US-20260129379-A1 - HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES

US20260129379A1US 20260129379 A1US20260129379 A1US 20260129379A1US-20260129379-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a microphone, a processor, a speaker, and a support member. The microphone is disposed in the support member, an outer surface of the support member is provided with a recessed portion, the support member is further provided with a microphone hole, the microphone hole has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, the first opening is located in the recessed portion, and the second opening is located on an inner surface of the support member and connected to the microphone, and the recessed portion is configured to prevent the user from touching or blocking the first opening.

Inventors

Xiaopeng Yu
Huifang TANG
ChaoWu Li

Assignees

Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229

Claims (20)

1 . A hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone, configured to receive an initial sound signal and convert the initial sound signal into an electric signal; a processor in signal connection with the microphone, wherein the processor is configured to process the electric signal and generate a control signal; a speaker in signal connection with the processor, wherein the speaker is configured to convert the control signal into a hearing assistance sound signal; and a support member worn on a user’s head, wherein the microphone is disposed in the support member, an outer surface of the support member is provided with a recessed portion, the support member is further provided with a microphone hole, the microphone hole has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, the first opening being located in the recessed portion, and the second opening being located on an inner surface of the support member and connected to the microphone, and the recessed portion is configured to prevent the user from touching or blocking the first opening.
2 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion has a bottom wall and a side wall, and the first opening is located on the bottom wall or the side wall of the recessed portion.
3 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is provided with a partition structure, the partition structure shields the first opening, and a gap is formed between the partition structure and the first opening.
4 . The hearing assistance device of claim 3 , wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the support member having the recessed portion, a projection of the partition structure covers all or part of the first opening.
5 . The hearing assistance device of claim 3 , wherein the partition structure is a partition plate or a partition mesh.
6 . The hearing assistance device of claim 3 , wherein an upper surface of the partition structure is flush with the outer surface of the support member having the recessed portion.
7 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is a strip-shaped groove.
8 . The hearing assistance device of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is located at a middle portion of the strip-shaped groove.
9 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion has a linear configuration, a curved configuration, an X-configuration, or a herringbone configuration.
10 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the support member is further provided with a button, the outer surface of the support member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner side surface, and an outer side surface, the inner side surface faces the user when the hearing assistance device is worn by the user, and the recessed portion and the button are disposed on the bottom surface.
11 . The hearing assistance device of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the recessed portion extends to at least one of the outer side surface or the inner side surface.
12 . The hearing assistance device of claim 10 , wherein a portion of the recessed portion extends to an edge of the bottom surface.
13 . The hearing assistance device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of an opening of the recessed portion faces a first direction, at least another portion of the opening of the recessed portion faces a second direction, and an included angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than or equal to 60°.
14 . The hearing assistance device of claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the support member is provided with a plurality of button bosses, the button is disposed on one of the button bosses, and a region between two adjacent button bosses forms the recessed portion.
15 . The hearing assistance device of claim 10 , wherein a distance between the first opening and the outer side surface is less than a distance between the first opening and the inner side surface.
16 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the recessed portion is within a range of 1 millimeter (mm) to 2 mm, and a depth of the recessed portion is within a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.
17 . The hearing assistance device of claim 16 , wherein the width of the recessed portion is within a range of 1.5 mm to 2 mm, and the depth of the recessed portion is within a range of 1 mm to 1.5 mm; or the width of the recessed portion is within a range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm, and the depth of the recessed portion is within a range of 0.5 mm to 1 mm.
18 . The hearing assistance device of claim 1 , wherein a length of the recessed portion is larger than 5 mm.
19 . A hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone, configured to receive an initial sound signal and convert the initial sound signal into an electric signal; a processor in signal connection with the microphone, wherein the processor is configured to process the electric signal and generate a control signal; a speaker in signal connection with the processor, wherein the speaker is configured to convert the control signal into a hearing assistance sound signal; and a support member worn on a user’s head, wherein the microphone is disposed in the support member, an outer surface of the support member is provided with a protrusion portion, the support member is further provided with a microphone hole, the microphone hole has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, the first opening being located on the outer surface of the support member, and the second opening being located on an inner surface of the support member and connected to the microphone, the protrusion portion is disposed on a side of the first opening, and the protrusion portion is configured to prevent the user from touching or blocking the first opening.
