Ear Insert Patents (Class 381/328)
  • Patent number: 11638108
    Abstract: A hearing device including a housing, a receiver within the housing, and a contaminant guard having a guard sound port and one or both of an outer contaminant receptacle, which is located outward of the guard sound port and that extends around the guard sound port, and an inner contaminant receptacle, which that is located on the central axis of the guard sound port and operably connected to a location outward of the guard sound port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Frank Wang, Michael Au, Yashvant Venkatakrishnan, Xiuming Zhu, Roland Kern, Simone Kneipp, Paul Wagner
  • Patent number: 11627409
    Abstract: An earphone device including a casing, a holder, a speaker, multiple first buffering members, and multiple second buffering members is provided. The casing has an inner wall forming a first chamber. A sound outlet tube protrudes from a front end of the casing. The holder is disposed in the first chamber, and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the holder forms a second chamber. The second chamber is acoustically connected to the sound outlet tube. The first buffering members are disposed between the inner surface of the holder and the speaker, forming a first gap between the inner surface of the holder and the speaker. The second buffering members are disposed between the outer surface of the holder and the inner wall of the casing, forming a second gap between the outer surface of the holder and the inner wall of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Merry Electronics(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih Ching Pu, Yi Lin Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11627398
    Abstract: Hearing device including a housing worn at a user's ear; a movement detector providing movement data indicating movement of the housing; and a processor identifying, based on the movement data, movement features in a sequence. The movement features represent movement activity by the user. The processor determines a temporal characteristic of the sequence of movement features and/or an amplitude characteristic of the movement data associated with a movement feature in the sequence. A method of operating the hearing device, and a computer-readable medium storing instructions to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Anne Thielen, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Julia Seiter
  • Patent number: 11622890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable hearing protection device for arranging in and/or on the ear, the hearing protection device including: a housing with an acoustic entrance opening, an insertion part for inserting into an auditory canal of the ear extending from the housing with an acoustic exit opening oriented toward the interior of the auditory canal, and adjusting means for adjusting the hearing protection device to one of at least two acoustic adjustment positions. Each acoustic adjustment position sets one of a number of acoustic couplings between the entrance opening and the exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Arjen Teake De Jong
  • Patent number: 11622215
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device assembly is configured to be worn at least partially within an ear canal of a user. The hearing device assembly includes a housing including an output transducer configured to provide an output audio signal representative of sound presented to the user. The housing is configured to be positioned entirely within the ear canal. The hearing device assembly also includes a tube extending from an end of the housing and configured to provide an acoustic pathway from outside the ear canal to the housing, an inner seal extending from the housing, and an outer seal extending from the tube. The inner seal and the outer seal are together are configured to enclose a main volume that surrounds the tube within the ear canal and that is acoustically sealed from an ambient environment of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erwin Kuipers, Grace Gardner
  • Patent number: 11622206
    Abstract: A hearing device includes an acoustic transducer having a membrane configured to generate sound waves, a housing enclosing a first chamber and a second chamber acoustically coupled by the membrane, a sound outlet configured to release sound waves from the first chamber into the ear canal, and an acoustic port acoustically coupling the second chamber to an ambient environment outside the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Thomas Zurbruegg, Paul Wagner, Antonio Hoelzl
  • Patent number: 11601745
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ear tip having a flange made of silicone foam, the ear tip including a central core and a flange surrounding the core. The flange is made of silicone foam, and the core is made of a material harder than the silicone foam. Before the silicone is molded, attachable films or tapes may be attached to the top and bottom surfaces of the mesh, thereby preventing burrs generated during the molding of silicone from adhering to the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BUJEON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Donghyun Seo, Kyoungsik Lee, Minkoo Park, Jeongsun In
  • Patent number: 11595769
