EP4637185A1

EP4637185A1 - A hearing aid with slot antenna

Info

Publication number: EP4637185A1
Application number: EP24201064.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oleksandr RYBALKO; Rune Sø; Morten THOUGAARD; Jens Troelsen
Original assignee: Oticon AS
Current assignee: Oticon AS
Priority date: 2024-09-18
Filing date: 2024-09-18
Publication date: 2025-10-22

Abstract

The present disclosure regards a hearing aid (1) comprising an off-ground slot antenna (13) arranged in the housing (10) of the hearing aid (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to the field of hearing aids.

BACKGROUND

Most hearing instruments (HI) support 2.4GHz communication with other devices and are fitted with a 2.4GHz antenna.
Key performance indicators for the HI antenna are "antenna efficiency" and "coupling to a device in the pocket". Both indicators depend on shape of the ear on which the HI is placed, and of course the antenna utilized.
The problem being addressed with the present disclosure is to provide an antenna with less variation with ear shape of both antenna efficiency and coupling to a device in the pocket.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present application, a hearing aid comprising an antenna is provided. The hearing aid may comprise a housing. The housing may be configured to be positioned at an ear of a user. The housing may comprise a top side, a bottom side, a first side part and a second side part opposite the first side part. The housing may comprise an input transducer configured to provide an electrical signal. The housing may comprise a processing unit configured to receive a first input signal based on the electrical signal and process the first input signal for provision of an output signal. The housing may comprise an antenna configured to transmit and/or receive signals. The antenna may be an off-ground antenna. The antenna may comprise a first electrically conductive surface. A slot may be formed in the first electrically conductive surface. The antenna may be configured to transmit and/or receive signals via the slot.
The applicant has found that an off-ground slot antenna provides for an antenna with a high radiation efficiency and a robust coupling to external devices for different ear shapes. The applicant has found that electrical coupling to devices carried in a pocket of the user is especially robust with the proposed antenna design. The applicant has found that a slot antenna provides for an especially efficient antenna design with a desirable radiation pattern. Using the hearing instrument amplifier (main PCB) as ground plane for the antenna in a hearing instrument placed behind the ear causes radiation efficiency to vary significantly with ear shape. An off ground type antenna with antenna radiators distributed on both sides left and right of the hearing aid causes radiation efficiency to vary less with ear shape.
The hearing aid may be adapted to provide a frequency dependent gain and/or a level dependent compression and/or a transposition (with or without frequency compression) of one or more frequency ranges to one or more other frequency ranges, e.g. to compensate for a hearing impairment of a user. The hearing aid may comprise a processing unit for enhancing the input signals and providing a processed output signal.
The hearing aid may comprise an output unit for providing a stimulus perceived by the user as an acoustic signal based on a processed electric signal. The output unit may be a vibrator of a bone conducting hearing aid. The output unit may comprise an output transducer. The output transducer may comprise a receiver (loudspeaker) for providing the stimulus as an acoustic signal to the user (e.g. in an acoustic (air conduction based) hearing aid). The output transducer may comprise a vibrator for providing the stimulus as mechanical vibration of a skull bone to the user (e.g. in a bone-attached or bone-anchored hearing aid). The output unit may (additionally or alternatively) comprise a (e.g. wireless) transmitter for transmitting sound picked up-by the hearing aid to another device, e.g. a far-end communication partner (e.g. via a network, e.g. in a telephone mode of operation).
The hearing aid may comprise an input unit for providing an electric input signal representing sound. The input unit may comprise an input transducer, e.g. a microphone, for converting an input sound to an electric input signal. The input unit may comprise a wireless receiver for receiving a wireless signal comprising or representing sound and for providing an electric input signal representing said sound.
The antenna may e.g. be configured to receive and/or transmit an electromagnetic signal in the radio frequency range (3 kHz to 300 GHz).
The hearing aid may comprise antenna and transceiver circuitry allowing a wireless link to an entertainment device (e.g. a TV-set), a communication device (e.g. a telephone), a wireless microphone, a separate (external) processing device, or another hearing aid, etc. The hearing aid may thus be configured to wirelessly receive a direct electric input signal from another device. Likewise, the hearing aid may be configured to wirelessly transmit a direct electric output signal to another device. The direct electric input or output signal may represent or comprise an audio signal and/or a control signal and/or an information signal.
