Patents Assigned to K/S HIMPP
  • Patent number: 11331008
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are examples of methods and systems for performing a calibration check of a personal hearing test system using a built-in calibration cavity, particularly for use by a non-expert user outside the clinical environment. The hearing test system includes a one or more earpieces. The hearing test system further includes a portable test unit having an acoustic calibration cavity for accommodating the earpiece at least partially therein. The acoustic calibration cavity may include an opening along an exterior surface of the portable test unit. The acoustic calibration cavity receives an acoustic calibration stimuli and the microphone provided within the acoustic calibration cavity produces a calibration signal input for measuring and performing a calibration check, or an automatic self-calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Adnan Shennib, Victor Valenzuela
  • Patent number: 11265664
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes examples of systems and methods of wireless remote control of appliances and medical devices using a canal hearing device upon manual activation of a switch placed in the concha cavity behind the tragus. The manual activation of the switch may be by applying a force to the tragus by a finger of a user of the canal hearing device. In one embodiment the lateral end comprises one or more manually activated switches, a wireless antenna, and a battery cell. In some examples, the wireless electronics include low energy Bluetooth. The appliance may be any device with wireless capabilities, 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. The inconspicuous and secure wear of the hearing device allows for active lifestyle, including exercise, and more discrete communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 11265663
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes examples of systems and methods of wireless remote control of appliances and medical devices using a canal hearing device upon manual activation of a switch placed in the concha cavity behind the tragus. The manual activation of the switch may be by applying a force to the tragus by a finger of a user of the canal hearing device. In one embodiment the lateral end comprises one or more manually activated switches, a wireless antenna, and a battery cell. In some examples, the wireless electronics include low energy Bluetooth. The appliance may be any device with wireless capabilities, 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. The inconspicuous and secure wear of the hearing device allows for active lifestyle, including exercise, and more discrete communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 11265665
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes examples of systems and methods of wireless remote control of appliances and medical devices using a canal hearing device upon manual activation of a switch placed in the concha cavity behind the tragus. The manual activation of the switch may be by applying a force to the tragus by a finger of a user of the canal hearing device. In one embodiment the lateral end comprises one or more manually activated switches, a wireless antenna, and a battery cell. In some examples, the wireless electronics include low energy Bluetooth. The appliance may be any device with wireless capabilities, 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. The inconspicuous and secure wear of the hearing device allows for active lifestyle, including exercise, and more discrete communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 11115519
    Abstract: Examples of subscription-based wireless hearing device systems and methods are described. An exemplary system includes a wireless hearing device and a personal computing device to enable or disable a wireless service of the wireless hearing device in accordance of a subscription. The subscription may be verified using subscription data or validation data received from a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventor: Adnan Shennib
  • Patent number: 10631108
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound and intelligibility of speech delivered to a user by combining electric audio signals from more than one hearing assistance device that incorporates an active signal enhancement system. The method includes receiving electric audio signals at a first hearing assistance device, and sending electric audio signals to a second hearing assistance device. The electric audio signal is encoded as a replacement for input to an microphone channel located at the second hearing assistance device. The electric audio signals from the microphone located at the first hearing assistance device and the microphone located at the second hearing assistance device are combined. The combined electric audio signals are processed through a digital signal processor in the first hearing assistance device to enhance the amplitude of the desired signal via constructive interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Drew Dundas, Steven Manser, Daniel S Keller, Edward V Bacho, Rodney C Perkins
  • Patent number: 10433074
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user's needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user's mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user's sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Ted Simonides, Steve Manser, Dan Keller, Drew Dundas, Mike Kisch
  • Patent number: 10390155
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user's needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user's mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user's sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Ted Simonides, Steve Manser, Dan Keller, Larry Wuensch, Drew Dundas, Mike Kisch
  • Patent number: 10341791
