WIRELESSLY RECHARGEABLE IN-EAR HEARING DEVICE AND CHARGER FOR SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, and a system comprising a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and a charger for the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device.

Claims

1. A wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device comprising: a shell having one or more hearing device sidewalls and a faceplate surface; a rechargeable battery; one or more hearing device components; and inductive charging circuitry comprising a receiver coil having a receiver coil axial centreline and a receiver coil diameter; wherein the one or more of the hearing device sidewalls at least partially forms an in-ear part configured to be placed at least partially inside an ear canal of a user; wherein the faceplate surface is configured to be oriented towards an outside of an ear of the user, when the in-ear part is positioned at least partially inside the ear canal; and wherein the receiver coil axial centreline points through one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls.

2. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is configured to inductively couple to a transmitter coil.

3. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is positioned next to a side of the rechargeable battery that does not face the faceplate surface.

4. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is a bar coil.

5. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil axial centreline has an angle that is anywhere between 75 to 105 degrees with respect to the one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls.

6. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the receiver coil axial centreline has an angle that is anywhere between 80 to 100 degrees with respect to the one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls.

7. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the receiver coil is directly next to the one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls.

8. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more hearing device sidewalls comprises multiple sidewalls, the multiple sidewalls being respective wall portions of a continuous wall, and wherein the one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls through which the receiver coil axial centreline points is one of the wall portions that is the closest to the receiver coil.

9. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls comprises a tragal hearing device sidewall configured to be positioned in correspondence with a tragus, anti-tragus, and/or intertragal notch of the ear of the user, when the in-ear part is positioned at least partly within the ear canal, and wherein the receiver coil axial centreline points through the tragal hearing device sidewall.

10. The wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the in-ear hearing device is a custom hearing device.

11. A charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device comprising: a charger casing; inductive charging circuitry in the charger casing, the inductive charging circuitry comprising a transmitter coil, the transmitter coil having a transmitter coil axial centreline and a transmitter coil diameter; and a holder comprising one or more holder sidewalls, the holder configured to receive the in-ear hearing device and to support the in-ear hearing device in a predetermined position; wherein the transmitter coil axial centreline points through one of the one or more holder sidewalls.

12. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil is configured to inductively couple to a receiver coil.

13. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil is a bar coil.

14. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil axial centreline has an angle that is anywhere between 75 to 105 degrees with respect to the one of the one or more holder sidewalls.

15. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil axial centreline has an angle that is anywhere between 80 to 100 degrees with respect to the one of the one or more holder sidewalls.

16. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device is a custom hearing device, and wherein the holder is a moulded holder that corresponds to the shape of the custom hearing device.

17. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter coil is directly next to the one of the one or more holder sidewalls.

18. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the one of the one or more holder sidewalls is configured to face towards a hearing device sidewall of the in-ear hearing device, when the in-ear hearing device is supported by the holder in the predetermined position.

19. The charger according to claim 11, wherein the one or more holder sidewalls comprises multiple sidewalls, the multiple sidewalls being respective wall portions of a continuous wall, and wherein the one of the one or more holder sidewalls through which the transmitter coil axial centreline points is one of the wall portions that is the closest to the transmitter coil.

20. A system comprising the charger of claim 11, and the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the in-ear hearing device comprises: a shell having one or more hearing device sidewalls and a faceplate surface; a rechargeable battery; one or more hearing device components; and inductive charging circuitry comprising a receiver coil having a receiver coil axial centreline and a receiver coil diameter; wherein the one or more of the hearing device sidewalls at least partially forms an in-ear part configured to be placed at least partially inside an ear canal of a user; wherein the faceplate surface is configured to be oriented towards an outside of an ear of the user, when the in-ear part is positioned at least partially inside the ear canal; and wherein the receiver coil axial centreline points through one of the one or more hearing device sidewalls.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the receiver coil in the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and the transmitter coil in the charger are positioned such that the receiver coil is able to inductively couple to the transmitter coil, when the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device is placed in the holder in the predetermined position.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein a centre of mass of the receiver coil and a centre of mass of the transmitter coil is less than or equal to 5.0 mm when the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device is placed in the holder in the predetermined position.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein a centre of mass of the receiver coil and a centre of mass of the transmitter coil is less than or equal to 2.0 mm when the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device is placed in the holder in the predetermined position.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein the receiver coil diameter is smaller than the transmitter coil diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1A illustrates an in-ear hearing device positioned within the ear canal of a user,

