Patents Examined by Phylesha Dabney
  • Patent number: 11792576
    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: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Brantly Sturgeon, Dustin Degen
  • Patent number: 11792558
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a headphone cover that does not block a sound from a headphone and is able to keep its fabric stably covering the headphone. [Solving Means] A headphone cover 1 includes fabric 14 that has an opening in a position corresponding to the sound passage position on one side of an ear pad and is foldable at least from the one side toward another side of the ear pad by 90° and a core 16 disposed around the opening. The compressive yield force in the extending direction of the core 16 is equal to or greater than 0.0587 Mpa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Inventor: Shuji Yokota
  • Patent number: 11785403
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a test shell for assessing fit in an ear of a user of an ear-wearable device, such as a hearing aid. The test shell includes a body having an aperture end and an ear canal end, the aperture end defines a first aperture, and the body defines a shell cavity extending away from the first aperture in a direction of the ear canal end. The body includes a transparent or translucent material and is sized to fit within an ear of the user of an ear-wearable device. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Dahl, Julian Taylor Struksheats, Westley Gordon Gentry
  • Patent number: 11785395
    Abstract: A system for selectively amplifying audio signals may include a microphone configured to capture sounds from an environment of a user. The system may also include a processor programmed to: receive audio signals representative of the sounds captured by the microphone; cause selective conditioning of at least one audio signal received by the microphone from a region associated with the recognized individual; and cause transmission of the at least one conditioned audio signal to a hearing interface device configured to provide sound to an ear of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua, Tal Rosenwein, Roi Nathan, Oren Tadmor
  • Patent number: 11785397
    Abstract: The present application relates to a system comprising a hearing aid, the hearing aid configured to be operated based on an estimation of a current listening effort of a hearing aid user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Lunner, Tanveer Bhuiyan, José Antonio Esparza Isasa, Sergi Rotger Griful, Antonello Salvatucci, Gary Jones, Kim Tilgaard Petersen, Peter Sommer
  • Patent number: 11785401
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to charging and recharging systems for compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support devices therefor. The charging and recharging systems generally include a light emitting device, such as an aural insert having a light emitting diode, and a photovoltaic cell disposed on an implanted hearing aid. In operation, the light emitting device is positioned in or near the entrance of the ear canal and transmits light energy across the ear canal towards the implanted hearing aid. The photovoltaic cell receives the light energy and converts the light energy into stored electricity to power the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NANOEAR CORPORATION, INC.
    Inventors: William Clark West, Michael M. Moore, Smruti Mirchandani, Ron L. Moses
  • Patent number: 11778394
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a carrier board; a multi-chip assembly including a magnetic induction control chip and a signal processor; a magnetic induction coil at the carrier board; a hearing device housing having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite from the first end; and a battery, wherein the battery is provided closer to the second end of the hearing device housing than to the first end of the hearing device housing; wherein the multi-chip assembly and the magnetic induction coil are accommodated in the hearing device housing, and are between the battery and the first end of the hearing device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Andrea Ruaro, Sinasi Özden
  • Patent number: 11778392
    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: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Kevin Seitz-Paquette
  • Patent number: 11765495
    Abstract: A wireless earbud including an outer housing, an internal assembly, and an inner housing. The outer housing and the inner housing may couple together to form a water tight enclosure for the internal assembly. The internal assembly may include components that carry out a function of the wireless earbud, such as printed circuit boards, network interfaces, batteries, loudspeakers, and so forth. The outer housing may also include a proximity sensor for receiving touch and/or antenna(s) for communicatively coupling the wireless earbud to other electronic devices. Additionally, the inner housing may include a charging module for the wireless earbud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Pine, Josue Jean Rodriguez, Aashish Nataraja, Amita Pawar, Giovanni Mata Magana
  • Patent number: 11750990
    Abstract: A method for automatically setting at least one signal processing parameter of a hearing device. The immediate surroundings of the hearing device are examined for the presence of at least one node of a wireless communication network. Characteristic information of a detected node is ascertained for a node that has been found to be present and the characteristic information for the detected node is compared with a first dataset of first characteristic information that was respectively stored beforehand for nodes that are marked as known. The comparison results are used to characterize the node that has been detected as present as a known node or as an unknown node on the basis of the characteristic information. The ascertained characteristic information of the detected node is used as a basis for setting the at least one parameter for the signal processing of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Christoph Kukla, Sven Schoen
  • Patent number: 11743635
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a MEMS microphone can be coupled to an acoustic horn to provide various benefits and improvements including, but not limited to, at-a-distance acoustic signal reception with improvements in signal-to-noise ratio and directional preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventor: Dean Robert Gary Anderson
  • Patent number: 11736875
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing aid with a Receiver In The Ear speaker assembly comprising a connecting member with electric conductors connecting a connector at one end, and a receiver housing with a receiver at the opposite end. A microphone housing with a microphone is attached to the connecting member. Placed along the connecting member, the microphone housing with the microphone is separated by a distance from the receiver in the receiver housing, thus reducing acoustic or mechanical feedback problems. Especially, the microphone and connector may share one common housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Anders Roug, Peter Sommer, Martin Larsen, Anders Højsgaard Thomsen, Peter H. Weis, Bjarke Mejnertsen
