Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130004002 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICES - The present subject matter provides a system for wireless communications between one or more wireless audio devices and other electronics for providing a rich set of streaming audio, control, programming and enhanced hearing functions. | 01-03-2013 |
20130064405 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES WITH ECHO CANCELLATION - According to various embodiment of a method of operating a hearing instrument, an acoustic signal pathway is provided from a microphone through a signal processor to a hearing instrument (HI) receiver in an acoustic mode of operation. An RF transmit signal pathway is provided from the microphone to an RF transmitter, and an RF receive signal pathway is provided from the RF receiver through the signal processor to the HI receiver in an RF mode of operation. An input signal representative of sound detected by the microphone is adaptively filtered. A first adaptation rate is used for the acoustic mode of operation and a second adaptation rate is used for the RF mode of operation. The second adaptation rate is faster than the first adaptation rate. | 03-14-2013 |
20130251180 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION LINKS FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices adapted to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing assistance device adapted to be worn by a person. The hearing aid device includes a signal processing circuitry connected to a microphone and a receiver. At least one of the plurality of devices includes a link quality management device adapted to assess a link quality for a first wireless communication channel, provide channel metrics indicative of the assessed quality for the first wireless communication channel, and adjust wireless communication over the first wireless communication channel using the channel metrics for the first wireless communication channel. | 09-26-2013 |
20140016807 | ANTENNAS FOR STANDARD FIT HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises a housing, a power source, a radio circuit, an antenna and a transmission line. The radio circuit is within the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The antenna has an aperture, and the radio circuit is at least substantially within the aperture. The transmission line electrically connects to the antenna to the radio circuit. Various antenna embodiments include a flex circuit antenna. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023216 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FOR ON- AND OFF- BODY ACCESSORIES - The present disclosure related to hearing assistance devices such as hearing aids, and in particular to a hearing assistance device with wireless communication for on- and off-body accessories. In various embodiments, a hearing aid includes a housing, hearing assistance electronics within the housing, and conductive material incorporated into a portion of the housing. According to various embodiments, the conductive material includes a transmission line portion configured to conduct a signal from the hearing assistance electronics to an antenna portion of the conductive material on an exterior surface of the housing. In various applications, the conductive material includes a first antenna configured for short range communication with other body worn devices or accessories. The hearing aid also includes a second antenna within the housing, the second antenna configured for conducting RF radiation for long range communication, in various embodiments. | 01-23-2014 |
20140064528 | GATEWAY FOR A WIRELESS HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for providing a gateway for a wireless hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for wirelessly communicating with a hearing assistance device. One or more message and alert inputs are received and the message and alert inputs are processed to obtain an output. The output is wirelessly transmitted to a hearing assistance device, and the output is configured to be played via audio to a wearer of the hearing assistance device and to interrupt a current audio stream being played to the wearer, in various embodiments. | 03-06-2014 |
20140143582 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING HEARING INSTRUMENTS VIA WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A hearing assistance system including a hearing instrument designated as a master device and at least another hearing instrument designated as a slave device. The master device is communicatively coupled to the slave device via a wireless link. The master device has a master clock and generates master time stamps for specified events timed by the master clock. The master time stamps are sent to the slave device via the wireless link. The slave device has a slave clock and generates slave time stamps for specified events timed by the slave clock. The slave clock is adjusted for synchronization to the master clock using the master time stamps and the slave time stamps. | 05-22-2014 |
20140162581 | AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL WITH OUT OF BAND BLOCKING SIGNAL COMPENSATION - One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a method of receiving an input signal. The method, in various embodiments, includes detecting a peak of the input signal and detecting an envelope of the input signal. In various embodiments, the peak and envelope are used to identify out-of-band blocking signals and to adjust gain control. The method also includes comparing the peak to a first threshold Tp and comparing the envelope to a second threshold Te. In the method, if the peak is above the first threshold and the envelope is below the second threshold, then ignoring the input signal. If the envelope is above the second threshold, the method includes applying automatic gain control to decode information encoded in the input signal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169599 | EAR TO EAR COMMUNICATION USING BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY TRANSPORT - Disclosed in some examples are systems, methods, and machine readable media which allows for hearing instruments to be in a piconet with each other while being connectable as a slave to another device such as a smart phone when it comes within range. In some examples to accomplish this, one or both of the connected hearing aids may send connectable advertisements while connected with each other in the piconet by time multiplexing the advertisements between connection events. | 06-19-2014 |
