Programmable module

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6678386
  • Patent Number
    6,678,386
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 13, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 13, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a self-contained, discrete programmable module for a programmable hearing aid, in which the self-contained discrete programmable module includes a plastic housing having a first wall and a second wall, in which the first and second walls define a slot, and the first and second walls having at least one shoulder that is effective in slanting the slot. The present invention further includes a plurality of electrical leads disposed within the plastic housing, such that the electrical leads are integrally formed within the second wall and a third wall of the plastic housing, in which each electrical lead extends into the slot, and each electrical lead is effective in providing a force that retains a programmable cable inserted therein for programming the programmable module.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to programmable hearing aids. More specifically, the present invention relates to a programmable module for use in a programmable hearing aid.




Over the past decade, hearing aids have evolved to include complete insertion into a patient's ear canal so that a face of the hearing aid is flush with or below an entrance to the patient's ear canal. Such hearing aids are referred to as “Completely-In-the-Canal” or “CIC” hearing aids in the industry. Additionally, the face of the CIC hearing aid may include a variety of operational components, such as a microphone, a tuner, an amplifier, a retrieval line, a receiver, or the like, to enhance performance of the hearing aid for a patient.




Accordingly, such operational components have become progressively more sophisticated, and modification of a hearing aid to include, for example, adjustment of a level of background noise detected, speech intelligibility, attenuation of sounds or even programming a level of sound coming from an environment is now common in the CIC hearing aid. Such hearing aids, termed “programmable hearing aids”, permit adjustment of operational components to maximize performance of the CIC hearing aid.




Typically, such programmable hearing aids are programmed while they are in the patient's ear canal. Currently, programming of a hearing aid is accomplished via insertion of a programmable cable into a programmable module located on the face of the hearing aid.




Nevertheless, programming remains challenging for a number of reasons. For example, proper location and orientation of the programmable module on the face of the hearing aid is difficult since hearing aids also position operational components that limit space available on the face for the programming module. Similarly, if the programmable module is not properly oriented with respect to the face, cable insertion becomes challenging, and may even result in damage to the cable, or even the entire hearing aid during programming.




Additionally, programmable hearing aids are custom-fitted to the patient's ear. With many variations in size and shape being possible for a programmable hearing aid, the inclusion of a programmable module may require extensive experimentation, and therefore, the use of highly skilled workers to manufacture the hearing aid. Such use of skilled workers typically increases the costs of programmable hearing aids.




Current programmable hearing aids position the programmable module in integral communication with a battery module which permits a battery door of the battery module to facilitate an operable connection between the programmable cable and the programmable module via opening and shutting of the battery door. Nevertheless, such positioning typically limits the option of placing the programmable module at any surface of the face to support proper positioning of other operational components during custom-fitting of the hearing aid for the patient.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention generally relates to a self-contained, discrete programmable module for a programmable hearing aid, in which the self-contained discrete programmable module includes a plastic housing having a first wall and a second wall, in which the first and second walls define a slot, and the first and second walls having at least one shoulder that is effective in slanting the slot. The present invention further includes a plurality of electrical leads disposed within the plastic housing, such that the electrical leads are integrally formed within the second wall and a third wall of the plastic housing, in which each electrical lead extends into the slot, and each electrical lead is effective in providing a force that retains a programmable cable inserted therein for programming the programmable module.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a top portion of a hearing aid faceplate showing the faceplate, a battery portion and a programmable module portion.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of a bottom portion of a hearing aid faceplate showing a battery portion housing a battery for powering the hearing aid, and a programmable module portion detached from the faceplate for housing a self-contained discrete programmable module.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a bottom portion of a programmable hearing aid showing a battery portion housing a battery and a programmable module portion attached to the faceplate for housing a self-contained discrete programmable module.





FIG. 4

is a sectional perspective view of a self-contained programmable module for programming a hearing aid.





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a self-contained programmable module that includes a programmable cable for programming a hearing aid.





FIG. 6

is a sectional view of a self-contained programmable cable that includes an inserted programmable cable.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




The present invention relates to programmable hearing aids. More specifically, the present invention relates to a programmable module for use in a programmable hearing aid.




