Hearing device, antenna for a hearing device, and method of manufacturing a hearing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing device (2) having a housing (4) and an antenna (6), wherein the housing (4) has a housing cover (8) for wearing in the ear, wherein the antenna (6) is designed for transmitting signals by a wireless connection, wherein the housing cover (8) has an inner side (18), wherein the antenna (6) is inserted into the housing cover (8) and extends along the inner side (18). Furthermore, a corresponding antenna (6) and a method for manufacturing a corresponding hearing device (2) are provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a hearing device, an antenna for a hearing device and a method for manufacturing such a hearing device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Hearing devices are generally used to output audio signals to a user of the hearing device. The output is here effected by means of an output transducer, usually acoustically by means of air sound by means of a so-called earpiece, which is also called a loudspeaker or receiver. A particular design variant of a hearing device serves to provide a service for users with a hearing impairment. To this end, the hearing device has at least one acoustical input transducer, usually a microphone, and the hearing device has a control unit. The control unit is designed to process an input signal generated by the input transducer from the ambient sound and to compensate at least partially for the hearing impairment of the user therefrom. In a variant which can also be considered, the output transducer is designed to mechanically or electrically couple the audio signal into the user's auditory system (e.g. cochlea implant). The general term "hearing device" here additionally also includes devices such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headsets, etc.

[0003] Hearing devices generally have an earpiece which fits into the ear canal of a user and which encloses the ear canal with respect to the surroundings. In other words, the earpiece is worn in the ear. For certain configurations, for example CIC devices (abbreviation for "Completely-in-Canal"), the hearing device itself is designed as an earpiece overall and thus has a housing which is worn in the ear. Due to the generally very small hearing device configurations, in particular in connection with the earpiece which is limited in size by the ear canal, the construction space for mounting the different components of the hearing device is strongly limited. This is particularly problematic in the case of hearing devices which have an antenna for transmitting signals by means of a wireless connection, for example to other hearing devices or additional devices. Any restriction of the construction space also limits the design freedom and the transmission properties of the antenna. SUMMARY

[0004] Against this background, the technical problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a hearing device with an improved antenna and such an antenna. The antenna should have as advantageous transmission properties as possible and use the construction space available in the hearing device as optimally as possible. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a hearing device should be provided.

[0005] The technical problem is solved by the present invention by a hearing device, by an antenna and by a method. The explanations relating to the hearing device essentially also apply to the antenna and the method and vice versa.

[0006] The hearing device has a housing and an antenna. The housing has a housing cover, which is also referred to as "Shell". The housing cover is intended to be worn in the ear, that is to say in the prescribed use of the hearing device, the housing cover is inserted into the ear canal of the user. The specific position in the ear canal depends on the specific configuration of the hearing device. The ear canal of a human being usually has two bends, the outer bend, which is also referred to as the first bend, and the more inner bend in the direction of the eardrum, which is also referred to as the second bend. Depending on the configuration of the hearing device, the hearing device is arranged in the prescribed use in different positions along the ear canal or even partially or completely outside the ear canal.

[0007] Furthermore, the housing has a cover plate, which is also referred to as Faceplate and which encloses the housing cover. The cover plate points in the prescribed use out of the ear canal and has in an appropriate manner an interface for operating the hearing device, for example one or more control elements. Furthermore, the cover plate is preferably detachable, for example pivotable, in order to open the housing and to access the interior of the hearing device, for example for replacing a battery. The cover plate is mounted on the housing cover, the cover plate and the housing cover together forming the housing of the hearing device.

[0008] The antenna is designed for transmitting signals by means of a wireless connection. The specific design of the wireless connection is initially secondary, it is important that the antenna is designed for transmitting signals. The wireless connection is for example a Bluetooth connection, a WiFi connection, a radio frequency connection or the like, the antenna is accordingly a Bluetooth antenna, a WiFi antenna, a radio frequency antenna or another antenna. The antenna is in particular bidirectional, that is to say both as a transmitting antenna and as a receiving antenna. There is a wireless connection for example to another device, for example to another individual device of a binaural hearing device having two individual devices, or to an additional device, for example a smartphone, a television or a remote control. In operation, the antenna generally emits and / or receives electromagnetic radiation, in particular through a transmission and reception point of the antenna. The transmission and reception point is also referred to as an excitation point. The frequency range of the radiation depends on the specific design of the wireless connection for which the antenna is designed.

[0009] The housing cover has an inner side. The inner side of the housing cover points inwards, that is to say towards the interior of the housing, and encloses an interior space of the housing. In this interior space one or more components of the hearing device are mounted, in particular at least one microphone, a receiver, a battery or a control unit or a combination thereof.

