Antenna device

• US 10,205,227 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Ozden, Sinasi
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir
• Application Number:
  US13/878,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,680 Days
• Field of Search: 381315
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/52 Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure absorbing means H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• 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

Abstract

An antenna device configured to be used at or in proximity to a user, the antenna device includes: an antenna structure having a conducting element, the conducting element extending over a length of between 1/16 of a wavelength and a full wavelength in a direction substantially orthogonal to a surface of the user, when the antenna device is provided in an intended operational position. A device includes: a housing having an operational position with respect to a user of the device; and an antenna structure coupled to the housing and having a conducting element, wherein the antenna structure is configured to emit an electromagnetic field so that the electromagnetic field propagates in a direction having a major directional vector that corresponds with a surface of a user using the device when the housing is at the operative position.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a surface for placement against a user of the apparatus;

a circuit in the housing; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to the surface of the housing, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the surface of the housing;

wherein the antenna is configured to emit an electromagnetic field that (1) has an electric field polarized in a direction that reduces propagation loss in tissue of the user compared to propagation loss associated with a propagation direction parallel to a surface of the user, and (2) has a substantial part that propagates in a direction along the surface of the user.

2. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a surface for placement against, or for touch by, a user of the apparatus;

a circuit in the housing; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to the surface of the housing, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the surface of the housing;

wherein at least a part of the first segment extending along the first direction with the first major directional component perpendicular to the surface of the housing is located away from a wall of the housing, and/or at least a part of the second segment extending along the second direction with the second major directional component parallel to the surface of the housing is located away from the wall of the housing.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a conducting element forming a ground plane and/or a reflecting plane.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first segment of the antenna has a length that is at least 1/16 of a wavelength.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is configured to operate at a frequency that is at least 1 GHz.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an antenna shortening component coupled to the antenna.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a parasitic antenna element, and a conducting element connected to the parasitic antenna element.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the parasitic antenna element is connected to the conducting element at a first position, and wherein the antenna has an excitation point opposite from the first position.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a combined length of the parasitic antenna element and an effective length of the conducting element is a quarter of a wavelength.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the circuit is coupled.

11. A hearing aid system comprising:

a hearing aid; and

the apparatus according to claim 2.

12. A hearing aid system, comprising:

a hearing aid having a hearing aid antenna; and

one or more hearing aid accessories, wherein at least one of the hearing aid accessories comprises the apparatus of claim 2, and is configured to communicate with the hearing aid antenna.

13. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a remote control feature.

14. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the antenna is configured to provide communication between one or more external electronic devices and a hearing aid.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is a wrist watch.

16. A hearing aid comprising a hearing aid antenna configured for communication with the apparatus of claim 2, the hearing aid antenna having a conducting element oriented in a direction that corresponds with an ear-to-ear axis of the user, the conducting element of the hearing aid being between 1/16 of a wavelength and a quarter of a wavelength.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 16, wherein an operating frequency of the hearing aid antenna is at least 1 GHz.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a combined length of the first and second segments of the antenna is a quarter of a wavelength or larger.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the surface is a major surface of the housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is a hearing aid.

21. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a hearing aid.

22. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second segment has an end that is free of electrical connection to its surrounding.

23. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an elongated member for wear around a neck of the user.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein when the user wears the elongated member around the neck, the housing rests against a body of the user.

25. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuit is a part of a circuit board.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board in the housing; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit board, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit board and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the plane of the circuit board;

wherein at least a part of the first segment extending along the first direction with the first major directional component perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board is located away from a wall of the housing, and/or at least a part of the second segment extending along the second direction with the second major directional component parallel to the plane of the circuit board is located away from the wall of the housing.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a combined length of the first and second segments of the antenna is a quarter of a wavelength or larger.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a major surface to be placed against a user of the apparatus, and wherein the plane of the circuit board is parallel to the major surface of the housing.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a conducting element forming a ground plane and/or a reflecting plane.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first segment of the antenna has a length that is at least 1/16 of a wavelength.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the antenna is configured to operate at a frequency that is at least 1 GHz.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an antenna shortening component coupled to the antenna.

33. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a parasitic antenna element, and a conducting element connected to the parasitic antenna element.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the circuit is coupled.

35. A hearing aid system comprising:

a hearing aid; and

the apparatus of claim 26.

36. A hearing aid system, comprising:

a hearing aid having a hearing aid antenna; and

one or more hearing aid accessories, wherein at least one of the hearing aid accessories comprises the apparatus of claim 26, and is configured to communicate with the hearing aid antenna.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a remote control feature.

38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the antenna is configured to provide communication between an external electronic device and a hearing aid.

39. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second segment has an end that is free of electrical connection to its surrounding.

40. A hearing aid comprising a hearing aid antenna configured for communication with the apparatus of claim 26, the hearing aid antenna having a conducting element oriented in a direction that corresponds with an ear-to-ear axis of a user of the hearing aid, the conducting element of the hearing aid being between 1/16 of a wavelength and a quarter of a wavelength.

41. The hearing aid according to claim 40, wherein an operating frequency of the hearing aid antenna is at least 1 GHz.

42. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is a hearing aid.

43. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a hearing aid.

44. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is a wrist watch.

45. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an elongated member for wear around a neck of a user of the apparatus.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein when the user wears the elongated member around the neck, the housing rests against a body of the user.

47. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board in the housing; and

an antenna coupled to the circuit board, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit board and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the plane of the circuit board;

wherein the antenna is configured to emit an electromagnetic field that (1) has an electric field polarized in a direction that reduces propagation loss in tissue of a user compared to propagation loss associated with a propagation direction parallel to a surface of the user of the apparatus, and (2) has a substantial part that propagates in a direction along the surface of the user.

48. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board in the housing;

an antenna coupled to the circuit board, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit board and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the plane of the circuit board

a parasitic antenna element; and

a conducting element connected to the parasitic antenna element; and

wherein the parasitic antenna element is connected to the conducting element at a first position, and wherein the antenna has an excitation point opposite from the first position.

49. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board in the housing;

an antenna coupled to the circuit board, the antenna having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment coupled to transmit energy between the circuit board and the second segment, wherein the first segment extends along a first direction having a first major directional component that is perpendicular to a plane of the circuit board, and wherein the second segment extends along a second direction having a second major directional component that is parallel to the plane of the circuit board

a parasitic antenna element; and

a conducting element connected to the parasitic antenna element; and

wherein a combined length of the parasitic antenna element and an effective length of the conducting element is at least a quarter of a wavelength.