EP2023666A2 - Switching device and method for adjusting a hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

The switching arrangement comprises a socket cover (2) which covers a socket connector (4). The socket connector and the socket cover are arranged in such a manner that an electrical switching contact is produced by pressure on the socket connector. A contact element is also produced with a rear ear part. An independent claim is included for switching a hearing aid.

Description

The invention relates to a specified in claim 1 hearing aid with a coverable by a female cover socket and a specified in claim 9 method for switching a hearing aid.

Numerous hearing aids are equipped with the possibility to select different hearing programs by pressing a button. For this purpose, the behind-the-ear part of the hearing aid has a button.

In addition, modern hearing aids have a programming socket, for example according to the CS44 standard, via which an individual programming of the hearing aid is possible.

The button for program selection usually requires a separate control element, since it is usually designed very small. For this purpose, a plastic button is often used, which presses on a membrane switch. The button also provides a cover and a protection for the membrane switch.

Another cover is usually provided for the programming socket. This serves to protect the electrical contacts of the programming socket from dirt.

The patent DE 10 2005 037 897 B3 indicates such a hearing aid. This comprises a program switch for switching to a plurality of hearing programs, a programming socket for connecting the hearing device to a programming device, and a covering device, which is integrally formed and covers both the program switch and the programming socket, wherein the cover device has a locking element with which they in the Abdeckzustand is held detachably on the program switch and the programming jack, and wherein the cover means is slightly movable in the covering, so that can be actuated by the movement of the program switch.

It is an object of the invention to provide a further switch arrangement for hearing aids, which saves space on the hearing aid.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by the device by the features listed in the independent claim 1 by a female connector and the associated female cover are arranged and designed such that an electrical switch contact can be produced by pressure on the female connector covering cover.

The invention has the advantage that small and visually appealing housing can be produced without limiting the functionality, since space is saved by a combination of switch and socket.

In one embodiment, the socket comprises at least one contact pin and the socket cover at least one electrically conductive contact element connected to an electrical circuit, wherein the electrical switching contact between the at least one contact pin and the at least one contact element can be produced.

In a further embodiment, the socket comprises at least two contact pins and the socket cover at least one uncontacted, that is, without connection to an electrical circuit formed, electrically conductive contact element, wherein the electrical switching contact can be produced by connecting the two contact pins by means of the contact element.

Furthermore, contact pins provided for a pressure contact may be longer than the remaining contact pins.

These embodiments offer the advantage that a secure switching contact is ensured.

In another embodiment, the female connector is designed according to industry standard CS44.

This offers the advantage that a standard programming cable can be used for programming.

In a further embodiment, the behind-the-ear part of a hearing device comprises a switch arrangement according to the invention described above.

This has the advantage that small, space-saving, visually appealing hearing device housings can be used.

The female cover of a hearing aid may have a locking element with which it is removably durable in the covering position on the socket.

The female cover of a hearing aid may include a pivot bearing which is connected to the behind-the-ear part such that the female cover is pivotable about the pivot bearing.

The features of independent claim 9 indicate an inventive method for switching of hearing aids with a behind-the-ear part, wherein a female connector of the behind-the-ear part and its female cover in operative connection with each other, that after pressure on the the socket cover covering female cover is made an electrical switch contact and thereby switched between different, stored in the behind-the-ear part programs.

This has the advantage that can be switched with the socket cover without an additional button between stored listening programs.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following explanations of an embodiment with reference to schematic drawings.

Fig. 1:

ein Hinter-dem-Ohr-Teil eines Hörgeräts,

Fig. 2:

einen Schnitt durch ein Hinter-dem-Ohr-Teil,

Fig. 3:

einen weiteren Schnitt durch ein Hinter-dem-Ohr-Teil,

Fig. 4:

eine Draufsicht auf eine Steckerbuchse,

Fig. 5:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Steckerbuchse und

Fig. 6:

ein Ablaufdiagramm.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a behind-the-ear part of a hearing aid,

Fig. 2:

a section through a behind-the-ear part,

3:

another section through a behind-the-ear part,

4:

a top view of a socket,

Fig. 5:

a perspective view of a socket and

Fig. 6:

a flowchart.

Fig. 1 shows a behind-the-ear part with a hearing aid shell 1, which has a female cover 2. The female cover 2 also serves as an operating element for a female connector 2 and an underneath female connector (in Fig. 1 not shown) formed switch. By pressure on the female cover 2, a switching contact is triggered according to the invention, which allows, for example, switching between different hearing programs.

In Fig. 2 the closed socket cover 2 is enlarged and the hearing aid shell 1 shown cut open. The socket cover 2 is pivotally mounted on a pivot bearing 3.

Below the socket cover 2 is a socket 4 can be seen, which serves as a programming socket and a program switch. The socket 4 is connected via cables, not shown, with a signal processing, not shown, of the hearing aid. By means of the socket 4, for example Designed according to the CS44 standard, the hearing aid can be individually programmed by connecting to a programming device, not shown.

The socket cover 2 is integrally formed, for example as an injection molded part. It has the pivot bearing 3 and at its free end a raised operating section 5 with grooves 6 to increase the grip. Under the raised operating section 5, which is bell-shaped, the socket 4 is in the in Fig. 2 illustrated covering state of the socket cover 2 place.

