Device with coil

Abstract

The present application discloses a device with a coil, comprising: a device housing; a first antenna configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic energy, the first antenna having a first operating frequency; a wireless interface configured to communicate with one or more external hearing aid devices via the first antenna; a first element configured as a ground plane for the first antenna; a coil configured to receive signals at a second operating frequency, the second operating frequency being lower than the first operating frequency; and a second element configured as a ground plane for the coil; wherein a decoupling element is disposed between the first element and the second element, the decoupling element being configured to attenuate a third frequency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device having a coil. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device having a telecoil for receiving wireless signals and an antenna for transmitting signals based on the wireless signals received by the telecoil. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a device having a coil for receiving wireless signals that is also configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more hearing aids. The device may be a microphone device configured to communicate wirelessly with a hearing aid and / or a hearing aid system. Background Art

[0002] For a variety of reasons, people with hearing aids are provided with external, wearable, or portable devices that include one or more microphones, and sometimes a telecoil. Telecoils, which can be configured to receive a baseband modulated signal from a system, are typically located within a structure such as a room / floor, a home, workplace, entertainment venue, place of worship, courtroom, ticket counter, information booths at many museums and other venues, doctor's offices, pharmacies, elevators, trains, New York City taxis, buses, transportation, restaurants, classrooms, and similar areas that might benefit from providing a wireless representation of the microphone signal to hearing aid users. Such external devices can be provided with antennas configured to operate, for example, in the GHz range and provide signals to one or more hearing aids. However, because telecoils typically include relatively large coils, and because the electronics in the external devices consume power and operate at a variety of different levels and frequency ranges, there is a risk of generating electromagnetic noise that can interfere with the telecoil, thereby reducing sensitivity.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide a solution that solves at least some of the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention at least provides an alternative to the prior art.

[0005] According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a device comprising a device housing, the device including a first antenna configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic energy, the first antenna having a first operating frequency. This antenna may be an antenna for relatively short-range communications, such as less than 100 meters. Such antennas include those suitable for supporting protocols such as Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Power. The device may also include a wireless interface configured to communicate with one or more external devices via the first antenna. Such a wireless interface may be configured to support data exchange using a protocol such as Bluetooth, which may be an open standard or a proprietary standard. The device may also include a coil configured to receive signals at a second operating frequency, which is lower than the first operating frequency. The second operating frequency may be within a frequency range. In the case of a telecoil, the second operating frequency is determined by the frequency band surrounding a baseband modulated signal picked up by the telecoil. Alternatively, the second operating frequency may be a frequency threshold or limit. Typically, such a coil may be configured to receive and, possibly, transmit signals using inductive communication. Examples of such coils include so-called telecoils. Other examples include other types of inductive communication coils specifically configured for short-range, two-way communication. The device may also include a first element configured as a ground plane for the first antenna and a second element configured as a ground plane for the coil. Configuring separate elements as ground planes for the first antenna and the coil, respectively, reduces noise introduced from one component, such as the first antenna, to another component, such as the coil. The first antenna can thus be a radiating antenna configured to transmit and / or receive high-frequency signals. The device may also include a decoupling element disposed between the first and second elements, the decoupling element configured to attenuate frequencies at a third frequency. This is advantageous because interference signals originating from one antenna are not transmitted to the other antenna via the ground plane. This is particularly useful at the coil, where operating noise from high-frequency antennas can propagate to the coil via a shared or connected ground plane, thereby reducing the coil's sensitivity. All of the components mentioned herein are preferably housed within a device housing. The device according to the present invention can be used as a gateway device or auxiliary device as part of communication between other devices and one or more hearing aids. This means that the device housing is configured to be worn by the user in a location other than the head, such as by clipping onto the user's clothing, holding in the user's hand, or even placing on a table. This is intended to enable the device to at least receive wireless signals via the coil and transmit signals based on the wireless signals via the first antenna. Additionally or alternatively, the microphone system in the sound space device picks up, as described elsewhere herein.

[0006] In one aspect, the apparatus of the present invention may be configured to not include a wireless interface configured to communicate with a mobile telephone network, such as a GSM-based network.

