Hearing Aids, Electrical Patents (Class 381/312)
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Patent number: 10729587Abstract: A hearing protector device (9) comprising a controller (11), a memory (14), and a receiver (12) is provided. The controller (11) is configured to be connected to the memory (14), the receiver (12) and an at least one user-notifying device (31) adapted to notify a hearing protector user. The hearing protector device (9) is configured to receive at least one data transmission signal from a data transmission device (20); storing at least one signal parameter; and comparing said data transmission signal to the at least one stored signal parameter. The at least one stored signal parameter is associated with at least one suitable notification; wherein the user-notifying device (31) is configured to, when the signal from the data transmission device (20) matches the signal parameter, present the at least one notification associated to the signal parameter to the hearing protector user.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Hellberg Safety ABInventors: Andreas Gustavsson, Joakim Ohlander
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Patent number: 10735871Abstract: A hearing assistance device such as a hearing aid includes an antenna system that has an adaptive antenna configuration that can be dynamically optimized for communicating with one or more other devices at different locations. The hearing assistance device determines an approximately optimal antenna configuration and adjusts the antenna configuration to that approximately optimal antenna configuration using one or more switches coupled between the antenna system and a communication circuit of the hearing assistance device.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Trevor Webster, Sasidhar Vajha, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich
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Patent number: 10735877Abstract: A method includes: initializing a model comprising a parameterized objective function based on first and second assumption on the objective function; obtaining an initial test setting; assigning the initial test setting as a primary test setting; obtaining a secondary test setting based on the model; outputting a primary test signal according to the primary test setting; outputting a secondary test signal according to the secondary test setting; obtaining a user input of a preferred test setting indicative of a preference for either the primary test setting or the secondary test setting; updating the model based on the primary test setting, the secondary test setting, and the preferred test setting; and in accordance with a determination that a tuning criterion is satisfied, updating at least one of hearing device parameters of a hearing device based on hearing device parameter(s) of the preferred test setting.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: GN Hearing A/SInventors: Aalbert De Vries, Joris Kraak, Marcus Gerardus Hermanus Cox
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Patent number: 10728679Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a hearing aid assembly having an antenna for emission of an electromagnetic field, a transceiver for wireless data communication, the transceiver interconnected with the antenna, and a housing for accommodation of the antenna; wherein the antenna comprises a first section having a length between at least one sixteenth wavelength and a full wavelength of the electromagnetic field, the antenna being positioned so that current flows in the first section in a direction that corresponds with an ear-to-ear axis of a user when the housing is worn in its operational position by the user, whereby the electromagnetic field emitted by the antenna propagates along a surface of a head of the user with its electrical field substantially orthogonal to the surface of the head of the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: GN HEARING A/SInventor: Sinasi Ozden
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Patent number: 10722786Abstract: A hand-held video game controller includes a controller body having a front and a back, with at least one front control on the front of the controller body. A removable and resilient unitary back shell is removably attached to the back of the controller body. At least one back control button underlies the unitary back shell, and is depressible by flexing of the unitary back shell into contact with that back control button. At least one battery compartment may underlie the unitary back shell, and may be accessible by removal of the removable unitary back shell.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Valve CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Bellinghausen, Claire Michelle Gottschalk, Eric Hope, Jeffrey Keyzer, Scott Dalton
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Patent number: 10719292Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a sound enhancement system coupled to a mobile device. In one aspect, the present disclosure includes the system having first bidirectional communication link configured to receive an audio signal, transmit an audio signal, and receive configuration parameters. The system also includes a memory configured to store the configuration parameters. Additionally, the system has an audio input configured to receive ambient audio. Yet further, the is configured to operate in one of two operation modes. In the first mode, the system is configured to receive an audio signal from the bidirectional communication link and output an audio signal based on the received audio signal by way of the audio output pathway, and in the second mode, the system is configured to process the ambient audio signal by the audio processor based on stored configuration parameters and create an output audio signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventor: Richard Lyon