A top portion of a faceplate that can be used to assemble a programmable hearing aid in accordance with the present invention is generally depicted at


10


in FIG.


1


. The faceplate


10


is formed of a circular plate


12


. The faceplate


10


includes a battery portion


100


and a programmable module portion


200


. The battery portion


100


has an anterior end


102


and a posterior end


104


. The anterior end


102


of the battery portion


100


is preferably positioned adjacent to the programmable module portion


200


.




The battery portion


100


of the faceplate


10


further includes a battery door


101


that is depicted in a closed position in FIG.


1


. The battery door


101


is snap fit onto a door pin (not shown) via cooperation of a door pin opening (not shown) of a door bracket (not shown) located on the battery door


101


to close the battery door


101


. Alternatively, the battery door


101


may be forced or friction fit into the closed position by providing an outer lip (not shown) of the battery door


101


with a slightly smaller diameter than the battery door


101


.




The faceplate


10


is used to construct a face


14


for the programmable hearing aid as is well known in the art. The face


14


encloses a shell (not shown) that houses operational components, such as a battery


108


, a microphone assembly (not shown), a receiver (not shown) and a trimmer (not shown) of the programmable hearing aid. The faceplate


10


is typically dimensioned larger than the face


14


required for the programmable hearing aid.




The faceplate


10


is typically formed of a polymeric material, such as Tenite® propionate sold by Eastman Kodak Company Corporation of Rochester, N.Y.




As best depicted in

FIG. 1

, the faceplate


10


includes a self-contained discrete programmable module


300


, inserted into the programmable module portion


200


. Although the programmable module portion


200


is depicted at the anterior end


102


of the battery portion


100


, the programmable module portion


200


is separate, distinct, and independent of the battery portion. Furthermore, the programmable module portion


200


, along with the module


300


may be located at any position on the faceplate


10


in accordance with the present invention.




Such flexibility in positioning the programmable module portion


200


at any location on the faceplate


10


provides many advantages to a manufacturer of programmable hearing aids. For example, programmable hearing aids are typically custom-fitted to the client's ear. Space on the faceplate


10


is therefore limited with further restrictions encountered when other faceplate components are combined. A programmable module portion


200


that can be positioned at any location on the faceplate


10


provides the manufacturer with maximum flexibility for strategically positioning all faceplate components in selected arrangements on the faceplate


10


.




In addition, the module


300


can be oriented in any direction to facilitate subsequent insertion of a programmable cable


500


into the cable slot


330


for programming of the programmable hearing aid. Proper orientation of the module


300


is critical to avoid any irregularities in the client's ear during programming of the programmable hearing aid.




The separate, distinct and independent programmable module portion


200


of the present invention is also advantageous during assembly of the programmable hearing aid, since the decision on where to locate the programmable module portion


200


cannot be predicted in advance of the manufacturing process. Such flexibility on where the programmable module portion


200


can be located provides the manufacturer freedom to optimally and efficiently modify the programmable hearing aid to suit the client's needs.




A battery compartment


80


is formed within the faceplate


10


and is defined by end walls


70


and


212


and opposed side walls


60


, as best depicted in FIG.


2


. End wall


70


is at a distal end of the battery compartment


80


and end wall


212


is at a proximal end of battery compartment


80


towards a hinge pin


150


. The faceplate


10


further includes opposed battery contacts


106


that extend perpendicularly from the faceplate


10


for contacting a battery


108


inserted into the battery compartment


80


of the battery portion


100


. The opposed battery contacts


106


define the battery compartment


80


that houses the battery


108


. The opposed battery contacts


106


are supported by the faceplate


10


and are aligned relative to the battery


108


to electrically connect the battery


108


to power any operational components of the programmable hearing aid.




The opposed battery contacts


106


include an oval shaped base


120


having a center opening


122


, as best illustrated in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. The battery contacts


106


include opposed tangs


124


, opposed leads


126


and opposed grooves


128


for accepting anchors (not shown) that anchor the battery contacts


106


relative to the faceplate


10


. Opposed tangs


124


are elongated flexible cantilevered extensions which extend from a side of the oval shaped base into the center opening


122


. Opposed leads


126


extend at an angle from an exposed end of tangs


124


and are normally positioned to extend into the battery compartment


80


to contact ends


110


and


112


of the battery


108


in the battery compartment


80


when the battery door


101


is closed.




A retaining flange


140


of the battery portion


100


extends arcuately below the battery compartment


80


as illustrated in

FIGS. 2 and 3

. The retaining flange


140


retains the battery


108


when it is inserted in the battery compartment


80


. The retaining flange


140


is sized to slightly grip a round extent


118


of the battery


108


when inserted into the battery compartment


80


. Opposed sides


140




a


and


140




b


define the width of the retaining flange


140


. The retaining flange


140


can also be molded of Tenite® propionate, or the like. Preferably, the retaining flange is molded from the same polymer material as the faceplate


10


.




As best depicted in

FIG. 3

, the battery


108


in the battery portion


100


includes flat end


110


and stepped end


112


. The stepped end


112


of the battery


108


defines a ring-shaped recessed portion


114


and a circular raised positive portion


116


. The retaining flange


140


includes a shoulder


146


that extends from the anterior end


102


of the battery compartment


80


to the side of the oval shaped base


120


of the battery contacts


106


. The shoulder


146


of the retaining flange


140


covers both the ring-shaped recessed portion


114


and the circular raised positive portion


16


of the battery contacts


106


, as illustrated in FIG.


3


.




As illustrated in

FIG. 2

, the hinge pin


150


is located at the posterior end


104


of the battery portion


100


. The hinge pin


150


is adjacent to the retaining flange


140


that retains the battery


108


when inserted into the battery compartment


80


of the faceplate


10


. The hinge pin


150


includes opposed ends


152


(not shown) which extend from opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


adjacent to and spaced from end wall


212


. Opposed ends


152


(not shown) of the hinge pin


150


are integrally formed with opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


. Thus, opposed ends


152


(not shown) are flush with respective opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


.




The programmable module portion


200


of the faceplate


10


includes an elongated member


202


, as best depicted in FIG.


2


. Elongated member


202


is located adjacent to and away from the hinge pin


150


. The elongated member


202


also has opposed ends


204


and


206


which extend between opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


. Opposed ends


204


and


206


of the elongated member


202


are integrally formed with the opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


. Thus, opposed ends


204


and


206


of the elongated member


202


are flush with respective opposed side walls


60


of the battery compartment


80


.




The programmable module portion


200


of the faceplate


10


further includes a rectangular slot


220


that is located next and adjacent to the elongated member


202


. The rectangular slot


220


is bounded by end wall


212


, elongated member


202


and opposed side walls


204


and


206


. The rectangular slot


220


further includes tongue portions


210


as illustrated in FIG.


2


. The rectangular slot


220


is designed to frictionally hold the module


300


. During assembly of the programmable hearing aid (not shown), the module


300


is slid into the rectangular slot


212


of the programmable module portion


200


so that grooves


340


located on the module


300


receive tongues


208


and


210


located in the rectangular slot


220


, as best illustrated in

FIGS. 4 and 5

.




The module


300


of the programmable module portion


200


is further illustrated in

FIGS. 4

,


5


, and


6


. The module


300


is shaped to frictionally fit into rectangular slot


220


with surface


302


in communication with end wall


212


and surface


304


in communication with retaining flange


140


. The module


300


includes a plastic housing


306


that contains a first wall


308


and a second wall


310


. The plastic housing


306


is injection molded to form the module


300


and further includes a plurality of electrical leads


320


. The electrical leads


320


have a portion within the first wall


308


that anchors the leads


320


and a portion that extends from the wall


308


.




The module


300


houses a cable slot


330


that extends through the module


300


for insertion of a programmable cable


500


as illustrated in FIG.


5


. The module


300


includes spaced apart shoulders


314


that extend outwardly from wall


310


. The shoulders


314


also extend inwardly into cable slot


330


to thereby physically slant an entrance


332


of the cable slot


330


. The physically slanted entrance


332


of the cable slot


330


is capable of directing the programmable cable


500


into the cable slot


330


. The cable slot


330


furthers tapers toward a circuit exit


334


of the module


300


.




