Speaker system for an in-ear hearing device

Abstract

Loudspeaker system (8) for an in-ear hearing device (1), comprising - a loudspeaker (6) with a housing (9) having a sound outlet opening arranged in a coupling surface of the housing (9), - an antenna body (10) comprising a carrier plate (20) with a sound passage opening, a carrier sleeve (22) rigidly connected to the carrier plate (20) and fluidically connected to its sound passage opening, and an antenna coil (24) wound around the carrier sleeve (22), and - a damping body (12) made of a compliant material, by means of which the loudspeaker (6) is coupled with its coupling surface to the support plate (20) of the antenna body (10), wherein the damping body (12) is essentially plate-shaped and has additional projecting elements, in particular a side wall (38), for positioning the loudspeaker (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a loudspeaker system for an in-ear hearing device. The invention also relates to a hearing device.

[0002] Hearing devices are typically used to output an audio signal to the wearer's ear. This output is achieved via an output transducer, usually acoustically through sound waves transmitted via a loudspeaker (also called a "receiver"). Such hearing devices are frequently used as assistive listening devices (or simply hearing aids). They typically include an acoustic input transducer (especially a microphone) and a signal processor. This processor is designed to process the input signal (also called the microphone signal) generated from the ambient sound by the input transducer, using at least one user-specific signal processing algorithm, in such a way as to at least partially compensate for the wearer's hearing loss.Particularly in the case of a hearing aid, the output transducer can be a loudspeaker, a bone conduction receiver, or a cochlear implant, all of which are designed to mechanically or electrically couple the sound signal into the wearer's ear. The term "hearing devices" also includes devices such as tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones, and similar devices.

[0003] Typical designs of hearing devices, especially hearing aids, are behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (ILE or ITE) devices. These terms refer to the intended wearing position. Behind-the-ear hearing devices have a (main) housing that is worn behind the ear. A distinction can be made between models whose speaker is located within this housing—sound is typically delivered to the ear via a sound tube placed in the ear canal—and models that have an external speaker positioned in the ear canal. In-the-ear hearing devices, on the other hand, have a housing that is worn in the ear or even entirely within the ear canal.

[0004] In-the-ear hearing aids, as is well known, require the smallest possible design to accommodate all necessary electrical components within the ear canal or at least within the outer ear. However, some components, such as loudspeakers and / or microphones, also require vibration-damped mounting to prevent (body-borne) sound transmission from the loudspeaker to other components (especially a microphone) and to avoid mechanical damage to these components. Such mounting, however, usually requires a relatively large amount of space.

[0005] German patent application DE 10 2013 210 689 B3 describes an antenna device for hearing instruments, particularly for hearing instruments worn in the ear canal. This device comprises an antenna arrangement with a preferred transmit and receive direction and a further electrical hearing instrument component that emits electromagnetic interference predominantly in an interference radiation direction. The antenna arrangement and the further hearing instrument component are arranged such that the transmit and receive direction and the interference radiation direction are oriented perpendicular to each other, thereby reducing the coupling of interference radiation into the antenna arrangement. This reduction in interference coupling into the antenna arrangement enables a higher transmit and receive bandwidth with the same overall size and energy consumption.The additional hearing instrument component may be a receiver or another component, particularly one emitting inductive or electromagnetic radiation. A comparable antenna device is known from US 2015 / 0201290 A1.

[0006] DE 10 2017 215 372 A1 describes an antenna device for wireless data transmission, in particular by means of magnetic induction, wherein the antenna device comprises an antenna core made of a polymeric matrix material in which a soft magnetic filler is embedded.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing an improved mounting of a loudspeaker in a hearing device.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by a loudspeaker system with the features of claim 1. Furthermore, this problem is solved according to the invention by a hearing device with the features of claim 8. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0009] The loudspeaker system according to the invention is designed and intended for use with, specifically in, a hearing aid worn in the ear (e.g., an IDO). For this purpose, the loudspeaker system comprises a loudspeaker with a housing, which in turn has a sound outlet located in a coupling surface of the housing. Furthermore, the loudspeaker system comprises an antenna element, which includes a carrier plate with a sound passage opening, a carrier sleeve rigidly connected to the carrier plate and fluidically connected to its sound passage opening, and an antenna coil wound around the carrier sleeve. The loudspeaker system also includes a damping element made of a compliant material, by means of which the loudspeaker is coupled to the carrier plate of the antenna element via its coupling surface. The loudspeaker system thus comprises the loudspeaker and the antenna as its main components.The loudspeaker is coupled to the mounting plate for the antenna (or its mounting sleeve) by means of the damping body.

[0010] The hearing device according to the invention, which is to be worn in the ear, comprises a housing body and the loudspeaker system described in more detail here and below. The loudspeaker system is held in the housing body by means of the antenna body.

