Ear-worn electronic device incorporating directional magnetic antenna

• US 10,511,920 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Haubrich, Greg, Nilakantan, Nikhil
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US15/952,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20190320269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

An ear-worn electronic device includes a housing comprising a first end and an opposing second end, a first side and an opposing second side, and the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends. The first side is configured to contact the wearer'"'"'s head. A battery is disposed within the housing proximate the first end. An acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector is disposed within the housing proximate the second end. Electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio are disposed in the housing. A directional magnetic antenna is situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio. The antenna comprises a core having a complex shape and a coil wound around a portion of the core. The core comprises a closed end oriented toward a source of magnetic noise and an open end oriented away from the source of magnetic noise.

Claims

1. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

a housing comprising a first end and an opposing second end, a first side and an opposing second side, and the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends, the first side configured to contact the wearer'"'"'s head;

a battery disposed within the housing proximate the first end;

an acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector disposed within the housing proximate the second end;

electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio disposed in the housing; and

a directional magnetic antenna situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio, the antenna comprising a core having a complex shape and a coil wound around a portion of the core, the core comprising a closed end oriented toward a source of magnetic noise and an open end oriented away from the source of magnetic noise.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is oriented within the housing to reduce induced voltages from noisy magnetic fields while not attenuating induced voltages from desired magnetic fields.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the closed end of the core is oriented towards the second side of the housing; and

the open end of the core is oriented towards the first side of the housing.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the closed end of the core is oriented towards the electronics; and

the open end of the core is oriented towards the first end of the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the coil-wound portion of the core is situated between the battery and the first end of the housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the coil-wound portion of the core is situated between the electronics and the first end of the housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a longitudinal axis comprising a first portion and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a curved longitudinal axis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the core has a C-shape, a U-shape, a horseshoe shape or an L-shape.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the battery comprises a first surface facing the first side of the housing, a second surface facing the second side of the housing, and a peripheral surface between and connecting with the first and second surfaces; and

the core comprises;

a first portion extending from the coil-wound portion along the first surface of the battery; and

a second portion extending from the coil-wound portion along the second surface of the battery.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the coil-wound portion comprises a ferrite rod; and

each of first and second portions of the core comprises a ferrite-loaded elastomer, ferromagnetic material or mu-metal.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein:

the first portion of the core comprises a first electrical contact configured to electrically connect with the first surface of the battery; and

the second portion of the core comprises a second electrical contact configured to electrically connect with the second surface of the battery.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

at least some of the electronics or the acoustic receiver is disposed in an enclosure comprising high permeability material;

the coil-wound portion is situated adjacent the battery; and

the core comprises a strap comprising high permeability material extending from the coil-wound portion, along the second side of the housing, and connecting to the enclosure.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the battery comprises a first surface facing the first side of the housing, a second surface facing the second side of the housing, and a peripheral surface between and connecting with the first and second surfaces;

the coil-wound portion is situated adjacent a first section of the peripheral surface of the battery; and

the core comprises;

a first portion extending from the coil-wound portion along the second surface of the battery; and

a second portion extending from the first portion and along a second section of the peripheral surface of the battery opposing the first section.

15. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

a housing comprising a first end and an opposing second end, a first side and an opposing second side, and the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends, the first side configured to contact the wearer'"'"'s head;

a battery disposed within the housing proximate the first end;

an acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector disposed within the housing proximate the second end;

electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio disposed in the housing;

a magnetic antenna situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio, the antenna comprising a core and a coil wound around a portion of the core; and

a magnetic shield positioned between the antenna and a region of the second side of the housing, the magnetic shield configured as a low reluctance path to a source of magnetic noise impinging on the second side of the housing.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic shield is positioned to redirect the magnetic noise away from a coil aperture of the antenna.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the antenna comprises a core having a complex shape, the core comprising a closed end oriented toward the second side of the housing and an open end oriented toward the first side of the housing.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the antenna comprises a core having a complex shape, the core comprising a closed end oriented towards the electronics and an open end oriented towards the first end of the housing.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the core comprises a longitudinal axis comprising a first portion and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the core has a C-shape, a U-shape, a horseshoe shape or an L-shape.