EP3944637B1 - Ite hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an ITE hearing aid with a housing which is intended for insertion into an ear canal of a hearing aid wearer and has a housing shell.

ITE (in the ear) hearing aids are generally characterized by the fact that essential hearing aid components, such as a signal processing unit, a receiver (speaker) and preferably also a microphone, are arranged inside the housing, which is designed to be arranged in the ear canal. In this case, ITE hearing aids also include ITC (in the canal), CIC (completely in the canal) or IIC (invisible in the canal) hearing aids. These hearing aids are in particular so-called hearing aid devices that are designed to compensate for hearing loss in a hearing-impaired person through suitable signal processing and amplification.

Hearing aids often have a wireless communication option, for example for communication with external devices such as a smartphone or an external audio device for wireless direct transmission of audio signals or, especially in the case of binaural hearing aids, for communication between two hearing aids. A suitable receiver/transmitter including a suitable antenna is generally required for this communication.

EP 3 133 839 A1 describes a hearing aid in which an antenna is integrated into the housing. From the US 2011/0142270 A1 an ITE hearing aid can be removed, in which flanges for holding an antenna are attached to the inner wall of the housing are the WO 2018/024620 A1 describes a hearing aid with an antenna installed inside. Other hearing aids with antenna structures are made of US 2004/0138723 A1 , US 2016/0050502 A1 as well as EP 3 322 202 A1 to be taken.

US 2016/050502 A1 shows the features mentioned in the introductory part of claim 1. Based on this, the invention is based on the object of enabling efficient wireless communication in an ITE hearing aid.

The object is achieved according to the invention by an ITE hearing aid with a housing which is designed to be inserted into an ear canal of a hearing aid wearer and which has a housing shell. The housing shell in turn has an antenna which is designed for wireless communication.

The antenna is specially designed for sending and/or receiving frequencies in the radio frequency range, for example in the range from 500 MHz to several GHz (5 to 10 GHz). The antenna is specially designed for a frequency of 2.4 GHz, for example, i.e. a resonance frequency of the antenna is set to this frequency. A transmitting/receiving unit is typically arranged within the hearing aid. This is connected to the antenna and evaluates the signals received by the antenna in a receiving mode and, if necessary, forwards them to a signal processing unit, which is also integrated in the hearing aid, i.e. in the housing. Conversely, the transmitting unit is designed to prepare control signals for the antenna for a transmitting mode.

Preferably, the hearing aid also contains at least one microphone and one receiver. Acoustic sound received by the microphone is converted into an electromagnetic signal and passed on to the signal processing unit, where it is individually processed according to the individual hearing loss of a hearing-impaired person in order to compensate for the hearing loss of that person. The processed signals are finally sent to the receiver, where they are typically converted back into sound.

It is now particularly important that the housing shell, i.e. the outermost boundary of the hearing aid housing, contains the antenna itself. The antenna is therefore deliberately moved from the inside of the housing into the housing shell.

This is based on the consideration that ITE hearing aids are very small overall, but that at the same time the antenna, especially an antenna tuned to the desired radio frequency range, must have a sufficient physical length for efficient wireless signal transmission. By arranging the antenna on the housing shell, a place with the maximum possible extension is therefore selected, resulting in an efficient transmitting or receiving antenna.

In a preferred embodiment, the antenna is attached to an outside of the housing shell. The outside therefore forms - apart from the antenna attached to the outside - the outermost surface area of the housing. The antenna is therefore attached to the housing shell from the outside. This makes use of the maximum possible housing geometry. Alternatively, the antenna could also be integrated inside the housing shell. However, this reduces the maximum size, so that the arrangement on the outside is the preferred variant.

In a preferred embodiment, the antenna has a conductor structure and a foil-like carrier on which the conductor structure is applied. The antenna is therefore designed in the manner of a foil antenna. The foil-like carrier together with the conductor structure attached to it is designed in particular as a so-called flex PCB, i.e. a flexible printed circuit board. This foil-like carrier is applied to the outside of the housing shell, for example glued on. Alternatively, the foil-like carrier is omitted and the conductor structure is applied directly to the housing shell.

