Hearing aid, headset or similar device for delivering a sound signal at the vicinity of the tympanic membrane

• US 7,454,027 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Sorensen, Per Kokholm
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lao; Lun-See
• Application Number:
  US10/491,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 381314-315, 381322-324, 381/328, 381/330, 381/312, 181/130, 600/25, 455/575.2, 455/575.7, 174/350, 429157-158, 429/96, 429/162
• US Class Current: 381/322
• 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 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries

Abstract

A hearing aid or headset for delivering a sound signal to the vicinity of the tympanic membrane includes at least a signal capture device, a signal processing unit, a receiver and an energy storage unit for storage and supply of electric energy, the energy storage unit including two or more sections which are interconnected in a manner which allows angulation of one section with respect to the neighboring section/sections.

Claims

1. A hearing aid or headset for delivering a sound signal to the vicinity of the tympanic membrane, comprising a signal capture device, a signal processing unit, a receiver, and an energy storage unit for storage and supply of electric energy, said energy storage unit comprising first and second batteries and a resilient element interconnected between said first and second batteries, said resilient element enabling a change in angulation between said first and second batteries.

2. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 1, wherein two neighboring sections of the energy storage unit are separated by a section comprising a flexible material, which may be hardened into a rigid state.

3. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one section of the energy storage unit is curved.

4. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 3, wherein the curved section forms at least a part of a cylindrical shape, whereby the signal capture device, the signal processing unit and the receiver are surrounded by the cylindrical shape of the battery section.

5. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 4, including an antenna for a wireless link accommodated within the cylindrical shape of the battery section.

6. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first battery is a rechargeable battery.

7. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 6, including a coil, and wherein the rechargeable battery is connectable to the coil such that the battery may be recharged by placement in a changing magnetic field.

8. A hearing aid or head set as claimed in claim 1, including a transmitter, and wherein the energy storage unit provides electric power to the transmitter.