Method and apparatus for a wireless hearing aid antenna

• US 7,446,720 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Victorian, Thomas A., Newton, James
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/676,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 343/718, 343/702, 343/787, 343/788, 455/569.1, 455/422.1, 381/322, 381/328, 381/320, 381/330
• 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

The present subject matter includes a hearing aid housing, a microphone, a wireless communication circuit, hearing aid electronics disposed in the housing, the hearing aid electronics connected to the wireless communication circuit and the microphone, an insertion removal handle connected to the hearing aid housing, the insertion removal handle extending away from the hearing aid housing and an antenna disposed within the insertion removal handle, the antenna connected to the wireless communication circuit, wherein at least a portion of the antenna disposed within the insertion removal handle is coiled.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a hearing aid housing;

a microphone;

a wireless communication circuit;

hearing aid electronics disposed in the housing, the hearing aid electronics connected to the wireless communication circuit and the microphone;

an insertion removal handle connected to the hearing aid housing, the insertion removal handle extending away from the hearing aid housing; and

an antenna disposed within the insertion removal handle, the antenna connected to the wireless communication circuit, wherein at least a portion of the antenna disposed within the insertion removal handle is coiled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid housing is a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid housing is an in-the-canal hearing aid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insertion removal handle is cord shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a receiver circuit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a transmission circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one coil of the antenna extends into the handle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an antenna conductor of the antenna is wrapped around a ring including ferrite.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an antenna conductor of the antenna is wrapped around a rod.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the rod includes ferrite.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a hearing aid housing;

a microphone;

hearing aid electronics disposed in the housing, the hearing aid electronics connected to a wireless communication circuit and the microphone; and

a handle connected to the hearing aid housing and extending at least partially through a ring shaped antenna, the antenna being positioned within the hearing aid housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one coil of the antenna is disposed in the handle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a reception circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ring shaped antenna includes a ferrite core.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hearing aid housing is a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the antenna is coupled to a faceplate of the hearing aid housing.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a hearing aid housing;

a microphone disposed in the hearing aid housing and connected to hearing aid electronics, the microphone being adapted to provide sound signals to the hearing aid electronics;

wireless communications electronics connected to the hearing aid electronics, the wireless communications electronics including an antenna; and

handle means for inserting and removing the hearing aid housing, for mounting the antenna at least partially within the handle means, and for providing stress relief for the antenna caused by inserting and removing the hearing aid housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hearing aid housing is a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the antenna is at least partially coiled.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the antenna includes antenna conductor wrapped around a rod including ferrite.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the wireless communications electronics include a transmission circuit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the wireless communications electronics includes a receiver circuit.