Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.

Abstract: A compression driver for an omnidirectional loudspeaker includes a motor assembly and a dome diaphragm disposed coaxially above and operably connected to the motor assembly, the diaphragm having a convex surface and a concave surface. The compression driver includes a phasing plug having a top portion and a bottom portion having a concave bottom surface disposed adjacent the convex surface of the diaphragm and defining a compression chamber therebetween. The phasing plug includes a plurality of conduits extending through the bottom portion for sound waves to travel and converging to form an annular exit, the top portion including a plurality of radially expanding channels acoustically connected to the annular exit. Actuation of the diaphragm by the motor assembly generates sound waves within the compression chamber which travel through the annular exit and the radially-expanding channels to create a generally horizontal 360° radiation pattern of the sound waves from the compression driver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are method, system, and computer program product embodiments for performing the continuous tuning of received audio input from an earpiece or microphone especially customized for karaoke singing, wherein the audio input may be mixed with user-selected song input, and the joint mixed input is independently altered in the frequency domain for output to an earpiece worn by a user as well as separately for an additional audio output to an external connected speaker, for an optimal karaoke experience.

Abstract: An ear-worn electronic hearing device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and comprises a wireless transceiver. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure and operably coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna has a physical size and comprises a plurality of cutouts disposed along a periphery of the antenna. The cutouts are configured to increase an electrical length of the antenna without an increase in the physical size of the antenna. The antenna can comprise at least one interior window having a window periphery. A plurality of window cutouts are disposed along the window periphery. The window cutouts are configured to increase a path length of current distribution along the window periphery.

Abstract: A middle ear implant system includes a bone conduction transducer configured for fixed attachment to skull bone of a patient beneath the skin behind the ear, and for generating sound vibrations from an external communications signal received through the skin for coupling to the skull bone for bone conduction sound perception by the patient. A malleable ossicle connector is connected to the bone conduction transducer and a middle ear hearing structure of the patient. And one or more isolation springs are configured for placement at the fixed attachment of the bone conduction transducer to the skull bone to acoustically decouple the bone conduction transducer from the skull bone to avoid bone conduction sound perception so that sound perception from the external communications signal is solely via the middle ear sound perception from vibrations coupled to the middle ear hearing structure by the ossicle connector.

Abstract: An exemplary system comprises a first and second hearing device associated with a first and second ear of a user, respectively. The first hearing device is configured to detect a first audio signal representative of audio content, generate a first intermediate signal representation (ISR) corresponding to the first audio signal, the first ISR comprising a sparsely-encoded non-audio signal having a complexity measure that is below a threshold, and transmit the first ISR to the second hearing device. The second hearing device is configured to detect a second audio signal representative of the audio content, generate a second ISR corresponding to the second audio signal, and transmit the second ISR to the first hearing device. The first hearing device is further configured to generate, based on the first and second ISRs, an output audio signal, and provide the output audio signal to the first ear of the user.

Abstract: A thermal sensor package for earbuds includes two thermopile sensor elements on a single thermopile sensor chip, and the two thermopile sensor elements are separated by a block wall of a cap. One of the thermopile sensor elements senses external infrared thermal radiation through a window of the cap, and the other thermopile sensor element senses internal infrared thermal radiation from a package structure as a basis for correcting compensation. Therefore, the foregoing thermal sensor package for earbuds can quickly correct a measurement error caused by the package structure to improve the measurement accuracy. In addition, the forgoing thermal sensor package for earbuds has a simple packaging step and is easy to arrange a silicon based infrared lens to expand its application.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a sound generating device on a rear surface of the display panel and configured to vibrate the display panel to generate sound, wherein the sound generating device includes a plate, a magnet and a center pole on the plate, and an oval-shaped bobbin around the center pole.

Abstract: A hearing aid system includes a hearing aid with a rechargeable battery and a first data memory for storing operating data, and a charging station with a nonvolatile second data memory. The charging station charges the battery of the hearing aid at least intermittently while the hearing aid is arranged in a charging position. The hearing aid transmits operating data from the first data memory to the charging station when the hearing aid is arranged in a transmission position. The charging station stores operating data transmitted from the hearing aid in the second data memory, and the charging station transmits operating data stored in the second data memory to the hearing aid. A computer unit of the hearing aid adjusts at least one parameter relating to signal processing of the hearing aid based on the operating data transmitted from the charging station to the hearing aid.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes a pair of left and right hearing assistance devices to be worn by a wearer and uses both of the left and right hearing assistance devices to detect the voice of the wearer. The left and right hearing assistance devices each include first and second microphones at different locations. Various embodiments detect the voice of the wearer using signals produced by the first and second microphones of the left hearing assistance device and the first and second microphones of the right hearing assistance device. Various embodiments use outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed by the left hearing assistance device and the outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed the right hearing assistance device to determine whether to declare a detection of the voice of the wearer.

