AUTOMATED SENSOR POSITION DETERMINATION FOR HEARING DEVICE HOUSING

Abstract

 A method for determining a sensor position for a sensor on a housing (12) of a hearing device (10) comprises: receiving an ear canal model (32) of at least a part of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device (10), wherein the ear canal model (32) models at least a shape of an inner surface of the part of the ear canal; determining a housing model (38) of the housing (12) of the hearing device (10) with the ear canal model (32), wherein the housing model (38) models at least a shape of an outer surface of the housing (12) of the hearing device (10); and determining a 3D position of a sensor (24) of the hearing device (10) on the housing model (38), which 3D position (52) is determined from the ear canal model (32) and optionally a housing template, such that the sensor (24) is positioned at a predefined place in the ear canal, when the hearing device (10) is positioned in the ear canal of the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method, a computer program and a computer-readable medium for determining a sensor position for a sensor on a housing of a hearing device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and system for manufacturing a housing of a hearing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Hearing devices are generally small and complex devices. Hearing devices can include a processor, microphone, speaker, memory, housing, and other electronical and mechanical components. Some example hearing devices are Behind-The-Ear (BTE), Receiver-In-Canal (RIC), or In-The-Ear (ITE) devices, , the latter coming in many different sizes, from the biggest full concha devices, to Canal, Completely-In-Canal (CIC), and down to the smallest Invisible-In-The-Canal (IIC) devices. A user can prefer one of these hearing devices compared to another device based on hearing loss, aesthetic preferences, lifestyle needs, and budget.

[0003] In particular In-The-Ear hearing devices may have an individualized housing for a better fitting of the housing into the ear canal of the user. For producing such a housing, an impression or scan of the ear canal is generated and therefrom the shape of the housing is determined. This may be done automatically, wherein also positions of the components of the hearing device inside the housing are adapted to the individual shape.

[0004] WO2013149645A1 describes a method for estimating a shape of an individual ear.

[0005] US2010286964A1 describes a computer based method of generating an optimized venting canal in a hearing instrument.

[0006] US2004107080A1 describes a computer based method for modelling customized earpieces, where a three-dimensional computer model, 3D-model of at least part of the auditory canal is obtained. Components of the earpiece are placed in relation to the 3D-model and collision detection is performed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] When adapting the shape of the housing, placing sensors in and/or on the housing becomes more difficult, since usually sensors have to be placed at specific positions, which are suited for acquiring accurate data. Furthermore, unfavorably placed sensors may reduce the wearing comfort of an individually customized hearing device.

[0008] It is an objective of the invention to provide and manufacture a comfortable housing for a hearing device with sensors acquiring accurate sensor data.

[0009] This objective is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further exemplary embodiments are evident from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining a sensor position for a sensor on and/or in a housing of a hearing device.

[0011] A sensor position on the housing may mean that a part of the sensor is exposed by the housing. A sensor position in the housing may mean that the sensor protrudes at least partially through a material of the housing. For example, the sensor may be on or in the housing covered by a lacquer, which may be seen as a part of the housing.

[0012] The hearing device may be worn by a user, for example completely or at least partially in the ear. The hearing device may be a hearing aid for compensating a hearing loss of a user. A hearing device may be a hearable and/or health hearable device. A hearing device also may refer to a combination of a health device and hearing aid.

[0013] The hearing device may comprise electric and electronic components, which are arranged in and/or on the housing. These components may comprise a microphone for generating audio data, a digital processor device for processing the audio data, for example such that a hearing loss of the user is compensated, and a loudspeaker for outputting the processed audio data.

[0014] The housing of the hearing device, which also may be called shell, may be a hollow plastics part and/or a metal part, in which the components are arranged and/or embedded.

[0015] The method described herein may be automatically performed as a software program executed by a computing device, such as a server computer and/or PC.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises: receiving an ear canal model of at least a part of the ear canal of a user of the hearing device, wherein the ear canal model models at least a shape of an inner surface of the part of the ear canal. The ear canal model may be made by scanning the ear canal of the user or by making an impression of the ear canal and scanning the impression. The scanning may be done at the office of a hearing care specialist and the ear canal model, which may be a wireframe model and/or CAD model, then may be sent to the computing device performing the method, which computing device may be located at the hearing device manufacturer. In general, the ear canal model may be a triangle mesh, a parametric surface (Nurbs, CAD model), a point cloud and/or any other 3D geometry representation.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises: determining a housing model of a housing of the hearing device with the ear canal model, wherein the housing model models at least a shape of an outer surface of the housing of the hearing device. For example, virtual representations of the electric and electronic components of the hearing device are virtually placed and/or moved in the ear canal model, such that they do not intersect with each other and with the ear canal model. The housing model then may be shaped, such that it surrounds the virtual components.