In general, a wireless link established by antenna and transceiver circuitry of the hearing aid can be of any type. The wireless link may be a link based on near-field communication, e.g. an inductive link based on an inductive coupling between antenna coils of transmitter and receiver parts. The wireless link may be based on far-field, electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, frequencies used to establish a communication link between the hearing aid and the other device is below 70 GHz, e.g. located in a range from 50 MHz to 70 GHz, e.g. above 300 MHz, e.g. in an ISM range above 300 MHz, e.g. in the 900 MHz range or in the 2.4 GHz range or in the 5.8 GHz range or in the 60 GHz range (ISM=Industrial, Scientific and Medical, such standardized ranges being e.g. defined by the International Telecommunication Union, ITU). The wireless link may be based on a standardized or proprietary technology. The wireless link may be based on Bluetooth technology (e.g. Bluetooth Low-Energy technology, e.g. LE audio), or Ultra WideBand (UWB) technology.
The hearing aid may be constituted by or form part of a portable (i.e. configured to be wearable) device, e.g. a device comprising a local energy source, e.g. a battery, e.g. a rechargeable battery. The hearing aid may e.g. be a low weight, easily wearable, device, e.g. having a total weight less than 100 g, such as less than 20 g, such as less than 5 g.
The hearing aid may be configured to operate in different modes, e.g. a normal mode and one or more specific modes, e.g. selectable by a user, or automatically selectable. A mode of operation may be optimized to a specific acoustic situation or environment, e.g. a communication mode, such as a telephone mode. A mode of operation may include a low-power mode, where functionality of the hearing aid is reduced (e.g. to save power), e.g. to disable wireless communication, and/or to disable specific features of the hearing aid.
The hearing aid may further comprise other relevant functionality or structures for the application in question.
The hearing aid may comprise a hearing instrument, e.g. a hearing instrument adapted for being located at the ear or fully or partially in the ear canal of a user.
The housing may be configured to be positioned behind the ear of the user. The housing may comprise one or more electrical components, such as a battery, a loudspeaker, a microphone, an amplifier, etc. The housing may comprise a support structure for supporting the antenna and/or one or more electrical components. The support structure may comprise a printed circuit board, and/or a flexible printed circuit board. The support structure may comprise a moulded plastic part. The housing may be form-shaped to the user of the hearing aid. The housing may comprise a top side, a bottom side, a bottom side, a first side part and a second side part opposite the first side part. The top side may be configured to be above the bottom side while the hearing aid is worn by a user in an intended wear position. The first side part may face towards the head of the user while the hearing aid is worn by the user in an intended wear position. The second side part may face away from the head of the user while the hearing aid is worn by the user in an intended wear position. The hearing aid may be a behind the ear (BTE) hearing aid, and the housing may form part of the BTE hearing aid.
The housing may comprise an input transducer configured to provide an electrical signal. The input transducer may be a microphone or similar configured to convert an incoming sound to an electrical signal.
The housing may comprise a processing unit. The processing unit may be configured to receive the first input signal. The first input signal may be derived based on an electrical signal provided by an input transducer of the hearing aid. The first input signal may be derived based on a wireless signal received via the antenna of the hearing aid. The processing unit may be configured to process the first input signal for provision of the output signal. The output signal may be a signal to be presented to a user of the hearing aid. The output signal may be a signal to be transmitted to another device communicatively connected to the hearing aid. The processing unit may be configured to process the first input signal to compensate for a hearing loss of the user of the hearing aid.
An off-ground antenna may be in the present context be understood as an antenna which is not placed above a conductive structure configured to act as a ground plane for the antenna. An example of an off-ground antenna may for example be found in Sowpati, Arun K., et al. "Miniaturisation of dual band monopole antennas loaded with screen printed cobalt nanoparticle ink." IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation 7.3 (2013): 180-186. For example, an off-ground antenna may be understood as an antenna where conductive material, such as metal, has been removed from PCB layers under the antenna. Alternatively, the off-ground antenna may be referred to as a self-carrying antenna, or a floating antenna, due to the lack of a plane being configured to act as a ground plane for the antenna.
