Hearing Device with Uaer Control
Technical Field
The invention relates to the field of hearing devices. It
relates to methods and apparatuses according to the opening
clause of the claims.
Under a hearing device, a device is understood, which is
worn in or adjacent to an individual's ear with the object
to improve the individual's acoustical perception. Such
improvement may also be barring acoustic signals from being
perceived in the sense of hearing protection for the
individual. If the hearing device is tailored so as to
improve the perception of a hearing impaired individual
towards hearing perception of a "standard" individual, then
we speak of a hearing-aid device. With respect to the
application area, a hearing device may be applied behind
the ear, in the ear, completely in the ear canal or may be
implanted.
Under audio signals we understand electrical signals,
analogue and/or digital, which represent sound.

Background of the Invention
Hearing devices are preferably very small, in particular in
the case of In-The-Ear (ITE) hearing devices such as In-
The-Channel (ITC) or Completely-In-the-Channel (CIC)
hearing devices, but also in case of Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
hearing devices. Nevertheless, it is desirable to provide a
hearing device with a user interface comprising at least
one user control, which allows a user of the hearing device
to provoke changes the functioning of the hearing device
such as selecting a hearing program.
It is possible to minimize the size of a hearing device and
nevertheless provide a user interface by providing a remote
control operationally connectable to the hearing device,
which comprises said user interface. However, the user has
to carry the remote control in order to be able to use the
user interface, and a remote control adds considerable cost
to the purchase price of the hearing system.
From US 5'404'407, a hearing device is known, which
comprises a socket with programming contacts to which a
plug can be connected, so as to allow programming of the
hearing device. Said socket is provided with a separate,
additional contact, which is not used for programming the
hearing device. Instead, this additional contact in the
socket is used when the plug is not connected to the
socket. For this purpose, a push button can be introduced
into the socket. Said push button is composed of a switch
housing having a PC motherboard with contact pins, a switch
spring, an actuation element, and a contact bridge. This

solution is cumbersome for several reasons, e.g., the
disclosed pushbutton comprises many separate parts, which
makes it large in size, cumbersome to assemble and
susceptible to failures. And, in addition, the provision of
an additional contact in a socket requires cumbersome
modifications, not only to the socket, but also to each
plug to be used with the socket of the hearing device, and
the plugs are, at least as far as used for hearing device
fitting, located at and owned by each hearing device
professional. And furthermore, the disclosed pushbutton is
an additional part to be attached to the hearing device,
i.e. it has to be manufactured separately, it can be lost,
and it requires a fair amount of space.
It is desirable to provide an alternative way of providing
a small hearing device with a user interface.
Summary of the Invention
One object of the invention is to create a hearing device
that does not have the disadvantages mentioned above. A
hearing device shall be provided, which comprises at least
one user control, the addition of which results in no or
only a small increase of volume of said hearing device. In
addition, the respective method of operating a hearing
device shall be provided, and furthermore, a use of at
least one electrical contact of a connector of a hearing
device shall be provided.

Another object of the invention is to minimize the size of
a hearing device.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing
device with a user control at no or little increase in size
of said hearing device.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing
device having an improved manufacturability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing
device of high reliability.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hearing
device that can be handled well by a user of the hearing
device.
Further objects emerge from the description and embodiments
below.
At least one of these objects is at least partially
achieved by apparatuses and methods according to the patent
claims.
The hearing device comprises
— a battery door;
— a connector having N ≥ 1 electrical contacts; and
— a user control;
wherein said user control consists of
a) an elastic actuation member; and operationally
connected thereto

b) a contact changing member, which can be different from
or identical with said elastic actuation member; and
operationally connected thereto
c) at least one of said N electrical contacts;
wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation member
forms at least a portion of said battery door.
Most hearing devices have a battery door for covering an
energy supply member such as a battery within said hearing
device during normal operation of the hearing device and
for allowing access to said energy supply member, so as to
allow to inserted a new energy supply member into the
hearing device. If said elastic actuation member is, at
least in part, comprised in said battery door, it is
possible to save space, since battery door and user control
share a portion of volume.
The fact, that the user control consists of the items a),
b) and c), means that there are no additional items or
parts of the user control. E.g., there is no additional
lever of the user control and no additional housing part.
Accordingly, the number of parts of the user control is
very small. This improves the manufacturability of the
hearing device and allows to create a particularly small
user control.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member is
integrally formed. This can improve the manufacturability
and the reliabilty.

In one embodiment, said contact changing member is
integrally formed. This can improve the manufacturability
and the reliabilty.
In one embodiment, said connector is typically used for
exchanging data between the hearing device and an external
device such as a personal computer, e.g., during fitting of
the hearing device. Such a connector is not used during
normal operation of the hearing device.
In one embodiment, said at least one electrical contact is
electrically contacted when a plug is connected to the
connector and used for transmitting information such as
digital data or signals to or from the hearing device.
In one embodiment, operating said user control comprises
elastically deforming said elastic actuation member
In one embodiment, the contact changing member is provided
for changing the state of contacting of said at least one
electrical contact. E.g., for at last one of
— establishing an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact and another electrical
contact;
— interrupting an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact and another electrical
contact;
— increasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact and another electrical contact;
— decreasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact and another electrical contact.

