Patents Examined by Amir Etesam
  • Patent number: 10251001
    Abstract: With regards to a hearing assistive device, a the user's speech can be picked up by the microphone and feed through the speaker causing an acoustic feedback effect. The user may have to constantly adjust the volume of the hearing assistive device to achieve a more comfortable volume based on where the speech is coming from. Furthermore, the when the hearing assistive device experiences feedback, the amplification of the feedback can cause damage to the user's hearing. Therefore, mitigating the acoustic feedback effect of assistive hearing devices can generate a more efficient and comfortable hearing device. The acoustic feedback can be mitigated by leveraging a dynamic range controller and a howling detector which comprises a user interface and a status indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BITWAVE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Siew Kok Hui, Lei Tu
  • Patent number: 10219088
    Abstract: Photoactive cleaning hearing assistance devices and methods of cleaning hearing assistance devices are described. Photoactive nanoparticles may be disposed on or in the hearing assistance devices. The photoactive nanoparticles provide a localized surface plasmon resonance effect when illuminated with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Blaise Bergner, Sidney A. Higgins, Susan Marie Johansson
  • Patent number: 10219086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a mobile user device as a remote controller for a hearing aid, said mobile user device, comprising a removable secure digital (SD) card, comprising a radio interface and an antenna controller for configuring said radio interface for wireless communication with said hearing aid; and, a computer-readable memory for storing a software application for remotely controlling said hearing aid via said communication module; said method comprising: requesting a communication module identifier, from said communication module; sending a request for hearing aid setting information associated with said hearing aid to a server, said request comprising said communication module identifier; receiving at least part of said hearing aid setting information if said server determines on the basis of said communication module identifier that access to said hearing aid setting information by said mobile user device is allowed; and, configuring the radio interface of said communicatio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: AN DIRECT B.V.
    Inventor: Bram Willem Van Der Loo
  • Patent number: 10212525
    Abstract: An earpiece designed to fit a substantial majority (over 90%) of people without customization to the outer ears, i.e., without the need to make customized measurements or a mold of the actual ear of an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Blue-Gear, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence T Hagen, Johan D Carlson, Randall Wayne Roberts, Margaret V Nilson
  • Patent number: 10201309
    Abstract: A system, method, and wireless earpieces for determining the status of the user. Sensor measurements of the user are performed utilizing a radar sensor of the wireless earpieces. The sensor measurements are analyzed. The status of the user is determined utilizing at least the sensor measurements of the radar sensor of the wireless earpieces. An alert is communicated to the user in response to there being a change in the status of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10205227
    Abstract: An antenna device configured to be used at or in proximity to a user, the antenna device includes: an antenna structure having a conducting element, the conducting element extending over a length of between 1/16 of a wavelength and a full wavelength in a direction substantially orthogonal to a surface of the user, when the antenna device is provided in an intended operational position. A device includes: a housing having an operational position with respect to a user of the device; and an antenna structure coupled to the housing and having a conducting element, wherein the antenna structure is configured to emit an electromagnetic field so that the electromagnetic field propagates in a direction having a major directional vector that corresponds with a surface of a user using the device when the housing is at the operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Sinasi Ă–zden
  • Patent number: 10200778
    Abstract: An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. In one example, the earpiece can have a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A lobe can be formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. An extension can extend from the earpiece and can be configured to extend into the ear canal. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection. The extension can enhance communication of desired sound, e.g., from a two-way radio, to an eardrum while mitigating communication of undesirable ambient noise to the eardrum. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SureFire, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Smith, Diann Y. Smith
  • Patent number: 10200797
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an inlet member for a microphone system in a hearing instrument, such as a hearing aid, wherein the inlet member has a main body portion having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being provided with a first recess for accommodating a microphone comprising a snout for conducting sound energy into the interior of the microphone, wherein the first recess is provided with a sound channel formed for engagement with the snout of the microphone, where the sound channel at the end hereof facing away from the microphone is acoustically coupled to a third recess in the first portion, the third recess being defined by wall portions that provide a seal to corresponding inner surface portions of a hearing instrument, in which the inlet member is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Troels Holm Pedersen, Claus Tipsmark, Michael Frank Petersen, Brian Spidsbjerg, Lars Monroy, Lars Persson, Svend Oscar Petersen
  • Patent number: 10165374
    Abstract: A method including obtaining data based on a current and/or anticipated future state of a hearing prosthesis and adjusting a set gain margin of the hearing prosthesis based on the current or anticipated future state of the hearing prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Hillbratt, Mark Flynn, Bjorn Davidsson
  • Patent number: 10158956
    Abstract: A method (100) of fitting a hearing aid system comprising identification of an auditory neuro-synaptopathy of a person based on the sensitivity of the person to temporal masking, a hearing aid fitting system, a computerized device (200, 300), a server (302) hosting a web service and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carry out said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Theill
  • Patent number: 10158937
    Abstract: A speaker module comprising a module housing is disclosed. A speaker unit is accommodated within the module housing. A sound hole of the module is located at a side of the speaker unit. The speaker unit divides a cavity of the entire module into two cavities, namely a front acoustic cavity and a rear acoustic cavity. The front acoustic cavity is in communication with the sound hole. A sound-absorbing cotton is provided in the front acoustic cavity. The sound-absorbing cotton is fixed on the module housing, and is arranged to avoid a vibration space of a diaphragm of the speaker unit. The present invention effectively improves the performance of a sensitivity curve of the module at high frequencies without modifying the structure of the front acoustic cavity, thus not only increasing the acoustic performance of the module, but also simplifying the structure of the front acoustic cavity of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Shuai Shao, Chao Xu, Lianwen Shan
