Patents Assigned to Starkey Laboratories
  • Patent number: 12300248
    Abstract: A system and method of automatic transcription using a visual display device and an ear-wearable device. The system is configured to process an input audio signal at the display device to identify a first voice signal and a second voice signal from the input audio signal. A representation of the first voice signal and the second voice signal can be displayed on the display device and input can be received comprising the user selecting one of the first voice signal and the second voice signal as a selected voice signal. The system is configured to convert the selected voice signal to text data and display a transcript on the display device. The system can further generate an output signal sound at the first transducer of the ear-wearable device based on the input audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David Alan Fabry, Amit Shahar, Clifford Anthony Tallman
  • Patent number: 12302071
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprising a microphone, a receiver, hearing aid electronics coupled to the microphone and the receiver, and conductive traces overlaying an insulator, the conductive traces configured to interconnect the hearing aid electronics and to follow non-planar contours of the insulator. Examples are provided wherein the insulator includes a hearing aid housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas F. Link, David Prchal, Sidney A. Higgins
  • Patent number: 12294833
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of a wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a processor. A power source and a receiver or a speaker are respectively disposed in or on the housing. A microphone array is disposed in or on the housing and operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. The microphone array comprises a plurality of microphones. The processor is configured to operate a set of two or more of the microphones in a directional mode, detect degradation in performance of any microphone of the microphone set, and switch microphone operation from the directional mode to a safe mode using at least one non-degraded microphone of the microphone set in response to detecting the microphone performance degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Zac Jensen, Ryan Chester, Brian Dahl, Thomas Scheller, Joel Erdman
  • Patent number: 12294827
    Abstract: An ear-wearable electronic device includes aa shell having a uniquely-shaped outer surface that corresponds uniquely to an ear geometry of a user of the ear-wearable device. The device includes a mounting structure that is formed contiguously with the shell and intersects an inner surface of the shell. The mounting structure includes a mounting surface operable to fixably mount an interchangeable device to the shell. The mounting structure defines a void that extends from the inner surface to the outer surface of the shell. The mounting structure has a reference feature that is positioned relative to the outer surface of the shell such that the interchangeable device is located at a target orientation relative to the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Janet Glenn, Justin Barlow, Cha Lee, Craig C. Feldsien, Fue Yang
  • Patent number: 12279092
    Abstract: In an audio signal, one or more processing circuits recognize spoken content in a user's own speech signal using speech recognition and natural language understanding. The spoken content describes a listening difficulty of the user. The one or more processing circuits generate, based on the spoken content, one or more actions for hearing devices and feedback for the user. The one or more actions attempt to resolve the listening difficulty. Additionally, the one or more processing circuits convert the user feedback to verbal feedback using speech synthesis and transmit the one or more actions and the verbal feedback to the hearing devices via a body-worn device. The hearing devices are configured to perform the one or more actions and play back the verbal feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Eric Durant, Dean G. Meyer, Martin McKinney, Matthew D. Kleffner, Dominic Perz, Karrie Recker
  • Patent number: 12273683
    Abstract: A processing system is configured to obtain data indicating answers of a user of one or more hearing instruments to a questionnaire. Additionally, the processing system is configured to determine an initial audiogram based on the answers. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to perform an initial fitting of the one or more hearing instruments based on the initial audiogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingjing Xu, Tao Wu, Karrie Recker, Jeffery Lee Crukley
  • Patent number: 12262181
    Abstract: A reverberation condition is detected affecting an electronic hearing device. The hearing device receives sound from a microphone and provides amplified sound to an in-ear receiver. The reverberation condition is predicted to impact clarity of the amplified sound. A sound processing capability is determined that will affect the reverberation. The sound processing capability is applied to the amplified sound and includes one or more of expansion, compression, and directionality processing. In response to detecting the reverberation condition, at least one of the following is performed: enabling the sound processing capability with a reverberation mitigation setting if the sound processing capability is currently disabled; or changing the sound processing capability to the reverberation mitigation setting from a default setting if the sound processing capability is currently enabled. The reverberation mitigation setting is removed when the reverberation condition is no longer detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Reinhart, Tim Schoof, Jingjing Xu
  • Patent number: 12256199
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Peter J. Tetrick, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Scheller
  • Patent number: 12256198
    Abstract: A processing system obtains a deformation signal generated by a deformation sensor. The deformation signal is indicative of a deformation of an outer ear of a user of a hearing instrument. Additionally, the processing system obtains an EMG signal generated by an electrode in a concha of the user, wherein the electrode is configured to detect activity of an intrinsic auricular muscle of the user. Furthermore, the processing system generates information regarding an auditory attention state of the user based on the deformation signal and the EMG signal. The processing system controls, based on the information regarding the auditory attention state of the user, the parameter of the audio system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Stéphane Gallégo
  • Patent number: 12254755
