US4539441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hearing-aid with integrated circuit electronics
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1982-08-19
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Granted: 1985-09-03
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Expires: 2002-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A hearing-aid has an electronic voltage stabilizing circuit (16) to compensate for change in supply voltage due to battery (18) aging and use. The electret microphone (11) is located within a housing, the voltage stabilizing circuit (16) being located within the same microphone housing, thus requiring no additional space or terminal connections. Preferably, an impedance transformer is provided; the electronic components (31-34) are placed on the same semi-conductor chip as the components (35, 36) of the voltage stabilizing circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert Eggert
- 👤 Rainer Goldschmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/50; H04R25/502; H04R1/00; H04R1/02; H04R1/04; H04R19/00; H04R19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A miniaturized, battery-weakening-compensated hearing-aid device (10) including a microphone (11); a microphone housing structure (12) within the hearing-aid device (10); a sound amplifier (20,23) to amplify the electric signal from the microphone; an earphone (22) receiving the amplified signals from the sound amplifier; a current supply battery (18) powering the hearing-aid device; and means for compensating for decreases in the output voltage of said battery as it ages and weakens; wherein, in accordance with the invention, said compensating means comprises an integrated voltage stabilizer circuit (16) located, for miniaturization purposes, within the microphone housing (12) of the microphone and connected in parallel to the microphone (11).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A miniaturized, battery-weakening-compensated hearing-aid device (10) including a microphone (11); a microphone housing structure (12) within the hearing-aid device (10); a sound amplifier (20,23) to amplify the electric signal from the microphone; an earphone (22) receiving the amplified signals from the sound amplifier; a current supply battery (18) powering the hearing-aid device; and means for compensating for decreases in the output voltage of said battery as it ages and weakens; wherein, in accordance with the invention, said compensating means comprises an integrated voltage stabilizer circuit (16) located, for miniaturization purposes, within the microphone housing (12) of the microphone and connected in parallel to the microphone (11).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage stabilizing circuit comprises two transistors (35,36); the collector of one transistor (35) being connected in parallel to the current supply terminals (13, 15) of the microphone, the collector and the emitter of said one transistor being connected to the base, and the emitter, respectively of the other transistor (36); and wherein said other transistor is connected as a diode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 2, wherein said other transistor has the base terminal and one other terminal connected in circuit, the third terminal of the transistor being left free and unconnected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 3, wherein the other transistor has its base and emitter, respectively, connected to said first transistor, the collector being left free.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) of the microphone has three terminals comprising two current supply terminals (13, 15) connected to the current supply battery (18) and a signal terminal (14) connected to the sound amplifier (20, 23), the voltage stabilizer circuit being connected across the current supply terminals whereby the voltage stabilizer circuit and the microphone form one integral replaceable, and separately connectable unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 5, wherein an impedance transformer (32) is provided, and the microphone (11) is of the electret microphone type, the impedance transformer being located within the microphone housing structure (12).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A miniaturized, battery-weakening-compensated hearing-aid device including the microphone (11); a microphone housing structure (12) within the hearing-aid device; a sound amplifier (20,23) to amplify the electric signal from the microphone; an earphone (22) receiving the amplified signals from the sound amplifier; a current supply battery (18) powering the hearing-aid device; and a voltage stabilizer circuit (16), connected to the battery, the microphone, and the sound amplifier, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the voltage stabilizer circuit is located within the microphone housing (12) of the microphone and is connected in parallel to the microphone; and wherein an impedance transformer (32) is provided, and the microphone (11) is of the electret microphone type, the impedance transformer being located within the microphone housing structure (12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A miniaturized, battery-weakening-compensated hearing-aid device including the microphone (11); a microphone housing structure (12) within the hearing-aid device; a sound amplifier (20,23) to amplify the electric signal from the microphone; an earphone (22) receiving the amplified signals from the sound amplifier; a current supply battery (18) powering the hearing-aid device; and a voltage stabilizer circuit (16), connected to the battery, the microphone, and the sound amplifier, wherein, in accordance with the invention, the voltage stabilizer circuit is located within the microphone housing (12) of the microphone and is connected in parallel to the microphone; and wherein an impedance transformer (32) is provided, and the microphone (11) is of the electret microphone type, the impedance transformer being located within the microphone housing structure (12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 7, wherein the voltage stabilizing circuit (16) comprises electronic components or circuit elements (35, 36); the impedance transformer comprises electronic components or circuit elements (31-34); and wherein the electronic components of the voltage stabilizing circuit and of the impedance transformer are integrated onto a single semi-conductor chip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 7, wherein the voltage stabilizing circuit (16) comprises electronic components or circuit elements (35, 36); the impedance transformer comprises electronic components or circuit elements (31-34); wherein the electronic components of the voltage stabilizing circuit and of the impedance transformer are integrated onto a single semi-conductor chip, all located within said microphone housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 2, wherein the voltage stabilizing circuit comprises two transistors (35, 36); the collector of one transistor (35) being connected in parallel to the current supply terminals (13, 15) of the electret microphone (11), the collector and the emitter of said one transistor (35) being connected respectively to the base and the emitter of the other transistor (36); and wherein the other transistor (36) is connected as a diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 10, wherein said other transistor (36) has the base terminal and one other terminal connected in circuit, the third terminal of the transistor (36) being left free and unconnected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 11, wherein the other transistor (36) has its base and emitter, respectively, connected to said first transistor (35), the collector being left free.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A hearing-aid device according to claim 2, wherein the housing (12) of the microphone has three terminals, comprising two current supply terminals (13, 15) connected to the current supply battery (18) and a signal terminal (14) connected to the sound amplifier (20, 23), the voltage stabilizer circuit being connected across the current supply terminals (13, 15), whereby the voltage stabilizer circuit (16) and the microphone (11) form one integral, replaceable, and separately connectable unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-02 | 1989-03-04 | 1989-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-02 | 1993-03-04 | 1993-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-02 | 1997-03-04 | 1997-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |