Patents by Inventor Christopher Larry Howes

Christopher Larry Howes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220279290
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a microphone configured to sense sound in an acoustic environment, an acoustic transducer, and a non-volatile memory configured to store a plurality of parameter value sets, each of the parameter value sets associated with a different acoustic environment. A control input is configured to receive a control input signal produced by at least one of a user-actuatable control of the ear-worn electronic device and an external electronic device communicatively coupled to the ear-worn electronic device in response to a user action. A processor is configured to classify the acoustic environment using the sensed sound and determine a listening intent preference of the user. The processor is configured to apply, in response to the control input signal, one of the parameter value sets appropriate for the classification and the listening intent preference of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Martin McKinney, David Fabry, Jumana Harianawala, Ke Zhou, Jaymin Baroda, Brantly Sturgeon, Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 10343044
    Abstract: A system for scoring a shooting event for a shooter includes a pair of hearing protection devices and a portable device. The hearing protection devices each include an electronic circuit that detects a gunshot and produces detection information characterizing the gunshot as detected. The difference between the detection information produced by the hearing protection devices worn in or over different ears of the shooter allows the portable devices to identify the gunshot as being fired by the shooter and subsequently prompt the shooter to give a voice command indicating the result of the gunshot to the portable device for the scoring without manual entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 9883299
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to fitting and adjusting hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids, using multiple programmers. A method is provided for using multiple programmers for hearing assistance devices. The method includes automatically detecting the programmers using fitting software on a personal computer. The method also includes communicating with each of the programmers simultaneously using the software to automatically detect hearing assistance devices compatible with the software. In certain variations if hearing assistance devices are detected on more than one programmer, a user is prompted to select a programmer. In certain variations, if hearing assistance devices are detected on one programmer, a fitting session is initiated for the detected hearing assistance devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Publication number: 20160076858
    Abstract: A system for scoring a shooting event for a shooter includes a pair of hearing protection devices and a portable device. The hearing protection devices each include an electronic circuit that detects a gunshot and produces detection information characterizing the gunshot as detected. The difference between the detection information produced by the hearing protection devices worn in or over different ears of the shooter allows the portable devices to identify the gunshot as being fired by the shooter and subsequently prompt the shooter to give a voice command indicating the result of the gunshot to the portable device for the scoring without manual entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Publication number: 20150125014
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system for delivering sounds to a listener provides for programming of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, using a communication link with a secondary device such as a smartphone. An example hearing assistance system may compensate for a patient's hearing deficit in a gradually progressing fashion over a configured period of absolute time, device operation time, or a combination of absolute and operation time. The hearing assistance device may be programmed by an application operating on the secondary device to successively select a parameter set that defines an operating characteristic of the signal processing circuit from a group of such parameter sets over a period of time or in response to a listener or physician input. The physician input may be received by the secondary device over a network. The defined sequence may end in a parameter set that optimally compensates the patient's hearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 8965016
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system for delivering sounds to a listener provides for programming of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, using a communication link with a secondary device such as a smartphone. An example hearing assistance system may compensate for a patient's hearing deficit in a gradually progressing fashion over a configured period of absolute time, device operation time, or a combination of absolute and operation time. The hearing assistance device may be programmed by an application operating on the secondary device to successively select a parameter set that defines an operating characteristic of the signal processing circuit from a group of such parameter sets over a period of time or in response to a listener or physician input. The physician input may be received by the secondary device over a network. The defined sequence may end in a parameter set that optimally compensates the patient's hearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Publication number: 20150036851
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system for delivering sounds to a listener provides for programming of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, using a communication link with a secondary device such as a smartphone. An example hearing assistance system may compensate for a patient's hearing deficit in a gradually progressing fashion over a configured period of absolute time, device operation time, or a combination of absolute and operation time. The hearing assistance device may be programmed by an application operating on the secondary device to successively select a parameter set that defines an operating characteristic of the signal processing circuit from a group of such parameter sets over a period of time or in response to a listener or physician input. The physician input may be received by the secondary device over a network. The defined sequence may end in a parameter set that optimally compensates the patient's hearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 8767986
    Abstract: A hearing aid distribution and service plan based on periodic subscription serves a wide range of hearing aid users with various needs for functionality and considerations for financial or value. One or more codes are provided for each hearing aid to allow for fitting by an authorized professional and enablement of one or more specified functions for a specified period. In various examples, the present hearing aid includes hearing assistance circuitry with a programming lock configured to receive an unlocking signal and a locking signal. In various examples, a hearing aid fitting device for communicating with a hearing aid includes a user interface configured to receive a lock code enabling a lock functionality that allows the hearing aid to be unlocked for fitting and locked for preventing from the fitting. The present application includes variations of a method for subscription-based hearing aid distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: David Alan Fabry, Mark Mercury, Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 8644537
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system for adjusting parameters for binaural hearing assistance devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) control is provided for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the control is indicative of status of at least one parameter for at least one device. When a pointer, controlled by a mouse or other selecting device, is placed over the control, the control expands. In various applications the control expands to display options for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one device. In some applications, the control provides options to adjust at least one parameter of a left and a right device individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Larry Howes, Dan Edgar, Joyce Rosenthal, Jeff Patrick Kryzer
  • Publication number: 20120087524
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to fitting and adjusting hearing assistance devices, including but not limited to hearing aids, using multiple programmers. A method is provided for using multiple programmers for hearing assistance devices. The method includes automatically detecting the programmers using fitting software on a personal computer. The method also includes communicating with each of the programmers simultaneously using the software to automatically detect hearing assistance devices compatible with the software. In certain variations if hearing assistance devices are detected on more than one programmer, a user is prompted to select a programmer. In certain variations, if hearing assistance devices are detected on one programmer, a fitting session is initiated for the detected hearing assistance devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Larry Howes
  • Patent number: 8107655
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system for adjusting parameters for binaural hearing assistance devices. A graphical user interface (GUI) control is provided for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the control is indicative of status of at least one parameter for at least one device. When a pointer, controlled by a mouse or other selecting device, is placed over the control, the control expands. In various applications the control expands to display options for adjusting at least one parameter for at least one device. In some applications, the control provides options to adjust at least one parameter of a left and a right device individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Larry Howes, Dan Edgar, Joyce Rosenthal, Jeff Patrick Kryzer