Remote Control, Wireless, Or Alarm Patents (Class 381/315)
  • Patent number: 11937054
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a combined multi-source time difference of arrival (TDOA) tracking and voice activity detection (VAD) mechanism that is applicable for generic array geometries, e.g., a microphone array that lies on a plane. The combined multi-source TDOA tracking and VAD mechanism scans the azimuth and elevation angles of the microphone array in microphone pairs, based on which a planar locus of physically admissible TDOAs can be formed in the multi-dimensional TDOA space of multiple microphone pairs. In this way, the multi-dimensional TDOA tracking reduces the number of calculations that was usually involved in traditional TDOA by performing the TDOA search for each dimension separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Alireza Masnadi-Shirazi, Francesco Nesta
  • Patent number: 11930324
    Abstract: An illustrative system includes a hearing device and a charging device configured to provide a power signal to the hearing device while the hearing device is within a charging range of the charging device. The hearing device and the charging device are configured to establish a primary communication channel between the hearing device and the charging device and participate in an authenticated pairing procedure for the primary communication channel in which authentication information is transmitted from one device to the other by way of a secondary communication channel that allows for communication only over distances that are below a threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Alexander Maksyagin, Michael von Tessin, Andreas Breitenmoser
  • Patent number: 11924615
    Abstract: A hearing aid has a housing and an antenna. The housing has a housing shell to be worn in the ear. The antenna is designed for signal transmission via a radio connection. The housing shell has an inner side. The antenna is inserted into the housing shell and extends along the inner side. There is also described a corresponding antenna and a method for producing a corresponding hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hamed Hasani, Oliver Nipp
  • Patent number: 11902746
    Abstract: An ear level auditory system comprising at least one ear level audio device (110, 210) adapted to provide a treatment based on inducing neural oscillations in a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jens Bastue, Jakob Nielsen, Eline Borch Petersen
  • Patent number: 11902749
    Abstract: A hearing aid system comprising at least a first hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid is configured to establish a communication link over the internet with a remote entity based on a protocol stack, wherein the protocol stack includes an internet protocol, and the protocol stack is implemented in the first hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Bjarne Klemmensen
  • Patent number: 11889270
    Abstract: A method for supporting a user of a hearing aid includes individually adapting the hearing aid to the user in a first fitting session held in particular in the home country of the user and generating adaptation data during the first fitting session. The adaptation data is assigned to the user or to the hearing aid and stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted by an access restriction. A visit to a foreign country is automatically detected and a request is issued to the user to ascertain whether the access restriction should be changed when a visit to a foreign country is automatically detected. A hearing aid and a computer program product for carrying out the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Renuka Betageri
  • Patent number: 11871209
    Abstract: An audio system, method, and computer program product which includes a wearable audio device and a peripheral device. Each device is capable of determining its respective absolute or relative position and orientation. Once the relative positions and orientations between the devices are known, virtual sound sources are generated at fixed positions and orientations relative to the peripheral device such that any change in position and/or orientation of the peripheral device produces a proportional change in the position and/or orientation of the virtual sound sources. Additionally, first order and second order reflected audio paths may be simulated for each virtual sound source to increase the realism of the simulated sources. Each sound path can be produced by modifying the original audio signal using head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) to simulate audio as though it were perceived by the user's left and right ears as coming from each virtual sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Freeman, David Avi Dick, Wade P. Torres, Daniel R. Tengelsen, Eric Raczka Bernstein
  • Patent number: 11871183
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a single microphone hearing aid noise reduction method. The method comprises: acquiring an original sound signal, identifying the noise characteristics of noise in the original sound signal; iteratively training the noise reduction formula obtained by noise identification, optimizing the noise reduction formula, and acquiring the optimal values of parameters in the noise reduction formula; calculating the original sound signal according to the noise reduction formula optimized by iterative training and the specific value of each parameter, and outputting the signal to noise ratio of the noise; and judging whether the signal to noise ratio is qualified, and if qualified, carrying out hearing aid processing of the processed sound signal. The present invention can quickly identify, suppress and converge unsteady noise by single microphone noise reduction without the aid of special iterative adaptive learning filter hardware built in a hearing aid chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Tingduoduo Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gaofeng Li, Jian Sun
  • Patent number: 11849288
