Receiver and microphone components

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a receiver and microphone assembly. A receiver and microphone assembly is provided, such as for positioning in a person's ear canal. The receiver and microphone are arranged in an overlapping relationship to occupy less space when being able to emit sound in one direction and receive sound from that direction. When the assembly is used deep in a person's ear canal, the microphone may be very small, where it is exposed to very high sound levels.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 201910139257.8, application date February 26, 2019, and invention name “Component of receiver and microphone”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a receiver and microphone assembly, primarily intended to be directed toward the inner ear of a person. Background Art

[0003] The receiver can be directed to emit sound towards the ear drum and inner ear, wherein the microphone can thus be used to detect the sound at the ear drum or in the inner ear. Components of this type are quite special in that they cannot take up too much space and in this case the microphone will function in the presence of very high sound levels.

[0004] Related solutions can be found in US7747032, US2015237429, US7995782, EP3073765, US9106999 and US9654854. Summary of the invention

[0005] In a first aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a receiver and a sensor, wherein:

[0006] - The receiver comprises:

[0007] oReceiver housing,

[0008] o a receiver diaphragm, which together with the inner surface of the receiver housing defines a first chamber in the receiver housing having the sound output port and a second chamber in the receiver housing,

[0009] - the sensor comprises a sensor housing at least partially inside the second chamber, and

[0010] The sensor housing or the part thereof inside the second chamber has a volume which does not exceed 20% of the volume of the second chamber.

[0011] Features of this aspect may be combined with any features of aspects of the invention which may be combined.Accordingly, receivers, housings, diaphragms, chambers etc. are further defined below.

[0012] In one embodiment, the sensor is a microphone.

[0013] In a second aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a sensor and a receiver, wherein:

[0014] - The receiver comprises:

[0015] o a receiver housing having a receiver housing wall portion including a sound output port,

[0016] o a receiver diaphragm, which together with an inner surface of the receiver housing defines a first chamber in the receiver housing,

[0017] - the sensor comprises a sensor housing,

[0018] - the receiver housing wall portion and the microphone housing wall portion are at least substantially parallel,

[0019] - the receiver housing and the microphone housing at least partially overlap when projected onto the first plane, and

[0020] - The receiver housing and the microphone housing at least partially overlap when projected onto a second plane perpendicular to the first plane.

[0021] In this context, in addition to the sensor and receiver, the assembly of the sensor and receiver may also include other elements, such as amplifiers, processors, batteries, etc. The sensor and receiver may or may not be attached to each other. In one case, the sensor is disposed inside the receiver.

[0022] The sensor may be a vibration sensor, or a sensor for determining other parameters. The vibration sensor may be a pickup sensor (senses sound transmitted as vibrations through a receiver housing), an accelerometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, etc. The preferred sensor type is a microphone. The sensor, and therefore the microphone, may be based on any technology, such as moving magnet technology, electret technology, MEMS technology, or a technology in which deformation of an element detects sound / vibration, such as piezoelectric technology. The sensor is preferably configured to output a signal, such as an electrical signal. If sound or vibration is sensed, the output may be an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed sound / vibration. "Corresponding" may be a signal output having the same frequency content at least within the desired frequency range. Of course, the output may be analog or digital, so "corresponding" may also be a digital value, which may be interpreted as reaching a signal having a desired or sensed frequency component.

[0023] The receiver is a sound generator and may also be based on any desired technology, such as moving magnet, moving coil, balanced armature, electret technology, MEMS technology, piezoelectric technology, etc. The receiver is preferably configured to receive a signal (such as an electrical signal) at least within a desired frequency interval and output a sound or vibration with a corresponding frequency content.

[0024] Preferably, the receiver is a miniature receiver, such as a sound generator having a maximum dimension of no more than 10 mm, such as no more than 8 mm, such as no more than 6 mm or no more than 5 mm. In one embodiment, the sound generator housing may have a maximum dimension of no more than 100 mm. 3 , such as not more than 70mm 3, such as not more than 50mm 3 , such as not more than 30mm 3 The miniature sound generator can be used in hearing aids, ear-worn devices or personal hearing devices such as headphones.