  • Patent number: 11736873
    Abstract: A method for a wireless personal communication using a hearing system with a hearing device comprises: monitoring and analyzing the user's acoustic environment by the hearing device to recognize one or more speaking persons based on content-independent speaker voiceprints saved in the hearing system; and presenting a user interface to the user for notifying the user about a recognized speaking person and for establishing, joining or leaving a wireless personal communication connection between the hearing device and one or more communication devices used by the one or more recognized speaking persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Arnaud Brielmann, Amre El-Hoiydi
  • Patent number: 11736871
    Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a smart hearing device for providing a control parameter and feedback for a natural language or a non-natural language determined by analyzing sound data, which includes a receiving unit that receives sound data of a voice signal and a noise signal from a first microphone and a second microphone being formed at one side, a determination unit that compares digital flow of the sound data with a previously stored graph pattern to determine a natural language or a non-natural language for the sound data, a processing unit that matches similar data for the determined natural language or non-natural language, based on a database including a natural language area and a non-natural language area, and a providing unit that provides a user with a one-sided sound converted by setting a control parameter in a natural language or a non-natural language specified according to the matched similar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Olive Union, Inc.
    Inventor: Myung Geun Song
  • Patent number: 11736847
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that enhance user comfort and improve user control of the headphones are discussed. Various sensor configurations and electronic component positions are also discussed. User convenience features that include detachable cushions and automatically detecting the donning and doffing of headphones are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Michael B. Minerbi, Eugene Antony Whang, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom
  • Patent number: 11736874
    Abstract: A hearing aid and related systems and methods are disclosed. In one implementation, a system may comprise a microphone and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive an original audio signal representative of sounds captured by the microphone; determine that the original audio signal includes a voice of the user; process the original audio signal according to a first processing scheme to generate a first processed audio signal; transmit the first processed audio signal to a hearing interface device after a first time delay associated with the first processing scheme; determine that the original audio signal includes an additional sound; process the original audio signal according to a second processing scheme to generate a second processed audio signal; and transmit the second processed audio signal to the hearing interface device after a second time delay associated with the second processing scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Tal Rosenwein, Roi Nathan, Ronen Katsir, Yair Deitcher, Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 11729559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing aid (1) which is inserted to body by surgery in order to enable patients with very advanced and total sensorineural hearing loss to detect sounds, stimulate cochlea or any point on the auditory pathway electrically according to the audio information received from external environment, can also be used without its external part, and parts of which can be replaced without being completely removed from the body in case of a malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HACETTEPE UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Levent Sennaroglu, Munir Demir Bajin, Onur Ergun, Bilsay Sumer, Harun Artuner, Cenk Toker, Dincer Gokcen, Mehmet Ali Onur, Nilay Bereli, Adil Denizli, Gonca Sennaroglu, Merve Batuk
  • Patent number: 11729553
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an arcuate headband with a continuous band having left and right side portions joining at an apex. The left and right side portions terminate in respective arcuate ends. A head rest band spans between the side portions and is connected to the side portions below the apex and spaced from the apex. Left and right ear cups that define respective centers and respective peripheries are respectively attached to the arcuate ends of the left and right side portions. The arcuate ends of the left and right side portions are juxtaposed with the respective peripheries and are distanced from the respective centers of the respective ear cups. The left and right ear cups are cambered inward from front to back and each include an element that couples a respective arcuate end segment to a hinge inside the respective ear cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Charles Kwun, So Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11729557
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, configured to be worn by a user, comprises a) two or more input transducers (e.g. microphones) wherein said two or more input transducers during use of the hearing device are arranged with a distance between them; b) a directional system comprising a directional algorithm configured to provide a directional pattern in dependence of said distance. The hearing device is configured to estimate a current value of said distance, or an equivalent acoustic delay, or beamformer weights of said directional system, thereby the directional performance can be optimized to the individual user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Svend Oscar Petersen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Anders Thule
  • Patent number: 11722828
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing device comprising a housing. The housing comprises a first input transducer configured to generate one or more input transducer signals based on a received audio signal. The housing comprises a push button for controlling one or more functionalities of the hearing device. The housing comprises a foam element arranged at least partly between the first input transducer and the push button for supporting the push button, wherein the foam element comprises a first foam part being an open-cell foam which is configured for accumulating ear wax and dirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Alexander Wildt Forrest, Laurids Egedal Kirchhoff, Emil Holm Knudsen