[0010] The antenna is inserted into the housing cover and extends along the inner side. Thus, the antenna extends in particular in line with the inner side of the housing cover. Here, the antenna preferably lies on the inner side of the housing cover, that is to say as if it were lying on said inner side, preferably completely, that is to say not just sectionally, on the inner side of the housing cover. The antenna lies in a form-fitting manner inside the housing cover, that is to say on its inner side. The antenna fits optimally onto the housing cover and extends in line with the housing cover. The antenna forms its own layer inside the housing cover and along the inner side of the housing cover.

[0011] The particular design and arrangement of the antenna achieve an optimum use of the construction space. Here, the antenna does not block the remaining components inside the housing, but rather surrounds these components in particular. At the same time, by virtue of the arrangement of the antenna along the inner side, the antenna is provided with the greatest area, so that the antenna can be designed particularly large and powerful. Furthermore, the antenna can also be designed particularly freely as a result of its particular arrangement, so that various different antenna types can be achieved. Furthermore, the antenna is the outermost component inside the housing, that is to say all other components inside the housing cover are also surrounded by the antenna. Thus, the antenna can be said to form a separating layer between the housing cover and the other components inside the housing cover. Thus, signals from the outside or towards the outside can reach the antenna well and wireless connections are correspondingly least disturbed by the remaining components inside the housing cover.

[0012] In production, the antenna is simply inserted into the housing cover. This is particularly simple and cost-effective. Here, the antenna is in particular not integrated in the housing cover, so that no costly multi-component injection-moulding methods or methods for integrating the antenna in the housing cover are required. In one possible design, the insertion is in particular reversible, that is to say the antenna can also be removed from the housing cover and separated from the housing cover in a simple manner.

[0013] Preferably, the antenna is a separate component which is inserted into the housing cover. Thus, the antenna is in particular manufactured separately from the housing cover, that is to say the housing cover and the antenna are manufactured independently of one another and are subsequently assembled. For example, the housing cover is manufactured as an injection-moulded part independently of the antenna. The antenna is in particular not manufactured integrally with the housing cover, but rather is in principle manufactured or connected independently of the housing cover. This makes the production significantly easier, since the antenna is manufactured as a simple component separately and is subsequently inserted into the housing cover only when required.

[0014] The housing cover is preferably a standard component in order to achieve mass production. The housing cover is in principle suitable for use in different ear canals and is thus in particular not a component which is manufactured individually for a particular user. For example, the housing cover is a so-called "one-size-fits-all / most" component. The antenna is preferably likewise a standard component, to which the previous explanations apply accordingly.

[0015] The hearing device is used, inter alia, for outputting audio signals to a user of the hearing device. The output is effected by means of an output transducer, preferably by means of an earpiece. The hearing device is preferably designed for use by a user with a hearing impairment and for this purpose has at least one acoustical input transducer, preferably a microphone, and has a control unit. The control unit is designed for processing and outputting, by means of the output transducer, input signals generated by the input transducer from the ambient sound, in order to thereby at least partially compensate for the hearing impairment of the user. The general term "hearing device" additionally also includes devices such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones, etc., however the following is based without limitation of generality on a hearing device for use by a user with a hearing impairment.

[0016] The hearing device is preferably a CIC device or an IIC device. The abbreviations CIC and IIC denote two particularly compact configurations of a hearing device. In a CIC device (CIC = "completely in the canal", completely-in-canal device) the hearing device is fitted into the ear canal such that the housing ends externally in the outer portion of the ear canal. The hearing device is thereby virtually invisible from the outside. An IIC device (IIC = "invisible in the canal", invisible-in-canal device) is fitted deeper into the ear canal than a CIC device, in particular into the region of the second bend of the ear canal, i.e. also after the first bend, so that the hearing device is no longer visible from the outside. In contrast to these two configurations, for example an ITC device (ITC = "in the canal", in-the-canal device) is fitted into the ear canal, although only at the beginning of the ear canal and in addition also fills the pinna, which provides significantly more space than the ear canal. A BTE device (BTE = "behind the ear", behind-the-ear device) enables even more construction space, in which the housing is worn completely outside the ear canal and behind the ear, and in which only a sound tube is guided into the ear canal or a line is guided, which leads towards an earpiece fitted into the ear canal. In particular two particular problems arise in CIC and IIC devices, firstly that the construction space in the housing is significantly limited by the dimensions of the ear canal and secondly that signal transmission from the ear canal is significantly more difficult due to the user's head encircling than transmission from outside the ear or from the pinna. The particular antenna described here is therefore particularly advantageous for CIC and IIC devices.

