Hearing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing device (1) comprising a loudspeaker (6) with a loudspeaker diaphragm (24) for generating acoustic signals, a drive acting on the loudspeaker diaphragm (24), and a loudspeaker housing in which the drive and the loudspeaker diaphragm (24) are received; a housing (2) enclosing an interior space; and a loudspeaker box (12) arranged in the interior space, in which the loudspeaker (6) is fluid-tightly sealed from the interior space, and which has a sound outlet opening (22) coupled to a sound conductor (18, 20) leading from the housing (2). The loudspeaker (6) is arranged in the loudspeaker box (12) without a sound channel element arranged within the loudspeaker box (12) that couples the loudspeaker (6) to the sound outlet opening (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hearing device, e.g. in the form of a hearing aid.

[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, but alternatively a bone conduction receiver or a cochlear implant, 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 the like.

[0003] Typical designs of hearing devices, especially hearing aids, are behind-the-ear (BTE) and in-the-ear (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 usually delivered to the ear via a sound tube, the end of which is positioned in the ear canal, and models that have an external speaker placed 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] Especially in hearing aids for people with severe hearing loss – usually in back-to-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids – particularly powerful loudspeakers are used that can generate a comparatively high sound pressure level (e.g., at least approximately 90 dB SPL). To prevent the generated sound from affecting other components, especially the microphone(s), the loudspeakers are located in an additional housing ("loudspeaker box") within the hearing aid's casing. Within this loudspeaker box, the loudspeaker is typically suspended by means of an elastomer covering and / or supported only at specific points to prevent the transmission of structure-borne noise to the other components.Furthermore, the loudspeaker with its sound output nozzle - usually even independently of the loudspeaker box - is connected to a sound output opening of the hearing device by means of an internal sound conduction element, usually a flexible tube, or in the case of a BTE, usually to a sound tube leading from the BTE housing to the ear.

[0005] However, particularly with such high-performance loudspeakers, so-called pumping effects often occur in the flexible sound-conducting elements, reducing the achievable amplification. In some cases, structure-borne noise causes feedback in the range of approximately 1 to 2 kHz, and airborne noise feedback (also known as open-loop gain feedback) occurs in the range of approximately 3 to 5 kHz.

[0006] US Patent 2016 / 0277852 A1 describes a hearing aid, specifically a hearing device. This device comprises a housing, a signal processing unit located within the housing, a first sound source, a first sound generator located within the housing, and a second sound generator. The first sound generator and the second sound generator are configured to convert an output signal from the signal processing unit into sound. The second sound generator is a thermoacoustic transducer.

[0007] US Patent 2014 / 0153755 A1 describes a hearing aid comprising a housing and a receiver module, the shell having a cavity with an opening. At least part of the shell forms part of the housing. An electroacoustic transducer, comprising a motor assembly and an acoustic assembly with a diaphragm, is arranged within the cavity, the acoustic assembly being positioned within the shell such that the cavity is divided into a front chamber and a rear chamber. The motor assembly is located in either the rear or the front chamber and is functionally coupled to the diaphragm. The front chamber is acoustically connected to the exterior of the shell via the opening. The shell has an outer surface that is individually shaped according to a measured internal shape of a section of the ear canal of a hearing aid user.

[0008] DE 10 2018 221 807 A1 describes hearing aids that can be configured between open-fit and closed-fit configurations at different times by actuating one or more acoustic valves located in one or more corresponding sound passages of the hearing aid. The one or more acoustic valves of the hearing aid are adaptively controlled based on the context detected by one or more sensors. The context can be, but is not limited to, an operating mode of the hearing aids, which may include, for example, an audio playback mode and a speech communication mode. The actuated valves can be operated locally without having to remove the hearing aid from the user's ear, allowing the user to experience the benefit of a closed or open fit depending on their preference or the context.

