Hearing device including an external antenna part and an internal antenna part

Abstract

The disclosure presents a method and a hearing device comprising a first portion adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal or the acoustic output. Furthermore, the hearing device comprises an antenna which includes an external antenna part and an internal antenna part, where the internal antenna part includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element where a first end of the second antenna element is arranged at one end of the first antenna element and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the second antenna element is connected to a ground plane, and a third antenna element which is spaced at a distance from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element, a feeding unit configured to supply a current to the antenna via the third antenna element, a wireless interface for receiving and/or sending data by means of the antenna, and wherein the coupling element comprises the external antenna part, and where the external antenna part is connected to the internal antenna part.

Claims

1. A hearing device comprising a housing configured to be positioned behind an ear of a person, an in-the-ear part configured to be positioned at least partly in an ear canal of the person, wherein an output transducer configured to converting a signal to an acoustic output is arranged in the in-the-ear part, a connection member configured to provide a mechanical connection extending between a housing of the in-the-ear part and the behind-the-ear housing, an antenna satisfying one of the following: the antenna is formed both in a plurality of electrical conductors in the connection member and internal to the behind-the-ear housing, and the antenna is formed both in at least one electrical conductor in the connection member and internal to the behind-the-ear housing to establish a dipole antenna where one arm of the antenna is in the connection member and the other arm is inside the behind-the-ear housing, a wireless interface arranged in the behind-the-ear housing, the wireless interface configured for receiving and/or sending data via the antenna, and a sensor arranged on a substrate in the in-the-ear part, the sensor being one of: a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a pulse sensor, a microphone, an EEG sensor, an electrode, and a photodetector, wherein a first electrical conductor of the connection member is arranged to carry electrical signals from circuitry in the behind-the-ear housing to a receiver arranged in the in-the-ear part, the receiver being arranged apart from the substrate, wherein a second electrical conductor of the connection member is arranged to carry electrical signals to/from the sensor or to/from a processor configured for at least one of: controlling the sensor, processing signals detected by the sensor, processing signals transmitted by the sensor, wherein at least a multitude of the plurality of electrical conductors are connected to a corresponding multitude of connection points on the substrate arranged in the housing of the in-the-ear part, and wherein the first electrical conductor is connected to the receiver via a first connection point of the multitude of connection points, and a decoupling element is arranged on the substrate at the first connection point to decrease coupling between the first and second electrical conductors.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element has a maximum dampening at an operating frequency or operating frequency interval of the antenna.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured with an operational frequency of around 2.4 GHz or around 5 GHz.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a mainly or entirely capacitive decoupling element.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein additional decoupling elements are arranged between a subset of the multitude of connection points.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein decoupling elements are arranged between each of the connection points.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a low impedance decoupling element at radio frequencies.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a discrete capacitor having a capacitance in the range of 0.1 pF-1000 pF.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is an ESD diode.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is a parasitic capacitance.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the decoupling element is tuned to the operation frequency of the antenna.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is configured to operate using Bluetooth protocol.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a second antenna.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an internal parasitic element connected to a ground plane.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 14, wherein the internal parasitic element is formed on a printed circuit board.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the in-the-ear part includes a light emitting diode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) 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:

(2) FIGS. 1a-1c, illustrate an example of a hearing device and an example of the antenna within the hearing device,

(3) FIG. 2, illustrates an example of the antenna within the hearing device,

(4) FIG. 3, illustrates an example of the antenna within the hearing device,

(5) FIGS. 4a-4b, illustrate a further example of the hearing device including an internal parasitic element,

(6) FIGS. 5a-5c, illustrate an example of the hearing device and a simulation of the resonance frequency,

(7) FIGS. 6a-6d, illustrate different examples of the hearing device,

(8) FIG. 7, illustrates a further example of the hearing device including an internal parasitic element,

(9) FIGS. 8a-8c, illustrate different example of the hearing device,

(10) FIG. 9, illustrates an example of the hearing device including a shield element,

(11) FIGS. 10a-10b, illustrate an example of the hearing device including a shield element,

(12) FIG. 11, illustrates a flow diagram of a method,

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates two connection members

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) 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.

