Remote Control, Wireless, Or Alarm Patents (Class 381/315)
  • Patent number: 10390165
    Abstract: A dual source spatialized audio system includes a general audio system and a personal audio system. The general system includes a general audio processor and general speakers to produce general sound. The personal system includes a frame to be worn on a head of a user and a plurality of personal speakers attached to the frame. The personal system also includes a head pose sensor to collect head pose data of the user. The personal system further includes a head pose processor to determine a head pose of the user from the head pose data. Moreover, the personal system includes a personal audio processor to generate personal audio data based on the head pose of the user. The personal speakers generate personal sound corresponding to the personal audio data. The personal processor receives timing information/metadata from the general audio processor to synchronize the personal sound with the general sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: David Thomas Roach, Samuel A Miller, George Alistair Sanger, Brian Schmidt, Terry Michael O'Gara, Anastasia Andreyevna Tajik, Jehangir Tajik
  • Patent number: 10362419
    Abstract: A hearing aid contains a housing and, inserted in the housing, is a frame for receiving electrical or electronic assemblies. The assemblies received in the frame contains a transmitting and/or receiving unit for electro-magnetic waves. The hearing aid moreover has an antenna assigned to the transmitting and/or receiving unit, which antenna is configured as an integral part of the frame, as a stamped/bent part or as inlay part made of metal. The antenna contains two parts which are each configured as open loops with two ends, wherein the two loop-shaped parts of the antenna are electrically shorted to each other by a respective end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Johannes Kuhn, Oliver Nipp, Daniela Beck, Constantine Farmakidis
  • Patent number: 10321247
    Abstract: A device including an inductive radio frequency communication coil and a platform apparatus configured to be secured or coupled to an actuator such that the actuator can induce vibration in the skull inducing hearing percepts, and the RF coil can deliver communication allowing an implantable stimulator to also induce hearing percepts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Rishubh Verma, Jan Vermeiren, Kristof Buytaert
  • Patent number: 10306383
    Abstract: A device includes a magnetic field source that generates a rotationally asymmetric magnetic field, a magnetic field sensor that generates a signal that is indicative of a position of the magnetic field sensor in the rotationally asymmetric magnetic field, and a processor coupled to the magnetic field sensor. The processor is configured to process the signal from the magnetic field sensor to control one or more operational settings of the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Johan Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 10277992
    Abstract: This invention discloses a TMR near-field magnetic communication system, which is used for detecting AC and DC magnetic fields generated by a near-field magnetic communication system, and inputting AC and DC magnetic field signal to an audio electroacoustic taking the same as input signals thereof. The audio electroacoustic device comprises a hearing aid, an earphone of a home entertainment system, a public hearing loop system with an embedded hearing device, etc. The TMR near-field magnetic communication system comprises one or more TMR sensor bridges for detecting AC and DC magnetic field signals, an analog-signal circuit containing a filter which is used for separating components of AC and DC signals output by a TMR sensor, an amplifier which is used for amplifying an AC electrical signal, and an analog output used for transmitting the AC electrical signal to the audio electroacoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MultiDimension Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Geza Deak, Haiping Guo, Songsheng Xue
  • Patent number: 10277996
    Abstract: A hearing aid having an electrical assembly, the electrical assembly includes a printed circuit board having a first board surface and a second board surface, the printed circuit board having a first pad in a first pad region on the first board surface, the first pad region having a first board normal; a flexible printed circuit board comprising an antenna, the antenna having a first terminal in a first terminal region on a first flexfilm surface of the flexible printed circuit board, the first terminal region having a first terminal normal; and first electrically conductive material connecting the first pad and the first terminal, and wherein the first terminal normal and the first board normal forms a first angle that is anywhere from 30° to 150°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Benny Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10257618
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Beau Jay Polinske, Stephen Paul Flood
  • Patent number: 10247807
    Abstract: A method for locating a mobile device is disclosed. Initially, a set of modulated ultrasound signals and a set of radio signals are separately broadcast from a group of transmitters. The ultrasound signals include at least one symbol configured for pulse compression. After the receipt of a demodulated ultrasound signal from a mobile device, wherein the demodulated ultrasound signal is derived from the modulated ultrasound signals, transmitter identifier and timing information are extracted from the demodulated ultrasound signal. Timing information include, for example, the arrival time of the demodulated ultrasound signal in relation to the start time of its transmission. After the locations of the transmitters have been ascertained from the transmitter identifier information, the location of the mobile device can be determined based on the timing information and the locations of the transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Patrick Lazik, Niranjini Rajagopal, Oliver Shih, Anthony Rowe, Bruno Sinopoli
