Patents by Inventor Thomas Scheller
Thomas Scheller 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).
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Publication number: 20240107240Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of a wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a processor. A power source and a receiver or a speaker are respectively disposed in or on the housing. A microphone array is disposed in or on the housing and operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. The microphone array comprises a plurality of microphones. The processor is configured to operate a set of two or more of the microphones in a directional mode, detect degradation in performance of any microphone of the microphone set, and switch microphone operation from the directional mode to a safe mode using at least one non-degraded microphone of the microphone set in response to detecting the microphone performance degradation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Zac Jensen, Ryan Chester, Brian Dahl, Thomas Scheller, Joel Erdman
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Patent number: 11895465Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of a wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a processor. A power source and a receiver or a speaker are respectively disposed in or on the housing. A microphone array is disposed in or on the housing and operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. The microphone array comprises a plurality of microphones. The processor is configured to operate a set of two or more of the microphones in a directional mode, detect degradation in performance of any microphone of the microphone set, and switch microphone operation from the directional mode to a safe mode using at least one non-degraded microphone of the microphone set in response to detecting the microphone performance degradation.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Zac Jensen, Ryan Chester, Brian Dahl, Thomas Scheller, Joel Erdman
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Patent number: 11825272Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Peter J. Tetrick, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Scheller
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Patent number: 11612320Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Publication number: 20230034525Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for spatially differentiated noise reduction for hearing device applications. A method includes sensing sound signals with a hearing device. A front-facing directional beam and a rear-facing directional beam are produced using the sensed sound signals, and the front-facing directional beam and the rear-facing directional beam are combined to obtain an output directional beam. The front-facing directional beam or the output directional beam is compared to the rear-facing directional beam to determine a front-rear differential. Responsive to a determination that the front-rear differential indicates that the rear-facing directional beam is dominant, the amount of noise reduction of the output directional beam is increased. Responsive to a determination that the front-rear differential indicates that the rear-facing directional beam is not dominant, an amount of noise reduction of the output directional beam is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventor: Thomas A. Scheller
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Publication number: 20220358945Abstract: To address the technical problem of varying gain applied to different hearing impaired (HI) patients, a technical solution described herein includes application of a patient-specific noise reduction algorithm based on a patient-specific signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss function. HI patients vary in their ability to extract information in a given signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environment. However, noise reduction algorithms often include a single noise reduction function for all SNR loss functions. For a HI patient with significant SNR-loss, they will receive little noise reduction in SNR conditions where the patient gains no benefit from the sound. Technical solutions described herein includes determining a HI patient's ability to extract information for various SNR values, and then using specific NR algorithm attenuation for specific SNR values according to the HI patient's determined ability to extract information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2020Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventor: Thomas A. Scheller
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Publication number: 20220286792Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Peter J. Tetrick, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Scheller
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Publication number: 20220148558Abstract: Improved adaptive feedback cancellation may be used to improve performance of audio amplification systems, such as hearing assistance devices, sound reinforcement systems, telephony, and other acoustic amplification and reproduction systems. This adaptive feedback cancellation allows a significant increase in the maximum stable gain of the amplification system, such as by increasing gain while reducing or eliminating feedback. This improves the audibility provided by an audio amplification system. This may provide particular improvements for hearing assistance devices that include open fittings or otherwise have substantial acoustic leakage. This adaptive feedback cancellation provides additional protection from a dynamically changing acoustic leakage by continually updating itself to model the changes, thereby providing increased gain while reducing or eliminating feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventor: Thomas A. Scheller
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Patent number: 11304013Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Peter J. Tetrick, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Scheller
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Publication number: 20220109938Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of a wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a processor. A power source and a receiver or a speaker are respectively disposed in or on the housing. A microphone array is disposed in or on the housing and operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. The microphone array comprises a plurality of microphones. The processor is configured to operate a set of two or more of the microphones in a directional mode, detect degradation in performance of any microphone of the microphone set, and switch microphone operation from the directional mode to a safe mode using at least one non-degraded microphone of the microphone set in response to detecting the microphone performance degradation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Zac Jensen, Ryan Chester, Brian Dahl, Thomas Scheller, Joel Erdman
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Publication number: 20210315457Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Patent number: 11012793Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Publication number: 20200288252Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Publication number: 20200273566Abstract: A computing system receives sharing preference data. The sharing preference data indicate, for each respective health-related data type of a plurality of health-related data types: (i) whether a user of an ear-wearable device allows sharing of health-related data belonging to the respective health-related data type, and (ii) if the user of the ear-wearable device allows sharing of health-related data belonging to the respective health-related data type, a set of one or more users allowed by the user of the ear-wearable device to access the health-related data belonging to the respective health-related data type.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, David A. Fabry, Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes
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Publication number: 20200268265Abstract: A computing system receives data from one or more hearing instruments. Additionally, the computing system determines, based on the data received from the one or more hearing instruments, a heart health measure for a user of the one or more hearing instruments. The heart health measure is an indication of one or more aspects of a health of a heart of the user. The computing system may output an indication of the heart health measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Publication number: 20200260199Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to assistive listening devices and systems for providing audio streams to device wearers within sound fields. In an embodiment an assistive listening device is included having a control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a communications circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit. The control circuit can be configured to issue a communication to an audio communication device or audio provisioning device including at least one of a language preference, a set of hearing requirements, data regarding a presentation delay, and an authorization status identifier, digital code, digital token, or digital key specific to a wearer of the assistive listening device. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Peter J. Tetrick, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Thomas Scheller
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Patent number: 10674285Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Publication number: 20190069098Abstract: A computing system comprising one or more electronic computing devices receives data from a hearing-assistance device. The computing system determines, based on the data received from the hearing-assistance device, a cognitive benefit measure for a wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The cognitive benefit measure being an indication of a change of a cognitive benefit of the wearer of the hearing-assistance device attributable to use of the hearing-assistance device by the wearer of the hearing-assistance device. The computing device outputs an indication of the cognitive benefit measure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Kyle Walsh, Thomas Scheller, Christopher L. Howes, David A. Fabry
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Patent number: 9532147Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for detection of special environments for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of operating a hearing assistance device for a user. A signal is received from a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone, representative of an environmental parameter sensed by the mobile device. In various embodiments, an acoustic environment about the mobile device is identified based on the received signal using a signal processor. An operational mode of the hearing assistance device is adjusted using the signal processor based on the identified acoustic environment, according to various embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Scheller
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Patent number: 9408001Abstract: A method and device for compensating sensorineural hearing loss in a manner that allows dysfunction of the inner and outer hair cells to be separately compensated is described. The disclosed techniques involve providing separately adjustable compression pathways for the received sound.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Scheller