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Patent number: 10715932Abstract: A hearing aid for compensating for an occlusion effect while emitting an acoustic useful signal into an auditory canal of a human ear comprises an earbud that can be inserted into the auditory canal, a speaker for emitting a compensation signal into the auditory canal, a microphone for receiving an error signal from the auditory canal, and a control unit for processing a recorded signal to be emitted. The controller is designed by measuring a nominal secondary path between a speaker and the microphone and determining a transmission function that describes behavior of the nominal secondary path, determining a first requirement as a tolerance band about the transmission function, determining a second requirement as a desired sensitivity function of the hearing aid, designing the controller using an optimization method while simultaneously taking the first and second requirements into consideration, and implementing the controller in the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHENInventors: Stefan Liebich, Carlotta Anemueller, Daniel Rueschen
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Patent number: 10715935Abstract: A hearing instrument includes: a microphone; a signal processor configured to compensating a hearing loss of a user; a speaker configured to provide an output sound signal; a wireless communication unit comprising an oscillator circuitry, the oscillator circuitry having an antenna resonator configured to emit an electromagnetic field at a first frequency and a driving circuit configured to provide a driving circuit output; the driving circuit output comprising: a first sequence of pulses having a first phase and a first pulse width, and a second sequence of pulses having a second phase and a second pulse width, the second phase being phase shifted with respect to the first phase, the first phase and the second phase being based on the first frequency; the oscillator circuitry being configured to obtain the first sequence of pulses and the second sequence of pulses for excitation of the antenna resonator.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: GN HEARING A/SInventors: Kim Fälling Andersen, Nikolaj Peter Brunvoll Kammersgaard
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Patent number: 10708699Abstract: A sound processing method for a hearing aid in embodiments of the present invention may have one of more of the following steps: (a) receiving a command from a user to begin an upload and/or download of a file, (b) initiating communications to commence the upload and/or download of the file, (c) selecting the file to upload and/or download to a memory on the hearing aid, (d) downloading and/or uploading the file into or out of the memory, (e) executing the file loaded into memory, (f) asking the user if they wish to download and/or upload another file to/from the memory, and (g) continuing normal hearing aid operations if the user does not wish to execute the file in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: BRAGI GmbHInventor: Peter Vincent Boesen
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Patent number: 10701498Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hearing loss and/or tinnitus or enhancing hearing to sounds or sound features such as in a noisy environment are disclosed. An apparatus includes a hearing aid and associated electrodes for electrically stimulating a portion near, on or in the ear, where the electrical stimulation is synchronized with a sound input and/or sound output of the hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Cory D. Gloeckner, Yezihalem Mesfin
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Patent number: 10701499Abstract: A device or a method using the device includes a balloon configured to seal a user's orifice, where the balloon is configured to produce an acoustic seal between a first side and a second side of the balloon in an ear canal. At least a second side of the balloon is fitted into the ear canal. Audio processing circuitry produces an audio signal for driving a speaker in the device and to measure sound level using output from the microphone in the device while the speaker is being driven by the audio signal. The device or method further includes control circuitry to evaluate a seal quality of the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Station Techiya, LLCInventors: John Usher, John P. Keady
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Patent number: 10694302Abstract: A hearing aid which is insertable into the ear of a hearing aid wearer includes a housing shell for receiving hearing aid components, a faceplate that closes off the housing shell, and a dipole antenna. The dipole antenna is embodied with a helical structure having at least one complete turn and a helix axis that is aligned parallel to the faceplate.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Hamed Hasani
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Patent number: 10694299Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a plurality of EEG sensors configured to sense EEG signals from or proximate a wearer's ear. At least one processor is configured to detect, during a baseline period of no wearer movement, EEG signals from the EEG sensors, and detect, during each of a plurality of candidate control movements by the wearer, EEG signals from the EEG sensors. The at least one processor is also configured to compute, using the EEG signals, discriminability metrics for the candidate control movements and the baseline period, the discriminability metrics indicating how discriminable neural signals associated with the candidate control movements and the baseline period are from one another. The at least one processor is further configured to select a subset of the candidate control movements using the discriminability metrics, each of the selected control movements defining a neural command for controlling the ear-worn electronic device by the wearer.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Lauren Petley, Swapan Gandhi, Simon Carlile, Sahar Akram
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Patent number: 10687157Abstract: A body-worn hearing assist device such as a hearing aid allows at least two audio inputs, such as through a wireless chipset and from an onboard microphone. The hearing aid has a directional sensor, preferably a combination magnetic sensor/accelerometer, which allows the hearing aid to determine which direction the user is facing. A directional reference associated with a “remote” sound source, i.e., the direction the user would naturally face to best hear the wirelessly transmitted audio, is stored in memory. When the user faces in the direction of the “remote” sound source, such as watching a screen of an audio-visual program having a wireless audio streamer or looking at someone using a wireless microphone, the wirelessly received audio is coupled as the primary input of the hearing aid. When the user turns and faces a different direction, the hearing aid automatically switches the primary input source to the onboard microphone.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: IntriCon CorporationInventor: Robert J. Fretz
