Patent Description:
Hearing devices, which are designed to be placed within an ear canal, are typically designed with a vent to avoid discomfort for the user (occlusion). There are cases in which no vent or only a small one are important design criteria, and there are other cases where the vent should be as big as possible. This vent size is in most available hearing devices constant during use (e.g. determined in advance of the use of the hearing device, e.g. customized to a user's needs), and if it is possible to change the vent size, it is usually done by changing some mechanical parts, such as domes in hearing aid devices. In some cases, it is beneficial to be able to change the vent size, e.g. in cases when the hearing device has no vent, or a vent with only a small opening, and a user starts talking. Due to the occlusion effect, it may be uncomfortable for the user, and the option of adjusting the vent size (increasing its opening) would be attractive.

The general knowledge related to determining the vent size for a given hearing device style and a given need of a user for amplification is known in the field of hearing devices. It is known, for example, that better sound attenuation (or sounds from the outside) is achieved with a closed vent (it is used in headsets with higher attenuation which allows to, for example, play music quieter and make less impact on hearing). It is also beneficial to keep the vent closed in the case of a need for high amplification of lower frequencies. On the other hand, while a user of the hearing device is talking, an open vent is a better solution. In the area of a hearing aids, it is usually a compromise between different, mutually excluding conditions.

D1 (<CIT>) discloses a hearing aid comprising: a housing having a contact portion configured to form a substantially sealed connection with a user's ear, the housing having a sound opening; an electroacoustic transducer disposed in the housing, the transducer configured to generate an acoustic signal in response to an electrical excitation signal applied thereto, wherein an acoustic signal generated by the transducer radiates into the user's ear via the sound opening when the portion of the housing is coupled to the user's ear; an acoustic valve disposed in an acoustic passageway of the housing, the acoustic valve operable to alter passage of sound through the acoustic passageway; a sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a state of the acoustic valve; an electrical circuit configured to actuate the acoustic valve based on the output signal of the sensor.

D2 (<CIT>) discloses a hearing aid. The hearing aid comprises an earpiece for insertion into the ear canal of the user of the hearing aid. A through-going vent is provided in the earpiece and a receiver is provided in the earpiece. The hearing aid comprises activation means for automatically changing the acoustical impedance of the vent. Hereby it is possible to provide a hearing aid having a limited occlusion effect and limited acoustic feedback.

D3 (<CIT>) discloses a hearing aid with: a) an input unit comprising first and second input transducers for picking up sound from the environment of the user and providing first and second electric input signals, the first and second input transducers being located on the head, (e.g. at or behind an ear) and at or in an ear canal of the user, respectively, b) a signal processing unit providing a processed signal based on one or more of said multitude of electric input signals, and c) an output unit comprising an output transducer for converting said processed signal or a signal originating therefrom to a stimulus perceivable by said user as sound. The hearing device further comprises an own voice detector comprising first and second signal strength detectors for providing signal strength estimates of the first and second electric input signals.

D4 (<CIT>) discloses an earphone arrangement comprising a microphone which generates a microphone signal and a sound transducer which radiates a first sound component to a user's ear in response to a drive signal. An acoustic channel is further provided for channeling external sound so as to provide a second sound component to the user's ear. An acoustic valve allows the attenuation of the acoustic channel to be controlled in response to a valve control signal. A control circuit generates the valve control signal in response to the microphone signal to provide a variable attenuation resulting in a mixed sound of the first sound component and the second sound component reaching the user's ear. The combined use of acoustic and e.g. electric signal paths allows improved performance and in particular allows a dynamic trade-off between open and closed earphone design characteristics with respect to external sounds.

It is therefore a purpose of this invention to overcome some of the problems known from the prior art.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a hearing device which is able to change the vent size in response to a change in a user hearing situation.

The invention provides a hearing device according to claim <NUM>.

A hearing device is thereby provided which is able to automatically regulate the valve (and vent) in response to a change in the current hearing situation by responding to the occurring control signals determining different conditions (e.g. hearing situations).

In a preferred embodiment, the electrically controllable valve is located in or form part of the vent. In this way, the valve enables that the vent can be opened or closed efficiently and in response to the one or more controls signals provided to the valve via the control unit.

The hearing device may comprise a feedback estimation unit and at least one of said one or more control signal may be obtained in dependence of an output of said feedback estimation unit. This enables to better predict feedback and keep it on a desired level by varying the vent size. and therefore the whole solution may be defined more easily or a final effect may be predicted with better end results.

The valve control unit may be configured to apply a Fast Fourier Transformation to said impulse response to provide a frequency response of the feedback path. This may make it easier to implement different embodiments of the disclosure for some feedback controlling methods.

The valve control unit may be configured to control the vent in dependence of values of the frequency response of the feedback path at one or more selected frequencies or frequency ranges. In this case the hearing device will be able to, within some range determined by a construction of the valve, control the feedback with respect to one or more defined frequencies which may make it easier to implement or cause shorter delays improving a user's comfort.

