Patent Application
20130187594
The present invention relates to a hearing device having a battery charger with an opening for accommodating a programming module having first programming contacts, and having second programming contacts.
Hearing devices are portable hearing apparatuses that provide support for people who are hard of hearing. In order to accommodate the numerous individual needs, various design formats of hearing devices are available, such as behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing devices, hearing devices with an external earphone (RIC: receiver in the canal) and in-the-ear hearing devices (ITE), e.g. including concha hearing aids or canal hearing devices (ITE, CIC). The hearing devices cited by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the auditory canal. Bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available. The stimulation of the damaged hearing is either mechanical or electrical in this case.
Hearing devices generally comprise an input converter, an amplifier and an output converter as main components. The input converter is usually a sound receiver, e.g. a microphone, and/or an electromagnetic receiver, e.g. an induction coil. The output converter is normally embodied as an electroacoustic converter, e.g. miniature loudspeaker, or as an electromagnetic converter, e.g. bone conduction headphone. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is illustrated in
Hearing devices are as a rule optionally equipped with non-rechargeable or rechargeable batteries for energy supply purposes. Non-rechargeable batteries are regularly replaced by recharged batteries. Rechargeable batteries must either be removed from the battery holding apparatus and connected to a charging station or they can remain in the battery holding apparatus and be inductively or galvanically charged by way of coils or contacts. The batteries are connected to the signal processor by way of battery contacts, which are generally made of metal. DE 19749 110 A1 discloses a hearing aid device having functional parts arranged in a housing. The functional parts include inter alia a microphone, an earphone, a battery compartment with battery spring contacts and a hearing device socket with electrical connector pins. The battery spring contacts are not accessible from outside of the hearing aid.
Furthermore, hearing devices often comprise sockets with as a rule likewise metal programming contacts, by way of which data can be transmitted from external programming units, like for instance a computer, in order to program and set parameters of the hearing device. The publication EP 0 591 791 B1 describes a programmable hearing aid device, in which the programming contacts can be covered by a flap.
In more recent hearing device models, space optimization of the hearing device components takes place to that effect that a battery charger is used, which, in the normal operating mode, can accommodate a battery for energy supply to the hearing device. In the event of a required programming of the hearing device by a hearing device acoustician for instance, the battery is removed from the battery charger and a programming module is inserted.
With a hinged battery charger 6, the first programming contacts 10 contact two second programming contacts 12, which are incorporated in a hearing device frame 13. The hearing device frame 13 further includes battery contacts 14, which, when the battery charger 6 is hinged, contact the battery and/or the programming module 9. A cover shell 15 and a bottom shell 16, of which only one half is shown, include the hearing device frame 13 when the battery charger 6 is hinged. The programming module 9 is usually inserted into the hearing device by an acoustician in order to program the individually required settings. Once the programming has ended, the programming module 9 is removed again. The end customer does not receive nor need the programming module 6.
Both the second programming contacts and also the battery contacts have the tendency to corrode as a result of sweat and skin particles from the hearing device wearer upon wear of the hearing device. In order to reduce corrosion susceptibility as far as possible, the battery contacts and the second programming contacts are coated numerous times with gold. Contacts of this type are however relatively expensive to manufacture, Furthermore, corrosion cannot be completely prevented by means of the gold coating.
The object of the present invention consists in protecting the second programming contacts from corrosion.
In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a hearing device comprising a battery charger with an opening for accommodating a programming module having first programming contacts. Furthermore, second programming contacts are arranged in the hearing device. The link between the programming module and the hearing device is established during the programming of the hearing device by way of the first and second programming contacts. The hearing device is characterized by a sealing means inserted into the opening, which covers the second programming contacts when the battery charger is closed. As a result, the corrosion susceptibility of the second programming contacts is advantageously largely avoided.
In one development of the invention, the second programming contacts can be arranged in a hearing device frame.
In an advantageous embodiment, the sealing means can be permanently detachably arranged in the opening of the battery charger. During normal hearing device operation, the sealing means covers the second programming contacts and protects these from corrosion. In order for the acoustician to program the hearing device, the sealing means is removed and the battery is then removed from the battery charger of the hearing device. This is advantageous in that during normal hearing device operation, the second programming contacts are protected against corrosion.
Furthermore, the surface of the sealing means can be formed in such a way that a tool can be added for insertion in or removal from the opening of the battery charger. The known tools for the insertion and removal of pins into and/or out of the hearing device can therefore advantageously be used in order to remove and reinsert the sealing means. These tools are also known under the term pin removal tool.
The sealing means may advantageously comprise a first, a second and a third part. These parts as components of the sealing means are realized with different functions.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing means can be held in the opening by means of the first part.
Furthermore, the first part can be formed from a hard plastic. As a result, it is possible for the sealing means to be held in the opening by the first part.
In an advantageous design of the invention, the second programming contacts can be covered by the second part. The advantage here is that the second programming contacts are as a result protected against corrosion.
Furthermore, the second part can be formed from a soft plastic. As a result, the required flexibility of the sealing means is advantageously ensured in the part which covers the second programming contacts.
In a development of the invention, the third part may hold a battery inserted into the battery charger.
Furthermore, a spring may be embodied in the third part to hold the battery. This advantageously allows for fixing of a battery inserted into the hearing device.
In an advantageous embodiment, the third part can be formed from a soft plastic. This ensures the required flexibility of the sealing means in the part which holds the battery in the opening.
In an advantageous design, the sealing means can be manufactured using a multicomponent injection molding method. This enables the sealing means to be manufactured with hard and soft parts.
The sealing means can also be embodied such that the sealing means can be engaged in engaging positions and/or catch positions of the hearing device frame or a hearing device housing when the battery charger is open. As a result, the position of the battery charger can advantageously be fixed in respect of the hearing device frame.
In a further embodiment, contact with the battery can be interrupted when the battery charger is opened, by at least one battery contact being raised from the battery. The sealing means can be embodied such that the raising of the battery contact is effected by the grounding onto the sealing means. When the battery charger is closed, the sealing means is pushed out of the engaging position by way of manual pressure and the battery charger is moved into the housing of the hearing device. As a result, contact is established between the battery contacts and the battery, and the hearing device is energized again by way of the battery. When opening and closing, friction occurs between the hearing device frame and/or the hearing device housing and the sealing means fastened in the battery charger and thus wear in particular of the softer frictional partner. The sealing means is expediently designed as the softer frictional partner. The inventive embodiment of the sealing means for catch purposes for fixing the battery charger in respect of the hearing device frame reduces future wear costs and simplifies the service, since, in the event of wear, only the sealing means which has a low manufacturing cost and can be replaced in an easy manner is to be replaced.
In a development of the invention, the color of the sealing means may specify a hearing device left-right identification. A color marker of the sealing means provides information to the wearer of the hearing apparatus, behind which ear the individual hearing device is to be worn. A hitherto required separate marker in the form of labeled panels attached to the battery charger is dispensed with. The risk of two hearing devices to be used being mixed up upon attachment to and/or in the ear is reduced.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the exemplary embodiment described below and with the aid of the schematic drawing, in which;
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102010040930.8 | Sep 2010 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2011/064181 | 8/17/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/18/2013 |
