Noise Compensation Circuit Patents (Class 381/317)
  • Patent number: 11910162
    Abstract: A method for processing an input audio signal includes using a first analytical filter bank to divide the input audio signal in a first frequency splitting process into a plurality of first frequency bands. The first frequency bands of a first subgroup are divided in a further frequency splitting process by a further analytical filter bank into a plurality of frequency subbands. The divided input audio signal is frequency-selectively processed or amplified. The divided and processed input audio signal is then combined again into an output audio signal. A prediction is applied to the first frequency bands of the first subgroup and/or the frequency subbands derived therefrom, to compensate for latency differences between the first frequency bands and the frequency subbands as a result of the or each further frequency splitting process. A device or hearing aid for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Henning Puder
  • Patent number: 11871187
    Abstract: A method includes: generating a hearing profile for a user; accessing a set of hearing-assistance device options, each hearing-assistance device option defining a form factor of a hearing-assistance device, in a set of hearing-assistance devices; accessing an image of an ear of the user; detecting a set of constraining dimensions in the image of the ear of the user; identifying a subset of hearing-assistance device options, in the set of hearing-assistance device options, defining form factors conforming to the set of constraining dimensions; accessing a set of preferences of the user; ranking the subset of hearing-assistance device options based on the set of preferences; selecting a first hearing-assistance device option, from the subset of hearing-assistance device options, corresponding to a highest rank in the subset of hearing-assistance device options; and configuring a first hearing-assistance device represented by the first hearing-assistance device option with the hearing profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Concha Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Li, Matthew Sorg
  • Patent number: 11863936
    Abstract: A method includes determining a first feature of a first audio signal at a first location in a signal processing path and determining, using the first feature, a first environmental classification of the first signal. Further, the method includes, based on the first environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of a first signal processing mode at the first location and a second signal processing mode at a second location in the signal processing path. The method also includes determining a second feature of a second audio signal at the second location and determining, using the second feature, a second environmental classification of the second signal. Further, the method includes, based on the second environmental classification, enabling, modifying or disabling one or both of the first signal processing mode at the first location and the second signal processing mode at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Michael Goorevich, Kyriaky Griffin
  • Patent number: 11862138
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a forward path comprising an input transducer providing at an electric input signal representative of environment sound, a signal processor for processing said at least one electric input signal and providing a processed signal, and a loudspeaker connected to a speaker sound outlet providing an output sound to an eardrum of the user in dependence of said processed signal. The hearing device comprises an ITE-part adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user, an active emission canceller providing an electric sound cancelling signal, and an environment facing loudspeaker providing an output sound to the environment. The electric sound cancelling signal is determined in dependence of said processed signal to attenuate sound leaked from the speaker sound outlet to the environment when played by the environment facing loudspeaker. The environment facing loudspeaker has a sound outlet on an environment facing surface of the ITE-part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11849284
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, h) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Patent number: 11838727
    Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., an ear-worn device such as a hearing aid) includes neural network circuitry and control circuitry. The neural network circuitry is configured to implement a neural network system comprising at least a first neural network and a second neural network operating in parallel. The control circuitry is configured to control the neural network system to receive a first input signal, process the first input signal using the first neural network to produce a first output and using the second neural network to produce a second output, combine the first output and the second output, reset one or more states of the first neural network, and reset one or more states of the second neural network at a different time than when the one or more states of the first neural network are reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CHROMATIC INC.