The valve control unit may be configured to adjust said valve synchronously with a user's other hearing device (e.g. another hearing device of a binaural hearing system, e.g. a binaural hearing aid system). In the case when a user wears two hearing devices, it is possible that one device wasn't able to correctly determine the hearing condition. In this case the other hearing device may override the first one and decide how open or close the valve should be in this situation.

In an embodiment, at least one of said one or more control signals is obtained in dependence of a level estimate of a current acoustic environment of the hearing device. This allows to attenuate too loud environmental sounds. This is beneficial in the case when the hearing device is protecting a user's hearing or when those environmental sounds make it difficult or even impossible to listen to desired sounds from the hearing device.

In an embodiment the electrically controllable valve may be located in or form part of the vent. In this case size and/or mass of the device might be smaller. This is especially beneficial in hearing aids.

As described, the valve may be controlled via the one or more control signals to open or close a vent of a hearing device, such as a hearing aid. The valve may be implemented in a plurality of different ways, wherein in the following a series of examples of a valve is described. It should be noted that the details of the valve implementations into the vent is described in the description of the figures.

According to the invention the vent comprises a first vent portion and a second vent portion separated by the valve. The valve comprises a valve housing having an inner space comprising a rotatable ball being rotatable about a ball rotation axis, wherein the ball comprises a passage. A first opening of said valve housing connects the passage with the first vent portion, and a second opening of said valve housing connects the passage with the second vent portion. At a first rotation position of the ball, the ball blocks a connection between the first opening and the second opening, and at a second rotation position of the ball, the passage connects the first opening and the second opening and defining a passage axis. The valve further comprises an actuator configured to rotate the ball, and the valve control unit is configured to control and drive the actuator.

In one alternative, non-claimed, example the vent may comprise a first vent portion and a second vent portion separated by the valve. A valve housing having an opening connecting the first vent portion with the second vent portion. The valve comprises a lid unit rotatable about a lid unit rotation axis. The lid unit comprises a cylinder side surface section and a supporting section extending toward the lid unit rotation axis. The lid unit rotation axis is in a center of an imaginary cylinder which comprises the side surface section. At a first rotation position of the lid unit it covers the opening, and at a second rotation position of the lid unit it uncovers the opening. The valve further comprises an actuator configured to rotate the lid unit, and the valve control unit is configured to control and drive the actuator.

In one alternative, non-claimed, example the vent may be configured as part of a speaker unit of said hearing device. The speaker unit comprises a snout and within the snout the vent extends in a longitudinal direction of the snout, and is configured as a bore. The valve is configured to be arranged within said bore.

In one embodiment the valve may comprise a membrane configured to open the vent, in a membrane shrunken state, or close the vent, in a membrane extended state The membrane is configured to extend and shrink within the vent, wherein the membrane is an actuator and/or the valve comprises an actuator for controlling the membrane.

The embodiments of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

A hearing device may include a hearing aid that is adapted to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. The "hearing device" may further refer to a device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to receive an audio signal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signals as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, or an acoustic signal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of middle ear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to cochlear nerve and/or to auditory cortex of the user.

The hearing device is adapted to be worn in any known way. This may include i) arranging a unit of the hearing device behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a received/ loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal such as in a Behind-the-Ear type hearing aid, and/ or ii) arranging the hearing device entirely or partly in the pinna and/ or in the ear canal of the user such as in a In-the-Ear type hearing aid or In-the-Canal/ Completely-in-Canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing device attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing device as an entirely or partly implanted unit such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant.

A "hearing system" refers to a system comprising one or two hearing devices, and a "binaural hearing system" refers to a system comprising two hearing devices where the devices are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears. The hearing system or binaural hearing system may further include auxiliary device(s) that communicates with at least one hearing device, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing devices and/or benefitting from the functioning of the hearing devices. A wired or wireless communication link between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device is established that allows for exchanging information (e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliary devices may include at least one of remote controls, remote microphones, audio gateway devices, mobile phones, public-address systems, car audio systems or music players or a combination thereof. The audio gateway is adapted to receive a multitude of audio signals such as from an entertainment device like a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatus like a mobile telephone or a computer, a PC. The audio gateway is further adapted to select and/or combine an appropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission to the at least one hearing device. The remote control is adapted to control functionality and operation of the at least one hearing devices. The function of the remote control may be implemented in a SmartPhone or other electronic device, the SmartPhone/ electronic device possibly running an application that controls functionality of the at least one hearing device.

In general, a hearing device includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing device further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment. In one aspect, the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include amplifier that is adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electric signals such as in a Cochlear Implant.

The present application relates to the field of hearing devices, e.g. hearing aids.