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of improving usability of, and satisfaction with, a hearing aid. Further provided is a system comprising a hearing aid, wherein the system is configured to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Piechowiak, Christoffer Dyssegard, Anthea Bott, Lionel Plato Kuhlmann
  • Patent number: 11832076
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display and one or more processors. The display displays, when a person is at a location, a virtual image at a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space. The one or more processors process sound with a room impulse response (RIR) for the location in order to generate binaural sound that externally localizes at the SLP in empty space in response to the person being at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 11825271
    Abstract: A system, including a first microphone of a non-body carried device and a processor configured to receive input based on sound captured by the first microphone and analyze the received input to determine whether the sound captured by the first microphone is indicative of an attempted communication between humans, which humans are located in a structure where the microphone is located, upon a determination that the sound is indicative of an attempted communication between humans, evaluate the success of that communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Riaan Rottier
  • Patent number: 11818546
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hearing aid function realization method based on a wearable device system and a wearable device. The method comprises: collecting external sound signals based on a microphone on a wearable device, and inputting the collected external sound signals into pre-installed hearing aid software; processing the external sound signals based on the hearing aid software to obtain the processed sound signals, wherein the processed sound signals meet the hearing aid needs of hearing-impaired users; and transmitting the processed sound signals to a Bluetooth headset connected with a Bluetooth module based on the Bluetooth module, so that the hearing-impaired users receive and listen to the processed sound signals based on the Bluetooth headset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TINGDUODUO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaofeng Li, Jian Sun
  • Patent number: 11792583
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a recipient, at least one transducer, and at least one communication circuit. The at least one transducer is configured to respond to sound within the ear canal by generating output signals indicative of the sound. The at least one communication circuit has at least one resonance frequency and is configured to receive the output signals from the at least one transducer and to modulate the at least one resonance frequency in response to the output signals from the at least one transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Oplinger, Sören Nilsson
  • Patent number: 11785397
    Abstract: The present application relates to a system comprising a hearing aid, the hearing aid configured to be operated based on an estimation of a current listening effort of a hearing aid user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Lunner, Tanveer Bhuiyan, José Antonio Esparza Isasa, Sergi Rotger Griful, Antonello Salvatucci, Gary Jones, Kim Tilgaard Petersen, Peter Sommer
  • Patent number: 11778394
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a carrier board; a multi-chip assembly including a magnetic induction control chip and a signal processor; a magnetic induction coil at the carrier board; a hearing device housing having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite from the first end; and a battery, wherein the battery is provided closer to the second end of the hearing device housing than to the first end of the hearing device housing; wherein the multi-chip assembly and the magnetic induction coil are accommodated in the hearing device housing, and are between the battery and the first end of the hearing device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Andrea Ruaro, Sinasi Özden
  • Patent number: 11770661
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the wireless communication of information for a hearing assistance device including a multi-mode radio adapted to provide communications at different frequencies using frequency control. In applications of hearing aids, the processor is adapted to perform correction of sound for a hearing impaired user. In certain examples the present subject matter provides an inductive portion for inductive communications. In various applications the multi-mode radio can be used for long range and short range communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 11765530
    Abstract: An assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid with the assembly comprises an in the ear part and a behind the ear part and a part mechanically interconnecting the two parts. In the interconnection, a flexible substrate is arranged. The flexible substrate comprises conductive paths. The conductive paths may be used for communication between the in the ear part and the behind the ear part, and/or for an antenna function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Jens Troelsen, Rune Sø, Oliver Sundberg, Finn Danielsen, Jesper B. Johansen, Mads Sager, Svend Oscar Petersen, Bent Jakobsen
  • Patent number: 11750989
    Abstract: A method of increasing an ability of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis' ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis, including obtaining data indicative of a first characteristic of content, wherein the content is an audio or an audio-visual content, obtaining data indicative of a second characteristic of the content, identifying, based on the first and second characteristics, specific content and using at least one item of the specific content with the hearing prosthesis such that a hearing percept in the recipient is evoked based on the at least one item of specific content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jim May, Janette Oliver
