A hearing instrument includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a signal processor on the printed circuit board, wherein the signal processor is configured for generating an audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the audio signal into a sound signal, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate the receiver and the printed circuit board with the signal processor, and the housing has a trunk part that is coupled with a tip part, and wherein the printed circuit board forms a wall within the housing extending transversely relative to a longitudinal extension of the trunk part.

A conventional in the ear (ITE) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid has a housing that is custom made to individually fit the user's ear canal. The hearing aid components, e.g. electronics, microphone, receiver, battery, etc., are contained in the housing which is closed by a faceplate at the end pointing away from the ear canal. In order to reduce occlusion, a so-called vent, i.e. a ventilation channel, is provided for communication between an opening in the faceplate and the user's ear canal. The vent may be drilled through the housing or shell, or a pipe or tube extending within the hearing aid and connecting an opening in the faceplate with an opening at the opposite end of the housing may constitute the vent. The effectiveness of the vent is increased by increasing the cross-section and decreasing the length of the vent channel.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids in which a sound tube conducts sound generated by the receiver of the hearing aid into the ear canal are also well known in the art. In order to position the sound tube securely and comfortably in the ear canal, an earpiece is provided for insertion into the ear canal of the user.
Typically, the ITE or CIC housing or the BTE earpiece is individually custom manufactured to fit precisely in the ear canal of the user without causing pain to the user while still retaining the housing or earpiece securely in place in the ear canal preventing the earpiece from falling out of the ear irrespective of movements of the user, such as chewing or yawning, and also avoiding acoustical feedback generating unpleasant and annoying whistling or howling. The custom made earpiece adds to the cost of the hearing aid and the time needed to fit the hearing aid.
Typically, customized hearing aids are made from solid materials to secure retention and tightness. These hearing aids are placed completely or partially in the ear canal. Since the walls of the ear canal are moving when the jaws move for instance when chewing, the placement of such solid hearing aids in the ear canal can be associated with discomfort for the user.
Several approaches to eliminate this discomfort have been tried, one such approach is to make the canal portion of the device in a soft material, e.g. as disclosed in WO 02/03757 A1. Such devices are complicated to manufacture and will only offer limited venting.
In WO 2004/010734, a canal hearing device is disclosed having a dual acoustic seal system for preventing feedback while minimizing occlusion effects. The two-part device comprises a main module and an elongated tubular insert for conducting sound to the eardrum and sealing within the bony region of the ear canal. The main module is positioned in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal. The tubular insert comprises a sound conduction tube and a cylindrically hollow primary seal medially positioned in the bony region. The device also comprises a secondary seal laterally positioned in the cartilaginous region.
WO 01/08443 discloses a one-size-fits-all hearing aid, which is adapted to fit into either ear of an ear canal of a user to a depth proximal to the tympanic membrane. The hearing aid is comprised of two half shells joined together to house the hearing aid components. The joined shells secure a flexible tip at the distal end of the shell.
According to a first aspect of some of the embodiments, the above and other objects are fulfilled by a hearing instrument housing for accommodation of
a signal processor for generating an audio signal, and
a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed compensated audio signal into a sound signal, wherein
the housing has a trunk part that is interconnected with a tip part, characterized in that
the housing further accommodates a printed circuit board with the signal processor, and that
the printed circuit board forms a wall within the housing extending transversely to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part.
Preferably, the printed circuit board forms a wall that extends across the entire transversal cross-section of the hearing instrument housing and seals the inner volume on one side of the wall from the inner volume residing on the other side of the wall, and preferably seals the inner volume of the tip part from at least a part of the inner volume of the trunk part, preferably the entire inner volume of the trunk part. However, the printed circuit board may have an area that is less than the area of the transversal cross-section of the housing, such as larger than 50%, preferably larger than 60%, more preferred larger than 70%, even more preferred larger than 80%, still more preferred larger than 90%, most preferred larger than 95% of the area of the transversal cross-section of the housing.
In the following, the printed circuit board with the signal processor is termed the "Signal Processor Module".
By accommodation of the Signal Processor Module as a wall in the hearing instrument housing, a minimum of space is required by the Signal Processor Module in the housing whereby the size of the housing is minimized. As a wall, the Signal Processor Module extends in a direction transversal to, preferably substantially perpendicular to, the longitudinal extension of the housing so that the housing can be made shorter than a conventional housing so that the housing may be positioned deeper in the ear canal of the user making it more invisible to another person.
The Signal Processor Module wall also eliminates the a need of a wall in the housing made as an integral part of the housing thereby saving material for the housing and leading to a further shortened housing. The wall further constitutes a supporting element of the housing that may lead to further material savings of the housing.
The minimum space requirement resulting from utilising the Signal Processor Module as a transversal wall in the hearing instrument facilitates provision of an open solution.
In accordance with hearing aid terminology, a hearing instrument with a housing that does not obstruct the ear canal when the housing is positioned in its intended operational position in the ear canal; is categorized as "an open solution". The term "open solution" is used, since there will be a passageway between a part of the ear canal wall and a part of the housing so that sound waves may escape from behind the housing between the ear drum and the housing through the passageway to the surroundings of the user. In the following, a housing of a hearing aid providing an open solution is also termed an open solution housing.
A user being fitted with a conventional hearing aid experiences an altered perception of his or her voice mainly due to occlusion of the ear canal by the housing or earpiece. The user typically describes the sound of his or her voice in one of the following terms: "My voice echoes", "My voice sounds hollow" or "I sound like I'm talking in a barrel".
Sounds originating from the vocal tract (throat and mouth) are transmitted into the ear canal through the cartilaginous tissue between these cavities and the outer portion of the ear canal.
When nothing is positioned in the ear canal, most of this predominantly low frequency sound simply escapes from the ear canal. However, when the ear canal is blocked these bone-conducted sounds cannot escape from the ear canal. The result is a build-up of high sound pressure levels in the residual ear canal volume. This increase in low frequency sound pressure is audible and will cause them to hear their own voice as loud and boomy. Change in perception of own voice is the most dominant occlusion related complaint, but not the only one. Other occlusion related problems include too much amplification at low frequencies for hearing aid users with good low frequency hearing, reduced speech intelligibility, poorer localization, physical discomfort and increased risk of external ear irritation and infection. Hearing aid users do not adapt to occlusion and the occlusion effect has been cited by as many as 27% of hearing aid wearers as a reason for dissatisfaction with their hearing aids. This emphasizes the need for alleviating or, even better, eliminating the occlusion effect.
Provision of an open solution is facilitated by utilisation of the Signal Processor Module with the processor as a wall in the hearing instrument housing. In this way, the occlusion effect is diminished and preferably substantially eliminated.
Further, the open solution housing does not exert pressure on the ear canal wall further improving user comfort.
The open solution housing exerts less influence on the ear canal environment than a conventional housing.
Since the open solution housing occupies only part of a cross-section of an ear canal, the size of the housing need not accurately fit the ear canal of the user and therefore, the housing need not be customized to each user, rather provision of the open solution housing in standard sizes is made possible.
Further, the open solution housing allows passage of natural sounds to the ear drum in the ear canal preserving a sense of direction of sound sources further increasing user comfort and also user safety, for example when manoeuvring in traffic.
For hearing aids with an open solution, passage of natural sounds also relieves the hearing aid from amplifying these natural sound thereby improving sound quality and lowering power consumption, size, and cost of the hearing aid.
The position of the processor on the printed circuit board forming a wall further constitutes a central position simplifying electrical connections with other electrical hearing instrument components.
Further, positioning of the processor on the printed circuit board provides a self-contained Signal Processor Module facilitating handling and testing of the processor and assembly of the processor in the hearing instrument.
Provision of electrical interconnections with the processor on the printed circuit board makes it possible to cast the processor in a protective material, such as a polymer, e.g. a thermosetting epoxide polymer (epoxy), such as an epoxy resin, together with the printed circuit board. Hereby, the processor is embedded in the material that provides protection against the environment of the processor and also against handling and possible impacts. In this way, the Signal Processor Module constitutes a robust self-contained unit further facilitating handling and testing of the processor and assembly of the processor in the hearing instrument.
Further, the printed circuit board may have electrical connectors mechanically formed to mate with electrical components not residing on the printed circuit board, for example one or more microphones, the receiver, the battery, etc. In this way, wiring in the hearing instrument is saved whereby easy assembly of the hearing instrument is facilitated leading to lowered manufacturing cost.
In an embodiment with a microphone, the receiver and the microphone are preferably positioned on opposite sides of the Signal Processor Module whereby the Signal Processor Module will act as a sound barrier suppressing internal feedback caused by acoustic signals transmitted from the receiver to the microphone within the hearing instrument housing. Internal feedback is further explained below.
Further, when the Signal Processor Module comprises a connector for making mechanical and electrical contact with the receiver, the receiver may be installed in the hearing instrument housing by the dispenser so that the dispenser may be able to offer a variety of models to the user without a need for purchasing and storing a similar variety of hearing instruments. The receiver may be interconnected with the mating connector in any conventional way, e.g. by removable insertion into the mating connector, by soldering, etc.
The hearing instrument may further comprise a battery or batteries for power supply of the electric components of the hearing instrument. The battery or batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.
The Signal Processor Module may further comprise connector pads for connection with the battery for power supply of the hearing instrument circuitry.
The hearing instrument may further comprise first springs interconnected with the connector pads for interconnection of the Signal Processor Module with the battery.
The first springs may further be configured for provision of a mechanical snap fit coupling of the Signal Processor Module to the hearing instrument housing.
The hearing instrument may further comprise second springs interconnected with signal lines in an elongate member that is attached to the housing and wherein the elongate member is adapted for positioning in the pinna and outside the ear canal of the user for retention of the housing in the ear canal.
The second springs may be configured for provision of a mechanical snap fit coupling of the Signal Processor Module to the hearing instrument housing.
The positions of the first and second springs to which the Signal Processor Module is coupled in its operational position in the hearing instrument housing, are stabilized by the Signal Processor Module in its operational position in the hearing instrument housing.
The Signal Processor Module may further comprise connector pads, such as solder pads, for connection with programming equipment for the hearing instrument. During programming of the hearing instrument, e.g. adjustment of signal processing parameters of the hearing instrument, a programming connector of the programming equipment for the hearing instrument is inserted in the hearing instrument housing, e.g. the battery compartment of the housing, for electrical interconnection with the connector pads. The programming connector may mechanically engage with at least one or more of the first and second springs in the housing for keeping the programming connector in a fixed position during programming. Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, the battery door may be closed for retaining the programming connector in the battery compartment.
In this way, the interconnecting part of the programming equipment is simplified electrically and mechanically since connecting elements already present in the hearing instrument can also be used for interconnection with the programming equipment.
Preferably, the housing is attached to an elongate member configured for positioning in the pinna and outside the ear canal of the user for retention of the housing in the ear canal.
Retention of the hearing instrument in the proper place is important. Jaw movements can exert outward forces on parts of the hearing instrument housing that reside in the ear canal during use. Preferably, the elongate member has sufficient resilience to counteract this force thereby securing parts of the hearing instrument housing residing in the ear canal from outward motion.
The elongate member may be adapted to be positioned in the pinna of the user around the circumference of the conchae abutting the antihelix and at least partly covered by the antihelix for retainment of its position.
The elongate member may be preformed during manufacture, preferably into an arched shape with a curvature slightly larger than the curvature of the antihelix, for easy fitting of the elongate member into its intended position in the pinna.
The elongate member may be resilient for assisting in retaining the trunk part of the housing in the ear canal of the user so that the trunk part of the housing remains securely in place in the ear canal without falling out of the ear irrespective of movements of the user, such as smiling, chewing or yawning. Retention is provided without causing pain to the user.
Preferably, the elongate member is resilient in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal extension thereby providing further capability of retention of the trunk part of the housing in the ear canal of the user. During positioning of the housing in its intended position in the ear canal of the user, the transverse resilience of the elongate member facilitates insertion of the housing into the ear canal of the user.
The elongate member may further be adapted to abut part of the concha at the antitragus when the housing has been inserted in the ear canal thereby applying a force to the housing towards an upper part of the ear canal and thereby retaining the housing in a position in which the housing is pressed against the wall of the upper part of the ear canal. The upper part of the ear canal remains relatively unaffected during jaw movement so that parts of the housing resting against the upper part of the ear canal wall are subjected to the least possible outward moving forces during jaw movement.
Preferably, the elongate member is adapted to abut the antihelix and extend at least to the inferior crus of the antihelix when the housing is positioned in the ear canal of the user.
More preferred the elongate member is adapted for positioning of the second end at the cimba concha below the triangular fossa of the ear of the user when the trunk part of the housing is positioned in the ear canal of the user.
The elongate member may be adapted for accommodation of a microphone. For example, the elongate member may be adapted for accommodation of the microphone at its second end. The elongate member may have a larger cross-section at its second end accommodating the microphone than a remaining part of the elongate member extending therefrom and towards the first end.
Positioning of the microphone of a hearing aid at the second end of the elongate member provides a large distance between the microphone and the hearing aid receiver thereby minimizing feedback.
Feedback limits the maximum gain available to the user of the hearing aid. Feedback refers to the amplified signal returning to a hearing aid input. The feedback path may be an acoustic feedback path of sound propagating from the receiver along a path outside the hearing instrument to the microphone. This phenomenon, which is also known as acoustical feedback, occurs e.g. when a hearing instrument housing does not completely fit the wearer's ear, or in the case of a housing comprising a so-called vent, i.e. a canal or opening for e.g. ventilation purposes. In both examples, sound may "leak" from the receiver to the microphone and thereby cause feedback.
Additionally, inductive feedback may occur in the hearing aid, for example via a telecoil of the hearing aid coupling a magnetic field generated by the receiver into the telecoil thereby generating a hearing aid input signal.
Oscillation may arise when the attenuation provided by the feedback path is smaller than the hearing aid gain. A large distance between the microphone and the receiver alleviates this problem.
The external feedback signal path is typically an acoustic path between the microphone and the receiver, i.e. an external feedback signal propagates through air surrounding the hearing instrument.
However, feedback in a hearing instrument may also occur internally since sound can be transmitted from the receiver to the microphone along a path inside the hearing instrument housing.
The internal feedback signal path between the microphone and the receiver may comprise a mechanical signal path, an acoustical signal path, or a combination of mechanical and acoustical signal paths.
Here, the term acoustical refers to sound propagating as pressure waves in a gas, such as ordinary air within the hearing aid, while the term mechanical refers to sound propagating as vibrations through solid materials, such as the hearing instrument housing, receiver/microphone mountings etc.
Thus, the internal feedback signal path may comprise mechanical elements in the hearing aid, such as receiver, microphone, mountings and housing, and in some cases, also an acoustical element, such as air within the hearing instrument housing.
Typically, the main source of mechanical feedback is the receiver generating vibrations transmitted to other parts of the hearing instrument, e.g. via the receiver mounting(s). For this reason, in some state-of-the-art hearing aids of the ITE-type (In-The-Ear), the receiver is not fixed, rather it is flexibly mounted within the hearing aid housing whereby transmission of vibrations from the receiver to other parts of the device is reduced.
While the problem of external feedback limits the maximum gain available in a hearing aid during use, the problem of internal feedback has its main influence in the production process of hearing instruments with a microphone, where it is today a very time-consuming manual procedure to mount and/or place receiver and microphone(s) in the devices in such a way that internal feedback is minimised.
The continuing minimisation of the size of a hearing aid makes it more and more critical to accurately position the receiver in the hearing aid housing during manufacture or service so that internal feedback is kept at a minimum. This also makes the hearing instrument less robust against bumps or impacts against the surroundings that may occur during use of the hearing instrument, since a slight displacement of the receiver may cause sufficient internal feedback to significantly reduce the maximum gain made available to the user without howling or whistling of the hearing instrument.
Thus, suppression of internal feedback makes positioning of the receiver easy to perform during manufacture or service and robust during use without reducing the maximum gain made available to the user of the hearing instrument.
Further, suppression of internal feedback makes it possible to mount the receiver in close contact with the hearing instrument housing, since the internal mechanical and/or acoustical feedback will be suppressed due to the long distance between receiver and microphone. Thus, the previously required suspension of the receiver in resilient suspensions within the hearing instrument is no longer necessary. The receiver may be snugly fitted within the hearing instrument housing, e.g. within a compartment of the hearing instrument housing having mechanical support elements abutting the hearing instrument when mounted and keeping the receiver in a specific position during use. The mounting of the receiver is thereby made robust against mechanical bumps or impacts that the hearing instrument will experience during transport or use. Further, the manufacture of the hearing instrument is simplified and less costly and makes it easy to calibrate.
Further, absence of specific receiver mountings makes more volume available inside the hearing instrument housing for a larger receiver so that the present hearing instrument housing is capable of accommodating a larger receiver than can be accommodated inside similar sized conventional hearing instrument housings. Thus, the present hearing instrument housing with a microphone in the elongate member is capable of providing a larger gain than provided by similar sized conventional hearing instrument housings.