<FIG> shows an example of a hearing device (HD) according to the present disclosure. In this figure the hearing device (HD) is of a type ('style'), which fits completely inside an ear canal (EC) of a user, like for example a completely-in-canal (CIC) or an invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aid. The hearing device (HD) comprises an earpiece which comprises and fixes all elements in place. The ear piece (e.g. an ear mould, e.g. customized to a user's ear or ear canal) comprises a (through-going) vent forming a vent channel between the environment and the 'occluded volume' (between the ear piece and the ear drum). The hearing device (HD) comprises a microphone (mic) configured to provide input signal (IS) by converting a sound waveform into an electrical signal. The input signal (IS) is delivered to a processor, in the figure shown as digital signal processor (DSP), and to a feedback estimator unit (FBest). The processor (DSP) is configured to adjust input signal (IS) according to its (current) program, which may be programmed to simply amplify the input signal or to amplify selected frequencies by applying a determined gain (e.g. to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user). The input signal (IS) changed by the DSP becomes an output signal (OS), which is delivered to a loudspeaker (speaker) and to the feedback estimator (FBest). The loudspeaker is configured to convert the output signal (OS) to a sound waveform and to emit the sound waveform into the ear canal (EC) of the user. The feedback estimator unit (FBest) is configured to estimate an acoustic feedback from the loudspeaker (speaker) to the microphone (mic) on a basis of the output signal (OS) and the input signal (IS) (or a signal derived therefrom). In the particular configuration of <FIG>, the feedback estimate provided by the feedback estimator unit (FBest) will be an estimate of the signal transfer function through the loudspeaker (speaker), the acoustical feedback path from loudspeaker to microphone(s) and through the microphone. The feedback estimator unit (FBest) is configured to provide a control signal (CS) to a valve control unit (VC). The valve control unit (VC) is further configured to regulate a valve (valve), which is configured to open and close the hearing device (HD) vent channel (vent), on a basis of the control signal (CS). The valve can also be configured to be partially open.

One way that the valve control unit (VC) can use the control signal (CS) from feedback estimator unit (FBest) to control the valve (valve) is to first convert the control signal (CS) from the feedback estimator unit into the frequency domain (or to provide the feedback estimate in the frequency domain in the first place). In the case where the control signal (CS) is a time domain signal (e.g. an impulse response), a fast Fourier transformation (FFT) algorithm may be used to transform it into the frequency domain (to provide a frequency response of the feedback path as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). The valve control unit (VC) can then select a frequency (e.g. <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> by the bold horizontal line segments at <NUM> indicating the level of feedback at this frequency for three different states of the controllable vent, respectively), a number of frequencies, or a frequency range that is relevant (e.g. important for indicating an amount of feedback) for determining whether an action is needed for changing the vent channel opening.

The acoustic feedback travels to the microphone (mic) through two basic feedback paths (cf. dashed paths in <FIG> from the loudspeaker to the microphone). The first path is related to the leakage between the hearing device (HD) earpiece and the ear canal (EC) and other constant ways of transmitting the acoustic feedback from the loudspeaker (speaker) to the microphone (mic), which is indicated by FBleak. The other path is through the vent channel (vent) and the valve (valve), which is indicated by FBvent. In the case of the FBvent path the acoustic feedback is strongly dependent on a valve state, that is whether it is open (cf. 'Open' state in <FIG>), closed (cf. 'Closed' state in <FIG>) or partially open (cf. 'Medium' state in <FIG>). In general, it is not important to know how much of the acoustic feedback comes from one path or the other. The important thing to know is that the acoustic feedback may vary and it' s variation must be taken into account and predicted.

The embodiment of <FIG> allows to dynamically adjust the vent channel in dependence of a current feedback estimate. It is beneficial to (e.g. repeatedly, and/or on demand from a user, e.g. via a user interface) provide or update a current feedback estimate. This may be due to the fact, that the hearing device is able to move within the ear canal (and/or that the acoustic environment of the user changes), whereby acoustic feedback may vary. By controlling the valve, it is possible to adjust the amount of acoustic feedback (FBvent) through the vent channel by adjusting the valve to keep total acoustic feedback at a desired (or acceptable) level. Such feedback estimation can also be used to determine (estimate) how open the valve is.

<FIG> shows another example of a hearing device according to the present disclosure. The hearing device in this embodiment comprises the same functional elements as shown in <FIG>, namely a microphone (mic), a digital signal processor (DSP), a feedback estimator unit (FBest), a loudspeaker (speaker), a valve control unit (VC), and a vent comprising a (electrically controllable) valve (valve). The elements are connected to each other in the same manner as in <FIG>. In this embodiment the hearing device comprises two (physically separate) parts - an external unit (EU) and an earpiece (EP). In the external unit (EU), the microphone (mic), the digital signal processor (DSP), the feedback estimator unit (FBest) and the valve control unit (VC) are comprised within a first enclosure. The earpiece (EP) comprises the loudspeaker and the vent channel with the valve (valve) within a second enclosure. An output signal (OS) and the control signal from valve control unit (VC) are delivered to the earpiece (EP) to the loudspeaker and the valve, respectively. Those signals may be transferred by wire or wirelessly.

This embodiment may be beneficial in the case where it is desired to minimize total feedback. Placing the external unit (EU) further away from the loudspeaker will make feedback routes longer and therefore resulting in higher feedback attenuation. This embodiment is also beneficial in cases where there is a need for high gain in the hearing device (e.g. due to a severe hearing impairment of the user) and the hearing device cannot be enclosed only within the earpiece due to a large size of components such as the speaker and/or the battery/batteries. In yet another example it may be beneficial to place the microphone, or microphones, in different locations, for example one facing toward front and one facing toward the rear/side, like it is used in the BTE, as it is shown (<FIG>). Further, those microphones may have different characteristics which may enable a user to better hear sounds coming from one side or to better attenuate unwanted noise by making the noise easier to distinguish.

