Hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309268-A1
Application number	US-201615132956-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The application relates to a hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising a forward path adapted for processing an input sound and providing an output sound representative of the input sound, the hearing device comprising an assembly comprising first and second modules adapted for being in mechanical contact with each other when the hearing device is operationally assembled to form a functional unit. The object of the present application is to provide a user friendly hearing device adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user. The problem is solved in that the first module comprises a power supply unit, and the second module comprises an input unit, a signal processing unit and an output unit in operational connection, wherein the first and second modules are configured to provide that the first and second modules are reversibly attachable to and detachable from each other; and the first and second modules are electrically connected to provide that units of the second module are energized by the battery of the first module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled. This has the advantage of providing relatively simple and easy to use hearing device. The invention may e.g. be used for hearing aids, in particular extended wear hearing aids adapted for being located deep in the ear canal of a user.

First claim

1 . A hearing device configured to be placed in the ear canal of a user, the hearing device comprising a forward path adapted for processing an input sound and providing an output sound representative of the input sound, the hearing device comprising an assembly comprising first and second modules adapted for being in mechanical contact with each other when the hearing device is operationally assembled to form a functional unit, wherein
the first module comprises a power supply unit, and the second module comprises an input unit, a signal processing unit and an output unit in operational connection, wherein the first and second modules are configured to provide that
the first and second modules are reversibly attachable to and detachable from each other; and
the first and second modules are electrically connected to provide that units of the second module are energized by the battery of the first module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

2 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the first module comprises a first module container enclosing the power supply unit, and the second module comprises a second module container enclosing the input unit, the signal processing unit, and the output unit.

3 . A hearing device according to claim 1 configured to provide that the first module carries the second module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

4 . A hearing device according to claim 1 configured to provide that the first module encloses the second module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

5 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

6 . A hearing device according to claim 1 configured to allow an input sound from the local environment of the input unit of the hearing device to reach the input unit and output sound from the output unit of the hearing device to reach the local environment of the output unit.

7 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the first module comprises a mechanically flexible outer part configured to provide a resilient interface towards walls of the ear canal of the user.

8 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the first module comprises an inner part that provides a mechanical interface towards the second module, wherein the inner part is less mechanically flexible than the outer part.

9 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the first module comprises one or more filters for mechanically protecting respective inlets or outlets of the second module during use of the hearing device.

10 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the forward path of the second module being energized from the power supply unit of the first module consists of a microphone for picking up an input sound from the environment and providing an electric input signal, a signal processing unit for processing the electric input signal and providing a processed electric signal, and a loudspeaker for converting the processed electric signal to an output sound.

11 . A hearing device according to claim 1 wherein the first module is configured to be disposable.

12 . A hearing device according to claim 1 configured to be powered on during wear.

13 . A hearing device according to claim 1 configured to be automatically set in a reduced power mode when a predefined criterion is fulfilled.

14 . A hearing device according to claim 1 comprising a first structural element for mounting and/or dismounting the hearing device in and from, respectively, the ear canal of the user.

15 . A hearing system comprising a hearing device according to claim 1 and an auxiliary device adapted to establish a communication link between the hearing device and the auxiliary device to provide that information can be exchanged or forwarded from one to the other.

16 . A hearing device according to claim 2 configured to provide that the first module carries the second module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

17 . A hearing device according to claim 2 configured to provide that the first module encloses the second module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

18 . A hearing device according to claim 3 configured to provide that the first module encloses the second module, when the first and second modules are operationally assembled.

19 . A hearing device according to claim 2 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

20 . A hearing device according to claim 3 wherein the input unit comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input audio signal, and the output unit comprises an output transducer for converting a processed audio signal to an output sound.

Assignees

• Oticon As

Inventors

• Olsen Thor Højlund
• Koch Povl
• Stranne Søren
• Pedersen Troels Holm
• Christensen Kåre Tais
• JØRGENSEN Lars Lund
• Frantzen Jan
• Rasmussen Karsten Bo
• Severin Bent

Classifications

• H04R2225/023

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

• H04R2225/55

  Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange · CPC title

• H04R25/60 Primary

  Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654) · CPC title

• H04R25/65

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

• H04R25/505

  using digital signal processing · CPC title