Examples described herein relate to hearing devices, and include particularly hearing devices that are positioned in the ear canal for inconspicuous wear. This application is related to pending patent application Ser. No. 12/878,926, titled CANAL HEARING DEVICE WITH DISPOSABLE BATTERY MODULE, filed Sep. 9, 2010, Ser. No. 13/424,242, titled BATTERY MODULE FOR PERPENDICULAR DOCKING INTO A CANAL HEARING DEVICE, filed Mar. 19, 2012, and concurrently filed patent application Ser. No. 13/787,653, titled DISENGAGEMENT TOOL FOR A MODULAR CANAL HEARING DEVICE AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME, filed Mar. 6, 2013, all three of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for any purpose.
The ear canal 10, as illustrated in
Placement of a hearing device inside the ear canal 10 is generally desirable for various electroacoustic advantages such as reduction of the acoustic occlusion effect, improved energy efficiency, reduced distortion, reduced receiver vibrations, and improved high frequency response. Canal placement may also be desirable for cosmetic reasons since the majority of the hearing impaired may prefer to wear an inconspicuous hearing device. A canal hearing device can be inserted entirely or partially inside the ear canal. In the context of this application, any hearing device inserted inside the ear canal, whether partially or completely, may be referred to as a canal hearing device. This includes what is known in the hearing aid industry as Completely In the Canal (CIC), In-The-Canal (ITC), and extended wear deep canal invisible types.
Conventional batteries for canal hearing devices include zinc-air varieties, which are generally non-rechargeable, thus replaced frequently by the user. Given the advanced age of the average hearing aid user and diminutive size of canal hearing device batteries, it is an inconvenient and often a frustrating task to replace the batteries due to decreased dexterity and impaired vision. Furthermore, standard zinc-air batteries can drain prematurely due to continuous internal discharge after removing the air-access tab as known in the hearing aid field. Rechargeable hearing aids on the market are generally limited to the relatively unsightly larger devices in the form of Behind-The-Ear (BTE), In-The-Ear, and Receiver-In-The-Canal (RIC), which are typically made sufficiently large to accommodate charging mechanisms, without the need to remove the battery cell within during charging.
The present disclosure describes examples of rechargeable canal hearing aid devices and systems including a modular canal hearing device (interchangeably referred to herein as a canal hearing device assembly) and charging station adapted to supply electrical energy to the modular canal hearing device. In preferred embodiments, the canal hearing device assembly is charged by placing the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly into a receptacle cavity incorporated within a charging station as will be further described.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the rechargeable hearing aid system includes a modular hearing device with a main module, a battery module, and a charging station. The main module and the battery module are configured to join to form a canal hearing device assembly. The main module includes a microphone, a receiver and circuitry. The battery module, incorporating a rechargeable battery cell therein, is configured for mating with the lateral end of the main module forming the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly, which may include a handle. In a preferred embodiment, the charging station includes a channel for receiving the handle and configured to actuate the handle to disengage, at least partially, the battery module and electrically disengage the battery cell within.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the battery module incorporates a sound port for receiving sound and delivering it to a microphone within the main module.
In one embodiment, the charging station is configured to partially disengage the battery module to automatically switch off the canal hearing device assembly upon insertion of the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly into the receptacle cavity.
In the preferred embodiments, the charging station includes circuitry for controlling and monitoring the charging condition of the battery cell. The charging station may include a USB connector for supplying power from an external source. The charging station may be configured to provide electrical charge to the battery cell via direct electrical contacts, or indirectly via inductive coupling.
The above and still further objectives, features, aspects and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred and alternate embodiments and method of manufacture and use thereof constituting the best mode presently contemplated of practicing the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that some embodiments may not include all details described. In some instances, well-known structures, hearing aid components, circuits, and controls, have not been shown in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments of the invention.
The present disclosure describes, with reference to
The charging station 60 may be configured to provide electrical charge to the battery cell 42, as will be further described below with reference to the figures. The charging station 60 may include one or more electrical contacts 76a and 76b for establishing a direct electrical connection with the electrical contacts 46a and 46b on the exterior of the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly 1. In other examples, the charging station 60 may be configured to provide electrical charge wirelessly to the battery cell 42 by inductive coupling. That is, the charging station 60 may include a coil 64 configured to be inductively couple the battery and circuitry within the charging station 60 for wirelessly delivering charge to the battery cell 42. In further examples a coil 49 may instead be provided in the canal hearing device assembly 1. For example, the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly 1 may include a coil 64 for inductively-coupling electrical energy between the charging station 60 and the battery cell 42. The charging station 60 may include a connector 61, such as a USB connector or any other standardized connector, for coupling the charging station 60 to an external power and/or data source. In other examples, the charging station 60 may include a single-use or a rechargeable battery instead of or in addition to being configured to be coupled to an external power source.
