Antenna and device with such an antenna

Abstract

An antenna for inductively transmitting information and/or energy, in particular a hearing aid antenna, has a foil-like antenna base body that has a central coil core section that holds a first coil, and outer antenna sections arranged opposite one another on both sides of the central coil core section. The outer antenna sections respectively have an edge-side coil core section that adjoins the central coil core section and holds a second coil. The outer antenna sections are at an angle relative to the central coil core section. There is also described a device, in particular a hearing device, which is preferably a hearing aid, with such an antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna for inductive information and/or energy transmission, the antenna comprising: an antenna base body being a foil having a central coil core section and outer antenna sections opposite one another on two sides of said central coil core section; a first coil disposed on said central coil core section; each of said outer antenna sections having an edge-side coil core section adjoining said central coil core section and holding a second coil; and said outer antenna sections being disposed at an angle relative to said central coil core section; wherein the antenna is configured as a hearing aid antenna.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein each of said outer antenna sections has a flange section, which adjoins an end face of said edge-side coil core section remote from said central coil core section.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein said flange section has a shape of a circular arc.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, further comprising foil-shaped shielding arranged respectively on a side of said two outer antenna sections facing said central coil core section and on a side of said central coil core section facing towards said outer antenna sections.

5. The antenna according to claim 4, wherein said shielding is larger than or equal to said antenna base body and covers said antenna base body.

6. The antenna according to claim 4, wherein: said shielding and said antenna base body are integrated into a flexible printed circuit board, a first winding layer and a second winding layer are arranged on opposite broad sides of said antenna base body; and each of said first winding layer and said second winding layer has conductor paths by way of which the windings of said first coil and said second coil are formed.

7. The antenna according to claim 6, further comprising a third winding layer and a fourth winding layer arranged on a broad side of said first winding layer facing away from said antenna base body, or on a broad side of said second winding layer facing away from said antenna base body, with a third coil being formed by way of conductor paths of said third winding layer and by way of conductor paths of said fourth winding layer and being arranged concentrically with respect to said first coil or one of said second coils.

8. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: said antenna base body is integrated in a printed circuit board, a first winding layer and a second winding layer are arranged on opposite broad sides of said antenna base body; and each of said first winding layer and said second winding layer has conductor paths by way of which the windings of said first coil and said second coil are formed.

9. A method, comprising: providing an antenna according to claim 1; operating the antenna for generating a magnetic dipole moment and setting a spatial orientation of the magnetic dipole moment by selectively activating one of the second coils, both second coils, and/or the first coil, according to an orientation of a receiver relative to the antenna.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the activating step comprises selectively energizing the coils in dependence on the orientation of the receiver relative to the antenna.

11. A device, comprising an antenna according to claim 1.

12. The device according to claim 11 configured as a hearing device with the antenna.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the hearing device is a hearing aid.

14. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a device component at least partially surrounded by said antenna.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said device component is an energy storage device.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein: the outer antenna sections are arranged on mutually opposite end faces of said device component; and the central coil core section overlaps a peripheral area of said device component.

17. An antenna for inductive information and/or energy transmission, the antenna comprising: an antenna base body being a foil having a central coil core section and outer antenna sections opposite one another on two sides of said central coil core section; a first coil disposed on said central coil core section; each of said outer antenna sections having an edge-side coil core section adjoining said central coil core section and holding a second coil; and said outer antenna sections being disposed at an angle relative to said central coil core section; a foil-shaped shielding arranged respectively on a side of said two outer antenna sections facing said central coil core section and on a side of said central coil core section facing towards said outer antenna sections.

18. A method, comprising: providing an antenna according to claim 17; operating the antenna for generating a magnetic dipole moment and setting a spatial orientation of the magnetic dipole moment by selectively activating one of the second coils, both second coils, and/or the first coil, according to an orientation of a receiver relative to the antenna.

