Programming Interface Circuitry Patents (Class 381/314)
  • Patent number: 11924374
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Deborah M. Manchester
  • Patent number: 11904166
    Abstract: Examples relate to systems and methods for providing settings adjustments to auditory prostheses. One or more settings adjustments can be provided to an auditory device in response to a request for the adjustments or a notification that the recipient is experiencing poor quality. The technologies disclosed herein can dynamically adapt based upon information received from a set of auditory prostheses. The information received from the set of auditory prostheses can be used to update the settings adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 11889273
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for configuring a hearing device. The system includes an audiogram processing component arranged to process image data indicative of an image of an audiogram associated with a person so as to produce audiogram data indicative of the audiogram, and a hearing device configuration component arranged to produce hearing device configuration data based on the audiogram data. The configuration data is indicative of configuration settings for a hearing device that will cause the hearing device to assist the hearing of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NUHEARA IP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Clint Mathurine, Andrew Victor Cammell, Gregory Paul Breen, Peng Jiang, David Ronald Ward, Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 11877123
    Abstract: Presented herein are audio training techniques that facilitate the rehabilitation of a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. In certain embodiments, the audio training techniques presented herein may include real time training aspects in which the recipient's surrounding (ambient) auditory environment, including the sounds present therein, is analyzed in real time. The recipient can then be provided with a real time identity (e.g., audible or visible representation/description) of the sounds present in the auditory environment. The identity of the sounds can be provided to the recipient automatically and/or in response to recipient queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Alexander von Brasch, Stephen Fung, Kartik Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11849283
    Abstract: A method and system or device such as a hearing aid are provided for processing audio signals. In accordance with the method, an audio signal is received and divided into a plurality of frequency sub-bands. For each of the frequency sub-band signals, the signal is further divided into overlapping temporal frames. Each of the temporal frames are windowed. Frequency warping is performed on each of the windowed frames. Overlap-and-add is performed on the frequency warped frames. The frequency warped sub-bands are combined into a full band to provide a frequency warped signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Harinath Garudadri, Ching-Hua Lee, Kuan-Lin Chen, Fred Harris, Bhaskar Rao
  • Patent number: 11832062
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a non-programmable user input device that is not programmable by a user nor by an audiologist, control circuitry configured to receive an activation signal from the non-programmable user input device, one or more microphones, neural network circuitry configured to denoise audio signals received by the one or more microphones, and communication circuitry. The hearing aid is configured to detect, using the control circuitry, user activation of the non-programmable user input device on the hearing aid; control, using the control circuitry and based on detecting the activation of the non-programmable user input device on the hearing aid, switching between enabling and disabling the neural network circuitry; and transmit, using the communication circuitry, an indication of the enabling or disabling of the neural network circuitry to a processing device in operative communication with the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CHROMATIC INC.
    Inventors: Matthew de Jonge, Igor Lovchinsky
  • Patent number: 11825268
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Alex Von Brasch, Stephen Fung, Kieran Reed
  • Patent number: 11818544
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tracking of acoustic feedback events of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Information about the acoustic feedback events is stored for analysis. Such information is useful for programming acoustic feedback cancellers and other parameters of a hearing assistance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Harikrishna P. Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11809775
    Abstract: Various implementations include conversation assistance audio devices with settings that are adjustable based upon user feedback. In some cases, a computer-implemented method of personalizing a conversation assistance audio device includes: receiving a command from a user for assistance with audio settings in the conversation assistance audio device; applying a baseline set of audio settings to the conversation assistance audio device in response to receiving the user command for assistance; receiving a user command to change the baseline set of audio settings; and applying a modified set of audio settings to the conversation assistance audio device in response to receiving the user command to change the baseline set of audio settings, wherein the modified set of audio settings are applied based upon usage of the conversation assistance audio device and a population model of usage of similar conversation assistance audio devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Todd Sabin, Jahn Dmitri Eichfeld, Benjamin Davis Parker
  • Patent number: 11800300
