analog test apparatus 1 can make do for example with a simple noise generator 141 as well as a comparator as an evaluation circuit 144. With the aid of DSP (digital signal processing) digital test apparatus can create and evaluate complex test signals.

The present example typically shows a very simple analog test circuit 14 with a noise generator 141 as a test signal generator. Such circuits can be manufactured very cost effectively. During a function test the signal created by the noise generator 141 is presented as acoustic noise via the loudspeaker 12 to the microphone 21 of the hearing device 2. The amplifier circuit 23 of the activated hearing device 2 then creates a response signal which is transmitted via the earpiece 22 of the hearing device to the test microphone 13 of the test apparatus 1. After an amplification of the response signal by an amplifier stage 142 the signal can be fed to a signal processing circuit 143 in which the response signal can be modeled for example by means of specific filters. The prepared response signal subsequently lies at an input of a comparator 144 which compares the amplitude of this signal with a predetermined test voltage. Depending on the result of this comparison, a specific voltage lies at the output of the comparator 144. The evaluation circuit is designed here so that the output signal causes a specific light emitting diode 15 to light provided the input signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Preferably the evaluation circuit 144 merely distinguished between two states, namely “test passed” and “test not passed”. Depending on the level of the output signal, a red or a green light emitting diode is then activated (this is not shown in FIG. 2). A number of light emitting diodes are also conceivable however, with which the function state of the hearing device 1 can be represented in a more differentiated way. Also possible is for example an LCD display which can present further information. These solutions require further circuits which, for the sake of simplicity, are not shown here.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. An apparatus for testing a hearing device comprising: a housing with a test area to accommodate a hearing device, wherein the test area has a microphone area and an earpiece area;a signal generator and a loudspeaker, to create a defined acoustic test signal in the microphone area;a microphone arranged in the earpiece area to detect an acoustic response signal emitted by the hearing device;an evaluation circuit to determine a functional state of the hearing device based upon a response signal; anda display device to display the functional state of the hearing device.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display device indicates the functional state optically.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display device indicates the functional state acoustically.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein a display device has a first light source to indicate a first functional state and a second light source to indicate a second functional state, wherein the first functional state indicates passing a test and the second functional test indicates not passing the test.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first light source has a green light emitting diode and the second light source has a red light emitting diode.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the signal generator generates a noise as a test signal.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the evaluation circuit has a comparator to determine the functional state of the hearing device based upon a comparison between a amplitude of the response signal and a predetermined voltage value.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the evaluation circuit determines the functional state of the hearing device based upon a comparison between the test signal and the response signal.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the microphone area and the earpiece area are acoustically screened from one another.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the earpiece area corresponds to the hearing device, to accommodate the earpiece with a positive fit to screen the earpiece acoustically from the microphone area.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the earpiece area corresponds to the hearing device, to accommodate the earpiece with a non-positive fit to screen the earpiece acoustically from the microphone area.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least a part of the housing has a sound-deadening effect to screen the hearing device acoustically from its environment.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the housing is at least partly flexibly in the test area to allow a mechanical stress to be exerted from outside on the hearing device arranged in the test area during a function test.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the housing is a storage box for the hearing device.

28. A Method for testing a hearing device, comprising: exerting a mechanical stress on the hearing device during testing the hearing device.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein a functional state of the hearing device is determined based upon a response signal to an acoustic test signal from a signal generator and a loudspeaker.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the hearing device is a behind the ear hearing device.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the mechanical stress is caused by a flexible device.