[0007] The present invention also provides a device comprising a device housing. The device housing may include input elements such as buttons, plugs, microphones, and the like. The device housing may include fasteners configured to releasably attach the housing to a user's clothing and may be configured to allow the housing to rest on a flat surface, such as a table. Other attachment features may also be provided, such as a neck strap that allows the housing to be carried around the user's neck without being attached to any clothing. The device may include a first antenna configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic energy, the first antenna having a first operating frequency. The first antenna may provide a channel for communication between the device and external devices, such as multiple hearing aids. The device may include a wireless interface configured to communicate with one or more external devices via the first antenna. The wireless interface may be configured to be based on a protocol. Such a protocol may be or include standardized protocols such as Bluetooth and / or Bluetooth Low Energy, or proprietary protocols, or even multiple protocols handled by the same wireless interface. Alternatively, the wireless interface may include sub-radio interfaces, each configured to handle a specific protocol. The device may include a first element configured as a ground plane for the first antenna. The first element may be formed in, on, or at a substrate and configured to support one or more electronic components of the device. The device may include one or more substrates, each configured to carry one or more components and / or conductive layers. The device may include a coil configured to receive signals at a second operating frequency, the second operating frequency being lower than the first operating frequency. The coil may be configured to inductively receive and / or transmit signals. When receiving a signal, a current is induced in the coil, which may be an air-core coil or have a core. The current is then converted into a signal representing sound. In the most common case, when the coil is configured as a so-called telecoil, the signal received at the coil is a baseband modulated signal with an amplitude corresponding to a variation in the sound signal. Other signal types may also be used. The device may include a second element configured as a ground plane for the coil. As will be apparent from this description, the second element may be the first element, or at least a portion of the area formed by the first and second elements, enclosed or surrounded by the first element. The device may include a decoupling element disposed between the first and second elements, the decoupling element configured to attenuate frequencies at a third frequency. The decoupling element is configured to prevent signals in one of the ground planes from propagating into the other ground plane. The decoupling element may be configured as a low-pass filter, a band-stop filter, or a high-pass filter.

[0008] It has been discovered that when a wireless interface for a high-frequency antenna draws power from a device's battery, because the antenna is connected to a ground plane in the device, a current loop created as current flows from the battery to the wireless interface and back to the ground plane can induce noise in the device. This noise can take the form of an H-field generated by the current loop between the battery and the wireless interface, or even an H-field generated by noisy currents in the ground plane. By decoupling the ground plane at or near the coil, this noise can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0009] The first element may have a first outer geometry that delimits a first area, and the second element may have a second outer geometry that has a second area. The size ratio of these two areas can be in the range of 1:4 to 1:100, such as 1:10 to 1:20. The first element may, for example, be more or less determined by the inner geometry of the housing, for example by the outer contour of a substrate arranged in the housing. The outer geometry may include one or more notches, i.e. if the overall contour of the element is rectangular, an area may be excluded from the element, such as a cutout area, such as part of a rectangular corner. The exclusion may be purely mechanical, so that the excluded area can be electrically connected without having to be mechanically connected. A plurality of decoupling elements may be provided at one or more corresponding positions along the periphery of the first element and / or the second element.

[0010] The second element may be located within the first region or as part of the first region. The decoupling element may be configured to decouple signals below a third frequency, wherein the third frequency is higher than the second operating frequency. As mentioned, it may be in the form of a low-pass filter, a band-pass filter, or a band-stop filter.

[0011] The third frequency may be a frequency range that at least partially overlaps the second frequency range. This may be the case, for example, if the third frequency is higher than the second frequency and the decoupling element acts as a low-pass filter.

[0012] The second element can also be configured as a ground plane for a wireless interface connected to the coil. This is desirable because the coil can include or be connected to a wireless interface separate from the wireless interface for the first antenna. This wireless interface is coupled to the same ground plane, or at least a ground plane separate from the ground plane for the first antenna. Noise from the operation of the first antenna due to the coil and / or the wireless interface for the coil is reduced.

