EP4054208A1 - Hearing aid, anntena for a hearing aid and method for producing a hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A hearing aid (2) is specified which has a housing (4) and an antenna (6), the housing (6) having a housing shell (8) for wearing in the ear, the antenna (6) being designed for signal transmission via a radio link, the housing shell (8) having an inside (18), the antenna (6) being placed in the housing shell (8) and running along the inside (18). A corresponding antenna (6) and a method for producing a corresponding hearing aid (2) are also specified.

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid, an antenna therefor and a method for producing such a hearing aid.

A hearing device is usually used to output an audio signal to a user of the hearing device. The output takes place using an output converter, usually acoustically via airborne sound using a so-called receiver, which is also referred to as a loudspeaker or receiver. A special embodiment of a hearing device is used to supply a user with a hearing deficit. For this purpose, the hearing aid has at least one acoustic input converter, typically a microphone, and a control unit. The control unit is designed to process an input signal, which is generated from ambient sound by the input transducer, and thereby at least partially compensate for the hearing deficit of the user. A variant is also conceivable in which the output converter is designed for mechanical or electrical coupling of the audio signal into the user's hearing (e.g. cochlear implant). The general term "hearing aid" also includes devices such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones and the like.

A hearing aid usually has an earpiece that is inserted into the user's auditory canal and then closes it off from the environment. In other words: the earpiece is worn in the ear. In certain designs, such as CIC devices (abbreviation for: "completely in the canal"), the hearing device itself is designed as an earpiece and then has a housing that is worn in the ear. Because of the generally very small design of hearing aids, especially in connection with the ear piece, whose size is limited by the auditory canal, the space for accommodating the various components of the hearing aid is severely restricted. This is particularly problematic if the hearing device has an antenna for signal transmission via a radio link, for example with another hearing device or an additional device. Any installation space limitation also restricts the freedom of design and the transmission properties of an antenna.

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to specify a hearing device with an improved antenna and such an antenna. The antenna should have transmission properties that are as advantageous as possible and use the available space in the hearing aid as optimally as possible. A method for producing such a hearing aid is also to be specified.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a hearing aid with the features of claim 1, by an antenna with the features of claim 13 and by a method with the features of claim 14. Advantageous refinements, developments and variants are the subject of the dependent claims. The explanations in connection with the hearing aid also apply analogously to the antenna and to the method and vice versa.

The hearing aid has a housing and an antenna. The housing has a housing shell, which is also referred to as a "shell". The housing shell serves to be worn in the ear, ie when the hearing device is used as intended, the housing shell is inserted into the auditory canal of a user. The specific position within the auditory canal depends on the specific design of the hearing aid. The human auditory canal generally has two curvatures, the outer curvature is also referred to as the first curvature, the curvature that lies further inwards towards the eardrum is also referred to as the second curvature. Depending on the design of the hearing aid, when used as intended, it is arranged at different points along the auditory canal or even partially or completely outside the auditory canal.

The housing also has, in particular, a cover plate, which is also referred to as a "faceplate" and which closes the housing shell. When used as intended, the cover plate points out of the auditory canal and suitably has an interface, e.g. one or more control elements, for operating the hearing aid. In addition, the cover plate is preferably detachable, e.g. The cover plate is attached to the housing shell, both together form the housing of the hearing aid.

The antenna is designed for signal transmission via a radio link. The specific design of the radio link is initially irrelevant; what is essential is that the antenna is designed for signal transmission. The radio connection is e.g. a Bluetooth connection, WiFi connection, RF connection or similar, the antenna is then a Bluetooth, WiFi, RF or other antenna accordingly. In particular, the antenna is bi-directional, i.e. both a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. The wireless connection is, for example, with another hearing aid, e.g. another individual device of a binaural hearing aid with two individual devices, or with an additional device, e.g. a smartphone, a television or a remote control. In operation, the antenna generally emits and/or receives electromagnetic radiation, specifically via a transmission and reception point of the antenna. The sending and receiving point is also referred to as the excitation point. The frequency range of the radiation depends on the specific design of the radio connection for which the antenna is then designed.

The housing shell has an inside. The inside of the housing shell points inwards, that is to say into the interior of the housing, and encloses an interior space of the housing. One or more components of the hearing aid are accommodated in this interior space, in particular at least one microphone, a receiver, a battery or a control unit or a combination thereof.

