Hearing assistance device with antenna optimized to reduce head loading
AssigneeStarkey Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsJay Rabel, Casey Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, includes an antenna for wireless communication. The antenna has one or more conductor dimensions that are approximately optimized for minimizing effects of head loading, which vary among users. In one embodiment, a conductor dimension of the antenna is identified for substantially affecting an effect of head loading on the antenna when the hearing assistance device is worn by a user. Performance of the wireless communication using the antenna is evaluated based on one or more performance criteria. The conductor dimension is approximately minimized while the performance of the wireless communication satisfies the one or more performance criteria.
Claims20
A method for optimizing an antenna of a hearing assistance device for wireless communication, the method comprising:
- identifying at least one conductor dimension of the antenna that affects head loading on the antenna when the hearing assistance device is worn by a wearer;
- evaluating performance of the wireless communication using the antenna based on one or more performance criteria;
- and
- reducing variation in the head loading across different wearers by approximately minimizing the at least one conductor dimension while the performance of the wireless communication satisfies the one or more performance criteria.
A method for providing a hearing assistance device with capability of performing wireless communication, the method comprising:
- providing a hearing aid with an antenna for the wireless communication;
- identifying at least one conductor dimension of the antenna that contributes to variation in head loading on the antenna among different wearers of the hearing aid;
- evaluating performance of the wireless communication using the antenna based on one or more performance criteria;
- and
- approximately minimizing the at least one conductor dimension to reduce the variation in head loading on the antenna while the performance of the wireless communication satisfies the one or more performance criteria.
A hearing assistance device, comprising:
- a housing for the hearing assistance device configured to be worn by a wearer;
- and
- antenna means disposed in the housing for performing wireless communication, the antenna means configured for reducing variation in head loading on the antenna means across different wearers of the hearing assistance device while satisfying one or more performance criteria of the wireless communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.