Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for modifying an audio signal using custom psychoacoustic methods, for encoding the audio signal. A user's hearing profile is first obtained. Subsequently, a sample of the audio signal is split into frequency components. Next, masking and hearing thresholds are obtained from the user's hearing profile and applied to the frequency components of the audio sample, wherein the user's perceived data is calculated. User's imperceptible audio signal data is then disregarded. The audio sample is quantized and the resulting transformed audio sample encoded.

Abstract: A hearing aid configuration managing system for configuring at least one hearing aid having a wireless connection to the Internet via a gateway. The hearing aid includes a processor controlling its configuration, and a memory containing configuration settings for customizing the configuration of the hearing aid. The remote server manages user accounts for multiple hearing aid users, including managing the configuration of the hearing aid, and creates a service level status change event for the account upon change of the service level status to a new configuration of the hearing aid. The remote server sends a configuration change instruction to the hearing aid via the gateway upon the occurrence of the service level status change event. The hearing aid processor stores new configuration settings in the hearing aid memory upon reception of the configuration change instruction, and changes the hearing aid to the new configuration.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for insertion of a deep-in-the-canal hearing aid—alternatively designatable as extended wear hearing aid—into an ear canal of an individual user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof. The insertion device comprises a customized support comprising an outer profile conforming to the shapes of at least a portion of a conchal cavity and of an ear canal of said individual user; and a guide channel, disposed internal to said outer profile, extending between a lateral entry opening thereof, for loading said hearing aid; and a medial exit opening thereof, for releasing said hearing aid into said ear canal. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insertion device for inserting a hearing aid deep into an ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.

Abstract: A new binaural hearing aid system is provided with a hearing aid in which signals that are received from external devices, such as a spouse microphone, a media player, a hearing loop system, a teleconference system, a radio, a TV, a telephone, a device with an alarm, etc., are filtered with binaural filters in such a way that a user perceives the signals to be emitted by respective sound sources positioned in different spatial positions in the sound environment of the user, whereby improved spatial separation of the different sound sources is facilitated.

Abstract: A hearing instrument includes: a first portion shaped and sized for placement at a pinna of a user's ear; and a second portion having an earpiece for placement in the user's ear canal; wherein the second portion also comprises a connector assembly configured for electrically coupling to the first portion, the connector assembly having a plurality of connector wires, the plurality of connector wires comprising a first connector wire; wherein the second portion also comprises a receiver or miniature loudspeaker for receipt of an audio drive signal through at least the first connector wire; and wherein the second portion also comprises a non-volatile memory circuit having a data interface configured for receipt and transmittal of module data, the non-volatile memory circuit configured to store the module data, wherein the stored module data at least comprises electroacoustic calibration parameter(s) of the receiver or the miniature loudspeaker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method, performed at a hearing device, for updating a hearing device configuration at the hearing device of a hearing system. The hearing system comprises the hearing device, a fitting device configured to be controlled by a dispenser and a server device. The method comprises receiving a configuration package and a configuration authentication package, the configuration authentication package comprising a dispenser certificate. The method comprises determining if an update criterion is fulfilled. The update criterion is based on verifying the configuration authentication package. The method comprises updating the hearing device configuration based on the configuration package if the update criterion is fulfilled.

Abstract: A method of operating a personal audio device configured to be removed from and inserted into a user's ear can include generating an input signal by an input signal generating device. The method can also include determining whether an insertion event has occurred based on the generated input signal and causing the personal audio device to operate in a low power mode responsive to an absence of an insertion event determination after a first period of time. The method can also include causing the personal audio device to operate in an ultra-low power mode responsive to the absence of an insertion event determination after a second period of time that occurs after the first period of time, the ultra-low power mode having a lower power consumption than the low power mode.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method to integrate audiogram data into a device may include obtaining audiogram data including a first amplification value for each of multiple first frequencies. In some embodiments, the first amplification values may be configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user. The method may also include translating the audiogram data to amplification settings for multiple audio frequencies. A number of the multiple audio frequencies may be less than a number of the multiple first frequencies. The method may further include associating the amplification settings with a user profile of the user in a transcription system and directing the amplification settings from the transcription system to a device associated with the user profile. The method may also include applying the amplification settings to audio output by the device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of method, system and devices to convert whispered speech to normal speech intelligently through deep learning, therefore whispered speech can be more robust to interference and more intelligible to listener. A first audio signal is received including first whispered speech; a first plurality of computations are performed on the first audio signal to extract a first features; the first features are provided as input to a trained deep neural network (DNN) model to obtain output of the DNN model comprising a second features; and an inverse of the first plurality of computations are performed on the second features to produce a second audio signal corresponding to a non-whispered version of the first whispered speech.