[0018] Also the housing model may be a wireframe model,CAD model, a triangle mesh, a parametric surface (Nurbs, CAD model), a point cloud and/or any other 3D geometry representation.. The housing model may model at least a shape of the outer surface of the housing. However, also the shape of an inner surface may be modelled with the housing model. The housing model also may adapted for manufacturing a 3D printing of the housing.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises: determining a 3D position of a sensor of the hearing device on and/or in the housing model, the 3D position of which is determined from the ear canal model, such that the sensor is positioned at a predefined place in the ear canal, when the hearing device is positioned in the ear canal of the user.

[0020] A 3D position may be a point and/or region in the housing model. Also an orientation of the sensor may be part of the 3D position. With the 3D position, a manufacturing of a hearing device with a comfortable and exactly placed sensor for acquiring good data is enabled.

[0021] The predefined place in the ear canal may be defined with respect to one or more features of the ear canal of the user, which features are determined from the ear canal model optionally together with templates for an average ear canal and/or an average housing. These features, such as dedicated points in the one or more templates, which are morphed to the one or more models, may be identified, and therefrom the 3D position of the sensor may be derived.

[0022] Examples for such features are a region in the ear canal directed towards a top direction (superior) or towards a center (medial) of the head, regions and/or points, where the housing touches the skin of the user, etc. Such features also may refer to anatomy (bony part), a skin property and/or any kind of anatomical landmark.

[0023] It has to be noted that the sensor may be composed of two parts, such as a sender and receiver, or a voltage source and a voltage sensor for conductivity measurement. In this case, a 3D position for each sensor part and optionally an interpolated distance between the two sensors, may be determined. Corresponding features for position determination then may be a relative distance and/or orientation of the sensor parts. Additionally the depth of the sensor on the shell structure may be chosen as such to have a specific contact to the skin (pressure or no contact at all) and taking into account any coating, lacquer added on the sensor and on the shell.

[0024] With the method, the comfort of wearing the hearing device may be enhanced. Furthermore, the quality of the sensor data acquired by the sensor may be improved. Furthermore, 3D printing may be facilitated, since the position of openings and/or mounting places for sensors may be included into the housing model used for manufacturing.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, for determining the predefined place of the ear canal, the ear canal model is compared with an ear canal template modelling an average of a plurality of ear canals. Also the ear canal template may be a model of an ear canal, however of an averaged ear canal. The predefined place for the sensor may be a feature of the ear canal template, such as a point and/or region in the ear canal template. The ear canal model may be compared with the ear canal template, for example by morphing, statistical methods and/or rules based methods. The feature of the ear canal template, such as point and/or region, may be mapped to the ear canal model defining there the predefined place.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, for determining the housing model, virtual components defined by a hearing device template of the hearing device are placed inside the ear canal model. The virtual components may be models of electric and or electronic components of the hearing device, for example, such as described above. The hearing device template may comprise the virtual components optionally together with their spatial relationships. The hearing device template and/or the virtual components may be virtually arranged inside the ear canal model, such that all these components fit into the interior space of the ear canal and such that they may be enclosed by the housing.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing model is determined by deforming a housing template surrounding the virtual components, the housing template modelling a housing fitting into a standard ear canal. Also the housing template may be part of the hearing device template and/or may be a model of a standard housing. The housing template may be deformed and/or morphed, such that it fits into the inner space of the ear canal model. The standard ear canal may be defined by the ear canal template mentioned above. The housing template may be transformed into the housing model, for example by morphing, statistical methods and/or rules based methods.