[0025] The receiver has a diaphragm that together with the inner surface of the receiver housing defines a first chamber in the receiver housing. Typically, another chamber is at least partially defined by the other side of the diaphragm and the inner surface of the housing. A sound output port typically extends from the interior of the receiver housing to the exterior thereof, such as from the first and / or other chambers, so that sound generated by the diaphragm can escape from the receiver housing via the sound output port.

[0026] The sound outlet is arranged in a wall portion of the receiver housing, typically a flat or planar wall portion of the receiver housing.

[0027] Typically, the diaphragm is flat or planar, or at least extends in a plane defined as a first plane. The diaphragm may be curved, or have indentations or ridges, such that the first plane may be a plane of symmetry, a lower plane, an upper plane, a plane such as a plane supporting the diaphragm at its edges, etc.

[0028] The sensor has a housing. The sensor is also preferably a micro device, such as having an overall volume equal to or less than 10 mm 3 equipment.

[0029] If the sensor is a microphone, the microphone housing may have a microphone housing wall portion including a sound input port. The microphone housing typically has an inner volume, and the sound input port leads from the exterior of the housing to the inner volume. Any technology may be used in the microphone housing to convert the received sound into an output signal.

[0030] As with the receiver, the sound input port may be arranged in a substantially flat or planar wall portion.Other shapes of the wall portion or microphone may be desired.

[0031] Preferably, the wall portion in which the sound input port is arranged is at least substantially parallel to the wall portion in which the sound output port is arranged. Additionally or alternatively, the sound input port and the sound output port may be positioned in a common plane and / or close to each other, such as a distance between them not exceeding the smallest dimension of the receiver housing.

[0032] In one case, the same opening in the receiver housing may be used for both outputting sound and receiving sound, wherein a microphone is disposed within the receiver housing and has an opening (or sound directing element) configured to receive sound from the common opening.

[0033] In one particular example, the microphone may be configured to detect sound generated by and within the receiver housing, such that it is undesirable to sense sound received from outside of the receiver housing.

[0034] Furthermore, preferably, the two wall portions are directed in at least substantially the same direction so that the sound is emitted towards the direction from which the sound can be received. In this way, the assembly can be arranged inside a person's ear so that the sound is emitted towards the ear drum and the sound from the ear canal can be received.

[0035] According to one aspect of the present invention:

[0036] - the receiver housing and the sensor housing at least partially overlap when projected onto the first plane, and

[0037] The receiver housing and the sensor housing at least partially overlap when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first plane.

[0038] In this context, the first plane may be the plane defined by the receiver diaphragm, but this is not required.

[0039] In this context, a shell will define an area or outer contour when projected onto a plane. Thus, when the areas or contours of two shells overlap, an overlap is seen on that plane.

[0040] When the two shells overlap in both projections, the overall extent of the assembly may be made smaller, which has advantages, such as if it is desired to place the assembly inside a person's ear canal.

[0041] In a first preferred embodiment, the sensor housing is at least partially positioned inside the receiver housing.Thus, the sensor housing may have an outer wall portion that participates in defining a chamber in the receiver housing.

[0042] If the sensor is a microphone, the wall portion of the microphone housing comprising the sound inlet may be positioned outside the receiver housing, such as if the receiver housing has an opening that is closed or sealed by the microphone housing.

[0043] Alternatively, the sensor housing may be completely disposed within the receiver housing. In this case, the sensor may be positioned at any desired position in the receiver.

[0044] If the sensor is a microphone, the receiver preferably has a sound inlet in the housing wall portion, wherein the microphone is positioned so that the sound input port can receive sound from the sound inlet. Then, the sound can still be received by the microphone. For example, the relative positioning can be such that the sound inlet and the sound inlet overlap when projected onto a plane (such as a plane perpendicular to the wall portion including the sound inlet).

[0045] Preferably, the sound inlet (if present) and the sound outlet are arranged in the same, preferably flat wall portion of the receiver housing. It may in fact be the same opening. Alternatively, the wall portion comprising the sound outlet and the sound inlet may be positioned close to each other. In general, this may make it easier to engage the two openings with, for example, a spout, as will be further described below.