[0013] The first antenna may include or consist of a first planar element disposed at a distance from the first element. This may, for example, be part of a substrate on or in which a conductive plane is formed. Such a substrate may then be disposed within the housing but at a distance from the substrate defining or carrying a ground plane for the first antenna.

[0014] Since the first planar element constitutes or is part of the first antenna, the first planar element can be arranged parallel to and offset parallel to the first element. This allows for at least a somewhat good arrangement of the antenna relative to the ground plane.

[0015] The first antenna may be centrally positioned relative to the first element. This is expected to help shape the radiation pattern from the antenna into a more omnidirectional characteristic. This is a particularly advantageous radiation pattern for the antenna when the device is operating in broadcast mode, where the signal is transmitted from the device to multiple nearby hearing aids. Each receiving hearing aid may be a single hearing aid or a binaural hearing aid.

[0016] The device can form a rectangular or square area, and the second element can be located at the corner of the rectangle or square. This is expected to help further reduce the noise induced in the coil. The rectangular or square area can be considered to be formed in a plane passing through the device, such as at the midpoint of the housing or at / near the top or bottom.

[0017] The third element may be configured as a ground plane for a wireless interface connected to the coil, wherein the second decoupling element is disposed between the third element and the first element. Having multiple ground planes for multiple different active elements in the device may help to further isolate noise.

[0018] The decoupling element can be configured to attenuate frequencies around or below 5 kHz, such as 1 kHz, for example, by using a high-pass filter that only passes signals above 5 kHz or above 1 kHz. This can enable a higher-frequency antenna to use a combined ground plane, such as the first and second ground planes, as a ground plane for the first antenna while isolating the coils. This can be advantageous for shaping the radiation pattern from the first antenna. The combined ground plane is thus desirably larger than the first ground plane, further enabling the first antenna to be centered relative to the (combined) ground plane.

[0019] The first antenna may be configured to operate in a frequency range of 2 to 6 GHz, such as approximately 2.4 GHz, such as approximately 5 GHz.

[0020] The coil may be a telecoil. Using the telecoil as a receiving coil enables the device to be used as an interface between a telecoil transmitter and one or more hearing aids that, for example, are not equipped with a telecoil or that receive audio signals from the device for other reasons. Other types of coils for near-field communication may also be used. Typically, the coil is adapted to record magnetic field fluctuations and convert them into signals to be processed, either directly or via conversion and / or decoding.

[0021] The first element and the second element may be formed as separate elements on the same substrate, or as separate elements on different substrates. Forming the two elements on separate portions enables physical separation of the two ground planes.

[0022] Advantageously, the third frequency may be a frequency range that at least partially overlaps the second frequency range. This enables attenuation of noise entering the coil in a frequency range around the operating frequency range of the coil.

[0023] Advantageously, the second element may also be configured as a ground plane for a wireless interface connected to the coil. Providing a separate ground plane for the coil will reduce, for example, noise contributions from internal components of the device and / or incoming electromagnetic noise picked up by ground planes connected to other antennas.

[0024] Advantageously, the third element can be configured as a ground plane for a wireless interface connected to the coil, wherein the second decoupling element is disposed between the third element and the first element. The wireless interface connected to the coil can be part of the wireless interface for the first antenna or a separate wireless interface for the coil, and / or can be embodied as two parts of the same physical device or two completely separate physical devices. The signal received by the coil can be a baseband modulated signal.

[0025] Advantageously, the decoupling element may be configured to attenuate frequencies of approximately 1 KHz.The decoupling element may be configured to attenuate a range of frequencies.

[0026] The first antenna may be configured to operate in a frequency range of 2 to 6 GHz, such as approximately 2.4 GHz, such as approximately 5 GHz. Operating in these frequency ranges is advantageous because they are most commonly used for short-range communications using protocols such as Bluetooth and Bluetooth low power.

[0027] In the devices described herein, the coil may be a telecoil. This enables the device to be used as a standalone device to provide telecoil functionality to hearing devices that do not have a built-in telecoil, or to provide telecoil functionality to hearing aids when use of a built-in telecoil is not optimal, for example because the environment has too much electromagnetic noise, either inside or around the hearing aid.

