HEARING DEVICE

Abstract

A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user, where the hearing device comprising an antenna unit. The antenna unit comprises an active unit being connected to a ground unit by a feeder unit, the active unit includes an active surface, and a shield unit having a continuous surface, where a first section of the continuous surface may be arranged adjacent to the active surface. Furthermore, the active surface may be configured to transmit an electric field in a direction along or perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the hearing device may be worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electric field may be coupled by a capacitive coupling towards the first section generating an electromagnetic near field, and where the shield unit may be configured to focus the electromagnetic near field inside the hearing device.

Claims

1. A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user, where the hearing device comprising; a ground unit, an antenna unit, a feeder unit for feeding a current to the antenna unit, and wherein the antenna unit comprises: an active unit being connected to the ground unit by the feeder unit, the active unit includes an active surface, a shield unit having a continuous surface, where a first section of the continuous surface is arranged adjacent to the active surface, and wherein the active surface is configured to transmit an electric field in a direction along or perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the hearing device is worn in its operational position by the user, and wherein the active unit is attached or coated on a first substrate surface of a substrate, and the shield unit is attached or coated on a second substrate surface of the substrate, whereby the electric field is coupled by a capacitive coupling towards the first section generating an electromagnetic near field, and where the shield unit is configured to shape the electromagnetic near field.

2. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the shield unit comprises a second section arranged with the first section with a first inner angle in an inner space, and wherein the first inner angle is between 25 deg. and 160 deg, and where the inner space formed between the first section and the second section provides the capacitive coupling.

3. A hearing device according to claim 2, wherein the continuous surface is extending along a longitudinal axis forming a third section in the extension of the second section, where the inner space is between the first section, the second section and the third section.

4. A hearing device according to claim 3, wherein the second section and the third section are arranged with a second inner angle in the inner space, and wherein the second inner angle is between 25 deg. and 160 deg.

5. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein a first plane of the active surface and a second plane of the first section are parallel or parallel within +/10 degrees.

6. A hearing device according to claim 2, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing including an element, such as a battery or a receiver, positioned in the inner space.

7. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, and wherein the active unit is positioned closer to a centre of the housing than the shield unit, and wherein the centre is positioned at the half width of the housing along the ear-to-ear axis.

8. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is adapted to have an operational frequency in the range from 300 MHz to 6 GHz, 500 MHz to 1 GHz, around 865 MHz or around 2.441 GHz.

9. A hearing device according to claim 7, wherein the shield unit is the housing, and wherein the housing comprises at least one non-metallic surface.

10. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the shield unit is a metal, such as aluminum, cobber, or any conductive metal.

11. A hearing device according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axis in the first section is perpendicular to the ear-to-ear axis of the user, the longitudinal axis in the second section is parallel to the ear-to-ear axis of the user, and/or the longitudinal axis in the third section is perpendicular to the ear-to-ear axis of the user.

12. A hearing device according to claim 3, wherein a longitudinal length of the shield unit along the longitudinal axis is between 5 mm and 28 mm, and a transverse length of the shield unit perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is between 4 mm and 28 mm, 4 mm and 7 mm or 6 mm and 20 mm.

13. A hearing device according to claim 2, wherein a longitudinal length of the second section along the ear-to-ear axis of the user is between 1 mm and 7.45 mm or below 1/16 wavelength at the operational frequency.

14. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the ground unit comprises a printed circuit board and/or a battery.

15. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the hearing device is a behind-The-Ear hearing device or a Receiver-In-The-Ear hearing device.

16. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate having is attached or mounted on the housing via the second substrate surface of the substrate.

17. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a flexible printed circuit board substrate, such as a flexible material where the electric field, generated by the active unit, is coupled through the substrate and towards the shield unit attached or coated to the second substrate surface.

18. A hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate surface and the second substrate surface is parallel or parallel+/10%.

