Rechargeable hearing aid system

• US 6,310,960 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VARTA Microbattery GmbH (VARTA AG)
• Original Assignee: Research International Incorporated
• Inventors: Bizak, Michael, Saaski, Elric W., Passerini, Stefano, Owens, Boone B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, SINH N
• Application Number:
  US09/413,680
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/323, 381/327, 381/328, 381/331, 381/FOR 127, 381/FOR 132, 381/FOR 133, 381/FOR 135, 381/FOR 137, 429/163, 429/164, 429/175, 429/176, 429/94, 429/161, 429/209, 429/186
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/30 Nickel accumulators H01M10/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4292 Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• 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 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system in which a rechargeable hearing aid may be optically or inductively recharged by an optical or an inductive recharger. The optically rechargeable hearing aid may have a dual purpose optical fiber that may act as a light conduit for the recharging light, and that may also act as a draw string for the hearing aid. The rechargeable hearing aid may use a high energy nickel metal-hydride rechargeable battery or a high energy, high voltage lithium based rechargeable battery, in conjunction with a DC to DC voltage regulating circuit for converting the rechargeable battery'"'"'s declining DC output voltage to the fixed DC input voltage needed by the hearing aid'"'"'s audio related circuitry. The DC to DC voltage regulating circuit may also help to present a supply impedance that matches the input impedance of the audio related circuitry in the hearing aid. The rechargeable battery may have an alternately folded cell stack, a spiral wound cell stack or an accordion folded cell stack, in order to provide, in a minimized volume, the large anode, cathode and electrolyte areas that may be needed to reduce the rechargeable battery'"'"'s output impedance, in order to help reduce internal resistance losses during use of the battery.

Claims

1. A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system comprising a charger means and a rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said charger means is for generating an energy for recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means is for assisting a user'"'"'s hearing;

wherein said contactless rechargeable hearing aid system does not comprise any electrical contact means for transferring said energy from said charger means to said rechargeable hearing aid means while said charger means is recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said energy comprises a light energy;

wherein said charger means comprises an optical charger means for generating said light energy;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means comprises an optically rechargeable hearing aid means; and

wherein said light energy is transferred from said optical charger means to said optically rechargeable hearing aid means while said optical charger means is recharging said optically rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said optical charger means comprises a light source means for generating said light energy;

wherein said optically rechargeable hearing aid means comprises a light conversion means for converting said light energy into an electrical energy;

wherein said optically rechargeable hearing aid means further comprises an optical fiber means;

wherein said optical fiber means is for transferring said light energy from said light source means to said light conversion means while said optical charger means is recharging said optically rechargeable hearing aid means; and

wherein said optical fiber means is also for serving as a drawstring means for aiding said user in removing said optically rechargeable hearing aid means from said user'"'"'s ear.

2. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber means comprises an optical fiber;

wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical fiber body, and an optical fiber input end;

wherein said optical fiber input end comprises an optical fiber input lens integrally formed with said optical fiber body; and

wherein said optical fiber input lens is for collecting and focusing at least some of said light energy from said optical charger means into said optical fiber body.

3. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber means comprises an optical fiber;

wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical fiber body, and an optical fiber output end;

wherein said optical fiber output end comprises an optical fiber output lens integrally formed with said optical fiber body; and

wherein said optical fiber output lens is for radiating at least some of said light energy from said optical fiber body onto said light conversion means.

4. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber means comprises an optical fiber;

wherein said optical fiber comprises an optical fiber output end; and

wherein said optical fiber output end is bonded to said light version means.

5. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 4, wherein said optical fiber output end has an optical fiber output end total surface area;

wherein said light conversion means has an external surface facing said optical fiber output end;

wherein said external surface has an external total surface area; and

wherein said optical fiber output end total surface area is at least about equal to said external total surface area of said light conversion means.

6. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber means comprises at least two optical fibers;

wherein said at least two optical fibers each comprise a respective optical fiber output end; and

wherein each said respective optical fiber output end is bonded to said light conversion means.

7. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 6, wherein said respective optical fiber output ends have a combined optical fiber output end total surface area;

wherein said light conversion means has an external surface facing said optical fiber output ends;

wherein said external surface has an external total surface area; and

wherein said combined optical fiber output end total surface area is at least about equal to said external total surface area of said light conversion means.

