Antennas for hearing aids

• US 7,593,538 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Polinske, Beau Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey; Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/357,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/322, 607/60, 343/860, 343/866, 455/572
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2283 mounted in or on the surface of a semiconductor substrate as a chip-type antenna or integrated with other components into an IC package
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• 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 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• 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

An antenna configured in a hybrid circuit provides a compact design for a hearing aid to communicate wirelessly with a system external to the hearing aid. In an embodiment, an antenna includes metallic traces in a hybrid circuit that is configured for use in a hearing aid. The antenna includes contacts in the hybrid circuit to couple the metallic traces to electronic devices in the hybrid circuit. In an embodiment, the metallic traces form a planar coil design having a number of turns of the coil in a substrate in the hybrid circuit. In another embodiment, the metallic traces are included in a flex circuit on a substrate in the hybrid circuit. An antenna configured in a hybrid circuit allows for use in a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a hearing aid, comprising:

communication electronics adapted for use with a hybrid circuit in the hearing aid; and

a flex antenna including one or more flexible metallic traces connected to the communication electronics, the flex antenna adapted for assembly with the hybrid circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more metallic traces are separated by polyimide.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna is adapted for transmissions including a carrier frequency ranging from about 400 MHz to about 3000 MHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of planar coils.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of planar coils are connected to form a helical coil.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

9. A hearing aid, comprising:

a hybrid circuit; and

a flex antenna disposed in the hybrid circuit and coupled to hearing aid electronics the flex antenna including flexible conductive traces.

10. The hearing aid of claim 9, including a radio frequency drive circuit coupled to the flex antenna.

11. The hearing aid of claim 9, comprising a matching circuit coupled to the flex antenna.

12. The hearing aid of claim 9, comprising an LC network coupled to the antenna adapted to selectively apply inductance and capacitance to the flex antenna.

13. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the flex antenna is configured as a plurality of planar coils.

14. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the plurality of planar coils are connected to form a helical component.

15. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the flex antenna includes metallic traces configured as a number of turns.

16. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

17. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the hearing aid is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

18. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the flex antenna is adapted to operate with transmissions including a carrier frequency ranging from about 400 MHz to about 3000 MHz.

25. The hearing aid of claim 9, wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

19. A method, comprising:

constructing a hybrid circuit including hearing aid electronics, the constructing including connecting a flex antenna including one or more flexible conductive traces on a substrate to at least a portion of the hybrid circuit; and

placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting signals using the flex antenna.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving signals using the flex antenna.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid housing.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid housing.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid housing.