Listening device with a rechargeable energy source adapted for being charged through an ITE-unit, or a connector connectable to, or a connector of, a BTE-unit

• US 8,958,590 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Hastrup, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US13/794,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 381/323, 381/322, 381/324, 381/330, 381/328
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• 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 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

A listening device including an ITE part adapted for being located in an ear canal of a user and a BTE part adapted for being located behind an ear of the user, the ITE and BTE parts being at least mechanically connected by a connecting element, the listening device including a rechargeable energy source and electric charge terminals for allowing the charging of the rechargeable energy source when electrically connected to charging terminals of a charging station, wherein the electric charging terminals of the listening device are located: in or on the ITE part; in or on the connecting element; in an electrical connector of the connecting element connectable to the BTE part; or in an electrical connector of the BTE part connectable to the electrical connector of the connecting element, wherein the ITE part includes a receiver, wherein the BTE part includes a hermetically closed outer housing.

Claims

1. A listening device comprising an ITE part adapted for being located in an ear canal of a user and a BTE part adapted for being located behind an ear of the user, the ITE and BTE parts being at least mechanically connected by a connecting element, the listening device comprising a microphone, a receiver, a rechargeable energy source, and electric charge terminals for allowing charging of the rechargeable energy source when electrically connected to charging terminals of a charging station,

wherein the electric charging terminals of the listening device are located in an electrical connector of the BTE part connectable to the electrical connector of the connecting element,

wherein said microphone and said receiver are located outside the BTE part,

wherein the BTE part comprises a hermetically closed outer housing.

2. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein the rechargeable energy source comprises a rechargeable battery.

3. A listening device according to claim 2 wherein the rechargeable battery is located in the BTE part.

4. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the BTE part and the ITE part comprises circuitry adapted to allow a use of one or more of the electrical conductors for several purposes depending on the mode of operation.

5. A listening device according to claim 1 comprising a hearing instrument, a headset, a headphone, an active ear protection device or a combination thereof.

6. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the ITE part and the connecting element is adapted to be disposable parts that is regularly exchanged with corresponding new parts.

7. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein BTE part comprises circuitry for managing the charging of the rechargeable energy source.

8. A listening device according to claim 1 adapted to provide that electrical contact between the electric charge terminals of the listening device and charging terminals of the charging station is established via a cable with an electrical connector matching an electrical connector of the BTE part.

9. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein the ITE part comprises said microphone.

10. A listening device according to claim 1 wherein the BTE part comprises a signal processing unit and possible other functionality, which does not require openings in the housing.

15. The listening device according to claim 1, wherein the ITE part comprises said receiver.

11. A listening device comprising an ITE part adapted for being located in an ear canal of a user and a BTE part adapted for being located behind an ear of the user, the ITE and BTE parts being at least mechanically connected by a connecting element, the listening device comprising a rechargeable energy source and electric charge terminals for allowing charging of the rechargeable energy source when electrically connected to charging terminals of a charging station,

wherein the rechargeable energy source provides energy to the electrical units of the BTE part and the ITE part, and

wherein the electric charging terminals of the listening device are located in an electrical connector of the connecting element connectable to the BTE part.

12. A listening device comprising an ITE part adapted for being located in an ear canal of a user and a BTE part adapted for being located behind an ear of the user, the ITE and BTE parts being at least mechanically connected by a connecting element, the listening device comprising a rechargeable energy source and electric charge terminals for allowing charging of the rechargeable energy source when electrically connected to charging terminals of a charging station,

wherein the BTE part comprises a microphone,

wherein the rechargeable energy source is located in the BTE part, and

wherein the electric charging terminals of the listening device are located in an electrical connector of the BTE part connectable to the electrical connector of the connecting element.

13. The listening device according to claim 12 configured to provide that electrical contact between electric charge terminals of the listening device and charging terminals of the charging station is established via a cable with an electrical connector matching an electrical connector of the BTE part.

14. The listening device according to claim 12, wherein the electric charge terminals used during charging and the electric terminals used during normal operation in the listening device are fully or partially shared, in which case appropriate switching circuitry is implemented on shared terminals.