Abstract: An integrated system for hearing protection and enhancement having earpieces including microphones and receivers to provide for user control of ambience level (mic gain), monitor input, control over limiting of excessive levels, and frequency equalization, all with very wide input dynamic range capability and controlled output dynamic range. The user control comprises a wired or wireless smartphone app. Also, the wide input dynamic range is achieved by placement of limiter circuitry capable of handling the entire input dynamic range prior to the most dynamic range limited circuit blocks: digital EQ block, output amplifier, earpiece receiver, and the users' ears. Switches allow combining left and right signals to be directed to a user's favored ear, if necessary.

Abstract: An integrated system for hearing protection and enhancement having earpieces including microphones and receivers to provide for user control of ambience level (mic gain), monitor input, control over limiting of excessive levels, and frequency equalization, all with very wide input dynamic range capability and controlled output dynamic range. The user control comprises a wired or wireless smartphone app. Also, the wide input dynamic range is achieved by placement of limiter circuitry capable of handling the entire input dynamic range prior to the most dynamic range limited circuit blocks: digital EQ block, output amplifier, earpiece receiver, and the users' ears. Switches allow combining left and right signals to be directed to a user's favored ear, if necessary.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing wind noise in an electronic hearing protector are provided. The electronic hearing protector includes a housing and a windscreen. The housing includes a cut-out portion having at least one acoustic inlet. The windscreen covers the cut-out portion and includes an outer surface. An acoustic path within the cut-out portion from an effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the windscreen is at least 100 degrees. A minimum distance from the effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the outer surface of the windscreen is at least 2.5 millimeters. In various embodiments, the electronic hearing protector may include a high-level limiter disposed in the housing. The high-level limiter selectively attenuates a frequency below a voice range more than a frequency in the voice range of a microphone input signal to provide a signal output with noise reduction at frequencies outside of the voice range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing wind noise in an electronic hearing protector are provided. The electronic hearing protector includes a housing and a windscreen. The housing includes a cut-out portion having at least one acoustic inlet. The windscreen covers the cut-out portion and includes an outer surface. An acoustic path within the cut-out portion from an effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the windscreen is at least 100 degrees. A minimum distance from the effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the outer surface of the windscreen is at least 2.5 millimeters. In various embodiments, the electronic hearing protector may include a high-level limiter disposed in the housing. The high-level limiter selectively attenuates a frequency below a voice range more than a frequency in the voice range of a microphone input signal to provide a signal output with noise reduction at frequencies outside of the voice range.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing wind noise in an electronic hearing protector are provided. The electronic hearing protector includes a housing and a windscreen. The housing includes a cut-out portion having at least one acoustic inlet. The windscreen covers the cut-out portion and includes an outer surface. An acoustic path within the cut-out portion from an effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the windscreen is at least 100 degrees. A minimum distance from the effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the outer surface of the windscreen is at least 2.5 millimeters. In various embodiments, the electronic hearing protector may include a high-level limiter disposed in the housing. The high-level limiter selectively attenuates a frequency below a voice range more than a frequency in the voice range of a microphone input signal to provide a signal output with noise reduction at frequencies outside of the voice range.

Abstract: A system and/or method is provided for enhanced listening of audio signals acquired via a telecoil by performing hum filtering. The system may include a telecoil and a telecoil hum filter. The telecoil hum filter may include a comb notch filter. The comb notch filter may include a delay module and a comb notch filter summing module. The telecoil may be operable to receive a magnetic signal and convert the magnetic signal to an input audio signal. The delay module of the comb notch filter may be configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a delay to the input audio signal. The delay may be based on a fundamental hum frequency. The comb notch filter summing module may be configured to generate a comb notch filter output signal by adding the input audio signal and the delay signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing wind noise in an electronic hearing protector are provided. The electronic hearing protector includes a housing and a windscreen. The housing includes a cut-out portion having at least one acoustic inlet. The windscreen covers the cut-out portion and includes an outer surface. An acoustic path within the cut-out portion from an effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the windscreen is at least 100 degrees. A minimum distance from the effective center of the acoustic inlet(s) to the outer surface of the windscreen is at least 2.5 millimeters. In various embodiments, the electronic hearing protector may include a high-level limiter disposed in the housing. The high-level limiter selectively attenuates a frequency below a voice range more than a frequency in the voice range of a microphone input signal to provide a signal output with noise reduction at frequencies outside of the voice range.

Abstract: A system and/or method is provided for enhanced listening of audio signals acquired via a telecoil by performing hum filtering. The system may include a telecoil and a telecoil hum filter. The telecoil hum filter may include a comb notch filter. The comb notch filter may include a delay module and a comb notch filter summing module. The telecoil may be operable to receive a magnetic signal and convert the magnetic signal to an input audio signal. The delay module of the comb notch filter may be configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a delay to the input audio signal. The delay may be based on a fundamental hum frequency. The comb notch filter summing module may be configured to generate a comb notch filter output signal by adding the input audio signal and the delay signal.