[0017] In a suitable design, the antenna is designed as a flexible circuit board with a conductor circuit structure. The flexible circuit board is also referred to as "flex PCB" (PCB = "printed circuit board"). The flexible circuit board has a carrier layer which is thin enough to be flexible. The thickness of the carrier layer is preferably between 20 μm and 200 μm. The circuit board is preferably also flexurally elastic. The circuit board is in particular also reversibly deformable. The conductor circuit structure achieves the electrical properties of the circuit board required for the antenna. The conductor circuit structure is therefore also referred to as antenna structure. The conductor circuit structure is applied to the carrier layer or embedded in the carrier layer. The conductor circuit structure is in particular made of a conductive material or a combination of conductive materials, for example generally metal or in particular copper. The flexible circuit board is particularly suitable as an antenna because such a circuit board can be manufactured in a simple manner and in particular flat and also thus simply expediently brought together for final insertion into the housing cover. Separate fixing means are not necessary in the first place and are not provided in the advantageous design, in which the circuit board is additionally fixed on a component in the housing and / or the housing, for example. The circuit board is for example soldered, fixedly bonded or plugged and the like. In the inserted state, the conductor circuit structure preferably points outwards and is thus between the carrier layer and the inside in order to optimally protect the conductor circuit structure. However, an opposite arrangement in which the conductor circuit structure points inwards is also possible and in principle expedient.

[0018] In other expedient designs, the antenna is a stamped part or a wire made of a conductive material. The wire is expediently shaped accordingly in order to achieve the antenna. The wire is in particular a metal wire. The same applies to the stamped part, which is stamped out in an expedient shape in order to achieve the antenna. The stamped part is for example stamped out of a metal film or a metal-coated film. The wire or the stamped part thus in particular replaces the already mentioned conductor circuit structure and in particular also does not require an additional carrier layer. The wire or the stamped part is here configured in imitation of the above described conductor circuit structure, that is to say in the same shape as the conductor circuit structure. The explanations regarding the conductor circuit structure apply correspondingly to the wire or the stamped part.

[0019] In order to achieve the antenna, the same shape applies in principle to the conductor circuit structure, the wire and the stamped part, the respective antenna being mainly distinguished by the different manufacture. The conductor circuit structure, the wire and / or the stamped part can in principle be combined arbitrarily with one another, whereby different parts of the antenna are manufactured in different ways and designed differently.

[0020] The housing cover is designed in principle as a cover which has a bottom which in the prescribed use is inserted into the ear canal and which has an opening which points outwards and is closed in particular by a cover plate. In order to fit universally in the ear canal, the housing cover is tapering in the direction of the bottom. On the bottom there is arranged in particular a sound outlet, for example a hole, through which sound is output from the earpiece in the direction of the eardrum. For this purpose, the housing cover is designed roughly as a tunnel which has a tapering diameter. In cross-section, the housing cover is designed as a ring, where the cross-section is not necessarily circular, "ring" is to be understood more generally as a closed loop. In any case the housing cover and thus the inner side of the housing cover is curved or bent, i.e. has a curved course. In order to follow this curved course of the housing cover, the antenna is curved at least once and thus adapts in particular to the bend or curvature of the inner side. The antenna is not only extended along the housing cover in a small and possibly flat partial area, but is designed in such a dimension that it also covers the bend or curvature. The antenna preferably even completely surrounds the interior space and for this purpose is guided accordingly completely around the inner side.

[0021] In a particularly expedient design, the antenna is funnel-shaped together in order to extend along the housing cover. The antenna can be said to be rolled from a flat state into a funnel and then packed into the housing cover. The antenna is generally designed in an expedient manner as a strip, here preferably as a U, which has two end portions which are guided towards one another when brought together and thus can also overlap. The antenna is in particular brought together at most once around the interior space, i.e. precisely not multi-layered. In general, the antenna brought together has two openings which point roughly in the direction of the ear canal. One opening points in the direction of the opening of the housing cover, the other opening points in the direction of the bottom of the housing cover. Since the antenna extends according to the housing cover, the antenna also roughly extends according to the inner wall of the ear canal in the packed state of the hearing device.

[0022] In an expedient design, the antenna is arranged completely inside the housing cover. The antenna does not protrude precisely from the housing and is not visible from the outside in particular. The antenna is thus advantageously concealed.

[0023] In an expedient design, the antenna is a dipole antenna which has two arms which form antenna poles respectively. The antenna poles serve for transmitting and / or receiving signals. The two arms are each made of an electrically conductive material.

