Hearing device, a sound receiving arrangement, a set of parts and a hearing device system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11089409-B2
Application number	US-201716632438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 20, 2017
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A hearing device including a housing, at least two microphones, and a sound receiving arrangement coupled to the housing such to span across the tragus of the user's ear in a direction from the rear of the user's head to the front of the user's head. The sound receiving arrangement includes a case formed with at least two openings adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to the at least two microphones, respectively, wherein the openings are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement such that one of the at least two openings is located in front of the tragus and one is located rear the tragus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ), comprising:
a housing ( 102 ; 202 ) for accommodating a receiver, said housing ( 102 ; 202 ) comprises a component ( 104 ; 204 ) adapted to be positioned at least partially into an ear canal of a user;
at least two microphones ( 116 ′, 116 ″; 216 ′, 216 ″); and
a sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) coupled to the housing ( 102 ; 202 ) such to span across the tragus ( 218 ) of the user's ear in a direction from the rear of the user's head to the front of the user's head once the hearing device housing ( 102 ; 202 ) is inserted into the ear canal of the user, wherein said sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) comprises a case ( 112 ; 212 ) formed with at least two openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to the at least two microphones ( 116 ′, 116 ″; 216 ′, 216 ″), respectively, wherein the openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) such that one of the at least two openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) is located in front of the tragus ( 218 ) and one is located rear the tragus ( 218 ).

2. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) are formed at respective ends along an axis of the case ( 112 ; 212 ) of the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ).

3. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) is coupled to the housing ( 102 ; 202 ) via a spacer ( 110 ; 210 ).

4. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) and the hearing device housing ( 102 ; 202 ) are rotatable in relation to each other.

5. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the microphones ( 116 ′, 116 ″; 216 ′, 216 ″) are accommodated into the case ( 112 ; 212 ).

6. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , comprising a third microphone and a third opening allowing sound entrance to the third microphone.

7. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the third opening is formed into the housing ( 102 ; 202 ).

8. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the third opening is formed into the case ( 112 ; 212 ) of the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ).

9. The hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) is formed elongated or bended.

10. A sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) adapted to be coupled to a housing ( 102 ; 202 ) of a hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 .

11. The sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 , comprising a case ( 112 ; 212 ) formed with at least two openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to at least two microphones ( 116 ′, 116 ″; 216 ′, 216 ″), respectively, wherein the openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) such that one of the at least two openings ( 114 ′, 114 ″; 214 ′, 214 ″) is located in front of the tragus ( 218 ) and one is located rear the tragus ( 218 ).

12. The sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 , adapted to be coupled to the housing ( 102 ; 202 ) directly or via a spacer ( 110 ; 210 ).

13. The sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 , adapted to establish an electrical or acoustical connection to a receiver comprised in the housing ( 102 ; 202 ) of the hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ).

14. The sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ), once connected to the housing ( 102 ; 202 ), is bended such to avoid interference with the tragus ( 218 ).

15. The sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) is adapted to be rotatable in relation to the housing ( 102 ; 202 ).

16. A set of parts, comprising a hearing device housing ( 102 ; 202 ) and a sound receiving arrangement ( 108 ; 208 ) according to claim 10 .

17. The set of parts according to claim 16 , comprising a further sound receiving arrangement or a spacer, wherein a selection of sound receiving arrangements or the spacer allows assembly of a hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) taking into account at least one of:
a shape of the tragus of the user,
activities of the user, such as sports, business, cultural and social activities,
desired color of the sound receiving arrangement.

18. A hearing device system comprising at least one hearing device ( 100 ; 200 ) according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Meier Hilmar

Classifications

• H04R2201/107

  Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication · CPC title

• H04R2225/025

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

• H04R1/326

  for microphones (H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• H04R25/65

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