Provision of a long distance between the receiver and the microphone suppresses internal feedback.
Provision of the PCB wall further suppresses internal feedback.
As further described below, electronic feedback suppression may also be provided in the hearing instrument according to some embodiments.
The elongate member may accommodate further electrical hearing instrument components.
In an elongate member with a microphone at the second end of the elongate member, the elongate member is preferably substantially rigid in the direction of its longitudinal extension so that electrical conductors residing in the elongate member are protected against breaking.
With a microphone in the elongate member at its second end, localisation is substantially maintained when the microphone is positioned at a location within the pinna wherein the microphone receives a sound signal that allows the user to perceive the direction towards a sound source. Then, the sound signal based on which the user is capable of perceiving direction is transmitted to the ear drum of the user by the hearing aid. For example, sense of direction may be substantially maintained when the microphone is positioned at the cimba concha below the triangular fossa in the pinna.
Two microphones may be accommodated at the second end of the elongate member for provision of noise suppression and/or further directionality.
The elongate member and the trunk part preferably form separate units that are manufactured in separate pieces. The trunk part of the housing and the elongate member may be interconnected mechanically and possibly electrically via the left ear connector or the right ear connector during manufacture of the hearing instrument, or they may be interconnected at a later stage, e.g. by the dispenser during fitting of the hearing instrument to a user.
The elongate member according to some embodiments is preferably manufactured in a number of standard sizes to fit the human anatomy of the pinna of most users. In this way, the manufacturing cost is lowered as compared to the manufacturing cost of customized elongate members.
The present hearing instrument housing is preferably manufactured in a number of standard sizes to fit the human anatomy of the ear canal of most users. In this way, the manufacturing cost is lowered as compared to the manufacturing cost of customized housings. Various standard sizes may also be provided for accommodation of batteries of different sizes, and various standard sizes may be provided for accommodation of receivers of different sizes.
In a preferred embodiment, the elongate member is removably interconnected with the trunk part of the housing so that a large number of different models of the hearing aid may be provided by combining elongate members of different standard sizes with a standard sized trunk part possibly selected from a set of differently sized trunk parts.
The left ear connector may be configured to be removably attached to the trunk part. Further, the right ear connector may be configured to be removably attached to the trunk part.
The housing may comprise a battery door providing access to a battery compartment for accommodation of a non-rechargeable battery. The elongate member may be attached to the battery door and the battery door may be removably attached to the trunk part of the housing with the right ear connector or the left ear connector included in the battery door for removal of the elongate member from the trunk part together with the battery door.
The battery door with the elongate member may be manufactured in one shape suitable for the right ear and another shape suitable for the left ear. In the shape suitable for the right ear, the elongate member extends from the battery door at a certain angle with relation to the battery door suitable for positioning of the elongate member in the pinna of the right ear when the trunk part has been inserted into the right ear canal of the user. In the shape suitable for the left ear, the elongate member extends from the battery door at a certain angle with relation to the battery door suitable for positioning of the elongate member in the pinna of the left ear when the trunk part has been inserted into the left ear canal of the user.
The connector may further be adapted for making electrical contact with a signal line in the elongate member when the battery door is attached to the housing.
For provision of an open solution, the trunk part and possible further parts of the housing residing in the ear canal during use have a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the ear canal so that occlusion substantially does not occur. When the housing is inserted into the user's ear canal, the smaller cross-section of the trunk part and possible further parts of the housing allows communication between the ear canal between the eardrum and the housing and the surroundings for prevention of occlusion.
The trunk part is preferably substantially straight along its longitudinal extension.
Preferably, the trunk part has a substantially rectangular cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal extension.
Preferably, the trunk part has a substantially rectangular cross-section extending in parallel with its longitudinal extension.
The trunk part may further comprise a connector configured for making electrical contact with a signal line in the elongate member when the elongate member is attached to the trunk part.
The Signal Processor Module may be included in a set of hearing instrument housing parts that further comprises:
The trunk part shaped for accommodation in the ear canal of a user and configured for interconnection with
a left ear connector configured to be attached to the trunk part and to be attached to the first end of the elongate member with the opposite second free end in such a way that the elongate member forms an angle with the longitudinal extension of the trunk part, when operatively interconnected with the trunk part, the angle being suitable for use in the left ear of the user, anda right ear connector configured to be attached to the trunk part and to be attached to the first end of the elongate member with the opposite second free in such a way that the elongate member forms an angle with the longitudinal extension of the trunk part, when operatively interconnected with the trunk part, the angle being suitable for use in the right ear of the user,the elongate member being configured for interconnection with a selected one of the left ear connector and the right ear connector and for positioning outside the ear canal in the pinna for retention of the trunk part in the ear canal.
Provision of such a set of hearing instrument housing parts reduces the number of different mechanical parts needed for being capable of providing hearing instrument housings fitting the right ear and the left ear, respectively, of a large variety of users.
The size and shape of the ear canal vary among individuals. Typically, the ear canal is approximately 26 mm long and 7 mm in diameter. In most cases, the ear canal bends backwards and slightly upward in the medial direction, i.e. in the direction from the entrance of the ear canal towards the ear drum. Thus, a right tip part of the hearing instrument housing fitting into the right ear canal of the user is preferably provided that forms an angle towards the left with relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when seen from above in the medial direction of the ear canal. Further, a left tip part fitting into the left ear canal of the user is preferably provided that forms an angle towards the right with relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when seen from above in the medial direction of the ear canal. Individuals with a straight ear canal requiring a straight tip part are rare.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise
a right tip part that forms an angle with relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when operatively interconnected with the trunk part, facilitating accommodation in the right ear canal of the user of a hearing instrument housing comprising the interconnected trunk part and right tip part, anda left tip part that forms an angle with relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when operatively interconnected with the trunk part, facilitating accommodation in the left ear canal of the user of a hearing instrument housing comprising the interconnected trunk part and left tip part,the trunk part being further configured for interconnection with a selected one of the left tip part and the right tip part.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a straight tip part that is straight and extends along the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when operatively interconnected with the trunk part.
Tip parts may be manufactured in a number of standard sizes and shapes, e.g. in a number of angles formed with relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when assembled with the trunk part, and in a number of lengths, widths and heights, and in a number of angular depths, i.e. distances from the interconnection between the tip part and the trunk part to the bend of the tip part, etc., for accommodation in respective ear canals of different sizes and with bends occurring at different depths in the ear canal and with different bending angles.
The tip part of the housing may be flexible for variation of the angle for increased wearing comfort.
The tip part may be custom made to individually fit the user's ear canal without causing pain to the user while still retaining the housing securely in place in the ear canal preventing the housing from falling out of the ear irrespective of movements of the user, such as smiling, chewing or yawning.
In one embodiment, a custom made part is provided fitting around a standard sized tip part for individually fitting a standard sized housing to a specific user's ear canal.
In one embodiment, a flexible part fitting around a standard sized tip part is provided for improved fitting of the housing to a specific user's ear canal. The flexible part may be provided in a number of standard sizes.
The hearing instrument may further comprise a cerumen filter that is adapted to be fitted on the receiver or on the tip part of the housing with a snap on coupling.
In a preferred embodiment, the set of hearing instrument housing parts comprises one standard sized trunk part fitting a large majority of possible users, however, the set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a plurality of differently sized trunk parts.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a plurality of differently sized Signal Processor Modules, each of which fits within a hearing instrument housing of a specific size.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a plurality of Signal Processor Modules, each of which carries signal processors adapted for execution of different signal processor programmes, for example different algorithms for compensation of different types of hearing impairment.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a plurality of differently sized receivers.
The set of hearing instrument housing parts may further comprise a plurality of differently sized elongate members.