  • Patent number: 10242565
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes examples of systems and methods of wireless remote control of appliances using a hearing device, for example upon manual activation of a switch placed in the concha cavity behind the tragus. In some examples, the hearing device includes one or more manually activated switches, a wireless antenna, and a battery cell. In some examples, the wireless electronics include low energy Bluetooth capability. The appliance may be any device with wireless control capability, for example an electronic lock, a thermostat, an electronic lighting, a telephone, a kitchen appliance, a medical alert system, a television, a medical device, and a smart glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: iHear Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 10237668
    Abstract: This application describes an apparatus (300) for monitoring for blockage of an acoustic (110) port of a microphone device (100). The apparatus has a spectrum peak detect block (301) for receiving a microphone signal (SMIC) and determining, from the microphone signal, a resonance frequency (fH) and a quality factor (QH) of a resonance (202) associated with the acoustic port. A condition monitoring block (302) is configured to determine any change in resonance frequency and quality factor and to determine a blockage status for the microphone based on said detect changes. The condition monitoring block identifies a change in blockage status if there is a change in quality factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Lesso, Emmanuel Philippe Christian Hardy
  • Patent number: 10236990
    Abstract: A device including a remote control of remote operation of the device is described. The remote control includes a key matrix and a microprocessor. The microprocessor processes key scan codes from the key matrix and converts the key scan codes to amplitude modulated remote control commands for transmission by a wireless transmitter. The device includes components so that a user can operate the device locally without a remote control. The components in the device that enable local operation of the device are comparable to components in the remote control that enable remote operation of the device so that a minimum of changes are required in the device to enable local operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
    Inventors: Sin Hui Cheah, Gerald Adolph Colman
  • Patent number: 10219065
    Abstract: Methods and/or systems are provided for a telecoil adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Otojoy LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 10206084
    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: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Xianbo Chen, Chikan Kwan, Shawn Ding
  • Patent number: 10200799
    Abstract: A hearing device has a microphone for detecting an acoustic signal from the environment of the hearing device, and a housing in which the microphone is arranged. The housing is formed with a microphone opening through which the microphone communicates with the environment of the hearing device for detecting the acoustic signal. The hearing device further has a damping element, by way of which the microphone is supported against the housing. Moreover, the hearing device has a barrier element for sealing the microphone opening against moisture in a sound-transmitting manner. The damping element has a pocket in which the barrier element is received reversibly. Furthermore, the barrier element is sealed off from the housing by way of the damping element all around the microphone opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Uwe Flaig, Wolfgang Schleifer
  • Patent number: 10171921
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for performing a microphone matching of a hearing aid comprising a first microphone, a second microphone and a receiver in a predetermined spatial arrangement to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Jan Thor Lunddahl Larsen
  • Patent number: 10136230
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an RF antenna adapted to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic RF signals within a first frequency range enclosing a first frequency of resonance of the RF antenna, the RF antenna comprising: an electrically conductive antenna element having a feed for electrically connecting to an RF transmitter and/or an RF receiver; an electronic component adapted to receive and/or provide one or more electric signals from/to an electronic circuit within a second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range; and one or more electric leads electrically connected to lead the one or more electric signals between the electronic component and the electronic circuit, each of the one or more electric leads being electrically connected to the electronic circuit through a respective inductor adapted to reflect and/or attenuate signals within the first frequency range and pass signals within the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Oliver Sundberg, Kåre Tais Christensen, Henning Knak Poulsen
  • Patent number: 10129663
    Abstract: A partner microphone unit comprising a) a multitude microphones for picking up a sound from the environment providing corresponding electric input signals, each comprising a target signal component and a noise signal component; b) a multi-input unit noise reduction system for providing an estimate ? of the target sound s comprising the person's voice and comprising a multi-input beamformer filtering unit coupled to said input units and configured to determine filter weights for providing a beamformed signal, wherein signal components from other directions than a direction of the target signal source are attenuated, whereas signal components from the direction of the target signal source are left un-attenuated; c) antenna and transceiver circuitry for establishing an audio link to another device; and wherein the multi-input beamformer filtering unit comprises an adaptive beamformer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Michael Syskind Pedersen