  • Patent number: 11736875
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing aid with a Receiver In The Ear speaker assembly comprising a connecting member with electric conductors connecting a connector at one end, and a receiver housing with a receiver at the opposite end. A microphone housing with a microphone is attached to the connecting member. Placed along the connecting member, the microphone housing with the microphone is separated by a distance from the receiver in the receiver housing, thus reducing acoustic or mechanical feedback problems. Especially, the microphone and connector may share one common housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Anders Roug, Peter Sommer, Martin Larsen, Anders Højsgaard Thomsen, Peter H. Weis, Bjarke Mejnertsen
  • Patent number: 11736874
    Abstract: A hearing aid and related systems and methods are disclosed. In one implementation, a system may comprise a microphone and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive an original audio signal representative of sounds captured by the microphone; determine that the original audio signal includes a voice of the user; process the original audio signal according to a first processing scheme to generate a first processed audio signal; transmit the first processed audio signal to a hearing interface device after a first time delay associated with the first processing scheme; determine that the original audio signal includes an additional sound; process the original audio signal according to a second processing scheme to generate a second processed audio signal; and transmit the second processed audio signal to the hearing interface device after a second time delay associated with the second processing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Tal Rosenwein, Roi Nathan, Ronen Katsir, Yair Deitcher, Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 11736879
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display and one or more processors. The display displays, when a person is at a location, a virtual image at a sound localization point (SLP) in empty space. The one or more processors process sound with a room impulse response (RIR) for the location in order to generate binaural sound that externally localizes at the SLP in empty space in response to the person being at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 11706578
    Abstract: A portable calibration system is disclosed that calibrates an audio equipment without using a dedicated sound level meter. The calibration system comprises a coupler configured to couple a transducer to an energy sensor, where an output of the transducer is provided to the energy sensor via the coupler, an analyzer module configured to receive information from the energy sensor regarding the output of the transducer, a processor, in the analyzer module, configured to process the information to provide a result of a calibration for the audio equipment with respect to expected results, and a display configured to display the result of the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: King Chung
  • Patent number: 11683650
    Abstract: A hearing aid system includes an implant unit and a sound processor unit. The implant unit may be a transcutaneous bone anchoring stimulator configured to provide an acoustical vibration to the skull of the user wearing the hearing aid system. The implant unit may be cochlear stimulator configured to stimulate neural nerves of the cochlear of the user wearing the hearing aid system. The sound processor unit may be a housing attached to the skin of the user and attached to the implant unit by a magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Oleksandr Rybalko
  • Patent number: 11678163
    Abstract: A power-efficient, balanced, and reliable true wireless Bluetooth stereo audio solution is provided. Two audio sink devices are used to render audio content received from an audio source. One sink device is connected to the audio source via a primary link. The other sink device sniffs communication on the primary link. The two sink devices are connected via a hybrid link. In some embodiments, a token is passed dynamically between the two sink devices. The sink device that has the token acts as a primary sink device on a primary link with the source. The other sink device acts as a slave to the primary link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Xianbo Chen, Chikan Kwan, Shawn Ding
  • Patent number: 11665496
    Abstract: One or more electronic devices include one or more processors that process different segments or channels of an audio signal of sound for a user. The one or more processors process a first segment or channel of the sound with first HRTFs so the first segment or channel externally localizes in front of and to a right of a head of the user and process a second segment or channel of the sound with second HRTFs so the second segment or channel externally localizes in front of and to a left of the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Philip Scott Lyren, Glen A. Norris
  • Patent number: 11647344
    Abstract: A hearing device is disclosed, comprising a main microphone, M auxiliary microphones, a transform circuit, a processor, a memory and a post-processing circuit. The transform circuit transforms first sample values in current frames of a main audio signal and M auxiliary audio signals from the microphones into a main and M auxiliary spectral representations. The memory includes instructions to be executed by the processor to perform operations comprising: performing ANC over the first sample values using an end-to-end neural network to generate second sample values; and, performing audio signal processing over the main and the M auxiliary spectral representations using the end-to-end neural network to generate a compensation mask. The post-processing circuit modifies the main spectral representation with the compensation mask to generate a compensated spectral representation, and generates an output audio signal according to the second sample values and the compensated spectral representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: BRITISH CAYMAN ISLANDS INTELLIGO TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Ting-Yao Chen, Chen-Chu Hsu, Yao-Chun Liu, Tsung-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 11641576
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying a dual-mode wireless device, IOS device, and medium. The method includes: receiving a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising packet from a slave device; extracting a Media Access Control (MAC) address carried in the BLE advertising packet from the slave device and that is of a master device that has established a classic Bluetooth connection with the slave device; and if the MAC address is a MAC address of a current master device, establishing a BLE connection with the slave device; or if the MAC address is not a MAC address of a current master device, ignoring the BLE advertising packet from the slave device. The method has advantages of a high identification speed and high identification accuracy. The method does not require an additional application for Apple's MFi certification, which saves certification costs, shortens the time on product development, and simplifies the production process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: YEALINK (XIAMEN) NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Rongshan Liu
  • Patent number: 11631415
    Abstract: Methods for a voice processing system comprising P microphone units (102A . . . 102D) and a central unit (104) are disclosed. Each microphone unit is linked to a person and derives from N microphone signals a source localisation signal. The source localisation signal is used to control an adaptive beam form process to obtain a beam formed audio signal. The microphone unit is further configured to derive metadata from for N microphone signals, such direction the sound is coming from. Packages with the metadata and beam formed audio signal are transmitted to the central unit. The central unit processes the metadata to determine which parts of the P beam formed audio signal comprises speech from a person that is linked to another microphone unit. By removing said parts from the audio signals before transcription, the quality of the transcription is improved. The transcriptions are displayed on a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Marcellus Wilhelmus Van Der Ven, Jari Tamas Hazelebach
  • Patent number: 11627421
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for realizing hearing aid function based on Bluetooth headset chip and a Bluetooth headset: the common Bluetooth headset chip software of Bluetooth headset is upgraded to a specific Bluetooth headset chip with hearing aid function by a hearing loss correction software; a hearing aid algorithm module is embedded into the development kit of the common Bluetooth headset chip in the form of software library by the hearing loss correction software, so that the common Bluetooth headset chip has the hearing aid function only by software upgrade; after being processed by the hearing aid algorithm module, a sound signal is output to a hearing-impaired user, so that the hearing-impaired user can use the common Bluetooth headset to realize the hearing aid function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TINGDUODUO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gaofeng Li, Jian Sun
  • Patent number: 11622205
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to operation modes for hearing devices. In some implementations, the disclosed technology includes a hearing device entering into and operating in an airplane mode or a mode of operation that limits communication with a select frequency or select group of frequencies. To enter a mode of operation, a user may use two inputs for the hearing device. For example, one input may be a battery closing and another input may include the pushing of a button on a device (e.g., on the hearing device or a mobile device in communication with the hearing device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jonas Högberg, Michael von Tessin, Ivo Spieler, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Jan Mattmuller
  • Patent number: 11617016
    Abstract: A method and a system for virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, or 360-degree Video environment is disclosed. The system receives Video Streams associated to audio and video scenes to be reproduced and Audio Streams associated to audio and video scenes to be reproduced. There are provided a Video decoder which decodes signal from the Video Stream for the representation of the audio and video scene; an Audio decoder which decodes signal from the Audio Stream for the representation of the audio and video scene to the user; and a region of interest processor deciding, based e.g. on the user's viewport, head orientation, movement data, or metadata, whether an Audio information message is to be reproduced. At the decision, the reproduction of the Audio information message is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Adrian Murtaza, Harald Fuchs, Bernd Czelhan, Jan Plogsties
  • Patent number: 11564049
    Abstract: A multi-channel microphone receiver (MCR) for two or more wireless microphones (M1, . . . , MN) comprises a network interface and at least one mixer (MX) adapted for mixing audio signals (D1, . . . , DN) of the microphones. The mixer may be configured without any reconfiguration of the actual network being required. In addition to the single audio channels, the audio signal mixed according to the configuration may be output via a separate audio output channel (DOMx, AOMx), which may be analog or digital.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kai Tossing, Sven Hampel, Jean-Christophe Detay
  • Patent number: 11564047
    Abstract: A hearing aid system comprising at least a first hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid is configured to establish a communication link over the internet with a remote entity based on a protocol stack, wherein the protocol stack includes an internet protocol, and the protocol stack is implemented in the first hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Bjarne Klemmensen