It should be noted that <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an exemplary placement of the mentioned parts/units, and that a person skilled in the art will understand that other ways of arranging the elements/units in the external unit and/or in the earpiece are possible.

<FIG> shows the feedback estimator unit (FBest) in more detail. In this embodiment the feedback estimator comprises estimator block (EST) and finite impulse response filter (FIR). The output signal (OS) is applied to the finite impulse response filter (FIR) with configurable filter coefficients. A filtered signal is subtracted from the input signal (IS), which results in an error signal (e) which is delivered to the estimator block (EST). The estimator block (EST) is configured to minimize the error signal (e) by adaptively changing parameters (e.g. filter coefficients) of the finite impulse response filter (FIR). The feedback estimator unit (FBest) provides a control signal (CS) to the valve control unit (VC). This may e.g. be the estimate of the current feedback path (e.g. the output of the FIR-filter), cf. e.g. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> for different states of the valve. In that case, the valve control unit (VC) is configured to extract a measure for the amount of feedback for the current setting of the valve, and to decide whether to increase or decrease the vent cross section or to leave it as it is. This may e.g. be done on the basis of the current feedback estimate (e.g. at one or more predefined frequencies (e.g. at <NUM> as indicated in <FIG>, or e.g. by integration over a frequency range, e.g. between <NUM> and <NUM>, etc.).

<FIG> show examples of how the feedback estimate in the frequency domain looks with three different vent channel openings. In <FIG>, the vent channel size is equivalent to a Ø5. <NUM> standard <NUM> long vent channel, and here the average feedback estimate from <NUM>-<NUM> is around -<NUM> dB. In <FIG>, the vent channel size is equivalent to a Ø2. <NUM> standard <NUM> vent channel, and here the average feedback estimate from <NUM>-<NUM> is around -<NUM> dB. Finally, in <FIG>, the vent channel is closed and the feedback estimate is around -<NUM> dB in the same frequency range around the <NUM> peak. When the vent channel is closed there would still be feedback present from the potential leakage between the earpiece and the ear canal wall. The accuracy of the feedback estimate would usually also drop at lower levels of feedback.

<FIG> shows one way to improve feedback estimation. In this figure, a solution similar to the one illustrated in <FIG> is presented, where additionally the input signal (IS) is provided to the valve control unit (VC). There are situations in which it is difficult to correctly estimate the acoustic feedback, e.g. when some external sounds make it difficult for the system to adapt correctly, especially pure tones. To avoid this, an additional input from the microphone(s) can be delivered to the vent channel control unit (VC), which may be configured to only allow to change the vent channel size when the acoustical situation is acceptable, e.g. when an external sound pressure level is below a certain threshold, and/or when no pure tones are present in the relevant frequency range.

<FIG> shows yet another implementation of the present disclosure. In this figure, a hearing device (HD) is presented comprising two microphones (mic), a beamformer (BF), a hearing loss compensation unit (HLC), an own voice detector (OVD), the feedback estimator unit (FBest), the valve control unit (VC), the vent channel with the valve (valve) and the loudspeaker (speaker). Input signals are delivered from the microphones (mic) to the beamformer (BF), which delivers a combined (spatially filtered) signal based on the microphone signals to the hearing loss compensation unit (HLC). The hearing loss compensation unit (HLC) is configured to adjust (compensate for a hearing impairment) the spatially filtered signal and to deliver the compensated signal (OS) to the loudspeaker (speaker). Such connected elements/units can be found in a typical forward path of a state of the art hearing aid. The feedback estimator unit (FBest) is configured to receive input signals (IS) from the microphones and (compensated) output signal (OS) from the hearing loss compensation unit (HLC), and the feedback estimator unit (FBest) is configured to provide a first control signal (CS1) in the same manner as in the <FIG>. A further control signal (CS2) is also provided by the hearing loss compensation unit (HLC), which is configured to provide the signal on a basis of, for example, a set gain (e.g. a requested gain according to the needs of the user in view of a hearing impairment). When gain is lowered, it may enable to open the valve more. The own voice detection unit (OVD) is configured to provide another control signal (CS3) on a basis of received signal from the hearing loss compensation unit (HLC). In the case when a user is talking and the valve is completely closed, the user will typically experience an occlusion effect, which will lower a comfort of the user. While the user is talking it might be beneficial to temporarily open the valve to prevent the occlusion effect from arising (the gain of the hearing loss compensation unit (HLC) may simultaneously be reduced). It is also possible to detect a sound level in a user environment and to attenuate that sound if it is too loud.