[0028] The first element and the second element may be formed as separate elements on the same substrate or as separate elements on different substrates. Forming the two ground planes as separate elements is useful in reducing noise coupling between the two ground planes, but in the context of this specification this is still possible even in situations where other considerations force the two ground planes to be formed on / in the same substrate.

[0029] A zone (isolation zone) can be formed substantially around the wireless interface, where the zone decouples signals originating outside the first frequency of the wireless interface. This zone can be in the form of a physical separation, such as a gap between a ground plane and the area below the wireless interface. The zone can be formed as a gap in the conductive material of the substrate. This allows the ground plane to be formed with low or no coupling to the area within the zone. The gap can, for example, include a non-conductive region as a physical / mechanical connection between the two parts to ensure mechanical stability, and the gap can be considered an electrical gap.

[0030] One or more further decoupling elements may be provided in one or more electrical connections through the zone.In the present specification, through a zone means between an element or elements in the zone and one or more elements outside the zone.

[0031] The zone can be formed to be larger than the area defined by the wireless interface, for example 10% larger, 25% larger, or twice as large. This allows a zone to be established around the wireless interface. It has been found that noise can originate from the wireless interface, which can be due to the current consumption and / or operating frequency of the wireless interface.

[0032] The decoupling element may be or include one or more of the following: a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, a notch filter, a lowpass filter, a highpass filter, or a combination thereof. If a lowpass or highpass filter structure is chosen, it is a simple and / or robust and / or cost-effective implementation that still allows efficient communication.

[0033] The zone may be decoupled at frequencies below 100 MHz, such as below 10 MHz, such as below 1 MHz. This may be used to prevent or at least reduce noise from components within the zone from propagating to components outside the zone that are sensitive to the corresponding frequency region.

[0034] One or more capacitors may be used to decouple one or more ground planes.Using capacitors is advantageous because they enable easy implementation of filter structures between ground planes and other components.

[0035] The first antenna may be a radio frequency antenna. The first antenna may include or be formed as an IFA antenna, a slot antenna, a loop antenna, a dipole antenna, or an antenna structure of other suitable shapes.

[0036] A zone may be formed substantially around the wireless interface for the first antenna, wherein the zone decouples signals originating outside a first frequency of the wireless interface. The zone may be formed as a gap in the conductive material in the substrate. One or more additional decoupling elements may be provided in one or more electrical connections through the zone.

[0037] The zone may form an area that is larger than the area defined by the wireless interface, for example 10% larger, such as 25% larger, such as twice as large.

[0038] Typically, the decoupling element may be or include one or more of the following: a bandpass filter, a bandstop filter, a notch filter, a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, or a combination thereof.

[0039] The zone and / or all or any decoupling elements may be decoupled at a frequency below 100 MHz, such as below 10 MHz, such as below 1 MHz. The frequency of the decoupling may advantageously be or include the operating frequency of the coil.

[0040] One or more capacitors can be configured to decouple one or more ground planes. The ground planes can be arranged in series, such as in cascade, and the decoupling between one ground plane and the next can be configured for a frequency range and can differ from the decoupling element between the ground plane and the previous ground plane.

[0041] The features mentioned herein can be combined to produce a flexible arrangement providing a high performance first antenna and a coil with low noise characteristics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Various aspects of the present invention will be best understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For clarity, the drawings are schematic and simplified, showing only the details necessary for understanding the present invention and omitting other details. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The various features of each aspect may be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features, and / or technical effects will be apparent from and elucidated in conjunction with the following figures, in which:

[0043] Figure 1 The antenna and coil are schematically shown connected to separate ground planes;

[0044] Figure 2 Schematically shows the coil connected to the wireless interface and the corresponding ground plane;

[0045] Figure 3 Schematically showing a ground plane with a cutout area;

[0046] Figure 4 A ground plane with a cutout area and a further ground plane are schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The detailed description presented below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings serves as a description of a variety of different configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of a plurality of different concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be implemented without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and method are described by a plurality of different blocks, functional units, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). Depending on the specific application, design limitations or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer programs or any combination thereof.

