Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Zhenchao Yang

Beau Jay Polinske

Deepak Hosadurga

Stephen Paul Flood

Karl Joseph Hilde

Randy Kannas

Ezdeen Elghannai

Gregory John Haubrich

Jay Rabel

Jay M Stewart

Greg Haubrich

Dong Xue

Michael J Tadeusiak

Paul Anders Shriner

Casey Edward Murray

Janet Marie Glenn

Ganesh Borra

Babak Talebanpour

Tim Wilburn

A hearing instrument comprises a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface; a rechargeable battery; a first conductor having an external segment tracing a first path on the exterior surface of the housing; and a second conductor having an external segment tracing a second path on the exterior surface of the housing. The first conductor and the second conductor are configured to operate as both an antenna and to conduct electricity from a charger to recharge the rechargeable battery.

Combined charging contact and antenna for hearing instruments

An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a wireless transceiver operably coupled to an antenna. The device is configured to transmit, from the transceiver to the antenna, signals at a plurality of different frequencies in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence. The device is configured collect two-dimensional (2-D) reflection coefficient data comprising a reflection coefficient of the antenna as a function of frequency and of time in response to transmission of the signals. The device is configured to detect a particular input gesture of a plurality of input gestures of the wearer using the 2-D reflection coefficient data, and implement a predetermined function of the ear-worn electronic device in response to detecting the particular input gesture.

Ear-worn electronic device incorporating gesture control system using frequency-hopping spread spectrum transmission

A hearing device adapted to be worn by a wearer comprises a shell configured for placement on an exterior surface of an ear of the wearer. The shell comprises a first end, a second end, a bottom, a top, and opposing sides, wherein the bottom, top, and opposing sides extend between the first and second ends. Circuitry is provided within the shell comprising at least a microphone, signal processing circuitry, radio circuitry, and a power source. A folded antenna is coupled to the radio circuitry and extends longitudinally along one of the bottom and the top and along the opposing sides between the first and second ends. The folded antenna encompasses at least some of the circuitry and forms an elongated gap between the opposing sides. The elongated gap faces the other of the bottom and the top.

Hearing device incorporating conformal folded antenna

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing, hearing electronics within the housing, and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

Radio frequency antenna for an in-the-ear hearing device

A system comprises a first ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, and a second electronic device comprising a second ear-worn electronic device or other electronic device. A wireless transceiver operably coupled to an antenna is disposed in each of the electronic devices. One or both of the first ear-worn electronic device and the second electronic device are configured to transmit signals at a plurality of different frequencies in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence, collect 2-D RSSI data comprising an RSSI value as a function of frequency and of time in response to transmission of the signals, detect a particular input gesture of a plurality of input gestures of the wearer using the 2-D RSSI data, and implement a predetermined function of at least one of the first ear-worn electronic device and the second electronic device in response to detecting the particular input gesture.

A hearing device includes an enclosure comprising a shell and a faceplate and is configured for at least partial insertion within an ear of a user. An antenna structure of the hearing device is oriented such that a direction of an electric field (E-field) of a propagating electromagnetic signal generated by the antenna structure is directed non-tangentially with respect to the user at the location of the user's ear. The antenna structure includes an antenna disposed in or on the faceplate and a ground plane at least partially supported by the faceplate. A battery and electronic circuitry are disposed within the shell. The electronic circuitry is powered by the battery and is electrically coupled to send and/or receive signals via the antenna structure.

Antenna structure for hearing devices

An ear-worn electronic monitoring system includes an on-ear component comprising a housing configured for placement on, in or about the wearer's ear. The on-ear component comprises a power source and a first interface coupled to the power source. The monitoring system also includes an in-ear component comprising a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of the wearer. The in-ear component comprises a second interface configured to couple to and decouple from the first interface, a controller coupled to a memory, one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the controller and memory, and power management circuitry coupled to the controller. The power management circuitry comprises a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless powering arrangement. The power management circuitry is further configured to receive power from the power source of the on-ear component when the second interface is coupled to the first interface.

Ear-worn electronic system employing wireless powering arrangement for powering an in-ear component during sleep

Hearing aids having example antennas tuned to transmit and receive signals having a frequency greater than or equal to 2.4 GHz are described. The antenna includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to fit inside a housing of the hearing aid and to be within the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into an ear of a wearer. The second segment is configured to be within the housing and disposed near a side of the housing facing toward an outside of the ear canal when the hearing aid is inserted into the ear of the wearer.

Hearing aid antenna for high-frequency data communication

A hearing device includes first, second, and third antennas oriented respectively along first, second, and third axes that are different from one another. The device includes first channel circuitry coupled to transceive and process antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the first channel circuitry communicate with another hearing device via a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal through a first near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication channel. Second channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the second channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a second NFMI communication channel. Third channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the third channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a third NFMI communication channel.

Near field magnetic induction communication over multiple channels

An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a housing configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the housing. A speaker or a receiver is operably coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the housing and operably coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed on or in the housing and operably coupled to the transceiver. The antenna comprises a radiating element, a ground plane, and a substrate disposed between the radiating element and the ground plane. The substrate comprises one or both of a dielectric gel and a dielectric liquid.

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Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Zhenchao Yang