Wirelessly programmable hearing aid device

• US 20080095387A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Niederdrank, Torsten, Ruckerl, Gottfried
• Application Number:
  US10/636,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080095387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• 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: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A hearing aid device that, for example, can be wirelessly programmed by an external transmission and/or receiving unit, includes a circuit chip in which is integrated with a coil in the form of a coil structure for the exchange of electromagnetic signals. The integration of the coil structure permits a greatly reduced space requirement for the coil structure which can be used as an antenna.

Claims

1. An improved hearing aid device, the improvement comprising:

a chip and with a coil for wireless transmission of electromagnetic signals between the hearing aid device and an external transmission and/or receiving unit, said coil being integrated into said chip in a form of a coil structure.

2. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said coil is an antenna of a transponder.

3. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a programmable signal processing unit in the hearing aid device.

4. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a programmable signal processing unit of the hearing aid device connected to said coil.

5. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said external transmission and/or receiving unit includes a coil formed of an electrical conductor.

6. A hearing aid device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a programming device connected to said external transmission and/or receiving unit for programming said signal processing unit.

7. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy supply system of the hearing aid device that supplies at least some energy for a programming procedure of the hearing aid device, said coil being a part of said energy supply system.

8. A hearing aid device according to claim 2, further comprising:

an energy supply system of the hearing aid device that supplies at least some energy for a programming procedure of the hearing aid device, said transponder being part of said energy supply system.

9. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said coil structure is a spiral.

10. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said coil structure runs within a coating level of said chip.

11. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein said coil structure runs within a plurality of coating levels of said chip.

12. A hearing aid device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a device for transmitting acoustic signals that include said external transmission and/or receiving unit as a part, electromagnetic fields from the external transmission and/or receiving unit being emitted and received by the coil structure.

13. A hearing aid device and system, comprising:

a housing adapted to direct sound into an ear of a user;

a microphone to detect ambient sounds;

a speaker in said housing;

a battery in said housing;

a chip substrate in said housing and having a circuit formed thereon, said circuit including a signal processor connected to said microphone;

a coil integrated on said chip substrate and connected to said circuit; and

an external transmission/reception apparatus operable to wirelessly communicate with said coil in said housing.

14. A hearing aid device and system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said coil is formed in a single coating layer on said chip substrate.

15. A hearing aid device and system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said coil is formed in multiple layers on said chip substrate to form a three dimensional structure.

16. A hearing aid device and system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said signal processor is programmable, and wherein said coil receives programming signals from said external transmission/reception apparatus for programming said signal processor.