Antenna designs for hearing instruments
An antenna for a hearing instrument is connected to a first feedline segment extending laterally along an inner posterior surface of a shell of the hearing instrument. The antenna is also connected to a second feedline segment extending laterally along the inner posterior surface of the shell. The antenna comprises a first arm connected to the first feedline segment. The first arm initially extends in an inferior direction along the inner posterior surface of the shell from the first feedline segment. A second arm is connected to the second feedline segment and initially extends in a superior direction along the inner lateral surface of the shell from the second feedline segment.
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.