The antenna is inserted into the housing shell and runs along the inside. In particular, the antenna thus follows an inside course of the housing shell. The antenna preferably rests on the inside of the housing shell, ie nestles against it, as it were, preferably completely, ie not just in sections. The antenna is suitably in positive contact with the inside of the housing shell, ie on its inside. In particular, the antenna fits perfectly to the housing shell and follows it. The antenna forms, in particular, its own layer or ply within the housing shell and along the inside of the housing shell.

The special design and arrangement of the antenna enables optimal use of the installation space. The antenna does not get in the way of the other components inside the housing, but in particular runs around them. At the same time, the arrangement of the antenna along the inside provides a maximum area for the antenna, so that the antenna can be dimensioned to be particularly large and powerful. In addition, the antenna can also be designed particularly freely due to its special arrangement, so that a wide variety of antenna types can be implemented. In addition, the antenna inside the housing is in particular the most external component, i.e. all other components within the housing shell are also enclosed by the antenna. The antenna thus forms, so to speak, a separating layer between the housing shell and other components in it. The antenna is therefore easily accessible for signals from or to the outside and the radio connection is accordingly minimally disturbed by the other components in the housing shell.

During production, the antenna is simply inserted into the housing shell. This is particularly simple and inexpensive. In this case, the antenna is in particular not integrated into the housing shell, so that a complex multi-component injection molding process or a method for integrating the antenna into the housing shell is not required. In one possible embodiment, the insertion is in particular reversible, i.e. the antenna can also be removed from the housing shell and separated from it in a simple manner.

The antenna is preferably an independent component which is inserted into the housing shell. The antenna is thus in particular of the Housing shell manufactured separately, ie the housing shell and the antenna are manufactured independently and then assembled. For example, the housing shell is manufactured as an injection molded part independently of the antenna. The antenna is not manufactured or connected monolithically to the housing shell, but is fundamentally independent of the housing shell. This significantly simplifies production, because the antenna is manufactured separately as a simple component and then only inserted into the housing shell as required.

The housing shell is preferably a standard component for mass production. The housing shell is basically suitable for use in different auditory canals and is therefore not a component that is manufactured individually for a single user. For example, the housing shell is a so-called "one-size-fits-all/most" component. Likewise, the antenna is preferably a standard component, the previous statements apply accordingly.

The hearing device serves in particular to output an audio signal to a user of the hearing device. The output takes place by means of an output converter, preferably by means of a handset. The hearing device is preferably designed to provide a user with a hearing deficit and has at least one acoustic input converter for this purpose, preferably a microphone, and a control unit. The control unit is designed to process an input signal, which is generated by the input transducer from ambient sound, and to output it via the output transducer in order to at least partially compensate for the hearing deficit of the user. The general term "hearing aid" also includes devices such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones and the like, but below, without restricting the generality, a hearing aid for supplying a user with a hearing deficit is assumed.

The hearing aid is preferably a CIC device or an IIC device. The abbreviations CIC and IIC identify two particularly compact designs for a hearing aid. In a CIC device (CIC = "completely in the canal"), the hearing aid is inserted into the auditory canal in such a way that the housing faces outwards ends in the outer part of the ear canal. As a result, the hearing aid is hardly visible from the outside. With an IIC device (IIC = "invisible in the canal"), the hearing aid is inserted even deeper into the auditory canal than a CIC device, particularly in the area of the second curvature of the auditory canal, i.e. still behind the first curvature, so that the hearing aid is is no longer visible outside. Compared to these two designs, an ITC device (ITC = "in the canal"), for example, is inserted into the auditory canal, but only at the beginning, and otherwise also fills the auricle, which offers significantly more space compared to the auditory canal . A BTE device (BTE = "behind the ear") allows even more installation space, in which the housing is worn completely outside the auditory canal and behind the ear and in which only a sound tube leads into the auditory canal or a line leading to a Listener leads, which is inserted into the ear canal. In the case of CIC and IIC devices, there are then two specific problems, firstly, the installation space in the housing is significantly restricted by the dimensions of the auditory canal, secondly, the transmission of signals from the auditory canal is significantly more difficult due to the surrounding head of the user compared to transmission, which occurs from outside the ear or out of the auricle. The special antenna described here is therefore particularly advantageous for CIC and IIC devices.

