Hearing apparatus

• US 6,041,129 A
• Filed: 01/18/1996
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Roger A. Adelman
• Inventors: Adelman, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/599,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69, 381/69.1, 381/69.2, 381/183, 381/187, 381/312, 381/313, 381/322, 381/324, 381/327, 381/328, 381/151, 381/380, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/016 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/356 Amplitude, e.g. amplitude shift or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• 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 hearing aid is configured and dimensioned so as to be inserted past the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal (external acoustic meatus) and into the bony part of the external auditory canal. The outer portion of the hearing aid fits snugly into the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal; the microphone is located at the acoustic focus of the ear such that the natural sound and direction gathering functions of the human outer ear are fully utilized by the hearing aid. The inner portion of the hearing aid is articularly joined to the outer portion to enable the inner portion to be positioned past the sigmoid portion of the external auditory canal and forms a soft covered, elongated speaker which fits within part of the bony part of the external auditory canal, without causing discomfort to the human user. The hearing aid can be equipped with hand-held radio-controlled volume and tone controls (or a local, self-contained volume control), and it can also utilize a radio link to enable enhanced real-time signal processing of the incoming sound information via a remote processor. Additionally, the hearing aid can be equipped with an accelerometer to either cancel or enhance, depending on the human user'"'"'s needs, conductive (through the bone) portions of sound information.

Claims

1. A hearing aid adapted for use with a human ear having an external sound collecting surface and an auditory canal, the canal having a tympanic membrane at its innermost terminus, a bony canal portion extending outward from the tympanic membrane to an anatomical position where the canal continues as a cartilaginous part, said cartilaginous part having a S-shaped sigmoid portion and an outermost canal entrance portion, the sigmoid portion being anatomically deep relative to the entrance portion, the entrance portion extending to a tragus, said canal entrance portion providing access to the auditory canal for airborne sound, said canal entrance being opposite to a conchal bowl which collects and aims sound that has been captured by the external sound collecting surface toward said canal entrance portion, the hearing aid comprising:

(a) a microphone for receiving airborne sound, said microphone being placed within the auditory canal and being positioned anatomically deep relative to both the tragus and the outermost entrance to the external auditory canal with its receiving surface facing the conchal bowl, said microphone being operative to produce electrical signals in response to the airborne sound waves it receives;

(b) an electronic circuit operative to produce a processed output signal in response to the electrical signals produced by the microphone; and

(c) a speaker positioned in the external auditory canal responsive to the output signal of the electronic circuit for converting the output signal into sound waves.

2. A hearing aid as recited in claim 1 wherein said microphone is a piezo-electric device.

3. A hearing aid as recited in claim 1 wherein said microphone is an electret device.