19. A device, comprising an antenna according to claim 17.

20. The antenna according to claim 17, wherein each of said outer antenna sections has a flange section, which adjoins an end face of said edge-side coil core section remote from said central coil core section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to a drawing. The drawings show as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 Schematic drawing of two devices designed as hearing aid, each having a respective antenna that encompasses an energy storage, the two hearing aids being inductively coupled to an accessory that is rotatable relative to them,

(3) FIG. 2a Perspective view of the U-shaped antenna that embraces the energy storage, in which outer antenna sections of an antenna base body of the antenna are arranged at end faces of the energy storage and a central coil core section of the antenna base body partially covers a lateral surface of the energy storage, and in which a shielding is arranged between the antenna base body and the energy storage,

(4) FIG. 2b Side view of the U-shaped antenna according to FIG. 2a,

(5) FIG. 2c Top view of the antenna surrounding the energy storage according to FIG. 2a,

(6) FIG. 3a Top view of the outer antenna section, a first alternative configuration of its circular-arc-like flange region, the flange being smaller than the shield,

(7) FIG. 3b A second alternative of the outer antenna section, in which the flange area is designed as a segment of a circle subtending a comparatively large central angle,

(8) FIG. 3c A third alternative of the outer antenna section, in which the flange area is designed as a segment of a circle subtending a small large [sic] central angle,

(9) FIG. 4 Schematic cross-section of a printed circuit board into which the antenna base body and the shielding are integrated, the first coil being formed by means of conductor paths that are introduced into winding layers that are arranged on opposite broad sides of the antenna base body,

(10) FIG. 5a Printed circuit board with integrated antenna base body and integrated shielding in the flat state, in the course of installing the antenna before folding it around the energy storage device

(11) FIG. 5b Printed circuit board according to FIG. 5a, in which a substrate and lacquer layer of the circuit board are not shown,

(12) FIG. 6 Exploded view of the antenna, wherein a third coil is concentrically arranged around the first coil, and a substrate and lacquer layer of the printed circuit board are not shown, and

(13) FIG. 7a, b Side view of the U-shaped antenna, in which a spatial orientation of a magnetic dipole moment generated during operation of the antenna is adjusted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Corresponding parts are assigned the same reference signs in all drawings.

(15) FIG. 1 shows two devices 2 that are designed as identical hearing aids 2a of a (binaural) hearing aid system 4. The two hearing aids 2a are designed and intended to for a user (wearer, person) to wear them behind each respective ear. In other words, they are behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing devices that have a sound tube, not shown, that is inserted into the user's respective ear. The respective hearing aid 2a comprises a housing 6 made for example of plastic. A microphone 8 with two electromechanical sound transducers 10 is arranged inside the housing 6. Using the two sound transducers 10, it is possible to change a directional characteristic of microphone 8 by changing a time offset of electrical signals that the respective sound transducer 10 generates from acquired sound signals. The two electromechanical sound transducers 10 are signal-coupled with a signal processing unit 12 that comprises an amplifier circuit. The signal processing unit 12 comprises electrical and/or electronic (active and/or passive) components and circuit elements.

(16) In addition, a speaker 14 is signal-coupled with the signal processing unit 12, and as a result, after the signal processing unit 12 has processed the electrical signals of the sound transducer 10, they are again output as sound signals. These sound signals are conveyed to the ear of a user of the hearing device 2 via the sound tube, not otherwise shown.

(17) A rechargeable energy storage device 16 (indicated by a dashed line) provides the power supply (voltage and current supply) of the signal processing unit 12, the microphone 8 and the speaker 14 of each hearing aid 2a. Each hearing aid 2a also comprises an antenna 18 that enables inductive information transmission 20 between the two hearing aids 2a. The antenna 18 partially encloses the energy storage 16. Inductive information transmission 20 between the two hearing aids 2a is used for exchanging data. The exchange of data, for example, enables improved directional microphony (beamforming).

(18) The embodiment of FIG. 1 also shows an accessory part 22, which is, for example, a remote control or a relay station that the user holds. This accessory 22 has a receiver 23 that realizes an additional inductive information transmission 20, indicated by the dash-dotted arrows, with the two antennas 18 of the two hearing aids 2a. Inductive information transmission 20 is used to exchange data between the additional device 22 and the hearing devices 2a.

(19) In addition, the antenna 18 is used for inductive and wireless energy transmission from a charger, not otherwise shown, to the hearing aid 2a, so that in a certain operating mode, the antenna 18 may be used to recharge the rechargeable energy storage 16 of the hearing aid 2a. In other words, the antenna 18 inductively transmits energy, and this energy is used to charge the energy storage device 16.