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Patent number: 10681485Abstract: A method includes providing, for each respective audio channel of a plurality of audio channels provided by an operating system of a computing device, a set of successive audio processing stages to apply to the respective audio channel. The method also includes providing, by the operating system, an application programming interface (API) configured to set a plurality of parameters for adjusting the set of successive audio processing stages for each respective audio channel. The method additionally includes receiving, via the API and from an application running on the computing device, one or more values for one or more parameters of the plurality of parameters. The method further includes adjusting, by the operating system, the plurality of audio channels based on the received one or more values for the one or more parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Ricardo Antonio Garcia, Brian Kemler, Justin Wooyoung Lee, Richard Francis Lyon, Malcolm Graham Slaney
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Patent number: 10679640Abstract: Cardioid adaptive filtering includes receiving a first and second audio signals from first and second omnidirectional microphones; combining the audio input signals into a cardioid signal; filtering the cardioid signal to create a first filtered output using an adaptive low pass filter controlled by a frequency control, the adaptive low pass filter having a controllable corner frequency f1; filtering the first filtered output, using a high frequency gain filter with a corner frequency f2, to create an equalized cardioid output signal; performing feedforward processing of the audio input signals to provide a wind feedforward signal; using the equalized cardioid output and the first or second audio input signal, performing proximity feedback to generate a proximity feedback signal; adjusting the frequency f1 of the adaptive low pass filter using the wind feedforward signal and the proximity feedback signal; and providing the equalized cardioid output signal for use in receiving captured audio.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Harman International Industries, IncorporatedInventor: Kevin Shank
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Patent number: 10681445Abstract: Earphone assemblies with wingtips are provided for anchoring to a user during use. A wing may extend from and between two different ends coupled to a housing of an earphone, while each of the at least one flex arm may extend along the wing. At least one flex arm may be rigid enough to prevent at least a portion of the wing from bending out of a plane of the wing such that a portion of the wing may maintain a functional position under and/or behind at least a portion of a crus of an anti-helix of a user's ear to anchor the earphone to the user's ear during use, while at least a portion of the wing may be flexible enough to provide comfort to the user's ear.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Christopher J. Stringer
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Patent number: 10666067Abstract: First and second hearing assistance devices each comprise a rechargeable power source and power management circuitry configured to control charging of the power sources. A portable charging unit comprises an interface configured to receive a connector of a power cable or a power and data cable, a rechargeable power source coupled to the interface, first and second charge ports configured to receive the first and second hearing assistance devices, and charging circuitry coupled to the first and second charge ports and to the rechargeable power source of the charging unit. The power management circuitry and the charging circuitry cooperate to partially charge the power sources of the hearing assistance devices at an accelerated charge rate above 1.0C when a state of charge (SoC) of the power sources is within a predetermined SoC range.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Christopher Young, Kyle Olson, Brantly A. Sturgeon
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Patent number: 10659892Abstract: A hearing device having an antenna unit is disclosed. The hearing device comprises a transmission line connecting a communication unit and the antenna unit, or at least being part of a connection between them. The transmission line may be configured to transfer a signal from the communication unit to the antenna unit and/or from the antenna unit to the communication unit, so as to minimize parasitic effects on the antenna unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Poul Henriksen, Jens Troelsen
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Patent number: 10652669Abstract: The present invention relates to a receiver assembly comprising a first receiver having a distinct longitudinal direction and a first longitudinal centre line, and a second receiver having a distinct longitudinal direction and a second longitudinal centre line, wherein the distinct longitudinal directions of the first and second receivers are arranged essentially along a distinct longitudinal direction of the receiver assembly. The receiver assembly further comprises one or more microphone units.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: SONION NEDERLAND B.V.Inventors: Andreas Tiefenau, Laurens de Ruijter, Nicolaas Maria Jozef Stoffels
