EP2750409B1 - A dipole antenna for a hearing aid - Google Patents

A dipole antenna for a hearing aid Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2750409B1
EP2750409B1 EP12199674.8A EP12199674A EP2750409B1 EP 2750409 B1 EP2750409 B1 EP 2750409B1 EP 12199674 A EP12199674 A EP 12199674A EP 2750409 B1 EP2750409 B1 EP 2750409B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing aid
antenna
pole element
attachment member
aid housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP12199674.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2750409A1 (en
Inventor
Sinasi Özden
Birol Akdeniz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
GN Hearing AS
Original Assignee
GN Hearing AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by GN Hearing AS filed Critical GN Hearing AS
Priority to EP12199674.8A priority Critical patent/EP2750409B1/en
Priority to DK12199674.8T priority patent/DK2750409T3/en
Priority to US13/848,605 priority patent/US9237404B2/en
Priority to JP2013258396A priority patent/JP5670545B2/en
Priority to CN201310713296.7A priority patent/CN103916803B/en
Publication of EP2750409A1 publication Critical patent/EP2750409A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2750409B1 publication Critical patent/EP2750409B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/16Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/273Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/36Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/16Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole
    • H01Q9/26Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole with folded element or elements, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of operating wavelength
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04R2225/0213Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
    • 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
    • H04R2225/0216BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
    • 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
    • H04R25/60Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/607Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of earhooks

Definitions

  • the invention relates to antennas for hearing aids, and especially for antennas extending in hearing aid housing attachment members or outside of a hearing aid housings, and particularly to antennas, such as dipole antennas, having a first pole element extending in an attachment member and a second pole element extending in the hearing aid housing.
  • Hearing aids are very small and delicate devices and comprise many electronic and metallic components contained in a housing small enough to fit in the ear canal of a human or behind the outer ear.
  • the many electronic and metallic components in combination with the small size of the hearing aid housing impose high design constraints on radio frequency antennas to be used in hearing aids with wireless communication capabilities.
  • antennas in hearing aids have been used for receiving radio broadcasts or commands from a remote control.
  • antennas are designed to fit in the hearing aid housing without special concern with relation to the efficiency of the antenna.
  • a variety of hearing aids are known, including so called behind-the-ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids, etc.
  • Some hearing aids have been designed with a cable or a sound tube connecting hearing aid elements positioned behind the ear of a user with hearing aid elements position in the ear of a user. It has been suggested to use such cables or sound tubes for accommodating antenna elements.
  • a hearing aid having a cable or a sound tube connecting the hearing aid to a receiver in the ear of a user or to a speaker in the ear, respectively, is configured for wireless communication via an antenna, and the cable or sound tube comprises a conducting element forming at least part of the antenna.
  • EP 2 088 804 discloses a hearing aid having a cable comprising one or more conductors for connecting a hearing aid housing with a transducer in the ear of a user.
  • a wireless transceiver in the hearing aid may be connected to one of the transducer cables to provide a monopole antenna, or the wireless transceiver may be connected to two transducer cables to provide a dipole antenna for the wireless transceiver.
  • US20110022121A1 describes an improved antenna device for BTE devices, such a hearing prostheses, is disclosed.
  • Antenna elements are disposed in the BTE body and in the earhook, with dielectric material disposed between, so as to form a capacitive coupling.
  • US20090124201A1 describes a communication system for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, the system comprising: a first device configured to receive and modulate the at least one signal, the first device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a first human body and a second conductive element isolated from the first human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal; and a second device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a second human body, and a second conductive element isolated from the second human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to receive the transmitted modulated signal from the first device.
  • US20100321269A1 describes a behind-the-ear wireless device includes a main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein and an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound to an ear.
  • the main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected to each other, whereby the wireless device can be fitted to the ear.
  • An antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in a hollow of the sound tube.
  • a parasitic element having a length of about a half wave length is disposed in the main body casing.
  • the present invention relates to a hearing aid as defined in claim 1. Further details are defined in the dependent claims. In the following, examples for understanding the present invention are described. Although entitled as “embodiments”, not all of these examples fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
  • the antenna is not connected to a ground plane in the hearing aid housing.
  • the radiation pattern of the antenna may be independent of e.g. circuit board radiation, and thereby the radiation pattern for the antenna may be more tightly controlled.
  • the first pole element and the second pole element may be separated so that coupling between the first pole element and the second pole element is minimized.
  • the length of the attachment member may be determined by the size of a user's ear to allow for a smooth fitting, and may for example be selected during fitting of the hearing aid.
  • the length of an attachment member varies depending on the type of attachment member provided. For some attachment members, e.g. for attachment members for sound transmission, the length of the attachment members may typically range from about 50 mm to about 70 mm, and the attachment members are typically available in a number of predetermined lengths. As the attachment members are exposed to the environment, including the user's head, the material may degrade over time, and typically need to be exchanged at regular intervals.
  • the length of the antenna such as the length of first pole element, may be a fixed or same length, such that the length of the antenna, such as the length of the first pole element, is the same for all attachment member lengths.
  • the first pole element and the second pole element may have a same length, such as a length of half a wavelength of an operating frequency for the antenna, such as a length corresponding to the length of the attachment member, such as a length corresponding to a smallest length of the attachment member.
  • the length of first pole element may extend over the length of the attachment member.
  • the required physical length of the antenna may be decreased by interconnecting the antenna with an electronic component, a so-called antenna shortening component, having an impedance that modifies the standing wave pattern of the antenna thereby changing its effective length.
  • the required physical length of the antenna may for example be shortened by connecting the antenna in series with an inductor or in shunt with a capacitor to obtain a desired length of the antenna, to e.g. obtain a desired frequency response for the antenna.
  • the attachment member is a sound transmission member for transmission of sound from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user.
  • the second sound signal may be transmitted electrically or acoustically to the ear of a user.
  • the attachment member comprises one or more conductors for conducting the second audio signal to a receiver positioned in the ear of a user.
  • the conductors are electrically conducting conductors and the second audio signal is transmitted electrically to the ear of a user via the conductors.
  • this configuration is used when a hearing aid housing of a receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid is provided behind the ear of a user and the second audio signal is electrically transmitted to a receiver positioned in the ear of a user.
  • the electrical signal is transmitted to the ear and at this stage.
  • An ear mould may receive the transmitted signal and provide it to the inner ear of the user.
  • the hearing aid housing of the behind-the-ear hearing aid may thus further comprise a transducer for transforming the second audio signal into a sound to be transmitted by the sound tube to the ear of a user.
  • the antenna has a first pole element and a second pole element for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field, and is fed in between the first and second pole elements.
  • the antenna is a dipole antenna.
  • the antenna including the first pole element and the second pole element may be confined within the hearing aid housing and the attachment member, so that no part of the antenna protrudes from the hearing aid housing or the attachment member.
  • the first pole element or at least a part of the first pole element, such as substantially the entire first pole element, may extend in free air outside of the hearing aid housing, and outside any attachment member.
  • the attachment member comprises a conducting element, particularly an electrically conductive element, and the conducting member forms at least a part of the first pole element.
  • the conducting element may be an additional conducting element provided in the attachment member to form at least a part of the first pole element, for example, the conducting element may be provided specifically or exclusively to form a part of the first pole element.
  • the conducting element may form part of a cable assembly configured to connect the hearing aid housing with the ear of a user, such as for example to electrically transmit the second audio signal from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user, such as to a receiver in the ear of a user.
  • the antenna may reuse the conducting element electrically transmitting the second audio signal from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user to also act as antenna.
  • the second pole element may have any shape, and may have the shape of a patch antenna, a rod antenna, a meander line antenna, etc. or any combination thereof.
  • the second pole element is positioned in the hearing aid housing and is at least primarily extending within the hearing aid housing.
  • the positioning of the second pole element within the housing may be a determining factor for the radiation pattern for the antenna.
  • the second pole element may extend along a top surface of the hearing aid housing. It is an advantage of positioning the second pole element along a top surface of the hearing aid that the position of the head with respect to the second pole element is substantially unchanged irrespective of whether the hearing aid is positioned at the right ear of a user or the left ear of a user.
  • the second pole element has a first section extending along a first side of the hearing aid housing and a second section extending along a second side of the hearing aid housing.
  • a length of the first section may corresponds substantially to a length of the second section, and the length of the first section and the second section of the second pole element may be substantially the same, i.e. substantially equal.
  • the first section and the second section may have a substantially same shape, and the first section and the second section may be symmetrical.
  • the first section and the second section may be symmetrical about an axis of the hearing aid housing, such as about a middle plane partitioning the hearing aid housing in two equal parts in a longitudinal direction, i.e. in a direction parallel to the surface of the head when the hearing aid is provided in its intended operational position.
  • the first pole element may have a first section extending via the attachment member and a second section extending in the hearing aid housing.
  • the second section of the first pole element extending in the hearing aid housing may have a same shape as the second pole element.
  • the second section of the first pole element may extend along one side of the hearing aid housing while the second pole element may extends along another side of the hearing aid housing.
  • the wireless communications unit is configured for wireless data communication, and in this respect interconnected with the antenna for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field.
  • the wireless communications unit may comprise a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter-receiver pair, such as a transceiver, a radio unit, etc.
  • the wireless communications unit may be configured for communication using any protocol as known for a person skilled in the art, including Bluetooth, WLAN standards, manufacture specific protocols, such as tailored proximity antenna protocols, such as proprietary protocols, such as low-power wireless communication protocols, etc.
  • the wireless communications unit interconnected with the antenna may be configured for operation in the ISM frequency band.
  • the wireless communications unit interconnected with the antenna may be configured for operation at a frequency of at least 100 MHz, such as at a frequency of at least 800 MHz, such as at at least 1 GHz, such as at a frequency between 1.5 GHz and 3 GHz, such as at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, such as at substantially 2.4 GHz.
  • the wireless communications unit may be configured for communication with external devices, such as hearing aid accessories, such as remote controls, telephones, such as mobile telephones, televisions, television boxes, television streamer boxes, spouse microphones, hearing aid fitting systems, etc.
  • external devices such as hearing aid accessories, such as remote controls, telephones, such as mobile telephones, televisions, television boxes, television streamer boxes, spouse microphones, hearing aid fitting systems, etc.
  • the wireless communications unit may also be configured for communication with another hearing aid in a binaural hearing aid, so that data may be exchanged between the hearing aid positioned at the right ear of a user and the hearing aid positioned at the left ear of the user.
  • binaural communication may be used for example for binaural beam forming, for binaural noise reduction, etc.
  • the hearing aid may further comprise a variable matching circuit for electrically matching the antenna with the wireless communications unit.
  • the antenna is a dipole antenna and may be fed in between the first pole element and the second pole element, such as in the center between the first pole element and the second pole element, such as substantially in the center between the first pole element and the second pole element.
  • the dipole antenna may be a balanced dipole antenna.
  • the antenna design may be inherently symmetric, so as to provide a balance antenna without the use of balun components, etc.
  • the hearing aid housing may comprise hearing aid electronics, such as hearing aid electronics provided on e.g. a printed circuit board.
  • hearing aid electronics such as hearing aid electronics provided on e.g. a printed circuit board.
  • many hearing aid antennas have been using the printed circuit board as a ground plane for a hearing aid antenna, whereby the radiation pattern is dependent also on the (non-controlled) radiation from the printed circuit board.
  • the antenna the printed circuit board is not used as a ground plane for the antenna.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically a behind the ear type hearing aid 120 having a hearing aid housing 140.
  • the hearing aid housing comprises a microphone 160 for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal, a signal processor 150 for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid 120, and a wireless communications unit 130 connected to the signal processor 150 for wireless data communication.
  • the hearing aid has an attachment member 100 connectable to the hearing aid housing 140, and the wireless communications unit 130 is interconnected with an antenna 110 having a first pole element 111 and a second pole element 112 for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field.
  • the signal processor 150 is connected to a speaker 170 for conversion of the second audio signal into a sound.
  • the attachment member 100 is a sound tube, and the sound is acoustically transmitted to the ear of a user (not shown) via acoustic wave propagation in the thin tube 100.
  • the antenna 110 having first and second poles 111, 112 may be longer than an antenna 110 extending only in the hearing aid housing.
  • the hearing aid designers strive to minimize the size of the hearing aids, it is an advantage that a part of the antenna may extend outside of the housing.
  • the antenna 110 is not connected to a ground plane in the hearing aid housing.
  • the radiation pattern of the antenna 110 is independent of e.g. circuit board radiation, and thereby the radiation pattern may be more tightly controlled.
  • the first pole element 111 and the second pole element 112 are separated so that coupling between the first pole element 111 and the second pole element 112 is minimized.
  • Fig. 2a shows schematically a receiver in the ear type hearing aid 220 having a hearing aid housing 240.
  • the hearing aid housing 240 comprises a microphone 260 for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal, a signal processor 250 for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid 220, and a wireless communications unit 230 connected to the signal processor 250 for wireless data communication.
  • the hearing aid has an attachment member 200 connectable to the hearing aid housing 240, and the wireless communications unit 230 is interconnected with an antenna 210 having a first pole element 211 and a second pole element 212 for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field.
  • At least a part of the first pole element 211 extends via the attachment member 200, and the second pole element 212 extends in the hearing aid housing 240.
  • the antenna 210 having a first pole element 211 and a second pole element 212 is fed approximately in the center from the wireless communications unit thus implementing a dipole antenna.
  • Conducting element 280 connects the signal processor 250 to receiver in the ear 270, thereby electrically transmitting the second audio signal from the signal processor 250 in the hearing aid housing 240 to the receiver in the ear 270.
  • the attachment member 200 is a cable assembly comprising at least conducting element 280 and at least a part of the first pole element 211. It is envisaged that more conducting elements may be provided connecting the receiver in the ear with hearing aid electronics, such as with the signal processor 250.
  • Fig. 2b shows schematically a hearing aid of the receiver in the ear type, wherein the conducting element 280 is also used as at least a part of the first pole element 211.
  • the wireless communications unit 230 is connected to conducting element 280 and the conducting element 280 will act as the first pole element 211 of the antenna 210 for the wireless communications unit.
  • the first pole element extends over the entire length of the attachment member.
  • Fig. 3 shows schematically a hearing aid housing with an attachment member in 3D.
  • the hearing aid 320 may be any hearing aid type including a behind the ear hearing aid, a receiver in the ear type, etc.
  • the attachment member 300 may thus be any attachment member including a sound tube, a cable assembly comprising at least one conducting element, a hook, etc.
  • the wireless communications unit 330 and the antenna 310 interconnected with the wireless communications unit 330 is shown schematically, for clarification further elements, including signal processor etc., are not shown.
  • the first pole element 311 extends via the attachment member 300 and the second pole element 312 extends along a side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340.
  • the hearing aid is preferably positioned so that the side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340 along which the second pole element 312 is positioned is fronting the surroundings and not the side of the head of a user when the hearing aid is worn in its intended operational position.
  • the field distribution of transmitted and/or received signals is most powerful in free air and any damping effect of the head of the user is reduced.
  • a hearing aid 320 as in Fig. 3 is shown.
  • the hearing aid housing 340 has an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna 310 has a first pole element 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second pole element 314, 316 extending in the hearing aid housing 340.
  • the second pole element 314, 316 has a first section 314 extending along a first side 341 of the hearing aid housing 340 and a second section 316 extending along a second side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340.
  • the first section 314 and the second section 316 are of the same shape, they are identical.
  • the hearing aid may then be optionally positioned at the right ear or the left ear of a user and still obtain a same or at least comparable field distribution of a field received or transmitted by the antenna 310 comprising first pole element 311, first section 314 of second pole element 314, 316 and second section 316 of the second pole element 314, 316. It can be seen that the first section 314 and second section 316 are distributed symmetrically about a longitudinal center axis of the hearing aid housing 340. It is an advantage of having a symmetric antenna in the hearing aid housing 340 in that the field distribution about the antenna is the same or substantially the same regardless of whether the hearing aid is positioned on a right hand side of the user or a left hand side of the user.
  • Fig. 5 shows a hearing aid 320 with a hearing aid housing 340 with an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna 311, 312 has a first pole element 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second pole element 312 extending along a top side 343 of the hearing aid housing 340.
  • the field distribution of a transmitted and/or received signal may be substantially the same on both a right hand side and a left hand side of the hearing aid housing 340 in that the second pole element 312 of the antenna will experience a same, such as substantially a same, damping effect from the head of a user whether the hearing aid is provided on a left hand side or a right hand side of the hearing aid housing 340 in its intended operational position.
  • Fig. 6 shows a hearing aid housing 340 with an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna has a first pole element having a first section 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second section 313 extending along a side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340, and a second pole 314 extending along another side 341 of the hearing aid housing 340.
  • the length and/or shape of the second pole element 314 corresponds to the length and/or shape of the second section 313 of the first pole element to obtain a symmetric antenna in the hearing aid housing 340 as discussed above.
  • a hearing aid 320 has wireless communications unit 330 and an antenna interconnected therewith.
  • the antenna has a first pole element 317 extending outside of the hearing aid housing, and a second pole element 312 extending within the hearing aid housing 340.
  • Fig. 8 shows schematically in 3D, a receiver in the ear type hearing aid 220 in more detail.
  • the hearing aid 220 has a hearing aid housing 240 comprising a microphone 260, a signal processor 250, a wireless communications unit 230.
  • An attachment member 200 comprises electrical conductor 280 transmitting the second audio signal from the signal processor 250 to the receiver in the ear 270.
  • the receiver in the ear 270 is provided in an ear mould 290 configured to be positioned in the ear of a user.
  • the wireless communications unit 230 is interconnected with an antenna having a first pole element 211 extending along the attachment member 200.
  • the first pole element extends within the attachment member and an insulating material may be provided between the first pole element 211 and the electrical conductor 280, e.g. to avoid cross talk.
  • a second pole element 212 extends within the hearing aid housing 240.
  • Fig. 9 shows the intended operational position of the hearing aid 320 behind the ear 900 of a user.
  • the attachment member 300 is conveniently located at a face 344 of the hearing aid housing 320.
  • the top side of the hearing aid is the side of the hearing aid housing 320 furthers away from the ear
  • the side 341 is the side of the hearing aid adjacent the head (not shown) of a user
  • the side 342 is the side of the hearing aid exposed to the surroundings, i.e. exposed to the surroundings through the thin outer ear which is substantially loss less for the electromagnetic or RF radiation.
  • Figs. 10a-d show fixed lengths of antennas 311 extending in attachment members 301, 302, 303, 304 of different lengths.
  • the fixed lengths antennas may be monopole antennas, or the fixed length antennas may be dipole antennas wherein only one pole element of the dipole antenna is shown.
  • Figs. 11a-d show variable lengths of antennas 321, 322, 323, 324 extending in attachment members 301, 302, 303, 304 of different lengths.
  • Table 1 shows exemplary lengths of the attachment members for an attachment member being a sound tube.

Description

    FIELD OF INVENTION
  • The invention relates to antennas for hearing aids, and especially for antennas extending in hearing aid housing attachment members or outside of a hearing aid housings, and particularly to antennas, such as dipole antennas, having a first pole element extending in an attachment member and a second pole element extending in the hearing aid housing.
  • BACKGROUND
  • Hearing aids are very small and delicate devices and comprise many electronic and metallic components contained in a housing small enough to fit in the ear canal of a human or behind the outer ear. The many electronic and metallic components in combination with the small size of the hearing aid housing impose high design constraints on radio frequency antennas to be used in hearing aids with wireless communication capabilities.
  • Conventionally, antennas in hearing aids have been used for receiving radio broadcasts or commands from a remote control. Typically, such antennas are designed to fit in the hearing aid housing without special concern with relation to the efficiency of the antenna.
  • A variety of hearing aids are known, including so called behind-the-ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, receiver-in-the-ear hearing aids, etc. Some hearing aids have been designed with a cable or a sound tube connecting hearing aid elements positioned behind the ear of a user with hearing aid elements position in the ear of a user. It has been suggested to use such cables or sound tubes for accommodating antenna elements. For example in US 8,300,863 , a hearing aid having a cable or a sound tube connecting the hearing aid to a receiver in the ear of a user or to a speaker in the ear, respectively, is configured for wireless communication via an antenna, and the cable or sound tube comprises a conducting element forming at least part of the antenna. Furthermore, EP 2 088 804 discloses a hearing aid having a cable comprising one or more conductors for connecting a hearing aid housing with a transducer in the ear of a user. To enable wireless communication, a wireless transceiver in the hearing aid may be connected to one of the transducer cables to provide a monopole antenna, or the wireless transceiver may be connected to two transducer cables to provide a dipole antenna for the wireless transceiver.
  • US20110022121A1 describes an improved antenna device for BTE devices, such a hearing prostheses, is disclosed. Antenna elements are disposed in the BTE body and in the earhook, with dielectric material disposed between, so as to form a capacitive coupling.
  • US20090124201A1 describes a communication system for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, the system comprising: a first device configured to receive and modulate the at least one signal, the first device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a first human body and a second conductive element isolated from the first human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal; and a second device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a second human body, and a second conductive element isolated from the second human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to receive the transmitted modulated signal from the first device.
  • US20100321269A1 describes a behind-the-ear wireless device includes a main body casing including a wireless circuit housed therein and an audio transmission unit having a function of transmitting sound to an ear. The main body casing and the audio transmission unit are integrally connected to each other, whereby the wireless device can be fitted to the ear. An antenna element having a length of about half wave length is disposed in a hollow of the sound tube. A parasitic element having a length of about a half wave length is disposed in the main body casing.
  • SUMMARY OF INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved antenna design for hearing aids.
  • The present invention relates to a hearing aid as defined in claim 1. Further details are defined in the dependent claims. In the following, examples for understanding the present invention are described. Although entitled as "embodiments", not all of these examples fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
  • It is an advantage that the antenna is not connected to a ground plane in the hearing aid housing. Hereby, the radiation pattern of the antenna may be independent of e.g. circuit board radiation, and thereby the radiation pattern for the antenna may be more tightly controlled. It is a further advantage that the first pole element and the second pole element may be separated so that coupling between the first pole element and the second pole element is minimized.
  • The length of the attachment member may be determined by the size of a user's ear to allow for a smooth fitting, and may for example be selected during fitting of the hearing aid. The length of an attachment member varies depending on the type of attachment member provided. For some attachment members, e.g. for attachment members for sound transmission, the length of the attachment members may typically range from about 50 mm to about 70 mm, and the attachment members are typically available in a number of predetermined lengths. As the attachment members are exposed to the environment, including the user's head, the material may degrade over time, and typically need to be exchanged at regular intervals.
  • The length of the antenna, such as the length of first pole element, may be a fixed or same length, such that the length of the antenna, such as the length of the first pole element, is the same for all attachment member lengths.
  • The first pole element and the second pole element may have a same length, such as a length of half a wavelength of an operating frequency for the antenna, such as a length corresponding to the length of the attachment member, such as a length corresponding to a smallest length of the attachment member.
  • Thus, by providing a fixed length of the antenna, such as of the first pole element, for all attachment member lengths, a properly matched antenna is ensured irrespective of attachment member changes. It is a further advantage of providing a fixed length of the first pole element irrespective of the length of the attachment member that the second pole element positioned in the hearing aid housing has a fixed length so that the frequency response of the antenna is not varied if an attachment member is exchanged.
  • Alternatively, the length of first pole element may extend over the length of the attachment member.
  • The required physical length of the antenna, whether the length is the same or is varied with attachment member length, may be decreased by interconnecting the antenna with an electronic component, a so-called antenna shortening component, having an impedance that modifies the standing wave pattern of the antenna thereby changing its effective length. The required physical length of the antenna may for example be shortened by connecting the antenna in series with an inductor or in shunt with a capacitor to obtain a desired length of the antenna, to e.g. obtain a desired frequency response for the antenna.
  • The attachment member is a sound transmission member for transmission of sound from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user. The second sound signal may be transmitted electrically or acoustically to the ear of a user.
  • The attachment member comprises one or more conductors for conducting the second audio signal to a receiver positioned in the ear of a user. Typically, the conductors are electrically conducting conductors and the second audio signal is transmitted electrically to the ear of a user via the conductors. Typically, this configuration is used when a hearing aid housing of a receiver-in-the-ear hearing aid is provided behind the ear of a user and the second audio signal is electrically transmitted to a receiver positioned in the ear of a user. Thus, the electrical signal is transmitted to the ear and at this stage. An ear mould may receive the transmitted signal and provide it to the inner ear of the user. The hearing aid housing of the behind-the-ear hearing aid may thus further comprise a transducer for transforming the second audio signal into a sound to be transmitted by the sound tube to the ear of a user.
  • The antenna has a first pole element and a second pole element for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field, and is fed in between the first and second pole elements. The antenna is a dipole antenna.
  • The antenna including the first pole element and the second pole element may be confined within the hearing aid housing and the attachment member, so that no part of the antenna protrudes from the hearing aid housing or the attachment member.
  • Alternatively, the first pole element, or at least a part of the first pole element, such as substantially the entire first pole element, may extend in free air outside of the hearing aid housing, and outside any attachment member.
  • The attachment member comprises a conducting element, particularly an electrically conductive element, and the conducting member forms at least a part of the first pole element. The conducting element may be an additional conducting element provided in the attachment member to form at least a part of the first pole element, for example, the conducting element may be provided specifically or exclusively to form a part of the first pole element.
  • The conducting element, particularly an electrically conductive element, may form part of a cable assembly configured to connect the hearing aid housing with the ear of a user, such as for example to electrically transmit the second audio signal from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user, such as to a receiver in the ear of a user. The antenna may reuse the conducting element electrically transmitting the second audio signal from the hearing aid housing to the ear of a user to also act as antenna.
  • The second pole element may have any shape, and may have the shape of a patch antenna, a rod antenna, a meander line antenna, etc. or any combination thereof.
  • The second pole element is positioned in the hearing aid housing and is at least primarily extending within the hearing aid housing. The positioning of the second pole element within the housing may be a determining factor for the radiation pattern for the antenna. In some embodiments, the second pole element may extend along a top surface of the hearing aid housing. It is an advantage of positioning the second pole element along a top surface of the hearing aid that the position of the head with respect to the second pole element is substantially unchanged irrespective of whether the hearing aid is positioned at the right ear of a user or the left ear of a user.
  • The second pole element has a first section extending along a first side of the hearing aid housing and a second section extending along a second side of the hearing aid housing. A length of the first section may corresponds substantially to a length of the second section, and the length of the first section and the second section of the second pole element may be substantially the same, i.e. substantially equal. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first section and the second section may have a substantially same shape, and the first section and the second section may be symmetrical. The first section and the second section may be symmetrical about an axis of the hearing aid housing, such as about a middle plane partitioning the hearing aid housing in two equal parts in a longitudinal direction, i.e. in a direction parallel to the surface of the head when the hearing aid is provided in its intended operational position.
  • In one or more embodiments, the first pole element may have a first section extending via the attachment member and a second section extending in the hearing aid housing. The second section of the first pole element extending in the hearing aid housing may have a same shape as the second pole element.
