Hearing aid with antenna for reception and transmission of electromagnetic signals

• US 9,602,933 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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:
  US14/627,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 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: 1/1
• 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. A communication device configured for placement in a user'"'"'s ear, the communication device comprising:

an input transducer for receiving an input signal;

a signal processor for processing said input signal and producing an output signal;

an output transducer for receiving said output signal and outputting a signal perceivable as sound;

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

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

a shell part enclosing the input transducer, the signal processor, the transmission and reception circuit, and the antenna, the shell part including

a frontal plate with an external surface facing away from the user'"'"'s head when the communication device is placed in the user'"'"'s ear, and

a battery enclosure for holding a battery, wherein

the antenna is disposed under the external surface of the frontal plate and has a shape with an outer perimeter surrounding an outer perimeter of a shape defined by a projection of the battery enclosure on said external surface.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is tuned to radiate and/or receive electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of 50 MHz to 50 GHz.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is at least one of a planar patch or loop or helix antenna.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is shaped as a part of a flexprint such that the shape defined by the antenna is included in the flexprint.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is a solid metal part.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the frontal plate is physically separable from the shell part, and

the battery enclosure is attached to the frontal plate.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the frontal plate includes a battery drawer;

and

the antenna includes metal material deposited surrounding the battery drawer.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is further configured as a charging loop for the battery.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is arranged such that the antenna encircles the shape defined by the projection of the battery on the external surface of the frontal plate.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the battery is positioned within the shell part such that neither battery terminal is facing away from the head of the user.

11. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is 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. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the shell part includes a molded plastic material;

and

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

13. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the shell part has dimensions sized to fit inside the user'"'"'s ear.

14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the battery is located at the frontal plate of the shell part.

15. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein

the antenna is a helix antenna.

16. The communication device according to claim 15, wherein

the antenna is shaped from a solid metal part.

17. The communication device according to claim 15, wherein

the antenna includes one unterminated end.

18. A hearing aid configured for placement in a user'"'"'s ear, the hearing aid comprising:

an input transducer for receiving an input signal;

a signal processor for processing said input signal and producing an output signal;

an output transducer for receiving said output signal and outputting a signal perceivable as sound;

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

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

a shell part enclosing the input transducer, the signal processor, the transmission and reception circuit, and the antenna, the shell part sized to fit inside the user'"'"'s ear and including

a frontal plate with an external surface facing away from the user'"'"'s head when the communication device is placed in the user'"'"'s ear, and

a battery enclosure for holding a battery, wherein

the antenna is disposed under the external surface of the frontal plate and has a shape with an outer perimeter surrounding an outer perimeter of a shape defined by a projection of the battery enclosure on said external surface.

19. The communication device according to claim 18, wherein

the antenna is shaped from a soling metal part and includes one unterminated end.

20. The communication device according to claim 18, wherein

the antenna is arranged such that the antenna encircles the shape defined by the projection of the battery on the external surface of the frontal plate.