(20) In configurations that are not shown, the devices 2 are a sensor (sensor system) such as a monitor for blood pressure, blood sugar or heart rate, or a computer system worn on the body (wearable computer, wearables) or a component of a sensor or actuator system worn on the body (body-area network). In any case, these devices 2 have an antenna 18 for inductive information transmission and, if necessary, for inductive energy transmission.

(21) FIGS. 2a to 2c show the antenna 18 of the device 2. The antenna 18 has a foil-like antenna base body 24 formed from a weakly magnetic ferrite. The antenna base body 24 comprises a central coil core section 26 that holds a first coil 28. The central coil core section 26, and thus a coil axis of the first coil 28, extends along a longitudinal direction L. A respective outer antenna section 30 is arranged at its end faces with respect to the longitudinal direction L, so as to form a U-shaped antenna base body 24. Thus, the two outer antenna sections 30 are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The two outer antenna sections 30 extend in a transverse direction Q that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

(22) The two outer antenna sections 30 of the antenna base body 24 each respectively have an edge-side coil core area 32 at the edge, which adjoins the central coil core section 26. The edge-side coil core sections 32 each respectively hold a second coil 34, the coil axis of which is oriented in the transverse direction Q. In addition, the two outer antenna sections 30 each respectively have a flat flange section 36 that adjoins the free end side, i.e. the end face of the edge-side coil core section 32 that is opposite and turned away from the central coil core section 26. The outer antenna section 30 is semicircularly extended from the free end side of the corresponding edge-side coil core section 32, and the edge-side coil core section 32 as well as the flange section 36 extend in a common plane that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The two outer antenna sections 30 are identical in construction and mirror-symmetrical to each other, and their plane of symmetry is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

(23) In an alternative not otherwise shown, the two outer antenna sections 30 are not identical in construction or symmetrical. Thus the flange sections 36, for example, are adapted to a shape of the device component 16 or the flange sections have, for example, a recess for contacting the device component 16.

(24) The first coil 28 and the two second coils 34 are each respectively electrically contacted with an electronic system, not otherwise shown, or alternatively with a current source, not otherwise shown. At best, the first coil 28 and the two second coils 34 may be switched independently of each other, i.e. they may be supplied (controlled) using a provided current.

(25) A device component 38 of the device 2 is arranged in an inner area I between the outer antenna sections 30, and this here is the energy storage 16 of the device 2 in the form of a battery. The energy storage 16 has a shape corresponding to two coaxially mounted cylinders arranged one on top of the other, the cylinder axes of which extend in the longitudinal direction L. The flat surfaces of the cylinders that are opposite and spaced apart form parallel end faces 40 of the energy storage device 16. The lateral surfaces of the two cylinders form a peripheral area 42 of the energy storage device 16. The end faces 40 of the cylinders extend in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L so that they are oriented parallel to the outer antenna sections 30. In sum, the outer antenna sections 30 are arranged at opposite end faces 40 of the energy storage device, and the central coil core section 26 overlaps the circumferential area 42 of the device component 38 that is designed as an energy storage device 16.

(26) A foil-like shielding 44 is arranged between the antenna base body 24, namely the central coil core section 26 as well as the outer antenna section 30, and the device component 38. The shielding 44 is thus arranged on the side of the two outer antenna sections 30 that faces the central coil core section 26 and on the side of the central coil core section 26 that faces the outer antenna sections 30. The area of shielding 44 arranged on the central coil core section 26, or the area arranged between the central coil core section 26 and the energy storage 16, is referred to in the following as the central shielding section 46. Correspondingly, the two areas of shielding 44 arranged on the outer antenna sections 30 are referred to as outer shielding sections 48. In this case, the foil-like shield 44 has a conductivity of more than 10.sup.6 S/m and is made of or comprises diamagnetic material. According to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, the shielding 44 is formed by a copper foil.

(27) The shielding 44 is larger than the antenna base body 24 and covers it. Thus, the central shielding section 46 has an extension in a plane parallel to the central coil core section 26 that is greater than the extension of the coil core section 26. Analogously, the outer shielding sections 48 have an extension in a plane parallel to the outer antenna sections 30 that is greater than the extension of the outer antenna sections 30. The two outer shielding sections 48 completely cover the end faces 40 (end surfaces) of the energy storage 16.

(28) The shielding prevents or at least reduces the spread of a magnetic field into the inner area I. As a result, no or at least correspondingly fewer eddy currents are induced in the energy storage 16 that is arranged in the inner area I, so that this storage is not heated or damaged.

