Method and apparatus for an insulated electromagnetic shield for use in hearing assistance devices

• US 9,002,047 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Lin, Wei Li, Newton, James R., Higgins, Sidney A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US12/842,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110044485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 381/318, 381/322
• US Class Current: 381/322
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

The present subject matter of the invention relates generally to the management of electromagnetic fields in hearing assistance devices, such as hearing aids, and in particular to an insulated electromagnetic shield design for hearing assistance devices. The present disclosure includes various embodiments for electromagnetic shielding of a receiver using a magnetic shield that is electrically insulated from the receiver casing and electronics.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver, adapted for use in a hearing aid, the receiver including a conductive housing;

an insulator disposed around at least a portion of the conductive housing of the receiver; and

an envelope configured to conform around at least a portion of the insulator, wherein the envelope extends a length of electrical termination of the receiver,

wherein the envelope includes a magnetically shielding material and the insulator is adapted to electrically insulate the envelope from the conductive housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetically shielding material is a high permeability material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetically shielding material includes mu metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the envelope includes a plastic part.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetically shielding material includes a drawn part.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetically shielding material includes a metal-injection-molded part.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the envelope provides electromagnetic shielding.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a dual-motor hearing aid receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a magnetically sensitive element proximal the envelope of the receiver.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the magnetically sensitive element includes a TMR sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the magnetically sensitive element includes a GMR sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an antenna proximal the envelope.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetically shielding material extends a distance past an end of the receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulator is about 1 mil thick.

15. A hearing aid, comprising:

a dual-motor receiver, adapted for use in a hearing aid, the receiver including a conductive housing;

an insulator disposed around at least a portion of the conductive housing of the receiver;

an envelope configured to conform around at least a portion of the insulator, wherein the envelope extends a length of electrical termination of the receiver; and

a magnetically sensitive element proximal the envelope of the receiver,

wherein the envelope provides a magnetic and electromagnetic shield and the insulator is adapted to electrically insulate the envelope from the conductive housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnetically sensitive element includes a TMR sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnetically sensitive element includes a GMR sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an antenna proximal the envelope.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnetically shielding material extends a distance past an end of the receiver.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the insulator is about 1 mil thick.

21. A method comprising:

assembling an assembly comprising a receiver with a conductive casing, an insulative element disposed about the conductive casing, and an electromagnetic shield disposed about the insulative element, such that the conductive casing is electrically insulated from the electromagnetic shield, the assembly adapted for use in a hearing aid, wherein the assembly includes an envelope extending a length of electrical termination of the receiver.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising disposing the assembly in a hearing aid design, the assembly positioned proximal a magnetically sensitive element, an antenna, another component, or a combination of these.