(15) 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.

(16) 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.

(17) A hearing device may be part of a “hearing system”, which 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.

(18) 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.

(19) 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.

(20) 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.

(21) 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.

(22) Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follows.

(23) FIG. 1a-1c an example of a hearing device 1 and an example of the antenna 8 within the hearing device 1. FIG. 1a shows a hearing device 1 comprising a first portion 2 adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer 10 for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element 6 coupling to the first portion 2, an antenna 8 comprising an external antenna part 14 arranged at least externally to the first portion 2 and an internal antenna part 13 arranged within the first portion, a feeding unit 20 configured to supply a current to the external antenna part 14 via the internal antenna part 13. The hearing device 1 further comprises a wireless interface 16 configured to receive and/or send data and/or audio and/or power by means of the antenna. The coupling element 6 comprises the external antenna part 14, and the external antenna part 14 is connected to the internal antenna part 13. In this specific example, the hearing device 1 further comprises a second portion 4 adapted for being arranged distantly from the first portion 2 and for providing the acoustic output to the user, where the second portion 4 includes the output transducer 10. The coupling element 6 is coupling the first portion 2 and the second portion 4, and wherein the coupling element 6 is adapted for transmitting at least the signal to the output transducer 10, and wherein the coupling element 6 comprises an electrically conducting element 18 coupled to the wireless interface 16, and wherein the electrically conducting elements 18 is at least a part of the external antenna part 14.

(24) FIG. 1b illustrates the antenna 8 including the internal antenna part 13 being part of a main plane 11 and the electrically conducting elements 18A-18C which are at least part of the external antenna part 14. In this specific example, the internal antenna part 13 comprises a first antenna element 13A, a second antenna element 13B where a first end of the second antenna element 13B is arranged at one end of the first antenna element 13A and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the second antenna element 13B is connected to a ground plane 26, and a third antenna element 13C which is spaced apart from the second antenna element 13B and connected to the first antenna element 13A. The electrically conducting elements 18A-18C are connected to the internal antenna part 13 via the first antenna element 13A.

(25) FIG. 1c illustrates the antenna 8 of the hearing device 1, were the second antenna element 13B and the third antenna element 13C are formed by one or more electrically conducting paths 9A in the main plane 11, where the electrically conducting paths 9A of the internal antenna part are connected to the electrically conducting elements 18A-18C of the external antenna part 14. In this specific example the electrically conducting paths 9A are mounted on a conducting plate 9.

(26) FIG. 2 illustrates that the distance between the second antenna element 13B and the third antenna element 13C is determined based on the ratio between the voltage of the voltage distribution 39 and the current of the current distribution 38 along the first antenna element 13A. In this specific example, the position of the connection point of the feeding unit 20 to the internal antenna part 13 is where the ratio between the voltage and the current is 50 ohm.

(27) FIG. 3 illustrates the antenna 8 where the internal antenna part comprises a fourth antenna element 13D and a fifth antenna element 13E, where a first end of the fifth antenna element 13E is arranged at one end of the fourth antenna element 13D and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the fifth antenna element 13E is connected to the first antenna element 13A, and where the fourth antenna element 13D is partly parallel with the first antenna element 13A, and where the electrical length of the fourth antenna element 13D is larger than the electrical length of the first antenna element 13A.

(28) In this specific example the internal antenna part 13 is a dual band inverted F antenna having at least two frequency, i.e. operating frequency, where a first frequency is represented by the fourth and the fifth antenna element (13D, 13E), and a second frequency is represented by the remaining antenna element (13A-13C) of the internal antenna part 13. If the fourth antenna element 13D has a longer electrical length than the first antenna element 13A results in that the first frequency is less than the second frequency.