    Inventors: Igor Lovchinsky, Philip Meyers, IV, Jonathan Macoskey, Israel Malkin, Andrew Casper, Nicholas Morris
  • Patent number: 11832061
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method, system and apparatus to improve a user's understanding of speech in real-time conversations by processing the audio through a neural network contained in a hearing device. The hearing device may be a headphone or hearing aid. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to an apparatus to enhance incoming audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Chromatic Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Casper, Igor Lovchinsky, Nicholas Morris, Matthew de Jonge, Jonathan Macoskey, Philip Meyers, IV
  • Patent number: 11792577
    Abstract: A system may include a wearable camera configured to capture images and a microphone configured to capture sounds. The system may also include a processor programmed to receive the images; identify a representation of one or more individuals in the images; receive from the microphone a first audio signal associated with a voice; determine, based on analysis of the images, that the first audio signal is not associated with a voice of any of the one or more individuals; receive from the microphone a second audio signal associated with a voice; determine, based on analysis of the images, that the second audio signal is associated with a voice of one of the one or more individuals; and cause a first amplification of the first audio signal and a second amplification of the second audio signal. The first amplification may differ from the second amplification in one aspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 11778392
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a processor operatively coupled to memory, a speaker or a receiver, and one or both of a microphone arrangement and a telecoil arrangement. A sensor is operatively coupled to the processor and configured to sense an angular position of the device relative to a horizontal plane oriented orthogonal to a direction of gravity. The processor is configured to detect a change in the angular position of the device from a first angular position to a second angular position, the first angular position corresponding to a specified angular position that provides for a target or optimal level of device performance and the second angular position resulting in suboptimal device performance. The processor is also configured to implement a corrective action that improves performance of the device relative to the suboptimal device performance while operating the device at the second angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Kevin Seitz-Paquette
  • Patent number: 11765523
    Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
  • Patent number: 11716580
    Abstract: Each accessory device in a set of accessory devices may establish a respective communication link between the accessory device and an ear-wearable device. A particular accessory device in the set of accessory devices may receive data via the communication link between the particular accessory device and the ear-wearable device. The data comprise information generated based on sensor signals from sensors that monitor a user of the ear-wearable device. The accessory devices perform a health monitoring activity based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich
  • Patent number: 11710495
    Abstract: A device for outputting sound and a method therefor are provided. The sound output method includes predicting external sound to be received from an external environment, variably adjusting sound to be output from the device, based on the predicted external sound, and outputting the adjusted sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Piotr Marcinkiewicz, Grzegorz Pawel Grzesiak, Jakub Tkaczuk
  • Patent number: 11696079
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid or a headset, configured to be worn by a comprises an input unit for providing at least one electric input signal in a time-frequency representation; and a signal processor comprising a target signal estimator for providing an estimate of the target signal; a noise estimator for providing an estimate of the noise; and a gain estimator for providing respective gain values in dependence of said target signal estimate and said noise estimate. The gain estimator comprises a trained neural network, wherein the outputs of the neural network comprise real or complex valued gains, or separate real valued gains and real valued phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Zuzana Jel{hacek over (c)}icová, Rasmus Jones, David Thorn Blix, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Jesper Jensen, Asger Heidemann Andersen
  • Patent number: 11683641
    Abstract: The two-way communication system comprises a non-invasive and non-implanted system which allows for clear two-way communications. This system is generally comprised of a mouthpiece component, relay component, infrastructure communication device, an optional earpiece component, and an optional system control which may interface with the relay component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Integrated Tactical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Paré, Timothy L. Proulx
  • Patent number: 11632648
