CN110691313B - Hearing device comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion - Google Patents

Hearing device comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion Download PDF

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Publication number
CN110691313B
CN110691313B CN201910595432.4A CN201910595432A CN110691313B CN 110691313 B CN110691313 B CN 110691313B CN 201910595432 A CN201910595432 A CN 201910595432A CN 110691313 B CN110691313 B CN 110691313B
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China
Prior art keywords
antenna
hearing device
ear
coupling
conductive
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CN201910595432.4A
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CN110691313A (en
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M·图加尔德
J·特勒尔森
R·瑟
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Oticon AS
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Oticon AS
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/021Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/51Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/55Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
    • H04R25/554Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

The present application discloses a hearing device comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion, the hearing device comprising a housing configured to be positioned behind a human ear, an in-the-ear portion configured to be positioned at least partially in an ear canal of the human ear, and a connector configured to provide a mechanical connection extending between the in-the-ear housing and the behind-the-ear housing, wherein the connector comprises a plurality of electrical conductors and at least one electrical conductor being part of an antenna, at least a plurality of the plurality of electrical conductors being connected to a corresponding plurality of connection points provided on a substrate in the in-the-ear housing, a decoupling element being provided between a first connection point of the plurality of connection points and a second connection point of the plurality of connection points.

Description

Hearing device comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a hearing device comprising a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user, wherein the first part is connected to a coupling/connecting element being part of an external antenna part.
Background
Hearing aids for compensating for hearing loss of a wearer are well known. The present description relates in particular to these types of hearing devices. However, the content of the present description may also be implemented in other types of hearing devices, hearing instruments or hearing aids comprising a coupling element between two physical parts of the device, such as headsets, ear protection plugs, etc. In the following, the term "hearing device" or "hearing aid" generally refers to a device that is related to providing an acoustic signal to the ear of a user.
Hearing devices, and in particular hearing aids, are very intensive applications, and when integrating wireless applications, it may sometimes be difficult to find enough space for the required antenna elements.
It is well known that integration of a wireless system into a hearing instrument also requires an integrated antenna structure if cumbersome external antenna solutions are to be avoided. Efficiency of antennas and wireless systems is important because low battery consumption is often a design parameter. As examples of hearing devices, hearing aids of a number of different configurations are known, such as cochlear, in-the-ear (ITE), deep-canal (CIC), behind-the-ear (BTE), and in-the-ear Receiver (RITE) (the latter sometimes being referred to as "in-the-canal receiver").
The efficiency and bandwidth of an antenna for an electromagnetic field is largely dependent on the size of the field or the wavelength of the signal. However, common hearing instruments are typically much smaller than the wavelength in the proper frequency band, which has an adverse effect on the efficiency and bandwidth of the antenna built into the common hearing instrument.
In addition, the antenna of, for example, a RITE hearing device may comprise a plurality of conductive elements. The conductive element may have a number of other purposes as part of the antenna, such as transmitting data and/or audio and/or power to a second part of the hearing device or to an external part of the hearing device. In this case, each of the conductive elements must be connected to a decoupler, such as a coil, and when more conductive elements are added to the antenna, the bandwidth of the antenna is reduced by the decoupler connected to each conductive element. Furthermore, the size of the hearing device becomes more bulky due to the increased number of decouplers.
Disclosure of Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna within a hearing device that can increase the number of conductive elements that are part of the antenna while still maintaining the bandwidth unaffected by the number of conductive elements.
Another object of the invention is to provide a solution of the previous object without increasing the size of the antenna, so that the size of the hearing device is more or less unaffected by the increased number of conductive elements.
The objects of the invention are achieved by the invention described in the appended claims.
The object of the invention is achieved by a hearing device comprising: a housing configured to be positioned behind a user's ear, an output transducer configured to be at least partially disposed in the user's ear canal, and a coupling element configured to provide a mechanical connection between the in-ear portion and the behind-the-ear portion. In the coupling element, a plurality of electrical leads may be provided, either as a plurality of wires or as leads on a flexible substrate, or a combination thereof. At the in-ear location, an output transducer is typically present. In addition to, or at the location of, the output transducer, there may be one or more sensors. Such a sensor may be, for example, one of the following: temperature sensors, accelerometers, pulse sensors, microphones, EEG sensors. Other types of sensors are also possible. The electrical conductors in the connection element may be used to pass electrical signals to the output transducer and/or to/from the sensor or other element in the in-ear portion. In addition to these, one or more of the electrical conductors may be used as at least a portion of an antenna configured to communicate with an external device. The antenna may be built using at least one electrical conductor which is not connected to any other element, i.e. which electrical conductor is used as part of the antenna, which electrical conductor may serve only the antenna function, i.e. a dedicated electrical conductor.
There is a risk of large couplings between the connections at the areas or points where the electrical conductors are connected to the substrate carrying the electrical components in the in-the-ear portion, such as the connection pins. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an in-ear part in which decoupling elements are provided between at least two connection areas to reduce the coupling between the two at least at the operating frequency of the antenna function of the in-ear part. The decoupling element may be or comprise a capacitor or a diode, such as a parasitic capacitance. It is envisioned that the efficiency of the antenna may be increased by reducing losses due to coupling between the electrical conductors, at least in the area where the electrical connector is connected to the substrate.
The decoupling element may have a resonant frequency at the operating frequency of the antenna, providing maximum attenuation at that frequency, such as within a region within the operating frequency range, for example, in a region overlapping at least a portion of the operating frequency or operating frequency region. Thus, the decoupling element may be tuned to the operating frequency or range of operating frequencies of the antenna.
When the decoupling elements are capacitors, the decoupling elements mean that they have a low impedance at the operating frequency of the antenna, which means that when they have a high capacitance, since the impedance decreases with increasing capacitance, for example |z|=1/(2 pi f C), where f is the frequency, Z is the impedance, and C is the capacitance.
Further details will be apparent from the present description.
The object of the invention is achieved by a hearing device comprising a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting said signal into an acoustic output, and a coupling element coupled/connected to the first part, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least said signal or said acoustic output. Further, the hearing device comprises an antenna comprising an outer antenna part and an inner antenna part, wherein the inner antenna part comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, the first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, the second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element; a feeding unit configured to supply a current to the antenna via the third antenna element; a wireless interface for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of an antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises an external antenna portion, wherein the external antenna portion is connected to an internal antenna portion, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna portion.
Another object of the invention is achieved by a hearing device comprising a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting said signal into an acoustic output, a second part adapted to be arranged away from the first part and to provide the acoustic output to the user, and a coupling element coupled to the first part and to the second part, wherein the second part comprises the output transducer or the bone conduction means, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to at least pass said signal to the output transducer or to pass said acoustic output to the second part. Further, the hearing device comprises an antenna comprising an outer antenna part and an inner antenna part, wherein the inner antenna part comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, the first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, the second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element; a feeding unit configured to supply a current to the antenna via the third antenna element; a wireless interface for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of an antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of an external antenna portion, and wherein the conductive element is connected to a first antenna element of an internal antenna portion.
In the following description, the internal antenna portion may be referred to as an inverted-F antenna (IF antenna).
It is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna within a hearing device that can increase the number of conductive elements that are part of the antenna while still having a bandwidth suitable for communication in the frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5 GHz.
Another object of the invention is to use as an antenna a coupling element comprising an increased number of conductive elements.
The advantage of combining the inner and outer antenna portions is that decoupling of the outer antenna portion is not required, since the antenna current from the outer antenna portion is "conducted" through the inner antenna portion to the ground plane instead of the electrical element connected to the outer antenna portion in the hearing device. So that the size of the hearing device does not become bulky when more conductive elements are added within the external antenna part, as decouplers are not needed. Furthermore, when adding more conductive elements to the antenna, the bandwidth of the antenna is not reduced because decouplers are avoided.
The hearing devices may be cochlear, in-ear (ITE), deep-canal (CIC), behind-the-ear (BTE), and in-the-ear Receiver (RITE) devices.
The first portion may be disposed behind the user's ear, for example, between the user's pinna and the skull.
The output transducer for converting a signal into an acoustic output may be part of a first part or a second part, wherein the second part is connected to the first part by a coupling element. The output transducer may be a receiver (or speaker) or a bone anchored vibrator or cochlear implant.
The coupling element may be coupled to the first portion, and in another example, to the first portion and the second portion and/or to the external portion. The coupling element may be a hollow tube comprising at least a conductive element, wherein the conductive element is configured to direct/channel acoustic output and/or power and/or data to a second portion and/or an external portion, wherein the second portion may be an in-ear canal element, for example. The external portion may include a transmit coil for inductively transmitting power and/or data to the implanted stimulator. The in-canal element may be formed in a dome shape or may improve any shape of the second part that fits the user's canal.
The coupling element may comprise more than two conductive elements, such as between 2 and 12, between 2 and 10, or between 2 and 6.
The second part and/or the external part may comprise a plurality of sensors for acoustic signals, such as transducers (i.e. microphones or loudspeakers) and/or a plurality of sensors for monitoring the health of the user of the hearing device, wherein the plurality of sensors may be accelerometers, electrodes, light emitting diodes or photo detectors. The second portion may comprise an acoustic vibrator or a bone conduction vibrator.
The second part and/or the external part may comprise a memory and/or a processor for controlling the sensor and/or processing signals detected or transmitted by the sensor.
An advantage of being able to provide a plurality of conductive elements within the coupling element is that the second part and the outer part become more intelligent than in the current solutions, which results in improved comfort for the user.
Another advantage is that by providing more structural members within the second portion and/or the outer portion, the size of the first portion may be reduced without affecting the bandwidth by internal parasitic elements due to the availability of more conductive elements to be included within the coupling element.
The second portion may be adapted to be disposed away from the first portion and proximate the skin of the user.
The coupling element may comprise an inner core and an outer core, wherein the outer core surrounds the inner core. The inner core may comprise air configured to direct an acoustic output and the outer core may comprise an external antenna portion in the form of a conductive element.
The coupling element may comprise a core, wherein the core may comprise an external antenna portion in the form of a conductive element.
The coupling element connected to the first part may be an ear hook firmly connected to the first part of the hearing device. The coupling element may be configured to be mechanically detachable, enabling easy replacement of the ear hook in case of malfunction of the ear hook antenna element or in case an alternative ear hook is required.
The hearing device may comprise at least two coupling elements, wherein a first coupling element may be coupled to the first part, or the first coupling element may be coupled to the first part and the second part. The second coupling element may be coupled to the first portion and the outer portion. The external portion may include a transmit coil for inductively transmitting power and/or data to the implanted stimulator. Both coupling elements comprise conductive elements, wherein the external antenna portion may be part of either the coupling elements or one of the coupling elements. In the example where the external antenna portion is part of two coupling elements, the first coupling element may comprise a first set of conductive elements and the first external antenna portion may be part of the first set of conductive elements. The second coupling element may comprise a second set of conductive elements and the second external antenna portion may be part of the second set of conductive elements.
Having a plurality of coupling elements results in a reduction of the size of the first part, since the technical features of the first part may be transferred to the second part and/or the outer part due to the possibility of implementing more conductive elements within the coupling elements. In addition, the advantage of having two coupling elements is that the hearing instrument can communicate with other external devices via a plurality of different or similar wireless communication protocol links with minimal interference between the two links. Since the distance between the coupling elements is much larger than in the case of them in the first part, the interference between all two links is minimal. The plurality of coupling elements may include a first coupling element and a second coupling element. The first coupling element may comprise a first set of conductive elements and the second coupling element may comprise a second set of conductive elements. The first set of conductive elements may be connected to a first wireless interface configured to communicate a bluetooth protocol at about 2.45GHz and the second set of conductive elements may be connected to a second wireless interface configured to communicate a second protocol at a different frequency, such as about 900MHz or about 5.3 GHz. The first and second wireless interfaces may be within the first portion.
Importantly, it should be appreciated that the main portion of the external antenna portion is located outside the first portion. The external antenna portion may be a conductive element such as a wire or a flexible printed circuit board element. The conductive element may be connected to the wireless interface and terminate within the coupling element and/or the second portion and/or the outer portion.
The external antenna portion may be adapted at least to pass signals to the output transducer upon transmission.
The external antenna portion may be partially within the first portion and partially outside the first portion. The portion within the first portion is connected to the wireless interface and the internal antenna portion.
The inner antenna portion may include a first antenna element, a second antenna element, a first end of which may be disposed at and connected to one end of the first antenna element, a second end of which may be connected to the ground plane, and a third antenna element spaced apart from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element. The first antenna element may be oriented horizontally with respect to the second antenna element and the third antenna element to form an inverted F antenna. The first antenna element has an electrical length of λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
The internal antenna portion may be formed from conductive sheets and/or conductive via wires and/or flexible printed matter.
The inner antenna portion, i.e. the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element, may be formed by conductive vias mounted on the conductive sheet, wherein the conductive vias are connected to the conductive elements of the outer antenna portion. The conductive path may also be connected to a ground plane.
Additionally, the inner antenna portion may include a plurality of conductive vias, and the outer antenna portion may include a plurality of conductive elements, wherein each conductive via is connected to a conductive element. The connection between each conductive via and the conductive element may be provided via a capacitor. The capacitor provides an efficient coupling between the inner antenna portion and the outer antenna portion, e.g. ensuring that the outer antenna portion receives current from the feed unit and that the antenna current from the outer antenna portion is passed to the ground plane. So that a decoupler is not required to couple to each conductive element.
In an alternative solution, when there are multiple conductive elements, at least one of the multiple conductive elements may be coupled to a conductive path of the internal antenna portion. In this solution, other conductive elements, i.e. conductive elements not coupled to the conductive path (or internal element), may receive current from the feed unit in any way via magnetic coupling and/or capacitive coupling from a conductive element connected to the conductive path (or internal element). In addition, this solution has the advantage that only a single capacitor is required in order to have an efficient coupling between the inner antenna part and the outer antenna part.
Another advantage of this solution is that the size of the antenna, i.e. the hearing device, is minimally affected when adding more conductive elements to the external antenna part, since a significant reduction in the number of decouplers and capacitors is avoided.
The distance between the third antenna element and the second antenna element is determined based on a ratio between a current along the current profile of the first antenna element and a voltage of the voltage profile. The ratio should be 50 ohms.
The location of the connection point of the feed unit to the inner antenna part is determined by the current and/or voltage distribution along the first antenna element. Ideally, the location of the connection point should be where the ratio between voltage and current is 50 ohms.
The second antenna element may be connected to the ground plane. The electrical length of the ground plane may be λ/4 or λ/4+x x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. The second antenna element may be a conductive element such as a wire or a flexible printed circuit board element.
The inner antenna portion may comprise a fourth antenna element and a fifth antenna element, wherein a first end of the fifth antenna element may be disposed at one end of the fourth antenna element and connected thereto, wherein a second end of the fifth antenna element may be connected to the first antenna element, and wherein the fourth antenna element may be partially parallel to the first antenna element, and wherein an electrical length of the fourth antenna element may be greater than an electrical length of the first antenna element.
An advantage of the fourth and fifth antenna elements is that the antenna is configured to operate at a plurality of frequencies within a plurality of frequency ranges. In a particular embodiment, the antenna may be configured to communicate with a plurality of external devices using two communication protocol links, wherein the frequencies of the two links are in a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or at a frequency of about 2.45GHz or at a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
The antenna may comprise an internal parasitic element, and wherein the feed unit is further configured to supply current to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as magnetic coupling or capacitive coupling.
An advantage of combining the external antenna part and the internal parasitic element is that an increased bandwidth of the antenna is obtained without increasing the size of the hearing device.
The internal parasitic element is preferably arranged within the first part, however, in another example of the invention the internal parasitic element may be arranged within the external part and/or within the second part and/or within the coupling element.
The internal parasitic element may supply current from the feed unit via magnetic coupling and/or capacitive coupling. Importantly, it should be understood that the present invention does not include solutions where the internal parasitic element receives current via galvanic coupling or via a printed circuit board.
The internal parasitic element may be part of a printed circuit board connected to the ground plane such that the internal parasitic element receives current only via magnetic coupling or via capacitive coupling. The current from the feed unit may be transferred via the ground plane and/or via the external antenna portion and wirelessly coupled to the internal parasitic element.
The internal parasitic element may be a passive element that is electrically conductive and connected to the ground plane.
The electrical length of the internal parasitic element is λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. The electrical length of the internal parasitic element may be adapted to the ground plane and/or the external antenna portion. The electrical length may be any length, and wherein the impedance matching between the internal parasitic element and the external antenna is obtained by an impedance matching circuit. The impedance matching circuit may include one or more capacitors and/or one or more coils. The impedance matching circuit may be connected to the internal parasitic element and the ground plane or between the external antenna and the ground plane.
The antenna may be connected to a wireless interface configured to transmit and/or receive audio or data. The wireless interface may be part of a printed circuit board. The wireless interface may be adapted to receive and/or transmit audio or data by electromagnetic radiation in the following frequency ranges: a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or a frequency of about 2.45GHz, or a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
The hearing device may comprise a second part and/or an external part adapted to be arranged remote from the first part and to provide an acoustic output to a user, wherein the coupling element is configured to couple the first part and the second part and/or the external part, wherein the coupling element is adapted to at least pass the signal to an output transducer within the second part and/or to at least pass the acoustic output to the external part, and/or to pass an acoustic output provided by an output transducer located within the first part to the second part, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna part, and wherein the conductive element is connected to the internal antenna part.
The second portion is disposed in the ear canal of the user and/or the outer portion may be disposed on a skin portion of the user (including the skull of the user).
The current in the feed unit is mainly magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element. This solution provides a more compact antenna, wherein the inner and inner parasitic elements of the outer antenna part are positioned close together. The transfer of current between the feed unit and the internal parasitic element may comprise capacitive coupling.
In addition, at least a portion of the external antenna portion and the internal parasitic element may be disposed within the first portion such that capacitive coupling is provided between the internal parasitic element and/or the external antenna portion and/or the internal antenna portion. Capacitive coupling improves the production tolerances of the antenna.
The antenna may comprise a ground plane guiding current from the feed unit along the length of the ground plane, and wherein the internal parasitic element is located within the hearing device such that the current guided by the ground plane is magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element. By having a ground plane, the internal parasitic element may be located at a further location than in previous antenna solutions where the internal parasitic element receives current directly via a wireless coupling to the feed unit.
The coupling element may comprise one or more shielding elements for shielding the external antenna part, such that the first part, the second part, the external part and/or the electrical elements within the external device will not be negatively affected by radiation of the antenna having frequencies outside the following frequencies (ranges): a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or a frequency of about 2.45GHz, or a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
The external device may be a mobile phone, a computer or any electronic device that is not part of the hearing instrument.
The shielding element may be connected to the wireless interface via a band pass filter or the shielding element may be connected to a ground plane within the first portion.
The shielding element may be a wire twisted around the conductive element or a wire mesh twisted around the conductive element. The coupling elements may include a first set of conductive elements and a second set of conductive elements (and a plurality of sets of other conductive elements). The first shielding element may cover the first group and the second shielding element may cover the second group, thereby avoiding any interference that may occur between these groups of conductive elements. For example, the first set may be connected to a microphone and the second set may be connected to a speaker.
The feed unit may be configured to supply current to a second antenna being at least part of the antenna, and wherein the external antenna portion and the second antenna are electrically coupled together by capacitive coupling or magnetic coupling such that the second antenna is capable of extending the operation of the external antenna portion.
The second antenna may be within the first portion connected to the wireless interface and may be another electrical element within the first portion.
The second antenna may be a conductive element such as a wire or a flexible printed circuit board element.
A method for wireless receiving and/or transmitting data in a hearing device, the hearing device comprising an output transducer, a coupling element coupling a first part of the hearing device, a first part providing a signal, and the output transducer being configured to convert the signal to an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of:
-providing an external antenna portion within the coupling element;
-providing an internal antenna portion comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, the first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, the second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element;
-connecting the inner antenna portion to the outer antenna portion;
-supplying current to the conductive element through the feeding unit and via the internal antenna portion;
-positioning the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
-receiving and/or transmitting data by means of an antenna.