Control signals (CS4, CS5) may also be delivered from external sources such as an external device (ED) or a fitting software system (FS). In the case of the external device (ED), such as a telephone, smartphone, television, or a computer, it is possible to stream sound directly to the hearing device. In such cases, the user may like to attenuate external sounds and closing the valve may be a desired action (e.g. automatically initiated, or initiated via a user interface, e.g. implemented on an external device, e.g. the device from which the sound is streamed, e.g. a smartphone or a similar device). In the case of the fitting software system (FS), a hearing care professional (HCP) may wish to limit the valve performance by limiting how close or how open it can be, or both. The limits may vary in dependence of a level of a user's hearing loss, the hearing aid type, a dome type and/or an ear mould, or of a hearing loss type or of user preferences.

It should be noted that not all control signals (CS) from the embodiment provided in <FIG> must be implemented in a hearing device. It should also be noted that some control signals (CS) might override other control signals (CS). For example, a valve operating limit set by a HCP might override feedback estimator unit (FBest) control signal (CS). In every case priority of each control signal (CS) may be set individually and may be permanent or programable. The priority may e.g. be implemented as weights applied to the individual control signals.

In disclosed figures, separate units such as a digital signal processor, a feedback estimator unit, a valve control unit are shown as separate units. A person skilled in the art will understand that all or some units may be combined into, for example, one processor which is configured to perform the same tasks as every independent unit presented in this disclosure.

It is possible to pair two hearing devices in a binaural hearing system implementing teachings of the present disclosure. In such configuration those paired hearing devices may open and close their respective valves simultaneously (e.g. by exchanging their control signals, e.g. via an inter-aural link, and synchronizing their resulting valve control signals). In an embodiment, the valve control signal is determined in one of the two hearing devices of the binaural hearing system and transferred to the other (dependent) hearing device. It may be beneficial because of simpler design of the `dependent hearing aid'.

A person having ordinary skill in the art will understand that in a hearing device there are also additional elements needed for proper performance of the hearing device such as a battery or batteries, a power supply or conversion unit, or an anti-feedback unit. In the hearing device, it is also possible to have other, additional features/units such as programing interface to modify a processor' s program, a wireless interface such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other suitable interfaces. Some of the mentioned units/features are not shown in figures in order to keep figures as simple and easy to understand as possible. For the same reason there is only, for example, only one microphone in some of the figures - a person skilled in the art will understand that more than one microphone or speaker may be used.

Used in this disclosure, the term control signal may be understood as analog or digital data, signal or indication (e.g. binary, e.g. true/false) that some condition has been met. A person skilled in the art will understand that a nature of the control signal may be different with each unit configured to generate such signal and in different implementations.

As previously described, the valve is configured to open and close the vent formed by a vent channel through which sound may escape. The valve may be configured and incorporated into the hearing aid in a plurality of different ways, wherein some exemplary embodiments will be described in the following. It should be noted that all of the mentioned embodiments of a valve as described in the following may be controlled by the valve control of the hearing aid as described in previous sections. Furthermore, additional embodiments falling within the scope of these examples may be contemplated.

<FIG> show a first valve embodiment, namely a ball valve. <FIG> shows the ball valve and <FIG> shows a cross-section of the ball valve. In this embodiment the vent comprises two portions - first vent portion <NUM> and second vent portion <NUM>, which are separated from each other with a valve <NUM>. The valve comprises a valve housing <NUM>, which comprises inner space <NUM>. Within this inner surface <NUM> a rotatable ball <NUM> is placed. The ball <NUM> is being able to rotate about a ball rotation axis <NUM>. The ball <NUM> comprises a passage 104a which is a hallow canal extending through the ball <NUM>. The housing <NUM> of the valve <NUM> comprising a first opening 103a and a second opening 103b, wherein the first opening 103a connects the passage 104a with the first vent portion <NUM> and the second opening 103b with the second vent portion <NUM>. The ball <NUM>, at a first rotation position where the passage 103a is perpendicular to a vent axis, blocks a connection between the first opening 103a and the second opening 103b, and at a second position, where the passage 103a is align with the valve axis, the passage 104a connects the first opening 103a and the second opening 103b defining a passage axis. The valve <NUM> comprises an actuator configured to rotate the ball <NUM>. The valve control unit VC is configured to control and drive the actuator.

The first rotation position may be desired when a user of a hearing device comprising such valve would like to stream sound directly to the hearing device. When the user decides to speak the valve <NUM> should be open, so an occlusion effect would not appear. The hearing device comprising the valve <NUM> would be able to quickly change from being closed, in the first rotation position, to being open, in the second rotation position, when the necessity arises such as the user starts speaking or other mention hereinbefore.

In <FIG> it can be seen that the ball <NUM> has a spherical shape and the passage 104a has a circular cross-section shape. It should be noted that the ball <NUM> may have any axially symmetrical shape, such as a cylindrical shape or ellipsoid shape. Also the passage 104a may have any shape - it may have the cross-section of any shape and also the passage may be curved, straight or in any spatial shape which allows connection of the first opening 103a and the second opening 103b.

It should be noted that the first rotation position does not have to fully block the connection between the first opening 103a and the second opening 103b, and the second rotation position does not have to fully connect the first opening 103a and the second opening 103b. It is important that the valve may provide a possibility to limit a sound passing through. The specific lower (the first rotation position) and upper (the second rotation position) limit is to be defined in every single hearing device.

