Patents by Inventor Stephen Paul Flood
Stephen Paul Flood 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).
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Patent number: 10945082Abstract: A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer comprises an audio streaming circuit configured to receive electromagnetic audio streaming via a first communication link. A configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive the electromagnetic audio streaming. Control circuitry of the hearing device configures the hearing device to enable reception of the electromagnetic audio streaming in accordance with the received configuration parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Greg Haubrich, Stephen Paul Flood, Justin R. Burwinkel, Michael Karl Sacha, Yezihalem Mesfin, Fred Mustiere, Jumana Harianwala, Donald James Reynolds, Swapan Gandhi
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Patent number: 10932071Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
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Publication number: 20200329319Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing, hearing electronics within the housing, and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: October 15, 2020Inventors: Beau Jay Polinske, Jay Rabel, Randy Kannas, Deepak Pai Hosadurga, Zhenchao Yang, Jay Stewart, Michael J. Tadeusiak, Stephen Paul Flood
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Patent number: 10785583Abstract: A hearing aid is described which incorporates an antenna integrated into the housing that is configured to radiate with linear polarization such that the electric field is perpendicular to the head of a wearer. The described technique results in lower propagation losses from ear to ear and an improvement in ear-to-ear communications using a far-field link (e.g., in the 2.4 GHz band).Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Stephen Paul Flood
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Patent number: 10708157Abstract: A system for use by an end user of a wearable device may include a personal electronic device configured to communicate over a wireless communication link to the wearable device. The personal electronic device may include a link quality diagnostic application. The personal electronic device is configured to operate on the link quality diagnostic application to present the end user of the wearable device with one or more troubleshooting questions based on a link quality degradation, and process one or more answers from the end user, and provide diagnostic feedback to the end user to suggest corrective action to improve the link quality of the wireless communication link.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Paul Flood, Beau Jay Polinske
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Patent number: 10687156Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing hearing electronics within the housing and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Beau Jay Polinske, Jay Rabel, Randy Kannas, Deepak Pai Hosadurga, Zhenchao Yang, Jay Stewart, Michael J. Tadeusiak, Stephen Paul Flood
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Patent number: 10623869Abstract: Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing aid configured to communicate with another device using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. A BLE tester is configured to test the hearing aid for the performance of BLE wireless communication via a wireless link. One embodiment uses a wireless test mode as a diagnostic tool for analyzing the wireless communication environment, such as when the communication with the hearing aid is interfered in a noisy environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Beau Jay Polinske, Stephen Paul Flood
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Publication number: 20200112805Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
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Publication number: 20200059742Abstract: A hearing aid is described which incorporates an antenna integrated into the housing that is configured to radiate with linear polarization such that the electric field is perpendicular to the head of a wearer. The described technique results in lower propagation losses from ear to ear and an improvement in ear-to-ear communications using a far-field link (e.g., in the 2.4 GHz band).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventor: Stephen Paul Flood
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Publication number: 20190386708Abstract: A hearing device includes first, second, and third antennas oriented respectively along first, second, and third axes that are different from one another. The device includes first channel circuitry coupled to transceive and process antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the first channel circuitry communicate with another hearing device via a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal through a first near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication channel. Second channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the second channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a second NFMI communication channel. Third channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the third channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a third NFMI communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Zhenchao Yang, Stephen Paul Flood, Greg Haubrich
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Patent number: 10484804Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for relaying wireless communication from ear-to-ear for hearing assistance devices using an intermediate device. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of using a first hearing assistance device in a first ear of a wearer to communicate with a second hearing assistance device in a second ear of the wearer using wireless communication, and determining whether quality of the communication between the devices has fallen below a programmable threshold such that communication can be improved by relaying the communication using an external intermediary device such as a smart phone. One method of determining the quality is to monitor a number of retransmissions that are used to maintain communication between the left and right devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Stephen Paul Flood
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Patent number: 10440486Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
