Abstract: Methods and systems for in-situ hearing assessment and customized fitting of a hearing device that can be implemented by a user of the hearing device. Methods and systems for performing: sending instructions to the hearing device to output audio signals having predefined frequencies and loudness levels; outputting the audio signals to an ear of the user while the hearing device is in an operational position for use by the user; measuring user hearing threshold levels at predefined frequencies based on feedback provided by the user when listening to the audio signals; finding a best fit audiogram, based on comparisons of the measured user hearing threshold levels with hearing threshold levels from a plurality of audiograms stored in memory; and programming the hearing device with the best fit audiogram.

Abstract: A local device of an auditory device system is configured to perform a process that switches between operating modes. As part of the process, the local device may determine a wireless quality parameter indicative of a current environment for wireless communication with the contra device. Additionally, based on the one or more local input audio signals and the wireless quality parameter, the local device may determine whether to change a local active operating mode of the local device from a bilateral mode to a binaural mode or from the binaural mode to the bilateral mode. The local device may generate a local output audio signal based on the one or more local input audio signals in accordance with the local active operating mode and may produce sound based on the local output audio signal.

Abstract: A local device of an auditory device system is configured to perform a process that switches between operating modes. As part of the process, the local device may determine a wireless quality parameter indicative of a current environment for wireless communication with the contra device. Additionally, based on the one or more local input audio signals and the wireless quality parameter, the local device may determine whether to change a local active operating mode of the local device from a bilateral mode to a binaural mode or from the binaural mode to the bilateral mode. The local device may generate a local output audio signal based on the one or more local input audio signals in accordance with the local active operating mode and may produce sound based on the local output audio signal.

Abstract: A hearing assistance system obtains a first input audio signal that is based on sound received by a first set of microphones. The system also obtains a second input audio signal that is based on sound received by a second, different set of microphones. A first adaptive beamformer generates a first output audio signal based on the first input audio signal, the second input audio signal, and a value of a first parameter. A second adaptive beamformer generates a second output audio signal based on the first input audio signal, the second input audio signal, and a value of a second parameter. The value of the first parameter and the value of the second parameter are determined such that a magnitude squared coherence (MSC) of the first output audio signal and the second output audio signal is less than or equal to the coherence threshold.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.

Abstract: Described herein is a technique by which a hearing may automatically switch between a directional microphone mode and an omnidirectional microphone mode base upon an estimate of the noise floor as derived from the input signal. A minimum statistics estimator may be used to estimate the noise floor.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system, method and apparatus for increasing the visibility of a garment or article of clothing may be described. This can include an element of a garment which may be functionally or structurally integrated into the garment, such as a heat transfer. The heat transfer can utilize any number of visibility-enhancing elements to increase the visibility of a wearer of a garment having the heat transfer, for example through any combination of reflective elements, retro-reflective elements, and elements formed in various colors.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a flow-through fluid heating unit includes an annular member, and a heating element deposited on an inner surface of the annular member, the heating element including three sub-heating elements, each sub-heating element being connected to a separate conduit for receiving a separate phase of a three phase electrical power source. The heating unit may include a baffle core including at least one channel providing a fluid flow path, the baffle core being disposed within the annular member and proximate to the heating element. First and second end fittings may be disposed at each end of the annular member, each end fitting including a fluid port for allowing the fluid to flow through the annular member. One of the end fittings may be releasably connected to the annular member to provide access for removal of the baffle core.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for artificially enhancing spaciousness in a hearing aid to improve the music listening experience. Such spatial enhancement is produced by doing signal processing in the hearing aid that mimics the acoustic effects of well-designed concert halls. The same techniques can also be applied to improving the experience of listening to recorded music reproduced and amplified over a speaker system, or to music streamed to the direct-audio input of a hearing aid.

Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for artificially enhancing spaciousness in a hearing aid to improve the music listening experience. Such spatial enhancement is produced by doing signal processing in the hearing aid that mimics the acoustic effects of well-designed concert halls. The same techniques can also be applied to improving the experience of listening to recorded music reproduced and amplified over a speaker system, or to music streamed to the direct-audio input of a hearing aid.

Abstract: Described herein is a technique by which a hearing may automatically switch between a directional microphone mode and an omnidirectional microphone mode base upon an estimate of the noise floor as derived from the input signal. A minimum statistics estimator may be used to estimate the noise floor.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a system, method and apparatus for increasing the visibility of a garment or article of clothing may be described. This can include an element of a garment which may be functionally or structurally integrated into the garment, such as a heat transfer. The heat transfer can utilize any number of visibility-enhancing elements to increase the visibility of a wearer of a garment having the heat transfer, for example through any combination of reflective elements, retro-reflective elements, and elements formed in various colors.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A water heater for an aircraft beverage brewing apparatus includes a three way electrical conduit for conducting electrical power in three separate phases. The heater has a housing with a fluid inlet port at a first removable end piece and a fluid outlet port at a second removable end piece. The hollow cylindrical core incorporates a heating element wound around the core, and the housing includes three resettable temperature sensors at the outlet, each of the three resettable temperature sensors connected to a separate phase of power from the three way electrical conduit.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for artificially enhancing spaciousness in a hearing aid to improve the music listening experience. Such spatial enhancement is produced by doing signal processing in the hearing aid that mimics the acoustic effects of well-designed concert halls. The same techniques can also be applied to improving the experience of listening to recorded music reproduced and amplified over a speaker system, or to music streamed to the direct-audio input of a hearing aid.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.

Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.