Acoustical receiver housing for hearing aids

• US 7,657,048 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
• Original Assignee: Sonion Nederland BV
• Inventors: van Hal, Paul Christiaan, van Halteren, Aart Zeger
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/634,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 381/179, 381/322, 381/324, 381/327, 381/328, 381/380.354, 381/345, 381/189, 381/392, 381/368
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2209/027 Electrical or mechanical reduction of yoke vibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

An acoustic receiver comprises means for converting an input audio signal into an acoustic signal. The receiver has a housing having a plurality of sides that surround the converting means. One of the sides include an output port for broadcasting the acoustic signal. A jacket fits around the housing and has sections for engaging the sides. The sections are generally flat. The jacket may also form a gap with a corresponding side surface of the housing. A printed circuit board can be located within the gap. The printed circuit board including electronics for processing said input audio signal.

Claims

1. A transducer, comprising:

means for converting between an input audio signal and an acoustic signal;

a case in which said converting means is received;

a cover disposed over said case and having a top surface;

a port, through which said acoustic signal passes, coupled to at least a first end portion of said case; and

a jacket having at least three sections, a first of said sections being adjacent said top surface, and a second and a third of said sections extending around corresponding sides of said cover and along a majority of corresponding sides of said case.

2. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, wherein said jacket includes, on at least an inner surface portion thereof, a layer of acoustical dampening material.

3. The acoustic receiver of claim 2, wherein said acoustic dampening material includes silicone.

4. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, wherein said port is an output port for broadcasting said acoustic signal, said output port being coupled to a first end portion of said cover for holding said cover to said case.

5. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, further comprising a flexible printed circuit board disposed between said first section of said jacket and said top surface of said cover, the flexible printed circuit board including electronics for processing said input audio signal.

6. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector assembly coupled to a second end portion of said case opposite said port.

7. The acoustic receiver of claim 6, further comprising a flexible printed circuit board disposed between said first section of said jacket and said top surface of said cover, the printed circuit board being directly connected to said electrical connector assembly.

8. The acoustic receiver of claim 6, wherein said jacket includes at least four sections, a fourth of said sections extending along a second end portion of said cover adjacent said second end portion of said case.

9. The acoustic receiver of claim 8, wherein said fourth section is spot-welded to said second end portion of said cover.

10. The acoustic receiver of claim 8, wherein said fourth section also extends along at least part of said second end portion of said case.

11. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, wherein respective portions of said second and third sections of said jacket are secured to respective sides of said case for holding said cover to said case.

12. The acoustic receiver of claim 11, wherein said second and third sections are spot-welded at a plurality of spots to respective sides of said case.

13. The acoustic receiver of claim 11, wherein said second and third sections are permanently affixed to said respective sides of said case by an adhesive.

14. The acoustic receiver of claim 11, wherein said fourth section is permanently affixed to said second end portion of said cover.

15. The acoustic receiver of claim 1, wherein said jacket is an epoxy jacket having a first epoxy layer.

16. The acoustic receiver of claim 15, wherein said first epoxy layer includes metallic particles for shielding said converting means from the effects of electromagnetic interference.

17. The acoustic receiver of claim 15, wherein said epoxy jacket further includes a second epoxy layer and a foil of soft magnetic material sandwiched between said first and second epoxy layers.

18. The acoustic receiver of claim 15, wherein said epoxy layer has a thickness no greater than about 1 millimeter.

19. The acoustic receiver of claim 15, wherein said epoxy layer has a non-uniform thickness, said thickness being greater proximate the middle of said second and third sections.

20. A transducer, comprising:

means for converting between an input audio signal and an acoustic signal;

a case for surrounding said converting means;

a cover covering said case and having a top surface;

a port, through which said acoustic signal passes, coupled to a first end portion of said case and a first end portion of said cover for holding said cover to said case; and

a jacket having at least three sections, a first of said sections being adjacent said top surface, and a second and a third of said sections extending around corresponding sides of said cover and along a majority of corresponding sides of said case, respective portions of said second and third sections of said jacket being affixed to respective sides of said case for holding said cover to said case.

21. A transducer, comprising:

means for converting between an input audio signal and an acoustic signal;

a case for receiving said converting means;

a cover positioned over said case and having a top surface;

a port through which said acoustic signal passes;

an electrical connector assembly coupled to an end portion of said case; and

a jacket having at least four sections, a first of said sections being adjacent said top surface, and a second and a third of said sections extending around corresponding sides of said cover and along a majority of corresponding sides of said case, respective portions of said second and third sections of said jacket being affixed to respective sides of said case for holding said cover to said case, a fourth of said sections extending along an end portion of said cover adjacent said end portion of said case.