At the outer free end of the female cover 2, that is at the tip of the operating section 5, there is a molded hook 7 as a locking element. This hook 7 engages in the closed state under a shoulder 8 of the hearing aid shell 1. The hook 7 is formed as a snap element and locks the female cover 2 in the Abdeckzustand. To open, for example, the hook 7 can be pushed back by a small screwdriver, so that the socket cover 2 as in Fig. 3 shown swing open. The socket cover 2 can be pivoted about the pivot bearing 3 by at least 90 degrees.

Fig. 3 shows the female cover 2 after Fig. 2 in the swung-open position. It is in Fig. 3 to recognize that the operating section 5 is hollow. In this hollow portion 11 of the female cover 2 is an unillustrated contact element, for example in the form of a copper strip. The contact element is connected to the signal processing, not shown, and serves to connect to one of the contact pins 9, 10 of the female connector 4. For this purpose, a contact pin 10 is slightly longer than the other 9, in the covering state of the female cover 2 when pressure on the operating section 5 of Socket cover 2 exclusively to make contact between the contact element of the female cover 2 and the longer contact pin 10. By production This contact is switched by means of signal processing between different hearing programs.

To actuate the switch assembly, the female cover 2 in the covering state of the female cover 2 of Fig. 2 move it slightly towards connector 4. In this case, the contact element of the female cover 2 comes into contact with the longer contact pin 10 and closes a circuit, which is detected by the signal processing.

In order to ensure a safe operation of the switch assembly and to prevent unintentional actuation, a non-illustrated spring element is integrated in the pivot bearing 3, which in the covering state of the female cover 2 in Fig. 2 the female cover 2 keeps a few tenths of a millimeter away from the female connector 4 and thus ensures a defined distance between the contact element of the female cover 2 and the contact pins 9, 10. Alternatively, for example, the edge of the socket with an elastically deformable rubber ring be provided which ensures a defined distance between the contact element of the female cover 2 and the contact pins 9, 10 of the female connector 4. To actuate the switch assembly, the rubber ring can be simply depress.

4 and 5 show an SMD female connector 4 of another embodiment of the invention with four pins 9, 10, of which two pins 10 are longer than the other two 9.

The socket 4 has a cylindrical plastic sheath 12, on which a collar 13 is sprayed. Inside the socket 4 four pins 9, 10 are injected in the form of metal pins after the insert molding process. At the injected end, each contact pin 9, 10 on a Lötanschlussabschnitt 14, with which it is integrally connected. The Lötanschlussabschnitte 14 have star-shaped outward. In another embodiment the Lötanschlussabschnitte 14 also be completely formed under the jacket 12.

Of the four illustrated pins 9, 10 is one for the power supply and the rest for signal lines. Two pins 10, for example, connected to ground, but not at the same time for the power supply are formed longer than the other two 9. Thus, the contact pins 10 can be short-circuited by a not shown in the jack cover 2 uncontacted contact element and the signal lines and a signal processing cause a switching contact.

On the inner surface of the shell 12 extends parallel to the contact pins 9, 10 a nose 15. Using the nose 15, a polarity reversal of a programming connector with the socket 4 is avoided.

Furthermore, located on the surface of the collar 13 is a banana-shaped curved optical marking 16, which may also be designed as a simple point. The marking 16 for automatic detection by an optical recognition system, so that the socket 4 can be automatically correctly oriented and placed in a placement machine.

The socket after 4 and 5 can easily after in a hearing aid Fig. 1 to 3 to get integrated.

Fig. 6 shows the essential method steps when switching a hearing aid by means of a switch arrangement according to the invention. In step 100, a hearing aid is provided. In step 101, it is checked whether the female cover 2 of the hearing aid is in the covering state, that is, is closed. If not, in step 102, the female cover 2 is closed. In the following step 103, a pressure is applied to the operating section 5 of the socket cover 2. In step 104, a switching contact is made, in the final step 105 causes a switch between, for example, different hearing programs in the hearing aid.

Claims (9)

Switch assembly for hearing aids, comprising a plug socket (4) which can be covered by a socket cover (2),
characterized,
that the socket (4) and the socket cover (2) are arranged and configured such that an electrical switching contact can be produced by pressure on the socket (4) covering the socket cover (2). Switch arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the plug socket (4) comprises at least one end connected to an electrical circuit electrically conductive contact element at least one contact pin (9, 10) and the connector cover (2),
and the electrical switching contact between the at least one contact pin (9, 10) and the at least one contact element can be produced. Switch arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the socket (4) comprises at least two contact pins (9, 10) and the socket cover (2) comprises at least one uncontacted electrically conductive contact element,
and the electrical switching contact by connection of the two contact pins (9, 10) can be produced by means of the contact element. Switch arrangement according to one of claims 2 or 3,
characterized,
in that the contact pins (10) provided for a pressure contact are longer than the remaining contact pins (9). Switch arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the plug socket (4) is designed according to industry standard CS44. Hearing aid with a behind-the-ear part,
characterized,
in that the behind-the-ear part comprises a switch arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5. Hearing aid according to claim 6,
characterized,
in that the socket cover (2) has a locking element (7) with which it can be detachably retained in the covering position on the socket (4). Hearing aid according to one of claims 6 or 7,
characterized,
in that the socket cover (2) comprises a pivot bearing (3) which is connected to the behind-the-ear part in such a way that
that the socket cover (2) is pivotable about the pivot bearing (3). Method for switching hearing aids with a behind-the-ear part,
characterized,
that a female connector of the behind-the-ear part and its female cover are brought into operative connection with each other such that after pressure (103) on the female connector cover covering an electrical switching contact is made (104) and thereby between different, in the behind the -On part of stored programs is switched (105).

Images