Hearing aid

0001The invention relates to a hearing device, in particular to a hearing aid device.

0002A hearing aid, in particular a hearing aid device, usually serves a person with limited hearing ability to compensate at least a portion of their hearing impairment. For this purpose, the hearing aid usually comprises at least one microphone, by means of which sounds (acoustic sound signals) are detected from the surroundings of the hearing aid (and thus also from the surroundings of the hearing aid wearer) and converted into an electrical signal. In a signal processing unit of the hearing aid, this electrical signal is conventionally amplified - possibly after filtering interference signals - and output to the ear of the hearing aid wearer via a loudspeaker (also often referred to as a "listener"). Alternatively, the signals can also be transmitted to the hearing center of the hearing aid wearer via a cochlear implant, a bone line implant or the like.

0003The hearing aid is usually worn on the body, in particular in or on the ear, the hearing capacity of which is restricted. On the body, in particular on the head of the hearing aid wearer, however, the hearing aid is often subjected to the action of dirt (for example dust) and / or of liquids (body sweat, rainwater or even earwax). Depending on the degree of impairment of the hearing ability and / or the wishes of the respective hearing aid wearer, it can also occur that the hearing aid comes into direct contact with water, eg under the shower or in the swimming pool.

0004However, the microphone of the hearing aid and its signal processing unit are electronic components which can be impaired or even destroyed by direct contact with moisture. For the gross protection of these electronic components, the hearing aid regularly comprises a housing which surrounds these electronic components. However, in order to be able to record the acoustic sound signals from the surroundings as precisely as possible, this housing regularly has a microphone opening assigned to the microphone of the hearing aid, through which the acoustic sound signals (sound waves) can strike the microphone as unimpeded as possible. In order to be able to protect the microphone against penetration of moisture or other contaminants, the microphone opening is frequently closed by means of a barrier which is as permeable as possible. This barrier is usually so thin that the incident sound waves are attenuated as little as possible. The thickness of such barriers is approximately up to 50 μm.

0005A soiling of the barrier, for example, by means of earwax, leads, as is known, to a reduced sound transmission, so that the barrier must be replaced-possibly also due to damage to the barrier. Therefore, such a barrier is intermittently inserted into the housing. However, the barrier must also be sealed against the housing. Alternatively, however, such a barrier is also manufactured integrally with the housing or (non-detachably) adhesively bonded thereto.

0006The object of the invention is to provide an improved protection of a microphone of a hearing aid against contamination.

0007This object is achieved according to the invention by a hearing aid with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims and the following description.

0008The hearing aid according to the invention comprises a first microphone which is used for detecting an acoustic (sound) signal from the surroundings of the hearing aid and preferably for converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal. The hearing aid also comprises a housing in which the first microphone is arranged. The housing has a first microphone opening through which the first microphone for detecting the acoustic signal is in (preferably acoustic) connection with the surroundings of the hearing aid. Furthermore, the hearing device comprises a first damping element by means of which the first microphone is supported (preferably elastically) against the housing. The first damping element serves, in particular, to reduce vibrations of the first microphone and to reduce the coupling of (transmitted through the housing) body sound to the first microphone. In addition, the hearing device comprises a first (preferably watertight) barrier element for the sound-permeable sealing of the first microphone opening. This means that the first barrier element serves to protect the first microphone as well as the interior space of the housing against impurities which can enter through the first microphone opening, in particular against moisture. The first damping element has a pocket in which the first barrier element is accommodated reversibly (ie, interchangeably). Furthermore, the first barrier element (in the intended final mounting state of the hearing aid) is sealed around the first microphone opening against the housing by means of the first damping element. For example, a peripheral edge of the first damping element circumferentially delimiting the pocket of the first damping element is sealingly attached around the first microphone opening.

0009The first damping element thus forms, on the one hand, a vibration damping for the first microphone as well as, advantageously, a support and a seal for the first barrier element opposite the housing. In particular, in that the first barrier element is reversibly accommodated in the pocket of the first damping element, the first barrier element can be exchanged as a single part simply and inexpensively. Furthermore, assembly work for sealing (eg by gluing) the first barrier element can also be saved against the housing. Preferably, the first damping element is likewise arranged interchangeably in the housing, so that in this case the first barrier element can also be replaced in a simple manner in common with the first damping element.

