Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh

Torsten Niederdränk

Winfried Arz

Christian Weistenhöfer

Gottfried Rückerl

Peter Nikles

Thomas Hanses

Tom Weidner

Hartmut Ritter

Joseph Sauer

Harald Klemenz

Christian Schmitt

Volkmar Hamacher

Georg-Erwin Arndt

Thomas Kasztelan

Wolfram Meyer

Kunibert Husung

Gunter Sauer

Gerhard Ach-Kowalewski

Joachim Eggers

Gerhard Pfannenmüller

The production of a hearing aid device suitable for wireless signal transmission is simplified by providing fastening elements connected as one piece with the housing shell. The fastening elements serve for placement and fastening of an antenna or coil in the housing shell of the appertaining hearing aid device. The production of a hearing aid device with a corresponding antenna or coil is thereby simplified. The alignment of the antenna or coil in the housing shell can also already be optimized using a computer model of the housing shell.

Hearing aid device with an antenna

A hearing device with a plastic mold arranged in the ear, in other words a hearing device shell or an otoplastic, features a loudspeaker in its interior. A cerumen protection system extends from the loudspeaker to the surface of the plastic mold. In accordance with the invention, a microphone is arranged in the cerumen protection system.

Hearing device with ear canal microphone

The manner of informing a user about the current setting of manually adjustable parameters in a hearing aid is to be improved. In addition it is proposed that an information signal be transmitted to the user, on the basis of which said user is informed that an upper or lower end of the value range for a parameter to be set has been reached, so that further activation of the relevant actuator remains ineffective in respect of parameter setting. The invention is used in particular in conjunction with actuators which do not have a mechanical end stop, whereby the user could identify that the upper or lower end of the value range of the parameter to be set has been reached.

Hearing aid

In a hearing aid device system with two hearing aids for binaural supply to a hearing aid user, a coupling of the settings of both hearing aids is not always reasonable in the 'audio reception' mode and therefore the hearing aid that is in the 'audio reception' operating mode is not adapted to changed settings when parameters in the other hearing aid of the hearing aid system have been readjusted. The use of a remote control also has different effects on a hearing aid in the active &#x201c;audio reception&#x201d; mode than on the hearing aid device that is in a passive &#x201c;audio reception&#x201d; mode.

Hearing aid system and operating method therefor in the audio reception mode

The cleaning and exchange of components of the hearing aid which is necessary at regular intervals due to the conventional contamination is uncomfortable and expensive. The housing (G) and any protective devices (K) which are to protect from contamination, are provided with a dirt-resistant layer. In this way, the dirt adheres less strongly to the hearing aid, so that if necessary it can be removed by means of tapping.

Hearing aid with cerumen protection

Microphone equalization is implemented in a directional microphone system of the second or a higher order with at least three omnidirectional microphones. Initially, the signal levels of the microphone signals generated by the three omnidirectional microphones are compensated. The phase is subsequently varied in one of the three microphone signals until the signal levels of the directional microphones of the first order that are formed from the three omnidirectional microphones, are also compensated.

Automatic microphone equalization in a directional microphone system with at least three microphones

Between ITE hearing aids for binaural hearing assistance, energy-saving communication is made possible by disposing an antenna device with a preferred direction of transmission in the hearing aid housing such that, in a state in which the hearing aid is attached to or inserted one ear of the patient, the preferred direction of transmission is substantially toward the other ear of the patient. In this way it is ensured that the directions of transmission of the two hearing aids in the fitted state lie substantially on a straight line, so that optimum transmission can be achieved.

ITE hearing aid for binaural hearing assistance

To allow bidirectional data communication to be realized in hearing aids which have only a restricted installation space, the earphone, i.e. the electroacoustic transducer unit, is used as the transmitter and the telephone coil as the receiver for high-frequency signal components. This makes it possible to dispense with the installation of an additional antenna, generally of a large volume, that is optimized for transmitting and receiving operations. If appropriate, a small additional antenna may also be used purely as a receiving antenna for high-frequency signals.

Hearing aid with wireless transmission system, and operating method therefor

Due to the clocked mode of operation, electromagnetic interference signals originate from digital hearing aid device or hearing device systems with the clock frequency and its harmonics. These can disrupt the wireless signal transmission between the hearing aid device or hearing device system and a further device. To prevent these disruptions, the invention provides a jitter unit that is connected with the clock generator and causes frequency oscillations in the clock signal. The interference signals caused by the clock signal are thereby lowered with respect to their amplitudes, whereby an interference-free signal transmission is enabled between a transmitting and/or receiving unit connected with a hearing aid device and an external device.

Hearing aid device or hearing device system with a clock generator

An acoustic module for a hearing aid device has at least one microphone and at least one earphone (acoustic output transducer) combined together as a unit, the unit including a signal-processing unit for feedback suppression that is connected with the microphone and the earphone. Feedback signal portions are removed from the microphone signal by the signal-processing unit. The acoustic module places acousto-mechanical components within a unitary component, with acousto-mechanical characteristics that can be measured and included in the signal processing for feedback suppression.

Acoustic module for a hearing aid device

Active otoplastics () with integrated earpieces () are to be acoustically optimized. There is provision here for forming a sound outlet () into the otoplastic in accordance with acoustic conditions. If the sound outlet () has the form of an exponential horn, this results in advantages for supply of high tones. The earpiece () can be secured with the aid of an adapter () into the otoplastic () so that it can be exchanged.

Ear insert for hearing aids

A remote control for a hearing aid device prevents incorrect operation by having operating elements that effect a signal transmission from the remote control to a hearing aid device disposed on a first side of the remote control housing, and operating elements that additionally effect a signal transmission from the hearing aid device back to the remote control disposed on a second housing side of the remote control. The first and second housing sides are disposed in an easily tactilely distinguishable relation to each other, such as by being substantially orthogonal. The different functions of the operating elements and therefore can be differentiated purely by contact with the remote control.

Remote control for hearing aid devices

For a hearing-impaired person provided with a hearing aid device with which sound acquisition ensues outside of the auditory canals of the person, the localization capability with regard to a signal source is lost. To compensate the information loss that occurs due to the acquisition of an acoustic signal outside of the auditory canals, in the signal processing in the hearing aid device of an acoustic input signal acquired by at least one microphone of the hearing aid device, the transfer function of the head or of the external ear is taken into account between the position at which the microphone is located and a position in the auditory canal of the hearing device user. The natural location capability of a person to localize a signal source in space thus is not lost given treatment with a hearing aid device that is not worn in the auditory canal.

Hearing aid device, and operating and adjustment methods therefor, with microphone disposed outside of the auditory canal

The process of adapting a hearing aid to its wearer is to be simplified. To this end the acoustic conditions in the auditory canal, especially the acoustic impedance, are estimated by measuring the input impedance of the earpiece on the hearing aid. For adjusting the hearing aid it is worthwhile using the mechanical resonance of the system of hearing aid and auditory canal which can be detected with the aid of the input impedance. This is produced by a simplified equivalent circuit diagram from which the corresponding acoustic variables can be obtained.

Hearing aid and method for adjusting a hearing aid

The communication device in a hearing aid needs to be optimized with respect to spatial requirements and power consumption. To this end, provision is made for an inductor in an oscillator circuit to be used simultaneously as an antenna. Besides reducing the number of components, this also reduces the power consumption. Further optimization in terms of energy can be achieved by virtue of a comparator being used to actuate a controllable current source such that energy is fed into the oscillator circuit only during a half-cycle.

Growing community of inventors

Erlangen, Germany

Torsten Niederdränk