[0009] US 2008 / 0112584 A1 describes a padded support for electronic components in a mounting housing of a miniaturized electronic device, wherein an elastic and / or flexible support element with inwardly projecting support sections extends at least along parts of the inner wall of the mounting housing and serves to position, support and support the component.

[0010] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved hearing device.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a hearing device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0012] The hearing device according to the invention comprises a loudspeaker, which includes a loudspeaker diaphragm for generating acoustic signals, a drive acting on the loudspeaker diaphragm, and a loudspeaker housing in which the drive and the loudspeaker diaphragm are accommodated. The hearing device also comprises a housing that encloses an interior space, as well as a loudspeaker box arranged within the interior space, in which the loudspeaker is fluid-tightly sealed from the interior space. The loudspeaker box has a sound outlet opening coupled to a sound conductor leading from the housing. Furthermore, the loudspeaker is arranged within the loudspeaker box without a sound channel element (or sound conduction element) that would couple the loudspeaker to the sound outlet opening.

[0013] In other words, the loudspeaker is used without such a sound-conducting element, also known as a sound tube or "sound hose", which is usually flexible, inside the loudspeaker box.

[0014] The absence of such a sound-conducting element prevents the pumping effect that frequently occurs within the loudspeaker enclosure at high amplification. This, in turn, prevents airborne vibrations from being coupled into the loudspeaker enclosure and / or the hearing aid housing. Furthermore, the transmission of vibrations across the sound-conducting element—caused by vibrations of the loudspeaker itself as well as by the pumping effect—is prevented or at least reduced.

[0015] The term "loudspeaker drive" refers to any form of movement generation and transmission to the loudspeaker diaphragm, as is particularly common in hearing aids. In this case, the drive is an electromagnetically driven "armature" that forms a so-called "balanced armature".

[0016] The hearing device is a BTE hearing aid, or "BTE" for short.

[0017] Furthermore, the loudspeaker enclosure is designed such that the loudspeaker has an open front volume. This open front volume is achieved by ensuring that a large portion of the loudspeaker diaphragm's surface area is free from the enclosure wall on the sound-emitting side. Preferably, at least 50 percent, and more preferably the entire surface area, of the loudspeaker diaphragm is free from the enclosure wall. In the latter case, the portion of the wall that would otherwise cover the loudspeaker diaphragm is absent. In a balanced armature loudspeaker, which is typically rectangular in shape, the corresponding side wall is therefore missing. An open front volume design improves the loudspeaker's sensitivity in the high-frequency range, particularly in the speech frequency range.

[0018] In a practical design, the loudspeaker is rigidly connected to the bottom wall of the loudspeaker enclosure by means of a damping element forming a damping mat, specifically only via one side surface of the loudspeaker. In particular, the loudspeaker is not mounted in a housing and suspended within the loudspeaker enclosure (hereinafter referred to as "box") or supported by point loads. Due to this rigid connection, especially in combination with the open front volume, which eliminates the need for a "spout" or sound output port on the loudspeaker enclosure (and in fact does not have one), the loudspeaker can advantageously be positioned and oriented relatively freely within the box. This allows the loudspeaker to be positioned in such a way that it is relatively insensitive to shocks.In particular, the loudspeaker is attached to the damping mat with its "back" facing away from the loudspeaker diaphragm, and by means of the damping mat to the bottom wall of the box.

[0019] In a further development, the damping mat has a support layer made of an elastomer. This support layer, in turn, forms at least one damping chamber filled with a fluid, in particular a gas, between the loudspeaker and the loudspeaker enclosure. This achieves a comparatively high damping effect, even with support against the damping element on only one side.

