Patents by Inventor Howard Kill

Howard Kill 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).

  • AUTOMATIC RECONFIGURATION OF A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE BASED ON BATTERY CHARACTERISTICS
    Publication number: 20160073205
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for detecting battery chemistry or battery type and reconfiguring a hearing assistance device based on the detected battery. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of operating a hearing assistance device having a battery. A voltage of the battery is detected at a predetermined load current and a battery chemistry or battery type is determined based on the detected voltage. An operating parameter of the hearing assistance device is adjusted based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type, in various embodiments. Examples of adjustments made based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type include gain, feedback cancellation (FBC) filter, self-diagnostic thresholds of the hearing assistance device, indicator loudness, low battery set point, or an end-of-discharge battery set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Howard Kill, James R. Newton, Zheng Yan, Harikrishna P. Natarajan
  • Automatic reconfiguration of a hearing assistance device based on battery characteristics
    Patent number: 9113276
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for detecting battery chemistry or battery type and reconfiguring a hearing assistance device based on the detected battery. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of operating a hearing assistance device having a battery. A voltage of the battery is detected at a predetermined load current and a battery chemistry or battery type is determined based on the detected voltage. An operating parameter of the hearing assistance device is adjusted based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type, in various embodiments. Examples of adjustments made based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type include gain, feedback cancellation (FBC) filter, self-diagnostic thresholds of the hearing assistance device, indicator loudness, low battery set point, or an end-of-discharge battery set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Kill, James R. Newton, Zheng Yan, Harikrishna P. Natarajan
  • AUTOMATIC RECONFIGURATION OF A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE BASED ON BATTERY CHARACTERISTICS
    Publication number: 20130259278
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for detecting battery chemistry or battery type and reconfiguring a hearing assistance device based on the detected battery. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method of operating a hearing assistance device having a battery. A voltage of the battery is detected at a predetermined load current and a battery chemistry or battery type is determined based on the detected voltage. An operating parameter of the hearing assistance device is adjusted based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type, in various embodiments. Examples of adjustments made based on the determined battery chemistry or battery type include gain, feedback cancellation (FBC) filter, self-diagnostic thresholds of the hearing assistance device, indicator loudness, low battery set point, or an end-of-discharge battery set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Howard Kill, James R. Newton, Zheng Yan, Harikrishna P. Natarajan