Sound transfer from a hearing aid to the human ear drum

• US 4,520,236 A
• Filed: 11/30/1983
• Issued: 05/28/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nu-Bar Electronics
• Inventors: Gauthier, Edouard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/556,604
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/69, 179/107 E, 179/107 R, 181/151, 181/155, 181/156
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers

Abstract

An improved in-the-ear hearing aid. The earmold is divided into two separate chambers defined by a divider wall. A first chamber has an opening adjacent the outer ear and the second chamber has an opening adjacent the ear drum. A microphone is positioned adjacent the first chamber opening. An amplifier and a battery for its power source are located within the first chamber. A receiver with a sound emitting aperture is located within the second chamber. The sound emitting aperture is directed toward the divider wall. The receiver is completely surrounded by an acoustic resistance material which separates the receiver from the walls of the chamber. The microphone, amplifier, battery and receiver are electrically interconnected for supplying to the receiver amplified microphone signals. The combination of the dimensions of the chamber and the acoustic material provide a horn effect to the receiver produced sound. The opening of the second chamber may be covered with a removable grill.

Claims

1. An improved miniaturized hearing aid comprising:

An earmold adapted to be fitted into the ear channel, said earmold having two separated chambers, a first chamber with an opening to the exterior of the ear and a second chamber with an opening adjacent the ear drum, said chambers are separated by a divider wall;

a microphone positioned adjacent said opening in said first chamber;

a receiver having a good emitting aperture positioned within said second chamber with said sound emitting aperture directed toward said divider wall;

an amplifier means positioned within said first chamber and interconnected between said microphone and said receiver means for supplying to said receiver amplified microphone signals;

a battery for powering said amplifier means; and

isolation means surrounding said receiver means including said sound emitting aperture.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the interconnection means between said amplifier means and said receiver passes through apertures in said divider wall.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said second chamber provides a horn effect for the sound emitted from said receiver aperture.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, additionally comprises a removable grill member positioned across said opening in said second chamber.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said isolation material is foam.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said foam is polyurethane-polyester.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said isolation means functions as an acoustic resistor.

5. The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein said removable grill means includes a disposable cloth member.

9. An improved receiver for a miniaturized hearing aid comprising:

a partially enclosed chamber open to the ear drum along one surface thereof;

a receiver having a good emitting aperture positioned within said chamber with said sound emitting aperture directed to the wall of said chamber opposite said surface adjacent said ear drum; and

isolation means surrounding the entire receiver.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said receiver is interconnected to the output of said miniaturized hearing aid through a wall of said chamber.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said enclosed chamber provides a horn effect for the sound emitted from said receiver aperture.

12. The invention as defined in claim 9, additionally comprising a removable grill member positioned across the chamber opening adjacent said ear drum.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12, wherein said grill member includes a disposable cloth member.

14. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said isolation material is foam.

15. The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein said foam is constructed of polyurethane-polyester.

16. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said isolation means functions as an acoustic resistor.