Method and apparatus for a wireless hearing aid antenna

• US 7,256,747 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Tho
• Application Number:
  US10/768,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314, 381/315, 381/320, 381/322, 381/328, 381/330, 381/324, 343/702, 343/787, 343/788
• US Class Current: 343/718
• 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 for an ear, comprising:

a hearing aid housing having a face plate;

the hearing aid housing adapted to contain a hearing aid transmission circuit and adapted to fit in the ear;

a handle connected to the housing; and

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid transmission circuit, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled,

wherein the housing is adapted to be a completely in the canal hearing aid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein flexible wire connects the antenna to other components and is adapted to allow antenna movement relative to the other components.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a commutator and brushes connect the antenna and other components and the commutator and brushes allow antenna movement relative to the other components.

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

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid transmission circuit includes a reception circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the handle extends through at least one coil of the antenna.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the antenna is wrapped around a rod.

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

10. The apparatus of claim 8, 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna is wrapped around a rod.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the number of conductor wrappings is between about 40 to about 120 turns.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, 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. An apparatus for an ear, comprising:

a hearing aid housing having a face plate;

the hearing aid housing adapted to contain a hearing aid transmission circuit and adapted to fit in the ear;

a handle connected to the housing; and

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid transmission circuit, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled,

wherein the housing is adapted to be an in the canal hearing aid.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle extends through at least one coil of the antenna.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one coil is wrapped around a ring shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the number of conductor turns is from about 50 turns to about 70 turns.

19. The apparatus of 17, wherein one portion of the ring shape forms the wrapped antenna, and is from about 1 millimeter to 5 millimeters in length, and from about 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters in diameter.

20. An apparatus for an ear, comprising:

a hearing aid housing having a face plate;

the hearing aid housing adapted to contain a hearing aid transmission circuit and adapted to fit in the ear;

a handle connected to the housing; and

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid transmission circuit, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled,

wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the antenna is wrapped around a rod.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the handle moves independent of the housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the rod includes ferrite.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the number of conductor wrappings is between about 40 to about 120 turns.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the number of conductor wrappings is approximately 90 turns.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, 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.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the axial length of the antenna is approximately 4 millimeters, and the diameter is approximately 1 millimeter.

28. An apparatus for an ear, comprising:

a hearing aid housing having a face plate;

the hearing aid housing adapted to contain a hearing aid transmission circuit and adapted to fit in the ear;

a handle connected to the housing; and

an antenna located proximal to the face plate and connected to the hearing aid transmission circuit, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled, wherein the handle extends through at least one coil of the antenna.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one coil is wrapped around a ring shape.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the ring shape is ferrite.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the number of conductor turns is from about 50 turns to about 70 turns.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the number of conductor turns is approximately 60.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the antenna is fixed in a face plate;

and the handle moves relative to the antenna.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the hearing aid housing is adapted to be a completely in the canal hearing aid.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the at least one coil is wrapped around a ring shape.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the number of conductor turns is from about 50 turns to about 70 turns.

32. The apparatus of 30, wherein one portion of the ring shape forms the wrapped antenna, and is from about 1 millimeter to 5 millimeters in length, and from about 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters in diameter.

33. The apparatus of 32, wherein the length is approximately 2.5 millimeters, and the diameter is approximately 3 millimeters.

40. The apparatus of 38, wherein one portion of the ring shape forms the wrapped antenna, and is from about 1 millimeter to 5 millimeters in length, and from about 2 millimeters to 3 millimeters in diameter.

41. 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.

42. 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.