Rechargeable canal hearing device and systems
First Claim
1. A canal hearing device system comprising:
- a main module for positioning in the ear, the main module comprising a receiver and circuitry;
a battery module incorporating a rechargeable battery cell therein, the battery module configured for mating with the main module to form a lateral end of a rechargeable canal hearing device, wherein the lateral end of the canal hearing device comprises a handle section; and
a charging station for providing electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell, wherein the charging station comprises a receptacle cavity configured to at least partially disengage the battery module from the main module upon axial insertion, at least in part, of the lateral end of the canal hearing device into the receptacle cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Examples of a rechargeable canal hearing device and charging systems are described. An exemplary rechargeable hearing device includes a battery module and a main module adapted to be removably couple together to form a modular canal hearing device assembly configured to be inserted inconspicuously in the ear canal. The modular canal hearing device assembly may include electrical contacts or an inductive charging system to couple charging energy from a charging station. According to examples described, the charging station includes a receptacle cavity shaped to partially accommodate the modular canal hearing device assembly including its handle. The receptacle cavity includes features operable to manipulate the handle as an actuator for automatically disengaging the battery module from the main module upon insertion of the lateral end into the receptacle cavity.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A canal hearing device system comprising:
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a main module for positioning in the ear, the main module comprising a receiver and circuitry; a battery module incorporating a rechargeable battery cell therein, the battery module configured for mating with the main module to form a lateral end of a rechargeable canal hearing device, wherein the lateral end of the canal hearing device comprises a handle section; and a charging station for providing electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell, wherein the charging station comprises a receptacle cavity configured to at least partially disengage the battery module from the main module upon axial insertion, at least in part, of the lateral end of the canal hearing device into the receptacle cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A canal hearing device system comprising:
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a main module incorporating a receiver and circuitry; a battery module incorporating a non-removable rechargeable battery cell, the battery module configured to couple to the main module forming a canal hearing device assembly; and a charging station configured to provide electrical charge to the rechargeable battery cell when coupled to the main module-, wherein the charging station comprises a receptacle cavity for receiving a lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly, and wherein the receptacle cavity is configured to at least partially disengage the battery module from the main module upon axial insertion, at least in part, of the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly into the receptacle cavity.
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17. A portable charging station for charging a rechargeable canal hearing device comprising:
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circuitry for providing electrical charge to a rechargeable battery cell at least partially enclosed within a battery module provided within the rechargeable canal hearing device; and a receptacle cavity for receiving a lateral end of the rechargeable canal hearing device, wherein the receptacle cavity is configured to at least partially disengage the battery module from the canal hearing device upon axial insertion of the lateral end of the rechargeable canal hearing device, at least in part, into the receptacle cavity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A rechargeable canal hearing device comprising:
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a main module for positioning in the ear, the main module comprising a receiver, and circuitry; and a battery module incorporating a rechargeable battery cell within, wherein the battery module is configured to couple to the main module to form a lateral end of a canal hearing device when joined therewith, the lateral end configured to cause the battery module to disengage, at least in part, from the main module upon axial insertion of the lateral end, at least in part, into a receptacle cavity of a charging station. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A rechargeable canal hearing device comprising:
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a main module for positioning in the ear, the main module comprising a receiver and circuitry; and a battery module incorporating a non-removable battery cell, the battery module configured for mating with the main module to form a lateral end of a canal hearing device assembly, wherein axial insertion, at least in part, of the lateral end of the canal hearing device assembly into a receptacle cavity of a charging station adjusts the battery module from a first position in which the battery cell is electrically engaged to the circuitry, to a second position in which the battery cell is electrically disengaged from the circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method for charging a canal hearing device including a battery module within, the method comprising:
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inserting a lateral end of the canal hearing device axially at least partially into a receptacle cavity of a charging station, the receptacle cavity including features configured to automatically disengage the battery module from the canal hearing device, the lateral end of the canal hearing device comprising first electrical contacts for receiving electrical charge from second electrical contacts within the receptacle cavity; applying an axial insertion force generally along the longitudinal axis of the canal hearing device assembly to disengage the battery module from the canal hearing device and to electrically engage the first electrical contacts of the canal hearing device with the second electrical contacts of the charging station; and charging a battery cell at least partially incorporated within the battery module by the charging station. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for charging a rechargeable canal hearing device comprising a battery module incorporating a battery cell within, the method comprising:
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inserting a portion of the rechargeable canal hearing device axially into a receptacle cavity of a charging station, the receptacle cavity including features for automatically disengaging the battery module from the rechargeable canal hearing device; applying an axial force, generally along a longitudinal axis of the rechargeable canal hearing device, to disengage the battery module from the rechargeable canal hearing device, wherein disengaging the battery module includes moving the battery module in a generally perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rechargeable canal hearing aid; and charging the battery cell while the rechargeable canal hearing device is partially inserted in the receptacle cavity.
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Specification