Microphone device for a behind the ear hearing aid

0001The invention relates to a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a hearing aid housing and in the hearing aid housing arranged microphone with a microphone housing.

0002In the development of hearing aids will pay attention placed on the miniaturization. In particular, play in modern Hearing the microphones a crucial role, as in directional microphone arrays often several individual microphones in the hearing aid must be integrated. Moreover, the position the microphones frequently prescribed for acoustic reasons, so quickly through the arrangement of the microphones, the limits the miniaturization is achieved and the design of the Hearing aid is given.

0003Known microphones provide a microphone body which with is connected to a nozzle-like microphone inlet. This Sound inlet nozzle is in a corresponding receptacle in the Hearing aid housing inserted, the sound inlet nozzle from acoustic and mechanical reasons usually immediately through the housing surface to sound port in Hearing aid housing leads.

0004DE 296 21 611 U1 is a microphone for an electrical Hearing aid provided with a sound inlet nozzle is provided.

0005From DE 689 14 083 T2 discloses a hearing aid with Pfeifunterdrückung known. To this end, the hearing aid in addition to a first Microphone another microphone on, the only near-sonic coupled sensitive and with a second input of the amplifier is, both microphones in such a manner associated with the are coupled to inputs of the amplifier, that adding the output signals of the two microphones to the respective Inputs of the amplifier, the amplifier virtually no output provides, as the output signals of the two Microphones are caused by near-sonic.

0006From DE 198 52 758 C2 is a behind-the-ear Hearing aid with an input connected to an amplifier circuit known microphone system. By the vertical pivotable and / or rotatable in the horizontal or in the arranged on the hearing aid wearer for the microphone system, the at least one microphone and two sound entry openings includes, the recording characteristic of the microphone system changeable.

0007Furthermore, from the WO 00/49836 a microphone to be placed in a hearing aid, the microphone three sound entry openings includes, all in a common plane are arranged.

0008Object of the present invention is the provision of a Microphone with a microphone housing in a behind the improve ear portable hearing aid.

0009This object is in a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a hearing aid housing and in the hearing aid housing arranged microphone with a microphone housing by achieved in that the hearing device housing in opposite sides per one sound inlet opening and at two opposite Sides of the microphone housing each a sound inlet nozzle arranged with a sound inlet opening is, wherein the sound inlet nozzle in the sound entry openings the hearing aid housing protrude and wherein at worn Hearing aid at least approximate the sound inlet opening of a sound inlet nozzle distal and the sound port of the other sound inlet nozzle located proximal to the head of a hearing aid.

0010The trained according to the invention allows the hearing aid to easily the arrangement of lateral sound entry openings the hearing aid housing. The small form of the microphone and the elimination of additional sound conduction channels between the microphone and the sound entry opening in the hearing aid housing is the placement of the microphone in both the center and at one end within the hearing aid housing possible. In contrast to the microphones used previously, the unilateral way of an inlet of the acoustic Signals in the lying directly on microphone diaphragm front microphone volume feature, has proposed Arrangement a microphone with two sound inlet nozzle. These are arranged on two opposite sides and microphone give as the incident sound signals access to the front microphone volume.

0011Microphones with opposing supersonic inlet connection can be integrated in a simple manner in the hearing aid housing and allow a minimized space requirements a two-sided Sound entry. The required physical reasons Cross-section of the sound entry surface is thus at the two Sound entry nozzles distributed, making them relatively can be made small. The sound channels between the lateral sound entry openings in the hearing device housing and the microphone diaphragm in accordance with the microphone carried out the invention is very short and simple, which is advantageous affects the acoustic properties. furthermore can the sound inlet nozzle with a microphone in accordance the invention simultaneously in an advantageous manner as Means for attaching the microphone in the hearing aid used. More Fasteners are no longer characterized. So will by the microphone according to the invention both acoustically also taken into account the design specifications.

0012In a preferred embodiment of the invention are the Sound inlet connection of the microphone and the sound entry openings in opposite sides of the hearing aid housing arranged on a common axis of symmetry. By the thus achieved symmetrical structure of the microphone housing simplifies the installation and alignment of the hearing aid housing. Further, by a sound inlet opening entering moisture or contamination by the exit opposite sound port again or are optionally blown.

0013By arranging multiple microphones in the hearing aid and a appropriate electrical interconnection, a directional microphone system will be realized. Preference is given to all microphones configured in accordance with the invention. The simple space-saving Lodging a microphone according to the invention in the housing the hearing aid facilitates the placement of several such Microphones inside a hearing aid housing.