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is a part of the hearing device that is configured to provide sound for reception by a user of the hearing device; and a memory unit, wherein the memory unit is configured to store data that is associated with the hearing device; wherein the hearing device is configured to communicate with an electronic device; wherein the processing unit is configured to: obtain information from the electronic device, the information associated with a verification performed based on the data, and allow the hearing device to be set based on the information from the electronic device; and wherein the data comprises a hearing device identifier, and wherein the verification is based on the hearing device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 11800302
    Abstract: A method for transmitting information relating to a hearing device, in particular a hearing aid, to an external device. The hearing device is thereby placed in an immediate environment of the external device and the hearing device broadcasts a generally receivable, unencrypted first information item containing metadata about the hearing device and/or access data. The unencrypted first information item is received by the external device. The external device changes its operating mode directly or indirectly as a result of the first information item and continues to be operated with the modified operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Niklas Harlander, Christoph Lueken, Richard Schultz-Amling, Christoph Kukla
  • Patent number: 11758341
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing device comprises: generating an audio stream with a microphone of the hearing device; processing the audio stream with a sound processor of the hearing device thus providing a processed audio stream and outputting the processed audio stream to a user of the hearing device; detecting a hearing situation with a hearing situation detector, wherein the hearing situation is associated with a configurable sound processing parameter adjustable by the user of the hearing device; when the hearing situation is detected, providing a user interface to the user of the hearing device for adjusting the configurable sound processing parameter; and, when the user has adjusted the configurable sound processing parameter, applying the configurable sound processing parameter to the sound processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Martina Schuepbach-Wolf
  • Patent number: 11722827
    Abstract: A hearing device and a method for power supply management of a hearing device is provided, the hearing device comprising a processing unit; a main power source; a first power supply connected to the main power source unit; a magnetic induction unit configured for reception and transmission of wireless signals; wherein the hearing device is configured to deactivate the first power supply during reception of wireless signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Kim Fälling Andersen
  • Patent number: 11711651
    Abstract: A bidirectional channel control system, method, device, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium based on Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications is provided. The system comprises a transmitter, at least one receiver, an audio channel, and a text message control channel. The transmitter is configured to send an audio data stream to the at least one receiver through the audio channel. The transmitter is configured to send a control command to the one receiver through the text message control channel in a one-to-one single-point text message mode, and to receive a feedback result from the one receiver in response to the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: HANSONG (NANJING) TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Chen, Xunfu Yin, Zhipeng Wang, Fanjie Yuan
  • Patent number: 11706559
    Abstract: A sound attenuating apparatus may include a replaceable sound attenuating device and an electronic receiver configured to mate with the replaceable sound attenuating device. The replaceable sound attenuating device may include a sound attenuating material having an embedded sensor element. The sensor element may have a property that corresponds to a type of replaceable sound attenuating device. The electronic receiver may detect the property of the sensor element. A computing device may determine the type of the replaceable sound attenuating device from the property of the sensor element and perform one or more operations based on the type of replaceable sound attenuating device, including audio control, safety warnings, personal attenuation rating determinations, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Henry, Cameron J. Fackler
  • Patent number: 11689870
    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 processing unit is configured to obtain one or more security settings via the interface, the one or more security settings comprising a hearing device key identifier, verify the one or more security settings, and update the hearing device based on the one or more security settings if the one or more security settings are verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 11689865
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Flemming Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11684516
    Abstract: Hearing protection and communication apparatus using vibration sensors are disclosed. An example wearable electronic device includes means for transducing vibrations associated with speech into a first signal; means for transducing sound associated with ambient noise into a second signal; and means for processing to cause a speaker to output a signal to reduce the ambient noise; detect an identifier in the speech; and cause audio data representative of the speech to be transmitted to a second device associated with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Willem M. Beltman, Hector A. Cordourier Maruri, Paulo Lopez Meyer, Jonathan Huang
  • Patent number: 11671770
