Radio frequency antenna for an in-the-ear hearing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11470430-B2
Application number	US-202016900529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2020
Priority date	Sep 21, 2016
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing, hearing electronics within the housing, and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication, comprising:
a housing;
hearing electronics within the housing; and
an antenna connected to the hearing electronics and disposed partially in the housing and connected in series to an element including a chip antenna within the housing to increase an effective electrical length of the antenna, wherein an arched portion of the antenna protrudes from a surface of the housing.

2. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a folded monopole antenna.

3. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the arched portion has a transverse portion that protrudes from and is transverse to an outer surface of the housing from which the antenna protrudes.

4. The hearing device of claim 3 , wherein the arched portion further includes a curved portion that bends around back toward the housing.

5. The hearing device of claim 4 , wherein the arched portion extends toward and through the surface of the housing.

6. The hearing device of claim 2 , wherein an end of the folded monopole antenna is loaded with an element.

7. The hearing device of claim 6 , wherein the element includes a dielectrically loaded element.

8. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a dipole antenna.

9. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the arched portion is configured for use as a pull handle to remove the hearing device from the ear of a wearer.

10. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the arched portion of the antenna is overmolded with a plastic covering of the housing or a faceplate of the hearing device.

11. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the arched portion of the antenna includes a flexible portion external to the housing.

12. The hearing device of claim 11 , wherein the flexible portion of the antenna is configured with shape memory.

13. A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication, comprising:
a housing;
hearing electronics within the housing; and
an antenna connected to the hearing electronics and disposed partially in the housing and connected in series to an element including a chip antenna within the housing to increase an effective electrical length of the antenna, wherein a protruding portion of the antenna protrudes from a surface of the housing and bends around back toward the surface of the housing.

14. The hearing device of claim 13 , wherein the protruding portion bends around back toward the surface of the housing and connects to a distal portion that meets the housing.

15. The hearing device of claim 14 , wherein the distal portion meets the housing and extends through the surface of the housing.

16. The hearing device of claim 14 , wherein the distal portion is perpendicular to the housing.

17. The hearing device of claim 13 , wherein the antenna is a folded monopole antenna that includes a first end of the antenna and a second end of the antenna, the first end of the antenna being physically and electrically connected to a wireless communication circuit within the housing.

18. The hearing device of claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a faceplate and the antenna extends through the faceplate.

19. A hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication, comprising:
a housing;
hearing electronics within the housing; and
an antenna connected to the hearing electronics and disposed partially in the housing and connected in series to an element including a chip antenna within the housing to increase an effective electrical length of the antenna, the antenna having a first portion in the housing, a second portion in the housing, and an arched portion outside the housing, the arched portion electrically coupled to the first portion and the second portion of the antenna.

20. The hearing device of claim 19 , wherein the antenna is a folded monopole antenna.

21. The hearing device of claim 20 , wherein an end of the folded monopole antenna is loaded with an element.

22. The hearing device of claim 19 , wherein at least some of the arched portion includes Nitinol.

23. The hearing device of claim 19 , wherein the arched portion is configured for use as a pull handle to remove the hearing device from the ear of a wearer.

Assignees

• Starkey Labs Inc

Inventors

• Polinske Beau Jay
• Rabel Jay
• Kannas Randy
• Hosadurga Deepak Pai
• Yang Zhenchao
• Stewart Jay
• Tadeusiak Michael J
• Flood Stephen Paul

Classifications

• H04R2460/17

  Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R25/558

  Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency · CPC title

• H04R25/602 Primary

  of batteries · CPC title

• H04R25/554 Primary

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

• H04R2225/51

  Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids · CPC title