0014Another possibility for the realization of a directional microphone is a single microphone according to the invention as further develop that this has a directivity. hie r eason the microphone comprises a plurality of pairs of sound inlet nozzle, in each case the sound inlet nozzle of a Pair on two opposite sides of the microphone housing are arranged and in a chamber on one side of a microphone diaphragm open. Here, the sound inlet nozzle a pair in each one sound inlet opening in opposite Sides of the hearing aid housing inserted, at worn hearing aid at least approximate the sound inlet opening of a sound inlet nozzle distal and the sound port of the other sound inlet nozzle a pair located proximal to the head. To this Way can be using a microphone according to the invention with at least two pairs of sound inlet connecting stub a differential microphone form having a directivity.

0015Further details of the invention are described below with reference to explained embodiments. They show the Figures 1 to 3 show a microphone in three side views.

0016Figures 4 and 5 show side views of a behind the Ear portable hearing aid for arrangement of a microphone according the invention.

0017Figure 6 shows a behind-the-ear hearing aid in Section with a microphone arranged according to the invention.

0018Figure 7 shows a microphone in cross section.

0019Figure 1 shows a microphone 1 in plan view. The microphone 1 has a microphone housing 2, opposite to the two Pages arranged per a sound inlet nozzle 3 or 4 is. The sound inlet nozzle 3 and 4 form at its free end each have a sound port 3A or 4A and lead on the other end to a microphone chamber inside the microphone 1. For electrical connection of the microphone 1 to a hearing aid amplifier includes the microphone 1 three Connecting contacts 5, 6 and 7. FIG.

0020Figure 2 shows the microphone 1 in a side view. To the Housing 2 is out looking out of the plane Sound inlet nozzle 3 with the sound port 3A arranged. Furthermore, the drawing of the electrical connection contact 5 removed.

00213 shows a front side of the microphone 1 is illustrated. Also, it is the housing 2 with the two, at opposite Pages arranged sound inlet nozzle 3 and 4 visible.

0022In Figures 4 and 5 each a side view of a rear ear portable hearing device 8 shown. The hearing aid 8 comprises a hearing aid housing 9, at its upper end a Carrying hook 10 is formed. On two opposite sides of the housing , the hearing device housing 9 per one sound inlet opening 11 and 12, respectively, into which the sound inlet nozzle introduced to accommodate the microphone according to the invention are. Through space-saving arrangement of the microphone in accordance with the invention in the hearing aid housing 9, the sound entry openings 11 and 12 almost arbitrarily at two opposite Sides of the hearing aid housing 9 are positioned. Preferably, the sound entry openings 11 and 12 are and thus the sound inlet nozzle of the respective microphone on a common axis.

0023Figure 6 shows a simplified view of a section by the hearing aid housing 9. Two opposing housing shells 9A and 9B each have a sound inlet opening 11 and 12, respectively, of the two housing openings 11A and 12A are formed. In the sound entry openings 11 and 12 project the sound inlet nozzle 3 or 4 of the microphone 1. Thus, the microphone 1 on both sides of the sound inlet nozzle worn 3 and 4, the form-fitting manner in the two Enclosure openings 11A and 12A used. By this arrangement is the microphone 1 pivoted in the hearing aid housing 9 stored. The microphone 1 further includes the electrical Connecting contacts 5, 6 and 7 on. From Figure 6, the very space-saving accommodation of the microphone 1 within the hearing aid housing visible. The mounting of the microphone by means of two sound inlet nozzle 3 and 4. This allows a fast and easy assembly. furthermore are the figure 6 the very short sound transmission routes of the sound entry openings 11 and 12 into the interior the microphone 1 can be removed. This is beneficial to the acoustic properties of the hearing aid microphone unit out.

0024Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a microphone 13 in Cross-section. On two opposite sides of the microphone housing 14, the sound inlet nozzle pair 15 and 16 and the sound inlet nozzle pair 17 and 18 attached. The Sound inlet nozzle 15 to 18 form sound entry openings 19 to 22. Here, the sound inlet nozzle 15 open and 16 on one side of a microphone diaphragm 23, and the Sound inlet nozzle 17 and 18 on the opposite Side of the microphone diaphragm 23. As a result, the microphone 13 as Differential microphone configured. As shown in the drawing further be seen, the sound inlet nozzle 15 and 16 or 17 and 18 depending on a sound inlet nozzle pair along a common line of symmetry 24A and 24B. Thus, it is possible that might be affected by a sound inlet opening 19, 20, 21, 22 entering moisture or emerging contaminants on the other side or can be blown.

0025In summary, when a microphone with a microphone housing for placement in a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a hearing aid housing on two opposite Sides of the microphone housing each a sound inlet nozzle with a sound inlet opening is arranged. The sound inlet nozzle open into a chamber on one side of the microphone diaphragm, wherein the sound inlet nozzle into a respective receptacle inserted into opposite sides of the hearing aid housing and wherein when worn hearing aid at least approximately the sound inlet opening of a sound inlet nozzle distally, and the sound entry opening of the other Sound inlet nozzle is disposed proximal to the head. The thus formed microphone is compact and simple in the hearing aid to arrange.