Patent Publication Number: US-11653157-B2

Title: Antenna used in conjunction with the conductors for an audio transducer

Description:
PRIORITY APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/369,122, filed Dec. 5, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,798,496; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,393, filed Oct. 20, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,516,432, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/027,151, filed Feb. 6, 2008, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,867,765, each of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     This document relates to hearing assistance devices and more particularly to electronic wireless communications using conductors of hearing assistance devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hearing assistance devices, such as hearing aids, can provide adjustable operational modes or characteristics that improve the performance of the hearing assistance device for a specific person or in a specific environment. Some of the operational characteristics are volume control, tone control, and selective signal input. These and other operational characteristics can be programmed into a hearing aid. A programmable hearing aid can be programmed through connections to the hearing aid and by wirelessly communicating with the hearing aid. Hearing assistance devices present limited space and power design options. The placement and design of any components must be made with economy. 
     SUMMARY 
     This document provides methods and apparatus for hearing assistance devices with wireless electronics connected to acoustic transducer conductors for use as antennas. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device is provided including a behind-the-ear housing, hearing assistance electronics enclosed in the housing, an acoustic transducer adapted to be worn in the ear, a cable assembly mechanically connected to the BTE housing and electrically connecting the acoustic transducer to the hearing assistance electronics, wireless electronics connected to the hearing assistance electronics and an antenna comprising one or more conductors forming at least a portion of the cable assembly. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device is provided including a behind-the-ear housing, hearing assistance electronics enclosed in the housing, a receiver, a cable assembly connecting the receiver to the hearing assistance electronics, a wireless communications receiver connected to the hearing assistance electronics and an antenna comprising one or more conductors forming at least a portion of the cable assembly. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance device includes a wireless communications transmitter. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device is provided, the method including coupling an acoustic transducer to hearing assistance electronics using two or more conductors and coupling wireless communication electronics to at least one of the two or more conductors. 
     This Summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and is not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details about the present subject matter are found in the detailed description and the appended claims. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates one embodiment of a hearing assistance device according to the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a block diagram of a hearing assistance device with wireless communication receiver according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a hearing assistance device including a microphone adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal and a wireless communications transmitter according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  illustrates one embodiments of a hearing assistance device  400  including a second housing adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal according to the present subject matter. 
         FIGS.  4 C and  4 D  illustrates embodiments of a hearing assistance device including a second housing adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal according to the present subject matter. 
         FIGS.  4 E and  4 F  illustrates embodiments of a hearing assistance device including a second housing adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal according to the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  5 A  illustrates a hearing assistance device including a connector with conductive silicone for connecting the hearing assistance electronics to a receiver in the ear canal of a user according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  5 B  illustrates a hearing assistance device including a connector with conductive silicone for connecting the hearing assistance electronics to a receiver in the canal of a user and a dedicated antenna conductor for wireless communications according to one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  6 A  illustrates a hearing aid including two conductive silicone connectors a second housing including a second microphone adapted to be worn in the ear canal of a user, and a tuning circuit for matching the antenna conductors to the wireless communications electronics according one embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  6 B  illustrates one embodiment of a hearing aid with wireless communications capability according to the present subject matter. 
         FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate one embodiment of a conductive silicone connector according to the present subject matter. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates one embodiment of a method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device according to the present subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of the present invention refers to subject matter in the accompanying drawings which show, by way of illustration, specific aspects and embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. References to “an”, “one”, or “various” embodiments in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references contemplate more than one embodiment. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates one embodiment of a hearing assistance device  100  according to the present subject matter. The illustrated hearing assistance device includes a first housing  101 , a second housing  108  and a cable assembly  103 , including conductors, connecting electrical components enclosed in the first housing  101  to electrical components attached to the second housing  108 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing is adapted to be worn on the ear of a user and the second housing  108  is adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of the user. In various embodiments, one or more of the conductors in the cable assembly  103  are used as an antenna for electronic wireless communications. In various embodiments, the cable assembly  103  include a tube, protective insulation or a tube and protective insulation. In various embodiments, the cable assembly  103  is formable so as to adjust the relative position of the first and second housing according to the comfort and preference of the user. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a block diagram of a hearing assistance device  200  with wireless communications receiver according to the present subject matter. The illustrated embodiment includes a first housing  201 , an acoustic receiver  202 , or speaker, positioned in the ear canal  210  of a wearer and conductors  203  coupling the receiver to the first housing  201  and the electronics enclosed therein. The electronics enclosed in the first housing include a microphone  204 , hearing assistance electronics  205  and a wireless communication receiver  206 . In various embodiments, the hearing assistance electronics include a processor and memory components. The memory component stores program instructions for the processor. The program instructions include functions allowing the processor and other components to process audio received by the microphone  204  and transmit processed audio signals to the speaker  202 . The speaker emits the processed audio signal as sound in the user&#39;s ear canal. In various embodiments, the hearing assistance electronics includes functionality to amplify, filter, limit, condition or a combination thereof, the sounds received using the microphone  204 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  2   , the wireless communications receiver  206  is connected to the hearing assistance electronics  205  and the conductors  203  connecting the hearing assistance electronics  205  and the speaker  202 . In various embodiments, the hearing assistance electronics includes functionality to process audio signals received using the wireless communications receiver  206  and emit the processed audio signals using the conductors  203  and the speaker  202 . In such embodiments, the wireless communications receiver  206  receives wireless signals using one or more of the conductors  203  as an antenna. In various embodiments, upon reception, the signals are passed from the wireless communications receiver  206  to the hearing assistance electronics  205  for processing using connection  215 . The processed signals are transmitted to the acoustic receiver using one or more of the same conductors  203  used for receiving the wireless signals. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates one embodiment of a hearing assistance device  300  including a microphone  307  adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  310 .  FIG.  3    shows a first housing  301 , including hearing assistance electronics  305 , a speaker  302 , an ear canal microphone  307  and conductors  303 A,  303 B connecting the speaker  302  and ear canal microphone  307  to the hearing assistance electronics  305 . In addition to the hearing assistance electronics  305 , the first housing  301  also encloses a first microphone  304  and a wireless communications transmitter  326 , The wireless communications transmitter  326  includes a first connection  315  to the hearing assistance electronics  305  and a second connection  316  to at least one of the acoustic receiver conductors  303 A. In various embodiments, the first connection  315  between the hearing assistance electronics  305  and the wireless communications transmitter  326  facilitates communication of data between the hearing assistance electronics  305  and the wireless communications transmitter  326 . In various embodiments, the second connection  316  facilitates wireless communication transmissions from the hearing assistance device  300  to one or more other devices. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  3   , the wireless communication transmitter  326  is connected to the hearing assistance electronics  305  and the conductors  303 A connecting the hearing assistance electronics  305  to the speaker  302 . In various embodiments, the hearing electronics includes functions to transmit audio signals and data using the wireless communications transmitter  326  and the conductors  303 A. In such embodiments, the wireless communications transmitter  326  transmits wireless communication signals using one or more of the conductors  303 A as an antenna. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  49    illustrates embodiments of a hearing assistance device  400  including a second housing  408  adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410  according to the present subject matter. The illustrated device  400  includes a first housing  401  enclosing a first microphone  404 , hearing assistance electronics  405  and a wireless communications receiver  406 . The device  400  also includes a second housing  408  with an speaker  402  and a second microphone  407 . The second housing  408  is adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410 . The first microphone  404 , second microphone  407 , and speaker  402  are connected to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . The wireless communications receiver  406  includes a first connection  415  to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . In  FIG.  4 A , device  400  includes a second connection  416  to the conductors  403 A connecting the speaker  402  to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . In  FIG.  4 B , device  400  includes a second connection  416  to the conductors  403 B connecting the second microphone  407  to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . 
     The second connection  416 , between the wireless communications receiver  406  and the hearing assistance electronics  405 , allows the wireless communications receiver  406  to use one or more conductors  403 A to receive and convert electromagnetic waves into electrical signals for input to the wireless communications receiver  406 . Conductors  403 A, as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG.  4 A , connect the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the speaker  402 . As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG.  4 B , the second connection  416  allows the wireless communications receiver  406  to use one or more of the conductors  403 B, connecting the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the second microphone  407  to receive and convert electromagnetic waves into electrical signals for input to the wireless communications receiver. In various embodiments, the received wireless signals include data for the hearing assistance electronics  405 . The data is exchange between the wireless communications receiver  406  and the hearing assistance electronics  405  using the first connection  415 . 
