Integrated battery door and switch
View Patent ↗The present subject matter includes a switch and an operator to interface with the switch, the operator in a battery door of a hearing assistance device. One embodiment includes a housing, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing, a hinge electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics, and a battery door coupled to the hinge, the battery door includes a switch comprising an operator and at least one contact connected to the hinge.
1. An apparatus for an ear of a user, comprising:
a housing;
hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing;
a battery at least partially disposed in the housing, the battery in electrical communication with the hearing assistance electronics:
a hinge pin electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics;
a battery door for removably enclosing the battery at least part of the way into the housing, and coupled to the hinge pin; and
a switch electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics using the conductive hinge pin, the switch disposed in the battery door.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a completely-in-the-canal housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is an in-the-canal housing.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a behind-the ear housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is an in-the-ear housing.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the button is adapted to adjust volume.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a spring, the spring adapted to effect a mechanical bias on the operator away from the battery and forms at least a portion of a circuit including the hearing assistance electronics, the hinge pin, and the contact when a force upon the operator overcomes the mechanical bias.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the contact forms a portion of the spring.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the operator includes at least one nonconductive material, and the spring includes at least one conductive material.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spring is at least partially insert molded into the battery door.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the spring includes a cantilever spring.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the switch is a momentary switch.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin includes a metal hinge pin.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the battery door is removably clipped to the hinge pin.
15. An apparatus for an ear of a user, comprising:
a housing;
hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing;
a battery at least partially disposed in the housing, the battery in electrical communication with the hearing assistance electronics;
battery door means for removably enclosing the battery at least part of the way into the housing, and coupled to a conductive hinge pin; and
switch means electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics using the conductive hinge pin, the switch means disposed in the battery door means.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising spring means for holding the switch means against the battery door and away from the battery unless a mechanical bias pushes the switch means toward the battery, the spring means including means to form a circuit, the circuit including the hearing assistance electronics, the battery door means, the spring means, and the battery upon introduction of a mechanical bias sufficient to push the spring means into contact with the battery.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the button means include a plastic button cover sandwiched between the spring means and the battery door.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the battery door means retains a button cell battery.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the spring means is adapted to contact a surface of the button cell.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a hinge electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics;
wherein the switch means comprises an operator and at least one contact electrically connected to the hinge,
wherein the switch means includes a spring, the spring adapted to effect a mechanical bias on the operator away from the battery and forms at least a portion of a circuit including the hearing assistance electronics, the hinge, and the contact when a force upon the operator overcomes the mechanical bias, and wherein the spring includes a cantilever spring.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 further, comprising:
a hinge electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics;
wherein the switch means comprises an operator and at least one contact electrically connected to the hinge,
wherein the switch means includes a spring, the spring adapted to effect a mechanical bias on the operator away from the battery and forms at least a portion of a circuit including the hearing assistance electronics, the hinge, and the contact when a force upon the operator overcomes the mechanical bias, and wherein the switch is a momentary switch.
22. A method, comprising:
providing a hearing assistance device for an ear of a user, the device including:
a housing;
hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing:
a battery at least partially disposed in the housing, the battery in electrical communication with the hearing assistance electronics:
battery door means for removably enclosing the battery at least part of the way into the housing, and coupled to a conductive hinge pin; and
switch means electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics using the conductive hinge pin, the switch means disposed in the battery door means; and
selecting an operative mode of the hearing assistance device by operating the switch means.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein selecting an operative mode of the hearing assistance device includes selecting a preset volume level of the hearing assistance device by operating the switch means.
24. An apparatus for an ear of a user, comprising:
a housing;
hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing;
a battery at least partially disposed in the housing, the battery in electrical communication with the hearing assistance electronics;
battery door means for removably enclosing the battery at least part of the way into the housing, and coupled to a hinge pin;
switch means electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics using the hinge pin, the switch means disposed in the battery, door means; and
spring means for holding the switch means against the battery door and away from the battery unless a mechanical bias pushes the switch means toward the battery, the spring means including means to form a circuit, the circuit including the hearing assistance electronics, the battery door means, the spring means, and the battery upon introduction of a mechanical bias sufficient to push the spring means into contact with the battery,
wherein the button means include a plastic button cover sandwiched between the spring means and the battery door.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the battery door means retains a button cell battery.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the spring means is adapted to contact a surface of the button cell.