Hearing Aids, Electrical Patents (Class 381/312)
  • Patent number: 10620012
    Abstract: A step counting method, a device, and a terminal, where the method includes obtaining, by a first device, step counting data of at least two devices carried by a same user, where the first device is one of the at least two devices, or the first device is different from the at least two devices, and determining, by the first device, a quantity of steps of the user according to the step counting data of the at least two devices. In the method, the quantity of steps of the user is determined according to the step counting data of the at least two devices of the same user in order to avoid a step counting error caused when a single device performs step counting, thereby improving step counting accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaoping Zhang, Yajun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10617334
    Abstract: An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprising a controller, right and left ear pieces, and a memory. The controller is configured to provide a series of tones to the right and left ear pieces and receive feedback from the patient between each tone provided, indicating that the respective tone was detected in one of the right ear piece and the left ear piece or that the respective tone was not detected. The controller is configured to also generate a data point on an audiogram after receiving each feedback and, after each data point is generated, compute a statistical distribution based on the generated data points, wherein the statistical distribution includes a lowest confidence level. A subsequent tone is selected, each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones being a tone represented at the lowest confidence level in statistical distribution at the time of selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Soundwave Hearing, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Boven, Reagan John Roberts
  • Patent number: 10623564
    Abstract: Real time, remote access to and adjustment of the hearing aid of a patient while the patient is located in a normal life environment that is remote from a hearing professional. A session request initiates a programming session. Adjustable settings from the patient's hearing aid are wirelessly streamed to the patient's mobile device and from the mobile device to a streaming cloud server. The settings are stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to a hearing professional's computer or mobile device and displayed. The hearing professional then changes at least one of the adjustable hearing aid settings and the changed settings are streamed to the cloud, stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to the patient's mobile device, wirelessly transmitted to the hearing aid and stored there. A telephonic voice connection between the hearing professional and the patient's mobile device is used to transmit the patient's evaluation of changed settings to the hearing professional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Deborah M. Manchester
  • Patent number: 10610687
    Abstract: A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Patent number: 10616694
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Tobias Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 10616695
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting when a device is placed into an operational position are disclosed. Upon determination that the device is in the operational position, one or more processes can be executed. Execution or initialization of the processes upon detection of the operational position provides for the determination of optimal settings than would otherwise be determined if the processes automatically executed before detection of the operational position. Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to determining when the device is no longer in an operational position upon which time the execution of the processes are terminated. The settings in place upon termination can be saved and reapplied the next time the device is in the operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Kristian Gunnar Asnes
  • Patent number: 10616699
    Abstract: In a hearing aid (26) that can be inserted into the ear canal (12) of a patient, comprising an actuator (31) effecting a mechanical stimulation of the tympanic membrane (14), the actuator (31) comprises an inner surface (32) associated with the tympanic membrane (14) and an outer surface (42) associated with the ear canal (12) and is configured as an areal disk actuator, whose deformation stimulates the tympanic membrane (14) by areal deformation. On the actuator (31) at a distance from the outer surface (42) a cover plate (43) is arranged which together with the outer surface (42) delimits a preferably lenticular cavity (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN MEDIZINISCHE FAKULTAET GESCHWISTER-SCHOLL-PLATZ
    Inventors: Ernst Dalhoff, Hans-Peter Zenner
  • Patent number: 10609495
    Abstract: A hearing aid provided which has: a battery; a control means which controls a function of the hearing aid, including a wireless communication; a power supply switch which switches between supply and block of power from the battery to the control means; and a magnetic switch connected to the control means, wherein: the control means proceed to a normal operation via a start-up process when power is supplied from the battery due to the power supply switch; and if the magnetic switch is on during the start-up process, the control means switches a wireless communication setting before proceeding to the normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Hiruma, Kazuteru Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10598506
    Abstract: A method for providing binaural audio navigation with a set of earpieces including a left earpiece and a right earpiece is provided. The method includes obtaining a generalized position of a user of the set of the earpieces, obtaining a destination for the user of the set of the earpieces, sensing head orientation and movement with inertial sensors of the set of earpieces, applying a binaural synthesis algorithm using the generalized position, a destination, head orientation and movement to create a plurality of virtual sound sources, and transducing binaural audio based on the virtual sound sources at speakers within the set of the earpieces in order to provide binaural audio navigation to the user. The plurality of virtual sound sources may include a main virtual sound source providing a continuous audio cue. The plurality of virtual sources may include auditory landmark cues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Ilse, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10595135