19. A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user, where the hearing device comprising; a ground unit, an antenna unit, a feeder unit for feeding a current to the antenna unit, and wherein the antenna unit comprises: an active unit being connected to the ground unit by the feeder unit, the active unit includes an active surface, a shield unit having a continuous surface, where a first section of the continuous surface is arranged adjacent to the active surface, and wherein the active surface is configured to transmit an electric field in a direction along or perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the hearing device is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electric field is coupled by a capacitive coupling towards the first section generating an electromagnetic near field, and where the shield unit is configured to shape the electromagnetic near field, wherein the shield unit comprises a second section arranged with the first section with a first inner angle in an inner space, and wherein the first inner angle is between 25 degrees and 160 degrees and where the inner space formed between the first section and the second section provides the capacitive coupling.

20. A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user, where the hearing device comprising; a ground unit, an antenna unit, a feeder unit for feeding a current to the antenna unit, and wherein the antenna unit comprises: an active unit being connected to the ground unit by the feeder unit, the active unit includes an active surface, a shield unit having a continuous surface, where a first section of the continuous surface is arranged adjacent to the active surface, and wherein the active surface is configured to transmit an electric field in a direction along or perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the hearing device is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electric field is coupled by a capacitive coupling towards the first section generating an electromagnetic near field, and where the shield unit is configured to shape the electromagnetic near field, wherein the hearing device comprises a housing, and wherein the active unit is positioned closer to a centre of the housing than the shield unit, and wherein the centre is positioned at the half width of the housing along the ear-to-ear axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0068] The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

[0069] FIGS. 1A-1B, illustrates a front view and a top view of a user wearing a hearing device in its operational position,

[0070] FIGS. 2A-2B, illustrates an example of a behind-the-ear hearing device and an example of a receiver-in-the-ear hearing device,

[0071] FIGS. 3A-3B, illustrates a hearing device with and without a shield unit,

[0072] FIGS. 4A-4D, illustrates shield units having different shapes,

[0073] FIGS. 5A-5D, illustrates shield units having different shapes with and without a flex PCB substrate,

[0074] FIGS. 6A-6D, illustrates a hearing device, where the antenna unit has one or more active units,

[0075] FIGS. 7A-7D, illustrates simulated radiation pattern of a hearing device with and without a shield unit,

[0076] FIG. 8 illustrates simulated radiation efficiency curve of the simulated radiation pattern of the hearing device with and without a shield unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as elements). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or any combination thereof.

[0078] A hearing device may include a hearing aid that is adapted to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing device may further refer to a device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to receive an audio signal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signals as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, or an acoustic signal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of middle ear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to cochlear nerve and/or to auditory cortex of the user.

[0079] The hearing device is adapted to be worn in any known way. This may include i) arranging a unit of the hearing device behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals or with a receiver/loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal such as in a Behind-the-Ear type hearing aid or a Receiver-in-the Ear type hearing aid, and/or ii) arranging the hearing device entirely or partly in the pinna and/or in the ear canal of the user such as in a In-the-Ear type hearing aid or In-the-Canal/Completely-in-Canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing device attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing device as an entirely or partly implanted unit such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant.

[0080] A hearing system refers to a system comprising one or two hearing devices, disclosed in present description, and a binaural hearing system refers to a system comprising two hearing devices where the devices are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears. The hearing system or binaural hearing system may further include auxiliary device(s) that communicates with at least one hearing device, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing devices and/or benefitting from the functioning of the hearing devices. A wired or wireless communication link between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device is established that allows for exchanging information (e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) between the at least one hearing device and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliary devices may include at least one of remote controls, remote microphones, audio gateway devices, mobile phones, public-address systems, car audio systems or music players or a combination thereof. The audio gateway is adapted to receive a multitude of audio signals such as from an entertainment device like a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatus like a mobile telephone or a computer, a PC. The audio gateway is further adapted to select and/or combine an appropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission to the at least one hearing device. The remote control is adapted to control functionality and operation of the at least one hearing devices. The function of the remote control may be implemented in a SmartPhone or other electronic device, the SmartPhone/electronic device possibly running an application that controls functionality of the at least one hearing device.

