Method for generating an acoustic signal or for transmitting energy in an auditory canal and corresponding hearing apparatus

• US 8,116,494 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Gmbh (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Rass, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Phan
• Application Number:
  US11/805,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 380/323, 380/322, 380/328, 380/380
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/15 Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Changing batteries in hearing apparatuses worn in the auditory canal is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, a hearing apparatus is provided with a first component which can be worn in the auditory canal, said component comprising a receiver unit for the wireless reception of signals. The hearing apparatus also exhibits a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and/or energy to the receiver unit of the first component. The first component can be designed to be battery-less. The second component, which is positioned further outside in the auditory canal, can be easily removed from the auditory canal in order to change the battery.

Claims

1. A hearing apparatus comprising:

a first component to be worn in an auditory canal, wherein the first component has a receiver unit for a wireless reception of an electromagnetic signal; and

a second component separated from the first component, wherein the second component has a transmitter unit for a wireless transmission of the signal to the receiver unit, wherein the transmitter unit is configured so that the electromagnetic signal is effective to transmit signal information and is further effective to transmit a sufficient amount of electrical power to electrically power circuitry in the first component.

2. A hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second component is worn in the auditory canal.

3. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hearing apparatus is a hearing device.

4. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component has a seal for a soundproof positioning in the auditory canal.

5. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component has a receiver coil.

6. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first component has a magnetically active membrane.

7. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the membrane is coated with a ferromagnetic liquid.

8. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first component consists of the magnetically active membrane and a passive fastener.

9. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the passive fastener is the seal.

10. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second component is removeable from the auditory canal separately from the first component.

11. A method for generating an acoustic signal in an auditory canal, comprising:

generating a wirelessly transmittable electromagnetic signal in the auditory canal via a second component;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal further within the auditory canal via a first component;

transmitting signal information by way of the electromagnetic signal;

transmitting by way of the electromagnetic signal a sufficient amount of electrical power to electrically power circuitry in the first component; and

converting the received signal information via the first component into an acoustic signal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a space in the auditory canal between the first component and an eardrum is sealed in a soundproof manner.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the signal is transmitted based upon induction.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first component has no energy storage device.

15. A method for transmitting energy in an auditory canal, comprising:

generating a wirelessly transmittable electromagnetic signal in the auditory canal based upon a second component;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal further within the auditory canal based upon a first component;

transmitting signal information by way of the electromagnetic signal; and

transmitting by way of the electromagnetic signal a sufficient amount of electrical power to electrically power circuitry in the first component.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein a space in the auditory canal between the first component and an eardrum is sealed in a soundproof manner.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first component has no energy storage device.