(29) FIG. 4a-4b illustrate the hearing device 1 where the antenna 8 comprises an internal parasitic element 12, the internal antenna part 13 and the external antenna part (14, 18). FIG. 4a illustrates a similar hearing device as described in FIG. 1a, however, in this specific example, the hearing device comprises the internal parasitic element 12. FIG. 4b illustrates the antenna 8 including the internal parasitic element 12. In this specific example, the feeding unit is positioned such that a current is supplied to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as a magnetic coupling 22 and/or a capacitive coupling 23. The internal parasitic element 12 is connected to the ground plane 26.

(30) FIGS. 5a-5c illustrate a simulation of the hearing device 1 with and without the internal parasitic element 12. FIG. 5a illustrates the hearing device 1 without the internal parasitic element 12, and FIG. 5b illustrates the hearing device 1 with the internal parasitic element, and FIG. 5c illustrates the simulation result of the hearing device 1 with and without the internal parasitic element 12. The result shows that the 10 dB bandwidth of the antenna without the internal parasitic element 12 is less than the 10 dB bandwidth of the antenna 8 with the internal parasitic element 12. This clearly shows that the solution with multiple electrically conductive elements 18A-18E, acting as the external antenna part 14, has an improved bandwidth when including the parasitic element 12 into the design of the antenna 8.

(31) FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate the hearing device 1 worn by a user 30. FIG. 6a illustrates a behind-the ear hearing aid 1, where the first portion 2 is positioned between the pinna of the ear of the user 30 and the skull of the user 30. The second portion 4 is positioned within the ear canal of the user 30. The first portion 2 and the second portion 4 are coupled via a coupling element 6. The coupling element 7 may be configured to transfer the acoustic output via air or configured to transfer the signal via the electrically conducting element 18. FIG. 6b illustrates a cochlear hearing aid 1 where the first portion 2 is connected 6 to both the second portion 4 and an external part 4b, where the external part 6 is an implant stimulator. The connection 6 comprises a first and a second coupling element, where the first and the second coupling element may be similar to the coupling element described previously. FIG. 6c illustrates a cochlear hearing aid 1 where the first portion 2 is connected 6 to the external part 4b via the coupling element 6. FIG. 6d illustrates a hearing device 1 where the coupling element 6 is an earhook 6 detachable mounted to the first portion 2.

(32) FIG. 7 illustrates the antenna 8 where the internal parasitic element is not part of the main plane 11 but instead is mounted distantly from the external antenna part 14, for example on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 3 within the first portion 2. The internal parasitic element 12 receives the current 24 from the feeding unit 20 via a wireless coupling (22, 23) between the ground plane 26 and the internal parasitic element 12.

(33) FIGS. 8a-8c illustrate multiple different examples of the hearing device 1, where the coupling element 6 is either a hollow tube including one or more electrically conductive elements or a hollow tube including an inner core and outer core, where the outer core encircles the inner core. The inner core may comprise air configured to guide the acoustic output and the outer core may comprise the electrically conducting element(s) 18, i.e. the external antenna part 14. FIG. 8a illustrates that the electrically conductive elements 18 are terminated within the second portion 4 and connected to an output transducer 10. FIG. 8b illustrates that the electrically conductive elements 18 are terminated within the coupling element 6. The first portion comprises the output transducer. FIG. 8c illustrates multiple electrically conductive elements (18A-18C) within the coupling element 6, wherein each of the conductive elements (18A-18C) are connected to a sensor 10A-10C within the second portion.

(34) FIG. 9 illustrates the coupling element 6 where a shield element 32 is twisted around the electrically conductive elements (18A, 18B).

(35) FIGS. 10a-10b illustrates different example of the shield element 32. FIG. 10a shows the shield element 32 being terminated to ground 34 within the first portion 2. FIG. 10b shows the shield element 32 being connected to the wireless interface 16 via a bandpass filter 32.

(36) FIG. 11 illustrates a method 100 for a wireless receiving and/or sending of data in the hearing device 1 comprising the output transducer 10, the coupling element 6 coupling the first portion 2 of the hearing device, the first portion providing a signal and the output transducer is configured to convert the signal to an acoustic output. The method 100 comprising the steps of providing an external antenna part within the coupling element (Step A), providing an internal antenna part, where the internal antenna part includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element where a first end of the second antenna element is arranged at one end of the first antenna element and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the second antenna element is connected to a ground element, and a third antenna element which is spaced at a distance from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element (Step B), connecting the internal antenna part to the external antenna part (Step C), supplying a current to the electrically conducting element by a feeding unit and via the internal antenna part (Step D), arranging the first portion behind an ear of a user of the hearing aid (Step E), and receiving and/or sending data by means of the electrically conducting element (Step G). Optionally, the method may further comprise a step of arranging a second portion 4 in an ear canal of the user or on a skin of the user, where the second portion is coupled to the coupling element 6 (Step F).

(37) FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a connection member with an in-the-ear part, here only illustrated with some of the internal components.

(38) In FIG. 12 on the left hand side, a receiver, i.e. an output transducer, is connectable via two wires to a housing, not shown, which housing is to be arranged behind the ear of the person wearing the hearing aid device.

(39) The output transducer is configured to be arranged in an in-the-ear part configured to be positioned at least partly in the ear canal of the person wearing the hearing aid device. The housing for the in-the-ear part may be formed specifically to fit into the ear canal of the person, often known as a custom mold, or be a, relatively, small house that fits most people and then fitted with a soft member having a dome, either open or closed, which ensures that wearing the in-the-ear housing in the ear canal is as comfortable as possible.

(40) In addition to the output transducer, other components are present in the in-the-ear housing. In general, components may be one or more of a memory device storing information such as identification and/or performance, a sensor configured to provide a signal representing a physical property, such as temperature, acceleration, orientation, e.g. tilt etc., EEG, pressure sensor, pulse sensor, optical sensor or other types of sensors. Other examples of components include RFID devices, inductive components, signal processor, filter bank.

(41) The in-the-ear housing is connected to the behind-the-ear housing via a connection member. The connection member extends the length between the in-the-ear housing and behind-the-ear housing. The connection member thereby provides a mechanical connection extending between the in-the-ear housing and the behind-the-ear housing. The connection member comprises a plurality of electrical conductors, here illustrated as six wires. Here, two wires connect to the output transducer, and the remaining four wires connect to other component or components.

(42) As the connection member is not covered by the ear when the hearing aid device is worn in its intentional operational state, it is at an advantageous area for an antenna, and using at least one electrical conductor as part of an antenna provides an efficient antenna.

(43) Generally, not all wires need to be connected to the substrate carrying components in the in-the-ear housing, but at least a multitude of the plurality of electrical conductors are connected to a corresponding multitude of connection points on the substrate arranged in the in-the-ear housing. It is possible that one or more of the electrical conductors do not connect to the substrate. This could for instance be a shield wire or shield component or even a dedicated antenna wire or dedicated antenna member or more dedicated antenna wires.

(44) As the antenna function established by at least one electrical conductor operates at relative high frequency, e.g. 2.4 GHz or around 5 GHz or the like, there is some coupling between the electrical conductors. It has surprisingly found that there is significant coupling near the connection points, and therefore at least one decoupling device is arranged between a first connection point of the multitude of connection points and a second of the multitude of connection points.

(45) In FIG. 12 on the right hand side, it is illustrated that a decoupling element is positioned between each of the connection points, however, as stated above, fewer decoupling elements may be used.

(46) The decoupling element or elements is/are tuned to the operating frequency or operating frequency interval of the antenna meaning that the decoupling element has a maximum dampening at the operation frequency, or in an interval including the operational frequency. This means that if the antenna function operates at 2.4 GHz, then the decoupling element should have maximum attenuation at that frequency, or at least at a frequency range near that frequency.

(47) In FIG. 12, the decoupling element is a mainly or entirely capacitive decoupling element, and consequently illustrated as a capacitor.

(48) In FIG. 12, the decoupling elements are illustrated as identical, however, the decoupling elements may have different properties, such as different capacitance. E.g. one group may have one property and another group have their own, other property.

(49) When including an antenna as disclosed herein it is advantageous that the decoupling elements have a capacitance in the range of 0.1 pF to 1000 pF, such as 0.5 to 250 pF, such as, 75 pF to 100 pF, such as 1 pF to 50 pF, such as 3 pF to 10 pF, such as around 6 pF, such as around 50 pF, such as around 100 pF, such as around 200 pF, such as around 500 pF.

(50) The decoupling elements in FIG. 12 are capacitors, however, in other versions, at least some of the decoupling elements may be diodes, such as ESD diodes. The decoupling elements may even be parasitic capacitances.

(51) The connection of the wires to the substrate as described here may be combined with the external antenna with the internal parasitic element as described above. In general, an antenna established in the connection member may be combined with other antenna elements inside the housing to be positioned behind the ear of the user. This could be other extension, e.g. so as to establish a dipole antenna where one arm of the antenna is in the connection member and the other arm is inside the behind-the-ear housing. Part of an antenna in the behind-the-ear housing may be at least partly coiled inside the housing, and/or extend between the top and bottom part of the housing. Additionally, or alternatively, part of an antenna may be included in the in-the-ear housing, such as at least partly coiled in the in-the-ear housing.

(52) In addition to the antenna described above, a telecoil may be provided in the hearing aid, such as in the housing to be positioned behind the ear.

(53) Further, a recharge system may be provided to allow the battery of the hearing aid to be recharged, e.g. inductively recharged.

(54) The Present Disclosure Also Relate to the Following Points.

(55) 1. A hearing device comprising; a first portion adapted for being arranged behind an ear of a user for providing a signal, an output transducer for converting the signal to an acoustic output, a coupling element coupled to the first portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal or the acoustic output, an antenna comprising an external antenna part and an internal antenna part, where the internal antenna part includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element, where a first end of the second antenna element is arranged at one end of the first antenna element and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the second antenna element is connected to a ground plane, and a third antenna element which is spaced at a distance from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element, a feeding unit configured to supply a current to the antenna via the third antenna element, a wireless interface for receiving and/or sending data by means of the antenna, and

(56) wherein the coupling element comprises the external antenna part, and where the external antenna part is connected to the internal antenna part, and wherein the coupling element comprises an electrically conducting element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the electrically conducting element is at least a part of the external antenna part.

(57) 2. A hearing device according to point 1, comprising a second portion adapted for being arranged distantly from the first portion and for providing the acoustic output to the user, and wherein the coupling element coupling the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal and/or the acoustic output.

(58) 3. A hearing device according to point 1 or 2, comprising an external part being arranged distantly to the first portion, and wherein the external part includes an implant stimulator where the coupling element or a second coupling element is coupling the first portion and the external part, and wherein the coupling element or the second coupling element is adapted for transmitting at least the signal, and wherein the second coupling element comprises an electrically conducting element coupled to the wireless interface, and wherein the electrically conducting element is at least a part of the external antenna part.

(59) 4. A hearing device according to point 2 or 3, wherein the second portion is arranged in an ear canal of the user, and wherein the second portion includes the output transducer, and/or the external part is arranged on a skin part of the user.

(60) 5. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the third antenna element are formed by an electrically conducting path mounted on a conducting plate, where the electrically conducting path is connected to the electrically conducting element of the external antenna part.

(61) 6. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the distance between the third antenna element and the second antenna element is determined based on the ratio between the voltage of a voltage distribution and a current of a current distribution along the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

(62) 7. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein an electrical length of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the external antenna part is in total λ/4 or λ/4+x*λ/2, where x is a number, such as 0, 1, 2, 3 etc., or the electrical length of the first antenna element, the second antenna element and the electrically conducting element(s) is in total λ/4 or x*λ/4+/−λ/2, where x is an odd number such as 3, 5, 7 etc.

(63) 8. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein an electrical length of the ground plane is λ/4 or λ/4+x*λ/2, where x is a number, such as 0, 1, 2, 3 etc.

(64) 9. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the internal antenna part comprises a fourth antenna element and a fifth antenna element, where a first end of the fifth antenna element is arranged at one end of the fourth antenna element and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the fifth antenna element is connected to the first antenna element, and where the fourth antenna element is partly parallel with the first antenna element, and where the electrical length of the fourth antenna element is larger than the electrical length of the first antenna element.

(65) 10. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the antenna comprises an internal parasitic element, and where the feeding unit is further configured to supply the current to the internal parasitic element via a wireless coupling, such as a magnetic coupling or a capacitive coupling.

(66) 11. A hearing device according to point 10, wherein the current within the feeding unit is magnetically coupled to the internal parasitic element.

(67) 12. A hearing device according to any of the points 10 to 11, wherein the ground plane is guiding the current from the feeding unit along a length of the ground plane, and wherein the internal parasitic element is positioned within the hearing device such that the current guided by the ground plane is coupled magnetically and/or capacitive to the internal parasitic element.

(68) 13. A hearing device according to any of the points 10 to 12, wherein an electrical length of the internal parasitic element is λ/4 or λ/4+x*λ/2, where x is a number, such as 0, 1, 2, 3 etc.

(69) 14. A hearing device according to any of the points 10 to 13, wherein the internal parasitic element is positioned such that a capacitive coupling is provided between the internal parasitic element and the external antenna part, where the capacitive coupling comprises a current being transferred from the external antenna part to the parasitic element.

(70) 15. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the electrically conducting element is at least adapted for carrying the signal upon transmission to the output transducer.

(71) 16. A hearing device according to point 2 or 3, wherein the external antenna part comprises multiple electrically conducting elements, where two or more electrically conducting elements are connected to one or more electronic devices mounted within the second portion or the external part of the hearing device, and where each of the electrically conducting elements are at least adapted for carrying a signal provided by the first portion to the connected electronic device.

(72) 17. A hearing device according to point 16, wherein the two or more electrically conducting elements are terminated within the second portion, external part or within the coupling element (or within the second coupling element).

(73) 18. A hearing device according to point 16, wherein the electronic device(s) within the second portion is a transducer, such as another output transducer or a microphone, and/or a sensor, and/or a light emitting diode and/or an electrode and/or a photodetector.

(74) 19. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or sending data by electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of about 2.45 GHz to about 5.5 GHz, or between 2.44 GHz to 5.5 GHz or about the frequency of 2.45 GHz or about the frequency of 5.5 GHz.

(75) 20. A hearing device according to any of the previous, wherein the coupling element comprises one or more shield elements for shielding the external antenna part.

(76) 21. A hearing device according to point 20, wherein the shield element is connected to the wireless interface via a bandpass filter, or the shield element is connected to a ground element within the first portion.

(77) 22. A hearing device according to any of the previous points, wherein the feeding unit is configured to supply the current to a second antenna being at least part of the antenna, and wherein the external antenna part and the second antenna are electrically coupled together by a capacitive coupling or a magnetic coupling so that the second antenna is able to extend the operation of the external antenna part.

(78) 23. A method for a wireless receiving and/or sending of data in a hearing device comprising an output transducer, a coupling element coupling a first portion of the hearing device, the first portion providing a signal and the output transducer is configured to convert the signal to an acoustic output, the method comprising the steps of: providing an external antenna part within the coupling element, where the external antenna part is part of an antenna, providing an internal antenna part being part of the antenna, where the internal antenna part includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element where a first end of the second antenna element is arranged at one end of the first antenna element and is connected thereto, and where a second end of the second antenna element is connected to a ground element, and a third antenna element which is spaced at a distance from the second antenna element and connected to the first antenna element, connecting the internal antenna part to the external antenna part, supplying a current to the external antenna part by a feeding unit and via the internal antenna part, arranging the first portion behind an ear of a user of the hearing aid, and receiving and/or sending data by the antenna.