Balanced Hearing Aid Antenna Reducing Propagation Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aid antennas face challenges in achieving efficient wireless communication due to their design constraints, particularly in minimizing propagation losses when interacting with the human head, leading to suboptimal reception and emission of electromagnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A balanced antenna configuration is introduced, where a first segment of the antenna extends from one side of the hearing aid to the other, with a feed system that induces current with local maxima on both sides, allowing the electromagnetic field to propagate orthogonally along the surface of the head, reducing interaction losses and enhancing connectivity with external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna designs are used in hearing aids, then the antenna can be accommodated in the small housing, but propagation losses increase when interacting with the human head
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple segments including a first segment extending from one side of the hearing aid to the other side, with feed systems exciting each segment to create current maxima at specific locations. This segmentation allows the antenna to achieve optimal current distribution for reduced propagation losses while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for hearing aid housings.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed system is configured to induce current with local maxima at specific locations on the antenna segments, creating non-uniform current distribution optimized for interaction with the human head. This local quality enhancement at critical points reduces propagation losses without requiring complex overall antenna restructuring.
2Reliability
If the antenna current is maximized on the first segment extending across the hearing aid, then electromagnetic field emission and reception are improved, but the antenna design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna structure is segmented into distinct sections with the first segment extending across the hearing aid housing. The feed system targets this segment to create current maxima, ensuring reliable electromagnetic field emission and reception while keeping the overall design manageable through clear functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed system parameters are optimized to induce current with specific local maxima positions on the antenna segments. By adjusting excitation parameters rather than redesigning the entire antenna structure, reliable wireless communication is achieved with controlled design complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna is configured to propagate electromagnetic fields orthogonally along the head surface, then connectivity with external devices is enhanced, but the antenna structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is configured to exploit the third dimension by propagating electromagnetic fields orthogonally along the surface of the head rather than in conventional planar patterns. This dimensional approach enhances connectivity with external devices while maintaining a compact antenna structure suitable for hearing aids.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is optimized to create specific current maxima at locations that enable orthogonal field propagation along the head surface. This localized optimization provides enhanced connectivity capability without requiring complex overall antenna restructuring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly improves the reception and emission of electromagnetic radiation, providing robust wireless data communication with reduced propagation losses, enhancing ear-to-ear path gain by 10-20 dB and enabling omni-directional connectivity with external devices.
Implementation Method 1
a feed system may be provided for exciting the antenna to thereby induce a current in at least the first segment
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic field emitted by the antenna may propagate along the surface of the head of the user with its electrical field substantially orthogonal to the surface of the head of the user
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An behind the ear hearing aid is disclosed comprising a microphone for reception of sound and conversion into a corresponding audio signal, a signal processor for processing the audio signal, a receiver for converting the audio signal to an output sound signal and a transceiver for wireless data communication being interconnected with an antenna for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field. The antenna extends on a first side of the hearing aid and a second side of the hearing aid and a first segment of the antenna extends from proximate the first side of the hearing aid to proximate the second side of the hearing aid. A feed system is provided for exciting the antenna to thereby induce a current in at least the first segment, wherein the feed system is configured such that the current induced in the first segment has a first local maxima proximate the first side of the hearing aid and a second local maxima proximate the second side of the hearing aid.