INTERCHANGEABLE ACOUSTIC SYSTEM FOR A HEARING AID, AND A HEARING AID

• US 20080260193A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Widex A/S (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Christensen, Henrik Heile, WESTERMANN, Soren Erik
• Application Number:
  US12/104,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260193A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• 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 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal

Abstract

An acoustic system (3) for a hearing aid is adapted for conducting sound from an output transducer in the hearing aid housing to an ear of a user. The acoustic system (3) comprises an encoding (8, 9) indicating acoustical properties of the acoustic system (3). Hereby the electronics of the hearing aid can identify the type of acoustic system attached to the hearing aid housing. The invention further provides a hearing aid with an acoustic system.

Claims

1. An acoustic system for a hearing aid, where said acoustic system is adapted for conducting sound from an output transducer in a housing of said hearing aid to an ear of a user, and where said acoustic system comprises an encoding indicating acoustical properties of the acoustic system.

2. The acoustic system according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic system comprises an earplug and wherein said encoding indicates whether the earplug is of the closed type or not.

3. The acoustic system according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic system comprises a length of sound tube, and wherein said encoding indicates the length of said sound tube.

4. The acoustic system according to claim 1, wherein said acoustic system comprises an adapter for attaching the acoustic system to said housing, and wherein said encoding comprises at least one electrically conductive area arranged in connection with the adapter.

5. The acoustic system according to claim 4, wherein said electrically conductive area arranged in connection with the adapter has a resistance value indicating the acoustical properties of the system.

6. The acoustic system according to claim 4, wherein said encoding comprises a plurality of electrically conductive areas arranged in connection with the adapter.

7. A hearing aid, comprising a hearing aid housing, where said housing has a connector part for attaching an acoustic system for conducting sound from an output transducer in said housing to an ear of a user, and where said hearing aid comprises detecting means for detecting an encoding of an attached acoustical system.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means comprises at least one pair of conductors arranged in connection with said connector part.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of pairs of conductors.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 7, wherein the sound produced by said output transducer is modified in accordance with the encoding detected.