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EP4340393A1 - Dispositif auditif - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP4340393A1
EP4340393A1 EP22195602.2A EP22195602A EP4340393A1 EP 4340393 A1 EP4340393 A1 EP 4340393A1 EP 22195602 A EP22195602 A EP 22195602A EP 4340393 A1 EP4340393 A1 EP 4340393A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
assembly
ric
hearing device
anc module
anc
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22195602.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Simon Köhler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Sonova AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sonova AG filed Critical Sonova AG
Priority to EP22195602.2A priority Critical patent/EP4340393A1/fr
Publication of EP4340393A1 publication Critical patent/EP4340393A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1083—Reduction of ambient noise
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/021—Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/021—Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
    • H04R2225/0216—BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/57—Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/01—Hearing devices using active noise cancellation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a hearing device.
  • ANC Active noise cancelling technology
  • ANC typically requires a larger speaker and/or earpiece size compared to traditional hearing aids.
  • Bulky earpieces are typically less in demand, especially if the device is intended to be worn the full day.
  • the object is achieved by a hearing device according to claim 1.
  • a hearing device comprises a an RIC assembly, also referred to as a receiver-in-the-canal assembly or earpiece part, configured to be worn in an ear canal, the RIC assembly having a shell containing a receiver, wherein the RIC assembly comprises multiple electrical connection pads, the hearing device further comprising an ANC module, also referred to as an active noise cancelling module, configured to be releasably coupled to the RIC assembly and to perform active noise cancelling, the ANC module having electrical connectors configured for electrically contacting the electrical connection pads.
  • an ANC module also referred to as an active noise cancelling module
  • the RIC assembly comprises one or more acoustic ANC canals configured to lead sound from the ANC module into the ear canal bypassing the receiver when the RIC assembly is worn in the ear canal and when the ANC module is coupled to the RIC assembly.
  • the RIC assembly further comprises a cup-shaped receptacle at a lateral end of the shell, the receptacle configured to receive the ANC module or a portion thereof.
  • the ANC module is configured to be retained on the RIC assembly by magnetic force.
  • the magnetic force is provided by one or more magnets arranged on the RIC assembly and/or on the ANC module.
  • the other one of the RIC assembly and the ANC module may also have one or magnets or one or more elements made of a magnetisable material.
  • the one or more magnets are arranged in or on the receptacle.
  • the ANC module is shaped to fit to the lateral end of the RIC assembly.
  • the ANC module is shaped to match the receptacle.
  • the receptacle has a recess and the ANC module has a locator rib matching the recess or vice versa, so that the ANC module couples to the RIC assembly in a defined position such that the electrical connectors of the ANC module connect to the electrical connection pads of the RIC assembly.
  • the hearing device further comprises a BTE assembly, also referred to as a behind the ear assembly, coupled or configured to be coupled to the RIC assembly by a cable.
  • a BTE assembly also referred to as a behind the ear assembly
  • the RIC assembly and/or the BTE assembly are/is configured to automatically detect and activate the ANC module once the electrical connectors contact the electrical connection pads.
  • the ANC module further includes a speaker and two microphones, one of the microphones facing toward the RIC assembly and another one of the microphones facing away from the RIC assembly when the ANC module is coupled to the RIC assembly.
  • the inwards facing microphone could be arranged in the RIC assembly. This would be beneficial from an acoustic point of view; however, more electrical connection pads and electrical connectors may be required.
  • circuitry configured to perform the active noise cancelling is arranged in one of the ANC module, the RIC assembly and the BTE assembly or is distributed over at least two of these components.
  • the ANC module is powered through the RIC assembly from a battery located in the RIC assembly or in the BTE assembly.
  • the RIC assembly further comprises a dome at a medial end of the shell, the dome having an open coupling.
  • the solution according to the invention is a hearing aid system, which can be situationally upgraded with active noise cancelling technology, resulting in better hearing performance when needed and only reduces discreteness in these specific situations. For the rest of the day, the hearing aid system may remain discrete and nicely hidden.
  • FIG 1 is a schematic view of a hearing device 1, comprising an RIC assembly 2, also referred to as a receiver-in-the-canal assembly 2 or earpiece part, worn in an ear canal of an ear 3 of a user, and a BTE assembly 4, also referred to as a behind the ear assembly 4, coupled to the RIC assembly 2 by a cable 6.
  • Figures 2 and 3 are schematic views of the RIC assembly 2 which is configured as a small device having a receiver or speaker (not shown) in a shell 7 and a dome 8 at a medial end of the shell 7 with a very open coupling, which means it cannot deliver much performance in challenging situations, but it can sufficiently address a mild to moderate hearing loss in most situations during the day.
  • the RIC assembly 2 comprises multiple electrical connection pads 9 at a lateral end of the shell 7, e.g. in a cup-shaped receptacle 10 which may be arranged at the lateral end.
  • the connection pads 9 may be located on a surface of the shell 7 or receptacle 10 or they may be recessed therein.
  • FIG 4 is a schematic view of the hearing device 1 of figure 1 with an ANC module 11, also referred to as an active noise cancelling module 11, being added to the RIC assembly 2.
  • the ANC module 11 includes a more powerful speaker 20 and two microphones 21.1, 21.2.
  • One of the microphones 21.2 may face inwards, i.e. toward the RIC assembly 2 when the ANC module 11 is coupled to the RIC assembly 2.
  • Another one of the microphones 21.1 may face outwards, i.e. away from the RIC assembly 2 when the ANC module 11 is coupled to the RIC assembly 2.
  • This configuration provides a so-called hybrid ANC (combination of feedback-ANC and feedforward-ANC).
  • the ANC module 11 is powered through the RIC assembly 2 from a battery which may be located in the BTE assembly 4. Therefore, the ANC module 11 does not require a separate battery.
  • the ANC module 11 might include separate circuitry in order to perform the ANC processing.
  • Figure 5 is a schematic view of the hearing device 1 of figure 1 with the ANC module 11 coupled to the RIC assembly 2.
  • the RIC assembly 2 is designed to be acoustically very open, the sound of the ANC module 11 can easily reach the ear canal through the openings of the RIC assembly 2.
  • FIGS 6 , 7 and 8 show different views of the RIC assembly 2 with the dome 8 removed from a sound port 15 of the RIC assembly 2 for clarity.
  • the open coupling of the RIC assembly 2 is achieved by acoustic ANC canals 12 bypassing the receiver 13 and the related one or more acoustic receiver canals 18.
  • Figures 9 and 10 show different views of the RIC assembly 2 with the dome 8 attached to the sound port 15 of the RIC assembly 2.
  • magnetic force may be used to connect the RIC assembly 2 with the ANC module 11.
  • the hearing device 1 may be configured to automatically detect the ANC module 11 and activate the ANC mode, once the ANC module 11 is connected to the RIC assembly 2 and electrical connectors (not shown) of the ANC module 11 connect the electrical connection pads 9 of the RIC assembly 2.
  • the magnetic force may be generated by one or more magnets 14 arranged on the RIC assembly 2 and/or on the ANC module 11.
  • the magnets 14 may be arranged at the lateral end of the RIC assembly 2, e.g. in or on the receptacle 10.
  • Figure 11 is a schematic view of the RIC assembly 2 with the ANC module 11.
  • the ANC module 11 may be shaped to fit to the lateral end of the RIC assembly 2.
  • the ANC module 11 may be shaped to match the receptacle 10.
  • the receptacle 10 may have a recess 16 and the ANC module 11 may have a locator rib 17 matching the recess 16 so that the ANC module 11 couples to the RI device 2 in a defined position to ensure that the electrical connectors of the ANC module 11 connect the electrical connection pads 9 of the RIC assembly 2.
  • Figure 12 is a schematic view of the ANC module 11 with the electrical connectors 19 configured for contacting the electrical connection pads 9. If the electrical connection pads 9 are recessed in the shell 7 or receptacle 10, the electrical connectors 19 may be configured to protrude sufficiently into the respective recesses to contact the electrical connection pads 9.
  • the proposed solution may be experienced by a user similar to putting an earbud/hearable into the ear.
  • the components that need to be handled when removing the hearing aid would only be the RIC assembly 2 and the ANC module 11, which may be nicely handled with two hands.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Soundproofing, Sound Blocking, And Sound Damping (AREA)
EP22195602.2A 2022-09-14 2022-09-14 Dispositif auditif Pending EP4340393A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22195602.2A EP4340393A1 (fr) 2022-09-14 2022-09-14 Dispositif auditif