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Patent number: 10643635Abstract: An interference filtering method applied to the voice commands of a user of a device includes audio acquisition unit of device taking a first audio signal including user voice from the environment and a second audio signal from an audio output unit of a device creating competing noise. A first background audio signal is obtained by filtering a speech sound region in first audio signal, and a second background audio signal is obtained by filtering a speech sound region in second audio signal. A time difference T and a sound amplified parameter X are obtained by comparison. A third audio signal is obtained by performing time compensation, amplification, and an inverting operation on second audio signal. First audio signal and third audio signal are synthesized to produce fourth audio signal for feeding to voice recognition unit of the original user device.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventor: Yen-Hsin Lin
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Patent number: 10638240Abstract: A bone conduction wave generation device includes a waveform generator which generates a first output wave and a second output wave for bone conduction. The waveform generator generates, on a basis of an input wave, the first output wave outside of an audible range and the second output wave outside of an audible range. The first output wave and the second output wave are to be combined into a composite wave having an audible beat.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.Inventor: Toshiya Kuno
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Patent number: 10631101Abstract: A method, including capturing first sound with a hearing prosthesis, classifying the first sound using the hearing prosthesis according to a first feature regime, capturing second sound with the hearing prosthesis, and classifying the second sound using the hearing prosthesis according to a second feature regime different from the first feature regime.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Alex Von Brasch, Stephen Fung, Kieran Reed
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Patent number: 10631105Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100) based on a classification of the current sound environment and a hearing aid system (100) for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Jakob Nielsen
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Patent number: 10631106Abstract: A hearing aid includes a casing configured to fit behind an ear of a user's head and against a side of the user's head. The hearing aid further includes a first proximity sensor associated with the casing and configured to generate a first signal that is proportional to a proximity of the casing to the ear and includes a processor coupled to the first proximity sensor and configured to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes in response to the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: III Holdings 4, LLCInventors: Frederick Charles Neumeyer, John Michael Page Knox, Gregory Yancey
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Patent number: 10617334Abstract: An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprising a controller, right and left ear pieces, and a memory. The controller is configured to provide a series of tones to the right and left ear pieces and receive feedback from the patient between each tone provided, indicating that the respective tone was detected in one of the right ear piece and the left ear piece or that the respective tone was not detected. The controller is configured to also generate a data point on an audiogram after receiving each feedback and, after each data point is generated, compute a statistical distribution based on the generated data points, wherein the statistical distribution includes a lowest confidence level. A subsequent tone is selected, each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones being a tone represented at the lowest confidence level in statistical distribution at the time of selection.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Soundwave Hearing, LLCInventors: Christopher Boven, Reagan John Roberts
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Patent number: 10623564Abstract: Real time, remote access to and adjustment of the hearing aid of a patient while the patient is located in a normal life environment that is remote from a hearing professional. A session request initiates a programming session. Adjustable settings from the patient's hearing aid are wirelessly streamed to the patient's mobile device and from the mobile device to a streaming cloud server. The settings are stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to a hearing professional's computer or mobile device and displayed. The hearing professional then changes at least one of the adjustable hearing aid settings and the changed settings are streamed to the cloud, stored on the cloud, streamed from the cloud to the patient's mobile device, wirelessly transmitted to the hearing aid and stored there. A telephonic voice connection between the hearing professional and the patient's mobile device is used to transmit the patient's evaluation of changed settings to the hearing professional.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Inventor: Deborah M. Manchester
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Patent number: 10620012Abstract: A step counting method, a device, and a terminal, where the method includes obtaining, by a first device, step counting data of at least two devices carried by a same user, where the first device is one of the at least two devices, or the first device is different from the at least two devices, and determining, by the first device, a quantity of steps of the user according to the step counting data of the at least two devices. In the method, the quantity of steps of the user is determined according to the step counting data of the at least two devices of the same user in order to avoid a step counting error caused when a single device performs step counting, thereby improving step counting accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Xiaoping Zhang, Yajun Zhang
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Patent number: 10610687Abstract: A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
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Patent number: 10616694Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Tobias Rosenkranz
