BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor

• US 20070064967A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Feeley, Jim, Feeley, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/10 Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• 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 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

An earpiece auditory device is described which includes a behind-the-ear component shaped to fit behind the ear of a user. The behind-the-ear component can also have at least one microphone and processing circuitry, where the processing circuitry is used to processes audio signal from the microphone. The device also includes a speaker sized to fit in the ear canal of a user, and an ear mold holding the speaker in place. The ear mold can also be position to touch the bony portion of the ear canal and provide sound attenuation in the ear canal. A connector physically and electrically connects the behind-the-ear component to the speaker. The connector is capable of being used to insert and remove the speaker and ear mold from the ear canal of the user.

Claims

1. An earpiece auditory device comprising:

a behind-the-ear component, the behind-the-ear component being shaped to fit behind an ear of a user, wherein the behind-the-ear component comprises a module including processing circuitry;

an in-canal component including a speaker and being shaped to fit into the ear canal of the user;

a connector physically coupling the behind-the-ear component to the in-canal component, at least a portion of the connector being sufficiently rigid so as to allow the connector to be used to insert and remove the in-canal component from the ear canal of the user; and

an input connected to the processing circuitry and receiving a signal from an external source.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the external source is a broadcast source.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the external source is a media player.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the external source is a communications device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the input is a wireless input.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the input is a wired input.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a microphone.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the microphone is designed to receiver the voice of the user and the processing circuitry is operable to mix the signal from the external source with the voice of the user.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the microphone allows two-way communication between the user and a third party using the device.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the in-canal component is an open fit component.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the in-canal component provides substantial attenuation of sound across the in-canal component.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the in-canal component substantially seals the ear canal of the user in the bony portion of the ear canal.

13. A method for providing an audible signal from an external source to a user;

the method comprising;

receiving a signal from an external device, the signal containing audio information;

processing the signal using processing circuitry in a behind-the-ear component, the behind-the-ear component designed to fit behind the ear of the user;

transmitting the processed signal over a connector to a completely in canal component designed to fit in the ear canal of the user;

converting the processed signal into sound using a speaker in the in-canal component.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the signal is received via a wireless connection.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the signal is received via a wired connection.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving the user'"'"'s voice using a microphone connected to the processing circuitry.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

mixing the user'"'"'s voice with the signal using the processing circuitry.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

transmitting the user'"'"'s voice to the external device.

19. A modular system for assembling an earpiece auditory device tailored to a user, the system comprising:

a plurality of behind-the-ear components from which a behind-the-ear component may be selected, wherein each of the behind-the-ear components comprises a module including processing circuitry including a communications port operable to communicate with an external device; and

providing a plurality of connectors from which a connector of sufficient length may be selected to physically couple a selected behind-the-ear component, when the selected behind-the-ear component is placed behind the ear of the user, to a in-canal component when the in-canal component is placed inside the ear canal of the user, wherein the in-canal component includes a speaker, and at least a portion of the connector of sufficient length is sufficiently rigid so as to allow the connector of sufficient length to be used to insert and remove the in-canal component from the ear canal of the user.

20. The modular system of claim 19 wherein the selected behind the ear component is chosen based on an intended application for the earpiece auditory device.

21. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the intended application is one of a broadcast reception application, a media playback application, or a communications application.

22. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the communications port of each of the plurality of behind-the-ear devices is selected for the intended application.

23. The modular system of claim 22 wherein the communications port is one of a wireless port, or a wired port.

24. The modular system of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of ear molds of varying sizes connectable to the in-canal component, from which a selected ear mold can be chosen, the selected ear mold chosen to fit the user'"'"'s ear canal.

25. The modular system of claim 24 wherein the ear molds are open fit ear molds.

26. The modular system of claim 24 wherein the ear molds provide for significant attenuation of sound across the in-canal component.