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22195602.2A EP4340393A1 (fr) 2022-09-14 2022-09-14 Dispositif auditif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4340393A1 true EP4340393A1 (fr) 2024-03-20

Family

ID=83319286

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22195602.2A Pending EP4340393A1 (fr) 2022-09-14 2022-09-14 Dispositif auditif

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4340393A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120014549A1 (en) * 2010-07-14 2012-01-19 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Receiver-in-canal hearing device cable connections
US20150172834A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2015-06-18 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Antenna used in conjunction with the conductors for an audio transducer
US20200213787A1 (en) * 2018-12-31 2020-07-02 Knowles Electronics, Llc Receiver housing with integrated sensors for hearing device
US20210099811A1 (en) * 2019-09-30 2021-04-01 Sonova Ag Hearing Systems and Methods for Operating a Hearing System
WO2022035701A1 (fr) * 2020-08-11 2022-02-17 Bose Corporation Réalisation d'orifices d'oreillette

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150172834A1 (en) * 2008-02-06 2015-06-18 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Antenna used in conjunction with the conductors for an audio transducer
US20120014549A1 (en) * 2010-07-14 2012-01-19 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Receiver-in-canal hearing device cable connections
US20200213787A1 (en) * 2018-12-31 2020-07-02 Knowles Electronics, Llc Receiver housing with integrated sensors for hearing device
US20210099811A1 (en) * 2019-09-30 2021-04-01 Sonova Ag Hearing Systems and Methods for Operating a Hearing System
WO2022035701A1 (fr) * 2020-08-11 2022-02-17 Bose Corporation Réalisation d'orifices d'oreillette

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