Behind-the-ear (BTE) prosthetic device with antenna

• US 9,446,233 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Meskens, Werner, Jurkiewicz, Tadeusz, Winnall, Steve, Zhong, Limin
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Natasha
• Application Number:
  US14/199,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20140314264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• 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 25/607 of earhooks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to an transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system.

Claims

1. A hearing device, comprising:

a first portion configured to be arranged at a head of a user and to provide a signal to a second portion;

the second portion configured to be arranged in an ear or an ear canal of the user and to provide acoustic output to the user, the second portion including a transducer for converting the signal into the acoustic output;

an antenna for wireless communication, the antenna comprising an electrically conducting element; and

a coupling element coupling the first portion and the second portion, the coupling element comprising the electrically conducting element, wherein the electrically conducting element is at least a part of the antenna that is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting element is configured to transmit the signal from the first portion to the transducer at the second portion.

3. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises two wires coupled to the transducer, and wherein the electrically conducting element comprises one or both of the two wires.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises another electrically conducting element for transmitting the signal from the first portion to the second portion, and wherein the electrically conducting element is a dedicated antenna for the wireless communication.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a wireless communication interface for receiving and/or sending data through the antenna.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a first microphone located outside the first portion, wherein the first microphone is communicatively coupled to the first portion.

7. The hearing device of claim 6, further comprising a second microphone at the first portion.

8. The hearing device of claim 6, wherein the first microphone is at the second portion.

9. The hearing device of claim 8, wherein the electrically conducting element is connected to the first microphone at the second portion.

10. The hearing device of claim 8, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises a first conductor connected to the transducer at the second portion, and a second conductor connected to the first microphone at the second portion.

11. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises one or more conductors configured for wireless communication of data, and for transmission of the signal from the first portion to the second portion in a multiplexed manner.

12. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for wireless communication of data and for transmission of the signal in different respective frequency bands.

13. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a wireless communication component and a tuning circuit configured to match one or more conductors in the electrically conducting element to the wireless communication component.

14. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a connector for connection to the first portion.

15. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a housing configured for worn outside the ear of the user.

16. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises an on-the-ear housing, or a behind-the-hear housing.

17. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises an in-the-ear housing, an in-the-canal housing, or a completely-in-the-canal housing.

18. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises an earbud or an earmold.

19. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a cable connected between the first portion and the second portion.

20. A hearing device, comprising:

a first portion configured to be arranged at a head of a user and to provide a signal to a second portion;

the second portion configured to be arranged in an ear or an ear canal of the user and to provide acoustic output to the user, the second portion including a transducer for converting the signal into the acoustic output;

a coupling element coupling the first portion and the second portion, the coupling element configured to transmit the signal from the first portion to the second portion, the coupling element including an electrically conducting element;

wherein the electrically conducting element in the coupling element is configured to operate as a part of an antenna for wireless communication, and wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

21. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the electrically conducting element is configured to transmit the signal from the first portion to the transducer at the second portion.

22. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the coupling element comprises two wires coupled to the transducer, and wherein the electrically conducting element comprises one or both of the two wires.

23. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the coupling element comprises another electrically conducting element for transmitting the signal from the first portion to the second portion, and wherein the electrically conducting element is a dedicated antenna for the wireless communication.

24. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the first portion comprises a wireless communication interface for receiving and/or sending data through the antenna.

25. The hearing device of claim 20, further comprising a first microphone located outside the first portion, wherein the first microphone is communicatively coupled to the first portion.

26. The hearing device of claim 25, further comprising a second microphone at the first portion.

27. The hearing device of claim 25, wherein the first microphone is at the second portion.

28. The hearing device of claim 27, wherein the electrically conducting element is connected to the first microphone at the second portion.

29. The hearing device of claim 27, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises a first conductor connected to the transducer at the second portion, and a second conductor connected to the first microphone at the second portion.

30. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises one or more conductors configured for wireless communication of data, and for transmission of the signal from the first portion to the second portion in a multiplexed manner.

31. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for wireless communication of data and for transmission of the signal in different respective frequency bands.

32. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the first component comprises a wireless communication component and a tuning circuit configured to match one or more conductors in the electrically conducting element to the wireless communication component.

33. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the coupling element comprises a connector for connection to the first portion.

34. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the first portion comprises a housing configured for worn outside the ear of the user.

35. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the first portion comprises an on-the-ear housing, or a behind-the-hear housing.

36. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the second portion comprises an in-the-ear housing, an in-the-canal housing, or a completely-in-the-canal housing.

37. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the second portion comprises an earbud or an earmold.

38. The hearing device of claim 20, wherein the coupling element comprises a cable connected between the first portion and the second portion.

39. A hearing device, comprising:

a first portion configured to be arranged at a head of a user and to provide a signal to a second portion;

the second portion configured to be arranged in an ear or an ear canal of the user and to provide acoustic output to the user, the second portion including an earpiece;

a coupling element coupling the first portion and the second portion, the coupling element having a tube and an electrically conducting element;

wherein the electrically conducting element in the coupling element is configured to operate as a part of an antenna for wireless communication, and wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

40. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the second portion comprises a transducer.

41. The hearing device of claim 40, wherein the electrically conducting element is connected to the transducer.

42. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the second portion comprises a microphone.

43. The hearing device of claim 42, wherein the electrically conducting element is connected to the microphone.

44. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the first portion comprises a wireless communication interface for receiving and/or sending data through the antenna.

45. The hearing device of claim 39, further comprising a first microphone located outside the first portion, wherein the first microphone is communicatively coupled to the first portion.

46. The hearing device of claim 45, further comprising a second microphone at the first portion.

47. The hearing device of claim 46, wherein the first microphone is at the second portion.

48. The hearing device of claim 47, wherein the electrically conducting element is connected to the first microphone at the second portion.

49. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the first portion comprises a housing configured for worn outside the ear of the user.

50. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the first portion comprises an on-the-ear housing, or a behind-the-hear housing.

51. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the second portion comprises an in-the-ear housing, an in-the-canal housing, or a completely-in-the-canal housing.

52. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the earpiece comprises an earbud or an earmold.

53. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein the first portion comprises a microphone, and signal processing circuitry coupled to the microphone.

54. A method of wirelessly receiving and/or sending of data in a hearing device having a first portion, a second portion, and a coupling element coupling the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first portion is configured for worn at a head of a user and the second portion is configured for worn in an ear or an ear canal of the user, the method comprising:

receiving sound signal at the first portion while the first portion is worn at the head of the user;

processing the sound signal at the first portion to obtain processed signal;

transmitting the processed signal to the second portion using the coupling element; and

wirelessly receiving and/or sending data using an electrically conducting element in the coupling element, wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the processed signal is transmitted using the electrically conducting element.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the processed signal is transmitted using another electrically conducting element.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the electrically conducting element comprises one or more conductors.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the second portion comprises a transducer, and the electrically conducting element is connected to the transducer.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the second portion comprises a microphone, and the electrically conducting element is connected to the microphone.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the first portion comprises an on-the-ear housing, or a behind-the-hear housing.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein the second portion comprises an in-the-ear housing, an in-the-canal housing, or a completely-in-the-canal housing.