The electrical leads


320


of the module


300


extend in a U-shaped curve from wall


308


at end


322


to wall


310


at circuit exit


330


, as best depicted in FIG.


6


. To further aid in electrical contact between the electrical leads


320


and the programmable cable


500


, each electrical lead


320


further preferably includes a hump


326


proximate the circuit end


334


.




The programmable cable


500


includes a plurality of electrodes


510


and longitudinal recessed areas


520


between each electrode


510


. The shoulders


314


are spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of the electrodes


510


. When the programmable cable


500


is inserted into the module


300


, the electrodes


510


are positioned between spaced apart shoulders


314


. Electronic signals from a programming unit (not shown) can be sent via the electrodes


510


of the programmable cable


500


to program the programmable hearing aid.




When the programmable cable


500


is inserted in the module


300


, the physically slanted entrance


332


of the cable slot


330


directionally guides the programmable cable


500


into the cable slot


330


. Furthermore, shoulders


314


assist the electrical leads


320


to engage the electrodes


510


of the programmable cable


500


during insertion into the cable slot


330


. In addition, the longitudinal recessed areas


520


facilitate proper alignment of the electrodes


510


with the electrical leads


320


.




The electrodes


510


of the programmable cable


500


are held in conductive contact with the electrical leads


320


in the cable slot


330


due to a spring-type action of the electrical leads


320


. When the programmable cable


500


is directionally inserted into the cable slot


330


, the programmable cable


500


rests against wall


310


and pushes back against the electrical leads


320


in a direction indicated by arrow


312


as illustrated in FIG.


6


. The spring force against the cable


500


is indicated by arrow


312


in

FIGS. 4 and 6

. The spring force ensures conductive contact between the leads


510


of the cable


500


and the leads


320


.




The hump


326


of each electrical lead


320


further urges the programmable cable


500


to retain contact with each electrical lead


320


for maximum connection and programming of the programmable hearing aid. Since the programmable cable


500


is urged toward the electrical leads


320


by the spring-type action of the electrical leads


320


no additional adjustments or modifications are therefore required to maintain contact between the electrical leads


320


and the leads


510


.




The module


300


is a unique design that can accept programmable cables of any shape to make electrical contact with electrical leads since the cable slot can be modified to fit any surface configuration. Furthermore, the physically slanted entrance


332


into the cable slot


330


and the tapered circuit exit


334


of the cable slot


330


directs, aligns and retains the programmable cable


500


within the module


300


. In addition, with the programmable module portion


200


capable of being located at any position on the faceplate


10


, maximum flexibility during assembly of the programmable hearing aid is afforded to the manufacturer.




The module


300


is preferably formed from a polymeric material having a higher melt temperature then the polymeric material that forms the face place


10


. For example, the module


30


is preferably made of nylon 6/6 while the faceplate


10


is made of Tenite® propionate. Preferably, the module


300


is made of a polymeric material such as nylon 6/6 that is better able to withstand soldering temperatures. Wire leads from internal components (not shown) of the hearing aid need to be soldered to ends of the leads


320


. When a polymer material having a low melt temperature is used to form the module


300


, soldering temperatures may create problems by melting the polymeric material holding the electrical leads


320


, since heat will be conducted through the leads into the polymer. The melting of the polymeric material causes the electrical leads


320


to move slightly and therefore, shift the electrical leads


320


out of alignment. Improper alignment or orientation of the electrical leads


320


can reduce the degree of conductive contact with the leads


510


of the cable


500


, and therefore, create quality defects which may render the hearing aid problematic or ineffective.




