FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a hearing aid, and more particularly to a hearing
aid adapted to be used by a person suffering from some impairment in his or her hearing
ability in making conversation to others or in watching television, or by a person
who is normal in hearing ability in making conversation to others in a noisy environment,
wherein the hearing aid is compact in size and employs a high-performance bone conduction
speaker.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Heretofore, a person suffering from some impairment in his or her hearing ability
must rely on a conventional hearing aid when he or she makes conversation to others
or watches television. In general, the conventional hearing aid is of an air conduction
type, and therefore mounted on a user's ear in use. Consequently, the conventional
hearing aid is not adequate for the purpose of hearing only a desired one of voice
sounds when a user makes conversation to a desired person or watches television to
hear a desired one of sounds issued from a television set.
[0003] As described above, heretofore, there is not known any hearing aid adapted to be
used by a person suffering from some impairment in his or her hearing ability for
receiving primarily a desired one of sounds in conversation or in watching television.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid adapted
to be used under such circumstances. More specifically, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a hearing aid, which is compact in size, excellent in both performance
and strength and employs a bone conduction speaker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing a hearing
aid comprising: a main body portion provided with a microphone, an amplifier and a
driving battery; and, a speaker portion constructed of a bone conduction speaker electrically
connected with said main body portion. As such a bone conduction speaker used here,
it is preferable to use a bone conduction speaker comprising: a yoke provided with
a central magnetic pole on which a voice coil is coaxially mounted, wherein the yoke
extends in four directions to have their extensions classified into two pairs of diametrically
opposing extensions, one pair of which pairs is constructed of the extensions each
provided with a magnet, the other pair being constructed of the extensions each provided
with an upright support portion for supporting a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm
is fixedly mounted on the diametrically opposing pair of the upright support portions
of the yoke.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the hearing aid of the present invention as a whole.
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the speaker portion according
to the present invention in construction. Fig. 3 is further another embodiment of
the speaker portion according to the present invention in construction. Fig. 4 is
a longitudinal sectional view of a housing in which the bone conduction speaker adapted
to be employed in the present invention is incorporated. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal
sectional view of the bone conduction speaker adapted to be used in the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a line perpendicular to the line
along which the longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 5 is taken, illustrating the bone
conduction speaker adapted to be used in the present invention. Fig. 7 is a plan view
of the bone conduction speaker adapted to be used in the present invention, provided
that the diaphragm is removed. And, Fig. 8 is a plan view of the diaphragm of the
bone conduction speaker adapted to be used in the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0006] With reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention
will be described. A hearing aid of the present invention is constructed of a main
body portion 1 and a speaker portion 2, which is electrically connected with the main
body portion 1.
[0007] The main body portion 1 is provided with a microphone 3, a power switch 4, a volume
knob 5 and like components. Further, incorporated in the main body portion 1 are an
amplifier and a driving battery for driving these components. A speaker cable connecting
terminal 6 is mounted on a side surface of the main body portion 1. Preferably, an
audio cable connecting terminal 7 is further provided in the hearing aid (see Fig.
3).
[0008] The speaker portion 2 is constructed of: a bone conduction speaker 8; a grip portion
9 projecting outward from a side surface of the bone conduction speaker 8; and, a
cable 10 for electrically connecting the speaker portion 2 with the main body portion
1 through a connector 11 which is inserted into the speaker cable connecting terminal
6.
[0009] The other end of the audio cable connected with the audio cable connecting terminal
7 is connected with an audio output terminal of an audio output unit. It is needless
to say that the audio cable is inputting means for inputting an audio signal, which
is issued from an audio output unit, to the main body portion 1. Such an audio output
unit comprises any output unit issuing a sound signal such as a voice sound signal,
an audio signal and like signals from its audio output terminal, wherein the output
unit may be any one of a television set, a CD player, a broadcasting radio receiver
and like output units.
[0010] In use, the user may hold the speaker portion 2 through its grip portion 9. It is
also possible for the user to wear the speaker portion 2 through a headband, which
enables the user to use both hands in a free manner. In other words, such a headband
13 is provided with an insertion opening 14 in which a shaft portion 9a of the grip
portion 9 is mounted in an insertion manner (see Fig. 2).
[0011] Further, it is also possible to provide a head set 17 in place of the speaker portion
2. In this case, the head set 17 is provided with a bone conduction speaker 8 in at
least one of its ear engaging portions 16. The ear engaging portions 16 are provided
in opposite ends of a curved member 15 fitted to the back of the user's head (see
Fig. 3). Further, it is also possible to mount the speaker portion 2 on a temple member
of eyeglasses (although the speaker portion 2 is mounted on an end portion of the
temple member, it is also possible to mount the speaker portion 2 on an intermediate
portion of the temple member). In this case, it is preferable to detachably mount
the speaker portion 2 on the temple member.
[0012] Next, the bone conduction speaker 8 adapted to be used in the present invention and
shown in Figs. 4 to 8 will be described. The bone conduction speaker 8 is constructed
of: a yoke 21 provided with a central magnetic pole 22; a pair of diametrically-opposing
divided magnets 24 disposed outside a doughnut-type voice coil 23 which surround the
central magnetic pole 22; and, a vibrating board or diaphragm 25 mounted on a pair
of diametrically opposing upright support portions 26 of the yoke 21.
[0013] The yoke 21 is slightly larger than the voice coil 23, and provided with four extensions
each radially outwardly extending in each of four directions. One pair of the four
extensions form a pair of diametrically opposing magnet support portions 27, 27. The
remains of the extensions form a pair of diametrically opposing upright support portions
28, 28 for supporting the diaphragm 25. Fixedly mounted on each of the magnet support
portions 27, 27 is the magnet 24, which assumes a rectangular parallelepiped shape
disposed adjacent to the voice coil 23. Each of the magnet support portions 27 may
assume a curved shape extending along the voice coil 23.
[0014] Each of the diaphragm support portions 26, 26 assumes an upright shape, and is integrally
formed with each of the upright support portions 28, 28 and provided with a blind
hole 29 in its center. The blind hole 29 is used to fixedly mount the diaphragm 25
on the yoke 21. As shown in Fig. 8, the diaphragm 25 has four extensions each radially
outwardly extending in each of four directions. As viewed in Fig. 8, an upper and
a lower one of the extensions of the diaphragm 25 are provided with an upper and a
lower through-hole 30, respectively. Each of these through-holes 30, 30 corresponds
in position to each of the blind holes 29. Also as viewed in Fig. 8, the diaphragm
25 is provided with a central elongated opening 31 laterally extending in its central
area. The diaphragm 25 is fixedly mounted on the diaphragm support portions 26, 26
through screws.
[0015] Mounted on the diaphragm 25 is a plate yoke 33. This plate yoke 33 extends along
the central opening 31, has its thick wall portion positioned within the central opening
31 and has an upper surface of this thick wall portion be flash with an upper surface
of the diaphragm 25. For example, the plate yoke 33 has its opposite thin wall portions
fixedly mounted on a rear surface of the diaphragm 25 by suitable fastening means
such as soldering and the like. In other words, the plate yoke 33 has only its opposite
thin wall portions fixedly mounted on the diaphragm 25 to permit its central thick
wall portion to freely vibrate in a position corresponding to the central opening
31 of the diaphragm 25.
[0016] In general, the central thick wall portion of the plate yoke 33 is provided with
a pair of tapped holes 34 which is threadably engaged with a pair of screws 36 when
the plate yoke 33 is incorporated in a housing 35. After completion of such threadable
engagement of the screws 36 with the tapped holes 34, the speaker 37 is entirely mounted
in the housing 35. The housing 35 may be divided into an upper and a lower half.
[0017] In an assembling operation, the bone conduction speaker 37 is mounted in the housing
35 through the plate yoke 33 in a floating manner. Consequently, vibration caused
by a voice sound or by application of an audio input signal may be effectively transmitted
to the housing 35, which may realize the bone conduction speaker 37 excellent in efficiency.
Furthermore, in construction of this embodiment, the magnets 24 are divided ones (in
contrast with the conventional magnet assuming a circular shape an outer surface of
which is surrounded by a casing), and coaxially disposed so as not to extend radially
outwardly. This enables the bone conduction speaker 37 of this embodiment to be compact
in size.
[0018] In use of the hearing aid of the present invention in making conversation to a conversation
partner, it is necessary for the user to hand the partner the main body portion 1
and have the partner talk to the microphone 3 of the main body portion 1. At the same
time, it is necessary for the user to have the bone conduction speaker 8 brought into
slight contact with the user's temple or its vicinities by using the grip portion
9 and select a favorable contact area in which the user may most effectively pick
up the transmitted voice sound through the bone conduction speaker 8. At this time,
the user may control the transmitted voice sound in volume by turning the volume control
knob 5 of the main body portion 1.
[0019] In watching television, one of opposite end portions of the audio cable is electrically
connected with the audio cable connecting terminal 7 in a condition in which the other
of the opposite end portions is electrically connected with an audio output terminal
which is generally provided in a rear side of a television set. After that, as is
in the case described above, the user wears the bone conduction speaker 8 on his head.
More specifically, through the headband 13, the head set, or the temple member of
the eyeglasses, the bone conduction speaker 8 is brought into slight contact with
the user's head.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0020] The present invention has the construction described above. Consequently, the present
invention is adapted to be used by a person suffering from some impairment in hearing
ability when he or she makes conversation to others or watches television. The present.
invention is also adapted to be used by persons each normal in hearing ability when
they make conversation to each other in a noisy environment.
1. A hearing aid comprising: a main body portion provided with a microphone, an amplifier
and a driving battery; and, a speaker portion constructed with a bone conduction speaker
connected with said main body portion.
2. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main body portion is provided
with an audio cable connecting terminal.
3. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said speaker portion is constructed
of a bone conduction speaker provided with a grip portion extending outward.
4. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 3, wherein said speaker portion is constructed
of a bone conduction speaker mounted on an end portion of a headband.
5. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a curved member is provided with
a pair of temple members each provided in each of opposite end portions of said curved
member; and, said speaker portion is constructed of a bone conduction speaker mounted
on one or each of said temple members of said curved member.
6. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1, wherein said speaker portion is detachably
mounted on a temple member of eyeglasses.
7. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said bone conduction speaker is
provided with a yoke which has its central magnetic pole surrounded by a voice coil;
said yoke extends in four directions to form four extensions; each of a pair of diametrically-opposing
ones of said extensions carries a magnet; and, each of the remaining pair of diametrically-opposing
ones of said extensions is provided with an upright support portion for supporting
a diaphragm; and, said diaphragm is fixedly mounted on said upright support portion
for supporting said diaphragm.
8. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7, wherein said magnets and said upright support
portions for supporting said diaphragm are disposed in the same circumference of a
circle.
9. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said bone conduction speaker has
said diaphragm; said diaphragm is provided with a central opening in its central portion,
said central opening being elongated in its lateral direction; and, a plate yoke is
fixedly mounted on said diaphragm and capable of vibrating within said central opening.
10. The hearing aid as set forth in claim 9, wherein: in said bone conduction speaker,
said plate yoke is fixedly mounted on an upper surface of a housing when said plate
yoke is incorporated in said housing.