Leaky-wave antenna for hearing device

• US 9,496,619 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shcherbatko, Igor, Kim, Dong Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): EASON, MATTHEW A
• Application Number:
  US14/211,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20150117687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/203 Leaky coaxial lines
• 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

A leaky-wave antenna for a hearing device, the leaky-wave antenna including a coaxial radiator configured to receive audio signals from an external device and to indicate conductivity, and a grounding area provided in the coaxial radiator, wherein the leaky-wave antenna is connected to a housing of the hearing device.

Claims

1. A leaky-wave antenna for a hearing device, the leaky-wave antenna comprising:

a coaxial radiator configured to receive audio signals from an external device and to indicate conductivity; and

a grounding area provided in the coaxial radiator,

wherein the leaky-wave antenna is connected to a housing of the hearing device.

2. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, wherein the coaxial radiator is helical.

3. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, wherein the coaxial radiator comprises a helical slit configured to propagate electromagnetic (EM) waves.

4. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, wherein the coaxial radiator comprises a plurality of conductive tubes.

5. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductive tubes have varying diameters.

6. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

two wires separate from each other and disposed in the grounding area, wherein the wires are configured to route the audio signals.

7. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a wire disposed in the grounding area, wherein the wire is configured to route the audio signals.

8. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a sound induction channel disposed in the grounding area, wherein the sound induction channel is configured to route audio signals generated from a loud speaker built in the hearing device.

9. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, wherein the audio signals are generated in accordance with a ultra wideband (UWB) standard.

10. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 8, wherein the loud speaker is configured to generate acoustic audio signals corresponding to the audio signals received through the coaxial radiator.

11. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 1, wherein the grounding area is a conductive cylindrical shell.

12. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 4, wherein the plurality of conductive tubes have varying lengths.

13. A hearing device comprising:

a housing; and

a leaky-wave antenna connected to the housing,

wherein the leaky-wave antenna comprises;

a coaxial radiator configured to receive audio signals from an outside of the hearing device and to indicate conductivity; and

a grounding area provided in the coaxial radiator.

14. The hearing device of claim 13, wherein the coaxial radiator is helical.

15. The hearing device of claim 13, further comprising:

a helical slit to propagate electromagnetic (EM) waves.

16. The hearing device of claim 13, wherein the coaxial radiator comprises a plurality of conductive tubes.

17. The hearing device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of conductive tubes have varying diameters.

18. The hearing device of claim 13, wherein the audio signals are generated in accordance with an ultra wideband (UWB) standard.

19. A leaky-wave antenna for a hearing device comprising:

a coaxial radiator configured to receive audio signals from an external device; and

a conductive core disposed in the coaxial radiator, wherein the conductive core is configured to provide grounding and to route the audio signals.

20. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 19, wherein the conductive core comprises:

a conductive cylindrical shell;

two wires disposed in a dielectric within the cylindrical shell.

21. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 20, wherein the wires are configured to route the audio signals.

22. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 20, wherein a first wire is configured to route the audio signals and a second wire is configured to provide grounding.

23. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 19, further comprising a loud speaker configured to generate acoustic audio signals corresponding to the audio signals, wherein the conductive core comprises a sound induction channel configured to route the generated audio signals.

24. The leaky-wave antenna of claim 19, wherein the coaxial radiator is disposed in a protective dielectric.