Connector for a hearing instrument and hearing instrument

US10462587B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sivantos Pte. Ltd. · SG

Inventors

• Joachim Roland Barth · Nuremberg, DE
• Holger Kral · Erlangen, DE
• Frank Naumann · Erlangen, DE
• Andreas Ratay · Erlangen, DE
• Markus Trautner · Neuendettelsau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 27, 2010
• Grant date: Oct 29, 2019
• Expiry date: Aug 4, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01R2201/12
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A connector for a hearing instrument, in particular a receiver-in-canal behind-the-ear hearing aid, is small and visually inconspicuous. The connector should be as invisible as possible on the hearing instrument as it is worn, and the connector allows a microphone arrangement favorable for directionality and sound pick-up. The connector is disposed on an earpiece tube, which defines a longitudinal direction at the connector. The connector is connected by insertion into a connector receptacle of a hearing instrument transversely to the longitudinal direction. The hearing instrument has a laterally arranged connector receptacle, into which a connector is inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction. Because of the transverse insertion, the connector can be arranged laterally on the housing and because of the lateral placement, the front end face of the housing is smaller and the housing is overall flatter. A microphone can be arranged on the end face instead of the connector so as to improve sound pick-up and directionality.