[0046] Of course, the sound inlet may be arranged in the receiver housing and a sound guide, the sound guide being provided to guide the received sound to the microphone inlet. If desired, the receiver housing and / or the microphone housing may form a part of the sound guide.

[0047] When the sensor is positioned inside the receiver housing, the overall volume will be affected, thereby affecting the properties of the receiver. Therefore, it is desirable that the sensor is quite small. In one embodiment, it is desirable that the outer volume of the sensor housing does not exceed 20% of the inner volume of the receiver housing, such as not more than 10% or even not more than 5%. Typically, the receiver has an antechamber, and a second chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm, and the sound outlet leads to the antechamber. In this case, the sensor can be arranged in the second chamber and accounts for no more than 20% of the volume of the second chamber, such as no more than 15%, such as no more than 10%, such as no more than 8%.

[0048] In one case, the sensor housing is box-shaped and has 6 outer wall portions in pairs and parallel. Typically, the sensor has rounded corners and edges. In this case, the sensor housing can be selected so that the wall portion with the largest surface area has a surface area that is no more than 2 times the surface area of ​​the wall portion with the smallest surface area, such as no more than 1.8 times, such as no more than 1.5 times, such as no more than 1.3 times. In the case where all wall portions are the same size, a cube will be formed. In this context, the area of ​​a wall portion can be the area defined by the wall portion when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the wall portion or a portion of the wall portion.

[0049] In this case, it is undesirable to have, for example, a long and flat sensor housing, since the sensor housing positioned in the receiver housing might be exposed to very high sound pressures, which might cause excessively long wall portions of the sensor to deform or vibrate.

[0050] On the other hand, it is desirable for the sensor housing to have a certain internal volume, and therefore this more square shape is preferred as it allows for the desired internal volume while keeping the wall portions relatively small.

[0051] In addition, or alternatively, vibration of the sensor housing wall portion can be prevented by providing a relatively hard or thick wall of the sensor housing, such as a wall having a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, such as at least 0.75 mm, such as at least 1.0 mm, such as at least 1.5 mm, such as at least 2 mm, such as at least 2.5 mm, such as at least 3 mm.

[0052] Another way to provide a harder housing for the microphone is to add external plating or reinforcement elements to it. The reinforcement can be increasing the wall thickness, or for example providing reinforcing ribs etc. Furthermore, the plate can be made harder when for example ribs or dimples are added to it or formed in it. Furthermore, glue can also be added to the housing to make it harder.

[0053] In another preferred embodiment, the sensor housing is at least partially positioned outside the receiver housing. Then, at least a portion of the sensor housing extends outside the receiver housing. In this embodiment, preferably all of the sensor housing is positioned outside the receiver housing, such as when the sensor housing and the receiver housing do not share a wall portion.

[0054] In one case, the sensor housing is then attached to the receiver housing. This makes handling of the components easier as they can be handled as a unit. The attachment can be by gluing, welding, soldering, pressing, etc. The attachment can be permanent or releasable.

[0055] Typically, the signal generated by the sensor is desired to be transmitted to other elements of the assembly or other elements to which the assembly is connected, such as a processor, amplifier, circuit, etc. Therefore, the sensor may include one or more conductive elements on or at its external surface to deliver this output.

[0056] Furthermore, the receiver may have one or more conductive elements on or at an outer surface of the receiver for receiving signals to be converted into sound by the receiver.

[0057] The assembly may also include one or more conductors, such as the above-mentioned conductive elements, connected to the sensor housing, for example, to receive signals. These conductors will then extend to the outside of the sensor housing, but preferably at least a portion of their length will extend inside the receiver housing, such as to conductive elements on or at the outer surface of the receiver housing, so that the signal from the sensor can be delivered to these conductive elements by the conductors. The conductors can then be at least partially protected by extending within the receiver housing. In one case, the conductive elements of the microphone may be arranged in a wall portion of the sensor housing, the wall portion facing the wall portion of the receiver housing. This portion of the receiver housing may include a conductive element as part of the conductor, the conductive element being connected to the conductive element of the microphone housing.

[0058] In this context, the conductor may extend within the inner volume of the housing, or for example within its wall.

