# US 4,395,601 A · Modular hearing aid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,395,601 A - Document ID: US4395601A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/192,256 - Filed: 1980-09-30 - Granted: 1983-07-26 - Earliest claimed: 1979-10-17 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Wolfgang Kopke; Manfred Muller; Wolfgang Schmidt; Albert Eggert; Erwin Gahleitner; Gerhard Raupach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395601A ## CPC - H05K 1/141: {One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters (H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence)} - H04R 25/609: {of circuitry (of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603)} - H04R 25/603: {of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements} - H05K 3/368: {parallel to each other (H05K3/361 takes precedence)} - H05K 2201/10022: Non-printed resistor - H05K 2201/10189: Non-printed connector - H05K 2201/10196: Variable component, e.g. variable resistor - H05K 2201/10303: Pin-in-hole mounted pins - H05K 2201/10325: Sockets, i.e. female type connectors comprising metallic connector elements integrated in, or bonded to a common dielectric support - H05K 2201/10477: Inverted - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) ## Abstract A hearing aid has a circuit board having conductor strips thereon; first plug-in elements mounted on the circuit board and being electrically connected to selective conductor strips; a plurality of circuit board-supported modular structural units; and second plug-in elements mounted on each circuit board-supported modular structural unit. The first plug-in elements cooperate with respective second plug-in elements for securing selected circuit board-supported modular structural units on the circuit board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hearing aid comprising in combination (a) a circuit board having conductor strips thereon, a first side and an opposite second side and an edge zone along said first side; said second side including a cutout bounded by border edges; (b) first plug-in elements mounted on said circuit board externally of said edge zone and being electrically connected to selective conductor strips; (c) a plurality of circuit board-supported modular structural units; (d) second plug-in elements mounted on each said circuit board-supported modular structural unit; said first plug-in elements cooperating with respective second plug-in elements for securing selected said circuit board-supported modular structural units on said circuit board; (e) a battery holder mounted on said edge zone for receiving a battery for the hearing aid; and (f) a microphone unit having opposite side faces and means defining a groove on each said side face; said microphone unit being received in said cutout and supported by said circuit board by an interengagement between each said groove and a respective said border edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second plug-in elements are sockets and prongs cooperating with one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, further comprising a switch and an adjusting resistor mounted on said circuit board on either side of said cutout. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit board has a substantially rectangular shape; further wherein said first plug elements are arranged in series extending parallel to said first and second sides; further wherein said modular structural units are elongated and each has an elongated secondary circuit board having opposite longitudinal ends; a separate circuit component mounted on the respective secondary circuit board; and block members mounted on said opposite longitudinal ends of said secondary circuit board; and further wherein said second plug-in elements are mounted on said block members of each said circuit board-supported modular structural unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A hearing aid as defined in claim 4, wherein said block members are situated at a distance from an adjacent said longitudinal end of said secondary circuit board; and further comprising additional circuit components carried on said secondary circuit board between the respective longitudinal end thereof and the respective said block member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, wherein one of said additional circuit components is a potentiometer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, further comprising a hearing aid cord having a plug; and further wherein one of said additional circuit components is an outlet box for receiving the plug of said cord. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A hearing aid as defined in claim 5, further comprising a cover member carried by said secondary circuit board at a longitudinal end for outwardly shielding an adjacent said additional circuit component; said cover member having an opening for allowing passage of a setting tool to said adjacent additional circuit component.