Hearing aid which cuts on/off during removal and attachment to the user

• US 4,955,729 A
• Filed: 03/29/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gunter Marx
• Original Assignee: Gunter Marx
• Inventors: Marx, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): NG, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Danita R.
• Application Number:
  US07/174,689
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/69.2, 381/123, 307/117, 338/22 R, 623/24
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/004 Application hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/453 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

A hearing aid includes an electronic amplifier, an electric power source and a switch for automatically breaking or making the connection between the amplifier and the power source depending on whether the hearing aid is in use or out of use. The switch is provided in such a manner so as to be responsive to switching criterion defined by a change of state such as change in temperature, moisture etc. The switch is disposed at a wall surface which is subjected to the change of state.

Claims

1. A hearing aid;

comprising;

amplifying means including an amplifier for boosting an incoming signal;

a power source operatively electrically connected to said amplifier; and

switching means for automatically controlling the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source by automatically providing the electrical connection upon attachment of the hearing aid to the user and by automatically breaking the electrical connection when the hearing aid is detached from the user, said switching means including a switch responsive to a change of temperature and being arranged on the hearing aid at a location which is subjected to the change of temperature, said switch being a temperature-sensitive switch in heat-conducting connection with the skin of the user at said location when the hearing aid is mounted to the user.

2. A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a housing having a wall surface facing the head of the user, said temperature-sensitive switch being arranged at said wall surface.

3. A hearing aid as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall surface has an area surrounding said temperature-sensitive switch and being made of heat conducting material.

4. A hearing aid as defined in claim 3 wherein said area is defined by a thin metal plate.

5. A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an ear insert for accommodating said amplifying means, said power source and said switching means, said location being defined by a wall surface which is part of said ear insert.

6. A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, and further comprising adjusting means operatively connected to said temperature-sensitive switch for adjusting the response temperature of said temperature-sensitive switch.

7. A hearing aid as defined in claim 1 wherein said temperature-sensitive switch is responsive within a temperature range between a lower limit and an upper limit.

8. A hearing aid as defined in claim 7 wherein said lower limit of said temperature range is 30°

-35°

C. and said upper limit thereof is 41°

C.

9. A hearing aid as defined in claim 7, and further comprising optical indicating means operatively connected to said temperature-sensitive switch for providing an optical signal when the temperature is within said temperature range.

10. A hearing aid as defined in claim 9 wherein said optical indicating means is a reversible temperature color indicator.

11. A hearing aid;

comprising;

amplifying means including an amplifier for boosting an incoming signal;

a power source operatively electrically connected to said amplifier; and

switching means for automatically controlling the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source by automatically providing the electrical connection upon attachment of the hearing aid to the user and by automatically breaking the electrical connection when the hearing aid is detached from the user, said switching means including a switch responsive to a change of state and being arranged on the hearing aid at a location which is subjected to the change of state wherein said switch includes a biosensor which is responsive to the change of state when inserting the hearing aid in the auditory meatus of the user.

12. A hearing aid;

comprising;

amplifying means including an amplifier for boosting an incoming signal;

a power source operatively electrically connected to said amplifier; and

switching means including a switch which is responsive to a change of state which occurs without direct actuation and without direct contact of the switch, said switch being arranged on the hearing aid at a location which is subjected to the change of state wherein said change of state causes said switching means to automatically control the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source by automatically providing the connection upon attachment of the hearing aid to the user and by automatically breaking the connection when the hearing aid is detached from the user, wherein the electrical connection is maintained, indepedent of the position of the user, whenever the hearing aid is mounted to the user.

13. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12 wherein said switch is a light-sensitive switch, and further comprising an ear insert for accommodating said amplifying means, said power source and said switching means, said light-sensitive switch being disposed during use of the hearing aid within the auditory meatus of the user and breaking the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source when detaching the hearing aid from the user.

14. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12, and further comprising a manually actuatable switch connected in series with said switch responsive to the change of state for at least making a connection between said amplifier and said power source.

15. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12, and further comprising a microphone connected to said amplifier and an earphone, said switch being responsive to a feedback signal which is generated by an acoustic feedback between said microphone and said earphone so that said switch in response to the occurrence of the acoustic feedback breaks the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source and turns off the hearing aid after being detached from the user.

16. A hearing aid as defined in claim 15 wherein said feedback signal is a sound signal above a predetermined sound level, said switch being a control element responsive to said increased sound level.

17. A hearing aid as defined in claim 15 wherein said feedback signal is a sound signal at a certain frequency, said switch being a control element responsive to said frequency.

18. A hearing aid as defined in claim 15 wherein said feedback signal is a voltage signal which is generated in said amplifier by increased input sound pressure caused by the acoustic feedback.

19. A hearing aid as defined in claim 15, and further comprising a housing containing said amplifying means and said switching means and having at least one bore, and an ear insert having an outer shell enclosing said housing and being provided with at least one bore in alignment with said bore of said housing, said bore of said outer shell being closed by the auditory meatus when attaching the hearing aid to the user and generating with said bore of said housing during detachment of the hearing aid from the user an airborne sound bridge between said microphone and said earphone, with said airborne sound bridge representing said feedback signal and causing said switch to break the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source.

20. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12 wherein said switch includes a motion indicator which breaks the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source when said switch is in a stationary state for a predetermined period.

21. A hearing aid as defined in claim 20, and further comprising delay means operatively connected to said motion indicator for providing a delay time before said motion indicator turns off the hearing aid while allowing the hearing to be turned on immediately upon occurrence of motion.

22. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12 wherein said switch breaks the connection between said amplifier and said power source when registering an oxygen partial pressure which corresponds to the oxygen partial pressure of the atmosphere and makes the connection when the oxygen partial pressure deviates from the oxygen partial pressure of the atmosphere.

23. A hearing aid as defined in claim 12 wherein said switch includes a time element for delaying the response of said switch to the change of state for a predetermined period.

24. A hearing aid;

comprising;

amplifying means including an amplifier for boosting an incoming signal;

a power source operatively electrically connected to said amplifier; and

switching means including a switch which is responsive to a change of state which occurs without actuation of the switch through mechanical means, said switch being arranged on the hearing aid at a location which is subjected to the change of state wherein said change of state causes said switching means to automatically control the electrical connection between said amplifier and said power source by automatically providing the connection upon attachment of the hearing aid to the user and by automatically breaking the connection when the hearing aid is detached from the user, wherein the electrical connection is maintained, indepedent of the position of the user, whenever the hearing aid is mounted to the user.