Hearing aid connector

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a compact connector including a light tip connector including a light tip cable connected thereto, the light tip connector including a receiving cavity including side walls and a bottom wall, guide channels formed in the side walls of the receiving cavity, a locking pin at a medial end of the guide channel and one or more light tip electrodes positioned on a bottom wall of the receiving cavity. In further embodiments of the present invention, a BTE connector includes a latch adapted to engage the locking pin to hold the BTE connector in the receiving cavity when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector. In a further embodiment, the compact connector includes a plurality of pogo pin electrodes arranged to contact the light tip electrodes when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compact connector comprising:
 a light tip connector including a light tip cable connected thereto, the light tip connector comprising:
 a receiving cavity including side walls and a bottom wall; 
 guide channels formed in the side walls of the receiving cavity; 
 a locking pin at a medial end of the guide channel; 
 one or more light tip electrodes positioned on a bottom wall of the receiving cavity; 
   a BTE connector comprising:
 a latch adapted to engage the locking pin to hold the BTE connector in the receiving cavity when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector; and 
   a plurality of pogo pin electrodes arranged to contact the light tip electrodes when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector.   
     
     
         2 . A compact connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising springs positioned to bias the pogo pin electrodes toward the light tip electrodes when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector. 
     
     
         3 . A compact connector according to  claim 2 , further comprising connection wires contacting the light tip electrodes to connect the light tip electrodes to the light tip cable. 
     
     
         4 . A compact connector according to  claim 3 , further comprising guide pins on the light tip housing, the guide pins being positioned to engage the BTE housing when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector. 
     
     
         5 . A compact connector according to  claim 4 , further comprising wires connected to electrodes on a lateral end of the pogo pin electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . A compact connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a hook at a medial end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A compact connector according to  claim 6  wherein the latch is a spring latch. 
     
     
         8 . A light tip connector including a light tip cable connected thereto, the light tip connector comprising:
 a receiving cavity including side walls and a bottom wall;   guide channels formed in the side walls of the receiving cavity;   a locking pin at a medial end of the guide channel; and   one or more light tip electrodes positioned on a bottom wall of the receiving cavity.   
     
     
         9 . A BTE connector comprising:
 a latch adapted to engage the locking pin to hold the BTE connector in the receiving cavity when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector; and   a plurality of pogo pin electrodes arranged to contact the light tip electrodes when the BTE connector is attached to the light tip connector.   
     
     
         10 . A method of connecting a BTE to a light tip, using a light tip connector, the method comprising the steps of:
 aligning the light tip connector to the BTE using guide pins located on either the light tip connector or the BTE;   engaging channel guides located on either the BTE or the light tip connector with channels formed in either the light tip connector or the BTE;   engaging a latch hook positioned on either the BTE or the light tip connector with a locking pin arranged on either the BTE or the light tip connector such that the latch hook rides up and over the locking pin as the BTE and light tip are connected;   engaging pogo pin electrodes arranged such that the direction of motion of the pogo pin electrodes is substantially orthogonal to the direction of motion of the BTE and light tip connector, wherein contact tips on the pogo pin electrodes are in electrical contact with electrodes when the BTE is connected to the light tip connector.