CH719466B1 - Behind-the-ear part for one hearing aid and one set of behind-the-ear parts or hearing aids. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a behind-the-ear part (2) for a hearing aid (1), wherein the behind-the-ear part (2) has a connection socket (3) for inserting a plug (7) for connection to an in-the-ear part of a hearing aid (1), wherein the connection socket (3) has two, three or more socket contacts (10) which are arranged in at least one row along or parallel to an imaginary line (L), wherein the behind-the-ear part (2) is designed as an elongated component which has an imaginary longitudinal axis (LA), wherein the imaginary line (L) is rotated counterclockwise in relation to a vertical (S) on the longitudinal axis (LA) in the case of a behind-the-ear part (2) for a left ear and clockwise in the case of a behind-the-ear part (2) for a right ear when the socket contacts (10) are viewed from the front. The invention also relates to a set of behind-the-ear parts or hearing aids.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a behind-the-ear part for a hearing aid.

[0002] In the following, a hearing aid is understood to mean a device for the output of sound and tones, which comprises components that are worn near an ear or directly in an ear of a person. In particular, hearing aids can be hearing aids that are used to provide a hearing-impaired person with processed acoustic ambient signals. The processing typically comprises at least one amplification in order to compensate for and/or treat the person's specific hearing impairment. Such hearing aids generally comprise at least one microphone that has the function of an electroacoustic input transducer, at least one loudspeaker, which is generally referred to as a receiver and has the function of an electroacoustic output transducer, and an electronic signal processing unit that is connected to this microphone and this loudspeaker. The electronic signal processing unit processes electronic input signals of the at least one microphone and provides processed output signals for the receiver. The electronic signal processing unit can contain analog and/or digital signal processing elements. These signal processing elements are generally located in a housing or case of the hearing aid. Their function may include amplification, noise reduction, tone control, sound classification, filtering, etc. The electrical energy necessary for the processing is generally provided by a battery located in the housing of the hearing aid. The electronic components of the hearing aid are usually located on and/or connected to a circuit board.

[0003] Hearing aids can be designed to be worn behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE) or completely in the ear (CIC). Recent developments have even produced devices that are smaller than CIC devices, worn deep in the ear canal and referred to as invisible in canal (IIC) devices. One known class of hearing aids comprises two components, in particular a behind-the-ear part (BTE) comprising a main housing or shell that is worn behind the ear, and an in-the-ear part (ITE) comprising an earpiece that is placed in the user's ear canal. The two parts can be connected, for example, to a flexible sound conduction tube for transmitting acoustic output signals from a receiver placed in the behind-the-ear part to the earpiece in the ear canal. In other embodiments, the receiver is placed in an earpiece of the in-the-ear part. In this case, the behind-the-ear part is connected to the in-the-ear part by a cable that has electrical conductors for conducting electrical signals from the behind-the-ear part to the receiver in the earpiece. Such hearing aids are generally referred to as receiver-in-the-canal behind-the-ear devices (RIC BTE) or sometimes as RIC devices. The tube or cable of the in-the-ear part and the behind-the-ear part of the hearing aid are generally connected by means of a connector, which functions to provide electrical and/or other connections and also mechanical support between the behind-the-ear part and the cable. Since the connector is typically exposed to environmental influences and is susceptible to ingress of sweat or ear wax, the connector is preferably protected against contamination by means of a seal.

[0004] DE 10 2020 205 439 A1 describes a hearing device with a housing that is stretched along a longitudinal axis, oval in cross-section and designed to house electrical components of the hearing device, a loudspeaker that is arranged outside the housing when the hearing device is worn as intended and is connected to at least some of the electrical components, and a connector connected to the loudspeaker that carries at least six contact elements for connecting the loudspeaker to the corresponding electrical components. Furthermore, the hearing device has a connector receptacle for receiving the connector and connecting the respective contact elements, wherein the connector receptacle is arranged in a surface of the housing that faces the underside when the device is worn as intended. In addition, the connector and the connector receptacle are designed such that an insertion direction in the intended wearing state runs from a front side to a rear side.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved behind-the-ear part for a hearing aid.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a behind-the-ear part for a hearing aid according to claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0008] According to the invention, a behind-the-ear part for a hearing aid is proposed, wherein the behind-the-ear part has a connection socket for inserting a plug for connection to an in-the-ear part of a hearing aid, wherein the connection socket has two, three or more socket contacts which are arranged in at least one row along or parallel to an imaginary line, wherein the behind-the-ear part is generally designed as an elongated component which has an imaginary longitudinal axis, wherein the imaginary line, when viewing the socket contacts from the front, is rotated counterclockwise relative to a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the case of a behind-the-ear part for a left ear and clockwise in the case of a behind-the-ear part for a right ear.

