Hook Over Ear Patents (Class 381/330)
  • Patent number: 8374374
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a headset includes a body housing a pivot coupling, a speaker capsule operably coupled to the body, and an arm operably coupled to the body. The arm is capable of pivoting open and close about the pivot coupling for accessing a microphone at a free end of the arm. A method for accessing a headset microphone is also provided. Advantageously, the apparatus and method of the present disclosure provide for improved headset use and speech clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wales Zhou
  • Patent number: 8374370
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a hearing assistance device housing for use in real ear measurements. The methods and apparatus for configuration of a hearing assistance device using an apparatus including an opening to receive a sound tube for real ear measurements and providing an opening for connection of a sound hook to a housing of the hearing assistance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Brian Fideler
  • Patent number: 8369554
    Abstract: An earpiece includes an open tip in the shape of a dome, with apertures in the dome and a protrusion at the top of the dome for displacing ear wax, wherein the dome merges with the protrusion along a continuous curve. The dome is supported from a central body by non-linear ribs that normally have high compliance but exhibit low compliance at a limit of extension or compression. The tip can include more than one dome on the central body. If there is more than one dome, the apertures in the domes are not aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis A. Oberlander
  • Publication number: 20130028455
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus has a housing, a receiver in the housing, and a sound conductor through which sound from the receiver is conducted out of the housing. In order to render the device as small as possible, the hearing apparatus has a cover piece which is inserted into the housing in such a way that a sound channel is formed. The sound channel is thereby delimited at the sides by the housing and the cover piece. A special sound-conducting tube can therefore be dispensed with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: HARTMUT RITTER, MICHAEL SATTLER
  • Publication number: 20130004005
    Abstract: A connector for a hearing instrument, in particular a receiver-in-canal behind-the-ear hearing aid, is small and visually inconspicuous. The connector should be as invisible as possible on the hearing instrument as it is worn, and the connector allows a microphone arrangement favorable for directionality and sound pick-up. The connector is disposed on an earpiece tube, which defines a longitudinal direction at the connector. The connector is connected by insertion into a connector receptacle of a hearing instrument transversely to the longitudinal direction. The hearing instrument has a laterally arranged connector receptacle, into which a connector is inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction. Because of the transverse insertion, the connector can be arranged laterally on the housing and because of the lateral placement, the front end face of the housing is smaller and the housing is overall flatter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Joachim Roland Barth, Holger Kral, Frank Naumann, Andreas Ratay, Markus Trautner
  • Patent number: 8345905
    Abstract: An arc-shaped waterproof wall is provided around a shaft to which a hearing aid main body case and a battery case are rotatably attached, and waterproof ribs are provided to the outer periphery of the installation face of the battery case and the hearing aid main body case, which improves the ability to prevent the penetration of moisture while also keep the cost low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Takeda, Yosimasa Simogochi, Minoru Tada, Makoto Yagi, Fumihiro Asayama
  • Patent number: 8345912
    Abstract: An earphone having an under hanger reduces movement of the earphone from vibrations that occur while a user is typically in motion. The earphone preferably includes: a housing for housing a speaker therein; a protector installed in a front surface of the housing and having a mesh for delivering a sound from the speaker; and an under hanger provided at a lower part of the housing to closely contact along a lower part of the rear side of an earflap of a user. The provision of an under hanger in a lower part of the earphone prevents from being easily separated from a user's ear. Further, by providing an under hanger made of a soft material, as the earphone closely contacts with the user's ear, a sound quality is improved and a wearing feeling of the earphone is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hosaka Akihiko, Jung Hun Kwak
  • Patent number: 8345903