A method for wireless receiving and/or transmitting data in a hearing device, the hearing device comprising a coupling element coupling a first part and a second part of the hearing device, providing a first part of a signal, and a second part comprising an output transducer for converting the signal into an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of:
-providing a conductive element in the coupling element, wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna portion;
-providing an internal antenna portion comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, the first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, the second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element;
-connecting the inner antenna portion to the outer antenna portion;
-supplying current to the conductive element through the feeding unit and via the internal antenna portion;
-positioning the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user;
-disposing the second portion in the ear canal of the user or on the skin of the user; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
-receiving and/or transmitting data by means of said conductive element.
The hearing device comprises a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal into an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first part, and an antenna comprising an external antenna part and an internal antenna part, wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal or the acoustic output, wherein the internal antenna part comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, a first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, a second end of the second antenna element being connected to a ground plane, and a third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element; a feeding unit configured to supply a current to the antenna via the third antenna element; a wireless interface for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of an antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises an external antenna portion, wherein the external antenna portion is connected to an internal antenna portion, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna portion.
The hearing device may comprise a second part adapted to be arranged remote from the first part and to provide an acoustic output to the user, and wherein the coupling element couples the first part and the second part, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least said signal and/or said acoustic output.
The hearing device may comprise an external part arranged remote from the first part, and wherein the external part comprises an implant stimulator, wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element couples the first part and the external part, and wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal, and wherein the second coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to a wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna part.
The second portion may be disposed in the user's ear canal, and wherein the second portion includes an output transducer, and/or the external portion is disposed on the user's skin.
The first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element may be formed by conductive vias mounted on the conductive sheet, wherein the conductive vias are connected to conductive elements of the external antenna portion.
The distance between the third antenna element and the second antenna element is determined based on a ratio between a voltage along a voltage distribution and a current along a current distribution of the first antenna element and the second antenna element.
The electrical lengths of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the external antenna portion may together be λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. Alternatively, the electrical lengths of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the conductive element may together be λ/4 or x/4 +/- λ/2, where x is an odd number such as 3, 5, 7, etc.
The electrical length of the ground plane may be λ/4 or λ/4+x x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
The inner antenna portion may comprise a fourth antenna element and a fifth antenna element, wherein a first end of the fifth antenna element is provided at one end of the fourth antenna element and connected thereto, and wherein a second end of the fifth antenna element is connected to the first antenna element, and wherein the fourth antenna element is partially parallel to the first antenna element, and wherein an electrical length of the fourth antenna element is greater than an electrical length of the first antenna element.
The antenna may comprise an internal parasitic element, and wherein the feed unit is further configured to supply current to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as magnetic coupling or capacitive coupling.
The current in the feed unit may be magnetically and/or capacitively coupled to the internal parasitic element.
The ground plane may direct current from the feed unit along the length of the ground plane, and wherein the internal parasitic element is located within the hearing device such that the current directed by the ground plane is magnetically and/or capacitively coupled to the internal parasitic element.
The electrical length of the internal parasitic element is λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
The internal parasitic element may be positioned such that a capacitive coupling is provided between the internal parasitic element and the external antenna portion, wherein the capacitive coupling includes a current passing from the external antenna portion to the internal parasitic element.
The conductive element may be adapted to pass the signal to the output transducer based at least on the transmission.
The external antenna part may comprise a plurality of conductive elements, wherein more than two conductive elements are connected to one or more electronics mounted within the second or external part of the hearing device, and wherein each conductive element is at least adapted to pass signals provided by the first part to the connected electronics.
More than two conductive elements may terminate within the second portion or within the outer portion or within the coupling element (or within the second coupling element).
The electronics in the second part are transducers such as another output transducer or microphone, and/or sensors, and/or light emitting diodes, and/or electrodes, and/or photodetectors.
The wireless interface may be adapted to receive and/or transmit data by electromagnetic radiation in the following frequency ranges: a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or a frequency of about 2.45GHz, or a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
The coupling element may comprise one or more shielding elements for shielding the external antenna part.
The shielding element may be connected to the radio interface via a band pass filter or the shielding element may be connected to a ground element in the first part.
The feed unit may be configured to supply current to a second antenna being at least part of the antenna, and wherein the external antenna portion and the second antenna are electrically coupled together by capacitive coupling or magnetic coupling such that the second antenna is capable of extending the operation of the external antenna portion.
A method for wireless receiving and/or transmitting data in a hearing device, the hearing device comprising an output transducer, a coupling element coupling a first part of the hearing device, the output transducer being configured to convert the signal to an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of:
-providing an external antenna portion within the coupling element, wherein the external antenna portion is part of the antenna;
-providing an internal antenna part as part of the antenna, the internal antenna part comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, a first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, a second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element;
-connecting the inner antenna portion to the outer antenna portion;
-supplying current to the external antenna part via the internal antenna part through the feed unit;
-positioning the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
-receiving and/or transmitting data by means of said antenna.
The external antenna is similar to the external antenna section.
The hearing device may comprise a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal into an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first part, and an antenna comprising an external antenna and an internal parasitic element arranged at least outside the first part, a feed unit configured to supply current to the external antenna, a wireless interface for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of the antenna, wherein the feed unit is further configured to supply current to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, and wherein the coupling element comprises the external antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna.
The hearing device may comprise a second part adapted to be arranged remote from the first part and to provide an acoustic output to the user, and wherein the coupling element couples the first part and the second part, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least said signal and/or said acoustic output.
The hearing device may comprise an external part arranged remote from the first part, and wherein the external part comprises an implant stimulator, wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element couples the first part and the external part, and wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal, and wherein the second coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to a wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of an external antenna.
The second portion is disposed in the ear canal of the user, and wherein the second portion comprises an output transducer, and/or the external portion is disposed on the skin of the user.
The current in the feed unit may be magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element.
The antenna may comprise a ground plane that directs current from the feed unit along the length of the ground plane, and wherein the internal parasitic element is located within the hearing device such that the current directed by the ground plane is magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element.
The electrical length of the internal parasitic element is λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
At least a portion of the external antenna may be disposed within the first portion, and the internal parasitic element positioned such that capacitive coupling is provided between the internal parasitic element and the external antenna.
The second portion may comprise an output transducer, and wherein the external antenna element is adapted to pass signals to the output transducer based at least on the transmission.
The external antenna may comprise a plurality of conductive elements, wherein more than two conductive elements are connected to one or more electronics mounted in the second part of the hearing device, and wherein each conductive element is at least adapted to pass signals provided by the first part to the electronics in the second part.
More than two conductive elements may terminate within the second portion or within the outer portion or within the coupling element (or within the second coupling element).
The electronics within the second part may be a transducer such as another output transducer or microphone, and/or an accelerometer, electrode, light emitting diode and/or photodetector.
The wireless interface is adapted to receive and/or transmit data by means of electromagnetic radiation in the following frequency ranges: a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or a frequency of about 2.45GHz, or a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
The coupling element may comprise one or more shielding elements for shielding the external antenna.