[0059] In this case, the receiver and the sensor may both be connected to the receiver housing.The conductive elements for these connections may be arranged in the same wall portion of the receiver housing, such as the wall portion opposite to the wall portion in which the sound output opening is arranged.

[0060] Of course, alternatively, the sensor's conductors could simply extend around the receiver housing and away from it.

[0061] In general, the sensor may be a microphone comprising a microphone diaphragm which is at least substantially perpendicular to the main direction of vibration of the receiver. Depending on the type of receiver, this direction may be perpendicular to the receiver diaphragm, or even parallel thereto. Typically, the microphone diaphragm will define a second chamber in the microphone housing together with the inner surface of the microphone housing, the microphone diaphragm being positioned in a second plane, which may then be at least substantially perpendicular to the vibration direction or plane.

[0062] During operation, the receiver diaphragm may be caused to vibrate, which vibration will generally be in a direction perpendicular to the first plane. If the connection between the microphone and the receiver is not very flexible, such vibrations may affect the operation of the microphone. When vibrations of the receiver diaphragm induce vibrations of the microphone diaphragm, undesirable crosstalk is seen, as this adds signals to the output of the microphone that are not caused by the received sound.

[0063] A way to avoid this crosstalk at least to some extent is to orient the microphone so that the microphone diaphragm is at least generally perpendicular to the vibrations caused by the receiver diaphragm, so that the primary vibrations caused by the receiver diaphragm cause translation of the microphone diaphragm rather than vibration or deformation.

[0064] In one embodiment, the receiver diaphragm and the sensor housing at least partially overlap when projected onto the first plane. In this case, the receiver diaphragm need not be constrained by the presence of the sensor, which may extend in the chamber of the receiver (such as "under" the receiver diaphragm). The size of the diaphragm is a factor in the definition of the maximum sound intensity that the receiver can output, and it is generally desirable to provide a diaphragm that is as large as practical.

[0065] In one embodiment, the receiver housing and the sensor housing overlap an area of ​​at least 10% of the area of ​​the microphone housing in the projection when projected onto the first plane, such as at least 20%, such as at least 40%, such as at least 50%, such as at least 75%, such as at least 90%, such as 100%.

[0066] Optionally or additionally, when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the first plane, the receiver housing and the sensor housing overlap by at least 10% of the area of ​​the sensor housing in the projection, such as at least 20%, such as at least 40%, such as at least 50%, such as at least 75%, such as at least 90%, such as 100%.

[0067] Optionally or additionally, when projected onto the first plane, the receiver diaphragm and the sensor housing overlap an area of ​​at least 10% of the area of ​​the sensor housing in the projection, such as at least 20%, such as at least 40%, such as at least 50%, such as at least 75%, such as at least 90%, such as 100%.

[0068] Where the microphone is disposed in a receiver housing which then has a sound inlet, the nozzle or sound guide may engage the sound inlet instead of the sound inlet.

[0069] In one embodiment, the sensor is a microphone with an SNR of no more than 63 dB. Such a low SNR is useful in situations where the sound pressure (such as between the hearing aid and the ear canal or ear drum) is high.

[0070] The SNR may be even lower, such as not more than 61 dB, such as not more than 60 dB, such as not more than 59 dB, such as not more than 58 dB, such as not more than 57 dB, such as not more than 55 dB, such as not more than 53 dB, such as not more than 51 dB.

[0071] Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly of a receiver and a microphone, wherein the microphone has an SNR of no more than 63 dB. Of course, the microphone may be as described above. The assembly may be configured such as to include components for emitting sound in a desired direction and receiving sound from that direction. In one embodiment, the assembly may have a surface, such as a surface perpendicular to the desired direction, in which a sound input port for the microphone and a sound output port for the receiver are positioned.

[0072] It is noted that sound guide(s) may be provided for directing the sound from the receiver to a desired direction and / or from a desired direction to the microphone.

[0073] Of course, all aspects, embodiments, aspects and advantages of the invention may be combined.