    Abstract: A battery bay of a hearing device should be better protected against unwanted opening. A housing for a hearing device is therefore provided with: a battery bay that is mounted on the housing and can be moved into an open position as well as a closed position; a projection that is permanently attached to the housing, and a securing element to prevent a movement of the battery bay. The securing element is supported on the battery bay and can be pivoted between a secured position and an unsecured position. The securing element also engages behind the projection in the secured position and the closed position of the battery bay so that the battery bay cannot be moved into the open position. The securing element has a recess in which, in the secured position, a tool can be held to move the securing element into the unsecured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Uwe Flaig, Michael Sattler
  • Publication number: 20120328139
    Abstract: A behind-the-ear hearing device has a housing with a plug-in connector on a sidewall of the housing for connecting to an earpiece tube or sound tube. The lateral arrangement of the plug-in connector moves the plug-in connector away from the exposed position on the front end face of the housing. This enables the front end face, which is generally visible, to be made smaller. Advantageously, at least two microphones are provided, with one microphone position in the vicinity of the front end face of the housing. The front microphone position is thus moved farther away from a position that may possibly be covered by the pinna, and the rear microphone position can also be moved farther toward the front. The microphone positions are thus approximately horizontal, which promotes the spatial resolution of the detected surrounding sound (directionality) by the signal processing of the hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Frank Naumann, Holger Kral, Andreas Ratay, Joachim Roland Barth
  • Publication number: 20120321114
    Abstract: A hearing aid (100) comprises a body case (2) that is worn behind an ear (1), a sound conductor (3) that is linked at one end to the body case (2) and is linked at the other end to an earpiece (6), and an engaging component (8) for holding the earpiece linked to the other end of the sound conductor in the external auditory canal (7) of the ear (1). The engaging component (8) is made up of a first arc part (8a) disposed on the earpiece (6) side, a second arc part (8b) that is larger than the first arc part (8a) and is disposed opposite the first arc part (8a), a first linking part (8c) that links one end of the first arc part (8a) and one end of the second arc part (8b), and a second linking part (8d) that links the other end of the first arc part (8a) and the other end of the second arc part (8b). The second linking part (8d) has a shape such that its center part protrudes toward the first linking part (8c). This constitution allows the hearing aid (100) to be put on more easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishibashi, Yosimasa Simogochi, Takeshi Umeda, Takashi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8331597
    Abstract: In order to connect a hearing device to a carrying hook, a connecting element is used, which has to satisfy high demands with regards to its precision and stability. To ensure this, the connecting element is designed as a powder injection molded part, in particular as a ceramic injection molded part or metal part, which is manufactured in a ceramic injection molding process or a metal injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Werner Fickweiler, Björn Freels, Holger Kral, Joseph Sauer
  • Patent number: 8331596
    Abstract: A behind-the-ear hearing aid (1) comprises a housing (4), an ear piece (3) and a custom earplug (2), the custom earplug being adapted to fit the ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, the ear piece having a connector for connecting with the custom earplug, the connector and the earpiece having means for snap fitting engagement and means for defining the mutual rotational orientation. The invention further provides a custom earpiece for a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jan Topholm, Klaus Henrik Vaarbroe, Christian Bohl Espersen, Klavs Richard Skafte, Christian Pedersen Kreipke
  • Patent number: 8331594
    Abstract: A hearing aid device is described. The device including a housing having a plurality of sides, the housing also having a first color. At least one electrical component is held within the housing. A clip removably attachable to the housing is provided. The clip has a second color. The clip covers at least a portion of the plurality of sides of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sonic Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Owen D. Brimhall, Craig M. Collotzi
  • Patent number: 8320603
    Abstract: An ear loop, and an assembly of an ear loop and ear bud, wherein the ear loop retains the shaft of the ear bud such that the position and angle of the ear bud relative to the ear loop can be adjusted axially and rotationally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Bass
  • Patent number: 8315402
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for real ear measurement using a hearing assistance device fitted with a cover to provide real ear sounds to a microphone of the device. The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device cover for use in measuring coupler response and real ear coupler difference for improved real ear measurement and fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Thomas Spaulding