0010Preferably, the housing of the hearing aid is of the shell-type type and is composed of at least two shell parts. This allows simple mounting of the first microphone, the first attenuator and the first barrier element in the housing. In this case, the first microphone opening is preferably formed in the shell part closest to the first microphone.

0011In a preferred embodiment, the first damping element is produced from an elastic material, in particular from an elastic plastic such as, for example, a (preferably thermoplastic) elastomer or a silicone, in particular a liquid silicone rubber (also termed LSR). Preferably, the first damping element is injection-molded from such a plastic. This makes possible a simple manufacture of the damping element while at the same time high design freedom (ie complex structures can be formed in a simple manner).

0012In an expedient embodiment, the first damping element has an opening corresponding to the first microphone opening, through which the acoustic signal can strike the first microphone. The pocket for receiving the first barrier element is preferably designed as an undercut of this breakthrough. By "undercut" is meant here and in the following that the opening (viewed along its longitudinal axis) widens first within the wall thickness of the damping element and subsequently tapers again. In one advantageous embodiment, an edge which is, in particular, annularly closed in comparison with the length of the breakthrough is provided at one of the two (distal) ends of the breakthrough in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the breakthrough. Preferably, a second such edge is also arranged at the opposite end. In this case, the undercut is arranged between these edges and is bounded on both sides thereof. The undercut is in particular shaped in such a way that the first barrier element arranged in the undercut is positively held by the two edges, but at least by an edge. In order to seal the first barrier element against the housing (or against the one shell part of the housing), the first damping element abuts the housing peripherally on the front side of the first damping element, ie, in the direction towards the first microphone opening.

0013Preferably, the breakthrough in the first damping element and the first barrier element are respectively shaped as circular (ie exactly circular or slightly oval). The inner dimensions of the breakthrough and the outer dimensions of the first barrier element are, therefore, generally referred to hereinafter as "inner diameter" or "outer diameter" for the sake of simplification, these designations being in each case for their smallest inner dimension or smallest outer dimension in the case of an oval breakthrough and oval first barrier element .

0014In a further expedient embodiment the breakthrough is increased at one of its distal ends (with respect to the other end). Preferably, the thin-walled edge of the first damping element arranged at this enlarged end does not protrude so far in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the breakthrough as the region of the breakthrough arranged on the other side of the undercut, in particular the "second" thin-walled edge. The enlarged region of the breakthrough, in particular the edge arranged there, is dimensioned in such a way that the first barrier element inserted into the undercut is only slightly covered (compared to the outside diameter of the first barrier element) by this region or edge. This is particularly advantageous for the case in which the first damping element is made of elastic plastic. In this case, the first barrier element can be simply inserted into the pocket or the rear section via this edge of the breakthrough by utilizing its elastic deformation capacity, the edge "snapping" onto the first barrier element.

0015In an alternative embodiment, the undercut is opened in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the breakthrough in such a way that an insertion slot for the first barrier element is formed. This means that the first damping element has a window (the insertion shaft) which is arranged perpendicular to its thickness direction and which is formed from the side of the first damping element into the opening. As a result, the first barrier element can be inserted from the side (ie, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the breakthrough) through the insertion shaft into the rear section - without or under merely negligible deformation of the damping element. The regions of the breakthrough which delimits the undercut, in particular the respective edges, are comparatively stiff and extend further into the breakthrough (with a larger width). That is, they overlap the first barrier element (compared to the embodiment described above) with a larger surface area and thus keep it particularly stable and tight in the undercut.

0016In a further expedient embodiment, the pocket or the rear section of the first damping element is dimensioned in such a way that the first barrier element (inserted into the pocket) is braced against the first damping element. For example, the inner diameter of the undercut is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the barrier element. As a result, the barrier element is held non-positively in the first damping element in addition to the form-fit connection in the manner of an oversize fit. In addition, the sealing effect between the damping element and the barrier element is thereby also increased. Alternatively or additionally, the distance between the two edges limiting the undercut is made smaller than the thickness of the barrier element.