    Abstract: A hearing aid assembly includes a receiver speaker enclosed within a receiver housing. The receiver housing defines a circuitous receiver acoustic channel, wherein the receiver channel defines an open side along at least a portion of the receiver channel. The receiver channel also defines a pass-through passage extending from a first side of the receiver housing to a second side of the receiver housing, wherein the pass-through passage is partially defined by the wall defining a receiver opening. The hearing aid assembly also includes an earbud configured to fit over at least a portion of the receiver housing and partially cover the open side of the receiver channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, Brian Thomas Dahl
  • Patent number: 11583215
    Abstract: An ear device for arrangement at an ear of a person and provided with at least two electrodes for having skin contact and detecting a bioelectrical signal when in use, the ear device includes a deformable ear canal part adapted to be arranged in an ear canal of the person, and an external ear part adapted to be arranged at the ear external to the ear canal and being provided with at least one external ear electrode for detecting a bioelectrical signal, the external ear part includes at least one bendable arm which is connected to the ear canal part and is adapted to exert a pressure such that the at least one external ear electrode is pressed against the skin when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: T&W Engineering A/S
    Inventors: Mikael Andersen, Mike Lind Rank, Hans Olaf Toft, Preben Kidmose, Simon Lind Kappel
  • Patent number: 11586716
    Abstract: Provided are a personal authentication device performing accurate authentication immediately follow insertion an earphone/microphone device to wear, and preventing spoofing after authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, NEC Platforms, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Koshinaka, Kouji Oosugi, Kohei Osugi
  • Patent number: 11589145
    Abstract: A connecting structure, as well as a loudspeaker and an electronic apparatus having the connecting structure are disclosed. The connecting structure includes a snap ring and a connecting post. The snap ring is provided with a notch having a width greater than an inner diameter of the snap ring and an inner wall of the snap ring is provided with a supporting arm. The connecting post includes a post body and a post head located at one end of the post body, an outer diameter of the post head is greater than an outer diameter of the post body, and the post body is provided with a snap-fitting slot. The post body can pass through the notch of the snap ring to be snap-fitted in the snap ring, and the supporting arm can be snap-fitted in the snap-fitting slot of the connecting post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: K-TRONICS (SUZHOU) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiahong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11582565
    Abstract: A speaker comprises a housing, a transducer residing inside the housing, and at least one sound guiding hole located on the housing. The transducer generates vibrations. The vibrations produce a sound wave inside the housing and cause a leaked sound wave spreading outside the housing from a portion of the housing. The at least one sound guiding hole guides the sound wave inside the housing through the at least one sound guiding hole to an outside of the housing. The guided sound wave interferes with the leaked sound wave in a target region. The interference at a specific frequency relates to a distance between the at least one sound guiding hole and the portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Qi, Fengyun Liao, Yueqiang Wang, Haofeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11575998
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are method, system, and computer program product embodiments for performing the continuous and autonomous selective tuning of received audio input from an earpiece, according to a variety of user-based tuning profiles and autonomous determination mechanisms for selecting any one of the tuning profiles, using logistic regression, multi-layered ensemble classifiers incorporating machine learning techniques, etc, for an optimal in-ear hearing experience for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Listen and Be Heard LLC
    Inventor: Narendar Bahadur Sahgal
  • Patent number: 11576001
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises an input unit providing an electric input signal representing sound, a wake word detector configured identifying a particular wake word based on said electric input signal, and providing a wake word control signal indicative of whether, or with what probability, the wake word is detected, or an own voice detector estimating whether, or with what probability, the electric input signal originates from the voice of the user and providing an own voice control signal indicative thereof, transceiver circuitry establishing a communication link to another hearing aid allowing the transmission and/or reception of the electric input signal to/from the other hearing aid, and a pre-processor controlling the transceiver circuitry in dependence of the wake word control signal or the own voice control signal. A binaural hearing aid system and a method of operating a hearing aid are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Nels Hede Rohde, Thomas Bentsen, Anders Brødløs Olsen, Jesper Jensen, Peter Mølgaard Sørensen, Gusztáv Lõcsei
  • Patent number: 11570554
    Abstract: A hearing aid system for assisting a user's ability to hear includes at least one hearing aid instrument worn on the user's head. A sound signal from the surroundings is recorded and converted into input audio signals by input transducers of the hearing aid system. The hearing aid system includes two adaptive beamformers with variable notch direction, applied indirectly or directly to the input audio signals to generate direction-dependently damped audio signals. The notch directions are set to mutually different values to minimize the energy content of the direction-dependently damped audio signal of each beamformer. The notch directions of the two beamformers are evaluated in comparative fashion. A user's head rotation is captured qualitatively and/or quantitatively if a correlated change in the notch directions is determined within the scope of the comparative evaluation. A method for operating the hearing aid system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gabriel Gomez
  • Patent number: 11557831
    Abstract: An audio device (e.g., hearing aid) can optionally have a radio-frequency antenna that includes an antenna structure on a flexible printed circuit board. The antenna structure can have one or metal traces disposed on the flexible printed circuit board, the antenna structure extending over an area that substantially coincides with the area of the flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board is foldable into a three-dimensional structure that can be disposed in a folded configuration in an audio device (e.g., hearing aid).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Team IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Tenvoon Wong
  • Patent number: 11553291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a user. The hearing device is configured to provide an audio signal to the user. The hearing device comprises a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly comprises a printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly comprises: a first circuit board; a second circuit board; and a third circuit board interconnected with the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The circuit assembly comprises a battery, and an output transducer for providing the audio signal, wherein the printed circuit board assembly is folded about the battery and the output transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Emil Holm Knudsen
  • Patent number: 11540039
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end. The eartip body can include an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end. The eartip can also include an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end, the attachment structure having an inner surface and an outer surface. The attachment structure can include an upper region interfacing with the sidewall and defining discrete through-holes, a lower region below the upper region where the inner surface defines a plurality of recesses positioned around the lower region, and a mesh extending across the channel and into the upper region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Sean T. McIntosh, Jason C. Della Rosa, Samuel G. Parker, Benjamin A. Cousins, Ethan L. Huwe
  • Patent number: 11540064
    Abstract: There is presented a hearing aid configured to be arranged at least partly in the ear canal of a specific person, the hearing aid comprising a faceplate, a custom ear shell, adapted to fit or match with the ear canal of a specific person, the custom ear shell connected to the faceplate, a rechargeable battery, an induction coil for wireless charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein the induction coil is fixed to the ear shell and furthermore a method for providing a hearing aid, said method comprising obtaining data representative of a shape and/or size of an ear canal of a specific person, establishing a digital model of the custom shell of the hearing aid for said ear canal based on said data, wherein said providing includes determining a position and/or orientation of an induction coil in an inner space of said ear shell, which position and/or orientation increases or maximizes a distance from the outer ear to the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Poul Henriksen, Mikkel Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11533556
    Abstract: An earbud cover is implemented that secures to an earbud and protects at least the earbud's exterior surface from external damage. The earbud cover includes an upper body portion that conforms to the shape of the earbud's bulky body, a mid-section that conforms to the shape of the earbud's thinner body, and a bottom portion underneath a bottom surface of the earbud. While the upper body portion, mid-section, and bottom portion have been used to describe the earbud, other characterizations of the earbud's design are also possible. The earbud includes a cutout/opening corresponding to the earbud's I/O interface, such as its speaker or microphone. While a single cutout/opening is shown in the pictures, multiple openings may be utilized depending on the specific earbud. The bottom portion of the earbud also includes a hole that may be used to carry around the covers more easily, such as on a keychain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Jini Peang
  • Patent number: 11523225
    Abstract: A hearing device cable including a body portion is described herein. The body portion may extend between a first end region and a second end region along a tube centerline. The body portion may include a first radial portion proximate the first end region and second radial portion proximate the second end region. The first radial portion may define a radius of curvature that is greater than or equal to a radius of curvature defined by the second radial portion. The tube centerline may lie along an x-y plane between the first and second end regions. In one or more embodiments, the body portion may define a passageway extending between the first and second end regions. Further, the hearing device cable may include a superelastic wire within the passageway extending between the first and second end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Higgins, David Tourtelotte