[0048] FIG. 1B illustrates features of an ear,

[0049] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate examples of induction coils positioned adjacent to a sidewall,

[0050] FIGS. 3-5 schematically illustrate a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention,

[0051] FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically illustrate examples of positioning of a receiver coil or transmitter coil in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention,

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a cut-away of a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device placed within a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention,

[0053] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention,

[0054] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a system with a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and two wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing devices in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention,

[0055] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention, and

[0056] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a system with a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the claimed invention or as a limitation on the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

[0058] In the following various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, and system comprising wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and charger for wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device are described with reference to the appended drawings.

[0059] FIG. 1A shows the pinna P of a user's ear as well as parts of the inner ear, and illustrates an in-ear hearing device 1 positioned within the ear canal, EC. FIG. 1B shows parts of the pinna P, which will be referenced later: The tragus T and anti-tragus AT separated by the intertragal notch IN.

[0060] FIGS. 2A and 2B show induction coils 3, 27 positioned adjacent to a sidewall 21, 33. In FIG. 2A is shown an example of a bar coil, while FIG. 2B shows an example of an air core coil. The induction coils 3, 27 are defined in part by a coil axial centreline 5, 35, which points through the adjacent sidewall 21, 33.

[0061] FIGS. 3-5 schematically illustrate a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1, which is made to be positioned at least partly within the ear canal EC of a user. Hearing aids of this type may be those known as invisible-in-canal (IIC), completely-in-canal (CIC), in-the-canal (ITC), or in-the-ear (ITE). To protect the components within it the in-ear hearing device 1 has a shell intended to help keep out ear wax, dirt, water, oil etc. The shell has one or more sidewalls 19 and a faceplate surface 17.

[0062] One or more of the sidewalls 19 form an in-ear part 13, which sits at least partially inside the ear canal EC of the user, when the in-ear hearing device 1 is in use. The in-ear part 13 is thus shaped to fit inside an ear canal EC and may be further individually shaped to fit inside the ear canal EC of a particular user. Such an individually shaped in-ear hearing device is known as a custom hearing device and may be made by a process, which entails obtaining a physical or computerized model of the part of the particular user's ear canal.

[0063] When the in-ear hearing device 1 is in place within the user's ear canal (EC), the faceplate surface 17 faces towards the outside of the ear canal (EC), i.e. in a direction generally opposite the eardrum. In some models of in-ear hearing devices 1, the faceplate surface 17 will have one or more microphone openings and possibly buttons, switches, etc. with which the user can interact with the in-ear hearing device 1, for example to change settings and/or turn the in-ear hearing device 1 on/off. In the embodiment in FIG. 2, the faceplate surface 17 is the outer surface of a faceplate 15. The faceplate 15 may be very flat or have a significant thickness when compared to the rest of the hearing device. The faceplate may be formed as an integral part or as a separate part of the in-ear hearing device 1.

[0064] The one or more sidewalls 19 will usually not contain microphones, buttons, switches, etc. as the one or more sidewalls 19 will typically be adjacent to, or face toward, a part of the user's ear or ear canal, when the in-ear hearing device 1 is in place. If the in-ear hearing device 1 is of a type that is positioned far within the user's ear canal in such a way that it is difficult or near impossible for the user to grab the shell itself for removal, the in-ear hearing device 1 typically comprises a means for aiding in the removal of the in-ear hearing device 1, e.g. a pull out wire 37.

[0065] The in-ear hearing device has several hearing device components arranged within the hearing device shell, such as electronics 7 and a receiver 9, i.e. a speaker, where the electronics may be electronic components and circuits that create, process, and/or cancel audible sound. The receiver 9 is typically arranged in the proximal end of the in-ear hearing device 1 such that it is close to the eardrum of the user when the hearing device 1 is inserted into the ear canal EC of the user.

[0066] To supply power to at least the electronic components 7, 9 the hearing device 1 has a rechargeable battery 11, which is recharged by inductive charging. To this end, the in-ear hearing device 1 has inductive charging circuitry comprising a receiver coil 3 and means for rectifying an alternating current induced in the receiver coil 3. The receiver coil 3 is not necessarily drawn to scale, but drawn such that its relative position and orientation is apparent.

[0067] In the embodiments of a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 in FIGS. 3-5, the receiver coil 3 is illustrated as a bar coil, but may be any other suitable type of induction coil. A magnetic shielding 4 is shown for illustration as positioned at the end of the bar coil 3 furthest from the adjacent sidewall 21 and extending the diameter of the coil 3. However, the skilled person will know that the magnetic shielding 4 may have a different geometry than that shown to achieve its intended functionality of protecting nearby component from magnetic flux.

[0068] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the receiver coil 3 is positioned such that its axial centreline 5 is seen to be substantially parallel to the faceplate 15 and faceplate surface 17. However, the design of the faceplate 15, and possibly the sidewalls, may be different from that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 such that the receiver coil axial centreline 5 cannot be said to be substantially parallel to the faceplate 15 even though it is in the same position with respect to the rest of the components of the in-ear hearing device 1.

[0069] In FIGS. 3-5 the receiver coil 3 is placed next to a side of the battery 11 that does not face the faceplate surface 17.

[0070] Advantageously, the receiver coil 3 is positioned such that the closest part of the shell through which the axial centreline 5 points through is not the faceplate surface 17. If the receiver coil 3 were placed, at least partially, in the faceplate 15 and with the axial centreline 5 pointing through the faceplate surface 17, the hearing device 1, and possibly also the faceplate 15, would have to be larger to accommodate the receiver coil 3, particularly when the receiver coil 3 is a bar coil. Further, the associated charger for the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 would then have to be configured to accommodate the outside of the faceplate geometry, which may contain pull out wire, push buttons, switches etc., in order for a transmitter coil to able to couple to the receiver coil 3. Thus, advantageously, the placement of a bar coil as receiver coil 3 with its axial centreline pointing through an adjacent sidewall 21 allows for the hearing device to have a smaller form factor, and for the associated charger to have fewer design restraints. As will be discussed in connection with FIGS. 7-11, the positioning of the receiver coil 3 adjacent to a hearing device sidewall has the further advantage that the associated charger does not need to have a lid, or, if it has a lid, it does not need to have a transmitter coil in the lid.

[0071] A magnetic shielding 4, if present, may be positioned on or near the “back-end” of the receiver coil, i.e. the end of the receiver coil 3 facing away from the outside of the hearing device 1, so as to block and/or divert magnetic flux such that its effect on other components of the hearing device 1 is diminished.

[0072] In FIG. 4 is shown an embodiment of the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 in which the receiver coil 3 is positioned in the faceplate 15, still with the receiver coil axial centreline 5, when extended, pointing through the adjacent hearing device sidewall 21, where in this embodiment the adjacent hearing device sidewall is comprised in the faceplate 15.

[0073] In the embodiment of a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 shown in FIG. 5 the receiver coil 3 is positioned adjacent to a sidewall 21 that curves.

[0074] In any embodiment, the receiver coil 3 may advantageously be positioned adjacent to a sidewall 21, which is at least in part shaped to be positioned near a common feature of the human ear as such a shape will appear in many in-ear hearing devices, including those with custom shaped shells. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the receiver coil 3, is positioned adjacent to a hearing device sidewall 21, which is configured to being positioned adjacent to the tragus, anti-tragus and/or intertragal notch of the user's ear, see FIG. 1B, when the in-ear part 13 is positioned within the ear canal EC. The tragus, anti-tragus and intertragal notch are common features of the human ear. Positioning the receiver coil 3 adjacent to a common feature allows for the same internal architecture of the hearing device 1 to be used between models, types and/or custom hearing devices individualized for different users even though the shape of the rest of the shell in the different devices is dissimilar.

[0075] FIGS. 6A and 6B show alternative positioning of the receiver or transmitter coil 3, 27 in relation to the adjacent sidewall 21, 33. In all embodiments, the receiver coil 3/transmitter coil 27 is positioned adjacent to one of the one or more sidewalls, which is denoted as the adjacent hearing device sidewall 21, 33, and positioned such that the induction coil axial centreline 5, 35 points through the adjacent sidewall 21, 33. Instead of being positioned beside the adjacent sidewall 21, 33 as shown in previous figures, the induction coil 3, 27 may be placed in an indent in the adjacent sidewall 21, 33, as shown in FIG. 6A, or in a through-hole in the adjacent sidewall 21, 33, as shown in FIG. 6B. If placed in a through-hole, the induction coil 3, 27, to protect it from the environment outside the hearing device 1 or charger 25, may have a protective coating and/or be covered by a lacquer.

[0076] FIG. 7 shows a cut-away of a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 placed within a charger 25. The charger 25 has a holder 29 with one or more holder sidewalls 31 made to support the shape of the in-ear hearing device 1 in a predetermined position.

[0077] Inductive charging circuitry within the charger 25 comprises a transmitter coil 27, which is defined by a transmitter coil axial centreline 35 and a transmitter coil diameter. The transmitter coil 27 is shown as a bar coil, but may be any suitable type of coil. The transmitter coil 27 is positioned adjacent to a holder sidewall 33 with the transmitter coil axial centreline pointing through the adjacent holder sidewall 33. The adjacent holder sidewall 33 is configured to being adjacent to a sidewall of the hearing device 1, when the charger 25 is in use and the in-ear hearing device 1 is in the predetermined position.

[0078] Thus, the holder 29 has a specific shape, which allows for the transmitter coil 27 to be able to inductively couple to a receiver coil 3 in the in-ear hearing device 1. The holder may be moulded to at least partly be in the shape of or to support the shape of the in-ear part 13 of a hearing device 1 or of a custom hearing device.

[0079] In FIG. 7 is shown the receiver coil 3 of the in-ear hearing device 1 positioned adjacent to one of the hearing device sidewalls 21 with the receiver coil axial centreline 5 going through the adjacent hearing device sidewall 21 and such that the receiver coil 3 is aligned with the transmitter coil 27 of the charger 5.

[0080] The transmitter coil 27 is positioned within the base of the charger 25, which means that the charger can be made without a lid or that the lid does not need to have charging circuitry, which reduces the complexity and cost of the charger.

[0081] As described above in connection with the receiver coil 3, the transmitter coil 27 may be placed in an indent in the adjacent holder sidewall 33, as shown in FIG. 5A, or in a through-hole in the adjacent holder sidewall 33, as shown in FIG. 5B. If placed in a through-hole, the transmitter coil 27, to protect it from the environment outside the charger 25, may have a protective coating and/or be covered by a lacquer.

[0082] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a charger 25 for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1. The charger casing 26 in FIG. 8 has two holders 29, where one is shaped to hold an in-ear hearing device 1 configured for a left ear canal and the other holder is shaped to hold an in-ear hearing device 1 configured for a right ear canal. The holders 29 each have one or more sidewalls 31, which are configured to support the shape of an in-ear hearing device 1. The configuration of the one or more sidewalls 31 is precise enough so that the in-ear hearing device 1 fits properly into the holder in at least one predetermined position.

[0083] The charger 25 has inductive charging circuitry with a transmitter coil 27, where the transmitter coil 27 sits adjacent to a holder sidewall and is positioned such that its axial centreline 35, when extended, passes through the adjacent holder sidewall 33. To enable the transmitter coil 27 to inductively couple to a receiver coil in a hearing device, the sidewall 33, which the transmitter coil 27 is adjacent to, is shaped such that a hearing device sidewall is adjacent to it when the charger is in use and the hearing device sits in the holder 29 in the predetermined position. The holders 29 are shaped such that the in-ear part 13 of a hearing device 1 is put in first and the end with the faceplate surface 17 sticks out of the holder 29. The charger 29 may simply be this base unit with the charging circuitry or the charger 29 could have a lid to go on top of the base unit.

[0084] In FIG. 9 is shown schematically a system with a charger 25 for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 with two wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing devices positioned within two holders 29 of the charger 25. The charger 25 could be the same charger as the one shown in FIG. 8.

[0085] A receiver coil 3 in an in-ear hearing devices 1 and a transmitter coils 27 in the charger 25 are positioned such that the coils can inductively couple to each other so that each hearing device can charge wirelessly. Each holder 29 is configured to hold a hearing device 1 in a predetermined position, i.e. in a specific orientation, such that the receiver coils 3 can align with the transmitter coils 27. Thus, the one or more holder sidewalls 31 will be shaped to fit closely to the shape of part of the hearing device 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the one or more holder sidewalls 31 fit closely to most of the in-ear part 3 of the hearing device 1, but the holder sidewalls 31 could alternatively fit less closely to parts of the hearing device 1.

[0086] When a hearing device 1 is positioned in the charger 25 in the predetermined position and is charging, a visual and/or audible signal may be provided to alert and/or inform the user. For example, one or more LEDs on the charger 25 and/or on the hearing device 1 may light up to indicate charging and possibly how much the hearing device 1 has been recharged.

[0087] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a charger 25 for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1. The charger casing 26 in FIG. 10 has a single holder 29, which is shaped to hold an in-ear hearing device 1. The holder 29 has one or more sidewalls 31, which are configured to support the shape of the in-ear hearing device 1. The configuration of the one or more sidewalls 31 is precise enough so that the in-ear hearing device 1 fits properly into the holder in at least one predetermined position.

[0088] The charger 25 has inductive charging circuitry with a transmitter coil 27, where the transmitter coil 27 sits adjacent to a holder sidewall and is positioned such that its axial centreline 35 is going through the adjacent holder sidewall 33. To enable the transmitter coil 27 to inductively couple to a receiver coil in a hearing device, the sidewall 33, which the transmitter coil 27 is adjacent to, is shaped such that a hearing device sidewall is adjacent to it when the charger is in use and a hearing device sits in the holder 29 in the predetermined position. The holder 29 is shaped such that the hearing device fits properly into it when lying on its side.

[0089] FIG. 11 shows schematically a system with a charger 25 for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device 1 with an in-ear hearing device positioned within the holder 29 of the charger 25. The charger 25 could be the same charger as the one shown in FIG. 10.

[0090] In the example shown in FIG. 11, the faceplate surface 17 of the hearing device 1 is partially covered by one or more sidewalls 31 of the holder, when the hearing device 1 is positioned in the charger 25 in the predetermined position.

[0091] A receiver coil 3 in the in-ear hearing devices 1 and a transmitter coils 27 in the charger 25 are both positioned such that the receiver and transmitter coil can inductively couple to each other so that the hearing device 1 can charge wirelessly. The holder 29 is configured to hold a hearing device 1 in a predetermined position, i.e. in a specific orientation, such that the receiver coil 3 can align with the transmitter coil 27. Thus, the one or more holder sidewalls 31 will be shaped to fit closely to the shape of part of the hearing device 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the one or more holder sidewalls 31 fit closely to some of the in-ear part 3 of the hearing device 1 and some of the faceplate surface 17, but this is just one example of the ways the holder sidewalls 31 could fit closely to at least part of the hearing device 1 to enable the coils to inductively couple.

[0092] Although particular features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0093] 1 Wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device [0094] 3 Receiver coil [0095] 4 Magnetic shielding [0096] 5 Receiver coil axial centreline [0097] 7 Hearing device electronics [0098] 9 Receiver [0099] 11 Rechargeable battery [0100] 13 In-ear part [0101] 15 Faceplate [0102] 17 Faceplate surface [0103] 19 Hearing device sidewall [0104] 21 Adjacent hearing device sidewall [0105] 25 Charger [0106] 26 Charger casing [0107] 27 Transmitter coil [0108] 29 Holder [0109] 31 Holder sidewalls [0110] 33 Adjacent holder sidewall [0111] 35 Transmitter coil axial centreline [0112] 37 Pull out wire [0113] AT Anti-tragus [0114] EC Ear canal [0115] ED Eardrum [0116] IN Intertragal notch [0117] P Pinna [0118] T Tragus