Silicon-based transducer for use in hearing instruments and listening devices
First Claim
1. A hearing instrument, comprising:
- a housing having an exposed portion to the environment, the exposed portion having an opening therethrough;
a silicon-based transducer assembly; and
a manually movable structure disposed in said opening, said manually movable structure having a custom shape formed by stereolithography to optimize placement of said silicon-based transducer for the wearer of said hearing instrument, said silicon-based transducer assembly being coupled to said manually movable structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A silicon-based transducer assembly coupled to a movable structure in a hearing instrument. The transducer assembly includes at least one microphone chip and an ASIC having multiple integrated components such as any combination of a DSP, an A/D converter, an amplifier, a filter, or a wireless interface. The movable structure may be a battery access door, a volume dial, a switch, or a touch pad. A protection strip can be disposed across the battery access door to prevent debris from clogging the silicon-based transducer assembly. The transducer assembly may also include an array of microphone chips to achieve adaptive beam steering or directionality. When equipped with a wireless interface, the hearing instrument wirelessly communicates with another hearing instrument or with a network.
240 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A hearing instrument, comprising:
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a housing having an exposed portion to the environment, the exposed portion having an opening therethrough; a silicon-based transducer assembly; and a manually movable structure disposed in said opening, said manually movable structure having a custom shape formed by stereolithography to optimize placement of said silicon-based transducer for the wearer of said hearing instrument, said silicon-based transducer assembly being coupled to said manually movable structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A hearing instrument, comprising:
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a housing; a faceplate attached to said housing and having an opening; a silicon-based transducer chip; and a battery access door disposed adjacent said opening, said battery access door having a custom shape formed by stereolithography to optimize placement of said silicon-based transducer for the wearer of said hearing instrument, said silicon-based transducer chip being secured to said battery access door. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification