A behind-the-ear hearing aid
By embedding multiple directional microphones and independent acoustic channels into the shell of the behind-the-ear hearing aid, combined with an electrically adjustable acoustic damper and a PLC controller, the problem of insufficient speech clarity in complex acoustic environments is solved, achieving better noise suppression and speech pickup effects.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- 惠州市第六人民医院
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing behind-the-ear hearing aids have difficulty effectively separating the target sound source from interference in complex acoustic environments, resulting in insufficient speech clarity and susceptibility to wind noise and resonance in specific frequency bands.
Multiple miniature directional microphones are embedded in the front, top, and rear sides of the hearing aid shell, and an independent acoustic duct is set inside. The duct contains an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper. The acoustic impedance is dynamically adjusted by a PLC controller. Combined with a piezoelectrically driven microporous plate and an acoustic waveguide nano-coating, physical noise reduction and signal-to-noise ratio improvement are achieved.
It enhances the ability to pick up speech from targets in front, suppresses noise from the sides and rear and wind noise, improves speech clarity, and enhances the user's listening experience.
Smart Images
Figure CN224439184U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hearing aid technology, and in particular to a behind-the-ear hearing aid. Background Technology
[0002] Hearing aids are assistive devices used by people with hearing impairments to compensate for the deficiencies caused by hearing loss, thereby improving their ability to communicate and converse with others. Any hearing aid comprises six basic components: a microphone, amplifier, receiver, battery, and various volume and tone knobs. Hearing aids are categorized by sound amplification level (low-power, medium-power, and high-power); by shape (body-mount, behind-the-ear, and in-the-ear); by technology (analog, digitally programmable, and fully digital); and by wearing position and shape (behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, and completely in-the-canal). When wearing a hearing aid, the appropriate product should be selected based on the hearing aid's electroacoustic characteristics and the patient's hearing characteristics and needs. After wearing the hearing aid, it is best to familiarize yourself with various background sounds in a quiet environment and try to distinguish each sound.
[0003] Existing behind-the-ear hearing aids lack speech clarity in complex acoustic environments, such as those with background noise and reverberation. Traditional microphone layouts and acoustic duct designs are difficult to effectively separate the target sound source from interference, and they are easily affected by wind noise and resonance in specific frequency bands. Utility Model Content
[0004] To overcome the technical defects of the existing technology, this utility model provides a behind-the-ear hearing aid.
[0005] The technical solution adopted by this utility model is: a behind-the-ear hearing aid, including a hearing aid suspension shell and an amplifier, receiver and battery disposed inside the hearing aid suspension shell. Multiple miniature directional microphones are embedded on the front, upper and rear sides of the hearing aid suspension shell. Multiple independent acoustic channels are provided inside the hearing aid suspension shell, each independent acoustic channel corresponding to each miniature directional microphone. Each independent acoustic channel is provided with an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper. A PLC controller is installed inside the hearing aid suspension shell. The PLC controller is electrically connected to all miniature acoustic dampers. The PLC controller is used to dynamically adjust the acoustic impedance of each miniature acoustic damper.
[0006] Preferably, there are two miniature directional microphones on the front side, and one miniature directional microphone on the upper side and one on the rear side.
[0007] Preferably, the miniature directional microphone adopts a piezoelectric-driven microperforated plate structure, and the aperture adjustment range of the piezoelectric-driven microperforated plate structure is set to 0.1-0.5mm.
[0008] Preferably, the PLC controller has a built-in sound scene classification module.
[0009] Preferably, the inner wall of the independent acoustic duct is coated with an acoustic waveguide nano-coating.
[0010] Preferably, one end of the hearing aid's hanging shell is connected to an oxygen-permeable bionic earmold, which is integrally molded from medical-grade oxygen-permeable silicone.
[0011] Preferably, the inner surface of the oxygen-permeable bionic earmold is provided with bionic spiral grooves.
[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By embedding miniature directional microphones on the front, top, and rear sides of the hearing aid shell, forming an asymmetrical spatial distribution, and by setting multiple independent acoustic channels inside the hearing aid shell, the ability to pick up target speech from the front is enhanced from a physical perspective. Each independent acoustic channel is equipped with an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper, which can physically reduce noise, suppress side and rear noise, wind noise, and interference in specific frequency bands, and improve the basic signal-to-noise ratio. The independent acoustic channels can physically isolate the sound signals of each channel. The PLC controller adjusts the opening / damping coefficient of the miniature acoustic damper in the corresponding independent acoustic channel in real time according to the characteristics of the ambient sound, physically attenuating the noise-dominant channel, improving speech clarity, and enhancing the user's listening experience. Attached Figure Description
[0013] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;
[0015] Figure 2 This is a partially enlarged structural cross-sectional view of the present invention.
[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Hearing aid suspension shell; 2. Miniature directional microphone; 3. Independent acoustic duct; 301 acoustic waveguide nano-coating; 4. Miniature acoustic damper; 5. PLC controller; 501. Sound scene classification module; 6. Oxygen-permeable bionic earmold; 601. Bionic spiral groove. Detailed Implementation
[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the various embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the various embodiments of this utility model to facilitate a better understanding of this application. However, the technical solutions claimed in the claims of this application can be implemented even without these technical details and with various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments.
[0018] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a behind-the-ear hearing aid, including a hearing aid suspension shell 1 and an amplifier, receiver, and battery disposed inside the hearing aid suspension shell 1. Multiple miniature directional microphones 2 are embedded on the front, top, and rear sides of the hearing aid suspension shell 1. Multiple independent acoustic channels 3 are provided inside the hearing aid suspension shell 1, each corresponding to one of the miniature directional microphones 2. Each independent acoustic channel 3 contains an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper 4. A PLC controller 5 is installed inside the hearing aid suspension shell 1 and is electrically connected to all the miniature acoustic dampers 4. The PLC controller 5 is used to dynamically adjust the acoustic impedance of each miniature acoustic damper 4. Miniature directional microphones 2 are embedded in the front, top, and rear sides of the shell 1, forming an asymmetrical spatial distribution. Multiple independent acoustic channels 3 are set inside the hearing aid shell 1, which physically enhances the ability to pick up target speech from the front. Each independent acoustic channel 3 is equipped with an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper 4, which can physically reduce noise, suppress side and rear noise, wind noise, and interference in specific frequency bands, and improve the basic signal-to-noise ratio. The independent acoustic channels 3 can physically isolate the sound signals of each channel. The PLC controller 5 adjusts the opening degree / damping coefficient of the miniature acoustic damper 4 in the corresponding independent acoustic channel 3 in real time according to the characteristics of the ambient sound, physically attenuating the noise-dominant channel, improving speech clarity, and improving the user's listening experience.
[0019] Two miniature directional microphones 2 are provided on the front side, and one miniature directional microphone 2 is provided on the upper side and one on the rear side. The two miniature directional microphones 2 on the front side enhance the pickup sensitivity of the main direction of speech, while the miniature directional microphones 2 on the upper side and the rear side can accurately capture the characteristics of environmental noise.
[0020] The miniature directional microphone 2 adopts a piezoelectric driven microperforated plate structure. The aperture adjustment range of the piezoelectric driven microperforated plate structure is set to 0.1-0.5mm. The piezoelectric driven microperforated plate structure realizes wide-band acoustic damping adjustment through physical aperture change, effectively suppressing wind noise frequency band. The PLC controller 5 outputs a voltage signal to change the deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic, driving the lateral displacement of the microperforated plate to realize continuous aperture adjustment. High-frequency noise is attenuated due to the sudden change in acoustic impedance when passing through the small aperture.
[0021] The PLC controller 5 has a built-in sound scene classification module 501, which dynamically generates the control strategy of the micro acoustic damper 4 based on the signal phase difference and spectral characteristics of each micro directional microphone 2. The combination of physical noise reduction and intelligent acoustic scene decision-making can effectively suppress sudden noise and avoid loss of speech segments.
[0022] The inner wall of the independent acoustic duct 3 is coated with an acoustic waveguide nano-coating 301. The coating material of the acoustic waveguide nano-coating 301 is a polytetrafluoroethylene-silica composite, which reduces the sound wave scattering loss in the independent acoustic duct 3, ensures the integrity of high-frequency speech component transmission, and improves the clarity of consonants.
[0023] One end of the hearing aid suspension shell 1 is connected to an oxygen-permeable bionic earmold 6, which is integrally molded from medical-grade oxygen-permeable silicone to prevent oxygen deficiency in the ear canal skin.
[0024] The inner surface of the oxygen-permeable bionic earmold 6 is provided with a bionic spiral groove 601, which reduces the contact area with the ear canal and physically eliminates the ear blockage effect.
[0025] During operation, miniature directional microphones 2 are embedded in the front, top, and rear sides of the hearing aid housing 1, forming an asymmetrical spatial distribution. Multiple independent acoustic channels 3 are set inside the hearing aid housing 1, which physically enhances the ability to pick up target speech from the front. Each independent acoustic channel 3 is equipped with an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper 4, which can physically reduce noise, suppress side and rear noise, wind noise, and interference in specific frequency bands, and improve the basic signal-to-noise ratio. The independent acoustic channels 3 can physically isolate the sound signals of each channel. The PLC controller 5 adjusts the opening degree / damping coefficient of the miniature acoustic damper 4 in the corresponding independent acoustic channel 3 in real time according to the characteristics of the ambient sound, physically attenuating the noise-dominant channel, improving speech clarity, and enhancing the user's listening experience.
[0026] Furthermore, any content not described in detail in this specification is existing technology known to those skilled in the art.
[0027] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific examples of implementing the present invention, and in practical applications, various changes can be made to them in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising a hearing aid suspension housing (1) and an amplifier, a receiver and a battery arranged inside the hearing aid suspension housing (1), characterized in that: Multiple miniature directional microphones (2) are embedded in the front, top, and rear sides of the hearing aid suspension shell (1). Multiple independent acoustic channels (3) are provided inside the hearing aid suspension shell (1). Each independent acoustic channel (3) corresponds to each miniature directional microphone (2). Each independent acoustic channel (3) is provided with an electrically adjustable miniature acoustic damper (4). A PLC controller (5) is installed inside the hearing aid suspension shell (1). The PLC controller (5) is electrically connected to all miniature acoustic dampers (4). The PLC controller (5) is used to dynamically adjust the acoustic impedance of each miniature acoustic damper (4).
2. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two miniature directional microphones (2) are provided on the front side, and one miniature directional microphone (2) is provided on the upper side and the rear side.
3. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 2, characterized in that: The miniature directional microphone (2) adopts a piezoelectric driven microperforated plate structure, and the aperture adjustment range of the piezoelectric driven microperforated plate structure is set to 0.1-0.5mm.
4. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PLC controller (5) has a built-in sound scene classification module (501).
5. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the independent acoustic conduit (3) is coated with an acoustic waveguide nano-coating (301).
6. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the hearing aid suspension shell (1) is connected to an oxygen-permeable bionic earmold (6), which is integrally molded from medical-grade oxygen-permeable silicone.
7. A behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner surface of the oxygen-permeable bionic earmold (6) is provided with bionic spiral grooves (601).