  • 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: 10051401
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the memory comprising machine-readable instructions, that when executed cause the apparatus to: store in a non-volatile memory multiple sets of predetermined spatial audio processing parameters for differently moving sound sources; provide in a man machine interface an option for a user to select one of the stored multiple sets of predetermined spatial audio processing parameters for differently moving sound sources; and in response to the user selecting one of the stored multiple sets of predetermined spatial audio processing parameters for differently moving sound sources, the apparatus is further caused to use the selected one of the stored multiple sets of predetermined spatial audio processing parameters to spatially process audio from one or more sound sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi, Antti Johannes Eronen, Jussi Artturi Leppänen, Juha Henrik Arrasvuori
  • Patent number: 10039672
    Abstract: The present application takes advantage of a simultaneous three pronged approach that converts sound to electricity and subsequently to vibration and ultrasound. The vibrations and electricity are transmitted via skin nerves to the brain to give the deaf or hard of hearing person “hearing sensation” through conditional reflex. The ultrasound wave is transmitted wirelessly to skull and then via bone conduction to the brain and inner ear. This hearing device is not solely dependent on the partially or totally damaged or absent inner ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Ali Mohammad Aghamohammadi
  • Patent number: 10034108
    Abstract: A method for use in the fitting of a hearing aid comprises the steps of providing a sound recording of a user environment, feeding the sound recording to the hearing aid as a sound input signal (8a), processing the sound input signal according to a scheme defined by preselected settings of a number of parameters so as to provide a processed signal (8b), adjusting the setting of at least one parameter, performing a statistical analysis of the magnitude of the processed signal or of the input signal in at least one frequency band, which statistical analysis is reset when a parameter is adjusted during the fitting, and displaying a graphical representation (10, 11) of the results of said statistical analysis. The invention also provides a system for fitting a hearing aid and a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventor: Svend Vitting Andersen
  • Patent number: 10028067
    Abstract: Indicator device for a hearing loop, arranged to be permanently installed at a location from which it is clearly visible for a user of the hearing loop during such use. The indicator device includes a minimum magnetic field setting unit, a hearing loop detection unit arranged to measure the current field strength of a magnetic field produced by the hearing loop, an interpretation device arranged to translate the detected field strength, in relation to the minimum field strength, to produce a corresponding current relative intensity signal, as well as a variable display unit arranged to display a visible signal indicating the value of the current intensity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: AB TRANSISTOR SWEDEN
    Inventors: Henrik Ejderholm, Johan Hammarstrom, Carl Ronn
  • Patent number: 9998840
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electrical testing of noise in a multi-membrane micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microphone are disclosed. The MEMS system has a test mode that includes placing the microphones' MEMS biasing networks into a reset mode, adjusting the first bias voltage for the first MEMS sensor such that a polarity matches the polarity of the bias voltage of the second MEMS sensor. The MEMS biasing networks are then placed into a sense mode, and a total noise value is obtained for the MEMS microphone system by measurement of the output of the system's preamplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: John Matthew Muza
  • Patent number: 9949040
    Abstract: The application relates to: A hearing system comprising first and second hearing aid systems, each being configured to be worn by first and second persons and adapted to exchange audio data between them. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing system. The object of the present application is to provide improved perception of a (target) sound source for a wearer of a hearing device (e.g. a hearing aid or a headset) in a difficult listening situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Bergmann, Jesper Jensen, Thomas Gleerup, Ole Fogh Olsen
  • Patent number: 9946509
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an audio signal processing device configured to transmit/receive an audio signal to/from an external acoustic output device that includes a microphone and an acoustic output means, including a transmission/reception module configured to transmit/receive a signal to/from the external acoustic output device, and a processor configured to control an operation of the transmission/reception module, wherein the processor transmits an audio output signal to the external acoustic output device through the transmission/reception module, receives, through the transmission/reception module, an input signal to which an external acoustic collected through the microphone is converted while the acoustic output means outputs an acoustic based on the audio output signal, and compares the audio output signal with the input signal to determine whether a user wears the acoustic output means of the external acoustic output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Gaudio Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunoh Oh, Taegyu Lee, Jaesung Choi, Yonghyun Baek