[0081] In general, a hearing device includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing device further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

[0082] The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment. In one aspect, the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include amplifier that is adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electric signals such as in a Cochlear Implant.

[0083] FIGS. 1A-1B illustrates a front view and a top view of a user wearing a hearing device (1, 1A) in its operational position, which in this particular example is behind the ear of the user.

[0084] FIG. 1A illustrates an ear-to-ear axis X extending from left ear to right ear of the user wearing the hearing device 1. Furthermore, an upper-to-lower axis Z extends from lower to upper part of the head of the user.

[0085] FIG. 1B illustrates the hearing device 1 as part of a binaural hearing device system where a second hearing device 1A is positioned at the opposite ear of the ear wearing the hearing device 1. Furthermore, an end-to-end axis Y extends from the back part to the front part of the head of the user. The centre of the head of the user is denoted U on FIG. 1B.

[0086] FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates examples of hearing devices 1, where FIG. 2A illustrates a Behind-The-Ear hearing device (BTE) 1 where a receiver 5 is either positioned within a housing 2 or at the end of a tube 8. If the receiver 5 is positioned at the end of the tube 8, the tube 8 comprises two wires to transmit an electrical audio signal. In another embodiment where the receiver 5 is positioned within the housing 2, the tube 8 is configured to guide an audio wave signal from the receiver 5 and into an ear of a user wearing the hearing device 1.

[0087] In this particular example, the hearing device 1 comprises an antenna unit 11 which includes an active unit 10 (with an active surface 10A) connected to a feeder unit 6. The feeder unit 6 supplies the active unit 10 with a current so that the active unit 10 may generate an electric field. Additionally, the hearing device 1 comprises a microphone 9, a battery, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 3.

[0088] In this particular example, the ground plane of the antenna unit is the PCB 3. In a different example, the ground plane 12 may be, at least partly, the battery 7, further, the ground plane may be constituted by a combination of components.

[0089] FIG. 2B illustrates a hearing device 1 similar to the one illustrated in FIG. 2A, but in this particular example, the antenna unit 11 further comprises a shield unit 4 positioned adjacent to the active unit 10 of the antenna unit 11. The shield unit has a continuous surface 4A positioned adjacent to the active surface 10A.

[0090] The distance between the continuous surface of the first section of the shield unit 4 and the active surface is between 0.1 mm and 1.5 mm, 0.1 mm and 3.5 mm, 0.5 mm and 5 mm, 0.1 mm and 10 mm.

[0091] The direction of the electric field transferred by the capacitive coupling between the active surface 10A and the continuous surface 4A is parallel to the ear-to-ear axis (X-axis), when the hearing device 1 is worn by the user at one ear.

[0092] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrates a hearing device 1 respectively without and with the shield unit 4, respectively. In FIG. 3A, the antenna unit 11 does not have a shield unit 4 and the generated electromagnetic near field 14 is radiating in all directions. In FIG. 3B, the antenna unit 11 comprises a shield unit 4 limiting the radiation of the electromagnetic near field 14 in the direction of the capacitive coupling 13. In this particular example, the electromagnetic near field 14 is limited in the direction along the ear-to-ear axis (X-axis).

[0093] FIGS. 4A-4D illustrates, schematically, various shapes or types of the shield unit 4. FIG. 4A illustrates a shield unit 4 with a continuous surface 4A having a first section 18, and where the continuous surface 4A has a longitudinal direction 15 and a transversal direction 16, along the long and short side respectively. In FIG. 4B, the first section 18 is extended with a second section 19, thereby establishing two sections of the continuous surface 4A. The first section 18 and the second section 19 are arranged with a first angle .sub.1, where the first angle may be between 20 deg. and 179 deg. or between 5 deg. and 90 deg. In FIG. 4C, the continuous surface 4A is further extended with a third section 20, and where the second 19 and third section 20 are arranged with a second angle. The second angle .sub.2 may be between 20 deg. and 179 deg. or between 5 deg. and 90 deg. In FIG. 4D, the continuous surface 4A of the shield unit 4 comprises multiple sections being part of a housing 2 of a hearing device 1. In this particular example, the housing 2 may have at least one emitting section 24, i.e. a section which is not continuously part of the housing. The emitting section 24 may be made of a material different from the remaining sections or surfaces of the housing 2. This section 24 may be denoted as an emitting surface. The material may have the characteristic of being able to transfer electromagnetic near field energy, generated by the antenna unit, towards the surrounding of the hearing device 1. The remaining sections or surfaces, i.e. the shielding part of the housing 2, are able to reflect the electromagnetic near field in order to reduce the amount of electromagnetic near field energy radiating in unwanted directions, e.g. into a head of a user of the hearing device 1.

