Patent Grant
10595140
The invention relates to an electronics frame for holding electronic components of a hearing device. Such electronic components are formed, for example, by microphones, loudspeakers, signal processors and the like. The invention moreover relates to a hearing device with such an electronics frame, and to a kit for such an electronics frame.
The term “hearing device” here and below encompasses in particular devices which serve to assist people with impaired hearing capacity (hearing devices for this purpose are usually referred to as “hearing aids”), for tinnitus therapy (so-called tinnitus maskers), or for communication purposes (for example, as headsets). In particular hearing aids usually have at least one microphone for detecting noises in the vicinity of a person wearing the hearing device. Hearing aids moreover often have a signal processing unit, which is also referred to as a signal processor, by which the detected noises are filtered, partially amplified, and/or damped, and may be adapted in a different form to the reduced hearing of the person wearing the hearing device. The noises processed in this way are output to the ear of the person wearing the hearing device by means of a loudspeaker, also referred to as an earpiece. As an alternative to the loudspeaker, devices for mechanically or electrically stimulating the hearing of the person wearing the hearing device can also be used (for example, a cochlea implant).
In order to supply energy to the above described (electronic) components of a hearing device, non-chargeable batteries, in particular button cells (also referred to as button batteries), preferably of a zinc-air design, are used. Alternatively, rechargeable energy sources (also referred to as storage batteries) are also used, in particular in highly priced hearing devices.
The object of the invention is to simplify the production of hearing devices with a different energy supply.
The electronics frame according to the invention serves to hold electronic components of a hearing device. The electronics frame thus preferably serves for use in a hearing device. The electronics frame contains a contact carrier which in turn has a first, second, and third line connector for electrically contacting at least one of the electronic components (which are in particular held on the electronics frame) with an (associated) first connection contact, a second connection contact which has an (electrical) potential that is different from the first connection contact, and with a third connection contact of a storage battery module. The storage battery module here contains a rechargeable battery. The three line connectors of the contact carrier are moreover connected in each case to the end of an associated contact spring which serves to contact the connection contacts of the storage battery module. These three contact springs are here preferably arranged next to one another on a surface of the contact carrier, which is preferably cuboid in shape, and thus are situated with their associated contact ends in a common (contact) plane. The contact carrier furthermore has a first contact arm which serves to electrically contact a contact (also referred to as a pole or contact face) of a two-pole battery. This first contact arm is here integrally formed with the first contact spring associated with the first line connector of the contact carrier.
The two-pole battery is preferably a button cell (also a button battery) which in particular takes the form of a non-chargeable battery (also referred to as a primary cell) in the form of a zinc-air battery. Alternatively, however, it can here also be a rechargeable battery (also referred to as a secondary cell or storage battery) of the same design. The first contact arm preferably serves to contact the button cell at its end side. The button cell is optionally contacted, in the proper contacting state, on its circumferential surface by the contact spring associated with the second line connector.
One of the two electrical potentials associated with the first or second connection contact of the storage battery is preferably a reference potential, in particular a ground potential. The other potential is different.
The third connection contact of the storage battery preferably takes the form of a control contact by which the transducer electronic unit of the storage battery module is activated and deactivated when the hearing device is switched on and off.
The electronics frame is preferably formed by a conductor plate (which in particular has a three-dimensional shape) or contains such a conductor plate (or a planar one). n the latter case, the contact carrier is preferably fastened on the conductor plate and hence indirectly on the electronics frame.
By virtue of the first contact arm, it is advantageously possible that the electronics frame, which is fundamentally configured and provided for operation with the storage battery module, can also be easily used for operation with a conventional battery, in particular a button cell. Storage costs entailed by a large number of different hearing device components adapted for different energy sources which need to be employed thus no longer exist.
In a preferred embodiment, the first contact arm projects with its associated contact end above the plane of the contact ends of the contact springs of the contact carrier. A contact face formed on the contact end of the first contact arm is in particular here oriented so that it is transverse to those contact faces of the contact springs which lie in the common plane. It is consequently in particular made possible for the first contact arm to contact the button cell on one of its end faces when the button cell has been inserted properly. A second contact face of the button cell which is at a different potential to this end face is here arranged at its circumferential surface and is preferably contacted by that contact spring of the contact carrier which is associated with the electrical potential of the circumferential surface. For this case, when the button cell has been inserted properly, the button cell is moreover expediently held in a battery compartment door which is arranged so that it can pivot with respect to the electronics frame. The battery compartment door thus preferably protects both of the other contact springs of the contact carrier from contamination with the button cell and hence from a short-circuit.