  • Patent number: 11523230
    Abstract: Various implementations include audio devices and related earpieces. In certain implementations, an earpiece includes an electro-acoustic transducer and an acoustic back volume configured to provide a desirable fit along with desirable acoustic performance. In some particular aspects, an earpiece includes: an electro-acoustic transducer; a housing supporting the electro-acoustic transducer such that the housing and the electro-acoustic transducer together define a first acoustic volume and a second acoustic volume, the electro-acoustic transducer being arranged such that a first radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume coupled to an outlet and such that a second radiating surface of the transducer radiates acoustic energy into the second acoustic volume, where at least a portion of the second acoustic volume is located between the first radiating surface and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew D. Dominijanni
  • Patent number: 11516573
    Abstract: The present application relates to a split bone conduction earphone including an earphone body, an ear hook and a bone conduction vibrator, a transmission surface of the bone conduction vibrator is provided on the side wall of the earphone body; the ear hook is provided on the earphone body for cooperating with the earphone body to make the transmission surface of the bone conduction vibrator firmly attached to a predetermined position; the earphone body includes a first housing and a second housing; the first housing is provided with an elastic support piece that matches the contour of the human inner ear; the first housing and the second housing form a bone conduction cavity and a battery cavity; only the bone conduction vibrator is installed on the bone conduction cavity, and the battery cavity is installed with a battery to power the bone conduction vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mengda Network Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chuangchao Yang
  • Patent number: 11516602
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invent include a method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, the method comprising the step of: damping the motion of the at least one biasing element. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one biasing element is a spring. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one bias spring is coated in a damping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Rucker, Sunil Puria, Stuart Wenzel, Jake L. Olsen, Cem Shaquer, Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Jonathan Fay, Micha Rosen
  • Patent number: 11503417
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing adapted for at least partial insertion into a concha bowl of a human ear, at least one speaker residing in or on the housing, a control system residing in or on the housing and a positioning element attached to the housing. The control system may be configured for controlling the speaker and configured for radio frequency (RF) communication. The positioning element may be configured to fit at least partially inside a concha of the human ear and may be configured to retain the housing at least partially within the concha bowl. The positioning element may include one or more wires Control System configured for communication with the control system. The one or more wires may be configured for at receiving and/or transmitting RF radiation. In some examples, the positioning element may be, or may include, a concha lock. The positioning element may include a loop antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ross Baker, Ian Eric Esten, Shaohon Chen
  • Patent number: 11503395
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pair of glasses. The pair of glasses may include a frame, one or more lenses, and one or more temples. The pair of glasses may further include at least one low-frequency acoustic driver, at least one high-frequency acoustic driver, and a controller. The at least one low-frequency acoustic driver may be configured to output sounds from at least two first guiding holes. The at least one high-frequency acoustic driver may be configured to output sounds from at least two second guiding holes. The controller may be configured to direct the low-frequency acoustic driver to output the sounds in a first frequency range and direct the high-frequency acoustic driver to output the sounds in a second frequency range. The second frequency range may include one or more frequencies higher than one or more frequencies in the first frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SHOKZ CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Junjiang Fu, Bingyan Yan, Fengyun Liao, Xin Qi
  • Patent number: 11499865
    Abstract: In-ear sound pressure level, SPL, is determined that is caused by output audio being converted into sound by a headset worn by a user. The in-ear SPL is converted into a sound sample having units that are suitable for evaluating sound noise exposure. These operations are repeated to produce a sequence of sound samples during playback. This sequence of sound samples is then written to a secure database. Access to the database is authorized by the user. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jakub Mazur, Tyrone T. Chen, Hang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11496844
    Abstract: A completely-in-canal hearing aid, including a housing, a receiver, a chip, a battery, a flexible circuit board and a microphone, wherein the housing includes a front section and a rear section; the receiver and the chip are located in the front section; the battery is located in the rear section; the rear section has two opposite surfaces and two opposite side surfaces; the front section has a first central axis parallel to the length of the front section; the rear section has a second central axis located between the two opposite surfaces and between the two opposite side surfaces; the first central axis and the second central axis are different straight lines. The completely-in-canal hearing aid is fine and compact in structure, reasonable and ingenious in design, diversified in function and comfortable to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Xiamen Retone Hearing Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chengxiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11496825
    Abstract: An ear-plug device is an in-ear device that presents audio content to an ear canal of a user. The in-ear device includes a body configured to at least partially fit inside the ear canal of the user, and a transducer assembly coupled to the body. The transducer assembly comprises at least one transducer located within the ear canal. The at least one transducer is configured to vibrate a portion of the ear canal to cause the ear canal to create an airborne acoustic pressure wave in the ear canal in accordance with vibration instructions. The airborne acoustic pressure wave corresponds to and is for presentation of the audio content to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi
  • Patent number: 11490213
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a binaural hearing aid system comprising hearing aids for placement at, or in, a user's left and right ear, the hearing aids each comprising a microphone arrangement, a wireless communications unit, a receiver, and a sound channel with a valve, which is movable from an open state to an closed state and from a closed state to an open state. The binaural hearing aid system further comprises a signal processing arrangement adapted for generating a beamformed signal based on microphone signals supplied by either or both of the microphone arrangement(s) and for applying the beamformed signal to either or both of the receiver(s), and a valve control arrangement configured to asymmetrically control the valves in each hearing aid by moving the valves into positions wherein one of the valves is opened more than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: René Burmand Johannesson
  • Patent number: 11477560
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earphone, ear device, eartip, or earplug configured to inserted in an ear canal of the ear. The earphone, ear device, eartip, or earplug is configured to occlude or partially occlude the ear canal of the ear. The earphone, ear device, eartip, or earplug includes a chamber to occlude or partially occlude the ear canal that is sealed when inserted in the ear canal and open to the external environment when outside the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HEAR LLC
    Inventor: John P Keady
  • Patent number: 11463797
    Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nahid Harjee, Brian R. Twehues, Teera Songatikamas, Aonan Li, Travis N. Owens, Kyle J. Campiotti
  • Patent number: 11463798
    Abstract: A method of operating a headphone configured to be removed from and placed in close proximity to 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 headphone to operate in 5 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 headphone 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AVNERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Jon Wurtz, Amit Kumar, Jiajin An
  • Patent number: 11451912
    Abstract: A system comprising a scanner to scan an ear and a processor to receive, from the scanner, a non-manifold three-dimensional (3D) digital surface model (DSM) scan data representative of a non-manifold 3D surface model of the auditory canal and the concha of the ear. The 3D surface model is an outer boundary surface for an earpiece appliance. The processor determines an extrema boundary located at a free edge of the 3D surface model; recognizes anatomical features including a cymba concha and auditory canal peak; modifies the 3D surface model relative to the anatomical features by creating a base boundary plane for the appliance, offset some distance from the extrema boundary; creates a closed volume within and between the outer boundary surface, the extrema boundary and the base boundary plane to form a solid 3D earpiece appliance; and causes a computer-aided manufacturing device to manufacture the solid 3D earpiece appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael W. Hale, Matthew S. Richardson
  • Patent number: 11432082
    Abstract: A hearing aid is described which incorporates an antenna integrated into the housing that is configured to radiate with linear polarization such that the electric field is perpendicular to the head of a wearer. The described technique results in lower propagation losses from ear to ear and an improvement in ear-to-ear communications using a far-field link (e.g., in the 2.4 GHz band).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Paul Flood
  • Patent number: 11425511