In another embodiment the valve <NUM> may comprise at least one, preferably two pins. This pin(s) provides a pivot bearing along the ball rotation axis <NUM>. This bearing is provided between the inner space <NUM> and the ball <NUM>. This pin(s) may be a part of the ball <NUM>, the inner surface <NUM> or be third, separate part. In the case in which the pin(s) is not part of the ball <NUM>, the ball <NUM> may comprise slot(s) <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the pin is firmly connected to the ball <NUM> it may be used to transmit torque from the actuator.

In another embodiment the ball <NUM> may be a magnet. The valve actuator may comprise a first electromagnetic coil <NUM> and a second electromagnetic coil <NUM>, both wounded around the housing <NUM> such that when the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> is driven by the valve control unit VC and the second electromagnetic coil <NUM> is not driven, the ball <NUM> takes the first rotation position, and if the second electromagnetic coil <NUM> is driven and the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> is not driven, the ball <NUM> takes the second rotation position. In this arrangement ball <NUM>, being the magnet, aligns with the magnetic field created by the first electromagnetic coli <NUM> or the second electromagnetic coil <NUM>. In this case the ball <NUM> acts as a rotor in an electrical motor.

It the case when the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> is driven and the second electromagnetic coil <NUM> is driven, the ball <NUM> takes a third rotation position between the first rotation position and the second rotation position corresponding to a proportion of magnetic fields generated by the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the second electromagnetic coil <NUM>. By driving both electromagnetic coils in this manner it is possible to achieve intermediate position of the ball resulting in a different sound attenuation varying from a minimal attenuation when the valve <NUM> is fully open (the second position) to maximal attenuation when the valve <NUM> is fully closed, blocked (the first position).

<FIG> shows a ball <NUM> in more details. This figure shows a plane <NUM> separating north and south magnetic poles N, S of the ball <NUM>. This plane is angled by <NUM> degrees with respect to a passage 104a axis about the ball rotation axis <NUM>. This arrangement of magnetic poles allows to wound the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the second electromagnetic coil <NUM> in convenient and easy to assembly place. It should be understand that with different valve design it may be beneficial to arrange differently how those magnetic poles are positions on a ball <NUM>.

In another embodiment the ball <NUM> may be in a frictional contact with the inner space <NUM> such that, if the actuator is not driven, preferably when the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> is not driven and the second electromagnetic coil <NUM> is not driven, a rotation position of the ball <NUM> is maintained.

It should be noted that this particular usage of a valve does not need constant power consumption. After a new rotation position is established the first electromagnetic coil <NUM> and the second electromagnetic coli <NUM> do not have to be powered. A torque between the ball <NUM> and the inner surface <NUM> is high enough to keep the ball <NUM> in the new rotation position. It should also be noted that an air flow passing through the valve <NUM> will have small volume and speed thus the forces acting on a ball <NUM> will be small and the torque between the ball <NUM> and the inner surface <NUM> will be sufficient to keep the ball in a desired rotation position.

In yet another embodiment the passage 104a axis may go through a ball <NUM> geometric center. This arrangement, with the passage 104a being straight canal, provides the least resistance to air passing through the valve <NUM> and enables the biggest possible passage 104a in this type of the valve <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG> show a second valve embodiment, namely a cradle valve. This embodiment the vent comprises a first vent portion <NUM> and a second vent portion <NUM> separated by the valve <NUM>. A valve housing <NUM> may have an opening <NUM> connecting the first vent portion <NUM> with the second vent portion <NUM>. The valve <NUM> comprises a lid unit <NUM> rotatable about a lid unit rotation axis <NUM>. The lid unit <NUM> comprises a cylinder side surface section 205a and a supporting section 205b extending toward the lid unit rotation axis <NUM>. The lid unit rotation axis <NUM> is in a center of an imaginary cylinder which comprises the side surface section 205a. At a first rotation position of the lid unit <NUM> it covers the opening, and at a second rotation position of the lid unit <NUM> it uncovers the opening. The valve <NUM> comprises an actuator configured to rotate the lid unit <NUM>, and the valve control unit VC is configured to control and drive the actuator.

<FIG> shows the cradle valve in an open position, wherein the lid unit <NUM> is in the first position, which allows air to pass through the valve <NUM> with the least resistance caused by the cylinder side surface section 205a. <FIG> shows the cradle valve in partially closed position, wherein the lid unit <NUM> is in an intermediate position which creates a resistance to an air passing through. This resistance depends on the lid unit <NUM> position and may be adjusted in particular situations, such as when the environment sound is getting louder and a reduction of a sound reaching a user's tympanic membrane is desired. <FIG> shows shows the cradle valve in a closed position, wherein the lid unit <NUM> is in the second position, which blocks the air from passing through the valve <NUM>.

In embodiment a portion of an inner wall <NUM> of the valve <NUM> is formed to correspond to a shape of the cylinder side surface section 205a of the lid unit <NUM>. This inner wall shape allows to minimalize the resistance caused by the lid unit <NUM> while being in the first position. This solution allows the lid unit <NUM> to be partially covered by the inner wall <NUM> thereby reducing the resistance.

