Hearing device worn on the ear with in-ear microphone

Abstract

Ear-worn hearing device, comprising: a grommet configured to be worn on the user's auricle or at least partially in the user's ear canal, wherein the grommet includes a passage extending to an opening of the grommet; a loudspeaker comprising a sound outlet acoustically connected to the opening of the grommet via a loudspeaker sound path; a carrier comprising a section that can be inserted into the passage of the nozzle; a microphone that is connected to the carrier and acoustically coupled to the opening of the grommet via a microphone sound path; the microphone is positioned in the opening of the grommet when the interface section of the carrier is inserted into the opening.

Description

AREA OF REVELATION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to hearing devices worn on the ear and in particular to those comprising a loudspeaker and an in-ear microphone, as well as to hearing device subassemblies and components for such hearing devices. BACKGROUND

[0002] Some on-the-ear hearing devices include a loudspeaker housed in a casing with a nozzle configured to be at least partially inserted into a user's ear canal. Such a device is a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing device. Advances in audio signal processing, miniaturization, reduced power consumption, and lower costs have led to the increasing prevalence of active noise cancellation (ANC) and other audio enhancement features in on-the-ear hearing devices. These audio enhancement features incorporate a microphone capable of detecting the conditions inside the user's ear. However, the loudspeaker's sound path can interfere with the microphone's sound path.Furthermore, the proper integration of these and other components into the hearing device is difficult, and improper arrangement can lead to performance problems and increased costs. Therefore, there is a continuous need for improved on-the-ear hearing devices, assemblies, and components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure are explained in more detail below with reference to the detailed description and the accompanying claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings show only representative embodiments and implementations and do not limit the teachings of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the accompanying claims. Fig. 1 is a representative on-the-ear hearing device comprising an on-the-ear unit connected to a base unit via an electrical cable. Fig. Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of a representative ear-worn hearing device comprising a carrier having a microphone with a distributor. Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a representative support. Fig. Figure 4 is an exploded view of a representative microphone arrangement and distributor. Fig. Figure 5 is a sectional view of a representative microphone arrangement and distributor. Fig. 6 is a sectional view along lines aa in Fig. 2.

[0004] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the drawings are presented for the sake of simplicity and clarity and may therefore not be to scale and may not include known features, that the sequence of actions or steps may differ from that described, that some or all of these actions or steps may be carried out simultaneously unless otherwise indicated, and that the terms and expressions used herein have meanings known to those skilled in the art unless a different meaning is expressly assigned to them. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] The disclosure relates generally to on-the-ear hearing devices comprising a loudspeaker and an in-the-ear microphone, as well as to hearing device subassemblies and components. Such hearing devices include, but are not limited to, receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing devices, in-the-ear (ITE) devices, in-the-canal (ITC) devices, and true wireless stereo (TWS) devices, as well as other earphones and hearing devices worn in the user's auricle or at least partially in the user's ear canal. Representative implementations are described here.

[0006] Fig. Figure 1 shows a representative on-the-ear hearing device 100, comprising an on-the-ear unit 110 connected to a base unit 120 via an electrical cable 130. The electrical cable includes a first end section connected to an interface 140 of the on-the-ear unit and a second end section comprising a connector that is detachably or permanently connected to the base unit. The first end section of the electrical cable is electrically connected to one or more electrical components (e.g., a loudspeaker or sensor) of the on-the-ear unit. The second end section of the electrical cable is electrically connected or connectable to electrical components (e.g., a processor or other electrical circuits) of the base unit.An ear-worn unit, alone or in combination with the electrical cable 130, is also referred to here as a "receiver-in-canal (RIC) unit" or "speaker component". An elastic ear cup 114 may be connected to a ribbed grommet to support the ear-worn unit, at least partially, in the user's ear canal.

[0007] The ear-worn unit generally comprises one or more loudspeakers that produce sound in response to an electrical audio signal provided by the base unit. The one or more loudspeakers can be balanced-armature receivers (referred to here simply as "receivers"), dynamic loudspeakers, or a combination of both. Receivers generally include a diaphragm that divides the interior of a loudspeaker enclosure into a rear volume and a front volume with a sound outlet, and a motor with an armature plate whose moving end section acts as a link to the diaphragm. Receivers are also called moving-iron loudspeakers because the armature moves relative to a fixed coil. In dynamic loudspeakers (also known as moving-coil loudspeakers), the coil is coupled to the diaphragm and moves with it.Receivers are relatively small and efficient, making them particularly suitable for use in hearing devices configured to be worn in or partially in the user's ear canal (for example, RIC and ITC hearing devices). Hearing devices configured to be worn on the outer ear generally have more space for multiple receivers and dynamic loudspeakers.