Abstract: A hearing device includes: a sound analyser configure to receive a sound signal and determine a contribution of at least one sound source associated with the sound signal; a difference estimator coupled to the sound analyser, and configured to estimate spatial cue information of the at least one sound source for storage in the hearing device; and a communication device configured to receive from a second hearing device information related to the at least one sound source; wherein the difference estimator is configured to update the stored spatial cue information of the at least one sound source based on the information received by the communication device.

Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid for a user. A neuronal signal of the user is measured in the method and a listening effort of the user is determined therefrom. Both an intensity of the listening effort and a hearing direction are determined from the neuronal signal. The intensity and the hearing direction form a hearing vector. A mode of operation of the hearing aid is adapted or set depending on the hearing direction, for the purposes of reducing the intensity of the listening effort.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting whether a headset is on ear. A probe signal is generated for acoustic playback from a speaker. A microphone signal from a microphone is received, the microphone signal comprising at least a portion of the probe signal as received at the microphone. The microphone signal is passed to a state estimator, to produce an estimate of at least one parameter of the portion of the probe signal contained in the microphone signal. The estimate of the at least one parameter is processed to determine whether the headset is on ear.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of managing adaptive feedback cancellation in a hearing device comprising at least a microphone (1); a receiver (2); and a signal processing circuitry, configured to receive from said microphone (1) an input signal (Xtd, Xfd, Xc) and to provide said receiver (2) with an output signal (Yfd, Ufd, Utd). An external acoustic feedback path (300) defined by feedback sound (fb) traveling from the receiver (2) to the microphone (1) is represented by an external feedback path transfer function (3). The signal processing unit comprises at least a gain unit (4); a feedback canceller unit (5) comprising an adaptive filter element (6) configured to adaptively accommodate changes in said external acoustic feedback path transfer function (3); and a frequency shift unit (7) configured to stabilize an adaptation of the feedback canceler unit (5).

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include methods, apparatus and computer programs for detecting the proximity of an ear to an audio device. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a system for detecting the presence of an ear in proximity to an audio device. The system comprises: an input for obtaining a data signal from the environment of the audio device; and an ear biometric authentication module configured to: compare one or more ear biometric features, extracted from the data signal, to an ear biometric template; and generate a first output indicative of the presence or absence of any ear in proximity to the audio device based on the comparison of the one or more extracted ear biometric features to the ear biometric template.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting data ultrasonically through biological tissue employs a network of a plurality of nodes, at least a portion of the nodes implantable within the biological tissue. At least one implanted node includes a transmitter having an orthogonal frequency division multiplex signal generator to encode an ultrasonic signal for transmission through the biological tissue to an ultrasonic receiver at another node.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device and in particular to hearing device and related method for configuration or operation of a hearing device. Disclosed is a hearing device comprising a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device, a memory, and an interface. The processing unit/hearing device may be configured to receive a mode request via the interface; authenticate the mode request; and place the hearing device into the requested mode if authentication of the mode request succeeds.

Abstract: A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; a memory unit; and an interface; wherein the memory unit has a hearing device certificate stored therein, the hearing device certificate comprising: a hearing device identifier, a plurality of hearing device keys, at least one hearing device key identifier indicative of one of the hearing device keys.

Abstract: A method of securing communication for a user application on a user accessory device of a hearing system comprising a hearing device is disclosed. Securing communication for the user application comprises obtaining challenge data in a server device; transmitting the challenge data from the server device to the user application; transmitting a challenge request comprising the challenge data from the user application to the hearing device; receiving a challenge response comprising response data from the hearing device; forwarding the response data from the user application to the server device; verifying the response data in the server device based on the challenge data; and approving the user application in the server device if verifying the response data is successful.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a network camera includes a determination unit configured to determine an overlapping state of a cursor with each of a slider bar and a slider thumb, which configure a slider control, on a display screen of a display unit, a decision unit configured to decide information that relates to the slider control and is to be displayed on the display unit, based on a condition corresponding to a result of the determination by the determination unit, a display control unit configured to display the information decided by the decision unit on the display unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the network camera, a control signal that corresponds to a position of the slider thumb and is changed in response to input of an instruction by a user.

Abstract: A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first location to decrease occlusion and a second location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.

Abstract: There is provided a system for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising: a table microphone unit (10) for capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice, comprising a microphone arrangement (16) comprising at least three microphones (M1, M2, M3) arranged in a non-linear manner, a beamformer unit (48) comprising a plurality of beamformers (BF1, BF2, . . . ), wherein each beamformer is configured to generate an acoustic beam (B1, B2, . . .

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.