Charger, charging system and charging method

Abstract

To provide a charger capable of controlling operation of a hearing device during charging.SOLUTION: In a charger 1, a first magnet 32 is installed on a bottom of a recess 31, and a second magnet 24 is installed at a position a little away from the first magnet 32 inside of a charger main body 20. Magnetic flux densities by the first magnet 32, the second magnet 24 and a magnet 65 built in a hearing device 60 are combined, such that a magnetic force at a level to be detected by a Hall IC 68 installed in the hearing device 60 can be secured and that a power source of the hearing device 60 can be surely turned off during charging. The magnets at the side of the charger 1 are installed while being distributed in a plurality of locations, such that a magnetic force in the vicinity of an upper end of the recess 31 or in the vicinity of a top face 22 of the charger main body 20 can be suppressed to a strength at a level not to destroy a speaker built in the hearing device 60 and that, even if the hearing device 60 is erroneously loaded on the charger 1 in a state where the hearing device falls down in a lateral direction, there is no risk of braking the speaker.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charger for charging a secondary battery built into a small hearing device such as a hearing aid. [Background technology]

[0002] As hearing aids become smaller, smaller batteries are being used as their power source. Behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids usually use small button batteries. Because it is difficult to replace small batteries and environmental considerations must be taken into account, an increasing number of recent models of small hearing devices such as hearing aids are equipped with built-in secondary batteries that can significantly reduce the number of times the battery needs to be replaced. Such models are also provided with dedicated chargers (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2010-516096 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When charging a secondary battery built into a hearing device, it is necessary to turn off the hearing device or perform a similar control to prevent the hearing device from performing its original functions. If the secondary battery is charged without such control, the circuit in the hearing device will remain in operation, causing voltage fluctuations, etc., making it impossible to correctly check the power supply voltage during charging, and it is inefficient because it wastes power and may cause howling. Some hearing devices are equipped with a push-type switch that automatically turns off the power when the switch is pushed in in conjunction with the insertion of the hearing device into the charger. However, such a configuration not only increases the number of parts, but also requires space to place the increased parts, which is an obstacle to miniaturizing the hearing device, so another method is required.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a charger that is capable of controlling the operation of a listening device during charging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following charger and charger system. Note that the following words in parentheses are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0007] That is, the charger of the present invention includes at least a storage unit that receives one listening device during charging, and a plurality of magnets that are distributed and installed in correspondence with the storage unit, and the plurality of magnets form a magnetic circuit that emits a magnetic force that is detectable by a magnetic detection means (e.g., a Hall IC) installed in one listening device. For example, the above-mentioned charger includes a first magnet that is installed in the storage unit or nearby and has a predetermined magnetic pole (e.g., N pole) facing a predetermined direction (e.g., upward), and a second magnet that is installed at a position away from the first magnet and has a predetermined magnetic pole facing a direction different from the predetermined direction (e.g., downward or sideways), and the first and second magnets form the above-mentioned magnetic circuit (first embodiment).

[0008] When a listening device is set on a charger, it is not always set in the correct orientation from the beginning; for example, the listening device may be placed in an upside-down position. However, because the listening device has a built-in speaker, if the listening device comes close to the magnet on the charger, there is a risk that the speaker will be damaged depending on the strength of the magnetic force.

[0009] In contrast, in the charger of the first aspect described above, since multiple magnets are installed in a dispersed manner, it is possible to ensure a magnetic force that can be detected by the magnetic detection means while suppressing the magnetic force in the range that the speaker can approach to a level that does not affect the operation of the speaker, compared to when a single powerful magnet is installed. Therefore, according to the charger of the first aspect, it is possible to reliably cause the magnetic detection means to detect magnetism without affecting the speaker built into the listening device, and accordingly, it is possible to perform control such as reliably turning off the power of the listening device during charging.

[0010] Preferably, in the charger of the first aspect, the storage unit is provided in the main body of the charger and has a shape recessed from the surface of the main body, and the second magnet is installed in the main body and its predetermined magnetic pole faces in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction (e.g., downward). Also, in such a charger, there are two sets including the storage unit, the first magnet, and the second magnet, and the magnetic poles of the first magnet and the second magnet in one set are oriented in the opposite direction to the magnetic poles of the first magnet and the second magnet in the other set (second aspect).

[0011] In the second embodiment of the charger, the first and second magnets in one set and the first and second magnets in the other set have magnetic poles oriented in opposite directions. Therefore, if the magnets in the listening device set in the storage section of each set are oriented so that their magnetic poles are attracted to the first magnet, then if a user attempts to set the listening device in the wrong position, the magnets will repel each other and the listening device will not be able to be stored.

[0012] Therefore, according to the charger and charger system of the second aspect, if the position where the listening device is set is incorrect, the user can easily notice that fact. As a result, the listening device is set in the correct position, so that the power supply of the listening device can be reliably turned off and other control can be performed, and the secondary battery built into the listening device can be appropriately charged.

[0013] Alternatively, in the charger of the first aspect, the storage unit is provided in the main body of the charger and has a shape recessed from the surface of the main body, and the second magnet is placed at a position higher than the surface of the charger on the side of the storage unit, and its predetermined magnetic pole is oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to the predetermined direction (for example, the direction of one of the pairs). Also, in such a charger, there are two pairs including a storage unit and a first magnet, and the second magnet is placed at a position approximately equidistant from the storage unit included in each pair, and the orientation of the magnetic pole of the first magnet in one pair is opposite to the orientation of the magnetic pole of the first magnet in the other pair (third aspect).

[0014] The charger of the third aspect, like the charger of the second aspect described above, can reliably turn off the power of the hearing device and properly charge the secondary battery built into the hearing device. Also, according to the charger of the third aspect, since the second magnet is installed in the middle of the two housings and is shared by the two sets, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and the width of the charger compared to a case in which the second magnet is installed separately for each set.

[0015] A charging system of the present invention includes a charger according to any one of the above aspects, a magnetic detection means, and at least one listening device having a magnetic body or magnet on the back side of an outer shell part that faces a storage part during charging. In such a charging system, the listening device is installed in such a way that the magnet on the back side of the outer shell part is oriented to attract a magnet installed in correspondence with the storage part that the outer shell part faces during charging.

[0016] According to this aspect of the charging system, a magnet or magnetic material is installed inside the listening device, and these are attracted to a first magnet installed in the charger, thereby fixing the listening device to the charger. This stabilizes the connection between the charging terminal on the listening device and the charging terminal on the charger, thereby enabling the secondary battery built into the listening device to be properly charged.

[0017] In addition, the charging method of the present invention is a charging method for charging a secondary battery built into a listening device, and includes a receiving step of receiving the listening device in a charger, a detection step of detecting, in a magnetic detection means installed in the listening device, a magnetic force emitted by a magnetic circuit composed of a plurality of magnets installed in a distributed manner at least in the charger, and a charging step of performing a predetermined process in the listening device (a process of controlling the listening device so that it does not perform its original functions) and charging the secondary battery in the charger while the magnetic force is being detected by the magnetic detection means.

[0018] According to this aspect of the charging system, while the magnetic detection means installed in the listening device set in the charger is detecting magnetism, control is performed to prevent the listening device from performing its original functions, so that the secondary battery built into the listening device can be charged efficiently and appropriately. Effect of the Invention

[0019] As described above, the charger of the present invention can control the operation of the listening device during charging, and can appropriately charge the secondary battery built into the listening device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a charger according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a listening device in which an internal battery is charged by a charger. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the charger with the listening device set thereon; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a charger according to an embodiment and a first modified example. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a charger of a second modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing a charger of a third modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are preferred examples of a charger for a listening device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "charger") and a charging system composed of a charger and a listening device, and the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which a cover 10 of a charger 1 according to one embodiment is open. The charger 1 serves both as a charger for charging a secondary battery built into the hearing device and as a case for storing the hearing device, and a lid 10 is provided on a main body 20 so as to be openable and closable.

[0023] The upper part of the main body 20 has a generally symmetrical structure, with a left storage space 30 formed on the left side for storing part of a hearing device for the left ear, and a right storage space 40 formed on the right side for storing part of a hearing device for the right ear. The left storage space 30 is recessed downward from the substantially horizontal upper surface 22 of the main body 20, with a magnet 32 ​​installed at the bottom of the recess and a charging terminal 34 installed near the magnet 32. The right storage space 40 is also recessed downward from the upper surface 22 of the main body 20, with a magnet 42 installed at the bottom of the recess and a charging terminal 44 installed near the magnet 42. The left and right storage spaces 30, 40 are provided at the front side with placement spaces 36, 46 for allowing removal knobs provided on the hearing device to escape.

[0024] It should be noted that the charger 1 has a configuration inside the main body 20 that is capable of supplying charging current to the secondary batteries built into the left and right hearing devices via the charging terminals 34, 44; however, as this configuration is not directly related to the present invention, a description of this configuration will be omitted.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hearing device in which a built-in secondary battery is charged by a charger 1. As shown in FIG. Although the left and right hearing devices have different shapes and different positions of each part, they have the same parts, and the arrangement of each part is generally symmetrical between the left and right hearing devices. As described above, the upper part of the main body 20 of the charger 1 also has a generally symmetrical structure. Therefore, for ease of explanation, the structure of the hearing device will be explained with reference to the hearing device 60 for the left ear in Figures 2 and 3.

[0026] 2(A): A perspective view of a hearing device 60. The outer shell of the hearing device 60 is composed of a shell 61 that is the portion that fits into the space from the ear canal to the concha when worn, and a face plate 62 that is the portion that is visible from the outside. On the front side of the face plate 62, there are provided a knob portion 63 made of fishing line or the like that is used to pinch and remove the hearing device 60 from the ear, and a charging terminal 64 that is used when charging.

[0027] Inside the listening device 60, in addition to various electronic components such as a processor, a speaker, a microphone, a circuit board, and a secondary battery, a magnet 65 is installed. As shown in FIG. 2A, the magnet 65 is installed near the charging terminal 64, and as shown in FIG. 2B, the magnet 65 is installed on the back side of the face plate 62 with the magnetic poles oriented to attract each other with the magnet 32 ​​on the charger 1 side during charging. In the listening device 60, since a speaker (not shown) is installed inside the shell 61, the magnetic force of the magnet 65 is designed to be large enough not to affect the operation of the speaker (for example, even if the listening device 60 falls over and the speaker in the listening device 60 comes closest to the magnet 32 ​​on the charger side, the magnetic flux density at the position of the magnet speaker due to the magnet 65 on the listening device side and the magnet 32 ​​on the charger side is 2000 G or less).

[0028] 2(B): A side view of the hearing device 60 seen from the front side when being placed in the charger 1. The hearing device 60 is set in the main body 20 (left storage space 30) of the charger 1 with the shell 61 facing up, the face plate 62 facing down, and the knob part 63 facing forward (hereinafter, such an orientation will be referred to as the "correct orientation").

[0029] In listening device 60, two charging terminals 64 are provided at positions that overlap exactly with two charging terminals 34 provided in left storage space 30 when listening device 60 is set in charger 1 in the correct orientation. When listening device 60 is set in the correct orientation, magnet 32 ​​on charger 1 and magnet 65 on listening device 60 attract each other, fixing listening device 60 to main body 20, and charging terminal 64 on listening device 60 overlaps charging terminal 34 on charger 1 and is securely connected to charging terminal 34.

[0030] 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the charger 1 with the hearing device 60 set therein, taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. The thick arrows in the figure indicate magnetic field lines. In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the shell 61 that forms the outer casing of the hearing device 60 and the speaker built into the hearing device 60 are omitted in the following figures.

[0031] In the hearing device 60, a circuit board 66 is installed so as to surround a secondary battery 67, and a Hall IC 68 is installed on the circuit board 66 at a position slightly away from the face plate 62. When the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds a certain threshold, the Hall IC 68 detects a magnetic force and changes its output from Low to High (or from High to Low). The output from the Hall IC 68 is monitored by a processor built into the circuit board 66. The processor turns off the power supply of the hearing device 60 while the Hall IC 68 is detecting a magnetic force, that is, while the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds the threshold. This makes it possible to suppress the original functions of the hearing device 60 during charging, and makes it possible to efficiently charge the secondary battery 67 built into the hearing device 60.

[0032] Incidentally, when setting listening device 60 in charger 1, it is conceivable that the user may misalign the device and not be able to orient faceplate 62 towards charger main body 20, and listening device 60 may end up being placed in the storage space or nearby in a state where it has tipped sideways. At this time, the speaker built into listening device 60 may come close to recess 31 (approximately 3 mm when closest), but if the magnetic force of the magnet installed at the bottom of the recess is strong, the magnetic flux of the magnet installed in the speaker may change, causing the speaker to break.

[0033] Therefore, it is desirable not to make the magnetic force too strong in the space where the speaker can approach, more specifically, near the top surface 22 of the charger main body 20 and near the imaginary surface when the top surface 22 is virtually extended above the recess 31 (hereinafter, abbreviated as "near the top end of the recess"). However, if the magnetic force of the magnet 32 ​​on the charger side is made too weak and the magnetic force near the Hall IC 68 provided in the listening device 60 falls below a certain detectable level, the Hall IC 68 will not be able to detect the magnetic force, and as a result, it will not be possible to turn off the power of the listening device 60 while the secondary battery 67 is being charged. The Hall IC 68 can detect magnetic force at a magnetic flux density that is about two orders of magnitude lower than the magnetic flux density that affects the operation of the speaker.

[0034] Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to magnet 32 ​​(first magnet), a further magnet 24 (second magnet) is installed at a position slightly away from magnet 32 ​​inside main body 20 (for example, about 10 mm in center-to-center distance between magnets) on the charger 1 side, and while the magnetic force of each magnet is appropriately suppressed, the magnetic flux density of the first magnet and the magnetic flux density of the second magnet are combined to strengthen the magnetic force that the Hall IC 68 can receive. In other words, in this embodiment, the first magnet and the second magnet are paired to form a magnetic circuit.

[0035] Specifically, magnet 32 ​​is installed with its north pole facing upward, while magnet 24 is installed with its south pole facing upward. The magnetic forces of magnets 24, 32, 65 are designed so that when listening device 60 is not set in charger 1, that is, when two magnets 24, 32 form a magnetic circuit, the magnetic force does not exceed the magnetic force that may affect the operation of the speaker near the upper end of recess 31 or upper surface 22 of charger main body 20, in other words, the magnetic force that the speaker can tolerate (e.g., 2000 G), and when secondary battery 67 is being charged, that is, when magnets 24, 32 on the charger side and magnet 65 on the listening device side form a magnetic circuit, the magnetic force received by Hall IC 68 exceeds the threshold for detection by Hall IC 68 (e.g., 70 G).

[0036] Since the second magnet 24 is located away from the first magnet 32, the magnetic flux density near the upper end of the recess 31 and near the upper surface 22 of the charger main body 20 can be increased in the Hall IC 68 without being so large that the second magnet 24 has an effect on the speaker.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the first magnet 32 ​​is installed with its north pole facing up and its south pole facing down, and the second magnet 24 is installed with its south pole facing up and its north pole facing down, but the first and second magnets only need to be installed so that the magnetic poles face in opposite directions, and may be oriented in the opposite direction to that shown in the illustration. When reversing the directions of the first and second magnets, the direction of the magnet 65 built into the hearing device 60 must also be reversed.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the charger 1 and a charger 101 of a first modified example. In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the cover of the charger is omitted from FIG.

[0039] 4(A): A vertical cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1) showing the charger 1. As described above, on the left side of the charger 1, the first magnet 32 ​​is installed at the bottom of the recess 31 forming the left storage space 30, and the second magnet 24 is installed at a position slightly to the left of the magnet 32. The N pole of the first magnet 32 ​​faces upward, while the S pole of the second magnet 24 faces upward.

[0040] In a similar arrangement, on the right side of the charger 1, a first magnet 42 is installed at the bottom of a recess 41 forming the right storage space 40, and a second magnet 26 is installed at a position slightly to the right of the magnet 42. The north pole of the first magnet 42 faces upward, while the south pole of the second magnet 26 faces upward.

[0041] A sufficient distance (for example, about 2 cm) is ensured between the left housing space 30 and the right housing space 40 so that the magnetic fields between the left and right sides are not affected by each other. By arranging in this manner, the magnetic force received by the IC hole can be strengthened by the interaction between the first magnet and the second magnet on each side.

[0042] 4(B): A vertical cross-sectional view showing a first modified charger 101. In the first modified charger 101, the magnetic poles of the first magnet 142 and the second magnet 126 installed on the right side are oriented in the opposite direction to the magnetic poles of the first magnet 42 and the second magnet 26 installed on the right side of the charger 1 of the embodiment. Specifically, in the charger 101, the S pole of the first magnet 142 faces upward, while the N pole of the second magnet 126 faces upward.

[0043] Although not shown in the figure, in charger 101, the magnet 65 built into left ear listening device 60 has its S pole facing outward (the side facing recess 31 during charging), and the magnet 75 built into right ear listening device 70 has its N pole facing outward (the side facing recess 41 during charging), corresponding to the orientation of the magnetic poles of the first magnets 32, 142 installed on the left and right sides of the charger.

[0044] In this way, the pair of the first magnet and the second magnet installed on the left and right sides of the charger are installed so that the magnetic poles are oriented in opposite directions on the left and right sides. If a user tries to set the left and right hearing devices in the wrong positions (for example, the hearing device for the left ear in the right storage space), the magnet on the hearing device side and the magnet on the charger side repel each other, so the user can be made aware that the setting positions are incorrect and can be naturally guided to reset the device to the correct position. As a result, the hearing device is set in the correct position, so not only can the power of the hearing device be reliably turned off during charging to allow charging to be performed appropriately, but it can also prevent the user from incorrectly putting the hearing device on the left and right sides when removing it from the charger and wearing it on the ear.

[0045] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the cover 10 is open in a charger 201 according to a second modified example obtained by modifying the charger 1 according to the embodiment.

[0046] In the charger 1 of the embodiment and the charger 101 of the first modification, one second magnet is provided on each of the left and right sides of the charger, whereas in the charger 201 of the second modification, additional locations for providing second magnets are provided. For example, as shown in the figure, in addition to the second magnets 24, 26 provided at positions slightly away from the first magnets 32, 42, one or more further second magnets 224, 226 (two in the illustrated example) are provided at positions approximately the same distance away from the first magnets 32, 42.

[0047] By increasing the number of second magnets in this installation mode, the magnetic flux density in the Hall IC can be further increased without changing the magnetic flux density in the space where the speaker can approach. Alternatively, by increasing the number of second magnets while weakening their individual magnetic forces, it is possible to ensure a magnetic force large enough for the Hall ICs installed in the left and right hearing devices to detect the magnetic force while lowering the magnetic flux density in the space where the speaker can approach.

[0048] Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a charger 301 according to a third modified example taken along the same line as that of Fig. 1. In Fig. 6, the cover of the charger is omitted. In a charger 301 of the third modified example, the installation position and installation manner of the second magnet are different from those of the charger 1 of the above-described embodiment and the chargers 101 and 202 of the modified examples.

[0049] Specifically, charger 301 does not have a second magnet on either the left or right side, but instead has second magnet 328 with its magnetic poles facing left and right at a position higher than top surface 322 of main body 320, which is approximately equidistant from the left and right storage spaces, and this magnet is shared by both the left and right. Second magnet 328 faces left and right hearing devices 360, 370 set in the left and right storage spaces. Corresponding to the arrangement of second magnet 328, Hall ICs 368, 378 of left and right hearing devices 360, 370 are installed in positions that face second magnet 328 during charging (when the hearing devices are set in the charger).

[0050] For each magnet installed in the charger 301, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic pole orientation of the left and right first magnets 32, 342 may be the same as that of the left and right first magnets 32, 142 in the first modified charger 101, while the second magnet 328 may have its south pole facing left and its north pole facing right, or the magnetic pole orientation of these three magnets 32, 342, 328 may be reversed from that shown in FIG. 6.

[0051] Even with this configuration, it is possible to ensure a magnetic force large enough to be detected by the Hall ICs 368, 378 installed in the left and right hearing devices 360, 370. However, it is necessary that the surface magnetic flux density of each of the first magnets 32, 342 and the second magnet 328 does not exceed the strength of the magnetic force permitted for the operation of the speakers built into the hearing devices 360, 370.

[0052] Furthermore, with this configuration, the second magnet 328 is shared by both the left and right sides, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the width of the charger can be made smaller compared to the charger 1 of the above-described embodiment and the chargers 101 and 202 of the modified examples.

[0053] [Advantages of the present invention] As described above, the chargers of the above-described embodiments and modifications have the following advantages.

[0054] (1) Because the magnets on the charger are installed in multiple locations (first magnet, second magnet), compared to when a single powerful magnet is installed, the magnetic force near the top surface of the charger body and near the top end of the recess can be suppressed to a level that does not affect the operation of the speaker built into the listening device, while still strengthening the magnetic force that the Hall IC can receive. As a result, it is possible to reliably turn off the power of the listening device during charging.

[0055] (2) Because the second magnet is located away from the first magnet, the areas near the top surface of the charger main body and near the top end of the recess are hardly affected by the second magnet. This makes it possible to increase the magnetic flux density in the Hall IC with almost no change in the magnetic flux density in the space where the speaker can approach.

[0056] (3) The listening device has a built-in magnet, and its magnetic poles are oriented so that they are attracted to the magnet installed at the bottom of the recess on the charger. Therefore, when charging the secondary battery built into the listening device, the listening device can be fixed to the charger and the charging terminal on the listening device can be securely connected to the charging terminal on the charger.

[0057] (4) A magnet is built into the listening device, and the magnetic source appears closer to the Hall IC than if the listening device did not have a magnet built in, allowing the Hall IC to generate a stronger magnetic force.

[0058] (5) A magnetic circuit is formed by multiple magnets distributed over the charger, which generates sufficient magnetic force overall. The magnetic force of each magnet is kept to a level that does not affect the operation of the hearing device. This increases the freedom in the shape of the hearing device. Even for hearing devices such as in-the-ear hearing aids, where the shell shape (and therefore the built-in speaker position) varies from user to user and between left and right devices, the power can be reliably turned off and the device can be charged properly.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the charger 1 serves both as a charger and a storage case, but the same configuration as in the embodiment may be adopted in a pure charger that does not also serve as a storage case. Also, the charger 1 has a structure capable of simultaneously charging and storing two (both left and right) hearing devices, but may have a structure capable of charging and storing only one (single-ear) hearing device. In such a charger, only one storage space for the hearing device is formed, and accordingly only one pair of the first magnet and the second magnet is installed.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, two charging terminals are provided in each of the left and right recesses in the charger 1, and correspondingly, two charging terminals are provided in each of the left and right hearing devices, but the number of charging terminals is not limited to two each.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, magnets are provided on the backside of the faceplates of the left and right hearing devices, but a magnetic body such as iron may be provided instead of the magnets. Alternatively, magnets may be provided in the left and right hearing devices as in the embodiment, and a magnetic body may be provided in the charger instead of the first magnet.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the power supply of the hearing device is controlled to be turned off at all times while the Hall IC is detecting a magnetic force so that the original functions of the hearing device do not operate during charging, but other controls may be performed instead of turning the power supply off, for example, control may be performed so that sound input and output is not performed. Alternatively, the power supply of the main processor related to the original functions of the hearing device can be turned off, while the power supply of the sub-processor that monitors the output of the Hall IC can be kept on.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, the magnetic force is detected using a Hall IC, but the magnetic force may be detected using means other than the Hall IC. For example, instead of the Hall IC, a magnetic sensor such as an MR sensor, an AMR sensor, a GMR sensor, a TMR sensor, or a SQUID may be used.

[0065] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the first magnets are installed at the bottom of the left and right recesses, but these first magnets may be eliminated and magnets built into the left and right hearing devices may be used instead as the first magnets. In this case, if the magnetic force of the second magnet needs to be stronger to provide sufficient magnetic force to the Hall IC, the magnetic force of the second magnet needs to be strong enough not to affect the operation of the speaker built into the hearing device when the speaker approaches the upper surface of the charger main body. Even with this configuration, the hearing device cannot be fixed to the charger, but there is no problem with the detection of magnetic force by the Hall IC, so the power of the hearing device can be turned off reliably during charging.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, the upper surface 22 of the main body 20 is provided substantially horizontally, but the upper surface 22 of the main body does not have to be horizontal, and may be inclined, for example.

[0067] Additionally, the configurations and numerical values ​​given in the course of the description of the charger 1 of the above embodiment are merely examples and can be modified as appropriate when implementing the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 charger 20 Main body 24,26 Second magnet 30,40 Storage space (storage section) 31,41 Recess (receptacle) 32,42 First magnet 60,70 Listening Devices 62,72 Faceplate (outer shell) 65,75 Magnet 68,78 Hall IC

Claims

1. A charger capable of charging a secondary battery built into a hearing device, at least, a receiving portion for receiving one of the hearing devices during charging; A plurality of magnets are disposed in a distributed manner corresponding to the storage portion; Equipped with The plurality of magnets include A charger comprising a magnetic circuit that generates a magnetic force detectable by a magnetic detection means installed in one of the listening devices.

2. 2. The charger according to claim 1, The plurality of magnets include a first magnet installed in the housing or in its vicinity, with a predetermined magnetic pole oriented in a predetermined direction; a second magnet located at a position spaced apart from the first magnet and having a predetermined magnetic pole oriented in a direction different from the predetermined direction; Equipped with The first and second magnets are A charger that constitutes the magnetic circuit.

3. 3. The charger according to claim 2, The storage section includes: The charger is provided on a main body of the charger and has a recessed shape from a surface of the main body. The second magnet is A charger, which is installed on the main body and has a predetermined magnetic pole oriented in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.

4. 4. The charger according to claim 3, The magnet includes two magnets each including the storage portion, the first magnet, and the second magnet, A charger, characterized in that the orientation of the magnetic poles of the first and second magnets in one set is opposite to the orientation of the magnetic poles of the first and second magnets in the other set.

5. 3. The charger according to claim 2, The storage section includes: The charger is provided on a main body of the charger and has a recessed shape from a surface of the main body. The second magnet is A charger, characterized in that the charger is installed at a position higher than the surface on the side of the storage section, and a predetermined magnetic pole of the charger is oriented in a direction approximately perpendicular to the predetermined direction.

6. 6. The charger according to claim 5, The magnet includes two sets each including the housing portion and the first magnet, The second magnet is The storage units are disposed at approximately equal distances from the storage units in each group, 11. A charger comprising: a first magnet in one set having a polar orientation opposite to a polar orientation of a first magnet in the other set.

7. A charger according to any one of claims 1 to 6; At least one hearing device having the magnetic detection means and a magnetic body or magnet on the back side of an outer shell portion that faces the storage portion during charging; Equipped with a charging system.

8. In the charging system according to claim 7, which is derived from any one of claims 2 to 6, The hearing device comprises: A charging system comprising a magnet on the back side of the outer shell portion, the magnet being oriented in such a way that it attracts the first magnet during charging.

9. A charging system for charging a secondary battery built into a hearing device, comprising: a charger including at least a storage unit for receiving one hearing device during charging, a magnetic body installed in or near the storage unit, and a magnet installed at a position away from the magnetic body; At least one hearing device having a magnet on the back side of a part of the outer shell that faces the housing part during charging, and Equipped with The magnets installed in the charger and the magnets installed in the listening device are A charging system comprising a magnetic circuit that generates a magnetic force that is detectable by the magnetic detection means.

10. A charging method for charging a secondary battery built into a hearing device, comprising: receiving the hearing device in the charger; a detection step of detecting a magnetic force generated by a magnetic circuit constituted by a plurality of magnets disposed in a distributed manner at least on the charger, using a magnetic detection means disposed on the hearing device; a charging step in which a predetermined process is carried out in the hearing device and a secondary battery is charged in a charger while the magnetic force is being detected by the magnetic detection means; Including charging methods.

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