0017In a preferred embodiment, the first barrier element comprises a particularly hydrophobic membrane. This membrane is expediently sound-permeable. In particular, the membrane is formed by a fine-pored (for example, net-like or non-woven) material. This material is preferably per se hydrophobic or at least hydrophobically coated. Optionally, the membrane is additionally or alternatively water-impermeable, for example in the form of a polyetherester film or a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (short: PTFE) film with a material thickness of approximately 5 to 50 μm. Conveniently, this membrane is stretched in a circumferential frame which has a higher stiffness compared to the membrane. This allows a dimensional stability of the membrane and thus a simple handling of the barrier element per se without the risk that the membrane collapses in itself. In particular, the frame is injection-molded onto the membrane.

0018In a further preferred embodiment, the hearing device comprises a second microphone so that a directional effect can be achieved by means of a suitable connection of the two microphones. Furthermore, the hearing device in particular comprises in each case a second attenuator element and second barrier element assigned to the second microphone. The second damping element and the second barrier element are preferably designed in the same way as the first damping element described above and the first barrier element. Expediently, in this embodiment, the first and second damping elements are also integrally connected to each other, for example by way of an integrally (ie, monolithically) connecting web formed with the first and second damping elements. In particular, the first and second damping elements are manufactured together (including the connecting web) in an injection molding process or a vulcanizing process. As a result of the one-piece design, the operability of the first and second damping elements is advantageously increased since only one component, namely the "damping part" comprising the first and the second damping element, is present. It is also possible to replace this damper part together with the two barrier elements, which in turn is advantageous with regard to the operability of the comparatively small barrier elements.

0019In a further expedient embodiment, the hearing device comprises an antenna for electromagnetic (in particular radio-technical) communication with a separate device. Such a separate device is, for example, a control device for presetting hearing aid settings, an external sound signal source (eg a smartphone, a TV set or the like), or a second hearing aid which is used for binaural care of both ears of the hearing aid wearer And is provided. In this case, the antenna is in particular integrated into the first and / or the second damping element, but preferably into the damper part formed from the first and the second damping element. For example, the antenna is injected as a metallic insert into this damper part, in particular into the connecting part of the damper (ie, injection-molded with the plastic of the first and second damper element). This achieves a function integration of several separate components of the hearing aid into a component and thus simplifies the handling of the components during assembly.

0020In a further expedient embodiment, the hearing aid comprises a circuit carrier, which in particular carries a signal processing unit for evaluating and amplifying the detected acoustic signals as well as conductor tracks for electrically contacting the first microphone as well as possibly the second microphone and the antenna with the signal processing unit. In this case, the antenna is preferably connected by means of a soldered connection to a conductor track of the circuit carrier assigned to it. Alternatively, the antenna is contacted by means of a plug-in connection, a clamping connection, a spring contact or the like with the corresponding conductor track.

0021In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in a drawing. Therein:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>FIG</dt><dd>In a schematic representation, a hearing device with a first and a second microphone,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>In an enlarged sectional view of one of the two microphones of the hearing device with a damping element and a barrier element,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>According to the view <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> An alternative exemplary embodiment of the attenuation elements of the two microphones,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>In a perspective detail view, a further exemplary embodiment of the damping elements,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>According to the view <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> Again a further exemplary embodiment of the damping elements,</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>According to the view <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> One of the damping elements according to FIG <figref idrefs="f0003">FIG</figref>, And</dd><dt>FIG</dt><dd>According to the view <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> A further exemplary embodiment of the damping elements.</dd></dl>

0022Corresponding parts are always provided with the same reference symbols in all the figures.

0023In <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> A hearing aid device, briefly referred to as a hearing aid 1, is shown. The hearing aid 1 is designed as a so-called behind-the-ear hearing aid (abbreviated as BTE hearing aid) and is thus supported by a hearing aid support behind its auricle. The hearing device 1 comprises a first microphone 2 as well as a second microphone 3, which are each configured and arranged to detect an acoustic signal (short: sound signal) from the environment 4 of the hearing device 1. Furthermore, the first and second microphones 2 and 3 are adapted to convert the detected sound signal into an electrical signal and pass it on to a signal processing unit 6 of the hearing device 1. In the signal processing unit 6, the respective electrical signal is evaluated, filtered and subsequently amplified to a loudspeaker 8 (also referred to as a "listener") of the hearing device 1. By means of the loudspeaker 8, the amplified signal is converted into a corresponding acoustic (output) signal and output to the ear of the hearing aid wearer. The two microphones 2 and 3, the signal processing unit 6 and the loudspeaker 8 each form an electronic component of the hearing aid 1 and are arranged in a housing 10 of the hearing device 1 for rough protection against environmental influences (contamination). The housing 10 is of the shell-type type and comprises, for the assembly of the two microphones 2 and 3, as well as the remaining electronic components, a separable shell part, which is hereinafter referred to as cover 12 (indicated by the dash-dotted line in FIG<figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref>).

0024In order to avoid transmission of vibrations of the housing 10 to the two microphones 2 and 3, these are resiliently (resiliently) against the housing 10, specifically against the cover 12, by means of a first and second damping element 14 and 16 (assigned to the respective microphone 2 or 3) ). The two damping elements 14 and 16 are injection-molded from an elastic plastic, specifically from a silicone (LSR).

0025As in <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> The two microphones 2 and 3 are arranged below the cover 12, ie they are concealed therefrom. In order to be able to receive the sound signals originating from the environment 4 as undamped as possible, a first microphone opening 18 and a second microphone opening 20, which are respectively assigned to the first and second microphones 2 and 3, are formed in the cover 12.

0026In order to prevent the penetration of impurities, specifically of liquid, such as water or body welding, through the two microphone openings 18 and 20 and thus to protect the two microphones 2 and 3 from contamination and moisture, the hearing device 1 also comprises two (the Respective barrier elements 22 and 24 assigned to respective microphone 2 and 3, respectively. These barrier elements 22 and 24 are each held reversibly (ie, replaceable) in the respective damping element 14 or 16, respectively. The sealing of the respective barrier element 20 or 24 against the housing 10, specifically the cover 12, takes place via the respective damping element 14 and 16.

0027How <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> The barrier element 22 or 24 comprises a hydrophobic, but sound-permeable membrane 26, which is stretched and held by a ring-shaped frame 28 molded onto the diaphragm 26 by injection molding. The respective barrier element 22 and 24 is designed with a circular outer contour (cf.<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref>).

0028How <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> The damping element 14 or 16 encompasses the respective microphone 2 or 3 on the front side and braces it elastically against the housing 10 or the cover 12. The damping element 14 or 16 is in the form of a hollow-cylindrical configuration and thus has a hollow-cylindrical shape, Corresponding to a respective microphone opening 18 or 20, through which sound signals can reach the microphone 2 or 3, respectively. The opening 30 is formed with a rear section 32, ie a partial enlargement of the inside diameter of the opening 30. This undercut 32 forms a pocket for receiving the frame 28 of the barrier element 22 or 24. The barrier element 22 or 24 is formed in the undercut 32 in a form-fitting manner by a thin-walled edge 34 of the damping element 22 or 24 (compared to the length of the opening 30) , Which protrudes inwards into the opening 30. This edge 34 is also located in the intended final mounting state of the hearing device 1 according to FIG<figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> On the inside of the cover 12 around the respective microphone opening 18 or 20 so that moisture is prevented from passing between the cover 12 and the barrier element 22 or 24.

0029The edge 34 of the damping element 14 or 16 is designed in such a way that it protrudes only slightly above the frame 28 with respect to the outer diameter of the (circular) barrier element 22 or 24. As a result, the barrier element 22 or 24 can be inserted into the rear section 32 by overcoming the elastic restoring force of the edge 34 (ie, under slight elastic deformation), the edge 34 "snapping" over the frame 28.

0030In <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> An alternative embodiment of the damping elements 14 and 16 is shown. The damping elements 14 and 16 are in this case in comparison with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG<figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> Flat and lie only on the front side on the respective microphone 2 or 3 (cf. <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref>). Furthermore, the two damping elements 14 and 16 are connected to one another monolithically via a connecting web 36. This results in improved handling of the two damping elements 14 and 16<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> The rear section 32 of the two damping elements 14 and 16 is arranged approximately centrally in relation to the length of the opening 30 in the respective damping element 14 or 16.