In yet another embodiment the inner wall <NUM> is in a frictional contact with the lid unit <NUM> cylinder side surface section 205a. This feature allows to reduce a power consumption by enabling the actuator to be turned off after a desired position of the lid unit <NUM> was achieved. The frictional contact will be able to prevent undesired movement of the lid unit <NUM> caused by an air movement.

In another embodiment the valve <NUM> comprises a pin providing a pivot bearing between the valve <NUM> and the supporting section 205b of the lid unit <NUM>.

In another embodiment the valve actuator comprises an electrical motor, preferably a stick slip motor including a piezo element, and a movement transmission element <NUM> connected to the motor.

In yet another embodiment the valve control unit VC is configured to drive the piezo element based on the control signal CS to cause the lid unit <NUM> to approach one of the first rotation position, the second rotation position, and a third rotation position between the first rotation position and the second rotation position by an alternating extension and contraction of the piezo element.

In yet another embodiment, depending on an approach direction, the extension of the stick slip motor is slower than the contraction or the contraction is slower than the extension.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a third valve embodiment, namely a piston valve. In this embodiment the vent <NUM> may be configured as part of a speaker unit <NUM>, but it also may be a separate part, of the hearing device. The speaker unit <NUM> comprises a snout <NUM> within which the vent <NUM> extends in a longitudinal direction of the snout <NUM>. The vent <NUM> is configured as a bore and the valve <NUM> is configured to be arranged within said bore.

In embodiment the valve <NUM> may comprise a piston unit <NUM> movable along the longitudinal axis of the vent <NUM> portion. A cross section of the piston unit <NUM>, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vent <NUM> corresponds to a bore cross section of the bore to thereby allow the piston unit <NUM> to slidably fit into the bore of the vent <NUM>. The piston unit <NUM> being able to occlude, at least partly and/or in full, the vent <NUM> by moving inside the vent <NUM> from a distal end 301a, positioned near an ear canal entrance, of the vent <NUM> to a proximal end 301b, positioned near to the tympanic membrane. The valve <NUM> comprises an actuator configured to move the piston unit <NUM>.

In yet another embodiment an end surface of the piston unit <NUM> may have a curved surface 303a. The curved surface 303a may be any non-planar surface which allows to better control how open or close the valve <NUM> is. In the case of planar end surface of the piston unit <NUM> there is very short distance between valve <NUM> being fully open and fully closed. In the case of curved surface 303a it is possible to extend this distance between valve <NUM> being fully open and fully closed. It is also possible to define this surface in such manner that a function of closing the valve <NUM>, with relation to the position of the piston unit <NUM>, is a linear function, logarithmic function etc..

In another embodiment the snout <NUM> may comprise a slit opening. One side of the slit opening is curved so as to form the substantially v-shaped cut-out <NUM> in the snout <NUM>. The piston unit <NUM> is configured to at least partly and/or in full to cover the cut-out. The purpose of the slit opening is similar to the curved surface 303a, that is a better control of the valve <NUM>. The shape of the slit opening may also be defined such that, alone or in the combination with the curved surface 303a, may provide a specific function of closing the valve <NUM>, with relation to the position of the piston unit <NUM>.

In yet another embodiment the valve <NUM> may be configured to be moved into at least a closed position, and open position and an intermediate position. When in a closed position, the valve <NUM> occludes the vent in full, in an intermediate position, the valve <NUM> at least partly occludes the vent, and in an open position, the valve <NUM> leaves the vent open. In <FIG> the valve <NUM> is shown in fully open position. The piston <NUM> is in the most distant position with respect to the proximal end 301b and a opening or a v-shaped cut-out <NUM> have the biggest size providing the least resistance to air passing through the valve <NUM>. In <FIG> the piston <NUM> is in intermediate position. The opening is partially closed limiting the amount of an air and a sound passing through. In <FIG> the piston <NUM> is in the closest position with respect to the proximal end 301b. The opening is fully covered by the piston <NUM> and the valve <NUM> is closed.

In another embodiment the curved end surface 303a of said piston unit <NUM> is configured to provide a smooth transition of air passing into the vent <NUM> and escaping through the vent <NUM>.

In yet another embodiment the valve <NUM> comprises a piston guide <NUM> configured to be actuated by the control unit, wherein upon actuation by the control unit, the valve piston guide <NUM> acts on the piston unit <NUM> so as to force the piston unit <NUM> into a closed position, an open position or a partly open position. It should be mentioned that piston guide <NUM> of this shape is merely an example and the person skilled in the art would came up with other actuators types and different parts shape that are configured to provide linear movement of the piston <NUM>.

<FIG> show a fourth valve embodiment, namely a membrane valve. The valve <NUM> may comprise a membrane <NUM> configured to open the vent <NUM>, in a membrane shrunken state, or close the vent <NUM>, in a membrane extended state. The membrane <NUM> is configured to extend and shrink within the vent <NUM>. The membrane <NUM> is an actuator <NUM> and/or the valve <NUM> comprises an actuator <NUM> for controlling the membrane <NUM>. In shown embodiments of the valve <NUM> there are embodiments in which the membrane <NUM> is an actuator <NUM> or an actuator <NUM> is configured to act on a membrane <NUM>. It is also possible to have more than one membrane <NUM> in one embodiment and more than one actuator <NUM> in the valve <NUM>.

In embodiment the valve <NUM> may comprise a volume defined by an inner volume <NUM> and an outer volume <NUM>. The inner volume <NUM> is determined by the membrane <NUM> and a valve wall <NUM>, and the outer volume <NUM> is determined by an outer membrane <NUM> and the valve wall <NUM>. The volume <NUM> is filled with a fluid and the actuator <NUM> is configured to control the membrane <NUM> to change the outer volume <NUM> and push fluid into the inner volume <NUM>. This volume acts like a balloon which is pushed on one side. By controlling force applied it is possible to adjust how open or closed the valve <NUM> is.

It should be noted that this solution may be achieve by inserting a balloon-like, field with liquid and sealed membrane <NUM>, <NUM>, which is placed in the opening of a valve wall. The opening should, preferably, be rounded and do not have corners. Examples of preferred shapes are an ellipsis or a circle.

The other possibility is to attach both membranes <NUM>, <NUM> independently to the valve wall, one membrane <NUM> to one side of the valve wall and other membrane <NUM> to other side of the valve wall, and filling created volume with a liquid.

It is also possible to have a pump within a hearing device, which could pump the liquid, such as an air or a fluid from a tank, but this solution have many disadvantages. This solution would need an additional space within, or near, the hearing device for the pump and tank. It would also require greater amount of power delivered to the pomp. Finally this solution would cause an additional noise which is not desired in hearing devices.

It should be noted that membrane <NUM> may be made of a polymeric material such as rubber. In this case this membrane, in fully closed state, would provide additional sealing.

In yet another embodiment the valve <NUM> comprises the actuator <NUM>. In this embodiment the actuator <NUM> is not a membrane <NUM>, <NUM>, but it is a separate piece. It should be however noted that more than one actuator may be present in the valve <NUM>. This actuator <NUM> may be made of an artificial muscle or a piezoelectric material. It should be noted that the person skilled in the art would know other actuators suitable for this application.

In another embodiment the actuator <NUM> is controlled and driven electrically, preferably is controlled and driven by a voltage.

In yet another embodiment the actuator <NUM> is slidably connected to a ventilation valve wall and preferably one point of the actuator is fixed to the vent wall. To allow the actuator to bend or to move it may be necessary to provide a hinge or slidably connection to the valve wall.

In another embodiment the fluid is a liquid. Due to the fact that liquids may be considered, in application like this, as incompressible, it may be beneficial to fill the volume with a liquid. This may result in smaller distances needed to fully close the valve <NUM>. It would also make possible to determine, with greater precision, how open or closed the valve is based on a current actuator position. If the liquid is a gas then pushing membrane <NUM> may not result in similar and repeatable extension of the membrane <NUM>. The liquid may help solving at least one of this problems.

It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element but an intervening element may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Claim 1:
A hearing device configured to be located fully or partially in or at an ear of a user, the hearing device (HD) comprising:
at least one microphone (mic) configured to provide an input signal (IS) representing sound,
a processor (DSP) configured to process the input signal (IS) and provide a processed signal (OS),
at least one loudspeaker (speaker) configured to receive the processed signal (OS) from the
processor (DSP) and to provide an acoustic signal based on the processed signal (OS) to the ear of a user,
an earpiece comprising
a vent (vent), and
an electrically controllable valve (valve) configured to control the state of the vent (vent), and
a valve control unit (VC) configured to receive one or more control signals (CS) in dependence of a current hearing situation of the hearing device (HD),
wherein the hearing device comprises a feedback estimator unit (FBest) and at least one of the one or more control signal (CS) is obtained in dependence of an output of the feedback estimator unit (FBest), wherein the valve control unit (VC) is configured to adjust the electrically controllable valve (valve) on a basis of the output signal from the feedback estimator unit (FBest) to provide the vent (vent) to be in an open state, in a closed state and in one or more states therebetween, wherein
the vent comprises a first vent portion (<NUM>) and a second vent portion (<NUM>) separated by the valve (<NUM>), the valve (<NUM>) comprises a valve housing (<NUM>), the valve housing (<NUM>) having an inner space (<NUM>) comprising a rotatable ball (<NUM>), the ball (<NUM>) being rotatable about a ball rotation axis (<NUM>), wherein the ball (<NUM>) comprises a passage (104a),
wherein a first opening (103a) of said valve housing (<NUM>) connects the passage (104a) with the first vent portion (<NUM>), and a second opening (103b) of said valve housing (<NUM>) connects the passage with the second vent portion (<NUM>),
and wherein
at a first rotation position of the ball (<NUM>), the ball blocks a connection between the first opening (103a) and the second opening (103b), and at a second rotation position of the ball (<NUM>), the passage (104a) connects the first opening (103a) and the second opening (103b) and defining a passage axis,
wherein further the valve (<NUM>) comprises an actuator configured to rotate the ball (<NUM>), and the valve control unit (VC) is configured to control and drive the actuator.