Patents Examined by Phylesha Dabney
  • Patent number: 12267647
    Abstract: An ultrasonic proximity sensor can determine one or more characteristics of a local environment. For example, the sensor can emit an ultrasonic signal into a local environment and can receive an ultrasonic signal from the local environment. From a measure of correlation between the emitted and the received signals, the sensor can classify the local environment. By way of example, such a sensor can assess whether an in-ear earphone is positioned in a user's ear. A media device in communication with the sensor can transmit an audio signal to the earphone for audio playback responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is in the user's ear and can redirect the audio signal to another playback device responsive to a determination by the sensor that the earphone is not in the user's ear. Related and other aspects also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 12262175
    Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes: substrate including first silicon layer, first oxide layer and second silicon layer, back chamber is formed therethrough; second oxide layer on the substrate; piezoelectric unit on the second oxide layer and including first electrode layer, piezoelectric layer and second electrode layer; slit and opening formed in the second electrode layer; metal pad stacked on the first electrode layer at the opening; and additional film layer including first and second parts, the first part is lay on the second electrode layer and covers the slit, and the second part is lay on the metal pad, through slot is formed penetrating the second part to expose the metal pad. Compared with the related art, additional film layer is formed by vapor deposition, and the piezoelectric unit can vibrate with maximum displacement and lowest restriction, thereby effectively improving SPL and structural reliability, which is suitable for larger acoustic transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: KianHeng Goh, Chungmin Li, Qiang Dan, Kahkeen Lai
  • Patent number: 12262179
    Abstract: An audiogram, a system for aiding hearing and a method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hearing aid device equipped with sound processing capabilities, including a microphone, speaker, and electronic signal processor wirelessly communicates with a smart device. The electronic signal processor is adaptable based on a custom audiogram-vivo adaptare audiogram-stored at the hearing aid device, which can be dynamically adjusted through a smart device application. Patients can directly influence their hearing experience by modifying the vivo adaptare audiogram via the app, adjusting settings like sound level, directional microphone activation, and noise cancellation levels. This allows users to tailor hearing aid settings to the immediate environment and personal hearing needs, ensuring an optimized auditory experience. The system emphasizes user control and adaptability, offering a significant advancement in hearing aid technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Laslo Olah
  • 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: 12245001
    Abstract: A magnet in a wireless charger and a ferromagnetic target plate in a hearing assistance device are used to create a magnetic retention force to hold the hearing assistance device in place when charging in order to control an amount of interference with a wireless charging occurring between the wireless charger and the hearing assistance device. A housing for the wireless charger has one or more storage areas. The contours of the storage areas each conform to a shape of the hearing assistance device that will be stored in that storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Eargo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Sarjeant Aase, David Whitington
  • Patent number: 12238476
    Abstract: The invention provides a speaker module for a mobile terminal with a sound output port. The speaker module includes a speaker box. The speaker box includes a sound output opening for side surface sound. The speaker module also includes a horn barre. The horn barrel has openings arranged at both ends. A sectional area along the sound output direction of the horn barrel changes gradually. By designing a variable sectional surface with different areas or lengths and widths on the horn barrel for stakeout, the size of the variable sectional surface is directly related to the sound quality of each part of the horn barrel. The horn barrel widens the frequency band range. Compared with the related art, the present invention can realize multi-level resonance, has a small volume, is convenient to widen the frequency band range and has flexible avoidance space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yao Hui, Juha Backman, Yufen Chu
  • Patent number: 12231850
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing for a binaural hearing system. In input transducers of first and second hearing instruments generate input signals from an ambient sound signal. A direction relative to a preferred direction and a distance from a reference point of the binaural hearing system are predetermined, to predetermine a focal point. First and second directional signals are generated from input signals by directional signal processing so that a direction of maximum sensitivity, starting from the first and second hearing instruments form respective a first and second yaw angles with the preferred direction. The yaw angles are adjusted via the directional signal processing of the input signals so that a superposition of the first and second directional signals has a maximum sensitivity in an overlap region that includes the predetermined focal point. An output signal of the binaural hearing system is generated based on the superposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Cecil Wilson, Christoph Lüken
  • Patent number: 12231853
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a portable electric device. The portable electronic device can include a substrate configured to retain one or more electrical components. The substrate can be configured include one or more arms and/or surfaces in particular configurations. The portable electronic device can be used to deliver audio to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Kenneth Rueskov Moller, Jan T. L. Larsen
  • Patent number: 12231854
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising a leading sealing element and a trailing receiver and valve, wherein in a longitudinal direction of the hearing device the valve is more distant from the sealing element than the receiver, and wherein the receiver and the valve each are unitary items that are separate from each other, and that the receiver and the valve are connected to each other by a flexible interlink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sonion Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Umut Tabak, Raymond Mogelin
  • Patent number: 12225346
    Abstract: A multiple-driver adapter having a plane wave equalizer according to the present invention may include: a cube body; a high-pitched driver provided on one surface of the cube body and a medium-pitched driver provided on the other surface; a horn unit vertically disposed in the high-pitched driver and the medium-pitched driver, and partially disposed at output units of the high-pitched and medium-pitched drivers, and having a fore end exposed to one surface of the cube body; and at least one equalizer provided in the cube body and reducing sound interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Inventor: Jong Bae Lee
