Method for generating an acoustic signal or for transmitting energy in an auditory canal and corresponding hearing apparatus

• US 20070274553A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rass, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Changing batteries in hearing apparatuses worn in the auditory canal is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, a hearing apparatus is provided with a first component which can be worn in the auditory canal, said component comprising a receiver unit for the wireless reception of signals. The hearing apparatus also exhibits a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and/or energy to the receiver unit of the first component. The first component can be designed to be battery-less. The second component, which is positioned further outside in the auditory canal, can be easily removed from the auditory canal in order to change the battery.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A hearing apparatus comprising:

a first component to be worn in an auditory canal, wherein the first component has a receiver unit for a wireless reception of a signal; and

a second component separated from the first component, wherein the second component has a transmitter unit for a wireless transmission of the signal to the receiver unit.

12. A hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second component is worn in the auditory canal.

13. A hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the transmitter unit transmits energy wireless to the first component.

14. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the hearing apparatus is a hearing device.

15. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first component has a seal for a soundproof positioning in the auditory canal.

16. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first component has a receiver coil.

17. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first component has a magnetically active membrane.

18. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the membrane is coated with a ferromagnetic liquid.

19. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first component consists of the magnetically active membrane and a passive fastener.

20. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the passive fastener is the seal.

21. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second component is removeable from the auditory canal separately from the first component.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first component has no energy storage device.

22. A method for generating an acoustic signal in an auditory canal, comprising:

generating a wirelessly transmittable signal in the auditory canal via a second component;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal further within the auditory canal via a first component; and

converting the received signal via the first component into an acoustic signal.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein an energy of the signal is used in the first component.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein a space in the auditory canal between the first component and an eardrum is sealed in a soundproof manner.

25. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the wireless transmission between the first component and the second component is based upon electromagnetism.

26. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the signal is transmitted based upon induction.

28. A method for transmitting energy in an auditory canal, comprising:

generating a wirelessly transmittable signal in the auditory canal based upon a second component;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal further within the auditory canal based upon a first component; and

using a energy transmitted by the signal in the first component.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein a space in the auditory canal between the first component and an eardrum is sealed in a soundproof manner.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first component has no energy storage device.