[0024] In a first expedient design, a capacitor is designed on the end side of the arms, respectively. The antenna is thereby a dipole antenna with a capacitive load. The two capacitors are formed, respectively, in particular by capacitors, which are connected on the respective arm. The antenna is preferably a folded dipole. The respective arm is thereby formed by two conductors, which extend side by side. The lengths of the two conductors are in particular approximately (e.g. with a maximum deviation of 20%) identical. One of the two conductors of the arm starts and ends at the transmission and reception point of the antenna at the capacitor, the other of the two conductors starts at the capacitor and ends at the respective conductor of the other arm. The other arm with the capacitor is designed analogously. The respective capacitor is expediently designed as a U, which has a middle leg, from which two side legs extend. The two conductors of the arm are connected on the middle leg. The two side legs extend, respectively, in the direction of the two conductors, in particular parallel thereto and on the opposite side of the two conductors, so that the two conductors are between the side legs at the end side. The same design applies analogously to the other arm.

[0025] In a second expedient design, an inductance is designed on the end side of the arms, respectively. The antenna is thereby a dipole antenna with an inductive load. The respective arm is preferably formed by a separate conductor, which has a meander-like course, so that the respective arm simultaneously forms an inductance. The inductance has expediently 5-10 bends (in English also called "turns"). The same design applies analogously to the other arm. The two arms are in particular electrically (galvanisch) separated from each other and meet at the transmission and reception point of the antenna. This transmission and reception point also marks the point at which the two conductors are at the smallest distance from each other.

[0026] The arms extend, respectively, in particular according to the strip-like course of the antenna, so that in the inserted state the arms accordingly enclose the interior space of the housing cover. The two arms as well as the two capacitors or inductances are preferably mirror-symmetrical to each other. However, an asymmetric design is also expedient in principle, in which case the antenna expediently also has a balun (also called balun).

[0027] In other expedient embodiments, the antenna is a frame antenna (in English also called "loop antenna") with two arms, which on a first side merge into a transmission and reception point, and which on a second side, opposite the first side, are connected with a capacitance. The capacitance is formed in particular by a capacitor, which has two electrodes, one of which is connected to each of the arms. By means of the capacitance, a uniform current distribution inside the antenna is achieved in particular. In a particularly simple embodiment, the capacitance is formed simply by two opposite ends of the arms and a gap between the ends. In other embodiments, the capacitance is designed monolithically, with two electrodes, which together are in one layer of the antenna and each have a plurality of pins, wherein the pins of the two electrodes are interleaved (in English also called "interdigital capacitor"). In other different embodiments, the capacitance is designed as two layers, with two electrodes, which are arranged in different layers of the antenna. One of the electrodes is expediently connected to one of the arms by means of an interlayer vertical electrical connection or metallization hole (so-called "via"). In particular if the antenna is a circuit board or the like, the antenna has an upper side and a lower side, which each form a layer of the circuit board. The interlayer vertical electrical connection then passes through the carrier layer and connects the two layers.

[0028] Irrespective of the embodiment of the antenna, the two arms of the antenna are expediently together in one plane or layer. This can be achieved particularly simply in terms of manufacturing technology, in particular for a circuit board or the like. Irrespective of the embodiment of the antenna, the respective possibly used capacitance or inductance is designed as a separate component inserted into the antenna or integrated, for example printed, in the antenna during manufacture of the antenna, respectively.

[0029] As an alternative to an antenna which is arranged completely inside the housing cover, in an advantageous design the antenna has a first arm and a second arm, wherein only the first arm is arranged inside the housing cover. In contrast, the second arm is designed along a pull-out aid of the housing, for example integrated in the pull-out aid, for pulling the housing out of the ear. The explanations above, in particular with respect to the arms, the capacitance and the inductance, apply accordingly to both arms, but in particular to the first arm. The pull-out aid is for example a wire or a handle made for example of plastic and extends outwardly away from the housing, so that in the stowed state the pull-out handle can be acted upon by the user in order to thereby pull the entire hearing device out of the ear canal by pulling. The pull-out aid is thus a kind of cantilever and is therefore particularly suitable for the mounting of at least one part of the antenna. To this end, the pull-out aid is suitably rigid. An antenna with an arm along the pull-out aid is typically an asymmetric antenna in which the two arms are excited in particular differently and which therefore suitably has a balun in order to improve the transmission properties. The second arm is for example a simple wire or is printed as a conductor track on the pull-out aid or is otherwise applied to or integrated in the pull-out aid.