[0009] In one embodiment, the imaginary line is rotated by 7° in the respective direction relative to the vertical.

[0010] In one embodiment, the socket contacts are arranged in a frame of the behind-the-ear part and are electrically and/or mechanically connected to a circuit board, for example a flexible circuit board.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connection socket is arranged on a flexible circuit board which is rotatably held in a frame of the behind-the-ear part for aligning the socket contacts along or parallel to the line.

[0012] In one embodiment, the behind-the-ear part further comprises a sealing element which frames the socket contacts or the connection socket with an opening and is configured to seal against the plug, wherein the opening of the connection socket is also rotated parallel to the line.

[0013] In one embodiment, the opening is designed as an elongated hole.

[0014] In one embodiment, the sealing element is formed from a flexible material, for example silicone.

[0015] In one embodiment, the sealing element is formed from a colored material, wherein the material has a different color, for example blue, in a behind-the-ear part for a left ear than in a behind-the-ear part for a right ear, for example red.

[0016] In one embodiment, the sealing element frames the connection socket with the opening in a form-fitting manner and is held by the frame and/or by a housing of the behind-the-ear part in such a position that the connection socket is held in its position rotated relative to the line.

[0017] In one embodiment, the frame has a guide for the circuit board.

[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of behind-the-ear parts comprising a behind-the-ear part for a left ear and a behind-the-ear part for a right ear as described above.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of hearing aids comprising the set of behind-the-ear parts, an in-ear part for the left ear with a cable and a plug for connecting to the connection socket of the behind-the-ear part for the left ear, and an in-ear part for the right ear with a cable and a plug for connecting to the connection socket of the behind-the-ear part for the right ear.

[0020] The present invention describes one or more hearing aids, for example receiver-in-channel devices, with a left in-ear part and a right in-ear part and respective behind-the-ear parts, wherein the in-ear parts can have a shape adjustment for the left and right ear of a user in order to increase user satisfaction. For this purpose, the connection socket in the behind-the-ear device for a plug of a cable connected to the in-ear part is shaped asymmetrically and/or individually for the left and right side. The connection socket can be designed as a socket for plugs with three contacts. In one embodiment, the connection socket for the left in-ear part can be designed to be visually distinguishable from the connection socket for the right in-ear part. The aim can be to have as many identical parts as possible for the left and right hearing aids.

[0021] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0022] Therein show: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a behind-the-ear part of a hearing aid, Figure 2 is a schematic view of a left behind-the-ear part with a view from the front onto a connection socket, Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the left behind-the-ear part with a view of a rear side of socket contacts of the connection socket, Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the left behind-the-ear part with a view of the rear side of the socket contacts which are attached to a circuit board, Figure 5 is a schematic view of the left behind-the-ear part with a flexible plug receptacle with a view onto the connection socket, Figure 6 is a schematic view of the right behind-the-ear part with a flexible sealing element with a view onto the connection socket, Figure 7 is a schematic view of a right hearing aid with the right behind-the-ear part and an in-the-ear part, Figure 8 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of a left Behind-the-ear part with a flexible sealing element looking towards the connection socket, Figure 9 is another schematic view of the behind-the-ear part from Figure 8, and Figure 10 is another schematic view of the behind-the-ear part from Figure 8.

[0023] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a left behind-the-ear part 2 of a hearing aid 1, which has a connection socket 3 into which a plug 7 is inserted, which is arranged at one end of a cable 8 that is connected to an in-ear part (not shown). Figure 2 is a schematic view of the left behind-the-ear part 2 looking from the front at the connection socket 3. Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the left behind-the-ear part 2 looking at a rear side of socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3. Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the left behind-the-ear part 2 looking at the rear side of the socket contacts 10 that are attached to a circuit board 5. Figure 5 is a schematic view of the left behind-the-ear part 2 with a flexible sealing element 16 looking at the connection socket 3.

