Hearing aid device

• US 5,420,930 A
• Filed: 03/03/1994
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shugart M. Wilbert III
• Original Assignee: Shugart M. Wilbert III
• Inventors: Shugart, M. Wilbert III
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, SINH N
• Application Number:
  US08/205,251
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/68.5, 381/69, 381/69.2, 381/68.3, 381/151
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• 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

A device is designed to provide persons with mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss the ability to hear sound that would otherwise be inaudible as well as the ability to hear ambient environmental noise. The device is fabricated as: (1) a receiver assembly having a flexible coil shape worn in the outer portion of the auditory canal with a small transducer that extends into the auditory canal, and (2) a transmitter assembly having a microphone located remotely on the person, whereby information is transmitted to the receiver assembly via modulated carrier waves. The need for a battery in the receiver assembly is eliminated as the power supply is driven by magnetic induction from the transmitter assembly positioned a few inches away, as in a neck pendant.

Claims

1. A hearing aid device comprising a receiver assembly, said receiver assembly comprising a housing, and a transducer, said transducer attached to said housing, said receiver assembly positionable in the outer portion of a wearer'"'"'s auditory canal with the transducer extending into the auditory canal, said housing defining a large, linear central channel wherein the auditory canal is substantially open and unblocked to allow environmental sounds to pass uninhibited through said housing.

2. The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly is coil-shaped.

3. The hearing aid device of claim 2 wherein said receiver assembly further comprises outer coil edges, said outer coil edges for contacting the walls of the wearer'"'"'s auditory canal.

4. The hearing aid device of claim 2 wherein said receiver assembly further comprises inner coil edges, said inner coil edges defining said channel through which ambient environmental sound can pass uninhibited.

5. The hearing aid device of claim 3 and including a limiting circuit, said limiting circuit to limit the effect and damage of a sudden, loud noise, said limiting circuit connected to said receiver.

6. The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly further comprises a receiver, said receiver comprising an amplifier.

7. The hearing aid device of claim 3 and including a power source, said power source being responsive to magnetic induction, said power source connected to said amplifier.

8. The hearing aid device of claim 1 and including a transmitter assembly, said transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds, said transmitter assembly in remote communication with said receiver assembly.

9. The hearing aid device of claim 6 wherein said transmitter assembly comprises a microphone, said microphone an amplifier in communication with said amplifier, a transmitter, said amplifier connected to said transmitter, and a frequency reponse circuit, said frequency response circuit connected to said amplifier, wherein sounds detected by said microphone are transmitted by said transmitter to said receiver assembly.

10. The hearing aid device of claim 7 and including left and right gain controls, said left and right gain controls connected to said frequency response circuit.

11. The hearing aid device of claim 6, including a transmitter assembly housing and a spare battery storage compartment, said spare battery storage compartment positioned within said transmitter assembly housing.

12. The hearing aid device of claim 8 wherein said transmitter assembly comprises:

a transmitter a left microphone, a left amplifier, a left frequency response circuit, a right microphone, a right amplifier, and a right frequency response circuit, said left microphone, said left amplifier, said left frequency response circuit, said right microphone, said right amplifier, and said right frequency response circuit all connected to said transmitter.

13. The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly is tube-shaped.

14. The hearing aid device of claim 1 and including a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said housing.

15. The hearing aid device of claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly is conically shaped.

16. A hearing aid comprising:

a coil-shaped signal receiver assembly, said coil-shaped signal receiver assembly including a flexible housing and a transducer, said transducer attached to said flexible housing, said coil-shaped signal receiver assembly positionable in the outer portion of the auditory canal of a wearer with said transducer extending into the auditory canal, said flexible housing defining a large, linear central channel, said channel for leaving the auditory canal substantially open to allow environmental sounds to pass uninhibited through said housing into the auditory canal.

17. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 16 and including a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded in said flexible housing.

18. A hearing aid device comprising in combination:

(a) a transmitter assembly, said transmitter assembly for detecting audible sounds; and

(b) a coil-shaped receiver assembly, said coil-shaped receiver assembly in remote communication with said transmitter assembly, said coil-shaped receiver assembly comprising a transducer and a flexible housing, said transducer attached to said flexible housing, said flexible housing defining a large, linear central channel, said coil-shaped receiver assembly positioning in the outer portion of a wearer'"'"'s auditory canal with said transducer extending into the auditory canal, said channel for leaving the auditory canal substantially open and unblocked to allow environmental sounds to pass uninhibited through said housing into the auditory canal.

19. The hearing aid device of claim 19 wherein said coil-shaped receiver assembly further comprises a bendable wire, said bendable wire embedded within said flexible housing.