[0048] The electronic hardware may include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gating logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other appropriate hardware configured to perform the many different functions described in this specification. A computer program should be broadly construed as instructions, an instruction set, code, a code segment, program code, a program, a subroutine, a software module, an application, a software application, a software package, a routine, a subroutine, an object, an executable, an execution thread, a program, a function, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, a hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0049] A hearing aid may be adapted to improve or enhance a user's hearing ability by receiving an acoustic signal from the user's environment, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal, and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one ear of the user. A "hearing aid" may also refer to a device, such as an earphone or headphones, adapted to electronically receive an audio signal, possibly modify the audio signal, and provide the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one ear of a user. The audible signal may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, an acoustic signal transmitted to the user's inner ear as mechanical vibrations through the bony structure of the user's head and / or through portions of the middle ear, and an electrical signal transmitted directly or indirectly to the user's cochlear nerve and / or auditory cortex.

[0050] The hearing aid is adapted to be worn in any known manner. This may include: i) arranging the hearing aid unit behind the ear (with a tube directing airborne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a receiver / speaker arranged close to or in the ear canal), such as a behind-the-ear hearing aid; and / or ii) placing the hearing aid wholly or partially in the pinna and / or ear canal of the user, such as an in-the-ear hearing aid or an in-the-canal / deep-in-the-canal hearing aid; or iii) arranging the hearing aid unit to be connected to a fixture implanted in the skull, such as a bone-anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant; or iv) arranging the hearing aid unit as a wholly or partially implanted unit, such as a bone-anchored hearing aid or a cochlear implant.

[0051] A "hearing system" refers to a system that includes one or two hearing aids. A "binaural hearing system" refers to a system that includes two hearing aids, wherein the hearing aids are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both ears of a user. A hearing system or binaural hearing system may also include an auxiliary device that communicates with at least one hearing aid, which auxiliary device affects the operation of the hearing aid and / or benefits from the functionality of the hearing aid. A wired or wireless communication link is established between the at least one hearing aid and the auxiliary device to enable information (such as control and status signals, possibly audio signals) to be exchanged therebetween. The auxiliary device may include at least one of the following: a remote control, a remote microphone, an audio gateway device, a mobile phone, a broadcast system, a car audio system, a music player, or a combination thereof. The audio gateway device is adapted to receive multiple audio signals, such as from an entertainment device such as a TV or music player, from a telephone device such as a mobile phone, or from a computer such as a PC. The audio gateway device is further adapted to select and / or combine appropriate signals from the received audio signals (or signal combinations) for transmission to the at least one hearing aid. The remote control is adapted to control the functions and operation of the at least one hearing aid. The functionality of the remote control may be implemented in a smartphone or another electronic device, which may be running an application that controls the functionality of at least one hearing aid.

[0052] Generally, a hearing aid includes i) an input unit, such as a microphone, for receiving acoustic signals from the user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal; and / or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving the input audio signal. The hearing aid also includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user based on the processed audio signal.

[0053] The input unit may include multiple input microphones, for example for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. The aforementioned directional microphone system is suitable for enhancing a target sound source among multiple sound sources in the user's environment. In one aspect, the directional system is suitable for detecting (such as adaptively detecting) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This can be achieved using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include an amplifier suitable for applying a frequency-dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may also be suitable for providing other suitable functions such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer such as a speaker / receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal to the skull percutaneously or transcutaneously, or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing aids, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing an electrical signal, for example in a cochlear implant.

[0054] Figure 1 Portions of a device 10 according to the invention are schematically shown, wherein two separate ground planes 12, 14 are provided.

