# US 2022/0279291 A1 · Hearing device with active antenna switching

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- Number: US 2022/0279291 A1
- Document ID: US20220279291A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/694,646
- Filed: 2022-03-14
- Published: 2022-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-25
- Assignees: GN Hearing A/S
- Applicants: GN Hearing A/S
- Inventors: Sinasi ÖZDEN; Jesper THAYSEN; Søren Helstrup KVIST; Jens Henrik STEFFENS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220279291A1

## CPC

- H04R 25/505: {using digital signal processing}
- H04R 25/552: {Binaural}
- H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils}
- 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)

## Abstract

A hearing device includes a signal processor, the signal processor being configured for determining a hearing device mode of operation, the hearing device mode comprising a first mode and a second mode. The hearing device further comprises a first wireless communication unit and a second wireless communication unit, and an electrical antenna for emission and reception of electromagnetic radiation. The antenna is configured to resonate at a first frequency. The hearing device further comprises an active matching device configured to interconnect the first and the second wireless communication unit with the antenna, wherein the active matching device in the first mode is configured to enable the antenna to emit and receive electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency and wherein the active matching device in the second mode is configured to adjust antenna characteristics of the antenna to enable the antenna to emit and receive electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hearing device comprising:
a processing unit configured to determine a hearing device mode of operation, the determined hearing device mode being a first mode or a second mode;
a first wireless communication unit and a second wireless communication unit;
an antenna;
an active matching device configured to couple the first and the second wireless communication units with the antenna;
wherein the active matching device in the first mode is configured to enable the antenna to perform electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation reception at a first frequency, and wherein the active matching device in the second mode is configured to adjust an antenna characteristic of the antenna to enable the antenna to perform electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation reception at a second frequency.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna characteristic comprises at least one of: antenna impedance, electrical length of the antenna, or radiation efficiency.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusted antenna characteristic changes a current distribution along the antenna and/or a frequency response of the antenna.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, further comprising a diplexer coupling the first and second wireless communication units with the active matching device, the diplexer configured to isolate signals in the first frequency from signals in the second frequency.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the active matching device comprises a first matching circuit configured to match an impedance of the antenna with an impedance of the first wireless communication unit in the first mode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the active matching device comprises a second matching circuit configured to match the impedance of the antenna with an impedance of the second wireless communication unit in the second mode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the active matching device is configured to match an impedance of the antenna with an impedance of the first wireless communication unit in the first mode, and to match the impedance of the antenna with an impedance of the second wireless communication unit in the second mode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the active matching device comprises a first matching circuit and a second matching circuit, and wherein each of the first matching circuit and the second matching circuit comprises one or more components selected from the group of: a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, diode, and a transistor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a control signal to the active matching device after the hearing device mode of operation is determined.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The hearing device according to claim 9, wherein the active matching device is configured to switch between a first matching circuit and a second matching circuit based on the control signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency, and wherein the second frequency is equal to or higher than half the first frequency.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna characteristic of the antenna in the second mode is adjusted to obtain a resonant antenna at the second frequency, or at a frequency being within +/−20% of the second frequency.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna in the first mode is configured to have a maximum current at a section of the antenna that is parallel to an ear-to-ear axis of a user when the hearing device is worn in its operational position at an ear of the user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna has a first end, the first end being connected to a feed at a first side of the hearing device, and wherein the antenna has a second end, the second end being connected to a ground potential at a second side of the hearing device, the second side being opposite from the first side.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The hearing device according to claim 14, wherein the antenna has an electrical length, and wherein a section of the antenna extending from the first side to the second side is approximately half the electrical length.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to resonate at the first frequency.

### Claim 17

A method performed by a hearing device, the hearing device comprising a processing unit, a first wireless communication unit, a second wireless communication unit, an antenna for electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation reception, the antenna configured to resonate at a first frequency, and an active matching device, the method comprising:
determining, by the processing unit, a hearing device mode of operation, the determined hearing device mode being a first mode or a second mode;
wherein, in the first mode, the method further comprises:
coupling the first wireless communication unit with the antenna via the active matching device; and
enabling the antenna to perform electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation reception at the first frequency; and
wherein, in the second mode, the method further comprises:
coupling the second wireless communication unit with the antenna via the active matching device; and
adjusting an antenna characteristic of the antenna to enable the antenna to perform electromagnetic radiation emission and electromagnetic radiation reception at the second frequency.