[0011] In-the-ear hearing aids, especially those for binaural use, often feature a coiled antenna to transmit data over a relatively short distance and with optimal directionality. Since in-the-ear hearing aids are frequently very compact, a space-saving arrangement of all components is essential. The combination of loudspeaker and antenna coil described above has often proven effective, as the loudspeaker typically has a sound outlet (also called a "spout") through which it is coupled to a sound guide leading to the user's ear. This sound outlet is usually omitted in the present design. Its function is taken over by the mounting sleeve, which also forms the ferrite core for the antenna coil.

[0012] According to the present invention, the antenna element is coupled to the loudspeaker by means of the damping element. This is advantageous because, in such a design, the loudspeaker is usually held in the housing of the hearing aid by means of the antenna element. The damping element thus enables vibration decoupling or at least damping of the loudspeaker from the housing of the hearing aid.

[0013] The hearing device has the same features and advantages as the loudspeaker system.

[0014] The damping element is essentially plate-shaped, i.e., particularly flat and cuboid-like. Specifically, the damping element has a plate or an essentially plate-shaped basic structure. This plate can, for example, be plane-parallel. This results in a particularly simple design.

[0015] The term "essentially plate-shaped" here and in the following refers specifically to the fact that, in an optional variant, the damping element can also be designed such that the loudspeaker is slightly recessed into the damping element, for example, by a maximum of 5 or 10 percent of its thickness. This offers advantages primarily during installation. For instance, if the loudspeaker is glued to the damping element, it can be aligned relatively easily (or vice versa).

[0016] In an alternative variant (particularly compared to the plane-parallel design of the plate), the damping element, especially its plate-shaped basic structure, has a wedge shape. That is, the plate has two opposing flat sides angled towards each other, in particular a very shallow angle of less than 15°, preferably less than 10°. The "flat sides" are to be understood as the two large, flat side surfaces of the "plate" bounded by the edge surfaces running approximately perpendicular to them.

[0017] Furthermore, the damping body has additional elements for positioning the loudspeaker (especially on the damping body). These elements are formed, for example, by at least one side wall that projects at least approximately perpendicularly from the plate described above.

[0018] Optionally, the damping body also features mounting means by which the loudspeaker can be attached to the housing of the hearing aid, or simply supported, in addition to being secured by the antenna element. For simple support, these mounting means can, for example, be formed by pin-like extensions that brace the loudspeaker system against the inside of the housing. For mounting, these mounting means are advantageously designed as a T-piece. This T-piece, for example, is formed on the side wall described above, but can also protrude from the plate-shaped base structure of the damping body. When mounting the loudspeaker system in the housing, the T-piece is inserted into a corresponding groove ("T-slot") formed in the housing, thus providing a fixation towards the "base" of the T.

[0019] Ideally, the loudspeaker and the antenna body are glued to the damping body. Alternatively, they can also be welded together.

[0020] To protect the loudspeaker as comprehensively as possible against damage if the hearing aid is dropped, for example, an advantageous embodiment incorporates a material thickness and / or shear modulus of the damping element (in particular its plate or plate-shaped base structure) selected such that, for a predetermined drop height, which is ideally based on the height of the person using the hearing aid, and a predetermined maximum acceleration for the loudspeaker, a sufficient braking distance is provided by the damping element. Preferably, this braking distance is dimensioned to run parallel to the coupling surface of the loudspeaker, i.e., in the plane of the planar extent of the damping element.

[0021] The material thickness or shear modulus – in particular the required shear modulus value – is preferably additionally dimensioned as a function of a deceleration force and a connection area (in particular its size) of the damping body to the coupling surface and / or to the support plate, using the following formula, which in particular forms a first approximation or first design (e.g. for a subsequent, based on a simulation-based component design of the damping body): G=FshsdAb

[0022] This includes G of the shear modulus F S the delay force, h the material thickness, s d the delay path, and A b the connection area.

[0023] The deceleration force results from this. FS=Epotsd=mgcHsd with in the mass of the loudspeaker G cthe acceleration due to gravity, which is assumed to be constant, and H is the fall height.

[0024] The delay path is determined from Sd=Hgzul with G zul the maximum permissible acceleration for the loudspeaker.

[0025] In particular, the damping element satisfies the conditions introduced above as formulas (1) to (3).