[0055] The first ground plane 12 is connected to an RF antenna 16, i.e., a first antenna, and a corresponding wireless interface. The wireless interface is configured to transmit and receive (Tx / Rx). The wireless interface is configured to communicate with an external device using the RF antenna 16. The wireless interface is configured to communicate using a data protocol, and Bluetooth, in particular the Bluetooth low power protocol, is selected here. Other suitable data protocols may also be selected. The wireless interface can establish wireless communication between the device and one or more hearing aids. The wireless interface can be configured to broadcast audio to multiple hearing aids located in, for example, a classroom or other such area, so that multiple people wearing hearing aids will benefit from wirelessly receiving audio. Currently, antennas for supporting Bluetooth-based protocols are configured to transmit and / or receive at an operating frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz, but other suitable frequencies may also be used, for example, a carrier frequency of approximately 5 GHz is foreseeable. The antenna 16 can, for example, be configured to operate at a frequency in the so-called ISM band.

[0056] When the wireless interface draws power from the battery, current obviously flows from the battery to the wireless interface, but, in addition, because the wireless interface is connected to the ground plane, another current flows to ground. This creates a current loop that generates an H field that can interfere with the coil. This Figure 4 This is shown in the figure by the arrow from the battery to the wireless interface and the dashed line from the wireless interface toward the battery. Additionally, current flows in the ground plane itself at frequencies that can interfere with the coil. By decoupling the portion of the ground plane connected to the coil, this noise can be eliminated or at least reduced.

[0057] The second ground plane 14 is arranged in conjunction with a coil 18. This coil is primarily used for receiving wireless signals. The coil 18 is a so-called telecoil and is arranged to receive a baseband modulated signal from a telecoil signal transmitter.

[0058] When the RF antenna / wireless interface 16 is operating, a large amount of power is drawn from an internal power source, here a battery located in the housing of the device. This is especially true when the wireless interface is transmitting, such as in broadcast mode.

[0059] The wireless interface operates to transmit different types of data based on a data protocol, including, for example, beacon / notification data and other types of regular transmitted or received data. Each operation draws current from the battery. Since operation may be periodic, this may introduce noise at a frequency corresponding to the periodic operation.

[0060] This coil has a given sensitivity, and it has been found that EM noise originating from the wireless interface of the RF system can interfere with the coil. As a countermeasure to this noise, a decoupling element is provided between the ground planes to decouple them from each other. Specifically, the decoupling between the two ground planes can be configured to decouple frequencies at or below 1 kHz.

[0061] The decoupling element creates at least two regions of decoupling at low frequencies <1 MHz. At high frequencies such as 2.4 GHz or higher, a good connection is provided with equidistantly placed decoupling elements.

[0062] The two grounds can be seen as a main ground plane and a floating ground plane, where the floating ground plane is smaller in area than the larger main ground plane.The floating ground plane can be connected to, for example, a coil.

[0063] Multiple decoupling elements can be located between the two ground planes, for example, multiple equally spaced decoupling elements. Preferably, all decoupling elements are of the same type and have the same electrical characteristics. Advantageously, capacitors with a capacitance of approximately 10 pF are used. Typically, the decoupling element can be or include a capacitor or multiple capacitors and / or ESD diodes.

[0064] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a coil 14 (electrically) connected to a smaller ground plane 20 and a corresponding wireless interface connected to a different ground plane 22. A decoupling element is provided between the coil's smaller ground plane 20 and a larger main ground plane 24 located nearby.

[0065] Thus, the device according to the present invention may comprise multiple ground planes, wherein a main ground plane is connected to one or more smaller / additional ground planes via one or more decoupling elements. The decoupling elements ensure that noise of at least one frequency does not propagate through the ground planes to sensitive components in the device.

[0066] As described herein, the device of the present invention is a device configured to communicate with one or more hearing aids. The device may form part of a hearing aid system, sometimes referred to as an auxiliary device. The hearing aid system may include two hearing aids to be worn by a user and the device of the present invention, i.e., the auxiliary device. The device of the present invention may include multiple plugs for connecting the device of the present invention to one or more wired sound sources, which may be in the form of mini plugs, USB plugs, HDMI inputs, etc. In addition, a second antenna or at least a second wireless interface may be included to receive sound from a second wireless sound source. Such an additional sound source may be received as a separate channel by the same wireless interface as mentioned herein.