  • Patent number: 8311251
    Abstract: An electronic component and, in particular, an external receiver of a hearing aid, are intended to be capable of being configured to be simpler and more robust. To this end, it is proposed that the electronic apparatus, which has an electronic component and a cable which is connected to the electronic component, is equipped with a first sleeve which is arranged around a part of the electronic component and a part of the cable and mechanically connects the two, and a second sleeve, which surrounds another part of the electronic component. The first sleeve and the second sleeve are coaxially directly connected to one another such that both sleeves together also completely surround the electronic component in the axial direction. The two sleeves can possibly be connected to one another by laser welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Uli Gommel, Daniela Hertel
  • Patent number: 8311252
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a hearing device with a main housing (10) to be worn behind the ear, a secondary housing (20) separated thereof and to be arranged partly or completely within the ear and a speaker, and a connecting element (30) being arranged between the main housing (10). The secondary housing (20), includes at least an electrical and/or an acoustical connection between the speaker and the main housing (10). According to the present invention, at least one damping element (44) is arranged between the main housing (10) and the secondary housing (20). The damping element (44) reduces or prevents the transfer of vibrations between the microphone (15) and the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Erich Dittli, Daniel Mueller, Christoph Leist
  • Patent number: 8295523
    Abstract: A hearing aid device for placement in an ear of a user includes an elongate support and a transducer. The elongate support has a proximal portion and a distal end, and the transducer is attached to the elongate support near the distal end. The support is adapted to position the transducer near an eardrum while the proximal portion is placed at the location near an ear canal opening. The elongate support is sized to minimize contact with the ear between the proximal portion and distal end. The elongate support permits sound waves to travel along the ear canal. In some embodiments, a microphone is positioned in the ear canal along the support, for example inside the support, to provide directionally dependent sound localization cues, and the transducer on the distal end of the elongate support comprises a coil assembly coupled to a magnet positioned on the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Soundbeam LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Fay, Sunil Puria, Paul Rucker, John H. Winstead, Rodney C. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8275163
    Abstract: A battery compartment for a behind-the-ear hearing device includes a battery compartment body having a battery receiving space for accommodating a battery and at least one latching element for locking to a hearing device housing. The latching element and the battery compartment body are formed of different materials and the latching element is disposed in a holding device in the battery compartment body. A behind-the-ear hearing device with a latching element and the use of polyoxymethylene for manufacturing the latching element, are likewise provided. As a result of the separation of the latching element and the battery compartment body and the use of different materials, a switching and locking function can be optimized and the wearing quality can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Werner Fickweiler, Björn Freels, Markus Trautner
  • Publication number: 20120237068
    Abstract: A hearing aid has hearing aid electronics including the microphone, battery and amplifier in a behind-the-ear housing, with a flexible tube extending from the behind-the-ear housing to a concha-based suspension structure. The concha-based suspension portion is flexible and bears off a tragus contact area, an antitragus contact area and an antihelix contact area. Based on forces generated from these concha bowl contact areas, the tube is suspended in a centered position within the ear canal in an unoccluded fashion making little or no contact with the wall of the ear canal. An annulus of the suspension portion provides an open concha skin surface, which can naturally reflect sound down the generally open ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: INTRICON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Fretz, Vincent Joseph Mako
  • Patent number: 8270645
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a main body and a battery holder that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body by revolving around a revolving shaft. The main body has a lock bar provided so as to traverse the space in which the battery holder is installed, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward this installation space. The battery holder has a first concave portion and a second concave portion that latch the lock bar and the protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Takeda, Yosimasa Simogochi, Minoru Tada, Makoto Yagi, Fumihiro Asayama
