Flex-based connector for hearing aid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9497554-B2
Application number	US-201414272135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2014
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

Described herein is a multi-pin flex-based electrical plug and socket that can be incorporated into a hearing aid and be used to serve two purposes depending on the orientation with which the plug is inserted into the socket. For example, the plug may be inserted into the socket in a first orientation (e.g., right-side up) for programming the hearing aid and inserted in a second orientation (e.g., upside down) for inputting a DAI signal. In an alternate embodiment, the plug and socket forms a both-ways-okay connector such that the plug can be inserted in a either a first orientation or a second orientation (e.g., either right-side up or upside down) and still function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing aid, comprising:
a microphone for converting an audio input into an input signal;
a direct audio input (DAI) circuit for receiving a DAI signal;
a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing the input signal, the DAI signal, or a combination thereof into an output signal in a manner that compensates for a patient's hearing deficit;
an audio amplifier and speaker for converting the output signal into an audio output;
a programming circuit for receiving programming signals to configure the DSP;
a socket for receiving a connector plug, wherein the connector plug has one or more plug pads that make contact with one or more socket pads of the socket when the connector plug is inserted; and,
wherein the locations of the plug pads and the socket pads are such that the one or more plug pads are electrically connected to the DAI circuit when the connector plug is inserted into the socket in a first orientation and such that one or more plug pads are electrically connected to the programming circuit when the connector plug is inserted into the socket in a second orientation.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the connector plug is a planar structure having first and second surfaces and having the plug pads on only the first surface.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a connector plug, wherein the connector plug is a flex-based planar structure having first and second surfaces and having the plug pads on only the first surface.

4. The hearing aid of claim 2 wherein the socket is a slot into which the connector plug is inserted, wherein the slot includes a first surface with socket pads thereon that are electrically connected to the programming circuit and a second surface with socket pads thereon that are electrically connected to the DAI circuit.

5. The hearing aid of claim 4 wherein the socket is constructed by folding a flex-based socket planar structure having multiple edges, wherein the socket planar structure includes:
a first set of one or more socket pads near a first edge, a second set of socket pads near a second edge, and a set of solder pads near a third edge;
traces that electrically connect each of the solder pads to one or more members of the first and second sets of socket pads;
wherein each of the set of solder pads are electrically connected to one or more terminals belonging to one or both of the programming circuit and the DAI circuit; and
wherein, when the socket planar structure is folded to form the slot, the first and second set of contact pads are situated on opposite sides of the slot.

6. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the socket pads are sculpted flex bumps.

7. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the plug pads are sculpted flex bumps.

8. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the socket further comprises a spring that forces the socket pads against the plug pads.

9. The hearing aid of claim 8 wherein the spring is an elastomeric material.

10. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the first orientation of the connector plug is 180 degrees rotated relative to the second orientation.

11. A hearing aid, comprising:
a microphone for converting an audio input into an input signal;
a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing the input signal, into an output signal in a manner that compensates for a patient's hearing deficit;
an audio amplifier and speaker for converting the output signal into an audio output;
a socket for receiving a connector plug, wherein the connector plug has one or more plug pads that make contact with one or more socket pads of the socket when the connector plug is inserted;
wherein the locations of the plug pads and the socket pads are such that the one or more plug pads are electrically connected to a user input circuit when the connector plug is inserted into the socket in a first orientation and such that one or more plug pads are electrically connected to the user input circuit when the connector plug is inserted into the socket in a second orientation rotated 180 degrees relative to the first orientation;
wherein the connector plug is a planar structure having first and second surfaces and having the plug pads on only the first surface;
wherein the socket is a slot into which the connector plug is inserted, wherein the slot includes a first surface with socket pads thereon that are electrically connected to the user input circuit and a second surface with socket pads thereon that are electrically connected to the user input circuit and is constructed by folding a flex-based socket planar structure having multiple edges, wherein the socket planar structure includes:
a first set of one or more socket pads near a first edge, a second set of socket pads near a second edge, and a set of solder pads near a third edge;
traces that electrically connect each of the solder pads to one or more members of the first and second sets of socket pads;
wherein each of the set of solder pads are electrically connected to one or more terminals belonging to the user input circuit; and
wherein, when the socket planar structure is folded to form the slot, the first and second set of contact pads are situated on opposite sides of the slot.

12. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the user input circuit is a programming circuit for receiving programming signals to configure the DSP.

13. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the user input circuit is direct audio input (DAI) circuit for receiving a DAI signal.

14. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the connector plug is a flex-based planar structure having first and second surfaces and having the plug pads on only the first surface.

15. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the socket pads are sculpted flex bumps.

16. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the plug pads are sculpted flex bumps.

17. The hearing aid of claim 11 wherein the socket further comprises a spring that forces the socket pads against the plug pads.

Assignees

• Starkey Labs Inc

Inventors

• Bergner Thomas Blaise

Classifications

• H01R12/78

  connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures · CPC title

• H04R25/556 Primary

  External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules (H04R25/607 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R29/00

  Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, {programmable connectors} · CPC title

• H01R2107/00

  Four or more poles · CPC title

• H01R2201/12

  for medicine and surgery · CPC title