Patent Abstract:
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.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to devices which assist hearing, and more specifically to a battery door with an integrated switch for a hearing assistance devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The ability to adjust operational parameters of a hearing assistance device is a feature of the device that is both useful and desirable. For example, users have benefited from the ability to adjust the volume of a hearing assistance device. 
     Hearing assistance devices employ different types of switches to assist the user in making operational adjustments. Momentary switches are one type of switch commonly used on hearing assistance devices. However, momentary switches in small hearing assistance devices require costly and complex micro molded mechanical components. These components take up space within the housing of the hearing assistance device. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for switches that provide economy in design, assembly, operation and space as to their use in hearing assistance devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     This application addresses the foregoing needs in the art and other needs not discussed herein. The various embodiments described herein relate to user controls incorporated into the battery door of a hearing assistance devices. 
     The present subject matter provides method and apparatus related to hearing assistance devices with at least one control disposed within a battery door. In one example, the control is electrically connected through the battery door hinge to hearing assistance electronics within the hearing assistance device housing. In various embodiments, the control includes an operator and a switch. In various examples, the battery door with an integrated control is provided for use with various hearing assistance device housings. Examples of connecting the switch to the electronics and providing for switch activation are provided in varying embodiments. The present subject matter also includes methods of using the battery door with an integrated control, for example, operating the control to adjust parameters affecting the operation of the hearing assistance electronics, such as volume. 
     This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an example of the battery door in use with a in-the-ear (ITE) type housing. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an example of the battery door in use with a behind-the-ear (BTE) type housing. 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates the equivalent circuit diagram of a battery door with an integrated switch according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a integrated momentary switch according to the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a cutaway view of an assembled battery door with the spring member insert molded into the battery door. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a portion of an assembled battery door installed in a hearing assistance device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a three dimensional example of one embodiment of the battery door  100  according to the present subject matter. The battery door  100  incorporates a switch  102  for assisting the user in modifying the operation of a hearing assistance device  103 . When the battery door  100  is properly installed in the hearing assistance device  103 , the switch  102  is electrically connected to the electronics of the hearing assistance device through a pre-wired hinge pin  104 . The battery door  100  is configured to make connections between the electronics of the hearing assistance device and the battery  105  when in a closed state. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an embodiment of the battery door  100  adapted for use with an in-the-ear (ITE) type hearing assistance device  103 .  FIG. 1B  shows an embodiment of the battery door  100 B adapted for use with a behind-the-ear (BTE) type hearing assistance device  103 B. The embodiment of  FIG. 1B  includes an integrated switch  102 B, a battery  105 B and a pre-wired hinge pin  104 B. Various embodiments of the present subject matter are adapted for use with over-the-ear (OTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) housings.  FIG. 1C  illustrates the equivalent circuit diagram of a battery door with an integrated switch according to various embodiments.  FIG. 1C  includes a hearing assistance device  103 C, a battery door  100 C with an integrated switch  102 C, a battery  105 C and hearing assistance electronics  110 C. The integrated switch  102 C forms part of a circuit connected to the hearing assistance device  110 C. Generally, the illustrated circuit includes the battery  105 C and switch  102 C, wherein the switch includes a conductive hinge member  104 C pre-wired to the hearing assistance electronics  110 C. 
       FIG. 2  shows a three dimensional exploded view of an integrated switch  202  according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. The switch  102  includes an operator  207 , in the form of a button and a spring member  208 . The illustrated spring member  208  includes three tabs. The center tab  209  is made from electrically conductive material and forms a contact of the switch  202 . The two outside tabs of the spring member are insert molded into the battery door  200 . The switch  202  is assemble by snapping the operator  207  into the opening of the battery door  200  such that the spring member  208  is between the operator  207  and a subsequently installed battery. In various embodiments, operator  207  and battery door  200  are made of nonconductive material, for example, injection molded plastic. In various embodiments, the operator is in a form other than a button. For example, the operator may be a slide bar, a rotary operator, a toggle or other operator form. These switch operators allow switch functionality to be maintained or momentary, as well as, normally opened or normally closed. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cutaway view of an assembled battery door  300  with the spring member  308  insert molded into the battery door  300 . In the illustrated example, pressure applied to the operator  307 , in the direction of the battery  305 , causes the center tab  309  of the spring member  308  to contact the battery  305 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a portion of the assembled battery door installed in a hearing assistance device.  FIG. 4  includes the operator  407 , the contact portion  409  of spring member  408 , the battery  405  and the hinge pin  404 . The illustration shows a user  410  operating the momentary switch  402  such that the switch contact  409  closes on the battery  405  completing a circuit connected to the hearing assistance electronics. The pressure exerted on the operator  407  deforms the spring member  408  such that the contact tab  409  of the spring member contacts the battery  405 . Upon contact with the battery  405 , the switch  402  completes a circuit. In various embodiments, the circuit includes the hearing assistance electronics connected to the battery  405 , the battery connected to the contact tab  409  of the spring member  408 , and the spring member  408  in contact with the hinge pin  404 , the hinge pin being pre-wired to the hearing assistance electronics. Upon the user  410  releasing pressure from the switch  402 , the spring member  408  returns to an unbiased state such that the contact tab  409  withdraws from the battery  405 . 
     The present subject matter extends to various hearing aid designs including, but not limited to, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, completely-in-the-canal and behind-the-ear designs. The present subject matter provides an economical, reliable and robust solution to providing a switch in a battery door of a hearing assistance device. 
     This description has set forth numerous details and features of various embodiments, but is intended to be illustrative and not intended in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. Changes in detail, material, parts, order of process and design may occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7