BEHIND-THE-EAR WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20100321269A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishibana, Kyouko, Matsubara, Naoki, Koyanagi, Yoshio, Nishikido, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/834
• 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 19/26 the primary active element being end-fed and elongated
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

A behind-the-ear wireless device includes a main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein and an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound to an ear. The main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected to each other, whereby the wireless device can be fitted to the ear. An antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in a hollow of the sound tube. A parasitic element having a length of about a half wave length is disposed in the main body casing.

Claims

1. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

a first main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein; and

an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound from the first main body casing to an earhole,

wherein said behind-the-ear hearing aid can be fitted to an ear by a configuration in which the first main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected,

wherein an antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in the audio transmission unit,

wherein a parasitic element having a length of about half wave length or more is disposed in the first main body casing, and

wherein in a state where a user wears the hearing aid, the parasitic element and the antenna element are dispose in this order along a direction of a line of sight of the user.

2. The behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the parasitic element is disposed in the first main body casing.

3. The behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the parasitic element is disposed on an outer surface of the first main body casing.

7. The behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, comprising:

an earphone capable of being fitted into the earhole and having a function as an audio output device; and

an earphone cable provided in the audio transmission unit and having a function of transmitting an audio signal from the first main body casing to the earphone,

wherein the earphone cable serves as the antenna element.

8. The behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 1, comprising:

an earphone capable of being fitted into the earhole and having a function as an audio output device; and

an earphone cable provided in the audio transmission unit and having a function of transmitting an audio signal from the first main body casing to the earphone,

wherein the earphone cable serves as the parasitic element.

4. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

a first main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein; and

an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound from the first main body casing to an earhole,

wherein said behind-the-ear hearing aid can be fitted to an ear by a configuration in which the first main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected,

wherein the antenna element is disposed in the first main body casing,

wherein the parasitic element is disposed in the audio transmission unit,

wherein a length of the parasitic element is less than about half wave length, and

wherein in a state where a user wears the hearing aid, the parasitic element and the antenna element are dispose in this order along a direction of a line of sight of the user.

9. The behind-the-ear hearing aid according to claim 4, comprising:

an earphone capable of being fitted into the earhole and having a function as an audio output device; and

an earphone cable provided in the audio transmission unit and having a function of transmitting an audio signal from the first main body casing to the earphone,

wherein the earphone cable serves as the parasitic element.

5. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

a second main body casing including a wireless circuit and a speaker which are housed therein; and

a behind-the-ear hanger,

wherein said behind-the-ear hearing aid is configured such that, in a state where the behind-the-ear hanger is fitted to an ear, the second main body casing contacts a surface of an ear capsule in which an earhole exists, so as to transmit sound from the speaker to the ear,

wherein an antenna element having a length about half wave length is disposed in the second main body casing,

wherein a parasitic element having a length of about half wave length or more is disposed in the behind-the-ear hanger, and

wherein in a state where a user wears the hearing aid, the parasitic element and the antenna element are dispose in this order along a direction of a line of sight of the user.

6. A behind-the-ear hearing aid comprising:

a second main body casing including a wireless circuit and a speaker which are housed therein; and

a behind-the-ear hanger,

wherein said behind-the-ear hearing aid is configured such that, in a state where the behind-the-ear hanger is fitted to an ear, the second main body casing contacts a surface of an ear capsule in which an earhole exists, so as to transmit sound from the speaker to the ear,

wherein an antenna element is disposed in the behind-the-ear hanger,

wherein a parasitic element is disposed in the second main body casing,

wherein a length of the parasitic element is less than about half wave length, and

wherein in a state where a user wears the hearing aid, the parasitic element and the antenna element are dispose in this order along a direction of a line of sight of the user.