Hearing aid device and processing unit and receiving unit for the hearing aid device

• US 8,861,758 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte Ltd (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: Klemenz, Harald, Lim, Pei Chyi Kristy
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/842,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20110019847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• 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

Abstract

A hearing aid device includes a processing unit and a receiving unit adapted to be coupled to transmit an electrical signal from the processing unit to the receiving unit. The processing unit has a wireless transmitter and a transmitter seal for covering the wireless transmitter and the receiving unit has a wireless receiver and a receiver seal for covering the wireless receiver. The electrical signal is transmitted from the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver wirelessly. The electrical signal may be transmitted by induction. The transmitter seal and the receiver seal prevent any environmental influences from acting on the hearing aid device and thus protect the hearing aid device from malfunctioning or becoming short circuited. Magnetic connectors and/or mechanical connectors are provided for a stable contact between the processing unit and the receiving unit.

Claims

1. A processing unit for a hearing aid device, the processing unit comprising:

a behind the ear processing unit housing;

a coupling connected to said processing unit housing and configured for coupling the processing unit housing directly to a receiving unit housing of a receiving unit to be worn behind an ear;

a wireless transmitter disposed inside said behind the ear processing unit housing and configured for transmitting an electrical signal to the receiving unit wirelessly while the receiving unit housing is being worn behind the ear; and

a transmitter seal for covering said wireless transmitter and sealing said behind the ear processing unit housing at said wireless transmitter.

2. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein said wireless transmitter is an inductive transmitter adapted to transmit an electrical signal to the receiving unit by induction.

3. The processing unit according to claim 2, wherein said wireless transmitter includes a transmitting inductive coil adapted to generate a magnetic field to transmit the electrical signal.

4. The processing unit according to claim 1, which further comprises a transmitter seal adapted to seal a portion of a surface of the processing unit.

5. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the processing unit has a shape adapted to be physically aligned to a surface of the receiving unit.

6. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein said coupling is a mechanical connector adapted to attach the receiving unit to the processing unit.

7. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein said coupling is a magnetic connector adapted to attach the receiving unit to the processing unit.

8. The processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to be placed behind the ear.

9. A receiving unit for a hearing aid device, the receiving unit comprising:

a receiving unit housing for being worn behind an ear;

a coupling connected to said housing and configured for coupling the receiving unit housing directly to a behind the ear processing unit;

a wireless receiver disposed inside said housing and configured for receiving an electrical signal from the processing unit wirelessly while the receiving unit housing is being worn behind the ear; and

a receiver seal for covering said wireless receiver and sealing said housing at said wireless receiver.

10. The receiving unit according to claim 9, wherein said wireless receiver is an inductive receiver adapted to receive an electrical signal from the processing unit by induction.

11. The receiving unit according to claim 10, wherein said wireless receiver includes a receiving inductive coil adapted to detect a magnetic field for receiving the electrical signal.

12. The receiving unit according to claim 9, which further comprises a physical plug adapted to be connected to the processing unit.

13. The receiving unit according to claim 9, which further comprises a receiver seal adapted to seal a portion of a surface of the receiving unit.

14. The receiving unit according to claim 9, wherein a surface of the receiving unit has a shape adapted to be physically aligned to a surface of the processing unit.

15. The receiving unit according to claim 9, wherein said coupling is a mechanical connector adapted to attach the processing unit to the receiving unit.

16. The receiving unit according to claim 9, wherein said coupling is a magnetic connector adapted to attach the processing unit to the receiving unit.

17. A hearing aid device, comprising:

a processing unit having a processing unit housing, a wireless transmitter disposed inside said processing unit housing and a transmitter seal for covering said wireless transmitter and sealing said processing unit housing at said wireless transmitter; and

a receiving unit having a receiving unit housing, a wireless receiver disposed inside said receiving unit housing and a receiver seal for covering said wireless receiver and sealing said receiving unit housing at said wireless receiver;

said processing unit and said receiving unit being configured for being coupled together for wirelessly transmitting an electrical signal from said wireless transmitter of said processing unit to said wireless receiver of said receiving unit; and

an ear plug for being disposed in an ear and receiving an acoustic signal from said receiving unit, said ear plug being connected to said receiving unit by a tonal tube which carries the acoustic signal to said ear plug.

18. The hearing aid device according to claim 17, wherein said processing unit includes a coupling configured to couple the processing unit to a receiving unit.

19. The hearing aid device according to claim 17, wherein said receiving unit includes a coupling adapted to couple the receiving unit to a processing unit.

20. The hearing aid device according to claim 17, wherein:

said processing unit having said wireless transmitter adapted to transmit an electrical signal to said receiving unit wirelessly and said transmitter seal for covering said wireless transmitter, includes a coupling adapted to couple said processing unit to said receiving unit; and

said receiving unit having said wireless receiver adapted to receive an electrical signal from said processing unit wirelessly and said receiver seal for covering said wireless receiver, includes a coupling adapted to couple said receiving unit to said processing unit.