       FIGS.  4 C and  4 D  illustrates embodiments of a hearing assistance device  400  including a second housing  408  adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410  according to the present subject matter. The illustrated device  400  includes a first housing  401  enclosing a first microphone  404 , hearing assistance electronics  405  and a wireless communications transmitter  426 . The device  400  also includes a second housing  408  with a speaker  402  and a second microphone  407 . The second housing  408  is adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410 . The first microphone  404 , second microphone  407 , and speaker  402  are connected to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . The second connection  416  allows the wireless communications transmitter to drive one or more of the conductors  403 A connecting the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the speaker  402 , as illustrated in  FIG.  4 C . In the embodiment of  FIG.  4 D , the second connection  416  allows the wireless communications transmitter  426  to drive one or more of the conductors  403 B connecting the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the second microphone  407 . When driven by the wireless communications transmitter, the one or more conductors convert electrical signals into electromagnetic energy and radiate electromagnetic waves for reception by other devices. In various embodiments, the transmitted wireless signals include data indicative of the operation, data indicative of status or data indicative of operation and status of the hearing assistance device  400 . The data is exchange between the wireless communications transmitter  426  and the hearing assistance electronics  405  using the first connection  415 . 
       FIGS.  4 E and  4 F  illustrates embodiments of a hearing assistance device  400  including a second housing  408  adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410  according to the present subject matter. The illustrated device  400  includes a first housing  401  enclosing a first microphone  404 , hearing assistance electronics  405  and a wireless communications electronics including a transmitter and receiver, or transmitter-receiver  427 . In various embodiments, the transmitter and receiver are implemented with shared circuitry and are called a ‘transceiver’. The device  400  also includes a second housing  408  with a speaker  402  and a second microphone  407 . The second housing  408  is adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  410 . The first microphone  404 , second microphone  407 , and speaker  402  are connected to the hearing assistance electronics  405 . The second connection  416  allows the wireless communication transmitter-receiver  427  to monitor and drive one or more of the conductors  403 A, as shown in  FIG.  4 E , connecting the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the speaker  402  to accommodate wireless communications with the one or more other devices. In  FIG.  4 F , the second connection  416  allows the wireless communication transmitter-receiver  427  to monitor and drive one or more of the conductors  403 B connecting the hearing assistance electronics  405  to the second microphone  407  to accommodate wireless communications with the one or more other devices. 
     In various embodiments, the first housing  401  is a housing adapted to be worn on the ear of a user, such as, an on-the-ear (OTE) housing or a behind-the-ear (BTE) housing. In various embodiments, the second housing  408  is an earmold. In various embodiments, the second housing is a in-the-ear (ITE) housing. In various embodiments, the second housing is an in-the-canal (ITC) housing. In various embodiments, the second housing is a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) housing. In various embodiments the second housing is an earbud. 
     In  FIGS.  4 A,  4 C and  4 E , the wireless communications electronics,  406 ,  426  and  427 , are connected to one of the speaker conductors  403 A such that the conductor is a monopole antenna for wireless communications. In various embodiments, the wireless communications electronics  406 ,  426  and  427 , connect to a conductor  403 B of the second microphone  407  as a monopole antenna. In FIGS.  4 B,  4 D and  4 F the wireless communications electronics  406 ,  426  and  427 , are connected to two of the second microphone conductors  403 B such that the conductors form a dipole antenna for wireless communications. In various embodiments, the wireless communications electronics  406 ,  426  and  427 , are connected to two conductors connected to the speaker  402  as a dipole antenna. In various embodiments, an antenna is implemented in configurations other than a monopole or a dipole antenna, such as, a patch antenna, loop antenna or a wave guide antenna. 
     In general, electrical conductors can both receive and transmit electromagnetic energy. Depending on the physical configuration of a conductor, or group of conductors functioning as an antenna, the antenna will receive or transmit electromagnetic energy more efficiently at some frequencies than others. Additionally, a conductor, or group of conductors, can transmit and receive multiple electrical signals simultaneously and effectively when the conductors are connected to electronics capable of separating the signals. In various embodiments, the acoustic signal emitted by the speaker  302  is confined to a frequency band distinguishable from the frequency band of interest for wireless communications. In various embodiments, both the wireless communications signals and the audio signals are electrical signals when transmitted using one or more of the conductors connecting the hearing assistance electronics to an acoustic transducer, such as an acoustic receiver. The wireless communication signals do not affect the emitted sound of the receiver. The electrical acoustic signal, although transmitted by the conductors, does not detrimentally affect the wireless communications signals as the frequencies of the acoustic signal are distinguishable from the frequencies of the wireless signals whether the wireless communications electronics are transmitting, receiving or simultaneously transmitting and receiving wireless communications signals. In various embodiments, wireless signal reception, wireless signal transmission and acoustic signal transmissions are multiplexed on one or more conductors connecting the hearing assistance electronics to an acoustic transducer. 
