EP4284024A1 - Hearing aid with a multifeed antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing aid (2), in particular a hearing aid, having a multifeed antenna device (20) with at least two antenna branches (22a, 22b), each antenna branch (22a, 22b) being connected to a line (24a, 24b), wherein the lines (24a, 24b) are interconnected at a connection point (26) and are routed via a filter (30) and a first matching network (32) to a transceiver circuit (34), and each antenna branch (22a, 22b) has a second matching network (36a, 36b) is assigned for phase shifting and adaptation.

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid having a multifeed antenna device with at least two antenna branches. The invention further relates to a corresponding multifeed antenna device for a hearing aid.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used in particular to provide care for people who are hard of hearing or have hearing impairments. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different designs of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) and hearing aids with an external receiver (RIC: receiver in the canal) as well as in-the-ear hearing aids (ITE, ITE), for example also concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (CIC: Completely-In-Channel, IIC: Invisible-In-The-Channel). The hearing aids listed as examples are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal of a hearing aid user. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The damaged hearing is stimulated either mechanically or electrically.

In principle, such hearing aids have an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer as essential (hearing aid) components. The input transducer is typically an acousto-electrical transducer, such as a microphone. The output transducer is usually implemented as an electro-acoustic transducer, for example as a miniature loudspeaker (listener), or as an electromechanical transducer, such as a bone conduction receiver. The amplifier is usually integrated into a signal processing device. The energy is usually supplied by a battery or a rechargeable accumulator.

Such hearing aids also have, for example, an electromagnetic receiver, for example an antenna device as an RF antenna, by means of which the hearing aid can be coupled in terms of signaling, for example with a control element (remote control) and/or with another hearing aid. As a rule, for reasons of space, the same antenna device is used for transmitting and receiving data.

Hearing aids are preferably designed to be particularly space-saving and compact, so that they can be worn as visually as inconspicuous as possible by a hearing aid user. As a result, increasingly smaller hearing aids are being produced, which are increasingly more comfortable to wear and are therefore hardly noticeable by a user when worn on or in one ear. However, due to the resulting reduced installation space, it is increasingly difficult to accommodate and/or install conventional antenna elements for wireless signal transmission in such hearing aids.

For example, so-called Styletto hearing aids have a particularly small and slim form factor, which is also referred to as “SLIM-RIC” (Slim Receiver-In-Canal hearing aid). Currently, in such hearing aids, the available installation space above the battery is used, for example, to lay the HF antenna lines (HF: high frequency). In order to further reduce the size of the form factor, one possibility is to design the (RF) antenna device in such a way that some of the electronic components or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) are moved into the installation space in which the antenna device is located.

Conventionally, antenna devices in BTE and (SLIM) RIC hearing aids are designed using printed circuit boards (PCBs). For example, the antenna devices are designed as MBGA (Mainboard Ground Antenna) or MBDA (Mainboard PCB Dedicated Antenna). An MBGA antenna concept uses a motherboard circuit board as part of the antenna. The circuit board or printed circuit board points here an (antenna) excitation slot, with additional inductances being required to decouple all the conductor tracks that run through the antenna excitation slot. In an MBDA concept, the antenna lines or antenna arms are arranged on a dedicated circuit board area, with a certain ground distance required in the antenna area. Both MBGA and MBDA are antenna devices that are conventionally designed with a single antenna feed (singlefeed antenna devices).

Here and below, an antenna feed or an antenna feed system is understood to mean in particular the cable or conductor and other associated devices that contain the transmitter or receiver or transceiver connect the antenna and make the two devices compatible. For example, when sending signals, the transceiver generates an alternating current, which is fed into the antenna or the antenna arm by means of the antenna feed, which converts the power of the current into radio waves. Accordingly, the incoming radio waves stimulate tiny alternating currents in the antenna, with the feed system passing this current on to the transceiver, which processes the signal.

The antenna performance of MBGA and MBDA antenna concepts highly depends on the PCB design, such as a length of the PCB, an origami (folding, bending) of the PCB, or the location of antenna excitation/feeding. Both antenna concepts are still comparatively sensitive to the environment. For example, various mechanical materials (e.g. wires, battery, ...) surrounding the motherboard influence the transmission or reception power of such an antenna device.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a particularly suitable hearing aid. In particular, a hearing aid with a particularly suitable antenna concept should be specified, which ensures reliable signal transmission even with a compact form factor. The invention lies continues to be based on the task of specifying a particularly suitable multifeed antenna device.

With regard to the hearing aid, the task is solved according to the invention with the features of claim 1 and with regard to the multifeed antenna device with the features of claim 6. Advantageous refinements and further developments are the subject of the subclaims. The advantages and refinements mentioned with regard to the hearing aid can also be applied to the multifeed antenna device and vice versa.