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing an audio signal are provided for server-mediated sound personalization on a plurality of consumer devices. A user hearing test is conducted on one of a plurality of audio output devices. Next, the hearing data of the user's hearing test is outputted to a server and stored on the server's database along with a unique user identifier. Next, a set of DSP parameters for a sound personalization algorithm are calculated from the user's hearing data. The DSP parameter set is then outputted to one of a plurality of audio output devices when the user logs in with their unique identifier on an application on the audio output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Mimi Hearing Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Clark, Michael Hirsch
  • Patent number: 11669153
    Abstract: A sensor which detects voluntary movements of ear structures, including the ear drum complex, which triggers user interfaces of electronic devices to enable communication and other activities by interaction with assistive technology. The method of detecting this voluntary movement may also be used to trigger and control user interfaces in connected devices such as mobile telephones and incorporated into multi-function earphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas Gompertz
  • Patent number: 11653155
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Concha Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Li, Matthew Sorg, David Northway
  • Patent number: 11651238
    Abstract: An earpiece in embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following features: (a) an earpiece housing, (b) at least one speaker, (c) a plurality of sensors disposed within the earpiece housing, and (d) a processor disposed within the earpiece housing and operatively connected to the plurality of sensors and the at least one speaker, wherein the processor is configured to use an artificial intelligence framework to evaluate sensor input from the plurality of sensors to provide advice to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BRAGI GMBH
    Inventors: Darko Dragicevic, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 11638080
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device assembly comprising a behind-the-ear base unit and an in-the-ear transducer module, which communicate via a communication interface and wherein the base unit is configured to detect whether the transducer module comprises a microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Flemming Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11622187
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured to detect tapping based on input from at least two sensors of the hearing device. The tapping can relate to a tapping gesture that includes a single tap or double tapping. In response to the single or double tap, the hearing device can perform an operation to modify the device (e.g., change the mode, change, or modify a setting, provide a sound, or perform a task). The first sensor can be an accelerometer configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device and the second sensor can include a photodiode to detect a change in distance between the hearing device and the ear with the hearing device. The disclosed technology can be implemented in a method and comprises a computer-readable medium storing instructions to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Anne Thielen
  • Patent number: 11596868
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to modify sound produced by a gaming application according to an otological profile of a user. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: STEELSERIES ApS
    Inventors: Jacob Wolff-Petersen, Tino Soelberg, Ed Guntin
  • Patent number: 11601765
    Abstract: For the fitting of a hearing instrument, an audio signal of an ambient sound, recorded by way of an input transducer, is modified according to a multiplicity of signal processing parameters. Via a first classifier, a user of the hearing instrument is offered a plurality of problem descriptions for the user to select. By way of a second classifier, a proposed solution for modified values of the signal processing parameters is determined based on the user's selection of one of the offered problem descriptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Stefan Petrausch, Erik Harry Hoydal
  • Patent number: 11589170
    Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a method and a hearing aid system comprising; a microphone unit configured to receive an acoustical input and provide an audio signal based on the acoustical input, and wherein the audio signal includes a sound pressure level; a storing unit including a normal hearing loudness model, a loudness scheme, a stimulation model and a coding parameter model; a sound output unit configured to stimulate auditory nerve fibers of a recipient of the hearing aid system based on audible stimulations; a processing unit configured to; extract a normal hearing loudness based on the sound pressure level and the normal hearing loudness model, and the normal hearing loudness model includes a plurality of normal hearing loudness as a function of a plurality of sound pressure levels; transform the normal hearing loudness to a secondary hearing loudness according to a loudness scheme; determine a stimulation level within a dynamic range of a recipient of the hearing aid system based on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventors: Bradford Backus, Pierre Stahl
  • Patent number: 11570553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sound enhancement are provided in this invention. The method comprises: obtaining sound signals and converting the sound signals into digital signals; decomposing the digital signals to obtain a plurality of IMFs or pseudo-IMFs; selectively amplifying the amplitudes of the IMFs and pseudo-IMFs; reconstituting the selectively amplified IMFs or pseudo-IMFs to obtain reconstituted signals and converting the reconstituted signals into analog signals. The present invention is based on the Hilbert-Huang transform. Through the present invention, the sound can be selectively amplified, and only the high-frequency consonants in the sound are amplified without vowel, which effectively improves the clarity of the enhanced sound. The present invention overcomes the problems in the current sound enhancement method which makes the sound louder without increasing the clarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Jiangsu aidiSciTech Reseach Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norden Eh Huang, Jia-Rong Yeh
