Method and apparatus for a wireless hearing aid antenna

• US 20050168396A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Victorian, Thomas A., Newton, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/788
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/025 Transducer mountings or cabinet supports enabling variable orientation of transducer of cabinet
• 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

Abstract

One aspect relates to a hearing aid having a housing with a face plate to which a handle is connected. Additionally, an at least partially coiled antenna is located proximal to the face plate. Another aspect relates to an apparatus comprised of a means for locating hearing aid components in a housing, a means for inserting and removing the hearing aid with a handle, a means for connecting the handle to the housing, and a means for integrating an antenna with the handle, wherein the antenna is located proximal to the housing. Another aspect relates to a method of making a hearing aid, including connecting an antenna to a handle and connecting the handle to the hearing aid, wherein the antenna is located proximate to the hearing aid housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a face plate,

the housing adapted to contain a hearing aid transmission circuit;

a handle connected to the housing;

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid transmission circuit, and

wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be a completely in the canal hearing aid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to be an in the canal hearing aid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the antenna conductor is wrapped around a rod.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the handle moves independent of the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the rod is ferrite.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the number of conductor wrappings is between about 40 to about 120 turns.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the number of conductor wrappings is approximately 90 turns.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the axial length of the antenna is from about 1 millimeter to about 6 millimeters, with a diameter from about 0.5 millimeters to about 2 millimeters.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the axial length of the antenna is approximately 4 millimeters, and the diameter is approximately 1 millimeters.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle extends through at least one coil of the antenna.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the conductor is wrapped around a ring shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the ring shape is ferrite.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the number of conductor turns is from about 50 turns to about 70 turns.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the number of conductor turns is approximately 60.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the antenna is fixed in a face plate, and the handle moves relative to the antenna.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein conductors comprise;

flexible wire connects the antenna to other components and is adapted to allow antenna movement relative to other components.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

a commutator and brushes connect the antenna and other components and allow antenna movement relative to other components.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is approximately 1 meter long.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle extends through at least one coil of the antenna.

16. The apparatus of 14, wherein one portion of the ring shape forms the wrapped antenna, and is from about 1 millimeters to 5 millimeters in length, and from about 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters in diameter.

17. The apparatus of 16, wherein the length is approximately 2.5 millimeters, and the diameter is approximately 3 millimeters.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a face plate,

the housing adapted to contain a short-range hearing aid circuit;

a handle connected to the housing;

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the short range hearing aid circuit, and

wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

means for locating hearing aid components in a housing;

means for inserting and removing the hearing aid with a handle;

means for connecting the handle to the housing;

means for integrating an antenna with a handle, and

wherein the antenna is proximal to the housing.

26. The apparatus of 25, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled.

27. A method for making a hearing aid comprising:

connecting an antenna to a handle;

connecting the handle to the hearing aid;

wherein the antenna is located proximate to the hearing aid housing.

28. The method of 27, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled.

29. The method of 27, wherein the antenna is wrapped around a ferrite core.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a face plate,

the housing adapted to contain hearing aid electronics;

a handle connected to the housing;

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid electronics;

wherein the antenna has a ferrite core,

the antenna core is rod shaped,

the antenna core is wrapped with a conductor approximately 90 times, and

the antenna core is approximately 4 millimeters long and approximately 1 millimeters in diameter; and

wherein the antenna is at least partially inserted in the handle.

31. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a face plate,

the housing adapted to contain hearing aid electronics;

a handle connected to the housing;

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid electronics,

wherein the antenna has a ferrite core,

the antenna core is ring shaped,

the antenna core is wrapped approximately 60 times, and

the wrapped portion of the antenna core is approximately 2.5 millimeters long and 3 millimeters in diameter; and

wherein the handle is at least partially inserted through the antenna.