Patent ID: 7016511

Claim:
A miniature hearing device adapted to be positioned substantially in the ear canal of a wearer, said device comprising: electrical circuit means for receiving and processing incoming signals representative of audio signals and converting them to an output for exciting the tympanic membrane of the wearer; a miniature magnetically controller miniature latchable reed switch assembly for controlling at least one of activation and deactivation of the hearing device or an operating parameter of the hearing device, said miniature reed switch assembly including: a reed switch including first and second reeds providing electrical contacts spaced apart by an air gap, respective lead wires electrically connected to said first and second reeds and to said electrical circuit means; and a latching magnet directly affixed to one of said first reed or the lead wire associated with said first reed, said latching magnet having a magnetic field of sufficient strength to maintain said first and second reeds together in electrical contact after said air gap is closed by an externally applied magnetic field of suitable magnitude, polarity and proximity, but of insufficient strength to bring said first and second reeds together in electrical contact while said air gap exists, wherein the externally applied magnetic field is generated by a magnetic field means that is substantially located outside of the ear canal or substantially physically disengaged with the hearing device the field means effecting actuation of the reed switch when the field means is at a first orientation with respect to the reed switch and when the field means is at a second orientation with respect to the reed switch.