[0074] Another aspect of the invention relates to a microphone and receiver assembly, wherein a particular orientation of the microphone diaphragm is selected relative to the receiver diaphragm. This aspect relates to a receiver and microphone assembly, wherein:

[0075] -Receiver includes:

[0076] oReceiver housing,

[0077] o a receiver diaphragm, together with an inner surface of the receiver housing, defining a first chamber in the receiver housing, the receiver diaphragm being positioned in a first plane,

[0078] - Microphone includes:

[0079] o Microphone housing, attached to the receiver housing,

[0080] o a microphone diaphragm, which together with the inner surface of the microphone housing defines a second chamber in the microphone housing, the microphone diaphragm being positioned in a second plane at least substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

[0081] Of course, all embodiments and situations of the above and below aspects can be combined and exchanged. Therefore, the advantages of the aspects can be combined in any way.

[0082] A final aspect of the invention relates to an assembly of the above type, wherein the microphone is electrically connected to a conductor extending through the receiver. This aspect relates to an assembly of a receiver and a microphone, wherein:

[0083] - the receiver has a receiver housing and one or more first conductive parts exposed on the exterior of the receiver housing,

[0084] a microphone having a microphone housing and one or more second conductive parts exposed on the outside of the microphone housing, the microphone housing being arranged outside the receiver housing,

[0085] One or more electrical conductors are provided, each electrical conductor electrically connecting the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, at least a portion of the electrical conductor extending within the receiver housing.

[0086] Again, this aspect may be combined with any features of the above aspects and embodiments of the invention, for example to combine the advantages thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] In the following, preferred embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0088] - Figure 1 A first embodiment according to the present invention is described.

[0089] - Figure 2 A second embodiment according to the present invention is described.

[0090] - Figure 3 A third embodiment according to the present invention is described.

[0091] - Figure 4 A fourth embodiment according to the present invention is described.

[0092] - Figure 5A fifth embodiment according to the present invention is described, and

[0093] - Figure 6 The sixth embodiment according to the present invention has been described. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] exist Figure 1 , there is illustrated a component 10 including a receiver 20 having a receiver housing 21 having a first wall surface 22 with a sound output port 23 and a second wall surface 25 with a conductive pad 26, the conductive pad 26 being operable to feed a signal to a motor (indicated by 27) configured to drive a diaphragm 24 to generate sound to be output by the output port 23.

[0095] As is standard in particular for receivers for hearing aid applications or hearables, the receiver diaphragm 24 divides the inner volume of the housing 21 into two chambers: a first chamber above the diaphragm 24 , into which the sound output opens, and a second chamber below the diaphragm 24 .

[0096] The housing 21 has a lower recess or cavity 28 in which a microphone 30 is positioned. The microphone 30 has a front wall portion 31 in which a sound input port 32 is provided.

[0097] The microphone 30 is configured to receive sound and output a corresponding signal to a conductor 33 extending inside the receiver housing 21 and to a further conductive pad 34 arranged on the second wall surface 25. Thus, the connection of both the microphone and the receiver occurs at the same wall portion of the assembly, here the portion opposite the first wall surface 22 and the front wall portion 31. Furthermore, the conductor 33 is protected inside the housing 21 and is therefore less susceptible to damage during installation, for example, in a hearing aid or an ear-worn device.

[0098] The assembly of the present invention is well suited for use in the ear canal, such as for a hearing aid or an ear-worn device, wherein the sound output of the sound output port is fed to the ear drum, and wherein the microphone is configured to receive sound from the space between the ear drum and the assembly. The output of the microphone can be used to control the receiver.

[0099] Since the presence or addition of a microphone does not require an increase in the overall dimensions of the assembly, particularly in the up / down direction and in the direction away from the drawing sheet, the overall dimensions of the assembly can be made to fit inside the ear canal.

[0100] It has been found that providing the lower recess or cavity 28 reduces the sensitivity of the receiver only to an acceptable degree when the width, length and depth of the lower recess or cavity 28 are maintained (the lower recess or cavity 28 is created within the conventional dimensions of the receiver), even though it may reduce the overall volume of the receiver, especially the second chamber. Figure 1In the embodiment, the front chamber may have "usual" dimensions and volume, but the second chamber may be reduced by up to, for example, 10% with only a small and acceptable reduction in sensitivity.

