Patents by Inventor Eric A. Durant

Eric A. Durant 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).

  • Publication number: 20220295194
    Abstract: In an audio signal, one or more processing circuits recognize spoken content in a user's own speech signal using speech recognition and natural language understanding. The spoken content describes a listening difficulty of the user. The one or more processing circuits generate, based on the spoken content, one or more actions for hearing devices and feedback for the user. The one or more actions attempt to resolve the listening difficulty. Additionally, the one or more processing circuits convert the user feedback to verbal feedback using speech synthesis and transmit the one or more actions and the verbal feedback to the hearing devices via a body-worn device. The hearing devices are configured to perform the one or more actions and play back the verbal feedback to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Eric Durant, Dean G. Meyer, Martin McKinney, Matthew D. Kleffner, Dominic Perz, Karrie Recker
  • Patent number: 11412333
    Abstract: In an audio signal, one or more processing circuits recognize spoken content in a user's own speech signal using speech recognition and natural language understanding. The spoken content describes a listening difficulty of the user. The one or more processing circuits generate, based on the spoken content, one or more actions for hearing devices and feedback for the user. The one or more actions attempt to resolve the listening difficulty. Additionally, the one or more processing circuits convert the user feedback to verbal feedback using speech synthesis and transmit the one or more actions and the verbal feedback to the hearing devices via a body-worn device. The hearing devices are configured to perform the one or more actions and play back the verbal feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Eric Durant, Dean G. Meyer, Martin McKinney, Matthew D. Kleffner, Dominic Perz, Karrie Recker
  • Publication number: 20190149927
    Abstract: In an audio signal, one or more processing circuits recognize spoken content in a user's own speech signal using speech recognition and natural language understanding. The spoken content describes a listening difficulty of the user. The one or more processing circuits generate, based on the spoken content, one or more actions for hearing devices and feedback for the user. The one or more actions attempt to resolve the listening difficulty. Additionally, the one or more processing circuits convert the user feedback to verbal feedback using speech synthesis and transmit the one or more actions and the verbal feedback to the hearing devices via a body-worn device. The hearing devices are configured to perform the one or more actions and play back the verbal feedback to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Eric Durant, Dean G. Meyer, Martin McKinney, Matthew D. Kleffner, Dominic Perz, Karrie Recker
  • Patent number: 9930456
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20170171672
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 9584933
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20160066103
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 9124983
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 9049529
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20150003653
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system streams audio signals from one or more streaming sources to a hearing aid set and enhances the audio signals such that the output sounds transmitted to the hearing aid wearer include a spatialization effect allowing for localization of each of the one more streaming sources. The system determines the position of the hearing aid set relative to each streaming source in real time and introduces the spatialization effect for that streaming source dynamically based on the determined position, such that the hearing aid wearer can experience a natural feeing of the acoustic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Karrie LaRae Recker, Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20140254841
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 8824711
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise in audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter includes a method for improving speech intelligibility for speech-in-noise for audio processing and hearing assistance devices. The method includes receiving an audio signal using a microphone array and processing the received signal to improve speech intelligibility in noise. A barrier-type beamforming process is used to improve signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the microphone array. The beamforming process includes convex optimization using a logarithmic barrier function, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Durant, Ivo Merks, William S. Woods, Jinjun Xiao, Tao Zhang, Zhi-Quan Luo
  • Patent number: 8359283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a method for fitting a hearing assistance device for a user using a genetic algorithm. Stimulus pairs are presented to the user using a computer, the stimulus pairs adapted to provide contrasting options for selection from a set of stimuli stored in the computer. Inputs are received from the user entered into the computer, including preference judgments of the user. A score is calculated for each stimulus of the pair using the computer to execute a rank agreement function to maximize agreement between scores and the preference judgments. A set of genes is selected based on the scores, where the set of genes correspond to hearing assistance device parameters. The set of genes is operated on with a genetic algorithm using the assigned scores to obtain a child set of genes. The child set is used to provide parameter values during fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Deniz Baskent, Eric Durant
  • Publication number: 20110055120
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, is a method for fitting a hearing assistance device for a user using a genetic algorithm. Stimulus pairs are presented to the user using a computer, the stimulus pairs adapted to provide contrasting options for selection from a set of stimuli stored in the computer. Inputs are received from the user entered into the computer, including preference judgments of the user. A score is calculated for each stimulus of the pair using the computer to execute a rank agreement function to maximize agreement between scores and the preference judgments. A set of genes is selected based on the scores, where the set of genes correspond to hearing assistance device parameters. The set of genes is operated on with a genetic algorithm using the assigned scores to obtain a child set of genes. The child set is used to provide parameter values during fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Deniz Baskent, Eric Durant
  • Publication number: 20100172524
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant
  • Patent number: 7650004
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant
  • Publication number: 20030133578
    Abstract: A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Eric A. Durant