  • Patent number: 11558702
    Abstract: A method for fitting a hearing device comprises: receiving an audio signal in the hearing device; providing a user interface for inputting at least one modifier value into the fitting device, the modifier value indicating, how a sound property of the audio signal should be modified by the hearing device; processing the audio signal with a sound processor of the hearing device in dependence of the at least one modifier value, thus providing a processed audio signal; outputting the processed audio signal to a user of the hearing device; determining an modifier effectiveness value based on the audio signal, the modifier effectiveness value indicating how much a change of the at least one modifier value results in a perceptible change of the processed audio signal output to the user; and restricting the inputting of the at least modifier value in dependence of the modifier effectiveness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nicola Hildebrand, Volker Kuehnel, Michael Boretzki
  • Patent number: 11558699
    Abstract: A hearing device component (6) comprises a sensor-unit (8) for receiving an audio-signal (AS), a separation device (9) for separating part-signals (PSi) from the audio-signal (AS), a classification device (10) for classifying the part-signals (PSi) separated from the audio-signals (AS), and a modulation device (11) for modulating the part-signals (PSi), wherein the classification device (10) is communicatively coupled to the modulation device (11) and wherein the modulation device (11) is designed to enable a concurrent modulation of different part-signals (PSi) with different modulation-functions depending on their classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Durrieu
  • Patent number: 11526707
    Abstract: One or more computer processors creating a plurality of k-hop neighborhood contextual subgraphs utilizing extracted labelled nodes from an input graph; compute an eigenvector centrality score for each node contained in each created subgraph in the plurality of k-hop neighborhood contextual subgraphs; propagate a label for each node in each subgraph in the plurality of k-hop neighborhood contextual subgraphs leveraging an aggregated mathematical decay function, preserving a topical context of the label; calculate an attributable prestige vector for each node in each subgraph in the plurality of k-hop neighborhood contextual subgraphs based on the propagated label and the computed eigenvector centrality score associated with each node in each subgraph in the plurality of k-hop neighborhood contextual subgraph; and unsupervised predict a subsequent label for one or more subsequent nodes, subgraphs, or graphs utilizing the calculated attributable prestige vectors for each node in each subgraph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mandar Mutalikdesai, Sheetal Srivastava, Kartikeya Vats, Debasish Kanhar
  • Patent number: 11528569
    Abstract: A method for transmitting information for adapting a hearing aid, in which an inquiry with regard to information of a partial process of the adaptation and/or a partial process of an operation of the hearing aid is transmitted by a first participant to a networked computer infrastructure. The inquiry is checked for conformity by the networked computer infrastructure with a plurality of stored partial process instructions. In the event that conformity with the inquiry is ascertained the corresponding partial process instruction is output to the first participant. In the event that no conformity of one of the stored partial process instructions with the inquiry is ascertained, the inquiry is output to a second participant, a partial process instruction corresponding to the inquiry is created with the co-operation of the second participant, and the partial process instruction corresponding to the inquiry is output to the first participant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SIVANTOS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Sanjay Kumar Rudrawal, Balakrishnan Athmanathan, Stefan Aschoff
  • Patent number: 11503421
    Abstract: In various applications, the system provides a method for processing audio signals, including: receiving a request for audio content; receiving an identifier encoded in a personal audio device comprising a transducer for playing audio; retrieving at least one parameter associated with the identifier; and processing the audio content using at least the request, the identifier and the at least one parameter, wherein the processing is customized for the personal audio device based on the at least one parameter associated with the identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: DM-DSP, LLC
    Inventor: George William Daly
  • Patent number: 11493714
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein relate to devices that each include one or more photonic integrated circuits and/or one or more electronic integrated circuits. In one embodiment, a device includes a silicon substrate, a die stack bonded (e.g., fusion-bonded) on the silicon substrate, and a printed circuit board (PCB) bonded on the silicon substrate, where the PCB is electrically coupled to the die stack. The die stack includes a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that includes a photonic integrated circuit, and an electronic integrated circuit (EIC) die that includes an electronic integrated circuit, where the EIC die and the PIC die are bonded face-to-face (e.g., by fusion bonding or hybrid bonding) such that the photonic integrated circuit and the electronic integrated circuit face each other. In some embodiments, the device also includes a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the photonic integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PSIQUANTUM, CORP.