The charging station 60 may include a receptacle cavity 70 which is configured to receive the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly. The receptacle cavity 70 may include first features which are configured to constrain a movement of the main module 20 with respect to the charging station 60 when the canal hearing device assembly 1 is inserted therein. The receptacle cavity 70 may include additional features, for example a disengaging structure 71 configured to actuate the battery module 40 relative to the main module 20 upon insertion of the lateral end into the charging station for partially disengaging the battery module from the main module. In some embodiments, the receptacle cavity may include a channel 77 which is configured to accommodate the handle 50. The channel 77 may be so shaped as to push the handle 50 upwards relative to the main module 20 upon insertion of the canal hearing device assembly 1 into the charging station 60. In some examples, a first portion of the receptacle cavity 70 may be wider and/or taller than at least a portion of the channel 77. The channel 77 may be defined by a step or a ledge which narrows the cavity and which facilitates engagement with (e.g. an actuation of) the handle as described herein.
As noted above, the canal hearing device assembly 1 (also referred to herein as canal hearing device or canal hearing aid), includes a main module 20 and a battery module 40, for example as shown in
The main module 20 includes a main module housing 35 which includes certain features configured for secure engagement of the main module 20 with the battery module 40, the charging station 60, and/or a seal tip assembly 80. These features may be implemented according to a variety of form factors as may be suitable for the particular application. For example, the lateral end 32 of the main module 20 may include a feature 24 (also referred to herein as a stop tab) configured to engage with a feature 41 (also referred to herein as a latch tab) positioned generally on the lateral end 44 of the battery module 40. In the particular example depicted in
In one example embodiment, the main module 20 includes two circumferential features (e.g., lower and upper holding grooves 22 and 23, respectively) incorporated within the receiving cavity 21, wherein the grooves 22, 23 are configured to lock the battery module 40 into one of two positions, representing a power ON position and a power OFF position. The circumferential features (e.g. grooves 22 and 23) are complimentary to a circumferential feature 45 (e.g. holding detent) of the battery module 40. As will be appreciated, in some examples, the circumferential grooves 22, 23 and corresponding detent 45 may be continuous (e.g. extend around the full perimeters of the main module 20 and/or battery module 40), or alternatively they may span only portions of the respective perimeters of the modules. The lower holding groove 22 secures the holding detent 45 of the battery module 40 such that the modular canal hearing device assembly 1 is in the power ON position, whereby the battery cell 42 is electrically engaged with electrical contact 36. On the other hand, the upper holding groove 23 secures the holding detent 45 of the battery module 40 such that the battery cell 42 is electrically disengaged from electrical contact 36, thus the canal hearing device assembly 1 is in the power OFF position. When the battery module 40 is provided in the OFF position, a gap 54 (see
In one embodiment, the lateral end 32 of the main module 20 includes features 25 for securing the lateral end 32 of the modular canal hearing device assembly 1 in the charging station 60 as further described herein. The features 25 (also referred to herein as holding tabs (only one holding tab being visible from one side) are configured to engage with complementary holding features 75 and 74, also referred to herein as holding recess 75 and holding ledge 74, of the charging station 60 (see
The main module 20 may be connected at its medial end 31 to a seal tip assembly 80. The seal tip assembly 80 is preferably manufactured of a flexible material, such as a polymer, and configured as a replaceable or disposable component. The seal tip assembly 80 attaches to the main module 20 by engaging with a seal holding tab 26 positioned generally on the medial end 31 of the main module 20.
The battery module 40 includes a housing 43 that is generally sized and shaped according to the battery cell 42 incorporated therein, which may, in some examples, be substantially cylindrical. In a preferred embodiment, the battery cell 42 is integrated with the battery module 40 thus the battery cell 42 being non-removable. By non-removable it is generally implied, in the context of the present disclosure, that the battery cell 42 is not intended to be replaced during the life of the battery module 40. That is, the battery module 40 with non-removable battery cell 42 is replaced as a unit once the battery cell 42 is no longer functional (e.g. can no longer be recharged and/or becomes damaged). In other embodiments, the battery cell 42 may be removable from the battery module housing 43. The receiving cavity 21 within the main module housing 35 includes a first battery contact 37 and a second battery contact 36 that are configured for contacting positive and negative terminals of the battery cell 42 of the battery module 40.