[0101] In the Sonion 3500 receiver, the second chamber has a length of 7.50 mm, a width of 3.72 mm, and a height of 2.07 mm (thus a volume of 57.75 mm 3 ), the Sonion 3500 receiver has an outer length of 7.84 mm, an inner length (of the inner chamber) of 7.50 mm, an outer width of 4.06 mm, an inner width of 3.72 mm, an outer height of 2.57 mm, and an inner height of 2.40 mm (assuming a box shape, the outer volume is 81.80 mm 3 , the inner volume is 66.96mm 3 ).

[0102] The motor 27 can be arranged in the second chamber, and the overall volume is 20.81mm 3 , allowing the remaining volume of the second chamber to be 36.94mm 3 .

[0103] Microphones can be very small. The TDK4064 has a length of 2.70mm, a width of 1.60mm, and a height of 0.89mm, resulting in a volume (assuming a box shape) of only 3.84mm 3 The Cirrus CS7331 microphone has a length of 2.50mm, a width of 1.60mm, and a height of 0.90mm, resulting in a volume (box shape assumption) of 3.60mm 3 .

[0104] In the Sonion 3500 receiver, a 20% reduction in the volume of the second chamber results in a 1.5-2 dB low frequency loss (at 100 Hz). In practice, if a 5 dB sensitivity loss is acceptable, the second volume can be reduced by about 45%.

[0105] Note that the motor 27 may need to be redesigned to take up less of the receiver's length.

[0106] exist Figure 2 In component 11, Figure 1 Compared to the assembly 10 of FIG. 1 , the conductor 33 is arranged outside the housing 21. In addition, it can be seen that the second chamber can be smaller because the diaphragm 24 is now restricted by the lower recess or cavity 28.

[0107] exist Figure 3 Component 12, with Figure 1Compared to the assembly 10, the microphone 30 is now arranged in the second chamber. Then, the sound inlet 29 is arranged in the first wall surface 22 to allow sound to enter the housing 21 and the sound input port 32 of the microphone.

[0108] Likewise, the volume of the second chamber is reduced, but as mentioned above, this is acceptable.

[0109] However, in the present embodiment, the microphone 30 is disposed inside the receiver 20 and is therefore exposed to the sound pressure generated in the receiver. For this reason, it is desirable to select a microphone that can withstand this.

[0110] One way to render a microphone more resistant to high sound pressures is to provide the microphone with a stiffer housing, such as by providing a housing with a greater wall thickness. Another way is to choose a housing shape that is less prone to vibration. Vibrations of wall parts will be transmitted to sensitive parts of the microphone and generate false signals. The larger the area of ​​the wall, the more it is prone to vibrate or deform. On the other hand, the microphone should have a certain internal volume. Therefore, a more square or cubic microphone will usually have wall parts of more uniform size, so that no wall part is more prone to vibration than other parts.

[0111] The third aspect is related to the vibrations generated by the diaphragm 24. These vibrations are mainly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm 24. Therefore, the sensitive part of the microphone can be directed to be sensitive in other directions. Figure 3 In FIG. 3 , the sensitive part of microphone 30 is a diaphragm 35 which is positioned in a plane perpendicular to the plane of receiver diaphragm 24 so that vibrations in the plane of diaphragm 35 will translate diaphragm 35 without deforming it.

[0112] exist Figure 4 In the assembly 13, the microphone 30 is only partially positioned in the housing 21, wherein the front wall portion 31 of the microphone 30 forms the outer surface of the assembly. Therefore, the opening 28' of the housing 21 is sealed by the microphone 30, so that the sound inlet 29 is not necessary.

[0113] Obviously, in Figure 1 and 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, the microphone 30 need not be positioned in the lower recess or cavity 28 which may occupy the entire overall dimension of the microphone 30. The lower recess or cavity 28 may be made smaller so that the microphone will extend outside the lower recess or cavity 28. When projected onto the plane of the diaphragm 24, the receiver housing and the microphone housing will overlap to at least some extent so as to have a lower overall dimension than if the housings did not overlap in this projection.

[0114] The same is true when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm 24, such as a plane perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. And in this case too, an overlap is seen in the projection - for the same reason.

