Hearing aid apparatus

• US 4,723,293 A
• Filed: 06/05/1984
• Issued: 02/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Harless, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Thomas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Danita R.
• Application Number:
  US06/617,549
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 179/107 R, 179/107 E, 179/107 H, 381/68, 381/69, 381/68.1-68.7, 181/129, 181/130
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence

Abstract

A hearing aid apparatus has a housing containing components such as a microphone, an amplifier and an earphone,and to which a terminal having contacts for connection to a signal line is applied. The terminal also has contacts for derivation of signals from the microphone so that a conventionally operating hearing aid is achieved which also contains an audio output in addition to an audio input. The hearing aid apparatus is thus particularly suitable for use as a talk/listen set in aural training systems.

Claims

1. In a hearing aid apparatus for use in an aural training system having a housing for being worn outside an ear canal of a user'"'"'s ear, said housing containing a microphone, at least one amplifier, and receiver, and having a terminal with contacts for connection to a signal feed to the receiver, the improvement comprising additional contacts located at said terminal for deriving a signal from said microphone inside said housing, said microphone signal being routed through said amplifier to said terminal.

2. A hearing aid apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said terminal is connected to an aural training apparatus for use of said hearing apparatus as a listen/talk set in said system.

3. A hearing aid apparatus for use in an aural training system comprising:

a housing containing a microphone, an amplifier, and an electrical output;

means for securing said housing on a user'"'"'s ear outside the ear canal;

means for deriving a signal from said microphone inside said housing; and

means for routing said signal through said amplifier to said electrical output of said housing.

4. A hearing aid apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing further includes a receiver with contacts at said electrical output for connection to a signal feed to the receiver.

5. A hearing aid apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an earpiece receivable in the ear canal; and

a sound conducting conduit connecting said earphone inside said housing to said ear canal of a user through said earpiece.

6. A hearing aid apparatus for use in an aural training system comprising:

a housing containing a microphone, an amplifier, receiver, and a terminal with first contacts for connection to a signal feed to the receiver and said terminal having a second contact;

means for securing said housing on a user'"'"'s ear outside the ear canal;

an earpiece receivable in the ear canal;

a sound-conducting conduit for connecting said receiver inside said housing with the ear canal of the user'"'"'s ear through said earpiece;

means for deriving a signal from said microphone inside said housing; and

means for routing said signal through said amplifier to said second contact of said terminal.

7. A hearing aid comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a microphone contained in said housing for receiving audio signals from an exterior of said housing admitted through said opening;

at least one amplifier connected to said microphone for amplifying the signal therefrom, said amplifier disposed in said housing;

a receiver to be worn in a user'"'"'s ear including a sound-conducting conduit and an ear mold; and

a connecting element having a plurality of contacts for connection to a signal feed to said earphone, said connection element attached to said housing and having at least one additional contact connected to the microphone for use as an audio output.