According to the invention, a multifeed antenna concept for a hearing aid is realized. A multifeed antenna device (multi-feeds antenna device) is understood here and below to mean an antenna device with a number of antenna branches (antenna arms) and a corresponding number of antenna feeds or feed points. In particular, the antenna device has at least two antenna branches and at least two assigned antenna feeds.

The hearing aid is preferably designed as a hearing aid device and is used in particular to provide care for a hearing-impaired user (hearing aid user). The hearing aid is designed to record sound signals from the environment and output them to the hearing aid user. For this purpose, the hearing aid has at least one input transducer, in particular an acousto-electrical transducer, such as a microphone. When the hearing aid is in operation, the input transducer picks up sound signals (noises, tones, speech, etc.) from the environment and converts them into an electrical input signal. The input signal is, for example, multi-channel. In other words, the acoustic signals are converted into a multi-channel input signal. The input signal therefore preferably has a plurality of frequency channels, in particular at least two, preferably at least 20, particularly preferably at least 40, for example 48 (frequency) channels, each of which covers an assigned frequency band of a frequency range of the hearing aid. For example A frequency range between 0 kHz and 24 kHz is divided into 48 channels, so that input signals with 48 channels are generated.

The hearing aid also has an output transducer, in particular an electro-acoustic transducer, such as a receiver. An electrical (multi-channel) output signal is generated from the electrical (multi-channel) input signal by modifying the input signal, or the individual frequency or signal channels, in a signal processing device (e.g. amplified, filtered, attenuated).

The hearing aid is designed, for example, as a BTE hearing aid (BTE hearing aid) or ITE hearing aid (ITE hearing aid) or as a RIC hearing aid, in particular as a SLIM RIC hearing aid.

According to the invention, the hearing aid has a multifeed antenna device for wireless communication and/or signal connection with another hearing aid or an external operating and display device (for example smartphone). The multifeed antenna device is preferably designed for a Bluetooth antenna frequency in the range between 2402 MHz (megahertz) and 2480 MHz.

The multifeed antenna device according to the invention has an antenna or an antenna element with at least two antenna branches. A line (conductor track), in particular a high frequency (HF) or radio frequency (RF) line, is connected to each antenna branch. The antenna and RF line of the hearing aid are divided into at least two parts. The lines are interconnected at a common connection point. In other words, the lines at the connection point are combined into one line. This line is routed to a transceiver circuit via a filter and a first matching network.

The transceiver circuit, also referred to below as a transceiver, is designed, for example, as an integrated circuit, in particular as an RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit).

The first matching network is intended for matching or matching between the filter and the transceiver or RFIC and is suitable and set up for this purpose.

Each antenna branch is assigned a second adaptation network for phase shift. The second adaptation networks are therefore intended and set up to effect a phase shift of a signal passing through, i.e. to change the phase of the signal when the signal runs through the respective second adaptation network. The second adaptation networks form the feed points or antenna feeds for the respective antenna branch.

The second adaptation networks are in particular intended and set up to tune or set the phase shift and the S parameters, in particular the S11 parameter, of the antenna branches. An S-parameter is to be understood in particular as meaning the input-output relationship between connections (or terminals) in an electrical system, with the S11 parameter indicating how much power is reflected by the antenna and is therefore also known as the reflection coefficient . Preferably, the S11 parameter is set by means of the second adaptation networks such that it is as low as possible at a given (antenna) frequency. The second adaptation networks are used to adjust the phases of the two antenna branches and thus optimize the performance of the antenna device.

For tuning or setting the S parameters, the second matching networks have, for example, inductors and capacitors. For the phase shift, the second matching networks have, for example, a capacitance, an induction coil, a chipset, a diode, a balun and a micro strip as components or components. Preferably the second adaptation networks have in particular inductors and capacitors, so that the adaptation and the phase shift take place simultaneously.

This creates a particularly suitable hearing aid with a particularly suitable multifeed antenna device. The use of a multifeed antenna concept enables further reduction or miniaturization of the hearing aid or its form factor. By using the second antenna networks, no additional phase shifter is required. Furthermore, in contrast to a conventional dipole antenna, for example, no balun is required.

The antenna element or the antenna branches can be formed, for example, by a main board of the hearing aid, an FPC antenna (FPC: Flexible Printed Circuit), a metal stamping antenna, a chip antenna, a ceramic antenna, or the like.