  • Patent number: 9940928
    Abstract: A system for communication between one or more remotely controllable devices and a hearing assistance device includes a gateway device. The hearing assistance device detects voice commands issued by its wearer. The gateway device wirelessly communicates with the hearing assistance device, produces one or more control signals based on the voice commands, and routes the one or more control signals to one or more devices selected from the one or more remotely controllable devices according to the voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory John Haubrich, Sasidhar Vajha, Jon S. Kindred, Andrew Joseph Johnson, Alexander Botz
  • Patent number: 9933989
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method of rendering audio for playback through headphones comprising receiving digital audio content, receiving binaural rendering metadata generated by an authoring tool processing the received digital audio content, receiving playback metadata generated by a playback device, and combining the binaural rendering metadata and playback metadata to optimize playback of the digital audio content through the headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Nicolas R. Tsingos, Rhonda Wilson, Sunil Bharitkar, C. Phillip Brown, Alan J. Seefeldt, Remi Audfray
  • Patent number: 9930456
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 9930457
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and a hearing device comprising a processing unit, a wireless transceiver connected to the processing unit, and a receiver connected to the processing unit for converting an output signal into an audio output signal, wherein the hearing device is configured to perform mirror service between the hearing device and another hearing device according to mirror service property, wherein the mirror service comprises transmitting mirror service packets with a packet format at a packet transmission rate; the mirror service packet comprising one or more hearing device operating parameters including a first hearing device operating parameter, wherein the processing unit is configured to obtain the first hearing device operating parameter, determine if a change criterion is fulfilled, wherein the change criterion is based on the first hearing device operating parameter, and change the mirror service property, if the change criterion is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 9928822
    Abstract: An audio system includes: a receiver receiving a first broadcast signal corresponding to a frequency selected by a user; a controller comparing a signal strength of the first broadcast signal in a first broadcast band to a signal strength of the first broadcast signal in a second frequency band and determining which frequency band of the first and second frequency bands has a higher signal strength based on the comparison; and a signal processor generating a second broadcast signal by changing a phase of the first broadcast signal in the determined frequency band, and generating a third broadcast signal in the determined frequency band canceled by synthesizing the first and second broadcast signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Gil Sup An, Jihoon Sung
  • Patent number: 9924278
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; and a memory unit, wherein the memory unit is configured to store model data comprising model information data indicative of available models for the hearing device, the model information data comprising first model information; wherein the processing unit is configured to: verify the model data, and reject the model data if verification of the model data fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 9911310
    Abstract: A smart phone including a computer readable storage medium to store a hearing aid locator application and a processor coupled to the computer readable storage medium to execute the hearing aid locator application to track a last known location of a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: III HOLDINGS 4, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick Charles Neumeyer, Gregory Charles Yancey
  • Patent number: 9900839
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for managing power consumption in a wireless network. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method for wireless communications of isochronous data. A transmission of isochronous data is received using an electronic device having a battery. The method determines how many redundant transmissions can be received by the device within a predetermined time frame while limiting discharge of the battery, and adjusts reception of the redundant transmissions based on the determination. In various embodiments, a reduction in received redundant transmissions preserves energy and prevents complete discharge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 9887848
    Abstract: A client device for hearing device communication, includes: a processing unit; a memory unit; and an interface; wherein the memory unit has a client device key and a client device certificate stored therein; and wherein the processing unit is configured to receive a connection response comprising a hearing device identifier via the interface, generate one or more keys including a certificate key based on the hearing device identifier and the client device key, and obtain an authentication message based on the certificate key and the client device certificate; wherein the processing unit is configured to obtain the authentication message by encrypting the client device certificate with the certificate key to obtain an encrypted client device certificate, and including the encrypted client device certificate in the authentication message; and wherein the interface is configured to transmit the authentication message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 9866974