  • Patent number: 8270648
    Abstract: An earpiece including a tubular core portion attached to an end of an electro-acoustic transducer and extending in an acoustic wave output direction, and an external auditory canal fitting portion disposed outside the core portion to cover an end surface of the core portion and having lower hardness than the core portion is provided. This maintains appropriate flexibility of the external auditory canal fitting portion covering the end surface of the core portion and forms the core portion with appropriate hardness. This eliminates sound quality degradation due to the core portion deformation, earpiece detachment and contact of the core portion with the external auditory canal. Consequently, this improves fitting properties with the external auditory canal and attachment properties with the electro-acoustic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Murozaki
  • Patent number: 8270650
    Abstract: A hearing aid, wherein a front sound opening and a front microphone are acoustically connected via a front sound guide path, and the front sound guide path includes a first space formed between the front microphone and the electrical connection part inside the main body case, and a second space formed between the electrical connection part and the inner wall face of the main body case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Tada, Yosimasa Simogochi, Kazumasa Okamura
  • Patent number: 8259977
    Abstract: An connector assembly for use in, for example, a hearing aid, the assembly having a first connector and a second connector adapted to be detachably attached and being able to transport both sound and electric signals. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising the connector assembly and having a first part comprising an electrical input and a sound providing receiver as well as both an audio output and an electrical output. The two outputs are connected to a second element, normally for positioning inside an ear canal of a person, the second element having a receiver for receiving the electrical signal from the first elements and providing a corresponding sound which is mixed with the sound output by the second element, the mixed sound being output from the second element. The receiver of the first element may be a woofer, and the receiver of the second element may be a tweeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sonion A/Sb
    Inventors: Martin Bondo Jørgensen, Aart Zeger van Halteren, Søren Falkesgaard Ørts
  • Patent number: 8238565
    Abstract: A system for adapting a hearing aid to a user includes a unit generating an image of the user's ear together with a model of the hearing aid, wherein the model of the hearing aid in-situ includes a physical model of the hearing aid inserted in the user's ear prior to generating the image. The system also generates a mesh based on the image, calculates acoustic response to a simulated acoustic signal in the mesh, calculates a frequency response curve for a fixed position in the mesh, and identifies an optimal position of a microphone of the hearing aid in-situ from the acoustic response. They system also includes a comparator configured to compare the frequency response curve for the fixed position in the mesh with a maximum frequency response curve for the mesh stored by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Rene Burmand Johannesson
  • Patent number: 8224008
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus includes a charging contact being movable relative to an accumulator and being electrically conductively connected to the accumulator in a first position and less effectively conductively connected thereto in a second position. A spring-elastic element engages with the charging contact in order to push the charging contact into the second position with a predetermined force, so that the charging contact can only be pushed into the first position by overcoming the predetermined force. As a result, the charging contact configuration obtains a switching function, so that electro-corrosion on the charging contacts can be prevented. Therefore, charging an accumulator of a hearing apparatus and in particular of a hearing device using a direct conductive contact is possible, with zero potential of the charging contacts which are accessible from the outside being ensured during normal operation of the hearing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Harald Klemenz, Tom Weidner
  • Patent number: 8218799