       FIG.  5 A  illustrates a hearing assistance device  500  according to the present subject matter including a connector  512  for connecting the hearing assistance electronics  505  to a speaker  502  in the canal  510  of a user. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector  512  allows physical replacement of either the speaker  502  or the hearing aid housing  501  including the enclosed electronics in a simple and time efficient manner. In various embodiments the connector  512  includes conductive silicone for electrically connecting the connector conductors. The illustrated embodiment  500  includes a first housing  501 , an acoustic receiver  502 , or speaker, adapted for positioning in the ear canal  510  of a wearer and conductors  503  for coupling the receiver  502  to the first housing  501  and the electronics enclosed therein. The electronics enclosed in the first housing  501  include a microphone  504 , hearing assistance electronics  505  and wireless electronics  528 . The wireless electronics  528  include a first connection  515  to the hearing assistance electronics  505  and a second connection  516  to the conductors  503  connecting the hearing assistance electronics  505  to the receiver  502 . The first connection  515  accommodates exchanging data between the hearing assistance electronics  505  and the wireless electronics  528 . The second connection  516  allows the wireless electronics  506  to use one or more of the conductors  503  connecting the receiver  502  to the hearing assistance electronics  505  as an antenna for wireless communications between the hearing assistance device  500  and one or more other devices. 
       FIG.  5 B  illustrates a hearing assistance device  500  according to the present subject matter including a connector  512  for connecting the hearing assistance electronics  505  to a receiver  502  in the canal  510  of a user and a dedicated conductor  517  for wireless communications. The illustrated embodiment  500  includes a first housing  501 , an acoustic receiver  502 , or speaker, adapted for positioning in the ear canal  510  of a wearer and conductors  503  for coupling the receiver  502  to the first housing  501  and the electronics enclosed therein. The electronics enclosed in the first housing  501  include a microphone  504 , hearing assistance electronics  505  and wireless communication electronics  528 . The wireless communications electronics  528  include a first connection  515  to the hearing assistance electronics  505 . The first connection  515  accommodates exchanging data between the hearing assistance electronics  505  and the wireless communications electronics  528 . The wireless communications electronics illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG.  5 B  also includes a dedicated antenna conductor  517  for wireless communications. In various embodiments, the antenna conductor extends with the conductors  503  extending from the first housing  501  toward the user&#39;s ear canal  510 . In various embodiments, the antenna conductor  517  is embedded in a protective insulating layer  518  of the other conductors  503 . In various embodiments, the antenna conductor is embedded in the first housing  501 . In  FIG.  5 B , the antenna conductor is configured as a monopole antenna. In various embodiments, the antenna is implemented in configurations other than a monopole antenna, such as, a dipole antenna, a patch antenna, loop antenna or a wave guide antenna. In various embodiments the connector  512  includes conductive silicone for electrically connecting the connector conductors. In various embodiments, the wireless communications electronics  528  are implemented as a wireless communications receiver, a wireless communications transmitter or a combination thereof, including a wireless communications transceiver. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates a hearing aid  600  including two connectors  612 ,  613 , a second housing  608  including a second microphone  607  adapted to be worn in the ear canal  610  of a user, and a tuning circuit  619  for matching the antenna conductors  603 A to the wireless communications electronics  628  according one embodiment of the present subject matter. The illustrated device  600  includes a first housing  601  enclosing a first microphone  604 , hearing aid electronics  605  and wireless communications electronics  628 . The illustrated hearing assistance device  600  also includes a second housing  608  with an acoustic receiver  602  and a second microphone  607 . The second housing  608  is adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  610 . The first microphone  604 , second microphone  607 , and receiver  602  are connected to the hearing aid electronics  605 . The wireless communications electronics  628  include a first connection  615  to the hearing assistance electronics  605  and a second connection  616  to the conductors  603 A connecting the receiver  602  to the hearing assistance electronics  605 . In various embodiments, the first connector  612  includes conductive silicone to electrically connect the conductors between the hearing aid electronics  605  and the second housing  608 . 
     In various embodiments, the acoustic receiver  602  and second microphone  607  are connected to the hearing aid electronics  605  using an intermediate cable  614  and a first  612  and second  613  connector. In various embodiments, one or more of the connectors are conductive silicone connectors. Conductive silicone connectors electrically connect conductors using conductive silicone. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a first conductive silicone connector  612  connects the conductors of an intermediate cable  614  to corresponding conductors at or near the hearing assistance housing  601 . Additionally, a second conductive silicone connector  613  connects the conductors of the acoustic receiver  603 A and second microphone  603 B to corresponding conductors of the intermediate cable  614 . The two silicone connectors allow simple and efficient replacement of either the hearing assistance device housing  601  and the electronics enclosed within, the intermediate cable  614  or the second housing  608  with the second microphone  607  and the receiver  602 . In various embodiments, the wireless communications electronics  628  include a tuning circuit  619  to match the antenna conductor, or antenna conductors, to the wireless communications electronics for optimal performance of the wireless communications. Matching the antenna to the wireless electronics  628 , such as a transceiver, for example, becomes important where the antenna conductors can be replaced easily and the replacement conductors vary, for example in length, from one to another. The tuning circuit may be implemented in hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software. In various embodiments, the tuning circuit  619  is a fixed tuning component. In various embodiments, the tuning circuit  619  is a variable tuning component, such as a variable shunt capacitor. In various embodiments, the wireless communications electronics  628  are implemented as a wireless communications receiver, a wireless communications transmitter or a combination thereof, including a wireless communications transceiver. 
       FIG.  6 B  illustrates one embodiment of a hearing aid  600  with wireless communications capability according to the present subject matter. The illustrated hearing aid  600  includes a first housing  601  enclosing a first microphone  604 , hearing aid electronics  605  and wireless communications electronics  629 . The illustrated hearing aid  600  also includes a second housing  608  with an acoustic receiver  602  and a second microphone  607 . The second housing  608  is adapted to be worn in a user&#39;s ear canal  610 . The first microphone  604 , second microphone  607 , and receiver  602  are connected to the hearing aid electronics  605 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  6 B , the conductors  6039  connecting the second microphone  607  to the hearing aid electronics  605  are also connected to the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a transmission antenna. The conductors  603 A connecting the acoustic receiver  602  to the hearing aid electronics  605  are also connected to the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a wireless communications reception antenna. The wireless communications electronics  629  include a first connection  615  to the hearing assistance electronics  605  to exchange data between the hearing aid electronics  605  and the wireless communications electronics  629 . In various embodiments, the transmission antenna is formed using, at least in part, the conductors of the acoustic receiver  602  and the reception antenna is formed using, at least in part, the conductors of the second microphone  607 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  6 B , the acoustic receiver  602  and second microphone  607  are connected to the hearing aid electronics  605  and the wireless communications electronics  629  using an intermediate cable  614  and a first  612  and second  613  connector. In various embodiments, the first connector, the second connector, or the first and second connector include a conductive silicone component for electrically connecting corresponding conductors.  FIG.  6 B  illustrates the wireless electronics connected to conductors of both the ear canal microphone  607  and the receiver  602 . The microphone conductors  603 B are connected to a wireless transmitter output of the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a wireless communications transmission antenna. The receiver conductors  603 A are connected to a wireless receiver input of the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a wireless communications reception antenna. Using separate conductors for reception and transmission of wireless communications avoid issues inherent in switching between transmission and reception modes using a common antenna. In various embodiments, the ear canal microphone conductors  603 B are connected to a wireless communications receiver input of the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a wireless communications reception antenna. In various embodiments, the receiver conductors  603 A are connected to a wireless communications transmitter output of the wireless communications electronics  629  for use as a wireless communications transmission antenna. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  6 B , connector  612  includes a tuning component  619  for matching the antenna to, among other things, the wireless communications electronics  629 . In general, antenna matching includes modifying the input impedance of the antenna to equal or approximate the circuit feeding the antenna over one or more frequencies in a range of interest. In various embodiments, the tuning component is a fixed tuning component for matching the antenna to the wireless communications electronics. In various embodiments, the tuning component includes a variable tuning component for matching the antenna to the wireless communications electronics. In various embodiments, a tuning component is included in a connector of a transmission antenna. In various embodiments, a tuning component is included in a connector of an antenna providing both transmission and reception functionality to a hearing aid. In various embodiments, separate tuning components are provide for each antenna. Separate tuning components allow for optimal energy transfer of each antenna as well as other characteristics such as noise figure and linearity that may otherwise decrease or compromise performance using a common antenna. 
       FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate one embodiment of a conductive silicone connector.  FIGS.  7 A and  7 B  illustrate a component of conductive silicone  734  disposed in a connector to provide a reliable electrical connection according to one embodiment of the present subject matter.  FIG.  7 A  illustrates a plug and receptacle type connector.  FIG.  7 A  includes a cable  721 , illustrated as a two conductor insulated cable. Insulation  727  isolates the conductors  728  from each other as well as the environment external to the cable. The end of the cable is enclosed in a molded plug  729 . The conductors  728  are exposed at the end of the plug  729 . The exposed portions of the conductors provide the contact point for the plug of the illustrated connector system. In various embodiments, specialized connectors are attached to the ends of the conductors to provide a larger interface area of contact with the conductive silicone component  234 . In various embodiments, the conductors of the receptacle are not limited to exposed traces of a circuit board, but may be, for example, exposed wires of a cable in contact with the conductive silicone component  734 . 
     The receptacle  730  of the illustrated connector system includes insulation material  731 , a flexible circuit board  732  with exposed traces  733  and an interface including a conductive silicone component  734 . In the illustrated embodiment, insulating material  731  forms the body of the receptacle  730 . In various embodiments, the insulation materials used to form the receptacle include mechanical features to engage and retain the insulation materials used to form the plug  729 . In the illustrated embodiment, circuit board traces  733  are exposed in the well of the receptacle. The exposed traces  733  of the circuit board  732 , integrated into the receptacle  730 , are covered by a conductive silicone component  734  disposed in the receptacle  730 . 
       FIG.  7 B  illustrates the connector embodiment of  FIG.  7 A  engaged to form a connection between the conductors of the plug  728  and conductors of the receptacle  733 . In some embodiments, the insulation material of the plug  729  and receptacle  731  include at least one locking mechanism. A locking mechanism includes one or more locking members. In one embodiment of the present subject matter, the locking members align the plug and receptacle to position the conductors correctly in applications where the polarity or the position of plug conductors with respect to receptacle conductors is necessary for proper operation. The locking members allow the plug and receptacle to engage when the respective conductors are correctly aligned. 
       FIG.  7 B  illustrates one embodiment of a plug and receptacle  730  when fully engaged. The conductors  728  and exposed traces  733  of the plug and receptacle contact a portion of the conductive silicone  734  disposed in the receptacle to form an electrical connection. In various embodiments, the conductive silicone component  734  is made with alternating layers of conductive and nonconductive silicone. When the connector of  FIG.  7 B  is fully engaged, a pair of mated conductors contact at least one common layer of conductive material in the conductive silicone component to complete the connection between the conductors. At least one insulating layer exists between adjacent conductors such that electrical isolation between each conductor common to the plug or the receptacle is maintained. 
       FIG.  8    illustrates one embodiment of a method of manufacturing a hearing assistance device  850  according to the present subject matter. The process includes coupling a receiver to hearing assistance electronics using at least two conductors  851 . The process further includes coupling wireless communication electronics to the conductors connecting the receiver and the hearing assistance electronics  852 . In various embodiments, during operation of the hearing assistance device, the conductors are simultaneously used to transmit acoustic signals from the hearing assistance electronics to the receiver and provide an antenna for the wireless communication electronics. In various embodiments, coupling the wireless communication electronics includes coupling a wireless transmitter, coupling a wireless receiver or coupling a wireless transceiver. 
     The present subject matter includes hearing assistance devices, including, but not limited to, cochlear implant type hearing devices, hearing aids, such as behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) type hearing aids. It is understood that behind-the-ear type hearing aids may include devices that reside substantially behind the ear or over the ear. Such devices may include hearing aids with receivers associated with the electronics portion of the behind-the-ear device, or hearing aids of the type having receivers in-the-canal. It is understood that other hearing assistance devices not expressly stated herein may fall within the scope of the present subject matter. 
     This application is intended to cover adaptations and variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the present subject matter should be determined with reference to the appended claim, along with the full scope of legal equivalents to which the claims are entitled.