The antenna is a slot antenna. The antenna may be a closed-slot antenna, i.e., the first conductive surface fully surrounding the slot. The antenna may be an open-slot antenna, i.e., the first conductive surface partly surrounding the slot. The slot antenna may be formed by a slot or aperture cut into a conductive surface. The slot functions as the radiating element. The resonant frequency of the antenna is determined by the electrical length of the slot.
The slot may be formed with a wide variety of shapes. The slot may be rectangular slot. The slot may be formed as a meandering slot. The slot may be formed as a L-shaped slot. The slot may be formed as a T-shaped slot.
In an embodiment the slot is formed as a quarter wavelength slot.
The quarter wavelength slot may be understood as the slot having an electrical length corresponding to a quarter of the wavelength intended for transmission and/or receival of signals. The physical length of the slot may be shorter or longer, e.g., due to electrical loading of the slot from surrounding material or loading by other electrical components.
In an embodiment the slot extends from a first edge of the first electrically conductive surface.
Consequently, the antenna may be an open-slot antenna. The first edge may be an outer edge of the first electrically conductive material.
In an embodiment the first edge is configured to be an upper edge of the first electrically conductive surface when the hearing aid is worn by the user in an intended wear position.
The applicant has found the radiation pattern of the antenna is improved when the first edge is an upper edge when the hearing aid is worn by the user, facilitating a better wireless coupling to devices carried in the pockets of a user of the hearing aid.
In an embodiment the slot is configured to extend longitudinally in a plane perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis when the hearing aid is worn by the user in an intended wear position.
The ear-to-ear axis may be understood as an axis extending between and intersecting the ears of a user wearing the hearing aid. Longitudinally in the present disclosure may be understood as the length direction of the slot.
In an embodiment the slot extends longitudinally in a center plane of the housing.
By having the slot extending longitudinally in the center plane of the housing it allows for the antenna to be compatible with being placed at either the right or left ear of the user wearing the hearing aid. Consequently, obviating the need for custom building different antennas for hearing aids to be worn on different sides of the head.
The center plane may be understood as a symmetry plane dividing the housing into two substantially equal halves.
In an embodiment the slot has a width of 0.1mm - 8mm, preferably 0.3mm - 6mm or even more preferred 0.5 - 2mm.
The applicant has found a slot with the above dimensions provides for a desired radiation pattern and efficiency of the antenna.
In an embodiment the first electrically conductive surface comprises a flexible printed circuit board.
The antenna may be a flex antenna formed by the flexible printed circuit board. Additional electrical components may be arranged on the flexible printed circuit, e.g., a feeding arrangement for the antenna, one or more output transducers, one or more input transducers, one or more processing chips, decoupling elements, etc. The first electrically conductive surface may be formed by the flexible printed circuit board.
In an embodiment the first electrically conductive surface comprises a metallized plastic.
The metallized plastic may be formed by metallizing part of the housing. The metallized plastic may be formed by metallizing part of a support structure arranged in the housing. Metallizing may be understood as the process of providing a metallic coating, thus, a metallized plastic may be a plastic material provided with a metallic coating.
In an embodiment the first electrically conductive surface comprises a sheet metal.
The sheet metal may be arranged in the housing and connected to the housing and/or to a support structure arranged within the housing.
In an embodiment the first electrically conductive surface is connected to the housing.
The first electrically conductive may be glued to the housing or otherwise fastened to the housing. The first electrically conductive surface may be formed directly on the surface of the housing, e.g., by metallization. The first electrically conductive surface may be mechanically fastened to the housing. The first electrically conductive surface may be comprised by a flexible PCB connected to the housing or a support structure comprised by the housing, such as a rack structure.
In an embodiment the housing comprises a support structure. The first electrically conductive surface may be connected to the support structure.
The support structure may be a rack or similar for supporting one or more components arranged within the housing of the hearing aid. The support structure may comprise a molded plastic part.
The antenna may be provided by laser direct structuring (LDS) directly on the housing or a support structure comprised by the housing such as a rack structure.
In an embodiment the antenna comprises a galvanic connection, wherein the antenna is configured to be fed via the galvanic connection. The galvanic connection may comprise a soldered connection. The galvanic connection may comprise one or more pogo pins also known as spring-loaded pins. The galvanic connection may comprise one or more spring connections.