(29) A space-saving arrangement of the antenna 18 in the device 2 is realized by arranging the antenna 18 directly on the energy storage device 16 or on the device component 38 and by arranging the shielding 44 between the antenna base body of the antenna element 18 and the energy storage device 16. As a result, the device 2 is designed to be particularly space-saving (small).

(30) FIGS. 3a to 3c each respectively show an alternative configuration of the flange sections 36. In the first alternative shown in FIG. 3a, the flange section 36 formed as an arc of a circle is smaller than the shielding 44. The extension of the arc of the circle along its radial direction is smaller than the extension of the shielding 44 in this direction. In this way, the extension of magnetic field lines into the inner area I is further reduced. The second alternative according to FIG. 3b and the third alternative according to FIG. 3c have different central angles of the arc-shaped flange section 36. The flange section 36 of FIG. 3b has a central angle of 120; the flange section 36 of FIG. 3c has a central angle of 60. An antenna surface is adapted to operational requirements by varying the flange sections 36.

(31) FIG. 4 schematically shows a flexible printed circuit board 50 into which the shielding 44 and the antenna base body 24 are integrated. The antenna base body 24, formed from a ferrite, is laminated into the printed circuit board 50. A first winding layer 52 and second winding layer 54 are arranged on opposite broad sides of the antenna base body 24. The first winding layer 52 and second winding layer 54 each respectively have conductor paths 56 (FIG. 5a), by means of which the windings of the first coil 28 and the windings of the two second coils 34 are formed. The conductor paths 56 are etched into the first winding layer 52 and second winding layer 54 during when the printed circuit board 50 is manufactured. The conductor paths 56 are electrically interconnected by through connections (vias) 58. In addition, the first winding layer 52 is arranged on or applied to a substrate 60. On the side of the substrate 60 opposite the first winding layer 52, the shielding 44 is arranged; in this case, it is formed by a copper layer of the printed circuit board 50. In this case, the shielding 44 is arranged on the broad side of the substrate 60 facing the inner area I. A lacquer layer 62 is also respectively arranged on the broad side of the shielding 44 that faces the inner area I and on the broad side of the second winding layer 54 that faces away from the inner area I, i.e. faces an outer area A.

(32) FIGS. 5a and 5b show the antenna 18 in a flat state. In the course of mounting the antenna 18 in the device 2, the antenna 18 is folded (angled) so that the antenna 18 encloses the energy storage 16 in a space-saving manner. The use of the flexible printed circuit board 50 and the foil-like and foldable design of the antenna base body 24 make this possible. The antenna base body 24 and the shielding 44 are integrated into the printed circuit board 50 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4. FIG. 5a shows the flexible printed circuit board 50 with integrated shielding 44 and integrated antenna base body 24; FIG. 5a shows this printed circuit board 50 without the substrate 60 and without the two paint layers 62, to improve the visibility of the antenna base 24 and the shield 44.

(33) FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the antenna 18. Here, as in FIG. 5b, the substrate 60 and two paint layers 62 of the printed circuit board 50, in which the antenna base 24 and the shielding 44 are integrated, are not shown, so as to improve the visibility of individual components of the antenna 18. The antenna 18 has a third coil 64, which is arranged concentrically to the first coil 28 around the central coil core section 26. This third coil 64 is formed from conductor paths 56 that are electrically connected by means of through connections 68, and are introduced into a third winding layer 66 and a fourth winding layer 68, in particular by means of etching. The third winding layer 66 or the conductor paths 56 of the third winding layer 66 are arranged on the side of the first winding layer 52 facing the inner area I and the fourth winding layer 68 is arranged on the side of the second winding layer 54 facing the outer area A.

