Radio frequency MEMS devices for improved wireless performance for hearing assistance devices

• US 10,405,110 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Haubrich, Gregory John, Solum, Jeffrey Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Etesam, Amir H
• Application Number:
  US15/977,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20180367922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use of the electrostatic type H04R19/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for wireless electronics using a MEMS switch for a hearing assistance device. The present application relates to a hearing assistance device configured to be worn by a wearer. The hearing assistance device includes a housing for electronics of the hearing assistance device, including wireless electronics. The wireless electronics include a plurality of radio frequency (RF) MEMS switches, in various embodiments. A hearing assistance processor is adapted to process signals for the wearer of the hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device includes an antenna, and a switchable capacitor bank configured for tuning the antenna, the switchable capacitor bank including one or more of the plurality of RF MEMS switches. The plurality of RF MEMS switches include an electrostatically deformed RF MEMS membrane, in an embodiment. Different configurations and approaches are provided.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance device, comprising:

a microphone and hearing assistance electronics within a housing configured to be worn by a wearer, wherein the hearing assistance electronics include a hearing assistance processor adapted to process signals from the microphone for the wearer of the hearing assistance device;

an antenna; and

wireless communication electronics within the housing and electrically connected to the antenna and the hearing assistance processor, the wireless communication electronics including a plurality of radio frequency (RF) MEMS components, wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS switch, wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS filter and wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS resonator.

2. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS switch is configured as a transmit/receive switch.

3. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS switch is configured to switch to electrically connect the MEMS resonator used in a transceiver.

4. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in an RF pre-selector.

5. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in an RF filter.

6. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in an image filter.

7. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in an IF filter.

8. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in a VCO tank circuit.

9. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the MEMS resonator is included in an impedance matching circuit.

10. The hearing assistance device of claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

11. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

12. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

13. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

14. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes an invisible-in-canal (ITC) hearing aid.

15. The hearing assistance device of claim 10, wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-the-ear (RITE) hearing aid.

16. A method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device, the method comprising:

providing a microphone and hearing assistance electronics within a housing configured to be worn by a wearer, wherein the hearing assistance electronics include a hearing assistance processor adapted to process signals from the microphone for the wearer of the hearing assistance device;

providing an antenna; and

providing wireless communication electronics within the housing and electrically connected to the antenna and the hearing assistance processor, the wireless communication electronics including a plurality of radio frequency (RF) MEMS components, wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS switch, wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS filter and wherein at least one of the plurality of RF MEMS components includes a MEMS resonator.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising;

providing a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) within the housing; and

providing a switchable capacitor bank configured for tuning the VCO, the switchable capacitor bank including the MEMS switch.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the MEMS resonator includes one or more of a wine-glass shaped resonator, a disc shaped resonator, an aluminum-nitride resonator, or a piezoelectric resonator.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the MEMS filter is included in a bank of selectable filters used to provide inputs to a multiplexer which provides a selected RF signal to a mixer based on filter selection.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selected RF signal is mixed with an oscillator frequency that is produced at least in part by the MEMS resonator.