Hearing Aid with Antenna for Reception and Transmission of Electromagnetic Signals

• US 20080056520A1
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Knudsen, Ove, Christensen, Kare T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• 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 9/27 Spiral antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• 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 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.

Claims

1. Communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear and comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy, and whereby an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.

2. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is tuned to radiate and/or receive electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of 50 MHz to 50 GHz.

3. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is shaped as a part of a flexprint.

4. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is embedded in material externally of the battery.

5. Communication device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the antenna is a metal part.

6. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is manufactured by deposition of metal material on surface parts of the faceplate and/or battery drawer.

7. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna covers a surface area of the shell which is wider than the projection of the battery onto the faceplate surface.

8. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a loop, which is usable also as a charging loop for a battery.