Hearing instrument having an antenna system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10425749-B2
Application number	US-201815960987-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Jun 9, 2017
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

A hearing instrument comprises a microphone for reception of sound and conversion of the sound into a first audio signal, a signal processor for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid, a speaker connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the second audio signal into an output sound signal and a wireless communication unit connected to the signal processor for wireless communication interconnected with an antenna system for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field. The antenna system comprises a plurality of antenna elements and a switching device. The switching device is configured to connect a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements to the wireless communication unit, and at least a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements to a ground potential in response to switch control information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing instrument comprising:
a microphone for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal;
a signal processor for providing a second audio signal based on the first audio signal, the second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing instrument;
a speaker coupled to an output of the signal processor for providing an output sound signal based on the second audio signal;
a wireless communication unit coupled to the signal processor for wireless communication; and
an antenna system coupled to the wireless communication unit, the antenna system configured for electromagnetic field emission and electromagnetic field reception, the antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a switching device;
wherein the switching device is configured to connect a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements to the wireless communication unit, and at least a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements to a ground potential of the hearing instrument in response to switch control information.

2. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element is on a first side of the hearing instrument, and the second antenna element is on a second side of the hearing instrument.

3. The hearing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the first side of the hearing instrument is adjacent a head of the user when the hearing instrument is worn in an operational position at an ear of the user.

4. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switching device is configured to receive the switch control information during configuration of the hearing instrument.

5. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switch control information is based on an intended operational position of the hearing instrument, the intended operational position being a right ear or a left ear of the user.

6. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switching device is configured to perform a single, or a limited number of, switching operation(s).

7. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a third antenna element, the third antenna element being connected to the ground potential of the hearing instrument.

8. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switch control information comprises an electrical switch control information.

9. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the switch control information comprises a mechanical switch control information.

10. The hearing instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the hearing instrument comprises a connector receptacle and a connector element, the connector element being configured to engage with the switching device via the connector receptacle to provide the mechanical switch control information.

11. The hearing instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the connector element is a receiver-in-the-ear connector element, an ear hook connector, or a tube connector.

12. The hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing instrument comprises at least one behind-the-ear module configured to be positioned behind an ear of the user, the behind-the-ear module comprising at least the signal processor and at least one of the antenna elements.

13. A method of configuring a hearing instrument, the hearing instrument comprising a microphone for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal, a signal processor for providing a second audio signal based on the first audio signal, the second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing instrument, a speaker coupled to an output of the signal processor for providing an output sound signal based on the second audio signal, a wireless communication unit coupled to the signal processor for wireless data communication, and an antenna system for electromagnetic field emission and electromagnetic field reception, the antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a switching device, the method comprising:
determining an intended operational position of the hearing instrument;
providing switch control information to the switching device based on the determined intended operational position of the hearing instrument; and
switching the switching device so that a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is connected to the wireless communication unit, and a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is connected to a ground potential of the hearing instrument in response to the switch control information.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the switching device is configured to perform a single, or a limited number of, switching operation(s).

Assignees

• Gn Hearing As

Inventors

• Thaysen Jesper

Classifications

• H04R2225/55

  Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange · CPC title

• H04R2225/61

  Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning · CPC title

• H04R25/554 Primary

  using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils · CPC title

• H01Q1/273

  Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals · CPC title

• H04R25/50 Primary

  Customised settings for obtaining desired overall acoustical characteristics · CPC title