[0026] Assuming a maximum permissible acceleration (for the loudspeaker) of 8,000 times the acceleration due to gravity (g) and a drop height of 1.65 m, this results in a deceleration distance of approximately 0.21 mm, which must be accommodated by the damping element. This can be achieved, in particular, by using a flexible material (e.g., an elastomer) with a shear modulus of less than 3 N / mm². 2This is achieved by using an elastomer (e.g., a rubber) with a Shore hardness of 90. Due to the installation situation of the loudspeaker system, this delay path is primarily required in the surface direction of the damping element. Delay paths in other spatial directions (e.g., perpendicular (plus / minus 10 degrees) to the surface extent of the damping element) can usually be compensated for or provided by the housing of the hearing aid (especially in the insertion direction of the hearing aid) – particularly in combination with the damping element, which is primarily subjected to tensile and compressive stresses. The component design and the design of the damping element are preferably carried out using simulation – e.g., a drop test and / or vibration simulation. Optionally, simulation iteration is also used.In particular, the above-described design based on formulas (1) to (3) provides a starting point for the simulation-based design, in which a sufficient damping effect is optionally (iteratively) investigated step by step.

[0027] The connection surface corresponds, for example, to the coupling surface of the loudspeaker or to a corresponding surface of the mounting plate of the antenna body.

[0028] In another practical embodiment, the speaker's connection contacts are arranged in a connection surface of the housing that differs from the coupling surface.

[0029] In a particularly practical design, the loudspeaker system is mechanically mounted to the housing solely by means of the antenna element. Any potential force transmission via electrical wiring between the loudspeaker and electronics is negligible and preferably designed in such a way that no intentional force dissipation occurs. For example, the cables are laid with sufficient looseness (even "slack" or not taut).

[0030] The conjunction “and / or” is to be understood here and in the following in particular as meaning that the features linked by means of this conjunction can be formed both jointly and as alternatives to each other.

[0031] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 in a schematic side view a hearing device to be worn in the ear, Fig. 2. A schematic view of a loudspeaker system in perspective. Fig. 3, Fig. 4 each in view according to Fig. 2 schematically shows a damping body of the loudspeaker system from different sides, Fig. 5 in view according to Fig. 1 the hearing device in a semi-transparent representation and Fig. Figure 6 schematically shows another embodiment of the loudspeaker system in a perspective view.

[0032] Corresponding parts in all figures are always marked with the same reference symbols.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically depicts an in-the-ear hearing device, referred to as ITE 1. The ITE 1 has a housing 2 shaped to be inserted into the ear canal of a user. For retention in the ear canal and acoustic sealing, the ITE 1 has an earpiece 4 made of an elastomer. Electronic components of the ITE 1 are arranged within the housing 2 (see also Fig. 5) These include a loudspeaker 6, which in the present embodiment is part of a loudspeaker system 8 ( Fig. 2).

[0034] The loudspeaker system 8 comprises the loudspeaker 6, which is designed with a cuboid-shaped housing 9. Furthermore, the loudspeaker system 8 comprises an antenna element 10 and a damping element 12, which is arranged between the loudspeaker 6 and the antenna element 10.

[0035] The loudspeaker 6 has a sound outlet opening on a side surface (not shown in detail) referred to as the coupling surface, which rests against the damping body 12. On a side or end surface 14 perpendicular to this (also called the "connection surface"), the loudspeaker 6 has several connection contacts 16.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the damping element 12 is designed as a flat plate spanning the coupling surface of the loudspeaker 6. Furthermore, the damping element 12 is slightly concave (see figure). Fig. 3), so that the loudspeaker 6 is recessed into the damping body 12, but only by less than 5 percent of the height of the front surface 14. The damping body 12 also has a sound opening 18 which, in the intended assembly state, is aligned with the sound outlet opening of the loudspeaker 6.

[0037] The antenna body 10 comprises a mounting plate 20 and a mounting sleeve 22 mounted on this mounting plate 20. The mounting plate 20 has a sound passage opening (not shown) which, in its intended assembly state, is in fluidic communication with the sound outlet opening of the loudspeaker 6 and thus also with the sound opening 18. The mounting sleeve 22 is hollow. Both the mounting sleeve 22 and the mounting plate 20 are made of ferrite. The antenna body 10 also comprises an antenna coil 24, the coil wire of which is wound around the mounting sleeve 22.

[0038] The loudspeaker 6 is bonded to the damping element 12 at a first adhesive surface 26, and the damping element 12 is bonded to the carrier plate 20 via a second adhesive surface 28. The damping element 12 is designed according to a maximum permissible acceleration for the loudspeaker 6. For this purpose, a shear modulus for the material of the damping element 12 is determined using the formulas (1) to (3) introduced above, based on an expected drop height, a thickness of the damping element 12, an area on which the damping element 12 is fixed ("bonding surface", e.g., the adhesive surface 28 to the carrier plate 20 or the adhesive surface 26 to the loudspeaker 6), a deceleration force, and a deceleration distance. This shear modulus is preferably less than 3 N / mm². 2 .

