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.