HEARING DEVICE

Abstract

A hearing device, in particular an in-the-ear hearing device, has a housing shell which encloses an electronics chamber like a cup. A cover plate is connected to the housing shell to terminate the electronics chamber. An electronics frame protrudes from the cover plate into the electronics chamber and by which an electric and/or an electronic component of the hearing device is reversibly mounted at least in directions parallel to the cover plate. At least one frame lock is reversibly coupled to the electronics frame, by which the electrical and/or electronic component is fixed on the electronics frame in a direction perpendicular to the cover plate.

Claims

1. A hearing device, comprising: a housing shell enclosing an electronics chamber like a cup; a cover plate connected to said housing shell to terminate said electronics chamber; an electrical and/or an electronic component; an electronics frame protruding from said cover plate into said electronics chamber and by means of said electronics frame said electrical and/or an electronic component of the hearing device is reversibly mounted at least in directions parallel to said cover plate; and at least one frame lock reversibly fixed on said electronics frame, by means of said at least one frame lock said electrical and/or electronic component is fixed on said electronics frame in a direction perpendicular to said cover plate.

2. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said electronics frame has a plurality of holding fingers, between which said electrical and/or electronic component is secured in the directions parallel to said cover plate.

3. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein said electrical and/or electronic component is clamped between said plurality of holding fingers.

4. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one frame lock is reversibly fixed on one of said plurality of holding fingers at an end of said one of said holding fingers.

5. The hearing device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one frame lock is fixed in a formfitting manner on said plurality of holding fingers in the direction perpendicular to said cover plate.

6. The hearing device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one frame lock is locked on said plurality of holding fingers.

7. The hearing device according to claim 4, wherein: said at least one frame lock is one of a plurality of frame locks; and at least two of said holding fingers each have one of said frame locks at an end of a respective one of said holding fingers.

8. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein three of said holding fingers are provided; wherein said at least one frame lock is one of a plurality of frame locks, one of said frame locks is disposed on each of two of said three holding fingers; and further comprising at least one holding lug active in the direction perpendicular to said cover plate, under which said electrical and/or electronic component is inserted, being formed on another one of said holding fingers.

9. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein said housing shell has projections on an inside, one of said projections is assigned to each of said holding fingers, against which a corresponding one of said holding fingers is supported.

10. The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one frame lock has a holding device for mounting a further electrical and/or electronic component.

11. The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hearing device is an in-the-ear hearing device.

12. The hearing device according to claim 4, wherein said at least one frame lock is fixed in by means of a dovetail-like connection on said plurality of holding fingers in the direction perpendicular to said cover plate.

13. The hearing device according to claim 10, wherein said holding device is a holding claw.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a hearing device according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a cover plate, an electronics frame, and an electronic component of the hearing device;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the electronics frame and the electronic component;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the section line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1 of the hearing device; and

[0038] FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the hearing device according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Parts corresponding to one another are always provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0040] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown schematically a hearing device, specifically a hearing aid device to be worn in the ear of a user, abbreviated: “ITE 1”. The ITE 1 has a housing shell 2, which encloses an electronics chamber 4 having electrical and electronic components 6 arranged therein in the five spatial directions z, +x, −x, +y, and −y. For simplification, the spatial directions are denoted hereinafter in the meaning of a Cartesian coordinate system as the x direction, y direction, and z direction. The housing shell 2 is open in the sixth spatial direction to enable installation of the components 6. In the intended usage state shown, the electronics chamber 4 is closed using a cover plate, denoted here as “faceplate 8”. The faceplate 8 is placed on the housing shell 2 and fixed thereon for this purpose.

[0041] For the intended operation, the ITE 1 contains as the electronic components 6 a microphone 10 for capturing ambient sound and converting it into microphone signals, a signal processing unit 12 (also referred to as a “controller”) for processing the microphone signals, and a loudspeaker 14 for outputting the processed microphone signals. For the power supply of the component 6, the ITE 1 contains as a further component 6 a secondary cell 16, i.e., a rechargeable battery, a charging electronics unit 18 for regulating a voltage provided by the secondary cell 16 to an operating voltage value and for regulating a voltage supplied for charging to a charging voltage value (and for controlling or regulating a charging process as such). To make the charging of the secondary cell 16 particularly user-friendly, the ITE 1 also has an antenna 20 for wireless energy reception, specifically a coil for inductive charging. The secondary cell 16, the charging electronics unit 18, and the antenna 20 form a so-called power module 22.