In an expedient embodiment, the contact carrier has a second contact arm which is preferably integrally formed with the second line connector, which is associated with an electrical potential which is different in particular from the first line connector. Both contact arms are hereby in particular configured so as to contact the button cell on its respective flat sides (i.e. the opposite end sides). In this case, the second contact arm thus expediently also projects with its contact end above the plane of the contact springs, similarly to the first contact arm, in the manner described above.
The third contact spring of the contact arm associated with the control contact of the storage battery module is preferably formed so that it is in particular independent of the first and possibly the second contact arm, i.e. is insulated from the respective contact arm.
In a preferred embodiment, the first contact arm and the second contact arm, which may be present, each protrude from a side face, which differs from the surface which comprises or carries the contact springs, of the in particular cuboid contact carrier.
The hearing device according to the invention contains the above-described electronics frame (and hence also the contact carrier with the integrated first contact arm). The hearing device preferably also has a housing in which the electronics frame is arranged.
In an expedient embodiment, the hearing device also comprises the abovementioned battery compartment door, articulated pivotably with respect to the electronics frame on the latter or on the housing, in particular for reversibly holding the button cell. By means of the battery compartment door, the button cell can be moved in particular for switching the hearing device on and off between an operating position, where contact is made with the first (and possibly the second) contact arm, and an inactive position, in which the battery is distanced from the first contact arm (and possibly the second contact arm). The hearing device contains the above-described storage battery module as an alternative to the battery compartment door.
Where the first and the second contact arm are present on the contact carrier, the battery compartment door is preferably configured such that it insulates the circumferential side of the button cell from the three contact springs of the contact carrier (in the proper contacting state with the first and the second contact arm).
The kit according to the invention serves in particular for optionally equipping the above-described electronics frame for use with the storage battery module or with the button cell. For this purpose, the kit contains, in addition to the above-described hearing device which has in particular the electronics frame of the above-described type, the storage battery module and the above-described battery compartment door, which are configured for optional mounting on the electronics frame or the housing of the hearing device.
The electronics frame according to the invention serves to hold electronic components of a hearing device. The electronics frame thus serves for use in a hearing device. The electronics frame contains a contact carrier which in turn has a first, second, and third line connector for electrically contacting at least one of the electronic components, held on the electronics frame, with an (associated) first connection contact, a second connection contact which is at a different (electrical) potential from the first connection contact, and with a third connection contact of a storage battery module. This storage battery module here contains a rechargeable battery. The contact carrier furthermore has at least one insertion slot for receiving in each case one contact arm. When mounted properly, this contact arm serves to electrically contact a contact (also referred to as a pole or contact face) of a two-pole battery.
The components of this embodiment described here in principle also correspond to the components of the above-described electronics frame (or the corresponding hearing device). The two-pole battery is likewise preferably the above-described button cell. The same applies to the electrical potentials and the connection contacts of the storage battery module, and to the electronics frame or its conductor plate.
By virtue of the insertion slot, it is advantageously possible that the electronics frame, which is in principle configured and provided for operation with the storage battery module, can be easily adapted or possibly retrofitted for operation with a button cell, in particular during the production of the hearing device. Storage costs entailed by a large number of different hearing device components adapted for different energy sources which need to be employed thus no longer exist. This is because, according to the invention, a high number of identical parts can be used for the corresponding hearing devices, both for non-chargeable and rechargeable batteries, in particular by only the above-described contact arm being used in the contact carrier, when there is a requirement for operation with a button cell.
In a preferred embodiment, the first line connector is open in the insertion slot. This means that, when the first contact arm is inserted into the insertion slot, the first contact arm is electrically contacted directly or indirectly (for example, by means of an electrically conductive adhesive) with the first line connector of the contact carrier.
In a further expedient embodiment, the three line connectors of the contact carrier are connected in each case at their ends to an associated contact spring. These three contact springs are here arranged in particular next to one another on a surface of the contact carrier, which preferably is cuboid in shape—and are thus situated with their associated contact springs in a common (contact) plane.
