Occlusion control system for a hearing instrument and a hearing instrument

Abstract

An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein operation of the sealing element is controlled by an electric control signal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material; wherein a rigidity or a softness of the electroactive material of the sealing element is variable based on an applied electric field, the applied electric field being based on an electric control signal, and wherein the rigidity or the softness of the electroactive material of the sealing element is variable to change an acoustic impedance of the electroactive material.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive material comprises an elastomer.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electroactive material is shaped as a membrane.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a polymer layer that at least partially overlaps with the membrane-shaped electroactive material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the polymer layer is made of silicone.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the polymer layer is arranged to face the ear canal when the hearing instrument is at least partially positioned in the ear canal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic impedance of the electroactive material in a first state has a first acoustic impedance level, and in a second state has a second acoustic impedance level, the first acoustic impedance level being higher than the second acoustic impedance level.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric control signal is based on information regarding external sounds.

9. A hearing instrument comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

10. The hearing instrument according to claim 9, further comprising a signal processor configured to provide the electric control signal.

11. The hearing instrument according to claim 9, comprising an earpiece, wherein the sealing element is a part of the earpiece.

12. The hearing instrument according to claim 11, wherein the earpiece comprises one or more apertures, and the sealing element covers the one or more apertures.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a signal processor configured to provide the electric control signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electroactive material is controllable to be in a first state in which the acoustic impedance of the electroactive material of the sealing element has a first acoustic impedance level, and the electroactive material of the sealing element has a first degree of the rigidity or softness; and wherein the electroactive material is controllable to be in a second state in which the acoustic impedance of the electroactive material of the sealing element has a second acoustic impedance level, and the electroactive material of the sealing element has a second degree of the rigidity or softness.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first acoustic impedance level when the electroactive material is in the first state is higher than the second acoustic impedance level when the electroactive material is in the second state, and wherein the electroactive material is more rigid or less soft when the electroactive material is in the first state than when the electroactive material is in the second state.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electroactive material of the sealing element is acoustically occluded when the electroactive material is in the first state, and the electroactive material of the sealing element is acoustically non-occluded when the electroactive material is in the second state.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the electroactive material that is controllable to be in the first state, and is controllable to be in the second state, is shaped as a membrane.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rigidity or the softness of the electroactive material of the sealing element is variable to change an amount of sound that is passing, or that will pass, through the sealing element.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rigidity or the softness of the electroactive material of the sealing element is variable to change a frequency of sound that is passing, or that will pass, through the sealing element.

20. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material that is controlled by an electric control signal; wherein the electroactive material is shaped as a membrane; wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane in a first state has a first rigidity or softness, and has a first acoustic impedance attributable to the first rigidity or softness of the electroactive material, and wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane in a second state has a second rigidity or softness, and has a second acoustic impedance attributable to the second rigidity or softness of the electroactive material.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the electric control signal for controlling the electroactive material of the sealing element is based on information regarding external sounds.

22. A hearing instrument comprising the apparatus according to claim 20, and a signal processor configured to provide the electric control signal.

23. The hearing instrument according to claim 22, comprising an earpiece, wherein the sealing element is a part of the earpiece; and wherein the earpiece comprises one or more apertures, and the sealing element covers the one or more apertures.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane has at least one perforation, wherein the at least one perforation is configured to vent pressure inside the ear canal.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane is controllable to be in the first state, and is controllable to be in the second state.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first acoustic impedance when the electroactive material is in the first state is higher than the second acoustic impedance when the electroactive material is in the second state, and wherein the electroactive material is more rigid or less soft when the electroactive material is in the first state than when the electroactive material is in the second state.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the electroactive material of the sealing element is acoustically occluded when the electroactive material is in the first state, and the electroactive material of the sealing element is acoustically non-occluded when the electroactive material is in the second state.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the electroactive material of the sealing element is more rigid or less soft when in the first state than when in the second state.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first rigidity or softness of the electroactive material allows a first amount of sound to pass through the sealing element, and wherein the second rigidity or softness of the electroactive material allows a second amount of sound to pass through the sealing element, the first amount of sound being different from the second amount of sound.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first rigidity or softness of the electroactive material allows a first frequency of sound to pass through the sealing element, and wherein the second rigidity or softness of the electroactive material allows a second frequency of sound to pass through the sealing element, the first frequency of sound being different from the second frequency of sound.

31. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, the sealing element being at least partially made from an electroactive material that is controlled by an electric control signal; wherein the electroactive material is shaped as a membrane; wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane in a first state has a first acoustic impedance and has a first rigidity or softness, and wherein the electroactive material shaped as the membrane in a second state has a second acoustic impedance and has a second rigidity or softness; and wherein the membrane-shaped electroactive material has at least one perforation, and wherein a total acoustic mass of the at least one perforation exceeds 5000 kg/m.sup.4.

32. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein an acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable by an electric control signal; wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a first state in which the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a first acoustic impedance level, and the sealing element has a first degree of rigidity or softness; wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a second state in which the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a second acoustic impedance level, and the sealing element has a second degree of rigidity or softness; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a detector configured to detect whether the wearer of the hearing instrument is speaking, wherein the detector is configured to output a detector electric signal in response to a detected speech, and wherein the electric control signal for adjusting the acoustic impedance of the sealing element is based on the detector electric signal.

33. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein an acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable by an electric control signal; wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a first state in which the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a first acoustic impedance level, and the sealing element has a first degree of rigidity or softness; wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a second state in which the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a second acoustic impedance level, and the sealing element has a second degree of rigidity or softness; and wherein the acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable based on an activity of the wearer of the hearing instrument.

34. An apparatus for a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument being configured to be at least partially placed in an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a sealing element configured to seal off at least a part of the ear canal when the hearing instrument with the apparatus is at least partially positioned in the ear canal, wherein an acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable by an electric control signal; wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a first state in which the sealing element has a first degree of rigidity or softness, and the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a first acoustic impedance level attributable to the first degree of rigidity or softness; and wherein the sealing element is controllable to be in a second state in which the sealing element has a second degree of rigidity or softness, and the acoustic impedance of the sealing element has a second acoustic impedance level attributable to the second degree of rigidity or softness.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the electric control signal for adjusting the acoustic impedance of the sealing element is based on information regarding sounds in a sealed off portion of the ear canal.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable across an entire hearing frequency band.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the sealing element has a degree of compliance that is variable.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the acoustic impedance of the sealing element is adjustable based on an outside environment of the wearer of the hearing instrument.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the sealing element is at least partially made from an electroactive material.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the electroactive material comprises carbon nanotubes.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first acoustic impedance level is higher than the second acoustic impedance level, and the sealing element is more rigid or less soft in the first state than in the second state.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a material of the sealing element is acoustically occluded when the sealing element is in the first state, and the material of the sealing element is acoustically non-occluded when the sealing element is in the second state.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the sealing element comprises an electroactive material shaped as a membrane, and wherein the acoustic impedance of the sealing element comprises an acoustic impedance of the electroactive material shaped as the membrane.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first degree of rigidity or softness of the sealing element allows a first amount of sound to pass through the sealing element, and wherein the second degree of rigidity or softness of the sealing element allows a second amount of sound to pass through the sealing element, the first amount of sound being different from the second amount of sound.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first degree of rigidity or softness of the sealing element allows a first frequency of sound to pass through the sealing element, and wherein the second degree of rigidity or softness of the sealing element allows a second frequency of sound to pass through the sealing element, the first frequency of sound being different from the second frequency of sound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hearing aid of the BTE-type comprising the occlusion control system according to one embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a close-up of the embodiment of the occlusion control system shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hearing aid 2 of the ITE-type comprising the occlusion control system 4 according to another embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 is a contextual view of the hearing aid of the ITE-type shown in FIG. 3, when said hearing aid is inserted in the ear of the wearer.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hearing protection device comprising the occlusion control system according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(6) The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The claimed invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In the drawings, like reference signs refer to like elements.

(7) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hearing aid 2 of the BTE-type comprising an occlusion control system 4 according to one embodiment.

(8) The BTE-device has a main body 6, including most of the components and being placed behind the ear when the hearing aid is in use, and an earpiece 8 for insertion into the ear canal of the wearer. Accordingly, the ear piece of BTE-devices, comprising a dome structure 10, is separated from the main body of the hearing aid and it fits snugly into the wearer's ear canal. In this embodiment, the occlusion control system is a part of the dome structure. This embodiment will be discussed in more detail in connection with FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 2 is a close-up of the occlusion control system 4 shown in FIG. 1. Here, the occlusion control system is part of a dome structure 10. The dome structure comprises a dome base 12 and a dome top 14. These are physically connected by means of curved, peripherally extending ribs 16. Apertures in the dome structure are covered by a sealing element 18 of the occlusion control system. Hereby, the ear canal is physically sealed off when the system is positioned in the ear canal. The sealing element comprises an electroactive material. As it may be seen, the electroactive material is shaped as a membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the electroactive material is a polymer, more precisely an elastomer. Alternatively (not shown), the peripheral ribs may be dispensed with such that the electroactive material extends between the dome base and the dome top along entire periphery of the dome structure. Operation of the sealing element is controlled by an electric control signal. The electric control signal is normally generated by a signal processor, typically housed in the main part shown in FIG. 1. Operation of the sealing element implies that the acoustic impedance of the electroactive material varies as a function of an applied electric field. In some embodiments, circuitry and/or module in the signal processor that generates the electric control signal may be considered to be a part of the occlusion control system 4. In other embodiments, the circuitry and/or module in the signal processor that generates the electric control signal may be considered as not a part of the occlusion control system 4.

(10) Hereby, acoustic properties of the sealing element that at all times physically seals off the ear canal cavity may be dynamically adjusted. This is achieved by applying an electric field on the electroactive material that makes up the sealing element. Magnitude of the applied field is determined by the content of the electric control signal, typically including control data in accordance with a predefined criterion or a suitable algorithm. The applied force entails change of the compliance of the electroactive material, i.e. its elastic properties are changed. As an example, the electroactive material, when subjected to an applied force, may go from being soft, i.e. having low acoustic impedance, to becoming completely rigid, i.e. having high acoustic impedance. The electroactive material in rigid state is acoustically occluded, i.e. sound waves cannot pass across, whereas the same material in soft state is acoustically non-occluded and allows passage of sound waves. In consequence, by changing the compliance of the electroactive material, acoustic impedance of the sealing element, i.e. its resistance to the acoustic flow in the shape of the sound waves, is altered. Accordingly and depending on the compliance of the electroactive material of the sealing element, different amounts of sound energy may pass across the barrier represented by the sealing element. Compliance of the electroactive material of the sealing element could be controlled by the signal processor configured to generate an electric control signal.

(11) As mentioned above, the above-described system is also suitable for integration in RIE-devices, i.e. devices where the receiver/speaker unit is part of the dome structure. It is equally conceivable to integrate the system in a double-dome structure.

(12) The system may further comprise a silicone-made polymer layer (not shown) arranged so as to at least partially overlap with the membrane-shaped electroactive material. Preferably, the polymer layer is arranged so as to face the ear canal, i.e. it covers the electroactive polymer, when the system is positioned in the ear canal.

(13) In one embodiment (not shown), at least one of the membrane-shaped electroactive material and the polymer layer is provided with at least one perforation that confers a venting effect. Regardless the number of perforations made, the total acoustic mass preferably exceeds 5000 kg/m.sup.4.

(14) In a further embodiment, the electroactive material comprises carbon nanotubes. In that case, the voltage of the applied electric field could be in the range between 0 V and 1.5 V, i.e. rather low voltages are required to ensure satisfactory operation of the system.

(15) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hearing aid 2 of the ITE-type comprising an occlusion control system 4 according to another embodiment. As it may be seen, the occlusion control system is integrated in a hearing instrument that can be fully contained within the ear. It should be noted that the occlusion control system 4 is not limited to application for ITE-devices (in-the-ear) or BTE devices. For examples, in other embodiments, the occlusion control system 4 may be employed for CIC-devices (completely-in-the-canal), or other types of hearing instrument. A sealing element 18 of the shown occlusion control system is a planar structure arranged at an inlet portion of a vent tube 24 traversing the hearing instrument and connecting an ear canal cavity 26 and the outside environment 28. Typically, the electroactive material is suspended onto a circumferentially extending support structure (not visible), the shape of which is congruent with the cross-sectional shape of the vent tube. Further properties and operation of the sealing element are commensurate with those discussed in connection with FIG. 2.

(16) FIG. 4 is a contextual view of the hearing aid 2 of the ITE-type shown in FIG. 3, when said hearing aid is inserted in the ear 30 of the wearer. A residual volume/cavity 26 in the ear canal, delimited by the hearing aid, ear tissue and the ear drum 32 may be seen. With respect to the operation of the sealing element 18 of the occlusion control system 4 and in addition to what has been said in connection with FIG. 2, a dynamic, time-variant control of acoustically closing or opening the sealing element 18, i.e. changing its state, can be provided as required by the acoustic situation at hand. Overall, this results in an improved hearing comfort for the wearer. A few, non-limiting examples of this situation-dependency are listed below:

(17) acoustically opening the sealing element (creating low acoustic impedance) in connection with the presence of own voice;

(18) acoustically closing the sealing element (creating high acoustic impedance) when subject to low-frequency music;

(19) acoustically opening the sealing element (creating low acoustic impedance) in a quiet environment;

(20) In one non-limiting embodiment (not shown), the occlusion control system may comprise a microphone arranged to pick up external sounds and to output a first electric signal, wherein the signal processor uses the first electric signal when generating the electric control signal for controlling operation of the sealing element so as to adjust acoustic impedance of the electroactive material. The microphone could be a part of the occlusion control system, but any of the microphones of the hearing aids could also be used.

(21) In another not shown, non-limiting embodiment, the occlusion control system further comprises a microphone arranged to pick up sounds generated in the physically sealed off portion of the ear canal, i.e. the microphone faces the ear canal cavity. In response to sound pick-up, the microphone outputs a second electric signal, wherein the signal processor uses the second electric signal when generating the electric control signal for controlling operation of the sealing element so as to adjust acoustic impedance of the electroactive material. Again, the microphone could be a part of the occlusion control system, but a microphone belonging to the hearing aid could also be used.

(22) In a related embodiment, the system could have a pair of microphones, one for picking up external sounds and another for picking up sounds generated in the cavity. This could further improve steering of the electroactive material and minimize occlusion effect, even in very complex acoustic situations.

(23) In another related embodiment, a vibration sensor can be used for picking up sounds generated in the cavity. This could further improve steering of the electroactive material and minimize occlusion effect, even in very noisy acoustic environments.

(24) In yet another embodiment, the occlusion control system or the hearing aid itself may further comprise a detector for detecting whether a wearer of the hearing aid is speaking and said detector, in response to detected speech, is configured to output a detector electric signal, wherein the signal processor uses the detector electric signal when generating the electric control signal for controlling operation of the sealing element so as to adjust acoustic impedance of the electroactive material. In its basic implementation, the sealing element would, in response to detected speech attributable to the wearer, become maximally acoustically transparent (state of minimum acoustic impedance) in order to maximally attenuate detrimental occlusion effects.

(25) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hearing protection device 34 comprising an occlusion control system 4 with a sealing element 18 according to one embodiment. As clearly seen, the occlusion control system, when incorporated in a hearing protection device, carries significant structural resemblance to the solution deployed for a hearing aid of the ITE-type (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). In addition, its functional properties are substantially identical to those of said ITE-device.

(26) In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the claimed invention being set forth in the following claims.