In an advantageous development, the multifeed antenna device is arranged on a circuit board arrangement. The circuit board arrangement here comprises at least one circuit board (circuit board). Preferably, a mainboard circuit board of the hearing aid is used as a radiator or antenna for wireless communication or signal connection. This enables effective use of the main or mainboard circuit board of the hearing aid without affecting the performance of the multifeed antenna device. Furthermore, there is no additional assembly work to supply the multifeed antenna device, since the battery cell of the hearing aid should be connected to the circuit board anyway.

In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board arrangement has two antenna sections and a circuit section, the antenna sections forming the antenna branches, and the transceiver circuit and the filter as well as the first matching network on the circuit section are arranged. The second matching networks are arranged, for example, on the circuit section or on the respective antenna sections.

The antenna sections are designed, for example, as an MBGA antenna concept. For example, the entire hearing aid mainboard circuit board is divided into three parts (two antenna sections and one circuit section).

In a conventional antenna design, the antenna element is manufactured on a continuous metal, whereby the appropriate installation space must be provided for the antenna element when it is installed in the hearing aid. Due to limited installation space, the antenna performance is reduced. In a multiple feed antenna design, the antenna element is divided into two or three smaller antenna elements. This makes it flexible and can effectively use the limited space in the hearing aid. Compared to an ordinary antenna concept, the multifeed antenna device thus has improved RF antenna performance.

In a conceivable embodiment, a feed point for the antenna branches is arranged between the circuit section and the antenna sections.

In a suitable embodiment, the antenna sections are arranged at a spatial distance from the circuit section. The antenna sections and the circuit section are therefore designed in particular as separate individual circuit boards or printed circuit boards. This means that the installation space in the hearing aid can be used better or more easily.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung ein Hörgerät,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung eine Multifeed-Antennenvorrichtung,

Fig. 3

in perspektivischer Darstellung das Hörgerät,

Fig. 4

in perspektivischer Darstellung die Multifeed-Antennenvorrichtung in einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

in perspektivischer Darstellung die Multifeed-Antennenvorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausführungsform, und

Fig. 6

in perspektivischer Darstellung die Multifeed-Antennenvorrichtung in einer dritten Ausführungsform.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show in it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a hearing aid,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a multifeed antenna device,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the hearing aid,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of the multifeed antenna device in a first embodiment,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of the multifeed antenna device in a second embodiment, and

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the multifeed antenna device in a third embodiment.

Corresponding parts and sizes are always provided with the same reference numbers in all figures.

The Fig. 1 shows a schematic and simplified representation of the basic structure of a portable hearing aid 2. The hearing aid 2 is designed, for example, as a (SLIM-)RIC hearing aid device.

The hearing aid 2 includes, as in the Fig. 1 shown schematically, a device housing 4 with a slim or compact form factor. One or more microphones, also referred to as (acousto-electrical) input transducers 6, are installed in the device housing 4. With the input transducers 6, a sound or the acoustic signals are recorded in an environment of the hearing aid 2 and converted into electrical, multi-channel, input signals 8. The input signals 8 preferably have several frequency channels, for example 48 channels in the frequency range between 0 kHz and 28 kHz.

A signal processing device 10, which is also integrated into the device housing 4, processes the input signals 8. An output signal 12 of the signal processing unit 10 is transmitted to an output converter 14 external to the housing, which is designed, for example, as a loudspeaker or receiver, which outputs an acoustic signal. The output transducer 14 is arranged, for example, in a dome or an otoplastic 16, which can be inserted into the ear canal of a hearing aid user.

The hearing aid 2 and in particular the signal processing device 10 are supplied with energy by means of a power supply which is also integrated into the device housing 4 Battery (battery cell) 18. The device housing 4 has a charging interface 19 ( Fig. 3 ) to charge the battery 18.

The hearing aid 2 also has a multifeed antenna device 20, which is suitable and set up, for example, for wireless 2.4 GHz Bluetooth signal transmission in an ISM frequency band (. Via the multifeed antenna device 20, for example, a wireless signal connection with an operating system (not shown in more detail) is possible. and display device, especially with a smartphone, can be implemented.

Below is the structure of the multifeed antenna device 20 based on the schematic and simplified representation Fig. 2 explained in more detail.

The multifeed antenna device 20 here has an antenna or an antenna element with at least two antenna branches 22a, 22b. A line (conductor track) 24a, 24b is connected to each antenna branch 22a, 22b, which are interconnected to form a line 28 at a common connection point 26. The line 28 is routed to a transceiver circuit 34 via a filter 30 and an adaptation network 32. The transceiver circuit 34 is designed, for example, as an RFIC.

An adaptation network 36a, 36b for phase shifting is assigned to each antenna branch 22a, 22b. The adaptation networks 36a, 36b are connected between the connection point 26 and the respective antenna branch 22a, 22b. The adaptation networks 36a, 36b form the feed points or antenna feeds for the respective antenna branch 22a, 22b.

The matching networks 36a, 36b are used to adjust the phases of the two antenna branches 22a, 22b and to optimize the performance of the multifeed antenna device 20. The adaptation networks 36a, 36b are intended and set up in particular to control the phase shift and the S parameters, in particular to tune or set the S11 parameter of the antenna branches 22a, 22b.

Below is based on the Fig. 3 and the Fig. 4 a first exemplary embodiment of the multifeed antenna device 20 is explained in more detail.

The Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the hearing aid 2 with a transparent device housing 4. The signal processing device 10 has a circuit board arrangement which surrounds the battery 18 within the device housing 4 in a compact installation space.

The signal processing device 10 here has a mainboard circuit board as a circuit board arrangement 38, on which the multifeed antenna device 20 is arranged. The circuit board arrangement 38 has three spatially separate parts or sections 40, 42a, 42b. The part of the circuit board arrangement 38, also referred to below as circuit section 40, has the filter 30 and the matching network 32 as well as the transceiver circuit 34. The parts of the circuit board arrangement 38, also referred to below as antenna sections 42a, 42b, each form one of the antenna branches 22a, 22b according to an MBGA antenna concept. The adaptation networks 36a, 36b are each arranged in the transition area between the circuit section 40 and the antenna sections 42a, 42b.

The hearing aid 2 is designed, for example, as a binaural hearing aid with two individual devices, with a second antenna device 44 in the device housings 4 for a signal connection between the individual devices, which is also referred to as ear-to-ear or ear-to-ear (e2e) communication is, is arranged. The antenna device 44 is realized in particular as a magnetic-inductive antenna (MI antenna).

Like especially in the Fig. 3 As can be seen, a particularly space-efficient antenna design is realized via the multi-part structure of the multifeed antenna device 20. The antenna section 42a is in the area of Input converter 6 and the output converter 14 are arranged, with the antenna section 40 extending along the battery 18. The antenna section 42b partially surrounds the battery 18 and the antenna device 44.

In the Figures 5 and 6 a second and third embodiment of the multifeed antenna device 20 is shown. In these embodiments, the antenna branch 22a or the antenna section 42a is not designed as an MGBA but as a further circuit board branch. The statements of the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 The only difference here is in the arrangement of the feed point or the arrangement of the adaptation network 36a.

The claimed invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived by the person skilled in the art within the scope of the disclosed claims without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention. In particular, all of the individual features described in connection with the various exemplary embodiments can also be combined in other ways within the scope of the disclosed claims without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention.

Reference symbol list

2

hearing aid

4

Device housing

6

Input converter

8th

Input signals

10

Signal processing device

12

Output signal

14

Output converter

16

Otoplasty

18

battery

19

Charging interface

20

Multifeed antenna device

22a, 22b

Antenna branch

24a, 24b

Line

26

Interconnection point

28

Line

30

filter

32

Adaptation network

34

Transceiver circuit

36a, 36b

Adaptation network

38

PCB assembly

40

Circuit section

42a, 42b

PCB section

44

Antenna device

Claims (6)

Hearing aid (2), in particular hearing aid, having a multifeed antenna device (20) with at least two antenna branches (22a, 22b), - each antenna branch (22a, 22b) being connected to a line (24a, 24b), - wherein the lines (24a, 24b) are interconnected at a connection point (26) and routed via a filter (30) and a first matching network (32) to a transceiver circuit (34), and - Each antenna branch (22a, 22b) is assigned a second adaptation network (36a, 36b) for phase shifting and adaptation. Hearing aid (2) according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the multifeed antenna device (20) is arranged on a circuit board arrangement (38). Hearing aid (2) according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the circuit board arrangement (38) has two antenna sections (42a, 42b) and a circuit section (40), and that the antenna sections (42a, 42b) form the antenna branches (22a, 22b). Hearing aid (2) according to claim 3,
characterized,
that an adaptation network (36a, 36b) is arranged between the circuit section (40) and the antenna sections (42a, 42b). Hearing aid (2) according to claim 3 or 4,
characterized,
that the antenna sections (42a, 42b) are arranged at a spatial distance from the circuit section (40). Multifeed antenna device (20) for a hearing aid (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, having at least two antenna branches (22a, 22b), - each antenna branch (22a, 22b) being connected to a line (24a, 24b), - wherein the lines (24a, 24b) are interconnected at a connection point (26) and routed via a filter (30) and a first matching network (32) to a transceiver circuit (34), and - Each antenna branch (22a, 22b) is assigned a second adaptation network (36a, 36b) for phase shifting and adaptation.

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