[0030] An antenna with an arm along the pull-out aid is designed as a dipole antenna or as a monopole antenna. In the version designed as a monopole antenna, the first arm is designed in a suitable manner as a ground plane and forms a ground potential, so that the antenna is a monopole antenna with the second arm as antenna pole. In this case in particular no balun is required, so that such a balun is suitably dispensed with. Since the ground plane is arranged inside the housing cover, it in particular also forms an advantageous shielding layer around the remaining components which are arranged inside the housing cover, so that these components are shielded from external interference. The ground plane is preferably designed such that it has two end portions which in the inserted state of the antenna are connected to one another, so that the ground plane is designed as a ring or as a tunnel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Embodiments of the application are explained in detail below on the basis of the drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 a hearing device is shown;

[0033] Figure 2 a hearing device is shown; Figure 1 a housing cover and an antenna of a hearing device in

[0034] Figure 3 a housing cover and an antenna of a hearing device in Figure 2 a housing cover and an antenna of a hearing device in

[0035] Figure 4 Show Figure 2 Another view of the housing and antenna;

[0036] Figure 5 Show Figure 2 Antenna variants in the design;

[0037] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 The situation of the antennas in the clustered state;

[0038] Figure 7 Show Figure 2 Other variations of the antenna in the design;

[0039] Figure 8 Show Figure 2 Other variations of the antenna in the design;

[0040] Figure 9 Show Figure 8 A modified scheme for the capacitance of the antenna in the diagram;

[0041] Figure 10 Show Figure 8 Other variations of the antenna capacitance;

[0042] Figure 11 Show Figure 1 The hearing device in the middle has Figure 2 Other variations of the antenna in the design;

[0043] Figure 12 Show Figure 11 The arm of the antenna in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0044] exist Figure 1 The diagram shows a hearing device 2, which is exemplarily a CIC device. However, the description herein is similarly applicable to other types of hearing devices. The hearing device 2 has a housing 4 and an antenna 6. Figure 1 In the diagram, antenna 6 is shown only in cross-section. Housing 4 has a housing cover 8, also known as a "Shell". Figure 1 The embodiments for housing shroud 8 and antenna 6 are in Figures 2-4 The antenna 6 is shown in different perspective views; thus, the specific shape of the antenna 6 can also be clearly seen. The housing 8 is for wearing in the ear, that is, in the prescribed use of the hearing device 2, the housing 8 is inserted into the user's ear canal.

[0045] Furthermore, the housing 4 has a cover plate 10, also referred to as a "panel," which encloses the housing cover 8. In intended use, the cover plate 10 points outward from the ear canal and has, for example, an interface for operating the hearing device 2, such as one or more control elements 12. Additionally, the cover plate 10 is removable, for example, pivotable, to open the housing 4 and access the interior of the hearing device 2, for example, for replacing the battery 14. The cover plate 10 is mounted on the housing cover 8, and the cover plate and housing cover together form the housing 4 of the hearing device 2.

[0046] Antenna 6 is designed to transmit signals via a wireless connection that is not explicitly shown. The specific design of the wireless connection was initially secondary. Figures 5-8 Different embodiments for antenna 6 are shown in 11 and 12. Antenna 6 is bidirectional, meaning it functions as both a transmitting and receiving antenna. In operation, antenna 6 generally emits and / or receives electromagnetic radiation, particularly through its transmitting and receiving points 16. Transmitting and receiving points 16 are also referred to as excitation points.

[0047] The housing shroud 8 has an inner side 18. The inner side 18 points inward, that is, towards the interior of the housing 4, and surrounds the interior space 18 of the housing 4. One or more components of the hearing device 2 are installed in this interior space 20, which are, exemplarily, at least one microphone 22, earpiece 24, battery 14, or control unit 26.

[0048] As by Figures 2-4 As can be seen, antenna 6 is inserted into housing 8 and extends along the inner side 18. Here, Figures 2-4 The details have not yet been shown. Figure 1 The final state is not the process of antenna 6 being inserted into housing 8. Antenna 6 extends along the inner side of housing 8 and rests against the inner side 18 of housing 8 in the inserted state. Here, antenna 6 fits in shape to rest against housing 8 and extends along housing 8. Furthermore, antenna 6 forms its own layer inside housing 8 and along inner side 18, surrounding the remaining components. Antenna 6 is also the outermost component inside housing 4, meaning that all other components inside housing 8 are also surrounded by antenna 6. This can be particularly good in Figure 1 As can be seen from this, antenna 6 can be said to form a separating layer between the housing shroud 8 and other components inside the housing shroud. In the illustrated embodiment, antenna 6 is also a separate component housed within the housing shroud 8. Antenna 6 and housing shroud 8 are manufactured separately. Housing shroud 8 is a standard component here for mass production, and housing shroud is in principle suitable for use in different ear canals and therefore not a component personalized for an individual user.