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a housing, comprising: a substrate carrying a wireless interface, the substrate further carrying a processor, the substrate arranged in the housing; an antenna arranged in the housing, the antenna being connected to the wireless interface; the antenna configured to emit and/or receive electromagnetic fields, an electronic element, connected to the processor via an electrical connection line; wherein a decoupling element is provided in the electrical connection line wherein the decoupling element has a characteristic frequency at the frequency, at which the antenna is tuned to radiate and/or receive the electromagnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Poul Henriksen
  • Patent number: 11425515
    Abstract: An ear-mountable listening device includes a soft ear interface, an acoustic package, and electronics. The soft ear interface is shaped to house one or more components of the ear-mountable listening device. The soft ear interface has an outer surface that contacts a canal of an ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn by the ear. The outer surface of the soft ear interface includes a plurality of baffles to form one or more channels for air or moisture to propagate through. The one or more channels extend from between a distal end and a proximal end of the soft ear interface. The proximal end of the soft ear interface extends to at least a first bend of the canal and the distal end of the soft ear interface contacts a concha of the ear when the ear-mountable listening device is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Iyo Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Carlile, Neil Treat, Jason Rugolo
  • Patent number: 11388529
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system includes a pair of left and right hearing assistance devices to be worn by a wearer and uses both of the left and right hearing assistance devices to detect the voice of the wearer. The left and right hearing assistance devices each include first and second microphones at different locations. Various embodiments detect the voice of the wearer using signals produced by the first and second microphones of the left hearing assistance device and the first and second microphones of the right hearing assistance device. Various embodiments use outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed by the left hearing assistance device and the outcome of detection of the voice of the wearer performed the right hearing assistance device to determine whether to declare a detection of the voice of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivo Merks
  • Patent number: 11368795
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement in an ear canal, the hearing aid having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is inserted into the ear canal to face the tympanic membrane, the distal end is opposite. The hearing aid comprises a shell customized for the ear canal. The shell comprises an inner space configured for at least partly receiving a rechargeable battery, a charging arrangement, at least one microphone arrangement, and an integrated circuit. The hearing aid comprises a faceplate comprising an upper face and a lower face, the upper face being exposed at the distal end when the shell is placed in the user's ear canal. The faceplate is configured for closing the inner space, wherein the IC is arranged between the faceplate and the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Thomas John Chappell, Soren Davids
  • Patent number: 11363363
    Abstract: A housing has a bud portion abutting an elongated stem portion. The bud portion is to fit within an ear. The bud portion has a primary sound outlet at its far end that is to be inserted into an outer ear canal, and abuts the stem portion at its near end. A speaker driver is inside the bud portion. Electronic circuitry inside the housing includes a wireless communications interface to receive audio content over-the-air and in response provides an audio signal to the speaker driver. A rechargeable battery as a power source for the electronic circuitry is located inside a cavity of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Zachary C. Rich, Kurt R. Stiehl, Arun D. Chawan, Michael B. Howes, Jonathan S. Aase, Esge B. Andersen, Yacine Azmi, Jahan C. Minoo, David J. Shaw, Aarti Kumar, Augustin Prats, Robert D. Watson, Baptiste P. Paquier, Axel D. Berny, Benjamin W. Cook, Jerzy S. Guterman, Benjamin Adair Cousins
  • Patent number: 11350225
    Abstract: A Personal Sound Amplification System is provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and includes a Personal Sound Amplification Device (PSAD), a receiving module and an external sound tube, wherein the PSAD includes a power module having a power source. The receiving module includes a receiving module body having a module body top and defining a receiving module body cavity for containing module electronics, wherein the receiving module is configured to removably associate with a decorative jewelry cover. Moreover, the external sound tube may be associated with the module body top of the receiving module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Victoria C. Newton, Ralph T. Campagna
  • Patent number: 11343628
    Abstract: A hearing device is provided. The hearing device is suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal is provided. The hearing device comprises a barrier. The barrier is configured to prevent foreign matter inside the ear canal from passing. The barrier comprises a body and a structure. The body has a surface. The structure is a microstructure or a nanostructure. The structure is formed on at least a first part of the surface. The first part is thus configured to hinder the foreign matter from adhering thereto. The structure and the body are monolithic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Morten Fuglsang-Philip, Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Mathias Rask Møller