The shielding element may be connected to the radio interface via a band pass filter or the shielding element may be connected to a ground plane within the first part.
The feed unit may be configured to supply current to a second antenna that is at least part of the antennas, and wherein the external antenna and the second antenna are electrically coupled together by capacitive coupling or magnetic coupling such that the second antenna is capable of extending the operation of the external antenna.
A method for wireless reception and/or transmission of data in a hearing device comprising a coupling element coupled to a first part, the first part providing a signal and an output transducer for converting the signal into an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of:
-providing an external antenna in the coupling element and at least outside the first portion;
-supplying current to the external antenna through the feed unit;
-providing an internal parasitic element inside the first part;
-supplying current to the internal parasitic element via wireless coupling;
-positioning the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
-receiving and/or transmitting data by means of said external antenna.
Drawings
The various aspects of the invention will be best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. For the sake of clarity, these figures are schematic and simplified drawings, which only give details which are necessary for an understanding of the invention, while other details are omitted. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts. The various features of each aspect may be combined with any or all of the features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effects will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the following figures, in which:
Figures 1a-1c show examples of a hearing device and examples of antennas within the hearing device.
Fig. 2 shows an example of an antenna within a hearing device.
Fig. 3 shows an example of an antenna within a hearing device.
Fig. 4a-4b show another example of a hearing device comprising internal parasitic elements.
Fig. 5a-5c show examples of hearing devices and simulations of resonance frequencies.
Fig. 6a-6d show different examples of hearing devices.
Fig. 7 shows another example of a hearing device comprising internal parasitic elements.
Fig. 8a-8c show different examples of hearing devices.
Fig. 9 shows an example of a hearing device comprising a shielding element.
Fig. 10a-10b show examples of hearing devices comprising a shielding element.
Fig. 11 shows a flow chart of a method.
Fig. 12 shows two connecting elements.
Detailed Description
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings serves as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described in terms of a number of different blocks, functional units, modules, elements, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer programs, or any combination thereof, depending on the particular application, design constraints, or other reasons.
The hearing device may be a hearing assistance device adapted to improve or enhance the hearing ability of the user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals, and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. "hearing device" may also refer to a device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to electronically receive an audio signal, possibly modify the audio signal, and provide the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. These audible signals may be provided in the form of acoustic signals radiating into the outer ear of the user, or acoustic signals transmitted as mechanical vibrations through bone structures of the user's head and/or through the middle ear portion of the user to the inner ear of the user, or electrical signals transmitted directly or indirectly to the cochlear nerve and/or auditory cortex of the user.
The hearing instrument is adapted to be worn in any known manner. This may include i) arranging a tube behind the ear with a tube guiding an airborne acoustic signal, or a hearing device unit with a receiver/speaker arranged close to or in the ear canal, e.g. in a behind-the-ear or in an in-the-ear receiver hearing aid, and/or ii) arranging the hearing device wholly or partly in the pinna and/or in the ear canal of the user, e.g. in an in-the-ear or in-the-canal/in a wholly in-the-canal hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing device attached to a fixture implanted in the skull, e.g. in a bone anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing device as a wholly or partly implanted unit, e.g. in a bone anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant.
The hearing device may be part of a "hearing system", which refers to a system comprising one or two hearing devices as disclosed in the present specification, and a "binaural hearing system" refers to a system comprising two hearing devices, wherein the devices are adapted to provide audio signals to the two ears of a user in a coordinated manner. The hearing system or binaural hearing system may further comprise an auxiliary device in communication with the at least one hearing device, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing device and/or benefiting from the operation of the hearing device. A wired or wireless communication link is established between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device enabling information (e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) to be exchanged between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device. These auxiliary devices may include at least one of a remote control, a remote control microphone, an audio gateway device, a mobile phone, a public address system, a car audio system, or a music player, or a combination thereof. The audio gateway is adapted to receive a large number of audio signals, such as from an entertainment device like a television or a music player, a telephone set like a mobile phone or a computer, a PC. The audio gateway is further adapted to select and/or combine an appropriate one (or combination of signals) of the received audio signals for transmission to the at least one hearing device. The remote control is adapted to control the function and operation of the at least one hearing device. The functions of the remote control may be implemented in a smart phone or other electronic device, which may run applications controlling the functions of at least one hearing device.
In general, a hearing device comprises i) an input unit, such as a microphone, for receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of a user and providing corresponding input audio signals, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving the input audio signals. The hearing device further comprises a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to a user in dependence of the processed audio signal.
The input unit may comprise a plurality of input microphones, for example for providing direction dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone systems are suitable for enhancing a target acoustic source from among a large number of acoustic sources in a user's environment. In one aspect, the orientation system is adapted to detect (e.g., adaptively detect) from which direction a particular portion of the microphone signal originates. This can be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may comprise an amplifier adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may also be adapted to provide other related functions such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may comprise an output transducer such as a speaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal to the skull bone transdermally or transdermally, or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing electrical signals, such as in a cochlear implant.
It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an aspect" or as a feature that may be included, means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the invention. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.
The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more". The term "some" means one or more unless specifically indicated otherwise.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be construed in accordance with the appended claims.
Fig. 1a-1c show an example of a hearing device 1 and an example of an antenna 8 within the hearing device 1. Fig. 1a shows a hearing device 1 comprising a first part 2 adapted to be arranged behind a user's ear for providing a signal, an output transducer 10 for converting the signal into an acoustic output, a coupling element 6 coupled to the first part 2, an antenna 8 comprising at least an external antenna part 14 arranged outside the first part 2 and an internal antenna part 13 arranged within the first part, a feeding unit 20 configured to supply an electric current to the external antenna part 14 via the internal antenna part 13. The hearing device 1 further comprises a wireless interface 16 configured to receive and/or transmit data and/or audio and/or power by means of an antenna. The coupling element 6 comprises an outer antenna portion 14, the outer antenna portion 14 being connected to the inner antenna portion 13. In this specific example, the hearing device 1 further comprises a second part 4 adapted to be arranged remotely from the first part 2 and adapted to provide an acoustic output to a user, wherein the second part 4 comprises an output transducer 10. The coupling element 6 couples the first part 2 and the second part 4, and wherein the coupling element 6 is adapted to at least pass said signal to the output transducer 10, and wherein the coupling element 6 comprises a conductive element 18 coupled to the wireless interface 16, and wherein the conductive element 18 is at least part of the external antenna part 14.
Fig. 1b shows an antenna 8 comprising an inner antenna portion 13 being part of the main plane 11 and conductive elements 18A-18C being at least part of the outer antenna portion 14. In this particular example, the internal antenna portion 13 includes a first antenna element 13A, a second antenna element 13B, and a third antenna element 13C, the first end of the second antenna element 13B being disposed at and connected to one end of the first antenna element 13A, the second end of the second antenna element 13B being connected to the ground plane 26, the third antenna element 13C being spaced apart from the second antenna element 13B and connected to the first antenna element 13A. The conductive elements 18A-18C are connected to the inner antenna portion 13 via the first antenna element 13A.