The antenna is preferably mounted all the way around the housing shell. It is therefore virtually wrapped around the housing shell. The antenna covers a large part of the outside of the housing shell, for example, at least half, preferably at least two thirds or at least 90% of the area of the outside of the housing shell. This means that the area enclosed by the conductor structure of the antenna corresponds to half, 2/3 or 90% of the area of the outside of the housing shell.

The antenna is a dipole antenna, specifically a capacitively loaded folded dipole antenna. Furthermore, a dipole antenna is preferably understood to be a so-called folded dipole antenna. A dipole antenna is generally understood to mean an antenna that has a dipole conductor structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna. A folded dipole antenna is understood to mean an antenna with a dipole conductor structure that has a second conductor parallel to the dipole conductor structure, the ends of which are connected to the ends of the dipole conductor structure. "Capacitive loading" is also understood to mean that additional conductor structure elements are arranged at the end of the dipole arms of the dipole antenna, i.e. the dipole conductor structure, through which the capacitance is increased compared to a simple rod-shaped dipole antenna. The capacitive loading generally leads to a resonance frequency of the dipole antenna being reduced or, conversely, to an actual physical length of the dipole antenna being reduced at the same resonance frequency. This means that, compared to an antenna without capacitive loading, the length of the conductor structure can be shorter at a given resonance frequency (corresponds to the transmission and/or reception frequency). This is particularly important due to the limited space available in an ITE hearing aid.

In a useful embodiment, the antenna is also attached to the housing shell in such a way that a main beam direction is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the housing. This longitudinal direction is generally defined by a direction that, when inserted, is oriented towards the exit to the outside of the ear canal. Since the ear canal, i.e. in particular the external auditory canal, regularly tapers towards the middle ear (inner ear) and the housing is adapted to the geometry of the ear canal, the housing also tapers towards the inner/middle ear. Conversely, this means that the housing widens in the longitudinal direction, i.e. outwards. The housing shell is usually initially open to the outside in the longitudinal direction and has an external opening there. The hearing aid components are typically inserted through this external opening. Usually at least some of these hearing aid components, such as the signal processing unit, transmitting/receiving unit, microphone, are arranged on a carrier plate known as a "faceplate", which closes the outward opening of the housing shell and thus forms part of the housing. The longitudinal direction is preferably oriented perpendicular to this faceplate or to a surface defined by the external opening.

Due to the special arrangement of the antenna in such a way that the main radiation direction is oriented in this longitudinal direction, a very high level of efficiency is achieved, since incoming and/or outgoing signals are received/sent as directly as possible without having to penetrate through body regions.

The term "main radiation direction" means that at least 50% of the antenna's transmission power is radiated parallel to the longitudinal direction or in an angular range which is defined by a radiation angle of 30° or a maximum of 50° with respect to the longitudinal direction.

In an unfolded state, the antenna has a central excitation point from which two opposing dipole arms extend in and against the longitudinal direction of the antenna. End pieces are formed at the ends of these two dipole arms, through which the capacitive loading mentioned above is achieved. The end pieces also form the connection between the opposite ends of the dipole structure (conductor stretched in the longitudinal direction of the antenna) and the conductor running parallel to the dipole structure in the folded dipole antenna. The "unfolded state" is understood to mean an initial state of the antenna before it is applied to the housing shell, i.e. when the antenna is unfolded in a two-dimensional plane. This two-dimensional surface structure is then placed around the housing shell to form a three-dimensional antenna structure.

The end pieces are each U-shaped with a base leg and two opposite U-legs. The two U-legs are also referred to as a pair of U-legs. The base leg connects one end of the dipole structure with one end of the conductor running parallel to the dipole structure.

According to a first alternative, these two pairs of U-legs are oriented towards each other in the unfolded state, i.e. they are arranged approximately as a mirror image of each other.

