# US 8,542,858 B2 · Hearing device with a space-saving arrangement of microphones and sound openings

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- Number: US 8,542,858 B2
- Document ID: US8542858B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/959,787
- Filed: 2010-12-03
- Published: 2011-06-09
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-03
- Assignees: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
- Applicants: Uwe Flaig; Volker Gebhardt; Holger Kral; Dietmar Lommel; Herve Schulz
- Inventors: Uwe Flaig; Volker Gebhardt; Holger Kral; Dietmar Lommel; Herve Schulz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542858B2

## CPC

- H04R 25/65: {Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture}
- H04R 25/405: {by combining a plurality of transducers}
- 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 behind-the-ear hearing device has a hearing device housing and a user-operable switch. At least two microphones are disposed below the switch in the hearing device housing, and the housing is formed with first sound openings that are arranged directly below the switch. The switch is preferably a rocker switch. The microphones can be positioned below a switch in a space-saving fashion and the installation space of the hearing device housing can thus be used optimally.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A behind-the-ear hearing device, comprising:
a hearing device housing;
a switch partially disposed within said hearing device housing;
at least two microphones disposed in said hearing device housing underneath said switch; and
said hearing device housing having sound openings formed therein underneath said switch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said sound openings formed in said hearing device housing are first sound openings, and said switch is formed with second sound openings, and wherein said second sound openings are arranged such that ambient sound is able to reach said first sound openings through said second sound openings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hearing device according to claim 2, wherein said hearing device housing is formed with third sound openings arranged adjacent said switch, enabling ambient sound to reach said first sound openings through said third sound openings.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The hearing device according to claim 3, wherein said first sound openings are disposed to enable ambient sound to reach said microphones through said first sound openings.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said hearing device housing is formed with further sound openings adjacent said switch, enabling ambient sound to reach said sound openings formed underneath said switch through said further sound openings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein said switch is a rocker switch aligned along a longitudinal direction of said hearing device housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The hearing device according to claim 6, wherein said rocker switch is formed with four second sound openings, disposed in pairs to a left side and a right side of said rocker switch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, which further comprises a microphone protection system for protecting said microphones that are arranged directly below said first sound openings.

### Claim 9

A behind-the-ear hearing device, comprising:
a hearing device housing formed as a behind-the-ear hearing device housing to be worn behind the ear;
a switch partially disposed within said hearing device housing;
at least two microphones in said hearing device housing and disposed underneath said switch; and
said hearing device housing having sound openings formed therein adjacent said switch to enable ambient sound to reach said microphones through said sound openings.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The hearing device according to claim 9, wherein said switch is a rocker switch disposed in alignment along a longitudinal direction of said hearing device housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The hearing device according to claim 10, wherein said rocker switch is formed with four sound openings, disposed in pairs to a left side and a right side of said rocker switch.