0031The undercut 32 is thus bounded by the edge 34 in the direction of the microphone opening 18 or 20 (hereinafter referred to as the front side of the respective sealing element 14 or 16). On the rear, the undercut 32 is delimited by a further edge 38, which closes the opening 30 as well as the damping element 14 or 16. Like the edge 34, the edge 38 has a small wall thickness compared to the length of the opening 30. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> The rear edge 38 is analogous to the edge 34 of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> With a comparatively large internal diameter (ie with a small width). In other words, the inner diameter of the edge 38 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the damping element 22 or 24, so that the respective damping element 22 or 24 in this exemplary embodiment is inserted from the rear into the rear section 32 (with deformation of the edge 38) Can The edge 34, on the other hand, is designed with a smaller inner diameter and comparatively stiff so that the edge 34 does not have a sufficiently high elastic deformation capacity to allow insertion of the respective barrier element 22 or 24 from the front side.

0032In a modified embodiment according to FIG <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG</figref> The front edge 34 is analogous to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG</figref> So that the respective barrier element 22 or 24 can be inserted from the front into the respective rear section 32 of the damping elements 14 and 16. The rear edge 38 is in this case again designed with a smaller inner diameter than the edge 34 and thus also stiffer than the latter.

0033In a further alternative embodiment according to FIG <figref idrefs="f0003">5 and 6</figref> The edges 34 and 38 are designed in such a way that the respective barrier element 22 or 24 can not be inserted into the undercut 32 by elastic deformation of one of the two edges 34 or 38, respectively. The respective inner diameter of the two edges 34 and 38 is selected to be so small that their elastic deformation capacity is not sufficient for the insertion of the respective barrier element 22 or 24 into the rear section 32. In this case, the respective damping element 14 or 16 has an insertion shaft 40 through which the respective barrier element 22 or 24 is inserted into the rear section 32 from the side of the damping element 14 or 16 (ie perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening 30) Can The insertion shaft 40 thus forms a window arranged at a right angle to the opening 30. As a result, the respective barrier element 22 or 24 in the assembly state according to the invention is designed according to FIG<figref idrefs="f0003">FIG</figref> Is held in a particularly stable manner between the two edges 34 and 38 (in particular on account of the contact pressure of the microphone 2 or 3 in the direction of the cover 12), while simple assembly and disassembly of the respective barrier element 22 and 24 is possible for maintenance and / or exchange purposes .

0034In a further exemplary embodiment not shown in detail, the hearing device 1 comprises a communication device for wireless communication with a further hearing device, for example for the binaural supply of both ears and the same hearing device support, or with a smartphone. A part of this communication device is formed by an antenna 42. This is galvanically connected to a circuit carrier, which also carries the signal processing unit 6 and a number of conductor tracks, in the intended mounting state of the hearing aid 1. The antenna 42 is cast into the connecting web 36 between the damping element 14 and 16 in order to simplify its handling as a metallic insert, ie injection-molded with the plastic of the two damping elements 14 and 16 (see FIG<figref idrefs="f0004">FIG</figref>). A contact section 44 of the antenna is not encapsulated for electrical contacting with the circuit carrier.

0035Although the subject matter of the invention is clear from the embodiments described above, However, the subject-matter of the invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. Rather, further embodiments of the invention may be derived by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. In particular, the individual features of the invention described with reference to the various exemplary embodiments and their design variants can also be combined with one another in a different manner.

Reference list

0036<dl id="dl0002" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>Hearing aid</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>microphone</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>microphone</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>Surroundings</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>Signal processing unit</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>speaker</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>housing</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>cover</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>Damping element</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>Damping element</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>Microphone opening</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>Microphone opening</dd><dt>22</dt><dd>Barrier element</dd><dt>24</dt><dd>Barrier element</dd><dt>26</dt><dd>membrane</dd><dt>28</dt><dd>frame</dd><dt>30</dt><dd>breakthrough</dd><dt>32</dt><dd>Undercut</dd><dt>34</dt><dd>edge</dd><dt>36</dt><dd>Connecting path</dd><dt>38</dt><dd>edge</dd><dt>40</dt><dd>Insertion shaft</dd><dt>42</dt><dd>antenna</dd><dt>44</dt><dd>Contact section</dd></dl>