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system that contains a hearing device and a database system, which is separate from the hearing device and is set up for communication with the hearing device. The method includes ascertaining a piece of location information for a current position of the hearing device and the location information is transmitted to the database. The database then ascertains whether an electronic device that is separate from the hearing device is situated at a prescribed physical distance from the hearing device. The presence of the separate electronic device within the prescribed physical distance is taken as a basis by the database system for creating for the hearing device a parameter set that contains a number of parameters pertaining to the signal processing of audible signals in the hearing device. This parameter set is used by the hearing device for the purpose of signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Baeuml, Matthias Froehlich, Simon Huettinger, Bernd Tessendorf
  • Patent number: 9866966
    Abstract: A wireless audio system may be configured with a mobile communication device that is concurrently wirelessly connected to first and second monitors, respectively, via first and second wireless pathways. The first and second wireless pathways can be different and provide stereo audio reproduction with the first and second monitors with 5 ms of latency or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Dale Lott
  • Patent number: 9866932
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic helmet for cancelling noises, which comprises a helmet including a plurality of microphones, a plurality of speakers and a first communication unit; and a mobile device including a second communication unit and a control unit. When the first communication unit in the helmet connects to the second communication unit in the mobile device, the control unit generates a plurality of control signals according to at least one sound or noise detected by the plurality of microphones. The mobile device uses the plurality of control signals to control the plurality of speakers outputting the at least one sound or anti-noise cancelling the noise. By the above electronic helmet, the present invention also provides a method integrating active noise control, hands-free communication, music listening, and voice navigation so as to achieve the proposes of cancelling the noises and improving the riding quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventors: Cheng-Yuan Chang, Sen-Maw Kuo
  • Patent number: 9860656
    Abstract: A hearing system for communication with a mobile telephone comprises a hearing device and a separate microphone unit adapted for picking up a voice of a user. The microphone unit comprises a) a multitude M?2 of input units for picking up or receiving a signal representative of a sound from the environment; b) an adaptive multi-input unit noise reduction system for providing an estimate ? of a target signal s comprising the user's voice, the multi-input unit noise reduction system comprises a multi-input beamformer filtering unit configured to determine filter weights w(k,m) for providing a beamformed signal, wherein signal components from other directions than a direction of a target signal source are attenuated, whereas signal components from the direction of the target signal source are left un-attenuated; and c) antenna and transceiver circuitry for transmitting said estimate ? of the user's voice to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Michael Syskind Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9832576
    Abstract: A partner microphone unit comprising a) a multitude microphones for picking up a sound from the environment providing corresponding electric input signals, each comprising a target signal component and a noise signal component; b) a multi-input unit noise reduction system for providing an estimate ? of the target sound s comprising the person's voice and comprising a multi-input beamformer filtering unit coupled to said input units and configured to determine filter weights for providing a beamformed signal, wherein signal components from other directions than a direction of the target signal source are attenuated, whereas signal components from the direction of the target signal source are left un-attenuated; c) antenna and transceiver circuitry for establishing an audio link to another device; and wherein the multi-input beamformer filtering unit comprises an adaptive beamformer is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Michael Syskind Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9808623
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing system. The hearing system comprises an implantable device configured to be implanted under the skin of a wearer and an external device configured to be positioned at an ear of the wearer. The external device comprises a transmit system configured to generate a wireless signal for being transmitted to the implantable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Søren Kamaric Riis, Shahrokh Tahniat
  • Patent number: 9807522
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising an ITE-part adapted for being located at or in an ear canal of a user, a configurable signal processing unit for processing an input signal, and a feedback estimation unit for providing a current estimate of an acoustic feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer, a memory for storing frequency dependent reference estimates of the acoustic feedback path the real ear to coupler difference, when the ITE-part is correctly mounted, an optional probe signal generator for generating a probe signal at least in a specific measurement mode, wherein the hearing device is configured to perform measurement of the current estimate of the acoustic feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Steen Michael Munk, Jacob Lindvig
  • Patent number: 9779716