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Publication number: 20190306635Abstract: Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing aid configured to communicate with another device using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. A BLE tester is configured to test the hearing aid for the performance of BLE wireless communication via a wireless link. One embodiment uses a wireless test mode as a diagnostic tool for analyzing the wireless communication environment, such as when the communication with the hearing aid is interfered in a noisy environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Beau Jay Polinske, Stephen Paul Flood
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Publication number: 20190297436Abstract: A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer comprises an audio streaming circuit configured to receive electromagnetic audio streaming via a first communication link. A configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive the electromagnetic audio streaming. Control circuitry of the hearing device configures the hearing device to enable reception of the electromagnetic audio streaming in accordance with the received configuration parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Greg Haubrich, Stephen Paul Flood, Justin R. Burwinkel, Michael Karl Sacha, Yezihalem Mesfin, Fred Mustiere, Jumana Harianwala, Donald James Reynolds, Swapan Gandhi
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Patent number: 10404323Abstract: A hearing device includes first, second, and third antennas oriented respectively along first, second, and third axes that are different from one another. The device includes first channel circuitry coupled to transceive and process antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the first channel circuitry communicate with another hearing device via a near field magnetic induction (NFMI) signal through a first near field magnetic induction (NFMI) communication channel. Second channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the second channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a second NFMI communication channel. Third channel circuitry is coupled to transceive and process the antenna signals of each of the antennas. The antennas and the third channel circuitry communicate with the other device via the NFMI signal through a third NFMI communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Zhenchao Yang, Stephen Paul Flood, Greg Haubrich
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Publication number: 20190215624Abstract: A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer comprises an audio streaming circuit configured to receive electromagnetic audio streaming via a first communication link. A configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive the electromagnetic audio streaming. Control circuitry of the hearing device configures the hearing device to enable reception of the electromagnetic audio streaming in accordance with the received configuration parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Greg Haubrich, Stephen Paul Flood, Justin R. Burwinkel, Michael Karl Sacha, Yezihalem Mesfin, Fred Mustiere, Jumana Harianwala, Donald James Reynolds, Swapan Gandhi
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Patent number: 10321245Abstract: Multiple antennas at the receiver and/or transmitter are commonly used in wireless communications systems to provide diversity in order reduce fading and other effects brought about by multi-path propagation. Due to the size of hearing aids and the wavelengths of the frequencies used for communication, it is difficult to achieve what is called spatial diversity by disposing the multiple antennas at different locations. Described herein are techniques for providing polarization diversity in hearing aids using antennas with different polarizations and applying the appropriate phase shifts to the received and/or transmitted signals to improve the signal quality.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Casey Edward Murray, Beau Jay Polinske, Jay Rabel
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Publication number: 20190149931Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transferring programming information to a hearing instrument. Such programming information may include hearing loss compensation parameters and/or other information pertaining to device operation. In one embodiment, each of a pair of hearing instruments prescribed and configured for a particular hearing loss contains the necessary information for operation on either the left or right ear. The data from one hearing instrument may then be transferred to the other hearing instrument by means of wireless communication. In other embodiments, programming information is transferred wirelessly by an external device connected to a database.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich, Brent Anthony Bauman, Stephen Paul Flood, Thomas Howard Burns
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Patent number: 10271149Abstract: A hearing device adapted for use by a wearer comprises an audio streaming circuit configured to receive electromagnetic audio streaming via a first communication link. A configuration circuit is configured to receive configuration parameters via a second communication link different from the first communication link for configuring the hearing device to receive the electromagnetic audio streaming. Control circuitry of the hearing device configures the hearing device to enable reception of the electromagnetic audio streaming in accordance with the received configuration parameters.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Greg Haubrich, Stephen Paul Flood, Justin R. Burwinkel, Michael Karl Sacha, Yezihalem Mesfin, Fred Mustiere, Jumana Harianwala, Donald James Reynolds, Swapan Gandhi
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Patent number: 10257618Abstract: Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing aid configured to communicate with another device using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. A BLE tester is configured to test the hearing aid for the performance of BLE wireless communication via a wireless link. One embodiment uses a wireless test mode as a diagnostic tool for analyzing the wireless communication environment, such as when the communication with the hearing aid is interfered in a noisy environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Beau Jay Polinske, Stephen Paul Flood