[0008] In Fig. Figure 1 is the representative base unit 120, also referred to here as the behind-the-ear (BTE) unit or component, configured to be worn behind the user's ear. Alternatively, the base unit can be configured to be worn on or around another part of the body, such as the head, neck, or arm. The base unit generally includes a processor and other circuitry, one or more microphones, and a battery. The base unit may also include a wireless transceiver, among other circuitry and components. In this configuration, the base unit can capture acoustic signals and generate and process electrical audio signals (e.g., noise reduction, tone amplification, etc.) produced by the one or more microphones in response to the capture of the acoustic signals.The electrical audio signals are transmitted via the electrical cable 130 to the ear-worn unit 110.

[0009] In other on-the-ear (ATE) hearing devices, the components and functions of the ATE and the base unit described here are integrated into a single ATE. Such hearing devices may be ITE, ITC, and TWS devices, as well as other earphones and devices configured to be worn in the conch or at least partially in the user's ear canal. These and other ATE devices may or may not include an elastic earpiece. More generally, the configuration of the ATE and the configuration of the speakers, microphones, or other sensors within it depends on whether the device is configured to be worn on the conch, partially in the user's ear canal, or completely in the user's ear canal.

[0010] The one or more loudspeakers are at least partially arranged within a housing of the hearing device, which includes a grommet configured to be worn on the user's ear or at least partially in the user's ear canal. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The loudspeaker is completely enclosed by the housing. In other implementations, an exposed part of the loudspeaker housing may be an outer surface of the listening device. In any case, a sound outlet of one or more loudspeakers is acoustically connected to an opening in the grommet by a loudspeaker sound path extending through a passage in the grommet. Fig. 2 comprises a representative, ear-worn hearing device 110, a receiver 116 which is at least partially arranged in a hearing device housing 112 having a grommet 203 configured to be inserted at least partially into the user's ear canal. The grommet may include a flatter flap or other shaped section that faces the user's ear when the hearing device is configured for wear on the auricle. The grommet includes a passage that terminates at an opening 207 in the grommet. A loudspeaker sound path 205 extends between a sound outlet 117 of the loudspeaker and the opening 207 of the grommet.

[0011] The in-ear hearing device also includes a microphone positioned to detect sounds in the user's ear (the "in-ear microphone"). The microphone is acoustically coupled to the opening of the grommet via a microphone sound path, as further described herein. Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 A microphone 210 is arranged in the passage of the grommet 203 between the grommet opening 207 and the one or more loudspeakers 116. In Fig. 2 A flexible circuit or other conductor 211 connects the microphone 210 to an electrical interface or other circuits of the hearing device. Additional sensors can also be integrated into the hearing device. Fig. 2 is a second microphone 236 located in the hearing device housing 112, acoustically coupled to a sound opening 113 to detect sounds originating outside the user's ear. In some hearing aids, the microphone for detecting sounds outside the ear may be integrated into a behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, as described herein, instead of or in addition to the speaker unit. In other implementations, the additional sensor may be a vibration sensor positioned to detect vibrations transmitted through the user's body. A sound opening is not required for a vibration sensor integrated into the BTE hearing device.

[0012] On-the-ear hearing aids that include an in-ear acoustic sensor can offer enhanced audio performance. An in-ear microphone can be used alone or in combination with another microphone or sensor to capture ambient sounds, improve noise reduction, and reduce occlusion. The in-ear microphone can also be used as a probe to obtain real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) measurements for custom hearing aid fitting. An in-ear vibration sensor can be used to capture the user's speech. This speech recognition can be used for active noise cancellation (ANC) and other audio enhancement features.

[0013] In Fig. In Figure 2, the microphone 210 is connected to a carrier 212, which includes an interface section arranged in the passage of the grommet 203. The interface section supports the microphone and positions the carrier in the passage of the grommet. Fig. 3 The representative carrier comprises 212 arms 216 to which the microphone can be attached. Alternatively, the carrier can comprise at least one single arm or a tray on which the microphone is mounted, wherein the one or more arms or the tray can be inserted into a complementary receptacle of the grommet opening. In Fig. 6. The arms are arranged in corresponding recesses or receptacles 218 of the grommet passage when the carrier is assembled with the grommet passage. The recesses or receptacles position and guide the insertion of the carrier into the grommet passage during assembly. The microphone can be attached to the carrier with adhesive, by hot pressing, or by another fastening mechanism. Configured in this way, the microphone and the carrier form a subassembly that can be arranged in the grommet passage, as shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 6 is shown to facilitate the integration of the carrier and microphone sub-assembly into the grommet.