The use of a higher melt temperature polymer for the module


300


rather than the faceplate


10


is also desirable since the faceplate


10


must be cut and molded to form the programmable hearing aid. When a higher melt temperature polymer material is used to form the faceplate


10


, cutting and molding the faceplate


10


is substantially more difficult. The use of a lower melt temperature polymeric material to form the faceplate obviates the difficulties in cutting and molding the faceplate during assembly of the programmable hearing aid.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A self-contained, discrete programmable hearing aid module for attachment to a hearing aid faceplate and for accepting a plurality of programming leads retained within a cable element, the self-contained, discrete programmable hearing aid module comprising:a housing including a first and a second wall, wherein the first and second walls define a slot, and wherein the second wall includes a plurality of shoulders extending therefrom into the slot, the shoulders being spaced apart from each other approximately a width of the programming leads to accept the programming leads between the shoulders when the cable element is inserted into the slot; and a plurality of electrical leads extending into the slot and retained by the first wall and positioned with respect to the shoulders such that the electrical leads are disposed in conductive contact with the programming leads of the cable element when the cable element is inserted within the slot, the electrical leads being made of a spring metal and extending into the slot such that the electrical leads act against the programming leads of the cable element when the cable element is within the slot.
  • 2. The self-contained, discrete programmable hearing aid module of claim 1 wherein the housing is made of a polymeric material sufficient to withstand soldering temperatures such that the electrical leads retain alignment during soldering.
  • 3. The self-contained, discrete programmable hearing aid module of claim 2 wherein the polymeric material is nylon 6/6.
  • 4. The programmable hearing aid module of claim 1 wherein the programmable cable has a first thickness, the cable slot has a second thickness, the first thickness being larger than the second thickness.
  • 5. A faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination, the faceplate and programmable hearing aid combination comprising:a battery opening disposed within the faceplate, wherein the battery opening is defined by opposed side walls and opposed end walls, and wherein the battery opening is located at a first position on the faceplate; a module opening disposed within the faceplate, the module opening defined by opposed side edges and opposed end edges, wherein the module opening is located at a second position on the faceplate, and wherein the first position is distinct from the second position on the faceplate; a self-contained programmable hearing aid module disposed within the module opening, the self-contained programmable hearing aid module comprising: a housing including a first and a second wall, wherein the first and second walls define a slot, and wherein the second wall includes at least one shoulder extending therefrom into the slot; and a plurality of electrical leads extending into the slot and retained by the first wall and positioned with respect to at least one shoulder such that the electrical leads are disposed in conductive contact with the programming leads of the cable element when the cable element is inserted within the slot.
  • 6. The faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination of claim 5 wherein the programmable hearing aid module is detachably attached to the faceplate.
  • 7. The faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination ofelaim 5 wherein the programmable hearing aid module is made of a polymer having a melt temperature sufficient to withstand soldering temperatures such that the electrical leads retain alignment during soldering.
  • 8. The faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination of claim 7 wherein the polymeric material is nylon 6/6.
  • 9. The faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination of claim 5 and further including a plurality of shoulders extending from the second wall and spaced apart from each other approximately a width of the programming leads to accept the programming leads between the shoulders when the cable element is inserted into the slot.
  • 10. The faceplate and programmable hearing aid module combination of claim 7 wherein the electrical leads are made of a spring medal and extend into the slot such that the electrical lead act against the programming leads of the cable element when the cable element is within a slot.
  • 11. A programmable hearing aid faceplate, the programmable hearing aid faceplate comprising:a battery opening disposed within the faceplate, wherein the battery opening is defined by opposed side walls and opposed end walls, and wherein the battery opening is located at a first position on the faceplate; a module opening positioned within the faceplate, the module opening defined by opposed side edges and opposed end edges, the module opening located at a second position on the faceplate, a programmable module attached to the faceplate in cooperation with the module opening; and wherein the first position is distinct from the second position on the faceplate.
  • 12. The programmable hearing aid faceplate of claim 11 wherein the programmable module further includes a plurality of electrical leads embedded within a wall of the module and wherein the wall is made of a polymeric material sufficient to withstand soldering temperatures such that the electrical leads retain alignment during soldering.
  • 13. The programmable hearing aid faceplate of claim 12 wherein the polymeric material is nylon 6/6.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority from application Ser. No. 60/188,789, which was filed on Mar. 13, 2000.

US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
4961230 Rising Oct 1990 A
5799095 Hanright Aug 1998 A
5915031 Hanright Jun 1999 A
6088465 Hanright et al. Jul 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
44 44 586 Mar 1996 DE
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/188789 Mar 2000 US