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a beacon that can be utilized with a fall prediction system and a method of utilizing such system are disclosed. The fall prediction system includes a head-worn device for a user, a beacon adapted to detect a hazard and generate a beacon signal based on the detected hazard, and a controller operatively connected to the head-worn device and the beacon. The controller is adapted to determine a fall risk value based on the beacon signal. At least one of the beacon and the controller are further adapted to transmit the beacon signal to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Buye Xu, Jason A. Galster
  • Patent number: 12239461
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a hearing assistance device housing for biometric sensing. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device for a wearer includes a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear. The housing is configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer, and a biometric sensor is included on a surface of the housing. According to various embodiments, the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Stewart, Michael Karl Sacha, Kyle Olson
  • Patent number: 12231856
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hearing instrument includes placing a component support structure at least partially in a bath of a resin liquid, wherein one or more operative components of the hearing instrument are attached to or contained within the component support structure prior to the component support structure being at least partially placed in the bath of the resin liquid. While the component support structure is at least partially in the bath, volumetric 3-dimensional (3D) printing is performed to form a shell of the hearing instrument attached to the component support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Westley G. Gentry, Michael Karl Sacha, Craig C. Feldsien, Jay Stewart
  • Patent number: 12219322
    Abstract: A processing system determines, based on a set of input datapoints, a current state of charge (SOC) of a battery of a hearing instrument. Additionally, the processing system determines a predicted agenda of the hearing instrument, the predicted agenda comprising one or more future time segments. The processing system estimates, based on the current state of charge and the predicted agenda of the hearing instrument, an amount of time remaining until the future SOC of the battery of the hearing instrument reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Brantly Sturgeon, Dustin Degen
  • Patent number: 12212933
    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: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 12212930
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to the wireless stereo reception of first and second audio information by wireless hearing communication devices. One type of device which may employ the present subject matter is a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Various forms and protocols of signal transmission are employed in varying embodiments. The present subject matter includes various communication modes such as eavesdropping modes and relaying modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 12207059
    Abstract: An individual cutoff frequency for an individual secondary path measurement is determined. First and second acoustic transducer-to-eardrum responses below and above the cutoff frequency are determined using an individual secondary path measurement, a reduced dimensionality estimate, and a least squares estimate. A sound pressure level at an eardrum of the user is predicted using the first and second receiver-to-eardrum responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyu Jin, Henning Schepker
  • Patent number: 12177632
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for eardrum acoustic pressure estimation for hearing device applications. A receiver signal is produced through a receiver of a hearing device, or a physical extension of the receiver, placed inside an ear canal of a user. A microphone signal is sensed, in response to the receiver signal, using a microphone placed outside the ear canal. Based on the receiver signal and the microphone signal, a reliability signal of the microphone signal and a feedback-path signal are computed. A spectral representation signal of the feedback-path signal is computed, and a real-ear response signal is computed using a mathematical combination of the spectral-representation signal and the reliability signal. The computed real-ear response signal is used to modify an operational characteristic of the hearing device, or to make a recommendation for modification of an operational characteristic or a physical characteristic of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Henning Schepker, Christophe D. Micheyl, Jumana Harianawala, Joyce Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 12177630
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a processor operatively coupled to memory, a speaker or a receiver, and one or both of a microphone arrangement and a telecoil arrangement. A sensor is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to sense an angular position of the device relative to a horizontal plane oriented orthogonal to a direction of gravity. The processor is configured to detect a change in the angular position of the device from a first angular position to a second angular position, the first angular position corresponding to a specified angular position that provides for a target or optimal level of device performance and the second angular position resulting in suboptimal device performance. The processor is also configured to implement a corrective action that improves performance of the device relative to the suboptimal device performance while operating the device at the second angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Kevin Seitz-Paquette
  • Patent number: 12167202
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported by or in an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and comprises a wireless transceiver. An antenna is situated in or on the enclosure and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a strap comprising a reactive component connected to the first and second antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ezdeen Elghannai, Nikhil Nilakantan, Aaron Anderson, Gregory John Haubrich
  • Patent number: 12149890
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for neural network-driven frequency translation for hearing assistance devices. Various embodiments include a method of signal processing an input signal in a hearing assistance device, the hearing assistance device including a receiver and a microphone. The method includes performing neural network processing to train a processor to identify acoustic features in a plurality of audio signals and predict target outputs for the plurality of audio signals, and using the trained processor to control frequency translation of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly Fitz, Tao Zhang, Buye Xu, Mohammad Abdollahi