  • Patent number: 11553292
    Abstract: An in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid has a housing that is designed for insertion into an ear canal of a hearing aid wearer. The housing has a housing shell. The housing shell has an antenna, in particular a folded, capacitively charged dipole antenna. The antenna is mounted in particular on an outer surface of the housing shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hamed Hasani, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11546704
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for establishing a bond for allowing secure communication between a hearing aid and an external device. Especially, the system and method allows for establish the bond without one of the device present during the bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Bjarne Klemmensen
  • Patent number: 11533570
    Abstract: A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Svend Oscar Petersen, Niels Stubager Kiemer, Jesper Kofoed Nielsen, Björn Ohl, Marianne Kleist Elmlund, Karin Carvalho, Henrik Bendsen, Regin Kopp Pedersen, Christian C. Bürger, Steen Michael Munk, Morten Christophersen, Julie Hefting Pedersen, Bo Westergård, Maria Oxenbøll
  • Patent number: 11523226
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: an input configured to electronically obtain first information relating to a request for establishing communication between a fitting device and an end user device, the end user device being configured to configure a hearing device based on fitting data from the fitting device; and a processing unit configured to electronically process the first information, and provide second information for transmission to an AV provider; wherein the processing unit is also configured to obtain a connection information associated with a virtual fitting room from the AV provider, and provide the connection information associated with the virtual fitting room for the fitting device; and wherein the processing unit is also configured to provide the connection information associated with the virtual fitting room for transmission to the end user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Frank Antonsen, David Landwehr
  • Patent number: 11510020
    Abstract: A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Doris Zahnd
  • Patent number: 11510021
    Abstract: A hearing aid device comprising a behind-the-ear part, an at-the-head part, a coupling element, a second antenna, and a wireless interface is disclosed. The behind-the-ear part is adapted for being arranged at an ear of a user and for providing a low frequency signal comprising audio. The at-the-head part is adapted for being arranged at the head of the user. The at-the-head part includes a first antenna adapted to communicate with an implant part comprising at least one cochlear electrode adapted for being arranged in the cochlea in proximity of an auditory nerve of the user. The coupling element couples the behind-the-ear part and the at-the-head part and is adapted for transmitting the low frequency signal comprising audio to the at-the-head part. The second antenna is adapted for communicating at high frequency with an external unit. The wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or sending data via the second antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Thorvaldur Oli Bodvarsson
  • Patent number: 11501775
    Abstract: A voice signal control device includes a processor having hardware configured to process a voice signal generated by a voice signal generation device configured to generate the voice signal according to setting information of a voice output in a voice processing device configured to output the voice signal, and make the voice processing device output voice according to the voice signal after the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11496843
    Abstract: An in-the-ear hearing device includes: a microphone configured to receive an audio signal; a signal processor configured to process the audio signal for compensating a hearing loss; a wireless communication unit being connected to the signal processor; a feeding network; a hearing device shell accommodating the microphone and the signal processor; a face plate positioned at the hearing device shell; and an antenna for electromagnetic field emission and electromagnetic field reception, the antenna coupled with the wireless communications unit, wherein the antenna has a first end, and wherein the feeding network is configured to feed the antenna via the first end of the antenna; wherein the antenna extends through the face plate at a first position; at least a part of the antenna extending from the faceplate being arch-shaped; and wherein a second end of the antenna is an electrically open end, or is coupled to a ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Soren Kvist, Nikolaj Peter Brunvoll Kammersgaard, Alexandre Da Luz Pinto, Shi Pu
  • Patent number: 11483665
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for communication include an ear canal microphone configured for placement in the ear canal to detect high frequency sound localization cues. An external microphone positioned away from the ear canal can detect low frequency sound, such that feedback can be substantially reduced. The canal microphone and the external microphone are coupled to a transducer, such that the user perceives sound from the external microphone and the canal microphone with high frequency localization cues and decreased feedback. Wireless circuitry can be configured to connect to many devices with a wireless protocol, such that the user can receive and transmit audio signals. A bone conduction sensor can detect near-end speech of the user for transmission with the wireless circuitry in a noisy environment. Noise cancellation of background sounds near the user can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney C. Perkins, Sunil Puria, Jonathan P. Fay
  • Patent number: 11477583
