Abstract: Ear buds are provided that communicate wirelessly with an electronic device. To determine the current status of the ear buds and thereby take suitable action in controlling the operation of the electronic device and ear buds, the ear buds may be provided with sensor circuitry. The sensor circuitry may include proximity sensors. The ear buds may each have a housing with a main body portion that is configured to be inserted into the ear of the user and an elongated stem portion that extends from the main body portion. The proximity sensors may include sensors on the main body and sensors on the stem. The proximity sensors may be light-based sensors that emit light that passes through the housing.

Abstract: A speaker device for reproducing sound within a predetermined audio spectrum is provided. The speaker device comprises: a housing including a top, a bottom, and a side surface; at least one speaker disposed within the housing, the at least one speaker including a speaker flange facing towards the bottom; a waveguide including at least a first surface defining at least one sound channel for conducting a given sound produced by the at least one speaker, and the at least one channel includes a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone sequentially defined along a length thereof to provide for sound reproduction from 100 Hz to 20000 Hz.

Abstract: A microphone assembly comprises a substrate. An acoustic transducer is disposed on the substrate and configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to an acoustic signal. An integrated circuit is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the acoustic transducer. An enclosure is disposed on the substrate, and comprises a main body, and a sidewall projecting axially from outer edges of the main body towards the substrate and contacting the substrate such that an internal volume is defined between the enclosure and the substrate. An insulating layer is insert molded on an inner surface of the enclosure, or over molded on an outer surface of the enclosure such that the insulating layer is not disposed on a portion of the sidewall proximate to the substrate.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a substrate having a cavity, a diaphragm disposed over the substrate to cover the cavity, an anchor extending from and end portion of the diaphragm to surround a periphery of the diaphragm, the anchor being fixed to a lower surface of the substrate to support the diaphragm from the substrate, a back plate disposed over the diaphragm, the back plate being spaced apart from the diaphragm to define an air gap therebetween and having a plurality of acoustic holes, an upper insulation layer covering an upper surface of the back plate to hold the back plate, and a strut positioned on the anchor, the strut being connected to the upper insulation layer and making contact with a lower surface of the anchor to support the upper insulation layer and to be spaced from the diaphragm.

Abstract: A headband for a headset and a method for producing the headband for the headset is disclosed. The headband is configured to carry at least one earcup of the headset. The headband comprises a carrier and a rubber suspension formed by overmolding. The method comprising the steps of providing the carrier, arranging the carrier in an injection molding tool, and forming the suspension from a rubber material by overmolding such that the suspension forms at least two attachment points to the carrier.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are configured to interactively assist a user in evaluating and/or configuring a hearing aid. The system is equipped with a display element, with an input unit and with a processing unit. The environmental situations are shown on the display element. Based on a user input, a selected section of the environmental situation is determined and highlighted. A specific hearing situation is presented on the basis of the selection made by the user. An evaluation scale is displayed, allowing the user to enter a hearing value for a self-assessment of his hearing ability for the specific hearing situation, and the hearing value entered by the user is recorded. The above steps are repeated and hearing values are recorded for different specific hearing situations. Based on the hearing values entered by the user, setting values for the hearing aid are determined.

Abstract: A hearing device seal module in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a tubular seal carrier defining a lumen configured to receive a hearing device core and including a connector region and a resilient seal support region formed from resilient material, a seal carrier support connected to the seal carrier connector region of the tubular seal carrier, including a support tube defining a longitudinal axis and a lumen configured to permit movement of the hearing device core and a tool along the longitudinal axis, and having an open state and a closed state.

Abstract: A hearing aid includes a feedback control system for handling external feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer. The feedback control system includes an open loop gain estimator for providing an instant open loop gain estimate; an adaptive filter configured to provide a current estimate of the feedback path transfer function; a feedback change estimator configured to provide an instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function in dependence of the forward path transfer function, the instant open loop gain estimate; and an adaptive filter controller for providing an update transfer function estimate for the adaptive filter in dependence of the instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function. The hearing aid is configured to use the update transfer function estimate in the adaptive filter to update the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function. A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is further disclosed.

Abstract: An auditory device assembly (1) comprises an earpiece (3) having an audio output device (7) for an ear (9) of a user and an audio processing unit (11, 33). The audio processing unit (11, 33) has a hearing-test mode and an audio streaming mode. In the hearing test mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to determine at least one ear characteristic of the ear of the user based on at least one hearing test. In the audio streaming mode the audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to output an audio stream via the audio output device (7). The audio processing unit (11, 33) is arranged to adjust the output of the audio stream in the audio streaming mode based on the at least one ear characteristic determined in the hearing-test mode.

Abstract: Various aspects include wearable audio devices with through-hinge wiring configurations. In particular aspects, a wearable audio device includes a hinge coupling a first section and one additional section; and a cable extending through the hinge. In various implementations, the hinge is overmolded on the cable and includes: a body defining a cavity accommodating the cable with a first opening to a pathway in the first section, and a second opening to an additional pathway in the one additional section; an insert within the body and adjacent the first opening, the insert defining a minimum radius of a bend in the cable within the cavity; a hinge mechanism contained within the body; and a cable management feature contained within the body, wherein the hinge mechanism, cable management feature and cable are all located in a common plane that is radially oriented relative to the primary axis of the hinge mechanism.

Abstract: A battery module for a hearing device includes a secondary cell and two contact elements for making contact with the secondary cell at two different potential areas. A fuse which is arranged at a short distance from the contact element that is assigned to a positive potential. A copper jacket surrounds the secondary cell, and a ferrite jacket is arranged on the outside of the copper jacket. An induction coil is arranged on the outside of the ferrite jacket and is configured to inductively receive energy for charging the battery module. A resonant capacitor is coupled to the induction coil at a short distance from the latter. A thermistor for monitoring a cell temperature is arranged with electrical insulation from the secondary cell but is coupled to the latter with low thermal resistance using heat-transfer capability.

Abstract: A one-piece sound port adapter for a microphone assembly includes a body member configured to be fitted over a sound port of the microphone assembly. The body member includes an acoustic channel defined in part by a cavity having a sound inlet and a sound outlet, where the sound outlet is acoustically coupled to the sound port. A wall portion of the body member extends into the cavity and configured to modify an acoustic property of the acoustic channel. When mounted, the one-piece sound port adapter converts the microphone assembly from a top or bottom port microphone assembly to a side-port microphone assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing bilateral dynamic range compression of first and second microphone signals generated by first and second hearing devices, respectively, of a binaural hearing system. The method comprises to pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's left or right ear by a first microphone to generate a first microphone signal in response to incoming sound and pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's opposite ear by a second microphone to generate a second microphone signal in response to the incoming sound.

Abstract: An audio accessory system that includes a holder to hold an audio accessory in two positions is provided. The holder comprises a first retention platform having a cable coupled thereto, a second retention platform and a back retention wall extending between the first and second retention platforms. The first and second retention platforms and the back retention wall form a clip for retaining the audio accessory. The holder further comprises an electrical interface, at the back retention wall, for coupling the cable to a corresponding electrical interface of the audio accessory. The clip is interchangeably mountable in first and second positions relative to the audio accessory, such that: in the first and second positions, respectively, the clip mounts to the audio accessory with the cable extending from a bottom or a top of the audio accessory.

Abstract: A hearing device including a housing, a receiver within the housing, and a contaminant guard having a guard sound port and one or both of an outer contaminant receptacle, which is located outward of the guard sound port and that extends around the guard sound port, and an inner contaminant receptacle, which that is located on the central axis of the guard sound port and operably connected to a location outward of the guard sound port.

Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a shaft element that is configured to be received in an opening defined by a base substrate layer of a headliner. The shaft element defines an air path. The microphone assembly includes a microphone element mounted on a circuit board within a housing. The microphone element is aligned with the air path such that the air path directs sound from the cabin to the microphone element. A vehicle cabin side of the headliner is covered by an acoustically transparent layer such that the microphone assembly is not visible within the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: An apparatus includes signal processing circuitry configured to generate processed data signals in response at least in part to transducer signals from at least one acoustic transducer and filtering signals, and to transmit the processed data signals via at least one communication channel to an actuating assembly of an auditory prosthesis. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to monitor one or more of the signal processing circuitry, the processed data signals, and the at least one communication channel, and to generate filtering control signals in response at least in part thereto. The apparatus further includes filtering circuitry configured to generate the filtering signals in response at least in part to the processed data signals and the filtering control signals.

Abstract: A passive radiator assembly includes a surrounding unit and an inner radiator cone. The surrounding unit includes a top layer surrounding an axis, and a bottom layer being spaced apart from and disposed under the top layer, and surrounding the axis. The inner radiator cone interconnects the top layer and the bottom layer of the surrounding unit.

Abstract: A hearing device includes an acoustic transducer having a membrane configured to generate sound waves, a housing enclosing a first chamber and a second chamber acoustically coupled by the membrane, a sound outlet configured to release sound waves from the first chamber into the ear canal, and an acoustic port acoustically coupling the second chamber to an ambient environment outside the ear canal.

Abstract: A method (300) of fitting a hearing aid system, based on the use of hearing aid system setting data and data related to a possible hearing aid system performance verification for a multitude of different hearing aid system users, as well as a hearing aid system adapted to carry out such a method.