8. A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system comprising a charger means and a rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said charger means is for generating an energy for recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means is for assisting a user'"'"'s hearing;

wherein said contactless rechargeable hearing aid system does not comprise any electrical contact means for transferring said energy from said charger means to said rechargeable hearing aid means while said charger means is recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means comprises a high energy rechargeable battery, an audio related circuitry, and a transfer means for transferring an electrical energy from said high energy rechargeable battery to said audio related circuitry; and

wherein said high energy rechargeable battery comprises a lithium based rechargeable battery;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an external volume of less than about 10 cubic centimeters;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery comprises a housing means, an alternately folded cell stack, and positive and negative electrical connections for said alternately folded cell stack;

wherein said housing means is for holding said alternately folded cell stack and is for providing said positive and negative electrical connections for said alternately folded cell stack;

wherein said alternately folded cell stack comprises a cathode, an anode, and layers of electrolyte;

wherein said cathode and said anode are folded alternately over each other to form alternate layers of said cathode and said anode;

wherein one of said layers of electrolyte is located between, and separates, an adjacent pair of said alternate layers of said cathode and said anode;

wherein said housing means comprises an entire external surface having an entire external surface area;

wherein said entire external surface comprises at least one pair of parallel external faces that are at least generally parallel with respect to each other;

wherein each said pair of parallel external faces has a respective combined external parallel surface area; and

wherein a ratio of a largest said respective combined external parallel surface area to a difference between said entire external surface area and said largest said respective combined external parallel surface area is greater than about 0.5.

9. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 8, wherein said external volume of said lithium based rechargeable battery is less than about 1 cubic centimeter.

10. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 9, wherein said housing means comprises a base having a base shape;

wherein said cathode comprises a strip of material comprising a pair of adjacent cathode elements and a cathode neck joining said pair of adjacent cathode elements;

wherein said pair of adjacent cathode elements have a maximum width;

wherein said cathode neck has a maximum width;

wherein said maximum width of said cathode neck is substantially less than said maximum width of said pair of adjacent cathode elements;

wherein said anode comprises a strip of material comprising a pair of adjacent anode elements and an anode neck joining said pair of adjacent anode elements;

wherein said pair of adjacent anode elements have a maximum width;

wherein said anode neck has a maximum width;

wherein said maximum width of said anode neck is substantially less than said maximum width of said pair of adjacent anode elements;

wherein said alternate layers of said cathode and said anode in said alternately folded cell stack comprise said pair of adjacent cathode elements and said pair of adjacent anode elements folded alternately over each other; and

wherein each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements have a respective shape that is at least similar to said base shape.

11. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 10, wherein said base shape and said shape of each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements are all at least substantially circular.

12. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 8, wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an output impedance in the range of from about 1 ohm to about 10 ohms.

13. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 9, wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an output impedance in the range of from about 1 ohm to about 10 ohms.

14. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 10, wherein each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements comprises a respective top face and a respective bottom face;

wherein two of said layers of electrolyte are located, respectively, adjacent said top and bottom faces of at least one of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements;

wherein said two layers of electrolyte have a shape that is at least substantially the same as said shape of said at least one of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements; and

wherein said two layers of electrolyte comprise edges which are heat sealed together in said shape that is at least substantially the same as said shape of said at least one of adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements.

15. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 8, wherein said housing means comprises a base having a base shape;

wherein said cathode comprises a strip of material comprising a pair of adjacent cathode elements and a cathode neck joining said pair of adjacent cathode elements;

wherein said pair of adjacent cathode elements have a maximum width;

wherein said cathode neck has a maximum width;

wherein said maximum width of said cathode neck is substantially less than said maximum width of said pair of adjacent cathode elements;

wherein said anode comprises a strip of material comprising a pair of adjacent anode elements and an anode neck joining said pair of adjacent anode elements;

wherein said pair of adjacent anode elements have a maximum width;

wherein said anode neck has a maximum width;

wherein said maximum width of said anode neck is substantially less than said maximum width of said pair of adjacent anode elements;

wherein said alternate layers of said cathode and said anode in said alternately folded cell stack comprise said pair of adjacent cathode elements and said pair of adjacent anode elements folded alternately over each other; and

wherein each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements have a respective shape that is at least similar to said base shape.

16. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 15, wherein said base shape and said shape of each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements are all at least substantially circular.

17. Th contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 15, wherein each of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements comprises a respective top face and a respective bottom face;

wherein two of said layers of electrolyte are located, respectively, adjacent said top and bottom faces of at least one of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements;

wherein said two layers of electrolyte have a shape that is at least substantially the same as said shape of said at least one of said adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements; and

wherein said two layers of electrolyte comprise edges which are heat sealed together in said shape that is at least substantially the same as said shape of said at least one of adjacent cathode elements and said adjacent anode elements.