  • The second section of the first pole element may extend along one side of the hearing aid housing while the second pole element may extends along another side of the hearing aid housing.
  • The wireless communications unit is configured for wireless data communication, and in this respect interconnected with the antenna for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field. The wireless communications unit may comprise a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter-receiver pair, such as a transceiver, a radio unit, etc. The wireless communications unit may be configured for communication using any protocol as known for a person skilled in the art, including Bluetooth, WLAN standards, manufacture specific protocols, such as tailored proximity antenna protocols, such as proprietary protocols, such as low-power wireless communication protocols, etc.
  • The wireless communications unit interconnected with the antenna may be configured for operation in the ISM frequency band. The wireless communications unit interconnected with the antenna may be configured for operation at a frequency of at least 100 MHz, such as at a frequency of at least 800 MHz, such as at at least 1 GHz, such as at a frequency between 1.5 GHz and 3 GHz, such as at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, such as at substantially 2.4 GHz.
  • The wireless communications unit may be configured for communication with external devices, such as hearing aid accessories, such as remote controls, telephones, such as mobile telephones, televisions, television boxes, television streamer boxes, spouse microphones, hearing aid fitting systems, etc.
  • The wireless communications unit may also be configured for communication with another hearing aid in a binaural hearing aid, so that data may be exchanged between the hearing aid positioned at the right ear of a user and the hearing aid positioned at the left ear of the user. Such binaural communication may be used for example for binaural beam forming, for binaural noise reduction, etc.
  • The hearing aid may further comprise a variable matching circuit for electrically matching the antenna with the wireless communications unit.
  • The antenna is a dipole antenna and may be fed in between the first pole element and the second pole element, such as in the center between the first pole element and the second pole element, such as substantially in the center between the first pole element and the second pole element. The dipole antenna may be a balanced dipole antenna. The antenna design may be inherently symmetric, so as to provide a balance antenna without the use of balun components, etc.
  • The hearing aid housing may comprise hearing aid electronics, such as hearing aid electronics provided on e.g. a printed circuit board. In the prior art, many hearing aid antennas have been using the printed circuit board as a ground plane for a hearing aid antenna, whereby the radiation pattern is dependent also on the (non-controlled) radiation from the printed circuit board.
  • It is an advantage of the present antenna that the antenna the printed circuit board is not used as a ground plane for the antenna.
  • It is envisaged that preferred features and characteristics of one aspect and/or embodiment of the invention are applicable to another aspect and/or embodiment, mutatis mutandis.
  • The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will, thus, not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    • Fig. 1 shows schematically a behind the ear type hearing aid housing with a sound tube and having an antenna extending via the sound tube, which is not part of the present invention,
    • Figs. 2a and 2b show a receiver in the ear type hearing aid having a hearing aid housing with an attachment member comprising one or more conductors and having an antenna extending via the attachment member,
    • Fig. 3 shows a hearing aid housing with an attachment member wherein a first pole extends via the attachment member and a second pole extend along a side of the hearing aid housing,
    • Fig. 4 shows a hearing aid housing with an attachment member wherein an antenna has a first pole extending via the attachment member and a second pole having a first and a second section, extending along a first and a second side of the hearing aid housing, respectively,
    • Fig. 5 shows a hearing aid housing with an attachment member wherein an antenna has a first pole extending via the attachment member and a second pole extend along a top side of the hearing aid housing,
    • Fig. 6 shows a hearing aid housing with an attachment member wherein an antenna has a first pole having a first section extending via the attachment member and a second section extending along a side of the hearing aid and a second pole extending along another side of the hearing aid housing,
    • Fig. 7 shows a hearing aid housing without an attachment member wherein an antenna has a first pole extending outside of the hearing aid, and a second pole extending within the hearing aid housing,
    • Fig. 8 shows a 3D drawing of a hearing aid housing with an attachment member and a receiver in the ear,
    • Fig. 9 shows the intended operational position of the hearing aid.
    • Figs. 10a-d show fixed lengths of antenna extending in attachment members of different lengths,
    • Figs. 11a-d show variable lengths of antennas extending in attachment members of different lengths.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically a behind the ear type hearing aid 120 having a hearing aid housing 140. The hearing aid housing comprises a microphone 160 for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal, a signal processor 150 for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid 120, and a wireless communications unit 130 connected to the signal processor 150 for wireless data communication. The hearing aid has an attachment member 100 connectable to the hearing aid housing 140, and the wireless communications unit 130 is interconnected with an antenna 110 having a first pole element 111 and a second pole element 112 for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field. At least a part of the first pole element 111 extends via the attachment member 100, and the second pole element 112 extends in the hearing aid housing 140. The signal processor 150 is connected to a speaker 170 for conversion of the second audio signal into a sound. The attachment member 100 is a sound tube, and the sound is acoustically transmitted to the ear of a user (not shown) via acoustic wave propagation in the thin tube 100.
  • It is seen that the antenna 110 having first and second poles 111, 112 may be longer than an antenna 110 extending only in the hearing aid housing. In that the hearing aid designers strive to minimize the size of the hearing aids, it is an advantage that a part of the antenna may extend outside of the housing.
  • It is a further advantage that the antenna 110 is not connected to a ground plane in the hearing aid housing. Hereby, the radiation pattern of the antenna 110 is independent of e.g. circuit board radiation, and thereby the radiation pattern may be more tightly controlled. It is a further advantage that the first pole element 111 and the second pole element 112 are separated so that coupling between the first pole element 111 and the second pole element 112 is minimized.
  • Fig. 2a shows schematically a receiver in the ear type hearing aid 220 having a hearing aid housing 240. The hearing aid housing 240 comprises a microphone 260 for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal, a signal processor 250 for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid 220, and a wireless communications unit 230 connected to the signal processor 250 for wireless data communication. The hearing aid has an attachment member 200 connectable to the hearing aid housing 240, and the wireless communications unit 230 is interconnected with an antenna 210 having a first pole element 211 and a second pole element 212 for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field. At least a part of the first pole element 211 extends via the attachment member 200, and the second pole element 212 extends in the hearing aid housing 240. The antenna 210 having a first pole element 211 and a second pole element 212 is fed approximately in the center from the wireless communications unit thus implementing a dipole antenna.
  • Conducting element 280 connects the signal processor 250 to receiver in the ear 270, thereby electrically transmitting the second audio signal from the signal processor 250 in the hearing aid housing 240 to the receiver in the ear 270. It is seen that the attachment member 200 is a cable assembly comprising at least conducting element 280 and at least a part of the first pole element 211. It is envisaged that more conducting elements may be provided connecting the receiver in the ear with hearing aid electronics, such as with the signal processor 250.
  • Fig. 2b shows schematically a hearing aid of the receiver in the ear type, wherein the conducting element 280 is also used as at least a part of the first pole element 211. The wireless communications unit 230 is connected to conducting element 280 and the conducting element 280 will act as the first pole element 211 of the antenna 210 for the wireless communications unit. In Fig. 2b it is seen that the first pole element extends over the entire length of the attachment member.
  • Fig. 3 shows schematically a hearing aid housing with an attachment member in 3D. The hearing aid 320 may be any hearing aid type including a behind the ear hearing aid, a receiver in the ear type, etc. The attachment member 300 may thus be any attachment member including a sound tube, a cable assembly comprising at least one conducting element, a hook, etc. The wireless communications unit 330 and the antenna 310 interconnected with the wireless communications unit 330 is shown schematically, for clarification further elements, including signal processor etc., are not shown. The first pole element 311 extends via the attachment member 300 and the second pole element 312 extends along a side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340. In this embodiment, the hearing aid is preferably positioned so that the side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340 along which the second pole element 312 is positioned is fronting the surroundings and not the side of the head of a user when the hearing aid is worn in its intended operational position. Hereby, the field distribution of transmitted and/or received signals is most powerful in free air and any damping effect of the head of the user is reduced.
  • In Fig. 4, a hearing aid 320 as in Fig. 3 is shown. The hearing aid housing 340 has an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna 310 has a first pole element 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second pole element 314, 316 extending in the hearing aid housing 340. The second pole element 314, 316 has a first section 314 extending along a first side 341 of the hearing aid housing 340 and a second section 316 extending along a second side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340. In the present example the first section 314 and the second section 316 are of the same shape, they are identical. This is an advantage as the hearing aid may then be optionally positioned at the right ear or the left ear of a user and still obtain a same or at least comparable field distribution of a field received or transmitted by the antenna 310 comprising first pole element 311, first section 314 of second pole element 314, 316 and second section 316 of the second pole element 314, 316. It can be seen that the first section 314 and second section 316 are distributed symmetrically about a longitudinal center axis of the hearing aid housing 340. It is an advantage of having a symmetric antenna in the hearing aid housing 340 in that the field distribution about the antenna is the same or substantially the same regardless of whether the hearing aid is positioned on a right hand side of the user or a left hand side of the user.
  • Fig. 5 shows a hearing aid 320 with a hearing aid housing 340 with an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna 311, 312 has a first pole element 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second pole element 312 extending along a top side 343 of the hearing aid housing 340. Hereby, the field distribution of a transmitted and/or received signal may be substantially the same on both a right hand side and a left hand side of the hearing aid housing 340 in that the second pole element 312 of the antenna will experience a same, such as substantially a same, damping effect from the head of a user whether the hearing aid is provided on a left hand side or a right hand side of the hearing aid housing 340 in its intended operational position.
  • Fig. 6 shows a hearing aid housing 340 with an attachment member 300 wherein an antenna has a first pole element having a first section 311 extending via the attachment member 300 and a second section 313 extending along a side 342 of the hearing aid housing 340, and a second pole 314 extending along another side 341 of the hearing aid housing 340. In one or more embodiments, the length and/or shape of the second pole element 314 corresponds to the length and/or shape of the second section 313 of the first pole element to obtain a symmetric antenna in the hearing aid housing 340 as discussed above.
  • In Fig. 7, a further embodiment is shown, wherein a hearing aid 320 has wireless communications unit 330 and an antenna interconnected therewith. The antenna has a first pole element 317 extending outside of the hearing aid housing, and a second pole element 312 extending within the hearing aid housing 340. Regarding the electromagnetic properties of the antenna, it may be advantageous to provide the first pole element 317 in free space.
  • Fig. 8 shows schematically in 3D, a receiver in the ear type hearing aid 220 in more detail. The hearing aid 220 has a hearing aid housing 240 comprising a microphone 260, a signal processor 250, a wireless communications unit 230. An attachment member 200 comprises electrical conductor 280 transmitting the second audio signal from the signal processor 250 to the receiver in the ear 270. The receiver in the ear 270 is provided in an ear mould 290 configured to be positioned in the ear of a user. The wireless communications unit 230 is interconnected with an antenna having a first pole element 211 extending along the attachment member 200. The first pole element extends within the attachment member and an insulating material may be provided between the first pole element 211 and the electrical conductor 280, e.g. to avoid cross talk. A second pole element 212 extends within the hearing aid housing 240.
  • Fig. 9 shows the intended operational position of the hearing aid 320 behind the ear 900 of a user. The attachment member 300 is conveniently located at a face 344 of the hearing aid housing 320. The top side of the hearing aid is the side of the hearing aid housing 320 furthers away from the ear, the side 341 is the side of the hearing aid adjacent the head (not shown) of a user, and the side 342 is the side of the hearing aid exposed to the surroundings, i.e. exposed to the surroundings through the thin outer ear which is substantially loss less for the electromagnetic or RF radiation.
  • Figs. 10a-d show fixed lengths of antennas 311 extending in attachment members 301, 302, 303, 304 of different lengths. The fixed lengths antennas may be monopole antennas, or the fixed length antennas may be dipole antennas wherein only one pole element of the dipole antenna is shown.
  • Figs. 11a-d show variable lengths of antennas 321, 322, 323, 324 extending in attachment members 301, 302, 303, 304 of different lengths. Table 1 below shows exemplary lengths of the attachment members for an attachment member being a sound tube.
    Tube name length (mm)
    -1B 52.1
    0A 57,9
    0B 55,0
    1A 60,0
    1B 57,9
    2A 67,0
    2B 64,0
    3A 72,0
    3B 69,0
  • Although particular embodiments of the present inventions have been shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the claimed inventions to the preferred embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from scope of the claimed inventions. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed inventions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

Claims (8)

  1. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) comprising
    a hearing aid housing (140, 240, 340) having
    a microphone (160, 260, 360) for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into a corresponding first audio signal,
    a signal processor (150, 250, 350) for processing the first audio signal into a second audio signal compensating a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid (120, 220, 320), and
    a wireless communications unit (130, 230, 330) connected to the signal processor (150, 250, 350) for wireless data communication, and an attachment member (100, 200, 300) connectable to the hearing aid housing (140, 240, 340),
    the wireless communications unit (130, 230, 330) being interconnected with an antenna (110, 210, 310) having a first pole element (111, 211, 311) and a second pole element (112, 212, 312) for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field, wherein the antenna (110, 210, 310) is a dipole antenna,
    wherein at least a part of the first pole element (111, 211, 311) extends via the attachment member and the second pole element (112, 212, 312) extends in the hearing aid housing (140, 240, 340), characterized in that the attachment member (100, 200, 300) being a sound transmission member configured to transmit the second audio signal from the hearing aid housing (140, 240, 340) to an ear (900) of the user, wherein the attachment member (200) comprises one or more conducting elements (280) at least one of the one or more conducting elements (280) forming at least a part of the first pole element (211) of the antenna (210), and wherein at least one of the one or more conducting elements (280) conduct the second audio signal to a receiver (270) positioned in the ear (900) of the user, and
    the second pole element (212, 312) of the antenna has a first section (214, 314) extending along a first side of the hearing aid housing and a second section (216, 316) extending along a second side of the hearing aid housing (240, 340).
  2. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to any of claims 1, wherein the antenna (110, 210, 310) is confined within the hearing aid housing (140, 240, 340) and the attachment member (100, 200, 300).
  3. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to claim 1, wherein the first section (214, 314) and the second section (216, 316) are substantially symmetrical.
  4. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first pole element (111, 211, 311) and the second pole element (112, 212, 312) have a same length.
  5. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein a length of the first pole element (111, 211, 311) of the antenna (110, 210, 310) extends over a length of the attachment member (100, 200, 300).
  6. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to claim 5, wherein the hearing aid (120, 220, 320) further comprises a variable matching circuit for electrically matching the antenna (110, 210, 310) with the wireless communications unit (130, 230, 330).
  7. A hearing aid (120, 220, 320) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the antenna (110, 210, 310) is a balanced dipole antenna
  8. A hearing aid (320) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first pole element (311) of the antenna (310) has a first section extending via the attachment member (300) and a second section (313) extending in the hearing aid housing (340), the second section (313) of the first pole element (311) extends along a first side (342) of the hearing aid housing (340) and the second pole element (312) of the antenna (310) extends along a second side (341) of the hearing aid housing (340).
EP12199674.8A 2012-12-28 2012-12-28 A dipole antenna for a hearing aid Active EP2750409B1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12199674.8A EP2750409B1 (en) 2012-12-28 2012-12-28 A dipole antenna for a hearing aid
DK12199674.8T DK2750409T3 (en) 2012-12-28 2012-12-28 Dipole antenna for a hearing aid
US13/848,605 US9237404B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2013-03-21 Dipole antenna for a hearing aid
JP2013258396A JP5670545B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2013-12-13 Dipole antenna for hearing aids
CN201310713296.7A CN103916803B (en) 2012-12-28 2013-12-20 Hearing aid

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12199674.8A EP2750409B1 (en) 2012-12-28 2012-12-28 A dipole antenna for a hearing aid

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US9912042B2 (en) 2015-07-28 2018-03-06 Futurewei Technologies, Inc. Coupled multi-bands antennas in wearable wireless devices
DE102016200831A1 (en) * 2016-01-21 2017-07-27 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. hearing Aid
EP3343955B1 (en) 2016-12-29 2022-07-06 Oticon A/s Assembly for hearing aid
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CN208820046U (en) * 2018-08-30 2019-05-03 易力声科技(深圳)有限公司 A kind of dipole antenna being placed in wireless headset shell
DE102020209124A1 (en) 2020-07-21 2022-01-27 Sivantos Pte. Ltd. ITE hearing aid
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