[0028] It has to be noted that the predefined place for the sensor may be a feature of the housing template, such as a point and/or region in the housing template. The feature of the housing template, such as point and/or region, may be mapped to the housing model defining there the predefined place. The housing template may be seen as a shape-template comprising the sensor(s) (or at least their placement), the housing template being moved and shaped into the ear canal with the help of the ear canal template (being computed from averaging a plurality of ear canal shapes), and then adapted to the ear canal model (i.e. the customer ear impression) and deforming the housing template with the sensor position(s) along. The deformed housing template then may be the housing model.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, relative 3D positions of the virtual components and of the sensor are included into the hearing device template. The spatial relationships of the virtual components may be defined via relative 3D positions. The virtual components may be moved to fit into the ear canal model without overlapping. In this way, also the 3D positions may be moved and the 3D position of the sensor may be determined in this way.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the sensor comprises two sensor parts, such as a sender and receiver. One sensor part may emit light or may generate an electric potential. The other sensor part may measure the light scattered by the tissue of the user or may measure the potential of the tissue of the user at another point. The sensor may be a light sensor or a differential potential sensor.

[0031] The 3D positions of the at least two sensor parts may be determined, such that a predefined distance between the sensor parts is reached. This distance may be a direct distance along a straight line, a distance along a surface of the housing and/or a distance along a surface of the ear canal. For example, for measuring differential potentials or a light attenuation between two sensor parts, an exact predefined distance between them may be required to produce precise measurement.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the invention, the sensor is adapted for measuring a resistance of the skin of the user via two sensor parts, for example via electric potential measurements. A distance of 3D positions of the sensor parts may be determined from the ear canal model, such that a predefined distance between the sensor on a skin of the user is reached. The shortest distance between the touching points of the sensor parts along the inner surface of the ear canal model may be determined.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, the sensor is adapted for measuring a light scattering of the tissue of the user via two sensor parts. One sensor part may emit light, the other one may measure its intensity. The 3D positions of the sensor parts may be determined, such that the housing and/or a mounting of the sensor shields a direct line of sight between the sensor parts.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, the 3D position of the sensor is determined by determining contact areas between the housing and the ear canal from the housing model and the ear canal model and the 3D position selected to be at a contact area. Some types of sensors, such as sensors measuring electrical potentials, may need a direct contact to the skin of the user. By intersecting the ear canal model and the housing model, such contact points and/or contact areas may be determined.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one vent canal outlet is modelled into the housing model. This may be done with a vent canal model included into the hearing device template. A vent canal may penetrate the hearing device along the ear canal. The 3D position of the sensor may be selected to be distant from the at least one vent canal outlet. This may be achieved by predefining regions into the housing templates, where sensors are not allowed to be placed.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, a top region of the ear canal is determined from the ear canal model. It may be beneficial to place a sensor into the top region, since this may prevent disturbances due to jaw movements of the user. The 3D position of the sensor may be determined to be in the top region. The top region may be indicated in the ear canal template.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing model models additionally a sensor mounting for the sensor. A sensor mounting may be an opening and/or cavity in the housing, where the sensor is placed and/or mounted to the housing.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, the sensor mounting is included into the housing model based on a predefined sensor mounting shape. Sensor mounting shapes, which also may be based on wireframes and/or CAD models, may be stored in the hearing device template or be added to the housing model. Based on the 3D position of the sensor, the housing model may be provided with a sensor mounting at the 3D position.

[0039] A sensor mounting may be designed to also block the line of sight between two sensor parts.

[0040] The housing model also may comprise information about a lacquer and/or a coating that may change the distance from the sensor to the skin,

[0041] According to an embodiment of the invention, 3D positions on and/or in the housing model are determined for two or more sensors. Each of these sensors may comprise at least two sensor parts, such as described above.

[0042] Further aspects of the invention relate to a computer program for determining a sensor position for a sensor on a housing of a hearing device, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method as described in the above and in the following as well as to a computer-readable medium, in which such a computer program is stored. For example, the computer program may be executed in a processor of a computing device of a hearing device manufacturer. The computer-readable medium may be a memory of this computing device.

[0043] In general, a computer-readable medium may be a hard disk, an USB (Universal Serial Bus) storage device, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or a FLASH memory. A computer-readable medium may also be a data communication network, e.g. the Internet, which allows downloading a program code. The computer-readable medium may be a non-transitory or transitory medium.

[0044] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a housing of a hearing device, which comprises: determining a housing model of the housing as described above and below and 3D printing of the housing with the housing model. With 3D printing, which also may be called additive manufacturing, the housing may be manufactured as a plastics part and/or a metal part, for example by sintering. 3D printing of housings with integrated sensors in the mold may deliver best comfort for the user and best data quality from the sensors due to optimal placement.

[0045] A further aspect of the invention relates to a manufacturing system for a housing of a hearing device. The manufacturing system is adapted for performing the method as described above and below and comprises a housing modelling unit for receiving the ear canal model and for determining the housing model, a sensor positioning unit for determining the 3D position of the sensor and a printing unit for 3D printing the housing with the housing model. The housing modelling unit and the sensor positioning unit may be software units performed in the computing device as mentioned above and below.

[0046] In summary, a method and system is provided adapted for placing one or more sensors in the housing of a hearing device. The modelling of the shell may be based on an ear canal model, such as an electronic ear impression format. 3D modelling software may be used to determine a good and/or best sensor position, in particular regarding location of contact points, collisions between the housing and the ear canal walls and/or geometrical deformation points. A precise distance between two or more sensors with 3D modelling software may be calculated. A defined 3D position for a sensor to be integrated into a surface of the housing may be determined. The determined 3D position of the sensor may be used for 3D printing of the housing with an allocated sensor mounting and/or cavity and/or hole for the sensor.

[0047] It has to be understood that features of the methods as described in the above and in the following may be features of the computer program, the computer-readable medium and the manufacturing system as described in the above and in the following, and vice versa.

[0048] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Below, embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 and 2 schematically show perspective views of hearing devices.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram manufacturing system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram for a method for determining a sensor position for a sensor on a housing of a hearing device and for manufacturing the housing according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 and 6 show a part of a hearing device housing with a sensor mounting.

[0050] The reference symbols used in the drawings, and their meanings, are listed in summary form in the list of reference symbols. In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Fig. 1 and 2 show a hearing device 10 in the form of an In-The-Ear hearing aid. The hearing device 10 has a housing 12, which is individually adapted to an ear canal of a user. At one end of the housing 12, user controls 14 are protruding from the housing. At the other end, the housing 12 has an opening 16 for a loudspeaker, usually called a receiver in the context of hearing aids. The housing 12 also has further openings 18 for a vent canal 20. In Fig. 1, the vent canal 20 is arranged inside the housing. In Fig. 2, substantially the complete vent canal 20 is arranged between the housing and an inside of the ear canal.

[0052] As schematically shown, electric and electronic components 22 of the hearing device 10 are arranged inside the housing 12. Furthermore, one or more sensors 24, 24a, 24b may be positioned on an outside of the housing 12.

[0053] The sensor 24 of Fig. 1, which may be a temperature sensor, is positioned at a top side of the hearing device 10. The sensor 24 of Fig. 2 comprises two parts 24a, 24b, which may form a sensor for sensing a resistance of the tissue of the user between the sensor part 24. The sensor 24 of Fig. 2 also may be a sensor for sensing the scattering of light between the two sensor parts 24a, 24b.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a manufacturing system 26 for a housing 12 of a hearing device 10, such as the ones shown in Fig. 1 and 2.

[0055] The system 26 may comprise a scanner device 28, which is adapted for scanning an impression 30 of the ear canal of a user of the hearing device 10. The scanner device 28 may be situated at the office of a hearing care specialist, who also takes the impression 30. The scanner device 28 generates an ear canal model 32, which is sent to a computing device 34, which may be situated at the site of a manufacturer of the hearing device 10 or on-site. Alternatively, the ear canal model 32 may be generated by directly scanning the ear canal of the user. The tasks of the device 10 also may be performed of a cloud based program.

[0056] The computing device 34, which may be a PC or server computer, comprises a housing modelling unit 36, which form the ear canal model 32 and further data saved in the computing device 34 determines a housing model 38 for the housing 12 of the hearing device, which is individually customized to the ear canal of the user.

[0057] The housing model 38 is sent to a printing unit 40 for 3D printing of the housing 12, for example with plastics material and/or a metal material.

[0058] In the computing device 34, a hearing device template 42 with a housing template 44 is stored, which are used by the housing modelling unit 36 to generate the housing model 38. For example, the housing template 44 may be adapted to the ear canal 32, for example by morphing, and the housing model 38 may be created. The hearing device template may comprise virtual components 48 of the hearing device 10, which correspond to the components 22, and which are moved virtually inside the housing model 38. The virtual components 48 may have relative 3D positions, which are changed or forced constant during the virtual movement inside the housing model 38. The virtual components 48 also may have models, which define their spatial extension. Collision detection between the virtual components 48 themselves and between the virtual components 48 and the housing model 38 may be performed during movement of the virtual components 48.

[0059] The computing device 34 further comprises a sensor positioning unit 50 for determining one or more 3D positions 52 of the sensor 24. The sensor positioning unit 50 may compare the ear canal model 32 with an ear canal template 54 for determining specific features of the ear canal model 32. These features, such as a top region of each canal, may be used during sensor positioning. Furthermore, the hearing device template 42 may comprise one or more generic 3D positions for the sensor 24. These generic 3D positions may be adapted during the adaption of the hearing device template 42 for sensor positioning. It also may be that statistical methods and/or rules based methods are applied by the sensor positioning unit 50 for sensor positioning.

[0060] The sensor positioning unit 50 furthermore may provide the housing model 38 with one or more sensor mountings 56 for the sensor 24. This may be done with a predefined sensor mounting shape 58, which is moved to the 3D position 52 of the sensor 24. The housing model 38 may be modified, such that at the 3D position 52 of the sensor 24, the housing model 38 has the shape defined by the sensor mounting shape 58.

[0061] Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram for a method for determining a sensor position 52 for a sensor on a housing 12 of a hearing device 10. The method may be performed by the manufacturing system 26 shown in Fig. 3.

[0062] In step S10, the ear canal model 32 is generated. The ear canal model 32 may model at least a part of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device 10 and/or may model at least a shape of an inner surface of the part of the ear canal. The ear canal model 32 may be generated by scanning of an impression 30 and/or by scanning the ear canal directly.

[0063] In step S12, the ear canal model 32 is received in the computing device 34. For example, the ear canal model 32 may have been sent via Internet to the computing device 34, which may be situated at the site of a hearing device manufacturer. The units 36 and 50 determine a housing model 38 of the housing 12 of the hearing device 10. For this, the ear canal model 32 and further data, which may be stored in the computing device 34, may be used. This further data may include the ear canal template 54, the hearing device template 42, the housing template and/or the sensor mounting shape 58.

[0064] The housing model 38 models at least a shape of an outer surface of the housing 12 of the hearing device 10. It may be that also an inner surface of the housing 12 and/or a 3D structure of the housing 12 is modeled with the housing model 38.

[0065] As already mentioned, virtual components 48 defined by the hearing device template 42 of the hearing device 10 may be placed inside the ear canal model 32 and/or may be moved and/or rotated there, such that they fit into the ear canal model 32. The housing model 38 may be determined by deforming the housing template 44 surrounding the virtual components 48. It has to be noted that also the sensor 24 and/or the sensor parts 24a, 24b may be encoded in the hearing device template 42 as virtual components 48 and/or also may be moved and/or rotated to fit into the ear canal model 32.

[0066] Relative 3D positions of the virtual components 48 and of the sensor 24 may be included into the hearing device template 42. The virtual components 48 optionally including the virtual component 48 of a sensor 24 may be moved to fit into the ear canal model 32 without overlapping.

[0067] In step S14, one or more 3D positions 52 of the one or more sensors 24 of the hearing device 10 are determined. It has to be noted that steps S12 and S14 may be performed simultaneously. Steps S12 and S14 may be performed by the computing device 34 and/or the units 36, 50, which may be provided by one or more computer programs running in the computing device 34.

[0068] In step S14, the one or more 3D positions 52 may be determined based on the ear canal model 32, such that the sensor 24 is positioned at a predefined place in the ear canal, when the hearing device 10 is positioned in the ear canal of the user. In such a way, precise 3D coordinates and/or 3D orientations may be defined, which both may be encoded into a 3D position, to place one or more sensors 24, 24a, 24b on the housing, for example to achieve the best data quality acquisition potential for the sensors 24, 24a, 24b.

[0069] For example, for determining the predefined place of the ear canal, the ear canal model 32 may be compared with an ear canal template 54 modelling an average of a plurality of ear canals. The predefined place for the sensor 24 may be a feature of the ear canal template 54, such as a top region of the ear canal.

[0070] For example, a sensor 24 may be placed on the top of the ear canal section to avoid vibration of the jaw during talking. Furthermore, a sensor 24 may be placed on the ear canal wall siding the back of the head (i.e. posterior) of the user to avoid jaw movement pressure on the housing 12, to keep the pressure rather constant on the sensor 24. A top region and/or a back region may be encoded as features into the ear canal template 54, which features may be mapped to the ear canal model 32.

[0071] A top region and/or a back region of the ear canal may be determined from the ear canal model 32 and the 3D position 52 of a sensor 24 may be determined to be in the top region and/or the back region.

[0072] A further possibility is that the 3D position 52 of the sensor 24 is determined by determining a contact area between the housing 12 and the ear canal from the housing model 38 and the ear canal model 32. The 3D position 52 then may be selected to be in a contact area. For example, in Fig. 2, the area of the vent canal 22 does not contact the ear canal. Such a region may be excluded from possible contact areas.

[0073] It also may be that such regions are determined directly from the housing model 44. For example, at least one vent canal outlet 18 may be modelled into the housing model 38. The 3D position 52 of the sensor may be selected to be distant from the at least one vent canal outlet 18.

[0074] As already mentioned, specific types of sensors 24 comprise two sensor parts 24a, 24b, such as a voltage electrode and an electric potential sensor or a light emitting diode and a photo diode.

[0075] For example, the sensor 24 may be adapted for measuring a resistance of the skin of the user via two sensor parts 24a, 24b, for example for measuring a skin impedance.

[0076] As a further example, the sensor 24 is adapted for measuring a light scattering of the tissue of the user via two sensor parts 24a, 24b, for example for EEG monitoring for epilepsy and/or stroke detection.

[0077] The 3D positions 52 of the two sensor parts 24a, 24b may be determined, such that a predefined distance between the sensor parts 24a, 24b is reached. The distance between two or more sensor parts 24a, 24b may be calculated precisely optionally together with the pressure they have on the ear canal walls. In the distance determination it may be included that the housing and/or the ear canal wall is not composed of flat areas.

[0078] A distance of 3D positions 52 of the sensor parts 24a, 24b may be determined from the ear canal model 32, such that a predefined distance between the sensor parts 24a, 24b on a skin of the user is reached.

[0079] It also may be that the 3D positions 52 of the sensor parts 24a, 24b are determined, such that the housing or sensor mounting means 12 shields a direct line of sight between the sensor parts 24a, 24b.

[0080] As already mentioned, the housing model 38 models additionally a sensor mounting 56 for the sensor 24. Additionally, in step S14, the sensor mounting 56 is included into the housing model 38 based on a predefined sensor mounting shape 58.

[0081] Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show examples of a cross-sectional view through a part of a housing 12 with a sensor mounting 56, in which a sensor 24 or a sensor part 24a, 24b may be placed. As shown in Fig. 5 and 6, a sensor mounting 56 may be a cavity in the wall of the housing 12. This cavity may protrude through the wall or may be bottomed by the wall.

[0082] With the method, also a place for the one or more sensors 24 may be allocated in the housing 12. The shape of the sensor mounting 56 may be stored in the computing device 24 and may be included into the housing model 38, for example by correspondingly adapting the housing model 38 at the 3D position 52 of the sensor 24.

[0083] Returning to Fig. 4, in step S16, the housing model 38 is sent to the printing unit 40, which prints the housing 12 of the hearing device 10 based on the data stored in the housing model 38. The housing 12 with the one or more dedicated 3D positions may be printed and after that, the remaining components 22 of the hearing device 10 together with the sensor 24 may be assembled.

[0084] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or controller or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0085] 

10

hearing device

12

housing

14

user controls

16

loudspeaker opening

18

vent canal opening

20

vent canal

22

electric and electronic components

24

sensor

24

sensor part

26

manufacturing system

28

scanner device

30

ear canal impression

32

ear canal model

34

computing device

36

housing modelling unit

38

housing model

40

printing unit

42

hearing device template

44

housing template

48

virtual component

50

sensor positioning unit

52

3D position

54

ear canal template

56

sensor mounting

58

sensor mounting shape

Claims

1. A method for determining a sensor position for a sensor on and/or in a housing (12) of a hearing device (10), the method comprising:

receiving an ear canal model (32) of at least a part of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device (10), wherein the ear canal model (32) models at least a shape of an inner surface of the part of the ear canal;

determining a housing model (38) of the housing (12) of the hearing device (10) with the ear canal model (32), wherein the housing model (38) models at least a shape of an outer surface of the housing (12) of the hearing device (10);

determining a 3D position of a sensor (24) of the hearing device (10) on and/or in the housing model (38), which 3D position (52) is determined from the ear canal model (32), such that the sensor (24) is positioned at a predefined place in the ear canal, when the hearing device (10) is positioned in the ear canal of the user.

2. The method of claim 1,
wherein, for determining the predefined place of the ear canal, the ear canal model (32) is compared with an ear canal template (54) modelling an average of a plurality of ear canals;
wherein the predefined place for the sensor (24) is a feature of the ear canal template (54).

3. The method of claim 1 or 2,
wherein for determining the housing model (38), virtual components (48) defined by a hearing device template (42) of the hearing device (10) are placed inside the ear canal model (32);
wherein the housing model (38) is determined by deforming a housing template (44) surrounding the virtual components (48), the housing template (44) modelling a housing, which fits into a standard ear canal.

4. The method of claim 3,
wherein relative 3D positions of the virtual components (48) and of the sensor (24) are included into the hearing device template (42);
wherein the virtual components (48) are moved to fit into the ear canal model without overlapping.

5. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein the sensor (24) comprises at least two sensor parts (24a, 24b);
wherein 3D positions (52) of the at least two sensor parts (24a, 24b) are determined, such that a predefined distance between the sensor parts (24a, 24b) is reached.

6. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein the sensor (24) is adapted for measuring a resistance of the skin of the user via two sensor parts (24a, 24b);
wherein a distance of 3D positions (52) of the sensor parts (24a, 24b) is determined from the ear canal model (32), such that a predefined distance between the sensor parts (24a, 24b) on a skin of the user is reached.

7. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein the sensor (24) is adapted for measuring a light scattering of the tissue of the user via two sensor parts (24a, 24b);
wherein the 3D positions (52) of the sensor parts (24a, 24b) are determined, such that the housing (12) shields a direct line of sight between the sensor parts (24a, 24b).

8. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein the 3D position (52) of the sensor (24) is determined by determining contact areas between the housing (12) and the ear canal from the housing model (38) and the ear canal model (32) and the 3D position (52) is selected at a contact area.

9. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein at least one vent canal outlet (18) is modelled into the housing model (38);
wherein the 3D position (52) of the sensor is selected to be distant from the at least one vent canal outlet (18).

10. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein a top region of the ear canal is determined from the ear canal model (32);
wherein the 3D position (52) of the sensor (24) is determined to be in the top region.

11. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein the housing model (38) models additionally a sensor mounting (56) for the sensor (24);
wherein the sensor mounting (56) is included into the housing model (38) based on a predefined sensor mounting shape (58).

12. The method of one of the previous claims,
wherein 3D positions on and/or in the housing model (38) are determined for two or more sensors (24); and/or
wherein each sensor (24) comprises at least two sensor parts (24a, 24b).

13. A computer program for determining a sensor position (52) for a sensor (24) on a housing (12) of a hearing device (10), which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to carry out the steps of the method of one of the previous claims.

14. A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program according to claim 13 is stored.

15. A method for manufacturing a housing (12) of a hearing device (10), the method comprising:

determining a housing model (38) of the housing (12) according to one of claims 1 to 12;

3D printing of the housing (12) with the housing model (38).

16. A manufacturing system (26) for a housing (12) of a hearing device (10), the manufacturing system (26) being adapted for performing the method of claim 15 and the manufacturing system (26) comprising:

a housing modelling unit (36) for receiving the ear canal model (32) and for determining the housing model (38);

a sensor positioning unit (50) for determining the 3D position (52) of the sensor (24);

a printing unit (40) for 3D printing of the housing (12) with the housing model (38).

Drawing