Patent Grant
11729558
This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2020 205 439.8, filed Apr. 29, 2020; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a hearing device, in particular, a hearing aid device.
Hearing devices are typically used to output an audio signal to aid the sense of hearing of the wearer of the hearing device. The output takes place by using an output transducer, usually acoustically through airborne sound by using a loudspeaker (also referred to as a “receiver”). Such hearing devices are frequently used as so-called hearing aid devices (referred to herein as hearing aids for short). For that purpose, the hearing devices normally include an acoustic input transducer (in particular, a microphone) and a signal processor, which is configured to process the input signal (also: microphone signal) generated by the input transducer from the ambient sound with an application of at least one typically user-specifically stored signal processing algorithm, in such a way that a hearing loss of the wearer of the hearing device is at least partially compensated for. In particular, in the case of a hearing aid device, the output transducer can, in addition to a loudspeaker, alternatively also be a so-called bone vibrator or a cochlea implant, which are configured for mechanical or electrical coupling of the sound signal into the sense of hearing of the wearer. The term hearing devices also additionally includes, in particular devices, e.g., so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones, and the like.
Hearing devices, in particular hearing aids, are generally used in the form of devices to be worn behind the ear (also referred to as “BTE”) or in the ear (also referred to as “ITE”). BTEs can in turn be differentiated into devices which have the loudspeaker in the BTE housing, and those devices which have the loudspeaker externally, in particular, intended to be worn in the auditory canal. The latter are frequently also referred to as “RIC” (“receiver in canal”) hearing aids. A connecting cable is known to be required in that case between the electrical components (for example the respective microphone, preferably a signal processor which contains the above-mentioned signal processing algorithm) disposed in the BTE housing and the loudspeaker. The connecting cable is usually coupled in the region of the “tip” of the generally roughly banana-shaped BTE housing to the housing. A corresponding connector is often constructed in such a way that, in the intended wearing state of the hearing aid, microphones oriented forward are not concealed. Moreover, however, the most captive possible connection, i.e., a connection which is stable and resistant to unintended detaching, is also required between the connecting cable and the BTE housing.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a hearing device, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which provides an improved connection between an external loudspeaker and a housing of a hearing device.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a hearing device comprising a housing, which is stretched or elongated along a longitudinal axis, is formed with an oval cross section, and is configured for housing electrical components of the hearing device. Furthermore, the hearing device includes a loudspeaker, which is disposed outside the housing in the intended wearing state of the hearing device and is interconnected with at least a part of the electrical components. Moreover, the hearing device includes a plug connector which is connected to the loudspeaker, in particular, by using a loudspeaker connecting cable and which carries at least six contact elements for interconnecting the loudspeaker with the corresponding electrical components. Furthermore, the hearing device includes a plug connector receptacle for receiving the plug connector and interconnecting the respective contact elements. This plug connector receptacle is disposed in this case in a surface of the housing oriented toward the lower side in the intended wearing state. The plug connector and the plug connector receptacle are additionally constructed in such a way that a plug-in direction extends from a front side to a rear side in the intended wearing state.
Advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention, which are partially inventive alone, are described in the dependent claims and the following description.
The electrical components preferably include at least one microphone and one signal processor for processing signals output on the part of the respective microphone. The hearing device optionally also includes as an (in particular further) electrical component, a preferably rechargeable battery unit, also referred to as a battery pack. The battery unit preferably in turn includes a charging electronics unit for controlling and monitoring a discharging or charging procedure.
Since the plug connector receptacle is disposed in the “lower side” of the housing, the microphone or at least one of multiple microphones having a correspondingly associated microphone opening, can be offset as far as possible toward the “tip” of the housing facing forward in the intended wearing state.
The housing, which is oval in cross section, is preferably formed approximately rectangularly having comparatively strongly rounded corners.
The hearing device preferably forms a hearing aid device, also referred to for short as a “hearing aid.” In particular, the hearing device thus forms an RIC hearing aid or also an RIC-BTE, since the above-described housing is preferably intended to be worn behind the ear. In contrast, the external loudspeaker is to be worn in the ear, preferably in the auditory canal, in the intended wearing state.
In one expedient embodiment, the plug connector receptacle is countersunk in the surface of the housing oriented toward the lower side, specifically preferably in such a way that the plug connector is withdrawn from view from a lateral direction in the intended plugged-in state. The plug connector is thus “invisible” in the intended wearing state, on one hand, but the flattest possible contact surface on the ear of the user is also advantageously formed, on the other hand.
In a further expedient embodiment, the plug connector and the plug connector receptacle are constructed as complementary to one another and self-aligning. In particular, both have an asymmetrical, preferably partially flattened oval profile. The plug connector is thus uniquely positionable in relation to the housing during the installation in a simple manner and incorrect contacting of the contact elements is avoided.
In one preferred embodiment, the plug connector and the plug connector receptacle each include a part of a retaining device automatically actuatable in the plug-in direction. Locking of the plug connector in the housing by an additional measure, for example by a locking pin, which is inserted transversely through the housing, can thus advantageously be omitted.
In particular, the plug connector includes a groove as part of the retaining device and the plug connector receptacle includes a wire spring (which is preferably formed like a C ring). This wire spring engages in the intended coupling state in the groove, so that a reversibly active form-locking against inadvertent withdrawal of the plug connector is formed.
In one expedient embodiment, the plug connector includes an injection-molded main body made of a first plastic. A circumferential seal made of a second plastic is molded on this main body and is preferably connected thereto in a materially bonded manner. The seal is optionally molded on in a multicomponent injection molding method. The seal is preferably formed by so-called “liquid injection molding” with an introduction in particular of a liquid silicone rubber (abbreviated: “LSR”). Manual positioning of the seal during the installation, which is frequently difficult and complex due to the generally comparatively small dimensions of hearing aids (and thus also of the plug connector), can thus be omitted.
In a further expedient embodiment (alternatively or preferably additionally to the above-described seal), the plug connector includes an injection-molded main body (in particular, the one described above). In the intended coupling state, this main body is disposed obliquely in relation to the surface of the housing oriented toward the lower side. An end face of the main body which faces toward the loudspeaker and from which the loudspeaker connecting cable exits, is thus placed obliquely in relation to a cable exit direction of the loudspeaker connecting cable, following the surface of the housing oriented toward the lower side. In other words, this end face of the plug connector is aligned obliquely, so that, in the intended coupling state, the end face is disposed substantially (i.e., with minor deviations) parallel to the downwardly oriented surface and preferably also lying in its plane. An “optimized length” of the plug connector thus results, so that a lever action, which occurs due to excess transverse tension, which is not provided upon intended handling, on the loudspeaker connecting cable at a “pivot point,” can be reduced. This pivot point represents the point at which the plug connector is in contact with the housing in such an impermissible handling case.
The plug connector, in particular its main body, is preferably only slightly larger in its cross section than the loudspeaker connecting cable, for example by up to a factor of two. The plug connector plugged into the plug connector receptacle thus only occupies little space on the housing, so that a particularly large amount of installation space is available on or in the housing for the positioning of the or of the respective microphone and the respectively associated microphone opening and/or the silhouette of the hearing device can be reduced in size.
In one advantageous embodiment, the plug connector includes a contact carrier in the form of a plate protruding on the end face (in particular, of the main body) facing away from the loudspeaker. The above-described contact elements are formed as contact surfaces on this plate and, in particular, are disposed so as to be distributed on both sides. This plate represents a comparatively stable device for contacting and is similar in the basic principle to a contact carrier of a USB 2.0 type A plug.
In one expedient embodiment, the plug connector receptacle includes spring contacts corresponding to each of the above-described contact surfaces for contacting.
In a further expedient embodiment, the plug connector includes a coding, in particular a color coding, to indicate the side associated with the corresponding ear of a user. This is advantageous, in particular, for the case that the user uses one hearing device, for example a binaural hearing aid system, for each ear. The situation can optionally exist in this case that a different loudspeaker is used for each ear. At least the loudspeaker connecting cable is regularly bent for the most invisible possible and non-disturbing connection between the housing to be worn behind the ear and the loudspeaker. The coding enables a reduction of the risk of usage on reversed sides. The plug connector receptacle preferably also includes a corresponding coding. For example, the plug connector for the right ear is colored in a first color, for example blue, and that for the left ear in a second color, for example red. The plug connector receptacle is, in particular, colored correspondingly, so that a unique assignment is possible.
In a further expedient embodiment, at least the plug connector receptacle includes contact elements which are configured and provided (preferably in addition to the above-described interconnection of the loudspeaker) for charging the rechargeable battery unit, and/or for data exchange with the signal processor. The signal processor is generally configured to execute at least one signal processing algorithm for processing the (microphone) signals. This (or the respective) signal processing algorithm is advantageously parameterizable in a user-specific manner in this case, which in the present embodiment can expediently also take place through the plug connector receptacle while saving an additional interface. In this case, the loudspeaker including the associated cable is preferably removed for the parameterization and a data cable having a comparable plug connector is connected to the plug connector receptacle.
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 a hearing device, 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.
Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which parts corresponding to one another are always provided with the same reference signs, and first, particularly, to
In order to have sufficient space on the housing 2 for a microphone opening 8 facing forward in as straight a line as possible (i.e., along a horizontal) in the intended wearing state, a plug connector receptacle (referred to herein as a “socket 10” for short) for receiving a plug connector 12 of the cable 6 is disposed on a surface 14 facing downward in the intended wearing state of the hearing aid 1. In order to conceal the plugged-in plug connector 12 as much as possible from the view of third parties and/or to avoid skin irritation due to protruding edges, the socket 10 is incorporated into the above-mentioned surface 14, i.e., countersunk. Specifically, the socket 10 is countersunk in such a way that, in the plugged-in state (see
In
A bow-shaped wire spring 22 is inserted in the socket 10 as a further part of the retaining device. The wire spring 22 is first tensioned radially outward when the main body 16 is plugged in and subsequently “snaps” into the groove 20. The plug connector 12 can thus be held in the socket 10, without further locking elements being required.
The plug connector 12 and the socket 10 are constructed in this case in such a way that the coupling takes place by way of a linear insertion movement along a plug-in direction 24.
In order to provide contacting, the plug connector 12 includes a plate 26, around which the main body 16 is preferably injection molded and which carries a plurality, three herein in each case, of contact elements 28 on an upper side and on a lower side. The contact elements 28 are disposed as planar elements in the surface of the plate 26. Contact springs corresponding to the contact elements 28 are disposed in a manner not shown in greater detail in the socket 10.
As can be seen from
A further invention, which is also an invention on its own and which in particular represents an additional or alternative embodiment to the above-described retaining device, relates to:
The subject matter of the invention is not restricted by the above-described exemplary embodiments. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020205439.8 | Apr 2020 | DE | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20210345049 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |