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Patent number: 10616695Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting when a device is placed into an operational position are disclosed. Upon determination that the device is in the operational position, one or more processes can be executed. Execution or initialization of the processes upon detection of the operational position provides for the determination of optimal settings than would otherwise be determined if the processes automatically executed before detection of the operational position. Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to determining when the device is no longer in an operational position upon which time the execution of the processes are terminated. The settings in place upon termination can be saved and reapplied the next time the device is in the operational position.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Kristian Gunnar Asnes
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Patent number: 10616699Abstract: In a hearing aid (26) that can be inserted into the ear canal (12) of a patient, comprising an actuator (31) effecting a mechanical stimulation of the tympanic membrane (14), the actuator (31) comprises an inner surface (32) associated with the tympanic membrane (14) and an outer surface (42) associated with the ear canal (12) and is configured as an areal disk actuator, whose deformation stimulates the tympanic membrane (14) by areal deformation. On the actuator (31) at a distance from the outer surface (42) a cover plate (43) is arranged which together with the outer surface (42) delimits a preferably lenticular cavity (48).Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN MEDIZINISCHE FAKULTAET GESCHWISTER-SCHOLL-PLATZInventors: Ernst Dalhoff, Hans-Peter Zenner
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Patent number: 10609495Abstract: A hearing aid provided which has: a battery; a control means which controls a function of the hearing aid, including a wireless communication; a power supply switch which switches between supply and block of power from the battery to the control means; and a magnetic switch connected to the control means, wherein: the control means proceed to a normal operation via a start-up process when power is supplied from the battery due to the power supply switch; and if the magnetic switch is on during the start-up process, the control means switches a wireless communication setting before proceeding to the normal operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhiko Hiruma, Kazuteru Nishiyama
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Patent number: 10598506Abstract: A method for providing binaural audio navigation with a set of earpieces including a left earpiece and a right earpiece is provided. The method includes obtaining a generalized position of a user of the set of the earpieces, obtaining a destination for the user of the set of the earpieces, sensing head orientation and movement with inertial sensors of the set of earpieces, applying a binaural synthesis algorithm using the generalized position, a destination, head orientation and movement to create a plurality of virtual sound sources, and transducing binaural audio based on the virtual sound sources at speakers within the set of the earpieces in order to provide binaural audio navigation to the user. The plurality of virtual sound sources may include a main virtual sound source providing a continuous audio cue. The plurality of virtual sources may include auditory landmark cues.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: BRAGI GmbHInventors: Maximilian Ilse, Peter Vincent Boesen
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Patent number: 10595135Abstract: A method for evaluating hearing of a user comprising: generating a baseline hearing profile for the user comprising a set of gain values based on a volume setting, each gain value in the set of gain values corresponding to a frequency band in a set of frequency bands; accessing a soundbite comprising a phrase characterized by a frequency spectrum predominantly within one frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a first gain in the frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a second gain in the frequency band; receiving a preference input representing a preference of the user from amongst the soundbite amplified by the first gain and the soundbite amplified by the second; and modifying a gain value, corresponding to the frequency band, in the baseline hearing profile based on the preference input to generate a refined hearing profile compensating for hearing deficiency of the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Concha Inc.Inventors: Amy Li, Matthew Sorg, David Northway
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Patent number: 10595140Abstract: An electronics frame for a hearing device serves to hold electronic components and has a contact carrier. The carrier in turn has a first line connector, a second line connector, and a third line connector. The three line connectors serve to electrically contact at least one of the electronic components with a first connection contact, a second connection contact which is at a potential that is different from the first connection contact, and with a third connection contact of a storage battery module which has a rechargeable battery. The contact carrier moreover has a first insertion slot for receiving a first contact arm which serves to electrically contact a contact of a two-pole battery. A kit for the hearing device contains, in addition to the hearing device with the electronics frame, the storage battery module and at least the first contact arm for subsequent mounting on the contact carrier.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Stefanie Beyfuss, Bjoern Freels, Anand Ganapathy, Holger Kral
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Patent number: 10587962Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a BTE-part adapted for being located behind an ear (ear) of a user, and comprising a) a multitude M of microphones, which—when located behind the ear of the user—are characterized by respective transfer functions, HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), representative of propagation of sound from sound sources S to the respective microphones b) a memory unit comprising complex, frequency dependent constants Wi(k)?, i=1, . . . , M, c) a beamformer filtering unit for providing a beamformed signal Y as a weighted combination of the microphone signals using said complex, frequency dependent constants The frequency dependent constants are determined to provide a resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k)=?i=1MWi(k)·HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), so that a difference between the resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k) and a transfer function HITE(?, ?, r, k) of a microphone located close to or in the ear canal fulfils a predefined criterion.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Andreas Thelander Bertelsen
