Antenna designs for hearing instruments

1 . An antenna for an in-the-ear hearing instrument, wherein the antenna is connected to:

a first feedline segment extending laterally along an inner lateral surface of a shell of the hearing instrument, and

a second feedline segment extending laterally along the inner lateral surface of the shell of the hearing instrument, and

wherein the antenna comprises:

a first arm connected to the first feedline segment and initially extending in an inferior direction, along the inner lateral surface of the shell, from the first feedline segment; and

a second arm connected to the second feedline segment and initially extending in a superior direction, along the inner lateral surface of the shell, from the second feedline segment,

wherein the inner lateral surface is a first inner lateral surface of the shell, the first arm further includes a first lateral segment, an inferior segment, and a second lateral segment,

the first lateral segment extends along the first inner lateral surface of the shell, the inferior segment of the first arm extends in a sagittal direction along an inner inferior surface of the shell, the second lateral segment of the first arm extends along a second inner lateral surface of the shell,

the second arm comprises a lateral segment and a superior segment, wherein:

the superior segment of the second arm extends along an inner superior surface of the shell toward a medial end of the shell, and

the lateral segment of the second arm is connected to a lateral end of the second feedline segment and extends from the lateral end of the second feedline segment in a superior direction along an inner posterior surface of the shell and the inner superior surface of the shell, wherein a superior end of the lateral segment of the second arm connects to a lateral end of the superior segment of the second arm.

2 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein a width of the second lateral segment is greater in a middle portion of the second lateral segment than an inferior portion of the second lateral segment and a superior portion of the second lateral segment.

3 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein:

the second lateral segment of the first arm has a first sub-arm, a second sub-arm, and a common section inferior to a meeting point of the first sub-arm and the second sub-arm,

the first sub-arm extends in a superior direction from the meeting point along the second inner lateral surface of the shell, and

the second sub-arm extends at least initially in a medial direction from the meeting point along the second inner lateral surface of the shell.

4 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the superior segment of the second arm is meandered.

5 . The antenna of claim 4 , wherein a level of meandering of the superior segment tunes the antenna to a specific frequency.

6 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth™ Low Energy standard.

7 . A hearing instrument comprising:

a shell;

a first feedline segment extending laterally along an inner lateral surface of the shell;

a second feedline segment extending laterally along the inner lateral surface of the shell; and

an antenna that comprises:

a first arm connected to the first feedline segment and initially extending in an inferior direction, along the inner lateral surface of the shell, from the first feedline segment; and

a second arm connected to the second feedline segment and initially extending in a superior direction, along the inner lateral surface of the shell, from the second feedline segment,

wherein the inner lateral surface is a first inner lateral surface of the shell, the first arm further includes a first lateral segment, an inferior segment, and a second lateral segment,

the first lateral segment extends along the first inner lateral surface of the shell, the inferior segment of the first arm extends in a sagittal direction along an inner inferior surface of the shell, the second lateral segment of the first arm extends along a second inner lateral surface of the shell,

the second arm comprises a lateral segment and a superior segment, wherein:

the superior segment of the second arm extends along an inner superior surface of the shell toward a medial end of the shell, and

the lateral segment of the second arm is connected to a lateral end of the second feedline segment and extends from the lateral end of the second feedline segment in a superior direction along an inner posterior surface of the shell and the inner superior surface of the shell, wherein a superior end of the lateral segment of the second arm connects to a lateral end of the superior segment of the second arm.

8 . The hearing instrument of claim 7 , wherein a width of the second lateral segment is greater in a middle portion of the second lateral segment than an inferior portion of the second lateral segment and a superior portion of the second lateral segment.

9 . The hearing instrument of claim 7 , wherein:

the second lateral segment of the first arm has a first sub-arm, a second sub-arm, and a common section inferior to a meeting point of the first sub-arm and the second sub-arm,

the first sub-arm extends in a superior direction from the meeting point along the second inner lateral surface of the shell, and

the second sub-arm extends at least initially in a medial direction from the meeting point along the second inner lateral surface of the shell.

10 . The hearing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the superior segment of the second arm is meandered.

11 . The hearing instrument of claim 10 , wherein a level of meandering of the superior segment tunes the antenna to a specific frequency.

12 . The hearing instrument of claim 7 , wherein the antenna is configured to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth™ Low Energy standard.