Note that said establishing and said interrupting of an
electrical connection can be considered a particular strong
increasing and decreasing, respectively, of a resistance.
In one embodiment, said other electrical contact is an
electrical contact of said hearing device, e.g., another
electrical contact of said connector.
In one embodiment, said other electrical contact is an
electrical contact of said hearing device, and an
electrical voltage is applied to said other electrical
contact. In particular, said other electrical contact is
not an electrical contact of said connector. In particular,
said electrical voltage is a pre-defined electrical
voltage.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member
substantially is a body substantially made of elastomeric
material.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member comprises
a body substantially made of elastomeric material.
Said elastic actuation member may be elastically deformed,
e.g., be compressed (or expanded) by the user when said
user control is operated. When the user stops operating the
user control, energy stored in the elastic deformation of
the elastic actuation member can be used for reinstalling
the original state of the elastic actuation member, i.e.,
the deformation of the elastic actuation member is undone.
In one embodiment, said hearing device comprises said
elastic actuation member for resetting said user control
(and in particular said contact changing member) into its

original state (in particular, position and/or shape) after
said user control has been operated by deforming said
elastic actuation member. This allows to realize a user
control that can be easily operated many times.
In one embodiment, said elastomer is a rubber-like material
such as natural or synthetic rubber, silicone, a rubber-
like polymer.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member, said
contact changing member and said at least one electrical
contact are designed and arranged such that elastically
deforming said elastic actuation member for operating said
user control causes a change in shape and/or location of
said contact changing member, which causes a change in the
state of contacting of said at least one electrical
contact.
In one embodiment, said hearing device comprises a housing;
and, in the area right above said connector, said housing
is formed by said elastic actuation member. This allows to
provide a particularly small user control.
In one embodiment, said at least one electrical contact is
configured to be used for transmitting information in
electrical form to or from said hearing device when said
battery door is open and a plug is connected to said
connector; and said at least one electrical contact is
configured to be used in the operation of said user control
when said battery door is closed. Said information
transmitted in electrical form can be, e.g., audio signals
(in digital and/or analog form), or data such as hearing
device fitting data.

In one embodiment, said connector is a socket, and said at
least one connector is a contact pin. Sockets with contact
pins are provided in many hearing devices. Sockets like the
well-known CS44-type socket or other miniature sockets may
be used.
In one embodiment, said connector comprises a printed
circuit board, and, in particular, said at least one
connector is a contact pad of said printed circuit board.
This embodiment allows the construction of a particularly
space-saving user control.
In one embodiment, said battery door and said elastic
actuation member are jointly manufactured in a multi-
injection molding process. This is a particularly advanced
way of manufacturing, which reduces the number of
manufacturing steps that need to be carried out manually.
Multi-injection molding allows, in addition, to reduce the
size of parts to be manufactured. And furthermore, it is
readily possible to produce a firm connection between
portions of different materials (of an injection-molded
body) when using a multi-injection molding process for the
manufacture.
In one embodiment, said battery door has an opening, and
said elastic actuation member has a waist and is attached
to said battery door, said waist located within said
opening.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member closes or
even seals said opening. For hearing devices worn in or
near the ear, sweat and cerumen are a problem, in
particular with respect to corrosion of metal parts of the

hearing device. Therefore, it can be advantageous to seal
said connector. Said elastic actuation member or a part
thereof can be used to accomplish this task. An elastomer
is particularly well suited for this.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member is at
least in part formed by said battery door, said contact
changing member being a part separate from said at least
one part of said elastic actuation member formed by said
battery door, and said contact changing member is located
within said connector. In this case, when opening the
battery door, the elastic actuation member will - at least
in part - be moved away from the other parts of the user
control, in particular from the contact changing member.
Accordingly, before inserting a plug into said connector,
it will usually be necessary to remove the contact changing
member from said connector.
In one embodiment, said elastic actuation member is formed
by said battery door, said contact changing member being a
part separate from said elastic actuation member, and said
contact changing member is located within said connector.
In this case, when opening the battery door, the elastic
actuation member will be moved away from the other parts of
the user control, in particular from the contact changing
member. Accordingly, before inserting a plug into said
connector, it will usually be necessary to remove the
contact changing member from said connector.
In one embodiment, said contact changing member is, at
least in part, electrically conductive.

In one embodiment, said contact changing member is a
metallic member.
In one embodiment, said contact changing member is a
metallic member comprising a fixing end, said contact
changing member being fixedly held in said elastic
actuation member at said fixing end. In this case, when
opening the battery door, the elastic actuation member
together with the contact changing member will be moved
away from the electrical contacts of the user control.
In one embodiment, said contact changing member is designed
to stay substantially undeformed during operation of said
user control. In this case, the elastic actuation member is
typically designed such that it compensates for
manufacturing tolerances.
In one embodiment, said contact changing member is a piece
of metal generally extending along an axis, said axis being
substantially identical with an axis along which said
contact changing member is moved when said user control is
operated. Furthermore, said contact changing member has an
acting end and, at its opposite end, a fixing end, said
acting end being arranged - along said axis - below said
fixing end and closer to said at least one electrical
contact. Typically, said acting end generally points
towards said at least one electrical contact, whereas said
fixing end generally points away from said at least one
electrical contact, and the directions of said pointing
generally being aligned along said axis. This allows the
construction of a relatively sturdy user control.

