Abstract: Hearing aid fitted with a central processing unit (1) having peripherals (3E, 3A) connected to its input and output. Each peripheral includes an identification unit (5) having an output connected to a first input of a comparator (9). A second input of the comparator is connected to a read-only identification memory (11) containing identification features of the peripherals. An output of the comparator drives a configuration memory (15). As a result, the hearing aid self identifies its current configuration based on the identification of the peripherals.

Abstract: An antenna coil is present in a hearing aid device to wirelessly transmit signals between a hearing aid device and a further device. Due to the required miniaturization of hearing aid devices, only minimal space is available for the arrangement of the antenna coil in the hearing aid device. The invention therefore provides for winding the antenna coil around or on an existing electro-acoustic transducer in the hearing aid device or around a capsule surrounding the transducer. A comparatively large antenna coil, for which little additional space is required, can thereby be provided in the hearing aid device.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer comprising a magnetic circuit of a magnetically conductive material with a pair of opposed surfaces defining a gap there between, the magnetic circuit comprising one magnet. The magnet can either be positioned in the center of the magnetically conductive material so as to form two gaps. In an alternative embodiment the magnet is attached to the magnetic conductive material forming only one gap. The transducer further comprises a diaphragm and a coil system having electrically conducting paths fastened to the diaphragm. The coil system has portions of its paths situated in the gap. The transducer may be supplied with an additional diaphragm and coil system positioned on the opposite side of the magnetic circuit. In a preferred embodiment the transducer is rectangular. The transducer is suited for integration into miniature components such as mobile communication equipment and hearing aids.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a microphone for providing an electrical signal representative of a received acoustic signal, a means for filtering the electrical signal and a means for automatic switching. Upon detecting a presence of a magnetic field, the means for automatic switching enables the means for filtering to modify a frequency response of the hearing aid to boost a low frequency gain and reduce a high frequency gain. Such filtering can be used with or without a telecoil. A hearing aid including a telecoil is configured with a preamplifier, a inductive element, and a switch control integrated onto a single common circuit board.

Abstract: A variable-reluctance type vibrator for generating vibrations in a bone anchored hearing aid. The vibrator includes a vibrator plate and a bobbin base with a vibrator gap therebetween. The vibrator gap between the vibrator plate and the bobbin base, or some other spacing in the vibrator where a relative movement between two surfaces is generated during the vibratory function, is at least partially filled with a fluid or gel for providing the main part of the damping of the resonance frequency of the vibrator.

Abstract: An adjustable ear-hook earphone with a microphone is disclosed. The apparatus includes an ear hook, a main body and a microphone, wherein the main body have a limiting part and an adjusting post sleeved in a sleeve of the ear hook, thereby the main body are adjustable and moveable in a specific angle ranged from 0 to 210 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing aid, which allows a hearing aid user to discretely operate his/her hearing aid by applying a force to a portion of the ear carrying the hearing aid. A number of different functions of the hearing aid, such as turning a battery supply on/off, adjusting a volume control, selecting a particular pre-programmed listening program, etc., may be provided in a hearing aid according to the present invention—all without directly engaging the hearing aid or switches or potentiometers thereof. Furthermore, if the hearing aid is adapted for use within the ear canal, the present invention may provide user assistance so to allow simple and convenient removal of the aid from the ear canal.

Abstract: An edge-driven diaphragm loudspeaker driver is configured such that the suspension system of the driver is connected to the voice coil rather than to the diaphragm. Thus, the diaphragm in the loudspeaker is free of suspension systems connected to or extending from the diaphragm. By attaching the surround suspension to the voice coil rather than to the diaphragm, the diaphragm is isolated from the influence of spurious high frequency vibrations in the suspension system, thereby increasing the performance of the loudspeaker at high frequencies. The loudspeaker driver configuration also provides for a longer excursion range for the voice coil/diaphragm assembly, which allows for the driver components to be more accurately aligned during manufacturing, thereby enabling the loudspeaker driver to operate as a full range unit by producing low output frequencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to headphones. Such headphones always comprise at least one, preferably two, earpieces which are each equipped with a reproduction transducer. Furthermore, appropriate earpieces also comprise an ear cushion, which either encloses the user's ear when the headphones are put on or lies on the ear. The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of prior art arrangements and find a simple embodiment for the headphones. Headphones having at least one headphones earpiece, which comprises a reproduction system and ear cushions, the latter enclosing the ear or lying on it, a front volume and a rear volume being determined by the reproduction system, the front volume being essentially determined between the reproduction system and the volume enclosed by ear cushions and head and the rear volume being essentially the volume which is determined by the reproduction system and the housing of the headphones earpiece, the front and the rear volumes being connected by an acoustic resistor.

Abstract: The hearing aid system includes a hearing aid case which is designed to be positioned behind the ear of a user, a tube for conducting sound from the case to the ear canal of the user, and a eartip for anchoring the end of the tube within the ear canal of the user. The tube is formed in a preformed shape of a material with sufficient rigidity to support the hearing aid in a proper position on the user's ear. The eartip may be one of several different designs which secures an end of the tube in place in the ear canal in a comfortable manner without the need for an expensive custom made ear mold and without complete occlusion of the ear canal. A combination of the light weight and small size of the case, the rigidity of the preformed tube, and one of the eartips for anchoring the tube in the ear canal allow the system to be held in place securely without the need for either an inflexible and aesthetically unpleasing ear hook or an expensive custom made ear mold.

Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker improved in acoustic features by weight reduction of a diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker without decreasing stiffness of the diaphragm or a coefficient of thermal expansion of surfaces of the piezoelectric speaker is provided. The diaphragm having placed thereon a piezoelectric element is made of a sandwich-laminate clad material using different materials. For example, surface materials made of 42 alloy each having a thickness of 10 ?m and a core material made of aluminium having a thickness of 30 ?m form a clad material having a thickness of 50 ?m. The formed clad material is processed into an arbitrary shape to form the diaphragm of the piezoelectric speaker. With this diaphragm, it is possible to keep the stiffness and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the 42-alloy diaphragm having the thickness of 50 ?m, and also achieve weight reduction by approximately 40%.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic system for use with an electronic sound-generating member including a fitted earmold having a sound-conduction bore extending therethrough, a sound-conduction tubing having one end connected to the sound-conduction bore and being curved so as to extend along a person's head between the person's head and an ear, a speaker having one end connected to another end of the sound-conduction tubing, an electrical cable having one end connected to the speaker, and an electrical plug at the other for electrical connection to an electronic sound-generating equipment.

Abstract: A canal hearing device has a subminiature filament assembly which vibrates and directly drives the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and imparts audible mechanical vibrations thereto. The filament assembly is partially supported by the tympanic membrane via capillary adhesion thereto and is dynamically coupled to a stationary vibration force element position at a distance from the tympanic membrane within the ear canal. The elongated filament assembly is freely movable within an operable range and is essentially floating with respect to the vibration force element. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrational filament assembly comprises a magnetic section which is insertable into the air-core of an electromagnetic coil. The filament assembly is coupled to the tympanic membrane via an articulated tympanic contact coupler.

Abstract: A compact lightweight speaker system without a resonance box that can reproduce the original sound with high fidelity. A speaker unit is located on a baffle board with a vibration absorbing member between a frame of the speaker unit and the baffle board. Furthermore, an acoustic resonance reflecting board of a vertical flat board type based on the operating principle of a passive radiator is formed by the baffle board and a flat board being similar to the baffle board. As a result, a compact smart design will be produced. It is applicable to an electric or electronic apparatus which produces sound.

Abstract: To reduce the effects of disturbing electromagnetic effects on a loudspeaker of a mobile telephone, the loudspeaker is provided with a compensation coil in addition to an excitation coil. The compensation coil is series-connected with the excitation coil. However, it is dispensed of the need for playing a driving role by being bonded to the permanent magnet of the loudspeaker: It is shown that the harmful effects are reduced without stopping the loudspeaker from working.

Abstract: An improved hearing aid programming system with a host computer for providing at least one hearing aid program and having at least one personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) defined port in combination with a PCMCIA card inserted in the port and arranged for interacting with the host computer for controlling programming of a hearing aid. The host computer provides power and ground to the PCMCIA card and provides for downloading the hearing aid programming software to the PCMCIA card upon initialization. A microprocessor on the PCMCIA card executes the programming software. A hearing aid interface for adjusting voltage levels and impedance levels is adapted for coupling signals to the hearing aid being programmed.

Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing at least one of a radio receiver and an infrared radiation receiver for receiving radiation carrying audio information transmitted to hearing impaired members of an audience. The infrared radiation receiver includes three infrared detectors for receiving radiation from at least three different directions. The received radiation is converted to an amplified audio signal that is converted to sound emitted at a pair of earphones that are attached to the distal ends of two arms that are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The earphones are rotatable on their arms for enhanced comfort. A microphone is attached to the housing. It receives sound and amplifies it to enable the wearer to hear a conversation while wearing the device. It may be rotatable to enhance reception. It may be disconnected to eliminate unwanted noise.

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprising a panel-form acoustic member adapted for operation as a bending wave radiator and an electrodynamic moving coil transducer having a voice coil mounted to the acoustic member to excite bending wave vibration in the acoustic member. The junction between the voice coil and the acoustic member is of sufficient length in relation to the size of the acoustic member to represent a line drive such that the acoustic member has a mechanical impedance which has a rising trend with bending wave frequency.

Abstract: A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

Abstract: A magnetic circuit includes an annular magnet magnetized in the axial direction thereof; an annular stacked plate disposed on the magnet and including first and second annular plates; and a yoke facing the inner circumferential surface of the stacked plate across a cylindrical space. Upper and lower magnetic gaps are provided at two axially separated positions in the cylindrical space. A loudspeaker includes the magnetic circuit; a voice coil placed in the upper and lower magnetic gaps; a diaphragm connected to the voice coil; and a frame fixed to the stacked plate and supporting the diaphragm in a vibratable manner. The inner circumferential portions of the first and second annular plates are axially deformed downward and upward, respectively, such that the inner circumferential surface of the stacked plate faces the lower and upper magnetic gaps. The remaining portions of the first and second annular plates are stacked on the magnet.