    Abstract: A method for evaluating hearing of a user comprising: generating a baseline hearing profile for the user comprising a set of gain values based on a volume setting, each gain value in the set of gain values corresponding to a frequency band in a set of frequency bands; accessing a soundbite comprising a phrase characterized by a frequency spectrum predominantly within one frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a first gain in the frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a second gain in the frequency band; receiving a preference input representing a preference of the user from amongst the soundbite amplified by the first gain and the soundbite amplified by the second; and modifying a gain value, corresponding to the frequency band, in the baseline hearing profile based on the preference input to generate a refined hearing profile compensating for hearing deficiency of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Concha Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Li, Matthew Sorg, David Northway
  • Patent number: 10595140
    Abstract: An electronics frame for a hearing device serves to hold electronic components and has a contact carrier. The carrier in turn has a first line connector, a second line connector, and a third line connector. The three line connectors serve to electrically contact at least one of the electronic components with a first connection contact, a second connection contact which is at a potential that is different from the first connection contact, and with a third connection contact of a storage battery module which has a rechargeable battery. The contact carrier moreover has a first insertion slot for receiving a first contact arm which serves to electrically contact a contact of a two-pole battery. A kit for the hearing device contains, in addition to the hearing device with the electronics frame, the storage battery module and at least the first contact arm for subsequent mounting on the contact carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefanie Beyfuss, Bjoern Freels, Anand Ganapathy, Holger Kral
  • Patent number: 10587962
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a BTE-part adapted for being located behind an ear (ear) of a user, and comprising a) a multitude M of microphones, which—when located behind the ear of the user—are characterized by respective transfer functions, HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), representative of propagation of sound from sound sources S to the respective microphones b) a memory unit comprising complex, frequency dependent constants Wi(k)?, i=1, . . . , M, c) a beamformer filtering unit for providing a beamformed signal Y as a weighted combination of the microphone signals using said complex, frequency dependent constants The frequency dependent constants are determined to provide a resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k)=?i=1MWi(k)·HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), so that a difference between the resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k) and a transfer function HITE(?, ?, r, k) of a microphone located close to or in the ear canal fulfils a predefined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Andreas Thelander Bertelsen
  • Patent number: 10587966
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for fitting a hearing device to needs and preferences of a user and/or for operating the hearing device. The method comprises determining whether a personal token of the user is located in proximity of the hearing device (10). The method further comprises enabling fitting of the hearing device to the needs and preferences of the user and/or enabling operating of the hearing device only if the personal token has been determined to be located in proximity of the hearing device, otherwise disabling fitting and/or operating of the hearing device (20). Furthermore, a corresponding fitting system and a set of associated hearing devices as well as a use of the latter are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger
  • Patent number: 10582313
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) using a maximized hyper parameter. The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) adapted for carrying out such a method and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carry out the method. Additionally the invention provides a method of fitting such a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jens Brehm Bagger Nielsen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Kristian Timm Andersen
  • Patent number: 10580427
    Abstract: A system comprises an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The ear-worn electronic device comprises a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store an annoying sound dictionary representative of a plurality of annoying sounds pre-identified by the wearer. A microphone is coupled to the processor and configured to monitor an acoustic environment of the wearer. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to identify different background noises present in the acoustic environment, determine which of the background noises correspond to one or more of the plurality of annoying sounds, and attenuate the one or more annoying sounds in an output signal provided to the speaker or receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ritwik Giri, Karim Helwani, Tao Zhang
  • Patent number: 10582316
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a plurality of EEG sensors configured to sense EEG signals from or proximate a wearer's ear. At least one processor is configured to detect, during a baseline period of no wearer movement, EEG signals from the EEG sensors, and detect, during each of a plurality of candidate control movements by the wearer, EEG signals from the EEG sensors. The at least one processor is also configured to compute, using the EEG signals, discriminability metrics for the candidate control movements and the baseline period, the discriminability metrics indicating how discriminable neural signals associated with the candidate control movements and the baseline period are from one another. The at least one processor is further configured to select a subset of the candidate control movements using the discriminability metrics, each of the selected control movements defining a neural command for controlling the ear-worn electronic device by the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren Petley, Swapan Gandhi, Simon Carlile, Sahar Akram