In some examples, the battery module 40 includes a sound port 47 to deliver incoming sounds to the microphone within the main module 20. A waterproof debris barrier (not shown) may be placed either over, within, or underneath the sound port 47 to prevent water or debris from reaching the electronic components, and particularly the microphone in the main module 20, thus allowing the device to be worn safely during water exposure such as when swimming or showering. The debris barrier is preferably made of a porous film or membrane that is acoustically transparent (e.g., permitting sound to be transmitted across the membrane).
In some examples, the battery module 40 includes a handle 50 attached to the lateral end 44 thereof to facilitate handling of the battery module 40 and the hearing device assembly 1. In some examples as shown in
In one embodiment, the battery module 40 comprises charging electrical contacts 46a and 46b for receiving electrical charge from the charging station 60. The charging electrical contacts 46a and 46b may be positioned on the exterior surface of the battery module housing 43, for example on top as shown in
The charging station 60 may include one or more receptacle cavities 70, each of which may be adapted for receiving the lateral end of a canal hearing device assembly 1.
The receptacle cavity 70 of the charging station 60 is shaped to conform generally to the shape of the lateral end 32 of the canal hearing device assembly 1. In this manner the receptacle cavity 70 may be configured to accommodate the insertion of the lateral end 32 therein, while the medial end 31 of the canal hearing device assembly 1 protrudes from the receptacle cavity 70. The channel 77 within the receptacle cavity 70 includes features configured to actuate the handle 50 for disengagement of the battery module 40, providing the canal hearing device assembly 1 in the power OFF position and ready for charging as described herein.
In one embodiment, the charging electrical contacts 76a and 76b may be configured to also transmit data to and from the canal hearing device assembly 1. In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle cavity 70 includes a thermistor element (not shown) for sensing the temperature proximate to the battery cell 42 when the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly 1 is inserted within the receptacle cavity 70. The thermistor element is preferably positioned directly at, or in the vicinity of charging electrical contacts 76a and 76b within the receptacle cavity 70. The thermistor element is generally coupled to circuitry 65 incorporated within the charging station 60, and may be configured to control the charge cycle of the canal hearing device assembly 1, partially in response to the temperature within the canal hearing device assembly 1. The charge cycle may be interrupted responsive to the thermistor detecting a temperature proximate the battery exceeding a certain threshold temperature.
In another embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, the receptacle cavity 70 includes features to secure the main module 20 within and manipulate the battery module 40 for disengagement from the main module 20. The receptacle cavity 70 is shaped with a lead-in to receive the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly 1 towards the cavity floor 73, the holding recesses 75 located on the each side (
In the above example, the battery module 40 is displaced by the disengaging ledge 71 within the channel 77 of the receptacle cavity 70, configured to push the handle 50, or the shaft part 51 thereof “up” or “upward” and/or away from the main module 20, resulting in partial disengagement of the battery module 40 and the power OFF position which may be required during charging. The channel 77 extends the receptacle cavity 70 to accommodate the handle 50 therewithin. The disengagement of the battery module 40 also engages the charging electrical contacts 46a and 46b of the canal hearing device assembly 1 with electrical contacts 76a and 76b of the charging station 60, allowing the transfer of electrical charge to the battery cell 42, and performing the charging cycle by the circuitry 65. That is, as the battery module 40 is actuated and displaces upwards relative to the main module, the charging electrical contacts 46a and 46b are advanced toward and provided in direct contact with the electrical contacts 76a and 76b of the charging station 60. In this regard, it may be said that in the examples herein, the disengagement of the battery module 40 is generally in the perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis 2 of the elongate canal hearing device assembly 1.
In an alternate embodiment of the canal hearing device system including a rechargeable canal hearing device assembly as depicted in
The canal hearing device assembly 1 may be provided from the OFF position to the ON position by a snap mechanism, whereby the holding tab 45 (
In one embodiment, an integrated multi-purpose tool kit 90 (
Although examples of the invention have been described herein, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a consideration of the foregoing description of presently preferred and alternate embodiments and methods of fabrication and use thereof, and that variations and modifications of this exemplary embodiment and method may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the above-described embodiments of the invention should not be viewed as exhaustive or as limiting the invention to the precise configurations or techniques disclosed. Rather, it is intended that the invention shall be limited only by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.
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