Thus, typically, a hearing instrument housing for the right ear of a specific user is assembled, e.g. at the point of sale of the hearing instrument, by selection of a specific Signal Processor Module adapted to perform a desired signal processing, and further selection of parts for provision of a best fit with the right ear of the user in question, i.e. the right pinna and the right ear canal of the user and thus, by selection of an appropriately sized trunk part for connection with a selected right ear connector having the elongate member at a desired angle suitable for use in the right ear of the user. Further, the selected trunk part may be interconnected with a selected right tip part that forms a desired angle towards the left in relation to the longitudinal extension of the trunk part when seen from above in the medial direction of the ear canal facilitating accommodation in the right ear canal of the user in question.
A hearing instrument housing for the left ear of a specific user is assembled in a similar way.
Preferably, the receiver is accommodated in the tip part of the housing.
The trunk part of the housing may comprise a connector for making mechanical and electrical contact with the receiver. In this way, the receiver may be installed in the hearing instrument housing at the point of sale, e.g. by the dispenser so that the dispenser may be able to offer a variety of models to the user without a need for purchasing and storing a similar variety of hearing instruments.
Preferably, the trunk part accommodates the signal processor of the hearing instrument for generating an audio signal.
The hearing instrument may further comprise a battery or batteries for power supply of the electric components of the hearing instrument. The battery or batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.
The size and shape of the housing according to some embodiments has proven to be so comfortable that users are able to sleep well with the housing inserted in an ear canal. This makes the housing well suited for use in tinnitus relieving and noise suppression.
In some embodiments, the hearing instrument constitutes a hearing aid comprising a microphone for converting sound into an audio signal, a signal processor for processing the audio signal for compensating a hearing loss, and a loudspeaker that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into a sound signal. Further, the hearing aid comprises a battery for power supply of the electric components of the hearing aid.
In accordance with hearing aid terminology, the loudspeaker is also denoted a receiver throughout the present specification.
The hearing instrument housing may accommodate the above-mentioned hearing aid components including the microphone in a way similar to the housing of a CIC hearing aid.
In an embodiment, the elongate member accommodates the microphone, e.g. at its second end, and the remaining part or parts of the housing accommodate the other components, and signal conductors extend within the elongate member for electrical interconnection of the microphone with other components in the housing.
In a preferred embodiment, electronic feedback compensation is provided. Feedback is a well-known problem in hearing instruments and several systems for suppression and cancellation of feedback exist within the art. With the development of very small digital signal processing (DSP) units, it has become possible to perform advanced algorithms for feedback suppression in a tiny device, such as a hearing aid, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,580, U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,467 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,498,858.
The above mentioned prior art systems for feedback cancellation in hearing aids deal with external feedback, i.e. transmission of sound between the loudspeaker (often denoted receiver) and the microphone of the hearing aid along a path outside the hearing aid device. This problem, which is also known as acoustical feedback, occurs e.g. when a hearing aid earpiece part does not completely fit the users ear, or in the case of an earpiece part comprising a vent. In both examples, sound may "leak" from the receiver to the microphone and thereby cause feedback.
The problem of external feedback limits the maximum gain available in a hearing aid.
Thus, the hearing instrument may further comprise a feedback compensation circuit for providing a feedback compensation signal of signals picked up by the microphone by modelling an acoustical and mechanical feedback signal path of the hearing instrument, subtracting means for subtracting the feedback compensation signals from the audio signal to form a compensated audio signal, which is input to the signal processor of the hearing instrument.
The feedback signal path is typically an acoustic path between the microphone and the receiver, i.e. an external feedback signal propagates through air surrounding the hearing instrument.
Preferably, the feedback compensation means comprises an adaptive filter, i.e. a filter that changes its impulse response in accordance with changes in the feedback path.
Both static and adaptive filters are well known to a person skilled in the art of hearing instruments, and will therefore not be discussed in further detail here.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). Tinnitus is considered a phantom sound, which arises in the auditory system. For example, a ringing, buzzing, whistling, or roaring sound may be perceived as tinnitus. Tinnitus can be continuous or intermittent, and in either case can be very disturbing, and can significantly decrease the quality of life for one who has such an affliction.
Tinnitus is not itself a disease but an unwelcome symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes, including psychological factors such as stress, disease (infections, Menieres Disease, Oto-Sclerosis, etc.), foreign objects or wax in the ear and injury from loud noises. Tinnitus is also a side-effect of some medications, and may also result from an abnormal level of anxiety and depression.
The perceived tinnitus sound may range from a quiet background sound to a signal loud enough to drown out all outside sounds. The term 'tinnitus' usually refers to more severe cases. A 1953 study of 80 tinnitus-free university students placed in a soundproofed room found that 93% reported hearing a buzzing, pulsing or whistling sound. However, it must not be assumed that this condition is normal—cohort studies have demonstrated that damage to hearing from unnatural levels of noise exposure is very widespread.
Tinnitus cannot be surgically corrected and since, to date, there are no approved effective drug treatments, so-called tinnitus maskers have become known. These are small, battery-driven devices which are worn like a hearing aid behind or in the ear and which, by means of artificial sounds which are emitted, for example via a hearing aid speaker into the auditory canal, to thereby psycho acoustically mask the tinnitus and thus reduce the tinnitus perception.
The artificial sounds produced by the maskers are often narrow-band noise. The spectral position and the loudness level of the noise can often be adjusted via for example a programming device to enable adaptation to the individual tinnitus situation as optimally as possible. In addition, so-called retraining methods have been developed, for example tinnitus retraining therapy (Jastreboff P J. Tinnitus habituation therapy (THI) and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). In: Tyler R S, ed. Handbook of Tinnitus. San Diego: Singular Publishing; 2000:357-376) in which, by combination of a mental training program and presentation of broad-band sound (noise) near the auditory threshold, the perceptibility of the tinnitus in quiet conditions is likewise supposed to be largely suppressed. These devices are also called "noisers" or "sound enrichment devices". Such devices or methods are for example known from DE 29718 503, GB 2 134 689, US 2001/0051776, US 2004/0131200 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,262.
Although present day tinnitus maskers to a certain extent may provide immediate relief of tinnitus, the masking sound produced by them may adversely affect the understanding of speech, partly because S/N (Speech/Noise) ratio would be lower due to the addition of noise, and partly because persons suffering from tinnitus often also suffer from a reduced ability to understand speech in noise as compared to people with normal hearing.
For many people, the known maskers will not provide any long term relief of tinnitus. Recent research conducted by Del Bo, Ambrosetti, Bettinelli, Domenichetti, Fagnani, and Scotti "Using Open-Ear Hearing Aids in Tinnitus Therapy", Hearing Review, August 2006, has indicated that better long term effects for tinnitus relief may be achieved if so-called habituation of tinnitus is induced in a tinnitus sufferer by using sound enrichment by sound from the ambient environment. The rationale behind habituation relies on two fundamental aspects of brain functioning: Habituation of the reaction of the limbic and sympathetic system, and habituation of sound perception allowing a person to ignore the presence of tinnitus. While tinnitus maskers emit sounds that either partly or completely cover the perceived sound of tinnitus, Del Bo, Ambrosetti, Bettinelli, Domenichetti, Fagnani, and Scotti suggest the use of environmental sounds amplified by a hearing aid or by application of artificial sounds, such as band limited noise. According to an aspect of some of the embodiments, the hearing instrument also includes a tinnitus relieving circuit, for example generating sounds useful for relieving tinnitus as described above. The relieving circuit may for example be a tinnitus masker, a sound enrichment circuit, etc.
According to another aspect of some of the embodiments, a tinnitus relieving device or a tinnitus therapy device is provided with a housing and an elongate member as disclosed throughout the present disclosure. The tinnitus relieving device may not have a microphone. In one embodiment, the tinnitus relieving device does not compensate for a hearing loss.
In another embodiment, a hearing instrument includes a tinnitus relieving device or a tinnitus therapy device.
According to yet another aspect of some of the embodiments, a noise suppression device is provided with a housing and an elongate member as disclosed throughout the present disclosure. The noise suppression device may not have a microphone. In one embodiment, the noise suppression device does not compensate for a hearing loss.
In another embodiment, a hearing instrument includes a noise suppression device.
The noise suppression device may have a conventional noise suppression circuit with a signal processor for performing analysis of the waveform of the background aural or non-aural noise, and generation of a polarisation reversed waveform to cancel the background noise out by interference. The generated waveform has identical or directly proportional amplitude to the waveform of the original noise, but its polarity is reversed. This creates the destructive interference that reduces the amplitude of the perceived noise.
In accordance with some embodiments, a hearing instrument includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a signal processor on the printed circuit board, wherein the signal processor is configured for generating an audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the audio signal into a sound signal, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate the receiver and the printed circuit board with the signal processor, and the housing has a trunk part that is coupled with a tip part, and wherein the printed circuit board forms a wall within the housing extending transversely relative to a longitudinal extension of the trunk part.

Hearing instrument with a wall formed by a printed circuit board


A sheet feed mechanism includes a chassis for supporting a stack of sheets; a top sheet engaging member for engaging a top most sheet of the stack; a stack engaging structure for engaging the stack and biasing the top most sheet against the top sheet engaging member, the stack engaging structure hingedly connected to the chassis at a hinge axis; a friction surface extending from the stack engaging structure, the friction surface extending in a curvature parallel to a locus of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; a lock mechanism having a lock arm hingedly connected to the chassis at the hinge axis, the lock mechanism further having a biased contact foot for engaging the friction surface to retard a movement of the stack engaging structure about the hinge axis; and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the contact foot from the friction surface. The friction surface is arranged to extend beneath the biased contact foot, and the actuator is adapted to pivotally actuate the biased contact foot upwards and downwards to respectively disengage and engage the biased contact foot with the friction surface.

Sheet material is typically supplied and stored in stacks. To use the individual sheets, they first need to be separated from each other. The paper feed systems in printers, scanners, copiers or faxes are a common examples of the need to sequentially feed individual sheets from a stack into a paper feed path. Given the widespread use of such devices, the invention will be described with particular reference to its use within this context. However, this is purely for the purposes of illustration and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the invention has much broader application and may be suitable for many systems involving the handling of stacked sheet material.
Printers, copiers, scanners, faxes and the like, sequentially feed sheets of paper from a stack in the paper tray, past the imaging means (e.g. printhead), to a collect tray. There are many methods used to separate single sheets from the stack. Some of the more common methods involve air jets, suction feet, rubberized picker rollers, rubberized pusher arms and so on. In the systems that use a pick up roller or pusher arm, it is important to control the force with which the roller touches the top sheet of the stack to drive, push or drag it off the top. The friction between the top sheet and the pusher or roller needs to exceed the friction between the top sheet and the sheet underneath. Too much force can cause two or more sheets to be drawn from the stack (known as 'double picks'), and too little will obviously fail to draw any sheets.
Sheet feed mechanisms should also be relatively simple, compact and have low power demands. For example, consumer expectations in the SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) printer market are directing designers to reduce the desktop footprint, improve feed reliability for a variety of paper grades while maintaining or reducing manufacturing costs.


A shield assembly for an x-ray device is disclosed herein. The shield assembly includes a radiation shielding layer comprised of a first material; and a thermally conductive layer attached the radiation shielding layer. The thermally conductive layer is comprised of a second material. The shield assembly also includes an electron absorption layer attached to the radiation shielding layer. The electron absorption layer is comprised of a third material. The electron absorption layer is configured to absorb backscattered electrons.

X-ray tubes generally include a cathode and an anode disposed within a vacuum vessel. The cathode is positioned at some distance from the anode, and a voltage difference is maintained therebetween. The anode includes a target track or impact zone that is generally fabricated from a refractory metal with a high atomic number, such as tungsten or any tungsten alloy. The anode is commonly stationary or a rotating disc. The cathode emits electrons that are accelerated across the potential difference and impact the target track of the anode at high velocity. As the electrons impact the target track, the kinetic energy of the electrons is converted to high-energy electromagnetic radiation, or x-rays. The electrons impacting the target track also deposit thermal energy into the anode.
A relatively large percentage of the electrons that strike the target track of the anode backscatter from the anode surface and are therefore sometimes referred to as "backscatter" electrons. The backscattered electrons can re-impact the anode and produce off-focus x-rays that diminish x-ray image quality. This occurs to a high degree in a bi-polar x-ray tube where the anode is maintained at positive potential relative to ground and a significant fraction of backscattered electrons are pulled back to the anode. Additionally, the backscattered electrons can interact with other internal components of the x-ray tube transferring kinetic energy in the form of heat until all their energy is depleted. Excess heat generation adversely affects the durability of the x-ray tube and may also increase expense associated with providing additional cooling capacity.

Electron absorption apparatus for an x-ray device


A display apparatus which has a mirror with a free curved reflective surface of which curvature fluctuates with inflection points, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a back light and a polarizer. Light of an image which was modulated by the LCD is reflected by the free curved reflective surface and passes through the polarizer. Then, the light is directed to an optical pupil. Since the curvature of the free curved reflective surface fluctuates with inflection points, curvature of field and distortion can be corrected properly, and an image of high quality can be formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical system, and more particularly to an optical system comprising a free curved reflective surface. The present invention also relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly to a display apparatus which is suited to be used as a head mounted type, which is called an HMD (head mounted display).
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Patent No. 3155341 (reference 1) discloses a display apparatus which comprises an aspherical concave mirror of which curvature in the plane of incidence of the optical axis is set such that a plane image can be formed. Consequently, on the display, images of high picture quality can be seen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,588 (reference 2) discloses a display apparatus which comprises an aspherical concave mirror of which curvature in a direction perpendicular to the plane of incidence of the optical axis is set such that distortion can be minimized. Consequently, on the display, images of high picture quality can be seen.
Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 11-95160 (reference 3) discloses a head mounted display apparatus which comprises a half mirror and a polarizer which is laminated on the half mirror. Thereby, the quantity of reflected light is reduced.
However, the display apparatus of the reference 1 has a problem that correction of distortion is sacrificed for the sake of achieving a plane image. More specifically, as FIG. 17 shows, a rectangular image 500 is reflected on a free curved reflective surface 501 to be directed to an optical pupil 510, and a virtual image 505 is seen on the optical pupil 510 as a distorted image 505′.
Also, the display apparatus of the reference 2 has a problem that correction of curvature of field is sacrificed for the sake of minimizing distortion or a problem that resolution is low. More specifically, as FIG. 18 shows, a rectangular image 500 is reflected on a free curved reflective surface 502 to be directed to an optical pupil 510, and a virtual image 506 is seen on the optical pupil 510 as a rectangular image 506′. Distortion was corrected, and the image 506′ is rectangular. However, the curvature of field of the image 506′ is large and more than 1 diopter, so that the image is difficult to see. With this free curved reflective surface 502, if it is tried to correct curvature of field as well as distortion, the image 506′ will have a low resolution and will be blurred.
In the display apparatus disclosed by the reference 3, a half mirror is used. Therefore, although the quantity of external light is reduced to a half, 25% of the quantity of light is reflected to be directed to the eyes of an observer, which makes the image difficult to see. Also, because only 25% of the quantity of light from the image is used, the image is dark. Further, because the light from the image is reflected by the half mirror, the apparatus is large.
Recently, various types of color image forming apparatuses have been developed and provided. Color image forming apparatuses are generally divided into a color filter type and a field sequential driving type.
FIG. 14a shows a screen on which images A and B are displayed. FIG. 14b schematically shows display elements of the color filter type, and FIG. 14c schematically shows display elements of the filed sequential driving type.
In the color filter type, a red color filter R, a green color filter B and a blue color filter B are provided for each pixel, and depending on the luminous balance of the three filters, a color image is formed. In this type of color image forming apparatus, because one dot is formed by use of three filters, a color shift in accordance with the pitch of the filters occur. The color shift is so small that it will not be a practical problem in an apparatus which enables an observer to see the formed image directly. However, in an apparatus which magnifies a formed image, such as an HMD, the color shift is also magnified, and the picture quality will be lowered.
On the other hand, in the filed sequential driving type, as shown by FIG. 14c and as disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-117045 (reference 4) and Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 2001-188194 (reference 5), the illuminating light is switched among red, green and blue sequentially at a high speed, and synchronously, in each pixel, the light of red, the light of green and the light of blue are modulated in accordance with image signals of the respective wavelengths. Consequently, a color image can be seen by an after image effect. As a modulating device, an LCD (liquid crystal display), a DMD (digital micromirror device) made by U.S. Texas Instruments Incorporated or other suitable devices can be used.
In the field sequential driving type, an image of R, an image of G and an image of B are formed in one pixel sequentially, and a color shift does not occur. When the color filter type and the field sequential driving type are to form images of the same resolution, the necessary number of pixels in the field sequential driving type is one third of that in the color filter type. When the color filter type and the field sequential driving type have the same displaying area, the size of each pixel of the filed sequential driving type is three times as large as that of the color filter type, and the field sequential driving type has a higher vignetting factor and can form brighter images.
In an optical system for magnifying a formed image and displaying the magnified image, an optical element which diverts a bundle of rays is necessary, and a refraction element or a reflection element is used. With respect to diversions of bundles of rays by a refraction element, as FIG. 15) shows, a medium refracts a bundle of red rays R, a bundle of green rays G and a bundle of blue rays B at different angles because the medium has different refractive indexes to the respective wavelengths of R, G and B. Thereby, chromatic aberration is caused.
On the other hand, with respect to bends of bundles of rays by a reflection element, as FIG. 16 shows, a reflective element reflects a bundle of red rays R, a bundle of green rays G and a bundle of blue rays B at the same angle, and chromatic aberration is not caused. Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 5-303054 (reference 6) discloses a magnifying optical system which uses a reflective surface with this characteristic. However, the reference 6 merely discloses the magnifying optical system.


Systems and methods are provided for communicating data over a subscriber loop using a modem. One such method includes: transmitting data on the loop in a first frequency band; sensing an indication that simultaneous transmission on the loop in a POTS frequency band is imminent; and adjusting transmit power in the first band, in response to the sensing step. One such system includes an input/output connection in communication with the loop, a processor operable in at least two states, a means for sensing demand for simultaneous usage of the loop, and a means for controlling the state. The first state is characterized by a first transmit power spectrum in the first band. The second state is characterized by a second transmit power spectrum in the first band, reduced relative to the first spectrum. Upon sensing demand, the control means causes the processor to operate in the second state.

High speed digital modems, such as Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Loop (RADSL) modems, are able to transfer data at high rates over the local loop, because they use frequencies which are significantly higher than the voice band frequencies used in Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). By way of example, speech on a POTS system generally occurs in the frequency spectrum between about 0 Hz (DC) and about 4 kHz, whereas RADSL modems use the frequency spectrum of between about 20 kHz to about 1 MHz. High speed digital modems generally include error detection circuitry which measures the errors which occur during communications. By making such measurements, they are then able to update their statistical knowledge of the wire pair which extends between the subscriber's location and the central office. Using that statistical knowledge, the modems can select optimal operating speeds. These modems were originally proposed when it was thought that services such as video-on-demand would be desirable. As modem technology has developed, another need has arisen, in that the Internet has become a popular medium for both personal and work related use.
While the high speeds of RADSL modems seem to be quite desirable, their use of high frequencies mean that they also need to be protected from high frequency noise, such as cross-talk from adjacent channels or adjacent loops in the loop cable binder, as such noise causes them to downwardly adjust their operating speeds. In order to avoid certain types of noise, RADSL modems typically require the use of filters, called POTS filters, together with splitters for isolating Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) equipment from the RADSL modems. Indeed, without POTS filters and POTS splitters, POTS signals directly interfere with the RADSL spectrum below about 20 kHz and the RADSL signals directly interferes with the POTS spectrum. POTS filters and POTS splitters reduce the interference of POTS signaling transients on RADSL data transmission. In addition, the use of the high RADSL bandwidth demands relatively high transmit power, which can cause distortions and dynamic range overload to POTS equipment.
Unfortunately, the manufacture and installation of POTS filters and splitters are expensive, and their use sometimes requires rewiring of the customer premises to ensure that all PSTN equipment is properly isolated from the RADSL modems and computing equipment. Consequently, it would be desirable to avoid the use of POTS splitters and filters, in order to avoid the expense they impose (e.g., purchase cost and possible rewiring of customer premises).
Accordingly, there appears to be a need for a mass market modem which has data transfer rates greater than the 33.6 Kbps attainable by PSTN modems, yet under the rate that requires the addition of POTS filters, splitters, etc. to address noise and deleterious transmission line effects often encountered in high speed DSL modems.
Yet another problem which appears with increased Internet access and data communications is the increasingly limited availability to the customer phone line or local loop for its original purpose, i.e., voice communications. Of course, one solution is for a customer to purchase an additional phone line. This, however, imposes an additional cost on the customer. Moreover, unless the line is dedicated by the customer for a specific purpose (which is poor utilization), the second line may not always be available when needed.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved modem that accommodates data transmissions, while simultaneously allowing traditional voice operation of a telephone attached to the same line at the customer premise. It is particularly desirable to have such a modem that does not require the use of costly POTS filters and splitters.

Apparatus and method for communicating voice and data between a customer premises and a central office


A method of operating an internal combustion engine is provided, which includes the step of operating the engine with a mixed mode fuel injector in at least one of a homogeneous charge mode and a conventional mode. The method also includes the step of selectively operating the engine in the conventional mode upon the occurrence of a predetermined homogeneous charge mode failure. An internal combustion engine is provided, having an electronic controller with software logic for selectively operating the engine in the conventional mode, upon the occurrence of a predetermined homogeneous charge mode failure.

The sophistication of internal combustion engines and engine operating schemes continues to advance, and innovations in design and operation are revealed almost daily. One driving force behind many design changes in recent years has been increasingly stringent emissions requirements. One general approach to improving emissions quality relates to treatment of combustion products downstream from the engine. In other words, exhaust gases produced by the engine are treated via a variety of chemical and/or physical processes in an attempt to remove or reduce undesired constituents. In an alternative approach, engine developers have focused more on manipulating aspects of the combustion process itself to improve emissions quality.
Manipulation of fuel injection quantity, frequency, timing and even the type of injection spray pattern has been shown to facilitate reduction of certain undesirable emissions. Of particular interest to engineers are designs meeting or exceeding the government regulations relating to emission limits on various nitrogen-oxygen compounds, known collectively as "NOx".
It has been discovered that enhancing mixing of air and fuel prior to ignition in an internal combustion engine cylinder can help reduce NOx levels in the engine exhaust. In the compression ignition, or diesel engine arts, one particular approach is known as "homogeneous charge compression ignition" or "HCCI". In a homogeneous charge mode, fuel may be injected into an engine cylinder prior to the point at which the cylinder pressure and/or temperature is sufficient to trigger autoignition. This differs from a more traditional approach, wherein fuel is typically injected at or close to a point in the engine cycle at which autoignition can occur. In other words, in homogeneous charge operation, rather than fuel autoigniting upon injection, the fuel may be injected relatively earlier in the engine cycle, having more time to mix with air as the piston travels upward in the cylinder. As a result, ignition of most or all of the injected charge occurs at approximately the same time, rather than relatively gradually via a coherent flame front traversing the cylinder space.
While homogeneous charge operation has shown much promise in improving emissions quality in many vehicles, operation tends to be relatively sensitive to various operating conditions. Undesired variation in certain operating conditions, such as ignition timing, can compromise successful operation. Where a homogeneous charge engine is employed in an on-highway truck, for example, homogeneous charge failure can strand the truck far from a service station.
Various operating schemes and engine designs have developed over the years to reduce the likelihood of engine failures. In most engine designs capable of homogeneous charge operation, an electronic controller is coupled with several of the engine components, and controls various engine parameters to help reduce operating problems. However, even with the most advanced engine control systems, failures of course still occur.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/372,692 to Shinogle et al., filed Feb. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,159 discloses one operating design directed to providing an alternative operation scheme to allow an engine to operate under lower energy level conditions. While Shinogle appears to work well in its particular environment, there is always room for improvement and advancement of such strategies to other technical areas.
The present disclosure is directed to one or more of the problems or shortcomings set forth above.

Limp home operating method for internal combustion engines


A truss fabrication system for fabricating trusses includes a table, a gantry press and an obstruction detection device. A top of the table receives truss components arranged with at least some connector plates engaging at least some of the truss members. The gantry press includes a gantry mounted for movement along a path relative to the table for pressing the connectors into the truss components for joining the truss members together. An obstruction detection device is mounted on the gantry for detecting obstructions in the path of the gantry. The detection device defines a vertical detection plane located a predetermined distance from the gantry and is adapted to detect the presence of all obstructions entering the plane at substantially the same time for stopping movement of the gantry.

This invention relates generally to truss fabrication systems, and in particular to an obstruction detection device for a truss fabrication system.
Pre-manufactured structural frameworks, such as trusses, are widely used in the construction industry for forming a roof, wall panel, floor, or other building component. Each truss includes a collection of wooden, plastic, or metallic truss members held together by connectors, such as nailing plates. The trusses are assembled to the correct specifications at a factory and then shipped to a construction site. A truss fabrication system is frequently used to facilitate efficient assembly of the truss. It features a table on which the truss members and connectors are placed at desired relative positions to form the particular truss configuration. A gantry press then travels along the table to press the connectors into the truss members thereby joining them together. Typically, the gantry press includes a cylindric roller mounted on a gantry. The gantry has wheels which run on tracks or guides located on the sides of the table or on the floor next to the sides of the table. After traversing the length of the table, the roller apparatus continues moving along the guides and is stopped in a parking area at an end of the table such that the assembled truss can be freely removed from the table without obstruction by the roller apparatus.
Gantry presses are equipped with devices to detect obstructions in the path of the gantry press and to stop the press. For example, many gantry press devices have a single, horizontal rod supported outwardly from the press for detecting obstructions along the path of travel. The horizontal rod is typically supported at its ends by two inclined arms pivotally mounted near the base of each of the opposite sides of the gantry. The horizontal rod extends the approximate length of the gantry press and is positioned such that the truss table and any truss components thereon may pass under the rod without being contacted. The rod is coupled with a motor shut-off switch to stop the gantry press from traveling along the pathway when the rod is pivoted upward as a result of either the rod or the arms encountering an obstruction.

Truss fabrication system with obstruction detection device


A system, method and power/data transmission device comprising a coil having a high Q, a low-voltage driver and a high-voltage driver switchably coupled to the coil. The low-voltage driver and the high-voltage driver are controlled by a microcontroller and switch at about the same time thereby providing a modulated data signal for transmission. Furthermore, the system includes at least one implantable microstimulator coupled to the transmission device.

Transmission of data or information signals is generally achieved through modulation of a carrier signal. The type of modulation, for example, may be amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or phase modulation. Any of the foregoing modulations can be used depending on the application of the transmission.
A class of implantable medical devices known in the art are small microstimulators and/or sensors. These small microstimulators or sensors, which are hereafter referred to as BION™ devices, are described more fully in the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,539, entitled "Implantable Microstimulator"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,540, entitled "Structure and Method of Manufacture of an Implantable Microstimulator"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,439 entitled "Implantable Device Having an Electrolytic Storage Electrode"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,284, entitled "System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,452, entitled "Battery-powered patient implantable device"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,894, entitled "System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters "; U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,721, entitled "System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters"; Pat. No. 6,564,807, entitled "System of implantable devices for monitoring and/or affecting body parameters, each of which patents are incorporated herein by reference. These BION devices are generally small enough to be implanted in a minimally invasive manner through a lumen of a needle, or a similar sized cannula. These BION devices or microstimulators when implanted can provide the appropriate electrical stimulation to the appropriate nerves or muscles in order to rehabilitate or contribute to the functionality of the intended body parts.
Communication with the microstimulators is achieved through a wireless medium. This communication can be through an electromagnetic or RF link or magnetic/inductive coupling of an external device with the microstimulators. In the case of the inductive coupling the external device generally referred to as a BION control unit (BCU) comprises a charger and a controller wherein the functionality of the charger and the controller may be combined and provided through a multi-turn loop antenna in the form of a single coil. This BCU coil is in turn coupled with the coil in the microstimulator providing the inductive coupling and transmission of power and modulated signal to the microstimulator. The communication between the BCU and the BION is through digital communication or pulse modulation of the carrier signal. It has been realized that the sharpness (rise time and/or fall time) of the square wave digital signal can have a direct effect on the communication and the ability of the BION device to properly receive and decode the modulated digital signal. Although a high power modulation amplifier may be used to overcome the problem associated with the low rise time and fall time of a digital square wave pulse modulated signal, however, this would not be compatible with the low power requirements of an implantable microstimulator. It has been further realized that when utilizing a single coil for the transmission of power and modulated signal to microstimulator the use of a high Q coil provides an optimal transmission of power to the microstimulator. However, the use of a high Q coil will adversely affect the modulation signal in that the rise time and the fall time of the signal will be very slow, therefore resulting in an unreliable reception of the modulated signal by the microstimulator. Thus there is a need in the art for an apparatus that comprises a high Q coil and also provides reliable modulation wherein the rise time and the fall time of the modulation signal are adequate for the proper reception by the microstimulator.
Corresponding numerals indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views of the drawings.

Method and apparatus for efficient power/data transmission

Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research


A roller insert for a conveyor roller tube includes a substantially cylindrical cartridge which is shaped to be press fitted into the tube, and may be removable and replaceable. The cartridge has an outboard lip shaped to engage an outer edge of the roller tube and includes a side wall and an annularly shaped inboard backstop. A stub axle is positioned within the cartridge and has a hex shaped tip, which preferably is tapered, projecting outwardly to engage a mounting hole in a conveyor frame. Inboard and outboard bearings are provided to allow rotational movement of the cartridge relative to the stub axle and conveyor frame. The axle includes a retainer, such as a key or bead, which engages the outboard bearing to prevent overextension of the axle. A bushing is mounted on the outboard bearing to facilitate slidable movement of the axle relative to the bearings. A coil spring biasing member is mounted on the axle to urge the axle outwardly from the cartridge.

This invention relates to the field of conveyor rollers and, more particularly, to devices for mounting conveyor rollers to support frames.
Conveyor systems utilizing rollers are widely used in a variety of industrial applications. In a typical configuration, a plurality of closely spaced, freely rotating rollers are mounted in parallel in an elongate support frame. The structure for rotatably mounting the rollers to the support frame is integral with the rollers. With some roller designs, inserts are mounted in the ends of the roller tube and include protrusions projecting outwardly from the ends of the tube which are received within opposing pairs of mounting holes formed in the conveyor frame. Consequently, each conveyor roller assembly is independently attachable to and removable from the conveyor support frame.
Such a structure is advantageous in terms of flexibility of design and ease of maintenance. However, a disadvantage with such a conveyor rollers is that a loose fit between the protrusions and the mounting holes can enlarge due to wear over time to the point where the protrusions may rotate in their respective mounting holes, resulting in further wear and noise. This is especially true for roller bodies having cylindrical protrusions or for rollers bearing high loads.
In order to avoid this problem, rollers have been designed using non-cylindrical protrusion shapes to prevent their rotation relative to the support frame.
Typically, these protrusions have a polygonal shape in cross section, such as a hexagonal shape. However, other shapes, such as semi-cylindrical, having a flat formed thereon, have been used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,644 to McNash et al. discloses a conveyor roller having protruding hexagonal stub shafts for engaging correspondingly-shaped mounting holes in side rails. However, even when rollers having protrusions with eccentric shapes are used, some wear and noise results during use due to the continual vibration of the conveyor assembly. Furthermore, over time, the edges of the protrusions and the mounting holes or slots can wear to the point where rotation of the protrusion in the hole becomes possible, further adding to the wear on, and early failure of, the rollers. The repair work that is required to maintain these systems, especially when conveyor rollers wear out and fail prematurely, can be quite expensive both in labor and materials and production downtime.
To prevent this occurrence, prior art systems have used protrusions which are spring-biased and tapered so that they fit snugly into the mounting holes or slots of the conveyor frame. An example of such a configuration is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,442 to Agnoff, which discloses a conveyor roller having a central hollow shaft extending therethrough, in either side of which is mounted a spring-biased shuttle having a tapered, hex-shaped tip.
Should only one of a pair of protrusions fail, in order to minimize the maintenance expense associated with conveyor repair it is desirable to replace only that component of the roller mounting mechanism. However, with prior art rollers in which the mounting components are integral, or in which the protrusions are mounted within a single central shaft, the entire roller may have to be discarded despite the failure of only one mounting component.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a conveyor roller mounting system which includes replaceable inserts having protrusions shaped to fit securely into a mounting hole or slot on a conveyor frame, which effectively distributes the weight of the objects being conveyed, and which is capable of withstanding substantial wear before failing.


An automatic transmission apparatus (1) for a vehicle includes: a shift lever (11) for changing the range of an automatic transmission (50); a position gate (13) which restricts the position of the shift lever (11) and which releases the restriction to allow the position of the shift lever (11) to be changed when an operation button (14) provided on the shift lever (11) is pressed; a torque sensor (30) which detects an operation force of the shift lever (11); and a motor (M) for power-assisting the operation of the shift lever (11) based on a detected value of the torque sensor (30), wherein, when the shift lever (11) is operated and brought into contact with the position gate (13), and the detected value of the torque sensor (30) is reversed to any one of a positive value and a negative value, a driving force of the motor (M) is limited to prevent the shift lever (11) from being power-assisted in a reversed direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open publication No. 2003-301942 discloses an automatic transmission apparatus for a vehicle. With the disclosed transmission apparatus, a driver needs less force than otherwise for operating the shift lever thanks to a motor driven in response to the value detected by a torque sensor provided to the shift lever.
This type of automatic transmission apparatus for a vehicle begins the power assist control on the shift lever when the detected value of the torque sensor exceeds a certain threshold value. On the other hand, the automatic transmission apparatus stops the power assist control when the detected value of the torque sensor is equal to, or less than, the threshold value, or when the shift lever moves to a certain predetermined shift position. The detected value of the torque sensor becomes zero, which is below the above-mentioned threshold value, when the driver's hand is released from the shift lever. As a result, the automatic transmission apparatus stops the power assist control.
In this type of automatic transmission apparatus for a vehicle, the torque sensor detects the load on the shift lever at the side of the motor. In addition, a position gate is provided to restrict the movement of the shift lever. A press on the operation button on the shift lever releases the restriction by the position gate, and allows the driver to operate the shift lever.

Automatic transmission apparatus and automatic transmission method for vehicle


A printing cylinder having an axis-parallel channel in the cylinder, the channel narrowing toward the surface to form a slot for receiving the ends of a covering; a clamping member arranged in the channel and urged toward the slot by springs, the clamping member having at least one recess facing a respective at least one wall of the channel; and at least one supporting element arranged inside the channel and engaging a respective recess of the clamping member. A pair of adjusting elements arranged at the ends of the cylinder support the clamping member so that the clamping member can be radially displaced, the adjusting elements being arranged so that movement of the adjusting elements causes relative movement between the supporting element and the clamping member, whereby the clamping member is caused to move radially for clamping and unclamping the ends of the covering in the slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a device for fastening a covering on a cylinder of a rotary printing press including at least one axially parallel channel in the cylinder, the channel forming a slot into which the ends of a covering can be inserted and removed, and a clamping member, which is arranged in the channel and is pressed radially toward the slot by means of several compression springs for fastening the covering, wherein adjusting elements, by which the clamping member is supported in a way that allows it to be radially displaced, are arranged at the ends of the cylinder.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE 197 03 290 A1 discloses a device for fastening a covering on an impression cylinder of a rotary press. In this known device, a clamping member within an axially parallel channel of the cylinder body is pressed by compression springs radially outward against the walls of the channel to fix a covering between the channel walls and the clamping member. To clamp and unclamp the covering, the clamping member is adjusted radially towards the inside of the cylinder by setscrews located at its outer ends. In this clamped and unclamped position, the compression springs cause a deflection of the clamping rail towards the outside of the cylinder between the setscrews located at the ends.
Precisely in the case of narrow cylinders, such as one plate-around, double-width impression cylinders, the size or the diameter of the channel bore is limited. Due to the limited channel diameter, the size of the clamping rail and thus its stiffness are limited accordingly. If the clamping member is adjusted radially towards the inside of the cylinder by setscrews located at its outer ends for the purpose of clamping or bracing the covering, the convexity of the deflected clamping rail in the center region of the cylinder can project so close to the channel wall that the covering cannot be released or inserted.

Device for fastening a covering on a cylinder of a rotary press


The present invention provides an adjustable underwire support bra especially suited for larger breasted women. The bra is designed to allow a wearer to create their own most comfortable fit by independently adjusting inner and outer cup support straps. The bra is also designed with a centerpiece in which to embed the underwire to prevent the underwire from slipping or from poking through the fabric causing discomfort to the wearer and/or fabric wear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to clothing and methods of making. In another aspect, the present invention relates to bras and methods of making. In even another aspect, the present invention relates to adjustable bras and methods of making. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to adjustable underwire support bras and methods of making.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bras are an essential garment for many women. The purpose of a bra is to control excessive movement of the breast which can cause discomfort especially in larger breasted women. Failure of proper support results in the stretching of soft tissue and ligaments of the breast which causes not only general discomfort, but sagging earlier than normal. To provide the necessary support, a bra should not only be properly fitted but also be comfortable to wear.
Many larger breasted women require the additional support provided by an underwire. Problems associated with underwires include fabric wear, caused by the wire rubbing against the fabric, and discomfort caused by the wire poking through the fabric or otherwise chaffing against a wearer's skin. Discomfort is especially problematic for large breasted women where the weight of the breasts cause not only the underwire, but also the straps or hardware to cut into the body. A proper fit ensures better comfort and support.
Obtaining a proper fit, however, is hindered because most bras are massed produced thereby providing a symmetrical garment sized by way of chest circumference and breast or cup size. Such symmetrical construction does not take into account the fact that one's body may not be perfectly symmetrical, the variances in the human body over time or the variances among the bodies of individuals. For example, even when two women have the same chest circumference and cup size, a particular bra will not fit each woman exactly the same. The result is a correctly sized bra that does not fit a particular individual correctly. Therefore, adjustability of a bra is important to compensate for variances in a particular individual's body, in variances of an individual's body due to growth, pregnancy, nursing and/or aging and variances between the bodies of different individuals.
There have been several attempts in the prior art to provide for underwire bras that provide for support for larger breasted women.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,903 to Chaft discloses a brassiere having a wire frame designed to support separate and uplift a women's bust.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,613,356 to Russell discloses a brassiere to properly shape and support a women's breasts.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,640 to Garson discloses a wire for brassieres and similar garments with a reference to a means by which the wire is cushioned or encased to protect the wearer from contact with parts of the wire as would likely to cause possible irritation or discomfort.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,650 to Guide discloses a wire supporting means for a brassiere which is readily removable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,494 to Flanagan discloses a breast foundation and natural support characterized by its immobility relative to the rib-cage and also by its capacity to permit independent movement of breasts while comfortably supporting same. The support assembly includes inner and outer front panels, the later having seam connection to at least the principal supporting cup and the former bearing and underwire. In a modification for the fuller breast, a double cup is interconnected to the outer front panel. An optional prosthesis pocket is also available, wherein a separate piece of fabric is connected at the top of the foundation in both forms of the invention, the fabric hangs down to form a pocket from above. As the prosthesis is inserted from an open side and held in place by the lower pocket, upper pocket is thus formed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,150 to Terrell discloses an improvement in underwire bra construction wherein the ends of the U-shaped underwire are secured to complementary fastening members affixed to the material of the bra cup and wherein such U-shaped underwire is free to swing up or down relative to said complementary fastening system thereby providing a means to eliminate the puncturing of the bra material by the ends of the U-shaped underwire.
Despite the advances of the prior art there is still a need for a support bra which does not suffer from the disadvantages of the prior art.
There is another need in the art for a more comfortable support bra wherein the bra is adjustable to properly fit an individual wearer.
There is even another need in the art for an adjustable underwire support bra so that a wearer may receive proper support without soreness or chaffing from banding, shoulder straps, hooks or wires.
These and other needs in the art will be come apparent to one of skill in the art upon review of this specification, its claims and drawings.

Adjustable support bra and method of making


The invention provides a novel process for producing a 3,5-difluoroaniline compound by reacting a 2-halo-4,6-difluoroaniline with a diazotizing agent in the presence of a reducing agent to form a diazonium salt. Build-up of potentially dangerous diazonium salt is avoided by reducing the diazonium salt with the reducing agent, to form a 1-halo-3,5-difluorobenzene, contemporaneously with the diazotization reaction. The 1-halo-3,5-difluorobenzene is then aminated.

3,5-difluoroaniline is a known chemical with varied uses. It is particularly useful as an intermediate in production of herbicidal and pharmaceutical compositions. One known method for the production of 3,5-difluoroaniline is by amination of 1-bromo-3,5-difluorobenzene. Known processes for the manufacture of 1-halo-3,5-dihalobenzenes, including 1-bromo-3,5-difluorobenzene are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,169, which issued to Patton on Mar. 26, 1992, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
However, the processes discussed in the patent to Patton have several drawbacks. One particular drawback is the production in those processes of a diazonium salt as an intermediate. Diazonium salts can be explosive, and thus a build-up of diazonium salt in a manufacturing process presents an increased potential danger in carrying out such a process. According to the Patton reference, 2-bromo-4,6-difluoroaniline is diazotized in an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid to afford a solution of diazonium salt. The diazonium salt is subsequently reduced using hypophosphorous acid. Thus, this process includes an increased level of danger particularly after the diazotization of 2-bromo-4,6-difluoroaniline and before reduction thereof with hypophosphorous acid. Moreover, the use of hypophosphorous acid is particularly costly.
Also, as set forth in the Patton reference, because the bromination reaction is exothermic, when conducted in an aprotic solvent, the reaction must be controlled to temperatures of less than 30.degree. C. This necessitates cooling the reaction mixture with corresponding additional costs to the production process.
Another drawback to the process discussed in the Patton reference is the necessity of collecting and drying the 2-bromo-4,6-difluoroaniline hydrobromide salt after the bromination step and before diazotization. This step is time consuming, and thus, when the process is used on a commercial level, will result in significant additional costs in the production of a 1-bromo-3,5-difluorobenzene product. Moreover, producing 1-bromo-3,5-difluorobenzene in two distinct steps, separated by a drying step, requires additional equipment, at least inasmuch as two reaction vessels, as well as additional filtering and drying equipment, are required to practice the process.
Yet another disadvantage to that process is the yield. According the Patton reference, the process discussed therein results in a yield of 2-bromo-4,6-difluoroaniline of about 75% (mole basis).
In view of the significant commercial uses of 3,5-difluoroaniline, there has been substantial commercial research directed to identifying commercially acceptable, safe, inexpensive and efficient methods for manufacturing 3,5-difluoroaniline products in high yields. However, despite the commercial interest and substantial research to identify such processes, no process has been found in which high yields of 3,5-difluoroaniline are achieved by a generally safe, inexpensive process while minimizing separate steps to isolate intermediates.

Process for preparing 3,5-difluoroaniline