Fig. 1C shows the antenna 8 of the hearing device 1, wherein the second antenna element 13B and the third antenna element 13C are formed by one or more conductive paths 9A in the main plane 11, wherein the conductive paths 9A of the inner antenna part are connected to the conductive elements 18A-18C of the outer antenna part 14. In this specific example, the conductive path 9A is mounted on the conductive sheet 9.
Fig. 2 shows that the distance between the second antenna element 13B and the third antenna element 13C is determined based on the ratio between the voltage along the voltage distribution 39 of the first antenna element 13A and the current of the current distribution 38. In this specific example, the position of the connection point of the feeding unit 20 and the internal antenna portion 13 is where the ratio between the voltage and the current is 50 ohms.
Fig. 3 shows an antenna 8, wherein the inner antenna part comprises a fourth antenna element 13D and a fifth antenna element 13E, wherein a first end of the fifth antenna element 13E is arranged at one end of the fourth antenna element 13D and connected thereto, a second end of the fifth antenna element 13E is connected to the first antenna element 13A, and wherein the fourth antenna element 13D is partly parallel to the first antenna element 13A, and the electrical length of the fourth antenna element 13D is larger than the electrical length of the first antenna element 13A.
In this particular example, the inner antenna portion 13 is a dual band inverted-F antenna having at least two frequencies, namely operating frequencies, wherein a first frequency is represented by the fourth and fifth antenna elements (13 d,13 e) of the inner antenna portion 13 and a second frequency is represented by the remaining antenna elements (13A-13C). If the fourth antenna element 13D has a longer electrical length than the first antenna element 13A, this results in the first frequency being lower than the second frequency.
Fig. 4a-4b show a hearing device 1, wherein the antenna 8 comprises an inner parasitic element 12, an inner antenna part 13 and an outer antenna part (14, 18). Fig. 4a shows a hearing device similar to that described in connection with fig. 1a, however, in this specific example the hearing device comprises an internal parasitic element 12. Fig. 4b shows that the antenna 8 comprises an internal parasitic element 12. In this particular example, the feed unit is positioned such that current is supplied to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as magnetic coupling 22 and/or capacitive coupling 23. The internal parasitic element 12 is connected to the ground plane 26.
Fig. 5a-5c show simulations of the hearing device 1 with or without the internal parasitic element 12. Fig. 5a shows a hearing device 1 without an internal parasitic element 12, fig. 5b shows a hearing device 1 with an internal parasitic element, and fig. 5c shows simulation results of a hearing device 1 with or without an internal parasitic element 12. The results show that the 10dB bandwidth of the antenna without the internal parasitic element 12 is smaller than the 10dB bandwidth of the antenna 8 with the internal parasitic element 12. This clearly shows that a solution with multiple conductive elements 18A-18E (acting as an external antenna part 14) has an increased bandwidth when the internal parasitic element 12 is included within the design of the antenna 8.
Fig. 6a-6d show the hearing device 1 being worn by a user 30. Fig. 6a shows a behind-the-ear hearing aid 1, wherein the first part 2 is located between the pinna of the ear of the user 30 and the skull of the user 30. The second portion 4 is located in the ear canal of the user 30. The first part 2 and the second part 4 are coupled via a coupling element 6. The coupling element 6 may be configured to transmit acoustic output via air or to transmit signals via the conductive element 18. Fig. 6b shows a cochlear hearing aid 1, wherein a first part 2 is connected to a second part 4 and an outer part 4b, wherein the outer part is an implanted stimulator. The connection 6 comprises a first and a second coupling element, wherein the first and second coupling element may be similar to the coupling elements described previously. Fig. 6c shows a cochlear hearing aid 1, wherein the first part 2 is connected to the outer part 4b via a coupling element 6. Fig. 6d shows the hearing device 1, wherein the coupling element 6 is an ear hook detachably mounted to the first part 2.
Fig. 7 shows an antenna 8 in which the internal parasitic element is not part of the main plane 11, but is mounted away from the external antenna portion 14, for example on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 3 within the first portion 2. The internal parasitic element 12 receives current from the feed unit 20 via a wireless coupling (22, 23) between the ground plane 26 and the internal parasitic element 12.
Fig. 8a-8c show a number of different examples of a hearing device 1, wherein the coupling element 6 is either a hollow tube comprising one or more conductive elements or a hollow tube comprising an inner core and an outer core, wherein the outer core surrounds the inner core. The inner core may include air configured to direct the acoustic output and the outer core may include the conductive element 18, i.e., the outer antenna portion 14. Fig. 8a shows that the conductive element 18 ends in the second part 4 and is connected to the output converter 10. Fig. 8b shows that the conductive element 18 ends in the coupling element 6. The first section includes an output inverter. Fig. 8C shows a plurality of conductive elements (18A-18C) within the coupling element 6, wherein each conductive element (18A-18C) is connected to a sensor 10A-10C within the second portion.
Fig. 9 shows the coupling element 6, wherein the shielding element 32 is twisted around the conductive elements (18 a,18 b).
Fig. 10a-10b show different examples of shielding elements 32. Fig. 10a shows that the shielding element 32 ends in a ground 34 within the first part 2. Fig. 10b shows that the shielding element 32 is connected to the wireless interface 16 via a band pass filter 32.
Fig. 11 shows a method 100 for wireless reception and/or transmission of data in a hearing device 1, the hearing device 1 comprising an output transducer 10, a coupling element 6 coupling a first part 2 of the hearing device, the first part providing a signal, the output transducer being configured to convert the signal into an acoustic output. The method 100 comprises the steps of: providing an external antenna portion within the coupling element (step a); providing an internal antenna portion, wherein the internal antenna portion comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, a first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, a second end of the second antenna element being connected to a ground element, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element (step B); connecting the inner antenna portion to the outer antenna portion (step C); supplying current to the conductive element through the feeding unit and via the internal antenna portion (step D); disposing the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user (step E); and receiving and/or transmitting data by means of the conductive element (step G). Optionally, the method may further comprise the steps of: the second part 4 is arranged in the ear canal of the user or on the skin of the user, wherein the second part is coupled to the coupling element 6 (step F).
Fig. 12 schematically shows a connector with an in-the-ear part, here only with part of the internal components.
On the left hand side in fig. 12, the receiver, i.e. the output transducer, may be connected via two wires to a housing, not shown, which is to be arranged behind the ear of the person wearing the hearing aid device.
The output transducer is configured to be disposed in an in-the-ear portion, the in-the-ear distribution being disposed at least partially in the ear canal of a person wearing the hearing aid device. The shell of the in-the-ear part may be specially formed to fit the person's ear canal, commonly known as a custom-made ear mould, or may be a relatively small shell that fits most people and then be fitted with a soft piece having an open or closed dome shape, which ensures that the in-the-ear shell is worn as comfortably as possible in the ear canal.
In addition to the output transducer, other components are present in the in-ear housing. In general, these elements may be one or more of the following: a memory device storing information such as identification and/or performance, a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of a physical property such as temperature, acceleration, orientation such as tilt, etc., an EEG, pressure sensor, pulse sensor, optical sensor, or other type of sensor. Other examples of such elements include RFID devices, inductive elements, signal processors, filter banks.
The inner ear shell is connected to the rear ear shell via a connector. The connector extends between the in-ear housing and the behind-the-ear housing. The connector thus provides a mechanical connection extending between the in-ear housing and the behind-the-ear housing. The connector includes a plurality of electrical conductors, here shown as six wires. Here, two wires are connected to the output inverter, and the remaining four wires are connected to other elements.
Since the connection is not covered by the ear when the hearing aid device is worn in the intended operating state, which is an advantageous area for the antenna, the use of at least one electrical conductor as part of the antenna provides an efficient antenna.
Typically, not all wires need to be connected to the substrate carrying the components in the in-ear housing, but at least a plurality of the plurality of electrical conductors are connected to a corresponding plurality of connection points provided on the substrate in the in-ear housing. It is possible that one or more electrical conductors are not connected to the substrate. This may be, for example, a shielding wire or shielding element or even a dedicated antenna wire or a dedicated antenna element or more dedicated antenna wires.
Since the antenna function established by the at least one electrical conductor operates at a relatively high frequency, such as 2.4GHz or about 5GHz, there is some coupling between the electrical conductors. It has surprisingly been found that there is a significant coupling in the vicinity of the connection points, so that at least one decoupling device is arranged between a first connection point of the plurality of connection points and a second connection point of the plurality of connection points.
On the right hand side in fig. 12, decoupling devices are shown between each connection point, however, as described above, fewer decoupling elements may be used.
The decoupling element may be tuned to the operating frequency or range of operating frequencies of the antenna. This may be, for example, that the decoupling element may have a resonance frequency in the operating frequency or in a range around the operating frequency. This means that if the antenna function is active at 2.4GHz, the decoupling element should have a maximum attenuation at this frequency or at least in the frequency range of this range.
In fig. 12, the decoupling element is mainly or entirely a capacitive decoupling element, and is thus shown as a capacitor.
In fig. 12, the decoupling elements are shown as identical decoupling elements, however, the decoupling elements may have different properties, such as different capacitances. For example, one group may have one property and another group have their own other properties.
When including the antenna disclosed herein, it is advantageous for the decoupling element to have a capacitance in the following range: 0.1pF to 1000pF; such as 0.5 to 250pF, such as 0.75pF to 100pF, such as 1pF to 50pF, such as 3pF to 10pF, such as about 6pF, such as about 50pF, such as about 100pF, such as about 200pF, such as about 500pF.
The decoupling element in fig. 12 is a capacitor, however, in other versions, at least some of the decoupling element may be a diode, such as an ESD diode. The decoupling element may even be a parasitic capacitance.
The connection of the wires to the substrate described herein may be combined with an external antenna having the internal parasitic elements described above. In general, the antenna built in the connector may be combined with other antenna elements located in the housing behind the user's ear. This may be other extensions such as creating a dipole antenna with one arm in the connector and the other arm in the behind-the-ear housing. The portion of the antenna in the behind-the-ear housing may be at least partially coiled within the housing and/or extend between the top and bottom of the housing. Additionally or alternatively, portions of the antenna may be included in the in-ear housing, such as at least partially enclosed in the in-ear housing.
In addition to the antennas described above, the telecoil may be provided in a hearing aid, such as in a housing located behind the ear.
Furthermore, a recharging system may be provided to enable the battery of the hearing aid to be recharged, such as inductively recharged.
A hearing aid as described above, e.g. comprising a speaker unit, may be described, but not necessarily, as a hearing aid device comprising a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal, and a second part adapted to be arranged in or at the ear canal of the user, wherein an output transducer configured to convert the signal into an acoustic output is arranged in the second part, a coupling element being coupled to the first part, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal, wherein the second part is coupled to the coupling element at an end opposite to the first part, the antenna comprising an outer antenna part and an inner antenna part, wherein the inner antenna part comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, the first end of the second antenna element being arranged at an end of the first antenna element and being connected thereto, the second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced a distance from the second antenna element and being connected to the first antenna element; the feeding unit is configured to supply current to the antenna via the third antenna element, the wireless interface receiving and/or transmitting data by means of the antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises an external antenna portion, and wherein the external antenna portion is connected to an internal antenna portion, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna portion, wherein a plurality of connection points in the second portion receive a corresponding plurality of conductive elements from the coupling element, and wherein a plurality of decoupling elements are arranged between the partial connection points.
In general, the entity comprising the interface to the behind-the-ear housing, the output transducer and the coupling element is commonly referred to as a speaker unit.
The speaker unit itself may be described as, but is not necessarily, a speaker unit comprising a coupling element for a hearing aid device, wherein the coupling element comprises an interface configured to establish an electrical connection to a first portion having a housing configured to be arranged behind a user's ear, wherein the coupling element comprises an in-ear portion having a housing configured to be arranged at least partly in the user's ear canal, and wherein the coupling element comprises a connection portion connecting the interface to the in-ear housing, wherein the connection comprises a plurality of electrical conductors and at least one electrical conductor being part of an antenna, at least a plurality of the plurality of electrical conductors being connected to a corresponding plurality of connection points on a substrate arranged in the in-ear housing, one decoupling device being arranged between a first connection point of the plurality of connection points and a second connection point of the plurality of connection points.
The present invention also relates to the following points of the invention.
1. A hearing device comprising:
-a first part adapted to be arranged behind the ear of a user for providing a signal;
-an output transducer for converting the signal into an acoustic output;
-a coupling element coupled to the first part, wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal or the acoustic output;
-an antenna comprising an outer antenna portion and an inner antenna portion, wherein the inner antenna portion comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, a first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, a second end of the second antenna element being connected to a ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element;
-a feed unit configured to supply current to the antenna via the third antenna element;
-a wireless interface for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of an antenna; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
Wherein the coupling element comprises an external antenna portion, wherein the external antenna portion is connected to the internal antenna portion, and wherein the coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of the external antenna portion.
2. The hearing device according to invention point 1, comprising a second part adapted to be arranged remote from the first part and to provide an acoustic output to a user, and wherein the first part and the second part are coupled by a coupling element, and wherein the coupling element is adapted to transmit at least said signal and/or said acoustic output.