[0014] In Fig. 3 The support optionally includes a sound-permeable mesh 214 to reduce the ingress of contaminants, and a frame 217 that is at least partially attached around one circumference of the sound-permeable mesh 214. The arms 216 are integrated into the frame and extend away from the mesh. Fig. 2. The frame sits on a section of the grommet to position the mesh over the opening of the passage and to position the microphone within the grommet. The frame provides additional support for the acoustic mesh, facilitates handling and positioning of the mesh during assembly, and offers a larger surface area for contact with the grommet. The frame and mesh can be formed as a single unit. Alternatively, the frame can be cast over the acoustic mesh, or the mesh can be inserted into the frame to accommodate different materials or densities. In the absence of the support frame, a back panel section or stops in the recesses or receptacles can prevent the insertion of the support and microphone subassembly into the passage to ensure correct positioning.

[0015] The microphone's sound path extends through the opening of the grommet and acoustically couples a sound port of the microphone to the grommet opening. In Fig. 2. The microphone sound path acoustically couples the microphone 210 and the grommet opening 207. A distributor 220 coupled to the microphone comprises a sound passage 221 between the sound port of the microphone and an opening of the distributor, as further described herein. The sound passage 221 of the distributor forms at least a section of the microphone sound path. An outer surface of the distributor forms a boundary between the loudspeaker sound path and the microphone sound path. In Fig. 2. The sound path of the distributor extends completely to the opening of the grommet to maximize the separation between the microphone and loudspeaker sound paths. Alternatively, the loudspeaker and microphone sound paths can be partially separated by a partition in the grommet passage near the grommet opening. The sound path of the distributor extends to the partition. Isolating the microphone sound path from the loudspeaker sound path along at least a portion of the grommet passage reduces unwanted feedback and other adverse effects caused by the mixing of the microphone and loudspeaker signals.

[0016] In the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 comprises a representative microphone 210 and a distributor 220, which is attached to the outside of the microphone and covers a sound opening 222 of the microphone. The distributor includes a sound passage 221 between the sound opening 222 of the microphone and an opening 224 of the distributor, as best shown in Fig. Figure 5 shows the distributor can be attached to the microphone to form a sub-assembly that facilitates integration into the carrier.

[0017] The representative microphone comprises a transducer and an electrical circuit, arranged in a housing with an external interface. In the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 The microphone 210 comprises a housing with a cover 226 mounted on a base 228. The distributor 220 is mounted on the base 228 and can be attached to it by adhesive, solder, or another fastening mechanism. A transducer 230, arranged within the housing, is mounted on the base above the sound opening 222. The representative transducer is a capacitive device comprising a diaphragm movable relative to a fixed backplate. Alternatively, the transducer can be a piezoelectric or other transducer device. These and other transducers can be microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices. An electrical circuit 232, also arranged within the housing, is electrically connected to the transducer and a Fig. The electrical interface 234 of the housing is connected as shown in section 4. Fig. 4 and Fig.5. The direction of the sound opening 222 is not parallel to the direction of the sound passage 221 of the distributor. The direction of the sound opening refers to a predominant direction in which sound enters the microphone housing. In other implementations, the direction of the sound opening may be at least partially aligned with the direction of the sound passage, depending on the type and configuration of the microphone.

[0018] While the disclosure and the currently considered best embodiment have been described in a manner that establishes ownership and enables those skilled in the art to manufacture and use them, it is, however, self-evident and understandable that there are many equivalents to the representative embodiments described herein and that countless modifications and variations can be made to them without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited not by the described embodiments but by the attached claims and their equivalents.

[0019] Claimed is:

Claims

[1] Hearing device worn on the ear, comprising: a grommet configured to be worn on the user's auricle or at least partially in the user's ear canal, wherein the grommet includes a passage extending to an opening of the grommet; a loudspeaker comprising a sound outlet acoustically connected to the opening of the grommet via a loudspeaker sound path; a carrier comprising a section that can be inserted into the passage of the nozzle; a microphone that is connected to the carrier and acoustically coupled to the opening of the grommet via a microphone sound path; the microphone is positioned in the opening of the grommet when the interface section of the carrier is inserted into the opening. [2] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the microphone is located inside the grommet passage and between the grommet opening and the loudspeaker. [3] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises a frame which is at least partially attached around a circumference of a sound-permeable mesh, and wherein the interface section comprises an arm which is integrated into the frame and extends from the sound-permeable mesh into a receptacle of the grommet, wherein the sound-permeable mesh covers the grommet opening when the arm of the carrier is inserted into the passage. [4] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 1, further comprising a distributor covering a sound opening of the microphone, wherein a sound passage of the distributor forms at least a section of the microphone sound path, wherein the distributor isolates the microphone sound path from the loudspeaker sound path along at least a section of the grommet passage. [5] Hearing device worn on the ear according to claim 4, wherein the distributor extends to the grommet opening. [6] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 4, wherein the microphone comprises a microphone housing with an electrical interface, the sound opening extends through the microphone housing and the distributor is attached to the housing above the sound opening. [7] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 6, wherein the microphone comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) transducer and an electrical circuit arranged in the microphone housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically connected to the MEMS transducer and the electrical interface, wherein one direction of the sound aperture of the microphone is not parallel to one direction of the sound passage of the distributor. [8] Hearing device worn on the ear, comprising: a housing with a nozzle configured to allow at least partial insertion into the ear canal of a user, the nozzle comprising a passage extending to an opening of the nozzle; a loudspeaker arranged in the housing and comprising a sound outlet acoustically connected to the grommet opening by a loudspeaker sound path extending through the passage of the grommet; a support comprising a frame which is at least partially attached around the circumference of a sound-permeable mesh; a microphone that is assembled with the carrier and includes a distributor, which covers a sound opening that is acoustically connected to the opening of the grommet by a microphone sound path extending through the distributor, wherein the sound-permeable mesh covers the grommet opening and the microphone is positioned in the passage of the grommet when an interface section of the carrier is inserted into the passage. [9] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 8, wherein the distributor comprises a sound passage between the sound opening of the microphone and an opening of the distributor, wherein the distributor isolates the microphone sound path from the loudspeaker sound path along at least one section of the grommet passage. [10] Hearing device worn on the ear according to claim 9, wherein the distributor extends to the opening of the grommet. [11] Ear-worn hearing aid according to claim 10, wherein the interface section of the carrier comprises an arm that is integrated into the frame and extends from the sound-permeable mesh into a receptacle of the grommet, wherein the interface section positions the carrier relative to the grommet. [12] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 11, wherein the microphone comprises a microphone housing with an electrical interface, the sound opening extends through the microphone housing and the distributor is attached to the housing above the sound opening. [13] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 12, wherein the distributor is attached above the sound opening on the microphone and the direction of the sound opening is not parallel to the direction of the sound passage of the distributor. [14] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 13, wherein the microphone comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) transducer and an electrical circuit arranged in the microphone housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically connected to the MEMS transducer and the electrical interface. [15] Ear-worn hearing device according to claim 8, which further comprises a second microphone arranged in the housing and acoustically coupled to an outside of the housing. [16] The ear-worn hearing device according to claim 14 is a receiver-in-channel (RIC) unit comprising an electrical cable having a first end section electrically connected to an electrical component of the RIC unit and a second end section comprising an electrical connector. [17] A worn-on-the-ear hearing device subassembly for a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing device, comprising a loudspeaker arranged in a housing having a nozzle configured to be inserted at least partially into the ear canal of a user, wherein the worn-on-the-ear hearing device subassembly comprises: a support comprising a frame that is at least partially fixed around a circumference of a sound-permeable mesh and an interface section; and a microphone comprising a distributor arranged above a sound opening of the microphone, the microphone being attached to the interface section of the support, wherein the sound-permeable mesh covers a sound opening of the grommet, the microphone is positioned in a passage of the grommet, and the distributor isolates a sound path of the microphone at least partially from a sound path of the loudspeaker when the carrier is assembled with the RIC hearing device. [18] Ear-worn hearing device sub-assembly according to claim 17, wherein the interface section of the carrier comprises an arm integrated into the frame and extending away from the sound-permeable mesh, wherein the arm is retractable into a receptacle of the grommet when the carrier is assembled with the RIC hearing device. [19] Ear-worn hearing device sub-assembly according to claim 18, wherein the microphone comprises a microphone housing with an electrical interface, wherein the sound opening of the microphone extends through the microphone housing and wherein the distributor is attached to the housing above the sound opening. [20] Ear-worn hearing device subassembly according to claim 19, wherein the microphone comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) transducer and an electrical circuit arranged in the microphone housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically connected to the MEMS transducer and the electrical interface, wherein one direction of the sound aperture of the microphone is not parallel to one direction of the sound passage of the distributor. [21] Ear-worn hearing device sub-assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a second microphone arranged in the housing and acoustically coupled to an outside of the housing which is exposed to an outside of the user’s ear when the hearing device is worn by the user.

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