    Inventors: Gabriel J. Mendoza, Matteo Staffaroni, Albert Wang, John Eugene Berg, Ramakanth Alapati
  • Patent number: 11483663
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a) at least one input unit for providing a time-frequency representation Y(k,n) of an electric input signal representing sound consisting of target speech and noise signal components, where k and n are frequency band and time frame indices, respectively, b) a noise reduction system configured to b1) determine an a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate ?(k,n) of the electric input signal, and to b2) determine an a priori signal to noise signal ratio estimate ?(k,n) of the electric input signal from the a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate ?(k,n) based on a recursive algorithm providing non-linear smoothing. The a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate of said electric input signal is provided as a mixture of first and second different a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimates. The invention may be used in audio processing devices, such as hearing aids, headsets, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Andreas Thelander Bertelsen, Michael Syskind Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11470439
    Abstract: A headset generates an acoustic map that is a visual representation of sound pressure of sound within a local area. The acoustic map is displayed as a virtual object that is overlaid onto visual content being presented by the headset. Sound is adjusted in accordance with a command. The acoustic map is updated based on the adjusted sound, and the adjusted sound is presented and the updated acoustic map is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Antonio John Miller, Vladimir Tourbabin
  • Patent number: 11463818
    Abstract: A hearing system assists the hearing of a user and has a hearing instrument worn in or on the ear of the user. In operation, a sound signal from surroundings of the hearing instrument is received by an input transducer and modified in a signal processing step. The modified sound signal is output by an output transducer. A first signal component and a second signal component are derived from the received sound signal, wherein these signal components chronologically overlap. In the first signal component, the ego voice of the user is emphasized over the ambient noise, while in the second signal component, the ambient noise is emphasized over the ego voice of the user. The first signal component and the second signal component are processed in different ways in the signal processing step and combined after this processing to generate the modified sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Sebastian Best
  • Patent number: 11445313
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for configuring a hearing device. The system comprises an audiogram processing component arranged to process image data indicative of an image of an audiogram associated with a person so as to produce audiogram data indicative of the audiogram, and a hearing device configuration component arranged to produce hearing device configuration data based on the audiogram data. The configuration data is indicative of configuration settings for a hearing device that will cause the hearing device to assist the hearing of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NUHEARA IP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Clint Mathurine, Andrew Victor Cammell, Gregory Paul Breen, Peng Jiang, David Ronald Ward, Alan Davis
  • Patent number: 11432746
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method comprising running a monitoring agent on a connected electronic device, and determining, via the monitoring agent, a level of hearing impairment of an individual user associated with the connected electronic device. The method further comprises, in response to determining the individual user has some level of hearing impairment, selecting a notification mechanism suitable for notifying the individual user based on the level of hearing impairment, and invoking the monitoring agent to notify the individual user of an event in accordance with the notification mechanism selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raphael I. Arar, Chris Kau, Jonathan D. Dunne
  • Patent number: 11438715
    Abstract: An operating system is provided for a hearing aid through which the hearing aid can be controlled to enhance the operation of the hearing aid. The operating system can be associated with a Smart Phone that connects with the hearing aid through Bluetooth technology. The control system can enhance desired frequencies of sound, corresponding to selections made by the individual wearing the hearing aid to better hear certain desired sounds. The control system can simply amplify sounds falling into the selected frequency ranges to distinguish those desired sounds above sounds falling into other frequencies. Optionally, the control system could at least partially block, filter or cancel the sounds falling outside the selected frequency ranges to further distinguish the sounds of the selected frequency over the sounds of the non-selected frequencies. The control system can be used to control undesirable sounds for people with ASD or TBI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Marley C. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11432078
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are method, system, and computer program product embodiments for performing the continuous tuning of received audio input from an earpiece or microphone especially customized for karaoke singing, wherein the audio input may be mixed with user-selected song input, and the joint mixed input is independently altered in the frequency domain for output to an earpiece worn by a user as well as separately for an additional audio output to an external connected speaker, for an optimal karaoke experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Listen and Be Heard LLC
    Inventor: Narendar Bahadur Sahgal
  • Patent number: 11432077
    Abstract: A method transmits a hearing aid setting data set from a first hearing aid to a second hearing aid. By use of an Internet-capable third device, a translation instruction for translating hearing aid setting data contained in the hearing aid setting data set from a platform of the first hearing aid to a platform of the second hearing aid is retrieved from a database. The translation instruction is transmitted to the first or the second hearing aid or to a local fourth device. By the Internet-capable third device, an instruction for transmitting the hearing aid setting data set is output and the hearing aid setting data set is transmitted locally and while bypassing the Internet or a computer network from the first to the second hearing aid. The hearing aid setting data contained in the hearing aid setting data set are translated in the first or the second hearing aid or in the fourth device without access to the Internet or the computer network to the platform of the second hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Umut Goekay
  • Patent number: 11399242