    Abstract: A compact audio speaker assembly that fits into the ear canal without occluding the ear canal, thus allowing ambient sounds to be heard along with the audio source. The ear speaker is secured in the ear canal by a ribbon or wire like spring structure anchoring the speaker to the concha portion of the outer ear and typically pushing the speaker up against the top side of the ear canal, leaving a space for external sounds to bypass the speaker to the eardrum. The speaker may further include a connecting signal cable that passes over the ear and behind the ear to provide additional support for the speaker and strain relief for the signal cable. One embodiment may include a shell over the speaker connected to the wire like spring anchor and may include an ear wax screen. Two speakers may be configured for stereo listening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew Stephen Murphy, Mali Kristin Murphy
  • Patent number: 8213647
    Abstract: An electroacoustic device includes a rear body portion containing electronic circuits, being so dimensioned and shaped as to be carried by a human user behind the user's ear and having an upper end portion and a frontal body portion with an upper end portion connected to the upper end portion of the rear body portion. The device may include an electroacoustic speaker transducer connected to the frontal body portion and arrangeable in a sound transmitting relationship to the user's ear canal when the device is carried by the human user. The speaker transducer may be rotatable about an axis which is arranged on a plane that is substantially parallel to the side of the head of the user when the device is carried by the human user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Casper van der Bilt, Gerjo Sampimon, Angelique Hofstede, Hedzer van der Kamp
  • Patent number: 8204263
    Abstract: Disclosed is method of generating an audible signal in a hearing aid by estimating a weighting function of received audio signals, the hearing aid is adapted to be worn by a user; the method comprises the steps of: estimating a directional signal by estimating a weighted sum of two or more microphone signals from two or more microphones, where a first microphone of the two or more microphones is a front microphone, and where a second microphone of the two or more microphones is a rear microphone; estimating a direction-dependent time-frequency gain, and synthesizing an output signal; wherein estimating the direction-dependent time-frequency gain comprises: obtaining at least two directional signals each containing a time-frequency representation of a target signal and a noise signal; and where a first of the directional signals is defined as a front aiming signal, and where a second of the directional signals is defined as a rear aiming signal; using the time-frequency representation of the target signal an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Ulrik Kjems, Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Jesper Bünsow Boldt
  • Publication number: 20120148079
    Abstract: A hearing device with a connecting portion (15) for the connection of a hook or acoustic tube comprises an inside thread (21) or internal thread portion at the connecting portion intended for the attachment of a hook or acoustic tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Bruno Gabathuler, Paul Portmann, Erich Dittli
  • Publication number: 20120140968
    Abstract: A hearing aid, wherein a front sound opening and a front microphone are acoustically connected via a front sound guide path, and the front sound guide path includes a first space formed between the front microphone and the electrical connection part inside the main body case, and a second space formed between the electrical connection part and the inner wall face of the main body case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Minoru Tada, Yosimasa Simogochi, Kazumasa Okamura
  • Patent number: 8189831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid having an audio signal unit which is operatively connected to a sound generator and generates an audio signal which has at least two audio signal sections immediately succeeding one another in time. The audio signal sections each have an audio signal section duration and the audio signal has at least one frequency that is audible to the human ear. The audio signal sections succeed one another in such a way that an audio signal section succeeding a previous audio signal section in time begins before the previous audio signal section has terminated, with the result that the previous and the succeeding audio signal section overlap one another with an overlapping time period, the overlapping time period being shorter than the audio signal section duration of the previous audio signal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Sörgel
  • Patent number: 8180083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protective cover for over-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aid devices, wherein the protective cover is resistant to infiltration of moisture, corrosive elements, and/or dirt or debris. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the protective cover comprises a flexible material that offers a formed fit over the hearing aid device, and includes at least one slit within the flexible material such that the protective cover may be readily flipped up to allow access to portions of the over-the-ear or behind-the-ear hearing aid device upon which it is placed without significant effort by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Magnatone Hearing Aid Corp.