The galvanic connection may be formed by folding part of the antenna and soldering the folded part of the antenna to another printed circuit board to allow for an electrical connection with a power supply. For example, the antenna may be formed by a flexible circuit board with part of the flexible circuit board being folded towards and soldered to another printed circuit board, the other printed circuit board may comprise a power supply or otherwise be electrically connected to a power supply. Alternatively, a part of a printed circuit board comprising a power supply or otherwise being electrically connected to a power supply may be folded towards the antenna and soldered to the antenna.
In an embodiment the housing comprises a current loop, where the antenna is configured to be inductively fed via the current loop.
The slot may be fed inductively by a current loop arranged near an electrically conductive connection across the slot. The current loop may then induce a current in the electrically conductive connection across the slot, which in turn may inductively feed the slot antenna.
In an embodiment the slot comprises a first slot section having a first width and a second slot section having a second width, where the second width is larger than the first width.
The slot may be formed with different widths to allow one or more components of the hearing aid to be arranged within the slot and/or to reduce the electrical interference between the antenna and other components of the hearing aid. The one or more components may be electrical components of the hearing aid such as one or more microphones, wires, or sensors. The slot may comprise a plurality of slot sections each having different widths.
In an embodiment the hearing aid comprises one or more electrical components, where the one or more electrical components are arranged in the second slot section.
In an embodiment the antenna is a differential-fed antenna.
The antenna may be fed via two terminals arranged on opposing sides bordering the slot, thus achieving a differential-fed antenna. A differential-fed antenna may be advantageous as it provides a balanced input and may facilitate impedance matching.
In an embodiment the antenna is an end-fed antenna
The antenna may be fed at one end of the slot, thus achieving an end-fed antenna. The end-fed antenna may be advantageous due to its simple design, thereby making it space efficient and easy to integrate with other structures.
It is intended that some or all of the structural features of the device described above, in the 'detailed description of embodiments' or in the claims can be combined with embodiments of the method, when appropriately substituted by a corresponding process and vice versa. Embodiments of the method have the same advantages as the corresponding devices.
In the present context, a hearing aid, e.g. a hearing instrument, refers to a device, which is adapted to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the user's surroundings, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may e.g. be provided in the form of acoustic signals radiated into the user's outer ears and/or acoustic signals transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through the bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of the middle ear.
The hearing aid may be configured to be worn in any known way, e.g. as a unit arranged behind the ear with a tube leading radiated acoustic signals into the ear canal or with an output transducer, e.g. a loudspeaker, arranged close to or in the ear canal, as a unit entirely or partly arranged in the pinna and/or in the ear canal, as a unit, e.g. a vibrator, attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone, etc. The hearing aid may comprise a single unit or several units communicating (e.g. acoustically, electrically or optically) with each other. The loudspeaker may be arranged in a housing together with other components of the hearing aid, or may be an external unit in itself (possibly in combination with a flexible guiding element, e.g. a dome-like element).
A hearing aid may be adapted to a particular user's needs, e.g. a hearing impairment. A configurable signal processing circuit of the hearing aid may be adapted to apply a frequency and level dependent compressive amplification of an input signal. A customized frequency and level dependent gain (amplification or compression) may be determined in a fitting process by a fitting system based on a user's hearing data, e.g. an audiogram, using a fitting rationale (e.g. adapted to speech). The frequency and level dependent gain may e.g. be embodied in processing parameters, e.g. uploaded to the hearing aid via an interface to a programming device (fitting system), and used by a processing algorithm executed by the configurable signal processing circuit of the hearing aid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a hearing aid according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective partial view of a hearing aid according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 3a shows a perspective partial view of another hearing aid according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 3b shows a perspective partial view of the hearing aid of Fig. 3a according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of an antenna for a hearing aid according to the present disclosure.

