HEARING AID, IN PARTICULAR BEHIND-THE-EAR HEARING ASSISTANCE AID

• US 20180359576A1
• Filed: 06/11/2018
• Published: 12/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Original Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (WS Audiology A/S)
• Inventors: NIKLES, PETER, SUEDEKUM, SEBASTIAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,536,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• 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 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

A hearing aid, in particular a behind-the-ear hearing assistance aid, contains a transmitting and/or receiving unit having an antenna element for wireless signal transmission and for wireless energy transfer to an energy store. The antenna element is formed as a foil structure, which at least sectionally encloses the energy store.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

an energy store; and

a transmitting and/or receiving unit having an antenna element for wireless signal transmission and for wireless energy transfer to said energy store, said antenna element being formed as a foil structure which at least sectionally encloses said energy store.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein:

said foil structure of said antenna element is formed from a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material;

said foil structure having a first foil element, a second foil element and a third foil element;

said first and second foil elements are disposed at opposing end sides of said energy store; and

said third foil element overlaps a circumferential region of said energy store.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 2, wherein said third foil element forms a coil core of said antenna element and has a wire or coil winding.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 2, wherein said first and/or second foil elements at least partially cover a respective one of said opposing end sides of said energy store.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a shield disposed between said foil structure of said antenna element and said energy store.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 5, wherein said shield is formed from a diamagnetic or paramagnetic material, or contains said diamagnetic or paramagnetic material.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 5, wherein said shield is at least partially covered by said foil structure of said antenna element.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 5, further comprising:

an electronic hearing aid component; and

a flexible printed circuit board having a board surface, said shield being introduced into said flexible printed circuit board, said flexible printed circuit board bearing said electronic hearing aid component on said board surface facing toward said energy store.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein said foil structure is at least partially integrated into said flexible printed circuit board bearing said electronic hearing aid component.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein said shield has a collar-shaped jacket shield and said energy store is at least partially enclosed by said collar-shaped jacket shield.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear hearing assistance aid.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 4, wherein said first and/or second foil elements cover at least half of an end side surface of said respective opposing end side.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein said diamagnetic or paramagnetic material is copper.