    Abstract: Systems and methods for active noise reduction and occlusion reduction based on seal quality of an in-the-ear (ITE) module inserted into a user's ear canal are provided. An example method includes receiving one or more acoustic signals. Each of the acoustic signals represents at least one captured sound having at least one of a voice component and an unwanted noise. The voice component may include the user's own voice. A quality of a seal of an ear canal is determined based at least partially on the acoustic signals. If the quality of the seal exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an occlusion reduction is performed on the acoustic signals to improve the voice component. If the quality of the seal is below a predetermined threshold value, active noise reduction is performed on the acoustic signals to reduce the unwanted noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Sharon Gadonniex, John Woodruff, Tony Verma
  • Patent number: 9774961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Stephen Paul Flood
  • Patent number: 9749755
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a processing unit; a transceiver connected to the processing unit and being configured for outputting a transceiver output signal representative of a first audio signal to form a first input signal for the processing unit; and a microphone connected to the processing unit for converting a second audio signal into a microphone output signal to form a second input signal for the processing unit; wherein the processing unit is configured to: estimate a time shift between the microphone output signal and the transceiver output signal, determine a time delay based on the time shift, and use the time delay to obtain a summing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Udesen
  • Patent number: 9729980
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus includes a coil and a coil operation mode selector configured to select either a first coil operation mode for communicating with a wireless communication terminal, or a second coil operation mode for wirelessly charging a battery of the hearing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun Seo Ku, Jong Jin Kim, Jun Whon Uhm, Chang Wook Yoon, Dong Wook Kim, Jun Il Sohn, Jong Min Choi, Jong Hee Han
  • Patent number: 9686622
    Abstract: This acoustic reproduction device can suppress a loss in sense of volume and sense of comfort. The acoustic reproduction device causes a user to hear sound and is provided with a vibration unit (10), which includes a piezoelectric element (101) that flexes and a panel (102) that vibrates by being bent directly by the piezoelectric element (101), and with a holder (60), which holds the vibration unit (10) at a position where the vibration unit (10) contacts the user's ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9661425
    Abstract: An audio system such as a hearing assistance system includes an audio source device wirelessly communicating with one or more audio sink (destination) devices. The audio source and sink devices each include a sample clock for processing audio signal that is digitized and wirelessly transmitted. The sample clock of each of the one or more audio sink devices is synchronized to the sample clock of the audio source device to prevent audio sample over-runs or under-runs causing undesirable audio artifacts. In one embodiment, because audio packets may be lost in transmission, packet loss concealment techniques are used to improve audio reproduction. In one embodiment, link layer information is used for audio phase lock loop jitter reduction in the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Mohammed Movahedi
  • Patent number: 9661427
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an antenna for wireless communication with another device. The antenna includes a primary element connected to the circuit of the hearing aid and one or more secondary elements parasitically coupled to the primary element. This antenna configuration substantially increases radiation efficiency when compared to an antenna with the primary element alone, without substantially increasing the size, power consumption, and complexity of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Anthony Bauman, Jorge F. Sanguino, Gregory John Haubrich
  • Patent number: 9661413
    Abstract: An acoustic layer is added to a laptop-type personal computing device, comprising: enclosing walls, optionally—one or more microphones, a signal processing device, at least one audio transducer, and an acoustic waveguide. The acoustic layer adjoins one or more internal areas of a laptop-type device. The signal processing device receives an internal signal from a laptop-type device. The signal processing device provides a directive sound enhancement of the audio input signals based on room acoustics, such as reverberation, echo, noise, delay, frequency response, and/or speaker-positional information that is determined by the signal processing device. The audio transducer device generates an audible audio output in response to an audio signal output from the signal processing device. The acoustic waveguide receives the audible audio output and generates an enhanced bass audio output from the acoustic waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick A. Quinn, Robert C. Proebstel, Manpreet S. Khaira, Thomas Irrgang, Nigel D. Waites, Ian J Myles
  • Patent number: 9641943
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving information indicative of an acoustic transfer function of a first acoustic device, and obtaining a set of calibration parameters that represent a calibration of a second acoustic device with respect to the first acoustic device. The method includes determining a set of operating parameters for the second acoustic device based at least in part on (i) the acoustic transfer function and (ii) the calibration parameters. The second acoustic device, when configured using the set of operating parameters, produces an acoustic performance substantially same as that of the first acoustic device. The method also includes providing the set of operating parameters to the second acoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Sabin