    Inventors: Don E. K. Campbell, William Chiu
  • Patent number: 8175305
    Abstract: A hearing aid with a drop safeguard has an accelerometer, an electrical circuit, and a memory. The accelerometer generates an electrical signal in dependence on an acceleration of the hearing aid. The signal is transmitted to the electrical circuit which uses this to determine a jerky acceleration of the hearing aid. The electrical circuit saves the respectively current settings of the hearing aid to the memory in the case of a jerky acceleration of the hearing aid. After the hearing aid is dropped, the settings can be reconstructed from the memory so that as a result this prevents the settings of the hearing aid from being changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Leep Foong Chew, Meng Kiang Lim, Chow Lan Stella Yap
  • Patent number: 8175310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adaptor for a BTE hearing aid with a housing to be worn behind the ear, an earpiece for insertion in the earcanal, and a signal transmission member for transmission of a signal from the housing at a first end of the member to the earpiece at a second end of the member, the signal transmission member having a connector at the first end, wherein the housing and the connector of the signal transmission member are not adapted for mutual mechanical interconnection, wherein the adaptor has a first end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the connector of the signal transmission member and a second end that is geometrically adapted for mechanical connection with the housing, so that the signal transmission member and the housing can be mechanically interconnected through the adaptor whereby the variety of signal transmission member units to be kept in stock by a hearing aid dispenser is substantially minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Nikolai Bisgaard
  • Patent number: 8175306
    Abstract: A method of wireless communication between hearing aid devices of a hearing prosthesis. A first device selects a frequency channel for bidirectional wireless communication from a predefined series of frequency channels. A second device transmits a command signal repeatedly over the series of frequency channels until it transmits the command signal over the frequency channel selected by the first device. Subsequent commands send by the second device to the first device are initially transmitted over the selected frequency channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 8170253
    Abstract: An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics
    Inventors: Douglas P. Lynch, Carla Mann Woods
  • Publication number: 20120082331
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing, an ear hook, and an ear tube. The casing includes a first connector on an upper portion of the casing and a second connector on a lower portion of the casing, wherein the first and second connectors are substantially identical. The ear hook includes a receptacle sized to fit the first and second connectors and adapted to releasably couple to one of the first connector and the second connector. The ear tube includes a receptacle sized to fit the first and second connectors and adapted to releasably couple to another of the first connector and the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: AUDIOTONIQ, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Meosky, Frederick Neumeyer
  • Patent number: 8145144
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hearing aid compatible wireless electronic device is disclosed. The apparatus may include a lower housing having a wireless transceiver, upper housing including an earpiece, hinge assembly, and a pair of reactive matching element along with predefined placement of the wireless transceiver. The reactive matching element can be implemented at different chassis inductances to achieve hearing aid compatibility within other design constraints. Implemented as a switched circuit or reactance filter circuit to create a reactance appropriate for a band of operation during transmission in that band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Krenz, Louis J. Vannatta
  • Patent number: 8139808
    Abstract: An ear hooked earphone is provided for selectively being worn on a left or right ear of a user. The earphone includes a body and an ear hook. The body includes a first coupled portion formed on a surface thereof. The ear hook includes a hook section and a fastened section. The hook section is used for hooking around the ear of the user. The fastened section is connected with the hook section, and a separation is formed between ends of the hook section and the fastened section. The fastened section has a second coupled portion, and one of two sides of the second coupled portion is selectively coupled with the first coupled section. Thereby, the position of the separation relative to the body is able to be changed, that is, the ear hooked earphone is able to hang on the left or right ear of the user freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Hsin Liu, Chung-Chun Wu, Jui-Chi Liao
  • Publication number: 20120063621
    Abstract: A connector for a hearing instrument has an electrical or acoustic connection component and a mechanical connection component. The electrical or acoustic connection component is brought into mutual engagement with an electrical or acoustic connection element inside a housing of the hearing instrument. The mechanical connection component is brought into mutual engagement with a mechanical connection element of the hearing instrument. The connector is disposed on a receiver tube or a sound tube. The connector connects the tube to the electrical or acoustic connection element of the hearing instrument and is detachably connected inside the housing to a connector receptacle of the hearing instrument and, in the connected state, is disposed completely inside the housing. The hearing instrument has an opening through which the connector is introduced and inserted into the connector receptacle. A hearing instrument system contains the above described hearing instrument and the above described connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: FRANK NAUMANN
  • Patent number: 8135154
    Abstract: Switch arrangement for hearing devices, which includes a connector socket which can be covered by a socket cover. The connector socket and the socket cover are arranged and embodied such that an electrical switching contact can be produced by applying pressure to the socket cover covering the connector socket. A method for changing over programs in hearing devices with a behind-the-ear part is also specified, in which an electrical switching contact is produced by means of a connector socket of the behind-the-ear part and its socket cover. Space can be saved as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Krämer
  • Publication number: 20120057735
    Abstract: Within a casing of a hearing device to be worn in the area of the auricle such as behind the ear, comprises bendable portions (5) such that the hearing device (1) can be at least partially deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Hans Georg Meier, Richard Niccolai, Urs Zuger
  • Patent number: 8130995
    Abstract: An earpiece device includes a housing having a sound output portion, a speaker and a microphone. The speaker disposed in the housing includes a diaphragm and a sound transmitting hole. The diaphragm is located between the sound output portion and the sound transmitting hole. The microphone is disposed in the housing and covers the sound transmitting hole. A sound wave generated within an ear canal would be received by the speaker and delivered through the sound transmitting hole to the microphone for pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Ching Her, Hung-Yue Chang, Ton-Kun Ho
  • Patent number: 8130993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a securing system for a receiver tube in a hearing device. The object of the invention is to provide a securing system for the receiver tube in a hearing device, which reliably prevents the occurrence of disruptive acoustic feedback and does not require adhesive to secure the receiver tube. This object of the invention is achieved with a hearing device, in particular a BTE hearing device, in which a receiver facility is disposed, wherein the hearing device has a connector piece, which is connected to the receiver facility by way of a receiver tube, in order to conduct an acoustic signal or acoustic signals generated by the receiver facility to an acoustic output of the hearing device, with the receiver tube being provided with a connecting element, which connects the receiver tube and the connector piece to each other in an essentially acoustically sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Wai Kit David Ho, Wee Haw Koo, Beng Hai Tan
  • Patent number: 8121324
    Abstract: The capabilities of a helix hearing instrument may expanded with a behind-the-ear accessory module. The module accommodates additional batteries and a variety of accessory functions including an external volume control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Lavlesh Lamba
  • Patent number: 8121328
    Abstract: A hearing device which is simple to assemble and to which a wearing hook can be fastened in a stable fashion is provided. The hearing device includes a receiver, which has a sound outlet, a wearing hook, which has a sound channel, a connecting piece for connecting the sound outlet of the receiver to the sound channel of the wearing hook and includes a housing frame, in which the receiver and to which the wearing hook are fastened respectively. The connecting piece may be formed largely of metal or ceramic and may be directly fastened to the housing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Holger Kral, Michael Sattler
  • Patent number: 8116493
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to hearing aids and to methods of manufacturing hearing aids. The invention further relates to shells for hearing aids and methods of manufacturing thereof. The invention, more particularly, relates to custom-made BTE hearing aids. A shell comprising a first part, and a second part, wherein said first part is adapted to fit the contour of the cleft between a pinna and the skull of an individual is provided. The shell may be part of a hearing aid (17) that is connected with a tube (9) in a first end and an earplug (20) in a second end. In a third aspect of the invention a method of preparing the shell is disclosed and in a fourth aspect a method of manufacturing a hearing aid is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Soren Erik Westermann
  • Patent number: 8116495
    Abstract: Various earbud embodiments comprise a sleeve portion, a base portion, a bell portion, and reinforcement members. The sleeve portion defines a central void extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the earbud. The base portion encircles the sleeve portion. The bell portion connects the sleeve portion to the base portion. The bell portion defines at least one aperture, and includes at least one web portion connected to the base portion at a connection point. At least one reinforcement member at each connection point extends from the base portion to the web portion to strengthen the structure at the connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Spaulding
  • Patent number: 8116492
    Abstract: The hearing device operated with an accumulator and comprising an externally accessible electrically conductive structure element is provided. The structure element fulfilling an additional function as a contact element, in order to receive a charging current when electrically connected to an external charging device. The term “structure element” is understood in the context of the present invention to mean an element, which is constitutively present in the structure of the hearing device due to its construction, e.g. the structure element can be a housing element, a fastening element, such as a screw, a control element, a nameplate or suchlike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Sattler, Christian Schmitt, Erwin Singer, Markus Trautner