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured to adjust its settings when it detects the hearing device user is experiencing stress related to the hearing device applying a processing scheme. The hearing device can use vital signs of the hearing device user to determine whether a user is stressed. The hearing device can also determine whether the user has become stressed as a result of applied setting or an applied processing scheme of the hearing device based on a change in the vital sign of the hearing device user. The disclosed technology also includes a method for reducing stressing when using a hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Nadim El Guindi
  • Patent number: 11470430
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Beau Jay Polinske, Jay Rabel, Randy Kannas, Deepak Pai Hosadurga, Zhenchao Yang, Jay Stewart, Michael J. Tadeusiak, Stephen Paul Flood
  • Patent number: 11460564
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an acoustic antenna including elementary transducers distributed over an antenna row or plane, about a reference transducer, the antenna defining a main axis, passing through the reference transducer, and perpendicular to the antenna row or plane, the method including: measuring signals generated by elementary transducers in response to a calibration acoustic wave from a calibration source; on the basis of these measurements, determining a temporal phase shift of the signal respectively generated by each elementary transducer; reiterating the above steps in such a way that, in at least one iteration, the position of the calibration source may be considered to be centered on the main axis; and estimating a phase shift of each elementary transducer with respect to the reference transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Regis Perrier, Van-Tri Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11457320
    Abstract: A method for collecting and storing sensor data (56, 64) of a hearing system (10) comprises: receiving the sensor data (56, 64) of at least one sensor (20, 32, 34) of a hearing device (12) of the hearing system (10), wherein the hearing device (12) is worn by a user; detecting a situation (72) of interest by classifying at least a part of the sensor data (56, 64) with a classifier (61) implemented in the hearing system (10); collecting the sensor data (56, 64), when the hearing system (10) is in a situation (72) of interest; and sending the collected sensor data (76) to a storage system (54) in data communication with the hearing system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Andreas Breitenmoser, Peter Derleth, Harald Krueger, Aliaksei Tsitovich
  • Patent number: 11451910
    Abstract: An illustrative method is disclosed for determining potential partner devices for a hearing device worn by a user, wherein the hearing device is adapted for establishing a data communication connection with other devices with a data communication interface and for receiving an audio data stream from the other devices via the data communication interface. The method includes generating context data from sensor data recorded by the hearing device; inputting the context data into a machine learning algorithm, which has been trained with historical context data to classify potential partner devices; and outputting at least one classification by the machine learning algorithm, the classification classifying the potential partner devices and indicating whether the user expects a data communication connection with the potential partner devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Manuela Feilner, Arnaud Brielmann, Amre El-Hoiydi
  • Patent number: 11451897
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for dynamic selection of a primary wireless earbud device. In one embodiment, an example system may include a first wireless earbud device having first memory and at least one first processor configured to access the first memory. The at least one first processor may execute computer-executable instructions to determine a first RSSI value for a first connection to a device, determine a first packet error rate value for the first connection, and determine a first link quality score using the first RSSI value and the first packet error rate value. The at least one first processor may execute computer-executable instructions to determine that the first link quality score is less than or equal to a handover threshold, disconnect from the device, and cause a second wireless earbud device to establish a second connection to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sai Prashanth Chinnapalli, Muhaiyadeen Ansarullah Habibullah, Ganesha Batta
  • Patent number: 11445014
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device is specified. The hearing device is assigned to a user and connected to other hearing devices, which are each assigned to another user, for data exchange in a common network. The hearing device or one of the other hearing devices controls the data exchange by subscribing to the network as a master, and wherein all other hearing devices subscribe to the network as a slave. It is decided whether the hearing device subscribes to the network as a master or as a slave by determining the operational capability of the hearing device and comparing it with the operational capability of the other hearing devices and by the hearing device acting as a master if the hearing device has the highest operational capability, and otherwise as a slave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Umut Goekay, Frank Naumann
  • Patent number: 11438714
    Abstract: A hearing device includes a processor and a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor and configured to connect via a wireless link with a remote device and to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device. The transmit power of the remote device is larger than the transmit power of the hearing device. The processor is configured to estimate the audio link packet error rate of the transmission via the wireless link, and generate a notification when the audio link packet error rate exceeds a pre-determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Federico Ferrari