Hearing device incorporating phased array antenna arrangement

1. A hearing device adapted to be worn at, on or in an ear of a wearer, the hearing device comprising:

a housing configured to be supported at, on or in the wearer's ear;

a memory configured to store phase parameters tabularized as a function of spatial steering direction;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor and memory disposed in the housing;

a radiofrequency transceiver coupled to the processor and disposed in the housing; and

a phased array antenna arrangement disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor, the phased array antenna arrangement comprising a plurality of phase shifters and a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of the phase shifters, the processor configured to adjust a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern by sequentially applying the tabularized phase parameters.

2. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the phased array antenna arrangement comprises a power splitter/combiner comprising a first port coupled to the transceiver and a plurality of second ports each coupled to one of the phase shifters.

3. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to steer a main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction of a desired radiofrequency signal source that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a radiofrequency signal received from the radiofrequency signal source.

4. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to steer a main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal on a per channel frequency basis.

5. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to steer the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal while concurrently nulling a radiofrequency noise source or a multipath null contributor.

6. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the phase parameters stored in the memory account for head-loading effects on the antenna array pattern.

7. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein each of the antennas is disposed on a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least about 100.

8. The hearing device of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver and the phased array antenna arrangement are configured to transmit and receive radiofrequency signals within a 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band.

9. A hearing device adapted to be worn at, on or in an ear of a wearer, the hearing device comprising:

a housing configured to be supported at, on or in the wearer's ear;

a memory configured to store phase parameters tabularized as a function of spatial steering direction

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor and memory disposed in the housing;

a radiofrequency transceiver coupled to the processor and disposed in the housing; and

a phased array antenna arrangement disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor, the phased array antenna arrangement comprising a plurality of phase shifters, a plurality of variable gain amplifiers, and a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of the phase shifters and one of the variable gain amplifiers, the processor configured to adjust a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern by sequentially applying the tabularized phase parameters, the processor further configured to adjust a gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers to one or more of reduce a side lobe of the antenna array pattern, change a location of the side lobe, or adjust a width of a main lobe of the antenna array pattern.

10. The hearing device of claim 9 ,

the memory is configured to store gain parameters tabularized as a function of the spatial steering direction; and

the processor is configured to adjust a gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers by sequentially applying the tabularized gain parameters.

11. The hearing device of claim 10 , wherein the phase and gain parameters stored in the memory account for head-loading effects on the antenna array pattern.

12. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to steer the main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction of a desired radiofrequency signal source that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a radiofrequency signal received from the radiofrequency signal source.

13. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to steer the main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal on a per channel frequency basis.

14. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to steer the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal while concurrently nulling a radiofrequency noise source or a multipath null contributor.

15. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein each of the antennas is disposed on a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least about 100.

16. The hearing device of claim 9 , wherein the transceiver and the phased array antenna arrangement are configured to transmit and receive radiofrequency signals within a 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band.

17. A method implemented by a hearing device adapted to be worn at, on or in an ear of a wearer, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory coupled to a processor, phase parameters tabularized as a function of spatial steering direction, wherein the hearing device comprises a phased array antenna arrangement coupled to a radiofrequency transceiver and the processor, the phased array antenna arrangement comprising a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of a plurality of phase shifters; and

adjusting, by the processor, a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern by sequentially applying the tabularized phase parameters.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the phased array antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of variable gain amplifiers each coupled to one of the plurality of phase shifters and one of the plurality of antennas; and

the method comprises:

adjusting, by the processor, a gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers to one or more of reduce a side lobe of the antenna array pattern, change a location of the side lobe, and adjust a width of a main lobe of the antenna array pattern.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein steering the antenna array pattern comprises steering a main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein steering the antenna array pattern comprises steering a main lobe of the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal on a per channel frequency basis.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein steering the antenna array pattern comprises steering the antenna array pattern in a direction that increases or maximizes a signal-to-noise ratio of a received radiofrequency signal while concurrently nulling a radiofrequency noise source or a multipath null contributor.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the phased array antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of variable gain amplifiers each coupled to one of the plurality of phase shifters and one of the plurality of antennas; and

the method comprises:

storing, in the memory coupled to the processor, gain parameters tabularized as a function of the spatial steering direction; and

adjusting the phase shift of each of the phase shifters and a gain of each of the variable gain amplifiers by sequentially applying the tabularized phase and gain parameters.

23. The method of claim 17 , comprising transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals communicated on a per channel basis via the phased array antenna arrangement.