[0094] In the particular example, shown in FIG. 4D, the emitting section 24 is position on the top surface 25 of the hearing device. In another embodiment, the emitting section 24 may be positioned on the bottom surface 26 of the hearing device. When the housing 2 is worn in its operational position by the use, an axis going from the top surface 25 to the bottom surface 26 is perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the ear-to-ear axis.

[0095] FIGS. 5A-5D schematically illustrates different configuration of the antenna unit 11 comprising a substrate 17 where the active unit 10 and the shield unit 4 are attached on opposite surfaces of the substrate 17.

[0096] In FIG. 5A the active unit 10 and the shield unit 4 are attached on opposite parallel surfaces of the substrate 17, and the active unit 10 is coupled to the ground unit 12 via the feeder unit 6. In FIG. 5B, the shield unit 4 is the housing 2. The active unit 10 is attached to a first substrate surface of the substrate 17 and on the opposite parallel surface, i.e. a second substrate surface, the housing 2 is attached. In FIGS. 5C and 5D the shape of the housing 2 is curved, and the shape of the substrate 17 is adapted to the shape of the housing 2. In these particular examples, the substrate 17 is a flexible print circuit board. In both examples, same capacitive coupling distance is achieved between the active surface 10A of the active unit 10 and the continuous surface 4A of the shield unit 4, and thereby, it is possible to obtain a stable capacitive coupling efficiency independent of the shape of the housing. Thereby, the production stability and reproducibility of the antenna unit 11 and the hearing device 1 comprising the antenna unit 11, is improved.

[0097] FIGS. 6A-6D schematically illustrates various configurations of the antenna unit 11 within the housing 2 of the hearing device 1. In FIG. 6A, the antenna unit 11 comprises a ground unit 12, a feeder unit 6, an active unit 10 and a shield unit 4. (In FIG. 6D, the ground unit is not shown). In FIG. 6A, the shield unit 4 has a continuous surface 4A including a first section 18 and a second section 19, where the first section 18 is located adjacently or close to the active surface 10A of the active unit 10. It is seen that the first section 18 and the second section 19 forces the electromagnetic near field 14, generated by the capacitive coupling 13, to radiate generally in one direction along the ear-to-ear axis (X-axis) and in one direction along the lower-to-upper axis (Y axis), or limits the energy of the electromagnetic near field 14 going out of the hearing aid in these directions. In other directions, the energy of the electromagnetic near field 14 becomes lower, and thereby, the radiation efficiency of the antenna unit improves.

[0098] The distance or capacitive coupling distance between the active surface 10A and the continuous surface 4A may be within a range of 30 m to 3 mm, 0.05 mm to 2 mm, 0.1 mm to 5 mm, 0.15 mm to 10 mm or 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0099] Additionally, in this particular example, shown in FIG. 6A, the radiation efficiency of the antenna unit becomes higher when the hearing device 1 is worn on the ear of the user such that the active unit 10 is positioned closer to the center of the head U of the user than the shield unit 4.

[0100] Furthermore, in this particular example, the radiation efficiency of the antenna unit becomes significantly higher when the hearing device 1 is worn on the ear of the user such that the continuous surface 4A is positioned closer to the center U of the head of the user than the active surface 10A. That is because the shield unit comprising the first and the second section is focusing the radiation of the electromagnetic near field in a direction away from the users head, and thereby obtaining a higher radiation efficiency in the direction away from the users head.