Abstract: A system and/or method is provided for enhanced listening of audio signals acquired via a telecoil by performing hum filtering. The system may include a telecoil and a telecoil hum filter. The telecoil hum filter may include a comb notch filter. The comb notch filter may include a delay module and a comb notch filter summing module. The telecoil may be operable to receive a magnetic signal and convert the magnetic signal to an input audio signal. The delay module of the comb notch filter may be configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a delay to the input audio signal. The delay may be based on a fundamental hum frequency. The comb notch filter summing module may be configured to generate a comb notch filter output signal by adding the input audio signal and the delay signal.

Abstract: A system and/or method is provided for enhanced listening of audio signals acquired via a telecoil by performing hum filtering. The system may include a telecoil and a telecoil hum filter. The telecoil hum filter may include a comb notch filter. The comb notch filter may include a delay module and a comb notch filter summing module. The telecoil may be operable to receive a magnetic signal and convert the magnetic signal to an input audio signal. The delay module of the comb notch filter may be configured to generate a delayed signal by applying a delay to the input audio signal. The delay may be based on a fundamental hum frequency. The comb notch filter summing module may be configured to generate a comb notch filter output signal by adding the input audio signal and the delay signal.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an in-the-ear device. The in-the-ear device includes a housing including a microphone inlet. The in-the-ear device also includes a microphone and a windscreen. The microphone is disposed within the housing adjacent to the microphone inlet. The windscreen includes a porous screen and an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen. The attachment mechanism is configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an in-the-ear device. The in-the-ear device includes a housing including a microphone inlet. The in-the-ear device also includes a microphone and a windscreen. The microphone is disposed within the housing adjacent to the microphone inlet. The windscreen includes a porous screen and an attachment mechanism coupled to the porous screen. The attachment mechanism is configured to detachably couple to the housing surrounding a perimeter of the microphone inlet such that an acoustic seal is formed between the windscreen and the housing.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery assemblies and methods of constructing rechargeable battery assemblies are provided. Rechargeable battery assemblies can include a storage cell and receive circuitry comprising a receive coil operatively connected to receive control circuitry, the receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, the receive control circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to the storage cell, the coil wound around a shield/core comprising magnetically permeable material, and the shield/core disposed around the storage cell.

Abstract: An earphone monitoring system is disclosed that provides for user information and control regarding ambient and monitored sound levels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining a drive signal to a resonant circuit at a resonant frequency are provided. A system for maintaining a drive signal to a resonant circuit at a resonant frequency can include: an oscillator configured to provide an output to a phase comparator and a drive circuit, the drive circuit configured to provide a drive signal to a resonant circuit; a phase detector configured to receive a filtered version of the drive signal from the resonant circuit and provide a phase-indicating signal to the phase comparator; and the phase comparator, wherein the phase comparator is configured to provide a signal based on the phase difference between the oscillator output and the phase-indicating signal, wherein the signal from the phase comparator is used to control the frequency of the oscillator such that the phase difference converges to a fixed value.

Abstract: Rechargeable battery assemblies and methods of constructing rechargeable battery assemblies are provided. Rechargeable battery assemblies can include a storage cell and receive circuitry comprising a receive coil operatively connected to receive control circuitry, the receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, the receive control circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to the storage cell, the coil wound around a shield/core comprising magnetically permeable material, and the shield/core disposed around the storage cell.

Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at a transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 20. Transmit coil can generate a magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency. Rechargeable battery assembly can include a receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, and circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to a storage cell. Receive coil can be part of a receive resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at about the transmit resonant frequency. Transmit circuitry can be configured to detect the rechargeable battery assembly by monitoring a load on the transmit coil.

Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit exhibiting resonance at a transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 20. Transmit coil can generate a magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency. Rechargeable battery assembly can include a receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, and circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to a storage cell. Receive coil can be part of a receive resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at about the transmit resonant frequency. Transmit circuitry can be configured to regulate alternating current produced in the transmit coil based on current flowing in the transmit resonant circuit and/or maintain the magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency by maintaining about a ninety degree phase shift between a square wave input and output.

Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at a transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 20. Transmit coil can generate a magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency. Rechargeable battery assembly can include a receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, and circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to a storage cell. Receive coil can be part of a receive resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at about the transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 10. Transmit circuitry can include multiple transmit coils and can selectively discontinue production of alternating current in the coils generating fields that are not most strongly coupled to the receive coil.

Abstract: A hearing improvement device using a multi-coil coupling system and methods for operating such a device are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may use an array microphone to provide highly directional reception. The received audio signal may be filtered, amplified, and converted into a magnetic field for coupling to the telecoil in a conventional hearing aid. Multiple transmit inductors may be used to effectively couple to both in-the-ear and behind-the-ear type hearing aids, and an additional embodiment is disclosed which may be used with an earphone, for users not requiring a hearing aid.