Patents by Inventor Dustin Degen

Dustin Degen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11974088
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be worn in, at or about an ear of a wearer. Audio processing circuitry is disposed in or supported by the housing and comprises one or more microphones and a speaker or a receiver. A controller is disposed in the housing and coupled to the audio processing circuity. A rechargeable power source and charging circuitry are disposed in the housing. The charging circuitry is coupled to the controller and comprises first and second charge contacts situated at a wall of the housing. A user-actuatable control is coupled to the controller and comprises a touch sensor. The touch sensor comprises the first and second charge contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Olson, Sidney A. Higgins, Dustin Degen
  • Publication number: 20230396935
    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: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Brantly Sturgeon, Dustin Degen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220337962
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to hearing assistance devices that can control other devices based on hearing assistance device events and/or status. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance system includes a hearing assistance device that can include a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit. The hearing assistance device can be configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event. The hearing assistance device event can be raised by detection of at least one of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject, the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state, the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode, and the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventor: Dustin Degen
  • Patent number: 11330380
    Abstract: An ear-wearable device is described that includes a plurality of modules that mate together forming a physical outer shell of the ear-wearable device. Each module from the plurality of modules is associated with a different, corresponding feature of the ear-wearable device and each module from the plurality of modules includes a respective physical portion that comprises a different, corresponding part of the outer shell. In addition, each module from the plurality of modules shares a physical interface with at least one other module from the plurality of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Scott Timmerman, Dustin Degen, Jodi Rickheim, Brian Dahl, Christopher Frank Filo, Kenneth Duane Gjerde, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220109926
    Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be worn in, at or about an ear of a wearer. Audio processing circuitry is disposed in or supported by the housing and comprises one or more microphones and a speaker or a receiver. A controller is disposed in the housing and coupled to the audio processing circuity. A rechargeable power source and charging circuitry are disposed in the housing. The charging circuitry is coupled to the controller and comprises first and second charge contacts situated at a wall of the housing. A user-actuatable control is coupled to the controller and comprises a touch sensor. The touch sensor comprises the first and second charge contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle Olson, Sidney A. Higgins, Dustin Degen
  • Publication number: 20220038827
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Degen, Brantly Sturgeon
  • Publication number: 20210211816
    Abstract: An ear-wearable device is described that includes a plurality of modules that mate together forming a physical outer shell of the ear-wearable device. Each module from the plurality of modules is associated with a different, corresponding feature of the ear-wearable device and each module from the plurality of modules includes a respective physical portion that comprises a different, corresponding part of the outer shell. In addition, each module from the plurality of modules shares a physical interface with at least one other module from the plurality of modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Scott Timmerman, Dustin Degen, Jodi Rickheim, Brian Dahl, Christopher Frank Filo, Kenneth Duane Gjerde, JR.
  • Patent number: 10911878
    Abstract: An ear-wearable device is described that includes a plurality of modules that mate together forming a physical outer shell of the ear-wearable device. Each module from the plurality of modules is associated with a different, corresponding feature of the ear-wearable device and each module from the plurality of modules includes a respective physical portion that comprises a different, corresponding part of the outer shell. In addition, each module from the plurality of modules shares a physical interface with at least one other module from the plurality of modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Scott Timmerman, Dustin Degen, Jodi Rickheim, Brian Dahl, Christopher Frank Filo, Kenneth Duane Gjerde, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200204933
    Abstract: An ear-wearable device is described that includes a plurality of modules that mate together forming a physical outer shell of the ear-wearable device. Each module from the plurality of modules is associated with a different, corresponding feature of the ear-wearable device and each module from the plurality of modules includes a respective physical portion that comprises a different, corresponding part of the outer shell. In addition, each module from the plurality of modules shares a physical interface with at least one other module from the plurality of modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Scott Timmerman, Dustin Degen, Jodi Rickheim, Brian Dahl, Christopher Frank Filo, Kenneth Duane Gjerde, JR.