Low profile offset spout for hearing assistance device
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatuses for hearing assistance low profile offset spouts. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a hearing assistance spout consisting of a one-piece spout with a curved path to an off-axis (e.g., offset) port. The spout may be manufactured using metal injection molding to provide for a reflow solder attachment to the hearing assistance microphone. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to placing a full-sized spout off-axis while maintaining an open state that does not restrict the acoustic path, which may allow the offset spout to include a radial seal independent of the microphone body itself. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to an offset spout including a sealed acoustic barrier wall to protect the acoustic inlet of the microphone from debris or moisture.
1. A low-profile hearing assistance spout device for a hearing assistance device including a microphone having a planar acoustic microphone port, the spout device comprising:
a planar portion, the planar portion configured to mount adjacent the microphone with a planar surface forming an opening in alignment with the planar acoustic microphone port of the hearing assistance device; and
a cylindrical spout portion connected to the planar portion, the cylindrical spout portion including an aperture that defines a curved path for sound, the aperture offset from the planar portion surface so that the planar portion surface is approximately coplanar with the center of the aperture, the cylindrical spout curved path in acoustic communication with the planar acoustic microphone port to provide an acoustic pathway for sound received by the cylindrical spout portion to reach the microphone, the cylindrical spout curved path forming a spout connection to the planar portion at an angle that is not perpendicular, the aperture offset and spout connection to reduce ingress of unwanted materials that may reach the microphone.
2. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion and cylindrical spout portion are manufactured using a single piece of material.
3. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 2 , wherein the planar portion and cylindrical spout portion are manufactured using metal injection molding to allow reflow solder attachment of the planar portion to the hearing assistance device planar acoustic microphone port.
4. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim further including a straight portion connected to the cylindrical spout curved path on its end opposite from the planar portion.
5. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 4 , wherein the planar portion, cylindrical spout portion, and straight portion are manufactured using a single piece of material.
6. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 4 , further including an elastomeric tube connected to the straight portion on an end opposite from the cylindrical spout portion, the elastomeric tube to further reduce ingress of unwanted materials that may reach the microphone.
7. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 6 , wherein the spout device is suspended by the elastomeric tube.
8. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical spout curved path is connected to the planar portion about a curve of approximately ninety degrees.
9. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 1 , further including a radial seal disposed between the planar surface and the hearing assistance device planar acoustic microphone port.
10. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 1 , wherein the geometry of the acoustic pathway for sound is configured to increase the acoustic response of the hearing assistance device planar acoustic microphone port.
11. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal processing circuitry component to process received acoustic signals, wherein the microphone is connected to the signal processing circuitry component to provide input acoustic signals to the signal processing circuitry component; and
an audio amplifier connected to the signal processing circuitry component to receive and amplify processed acoustic signals;
wherein the microphone is disposed adjacent to the planar acoustic microphone port to provide the acoustic pathway for sound received by the cylindrical spout portion to reach the microphone.
12. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , further including:
a preamp connected to the microphone to amplify the input acoustic signals;
an analog-to-digital converter connected between the preamp and the signal processing circuitry component to convert the amplified input acoustic signals to digital signals; and
a speaker connected to the audio amplifier to convert amplified processed acoustic signals into sound.
13. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , wherein the signal processing circuitry component further includes:
a filtering and amplifying module to amplify the input acoustic signals in a frequency specific manner;
a gain control module to adjust dynamically an input acoustic signal amplitude; and
a noise reduction module to provide feedback cancellation or to suppress a plurality of ambient background noise.
14. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , further including a radial seal disposed between the planar surface and the planar acoustic microphone port.
15. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , wherein the geometry of the acoustic pathway for sound is configured to increase the acoustic response of a hearing assistance device planar acoustic microphone port.
16. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , wherein the spout device is manufactured using metal injection molding to allow reflow solder attachment of the spout device planar portion to the planar acoustic microphone port.
17. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 11 , wherein the spout device further includes a straight portion connected to the cylindrical spout curved path on an end opposite from the planar portion.
18. The low-profile hearing assistance spout device of claim 17 , wherein the spout device further includes an elastomeric tube connected to the straight portion on an end opposite from the cylindrical spout portion.