EP-4738878-A1 - A HEARING DEVICE FOR A REPLACEABLE BATTERY

EP4738878A1EP 4738878 A1EP4738878 A1EP 4738878A1EP-4738878-A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be worn in or at the ear of a user. The hearing device comprises a housing. The housing comprises a first section comprising one or more first electronic components; a second section comprising one or more second electronic components; a third section connecting the first section and the second section; and a fourth section comprising a replaceable battery for supplying power. The first section and the second section are configured to move relatively to each other between a first position and a second position of the first section relative to the second section. The fourth section is configured to be in an open position or in a closed position. When the first section is in the first position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the open position, wherein the fourth section is open to an outside environment of the housing, thereby the replaceable battery is accessible for replacement. When the first section is in the second position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the closed position, wherein the fourth section is sealed from the outside environment of the housing.

Inventors

KNUDSEN, Emil Holm

Assignees

GN Hearing A/S

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20241031

Claims (15)

A hearing device configured to be worn in or at the ear of a user, the hearing device comprising: - a housing, comprising: - a first section comprising one or more first electronic components; - a second section comprising one or more second electronic components; - a third section connecting the first section and the second section; - a fourth section comprising a replaceable battery for supplying power; wherein the first section and the second section are configured to move relative to each other between a first position and a second position of the first section relative to the second section; wherein the fourth section is configured to be in an open position or in a closed position, and when the first section is in the first position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the open position, wherein the fourth section is open to an outside environment of the housing, thereby the replaceable battery is accessible for replacement, and when the first section is in the second position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the closed position, wherein the fourth section is sealed from the outside environment of the housing.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more first electronic components are sealed, and wherein the one or more second electronic components are sealed.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more first electronic components and the one or more second electronic components are sealed by coating and/or overmoulding.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first, second, third and fourth sections are separate from each other.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the third section comprises an attachment component, wherein the first section and the second section are connected to each other via the third section at the attachment component, and wherein the first section and the second section are configured to be movable relative to each other around the attachment component.
The hearing device according to the preceding claim, wherein the first section and the second section are configured to be movable relative to each other around the attachment component as a rotational movement or as a translational movement.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first section comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the second section comprises a second printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the third section comprises a third printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connecting the first section and the second section.
The hearing device according to the preceding claim, wherein the third printed circuit board (PCB) is a flex PCB which is configured to be bendable, thereby allowing the fourth section to be in the open position, whereby the replaceable battery is accessible for replacement.
The hearing device according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the attachment component comprises the third PCB.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery is configured for supplying power to the electronic components by means of one or more battery contacts, and wherein the one or more battery contacts are arranged in the first section and/or in the second section.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is configured to be securily closed at the fourth section by means of a connector, snap-fit, magnetic elements, screw, pin, glue, adhesive, and/or a spring.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first section is enclosed by a first physical shielding, and wherein the second section is enclosed by a second physical shielding.
The hearing device according to the preceding claim, wherein the first physical shielding and/or the second physical shielding is/are a partition and/or an overmoulded material.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hearing device is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing device, a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing device, a receiver-in-the ear (RIE) hearing device, a microphone-and-receiver-in-the-ear (MaRIE) hearing device and/or an earbud hearing device, and wherein the housing is an ITE shell, BTE shell and/or an earbud shell.
The hearing device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hearing device comprises means for electrical connection, where the electrical connection is between the first section and the second section, and wherein the electrical connection is by means of an electrical connector and/or magnetic elements.

Description

FIELD The present invention relates to a hearing device for a replaceable battery. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a hearing device configured to be worn in or at the ear of a user, the hearing device comprises a housing comprising a first section comprising one or more first electronic components and a second section comprising one or more second electronic components. BACKGROUND The new EU Regulation 2027/1542 called the "Batteries Regulation", relates to batteries in consumer electronics, and states that the batteries in consumer electronics must be replaceable by the user to ensure that batteries are collected, reused and recycled in Europe, for providing the green transition, support sustainable mobility and contribute to climate neutrality. Thus, there is a need for an improved hearing device allowing the battery to be replaced. SUMMARY Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be worn in or at the ear of a user. The hearing device comprises a housing. The housing comprises a first section comprising one or more first electronic components; a second section comprising one or more second electronic components; a third section connecting the first section and the second section; and a fourth section comprising a replaceable battery for supplying power. The first section and the second section are configured to move relative to each other between a first position and a second position of the first section relative to the second section. The fourth section is configured to be in an open position or in a closed position. When the first section is in the first position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the open position, wherein the fourth section is open to an outside environment of the housing, thereby the replaceable battery is accessible for replacement. When the first section is in the second position relative to the second section, the fourth section is in the closed position, wherein the fourth section is sealed from the outside environment of the housing. The hearing device may be an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing device, a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing device, a receiver-in-the ear (RIE) hearing device, a microphone-and-receiver-in-the-ear (MaRIE) hearing device and/or an earbud hearing device. Thus the hearing device is configured to be worn in the ear of a user or worn at the ear of a user, such as behind the ear. The hearing device comprises a housing, and the housing may be a shell, an ITE shell, a BTE shell and/or an earbud shell. The housing comprises a first section comprising one or more first electronic components. The first section may comprise a first printed circuit board. The one or more first electronic components may be input transducers, such as microphones, and/or push buttons etc. The first section may be a top part of the hearing device housing. If the hearing device is an ITE device or an earbud, the first section may be arranged in the concha of the ear, and thus the first section may point towards the surroundings in front and around the user, when the hearing device is arranged in the user's ear. Thus, there may be one or more input transducers arranged in this part, and the input transducer(s) may capture sound in the surroundings of the user. If the hearing device is a BTE or similar hearing device, the first section may be arranged behind the ear of the user, and thus the first section may point towards the surroundings behind and around the user, when the hearing device is arranged in the user's ear. Thus, there may be one or more input transducers arranged in this part, and the input transducer(s) may capture sound in the surroundings of the user. When the hearing device is e.g. an ITE hearing device, the first section may be facing away from the ear canal, i.e. lateral direction, and the first section may comprise at least one input transducer. The second section may be closer to the tympanic membrane, i.e. ear drum, and the second section may comprise an output transducer, i.e. medial direction. When the hearing device is e.g. a BTE hearing device, the first section may be facing away from the ear/head, and the first section may comprise at least one input transducer. The second section may be towards the skin of the ear/head, and the second section may comprise an output transducer, which is connected via a tube to an earpiece in the ear of the user. The housing comprises a second section comprising one or more second electronic components. The second section may comprise a second printed circuit board. The one or more second electronic components may be output transducers, such as receivers, speaker, and/or sensors etc. The housing comprises a third section connecting the first section and the second section. The third section may comprise a mechanical, e.g. physical connection, of the first section and the second section. The third section may comprise an electrical connection, e.g. an electrically wired connection, of the first sectio