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Patent number: 10587966Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for fitting a hearing device to needs and preferences of a user and/or for operating the hearing device. The method comprises determining whether a personal token of the user is located in proximity of the hearing device (10). The method further comprises enabling fitting of the hearing device to the needs and preferences of the user and/or enabling operating of the hearing device only if the personal token has been determined to be located in proximity of the hearing device, otherwise disabling fitting and/or operating of the hearing device (20). Furthermore, a corresponding fitting system and a set of associated hearing devices as well as a use of the latter are provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger
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Patent number: 10580427Abstract: A system comprises an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The ear-worn electronic device comprises a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store an annoying sound dictionary representative of a plurality of annoying sounds pre-identified by the wearer. A microphone is coupled to the processor and configured to monitor an acoustic environment of the wearer. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to identify different background noises present in the acoustic environment, determine which of the background noises correspond to one or more of the plurality of annoying sounds, and attenuate the one or more annoying sounds in an output signal provided to the speaker or receiver.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Ritwik Giri, Karim Helwani, Tao Zhang
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Patent number: 10582313Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) using a maximized hyper parameter. The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) adapted for carrying out such a method and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carry out the method. Additionally the invention provides a method of fitting such a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Jens Brehm Bagger Nielsen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Kristian Timm Andersen
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Patent number: 10582290Abstract: An earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, a digital signal processor disposed within the ear piece housing, and at least one microphone operatively connected to the digital signal processor. The earpiece is configured to receive audio from the at least one microphone and process the audio with the digital signal processor to determine if a user has performed a tap on the earpiece. The earpiece may further include a wireless transceiver disposed within the ear piece wherein the earpiece is configured to communicate data indicative of occurrence of the tap using the wireless transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: BRAGI GmbHInventors: Nikolaj Hviid, Michael Hlatky
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Patent number: 10582316Abstract: An ear-worn electronic device comprises a plurality of EEG sensors configured to sense EEG signals from or proximate a wearer's ear. At least one processor is configured to detect, during a baseline period of no wearer movement, EEG signals from the EEG sensors, and detect, during each of a plurality of candidate control movements by the wearer, EEG signals from the EEG sensors. The at least one processor is also configured to compute, using the EEG signals, discriminability metrics for the candidate control movements and the baseline period, the discriminability metrics indicating how discriminable neural signals associated with the candidate control movements and the baseline period are from one another. The at least one processor is further configured to select a subset of the candidate control movements using the discriminability metrics, each of the selected control movements defining a neural command for controlling the ear-worn electronic device by the wearer.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Lauren Petley, Swapan Gandhi, Simon Carlile, Sahar Akram
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Patent number: 10575102Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hearing aid apparatus including two hearing aids being signal-coupled by a wireless first communication link with a comparatively short range and by a wireless second communication link with a comparatively long range. Each hearing aid has an integrated motion sensor for capturing a fall of the respective hearing aid. A first signal level of the first communication link is monitored and compared to a stored first threshold in each hearing aid. A notification signal is transmitted from the first hearing aid over the second communication link when the motion sensor captures a fall and the first signal level reaches or drops below the first threshold. Upon reception of the notification signal, a perceivable first information signal is produced by the second hearing aid as a protection against loss. A hearing aid apparatus is also provided for carrying out the method.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.Inventor: Frank Naumann
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Patent number: 10560774Abstract: An audio headset that provides a “chat” mode to temporarily adjusts audio to preset levels to emphasize ambient sound, and includes a beamformer to provide directional speech isolation. The headset may include active noise cancellation and/or passive noise isolation. When entering chat mode, three or more relative audio levels are individually adjusted to presets, allowing the wearer to hear ambient noise and their own isolated voice, while attenuating other audio sources. This user-configurable combination of levels temporarily adjust the mix of signals that will be output to a wearer via the stereo headphone speakers.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: OV LOOP, INC.Inventors: William Wang Graylin, John Maddox