In a suitable embodiment, the antenna is designed as a flexible circuit board with a conductor track structure. The flexible circuit board is also known as a "flex PCB" (PCB = "printed circuit board"). The flexible circuit board has a carrier layer that is sufficiently thin to be flexible. The backing layer is preferably between 20 μm and 200 μm thick. The circuit board is preferably also flexible in bending. In particular, the circuit board is also reversibly deformable. The circuit board structure realizes those electrical properties of the circuit board that are required for an antenna. The conductor track structure is therefore also referred to as an antenna structure. The conductor track structure is applied to the carrier layer or embedded in it. The conductor track structure consists in particular of a conductive material or a combination of conductive materials, for example a metal in general or copper in particular. A flexible circuit board is particularly suitable as an antenna, since such a circuit board is can be produced in a simple manner and in particular plan and is also produced in this way and is then simply folded together in a suitable manner in order to finally be inserted into the housing shell. Separate fastening means are initially not necessary and are absent in an advantageous embodiment. In another embodiment, the circuit board is additionally fastened, for example to the housing and/or to a component therein. The circuit board is, for example, soldered, glued or plugged in or the like. In the inserted state, the conductor track structure preferably points outwards and is thus located between the carrier layer and the inside, so that the conductor track structure is optimally protected. However, a reverse arrangement, in which the conductor track structure points inward, is also possible and fundamentally suitable.

In another suitable embodiment, the antenna is a wire or a stamping made of a conductive material. The wire is appropriately shaped to create an antenna. The wire is in particular a metal wire. The same applies to the stamped part, which is stamped out in a suitable form in order to implement an antenna. The stamped part is stamped out, for example, from a metal foil or metal-coated foil. The wire or the stamped part then in particular replaces the conductor track structure already mentioned and in particular does not require any additional carrier layer. The wire or the stamped part reproduces the conductor path structure described above, i.e. it is identical in shape to it. Correspondingly, the explanations for the conductor track structure apply analogously to a wire or a stamped part.

Basically, the same shape is suitable for the realization of an antenna for the conductor track structure, the wire and the stamped part, the respective antennas differ essentially by the different production. In principle, a conductor track structure, a wire and/or a stamped part can be combined with one another as desired, so that different parts of the antenna are then produced in different ways and are designed differently.

The housing shell is basically designed like a shell, with a base which extends into the auditory canal when used as intended and with an opening which then points outwards and is closed in particular with the cover plate. For general adaptation to the auditory canal, the housing shell is tapered in the direction of the base. In particular, a sound outlet is arranged on the base, e.g. a hole, through which sound is output from the listener in the direction of the eardrum. In this sense, the housing shell is then, roughly speaking, designed like a tunnel, with a tapering diameter. Viewed in cross section, the housing shell is then ring-shaped, with the cross section not necessarily being circular, rather “ring-shaped” is to be understood more generally as a closed loop. In any case, the housing shell and thus also its inside are designed to be bent or curved, ie have a curved course. In order to follow this curved course of the housing shell, the antenna is bent at least once and is thus adapted in particular to a bend or curvature on the inside. The antenna therefore not only runs along the housing shell in a small and possibly planar section, but is dimensioned in such a way that a bend or curvature is also covered. Preferably, the antenna even completely surrounds the interior space and is correspondingly routed once completely along the inside for this purpose.

In a particularly suitable embodiment, the antenna is folded in the shape of a funnel in order to run along the housing shell. Starting from a flat state, the antenna is rolled up into a funnel, so to speak, and then inserted into the housing shell. The antenna is generally suitably designed in the form of a strip, preferably U-shaped, with two ends which are guided towards one another when they are put together and then optionally also overlap. In particular, the antenna runs around the interior at most once, so it is not folded up in several layers. In general, the folded antenna then has two openings which point approximately in the direction of the auditory canal. One opening points in the direction of the opening of the housing shell, the other in the direction of the base of the housing shell. As the antenna follows the housing shell, the Antenna in the inserted state of the hearing aid also roughly an inner wall of the auditory canal.

In a suitable embodiment, the antenna is arranged completely within the housing shell. The antenna therefore does not protrude from the housing and is in particular also not visible from the outside. The antenna is thus advantageously hidden.

In an expedient embodiment, the antenna is a dipole antenna with two arms, each of which forms an antenna pole. The antenna poles are used to send and/or receive signals. The two arms are each made of an electrically conductive material.