Preferably, the two dipole arms in the area of the central excitation point have end sections which, when viewed longitudinally, run further forwards at an outer opening of the housing shell than other sections of the dipole arms. In this peripheral area of the sections pulled forwards, there are no longer any U-legs (side legs) of the end pieces. As a result, the excitation point is brought as close as possible to the outer opening. A faceplate is usually inserted into the outer opening. By pulling the end sections forwards and thus the excitation point close to the opening, an advantageous connection option for the excitation point to the faceplate is facilitated.

In a further practical manner, a parallel arm is provided which is parallel to the dipole arms and which also connects the two opposite end pieces. This parallel arm defines the conductor of a folded dipole antenna which runs parallel to the dipole conductor structure.

The conductor structure of the antenna defined in this way has proven to be particularly advantageous.

The central excitation point is generally understood to be a central area between the two dipole arms, to which the transmitting/receiving unit is connected by corresponding conductor connections. In the case of transmission, the signals from the transmitting unit are fed into this excitation point. In the case of reception of a signal, the signal at the excitation point is The transmitting and receiving units use the same excitation point and therefore the same conductor connections.

The dipole arms and the parallel arm are preferably electrically connected to the base leg in a central area on the base leg of the two end pieces. The base leg runs particularly perpendicular to the dipole arms or the parallel arm. The U-legs in turn preferably run parallel to the dipole arms or the parallel arm.

According to a second alternative, the dipole arms and in particular the U-legs running parallel to them are arranged in a circumferential direction around the housing shell. The circumferential direction is oriented in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, i.e. the dipole arms run at least approximately and/or over a large part of their length (>75% of the length) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is also understood to mean an inclination of +/- 20° or only +/- 10° to the longitudinal direction.

This arrangement promotes the previously mentioned suitable radiation characteristics in the longitudinal direction. In general, the antenna longitudinal direction, which is essentially defined by the direction in which the dipole arms extend, is oriented in the circumferential direction and thus transversely to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

According to a third alternative, the U-shaped end pieces on the housing shell are arranged with their base legs opposite one another. Preferably, no further conductor structure of the antenna is arranged between the two base legs. The base legs are preferably only spaced apart from one another by a small distance (<10% or <5% of the circumference), ie the entire antenna structure is arranged largely completely circumferentially around the housing shell (angular range >340°, preferably >350°).

The first, second and third alternatives are preferably used in combination.

Fig. 1A bis 1D

verschiedene Ansichten einer Gehäuseschale eines ITE-Hörgeräts mit aufgebrachter Antenne sowie

Fig. 2

die Antenne im aufgefalteten Ausgangszustand.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show:

Fig. 1A to 1D

different views of a housing shell of an ITE hearing aid with attached antenna and

Fig. 2

the antenna in its unfolded initial state.

In the figures, parts with the same function are provided with the same reference symbols.

The Fig. 1A to 1D The housing shell 2 shown forms part of a housing 4 of an ITE hearing aid. The housing 4 and especially the housing shell 2 is adapted in its external shape to the typical geometry of an ear canal and is therefore designed to be inserted into the ear canal of a person, especially a hearing-impaired person. The housing shell 2 typically widens from an inner end region and an inner opening of the housing shell 6 located there to an outer end region and an outer opening 8 of the housing shell 2 located there. The housing shell 2 is therefore open on both ends of the end regions. In the finished hearing aid, a receiver (loudspeaker) is typically arranged in the inner opening 6. A so-called "faceplate" is typically inserted at the opposite outer opening 8, which is not shown in more detail here. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer opening 8 has at least an approximately rectangular design with two long sides and two short sides, with the corner areas being rounded. The sides - as shown, for example, one of the short sides - can also be curved. The essential hearing aid components, such as the signal processing unit, microphone, a transmitting/receiving unit for receiving/sending wireless signals, etc., are arranged on this faceplate, which is not shown in detail here. The faceplate closes the outer opening 8 and is thus part of the housing 4.

