Radio frequency antenna for an in-the-ear hearing device

• US 10,051,388 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Polinske, Beau Jay, Rabel, Jay, Kannas, Randy, Hosadurga, Deepak Pai, Yang, Zhenchao, Stewart, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/272,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20180084351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 343745, 343750, 343834, 343702, 343700 MS, 381 231, 381314, 381315, 381322, 381324, 381380, 381 72, 381312, 381323, 381331, 381372, 607 57, 607 60, 455 903
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing, hearing electronics within the housing, and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

Claims

1. A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication, comprising:

a housing including a removal string;

hearing electronics within the housing;

an inverted F antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication, the antenna having a single ended structure and including a shunt connected to a battery for tuning impedance of the antenna; and

a faceplate connected to the housing, wherein a portion of the antenna protrudes from the faceplate and is attached to the removal string.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a faceplate connected to the housing, and wherein the antenna includes a portion embedded in the faceplate.

3. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein the faceplate includes a battery contact, and wherein the antenna is integrated in the battery contact.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the antenna that protrudes from the faceplate includes Nitinol.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a battery drawer configured to contain the battery, and wherein the antenna includes a portion embedded in the battery drawer.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a wire portion.

7. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein housing includes a housing for a hearing assistance device.

8. The hearing assistance device of claim 7, wherein the hearing assistance device includes one or more of an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid, an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid, a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid, a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid, a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid, and an invisible-in-canal (IIC) hearing aid.

9. A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication, comprising:

a housing including a sport lock;

hearing electronics within the housing; and

a loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication, wherein a looped portion of the antenna protrudes from a surface of the housing, wherein the antenna includes a portion integrated with the sport lock.

10. The hearing device of claim 9, wherein the loop antenna is overmolded with plastic.

11. The hearing device of claim 9, wherein the looped portion extends perpendicular to the housing or a faceplate of the housing.

12. The hearing device of claim 9, further comprising dielectrically loaded elements in series with the loop antenna to electrically lengthen or physically shorten the antenna.

13. A method for providing a hearing device with a housing, the hearing device with capability for wireless communication, the method comprising:

providing hearing electronics within the housing; and

providing an inverted F antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication, the antenna having a single ended structure and including a shunt connected to a battery for tuning impedance of the antenna, wherein the antenna includes a Nitinol portion protruding from the housing.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a faceplate of the housing and a radio circuit connected to the hearing electronics in the housing, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is configured to connect to the radio circuit at the faceplate.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a removal string connected to the housing, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is configured to be affixed to the removal string.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the hearing device includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising a sport lock on the housing, wherein the antenna includes a portion integrated with the sport lock.