Hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user

• US 10,264,370 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Olsen, Thor Hojlund, Koch, Povl, Stranne, Soren, Pedersen, Troels Holm, Christensen, Kare Tais, Jorgensen, Lars Lund, Frantzen, Jan, Rasmussen, Karsten Bo, Severin, Bent
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan S
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKinney, Angelica M
• Application Number:
  US15/132,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

The application relates to a hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising a forward path adapted for processing an input sound and providing an output sound representative of the input sound, the hearing device comprising an assembly comprising first and second modules adapted for being in mechanical contact with each other when the hearing device is operationally assembled to form a functional unit. The object of the present application is to provide a user friendly hearing device adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user. The problem is solved in that the first module comprises a power supply unit, and the second module comprises an input unit, a signal processing unit and an output unit in operational connection, wherein the first and second modules are configured to provide that the first and second modules are reversibly attachable to and detachable from each other; and the first and second modules are electrically connected to provide that units of the second module are energized by the battery of the first module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled. This has the advantage of providing relatively simple and easy to use hearing device. The invention may e.g. be used for hearing aids, in particular extended wear hearing aids adapted for being located deep in the ear canal of a user.

Claims

1. A hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising a forward path adapted for processing an input sound and providing an output sound representative of the input sound, the hearing device comprising an assembly comprising a disposable power supply module and a reusable acoustic module adapted for being in mechanical contact with each other when the hearing device is operationally assembled to form a functional unit, wherein

the power supply module comprises

a mechanically flexible outer surface shaped to guide insertion of the hearing aid deep into the ear canal of the user so as to reach a part of the bony region,

an inner surface shaped as an elongated cavity that receives and fittingly accommodates the acoustic module therein, the inner surface including a first contact element, and

a power supply unit in the form of a battery integrated into the structure of the power supply module, the battery being in direct contact with the first contact element, and

the acoustic module comprises a second contact element, an input unit, a signal processing unit and an output unit in operational connection, wherein the power supply and acoustic modules are configured to provide that

the power supply and acoustic modules are reversibly attachable to and detachable from each other;

and

the power supply and acoustic modules are electrically connected via direct contact between the first and second contact elements to provide that units of the acoustic module are energized by the battery of the power supply module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled,

wherein said cavity of said power supply module fittingly accommodates said acoustic module in a removable manner.

2. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the power supply module comprises a first module container enclosing the power supply unit, and the acoustic module comprises a second module container enclosing the input unit, the signal processing unit, and the output unit.

3. The hearing device according to claim 2 configured to provide that the power supply module carries the acoustic module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled.

4. The hearing device according to claim 2 configured to provide that the power supply module encloses the acoustic module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled.

5. The hearing device according to claim 2 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

6. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein an inner surface of said first module container surrounds an outer surface of said second module container.

7. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein an inner surface of said first module container includes a contact element that aligns with a contact element included on an outer surface of said second module container when said second module is fully inserted in said cavity of said first module.

8. The hearing device according to claim 1 configured to provide that the power supply module carries the acoustic module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled.

9. The hearing device according to claim 8 configured to provide that the power supply module encloses the acoustic module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled.

10. The hearing device according to claim 8 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

11. The hearing device according to claim 1 configured to provide that the power supply module encloses the acoustic module, when the power supply and acoustic modules are operationally assembled.

12. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

13. The hearing device according to claim 1 configured to allow an input sound from the local environment of the input unit of the hearing device to reach the input unit and output sound from the output unit of the hearing device to reach the local environment of the output unit.

14. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the mechanically flexible outer surface of the power supply module is configured to provide a resilient interface towards walls of the ear canal of the user.

15. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the power supply module comprises an inner part that provides a mechanical interface towards the acoustic module, wherein the inner part is less mechanically flexible than the outer surface.

16. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the power supply module comprises one or more filters for mechanically protecting respective inlets or outlets of the acoustic module during use of the hearing device.

17. The hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the forward path of the acoustic module being energized from the power supply unit of the power supply module consists of a microphone for picking up an input sound from the environment and providing an electric input signal, the signal processing unit for processing the electric input signal and providing a processed electric signal, and a loudspeaker for converting the processed electric signal to an output sound.

18. The hearing device according to claim 1 configured to be powered on during wear.

19. The hearing device according to claim 1 configured to be automatically set in a reduced power mode when a predefined criterion is fulfilled.

20. The hearing device according to claim 1 comprising a first structural element for mounting and/or dismounting the hearing device in and from, respectively, the ear canal of the user.

21. A hearing system comprising the hearing device according to claim 1 and an auxiliary device adapted to establish a communication link between the hearing device and the auxiliary device to provide that information can be exchanged or forwarded from one to the other.

22. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is closed on one end of said power supply module.

23. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said hearing device is configured to be positioned at least partially in the bony portion of the ear canal of the user.

24. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein

the inner surface of the power supply module includes multiple first contact elements,

multiple batteries are integrated into the structure of the power supply module, said multiple batteries being respectively in direct contact with the multiple first contact elements, and

the power supply and acoustic modules are electrically connected via direct contact between at least one of the multiple first contacts and the second contact.

25. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein

the acoustic module is configured to be inserted into, and removed from, the cavity of power supply module in a given direction,

the power supply module is configured to cover each side of the acoustic module parallel to the given direction including the top and bottom of the acoustic module.