System for hearing assistance device including receiver in the canal

• US 8,385,573 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A.
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/857,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20090074218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device connection system for a user having an ear canal comprising a housing, electronics disposed in the housing, a cable electrically connected to the receiver and at least one conductive silicone component to electrically connect the electronics to the receiver.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance system for a user having an ear canal, the system comprising:

a housing;

electronics disposed in the housing;

a receiver adapted to be placed in the ear canal;

a cable electrically connected to the receiver; and

at least one conductive silicone component including alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive silicone, wherein at least one layer of conductive silicone is adapted to electrically connect the electronics to the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a receiver connector and wherein the cable comprises a first cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the receiver connector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide connection between at least one metal contact of the receiver connector and at least one metal contact of the first cable connector when the first cable connector and the receiver connector are mated.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide a first connection and a first environmental seal to a plurality of contacts of the receiver connector and a plurality of contacts of the first cable connector.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiver connector and the first cable connector are adapted to mechanically connect using a first locking mechanism.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first locking mechanism includes a locking member to retain the receiver in the ear canal, wherein the locking member includes;

a head; and

a tail connected to the head.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the tail includes a tapered portion.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the receiver connector and the first cable connector each have an opening adapted to allow the tail to pass through the openings and mechanically fix the receiver connector to the first cable connector.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a housing connector and the cable includes a second cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the housing connector and wherein at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide connection between at least one metal contact of the housing connector and at least one metal contact of the second cable connector when the second cable connector and the housing connector are mated.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a housing connector and the cable includes a second cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the housing connector and, wherein the at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide a second connection and a second environmental seal to a plurality of contacts of the housing connector and a plurality of contacts of the second cable connector.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the housing connector and the second cable connector are adapted to mechanically connect using a locking mechanism.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing connector has an opening adapted to allow engagement of the locking mechanism with the second cable connector.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing connector and wherein the cable comprises a cable connector adapted to electrically connect with the housing connector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide a connection between at least one metal contact of the housing connector and at least one metal contact of the cable connector when the cable connector and the housing connector are mated.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one conductive silicone component includes a layer of conductive silicone adapted to provide a connection and an environmental seal to a plurality of contacts of the housing connector and a plurality of contacts of the cable connector.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the housing connector and the cable connector are adapted to mechanically connect using a locking mechanism.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the housing connector has an opening adapted to allow engagement of the locking mechanism with the cable connector.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an earbud mechanically connected to the receiver.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a behind-the-ear housing.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable includes Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shielding.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a housing connector;

wherein the cable includes a second cable connector adapted to electrically connect to the housing connector;

wherein the receiver connector includes a first receptacle and the first cable connector includes a first plug; and

wherein the housing connector includes a second receptacle and the second cable connector includes a second plug.

22. A hearing assistance system connector comprising:

a first member having a first opening;

a second member having a second opening to receive the first member, the second member having a third and fourth opening forming a connector opening with the first opening of the first member when the first member is received in the second opening of the second member; and

a locking member for retaining the first member in the second member, wherein the locking member is positioned within the connector opening;

at least one conductive silicone component including alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive silicone, wherein at least one layer of conductive silicone is adapted to electrically connect one or more conductors of the first member with one or more conductors of the second member.

23. The connector of claim 22, wherein at least one of the at least one conductive silicone components forms an environmental seal of the one or more conductors of the first member and the at least one or more conductors of the second member.

24. A hearing assistance system connector comprising:

a first member having one or more electrical conductors;

a second member having a first opening to receive the first member and a second opening adapted to provide access to the first member when received by second member;

a forked locking member adapted to engage at least one groove of the first member through the second opening of the second member to retain the first member within the first opening of the second member; and

at least one conductive silicone component including alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive silicone, wherein at least one layer of conductive silicone is adapted to electrically connect the one or more electrical conductors of the first member to one or more electrical conductors of the second member.

25. The connector of claim 24, wherein at least one of the at least one conductive silicone components forms an environmental seal of the one or more conductors of the first member and the at least one or more conductors of the second member.