    Abstract: An ear-mountable listening device includes an adaptive phased array of microphones, a speaker, and electronics. The microphones are physically arranged into a ring pattern to capture sounds emanating from an environment. Each of the microphones is configured to output one of a plurality of first audio signals that is representative of the sounds captured by a respective one of the microphones. The speaker is arranged to emit audio into an ear. The electronics are coupled to the adaptive phased array and the speaker and include logic that when executed causes the ear-mountable listening device receive a user input identifying a first sound for cancelling or amplifying, steer a null or a lobe of the adaptive phased array based upon the user input, and generate a second audio signal that drives the speaker based upon a combination of one or more of the first audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Iyo Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Carlile, Jason Rugolo, William Woods, Takahiro Unno
  • Patent number: 11619683
    Abstract: A method and device for compensating for an influence of a magnetic interference source on a measurement of a magnetic field sensor in a device. In the method, a magnetic flux density M1 measured with the magnetic field sensor at a measured ambient temperature Tk is compensated for with a compensation factor Minterference of the magnetic interference source according to M=M1?Minterference, where Minterference=M0+aM0(T?k?T0) and M0 is a magnetic reference flux density relative to a reference temperature T0, a corresponding to a material parameter, which is defined for a used magnet material of the magnetic interference source, and the measured ambient temperature Tk being corrected using a non-linear delay parameter to a temperature of the magnetic interference source T?k. The method is used for the axis-based compensation of a temperature drift, the material parameter a being determined individually for each Cartesian axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Rui Zhang, Sudhakaran Sreepad, Parambath Muhammad
  • Patent number: 11540043
    Abstract: An active noise reduction earbud and method. The earbud includes a housing comprising an outlet portion that defines a sound outlet, wherein the outlet portion is configured to be located in or proximate the external auditory meatus of a user's ear, a first feedforward microphone configured to develop a first input signal, and a first sound inlet opening in the housing and configured to conduct external sound to be sensed by the first feedforward microphone, wherein the first sound inlet opening is proximate the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: BOSE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Donald Munro, Lei Cheng, Ole Nielsen, Emery Ku, Cedrik Bacon
  • Patent number: 11468875
    Abstract: Active noise cancellation systems and methods include a feedforward path configured to receive a reference signal comprising ambient noise and adaptively generate an anti-noise signal to cancel the ambient noise. The adaptive filter is tuned in accordance with at least one parameter, which is set by a logic device configured to determine an ambient noise condition based the reference signal by estimating a fullband power of the reference signal, estimating a low-frequency power of the reference signal, comparing the fullband power and low-frequency power to one or more thresholds, and/or setting one or more ambient noise flags. The ambient noise condition may include a quiet background, a wideband noise condition, and/or a low-frequency dominant noise condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Steve Rui, Govind Kannan
  • Patent number: 11457321
    Abstract: A hearing aid device having a telecoil and a power consuming element is disclosed. The hearing aid device further comprises an at least partial loop in the power supply line, which at least partial loop provides a magnetic signal that at least attenuates or cancels noise induced from the power draw of the power consuming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Rune Sø, Morten Thougaard, Stefan Schaub
  • Patent number: 11457319
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a microphone configured to produce microphone signals and is coupled to an input of a first amplifier. A wireless transceiver is configured to receive an audio stream and is coupled to an input of a second amplifier. The second amplifier is configured to amplify the audio stream at a pre-established gain. A digital signal processor (DSP) is coupled to the microphone and the first and second amplifiers. The DSP is configured to monitor the microphone signals for a predetermined sound type of interest to the wearer during playback of the audio stream by a speaker and, while maintaining playback of the audio stream at the pre-established gain, automatically adjust gain of the first amplifier coupled to the microphone in response to detecting the predetermined sound type of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Courtney Shea Coburn Glavin
  • Patent number: 11423924
    Abstract: A signal analysis device includes a memory and processing circuitry coupled to the memory and configured to obtain, for a spatial covariance matrix Rj (j is an integral number equal to or larger than 1 and equal to or smaller than J) for modeling spatial characteristics of J (J is an integral number equal to or larger than 2) source signals that are present in a mixed manner, a simultaneous decorrelation matrix P as a matrix in which all PHRjP are diagonal matrices, or/and Hermitian transposition PH thereof, as a parameter for decorrelating components corresponding to the J source signals for observation signal vectors based on observation signals acquired at I (I is an integral number equal to or larger than 2) different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobutaka Ito, Tomohiro Nakatani, Shoko Araki
  • Patent number: 11418893