In a preferred embodiment, in particular for the above-described case where the three contact springs are arranged next to one another in a common plane, in the proper mounting state the first contact arm projects with its associated contact end above the plane of the contact ends of the contact springs of the contact carrier. A contact face formed on the contact end of the first contact arm is thus in particular oriented transversely with respect to those contact faces of the contact springs which are situated in a common plane. It is consequently made possible for the first contact arm to contact the button cell on one of its end faces when it has been inserted properly. A second contact face, which is at a different potential from this end face, of the button cell is here arranged on its circumferential surface (also referred to as circumferential surface) and is preferably contacted by that contact spring of the contact carrier which is associated with the electrical potential of the circumferential surface. For this case, when inserted properly, the button cell is moreover expediently held in a battery compartment door arranged so that it can pivot with respect to the electronics frame. This battery compartment door here preferably protects the two other contact springs of the contact carrier from contact with the button cell and hence from a short-circuit.
In a further expedient embodiment, which is also viewed as an independent invention, the contact carrier has a second insertion slot for receiving a second contact arm. In the proper mounting state, the above-described first contact arm is thus connected to the first line connector, and the second contact arm to the second line connector, which is associated with a different potential than the first line connector. The first and the second contact arm are in particular configured and provided so as to contact the button cell, when inserted properly, on its opposite end sides. Both contact arms thus also each have a contact portion (at least the respective contact end) which projects above the (above-described) plane of the contact springs and serves to contact the corresponding flat side (end side) of the button cell.
In a preferred development of the above embodiment, when properly inserted the button cell is preferably (also) held in a battery compartment door. The battery compartment door is here configured such that it insulates the circumferential side of the button cell (when properly contacting the first and the second contact arm) from the three contact springs of the contact carrier.
In an expedient development, the first and possibly also the second contact arm are designed as part of the contact carrier, i.e. the first and possibly also the second contact arm, both in the embodiment of the electronics frame provided for use with the button cell and in the embodiment of the electronics frame provided for use with the storage battery module, is arranged, in particular is fixed, in the first or second insertion slot of the contact carrier, and electrically contacts the first or the second line connector.
In each case, the third contact spring, associated with the control contact of the storage battery module, of the contact carrier is configured in particular so that it is independent of the first and possibly the second contact arm, i.e. is insulated from the latter.
The hearing device according to the invention contains the above-described electronics frame and the first contact arm mounted on the contact carrier.
The hearing device advantageously also contains a housing in which the electronics frame is arranged, and a battery compartment door, articulated pivotably with respect to the electronics frame on the latter or on the housing, for reversibly holding the button cell. By means of the battery compartment door, the button cell can be moved in particular for switching the hearing device on and off between an operating position, where contact is made with the first (and possibly the second) contact arm, and an inactive position, in which the battery is distanced from the first contact arm (and possibly the second contact arm).
The kit according to the invention serves in particular for optionally equipping the above-described electronics frame for use with the storage battery module or with the button cell. For this purpose, the kit contains, in addition to the above-described hearing device which has in particular the electronics frame of the above-described type, at least the first (above-described) contact arm which is configured and provided for subsequent mounting on the contact carrier, specifically in its insertion slot. The kit furthermore also contains the storage battery module, and the above-described battery compartment door, which are configured for optional mounting on the electronics frame or the housing of the hearing device.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an electronic frame for maintaining electronic components of a hearing aid, a hearing aid and a kit for a hearing aid, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Mutually corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all the figures.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
A contact carrier 8, which is configured and provided for mounting on the connection face 6, is shown in
The contact carrier 8 is in principle configured and provided for contacting a storage battery module 30 shown in
The third connection contact of the storage battery module 30 represents a control contact 38 by which the transducer electronic unit of the storage battery module 30 is activated or deactivated when the hearing device is switched on and off. The connection contacts 34 and 36, and the control contact 38, are in electrical contact with the contact springs 14, 16, and 18 in the proper mounting state of the hearing device.
In order also to be able to operate the hearing device with an alternative to the storage battery module 30, by a conventional hearing device battery which takes the form of a non-chargeable (zinc-air) button cell 40, in an alternative variant shown in
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the contact carrier 8 is shown in
A further exemplary embodiment of the contact carrier 8 is shown in
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the contact carrier 8 is in turn shown in
In the exemplary embodiments in
The subject of the present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Instead, further embodiments of the invention can be deduced by a person skilled in the art from the above description. In particular, the individual features of the invention described with the aid of the various exemplary embodiments, and their variants, can also be combined with each other in different fashions.
The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2016 210 342 | Jun 2016 | DE | national |
This is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending international application No. PCT/EP2017/064191, filed Jun. 9, 2017, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application No. DE 10 2016 210 342.3, filed Jun. 10, 2016; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190110142 A1 | Apr 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2017/064191 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16214854 | US |