3. The hearing device according to invention point 1 or 2, comprising an outer part arranged remote from the first part, and wherein the outer part comprises an implant stimulator, wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element couples the first part and the outer part, and wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element is adapted to transmit at least the signal, and wherein the second coupling element comprises a conductive element coupled to a wireless interface, and wherein the conductive element is at least part of an outer antenna part.
4. The hearing device according to invention point 2 or 3, wherein the second part is arranged in the ear canal of the user, and wherein the second part comprises an output transducer, and/or the external part is arranged on the skin of the user.
5. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element are formed by conductive paths mounted on the conductive patch, wherein the conductive paths are connected to conductive elements of the external antenna section.
6. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the distance between the third antenna element and the second antenna element is determined based on a ratio between a voltage along a voltage distribution and a current along a current distribution of the first antenna element and the second antenna element.
7. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the electrical lengths of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the external antenna portion together are λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, wherein x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. Alternatively, the electrical lengths of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the conductive element may together be λ/4 or x/4 +/- λ/2, where x is an odd number such as 3, 5, 7, etc.
8. The hearing device according to any of the preceding inventions, wherein the electrical length of the ground plane is λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
9. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the inner antenna part comprises a fourth antenna element and a fifth antenna element, wherein a first end of the fifth antenna element is arranged at one end of the fourth antenna element and connected thereto, and wherein a second end of the fifth antenna element is connected to the first antenna element, and wherein the fourth antenna element is partly parallel to the first antenna element, and wherein the electrical length of the fourth antenna element is larger than the electrical length of the first antenna element.
10. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the antenna comprises an internal parasitic element, and wherein the feeding unit is further configured to supply current to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as a magnetic coupling or a capacitive coupling.
11. The hearing device of invention 10, wherein the current in the feed unit is magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element.
12. The hearing device according to invention point 10 or 11, wherein the ground plane directs current from the feed unit along the length of the ground plane, and wherein the internal parasitic element is located within the hearing device such that the current directed by the ground plane is magnetically and/or capacitively coupled to the internal parasitic element.
13. The hearing device according to any one of inventions 10-12, wherein the internal parasitic element has an electrical length of λ/4 or λ/4+x λ/2, where x is a number such as 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
14. The hearing device according to any of the invention points 10-13, wherein the internal parasitic element is positioned such that a capacitive coupling is provided between the internal parasitic element and the external antenna portion, wherein the capacitive coupling comprises a current passing from the external antenna portion to the internal parasitic element.
15. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the conductive element is adapted to transmit the signal to the output transducer based at least on the transmission.
16. The hearing device according to invention point 2 or 3, wherein the external antenna part comprises a plurality of conductive elements, wherein more than two conductive elements are connected to one or more electronics mounted within the second or external part of the hearing device, and wherein each conductive element is adapted at least to pass signals provided by the first part to the connected electronics.
17. The hearing device of invention 16, wherein the two or more conductive elements terminate within the second portion or within the outer portion or within the coupling element (or within the second coupling element).
18. The hearing device according to invention 16, wherein the electronics in the second part are transducers such as another output transducer or microphone, and/or sensors, and/or light emitting diodes, and/or electrodes, and/or photodetectors.
19. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or transmitting data by means of electromagnetic radiation in the following frequency ranges: a frequency range of about 2.45GHz to about 5.5GHz, or between 2.44GHz and 5.5GHz, or a frequency of about 2.45GHz, or a frequency of about 5.5 GHz.
20. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the coupling element comprises one or more shielding elements for shielding the external antenna part.
21. The hearing device of invention 20, wherein the shielding element is connected to the wireless interface via a band pass filter or the shielding element is connected to a ground element within the first part.
22. The hearing device according to any one of the preceding inventions, wherein the feeding unit is configured to supply a current to a second antenna being at least part of the antennas, and wherein the external antenna part and the second antenna are electrically coupled together by capacitive coupling or magnetic coupling such that the second antenna is capable of extending the operation of the external antenna part.
23. A method for wireless receiving and/or transmitting data in a hearing device, the hearing device comprising an output transducer, a coupling element coupling a first part of the hearing device, the output transducer being configured to convert the signal to an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of:
-providing an external antenna portion within the coupling element, wherein the external antenna portion is part of the antenna;
-providing an internal antenna part as part of the antenna, the internal antenna part comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element and a third antenna element, a first end of the second antenna element being arranged at one end of the first antenna element and connected thereto, a second end of the second antenna element being connected to the ground plane, the third antenna element being spaced apart from the second antenna element by a distance and connected to the first antenna element;
-connecting the inner antenna portion to the outer antenna portion;
-supplying current to the external antenna part via the internal antenna part through the feed unit;
-positioning the first part behind the ear of the hearing aid user; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system
-receiving and/or transmitting data by means of said antenna.

Claims (10)

1. A hearing device comprising a housing configured to be positioned behind a human ear, an in-the-ear portion configured to be positioned at least partially in a human ear canal, a connector configured to provide a mechanical connection extending between the in-the-ear housing and the behind-the-ear housing, and an antenna comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion, wherein the connector comprises a plurality of electrical conductors and at least one electrical conductor is part of the antenna, the internal antenna portion being part of an existing element of the hearing device and being connected to a ground plane, at least a plurality of the plurality of electrical conductors being connected to a corresponding plurality of connection points of respective elements provided on a substrate in the in-the-ear housing, a decoupling element being provided between a first connection point of the plurality of connection points and a second connection point of the plurality of connection points.
2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is tuned to an operating frequency or an operating frequency interval of the antenna.
3. The hearing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the decoupling element has a resonant frequency at an operating frequency or an operating frequency interval of the antenna.
4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is primarily or entirely a capacitive decoupling element.
5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein a further decoupling element is disposed between a subset of the plurality of connection points.
6. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is disposed between all of the plurality of connection points.
7. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein decoupling element is a low impedance decoupling element at an operating frequency of the antenna.
8. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a discrete capacitor having a capacitance in the range of 0.1pF-1000 pF.
9. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is an ESD diode.
10. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a parasitic capacitance.
CN201910595432.4A 2018-07-03 2019-07-03 Hearing device comprising an external antenna portion and an internal antenna portion Active CN110691313B (en)

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CN108200523A (en) * 2016-11-24 2018-06-22 奥迪康有限公司 Include the hearing devices of self voice detector

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JP5828768B2 (en) * 2012-01-05 2015-12-09 パナソニック株式会社 Protection circuit
US20140328507A1 (en) * 2013-05-01 2014-11-06 Jay Rabel Increasing antenna performance for wireless hearing assistance devices
EP2835863B1 (en) * 2013-08-09 2019-12-11 Oticon A/s Hearing device with RF antenna

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WO2015127972A1 (en) * 2014-02-27 2015-09-03 Sonova Ag Hearing instrument comprising an rf antenna
CN108200523A (en) * 2016-11-24 2018-06-22 奥迪康有限公司 Include the hearing devices of self voice detector

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