  • Patent number: 11337014
    Abstract: An earpiece for a hearing device includes: an ear canal part to be introduced into an ear canal of a user, the ear canal part comprising a first contact surface configured to contact a superior part of the ear canal of the user; a primary sensor, where the primary sensor is configured to measure signals from a skin surface of the user; and a support structure comprising a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the support structure is attached to the ear canal part, wherein the second part of the support structure is attached to the primary sensor, and wherein the second part of the support structure is configured to position the primary sensor in an inferior concha cava of the user; wherein the support structure is configured to apply a force to press the primary sensor towards the skin surface of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Jan Johansen
  • Patent number: 11330355
    Abstract: A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a user's ear and retains the earpiece in its position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato, Ian M. Collier, Michael J. Monahan
  • Patent number: 11317196
    Abstract: An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a wall comprising (1) a front side that joins (2) an end portion in which a primary sound output opening is formed, which joins (3) a face portion in which a secondary output opening is formed, which joins (4) a back side which joins the front side and encloses a driver, wherein the primary output opening is dimensioned to output sound generated by a diaphragm of the driver contained within the earphone housing into the ear and the secondary output opening is dimensioned to vent the ear to a surrounding environment, and wherein the primary output opening and the secondary output opening face different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Howes, Yacine Azmi, Scott P. Porter, Jonathan S. Aase, Andrew P. Bright, Christopher R. Wilk
  • Patent number: 11317224
    Abstract: An output transducer is coupled to a support structure, and the support structure configured to contact one or more of the tympanic membrane, an ossicle, the oval window or the round window. An input transducer is configured for placement near an ear canal opening to receive high frequency localization cues. A sound inhibiting structure, such as an acoustic resistor or a screen, may be positioned at a location along the ear canal between the tympanic membrane and the input transducer to inhibit feedback. A channel can be coupled to the sound or feedback inhibiting structure to provide a desired frequency response profile of the sound or feedback inhibiting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Earlens Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil Puria
  • Patent number: 11310580
    Abstract: Earpieces and methods of forming earpieces for radio frequency (RF) mitigation are provided. An earpiece is configured to be inserted in an ear canal. The earpiece includes an insertion element and a sealing section disposed on the insertion element and configured to conform to the ear canal. The sealing section is configured to substantially mitigate radio frequency (RF) transmission and to substantially isolate the ear canal from an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Staton Techiya, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein, Gideon Duvall
  • Patent number: 11303986
    Abstract: An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Decibullz LLC
    Inventor: Kyle J Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 11291839
    Abstract: A hidden cochlear implant system comprises a canal unit and an implanted unit. The canal unit comprises at least one canal microphone; a canal modulator; a canal transmitting antenna: and a canal electrical power source, wherein the at least one canal microphone is electrically connected to the canal modulator, the canal modulator is electrically connected to the canal transmitting antenna, and the canal electrical power source is electrically connected to any component of the canal unit that requires supply of electrical power. The implanted unit comprises a cochlear receiving antenna; a processor; and an electrode array, wherein the cochlear receiving antenna is electrically connected to the processor, and the processor is electrically connected to the electrode array. Additional embodiments of the hidden cochlear implant are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Smart Sound LTD.
    Inventor: Harel Zilbershlag
  • Patent number: 11272294
    Abstract: Sound-producing acoustic receivers are disclosed. The acoustic receiver includes a receiver housing with a first internal volume and a second internal volume, a first diaphragm separating the first internal volume into a first front volume and a first back volume such that the first front volume has a first sound outlet port, a second diaphragm separating the second internal volume into a second front volume and a second back volume such that the second front volume has a second sound outlet port, a motor disposed at least partially inside the housing such that the motor including an armature mechanically coupled to both the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, an acoustic seal between the first front volume and the second back volume such that the acoustic seal accommodates the mechanical coupling of the armature to one of the first diaphragm or the second diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Shehab Albahri, Yahui Zhang, Kalyan Nadella, Thomas Miller, Christopher Monti, Charles King, Jose Salazar