[0020] Furthermore, the support layer preferably comprises a number of column-like support elements. These support elements are designed as cylindrical or hourglass-shaped columns, cones, pyramids, or the like, and support the damping chamber against the loudspeaker, loudspeaker box, or a top layer of the damping mat. Preferably, the support layer forms a kind of trough that is open at one end and in which the support elements are distributed. During the manufacturing of the damping mat, this trough is preferably covered (i.e., sealed) by a top layer, optionally made of a different material, particularly a harder one, e.g., an elastomer with a higher Shore hardness than the support layer, and filled with the fluid. The support elements advantageously ensure a uniform load distribution over the entire surface of the damping mat.

[0021] In a practical design, the box is made of a soft magnetic alloy with high magnetic permeability, for example, known under the brand name "Mumetal". This makes the box relatively rigid and allows it to also contribute to shielding other electrical and / or electronic components of the hearing device from the loudspeaker.

[0022] Preferably, the box is formed from two partial shells. The loudspeaker is attached to the bottom wall facing the housing of the hearing aid, in particular the "lower" partial shell. This is preferably connected to the housing of the hearing aid or to an electronic carrier arranged within the housing over a flat surface.

[0023] In another advantageous embodiment, the box is designed using a simulation to minimize resonance under both airborne and structure-borne sound excitation. Preferably, the volume of the box is also kept as small as possible using this or a comparable simulation.

[0024] Furthermore, the loudspeaker box preferably also has a cable entry sealed by means of an elastomer, through which connecting cables (especially connecting wires) of the loudspeaker (or for the loudspeaker) are passed.

[0025] 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.

[0026] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a hearing device, Fig. 2 shows a broken side view of the hearing device, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a loudspeaker box and a loudspeaker of the hearing device.

[0027] Corresponding parts in all figures are always marked with the same reference symbols.

[0028] In Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a hearing device in the form of a hearing aid, specifically a hearing aid worn behind the ear (referred to here as "BTE 1"). The BTE 1 comprises a housing 2 in which electronic components of the BTE 1 are arranged. These electronic components include, for example, two microphones 4, a loudspeaker 6, a signal processor 8, and a battery module 10. In normal operation, the microphones 4 of the BTE 1 receive ambient sound and convert it into electrical input signals (also called "microphone signals MS"), which are processed by the signal processor 8 (also called the "controller") (in particular, filtered, frequency-dependently amplified, and / or attenuated, etc.). The processed input signals are then output as output signals AS to the loudspeaker 6, which converts them into sound signals and transmits them to the user's hearing.

[0029] To protect the microphones 4 from feedback with the loudspeaker 6, the latter is enclosed in a loudspeaker box (referred to as "box 12") located inside the housing 2. The loudspeaker 6 is mounted in this box 12 with vibration isolation as far as possible by means of a damping element 14, which will be described in more detail below.

[0030] As from Fig. 2 As can be seen, a tube-like sound tunnel 16 connects to the box 12, which directs the airborne sound generated by the loudspeaker 6 into a sound tube 18 leading from the housing 2 to the user's ear, specifically first into a so-called ear hook 20 (in Fig. 1 (not shown), serves as a sound tube. However, within box 12 there is no sound tube between the loudspeaker 6 and a sound outlet opening 22 (see figure). Fig. 3 ) of Box 12. This prevents or reduces the transmission of vibrations via the sound tube to Box 12 and thus to the housing 2 of the BTE 1, and from there to the microphones 4. Furthermore, sound pressure-induced pumping of the sound tube cannot occur within Box 12, which can lead to both a loss of performance and airborne feedback.

[0031] Since there is no sound tube inside the box 12, the loudspeaker 6 can also be adapted. For this purpose, the loudspeaker 6 is designed with an open front volume by means of a "lid" of the loudspeaker housing, which would be arranged above the sound emission side of a loudspeaker diaphragm 24 (see figure). Fig. 3 ) is missing. In Fig. 3 The loudspeaker 6 is designed as a "balanced armature receiver". The open front volume enables high sensitivity of the BTE 1 in the high-frequency range, especially in the speech range.

