# US 11,122,376 B2 · Ear-worn electronic device incorporating magnetically coupled feed for an antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,376 B2 - Document ID: US11122376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/371,495 - Filed: 2019-04-01 - Published: 2020-10-01 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-01 - Assignees: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Paul Anders Shriner; Aaron Anderson; Gregory J. Haubrich; Nasser Pooladian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122376B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04R 25/65: {Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture} - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - H04R 25/602: {of batteries} - H04R 25/609: {of circuitry (of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603)} - H04R 2225/021: Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids - H04R 2225/023: Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids - H04R 2225/025: In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids - H04R 2225/31: Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells - H04R 2225/51: Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil. The feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising: an enclosure configured for at least partial insertion into an ear canal of the wearer, the enclosure comprising a preformed shape or a shapeable material that conforms to a shape of the wearer's ear canal, the enclosure comprising a faceplate and a battery door supported by and movable relative to the faceplate; a processor disposed in the enclosure; a speaker or a receiver operably coupled to the processor; a radio frequency transceiver disposed in the enclosure and operably coupled to the processor; and an antenna supported by or integral to the battery door; and a magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprising a separable transformer, the separable transformer comprising: a first coil coupled to the antenna and supported by the battery door; and a second coil coupled to the transceiver and supported by the faceplate, a structure of or within the enclosure or a component in the enclosure, wherein a conductor of the second coil is physically and electrically separated from a conductor of the first coil; wherein the feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is moveable relative to the second coil in response to opening and closing of the battery door relative to the faceplate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the first and second coils have a planar configuration; and the first and second coils are substantially parallel to one another when the battery door is in a closed orientation relative to the faceplate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the first and second coils are substantially non-parallel to one another when the battery door is in an opened orientation relative to the faceplate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein the battery, the battery door, the antenna, and the first coil define a detachable battery door module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising one or more alignment features configured to facilitate alignment between the first and second coils when the battery door is in a closed orientation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the separable transformer comprises a substrate disposed between the first and second coils, the substrate configured to increase magnetic coupling between the first and second coils. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a balun. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the first coil comprises windings having n turns; the second coil comprises windings having m turns; and n and m are selected to enhance impedance matching between the transceiver and the antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: a first tuning capacitor is coupled to the first coil; a second tuning capacitor is coupled to the second coil; the first tuning capacitor has a capacitance selected to achieve resonance with the first coil; and the second tuning capacitor has a capacitance selected to achieve resonance with the second coil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are disposed on flexible printed circuit board substrates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna, the first coil, and the second coil are disposed on flexible printed circuit board substrates. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein: the antenna and the first coil are disposed on a rigid printed circuit board substrate; and the second coil is disposed on a flexible printed circuit board substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a patch-type antenna. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a meandered monopole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises an Inverted-F antenna. ### Claim 17 An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising: an enclosure configured for at least partial insertion into an ear canal of the wearer, the enclosure comprising a faceplate and a shell having a preformed shape or comprising a shapeable material that conforms to a shape of the wearer's ear canal; a processor disposed in the enclosure; a speaker or a receiver operably coupled to the processor; a radio frequency transceiver disposed in the enclosure and operably coupled to the processor; and an antenna supported by or integral to the faceplate, the antenna comprising: a radiating element; a ground plane; and a substrate comprising dielectric material disposed between the radiating element and the ground plane; and a magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprising a separable transformer, the separable transformer comprising: a first coil coupled to the antenna and supported by the faceplate; and a second coil coupled to the transceiver and supported by the faceplate, a structure of or within the shell or a component in the shell, wherein a conductor of the second coil is physically and electrically separated from a conductor of the first coil; wherein the feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein: the first and second coils have a planar configuration; and the first and second coils are substantially parallel to one another. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the device is configured as an in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), invisible-in-canal (IIC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) device. ### Claim 20 An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising: an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear; a processor disposed in the enclosure; a speaker or a receiver coupled to the processor; a radio frequency transceiver disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor; an antenna disposed in or on the enclosure; and a magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprising a separable transformer, the separable transformer comprising: a first coil coupled to the antenna; and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein a conductor of the second coil is physically and electrically separated from a conductor of the first coil; wherein the feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second coils is movable relative to the other of the first and second coils. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein: the first and second coils have a planar configuration; and the first and second coils are substantially parallel to one another.