    Abstract: A hearing aid (10, 11) has a memory (123) for storing personal settings for alleviating a hearing loss for the hearing aid user. A user account is created from an Internet enabled computer device (17) on a remote server (25), and the user account includes the personal settings for alleviating a hearing loss for the hearing aid user and personal information. A wireless connection is set up between the hearing aid (10, 11) and the personal communication device (13), and the personal communication device (13) is identified as a gateway to the Internet for said hearing aid. The user grants access rights to a third party to modify data in a sub-set of the user account stored on the server (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Soren Erik Westermann, Svend Vitting Andersen, Anders Westergaard, Niels Erik Boelskift Maretti
  • Patent number: 11395054
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a speaker module comprising a module middle housing and a module upper housing disposed on the module middle housing, the module upper housing is provided thereon with an injection-molded steel sheet and the module middle housing is provided thereon with an in-built static-electricity-removing structure; the static-electricity-removing structure comprises a conductive plastic member and a metal insert connected with the conductive plastic member, the metal insert being injection molded in the module middle housing; the conductive plastic member is fixed on the module middle housing by means of secondary injection molding, and is configured for conduction with an external device; and the metal insert is connected with the injection-molded steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenjun Li, Chengwei Li
  • Patent number: 11395075
    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 processing unit is configured to obtain one or more security settings via the interface, the one or more security settings comprising a hearing device key identifier, verify the one or more security settings, and update the hearing device based on the one or more security settings if the one or more security settings are verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 11388527
    Abstract: A hearing aid system includes a hearing aid with a rechargeable battery and a first data memory for storing operating data, and a charging station with a nonvolatile second data memory. The charging station charges the battery of the hearing aid at least intermittently while the hearing aid is arranged in a charging position. The hearing aid transmits operating data from the first data memory to the charging station when the hearing aid is arranged in a transmission position. The charging station stores operating data transmitted from the hearing aid in the second data memory, and the charging station transmits operating data stored in the second data memory to the hearing aid. A computer unit of the hearing aid adjusts at least one parameter relating to signal processing of the hearing aid based on the operating data transmitted from the charging station to the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Lars Johan Clad, Umut Goekay
  • Patent number: 11381924
    Abstract: A system, method, hearing aid and software for providing a network connection for a computer device to at least one hearing aid having a gateway to the Internet. The system includes a user account server providing a user account database, each user account includes a unique identity for an associated hearing aid; a control server providing a hearing aid connection register including the unique identity of hearing aids associated with current connection information; and a network connection handling element for detecting the presence of a wireless connection between the hearing a and gateway, and for uploading current connection information to the control server. On receiving connection information, the control server updates the hearing aid connection register, and provides the current connection information to a requesting computer device. The computer device can establish a direct connection to the hearing aid based on current connection information requested from the control server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Soren Erik Westermann, Svend Vitting Andersen, Anders Westergaard, Niels Erik Boelskift Maretti
  • Patent number: 11375325
    Abstract: A hearing device has a signal processor which has an adjustable parameter that has a given setting at a given time. The parameter is set depending on the situation by selecting a setting, depending on an environmental situation and by a learning machine. A current setting of the parameter can be rated by feedback from a user. In a first training procedure the learning machine is passively trained by negative feedback signals, by rating feedback from the user as dissatisfaction with the current setting and by assuming the user's satisfaction with the current setting as long as no feedback is given. In a second training procedure the learning machine is trained by changing the current setting independently of the feedback from the user and in spite of an assumed satisfaction with the current setting, so that the user is offered a different setting which can then be rated by feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthias Froehlich, Gerard Loosschilder
  • Patent number: 11375323
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is a part of the hearing device that is configured to provide sound for reception by a user of the hearing device; and a memory unit, wherein the memory unit is configured to store data that is associated with the hearing device; wherein the hearing device is configured to communicate with an electronic device; wherein the processing unit is configured to: obtain information from the electronic device, the information associated with a verification performed based on the data, and allow the hearing device to be set based on the information from the electronic device; and wherein the data comprises a hearing device identifier, and wherein the verification is based on the hearing device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Allan Munk Vendelbo
  • Patent number: 11337861
    Abstract: The present application relates to a battery-powered electronic device, such as an electronic hearing protector, with switchable electrical contacts. The device includes a housing enclosing the battery and an electronics assembly. The electronics assembly is powered by the battery, and the electronics assembly comprises a processor controlled by updatable software. The device further includes a first electrical contact that is a ground line; a second electrical contact that is a data programming line in a first state, and that is a charging voltage line in a second state; and a third electrical contact that is a clock line in a first state, and that is a charge enable line in the second state. The first, second and third electrical contacts are accessible from outside the housing. A switch enclosed by the housing changes the second electrical contact between the first state and the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: David L. Albean