[0101] In FIG. 6B, the continuous surface 4A of the shield unit 4 has a first section 18, a second section 19 and a third section 19, forming a U-shaped shield unit 4 comprising the capacitive coupling 13 between the active surface 10A and the first section of the continuous surface 4A. In this particular example the radiation of the electromagnetic near field 14 has been limited in both directions along the ear-to-ear axis (X) and in one direction along the upper-to-lower axis.

[0102] In the antenna unit 11 in FIG. 6B, the radiation efficiency of the antenna unit 11 becomes significantly higher, compared to when the antenna unit has no shield and compared to the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, regardless of whether it is located on the right or the left side of the head of the user. This is caused by the shield unit 4 which in this particular example, shields the electromagnetic near field 14 in both directions along the ear-to-ear axis (X) focusing the electromagnetic near field in the directions along the end-to-end axis (Y axis) and in one direction along the upper-to-lower axis (Z-axis).

[0103] FIG. 6C illustrates an antenna unit 11 comprising at least two active units 10 or a single continuous active unit 10 and a shield unit 4 with multiple continuous surfaces, including a first section 18, a second section 19 and a third section 20. The antenna unit 11 generates an electromagnetic near field 14 by multiple capacitive couplings 13.

[0104] The hearing device 1 may be configured to be worn at an ear of a user, where the hearing device 1 comprises an antenna unit 11. The antenna unit 11 may comprises multiple active units 10 or a single continuous active unit 10 with multiple active surfaces being connected to a ground unit 12 by a feeder unit 6, each of the active units 10 or the single continuous surface 10 include(s) an active surface 10A, and furthermore, the antenna unit 11 comprises a shield unit 4 having a continuous surface 4A, where a first section 18 and a second section 19 of the continuous surface 4A may be arranged adjacent to the respective active surfaces 10A. Furthermore, the respective active surfaces 10A may be configured to transmit an electric field in a direction along or perpendicular to an ear-to-ear axis of the user when the hearing device 1 may be worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electric field may then be coupled by capacitive couplings 13 toward the first section 18 and second section 19 thereby generating an electromagnetic near field 14, and where the shield unit 4 may be configured to focus the electromagnetic near field 14 inside the hearing device 1.

[0105] The electric field may be transmitted from the active surface 10A of the active unit 10 in a direction perpendicular to the ear-to-ear axis (X-axis) when the hearing device is worn at an ear of the user.

[0106] FIGS. 7A-7D are schematic illustrations of simulated electric near fields 14A (being part of the electromagnetic near field 14) generated by the antenna unit 11 of the hearing device 1 positioned on a left or a right ear of a user. The antenna unit 11 may be with or without a U-shaped shield unit 4. The U-shaped shield unit 4 is open in both directions along the Y-axis and open in one direction along the Z-axis, i.e. the shield unit 4 is open in the direction from the lower part of the head of the user to the upper part of the head of the user. The active unit 10 of the antenna unit 11 is positioned on the left side of the housing 2.

[0107] The simulated electric near field 14A is illustrated by the contour lines, where an increase of the concentration of the contour lines corresponds to an increase of the strength of the electric near field 14A.

[0108] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates simulated electric near field 14A generated by the antenna unit, at an operational frequency of 2.4 GHz, with (U_BHL) and without (U_0_BHL) the U-shaped shield unit 4, respectively, and where the hearing device 1 is positioned at the left ear 21 of the user. Comparing the shape of the electric near field 14A in FIG. 7A with the electric near field 14A in FIG. 7B, it is seen that the shield unit 4 reduces the radiation in the direction towards the left ear 21 of the user and along the ear-to-ear axis. Whereas the strength of the electric near field 14A has increased along the Y-axis, i.e. between the back part and the front part of the head 23 of the user, and slightly in the ear-to-ear axis towards the head 23, i.e. along the X-axis. The electric near field 14A is also increased in the Z-axis in the direction from the lower part to the upper part of the head 23.

[0109] FIGS. 7C and 7D illustrates simulated electric near field 14A generated by the antenna unit 11 with (U_BHR) and without (U_0_BHR) the U-shaped shield unit 4, respectively, and where the hearing device 1 is positioned on the right ear 22 of the user. Comparing the electric near field 14A in FIG. 7C and the electric near field 14A in FIG. 7D, it is seen that the shield unit 4 reduces the strength of the electric near field 14A in the direction towards the head 23 of the user and along the ear-to-ear axis. Instead, the electric near field 14A has increased along the Y-axis, i.e. between the back part to the front part of the head 23 of the user, and slightly in the ear-to-ear axis (X) towards the right ear 22 of the user. The radiation 14 is also increased in the Z-axis in the direction from the lower part to the upper part of the head 23.

[0110] FIG. 8 illustrates the radiation efficiency of the electric near field 14A as a function of frequency, for each of the situations described in relation to FIGS. 7A to 7D, where the hearing device 1 with the U-shaped shield unit 4 positioned on the left ear 21 is denoted by U_BHL, the hearing device 1 without the U-shaped shield unit 4 positioned on the left ear 21 is denoted by U_0_BHL, the hearing device 1 with the U-shaped shield unit 4 positioned on the right ear 22 is denoted by U_BHR, and the hearing device 1 without the U-shaped shield unit 4 positioned on the right ear 22 is denoted by U_0_BHR.

[0111] The situation where the hearing device 1 is positioned on the left ear 21, it is seen that the shield unit 4 increases the radiation efficiency, at the operation frequency of 2.45 GHz, with approximately 0.75 dB, when comparing the simulated results of the hearing device with and without the shield unit 4 and positioned on the left ear 21. In the situation where the hearing device 1 is positioned on the right ear 22, it is seen that the shield unit 4 has an improved impact on the radiation efficiency. With the shield unit 4 it is seen that the radiation efficiency increases with more than 3 dB.

[0112] A larger radiation efficiency difference between U_BHR and U_0_BHR is seen, i.e. when the hearing device 1 is positioned on the right ear 22, because the radiation of the electric near field 14A, generated by the active unit 10, and the capacitive coupling 13 is directed towards the head 23 of the user and not the ear (21, 22). As the head 23 comprises more tissue than an ear, the head 23 is more absorptive than the ear (21, 22).

[0113] Furthermore, it is seen that the radiation efficiency difference between U_BHL and U_BHR is approximately 1 dB, and the radiation efficiency difference between U_0_BHL and U_0_BHR is approximately 3.5 dB. Thereby, the left/right performance stability is improved with approximately 2.5 dB when the antenna unit includes the U-shaped shield unit.

[0114] As used, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning at least one), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms includes, comprises, including, and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being connected or coupled to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element but an intervening elements may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, connected or coupled as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method is not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0115] It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment or an aspect or features included as may means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

[0116] The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term some refers to one or more.

[0117] Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follow.

TABLE-US-00001 1 Hearing device 1A Hearing device in a binaural hearing aid system, 2 Housing 3 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 4 Shield unit 4A Continuous surface 5 Receiver 6 Feeder unit 7 Battery 8 Tube 9 Microphone 10 active unit 10A Active surface 11 Antenna 12 Ground unit 13 Capacitive coupling 14 Electromagnetic near field 14A Electric near field 15 Longitudinal direction 16 Transversal direction 17 Substrate 18 First section 19 Second section 20 Third section 21 Left ear of a user 22 Right ear of a user 23 Head of a user 24 Emitting section 25 Top surface of housing 26 Lower surface of housing 27 First plane 28 Second plane 29 Centre of housing X Ear-to-ear axis Y End-to-end axis extending from the back part to the front part of the head of the user Z Upper-to-lower axis extending from lower to upper part of the head of the user U Center of the head .sub.1 First angle .sub.2 Second angle