The housing 4 extends generally in a longitudinal direction 12 which is oriented from the inner opening end region 6 to the outer opening 8. In particular, the longitudinal direction 12 is oriented perpendicular to the surface of the outer opening 8.

In the exemplary embodiment, the housing shell 2 has two opposite main sides 14A, 14B and two opposite secondary sides 16A, 16B, especially due to the design of the outer opening 8 as a rectangular opening.

The housing shell 2 generally has an outer side 18. An antenna 20 is attached to this, as is specifically used in the Fig. 2 in an unfolded initial state. This antenna 20 has a special conductor structure 22, which is formed by metal tracks, in particular copper conductor tracks. In one embodiment, the conductor structure 22 is attached to a foil-like carrier 24, so that the antenna 20 as a whole is designed in the manner of a flexible printed circuit. The foil-like carrier 24 is in the Fig. 2 indicated by a dashed line.

As from the Fig. 2 As can be seen, the antenna 20, specifically the conductor structure 22, in the unfolded initial state has two dipole arms 26 which extend in a straight line from a central excitation point 28 in or against an antenna longitudinal direction 30. In the exemplary embodiment, a parallel arm 32 is provided parallel to these two dipole arms 26, which also extends in the antenna longitudinal direction 30. The two dipole arms 26 are spaced apart from one another at the central excitation point 28. At the excitation point 28, the two dipole arms 26 are contacted via connecting lines 34 and connected to a transmitting/receiving unit not shown in detail here.

A capacitive loading of the antenna 20 is formed at the end of each dipole arm 26. For this purpose, a U-shaped end piece 36 is connected to the end of each dipole arm 26, which in the exemplary embodiment has a Base legs 38 and two side legs 40. The side legs 40 preferably run parallel to the dipole arms 26 and thus parallel to the antenna longitudinal direction 30. The side legs 40 of the two end pieces 36 are oriented towards one another, ie the U-shaped conductor track structures formed by the end pieces 36 are oriented towards one another with their open U-ends and are therefore arranged as a mirror image of one another. The side legs 40 preferably extend over a comparatively large length of the entire antenna structure, for example over a length which is in the range between 0.25 times and 0.4 times the total length L of the antenna 20. The length L of the antenna 20 is defined in the exemplary embodiment by the distance in the antenna longitudinal direction 30 between the two base legs 38.

The arrangement of these in Fig. 2 The antenna shown on the housing shell 2 is in the Fig. 1A to 1D The antenna 20 is generally wound around the housing shell 2, ie it is placed around the housing shell 2 in a circumferential direction 42. The circumferential direction 42 runs approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12. It corresponds essentially or exactly to the antenna longitudinal direction 30.

The antenna 20 has a total length L which almost corresponds to the circumference of the housing shell 2 and is, for example, in the range between 70% and 95% of the housing circumference.

As from the Fig. 1A , which shows a view of the first main side 14A and the first secondary side 16A, the end regions of the antenna 20, specifically the end pieces 36, lie opposite one another on the housing shell 2. The two base legs 38 are therefore oriented towards one another and the respective side legs 40 are oriented away from one another. A free space is formed between the two base legs 38 in which no conductor tracks are arranged. The side legs 40 and also the dipole arms 26 run in the circumferential direction 42, at least in the area of the main sides 14A, 14B.

The Fig. 1B shows a perspective of the housing shell 2 looking towards the second main side 14B and partly towards the first secondary side 16A. It can be seen that the dipole arms 26 and also the parallel arm 32 also run parallel or at least essentially parallel to the circumferential direction 42 on the first main side. The dipole arms 26 are pulled forward in the longitudinal direction 12 in a transition region - preferably in the region of the secondary sides 16A, 16B -, i.e. in the transition region the sections of the dipole arms 26 do not run perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. This ensures that sections of the dipole arms run perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12 at different length levels with respect to the longitudinal direction 12. The section 26A pulled forward preferably runs at least approximately at the same axial height as a respective front side leg 40 - viewed in the longitudinal direction 12.

