Hearing aid antenna for high-frequency data communication

Inventors: Ezdeen Elghannai (Eden Prairie, MN); Karl Joseph Hilde (Minneapolis, MN); Zhenchao Yang (Eden Prairie, MN)

Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

H04R25/558 H01Q1/273 H04R1/10 H04R25/554 H04R25/602 H04R25/658 H04R2225/51

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12713189
App. No.: 18/241,045
Granted: Aug 18, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Hearing aids having example antennas tuned to transmit and receive signals having a frequency greater than or equal to 2.4 GHz are described. The antenna includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to fit inside a housing of the hearing aid and to be within the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into an ear of a wearer. The second segment is configured to be within the housing and disposed near a side of the housing facing toward an outside of the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into the ear of the wearer.

Claims (37)

1 . A hearing aid comprising:

a housing configured to fit inside an ear canal;

an antenna within the housing, the antenna comprising:

a first segment configured to fit inside the housing and to be within the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into an ear of a wearer, wherein the first segment has a first end and a second end, and the second end being open ended, wherein the first segment is configured in a helix shape;

a second segment configured to be within the housing and disposed near a side of the housing facing toward an outside of the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into the ear of the wearer, wherein the second segment has a third end and a fourth end, and the fourth end being open ended, and an angle of the first segment relative to the second segment is in a range of 72 degrees to 108 degrees;

a first transmission line connected to the first end of the first segment;

a second transmission line is connected to the third end of the second segment; and

circuitry, within the housing, coupled to the first and second transmission lines and configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the antenna, wherein a first difference between a first impedance of the antenna having the first segment with the helix shape and an impedance of the circuitry is less than a second difference between a second impedance of the antenna if the first segment had a linear shape and the impedance of the circuitry.

2 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the signals have a frequency equal to or greater than 2.4 GHz.

3 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is configured to extend around a perimeter of the housing.

4 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the first segment is shorter than the second segment.

5 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the first segment and the second segment are in different environments having different dielectric constants when the hearing aid is inserted in the ear of the wearer.

6 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is configured to curve around an internal perimeter of the housing.

7 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is configured in a shape comprising one of a circular shape, a spiral shape, or a serpentine shape.

8 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , further comprising a battery positioned inside the housing in a manner to reflect the signals transmitted from the antenna.

9 . The hearing aid of claim 8 , wherein the second segment is configured to encircle the battery.

10 . A method of manufacturing a hearing aid, the method comprising:

forming an antenna having a first segment and a second segment, wherein:

the first segment is configured to fit inside a housing of the hearing aid and to be within an ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into an ear of a wearer,

the first segment is configured in a helix shape,

the first segment has a first end and a second end, and the second end being open ended,

the second segment is configured to be within the housing and disposed near a side of the housing facing toward an outside of the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into the ear of the wearer, and

the second segment has a third end and a fourth end, and the fourth end being open ended,

an angle of the first segment relative to the second segment is in a range of 72 degrees to 108 degrees;

coupling a first transmission line to the first end of the first segment;

coupling a second transmission line to the third end of the second segment; and

coupling the first and second transmission lines to circuitry within the housing that is configured to transmit signals to the antenna and receive the signals from the antenna, wherein a first difference between a first impedance of the antenna having the first segment with the helix shape and an impedance of the circuitry is less than a second difference between a second impedance of the antenna if the first segment had a linear shape and the impedance of the circuitry.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the signals have a frequency equal to or greater than 2.4 GHz.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second segment is configured to extend around a perimeter of the housing.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first segment and the second segment are in different environments having different dielectric constants when the hearing aid is inserted in the ear of the wearer.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning a battery inside the housing in a manner to reflect the signals transmitted from the antenna, wherein the second segment is configured to encircle the battery.

15 . An antenna configured to be positioned within a hearing aid, the antenna comprising:

a first segment configured to fit inside a housing of the hearing aid and to be within an ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into an ear of a wearer, wherein the first segment has a first end and a second end, and the second end being open ended, wherein the first segment is configured in a helix shape; and

the first end of the first segment is configured to be connected to a first transmission line that is coupled to circuitry that is within the housing and that is configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the antenna, and

the third end of the second segment is configured to be connected to a second transmission line coupled to the circuitry, wherein a first difference between a first impedance of the antenna having the first segment with the helix shape and an impedance of the circuitry is less than a second difference between a second impedance of the antenna if the first segment had a linear shape and the impedance of the circuitry.

16 . The hearing aid of claim 1 , wherein the helix shape has a radius of approximately 1 mm, a number of turns of the helix shape is 2, and a pitch of the helix shape is approximately 6 mm.