[0067] The device may include one or more microphones for sensing and converting ambient audio into signals that can be transmitted via an RF antenna to a connected hearing aid. The ambient sound can be mixed with the wirelessly received sound, and the mixed sound can be transmitted to the hearing aid. In broadcast mode, the hearing aid does not require binding or pairing, and thus does not need to be connected itself. This may depend on the protocol used for communication between the device and one or more hearing aids.

[0068] The coil may be located at one end of the device of the present invention, and the RF antenna may advantageously be formed as far away from the coil as possible, for example at the other end, or at least the RF antenna may be designed so that the electric field generated by the antenna has a maximum value when it is as far away from the coil as possible, or at least the magnetic field induced in the coil is minimized as much as possible.

[0069] Since the device of the present invention may have an overall rectangular shape, the coils may be arranged with a main pickup direction oriented parallel to the shorter sides of the rectangular shape.

[0070] Figure 3 The schematic diagram shows a first ground plane, which is a larger ground plane, with a cutout, i.e., a square / rectangular area in the upper right corner. A smaller second ground plane is connected to the coil. Two decoupling elements are shown here, located between the second and first ground planes, but more decoupling elements can be added. The first antenna, i.e., the RF antenna, is positioned symmetrically relative to the outer geometric shape formed by the first ground plane. Because the decoupling elements decouple lower frequencies and allow higher frequencies to pass, the ground plane of the first antenna can be considered a combined first and second ground plane. For the coil, this ground plane would be the second ground plane. As mentioned, due to the decoupling at the noise / coil operating frequency, noise traveling in the first ground plane will not be able to reach the coil. Noise can travel in the first ground plane along the cutout area, but will not, or at least only to a minimal extent, affect the coil located in the second ground plane. In effect, the noise will dissipate in this ground plane.

[0071] and Figure 3 Similar to, Figure 4 The schematic diagram shows a first ground plane with a cutout region, in which a second floating ground plane is formed and connected to the coil. Furthermore, another ground plane is connected, located to the right of the second ground plane. A decoupling element is provided between the second ground plane and the other ground plane. The other ground plane can be directly connected to the first ground plane.

[0072] Typically, the signal from the coil can be passed to a signal processor located in the first ground plane. This signal path can also include decoupling elements to isolate the coil. The signal from the coil can be converted to a digital signal before leaving the second ground plane or can be passed to a processor located in the first ground plane.

[0073] The structural features of the apparatus described above, described in detail in the "Detailed Description of the Invention" and defined in the claims may be combined with the steps of the method of the present invention when appropriately replaced by corresponding processes.

[0074] Unless expressly stated otherwise, the singular forms "a", "the" and "the" used herein include the plural form (i.e., having the meaning of "at least one"). It should be further understood that the terms "having", "including" and / or "comprising" used in the specification indicate the presence of the described features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or combinations thereof. It should be understood that, unless expressly stated otherwise, when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be an intermediate intervening element. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more listed related items. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed.

[0075] It should be understood that references in this specification to "an embodiment," "an embodiment," "an aspect," or features that "may" include, mean that the specific features, structures, or characteristics described in conjunction with that embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined as appropriate in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The foregoing description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

[0076] The claims are not limited to the aspects shown herein, but rather have the full scope consistent with the claim language in which, unless expressly stated otherwise, elements referred to in the singular do not mean "one and only one" but rather "one or more." Unless expressly stated otherwise, the term "some" means one or more.

[0077] The present invention also relates to the following items:

[0078] 1. A device comprising:

[0079] device housing;

[0080] a first antenna configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic energy, the first antenna having a first operating frequency;

[0081] a wireless interface configured to communicate with one or more external devices via a first antenna;

[0082] a first element configured as a ground plane for the first antenna;

[0083] a coil configured to receive a signal at a second operating frequency, the second operating frequency being lower than the first operating frequency;

[0084] a second element configured as a ground plane for the coil;

[0085] The decoupling element is disposed between the first element and the second element, and is configured to attenuate the third frequency.

[0086] 2. The device according to item 1, wherein the first element has a first outer geometric shape delimiting the first area, and the second element has a second outer geometric shape, the second outer geometric shape having the second area.