In the area of the sections 26A pulled forward, the side legs 40 no longer run. The sections 26A pulled forward are located in the center area of the antenna, where the excitation point 28 is arranged. In particular, these sections 26A pulled forward of the dipole arms 26 run close to and parallel to the outer opening 10. The central excitation point 28 is therefore also arranged very close to the outer opening 10 and thus directly adjacent to the faceplate. The electrical connection and contacting of the two dipole arms 26 at the excitation point 28 is carried out, for example, by connecting cables that are contacted from the outside or, alternatively, are led through the housing shell 2.

The Fig. 1C finally shows a view of the second secondary page 16B and the second main page 14B. The Fig. 1D shows a perspective with a view of the first secondary side 16A and the second main side 14B. From these two figures it can be clearly seen that the dipole arms 26 and the parallel arm 32 in the area of the secondary sides 16A, 16B are each guided forward in the longitudinal direction 4. This means that in the area of the secondary sides 16A, 16B the dipole arm and the parallel arm run at an angle to the longitudinal direction 12.

With the arrangement of the antenna 20 described here on the outside 18 of the housing shell 2 in conjunction with the special structure of the antenna 20, an efficient and sensitive antenna 20 is formed overall, which has a main radiation and main reception direction in or against the longitudinal direction 12. The antenna 20 is characterized by the capacitive loading through the arrangement of the end pieces 36. The arrangement on the outside 18 creates the greatest possible physical length of the folded dipole antenna 20.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Rather, other embodiments are also possible within the scope defined by the claims.

List of reference symbols

2

Housing shell

4

Housing

6

inner opening

8

outer opening

12

Longitudinal direction

14A

first main page

14B

second main page

16A

first subpage

16B

second side page

18

Outside

20

antenna

22

Ladder structure

24

foil-like carrier

26

Dipole arm

26A

Subsection

28

Stimulus point

30

Antenna longitudinal direction

32

Parallel arm

34

Connection cable

36

End piece

38

Base leg

40

Side legs

42

Circumferential direction

L

length

Claims (6)

1. ITE hearing device with a housing (4), which is intended to be inserted into an ear canal of a hearing device wearer and comprises a housing case (2) and an antenna (20),
   wherein

   the antenna (20) is a capacitively loaded dipole antenna, that the antenna (20) in an unfolded state has a central excitation point (28) from which two opposite dipole arms (26) extend in and counter to an antenna longitudinal direction (30), angled end pieces (36), by which the capacitive load is formed, being formed on the ends of the dipole arms (26),

   characterized in that

   the housing case (2) comprises the antenna (20),

   in that the end pieces (36) are each U-shaped, respectively with a U-branch pair and a base branch (38), and

   in that furthermore

   - the opposite U-branch pairs are oriented towards one another, and/or

   - the dipole arms (26) run around the housing case (2) in a circumferential direction (42), and/or

   - the base branches (38) are arranged opposite one another on the housing case (2).
2. Hearing device according to Claim 1,
   wherein
   the antenna (20) is applied onto the outer side (18) of the housing case (2).
3. Hearing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein
   the antenna (20) comprises a conductor structure (22), which is applied onto a film-like carrier (24) that is applied onto the housing case (2).
4. Hearing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein
   the antenna (20) is a folded dipole antenna.
5. Hearing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein
   the housing case (2) widens in a longitudinal direction (12), and that the antenna (20) is applied on the housing case (2) in such a way that a main emission direction of the antenna (20) is oriented in the longitudinal direction.
6. Hearing device according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein
   the two dipole arms (26) comprise subsections (26A) in the region of the central excitation point (28), which run further forwards on an outer opening (8) of the housing case in comparison with other sections of the dipole arms (26) as seen in the longitudinal direction (12) .

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