US 11,671,772 B2
Ear-worn electronic device incorporating magnetically coupled feed for an antenna
Paul Anders Shriner, Hopkins, MN (US); Aaron Anderson, Mayer, MN (US); Gregory J. Haubrich, Champlin, MN (US); and Nasser Pooladian, St. Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/462,478.
Application 17/462,478 is a continuation of application No. 16/371,495, filed on Apr. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,122,376.
Prior Publication US 2022/0021989 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); H01Q 1/27 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/554 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/273 (2013.01); H04R 2225/51 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ear-wearable electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:
a shell configured for at least partial insertion into an ear canal of the wearer, the shell having a preformed shape or a shapeable material that conforms to a shape of the wearer's ear canal;
a processor disposed in the shell;
a speaker or a receiver operatively coupled to the processor;
a radio frequency transceiver disposed in the shell and operatively coupled to the processor;
an antenna arrangement comprising a first section disposed on a fixed structure of the shell and a second section disposed on a partially movable structure connected to, and at least partly external of, the shell; and
a separable transformer connected to the antenna arrangement and comprising a first coil and a second coil, the first and second coils movable relative to one another between a coupled state and an uncoupled state, wherein a conductor of the second coil is ohmically separated from a conductor of the first coil, the separable transformer arranged to operatively couple the antenna arrangement to the transceiver.