[0025] The behind-the-ear part 2 has a frame 9 in which two, three or more socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3 are arranged, for example linearly next to one another, in order to accommodate a corresponding number of plug contacts 11 of the plug 7.

[0026] The plug 7 inserted into the connection socket 3 can be secured by means of a slider 12 which can be inserted into a slot in the frame 9. The slider 12 can have a projection 13 which can engage in a recess in the plug 7 in order to secure it in the connection socket 3.

[0027] The behind-the-ear part 2 is generally designed as an elongated component for which a longitudinal axis LA can be defined. The left behind-the-ear part 2 is intended and configured to be worn behind a user's left ear. In the left behind-the-ear part 2, the socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3 are arranged next to one another in an imaginary line L, which is rotated to the left or counterclockwise, for example by 7°, relative to a vertical S on the longitudinal axis LA when the socket contacts 10 are viewed from the front or from the outside.

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a right behind-the-ear part 2 with a flexible sealing element 16 looking towards the connection socket 3.

[0029] In the right behind-the-ear part 2, the socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3 are arranged next to one another in a line L which, when the socket contacts 10 are viewed from the front or from the outside, is rotated to the right or clockwise relative to the vertical S on the longitudinal axis LA, for example by 7°.

[0030] In this way, the cable guidance on the user's head is improved.

[0031] The socket contacts 10 are each electrically connected, for example soldered, to a contact surface 14 of the circuit board 5 on their rear side. During soldering, the circuit board 5, which is designed as a flexible circuit board, for example, is bent so that it is parallel to the line L of the respective behind-the-ear part 2, along which the socket contacts 10 are arranged. The frame 9 can have a guide 15 by means of which the circuit board 5 can be brought into this position and held there. Accordingly, the frame 9 for the left behind-the-ear part 2 is designed differently than the frame for the right behind-the-ear part 2 with regard to the arrangement and accommodation of the socket contacts 10 and the guide 15.

[0032] Each of the connection sockets 3 further comprises a sealing element 16 which frames the socket contacts 10 with an opening 18 in the form of a slot and is configured to seal against the plug 7 in order to make it more difficult for dirt, for example cerumen, to penetrate. The sealing element 16 can be held in its position relative to the socket contacts 10 by the frame 9 and by a housing 17 of the behind-the-ear device 2. The opening 18 of the connection socket 3 is adapted to the left or right behind-the-ear device 2 according to the orientation of the socket contacts 10 along the line L tilted to the left or right. For example, the slot-shaped opening 18 of the connection socket 3 of the left behind-the-ear device 2 is also tilted to the left parallel to the line L. The elongated hole-shaped opening 18 of the connection socket 3 of the right behind-the-ear device 2 is accordingly tilted to the right parallel to the line L.

[0033] The sealing element 16 can be made of a colored material, for example silicone. The sealing element 16 for the left behind-the-ear device 2 can have a different color than the sealing element 16 for the right behind-the-ear device 2. For example, the sealing element 16 for the left behind-the-ear device 2 can be made of a blue material and the sealing element 16 for the right behind-the-ear device 2 can be made of a red material.

[0034] Figure 7 is a schematic view of a right hearing aid 1 with the right behind-the-ear part 2 and an in-the-ear part 19.

[0035] Figure 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a left behind-the-ear part 2 with a flexible plug receptacle with a view of the connection socket 3. Figures 9 and 10 are further schematic views of the behind-the-ear part 2 from Figure 7.

[0036] The behind-the-ear part 2 has a frame 9 in which a flexible circuit board 5 is held, to which the connection socket 3 is electrically contacted and mechanically fastened, for example by soldering. The flexible circuit board 5 is held on the frame 9 in such a way that it can be rotated relative to the frame. Two, three or more socket contacts 10 are arranged in the connection socket 3, for example in one or more rows linearly next to one another, in order to contact a corresponding number of plug contacts 11 of the plug 7.

[0037] Similar to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, the behind-the-ear part 2 can generally be designed as an elongated component for which a longitudinal axis LA can be defined. The left behind-the-ear part 2 is intended and configured to be worn behind a user's left ear. In the left behind-the-ear part 2, the circuit board 5 is rotated relative to the frame 9 such that the socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3 are arranged next to one another in or parallel to a line L which, when the socket contacts 10 are viewed from the front or from the outside, is rotated to the left or counterclockwise relative to a vertical S on the longitudinal axis LA, for example by 7°.

