# US 2023/0276183 A1 · Ear-worn electronic device incorporating antenna with reactively loaded network circuit

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- Number: US 2023/0276183 A1
- Document ID: US20230276183A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/311,887
- Filed: 2023-05-03
- Published: 2023-08-31
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-28
- Assignees: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
- Applicants: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
- Inventors: Ezdeen Elghannai; Nikhil Nilakantan; Aaron Anderson; Gregory John Haubrich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230276183A1

## CPC

- H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils}
- H04R 1/1058: {Manufacture or assembly}
- H04R 25/60: {Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654)}
- H04R 25/609: {of circuitry (of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603)}
- H04R 25/505: {using digital signal processing}
- H04R 2225/021: Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
- H04R 2225/51: Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
- 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

Various 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 by or in an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and comprises a wireless transceiver. An antenna is situated in or on the enclosure and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a strap comprising a reactive component connected to the first and second antenna elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, the device comprising:
an enclosure configured to be supported by or in an ear of the wearer;
electronic circuitry disposed in the enclosure and comprising a wireless transceiver; and
an antenna in or on the enclosure and comprising:
a feed comprising first and second feed line conductors coupled to the wireless transceiver;
a first antenna element having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides of the second antenna element being on opposite edges of the second antenna element, the first side of the first antenna element connected to the first feed line conductor;
a second antenna element having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides of the first antenna element being on opposite edges of the first antenna element, the first side of the second antenna element connected to the second feed line conductor; and
a strap connected to the second side of the first antenna element and the second side of the second antenna element,
wherein a shaped portion of the strap functions as a reactive component that modifies a surface current of the antenna to modify an input impedance at the feed, and the strap is situated at a location other than at or between the first and second feed line conductors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a balanced antenna.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured as a bowtie antenna.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the reactive component is configured to modify the surface current of the antenna to modify the input impedance at the feed to increase antenna efficiency.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a hearing aid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the reactive component comprises one of:
a capacitor,
an inductor, or
an L-C network or an RLC network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a matching network disposed between the wireless transceiver and the first and second feed line conductors of the antenna, wherein the matching network is configured to substantially cancel a reactance of the antenna at the first and second feed line conductors that is modified by a reactance of the reactive component.