Hearing aid with antenna for reception and transmission of electromagnetic signals

• US 8,995,699 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Oticon A/S (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Christensen, Kare T., Knudsen, Ove
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US14/103,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20140169604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 381/315, 381/322, 381/324, 381/331, 343/718, 343/842, 320/108, 455/41.2, 455/575.2
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• 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 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 9/27 Spiral antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/33 Aspects relating to adaptation of the battery voltage, e.g. its regulation, increase or decrease
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

The invention regards a communication device which is adapted for placement in a users ear. The communication device comprises a shell part enclosing an input transducer for receiving an input signal, a signal processing device and an output N transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound, a battery located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user, a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy. According to the invention an antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy is provided such that it has a first surface turned towards the surroundings and a second surface located in close proximity of the battery.

Claims

1. Communication device which is adapted for placement in a user'"'"'s ear and comprises:

an input transducer for receiving an input signal;

a signal processing device and an output transducer for providing a signal perceivable as sound;

a battery;

a transmission and reception circuit for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic energy;

an unbalanced antenna for radiating and/or receiving electromagnetic energy; and

a shell part enclosing the input transducer, the signal processing device, the battery, the transmission and reception circuit, and the unbalanced antenna;

wherein the battery is located at a surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user;

the antenna is disposed on the surface part of the shell which is facing away from the head of the user; and

the antenna is arranged such that an outer perimeter of a shape defined by the antenna extends beyond an outer perimeter of a shape defined by a projection of the battery on the surface part of the shell.

2. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being tuned to radiate and/or receive electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of 50 MHz to 50 GHz.

3. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being at least one of a planar patch or loop or helix antenna.

4. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being shaped as a part of a flexprint such that the shape defined by the antenna is included in the flexprint.

5. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being shaped from a solid metal part.

6. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being embedded in the shell part such that at least part of the antenna is physically separated from the battery by the shell part.

7. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the shell part including a faceplate and a battery drawer;

and

the antenna including metal material deposited on surface parts of at least one of the faceplate and battery drawer.

8. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being further configured as a charging loop for a battery.

9. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being arranged such that the antenna encircles the shape defined by the projection of the battery on the surface part of the shell.

10. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the battery being positioned within the shell part such that neither battery terminal is facing away from the head of the user.

11. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the antenna being disposed within the shell part such that the antenna is located above a topmost point of the battery in the direction facing away from the head of the user.

12. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the shell part including a cover portion disposed above the battery in the direction facing away from the head of the user;

and

the antenna being disposed in the cover portion.

13. Communication device as claimed in claim 1, the shell part comprising a molded plastic material;

and

the antenna being embedded within the molded plastic material of the shell part.