  • 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: 12217233
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be arranged at a user's ear, the hearing device comprising: an input transducer for generating one or more input signals based on a received audio signal; a signal processor configured for processing the one or more input signals; an output transducer for providing an audio output signal based on an output signal from the signal processor; wherein the hearing device comprises a time monitor for monitoring an expiry time of a subscription for the hearing device provided by a subscription server, wherein the hearing device is configured to perform an action when the time monitor detects that the expiry time of the subscription is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Kim Kris Christiansen
  • Patent number: 12219323
    Abstract: A hearing device includes at least one microphone configured to capture sound signals within an overall frequency range and to convert them into an input signal. A signal processor is provided for processing the input signal within a lower frequency range that is part of an overall frequency range. A detector is provided for detecting a noise that has frequency components both inside and outside the lower frequency range, namely in an upper frequency range above the lower frequency range. The hearing device is configured in such a way that the detector detects the noise based on its frequency component in the upper frequency range. A method for operating a hearing device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sebastian Best, Cecil Wilson
  • Patent number: 12219324
    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 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    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: 12212934
    Abstract: A speaker unit detachably mountable to a hearing aid device body configured to be positioned behind an ear of a wearer is disclosed. Further, hearing aid device system comprising the speaker unit is disclosed. The speaker unit comprises a contacting unit comprising at least one contact element and configured to be detachably mountable to a hearing aid device connector of said hearing aid device. The speaker unit further comprises a speaker unit body configured to be positioned at least partly in an ear canal of the wearer and comprising an output transducer unit configured to provide an acoustic signal based on an electrical signal input to said output transducer unit via said at least one contact element. The speaker unit further comprises a connecting unit provided between said speaker unit body and said contacting unit and including at least one wire configured to electrically connect said speaker unit body and said contacting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Mathias Rask Møller, Peter Steutel, Ole Andersen
  • Patent number: 12212905
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a first printed circuit board, a speaker unit including a speaker housing and a diaphragm, and a support member including a first portion surrounding a portion of the speaker unit and spaced apart from a surface of the speaker unit by a predetermined gap and a second portion extending from the first portion to cover a surface of a portion of the first printed circuit board. A first space located on one side of the diaphragm is formed in the speaker housing, and a second space in fluid communication with the first space is formed between the first portion and the surface of the speaker unit. The second portion and the first printed circuit board form at least a portion of a substantially sealed third space in fluid communication with the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changi Park, Jeho Chung
  • Patent number: 12207056
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system is disclosed that comprises a hearing assistance device configured to reproduce sounds and to assist a person to hear the sounds, the hearing assistance device including a left hearing assistance device and a right hearing assistance device, and a computing device in communication with the hearing assistance device. The computing device interacts with the hearing assistance device to implement a fitting mode wherein the hearing assistance device is caused to generate fitting sounds usable to evaluate whether the left and right hearing devices are properly fitted into respective left and right ears of the person. The computing device produces a communication indicative of whether the left and right hearing assistance devices are properly fitted into respective left and right ears of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NUHEARA IP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Clint Mathurine, Andrew Victor Cammell, Gregory Paul Breen, Peng Jiang, David Ronald Ward, Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 12177633
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a non-programmable user input device that is not programmable by a user nor by an audiologist, control circuitry configured to receive an activation signal from the non-programmable user input device, one or more microphones, neural network circuitry configured to denoise audio signals received by the one or more microphones, and communication circuitry. The hearing aid is configured to detect, using the control circuitry, user activation of the non-programmable user input device on the hearing aid; control, using the control circuitry and based on detecting the activation of the non-programmable user input device on the hearing aid, switching between enabling and disabling the neural network circuitry; and transmit, using the communication circuitry, an indication of the enabling or disabling of the neural network circuitry to a processing device in operative communication with the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Chromatic Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew de Jonge, Igor Lovchinsky
  • Patent number: 12177631
    Abstract: A device and method that supplements sensory input, thereby providing a supplemented sensory environment, to induce plasticity within the central nervous system that effectively overcomes sensory-neural processing deficits or strengthens specific sensory-neural abilities. In one implementation, ear-level hearing devices are used to deliver therapeutic sound with specific acoustic features that serve as archetypes of stimulus features for which sensory-neural processing is compromised by a sensory-neural deficit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: David Eddins, Joseph Walton
  • Patent number: 12177642
    Abstract: A speaker-element for a speaker includes two substantially mutually opposing spaced apart membrane planes, where each membrane plane comprises at least one electromagnetic wire arranged for creating a magnetic field upon an electric current passing through the electromagnetic wire. A permanent magnet is arranged between the two membrane planes, the electromagnet wires of the two membrane planes are connectable to an electric power source so that the electric current passes therethrough in substantially mutually opposing directions to create substantially mutually opposing magnetic fields, such that upon passing an electric current through the electromagnetic wire of each membrane plane said membrane planes are both either attracted towards or repulsed from the permanent magnet and thereby moved towards or away from each other, respectively, thereby producing a sound wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: IF-ADAMAS B.V.
    Inventors: André Kamperman, Frederikus Hendrikus Gerardus Uytdewilligen