20 . A hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone, configured to receive an initial sound signal and convert the initial sound signal into an electric signal; a processor in signal connection with the microphone, wherein the processor is configured to process the electric signal and generate a control signal; a speaker in signal connection with the processor, wherein the speaker is configured to convert the control signal into a hearing assistance sound signal; and a support member worn on a user’s head, wherein the microphone is disposed in the support member, an outer surface of the support member is provided with a button in signal connection with the processor; the support member is further provided with a microphone hole, the microphone hole has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, the first opening being located on the outer surface of the support member, and the second opening being located in the support member and connected to the microphone; and the first opening and the button are located at two ends of a same surface of the support member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2024/111547, filed on August 12, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to the field of acoustics, and in particular, to hearing assistance devices. BACKGROUND A hearing assistance device is configured to assist hearing-impaired patients in listening. A microphone, serving as a component for capturing environmental sounds, plays a critical role in the hearing assistance device. The quality of sound reception by the microphone determines auditory experience, safety, and social capabilities of the hearing-impaired patients. To enhance the sound reception of the microphone, certain gain algorithms are employed within the hearing assistance device to enable the hearing-impaired patients to clearly perceive surrounding sounds. However, the application of gain may induce howling. The howling may not only cause auditory damage and discomfort to the hearing-impaired patients, but may also interfere with normal signals, thereby adversely affecting the social experience of the hearing-impaired patients. When an elderly user presses a button on a housing of the hearing assistance device, a microphone hole is often obstructed by inadvertently touching. Under such circumstances, the hearing assistance device becomes more susceptible to generating the howling. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides a hearing assistance device, which is used to solve the problem that when a button is touched, a microphone hole is easily obstructed and howling is generated. In one embodiment, the hearing assistance device is provided, including: a microphone, configured to receive an initial sound signal and convert the initial sound signal into an electric signal; a processor, in signal connection with the microphone, wherein the processor is configured to process the electric signal and generate a control signal; a speaker, in signal connection with the processor, wherein the speaker is configured to convert the control signal into a hearing assistance sound signal; and a support member, worn on a user’s head, wherein the microphone is disposed in the support member, an outer surface of the support member is provided with a recessed portion, the support member is further provided with a microphone hole, the microphone hole has a first opening and a second opening opposite to each other, the first opening being located in the recessed portion, and the second opening being located on an inner surface of the support member and connected to the microphone, and the recessed portion is configured to prevent the user from touching or blocking the first opening. In one embodiment, the recessed portion has a bottom wall and a side wall, and the first opening is located on the bottom wall or the side wall of the recessed portion. In one embodiment, the recessed portion is provided with a partition structure, the partition structure shields the first opening, and a gap is formed between the partition structure and the first opening. In one embodiment, in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the support member having the recessed portion, a projection of the partition structure covers all or part of the first opening. In one embodiment, the partition structure is a partition plate or a partition mesh. In one embodiment, an upper surface of the partition structure is flush with the outer surface of the support member having the recessed portion. In one embodiment, the recessed portion is a strip-shaped groove. In one embodiment, the first opening is located at a middle portion or an end portion of the strip-shaped groove. In one embodiment, the recessed portion has a linear configuration, a curved configuration, an X-configuration, or a herringbone configuration. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the support member is further provided with a button, the outer surface of the support member includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner side surface, and an outer side surface, the inner side surface faces the user when the hearing assistance device is worn by the user, and the recessed portion and the button are disposed on the bottom surface. In one embodiment, a portion of the recessed portion extends to at least one of the outer side surface or the inner side surface. In one embodiment, a portion of the recessed portion extends to an edge of the bottom surface. In one embodiment, at least a portion of an opening of the recessed portion faces a first direction, at least another portion of the opening of the recessed portion faces a second direction, and an included angle between the first direction and the second direction is greater than or equal to 60°. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the support member is provided with a plurality of button bosses, the button is disposed on the button bosses, and a region between t