Antenna System for a Hearing Aid

• US 20120087506A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Hearing A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Özden, Sinasi
• Granted Patent: US 9,729,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/23.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• 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 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A hearing aid includes a hearing aid assembly having an antenna for emission of an electromagnetic field, a transceiver for wireless data communication, the transceiver interconnected with the antenna, and a housing for accommodation of the antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a first section having a length between at least one sixteenth wavelength and a full wavelength of the electromagnetic field, the antenna being positioned so that current flows in the first section in a direction that corresponds with an ear-to-ear axis of a user when the housing is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electromagnetic field emitted by the antenna propagates along a surface of a head of the user with its electrical field substantially orthogonal to the surface of the head of the user.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

a hearing aid assembly having

an antenna for emission of an electromagnetic field,

a transceiver for wireless data communication, the transceiver interconnected with the antenna, and

a housing for accommodation of the antenna;

wherein the antenna comprises a first section having a length between at least one sixteenth wavelength and a full wavelength of the electromagnetic field, the antenna being positioned so that current flows in the first section in a direction that corresponds with an ear-to-ear axis of a user when the housing is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electromagnetic field emitted by the antenna propagates along a surface of a head of the user with its electrical field substantially orthogonal to the surface of the head of the user.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first section forms part of the antenna having a total length of a quarter wavelength or any multiple thereof.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first section of the antenna is actively excited.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a passively excited antenna.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises a parasitic antenna element, the parasitic antenna element comprising a patch geometry, a rod geometry, a monopole geometry, a meander line geometry, or any combination thereof.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 5, wherein the hearing aid further comprises a primary antenna element.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein the primary antenna element and the parasitic antenna element are positioned on opposite sides of the hearing aid assembly.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein the first section forms a ground potential plane for the primary antenna and the parasitic antenna element.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein an excitation point for the parasitic antenna element is opposite to an excitation point for the primary antenna element.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein the primary antenna element and the parasitic antenna element are identical antenna structures.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first section is a first linear section that is positioned with a longitudinal direction substantially in parallel with an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the housing is worn in its operational position by the user.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the current of the antenna has its maximum amplitude in the first section during emission of the electromagnetic field.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises a parasitic antenna element, and the parasitic antenna element comprises an antenna shortening component.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 13, wherein the antenna shortening component comprises a serial inductor.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a behind-the-ear housing configured to be positioned behind an ear of the user during use.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the first section is accommodated in the housing with its longitudinal direction along a width of the housing.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured for electromagnetic field emission.

18. A binaural hearing aid system comprising at least one hearing aid according to claim 1.

19. An antenna system configured to be worn on a body of a user, comprising:

an antenna for emission of an electromagnetic field; and

a transceiver for wireless data communication, the transceiver interconnected with the antenna;

wherein the antenna comprises a first section having a length being between at least one sixteenth wavelength and a full wavelength of the electromagnetic field, the antenna being positioned so that current flows in the first section in a direction substantially orthogonal to the body of a user when the antenna system is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electromagnetic field emitted by the antenna propagates along a surface of the body of the user with its electrical field substantially orthogonal to the surface of the body of the user.