The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details which are essential to the understanding of the disclosure, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference signs are used for identical or corresponding parts.
Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only. Other embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or any combination thereof.
The electronic hardware may include micro-electronic-mechanical systems (MEMS), integrated circuits (e.g. application specific), microprocessor units, microcontrollers, digital signal processing units (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, printed circuit boards (PCB) (e.g. flexible PCBs), and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure, e.g. sensors, e.g. for sensing and/or registering physical properties of the environment, the device, the user, etc. Computer program shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a hearing aid 1 according to the present disclosure. The hearing aid 1 comprises a housing 10. The housing 10 may be formed from a hard plastic. The housing 10 may be configured to be worn behind the pinna of a user of the hearing aid 1. The housing may comprise an input transducer 11. The input transducer 11 being configured to provide an electrical signal. The input transducer 11 may be provided by one or more microphones arranged in the housing 10. The housing 10 comprises a processing unit 12. The processing unit 12 being configured to receive a first input signal. The first input signal being based on the electrical signal provided by the input transducer 11. The processing 12 unit is configured to process the first input signal for provision of an output signal. The output signal may be a hearing compensated signal compensating for a hearing loss of the user of the hearing aid. The housing comprises an antenna 13. The antenna 13 is configured to transmit and/or receive signals. The antenna 13 is an off-ground antenna 13. The antenna 13 comprises a first electrically conductive surface 131. A slot 132 is formed in the first electrically conductive surface 131. The antenna 13 is configured to transmit and/or receive signals via the slot 132. The slot 132 may be formed as a quarter wavelength slot. The slot 132 may extend from a first edge 133 of the first electrically conductive surface 131. The first edge 133 may be configured to be an upper edge of the first electrically conductive surface 131 when the hearing aid 1 is worn by the user. The slot 132 may be configured to extend longitudinally in a plane perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis when the hearing aid 1 is worn by the user. The slot 132 may extend longitudinally in a center plane C1 of the housing 10. The first electrically conductive surface 131 may comprise a flexible printed circuit board. The first electrically conductive surface 131 may comprise a metallized plastic. The first electrically conductive surface 131 may comprise a sheet metal. The first electrically conductive surface 131 may be connected to the housing 10. The housing 10 may comprise a support structure. The first electrically conductive surface 131 may be connected to the housing 10. The antenna 13 may comprise a galvanic connection 136. The antenna 13 is configured to be fed via the galvanic connection 136. The galvanic connection 136 may comprise a soldered connection. The galvanic connection 136 may comprise a spring connection. A current loop 135 may be arranged in the housing 10. The antenna 13 may be configured to be inductively fed via the current loop 135. The slot 132 may comprise a slot section S1 having a first width and a second slot section S2 having a second width. The second width may be larger than the first width. The hearing aid may comprise one or more electrical components. The one or more electrical components may be arranged in the second slot section. The antenna 13 may be a differential-fed antenna. The antenna 13 may be an end-fed antenna.
Referring to Fig. 2 showing a schematic partial perspective view of an antenna 13 according to the present disclosure. The housing 10 of the hearing aid 1 is indicated by the dotted line. The antenna 13 comprises a first electrically conductive material 131. In the depicted embodiment, the first electrically conductive material 131 is provided as a sheet metal, however, other manners of providing the first electrically conductive material could be as a metallization on the housing 10 or support structure arranged within the housing 10, or as a flexible printed circuit board arranged within the housing 10. The first electrically conductive 131 is formed with a plurality of bends to conform to the housing of the hearing aid 1. The first electrically conductive material 131 comprises two prongs separated by a slot 132. The slot 132 extends from a first edge 133 of the first electrically conductive material 131. The antenna 13 comprises a current loop 135 for inductively feeding the antenna 13. The current loop 135 is arranged to be configured to induce a current in an electrically conductive connection 137 running across the width of the slot 132, thus providing for an inductive feeding of the antenna 13. The electrically conductive connection 137 may be provided as a current bridge formed in the electrically conductive material 131. The slot antenna 13 shown is an off-ground antenna 13, i.e., no metal is arranged beneath the antenna 13 and configured to act as a ground plane for the antenna 13.
The hearing aid 1 further comprises a battery 15 to act as a power source. The battery 15 is electrically connected to a printed circuit board 14. The current loop 135 may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 14 and thus draw power from the battery 15 to feed the antenna 13. The printed circuit board 14 may be a flexible printed circuit board.
The slot 132 is formed as a quarter wavelength slot. The slot 132 is configured to extend longitudinally in a plane perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis when the hearing aid is worn by the user. The slot 132 extends longitudinally in a center plane C 1 of the housing 10.
Referring to Figs 3a and 3b showing schematic partial perspective views of an antenna according to the present disclosure. The antenna 13 of Figs 3a and 3b substantially corresponds to that of Fig. 2. The antenna 13 of figs 3a and 3b differs in that the first conductive material 131 is provided with a continuous bend to conform to the shape of the housing 10. The feeding arrangement of Figs 3a and 3b differs from that of Fig. 2 in that a galvanic connection 136 is used for feeding the antenna 13. In the shown embodiment, the antenna 13 is differentially fed via two galvanic connections 136. The galvanic connections 136 may be formed by one or more solders, e.g., by part of the antenna 13 extending and being soldered to the printed circuit board 14 electrically connected to the battery 15, or vice versa by part of the printed circuit board 14 extending and being soldered to the antenna 13. The galvanic connections 136 may be formed by one or more spring connections between the printed circuit board 14 and the antenna 13. The slot 13 extends longitudinally in a center plane C1 of the housing 10. The slot antenna 13 shown is an off-ground antenna 13, i.e., no metal is arranged beneath the antenna 13 and configured to act as a ground plane for the antenna 13.
Referring to Fig. 4, showing a schematic drawing of a first electrically conductive material 131 according to the present disclosure. 16. The slot 132 comprises a first slot section S1 having a first width and a second slot section S2 having a second width. The second width is larger than the first width. Arranged within the second slot section S2 is an electrical component 16. The electrical component 16 may be a microphone of the hearing aid 1. A slot 132 with a plurality of sections with different widths may be implemented in both of the antennas shown in relation to fig 2 and figs 3a and 3b.
It is intended that the structural features of the devices described above, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may be combined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by a corresponding process.
As used, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning "at least one"), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but an intervening element may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, "connected" or "coupled" as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method are not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.
It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "an aspect" or features included as "may" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more." Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more.