18. A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system comprising a charger means and a rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said charger means is for generating an energy for recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means is for assisting a user'"'"'s hearing;

wherein said contactless rechargeable hearing aid system does not comprise any electrical contact means for transferring said energy from said charger means to said rechargeable hearing aid means while said charger means is recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means comprises a high energy rechargeable battery, an audio related circuitry, and a transfer means for transferring an electrical energy from said high energy rechargeable battery to said audio related circuitry; and

wherein said high energy rechargeable battery comprises a lithium based rechargeable battery;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an external volume of less than about one cubic centimeter;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery comprises a housing means, a spiral wrapped cell stack, and positive and negative electrical connections for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

wherein said housing means is for holding said spiral wrapped cell stack and is for providing said positive and negative electrical connections for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

wherein said spiral wrapped cell stack comprises a cathode, a first layer of electrolyte, an anode, and a second layer of electrolyte;

wherein said cathode, said first layer of electrolyte, said anode, and said second layer of electrolyte are wound on top of each other to form concentric, alternating layers of said cathode, said first layer of electrolyte, said anode, and said second layer of electrolyte;

wherein said cathode and said anode are separated by said first and second layers of electrolyte;

wherein said housing means comprises an entire external surface having an entire external surface area;

wherein said entire external surface comprises at least one pair of parallel external faces that are at least generally parallel with respect to each other;

wherein each said pair of parallel external faces has a respective combined external parallel surface area; and

wherein a ratio of a largest said respective combined external parallel surface area to a difference between said entire external surface area and said largest said respective combined external parallel surface area is greater than about 0.5.

19. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an output impedance in the range of about 1-10 ohms.

20. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein said anode comprises a strip of material having an end;

wherein said spiral wrapped cell stack has an axis;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery further comprises an anode rod secured to said end of said anode;

wherein said anode rod is located on said axis of said spiral wrapped cell stack; and

wherein said spiral wrapped cell stack is wrapped around said anode rod.

21. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 20, wherein said housing means comprises a can and a cover for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

and wherein said anode rod is an integrally formed part of said cover.

22. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 20, wherein said housing means comprises a can and a cover for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

and wherein said anode rod is secured to said cover.

23. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 18, wherein said cathode comprises a strip of material having an end;

wherein said spiral wrapped cell stack has an axis;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery further comprises a cathode rod secured to said end of said cathode;

wherein said cathode rod is located on said axis of said spiral wrapped cell stack; and

wherein said spiral wrapped cell stack is wrapped around said cathode rod.

24. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 23, wherein said housing means comprises a can and a cover for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

and wherein said cathode rod is integrally formed as part of said cover.

25. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 23, wherein said housing means comprises a can and a cover for said spiral wrapped cell stack;

and wherein said cathode rod is secured to said cover.

26. A contactless rechargeable hearing aid system comprising a charger means and a rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said charger means is for generating an energy for recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means is for assisting a user'"'"'s hearing;

wherein said contactless rechargeable hearing aid system does not comprise any electrical contact means for transferring said energy from said charger means to said rechargeable hearing aid means while said charger means is recharging said rechargeable hearing aid means;

wherein said rechargeable hearing aid means comprises a high energy rechargeable battery, an audio related circuitry, and a transfer means for transferring an electrical energy from said high energy rechargeable battery to said audio related circuitry; and

wherein said high energy rechargeable battery comprises a lithium based rechargeable battery;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an external volume of less than about one cubic centimeter;

wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery comprises a housing means, an accordion folded cell stack, and positive and negative electrical connections for said accordion folded cell stack;

wherein said housing means is for holding said accordion folded cell stack and is for providing said positive and negative electrical connections for said accordion folded cell stack;

wherein said accordion folded cell stack comprises a cathode, an anode, and a layer of electrolyte located between said cathode and said anode;

wherein said layer of electrolyte separates said cathode and said anode;

wherein said cathode and said anode are accordion folded over each other;

wherein said housing means comprises an entire external surface having an entire external surface area;

wherein said entire external surface comprises at least one pair of parallel external faces that are at least generally parallel with respect to each other;

wherein each said pair of parallel external faces has a respective combined external parallel surface area; and

wherein a ratio of a largest said respective combined external parallel surface area to a difference between said entire external surface area and said largest said respective combined external parallel surface area is greater than about 0.5.

27. The contactless rechargeable hearing aid system according to claim 26, wherein said lithium based rechargeable battery has an output impedance in the range of about 10-20 ohms.