    Abstract: A hearing aid system for selective modification of background noises may include at least one processor. The processor may be programmed to receive a plurality of images from an environment of a user captured by a wearable camera during a time period and receive an audio signal representative of sounds acquired by a wearable microphone during the time period. The processor may determine that at least one of the sounds was generated by a sound-emanating object in the environment of the user, but outside of a field of view of the wearable camera and retrieve from a database information associated with the sound-emanating object. Based on the retrieved information, the processor may cause selective conditioning of audio signals acquired by the wearable microphone during the time period and cause transmission of the conditioned audio signals to a hearing interface device configured to provide sounds to an ear of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: OrCam Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yonatan Wexler, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 11395076
    Abstract: Each accessory device in a set of accessory devices may establish a respective communication link between the accessory device and an ear-wearable device. A particular accessory device in the set of accessory devices may receive data via the communication link between the particular accessory device and the ear-wearable device. The data comprise information generated based on sensor signals from sensors that monitor a user of the ear-wearable device. The accessory devices perform a health monitoring activity based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Paul Solum, Gregory John Haubrich
  • Patent number: 11381922
    Abstract: An acoustophoretic system is controlled and driven to attain a desired level of performance. An RF controller and a driver provide a frequency and power to an acoustic transducer, which can be implemented as a piezoelectric element, which presents a reactive load or a complex load. A controller implements a control technique for efficient transducer operation. The control technique can locate a frequency for operation that is at a reactance minimum or maximum for the system to produce a modal pattern and to provide efficient operation of the transducer. A method of detecting a minimum or maximum reactance in a acoustophoretic system used to trap, separate, deflect, cluster, fractionate or otherwise process particles or secondary fluids or tertiary fluids in a primary fluid and utilizing the frequency of the detected reactance to operate the acoustophoretic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Ronald Musiak, John Artis
  • Patent number: 11330378
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid or a headset, configured to be worn by a user at or in an ear or to be fully or partially implanted in the head at an ear of the user comprises an input unit for providing at least one electric input signal in a time-frequency representation and a signal processor comprising a neural network configured to provide respective gain values G(k,t) in said time-frequency representation for reducing noise components in said at least one electric input signal. The neural network comprises at least one layer defined as a modified gated recurrent unit, termed Peak GRU, comprising memory in the form of a hidden state vector h, and wherein an output vector o is provided by said Peak GRU in dependence of an input vector x and said hidden state vector h, wherein an output o(j,t) of the Peak GRU at a given time step t is stored as said hidden state h(j,t) and used in the calculation of the output o(j,t+1) in the next time step t+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Zuzana Jel{hacek over (c)}icová, Rasmus Jones, David Thorn Blix
  • Patent number: 11304016
    Abstract: A method includes: generating a hearing profile for a user; accessing a set of hearing-assistance device options, each hearing-assistance device option defining a form factor of a hearing-assistance device, in a set of hearing-assistance devices; accessing an image of an ear of the user; detecting a set of constraining dimensions in the image of the ear of the user; identifying a subset of hearing-assistance device options, in the set of hearing-assistance device options, defining form factors conforming to the set of constraining dimensions; accessing a set of preferences of the user; ranking the subset of hearing-assistance device options based on the set of preferences; selecting a first hearing-assistance device option, from the subset of hearing-assistance device options, corresponding to a highest rank in the subset of hearing-assistance device options; and configuring a first hearing-assistance device represented by the first hearing-assistance device option with the hearing profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Concha Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Li, Matthew Sorg
  • Patent number: 11245992
    Abstract: A method (500) of testing microphone performance of a hearing aid system, based on a determined correspondence between a hearing aid microphone signal and a test signal provided by the hearing aid system, as well as a hearing aid system adapted to carry out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Thilo Volker Thiede, Peter Magnus Noergaard
  • Patent number: 11218813
    Abstract: An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing including a portion configured to be attached to/detached from a part of the user's ear; at least one microphone included in the housing and configured to receive a sound from the outside and to detect a direction in which the sound is received; at least one speaker included in the housing; at least one communication circuit included in the housing; a processor included in the housing and electrically connected to the at least one microphone, the at least one speaker, and the at least one communication circuit; and at least one memory included in the housing and electrically connected to the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Inho Baek, Yongsang Yun, Changryong Heo