[0038] In the right behind-the-ear part 2, the circuit board 5 is rotated relative to the frame 9 such that the socket contacts 10 of the connection socket 3 are arranged next to one another in or parallel to a line L which, when the socket contacts 10 are viewed from the front or from the outside, is rotated to the right or clockwise relative to a vertical S on the longitudinal axis LA, for example by 7°.

[0039] In this way, the cable guidance on the user's head is improved.

[0040] The frames 9 for the left behind-the-ear part 2 and for the right behind-the-ear part 2 can be of the same design.

[0041] Each of the connection sockets 3 further comprises a sealing element 16 which frames the connection socket 3 with an opening 18 and is configured to seal against the plug 7 in order to make it difficult for dirt, for example cerumen, to penetrate. The sealing element 16 can be arranged on the connection socket 3 and held in position by a housing 17 of the behind-the-ear device 2, so that the connection socket 3 is held in its respective position rotated relative to the line L. The opening 18 of the connection socket 3 is adapted to the left or right behind-the-ear device 2 according to the orientation of the socket contacts 10 along or parallel to the line L tilted to the left or to the right. For example, the opening 18 of the connection socket 3 of the left behind-the-ear device 2 is also tilted to the left parallel to the line L. The opening 18 of the connection socket 3 of the right behind-the-ear device 2 is accordingly tilted to the right parallel to the line L.

[0042] The sealing element 16 can be made of a colored material, for example silicone. The sealing element 16 for the left behind-the-ear device 2 can have a different color than the sealing element 16 for the right behind-the-ear device 2. For example, the sealing element 16 for the left behind-the-ear device 2 can be made of a blue material and the sealing element 16 for the right behind-the-ear device 2 can be made of a red material.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0043] 1 Hearing aid 2 Behind-the-ear part 3 Connection socket 5 Circuit board 7 Plug 8 Cable 9 Frame 10 Socket contact 11 Plug contact 12 Slider 13 Projection 14 Contact surface 15 Guide 16 Sealing element 17 Housing 18 Opening 19 In-ear part L Line LA Longitudinal axis S Vertical

Claims (10)

1. Behind-the-ear part (2) for a hearing aid (1), wherein the behind-the-ear part (2) has a connection socket (3) for inserting a plug (7) for connection to an in-the-ear part of a hearing aid (1), wherein the connection socket (3) has two, three or more socket contacts (10) which are arranged in at least one row along or parallel to an imaginary line (L), wherein the behind-the-ear part (2) is designed as an elongated component which has an imaginary longitudinal axis (LA), wherein the imaginary line (L) is rotated counterclockwise in relation to a vertical (S) on the longitudinal axis (LA) in the case of a behind-the-ear part (2) for a left ear and clockwise in the case of a behind-the-ear part (2) for a right ear when the socket contacts (10) are viewed from the front. 2. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to claim 1, wherein the imaginary line (L) is rotated by 7° in the respective direction with respect to the vertical (S). 3. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to claim 1, wherein the socket contacts (10) are arranged in a frame (9) of the behind-the-ear part (2). 4. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to claim 1, wherein the connection socket (3) is arranged on a flexible circuit board (5) which is rotatably held in a frame (9) of the behind-the-ear part (2) for aligning the socket contacts (10) along or parallel to the line (L). 5. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sealing element (16) which frames the socket contacts (10) or the connection socket (3) with an opening (18) and is configured to seal against the plug (7), wherein the opening (18) of the connection socket (3) is also rotated parallel to the line L. 6. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to claim 5, wherein the opening (18) is formed like an elongated hole. 7. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the sealing element (16) is formed from a flexible material. 8. Behind-the-ear part (2) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the sealing element (16) is formed from a colored material, wherein the material has a different color in a behind-the-ear part (2) for a left ear than in a behind-the-ear part (2) for a right ear. 9. A set of behind-the-ear parts (2) comprising a behind-the-ear part (2) for a left ear and a behind-the-ear part (2) for a right ear according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. Set of hearing aids (1), comprising a set of behind-the-ear parts (2) according to claim 9, an in-ear part for the left ear with a cable (7) and a plug (7) for connecting to the connection socket (3) of the behind-the-ear part (2) for the left ear, and an in-ear part for the right ear with a cable (7) and a plug (7) for connecting to the connection socket (3) of the behind-the-ear part (2) for the right ear.