[0032] The loudspeaker 6 is also firmly connected to the box 12, specifically to a bottom wall 26 of a lower sub-shell (no dividing lines between an upper and the lower sub-shell are shown in the figures), specifically glued in place. The damping element 14 mentioned above is interposed in this connection.

[0033] The damping element 14 is a damping mat. This mat consists of a damping layer 30 (also called a "support layer") made of a first elastomer with a comparatively low Shore hardness and has an approximately rectangular trough, from the bottom of which several columns 32 rise as a supporting structure. The trough is sealed by a cover layer 34 made of a second elastomer with a higher Shore hardness, so that the interior of the trough forms a gas-filled damping chamber 36. The damping element 14 is bonded to the bottom wall 26, and the loudspeaker 6 is in turn bonded to the damping element 14.

[0034] An opening 38 of the box 12 for the passage of connecting wires 39 to the loudspeaker 6 is sufficiently tightly sealed by means of a rubber insert 40.

[0035] Box 12 is also made of a soft magnetic metal with high permeability.

[0036] 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

[0037] 1BTE 2Housing 4Microphone 6Speaker 8Signal processor 10Battery module 12Box 14Damping element 16Sound tunnel 18Sound tube 20Ear hook 22Sound outlet 24Speaker diaphragm 26Bottom wall 30Damping layer 32Column 34Cover layer 36Damping chamber 38Opening 39Connecting wire 40Rubber insert MS microphone signal AS output signal

Claims

1. A hearing device (1), which is a BTE hearing a device, comprising - a loudspeaker (6) designed as a balanced armature loudspeaker, which comprises a loudspeaker membrane (24) for generating acoustic signals, a drive acting on the loudspeaker membrane (24), and a loudspeaker housing, in which the drive and the loudspeaker membrane (24) are accommodated, - a housing (2), which surrounds a housing interior, and - a loudspeaker box (12) arranged in the housing interior, in which the loudspeaker (6) is enclosed fluid-tight in relation to the housing interior, and which has a sound outlet opening (22) coupled with a sound conductor (18, 20) leading out of the housing (2), wherein the loudspeaker (6) is arranged in the loudspeaker box (12) free of a sound channel element arranged inside the loudspeaker box (12) and coupling the loudspeaker (6) with the sound outlet opening (22), wherein no sound channel element is present between the loudspeaker (6) and the sound outlet opening (22) inside the loudspeaker box (12), characterized in that the loudspeaker housing is formed such that the loudspeaker (6) has an open front volume, and the front volume of the loudspeaker (6) is formed open such that the loudspeaker membrane (24) is kept free of a housing wall of the loudspeaker housing on the sound emission side on a majority of its surface, preferably by at least 50%, preferably over the full surface, so that this surface component or this surface is not covered by the housing wall.

2. The hearing device (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker (6) is firmly connected by means of a damping mat (14) to a bottom wall (26) of the loudspeaker box (12).

3. The hearing device (1) according to Claim 2, wherein the damping mat (14) has a support layer (30) formed from an elastomer, which forms at least one damper chamber (36) filled with a fluid between the loudspeaker (6) and the loudspeaker box (12).

4. The hearing device (1) according to Claim 3, wherein the support layer (30) has a number of pillar-like support elements (32), which support the damper chamber (36) against the loudspeaker (6), the loudspeaker box (12), or a cover layer (34) of the damping mat (14).

5. The hearing device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the loudspeaker box (12) is formed from a soft-magnetic alloy having high magnetic permeability.

6. The hearing device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the loudspeaker box (12) is formed from two partial shells and wherein the loudspeaker (6) is fastened on the bottom wall (26) facing toward the housing (2) of the hearing device (1).

7. The hearing device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the loudspeaker box (12) is designed by means of a simulation with respect to the least possible resonance both for airborne sound excitation and for structure-borne sound excitation.

8. The hearing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the loudspeaker box (12) has a line feedthrough sealed by means of an elastomeric, through which the connection lines of the loudspeaker (6) are led.

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