  • Patent number: 11109165
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a microphone configured to produce microphone signals and is coupled to an input of a first amplifier. A wireless transceiver is configured to receive an audio stream and is coupled to an input of a second amplifier. The second amplifier is configured to amplify the audio stream at a pre-established gain. A digital signal processor (DSP) is coupled to the microphone and the first and second amplifiers. The DSP is configured to monitor the microphone signals for a predetermined sound type of interest to the wearer during playback of the audio stream by a speaker and, while maintaining playback of the audio stream at the pre-established gain, automatically adjust gain of the first amplifier coupled to the microphone in response to detecting the predetermined sound type of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Courtney Shea Coburn Glavin
  • Patent number: 11089418
    Abstract: An example method of operation may include detecting an acoustic stimulus via active beams associated with at least one microphone disposed in a defined space, detecting loudspeaker characteristic information of at least one loudspeaker providing the acoustic stimulus, transmitting acoustic stimulus information based on the acoustic stimulus to a central controller, and modifying, via a central controller, at least one control function associated with the at least one microphone and the at least one loudspeaker to minimize acoustic feedback produced by the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Biamp Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Juszkiewicz, Nicholas William Metzar, Iain Alexander McCowan, Matthew V. Kotvis, Jason Damori, Scott Wieser
  • Patent number: 11064301
    Abstract: For many hearing assistive devices, the user's speech is received at a larger amplitude signal than the speech of someone speaking to the user. Since the user's speech is also picked up by the microphone and feed through the speaker causing an acoustic feedback effect, the user may have to constantly adjust the volume of the hearing assistive device to achieve a more comfortable volume based on where the speech is coming from. Therefore, mitigating the acoustic feedback effect of assistive hearing devices can generate a more efficient and comfortable hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BITWAVE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Siew Kok Hui, Lei Tu
  • Patent number: 10951993
    Abstract: With regards to a hearing assistive device, a user's speech can be picked up by the microphone and feed through the speaker causing an acoustic feedback effect. The user may have to constantly adjust the volume of the hearing assistive device to achieve a more comfortable volume based on where the speech is coming from. Furthermore, the when the hearing assistive device experiences feedback, the amplification of the feedback can cause damage to the user's hearing. Therefore, mitigating the acoustic feedback effect of assistive hearing devices can generate a more efficient and comfortable hearing device. The acoustic feedback can be mitigated by leveraging a dynamic range controller and a howling detector which comprises a user interface and a status indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BITWAVE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Siew Kok Hui, Lei Tu
  • Patent number: 10945063
    Abstract: A communication headset includes a neckband with a horseshoe-shaped footprint and two microphone tips disposed at two ends of the neckband, the two ends establishing an aperture of the horseshoe-shaped footprint. Each of the two microphone tips includes a slanted base. The communication headset further includes a microphone array including two sets of microphones in a spatial configuration in which the two sets of microphones are disposed on the slanted bases of the two microphone tips. An effective acoustic spacing between the microphones in the microphone array is at least 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Plantronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng Liu, John A Kelley, Wen Song, John S. Graham
  • Patent number: 10932070
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a sound tube; a receiver configured to provide sound via the sound tube; a housing configured to accommodate the receiver; a compartment in the housing; and a channel extending from the compartment and terminating at a location that is in fluid communication with a space in the sound tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventor: Anthony Chmielewski
  • Patent number: 10917729
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods of configuring, e.g., a hearing prosthesis comprising a beamforming microphone array having two or more microphones. Some embodiments include (i) storing a plurality of sets of beamformer coefficients in memory, where each set of beamformer coefficients corresponds to one of a plurality of zones on a recipient's head, and (ii) configuring the hearing prosthesis with a set of beamformer coefficients that corresponds to the zone on the recipient's head where the beamforming microphone array is located. Other embodiments include determining a set of beamformer coefficients based on magnitude and phase differences between microphones of the beamforming array, where the magnitude and phase differences are determined from a plurality of head related transfer function measurements for the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Phyu Phyu Khing, Brett Swanson
