Wirelessly rechargeable hearing device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wirelessly rechargeable hearing device having inductive charging circuitry comprising a receiver coil, which has a plurality of receiver coil windings surrounding a winding-free area. The hearing device further comprises a magnetic component configured to magnetically engage with another magnetic component comprised outside the hearing device and the magnetic component is further arranged within a volume that extends perpendicularly from the winding-free area. Further, the disclosure relates to a charger for the wirelessly rechargeable hearing device, where the charger comprises a magnetic component arranged within a volume that extends perpendicularly from a winding-free area defined by transmitter coil windings. Lastly, a system comprising the wirelessly rechargeable hearing device and the charger is disclosed.

1 . A wirelessly rechargeable hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user, the hearing device comprising:
 a hearing device housing;   a rechargeable battery within the hearing device housing;   inductive charging circuitry comprising a receiver coil configured for inductive coupling to a transmitter coil outside the hearing device, the receiver coil comprising a plurality of receiver coil windings surrounding a first winding-free area, the inductive charging circuitry being within the hearing device housing; and   a first magnetic component configured to magnetically engage with a second magnetic component outside the hearing device, the first magnetic component being within the hearing device housing, wherein the first magnetic component is within a first volume that extends perpendicularly from the first winding-free area.   
     
     
         2 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is substantially in a first plane that is substantially parallel to a receiver coil plane of the receiver coil, and where the first plane has a first distance to the receiver coil plane. 
     
     
         3 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is at least partially or entirely in front of the receiver coil with respect to an inductive coupling direction of the receiver coil. 
     
     
         4 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 3 , wherein the hearing device housing comprises a protrusion extending from a part of the hearing device housing, the protrusion defining a protrusion volume, and wherein the first magnetic component is at least partially within the protrusion volume. 
     
     
         5 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 4 , wherein the receiver coil is outside the protrusion volume. 
     
     
         6 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first magnetic component outer boundary of the first magnetic component is defined in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the windings of the receiver coil, and a first winding-free area outer boundary of the first winding-free area is defined in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the windings of the receiver coil. 
     
     
         7 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first magnetic component outer boundary of the first magnetic component has a shape that geometrically corresponds with a shape of a first winding-free area outer boundary of the first winding-free area. 
     
     
         8 . The wirelessly rechargeable hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic component is a magnetic material, or a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         9 . A charger for a wirelessly rechargeable hearing device, the charger comprising:
 a charger casing;   a transmitter coil configured for inductive coupling to a receiver coil outside the charger, the transmitter coil comprising a plurality of transmitter coil windings surrounding a winding-free area, the transmitter coil being within the charger casing; and   a magnetic component configured to magnetically engage with another magnetic component outside the charger, wherein the magnetic component of the charger is within a volume that extends perpendicularly from the winding-free area.   
     
     
         10 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic component is substantially in a plane that is substantially parallel to a transmitter coil plane of the transmitter coil, and wherein the plane has a distance to the transmitter coil plane. 
     
     
         11 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic component is at least partially or entirely behind the transmitter coil with respect to an inductive coupling direction of the transmitter coil. 
     
     
         12 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein the charger casing comprises a depression extending into the charger casing, the depression defining a depression volume, and wherein the depression volume extends at least partially into the winding-free area. 
     
     
         13 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein a magnetic component outer boundary of the magnetic component of the charger is defined in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by transmitter coil windings of the transmitter coil, and wherein a winding-free area outer boundary of the winding-free area is defined in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by the windings of the transmitter coil. 
     
     
         14 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein a magnetic component outer boundary of the magnetic component of the charger has a shape that geometrically corresponds with a shape of a winding-free area outer boundary of the winding-free area. 
     
     
         15 . The charger according to  claim 9 , wherein the magnetic component is a magnetic material, or a magnet. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising the wirelessly rechargeable hearing device of  claim 1 , and a charger for the wireless rechargeable hearing device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the charger comprises:
 a charger casing;   the transmitter coil configured for inductive coupling to the receiver coil of the hearing device outside the charger, the transmitter coil comprising a plurality of transmitter coil windings surrounding a second winding-free area, the transmitter coil being within the charger casing; and   the second magnetic component configured to magnetically engage with the first magnetic component of the hearing device outside the charger, wherein the second magnetic component of the charger is within a second volume that extends perpendicularly from the second winding-free area.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a first magnetic component outer boundary of the first magnetic component is smaller than the second winding-free area, and wherein the first magnetic component is at least partially within the second winding-free area when the hearing device is placed in the charger. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first magnetic component is at least partially behind the transmitter coil with respect to an inductive coupling direction of the transmitter coil when the hearing device is placed in the charger.