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Patent number: 10560787Abstract: The disclosure presents a method and an amplifier system for minimizing variation in an acoustical signal caused by variation in gain of an amplifier, comprising a battery for providing a supply voltage to the amplifier, a digital signal processor for providing the acoustical signal to the amplifier, a controller unit receiving an enablement signal when the supply voltage is in an offset mode, and based on the enablement signal requesting a measured voltage during a time period, and a first analog-to-digital converter configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier when receiving the request from the controller unit or the first analog-to-digital converter is configured for measuring the supply voltage to the amplifier continuously, and where variations in the measured voltage relates to variations in the supply voltage during the time period. Furthermore, the controller unit is configured to predict offset modes (i.e.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Vijay Kumar Bhat, Poul Henriksen, Alberto Escolar Piedras
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Patent number: 10554587Abstract: A method and wireless communication device use a first processing unit to perform a first communication event within a first communication window by use of a first communication protocol, a second processing unit to perform a second communication event within a second communication window by use of a second communication protocol, and a wireless communication unit connected to a radio-frequency antenna to transmit and/or receive a packet wirelessly. The first and second processing units may perform the first and second communication events via the wireless communication unit. The second processing unit or the wireless communication unit may transmit an event signal to the first processing unit when performing the second communication event or receiving a packet, respectively, to allow the first processing unit to arrange the first communication window (or first communication event) with respect to the second communication window (or second communication event) to minimize interference.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Franz Treue, Bjarne Klemmensen, Rune SØ
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Patent number: 10555068Abstract: Power consumption control of an active noise control headphone system that comprises headphones with at least one ear cup; at least one loudspeaker disposed in the at least one ear cup; at least one microphone disposed in or on the at least one ear cup that is configured to provide a microphone output signal representative of sound present in the ear cup; and at least one active noise control module that has at least two operating states and that is connected upstream of the at least one loudspeaker and downstream of the at least one microphone, wherein the microphone output signal at at least two different evaluation frequencies within the audible frequency range is evaluated to provide at least two evaluation output signals and the operating state of the at least one active noise control module is changed based on a comparison of the at least two evaluation output signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBHInventor: Markus Christoph
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Patent number: 10547940Abstract: A sound collection equipment is disclosed. The sound collection equipment includes a speaker, a microphone and a processing unit. The speaker is used for generating a test sound having a first frequency. The microphone is used for receiving an external sound. The processing unit is electronically connected to the microphone and the processing unit. The processing unit is used for determining whether a frequency range of the external sound includes the first frequency and whether the energy of the external sound exceeds a predetermined energy value, and for judging that the sound collection equipment is in a usage state when the frequency range of the external sound includes the first frequency and the energy of the external sound does not exceed the predetermined energy value.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: UNLIMITER MFA CO., LTD.Inventors: Ho-Hsin Liao, Kuan-Li Chao, Neo Bob Chih-Yung Young, Kuo-Ping Yang, Jian-Ying Li, Po-Jui Wu
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Patent number: 10542354Abstract: A hearing device includes: an input module for provision of a first input signal, the input module comprising a first microphone; a processor for provision of a processor output signal based on the first input signal; a suppressor for provision of a first suppressor output signal based on one or more suppressor input signals including a first suppressor input signal; a first adder coupled to the suppressor, the first adder configured for provision of a first adder output signal based on at least a part of the processor output signal and the first suppressor output signal; and a receiver for converting an output signal based on the first adder output signal to an audio output signal; wherein the suppressor is configured to apply a first delay and a first filter with a first gain to at least a part of the first suppressor input signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: GN Hearing A/SInventors: Andreas Tiefenau, Jonathan Boley, Changxue Ma
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Patent number: 10536785Abstract: A method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal. The method comprises obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method may comprise obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method comprises determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal. The method may comprise combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. The method comprises providing the output beamform signal for further processing including hearing loss compensation.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Gn Hearing A/SInventors: Changxue Ma, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner