Ear-worn electronic device incorporating directional magnetic antenna
An ear-worn electronic device includes a housing comprising a first end and an opposing second end, a first side and an opposing second side, and the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends. The first side is configured to contact the wearer's head. A battery is disposed within the housing proximate the first end. An acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector is disposed within the housing proximate the second end. Electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio are disposed in the housing. A directional magnetic antenna is situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio. The antenna comprises a core having a complex shape and a coil wound around a portion of the core. The core comprises a closed end oriented toward a source of magnetic noise and an open end oriented away from the source of magnetic noise.
1. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:
a housing;
a battery disposed within the housing;
an acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector disposed within the housing;
electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio disposed in the housing; and
a directional magnetic antenna situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio, the antenna configured to reduce induced voltages from a noisy magnetic field while not attenuating induced voltages from a desired magnetic field.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the noisy magnetic field.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the noisy magnetic field impinging on an external region of the housing.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the noisy magnetic field generated within the housing.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a core and a coil wound around a portion of the core, wherein the core has a first portion extending along a longitudinal axis and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the core comprises a closed end oriented toward the noisy magnetic field and an open end oriented toward the desired magnetic field.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the core comprises:
a closed end oriented toward the noisy magnetic field impinging on a first external region of the housing or generated within the housing; and
an open end oriented toward the desired magnetic field impinging on a second external region of the housing.
8. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:
a housing comprising a first end and an opposing second end, a first side and an opposing second side, and the first and second sides extending between the first and second ends, the first side configured to contact the wearer's head;
a battery disposed within the housing;
an acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector disposed within the housing;
electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio disposed in the housing; and
a directional magnetic antenna coupled to the NFMI radio and comprising a coil aperture, the antenna oriented in or on the housing so that the coil aperture is at least one of directed away from a source of magnetic noise and directed towards a desired magnetic field.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the source of magnetic noise.
10. The device of claim 8 , wherein:
the source of magnetic noise is a magnetic noise source external of the housing; and
the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the external magnetic noise source.
11. The device of claim 8 , wherein:
the source of magnetic noise is a magnetic noise source internal to the housing; and
the antenna comprises a low reluctance portion configured to serve as a low reluctance path to the internal magnetic noise source.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the antenna comprises a core and a coil wound around a portion of the core, wherein the core has a first portion extending along a longitudinal axis and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the core comprises a closed end oriented toward the source of magnetic noise and an open end oriented toward the desired magnetic field.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the core comprises:
a closed end oriented toward the source of magnetic noise impinging on a first external region of the housing or generated within the housing; and
an open end oriented toward the desired magnetic field impinging on a second external region of the housing.
15. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:
a housing comprising at least a first region and a second region, the first region configured to contact the wearer's head;
a battery disposed within the housing;
an acoustic receiver or an acoustic receiver connector disposed within the housing;
electronics including a near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) radio disposed in the housing;
a magnetic antenna situated in or on the housing and coupled to the NFMI radio; and
a magnetic shield positioned between the antenna and the second region of the housing, the magnetic shield positioned to redirect magnetic noise away from a coil aperture of the antenna.
16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic shield is configured as a low reluctance path to magnetic noise impinging on the second region of the housing.
17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the antenna comprises a core, the core comprising a closed end oriented toward the second region of the housing and an open end oriented toward the first region of the housing, and wherein the core has a first portion extending along a longitudinal axis and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.
18. The device of claim 15 , wherein the antenna comprises a core, the core comprising a closed end oriented towards the electronics and an open end oriented towards the first region of the housing, wherein the core has a first portion extending along a longitudinal axis and at least a second portion that is non-parallel with respect to the first portion.
19. The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the antenna comprises a core; and
the core has a C-shape, a U-shape, a horseshoe shape or an L-shape.