[0049] The hearing device 2 is used to output an audio signal to a user of the hearing device. The output takes place via an output transducer, here via an earpiece 24. The hearing device 2 shown here is also designed specifically to serve a user with a hearing impairment and for this has at least one acoustical input transducer, here a microphone 22, and a control unit 26 which is designed to process and output an input signal generated by the input transducer from the ambient sound via the output transducer in order to thereby at least partially compensate for the hearing loss of the user. However, the explanations made here also apply to other devices, such as so-called tinnitus maskers, headsets, headphones, etc. The hearing device 2 shown here is in particular a CIC device, but the explanations apply analogously to IIC devices and other hearing device types as well.

[0050] In the different design variants shown here, the antenna 6 is designed as a flexible circuit board with a conductor circuit structure 28. The flexible circuit board is also referred to as "flex PCB" (PCB = "printed circuit board"). The flexible circuit board has a carrier layer 30 which is thin enough to be flexible, the thickness of the carrier layer 30 being for example between 20 μm and 200 μm. The circuit board is also flexurally elastic and reversibly deformable. The conductor circuit structure 28 realizes the required electrical properties of the circuit board for the antenna 6. The conductor circuit structure 28 is therefore also referred to as antenna structure. The conductor circuit structure 28 is applied to the carrier layer 30 or embedded in the carrier layer. The conductor circuit structure 28 is made here in particular from a conductive material or a combination of several conductive materials.

[0051] In an alternative which is not explicitly shown, the antenna 6 is a stamped part or a wire made of a conductive material. The wire is correspondingly suitably shaped in order to realize the antenna 6. The same applies to the stamped part, which is stamped out in a suitable shape in order to realize the antenna 6. The stamped part is for example stamped out of a metal film or a film coated with metal. The wire or the stamped part thus replaces the already mentioned conductor circuit structure 28 and also does not require an additional carrier layer. The wire or the stamped part is here constructed analogously to the described conductor circuit structure 28, that is to say in the same shape as the conductor circuit structure. The explanations regarding the conductor circuit structure 28 apply correspondingly analogously to the wire or the stamped part.

[0052] In order to realize the antenna 6, the same shape applies in principle to the conductor circuit structure 28, the wire and the stamped part, the respective antenna 6 being mainly distinguished by the different manufacture. The conductor circuit structure 28, the wire and / or the stamped part can in principle be combined arbitrarily with one another, so that different parts of the antenna 6 are manufactured in different ways and designed differently.

[0053] The housing cover 8 is designed in principle as a cover which has a bottom 32 which, in the prescribed use, is inserted into the ear canal and which has an opening 34 which, in turn, is directed outwards and is closed, inter alia, by the cover plate 10. In order to fit universally in the ear canal, the housing cover 8 is tapering in the direction of the bottom 32. On the bottom 32 there is also arranged a sound outlet 36 through which sound is output from the earpiece 24 in the direction of the eardrum. To this end, the housing cover 8 is designed roughly as a tunnel with a tapering diameter, as can be seen in Figures 2-4 . In cross section, the housing cover 8 is designed as a ring. Furthermore, the housing cover 8 and thus the inner side 18 of the housing cover is curved or bent, i.e. has a curved course. In order to extend in accordance with this curved course of the housing cover 8, the antenna 6 is curved at least once and thus adapts to the bend or curvature of the inner side 18. The antenna 6 does not extend along the housing cover 8 only in a small and possibly flat partial area, but is designed in such a size that it also covers the bend or curvature. In the embodiment shown here, the antenna 6 even completely surrounds the interior space 18 and is guided accordingly completely around the inner side 18, as can be seen particularly well in Figures 2-4 .

[0054] It can be seen from Figures 2-4 that the antenna 6 is funnelled here in order to extend along the housing cover 8. The funnel shape of the antenna 6 can also be seen in Figure 6 , in which Figure 6 the antenna 6 is shown in the funnelled state. The antenna 6 can be said to be rolled into a funnel here from Figure 5 , Figure 5 , 7 , 8, 12 in the flat state and is then packed into the housing cover 8. As can be seen from Figure 5 , 7 , 8 and 12, the antenna 6 is generally designed as a strip, here even as a U, which has two ends which, in the funnelled state, are directed towards one another and can thus also overlap. Here, the antenna 6 is at most wrapped once around the interior space 18, i.e. is not at all funnelled in layers. Generally, the funnelled antenna 6 has two openings 38 which are directed roughly in the direction of the ear canal. One opening 38 is directed in the direction of the opening 34 of the housing cover 8 and the other opening is directed in the direction of the bottom 32.

[0055] In the design variant shown in Figures 1-8 , the antenna 6 is arranged completely inside the housing cover 8. The antenna 6 does not protrude at all from the housing 4 and is not visible from the outside either.

[0056] In the design variant shown in Figure 5 and 7In the design, antenna 6 is a dipole antenna with two arms 40, which respectively form antenna poles. The antenna poles are used to transmit and / or receive signals. The two arms 40 are made of conductive material.

