Hearing device and a method for manufacturing thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11070928-B2
Application number	US-201616338081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 29, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A hearing device to be worn in or at the ear of a user. The hearing device includes a housing for accommodating an electronic component, wherein the housing includes an electromagnetic wave shielding material and is formed with an indentation. The indentation provides a space at the outer side of the housing, allowing an antenna to be inserted into the indentation. The proposed hearing device achieves improved shielding of the antenna against electromagnetic waves radiated from at least one of the electronic components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing device to be worn in the ear of a user, said hearing device comprises a housing for accommodating an electronic component, wherein said housing is formed with an indentation, said indentation providing a space at an outer side of the housing, wherein said hearing device further comprises an antenna inserted into the indentation, wherein said housing is made of titan as an electromagnetic wave shielding material and has a thickness in the range from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

2. The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein said hearing device is to be worn at least partially in the hearing canal of a user, wherein said housing is at least partially shaped according to the individual contour of the hearing canal of the user.

3. The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is comprised by an antenna module further comprising an enclosure for encapsulating the antenna.

4. The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein the enclosure is a cast comprising at least one of resin, natural rubber and silicon.

5. The hearing device according to claim 4 , wherein the antenna is integrally casted within the enclosure.

6. The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the enclosure is shaped such to substantially mate with the contour of the indentation.

7. The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the enclosure is shaped such to align with the outline of the housing once the enclosure is inserted into the indentation.

8. The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein the antenna module comprises a snap-in mechanism, adapted to engage at least a portion of the hearing device housing.

9. The hearing device according to claim 8 , wherein the fixture means are integrally formed with a fixing plate bonded to the enclosure.

10. The hearing device according to claim 3 , wherein the enclosure is glued to a portion of the housing comprising the indentation.

11. The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna is molded into the indentation.

12. The hearing device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing in a portion of the indentation comprises at least one through-hole for routing at least one electrical conductor for electrically connecting the antenna to at least one of the electronic components.

13. A method for manufacturing a hearing device to be worn in the ear of a user, said method comprises the steps of:
providing a housing of the hearing device;
forming the housing with an indentation, said indentation providing a space at an outer side of the housing;
modelling, via a modelling software, placement of an antenna outside of the housing;
inserting the antenna into the indentation based on the placement of the antenna during modelling; and
fixing the antenna to at least a portion of the housing comprising the indentation,
wherein said housing is made of titan as an electromagnetic wave shielding material and has a thickness in the range from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the providing step comprises the step of shaping the housing of the hearing device such to at least partially mate with the individual contour of the hearing canal of the user.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the fixing step comprises the steps of:
encapsulating the antenna within an enclosure; and
mounting the enclosure to the portion of the housing comprising the indentation.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of shaping at least a portion of the surface of the enclosure such to substantially mate with the contour of the indentation.

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of shaping at least a portion of the surface of the enclosure such to substantially align with the contour of the surface of the housing once the enclosure is inserted into the indentation.

18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the fixing step comprises the steps of:
molding the antenna within the indentation by means of a mold; and
surface-treating the mold such to substantially align with the contour of the surface of the housing.

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Meier Hilmar
• Ochsenbein Andre Lucien
• Den Hartog Leo
• Frei Christian
• Probst Daniel
• Perez Gabriel
• Bechtiger Paul

Classifications

• H04R31/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor {(manufacture of microstructural arrangements of deformable or non-deformable structures in general B81C1/00182)} · CPC title

• H04R2225/025

  In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R25/609

  of circuitry (of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603) · CPC title

• H04R2225/023

  Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R25/65 Primary

  Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture · CPC title