  • Patent number: 10582290
    Abstract: An earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, a digital signal processor disposed within the ear piece housing, and at least one microphone operatively connected to the digital signal processor. The earpiece is configured to receive audio from the at least one microphone and process the audio with the digital signal processor to determine if a user has performed a tap on the earpiece. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece wherein the earpiece is configured to communicate data indicative of occurrence of the tap using the wireless transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolaj Hviid, Michael Hlatky
  • Patent number: 10575102
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hearing aid apparatus including two hearing aids being signal-coupled by a wireless first communication link with a comparatively short range and by a wireless second communication link with a comparatively long range. Each hearing aid has an integrated motion sensor for capturing a fall of the respective hearing aid. A first signal level of the first communication link is monitored and compared to a stored first threshold in each hearing aid. A notification signal is transmitted from the first hearing aid over the second communication link when the motion sensor captures a fall and the first signal level reaches or drops below the first threshold. Upon reception of the notification signal, a perceivable first information signal is produced by the second hearing aid as a protection against loss. A hearing aid apparatus is also provided for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Frank Naumann
  • Patent number: 10560787
    Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and an amplifier system for minimizing variation in an acoustical signal caused by variation in gain of an amplifier, comprising a battery for providing a supply voltage to the amplifier, a digital signal processor for providing the acoustical signal to the amplifier, a controller unit receiving an enablement signal when the supply voltage is in an offset mode, and based on the enablement signal requesting a measured voltage during a time period, and a first analog-to-digital converter configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier when receiving the request from the controller unit or the first analog-to-digital converter is configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier continuously, and where variations in the measured voltage relates to variations in the supply voltage during the time period. Furthermore, the controller unit is configured to predict offset modes (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar Bhat, Poul Henriksen, Alberto Escolar Piedras
  • Patent number: 10560774
    Abstract: An audio headset that provides a “chat” mode to temporarily adjusts audio to preset levels to emphasize ambient sound, and includes a beamformer to provide directional speech isolation. The headset may include active noise cancellation and/or passive noise isolation. When entering chat mode, three or more relative audio levels are individually adjusted to presets, allowing the wearer to hear ambient noise and their own isolated voice, while attenuating other audio sources. This user-configurable combination of levels temporarily adjust the mix of signals that will be output to a wearer via the stereo headphone speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: OV LOOP, INC.
    Inventors: William Wang Graylin, John Maddox
  • Patent number: 10554587
    Abstract: A method and wireless communication device use a first processing unit to perform a first communication event within a first communication window by use of a first communication protocol, a second processing unit to perform a second communication event within a second communication window by use of a second communication protocol, and a wireless communication unit connected to a radio-frequency antenna to transmit and/or receive a packet wirelessly. The first and second processing units may perform the first and second communication events via the wireless communication unit. The second processing unit or the wireless communication unit may transmit an event signal to the first processing unit when performing the second communication event or receiving a packet, respectively, to allow the first processing unit to arrange the first communication window (or first communication event) with respect to the second communication window (or second communication event) to minimize interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Franz Treue, Bjarne Klemmensen, Rune SØ
  • Patent number: 10555068
    Abstract: Power consumption control of an active noise control headphone system that comprises headphones with at least one ear cup; at least one loudspeaker disposed in the at least one ear cup; at least one microphone disposed in or on the at least one ear cup that is configured to provide a microphone output signal representative of sound present in the ear cup; and at least one active noise control module that has at least two operating states and that is connected upstream of the at least one loudspeaker and downstream of the at least one microphone, wherein the microphone output signal at at least two different evaluation frequencies within the audible frequency range is evaluated to provide at least two evaluation output signals and the operating state of the at least one active noise control module is changed based on a comparison of the at least two evaluation output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Christoph
  • Patent number: 10547940
    Abstract: A sound collection equipment is disclosed. The sound collection equipment includes a speaker, a microphone and a processing unit. The speaker is used for generating a test sound having a first frequency. The microphone is used for receiving an external sound. The processing unit is electronically connected to the microphone and the processing unit. The processing unit is used for determining whether a frequency range of the external sound includes the first frequency and whether the energy of the external sound exceeds a predetermined energy value, and for judging that the sound collection equipment is in a usage state when the frequency range of the external sound includes the first frequency and the energy of the external sound does not exceed the predetermined energy value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: UNLIMITER MFA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ho-Hsin Liao, Kuan-Li Chao, Neo Bob Chih-Yung Young, Kuo-Ping Yang, Jian-Ying Li, Po-Jui Wu
  • Patent number: 10542354
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: an input module for provision of a first input signal, the input module comprising a first microphone; a processor for provision of a processor output signal based on the first input signal; a suppressor for provision of a first suppressor output signal based on one or more suppressor input signals including a first suppressor input signal; a first adder coupled to the suppressor, the first adder configured for provision of a first adder output signal based on at least a part of the processor output signal and the first suppressor output signal; and a receiver for converting an output signal based on the first adder output signal to an audio output signal; wherein the suppressor is configured to apply a first delay and a first filter with a first gain to at least a part of the first suppressor input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Andreas Tiefenau, Jonathan Boley, Changxue Ma
  • Patent number: 10536785
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal. The method comprises obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method may comprise obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method comprises determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal. The method may comprise combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. The method comprises providing the output beamform signal for further processing including hearing loss compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gn Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner
  • Patent number: 10531205
    Abstract: A fitting system is configured to determine a first power consumption metric for a first hearing device included in a binaural hearing system configured to wirelessly communicate with an external device during a communication session, determine a second power consumption metric for a second hearing device included in the binaural hearing system, determine that the first power consumption metric is lower than the second power consumption metric, and assign, based on the determination that the first power consumption metric is lower than the second power consumption metric, a first operating role to the first hearing device. The first operating role specifies that the first hearing device is to be wirelessly connected with the external device during the communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Yves Oesch
  • Patent number: 10516946
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first location to decrease occlusion and a second location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Micha Rosen, Jonathan P. Fay, Paul Rucker, James Stone
  • Patent number: 10511915
    Abstract: A listening device includes a reference microphone positioned outside a blocked ear canal of a user to receive environmental sounds and generate first signals based on the environmental sounds. A loudspeaker is coupled to the reference microphone and positioned inside the ear canal to generate internal sounds based on the first signals. An internal microphone is positioned inside the ear canal to receive the internal sounds from the loudspeaker and generate second signals based on the internal sounds. A controller is coupled to the internal microphone and the reference microphone to compute a transfer function based on the first signals and the second signals. The transfer function describes a variation between the environmental sounds and the internal sounds caused by the listening device blocking the ear canal. The controller adjusts, based on the transfer function, the internal sounds to mitigate the variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Antonio John Miller, Ravish Mehra
  • Patent number: 10511913
    Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first location to decrease occlusion and a second location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Puria, Micha Rosen, Jonathan P. Fay, Paul Rucker, James Stone
  • Patent number: 10511918
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to the wireless stereo reception of first and second audio information by wireless hearing communication devices. One type of device which may employ the present subject matter is a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Various forms and protocols of signal transmission are employed in varying embodiments. The present subject matter includes various communication modes such as eavesdropping modes and relaying modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 10506355
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for programming and modifying hearing assistance devices via low energy digital communications. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of using a hearing assistance device. The method includes providing characteristics and descriptors of the hearing assistance device compatible with a low energy digital communication protocol, the characteristics and descriptors accessible to an external communication device. According to various embodiments, the method also includes accepting individual read/write cycles from an external communication device configured to use the low energy digital communication protocol to read and update the characteristics and descriptors using an abstraction layer. The hearing assistance device is configured to compensate for a wearer's hearing loss based on the updated characteristics and descriptors, in various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Edgar, Kirk Klobe, Michael Helgeson, Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 10506319
    Abstract: An audio electronic device including a front structure and a rear structure is provided. The front structure includes an embedded body and a speaker, wherein the speaker is connected to the embedded body, and the embedded body is inserted in an ear. The rear structure is connected to the front structure and includes a processor, a receiver, and a power supply, wherein the processor is electrically connected to the speaker and processes an audio signal according to the judgment signal, and the receiver is used for receiving a judgment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: INVENTEC APPLIANCES (PUDONG) CORPORATION, INVENTEC APPLIANCES CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Ching Chang, Tung-Yueh Shen
  • Patent number: 10499166
