# US 2019/0174239 A1 · All-in-one method for wireless connectivity and contactless battery charging of small wearables > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174239 A1 - Document ID: US20190174239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,482 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Applicants: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC - Inventors: Marcus P. NIKLAUS; Onur KAZANC - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174239A1 ## CPC - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H01Q 7/00: Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop - H04B 5/79: for data transfer in combination with power transfer - H04R 25/55: {using an external connection, either wireless or wired} - H04R 25/558: {Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency} - H04R 25/602: {of batteries} - H01Q 1/273: {Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals} - H04R 25/552: {Binaural} - 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 2225/61: Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning - 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) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract One illustrative wearable device embodiment includes: a battery; an antenna coil; a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal; and an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to send and receive audio streams. An illustrative wireless communications method embodiment includes: coupling an antenna coil to a wireless charging module to charge a battery; coupling the antenna coil to an NFC (near field communications) module; and coupling the antenna coil to an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module to send or receive an audio stream. When coupled, the NFC module receives a query signal, provides a tag response signal, and receives a command signal to set at least one parameter value affecting rendering of the audio stream. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearable device comprising: a battery; an antenna coil; a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal; and an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to send and receive audio streams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone and speaker, wherein the device operates as a hearing aid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein said audio streams are exchanged by said hearing aid in a first ear of a user with a second hearing aid in a second, opposite ear of said user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the NFC module further reports parameter values and accepts new parameter values for operation as said hearing aid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna coil comprises a ferrite element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a controller that selectively enables one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules at a time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, further comprising an adjustable capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to provide a tunable resonant frequency, wherein the controller adjusts the resonant frequency to a value suitable for the selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the controller systematically cycles through each resonant frequency value for said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the controller monitors charging of the battery when the wireless charging module is selected and, upon detecting an overvoltage, the controller adjusts the capacitance to detune the antenna coil to a different resonant frequency that protects against the overvoltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the adjustable capacitance is in parallel with said antenna coil. ### Claim 11 A wireless communication method that comprises: coupling an antenna coil to a wireless charging module to charge a battery; coupling the antenna coil to an NFC (near field communications) module, the NFC module: receiving a query signal; providing a tag response signal; and receiving a command signal to set at least one parameter value affecting rendering of an audio stream; and coupling the antenna coil to an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module to send or receive the audio stream. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: rendering the audio stream via a speaker in a hearing aid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said audio stream is exchanged by said hearing aid in a first ear of a user with a second hearing aid in a second, opposite ear of said user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the NFC module further reports parameter values and accepts new parameter values for operation of said hearing aid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna coil comprises a ferrite element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said couplings are performed selectively, one at a time, by a controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising adjusting a capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to tune a resonant frequency to a value suitable for a selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the controller systematically cycles through each resonant frequency value for said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring charging of the battery when the wireless charging module is selected and, upon detecting an overvoltage, the varying the capacitance to detune the antenna coil to a different resonant frequency that protects against the overvoltage. ### Claim 20 A hearing aid that comprises: a microphone; a speaker; a battery; an antenna coil around a ferrite element; a controller powered by the battery, wherein the controller filters and amplifies sound received via the microphone for playback via the speaker, and wherein the controller includes: a wireless charging module coupled to the antenna coil to harvest wireless power for charging the battery; an NFC (near field communications) module coupled to the antenna coil to receive a query signal and provide a tag response signal, wherein the NFC module further reports parameter values and accepts new parameter values for operation as said hearing aid; and an NFMI (near field magnetic induction) module coupled to the antenna coil to exchange audio streams with a second hearing aid in an opposite ear, wherein the controller selectively enables only one of the wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules at a time by setting an adjustable capacitance in series or parallel with said antenna coil to provide a tunable resonant frequency, wherein the controller adjusts the resonant frequency to a value suitable for the selected one of said wireless charging, NFC, and NFMI modules.