Abstract: A sound output device includes: a speaker unit that has a sound emitting portion; an attaching member by which the speaker unit is attached to an object; a separating member that is provided between the speaker unit and the attaching member to separate the speaker unit from the attaching member; and a sealing member that is provided between the speaker unit and the attaching member to reduce a sound that is emitted from a side of the speaker unit opposite to the sound emitting portion and is transmitted to a sound emitting portion side. The attaching member has a first portion on a side of the sound emitting portion of the speaker unit, and the first portion of the attaching member has an opening that corresponds to the sound emitting portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing bilateral dynamic range compression of first and second microphone signals generated by first and second hearing aids, respectively, of a binaural hearing aid system. The method comprises to pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's left or right ear by a first microphone to generate a first microphone signal in response to incoming sound and pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's opposite ear by a second microphone to generate a second microphone signal in response to the incoming sound.

Abstract: A system for communication between one or more remotely controllable devices and a hearing assistance device includes a gateway device. The hearing assistance device detects voice commands issued by its wearer. The gateway device wirelessly communicates with the hearing assistance device, produces one or more control signals based on the voice commands, and routes the one or more control signals to one or more devices selected from the one or more remotely controllable devices according to the voice command.

Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid or a headset, configured to be worn at or in an ear of a user, the hearing device comprising at least one input transducer for converting a sound in an environment of the hearing device to at least one electric input signal representing said sound; an own voice detector configured to estimate whether or not, or with what probability, said sound originates from the voice of the user, and to provide an own voice control signal indicative thereof, a face mask detector configured to estimate whether or not, or with what probability, said user wears a face mask while speaking, and to provide face mask control signal indicative thereof. A method of operating a hearing device is further disclosed. Thereby an improved hearing aid or headset may be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a superdirective speaker, and particularly, to a superdirective speaker in which speaker units are disposed and aligned adjacent to one another, and sound outputted from the speaker units overlaps and propagates stepwise, such that the sound may be clearly transmitted over a long distance.

Abstract: An earpiece for a hearing device includes: an ear canal part to be introduced into an ear canal of a user, the ear canal part comprising a first contact surface configured to contact a superior part of the ear canal of the user; a primary sensor, where the primary sensor is configured to measure signals from a skin surface of the user; and a support structure comprising a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the support structure is attached to the ear canal part, wherein the second part of the support structure is attached to the primary sensor, and wherein the second part of the support structure is configured to position the primary sensor in an inferior concha cava of the user; wherein the support structure is configured to apply a force to press the primary sensor towards the skin surface of the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dome type diaphragm, a balanced dome diaphragm, and a speaker capable of outputting sounds in a high sound area at a high sound pressure. A dome type diaphragm according to the present disclosure includes: a first part having a first curvature; and a second part that is arranged in an inner peripheral side of the first part and is integrally provided with the first part, the second part having a second curvature that is different from the first curvature.

Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a user's ear and retains the earpiece in its position.

Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, adapted for being located at or in an ear, or to be fully or partially implanted in the head, of a user, the hearing device comprises a) an input unit providing at least two input audio data streams, each comprising a mixture of a target signal component from a target sound source and a noise component from one or more noise sources; b) a mixing processor for receiving said at least two input audio data streams, and for mixing said at least two input audio data streams, or processed versions thereof, and for providing a processed input signal based thereon; c) an output unit providing output stimuli perceivable to the user as sound based on said processed input signal or a processed version thereof. The processor is configured to process said noise component of said at least two input audio data streams, or processed versions thereof in order to reduce or avoid artefacts in said processed input signal due to said mixing.

Abstract: A distributed mode actuator (DMA) includes a flat panel extending in a plane and a rigid member(s) extended parallel to the plane. The members are mechanically attached to or glued and/or embedded within the face of the flat panel. All associated members are free to vibrate perpendicular and horizontally to the plane. The DMA also includes a magnet and electrically-conducting coil. The coil and magnet are mechanically coupled to the member or associated member. When the coil is energized, an interaction between a magnetic field of the magnet and a magnetic field from the coil applies a force sufficient to generate vibrations and/or movement perpendicular and horizontally to the plane. The DMA also includes components embedded within and attached to the plane, and indentations within the plane, to facilitate acoustical and vibrational waves.