Patent ID: 12238485

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Corresponding parts are provided with identical reference numerals in all figures.

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly toFIGS.1and2thereof, there is shown schematically charging contact assembly1for a hearing device system2schematically illustrated inFIG.5. The hearing aid system2contains at least one hearing device in the form of a hearing aid device (in short: hearing aid4), here formed by a hearing aid to be worn behind the ear, and a charging unit6. The hearing aid4has two microphones8for detecting sound, a signal processor (“controller10”) and a loudspeaker12for outputting output signals captured by means of the microphones8and processed by means of the controller10. The hearing aid4has a secondary cell14for supplying power.

The charging contact assembly1in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is part of the hearing aid4and is used for inputting charging energy provided by the charging unit6into the secondary cell14. A charging controller16in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is part of the controller10. The charging unit6has a corresponding mating contact assembly18for the galvanic contacting of the charging contact assembly1(seeFIG.3).

The charging contact assembly1has a first charging contact20and a second charging contact22, which are used for the conventional transfer of the charging energy, specifically a charging current. The first charging contact20is designed to resemble a circular ring segment. The second charging contact22forms a kind of pin at the center of the circular ring segment. A contact surface24of the first charging contact20is located on a different level, i.e. on a different plane, than a contact surface26of the second charging contact22. Specifically, the contact surface24is offset relative to an outer side28of the charging contact assembly1and thus also of the hearing aid4.

The charging contact assembly1also has a control contact30. This is similar in design to the first charging contact20and together with it, forms a continuous circular ring. The control contact30is galvanically isolated, at least externally, from the first charging contact20and the second charging contact22.

FIG.3shows the mating contact assembly18in more detail. This has a first, annular mating contact32configured for contacting the first charging contact20, as well as a second mating contact34. The latter is used for contacting the second charging contact22and in the present exemplary embodiment is formed by a kind of “pogo pin”, i.e. a spring-mounted pin. In the unstressed state this protrudes above a contact surface36of the first mating contact34.

FIG.4illustrates in more detail the proper contacting of the charging contact assembly1by the mating contact assembly18, and the functional principle of the control contact30. The second charging contact22is contacted by the second mating contact34. The mating contact assembly18has a retaining magnet38. This draws the charging contact assembly1towards the mating contact assembly18. Thus, the second mating contact34is inserted against the spring action until the first mating contact32comes into contact with the first charging contact20.

The control contact30has a contact surface40which is located in the same plane, i.e. at the same level, as the contact surface24of the first charging contact20. Thus, the first mating contact32contacts not only the first charging contact20but also the control contact30and thus bridges them.

The control contact30is either connected to the charging controller16by means of a tri-state (not shown) in such a way that in the non-bridged state the control contact30has no logical signal, or alternatively is connected with high impedance (to “plus”). In the bridged state shown inFIG.4, the control contact30is in fact pulled to another potential, in the present exemplary embodiment to that of the “logical zero”. The charging controller16in this case is configured to detect from this potential change that the control contact30is bridged to the first charging contact20, and to conclude from this that the charging contact assembly1is galvanically contacted with the mating contact assembly18. If the charging controller16concludes that this contacting is present, the charging controller16switches and holds the hearing aid4in an inactive state in which no signal processing takes place. Preferably, in this state only the charging controller16is active in order to charge the secondary cell14. If the bridging between the control contact30and the first charging contact22is “lost”, in the case of the tri-state the control contact30returns to its “third” or non-logical state (or alternatively to its state with a high-impedance connection to plus), whereupon the charging controller16re-activates the hearing aid4.

The subject matter of the invention is not restricted to the above-described exemplary embodiment. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1charging contact assembly2hearing device system4hearing aid6charging unit8microphone10controller12loudspeaker14secondary cell16charging controller18mating contact assembly20charging contact22charging contact24contact surface26contact surface28outer side30control contact32mating contact34mating contact36contact surface38retaining magnet40contact surface