  • Patent number: 10154328
    Abstract: A surface-mountable MEMS microphone comprising a MEMS microphone die and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) mounted inside a surface-mountable package housing, and fully enclosed therein. The surface-mountable package is a single, self-contained housing that provides an electrical interface to external circuitry for the enclosed MEMS microphone die and the ASIC, and provides electrical, physical, and environmental protection for the MEMS microphone die and the ASIC. The surface-mountable package allows external acoustic energy to enter the package interior via one or more acoustic ports and impinge on the diaphragm of the MEMS microphone die. The cover of the surface-mountable package comprises an acoustic port with ingress protection to limit dust and particle intrusion. The ingress protection can be a formed member that is part of the cover of the surface-mountable package having various shapes, an internal shield, or a combination of both a formed member and internal shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Watson, Daniel Todd Grosse, Michael Robert Jacobs, William F. Schimpf, Ivelisse Del Valle Figueroa
  • Patent number: 10149033
    Abstract: A gaming headset can be provided that includes a headband that fits over a user's head and a pair of ear cup assemblies coupled to the headband. Each of the ear cup assemblies can include an ear pad and a housing. A hinge assembly on a front side of the ear cup assembly can movably couple the housing and the ear pad and can be defined by a hook of the ear pad that couples to a slot in the housing. An actuator on a rear side of the ear cup assembly can be actuated to move the ear pad between a first position in contact with the housing and a second position tilted relative to the housing to define a rearward facing gap therebetween that vents an in-ear space between the ear pad and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
    Inventor: Ozhan Karacal
  • Patent number: 10136207
    Abstract: A printed circuit board used as a voice coil includes N board units stacked over one another, each board unit having a first electrically connecting region and a second electrically connecting region, all of the first electrically connecting regions being stacked over one another, all of the second electrically connecting regions being stacked over one another, each board unit having a first circuit structure, a base, and a second circuit structure arranged from top to bottom, in each two adjacent board units, the first electrically connecting region of the second circuit structure of an upper board unit being electrically connected in series with the first electrically connecting region of the first circuit structure of a lower board unit, in each board unit, the first circuit structure being electrically connected in series with the second circuit structure in the second electrically connecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Avary Holding (Shenzhen) Co., Limited., HongQiSheng Precision Electronics (QinHuangDao) Co
    Inventors: Xian-Qin Hu, Fu-Wei Zhong, Yi-Qiang Zhuang, Chun-Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 10136231
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a changeable cartridge for a hearing device docking station, said changeable cartridge comprising a flexible waste reservoir being adapted to receive waste products from hearing device fuel cell power packs, and a flexible fuel reservoir being adapted to hold and provide fuel to hearing device fuel cell power packs. The present invention further relates to a hearing device docking station and a hearing device docking station assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Drew Rosskelly, Flemming Risager, Michael Frydendal Larssen
  • Patent number: 10132444
    Abstract: Hands-free electronic devices and electronic functions that can be worn on the surface of the body in a biologically fit manner are described. The embodiments provide a convergence between electronic products, and biological, anatomical, and biomechanical aspects of the human body while providing hands-free and interchangeable wearable electronic apparatuses that can interact with human senses and physiology of a human body in a practical manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcio Marc Abreu
  • Patent number: 10123132
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an auditory device for generating an electrode stimulation signal is disclosed. The device includes a filter bank configured to filter an incoming audio signal into a plurality of band pass limited audio signals, each band pass limited audio signal relating to an audio frequency band. The device further includes a processor configured to extract an onset time for firing an electrode in accordance with rate of change of a band pass limited audio signal and/or a derived band pass limited audio signal satisfying a predetermined criterion, and a signal generator for generating the electrode stimulation signal for the electrode corresponding to the band pass limited audio signal and/or derived band pass limited audio signal in accordance with the determined onset time. The device includes a plurality of implantable stimulation electrodes configured to deliver the electrode stimulation signal to a region of cochlea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventor: Bradford Backus
  • Patent number: 10117029
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system with virtually zero delay and phase distortion. The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100) adapted for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Kristian Timm Andersen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb
  • Patent number: 10117030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system comprising a telephone (10) and a hearing aid (40). The analog signal to the loudspeaker (11) of the telephone (10) is picked up and digitalized at the telephone where after it is wirelessly transmitted to the hearing aid (40) using a radio transceiver at the telephone (10), coupling with a radio at the hearing aid. The sound from the telephone (10) is hereby transmitted directly to the hearing aid without relying on the acoustic coupling between the telephone speaker (11) and the hearing aid microphones and may further be transmitted to both left and right hearing aid at the same time. The invention provides a telephone, a hearing aid and a method of communicating with a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Peter Magnus Norgaard, Jan Hellinghus, Morten Kroman
  • Patent number: 10111006
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker, including a frame, a vibrating system and a magnet portion accommodated in the frame, the vibrating system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil which drives the diaphragm to vibrate, the diaphragm includes a first suspension at a central position of the diaphragm, a second suspension at an edge position of the diaphragm and a dome connected between the first suspension and the second suspension, an inner periphery of the first suspension is fixed on the magnet portion, an outer periphery of the first suspension is connected with the dome, an inner periphery of the second suspension is connected with the dome, an outer periphery of the second suspension is fixed on the frame, a stiffness of the first suspension is different from a stiffness of the second suspension. Comparing with the related art, the speaker of the present disclosure guarantees sounding effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Lubin Mao, Shun Guo