Directional microphone system providing for ease of assembly and disassembly

A directional microphone assembly for an in-the-ear-hearing aid comprising:

• an assembly housing having first and second sound inlet passages located therein and at least one releasable retaining member;
• a microphone cartridge mounted on the assembly housing, the microphone cartridge having first and second sound openings, the first and second sound inlet passages acoustically coupling sound energy to the first and second sound openings, respectively;
• and
• a printed circuit board operatively connected to the microphone cartridge and releasably mounted on the assembly housing, the releasable retaining member assisting to retain the printed circuit board in a mounted position on the assembly housing and enabling removal of the printed circuit board from the assembly housing by movement of the at least one retaining member and without requiring removal of the releasable retaining member from a remainder of the assembly housing.

A directional microphone for an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

• an assembly housing having first and second sound inlet passages located therein at least one retaining member;
• a microphone cartridge mounted on the assembly housing, the microphone cartridge having first and second sound openings, the first and second sound inlet passages acoustically coupling sound energy to the first and second sound openings, respectively;
• and
• a printed circuit board releasably mounted on the assembly housing and operatively connected to, directed soldered to, and resting on a surface of, the microphone cartridge, the releasable retaining member assisting to retain the circuit board in a mounted position on the assembly housing and enabling removal of the printed circuit board and the microphone cartridge as a unit from the assembly housing.

A directional microphone assembly for an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

• an assembly housing having first and second sound inlet passages formed therein and at least one releasable retaining member;
• a microphone cartridge mounted on the assembly housing and having first and second sound openings, the first and second sound inlet passages acoustically coupling sound energy to the first and second sound openings, respectively;
• and
• a printed circuit board operatively connected to the microphone cartridge and releasably mounted on the assembly housing, the releasable retaining member assisting to retain the printed circuit board in a mounted position on the assembly housing and enabling removal of the printed circuit board from the assembly housing.

A directional microphone assembly for an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

• an assembly housing having at least one releasable retaining member first and second sound inlet passages located therein and at least one releasable retaining member;
• a microphone cartridge mounted on the assembly housing, the microphone cartridge having first and second sound openings, the first and second sound inlet passages acoustically coupling sound energy to the first and second sound openings, respectively;
• and
• a printed circuit board operatively connected to the microphone cartridge and releasably mounted on the assembly housing, the releasable retaining member assisting to retain the printed circuit board in a mounted position on the assembly housing and enabling removal of the printed circuit board from the assembly housing without requiring disassembly of the assembly housing or removal of the microphone cartridge from the assembly housing.

A directional microphone assembly for an in-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

• a directional microphone cartridge having a first sound opening and a second sound opening;
• a first sound inlet passage acoustically coupling sound energy to the first sound opening, the first sound inlet passage having an input end and an output end;
• a second sound inlet passage acoustically coupling sound energy to the second sound opening, the second sound inlet passage having an input end and an output end;
• a first acoustic damper located at the output end of the first sound inlet passage;
• a second acoustic damper located at the output end of the second sound inlet passage;
• a first o-ring located adjacent the first acoustic damper;
• and
• a second o-ring located adjacent the second acoustic damper.