Abstract:
The capabilities of a helix hearing instrument may expanded with a behind-the-ear accessory module. The module accommodates additional batteries and a variety of accessory functions including an external volume control.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A helix hearing instrument comprises a receiver inserted into the ear canal and an electronics assembly, comprising a microphone, amplifier, and battery, which typically resides in the helix of the user&#39;s ear. The helix hearing instrument has a capability limited in part by the size of the electronics assembly and the space available for batteries and the instrument&#39;s components. Additional capabilities or functions for the instrument and longer battery life may be offered in an accessory module that rides behind the ear in the same fashion as a behind-the-ear hearing instrument. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a helix hearing instrument receiver, electronics pod, and an interconnecting cable; 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of the helix hearing instrument receiver, electronics pod, and interconnecting cable of  FIG. 1 , where the electronics pod is connected to a behind-the-ear accessory module; 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of the behind-the-ear accessory module of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of the helix hearing instrument electronics pod and interconnecting cable of  FIG. 1 , with electrical contacts shown in phantom; and 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing of the behind-the-ear accessory module illustrating internal features and an external volume control. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A helix hearing instrument receiver  10 , an electronics pod  20 , and an interconnecting cable  30  are shown in  FIG. 1 . The electronics pod  20  and the connecting cable  30  are shown again in  FIG. 2 , together with a behind-the-ear accessory module  40 . The electronics pod  20  resides in an externally-accessible receptacle  42  formed in the surface  41  of the behind-the-ear accessory module  40  and may be selectively inserted and removed from the receptacle  42 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the inner contour  43  of the receptacle  42  conforms to the outer contour  21  of the electronics pod  20 . Detents or similar structures may be used to securely retain the electronics pod  20  in the module receptacle  42 . A channel  44  in the accessory module  40  accommodates the interconnecting cable  30 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the behind-the-ear accessory module  40  is shown with the electronics pod  20  removed from the module receptacle  42 , revealing a set of electrical contacts  46  within the receptacle  42 . While four rectangular contacts  46  are shown in the figures, contacts of any quantity, shape, and configuration may be employed. 
     The electronics pod  20  and the interconnecting cable  30  are shown again in  FIG. 4 , with a set of complementary contacts  22  shown in phantom. The number, size, and configuration of the electronic pod contacts  22  conforms to the contacts  46  in the behind-the-ear accessory module receptacle  42 , but again could assume a different quantity, size, shape, and configuration. 
     The behind-the-ear accessory module  40  is shown again in  FIG. 5 . By way of example, several accessory features are shown within the accessory module  40 . These are one or more batteries  50 , a microphone  52 , wireless capability  54  (e.g., Bluetooth [a trademark of the Bluetooth SIG]), and an unspecified accessory function  56 . The drawing also shows an external volume control  58 . Although the electronics pod  20  has a microphone (not shown in the drawings), the microphone  52  within the accessory module  40  should be understood to be one of greater functionality, such as a directional microphone.