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user's needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user's mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user's sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Ted Simonides, Steve Manser, Dan Keller, Larry Wuensch, Mike Kisch
  • Patent number: 10284998
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user's needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user's mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user's sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Ted Simonides, Steve Manser, Dan Keller, Mike Kisch
  • Patent number: 9559653
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit apparent amplitude modulation in non-linear processing that causes distortion in a processed signal. One aspect of the invention includes a hearing aid. The hearing aid includes a microphone to receive an input signal, a speaker to reproduce the input signal, and a processor. The processor processes the input signal using a gain. The processor includes an inhibitor, which inhibits distortions, and an adjuster, which adjusts the gain. The inhibitor acts to smooth an envelope of the input signal to inhibit undesired modulation. The adjuster adjusts the gain if the envelope is either above or below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Jon S. Kindred, Bryant Sorensen, Jerry Wahl
  • Patent number: 8121326
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a hearing aid shell, a microphone enclosed within the hearing aid shell, and a sealing member that surrounds the periphery of the microphone enclosed within the hearing aid shell, and a sealing member that surrounds the periphery of the microphone. The sealing member completely fills the area between the periphery of the microphone and the interior surface of the hearing aid shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: K/S Himpp
    Inventors: Walter P. Sjursen, Michael DeSalvo, Hassan Mohamed, Paul J. Mulhauser, Karl D. Kirk, III
  • Patent number: 8121327
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a circuit board having a battery affixed thereon and a switch that utilizes a portion of the circuit board as a portion of the switch. The battery is permanently affixed to the circuit board in at least one location and at least a portion of the battery is spaced away from the circuit board. The circuit board further includes at least one pair of printed switch traces. The switch is integrated into the circuit board in a way that utilizes the circuit board to form a rotary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Walter P. Sjursen, Michael DeSalvo, Hassan Mohamed, Paul J. Mulhauser, Karl D. Kirk, III
  • Patent number: 6563931
    Abstract: An auditory prosthesis, and method, which is able to adapt better to filter out a selected unwanted portion of the auditory input signal by relying on a human activation, such as activation by the user, who knows by listening when the auditory environment contains only, or mostly only, the selected unwanted portion of the auditory input signal. This person may then activate the adaptive filter of the auditory prosthesis. The adaptive filter then utilizes the then current auditory environment as a noise reference on which to adapt. A transducer is adapted to receive the environmental sound and convert the environmental sound into an electrical input signal. The electrical input signal contains a selected electrical component corresponding to the selected auditory component in the environmental sound. An adaptive filter receives the electrical input signal and provides a filtered signal. The adaptive filter has adaptable filtering characteristics based upon a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: Sigfrid D. Soli, Ralph P. Fravel
  • Patent number: 5724433
    Abstract: Adaptive compressive gain and level dependent spectral shaping circuitry for a hearing aid include a microphone to produce an input signal and a plurality of channels connected to a common circuit output. Each channel has a preset frequency response. Each channel includes a filter with a preset frequency response to receive the input signal and to produce a filtered signal, a channel amplifier to amplify the filtered signal to produce a channel output signal, a threshold register to establish a channel threshold level, and a gain circuit. The gain circuit increases the gain of the channel amplifier when the channel output signal falls below the channel threshold level and decreases the gain of the channel amplifier when the channel output signal rises above the channel threshold level. A transducer produces sound in response to the signal passed by the common circuit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: A. Maynard Engebretson, Michael P. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 5706352
    Abstract: Adaptive compressive gain and level dependent spectral shaping circuitry for a hearing aid include a microphone to produce an input signal and a plurality of channels connected to a common circuit output. Each channel has a preset frequency response. Each channel includes a filter with a preset frequency response to receive the input signal and to produce a filtered signal, a channel amplifier to amplify the filtered signal to produce a channel output signal, a threshold register to establish a channel threshold level, and a gain circuit. The gain circuit increases the gain of the channel amplifier when the channel output signal falls below the channel threshold level and decreases the gain of the channel amplifier when the channel output signal rises above the channel threshold level. A transducer produces sound in response to the signal passed by the common circuit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: K/S HIMPP
    Inventors: A. Maynard Engebretson, Michael P. O'Connell