Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
  • H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
  • H04R25/558—Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2225/51—Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
  • H04R2225/57—Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
  • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
  • H04R25/609—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of circuitry
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
  • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
  • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
  • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds

Definitions

• the invention relates to a hearing aid, in particular an in-the-ear hearing aid, comprising a housing and a faceplate, which housing accommodates an electronic circuit and a battery compartment, said faceplate including a lid-shaped element which can be moved with respect to the battery compartment, said battery compartment being closed in a closed position of the lid-shaped element, and said battery compartment being accessible in an open position of the lid-shaped element.
• the known hearing aid includes a housing which is adapted to the shape of an auditory canal and provided with a relatively narrow proximal end part and an opposed, relatively wide distal end part situated near a plate-shaped faceplate.
• the housing accommodates, inter alia, components such as a converter for converting an audio signal to an electrical signal, an amplifier and/or a signal processor, and a converter for converting an electrical signal to an acoustic signal.
• the housing additionally includes a battery compartment for accommodating a battery.
• the faceplate is provided with a flap, the battery compartment being closed in a closed position of the flap, while in the open position of the flap, the battery compartment is open at the location of the faceplate, thereby enabling a battery to be provided, removed or replaced.
• the faceplate is further provided with a manually operable volume control knob for adjusting and setting the sound level.
• the hearing aid in accordance with the invention is characterized in that a detector is secured to the lid-shaped element, which detector is embodied so as to be suitable for the wireless reception of signals and conversion thereof to electrical signals, an electrical connection means being present, which connects, at least in the 2 closed state of the lid-shaped element, the detector to the electronic circuit.
• a signal to be received by the detector may originate from a remote control, which can be operated, for example, by the person wearing the hearing aid.
• a signal may serve, for example, to turn a source-selector switch and/or a signal-processing selector switch. It is also possible to use signals received from a remote control to change settings and/or programs stored in the hearing aid.
• the detector extends opposite the battery compartment.
• the detector secured to the lid-shaped element takes up no space at all, or only a negligible amount of space, which, of course, has a favorable effect on the aim of further reducing the size of the hearing aid.
• the detector comprises an infrared radiation-sensitive semi-conducting element, such as a photodiode or a photoresistor.
• an infrared radiation-sensitive semi-conducting element such as a photodiode or a photoresistor.
• the above-mentioned semiconducting element has main dimensions which extend at least substantially parallel to a main surface of the lid-shaped element.
• the semiconducting element which is situated, entirely or partly, in the lid-shaped element or which engages the lid-shaped element, preferably extends opposite a part of the lid-shaped element which is transparent to the radiation used. This measure enables the housing to be completely closed in the closed position of the lid-shaped element.
• the lid-shaped element extends over the major part of the faceplate.
• the faceplate is only slightly larger than the lid-shaped element itself.
• a practical embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the lid-shaped element is secured so as to be pivotable relatively to the housing. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lid-shaped element is embodied so as to be flap- shaped.
• a flexible hinge with an integral electric conductor which forms part of the electrical connection means. Such a hinge enables, on the one hand, the lid-shaped element to be pivoted to the housing and, on the other hand, a reliable 3 electric connection to be made between the detector and the electronic circuit present in the housing.
• a readily realizable embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention is characterized by the measures as defined in claim 9.
• the invention further relates to a system which includes the hearing aid in accordance with the invention and a remote control adapted to said hearing aid.
• a signal transmitted by the remote control is received, during operation of the hearing aid, by the detector of said hearing aid.
• Such a signal may serve, for example, to turn a source-selector switch and/or a signal-processing selector switch, or to change settings and/or programs stored in the hearing aid.
• the remote control is preferably embodied so as to be an infrared remote control for transmitting infrared signals.
• the hearing aid is preferably provided with an infrared radiation-sensitive semiconducting element as the detector.
• Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows, mainly in perspective, a first embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention
• Fig. 2A diagrammatically shows, partly in side view and partly in section, the first embodiment
• Fig. 2B diagrammatically shows an embodiment of a remote control which can suitably co-operate with the first embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention
• Figs. 3, 4 and 5 diagrammatically show, mainly in perspective, parts of, respectively, a second, third and fourth embodiment of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention.
• the in-the-ear hearing aid shown in Figs. 1 and 2A comprises a compact housing 1 having a relatively narrow proximal end part la, which is adapted to a human auditory canal, and, contiguous therewith, a relatively wide distal end part lb.
• the end part lb terminates at a plate-shaped faceplate 3 and is provided with a battery compartment 5 for a battery 5 a.
• the faceplate 3 is provided with a relatively large aperture 3 a wherein a lid-shaped element 7 is arranged which is pivotable about a pivot axis 7a by means of hinges, which are not shown in the drawing. 4
• the lid-shaped element 7 is in an open position, in which the battery compartment 5 is accessible.
• the element 7 is in the closed position, in which the compartment 5 is closed.
• a detector 9 including an infrared radiation-sensitive semiconducting element is secured in the element 5, said detector being only partly shown in the drawing.
• the detector 9 extends over the major part of the faceplate 3 and has main dimensions 9a, 9b which extend parallel to a main surface of the lid-shaped element 7, such as the outer surface 7b.
• the detector 9 is situated, viewed from the outer surface 7b, under an infrared radiation-transparent plate-shaped part 7c of the lid-shaped element 7 and is in the closed position of the element 7, opposite the battery compartment 5.
• the detector 9 used is embodied so as to be suitable for the reception of infrared signals and conversion thereof to electrical signals.
• the housing 1 accommodates an electronic circuit 11 including, for example, a signal processor for deriving a control signal from the detected signals.
• the housing 1 further accommodates, as is assumed to be known, components such as a microphone, a loudspeaker and an amplifier unit which forms part of the electronic circuit 11 and is arranged between the microphone .and the loudspeaker.
• the detector 9 is connected to the electronic circuit 11 by means of an electrical connection means which, in this example, is formed by two electric conductors 13a, 13b.
• the remote control shown in Fig. 2B comprises an infrared transmitter 15 for transmitting infrared signals, which can be detected by the detector 9 of the hearing aid in accordance with the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2A.
• the remote control which is known per se, is further provided with control buttons and/or knobs 17.
• the hearing aid shown in Fig. 3 comprises a housing 1 and a faceplate 3. Said housing 1 accommodates electronic means and a battery compartment 5.
• the faceplate 3 includes a lid-shaped element 7 which can be moved with respect to the compartment 5.
• a detector 9 is secured to the element 7, which detector is embodied so as to be suitable for the wireless reception of signals and conversion thereof to electrical signals.
• the lid-shaped element 7 is pivoted to the faceplate 3 by means of a flexible hinge 8, which is preferably made of a synthetic resin.
• the hearing aid further includes .an electrical connection means for electrically connecting the detector 9 to said electronic means. This connection means consists of a flexible conductor 23a, 23b which is integrated in the hinge 8. 5
• the hearing aid shown in Fig. 4 comprises a housing 1 having a battery compartment 5.
• a faceplate 3 with a lid-shaped element 7 which is pivo table about a hinge 18 is situated at a distal end part of the housing 1.
• the element 7 extends above the compartment 5 and is provided with a detector 9 which is secured to the element 7.
• the hearing aid further includes an electrical connection means for electrically connecting, in a closed position of the element 7, wherein the compartment 5 is closed, the detector 9 to an electronic circuit accommodated in the housing 1.
• the connection means includes a first contact member 33a which is secured to the lid-shaped element 9, and a second contact member 33b which is situated at, in particular in, the housing 1. In the closed position of the element 7, both contacts 33a and 33b lie against each other and hence are in contact with each other. In the open position shown, however, the contact is interrupted.
• the in-the-ear hearing aid shown in Fig. 5 comprises a housing 1 and a faceplate 3 with a lid-shaped element 7 which is provided with a radiation-sensitive detector 9.
• the element 7 is provided with two swivel axles 28, only one of which is shown in the drawing, by means of which the element 7 is pivoted to the faceplate 3.
• At least one of the swivel axles 28 is provided with an isolated electroconductive ring or ring-shaped layer 33a which is electrically connected, for example by electric wiring 33al, to the detector 9.
• a push contact 33b lies against the ring or layer 33a, which push contact is electrically connected, for example by electric wiring 33b 1, to an electric or electronic circuit of the hearing aid situated in the housing 1.
• the invention is not limited to the above examples. Also other embodiments of the inventive hearing aid comprising a detector which is secured to the lid- shaped element fall within the scope of protection of the invention. Examples of such embodiments include not-in-the-ear hearing aids. With respect to the claims, it is noted that various characteristics as defined in the sub-claims may exist in combination with each other.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Neurosurgery (AREA)
• Otolaryngology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8233490

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (18)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-02 JP JP54675899A patent/JP2002505826A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-03-02 WO PCT/IB1999/000353 patent/WO1999048330A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-03-02 EP EP99903868A patent/EP1013143A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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