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprising a receiver assembly is disclosed. The receiver assembly includes a housing adapted to accommodate receivers of different geometry and/or size and/or mechanical dimensions and suspension member arranged in the housing. The suspension member comprises vibration dampers protruding from an outer periphery of the suspension member and a plurality of spacers provided at an inner periphery of the suspension member. The plurality of spacers is positioned to arrange and fix one or more cushions or enclosed structures in predefined grooves formed by adjacent spacers in the space between the receiver and the suspension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: OTICON A/S, BERNAFON AG
    Inventors: Roland Margot, Ben Crook, Lars Persson, Henning Bjerregaard, Sune Heibing, Niels Erik Holm Christensen, Mikael Andersen, Claus Tipsmark, Martin Larsen, Peter Spragge, Lars Monroy, Poul Hilding Andersson
  • Patent number: 10489833
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are examples of methods and systems for performing remote verification of a hearing device, particularly for use by a non-expert user outside the clinical environment. A status and/or functionality of the hearing device may be verified using verification criteria. Upon verifying the status and/or the functionality of the hearing device, a user may be permitted to conduct an e-commerce transaction. The status of the hearing device may include identification information associated with the hearing device and/or the user. The functionality of the hearing device may include a calibration and/or a system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: IHEAR MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Adnan Shennib, Varun Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 10491981
    Abstract: A method for determining a current usage state of an earphone that includes a speaker and an air pressure sensor. The method obtains a pressure signal from the air pressure sensor that indicates air pressure proximate to the earphone, the air pressure sensor produces the pressure signal in response to the earphone being inserted into an ear of a user. The method processes the obtained pressure signal to determine that the earphone is in a state of use, and in response, performs at least one of (1) outputting an audio signal through the speaker signifying that the earphone is in use (2) establishing a wireless connection with a media playback device to exchange data between the earphone and the media playback device, or combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Hongfeng Wang, Chen Na, Ryan M. Moriyama
  • Patent number: 10484800
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing aid comprising a forward path comprising a) a multitude of input units for providing a multitude of electric input signals INi, i=1, . . . , M, representative of sound, b) a multi input beam former filtering unit for providing a beam formed signal YBF from said multitude of electric input signals, c) a gain unit for applying a hearing aid gain GHA to said beam formed signal YBF, and providing a processed signal, and d) an output unit for providing stimuli perceivable by a user as sound based on said processed signal or a signal derived therefrom. The hearing aid further comprises e) a gain control unit for limiting said hearing aid gain GHA to a modified full-on gain value G?FOG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jan Mark De Haan, Fares El-Azm
  • Patent number: 10477325
    Abstract: Examples relate to systems and methods for providing settings adjustments to auditory prostheses. One or more settings adjustments can be provided to an auditory device in response to a request for the adjustments or a notification that the recipient is experiencing poor quality. The technologies disclosed herein can dynamically adapt based upon information received from a set of auditory prostheses. The information received from the set of auditory prostheses can be used to update the settings adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventor: Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 10469959
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) having an adaptive filter (103, 213, 404, 503). The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) adapted for carrying out such a method and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carries out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jens Brehm Bagger Nielsen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Kristian Timm Andersen
  • Patent number: 10466957
    Abstract: Active acoustic filter systems and methods are disclosed. An active acoustic filter system includes a memory storing one or more stored sound profiles and a respective set of processing parameters associated with each of the one or more stored sound profiles. A processor coupled to the memory generates processed sound by processing ambient sound in accordance with a set of processing parameters retrieved from the memory based on results from comparing an ambient sound profile to at least one of the one or more stored sound profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Noah Kraft, Richard Fritz Lanman, III, Daniel C. Wiggins, Jeffrey Baker
  • Patent number: 10462583
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Charles Neumeyer, John Michael Page Knox, Gregory Charles Yancey
  • Patent number: 10462589
    Abstract: Described is a solid wax mitigation barrier for a hearing aid that is cleanable via a simple wiping motion, is not a cause of irritation within the ear canal, and is acoustically transparent. In one embodiment, a wax barrier function is provided by a tube cap for fitting over the acoustic port tube of a hearing aid receiver. The tube cap may be constructed of an elastomeric high tear strength material so as create a small flexible acoustic tube cap that prevents direct ingress of wax into the hearing aid receiver. The design of the cap may also include a bridge that spans an acoustic port inlet so as to block direct material ingress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, John Becker
  • Patent number: 10462586
    Abstract: A system for improving synchronization of an acoustic signal to a video display includes a hearing aid comprising a hearing loss processor configured for signal processing in accordance with a hearing loss of a user of the hearing aid, the hearing aid being configured for receiving a first audio signal for synchronous presentation to the user viewing the video display, the hearing aid being configured for generating a first acoustic signal to be presented to the user of the hearing aid, the first acoustic signal comprising at least a first part being generated in response to the first audio signal. The system also includes a delay unit configured for applying a delay, such that synchronization of the at least first part of the first acoustic signal to the video display is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Soren C. Ell, Jesper Lund Nielsen
  • Patent number: 10462582
    Abstract: A power dongle for a hearing aid includes conductive wires, each wire having a computing device end and a hearing aid end. A first connector is connected to the computing device end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasably couple to an input/output port of the computing device and a second connector is connected to the hearing aid end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasably couple to an interface of the hearing aid, the second connector configured to deliver at least one of a first power supply and an audio signal from the computing device to the interface of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: III HOLDINGS 4, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Charles Neumeyer, Russell J. Apfel, John Michael Page Knox
  • Patent number: 10453450
    Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, an intelligent control disposed within the ear piece housing, at least one audio input sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control, a transceiver operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a user interface operatively connected to the intelligent control and configured for receiving user input. The intelligent control is configured to receive voice input through the at least one audio input sensor and interpret the voice input to determine a voice command from a set of voice commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Vincent Boesen, Johannes Caspari, Conor Kennedy, Dayana Penkova
  • Patent number: 10455334
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis circuit includes a power source, a first amplifier coupled to the power source, and a second amplifier coupled to the power source. The circuit also includes a stimulation component coupled to the first amplifier and the second amplifier. The stimulation component is configured to provide an output in accordance with an electrical signal that includes audio data. Further, the circuit includes a controller coupled to the first amplifier and the second amplifier. The controller is operable in accordance with a first operational setting to use the first amplifier to provide the electrical signal to the stimulation component and the controller is also operable in accordance with a second operational setting to use the second amplifier to provide the electrical signal to the stimulation component. Generally, the first amplifier provides greater signal amplification of the audio data than the second amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Rune Stefan Oscarsson, Sören Ingemar Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10448162
    Abstract: Disclosed are a smart headphone device personalization system with directional conversation function and a method for using the system. A user downloads a headphone personalization application program unit from the server device for installation in a mobile device that is then paired with the smart headphone device. The user enters corresponding data through a register module. The user wears the smart headphone device to allow a hearing inspection module to inspect hearing capabilities of ears and generate an inspection result. An automatic compensation unit and a manual compensation module make compensation according to the inspection result. Finally, the user adjusts the sound effect mode through a preference setting module to complete personalization of the smart headphone device. A directional conversation function is provided with the smart headphone device to receive and magnify a sound from a front side and the user can clearly hear the sound from the front side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventors: Ping Zhao, Ei-Eu Chang
  • Patent number: 10440487
    Abstract: A sound enrichment system for provision of tinnitus relief, the sound enrichment system includes a noise generator, at least one signal modulator for random or pseudo-random modulation of a noise signal that is obtained using the noise generator, and an output transducer for conversion of the modulated noise signal to an acoustic signal for presentation to a user. A method of providing a noise enriched sound signal for provision of relief of tinnitus includes generating a randomly or pseudo-randomly modulated noise signal, generating an acoustic noise signal using the modulated noise signal, and presenting the acoustic noise signal to a tinnitus suffering person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Ole Dyrlund Jensen, Kim Heegaard Hansen, Luca Del Bo
  • Patent number: 10412509
    Abstract: A binaural hearing aid system includes: a first hearing aid having a first microphone, a first processing unit, a first receiver, and a first communication unit; and a second hearing aid having a second microphone, a second processing unit, a second receiver, and a second communication unit; wherein the first communication unit of the first hearing aid is configured to transmit a filtered signal for reception by the second communication unit of the second hearing aid in response to a signal associated with a phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Andrew Burke Dittberner, Erik Cornelis Diederik Van Der Werf
  • Patent number: 10409545
    Abstract: A first device receives a bit sequence from a second device via a serial communication cable having one or more wires that connect the first device to a first set of one or more pins of a first chip of the second device. The first chip has a second set of pins. For each respective pin of the second set of pins, the bit sequence includes a set of one or more bits for the respective pin that are based at least in part on whether a first voltage or a second voltage is applied to the respective pin. The first device determines, based on the bit sequence, a type of the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Olson
  • Patent number: 10412513
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising a first shell member and a second shell member constituting a housing when assembled is disclosed. The hearing device comprises a chassis provided with attachment structures for attachment of the first shell member and the second shell member to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Lars Monroy