Hearing device having two modules for assembling/disassembling device

• US 7,194,101 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Vonlanthen, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/008,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20030086582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/315, 381322-324, 381/328, 381/330, 379/430, 455/90.2
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing
• 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 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

A hearing device is provided with an electrical supply unit and an electrical to mechanical converter incorporated in a first module. An acoustical to electrical converter and a signal processing unit are incorporated in a second module. The first and second modules are assembled so that they can be easily disassembled.

Claims

1. A hearing device comprising:

at least one acoustical to electrical converter,

at least one electrical to mechanical converter,

at least one signal processing unit, and

an electrical power supply unit, wherein

said electrical power supply unit and said electrical to mechanical converter are incorporated within a first module, and further wherein

said acoustical to electrical converter and said signal processing unit are incorporated in a second module, and wherein

said first and said second modules are adapted to be assembled in a manner that allows for disassembly, such that each one of said modules are replaceable as a unit.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply unit and said electrical to mechanical converter are unremovably integrated in said first module, said first module being as a whole an exchange part.

3. The hearing device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first module comprises an On/Off control arrangement for said hearing device.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said second module comprises a control unit for said signal processing unit.

5. The hearing device according to, claim 1, wherein said hearing aid device is one of an In-The-Ear hearing aid device and of an Outside-The-Ear hearing aid device.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said power supply unit is one of a non-rechargeable battery arrangement and of a rechargeable accumulator arrangement.

7. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said power supply unit at said first module is exchangeable at said first module.

8. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said first and second modules are adapted for being assembled and disassembled by means of one of a bayonet-type interconnection, a screwing interconnection, and a snap interconnection.

9. A hearing device according to claim 1, further comprising a code unit in said first module and a code-reader and decoding unit in said second module, the output of said code-reader and decoder unit being operationally connected to at least one control input of an electronic unit within said second module.

10. The hearing device according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic unit within said first module, said electronic unit for said electrical supply unit and said electrical to mechanical converter within said first module.

11. A hearing device comprising:

a first module including;

an electrical power supply unit, and

an electrical to mechanical converter, wherein

both said electrical power supply unit and said electrical to mechanical converter are incorporated within said first module;

a second module including;

an acoustical to electrical converter, and

a signal processing unit, wherein

both said acoustical to electrical converter and said signal processing unit are incorporated within said second module;

and means for releasably connecting said first module to said second module, such that each one of said first module and said second module can be replaced as a unit.

12. The hearing device of claim 11, wherein said means for releasably connecting includes a bayonet-type interconnection.

13. The hearing device of claim 11, wherein said means for releasably connecting includes a screwing interconnection.

14. The hearing device of claim 11, wherein said means for releasably connecting includes a snap interconnection.

15. The hearing device of claim 11, wherein said electrical power supply unit and said electrical to mechanical converter are unremovably integrated in said first module, said first module being as a whole an exchange part.

16. The hearing device of claim 11, wherein said second module further includes a control unit for said signal processing unit.