[0042] To simplify the maintenance or the replacement of the power module 22, it is reversibly mounted in the electronics chamber 4. For this purpose, the ITE 1 has an electronics frame 24, which is fastened on the faceplate 8. In an alternative exemplary embodiment (not shown), the electronics frame 24 is formed integrally, i.e., monolithically, with the faceplate 8. The electronics frame 24 is used for mounting and positioning the components 6 in the electronics chamber 4.

[0043] The electronics frame 24 has three holding fingers 26 for mounting the power module 22. These are arranged in such a way that they accommodate the essentially, i.e., approximately round, specifically circularly cylindrical, power module 22 between them and prevent its movement in the x and y directions. One of the holding fingers 26 has a holding lug 28 on its free end facing away from the faceplate 8, which protrudes “radially” inward over the power module 22 in order to prevent its displacement in the z direction. The power module 22 and the holding fingers 26 are dimensioned so that during the installation of the power module 22, the holding fingers 26 are bent slightly toward the outside (radially outward) in the scope of their elasticity and thus exert a clamping force on the power module 22. Specifically, the power module 22 is pushed or “clicked” under the holding lug 28.

[0044] For further fixing of the power module 22 in the z direction, the ITE 1 also has two “frame locks 30”. These are each reversibly connected to one of the two other holding fingers 26 and also have a holding lug 32, which protrudes radially inward over the power module 22.

[0045] The frame locks 30 are held in a formfitting manner in the z direction on the holding fingers 26. For this purpose, the frame locks 30 and the holding fingers 26 each have an element like a dovetail connection. Specifically, the holding fingers 26 have a T-groove 34 at the end. The frame locks 30 have a T-base 36, which is shaped complementary to the T-groove 34 and is pushed from the radial outside into the T-groove 34 to install the corresponding frame locks 30 (cf. FIG. 2, arrow). At the same time, the corresponding holding lug 32 is pushed over the power module 22 and thus fixes it in the z direction.

[0046] It is furthermore recognizable from the detail view in partial section shown in FIG. 3 that the respective frame lock 30 is locked on the holding finger 26. For this purpose, the T-groove 34 is delimited on the radial inside by a shoulder 38. The frame lock 30 has a catch lug 40, which “overlaps” or “snaps” over the shoulder 38 during the insertion into the T-groove 34, so that inadvertent displacement of the frame locks 30 radially outward is prevented.

[0047] To further secure the power module 22 in the x and y directions, the housing shell 2 has projections 42 on the inside, which are arranged corresponding to the holding fingers 26. In the installed state, the holding fingers 26 are supported on the rear side, thus against a bend away from the power module 22, against one of these projections 42 in each case. The holding fingers 26 thus only have to absorb traction forces to fix the power module 22 in the z direction. Forces in the x and y directions are introduced into the housing shell 2. The frame locks 30 are also supported against the projections 42.

[0048] As can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the frame locks 30 are configured in such a way that they can hold a further electronic component 6, specifically here the signal processing unit 12 in the form of a “motherboard”. For this purpose, the frame locks 30 have a further holding lug 44 spaced apart in the Z direction from the holding lug 32, which forms a “holding claw” 46 with the holding lock 32. This holding claw 46 encompasses the motherboard on both sides in the z direction and holds it in position.

[0049] The subject matter of the invention is not restricted to the above-described exemplary embodiment. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description.

[0050] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0051] 1 ITE [0052] 2 housing shell [0053] 4 electronics chamber [0054] 6 component [0055] 8 faceplate [0056] 10 microphone [0057] 12 signal processing unit [0058] 14 loudspeaker [0059] 16 secondary cell [0060] 18 charging electronics unit [0061] 20 antenna [0062] 22 power module [0063] 24 electronics frame [0064] 26 holding finger [0065] 28 holding lug [0066] 30 frame lock [0067] 32 holding lug [0068] 34 T-groove [0069] 36 T-base [0070] 38 shoulder [0071] 40 catch lug [0072] 42 projection [0073] 44 holding lug [0074] 46 holding claw