In one embodiment, the hearing device comprises a housing,
and neither said housing nor said battery door comprises a
lever, wherein said.lever would be not identical with said
battery door and designed to rotate about an axis upon
operation of the user control. In other words, in this
embodiment, there is no lever comprised in said hearing
device, which lever would have the property that it would
rotate about an axis when the user control is operated.
And, said lever furthermore has the property that it is not
identical with said battery door. Of course, it is
possible, that in a hearing device according to the
invention, the battery door is rotatable about an axis and
has some rotational play in its closed state, typically due
to manufacturing tolerances. Such a battery door is not a
lever as depicted above.
The method is a method of operating a hearing device
comprising a battery door, a connector with N ^ 1
electrical contacts, and a user control. Said method
comprises the step of
— using at least one of said N electrical contacts of
said connector as a part of said user control.
In addition, said user control consists of
a) an elastic actuation member; and operationally
connected thereto
b) a contact changing member, which can be different from
or identical with said elastic actuation member; and
operationally connected thereto
c) said at least one electrical contact;

wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation member
forms at least a portion of said battery door.
Accordingly, said connector and said user control can share
components, namely at least said at least one electrical
contact. Thus, a small-size hearing device can be realized.
Most modern hearing devices comprise a connector, typically
for exchanging data with an external device such as a
personal computer, e.g., during fitting of the hearing
device. Such a connector is not used during normal
operation of the hearing device, but typically only when a
hearing device professional such as a hearing device fitter
or an audiologist adjusts or tests the hearing device.
Accordingly, it is possible to make use pf said connector
or parts thereof for other purposes during normal operation
of the hearing device. Electrical contacts of the connector
are already connected to the hearing device's circuitry, so
that monitoring the electrical status of said electrical
contacts in an appropriate fashion is readily
implementable.
One other purpose for which said electrical contacts can be
used is for being involved in receiving user input. A user
of the hearing device may want to change the functioning of
the hearing device during normal operation of the hearing
device. E.g., the user may want to change an audio
processing parameter of the hearing device such as the
output volume or select a different hearing program, or
select one of several input units such as internal or
external microphones. For accomplishing this, the user

operates a user control such as a dial, wheel or switch, in
particular a pushbutton.
The invention allows to miniaturize the hearing device by a
combined use of components of said connector and said user
control. Electrical contacts of said connector can be used
as electrical contacts of the user control.
In one embodiment of the method, said elastic actuation
member is integrally formed, and said contact changing
member is integrally formed.
In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of
operating said user control by elastically deforming said
elastic actuation member, thereby causing a change in shape
and/or location of said contact changing member, thereby
causing a change in the state of contacting of said at
least one electrical contact.
In one embodiment, said method comprises the step of
changing the state of contacting of said at least one
electrical contact by means of said contact changing member
by at last one of
— establishing an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact and another electrical
contact;
— interrupting an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact and another electrical
contact;
— increasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact and another electrical contact;

— decreasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact and another electrical contact.
In one embodiment, said method comprises the steps of
— when said battery door is open and a plug is connected
to said connector: transmitting information in
electrical form to or from said hearing device via at
least said at least one electrical contact and said
plug;
— when said battery door is closed: using said at least
one electrical contact in the operation of said user
control.
Accordingly, one and the same electrical contact serves (at
least) two purposes: on the one hand, participating in
communication typically with an external device via a plug
connected to the connector, and on the other hand, using it
when operating the user control.
In one embodiment, said user control is a pushbutton, and
operating said user control comprises pushing said
pushbutton.
In one embodiment, said user control is integrated in said
hearing device during normal operation of the hearing
device. This means that during normal hearing device
operation, said user control is attached to or is part of
the hearing device, i.e. that the user control is not an
item which is occasionally or temporally attached to the
hearing device.
In one embodiment, said method comprises the steps of

— changing a state of contacting of said at least one
electrical contact by operating said user control; and
— detecting said change of state of contacting of said
at least one electrical contact.
In one embodiment, said contact changing member comprises a
shorting member, and said method comprises the steps of
— establishing an electrical connection between at least
two of said N electrical contacts of said connector by
operating said user control, which operating causes
said shorting member to electrically connect said at
least two electrical contacts with each other; and
— detecting said establishment of said electrical
connection.
This allows for a simple and safely functioning
implementation of the user control. E.g., the electrical
resistance between said at least two electrical contacts
can be monitored, and a strong change (increase and/or
decrease) of said resistance as it will occur, e.g., when
shorting said at least two electrical contacts by operating
the user control, can be used as a signal indicating that a
switching has taken place and that a corresponding action
such as changing the hearing program or the output volume
shall take place.
It is also possible to measure the time duration during
which a change state of contacting occurred, i.e. to
determine for how long the user control has been operated.
Depending on the measured time, one of several possible
commands will be carried out. E.g., operating the user

control for a short duration leads to an increase in
volume, whereas operating the user control for a longer
duration leads to the selection of a different hearing
program.
It is also possible to measure a voltage and carry out a
command selected in dependence of the measured voltage.
E.g., operating the user control could result in
electrically contacting said at least one electrical
contact with another electrical contact, which is on a
certain electrical potential, and the measured voltage is a
voltage with respect to said at least one electrical
contact. For embodiments with a dial-type (rotatable) user
control, this can be an elegant solution for allowing the
hearing device user to easily select from a multitude of
possible commands.
Instead of shorting said at least two electrical contacts
when operating the user control, it is, e.g., also possible
to interrupt an electrical connection between said at least
two electrical contacts when operating the user control.
The use is a use of at least one of N ^ 1 electrical
contacts of a connector of a hearing device as at least one
electrical contact of a user control of said hearing
device, wherein said hearing device comprises a battery
door, and wherein said user control consists of
a) an elastic actuation member; and operationally
connected thereto
b) a contact changing member, which can be different from
or identical with said elastic actuation member; and
operationally connected thereto

c) said at least one electrical contact;
wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation member
forms at least a portion of said battery door.
The invention comprises methods with features of
corresponding hearing devices according to the invention,
and vice versa, and uses with features of corresponding
hearing devices or methods according to the invention.
The advantages of the methods correspond to the advantages
of corresponding apparatuses and vice versa, and the
advantages of the uses correspond to the advantages of
corresponding apparatuses or methods.
Further embodiments and advantages emerge from the
dependent claims and the figures.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Below, the invention is described in more detail by means
of examples and the included drawings. The figures show:
Fig. 1 a cross-section through a connector with plug
attached, schematically;
Fig. 2 a cross-section through a connector and user
control, schematically;
Fig. 3 a cross-section through a detail of a hearing
device with connector and user control;

Fig. 4 a perspective view onto a cross-section through a
detail of a hearing device with connector and
user control;
Fig. 5 an elastic actuation member like the one shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, in perspective view;
Fig. 6 a contact changing member like the one shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, in perspective view;
Fig. 7 an elastic actuation member with a contact
changing member, in perspective view;
Fig. 8 an elastic actuation member with a contact
changing member, in a perspective view onto a
cross-section;
Fig. 9 an elastic actuation member with a contact
changing member, in a perspective view onto a
cross-section;
Fig. 10 a hearing device with open battery door, in
perspective view;
Fig. 11 a detail of the hearing device of Fig. 10, in
perspective view;
Fig. 12 a detail of the hearing device of Fig. 10, in
perspective view;
Fig. 13 a cross-section through a connector and user
control, schematically;
Fig. 14 a cross-section through a connector and user
control, schematically.
The reference symbols used in the figures and their meaning
are summarized in the list of reference symbols. The

described embodiments are meant as examples and shall not
confine the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a detail of a
hearing device, more precisely, a cross-section through a
connector 2, with a plug 4 attached, as it is known in the
art. The connector 2, e.g., a CS44-type socket, is attached
to or incorporated in a housing 3 of the hearing device and
has electrical contacts 6, e.g., contact pins 6. These are
connected via electrical connections 16 to the hearing
device circuitry 10, i.e. to the electronics of the hearing
device. When data shall be read from the hearing device or
when data shall be loaded into the hearing device, plug 4
is connected to connector 2, so that the contact pins 6 are
electrically contacted, so as to connect the connector 2
via electrical connections 18 to a device external to the
hearing device, e.g., to a computer. Such a connection to
an external device is used, e.g., during fitting of the
hearing device or for updating the hearing device software
or for exchanging audio signals or for some other
communication purposes.
As shown in Fig. 1, the electrical connection between
plug 4 and connector 2 is typically made at the shaft of
the contact pins 6.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-section of a detail of a
hearing device according to the invention, more precisely,
a cross-section through a connector 2 and a user control 8.
The connector 2 can be the same as the one in Fig. 1.
During normal operation of the hearing device, there is no
plug applied to connector 2. Accordingly, it is possible to
use the contacts 6 differently then. It is possible to use
contacts 6 as part of said user control 8. User control 8
furthermore comprises a contact changing member 12, which,
at the same time, can be comprised in an elastic actuation
member 14. Optionally, user control 8 comprises, as shown
in Fig. 2, a tactile member 28, which also can, at the same
time, be comprised in elastic actuation member 14.
Contact changing member 12 shall, when user control 8 is
operated, change a state of contacting of at least one of
the electrical contacts 6, e.g., establish or interrupt an
electrical connection, e.g., an electrical connection
between two electrical contacts 6. This change in state of
contacting can be detected, e.g., via a change in an
electrical current. In the embodiment illustrated in
Fig. 2, an electrical connection, in particular a short,
between the two electrical contacts 6 is established when
user control 8 is operated. Accordingly, a contact changing
member 12 like the one depicted in Fig. 2 can be considered
a shorting member.
Elastic actuation member 14 shall reset user control 8 into
its original state, in particular its original position and
shape, after it has been operated. Elastic actuation member
14 can be substantially a body made of elastomeric

material. The elastic actuation member 14 forms a portion
of a battery door 20 of the hearing device, wherein the
battery door 20 forms a portion of a housing 3 of the
hearing device.
Tactile member 28 shall allow a user to find a suitable
spot for operating user control 8 without looking,
typically solely be touching and sensing with a finger.
Tactile member 28 can therefore comprise a protrusion
and/or is made of or covered with a material that is
different from neighboring portions of the outside of the
hearing device.
As indicated by the dashed hand symbol, a user of the
hearing device can press user control 8, with the effect
that contact changing member 12 is moved towards the
contacts 6 (cf. the dashed line) and establishes an
electrical connection between said contacts 6. Accordingly,
user control 8 forms a switch, more precisely a pushbutton.
It is to be noted that in typical embodiments, the size of
a user's fingertip would, if drawn to scale in Fig. 2, be
much larger than the hand symbol and also much larger than
the user control 8. The same applies to Figs. 13 and 14.
The user applies a force to user control 8 by pressing onto
elastic actuation member 14, which can be substantially
made of an elastomer such as silicone. Where the elastic
actuation member 14 forms the contact changing member 12,
it can be substantially made of a conductive polymer;
alternatively, the elastic actuation member 14 could be
covered with an electrically conductive layer.

Preferably, the deformation, which is applied to the
elastic actuation member 14 is an elastic deformation, so
that the energy provided by the user by pressing the user
control 8 is, with no or little loss, stored in the elastic
actuation member 14 and can cause the elastic actuation
member 14 to regain its original shape after the user
stopped pressing. Thus, a pushbutton can be realized which
can be easily operated many times.
Since the contact pins 6 are anyway connected to the
electronic circuitry 10 of the hearing device, it is, with
only little effort, possible to detect that user control 8
has been operated, e.g., by detecting that the electrical
resistance between the two contact pins 6 drops, or that it
is low or that is rises (when the user stopped pressing).
Accordingly, user control 8 can be used as a means for the
user to provide input to the hearing device during normal
operation of the hearing device. E.g., upon operating user
control 8, another hearing program could be selected, or
the output volume could be increased (or decreased). It
will usually also be helpful to generate an acknowledge
signal such as a beep when user control 8 is operated, so
that the user is informed when he successfully operated
user control 8.
Fig. 10 shows a hearing device 1 in a perspective view. The
hearing device of Fig. 10 is a BTE hearing device, e.g., a
BTE hearing-aid device.
The hearing device 1 has a housing 3, which comprises a
battery door 20, which can be opened by a user by pulling
an opening member 26. Battery door 20 is pivotable

(rotatable) about a pivot joint and forms a portion of
housing 3. In Fig. 10, battery door 20 is open. In hearing
device 1, a user control is integrated, parts of which are
integrated in battery door 20, namely an elastic actuation
member 14, which also forms a tactile member 28.
With the battery door 20 open, a user can replace a
battery 30, which is electrically contacted by a battery
contact 31 when battery door 20 is closed. A connector 2 of
the hearing device, e.g., a CS44 socket, is uncovered when
the battery door 20 is open. In this state, a plug could be
connected to connector 2. One or more contacts of
connector 2 belong - in the normal state of the hearing
device with battery door 20 closed - to said user control,
as does a contact changing member (not visible in Fig. 10)
integrated in said battery door 20.
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through a detail of a hearing
device with connector 2 and user control 8, e.g., of a
hearing device 1 like the one shown in Fig. 10. The elastic
actuation member 14 is a body of an elastomer such as
silicone, which is held in an opening of battery door 20.
Inside elastic actuation member 14, a contact changing
member 12 is located.
For improved fixation in battery door 20, elastic actuation
member 14 has a waist 14a, such that the lateral extension
of elastic actuation member 14 at waist 14a, which is
located on the level of battery door 20, is smaller than
its lateral extension on the inner side of battery door 20
and its lateral extension on the outer side of battery door
20. Below and/or above battery door 20, elastic actuation

member 14 forms hollows 14c. Shape and volume of
hollows 14c and shape and volume of the elastomeric
material at 14d are chosen such that user control 8 can be
operated properly, i.e. that it can be operated by the
application of a suitable force and that the application of
a large force does not result in a too large movement of
contact changing member 12, which could result in damage,
e.g., plastic deformation of electrical contacts 6. Elastic
actuation member 14 is generally rotationally symmetric
with respect to an axis A, but may be faceted or provide
other asymmetries, in particular at waist 14a, in order to
prevent a rotational change in position (with respect to
battery door 20 and, accordingly, with respect to plug 2
and contacts 6). Tactile member 28 is arranged above
electrical contacts 6. A portion of elastic actuation
member 14, mainly at waist 14a and at 14d, seals the
connector 2, thus preventing connector 2 (and the contact
changing member 12) from being corroded by cerumen or sweat
or hair care products.
Elastic actuation member 14 comprises a central hollow in
which contact changing member 12 is held. Elastic actuation
member 14 is furthermore shaped in such a way that it can
be inserted into battery door 20 after insertion of contact
changing member 12 into the central hollow of elastic
actuation member 14.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view onto generally the same
cross-section as Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view an elastic actuation
member 14 like the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4. An

opening 14b of elastic actuation member 14 is visible,
which contributes to the central hollow of elastic
actuation member 14, and which allows to introduce a
portion of contact changing member 12 into elastic
actuation member 14.
Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view a contact changing
member 12 like the one shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It is
preferably made of metal. It is generally extended along
axis A (cf. also Fig. 3) and comprises an acting end 12a
and a fixing end 12b. Acting end 12a provides an electrical
connection between two electrical contacts 6 of connector 2
(cf. Figs. 3 and 4) when the user control 8 is operated by
applying a force generally along axis A, pointing towards
the inside of the hearing device. Its shape ensures,
together with the opening 14b of elastic actuation
member 14 (cf. Fig. 5), that no mutual rotation of changing
member 12 and elastic actuation member 14 takes place and
that always only the desired (preselected) one or more
electrical contacts 6 are properly shorted, when user
control 8 is operated.
Fixing end 12b ensures, together with the shape of the
central hollow of elastic actuation member 14, that contact
changing member 12 cannot move out of elastic actuation
member 14 when it is inserted in battery door 20.
Fig. 11 shows a detail of the hearing device of Figs. 3, 4
and 10 in a perspective view. Opening member 26 is arranged
and shaped such that it prevents an unintenional pulling-
out of elastic actuation member 14 out of battery door 20

when trying to open the battery door 20 and slipping off
opening member 26.
Fig. 12 shows a different perspective view of the same
situation as shown in Fig. 11.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 each show an elastic actuation member 14
with a contact changing member 12 in a perspective view, in
case of Figs. 8 and 9, a cross-section is shown. Instead of
a generally rod-shaped contact changing member 12 shown in
Fig. 6, Figs. 7 to 9 show contact changing members 12
formed from a piece of sheet metal.
In Fig. 7, a flat portion in waist 14a is visible, which
allows to prevent that elastic actuating member 14 can move
rotationally when inserted in a correspondingly formed
opening in a battery door.
Fig. 13 schematically shows a cross-section through a
connector 2 and user control 8. In this case, connector 2
is printed circuit board, and contacts 6 are contact pads
on the printed circuit board. With a "plug", i.e. a
counterpart to the connector, attached to the connector, it
is possible, e.g., to exchange audio signals between the
hearing device and an external device.
It is possible, as shown in Fig. 13, to incorporate the
contact changing member 12 in the elastic actuation
member 14, and to provide a contact changing member 12 with
protrusions. The dashed lines indicate the approximate
position / shape of elastic actuation member 14 and contact
changing member 12 (near electrical contacts 6) during
operating (pressing) user control 8. Contact changing
member 12 can be realized by using a conductive elastomer

for at least the lower part of elastic actuation member 14.
It is also possible to realize contact changing member 12
by conductively coating the inward-pointing side of elastic
actuation member 14, or by attaching a solid metallic body
to elastic actuation member 14.
Embodiments with a printed circuit board as connector 2 (or
as a portion of a connector 2) and contact pads of the
printed circuit board as electrical contacts 6 can be
considerably smaller (less space-consuming) than when a
connector with contact pins such as a conventional socket
is used. This applies also to other embodiments with a
connector 2 comprising a printed circuit board, in which a
different small-size solution for embodying electrical
contacts 6 is realized. E.g., the printed circuit board can
comprise one or more clamps for holding a counterpiece
("plug", e.g., another printed circuit board, in
particular, a flexible printed circuit board). Therein, the
one or more clamps can at the same time be the at least one
electrical contact 6.
It is, of course, possible to realize a connector 2, which
is or comprises a socket, and which comprises at least one
printed circuit board. Therein, the at least one electrical
contact 6 can be at least one contact pad of said at least
one printed circuit board. Said socket can, e.g., comprise
a bayonet mount for holding a plug.
It is to be noted that it is also possible to provide, as a
connector or as a portion thereof, a printed circuit board
(or two printed circuit boards) which is (are) arranged
substantially perpendicularly to the housing of the hearing

device instead of substantially parallel thereto, as shown
in Fig. 13. For example, the contact pads could be located
in a slit one or both sides of which being formed by
printed circuit board. A suitable counterpiece (plug) for
such a connector could be, e.g., another printed circuit
board, in particular a flexible printed circuit board.
Please note that embodiments with at least one printed
circuit board as connector 2 or as a portion thereof and at
least one contact pad of the at least one printed circuit
board as at least one electrical contact 6 can be realized
also in case that no portion of the elastic actuation
member 14 is forming a portion of a battery door.
It is furthermore possible - in various embodiments, not
only in the embodiments of Fig. 2, 13 or 14 - to form
battery door 20 and elastic actuation member 14 in one
process, instead of manufacturing them separately and
assembling them afterwards. In particular, a multi-
injection molding process could be used to jointly form
both, battery door 20 and elastic actuation member 14. The
bonding between battery door 20 and elastic actuation
member 14 achievable this way is very good. It is also
possible - additionally or alternatively - to incorporate
the contact changing member 12 in elastic actuation
member 14 in an injection molding process. This can be
particularly advantageous when the contact changing
member 12 is a pre-fabricated part, e.g., a metal body,
such as shown, e.g., in Figs. 3 to 6. A manual fixation of
contact changing member 12 in elastic actuation member 14
can be rendered superfluous.

Fig. 14 schematically shows a cross-section through a
connector 2 and user control 8. In this embodiment, the
contact changing member 12 is separate from the elastic
actuation member 14 held in the battery door 20. In
particular, it is located at or in connector 2. Opening
battery door 20 will in this case separate the elastic
actuation member 14 held in the battery door 20 from
contact changing member 12; and in order to be able to
apply a plug to connector 2, contact changing member 12
will have to be removed therefrom first.
The embodiment of Fig. 14 can be considered to comprise a
two-part elastic actuation member 14. One part is held in
the battery door 20, the other part is located in
connector 2.
Instead of creating a shorting path between two electrical
contacts of connector 2 by operating a user control 8, it
would also be possible to interrupt an existing electrical
connection by operating the user control 8. It would also
be possible to use more than two contacts of connector 2,
or to use only one contact of connector 2. In the latter
case, typically one additional contact elsewhere would be
involved. It would also be possible to create a less
drastic change in resistance upon operating the user
control. The following can happen, when the state of
contacting of said at least one electrical contact is
changed: A flow of electrical current through said at least
one electrical contact is changed, wherein changing
comprises increasing and decreasing and creating and
suppressing. Note that there will always be a - possibly

very tiny - electrical current involved when detecting a
current, a voltage or a resistance.
It is space-saving when an elastic actuation member is - at
least in part - incorporated in a battery door, because
this way, only one openable member has to be provided which
at the same time provides access to the battery and to the
connector when opened; and only one opening member 26 has
to be provided.
In the description above, standard components of a hearing
device such as input converter, signal processing unit and
output converter have not been described. These are
sufficiently well known to a person skilled in the art and
from the state of the art.
The invention allows to integrate functionality into a
hearing device with no or only little increase of the size
of the hearing device, and it allows to provide the hearing
device with functionality that does not have to be placed
in a remote control for the hearing device.

List of Raference Symbols
1 hearing device
2 connector, socket, printed circuit board
3 housing
4 plug
6 electrical contact, contact pin, contact pad
8 user control, switch, pushbutton
10 circuitry, hearing device circuitry, hearing device
electronics
12 contact changing member, shorting member
12a acting end
12b fixing end
14 elastic actuation member, elastomer body
14a waist
14b opening, opening for contact changing member
14c hollow
16 connection
18 connection
20 battery door
26 opening member
28 tactile member
30 energy supply member, battery
31 battery contact
A axis

WE CLAIM
1. Hearing device (1) comprising
— a battery door (20);
— a connector (2) having N ≥ 1 electrical contacts (6);
and
— a user control (8);
wherein said user control (8) consists of
a) an elastic actuation member (14); and operationally
connected thereto
b) a contact changing member (12), which can be different
from or identical with said elastic actuation
member (14); and operationally connected thereto
c) at least one of said N electrical contacts (6);
wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation
member (14) forms at least a portion of said battery
door (20).
2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said
elastic actuation member (14) comprises a body
substantially made of elastomeric material.
3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein said elastic actuation member (14), said contact
changing member (12) and said at least one electrical
contact (6) are designed and arranged such that elastically

deforming said elastic actuation member (14) for operating
said user control (8) causes a change in shape and/or
location of said contact changing member (12), which causes
a change in the state of contacting of said at least one
electrical contact (6).
4. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said hearing device (1) comprises a
housing (3), and wherein, in the area right above said
connector (2), said housing (3) is formed by said elastic
actuation member (14).
5. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said at least one electrical contact (6) is
configured to be used for transmitting information in
electrical form to or from said hearing device (1) when
said battery door (20) is open and a plug (4) is connected
to said connector (2), and wherein said at least one
electrical contact (6) is configured to be used in the
operation of said user control (8) when said battery
door (20) is closed.
6. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said connector (2) is a socket, and said at
least one connector (6) is a contact pin.
7. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said connector (2) comprises a printed

circuit board, and said at least one connector (6) is a
contact pad of said printed circuit board.
8. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said battery door (20) and said elastic
actuation member (14) are jointly manufactured in a multi-
injection molding process.
9. The device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8,
wherein said battery door (20) has an opening, said elastic
actuation member (14) having a waist (14a) and being
attached to said battery door (20), said waist (14a)
located within said opening.
10. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said elastic actuation member (14) is
formed by said battery door (20), said contact changing
member (12) being a part separate from said elastic
actuation member (14), said contact changing member (12)
being located within said connector (2).
11. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
wherein said contact changing member (12) is a metallic
member comprising a fixing end (12b), said contact changing
member (12) being fixedly held in said elastic actuation
member (14) at said fixing end (12b).

12. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said contact changing member (12) is
designed to stay substantially undeformed during operation
of said user control (8).
13. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein said contact changing member (12) is a
piece of metal generally extending along an axis (A), said
axis (A) being substantially identical with an axis along
which said contact changing member (12) is moved when said
user control (8) is operated, and wherein said contact
changing member (12) has an acting end (12a) and, at its
opposite end, a fixing end (12b), said acting end being
arranged - along said axis (A) - below said fixing end and
closer to said at least one electrical contact (6).
14. The device (1) according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein the hearing device (1) comprises a
housing (3), and wherein neither said housing (3) nor said
battery door (20) comprises a lever, which lever would be
not identical with said battery door (20) and designed to
rotate about an axis upon operation of the user
control (8).
15. Method of operating a hearing device (1) comprising a
battery door (20), a connector (2) with N ≥ 1 electrical
contacts (6), and a user control (8), said method
comprising the step of

— using at least one of said N electrical contacts (6)
of said connector (2) as a part of said user
control (8);
said user control (8) consisting of
a) an elastic actuation member (14); and operationally
connected thereto
b) a contact changing member (12), which can be different
from or identical with said elastic actuation
member (14); and operationally connected thereto
c) said at least one electrical contact (6);
wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation
member (14) forms at least a portion of said battery
door (20).
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said elastic
actuation member (14) is integrally formed, and said
contact changing member (12) is integrally formed.
17. The method according to claim 15 or claim 16,
comprising the step of operating said user control (8) by
elastically deforming said elastic actuation member (14),
thereby causing a change in shape and/or location of said
contact changing member (12), thereby causing a change in
the state of contacting of said at least one electrical
contact (6).

18. The method according to one of claims 15 to 17,
comprising the step of changing the state of contacting of
said at least one electrical contact (6) by means of said
contact changing member (12) by at last one of
— establishing an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact (6) and another
electrical contact;
— interrupting an electrical connection between said at
least one electrical contact (6) and another
electrical contact;
— increasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact (6) and another electrical contact;
— decreasing the resistance between said at least one
electrical contact (6) and another electrical contact.
19. The method according to one of claims 15 to 18,
comprising the steps of
— when said battery door (20) is open, and a plug (4) is
connected to said connector (2): transmitting
information in electrical form to or from said hearing
device (1) via at least said at least one electrical
contact (6) and said plug (4) ;
— when said battery door (20) is closed: using said at
least one electrical contact (6) in the operation of
said user control (8) .

20. The method according to one of claims 15 to 19,
wherein said user control (8) is a pushbutton, and wherein
operating said user control (8) comprises pushing said
pushbutton.
21. The method according to one of claims 15 to 20,
wherein said user control (8) is integrated in said hearing
device (1) during normal operation of the hearing device.
22. The method according to one of claims 15 to 21,
wherein said contact changing member (12) comprises a
shorting member, said method comprising the steps of

— establishing an electrical connection between at least
two of said N electrical contacts (6) of said
connector (2) by operating said user control (8),
which operating causes said shorting member (12) to
electrically connect said at least two electrical
contacts (6) with each other; and
— detecting said establishment of said electrical
connection.
23. Use of at least one of N ≥ 1 electrical contacts (6)
of a connector (2) of a hearing device (1) as at least one
electrical contact (6) of a user control (8) of said
hearing device (1), wherein said hearing device (1)
comprises a battery door (20), and wherein said user
control (8) consists of

a) an elastic actuation member (14); and operationally
connected thereto
b) a contact changing member (12), which can be different
from or identical with said elastic actuation
member (14); and operationally connected thereto
c) said at least one electrical contact (6);
wherein at least a portion of said elastic actuation
member (14) forms at least a portion of said battery
door (20).

The hearing device comprises a battery door (20); a connector (2) having N
≥ 1 electrical contacts (6); and a user control (8). The user control (8)
consists of a) an elastic actuation member (14); and operationally connected
thereto b) a contact changing member (12), which can be different from or
identical with the elastic actuation member (14); and operationally
connected thereto c) at least one of the N electrical contacts (6). At least a
portion of the elastic actuation member (14) forms at least a portion of the
battery door (20). The connector (2) is a connector for providing a
communication connection to the hearing device. The user control (8) can be
a pushbutton switch. The elastic actuation member (14) comprises a body
substantially made of elastomeric material and can hold the contact changing
member (12). The contact changing member (12) is provided for changing
the state of contacting of said at least one electrical contact (6), e.g., to
establish or interrupt an electrical connection. Very small-size hearing
devices can be realized.