[0057] exist Figure 5 In the design, capacitors 42 are respectively designed on the end sides of the arms 40. These capacitors are formed by metal surfaces connected to the respective arms 40, thus forming capacitors. The antenna 6 shown here is a folded dipole. The corresponding arm 40 is formed by two conductors 40 extending side by side. The lengths of the two conductors 44 are approximately the same (e.g., differing by a maximum of 20%). One of the two conductors 44 of the arm 40 begins at the transmit and receive point 16 and terminates at the capacitor 42. The other of the two conductors 44 begins at the capacitor 42 and terminates at the corresponding conductor 44 of the other arm 40. The other arm 40 with capacitors 42 is designed similarly. The corresponding capacitor 42 is specifically designed as a U-shape, with a central leg 46 from which two side legs 48 extend. The two conductors 44 of the arm 40 are connected to the central leg 46. The two side feet 48 extend toward, and even parallel to, the two conductors 44 on opposite sides of the two conductors 44, so that the two conductors 44 are positioned between the side feet 48 at their ends. The same design is similarly applied to the other arm 40. Figure 5 In the middle, conductor 44 and capacitor 42 form conductor circuit structure 28, which is applied on carrier layer 30.

[0058] exist Figure 7 In the design, inductors 50 are respectively designed on the end sides of the arms 40. Here, each arm 40 is formed by a separate conductor 44 with a zigzag pattern, thus simultaneously forming an inductor 50. The inductor 50 has eight bends. The same design is similarly applied to the other arm 40. Furthermore, the two arms 40 are electrically separated from each other and converge at the transmit and receive point 16 of the antenna 6, which also marks the point where the two conductors 44 are least far apart. Figure 7 In the middle, the conductor 44 of the inductor 50 forms a conductor circuit structure 28, which is applied to the carrier layer 30.

[0059] exist Figure 5 and 7In the case shown, the arms 40 each extend according to the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 respectively enclose the interior space 18 of the housing cover 8. Furthermore, the two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, an asymmetrical design is also possible in principle, in which case the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun which is not explicitly shown.

[0060] In the case shown, the arms 40 each extend according to the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 respectively enclose the interior space 18 of the housing cover 8. Furthermore, the two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, an asymmetrical design is also possible in principle, in which case the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun which is not explicitly shown. Figure 8 In the case shown, the arms 40 each extend according to the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 respectively enclose the interior space 18 of the housing cover 8. Furthermore, the two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, an asymmetrical design is also possible in principle, in which case the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun which is not explicitly shown.

[0061] Figure 8 In the case shown, the arms 40 each extend according to the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 respectively enclose the interior space 18 of the housing cover 8. Furthermore, the two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, an asymmetrical design is also possible in principle, in which case the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun which is not explicitly shown. Figure 9 Figure 10 In the case shown, the arms 40 each extend according to the strip-shaped course of the antenna 6, so that in the inserted state the arms 40 respectively enclose the interior space 18 of the housing cover 8. Furthermore, the two arms 40 and the two capacitances 42 or inductances 50 are mirror-symmetrical to one another. However, an asymmetrical design is also possible in principle, in which case the antenna 6 optionally also has a balun which is not explicitly shown.

[0062] Irrespective of the design of the antenna 6, the two arms 40 of the antenna in the embodiment shown are respectively arranged in one plane or layer. Irrespective of the design of the antenna 6, the respective possible capacitances 42, 52 or inductances 50 are respectively designed as a separate component which is inserted into the antenna 6 or is integrated, for example printed, in the antenna 6 during manufacture of the antenna as shown here.

[0063] As an alternative to the antenna 6 which is arranged completely inside the housing cover 8, for example Figure 11 and Figure 12 ​​In the alternative design shown, the antenna 6 has a first arm 62 and a second arm 64, wherein only the first arm 62 is arranged inside the housing cover 8. In contrast, the second arm 64 is designed along a pull-out aid 66 of the housing 4. The above explanations for the arm 40, the capacitances 42, 52 and the inductance 50 apply accordingly first to both arms 40, but in particular to the first arm 62. The pull-out aid 66 is for example a wire or a grip, for example made of plastic, and extends outwardly away from the housing 4, so that in the stowed state the pull-out grip 66 can be acted upon by the user in order to thereby pull the entire hearing device 2 out of the ear canal by pulling. The antenna 6 is therefore a non-symmetrical antenna 6 here. The second arm 64 is for example a simple wire or is printed as a conductor track on the pull-out aid 66 or is otherwise applied to or integrated in the pull-out aid 66.