  • Patent number: 10873817
    Abstract: In a method that reduces the occurrence of acoustic feedback in a hearing device, a first wearing situation is created that determines a positioning of the hearing device relative to the wearer. For the first wearing situation, a first usage situation is created being a body movement of the wearer of the hearing device and/or a relative position of an external object relative to the body of the wearer. A first number of frequency-resolved curves of a feedback tendency of the hearing device are determined for the first use situation. A first criticality measure is ascertained based on the frequency-resolved curve for the first use situation that contains information on a frequency range that is critical with respect to an occurrence of acoustic feedback and a corresponding relative probability of acoustic feedback, and a target is established for adapting a hearing device parameter based on the first criticality measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Stefan Aschoff, Stefan Petrausch
  • Patent number: 10873824
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system each of which obtains sound data based on a plurality of sound signals respectively output from a plurality of microphones, receives a user instruction for enhancing directivity of sensitivity characteristics of at least one of the plurality of microphones in a specific direction, and generates sound data having the directivity in the specific direction, based on the obtained sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Okuma
  • Patent number: 10726825
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program, which make it possible for a user to listen to an audio signal more appropriately are provided. An information processing apparatus, including: behavior recognition unit configured to recognize behavior of a user on a basis of sensing information of at least one of the user and an environment; a processing controller configured to control, on a basis of the recognized behavior of the user, signal processing with respect to at least one of an audio signal listened to by the user, a noise reduction signal, and an external sound monitor signal; and a signal processing unit configured to execute the signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohisa Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10701493
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid can be worn by a user and contains a number of programs each of which is as-signed to a respective noise situation. A current noise situation is recognized both depending on the location and depending on time. Whichever program is assigned to the current noise situation is selected and set. A corresponding hearing aid is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Naumann, Benedikt Heuer
  • Patent number: 10701494
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Adel Zahedi
  • Patent number: 10681459
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hearing devices with artifact mitigation. Some embodiments schedule, reschedule, or trigger, activities of a hearing device at points in time in order to achieve an artifact-free (or artifact-reduced) user experience. For example, some embodiments provide a method for scheduling reconfigurations of a hearing device to reduce an impact of resulting artifacts on a user experience. The method can include detecting a reconfiguration of operating characteristics (e.g., hardware or software) of a hearing device that will produce an artifact. Then, a masking event can be identified that can disguise the artifact produced by the reconfiguration of the operating characteristics. For example, the masking event can be an audio event from an audio signal received from a source external to the hearing device or a system notification generated by the hearing device. The reconfiguration can be scheduled or triggered so that the artifact is produced during the masking event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Andreas Breitenmoser, David Perels
  • Patent number: 10672387
    Abstract: The various implementations described herein include methods, devices, and systems for recognizing speech, such as user commands. In one aspect, a method includes: (1) receiving audio input data via the one or more microphones; (2) generating a plurality of energy channels for the audio input data; (3) generating a feature vector by performing a per-channel normalization to each channel of the plurality of energy channels; and (4) obtaining recognized speech from the audio input utilizing the feature vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Richard Lyon, Christopher Hughes, Yuxuan Wang, Ryan Rifkin, Pascal Getreuer
  • Patent number: 10652677
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a hearing assistance device and a method of forming such device are disclosed. The hearing assistance device can provide sound to an ear of a patient. The device includes a housing adapted to be worn on or behind the ear, hearing assistance components enclosed in the housing, and an earmold adapted to be worn in the ear. The device further includes a sound tube adapted to transmit sound from the housing to the earmold, and an earhook adapted to connect the housing to the sound tube. The earmold and the sound tube are printed three dimensionally (3D) as one piece that is custom fit for the patient using a computer-aided design software (CAD) model. Further, a first end of the sound tube is integral with the earmold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Marxen, Brian Kaspari
