Abstract:
The dimensions of a hearing instrument can be minimized by positioning the internal components in a configuration that occupies the least amount of volume. A pocket for situating the microphone on a diagonal aids in decreasing the required size of the instrument&#39;s shell and facilitates assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The shell of a hearing instrument that resides in the ear must provide the internal volume necessary to house its various components while at the same time remain sufficiently small to fit in the user&#39;s ear canal. Examples of these instruments are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,095; 5,889,874; 5,915,031; and 6,088,465, all incorporated by reference herein. Some of these components include a battery, a microphone, a receiver, the electronics, and packaging. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a drawing of a hearing instrument faceplate having a battery and a microphone; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial elevation view of the faceplate of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hearing instrument microphone; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the inside surface of the faceplate of FIG. 1 with the battery and microphone removed; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away elevation view of a hearing instrument; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative microphone for a hearing instrument; and 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative faceplate. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     By positioning the microphone in a pocket that orients it at an angle with respect to the plane of the instrument&#39;s faceplate, close to the battery, the use of internal volume in the shell can be maximized while the overall size of the shell can be minimized. 
     A faceplate  10 , illustrated in FIG. 1, provides a foundation for certain components of the hearing instrument, including a generally cylindrically_shaped battery  20  and a microphone  30 . As shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,095 and 6,088,465, the battery  20  resides in a door built into the faceplate. (See element 32 in both patents.) 
     The faceplate  10  is shown without the battery  20  and a microphone  30  in the partial elevation view of FIG. 2. A support contact bracket  22  holds the battery  20  (see FIG.  1 ), although only one is visible in FIG.  2 . 
     The microphone  30  is shown separately in FIG. 3. A bottom face or surface  32  of the microphone  30  has an opening  34  that admits sound to the inside of the microphone body (not visible nor shown). 
     A pocket  40  for the microphone  30  is provided on the inside surface  12  of the faceplate  10  to one side of the battery  20 . The pocket  40  has two generally rectangular surfaces adjoining one another at right angles: a rectangular face  42  that functions as a seat for the bottom face  32  of the microphone  30  and a back section  44  that receives a portion of the back surface  36  of the microphone  30 . Together, the rectangular face  42  and the back section  44  define opposing triangular surfaces  46  and  48  that complete the pocket. 
     The opposing surfaces  46  and  48  can be extended above the inside surface  12  of the faceplate  10  to provide additional support for the microphone  30 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Collectively, the four faces  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  provide a generally conforming fit and a secure registration for the microphone  30 . 
     The rectangular face  42  is oriented at some angle between zero and ninety degrees with respect to the outside surface  14  of the faceplate  10 . As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, that angle can be selected so that there will be clearance between the microphone  30  and the battery  20 , while bringing the two components close together. In FIG. 2, the angle is approximately 25°. As a result, the back surface  36  of the microphone  30  is tangential to the curved surface  24  of the battery  20 , save for the required clearance. 
     The sound from the outside of the hearing instrument must have a path to the microphone  30 . In FIG. 2, a channel  50  connects the pocket  40  with the outside surface  14  of the faceplate  10 , providing an acoustical path for the opening  34  in the bottom face  32  of the microphone  30  to the outer surface  14  of the faceplate  10 . The channel  50  should be sufficiently large to allow the sound to travel without attenuation or distortion. 
     To aid in positioning and retention of the microphone  30  in the pocket  40 , an adhesive  38  can be applied to a portion of the bottom face  32  of the microphone  30 . When the microphone  30  is inserted into the pocket  40 , the adhesive  38  will provide a bond between the bottom surface  32  and the rectangular face  42  of the pocket  40 . It also provides an acoustic seal. 
     The faceplate  10  is shown with a shell  60  in FIG.  5 . The position of the microphone  30  closely adjacent the battery  20  allows for a narrower profile (in the vertical direction on the page) for the shell  60 . 
     Instead of the pocket  40 , other arrangements could be used to situate the microphone  30  at an angle. For example, the bottom face  32  of the microphone  30  could be fabricated with an angle of 120° with respect to the back surface  36 . Alternatively, the inside surface  12  of the faceplate  10  could be fabricated with a ramp  70  comprising a pocket  72  that accepts the microphone  30 .