In a first suitable embodiment, a capacitance is formed on each end of the arms. The antenna is then a dipole antenna with a capacitive load. The two capacitances are each formed in particular by a capacitor which is connected to the respective arm. The antenna is preferably a folded dipole. For this purpose, each arm is formed from two conductors which run side by side. In particular, the two conductors are approximately (i.e. a maximum of 20% difference) of the same length. One of the two conductors of the arm begins at the transmitting and receiving point of the antenna and ends at the capacitance, the other of the two conductors begins at the capacitance and ends at a corresponding conductor of the other arm. The other arm with capacitance is designed analogously to this. Each capacitance is expediently U-shaped, with a central limb from which two side limbs extend. The two conductors of one arm are then connected to the middle leg. The two side legs each run in the direction of the two conductors, in particular parallel thereto, and on opposite sides of the two conductors, so that the ends of the two conductors lie between the side legs. The same applies analogously to the other arm.

In a second suitable configuration, an inductor is formed on the ends of each of the arms. The antenna is then a dipole antenna with an inductive load. Preferably, each arm is formed from a single conductor with a meandering course, so that the respective arm also forms an inductance. Suitably, the inductance has 5-10 bends (also called "turns"). The same applies analogously to the other arm. The two arms are in particular electrically isolated from one another and converge at a transmission and reception point of the antenna. This sending and receiving point also marks a point of the smallest distance between the two conductors.

The arms in each case follow in particular the course of the antenna, in particular in the form of a strip, so that in the inserted state the arms correspondingly encompass the interior of the housing shell. The two arms and the two capacitances or inductances are preferably mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, a non-symmetrical design is basically also suitable; in this case, the antenna expediently also has a balun (also referred to as a balun).

In another expedient embodiment, the antenna is a frame antenna (also referred to as "loop antenna"), with two arms, which converge on a first side to the transmission and reception point and which on a second side, which is opposite the first side, associated with a capacity. The capacitance is formed in particular by a capacitor with two electrodes, one of which is connected to one of the arms. In particular, a uniform current distribution within the antenna is achieved by means of the capacitance. In a particularly simple configuration, the capacitance is simply formed by two opposite ends of the arms and a gap in between. In another embodiment, the capacitance is designed in one layer, with two electrodes which lie together in one layer of the antenna and each have a number of fingers, the fingers of the two electrodes interlocking (also referred to as “interdigital capacitor”). In a further, different configuration, the capacitance is formed in two layers, with two electrodes which are arranged in different layers of the antenna. One of the electrodes is then expediently connected to one of the arms by means of a through contact (so-called “via”). Especially if the antenna is a circuit board or Is comparable, this has a top and a bottom, which each form a layer of the board. The via then extends through the carrier layer and connects the two layers.

Irrespective of the configuration of the antenna, its two arms are expediently located together in one plane or one position. This is particularly easy to implement in terms of manufacturing technology, especially with a circuit board or something similar. Also independent of the design of the antenna, the capacitances or inductances that may be used in each case are either designed as a separate component that is inserted into the antenna or integrated into it during its manufacture, e.g. printed on.

As an alternative to an antenna which is arranged completely inside the housing shell, the antenna has a first arm and a second arm in an advantageous embodiment, with only the first arm being arranged inside the housing shell. The second arm, on the other hand, is designed along a pull-out aid of the housing, for example integrated into the pull-out aid, for pulling the housing out of the ear. For both arms, but especially for the first arm, the statements above apply accordingly, in particular the statements on arms, capacitances and inductances. The pull-out aid is, for example, a thread or handle, eg made of plastic, and runs outwards and away from the housing, so that the pull-out handle can be gripped by the user when inserted and then pull the entire hearing aid out of the auditory canal. The pull-out aid thus represents a type of extension arm and is therefore particularly suitable for accommodating at least part of the antenna. For this purpose, the pull-out aid is expediently rigid. The antenna, which has one arm along the pull-out aid, is typically a non-symmetrical antenna in which the two arms are excited in particular differentially, and then expediently has a balun to improve the transmission properties. The second arm is, for example, a simple wire or is printed onto the pull-out aid as a conductor track or is otherwise applied to the pull-out aid or integrated into it.

The antenna with one arm along the pull-out aid is designed either as a dipole antenna or as a monopole antenna. In an embodiment as a monopole antenna, the first arm is suitably designed as a ground plane and forms a ground potential, so that the antenna is a monopole antenna, with the second arm as an antenna pole. In this case, in particular, no balun is necessary, so that such a balun is expediently dispensed with. Since the ground plane is arranged inside the housing shell, it also forms an advantageous shielding layer around the other components that are arranged inside the housing shell, so that these components are shielded against interference from the outside. The ground plane is preferably designed in such a way that it has two ends which are connected to one another when the antenna is in the inserted state, so that the ground plane is designed in the shape of a ring or tunnel.

Fig. 1

ein Hörgerät,

Fig. 2

eine Gehäuseschale und Antenne des Hörgeräts aus Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine andere Ansicht der Gehäuseschale und Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

noch eine andere Ansicht der Gehäuseschale und Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

eine Variante der Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 6

die Antenne aus Fig. 5 in zusammengelegtem Zustand,

Fig. 7

eine weitere Variante der Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 8

eine weitere Variante der Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 9

eine Variante einer Kapazität der Antenne aus Fig. 8,

Fig. 10

eine weitere Variante einer Kapazität der Antenne aus Fig. 8,

Fig. 11

das Hörgerät aus Fig. 1 mit einer weiteren Variante der Antenne aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 12

einen Arm der Antenne aus Fig. 11.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. They each show schematically:

1

a hearing aid,

2

a housing shell and antenna of the hearing aid 1 ,

3

Another view of the housing shell and antenna 2 ,

4

yet another view of the housing shell and antenna 2 ,

figure 5

a variant of the antenna 2 ,

6

the antenna off figure 5 in folded state,

7

another variant of the antenna 2 ,

8

another variant of the antenna 2 ,

9

a variant of a capacitance of the antenna 8 ,

10

another variant of a capacity of the antenna 8 ,

11

the hearing aid off 1 with another variant of the antenna 2 ,

12

one arm of the antenna 11 .

In 1 a hearing device 2 is shown, which is a CIC device here by way of example. However, the statements made here also apply analogously to others hearing aid types. The hearing aid 2 has a housing 4 and an antenna 6 . In 1 the antenna 6 is only shown in cross section. The housing 4 has a housing shell 8, which is also referred to as "shell". An exemplary embodiment for the housing shell 8 and the antenna 6 1 is in the Figures 2 - 4 shown in different perspective views; the special shape of the antenna 6 also becomes clear from this. The housing shell 8 is used to be worn in the ear, ie when the hearing aid 2 is used as intended, the housing shell 8 is inserted into the auditory canal of a user.

The housing 4 also has a cover plate 10 which is also referred to as a "faceplate" and which closes the housing shell 8 . When used as intended, the cover plate 10 points out of the auditory canal and has, for example, an interface, e.g. one or more control elements 12, for operating the hearing aid 2. In addition, the cover plate 10 can also be removed, e.g. pivoted, in order to open the housing 4 and around to get inside the hearing aid 2, e.g. to change a battery 14. The cover plate 10 is attached to the housing shell 8, both together form the housing 4 of the hearing aid 2.

The antenna 6 is designed for signal transmission via a radio link, which is not explicitly shown. The specific design of the radio link is initially also irrelevant. Various embodiments of the antenna 6 are in the Figures 5 - 8 , 11 and 12 shown. The antenna 6 is bidirectional here, ie both a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. In operation, the antenna 6 generally emits and/or receives electromagnetic radiation, specifically via a transmitting and receiving point 16 of the antenna. The sending and receiving point 16 is also referred to as the excitation point.

The housing shell 8 has an inside 18 . The inside 18 faces inwards, i.e. into the interior of the housing 4, and encloses an interior space 18 of the housing 4. One or more components of the hearing aid 2 are accommodated in this interior space 20, here by way of example at least one microphone 22, a receiver 24, a battery 14 and a control unit 26.

How from the Figures 2 - 4 can be seen, the antenna 6 is inserted into the housing shell 8 and runs along the inside 18. The Figures 2 - 4 do not yet show the final state as in 1 , but the insertion of the antenna 6 in the housing shell 8. The antenna 6 follows an inside course of the housing shell 8 and is in the inserted state on the inside 18 of the housing shell 8 at. In the present case, the antenna 6 is in positive contact with the inside of the housing shell 8 and follows it. The antenna 6 also forms its own layer or layer within the housing shell 8 and along the inside 18 and surrounds the other components. The antenna 6 inside the housing 4 is also the component lying furthest to the outside, ie all other components within the housing shell 8 are also enclosed by the antenna 6 . This is particularly evident in 1 . The antenna 6 thus forms, so to speak, a separating layer between the housing shell 8 and other components in it. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the antenna 6 is also an independent component which is inserted into the housing shell 8 . The antenna 6 is manufactured separately from the housing shell 8 . In the present case, the housing shell 8 is a standard component, for mass production, and is fundamentally suitable for use in different auditory canals and is therefore not a component manufactured individually for a single user.

The hearing device 2 is used to output an audio signal to a user of the hearing device. The output takes place by means of an output converter, here by means of the earphone 24. The hearing aid 2 shown here is also specially designed to supply a user with a hearing deficit and for this purpose has at least one acoustic input converter, here the microphone 22, and the control unit 26, which is designed to process an input signal, which is generated by the input transducer from ambient sound, and to output it via the output transducer in order to at least partially compensate for the hearing deficit of the user. However, the statements made here also apply to other devices such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones and the like. The hearing aid 2 shown here is specifically a CIC device, but the explanations also apply analogously to an IIC device and to other types of hearing aids.

In the various configurations shown here, the antenna 6 is in the form of a flexible printed circuit board with a conductor track structure 28 . The flexible circuit board is also known as a "flex PCB" (PCB = "printed circuit board"). The flexible circuit board has a carrier layer 30 which is sufficiently thin to be flexible, for example the carrier layer 30 is between 20 μm and 200 μm thick. The circuit board is also flexurally elastic and reversibly deformable. The conductor track structure 28 realizes those electrical properties of the circuit board that are required for an antenna 6 . The conductor track structure 28 is therefore also referred to as an antenna structure. The conductor track structure 28 is applied to the carrier layer 30 or embedded in it. The conductor track structure 28 consists here of a conductive material or a combination of conductive materials.

In an alternative that is not explicitly shown, the antenna 6 is a wire or a stamped part made of a conductive material. The wire is suitably shaped in order to create an antenna 6 . The same applies to the stamped part, which is stamped out in a suitable form in order to implement an antenna 6 . The stamped part is stamped out, for example, from a metal foil or metal-coated foil. The wire or the stamped part then replaces the conductor track structure 28 already mentioned and also does not require an additional carrier layer. The wire or the stamped part reproduces the conductor track structure 28 described, that is to say they are identical in shape to it. Correspondingly, the explanations regarding the conductor track structure 28 apply analogously to a wire or a stamped part.

Basically the same shape is suitable for the realization of an antenna 6 for the conductor track structure 28, the wire and the stamped part, the respective antennas 6 differ essentially by the different manufacture. In principle, a conductor track structure 28, a wire and/or a stamped part can be combined with one another as desired, so that different parts of the antenna 6 are then produced in different ways and are designed differently.

The housing shell 8 is basically designed like a shell, with a base 32 which, when used as intended, extends into the auditory canal and with an opening 34 which then points outwards and is closed with the cover plate 10 . The housing shell 8 tapers in the direction of the base 32 for general adaptation to the auditory canal. A sound outlet 36 is also arranged on the base 32, via which sound is output from the receiver 24 in the direction of the eardrum. In this sense, the housing shell 8 is then, roughly speaking, designed like a tunnel, with a tapering diameter, as in FIGS Figures 2 - 4 is recognizable. Viewed in cross section, the housing shell 8 is then annular. In addition, the housing shell 8 and thus also its inner side 18 are designed to be bent or curved, that is to say they have a curved course. In order to follow this curved course of the housing shell 8, the antenna 6 is bent at least once and is thus adapted to a bend or curvature of the inside 18. The antenna 6 thus runs not only in a small and possibly planar section along the housing shell 8, but is dimensioned in such a way that a bend or curvature is also covered. In the exemplary embodiments shown here, the antenna 6 even completely encircles the interior space 18 and for this purpose is guided completely along the inner side 18, as particularly well in FIGS Figures 2 - 4 is recognizable.