  • Patent number: 10595136
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device. A first input signal is generated by a first input transducer of the hearing device from an ambient sound signal. An external input transducer outside of the hearing device generates an external input signal from the ambient sound signal. A relative transfer function from the external input transducer to the hearing device with respect to a target signal source is ascertained based on the first input signal and/or external input signal. The external input signal is filtered by the relative transfer function, thereby generating an estimated target signal. Noise suppression takes place in the hearing device based on the estimated target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dianna Yee, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Henning Puder
  • Patent number: 10586523
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device including a component to be worn at least partially in an ear of a user and an active noise control (ANC) system is provided. The method includes capturing an audio with a microphone system, generating an audio signal based on the captured audio, and generating a feed-forward (FF) compensating signal based on the captured audio. The method includes monitoring the acoustic environment of the hearing device for presence of wind noise, and mixing the audio signal with the generated FF compensating signal at a ratio dependent on whether wind noise is detected to provide an acoustic output signal. A hearing device including an active noise control (ANC) system and a wind noise monitor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Simon Kohler, Antonio Maria Modesto Holzl
  • Patent number: 10582315
    Abstract: Provided is a hearing aid including a receiver, a microphone, an adaptive filter estimating a feedback transfer function from the receiver to the microphone, a subtractor, a hearing aid processor, a first whitening filter, a second whitening filter having a whitening filter coefficient identical to that of the first whitening filter, a coefficient updater, and a controller controlling the adaptive filter and the first and second whitening filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: RION Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Hiruma, Masahiro Sunohara
  • Patent number: 10556109
    Abstract: This document mainly discloses a method and a device for sound enhancement, both aspects of the invention hereby described are directed to cochlear implants. The method for sound enhancement and the sound enhancement device comprising a component adapted to carry out said method are based on processing the envelope for frequency bands of the acoustic signal captured, said amplification is directed to the gain value of the amplification according to an amplitude of an output signal of the other sound processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA
    Inventor: Enrique Alejandro Lopez-Poveda
  • Patent number: 10510345
    Abstract: A hearing aid device for processing signals comprising audio in order to assist a hearing impaired user and being configured to be arranged at, behind and/or in an ear of the user is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises at least one input transducer, an output transducer, an antenna, a wireless interface, and a signal processing unit. The at least one input transducer is adapted for receiving signals comprising audio. The output transducer is adapted for providing signals comprising audio to the user. The antenna is adapted for wirelessly communicating with a respective external device. The wireless interface is adapted for receiving and/or sending data via the antenna. The signal processing unit is adapted for processing signals comprising audio in order to assist a hearing impaired user. Furthermore the signal processing unit is adapted for extracting speech signals from the signals comprising audio and for generating control signals based on the speech signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Vijay Kumar Bhat
  • Patent number: 10511907
    Abstract: A device, system, and a method for adjusting audio parameters for a user are disclosed. The method comprises performing a hearing test of the user. The hearing test comprises playing an audio and capturing an auditory response of the user towards the audio. A hearing profile of the user is generated based on one or more results of the hearing test. A playing speed of the audio is adjusted based on the hearing profile, thereby adjusting the audio parameters for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Leigh M. Rothschild
  • Patent number: 10499183
    Abstract: Multiple individual wireless earbuds provide audio from a common audio source. A user may thereby enjoy audio in both ears while also benefiting from an entirely wireless configuration. The individual wireless earbuds may each receive the audio signal from the common audio source and then produce audio accordingly. Each earbud may have a channel setting to define whether a given earbud will produce left channel or right channel audio for a multi-channel audio signal. The individual wireless earbuds may alternatively have a master-slave configuration where a master earbud receives a wireless audio signal from the common source, plays audio based on the audio signal, and transmits a wireless signal based on the wireless audio signal to the slave earbud. The slave earbud then plays audio based on the wireless signal from the master earbud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Samuel N. Zellner