Claims

A hearing aid comprising a housing, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned at an ear of a user, the housing comprising:
an input transducer configured to provide an electrical signal,

a processing unit configured to:
receive a first input signal based on the electrical signal, and process the first input signal for provision of an output signal,

an antenna configured to transmit and/or receive signals, wherein the antenna is an off-ground antenna, wherein the antenna comprises a first electrically conductive surface, wherein a slot is formed in the first electrically conductive surface, and wherein the antenna is configured to transmit and/or receive signals via the slot.
A hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the slot is formed as a quarter wavelength slot.
A hearing aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slot extends from a first edge of the first electrically conductive surface.
A hearing aid according to claim 3, wherein the first edge is configured to be an upper edge of the first electrically conductive surface when the hearing aid is worn by the user.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slot is configured to extend longitudinally in a plane perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis when the hearing aid is worn by the user.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slot extends longitudinally in a center plane of the housing.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrically conductive surface comprises a flexible printed circuit board.
A hearing aid according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first electrically conductive surface comprises a metallized plastic.
A hearing aid according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first electrically conductive surface comprises a sheet metal.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises a support structure, wherein the first electrically conductive surface is connected to the housing
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claim, wherein the antenna comprises a galvanic connection, wherein the antenna is configured to be fed via the galvanic connection, wherein the galvanic connection comprises a soldered connection.
A hearing aid according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the antenna comprises a galvanic connection, wherein the antenna is configured to be fed via the galvanic connection, wherein the galvanic connection comprises a spring connection.
A hearing aid according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the housing comprises a current loop, wherein the antenna is configured to be inductively fed via the current loop.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slot comprises a first slot section having a first width and a second slot section having a second width, wherein the second width is larger than the first width.
A hearing aid according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hearing aid comprises one or more electrical components, wherein the one or more electrical components are arranged in the second slot section.