Furthermore, from the Figures 2 - 4 recognizable that the antenna 6 is folded here in the form of a funnel in order to run along the housing shell 8 . The funnel shape of the antenna 6 is also in 6 recognizable, in which the antenna 6 from figure 5 shown in a collapsed condition. The antenna 6 is, so to speak, starting from a planar state as in figure 5 , 7 , 8th , 12 to a funnel as in 6 rolled up and then inserted into the housing shell 8. How from the figure 5 , 7 , 8th and 12 As can be seen, the antenna 6 is generally in the form of a strip, here even U-shaped, with two ends which are guided towards one another when they are put together and then optionally also overlap. The antenna 6 runs around the interior 18 at most once, that is to say it is not folded up in several layers. In general, the folded antenna 6 then has two openings 38 which point approximately in the direction of the auditory canal. An opening 38 shows in direction of the opening 34 of the housing shell 8, the other in the direction of the base 32.

In the configurations of Figures 1 - 8 the antenna 6 is arranged completely inside the housing shell 8 . The antenna 6 therefore does not protrude from the housing 4 and is also not visible from the outside.

In the configurations of figure 5 and 7 the antenna 6 is a dipole antenna, with two arms 40 which each form an antenna pole. The antenna poles are used to send and/or receive signals. The two arms 40 are each made of an electrically conductive material.

In the design of figure 5 a capacitance 42 is formed on the ends of the arms 40, which are each formed here by a metal surface which is connected to the respective arm 40, so that in particular a capacitor is formed in each case. The antenna 6 shown here is a folded dipole. For this purpose, a respective arm 40 is formed from two conductors 44 which run side by side. The two conductors 44 are approximately (ie a maximum of 20% difference) the same length. One of the two conductors 44 of the arm 40 starts at the transmission and reception point 16 and ends at the capacitance 42. The other of the two conductors 44 starts at the capacitance 42 and ends at a corresponding conductor 44 of the other arm 40. The other arm 40 with Capacitance 42 is designed analogously to this. A respective capacitance 42 is specifically U-shaped here, with a central limb 46 from which two side limbs 48 extend. The two conductors 44 of an arm 40 are then connected to the center leg 46 . The two side legs 48 each run in the direction of the two conductors 44, here even parallel thereto, and on opposite sides of the two conductors 44, so that the two conductors 44 lie between the side legs 48 at the ends. The same applies analogously to the other arm 40. In figure 5 the conductors 44 and the capacitors 42 form a conductor track structure 28 which is applied to a carrier layer 30 .

In the design of 7 an inductor 50 is formed on each end of the arms 40 . Here is a respective arm 40 from a formed individual conductor 44, with a meandering course, so that the respective arm 40 also forms an inductance 50. Here the inductor 50 has eight bends. The same applies analogously to the other arm 40. The two arms 40 are also electrically isolated from one another and converge at the transmission and reception point 16 of the antenna 6, which also marks a point of the smallest distance between the two conductors 44 to one another. In 7 the conductors 44, which are at the same time inductances 50, form a conductor track structure 28 which is applied to a carrier layer 30.

In the figure 5 and 7 the arms 40 each follow the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 enclose the interior 18 of the housing shell 8 accordingly. The two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are also mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, a non-symmetrical configuration is also possible in principle; in this case, the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun that is not explicitly shown.

In 8 Another embodiment is shown, in which the antenna 6 is a loop antenna, with two arms 40 which converge on a first side to the transmission and reception point 16 and which are connected to a capacitance 52 on a second side, which is opposite to the first side are. The capacitance 52 is formed by a capacitor having two electrodes 54, one of which is connected to one of the arms 40, respectively.

In 8 For example, capacitance 52 is formed simply by two opposite ends of arms 40 and a gap 56 therebetween. In 9 a variant of the capacitor 52 is shown, which is designed here in one layer, with two electrodes 54, which lie together in one layer of the antenna 6 and each have a plurality of fingers 58, the fingers 58 of the two electrodes 54 interlocking. In 10 a further variant of the capacitance 52 is shown, which is formed here in two layers, with two electrodes 54 which are arranged in different layers of the antenna 6. One of the electrodes 54 is then connected to one of the arms 40 by means of a via 60 .

Irrespective of the design of the antenna 6, its two arms 40 lie together in one plane or position in the exemplary embodiments shown. Also independent of the design of the antenna 6, the capacitors 42, 52 or inductances 50 that may be used are each designed either as a separate component that is inserted into the antenna 6 or—as shown here—into the antenna 6 during its manufacture integrated, e.g. printed on.