[0039] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the loudspeaker system 8, with the support sleeve 22 at its front, is arranged in the housing body 2 at an end 30 that is intended to point towards the eardrum and is fixed by means of the support sleeve 22. Thus, the loudspeaker 6 is supported and fixed relative to the housing body 2 solely by means of the damping element 12. In the event of a fall of the in-the-ear (ITE) 1, impacts in the longitudinal direction 32 can already be partially compensated by the housing body 2. In the transverse direction 34, i.e., in the surface direction of the damping element 12, its design described above comes into play, so that such transverse accelerations are absorbed by the damping element 12. However, longitudinal accelerations can also be absorbed, at least to a certain extent or partially, by tensile and compressive deformations of the damping element 12 in the thickness direction. Additional support for the loudspeaker 6 is not required.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the loudspeaker system 8, specifically of the damping element 12. Here, the damping element 12 is formed by a wedge-shaped plate 36, in which the recess described above is not formed. The wedge shape of the plate 36 makes it possible to dampen a specific direction of fall more effectively. This design was determined by simulation, starting from a starting point determined using formulas (1) to (3). Therefore, the direction of the wedge can also be oriented differently, e.g., in the illustration of the Fig. 6 from the top (i.e., from the edge facing the connection contacts 16, where the wall thickness is thin) to the bottom (where the wall thickness is thicker).

[0041] In addition to this plate 36, the damping body 12 also has a side wall 38, which is oriented perpendicular to the plate 36 and rests against the side of the loudspeaker 6. This plate 36 provides additional damping.

[0042] Furthermore, the damping body 12 has fastening means for additionally fixing the loudspeaker 6 in the housing body 2. These are designed in the form of a T-piece 40, which is formed on the side wall 38. Specifically, the T-piece 40 serves to be inserted into a corresponding groove (not shown) formed in the housing body 2. The T-piece 40 is made of the same material as the plate 36 (and this, like the damping body 12 from the previous embodiment) and also the side wall 38. This results in additional stabilization and thus also vibration damping for the loudspeaker. Optionally, the side wall 38 and / or the T-piece 40 can be omitted when the fastening body 12 is designed with the wedge-shaped plate 36.

[0043] The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description. Reference symbol list 1 IdO 2 Housing bodies 4 earpiece 6 speakers 8 speaker system 9 cases 10 antenna bodies 12 damping elements 14 Front surface 16 connection contacts 18 Sound opening 20 carrier plate 22 Carrier sleeve 24 antenna coils 26 adhesive surface 28 adhesive surfaces 30 End 32 Longitudinal direction 34 Transverse direction 36 plate 38 side wall 40 T-piece

Claims

[1] Loudspeaker system (8) for an in-ear hearing device (1), comprising - a loudspeaker (6) with a housing (9) having a sound outlet opening arranged in a coupling surface of the housing (9), - an antenna body (10) comprising a carrier plate (20) with a sound passage opening, a carrier sleeve (22) rigidly connected to the carrier plate (20) and fluidically connected to its sound passage opening, and an antenna coil (24) wound around the carrier sleeve (22), and - a damping body (12) made of a flexible material, by means of which the loudspeaker (6) is coupled with its coupling surface to the carrier plate (20) of the antenna body (10), wherein the damping body (12) is substantially plate-shaped and has additional protruding elements, in particular a side wall (38), for positioning the loudspeaker (6). [2] Loudspeaker system (8) according to claim 1, wherein the damping body (12) is designed such that the loudspeaker (6) dips slightly into the damping body (12). [3] Loudspeaker system (8) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the damping body (12) has a wedge shape. [4] Loudspeaker system (8) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the damping body (12) has additional fastening means (40) for fastening the loudspeaker (6) in a housing body (2) of the hearing device (1). [5] Loudspeaker system (8) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a material thickness (h) and / or a shear modulus (G) of the damping body (12) are selected such that, at a predetermined fall height (H), which is in particular based on a body size of a person using the hearing device (1), and a predetermined maximum acceleration for the loudspeaker (6), a sufficient braking distance (s d), in particular parallel to the coupling surface, is held by the damping body (12). [6] Loudspeaker system (8) according to claim 5, wherein the material thickness (h) and / or the shear modulus (G) are furthermore dependent on a deceleration force (F S ) and a connecting area (A b ) of the damping body (12) to the coupling surface and / or to the carrier plate (20), using the formula G=FshsdAb is measured. [7] Loudspeaker system (8) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein connection contacts (16) of the loudspeaker (6) are arranged in a connection surface (14) of the housing (9) which deviates from the coupling surface. [8] Hearing device (1) to be worn in the ear, comprising a housing body (2) and the loudspeaker system (8) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the loudspeaker system (8) is held in the housing body (2) by means of the antenna body (10).

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