The present application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Nov. 21, 2013 in the Korean intellectual property office and assigned serial No. 10-2013-0141884, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to component of a hearing aid RIC (Receiver In the Canal) type having a receiver.
A hearing aid is an electro-acoustic device which is designed to amplify sound for the wearer, usually with the aim of making speech more intelligible, and to correct impaired hearing as measured by audiometry. There are many types of hearing aids (also known as hearing instruments) such as BTE (Behind The Ear), ITE (In The Ear), CIC (Completely In the Canal), RIC (Receiver In the Canal), and the like.
Among them, a hearing aid of the RIC type has a structure that a receiver is inserted in the ear. Normally the RIC hearing aid is composed of a receiver, a hardware module, a case for covering the hardware module, and an interface unit for connecting the receiver and the case. Such RIC hearing aids are often classified into an integrated style in which the receiver and the hardware module are united together, and a connected style in which the receiver and the hardware module are separable from each other. A hearing aid of the connected style further requires another interface unit for connecting the receiver and the hardware module.
When a hearing aid of the integrated style, even though only one of both the receiver and the hardware module is damaged, it may not be possible to replace only the defective with a new one. This is inefficient.
When a hearing aid of the connected style, a connecting part between the receiver and the hardware is prone to damage. For example, if a user applies much excessive force or tries to connect in a wrong direction, the connecting part is easily damaged.
To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary object to provide a hearing aid which allows the disassembly of components and the simple replacement of a defective component only when a certain component is defective or damaged. Additionally, the present disclosure provides a hearing aid which can prevent connecting parts between respective components from being damaged or separated.
One embodiment of this disclosure may provide a hearing aid that includes a hardware module configured to control the hearing aid. The hearing aid also includes a case having an open side and an internal space for accommodating the hardware module. The hearing aid also includes a receiver module united with the case to form an integrated structure.
Another embodiment of this disclosure may provide a hearing aid that includes a case having an open side and an internal space. The hearing aid also includes a hardware module configured to be inserted into the case. The hearing aid also includes a receiver module united with the hardware module to form an integrated structure.
Still another embodiment of this disclosure may provide a hearing aid that includes a case having an open side and an internal space. The hearing aid also includes a hardware module configured to be inserted into the case. The hearing aid also includes a receiver interface unit configured to be connected with the hardware module. The hearing aid also includes a receiver module united with the receiver interface unit to form an integrated structure.
Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring to
The case 110 has therein an empty space which can accommodate the hardware module 150. The case 110 may be formed solely or connected with the receiver module 130 to have an integrated form. When the case 110 is formed solely, a part of the case 110 may have a hole through which a receiver connector 132 of the receiver module 130.
The case cap 120 covers one side of the case 110, pushing the hardware module 150 into the case 110. The case cap 120 can be completely detachable from the case 110 by having the form of a threaded screw closure or can be connected to a hinged lid partly coupled to the case 110.
The receiver module 130 is composed of a receiver 131 and a receiver connector 132.
The receiver 131 is equipped at one side of the receiver connector 132. The receiver 131 may receive a signal from the hardware module 160 and output the signal.
The receiver connector 132, which may have a wire-like configuration, is connected with the receiver 131 in an integrated form. The receiver connector 132 may be made of suitable material for hanging the hearing aid 100 on a user's ear. Also, the receiver connector 132 delivers a signal amplified at the hardware module 150, to the receiver 131.
Hereinafter, it is supposed that the receiver module 130 has an integrated form of the receiver 131 and the receiver connector 132.
The hardware module 150 may be united with the receiver module 130 to have a structure of an integrated style, or solely formed and inserted into the case 110 to have a structure of a connected style. The hardware module 150 stores therein a specific program for executing a function of the hearing aid 100 and also performs a function to control the hearing aid 100.
The interface unit 160 may include at least one of a case interface unit, a hardware interface unit, and a receiver interface unit. The case interface unit is fixedly formed in the case 110, especially at a connecting part between the case 110 and the receiver connector 132, to be connected with the hardware module 150 when the receiver module 130 and the case 110 have an integrated form. This will be described below with reference to
The ear cap 170 covers the receiver 131 of the receiver module 130 and has soft characteristics adapted to be inserted into a user's ear.
Now, the above-discussed hearing aid having the receiver will be described more fully with reference to
Referring first to
The case cap 120 covers one side of the case 110. Also, as shown, the case cap 120 can be completely detachable from the case 110 by having the form of a threaded screw closure.
The receiver module 130 is united with the case 110 to form an integrated structure. In an embodiment, the receiver connector 132 of the receiver module 130 is fixedly connected with one side of the case 110 through the case interface unit 161.
The hardware module 150 can be inserted into the case 110 and detachably connected with the receiver module 130 through the case interface unit 161.
Referring to
Referring first to
The case cap 120 covers one side of the case 110. Also, the case cap 120 can be completely detachable from the case 110 as shown by having the form of a threaded screw closure, or can be opened and reclosable by having the form of a hinged lid partly coupled to the case 110.
The receiver module 130 is united with the hardware module 150 to have an integrated structure. For example, the receiver module 130 and the hardware module 150 may be fixedly connected with each other through soldering or any other fastening technique. The hardware interface unit 162 is fixedly formed at a connecting part between the hardware module 150 and the receiver module 130. For a pollution control and a waterproof purpose, the hardware interface unit 162 as well as the aforesaid hole of the case 110 may be coated with antipollution material.
Referring first to
The case 110 has a hole which has a size smaller than that of the receiver interface unit 163 and greater than that of the receiver module 130. Therefore, this hole allows a passage of the receiver module 130 and disallows a passage of the receiver interface unit 163. In order to prevent undesirable pollution in the case 110 and unwished water inflow into the case 110, the receiver interface unit 163 may be coated with antipollution material. Similarly, the hole of the case 110 may also be coated with antipollution material.
The ear cap 170 is combined with the other side of the receiver module 130.
As discussed hereinbefore, the hearing aids according to various embodiments can enhance efficiency in the disassembly of components such as the receiver and the others and also allow the simple replacement of a defective component. Further, the hearing aids in various embodiments can prevent connecting parts between respective components from being damaged or separated.
Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10-2013-0141884 | Nov 2013 | KR | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5606621 | Reiter et al. | Feb 1997 | A |
7139404 | Feeley et al. | Nov 2006 | B2 |
20030002700 | Fretz et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20040010181 | Feeley et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20050008178 | Joergensen et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20070195981 | Le | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20090304216 | Hansen | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20110235834 | Brimhall et al. | Sep 2011 | A1 |
20120063621 | Naumann | Mar 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
102008030551 | Aug 2009 | DE |
102010040834 | Mar 2012 | DE |
Entry |
---|
Partial European Search Report dated Mar. 27, 2015 in connection with European Patent Application No. 14193903.3; 6 pages. |
Extended European Search Report dated Aug. 24, 2015 in connection with European Patent Application No. 14193903.3; 12 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20150156593 A1 | Jun 2015 | US |