Modular electroacoustic instrument

• US 6,389,143 B1
• Filed: 02/16/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sjursen, Walter Paul, Leedom, Marvin Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US09/250,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/312, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/328, 381/380, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• 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 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• 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

An electronic signal processing system, including a microphone section and an integral battery, may be assembled with a receiver section to form a three section hearing-aid. The shape of the outer shell of an integral battery may approximate the shape of an ear canal when attached to the other two sections. An integral (sealed-in) battery with such an unusual shape may have a higher capacity battery than those of standard insertable/removable batteries. The integral battery (e.g. a zinc-air battery) may be tested for leakage before being assembled to the other sections of the hearing-aid. To preserve battery shelf-life a “pull” tab may be placed over vents in the integral battery. To activate the battery, the “pull” tab may be removed. Conducting strips may be formed on the “pull” tab permitting the circuits, battery and components of the hearing-aid to be tested after assembly. In addition, a rotating microphone section-may be used to shift between audio modes of the signal processing circuitry.

Claims

1. An electronic signal processing system for a hearing instrument comprising:

a microphone section, having a bottom, shaped to enclose a microphone and signal processing circuitry, the bottom of the microphone section having a plurality of conducting contacts;

a battery section, connectable to said microphone section, including a casing for engaging the auditory canal and an integral battery, the casing having a vent through which oxygen is supplied to an electrode of the integral battery; and

a removable tab positioned between the conducting contacts of the bottom of the microphone section and the top of the casing of the battery section, the removable tab substantially sealing the vent and preventing electrical contact between the integral battery and the plurality of conducting contacts.

2. The electronic signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the removable tab includes an adhesive portion for securing the removable tab to the vent.

3. The electronic signal processing system of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of conducting strips are formed on a top surface of the removable tab to facilitate testing of the microphone and said signal processing circuitry, and a second plurality of conducting strips are formed on a bottom surface of the removable tab to facilitate testing of the integral battery.