As an alternative to an antenna 6, which is arranged entirely within the housing shell 8, the antenna 6 in an alternative embodiment, such as in 11 and 12 shown, a first arm 62 and a second arm 64, wherein only the first arm 62 within the housing shell 8 is arranged. In contrast, the second arm 64 is formed along an extraction aid 66 of the housing 4 . For both arms 62, 64, but especially for the first arm 62, the statements above regarding the arms 40, capacitors 42, 52 and inductors 50 apply accordingly. The pull-out aid 66 is, for example, a thread or handle, e.g. made of plastic, and runs outwards and away from the housing 4, so that the pull-out handle 66 can be gripped by the user when inserted, and then the entire hearing aid 2 can be pulled out of the auditory canal pull out. The antenna 6 is then a non-symmetrical antenna 6 here. The second arm 64 is, for example, a simple wire or is printed as a conductor track on the pull-out aid 66 or is otherwise applied to the pull-out aid 66 or integrated into it.

The antenna 6 with an arm 64 along the pull-out aid 66 is designed either as a dipole antenna or as a monopole antenna. In the 11 and 12 an embodiment as a monopole antenna is shown, an embodiment as a dipole antenna results, for example, in combination with the statements on the figure 5 , 7 and 8 . In the 11 and 12 the first arm 62 is formed as a ground plane and forms a ground potential, so that the antenna 6 is then a monopole antenna, with the second arm 64 as an antenna pole. In this case, no balun is necessary. Since the ground plane is arranged inside the housing shell 8, this also forms a shielding layer around the other components, which are arranged within the housing shell 8, so that these components are shielded against interference from the outside. How from the in 12 shown, flat state of the ground plane can be seen, this has two ends 68, which are connected to each other in the inserted state of the antenna 6, so that the ground plane is ring-shaped or tunnel-like.

Reference List

2

hearing aid

4

Housing

6

antenna

8th

housing shell

10

cover plate

12

control

14

battery

16

sending and receiving point

18

inside

20

inner space

22

microphone

24

listener

26

control unit

28

trace structure

30

backing layer

32

reason

34

opening (of the housing shell)

36

sound leakage

38

opening (of the antenna)

40

poor

42

capacity

44

director

46

middle thigh

48

side leg

50

inductance

52

capacity

54

electrode

56

gap

58

finger

60

via

62

first arm

64

second arm

66

pull-out aid

68

ends (of the ground plane)

Claims (14)

Hearing aid (2), which has a housing (4) and an antenna (6), - wherein the housing (6) has a housing shell (8) for wearing in the ear, - wherein the antenna (6) is designed for signal transmission via a radio link, - wherein the housing shell (8) has an inside (18), - The antenna (6) being inserted into the housing shell (8) and running along the inside (18). Hearing aid (2) according to claim 1,
wherein the antenna (6) is an independent component which is inserted into the housing shell (8). Hearing aid (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2,
this being a CIC device or IIC device. Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
wherein the antenna (6) is designed as a flexible circuit board with a conductor track structure (28). Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
wherein the antenna (6) is a wire or a stamping made of a conductive material. Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
wherein the antenna (6) is bent at least once in order to follow a curved course of the housing shell (8). Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
wherein the antenna (6) is folded in a funnel shape to extend along the housing shell (8). Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
wherein the antenna (6) is arranged completely within the housing shell (8). Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
wherein the antenna (6) is a dipole antenna, with two arms (40) on each end of which a capacitance (42) or an inductance (50) is formed. Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 8,
the antenna (6) being a loop antenna having two arms (40) which converge on a first side to form a transmission and reception point (16) and which on a second side, opposite the first side, are provided with a capacitance (52 ) are connected. Hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, the antenna (6) having a first arm (62) and a second arm (64), wherein only the first arm (62) is arranged within the housing shell (8), the second arm (64) being formed along a pull-out aid (66) of the housing (4) for pulling the housing (4) out of the ear. Hearing aid (2) according to claim 11,
wherein the first arm (62) is formed as a ground plane and forms a ground potential such that the antenna (6) is a monopole antenna with the second arm (64) as an antenna pole. Antenna (6) for a hearing aid (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 12. Method for manufacturing a hearing aid (2), - wherein the hearing aid (2) has a housing (4) and an antenna (6), - wherein the housing (4) has a housing shell (8) for wearing in the ear, - wherein the antenna (6) is designed for signal transmission via a radio link, - wherein the housing shell (8) has an inside (18), - Wherein the antenna (6) is inserted into the housing shell (8) and then runs along the inside (18).

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