Antennas for hearing aids
View Patent ↗An antenna configured in a hybrid circuit provides a compact design for a hearing aid to communicate wirelessly with a system external to the hearing aid. In an embodiment, an antenna includes metallic traces in a hybrid circuit that is configured for use in a hearing aid. The antenna includes contacts in the hybrid circuit to couple the metallic traces to electronic devices in the hybrid circuit. In an embodiment, the metallic traces form a planar coil design having a number of turns of the coil in a substrate in the hybrid circuit. In another embodiment, the metallic traces are included in a flex circuit on a substrate in the hybrid circuit. An antenna configured in a hybrid circuit allows for use in a completely-in-the-canal hearing aid.
1. An apparatus for use in a hearing aid, comprising:
communication electronics adapted for use with a hybrid circuit in the hearing aid; and
a flex antenna including one or more flexible metallic traces connected to the communication electronics, the flex antenna adapted for assembly with the hybrid circuit.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more metallic traces are separated by polyimide.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is adapted for transmissions including a carrier frequency ranging from about 400 MHz to about 3000 MHz.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of planar coils.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of planar coils are connected to form a helical coil.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.
9. A hearing aid, comprising:
a hybrid circuit; and
a flex antenna disposed in the hybrid circuit and coupled to hearing aid electronics the flex antenna including flexible conductive traces.
10. The hearing aid of claim 9 , including a radio frequency drive circuit coupled to the flex antenna.
11. The hearing aid of claim 9 , comprising a matching circuit coupled to the flex antenna.
12. The hearing aid of claim 9 , comprising an LC network coupled to the antenna adapted to selectively apply inductance and capacitance to the flex antenna.
13. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the flex antenna is configured as a plurality of planar coils.
14. The hearing aid of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of planar coils are connected to form a helical component.
15. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the flex antenna includes metallic traces configured as a number of turns.
16. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.
17. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.
18. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the flex antenna is adapted to operate with transmissions including a carrier frequency ranging from about 400 MHz to about 3000 MHz.
19. A method, comprising:
constructing a hybrid circuit including hearing aid electronics, the constructing including connecting a flex antenna including one or more flexible conductive traces on a substrate to at least a portion of the hybrid circuit; and
placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising transmitting signals using the flex antenna.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising receiving signals using the flex antenna.
22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid housing.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid housing.
24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of placing the hybrid circuit in a hearing aid housing includes placing the hybrid circuit in a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid housing.
25. The hearing aid of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid is an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.