[0064] The antenna 6 with the arm 64 along the pull-out aid 66 is designed as a dipole antenna or as a monopole antenna. In Figure 11 and 12 a design as a monopole antenna is shown, for example in combination with the explanations regarding Figure 5 , 7 and 8, a design as a dipole antenna is obtained. In Figure 11 and 12 the first arm 62 is designed as a ground plane and forms a ground potential, so that the antenna 6 is a monopole antenna with the second arm 64 as antenna pole. A balun is not required in this case. Since the ground plane is arranged inside the housing cover 8, it also forms a shielding layer around the remaining components which are arranged inside the housing cover 8, so that these components are shielded from external interference. As can be seen from the flat state of the ground plane shown in Figure 12 the ground plane has two end portions 68 here, which are connected to one another in the inserted state of the antenna 6, so that the ground plane is designed as a ring or as a tunnel.

[0065] List of reference signs

[0066] 2 hearing device

[0067] 4 housing

[0068] 6 antenna

[0069] 8 housing cover

[0070] 10 cover plate

[0071] 12 control element

[0072] 14 battery

[0073] 16 transmission and reception point

[0074] 18 inner side

[0075] 20 inner space

[0076] 22 microphone

[0077] 24 earpiece

[0078] 26 control unit

[0079] 28 conductor track structure

[0080] 30 carrier layer

[0081] 32 bottom

[0082] 34 opening (of the housing cover)

[0083] 36 sound outlet

[0084] 38 opening (of the antenna)

[0085] 40 arm

[0086] 42 capacitance

[0087] 44 conductor

[0088] 46 middle leg

[0089] 48 side leg

[0090] 50 inductance

[0091] 52 capacitance

[0092] 54 electrode

[0093] 56 gap

[0094] 58 pin

[0095] 60 interlayer vertical electrical connection structure

[0096] 62 first arm

[0097] 64 second arm

[0098] 66 pull-out aid

[0099] 68 end (of the ground plane)

Claims

1. A hearing device (2), said hearing device having a housing (4) and an antenna (6), -in, The housing (4) has a housing cover (8) for wearing in the ear. -The antenna (6) is designed to transmit signals via a wireless connection. -The housing cover (8) has an inner side (18), -The antenna (6) bends at least once to extend in accordance with the bending direction of the housing cover (8). - wherein the antenna (6) is inserted into the housing cover (8) and extends along the inner side (18), wherein the antenna (6) thus extends according to the orientation of the inner side of the housing cover (8). -The antenna (6) is not integrated into the housing (8). -The antenna (6) is a separate component housed within the housing (8), and is therefore manufactured separately from the housing (8). -The antenna (6) is funnel-shaped and extends along the housing cover (8).

2. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is attached to the inside (18) of the housing cover (8).

3. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The hearing device is a CIC device or an IIC device.

4. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is designed as a flexible circuit board with a conductor circuit structure (28).

5. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is a stamped part or wire made of conductive material.

6. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The housing cover (8) is designed in a cover shape, having a bottom that is inserted into the ear canal during intended use, and having an opening that points outward and is closed by a cover plate. The folded antenna (6) has two openings. One opening points in the direction of the opening of the housing cover, and the other opening points in the direction of the bottom of the housing cover (8).

7. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is completely arranged inside the housing (8).

8. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is a dipole antenna with two arms (40), and capacitors (42) or inductors (50) are designed on the end sides of the two arms respectively.

9. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) is a frame antenna with two arms (40), which converge on a first side to form a transmit and receive point (16), and the two arms are connected to a capacitor (52) on a second side opposite to the first side.

10. The hearing device (2) according to claim 1, in, The antenna (6) has a first arm (62) and a second arm (64). Of these, only the first arm (62) is arranged inside the housing cover (8). The second arm (64) is designed along the pull-out aid (66) of the housing (4) for pulling the housing (4) out of the ear.

11. The hearing device (2) according to claim 10, in, The first arm (62) is designed to be grounded and form a ground potential, so the antenna (6) is a monopole antenna, which has a second arm (64) as an antenna pole.

12. A method for manufacturing a hearing device (2), -in, The hearing device (2) has a housing (4) and an antenna (6). -The housing (4) has a housing cover (8) for wearing in the ear. -The antenna (6) is designed to transmit signals via a wireless connection. -The housing cover (8) has an inner side (18), - wherein the antenna (6) bends at least once to extend in accordance with the bending direction of the housing cover (8), characterized in that, The antenna (6) is inserted into the housing (8) and then extends along the inner side (18), wherein the antenna (6) thus extends according to the orientation of the inner side of the housing (8). -The antenna (6) is not integrated into the housing (8). -The antenna (6) is a separate component housed within the housing (8), and is therefore manufactured separately from the housing (8). -The antenna (6) is funnel-shaped and extends along the housing cover (8).

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