Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a hearing assistance device with a sensor hub. Various aspects of the present subject matter include a method of using a hearing assistance device. A method includes sensing biometric signals from a wearer of a hearing assistance device using one or more sensor modules included in or on a receiver housing of the hearing assistance device, the receiver housing configured to connect to an end of a cable and configured to be placed in or near an ear canal of the wearer. The method also includes transmitting data indicative of the sensed biometric signals from the one or more sensor modules to a sensor hub in a connector of the cable, and processing the data using the sensor hub.

Abstract: A set of earphones enable a user to automatically activate and/or deactivate an electronic device. The earphones comprise an electronic device controller which controls the operation of an electronic device. The controller is configured to send a signal to an electronic device activation circuit which operates the electronic device based upon a coupling status of the earbuds with the one or more magnetically attractable surfaces and/or one or more magnets. The earphones are usable with an electronic device that is able to be customized to blend in with its background such as when worn with specific clothing.

Abstract: Intra-concha earphones are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intra-concha earphone includes a housing having a rear space divided into a back volume, a bass duct, and a vent chamber between a driver and a rear wall. The vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with the back volume through both an acoustic port and the bass duct. Furthermore, the vent chamber may be acoustically coupled with a surrounding environment through a vent port, which may be a sole acoustic opening in the rear wall. Thus, sound emitted by the driver may propagate through the acoustic port and the bass duct to meet in the vent chamber before being discharged through the vent port to the surrounding environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A set of headphones and audio system comprises a first set of buttons for controlling a volume level of transmitted audio to the headphones and a second set of buttons for controlling a volume level of external audio played by the headphones. The transmitted audio comprises audio received from an audio source such as an electronic device and the external audio comprises surrounding ambient noise received by a microphone coupled to the headphones. With the first set of controls and the second set of controls a user is able to adjust the volume level of the transmitted audio and the volume level of the external audio in order to listen to the transmitted audio while still interacting with the surrounding environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dome-type inserts, or simply domes, for a hearing aid. The dome is intended to be attached to a housing, such as an in-the-ear housing, and abut the ear canal. The dome-type insert comprises one or more vent channels for alleviating air pressure built-up and/or occlusion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an earphone system. The earphone system includes a charging box and an earphone, which is detachably assembled in the charging box. The charging box includes a processing module provided with a first identification time period, a power outputting module and a first switch module. During the first identification time period when the earphone is connected to the charging box, the earphone system is in a test mode, and the first switch module is switched for the charging box to transmit power to the earphone through the power outputting module and the first switch module. After the earphone is connected to the charging box for more than the first identification time period, the earphone system is in a communication mode, and the first switch module is switched for the charging box to transmit a data signal to the earphone through the processing module and the first switch module.

Abstract: An earplug includes a housing and a receiver positioned in the housing. The receiver may be configured to receive a wireless audio signal from an audio source external to the earplug and convert the wireless audio signal to an electrical audio signal. The earplug may include a speaker configured to receive electrical audio signal from the receiver and convert the electrical audio signal into audible sound output from a speaker port. The earplug may include a projection including an opening that defines at least a portion of a sound channel from the speaker. The projection may receive the audible sound output from the speaker and output the audible sound out of the earplug. The earplug may include earplug padding configured to form a seal with a user's ear canal. The earplug may include an acoustic vent positioned in the sound channel, including a waterproof membrane extending across the channel.

Abstract: A binaural hearing system comprises a first and second hearing aids. The hearing aids each comprises antenna and transceiver circuitry allowing the exchange of audio signals between them. At least one of the hearing aids comprises primary and secondary adaptive 2-channel beamformers each providing a spatially filtered signal based on first and second beamformer-input signals. The primary and secondary 2-channel beamformers are coupled in a cascaded structure. In an embodiment, the spatially filtered signal of the secondary 2-channel beamformer may comprise an estimate of user's own voice. In an embodiment, the spatially filtered signal of the secondary 2-channel beamformer may comprise an estimate of a target signal in the environment. In an embodiment, the inputs to the secondary 2-channel beamformer may be beamformed signals from the first and second hearing aids respectively.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an earbud for insertion into an ear canal and a hearing device that includes such earbud are disclosed. The earbud includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a cavity that extends along a body axis between the first end and the second end of the elongated body. The earbud also includes a first flange connected to the elongated body, where the first flange includes a first end adjacent the first end of the elongated body, a second end, and a sound hole disposed in the first end of the first flange that is acoustically connected to the cavity of the elongated body. The first flange further includes a vent disposed through the first flange. The earbud also includes a second flange connected to the second end of the elongated body and including a first end adjacent the second end of the elongated body and a second end.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a self-cooling headset includes an ear cup to form an ear enclosure when placed over a user's ear. A first check valve on the ear cup is to open and release a volume of air from the ear enclosure when a positive pressure within the ear enclosure overcomes a cracking pressure of the first check valve. A second check valve on the ear cup is to open and admit a volume of air into the ear enclosure when a partial vacuum within the ear enclosure causes an external pressure to overcome a cracking pressure of the second check valve.