[0115] exist Figure 5 In FIG. 1 , an assembly 14 is seen in which a microphone 30 is arranged inside the receiver housing and in which a sound tube 40 is provided for directing sound from the sound inlet 29 to the microphone sound input port 32. The microphone may then be positioned anywhere in the receiver housing.

[0116] The sound tube 40 may be a separate element.The sound tube may be replaced by a sound guide which may be formed completely or partly by parts of the inner surface of the receiver housing and parts of the outer surface of the microphone.

[0117] exist Figure 6 , an assembly 15 is illustrated in which a sound inlet 29 is formed outside the receiver housing by an external element 41 which is also configured to direct received sound to the microphone, wherein an opening can be made in the receiver housing to allow sound to enter the receiver housing and be transmitted to the microphone.

[0118] The same is true for the other embodiments. Of course, when the microphone is completely positioned within the receiver housing, the overlap is 100%.

[0119] Furthermore, it is seen that a sensor (such as a microphone) can be positioned either outside or inside the receiver housing without changing the position or dimensions of the diaphragm (compared to the same receiver without the microphone therein), or without providing the receiver with a lower recess or cavity 28 but maintaining the dimensions of the motor and first chamber and diaphragm.

[0120] A standard or existing receiver can then be provided with a microphone therein and with a sound inlet to allow sound to enter the microphone. The receiver is now a component according to the invention and gains additional capabilities with a small and acceptable drop in low frequency sensitivity.

[0121] It is noted that a small microphone has a lower sensitivity than a larger microphone. However, this is not a problem because the sound pressure to be sensed by the microphone (especially in the inner ear situation) is very high. Therefore, the advantage of lower sensitivity works together with the advantage of lower microphone volume.

[0122] Thus, as described, the present assembly can be used in a hearing aid or an ear-worn device. Of course, such a hearing aid or an ear-worn device may include other components, such as a battery, an antenna or coil, a processor, an amplifier, other circuits, and the like.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a receiver and a sensor, wherein: - The receiver comprises: o receiver housing, with a maximum dimension not exceeding 10 mm, o a receiver diaphragm, which together with the inner surface of the receiver housing defines a first chamber in the receiver housing having a sound output port and a second chamber in the receiver housing, - the sensor comprises a sensor housing at least partially inside the second chamber, and - the sensor housing or the part of the sensor housing inside the second chamber has a volume which does not exceed 20% of the volume of the second chamber, Wherein the sensor is a microphone, the microphone comprises a microphone diaphragm which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main direction of vibration caused by the receiver.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is box-shaped and has six outer wall sections, wherein the wall section with the largest surface area has a surface area no greater than twice the surface area of ​​the wall section with the smallest surface area.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing has a wall thickness of at least 0.5 mm.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the sensor housing is attached to the receiver housing.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more conductors connected to the sensor housing and extending outside of the sensor housing, at least a portion of the conductors extending inside the receiver housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the receiver diaphragm and the sensor housing at least partially overlap when projected onto a first plane.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein when projected onto a first plane, the receiver housing and the sensor housing overlap in projection an area of ​​at least 10% of an area of ​​the sensor housing.

8. An assembly comprising a sensor and a receiver, wherein: - The receiver comprises: o a receiver housing having a receiver housing wall portion including a sound output opening, said receiver housing having a maximum dimension not exceeding 10 mm, o a receiver diaphragm, which together with an inner surface of the receiver housing defines a first chamber in the receiver housing, - the sensor comprises a sensor housing, - when projected onto a first plane, the receiver housing and the sensor housing at least partially overlap, and - the receiver housing and the sensor housing at least partially overlap when projected onto a second plane perpendicular to the first plane, Wherein the sensor is a microphone, the microphone comprises a microphone diaphragm which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main direction of vibration caused by the receiver.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor housing is positioned at least partially within the receiver housing.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor housing is positioned at least partially exterior to the receiver housing.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the sensor housing has an outer volume that is no more than 20% of the inner volume of the receiver housing.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the receiver has a sound output port in the housing wall portion, wherein the sensor is a microphone, the microphone being positioned so that the sound input port can receive sound from the sound output port.

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