[0087] 3. The device according to item 2, wherein the second element is located in the first area or is part of the first area, wherein the decoupling element decouples signals below a third frequency, and the third frequency is higher than the second operating frequency.

[0088] 4. The device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the third frequency is a frequency range that at least partially overlaps with the second frequency range.

[0089] 5. The device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the second element is further configured as a ground plane for connecting to a wireless interface of the coil.

[0090] 6. The device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the first antenna comprises a first planar element arranged at a certain distance from the first element.

[0091] 7. The device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the first planar element is offset parallel to the first element.

[0092] 8. The device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the first antenna is centrally located relative to the first element.

[0093] 9. The device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the device forms a rectangular or square area, and the second element is located at a corner of the rectangle or square.

[0094] 10. The device according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the third element is configured as a ground plane of a wireless interface connected to the coil, and wherein the second decoupling element is arranged between the third element and the first element.

[0095] 11. The device according to any one of items 1-10, wherein the decoupling element is configured to attenuate frequencies of about or below 5 kHz.

[0096] 12. The apparatus according to any one of items 1-11, wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in a frequency range of 2 to 6 GHz.

[0097] 13. The device according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the coil is a telecoil.

[0098] 14. The device according to any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the first element and the second element are formed as separate elements on the same substrate, or as separate elements on different substrates.

[0099] 15. The apparatus of any one of items 1-14, wherein a zone is formed substantially around the wireless interface, wherein the zone decouples signals originating outside the first frequency of the wireless interface.

[0100] Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be judged based on the claims.

Claims

1. An assistive device comprising a device housing configured to be worn by a user at a location other than the user's head, the device housing comprising: a fastener configured to releasably attach the device housing to a user's clothing, or a neck strap that enables the device housing to be carried around the user's neck without being attached to any clothing; a first antenna configured to transmit and / or receive electromagnetic energy, the first antenna having a first operating frequency, wherein the first antenna is configured to operate in a frequency range of 2 to 6 GHz; a wireless interface configured to communicate with one or more external hearing aid devices via a first antenna; a first element configured as a ground plane for the first antenna; a coil configured to receive a signal at a second operating frequency, the second operating frequency being lower than the first operating frequency; a second element configured as a ground plane for the coil, wherein the ground plane for the coil is separated from each other ground plane within the device housing, wherein a decoupling element is disposed between the ground plane for the coil and each other ground plane within the device housing, the decoupling element being configured to attenuate frequencies in the electrical signal at a third frequency. 2 . The assist device of claim 1 , wherein the first element has a first outer geometry delimiting a first area, and the second element has a second outer geometry, the second outer geometry having a second area. 3 . The auxiliary device according to claim 2 , wherein the second element is located in the first area or is part of the first area, and the decoupling element decouples electrical signals lower than a third frequency, and the third frequency is higher than the second operating frequency. The auxiliary device of claim 1 , wherein the third frequency is a frequency range that at least partially overlaps with the second operating frequency range.

5. The assistive device of claim 1, wherein the second element is further configured to be connected to a ground plane of a wireless interface of the coil.

6. The auxiliary device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises a first planar element disposed at a distance from the first element.

7. The assist device of claim 1, wherein the first planar element is offset parallel to the first element.

8. The assistive device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is centrally located relative to the first element.

9. The auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device forms a rectangular or square area, and the second element is located at a corner of the rectangular or square area.

10. The assistive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the third element is configured as a ground plane connected to a wireless interface of the coil, and the second decoupling element is disposed between the third element and the first element.

11. The assistive device of claim 1 , wherein the decoupling element is configured to attenuate frequencies below 5 kHz.

12. The assistive device of claim 1, wherein the coil is a telecoil. 13 . The auxiliary device according to claim 1 , wherein the first element and the second element are formed as separate elements on the same substrate, or as separate elements on different substrates.

14. The auxiliary device of claim 1, wherein a zone is formed around the wireless interface, the zone decoupling signals originating outside a first operating frequency of the wireless interface.

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