Abstract: This hearing device, for example, includes a vibrator for transmitting vibration corresponding to a voice signal to the nasal bone of a user to let the user hear sound. The hearing device may further preferably include an eyeglass-type housing for carrying the vibrator in a position at which a nose pad is provided. The hearing device may also preferably incorporate a voice signal reception unit for receiving, wirelessly or by wire, a voice signal generated by an external sound source, or an internal sound source for self-generating a voice signal. When implementation as a hearing aid or a sound collector is contemplated, the external sound source or the internal sound source may preferably be a microphone for collecting ambient sound.

Abstract: A fiber-based cover for an earphone wherein the cover is made of starch fibers which enhance the sound waves to increase the volume of the sound coining from the earphones without causing damage to the ear drums. The cover includes a body having a substantially frusto-conical shape. Additionally, the cover includes a front end and a rear end. In the present embodiment, the rear end is an open end with a cylindrical shape that receives an earbud therein. The front end is a closed end defined with a front surface. The front surface comprises of starch-based fibers formed into a circular shape. The starch properties uniquely filter out sound frequencies to enhance a user's listening experience.

Abstract: The present application relates to a split bone conduction earphone including an earphone body, an ear hook and a bone conduction vibrator, a transmission surface of the bone conduction vibrator is provided on the side wall of the earphone body; the ear hook is provided on the earphone body for cooperating with the earphone body to make the transmission surface of the bone conduction vibrator firmly attached to a predetermined position; the earphone body includes a first housing and a second housing; the first housing is provided with an elastic support piece that matches the contour of the human inner ear; the first housing and the second housing form a bone conduction cavity and a battery cavity; only the bone conduction vibrator is installed on the bone conduction cavity, and the battery cavity is installed with a battery to power the bone conduction vibrator.

Abstract: A sensor includes a membrane electrode, a counter-electrode, and at least one spring. The sensor can include a structure; a membrane electrode, which is deformable as a consequence of pressure and which is in contact with the structure; a counter-electrode mechanically connected to the structure and separated from the membrane electrode by a gap; and at least one spring mechanically connected to the membrane electrode and the counter-electrode, so as to exert an elastic force between the membrane electrode and the counter-electrode.

Abstract: A wireless earphone comprising a housing that defines an interior cavity having an inner surface and an outer surface; an opening extending through the housing from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a mesh assembly disposed over the opening and comprising a permanent assembly coupled to the housing and a replaceable assembly removably coupled to the permanent assembly and comprising a mesh.

Abstract: Sound quality is improved. A plurality of speaker units including a first speaker unit of a dynamic type, an arrangement case having an inner space formed as an arrangement space in which the plurality of speaker units is arranged, and a sound conduit protruding from the arrangement case and provided as a path for sound output from the plurality of speaker units are provided, the first speaker unit has a highest sound output band among the plurality of speaker units, the axial direction of the sound conduit and the axial direction of the first speaker unit are oriented in the same direction, the speaker units except the first speaker unit are arranged around the first speaker unit or on the opposite side to the sound conduit with the first speaker unit therebetween, and a central axis of the first speaker unit is positioned further on the inner side than the inner peripheral surface of the sound conduit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an integrated karaoke device, including a microphone and a sound box. The sound box includes a sound chamber containing a loudspeaker. The integrated karaoke device further includes a connecting part made of flexible material that is fixedly connected between a bottom of the microphone and a top of the sound chamber. The use of a flexible material connecting part rather than a solid structural part reduces the transmission to the microphone of sound vibration generated by the sound box.

Abstract: The present invention provides a general MEMS device having a pair of quadrilateral insert and trench. An air channel/space includes a first internal wall and a second internal wall for air to flow between. A quadrilateral trench is recessed from the first internal wall, and a quadrilateral insert is extended from the second internal wall and inserted into the trench. In capacitive MEMS microphone, the spatial relationship between the insert and the trench can vary or oscillate. The quadrilateral insert & trench serve as an air flow restrictor or a leakage prevention structure which keeps the sound frequency response plot of the microphone flatter in the range of 20 Hz to 1000 Hz. The level of the air resistance may be controlled e.g. by the depth of quadrilateral trench/slot etched on the substrate.

Abstract: An earpiece is provided. The earpiece can deform flexibly so as to follow the earhole when in use, and the earpiece can be manufactured easily. An earpiece includes an earpiece body and a filler filled in the earpiece body. The earpiece body has a container-like base member formed of a rubber-like elastic diaphragm that is shaped like a container and has an opening portion. The earpiece body also has a lid member that seals the opening portion liquid-tightly. The filler is flowable at room temperature.

Abstract: A hearing aid contains a housing having a baseplate and a housing shell, a number of electrical units, and a transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. The number of electrical units are fastened on the baseplate. The transmitting and receiving unit includes an electronic circuit for generating a transmission signal and an antenna unit coupled thereon, and the antenna unit includes a first antenna arm and a shielding element for shielding the first antenna arm against the number of electrical units.