(34) It may also be seen that with respect to the longitudinal direction L, adjacent through connections 58 are arranged offset to each other in a direction that perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and perpendicular to the transverse direction Q. In other words, adjacent through connections 58 are not arranged in a common plane spanned by the longitudinal direction L and transverse direction Q. The through connections 58 have a higher space requirement in the longitudinal direction L than the conductor paths 56. Due to requirements of the manufacturing or fabrication process, a minimum distance between two conductor elements is required, i.e. between two adjacent conductor paths 56, between two adjacent through connections 58 and between one conductor path 56 and the through connection 58 that which is connected to a conductor path 56 adjacent to this conductor path 56. If the through connections 58 do not have an offset arrangement, the conductors arranged spatially closest to each other will be two adjacent through connections 58. Due to the larger space requirement of the through connections 58 in the longitudinal direction L compared to the conductor paths 56, a distance between two adjacent conductor paths 56 is larger than the minimum distance. However, when the through connections 58 are staggered, the smallest distance between two conductive elements is the distance between one conductor path 56 and the through connections 58 that are connected to the directly adjacent conductor path 56. Due to the smaller space requirement in the longitudinal direction L of the conductor paths 56 compared to the through connections 58, the distance between directly adjacent conductor paths 56 is smaller when the through connections 58 are arranged at an offset, thus increasing the winding density of the corresponding coil.

(35) FIGS. 7a and 7b show a representative method of operating the antenna 18, which is designed according to FIG. 2. FIG. 7a shows a first operating mode of the antenna 18, wherein the first coil 28 and the two second coils 34 are switched simultaneously, and wherein the current direction is selected such that the magnetic fields that the coils 28 and 34 generate will overlap constructively. Thus, the coils 28 and 34 are flowed through by the current in the same direction. The antenna 18 acts like a ferrite rod antenna with a comparatively large end face, with a magnetic dipole moment m generated during operation being oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer antenna sections 30 and parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

(36) FIG. 7b shows the antenna 18 in a second operating mode, in which only one of the two second coils 34 is switched. The magnetic dipole moment m generated during operation is not perpendicular to the outer antenna sections 30; instead, it is tilted at an angle relative to the normal N of the outer antenna sections 30, in a plane spanned by means of the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction Q.

(37) FIGS. 7a and 7b show, next to the antenna 18, the receiver 23 of 53 accessory 22, which is designed as a coil, having a coil axis S that is oriented perpendicular to the outer antenna sections 30 of the antenna 18 or is rotated against the normal N by the angle , respectively. An inductive coupling between the antenna 18 and the receiver 23 is maximum if the magnetic dipole moment m is oriented parallel to the coil axis S. The orientation of the magnetic dipole moment m is set by activating, in particular by energizing, one of the second coils 34, both second coils 34 and/or the first coil 28, in such a way that this extends as parallel as possible to the coil axis S.

(38) In sum, a transmitting space direction, i.e. the spatial orientation of the magnetic dipole moment m, which is generated when the antenna 18 operates, is not stationary (rigid) with respect to the antenna 18, but has a differing spatial orientation depending on the switching of the coils 28, 34. In this way, by means of a circuit of one of the coils 28, 34, the magnetic dipole moment m generated during operation of the antenna 18 is adjusted according to an orientation of a receiver 23 relative to the antenna 18. As a result, reliable inductive coupling of the antenna 18 with the receiver 23 may be realized even when the receiver 23 is rotated relative to the antenna 18, thus ensuring reliable inductive information transmission.

(39) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, a person of skill in the art may also derive other variants from this specification, without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all the individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments may also be combined with each other in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(40) 2 Device

(41) 2a Hearing aid

(42) 4 Hearing device system

(43) 6 Housing

(44) 8 Microphone

(45) 10 Sound transducer

(46) 12 Signal processing unit

(47) 14 Speaker

(48) 16 Energy storage

(49) 18 Antenna

(50) 20 Inductive information transfer

(51) 22 Accessory

(52) 23 Receiver

(53) 24 Antenna base body

(54) 26 Central coil core section

(55) 28 First coil

(56) 30 Outer antenna section

(57) 32 Edge-side portion of coil core

(58) 34 Second coil

(59) 36 Flange section

(60) 38 Device component

(61) 40 End face

(62) 42 Scope

(63) 44 Shielding

(64) 46 Central shielding section

(65) 48 Outer shielding section

(66) 50 Printed circuit board

(67) 52 First winding layer

(68) 54 Second winding layer

(69) 56 Conductor path

(70) 58 Through connection

(71) 60 Substrate

(72) 62 Lacquer layer

(73) 64 Third coil

(74) 66 Third winding layer

(75) 68 Fourth winding layer

(76) Angle

(77) A Exterior

(78) I Inner area

(79) L Longitudinal direction

(80) m Magnetic dipole moment

(81) N Normals to the outer antenna sections

(82) Q Transverse direction

(83) S Coil axis