Earring hearing aid using RIT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an earring hearing aid using a receiver in the tube (RIT) including a case which receives therein a microphone, an interface socket, an acoustic processing means, a memory button, a volume controller, a battery and a battery electrode, a receiver which outputs an acoustic signal through a lead wire having one end connected to the acoustic processing means, a hearing aid shell which receives an end of the receiver tube disposed at an opposite side to a side where the receiver is inserted in the receiver tube along a lengthwise direction, a face plate covering an inlet of the hearing aid shell, and an earring hook having one side inserted into an outer peripheral surface of an exit hole of the case to cover an outer peripheral surface of the lead wire exiting through the exit hole.

Claims

1. An earring hearing aid using a receiver in the tube (RIT), comprising: a case which receives therein a microphone, an interface socket, an acoustic processing means, a memory button, a volume controller, a battery and a battery electrode; a receiver which outputs an acoustic signal through a lead wire having one end connected to the acoustic processing means, and is connected to an other end of the lead wire and inserted into a receiver tube having a predetermined length; a third capacitor which filters out high-level noise included in direct voltage supplied from the battery to the receiver to prevent the high-level noise from being applied to the receiver; a hearing aid shell which receives an end of the receiver tube disposed at an opposite side to a side where the receiver is inserted in the receiver tube along a lengthwise direction, and is inserted into an ear to allow the hearing of sound outputted from the receiver; a face plate covering an inlet of the hearing aid shell; and an earring hook having one side inserted into an outer peripheral surface of an exit hole of the case to cover an outer peripheral surface of the lead wire exiting through the exit hole, and an other side rounded to be held and fixed to the ear, wherein a plurality of markers is formed at a predetermined interval along the lengthwise direction on an outer periphery of the receiver tube adjacent to the case, and wherein the receiver is inserted into the receiver tube, and the receiver is fixed to a location where one of the plurality of markers is formed in the receiver tube such that a length from the case to the hearing aid shell inserted into the ear fits for a user's ear size.

2. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 1, wherein when the receiver connected to the other end of the lead wire is inserted into the receiver tube and fixed at a predetermined location, the receiver tube is cut along two or more of the plurality of markers formed in the receiver tube such that a length from the case to the hearing aid shell inserted into the ear fits for a user's ear size, and the receiver tube having the inserted receiver is connected to the receiver tube connected to the hearing aid shell.

3. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 1, wherein the case includes a case body, and a cover having a screw hole to cover an opening of the case body by fastening with a fastening bolt, wherein the case body comprising: a first receiving space which receives the microphone; a second receiving space which receives the acoustic processing means; a third receiving space which receives the memory button; a fourth receiving space which receives the volume controller; a fifth receiving space which receives the battery; a sixth receiving space which receives the battery electrode in contact with each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery; the exit hole through which the lead wire exits, the lead wire for outputting the acoustic signal from the acoustic processing means to the receiver; and the screw hole for the fastening bolt to couple the case body and the cover.

4. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 1, wherein the acoustic processing means comprising: a voltage regulator to receive the direct voltage supplied from the battery and regulate to a predetermined direct voltage and output it, when a switch is operated to switch on; a first capacitor filtering out high-level noise included in the direct voltage regulated to the predetermined direct voltage by the voltage regulator and supplying to the microphone; a second capacitor receiving an acoustic signal received by the microphone and filtering out high-level noise included in the acoustic signal; an Analog to Digital converter (A/D converter) receiving an analog acoustic signal having undergone high-level noise filtering by the second capacitor and converting into a digital acoustic signal; an amplification means receiving the digital acoustic signal outputted from the A/D converter and amplifying to a predetermined level; an Electrically Erasable Programmable Only Memory (EEPROM) receiving a news hearing parameter, a music hearing parameter, a conversation hearing parameter and a conversation hearing in noise parameter from a personal computer through the interface socket and storing an interfaced mode signal; an equalizer receiving a corresponding parameter among the news hearing parameter, the music hearing parameter, the conversation hearing parameter and the conversation hearing in noise parameter when the memory button is pressed once to four times, receiving the digital acoustic signal amplified to the predetermined level by the amplification means and amplifying and mixing them; a Digital to Analog converter (D/A converter) converting the digital acoustic signal amplified and mixed by the equalizer into an analog acoustic signal; the volume controller receiving the analog acoustic signal outputted from the D/A converter, controlling volume and outputting it; and the third capacitor filtering out high-level noise included in the direct voltage supplied from the battery to the receiver to prevent the high-level noise from being applied to the receiver.

5. An earring hearing aid using a receiver in the tube (RIT), comprising: a case which receives therein a microphone, an interface socket, an acoustic processing means, a memory button, a volume controller, a battery and a battery electrode; a receiver which outputs an acoustic signal through a lead wire having one end connected to the acoustic processing means, and is connected to an other end of the lead wire and inserted into a receiver tube having a predetermined length; a hearing aid shell which receives an end of the receiver tube disposed at an opposite side to a side; a face plate covering an inlet of the hearing aid shell; and an earring hook having one side inserted into an outer peripheral surface of an exit hole of the case to cover an outer peripheral surface of the lead wire exiting through the exit hole, wherein a plurality of markers is formed at a predetermined interval along the lengthwise direction on an outer periphery of the receiver tube, and wherein the receiver is inserted into the receiver tube, and the receiver is fixed to a location where one of the plurality of markers is formed in the receiver tube such that a length from the case to the hearing aid shell inserted into the ear fits for a user's ear size.

6. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 5, wherein when the receiver connected to the other end of the lead wire is inserted into the receiver tube and fixed at a predetermined location, the receiver tube is cut along two or more of the plurality of markers formed in the receiver tube such that a length from the case to the hearing aid shell inserted into the ear fits for a user's ear size, and the receiver tube having the inserted receiver is connected to the receiver tube connected to the hearing aid shell.

7. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 5, wherein the case includes a case body, and a cover having a screw hole to cover an opening of the case body by fastening with a fastening bolt, wherein the case body comprising: a first receiving space which receives the microphone; a second receiving space which receives the acoustic processing means; a third receiving space which receives the memory button; a fourth receiving space which receives the volume controller; a fifth receiving space which receives the battery; a sixth receiving space which receives the battery electrode in contact with each of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery; the exit hole through which the lead wire exits, the lead wire for outputting the acoustic signal from the acoustic processing means to the receiver; and the screw hole for the fastening bolt to couple the case body and the cover.

8. The earring hearing aid using RIT of claim 5, wherein the acoustic processing means comprising: a voltage regulator to receive the direct voltage supplied from the battery and regulate to a predetermined direct voltage and output it, when a switch is operated to switch on; a first capacitor filtering out high-level noise included in the direct voltage regulated to the predetermined direct voltage by the voltage regulator and supplying to the microphone; a second capacitor receiving an acoustic signal received by the microphone and filtering out high-level noise included in the acoustic signal; an Analog to Digital converter (A/D converter) receiving an analog acoustic signal having undergone high-level noise filtering by the second capacitor and converting into a digital acoustic signal; an amplification means receiving the digital acoustic signal outputted from the A/D converter and amplifying to a predetermined level; an Electrically Erasable Programmable Only Memory (EEPROM) receiving a news hearing parameter, a music hearing parameter, a conversation hearing parameter and a conversation hearing in noise parameter from a personal computer through the interface socket and storing an interfaced mode signal; an equalizer receiving a corresponding parameter among the news hearing parameter, the music hearing parameter, the conversation hearing parameter and the conversation hearing in noise parameter when the memory button is pressed once to four times, receiving the digital acoustic signal amplified to the predetermined level by the amplification means and amplifying and mixing them; a Digital to Analog converter (D/A converter) converting the digital acoustic signal amplified and mixed by the equalizer into an analog acoustic signal; the volume controller receiving the analog acoustic signal outputted from the D/A converter, controlling volume and outputting it; and the third capacitor filtering out high-level noise included in the direct voltage supplied from the battery to the receiver to prevent the high-level noise from being applied to the receiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an earring hearing aid in which a conventional receiver is embedded in a body.

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a receiver in the canal (RIC) type earring hearing aid in which a conventional receiver is embedded in a hearing aid shell inserted into the ear.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an earring hearing aid using a receiver in the tube (RIT) according to the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a battery, a volume controller, a memory button and a microphone installed in a case body of an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram of the components of an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded diagram of a case body and a cover of an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure.

(7) FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an acoustic processing means connected to a microphone, a battery and a receiver employed in an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(8) Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, the terms and words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general or dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical spirit of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation. Additionally, the embodiments described herein and illustrations shown in the drawings are just a most preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, but not intended to fully describe the technical spirit of the present disclosure, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto at the time the application was filed.

(9) FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing an earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an acoustic processing means connected to a microphone, a battery and a receiver employed in the earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure.

(10) The earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure includes a case 100, a receiver 300, a third capacitor C3, a hearing aid shell 400, a face plate 500 and a hook 600.

(11) The case 100 is formed such that a microphone 130, an interface socket 140, an acoustic processing means 200, a memory button 150, a volume controller 160, a battery 170 and a battery electrode 180 are received therein.

(12) The receiver 300 outputs an acoustic signal through a lead wire 210 having one end connected to the acoustic processing means 200, and is connected to the other end of the lead wire 210 and inserted into a receiver tube 302 having a predetermined length.

(13) The third capacitor C3 filters out high-level noise included in direct voltage supplied from the battery 170 to the receiver 300 to prevent the high-level noise from being applied to the receiver 300.

(14) The hearing aid shell 400 receives therein the end of the receiver tube 302 disposed at the opposite side to the side into which the receiver 300 is inserted in the receiver tube 302 along the lengthwise direction, and is inserted into the ear to allow the hearing of sound outputted from the receiver 300.

(15) That is, dissimilar to a receiver in the canal (RIC) type in which a receiver inserted into a receiver tube is received in a hearing aid shell as conventionally, the present disclosure relates to a RIT type earring hearing aid in which only the end of the receiver tube disposed at the opposite side to the insertion side of the receiver is received.

(16) The face plate 500 is formed to cover an inlet of the hearing aid shell 400.

(17) The hook 600 has one side that is inserted into the outer peripheral surface of an exit hole 117 of the case 100 to cover the outer peripheral surface of the lead wire 210 exiting through the exit hole 117, and the other side that is rounded to be held and fixed to the ear.

(18) In this instance, a plurality of markers T1,T2,T3 is formed at a predetermined interval along the lengthwise direction on the outer periphery of the receiver tube 302 adjacent to the case 100, and when the receiver 300 connected to the other end of the lead wire 210 is inserted into the receiver tube 302 and fixed at a predetermined location, the receiver tube 302 may be cut along two or more of the plurality of markers T1,T2,T3 formed in the receiver tube 302, and the receiver tube 302 into which the receiver 300 is inserted may be connected to the receiver tube 302 connected to the hearing aid shell 400, so that the length from the case 100 to the hearing aid shell 400 inserted into the ear fits for the user's ear size.

(19) In this case, the end of the receiver tube 302 into which the receiver 300 is inserted and the end of the receiver tube 302 connected to the hearing aid shell 400 correspond to each other, and when an adhesive is applied to at least one of the two ends and they are connected to each other, they may be firmly fixed.

(20) That is, the receiver tube 302 is manufactured in a predetermined length in the manufacturing process, and the receiver tube 302 is marked with T1, T2, T3, dividing into three parts along the lengthwise direction, on the outer periphery.

(21) This is to adjust the length of the receiver tube 302 by cutting the receiver tube 302 along two or more markers after forming the markers T1, T2, T3 standardized in three lengths on the outer surface of the receiver tube 302 in the manufacture, because the length between the case 100 disposed behind the ear and the hearing aid shell 400 inserted into the external auditory meatus is different for each person.

(22) As described above, the present disclosure fits each user.

(23) In another configuration, the receiver 300 is inserted into the receiver tube 302 adjacent to the case 100, and the receiver 300 may be fixed to a location where one of the plurality of markers T1,T2,T3 is formed in the receiver tube 302 so that the length from the case 100 to the hearing aid shell 400 inserted into the ear fits for the user's ear size.

(24) That is, the receiver tube 302 is manufactured in a predetermined length in the manufacturing process, and the receiver tube 302 is marked with T1, T2, T3, dividing into three parts along the lengthwise direction, on the outer periphery.

(25) In this instance, the receiver 300 is inserted into the receiver tube 302 together with the lead wire 210, and the receiver 300 is fixed to a location marked with T1, T2 or T3.

(26) When an adhesive is applied to the end of the receiver 300 and the receiver 300 is slowly inserted into the receiver tube 302 together with the lead wire, the receiver 300 is completely fixed in a few minutes.

(27) As described above, after the receiver tube 302 is made in a predetermined length, with a change in the location of the receiver 300 within the receiver tube 302, the distance from the sound outlet of the receiver 300 to the eardrum changes, and in this instance, the intensity of low frequency sound of 400 Hz or less changes for each frequency range by the resonance effect.

(28) As the receiver 300 is closer to the external auditory meatus within the receiver tube 302, the resonance frequency range increases to 200 to 400 Hz high frequencies, and on the contrary, as the receiver 300 is closer to the case 100, the resonance frequency range reduces to 50 to 200 Hz frequencies.

(29) Most of people with age-related hearing loss hear high frequency range sounds worse than low frequency range sounds, and amplification in the case 100 primarily adjusts the high frequency range, and the amplification effect in the low frequency range may be adjusted by changing the location of the receiver 300 within the receiver tube 302 according to each user.

(30) Meanwhile, the case 100 includes a case body 110, and a cover 120 having a screw hole 120a to cover an opening of the case body 110 by fastening with a fastening bolt 90, and the case body 110 includes a first receiving space 111 that receives the microphone 130, a second receiving space 112 that receives the acoustic processing means 200, a third receiving space 113 that receives the memory button 150, a fourth receiving space 114 that receives the volume controller 160, a fifth receiving space 115 that receives the battery 170, a sixth receiving space 116 that receives the battery electrode 180 in contact with each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery 170, an exit hole 117 through which the lead wire 210 exits, the lead wire 210 for outputting an acoustic signal from the acoustic processing means 200 to the receiver 300, and a screw hole 118 for the fastening bolt 90 to couple the case body 110 and the cover 120.

(31) Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the acoustic processing means 200 includes a voltage regulator 202 that when a switch 172 is operated to switch on, receives the direct voltage supplied from the battery 170, regulates to a predetermined direct voltage and outputs it, a first capacitor C1 that filters out high-level noise included in the direct voltage regulated to the predetermined direct voltage by the voltage regulator 202 and supplies to the microphone 130, a second capacitor C2 that receives the acoustic signal received by the microphone 130 and filters out high-level noise included in the acoustic signal, an A/D converter 204 that receives the analog acoustic signal from which high-level noise was filtered out by the second capacitor C2 and converts into a digital acoustic signal, an amplification means 206 that receives the digital acoustic signal outputted from the A/D converter 204 and amplifies to a predetermined level, an EEPROM 208 that receives a news hearing parameter M1, a music hearing parameter M2, a conversation hearing parameter M3 and a conversation hearing in noise parameter M4 from a personal computer through the interface socket 140 and stores an interfaced mode signal, an equalizer E that receives a corresponding parameter among the news hearing parameter M1, the music hearing parameter M2, the conversation hearing parameter M3 and the conversation hearing in noise parameter M4 when the memory button 150 is pressed once to four times, receives the digital acoustic signal amplified to the predetermined level from the amplification means 206, and amplifies and mixes them, a D/A converter 212 that converts the digital acoustic signal amplified and mixed by the equalizer E into an analog acoustic signal, a volume controller 160 that receives the analog acoustic signal outputted from the D/A converter 212, controls the volume and outputs it, and a third capacitor C3 that filters out high-level noise included in the direct voltage supplied from the battery 170 to the receiver 300 to prevent the high-level noise from being applied to the receiver 300.

(32) Here, the reference number 304 not described herein is an earwax entry prevention element inserted into the front end of the receiver tube 302 to prevent earwax from entering the receiver tube 302, the reference number 504 is a string connected to the outer side of the face plate 500 and used to pull when drawing out the hearing aid shell 400 inserted into the ear canal, and the string 504 has a round knot 504a at the outer end to easily pull.

(33) Additionally, the reference number 119 not described herein is a cover that covers the battery.

(34) Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the earring hearing aid using RIT according to the present disclosure configured as described above will be described.

(35) First, the microphone 130 is installed in the first receiving space 111 formed in the case body 110 of the case 100, the acoustic processing means 200 is installed in the second receiving space 112, the memory button 150 is installed in the third receiving space 113, the volume controller 160 is installed in the fourth receiving space 114, the battery 170 is installed in the fifth receiving space 115, the battery electrode 180 in contact with each of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery 170 is installed in the sixth receiving space 116, the interface socket 140 is installed in the cover 120 to access the personal computer not shown, receive a news hearing parameter M1, a music hearing parameter M2, a conversation hearing parameter M3 and a conversation hearing in noise parameter M4, and store an interfaced mode signal in the EEPROM 208, the opening of the case body 110 is covered with the cover 120, and the screw hole 118 formed in the case body 110 and the screw hole 120a formed in the cover 120 correspond to each other and they are fastened by the fastening bolt 90.

(36) The outer peripheral surface of the lead wire 210 exiting through the exit hole 117 formed by the case body 110 and the cover 120 and the exit hole 117 are covered with the earring hook 600, the other side of the lead wire 210 is inserted into a through-hole 502 formed in the face plate 500, and the receiver 300 is connected.

(37) Additionally, the receiver 300 is inserted into the receiver tube 302, the end of the receiver tube 302 disposed at the opposite side to the installation side of the receiver 300 is inserted into the hearing aid shell 400, and the face plate 500 is installed in an opening (not shown) of the hearing aid shell 400 using an adhesive or a bolt.

(38) After the earring hearing aid of the present disclosure is assembled as described above, when the earring hook 600 is held on the ear, the case 100 sits behind the ear, and in this instance, the hearing aid shell 400 is inserted into the ear canal, and the switch 172 is operated to switch on.

(39) Accordingly, when the third capacitor C3 filters out high-level noise included in direct voltage supplied from the battery 170 and supplies to the receiver 300, the voltage regulator 202 receives the direct voltage supplied from the battery 170, regulates to a predetermined direct voltage and supplies operating voltage to the equalizer 210, and the first capacitor C1 filters out high-level noise included in the direct voltage regulated to the predetermined direct voltage by the voltage regulator 202 and supplies operating power to the microphone 130.

(40) In this instance, when the second capacitor C2 receives an acoustic signal received by the microphone 130, filters out high-level noise included in the acoustic signal and outputs to the A/D converter 204, the A/D converter 204 receives the high-level noise filtered analog acoustic signal and converts into a digital acoustic signal, and the amplification means 206 receives the digital acoustic signal outputted from the A/D converter 204 and amplifies to a predetermined level.

(41) Additionally, as the news hearing parameter M1 for hearing news, the music hearing parameter M2 for hearing music, the conversation hearing parameter M3 for hearing conversation and the conversation hearing in noise parameter M4 for hearing conversation in noise are received from the personal computer not shown through the interface socket 140 and the interfaced mode signal is stored in the EEPROM 208, when a suitable parameter for an environment at a location of a wearer wearing the earring hearing aid of the present disclosure is selected by pressing the memory button 150 any one of once to four times according to the surrounding environment, the EEPROM 208 outputs the parameter selected by the memory button 150 among the M1 to M4 parameters to the equalizer E.

(42) Accordingly, the equalizer E receives the digital acoustic signal amplified to the predetermined level by the amplification means 206, receives one mode of the news hearing parameter M1, the music hearing parameter M2, the conversation hearing parameter M3 and the conversation hearing in noise parameter M4 set by the memory button 150 from the EEPROM 208, and amplifies and mixes them.

(43) Additionally, the D/A converter 212 receives the digital acoustic signal amplified and mixed by the equalizer E and converts into an analog acoustic signal, and the volume controller 160 controls the volume of the analog acoustic signal outputted from the D/A converter 212 and outputs to the receiver 300.

(44) Accordingly, the present disclosure installs the receiver 300 connected to the other end of the lead wire 210 within the receiver tube 302 and allows only the end of the receiver tube 302 disposed at the opposite side to the installation side of the receiver 300 to be inserted into the hearing aid shell 400, thereby cancelling an acoustic feedback phenomenon, and preventing the conventional problem with frequent failures due to corrosion caused by earwax and sweat because of the receiver 300 configured to be inserted into the external auditory meatus.

(45) Additionally, the plurality of markers T1, T2, T3 is formed at a predetermined interval along the lengthwise direction on the outer periphery of the receiver tube 302 to adjust the length of the lead wire 210 or the receiver tube 302 as needed, and thus the present disclosure fits each user.

(46) The present disclosure as described hereinabove is not limited by the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the technical field pertaining to the present disclosure that many substitution, modification and changes may be made thereto without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.