20140177855 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNAL RECEPTION USING DYNAMICALLY SELECTABLE MODES - A communication system reduces power consumption of a radio receiver and/or ensures quality of signal transmission by using various modes of receiver operation. In one embodiment, the communication system is part of a hearing assistance system with a hearing aid including the radio receiver. In one embodiment, a mode of reception is selected during signal transmission based on a detected parameter indicative of quality of the signal transmission. In one embodiment, a hearing aid includes a radio receiver using independent sidebands to receive signals transmitted using each of an upper-sideband and a lower-sideband. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177885 | WIRELESS SYSTEM FOR HEARING COMMUNICATION DEVICES PROVIDING WIRELESS STEREO RECEPTION MODES - The present subject matter relates to the wireless stereo reception of first and second audio information by wireless hearing communication devices. One type of device which may employ the present subject matter is a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Various forms and protocols of signal transmission are employed in varying embodiments. The present subject matter includes various communication modes such as eavesdropping modes and relaying modes. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177886 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEARING AID LOCATION - A hearing aid includes electronics, a physically manipulable member, and a receiver. The receiver is configured to output sound in a first mode at a first decibel level and in a second mode at a second decibel level higher than the first decibel level. The first mode is based on an input from a microphone. The second mode is based on the physically manipulable member not having been manipulated over a selected period of time. In various examples, wireless approaches are used to perform location identification. Examples using antennas and radio frequency identification (RFID) are provided. Various location approaches are possible using different location tones and methods for generation of such tones. Other apparatus are provided for location identification in a system with one or more hearing aids. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192988 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE EAVESDROPPING ON A BLUETOOTH DATA STREAM - Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for eavesdropping on a data stream for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing assistance system for a wearer including a Bluetooth host device having a transmitter configured to send data including one or more encoded audio streams, and a data channel having an advertisement that includes frequency information, frequency hop sequences, information for decoding audio streams, and security keys for decoding audio stream information. The system also includes one or more Bluetooth slave devices identified by the Bluetooth host device. The Bluetooth slave devices are configured to actively participate in a connection with the host device to aid the host transmitter in deciding which frequencies to use for frequency hopping and in determining which frequencies are being interfered with and should not be included in a channel map, according to various embodiments. | 07-10-2014 |
20140193007 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING AN AUDIO STREAM BASED ON PROXIMITY AND DIRECTION - Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for obtaining an audio stream for hearing assistance devices. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method comprising sensing proximity of a wearer of a hearing assistance device, and sensing direction of movement of the wearer of the hearing assistance device. Audio streaming to the hearing assistance device is activated or deactivated based on the sensed proximity and direction of movement, according to various embodiments. | 07-10-2014 |
20140211973 | LOCATION BASED ASSISTANCE USING HEARING INSTRUMENTS - Disclosed in some examples is a method of authentication, the method comprising monitoring for the presence of a hearing instrument; responsive to detecting the hearing instrument: establishing a short-range wireless communication session with the hearing instrument; determining an identity of the hearing instrument wearer; and responsive to determining the identity of the wearer, setting a value indicating that the hearing instrument wearer is authenticated with and within the wireless range of the presence device. | 07-31-2014 |
20140270211 | HEARING AID USING WIRELESS TEST MODES AS DIAGNOSTIC TOOL - Various system embodiments comprise a plurality of devices configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The plurality of devices includes a battery-operated hearing aid configured to communicate with another device using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless communication technology. A BLE tester is configured to test the hearing aid for the performance of BLE wireless communication via a wireless link. One embodiment uses a wireless test mode as a diagnostic tool for analyzing the wireless communication environment, such as when the communication with the hearing aid is interfered in a noisy environment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140307904 | ANTENNAS FOR CUSTOM FIT HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises an enclosure that includes a faceplate and a shell attached to the faceplate, a power source, a flex antenna, a transmission line connected to the flex antenna, and radio circuit connected to the transmission line and electrically connected to the power source. The flex antenna has a shape of at least a substantially complete loop around the power source, and maintains separation from the power source. | 10-16-2014 |
20140341408 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING INFORMATION FROM HOME APPLIANCES TO A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for providing a gateway for a wireless hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for wirelessly communicating with a hearing assistance device. One or more message and alert inputs are received and the message and alert inputs are processed to obtain an output. The output is wirelessly transmitted to a hearing assistance device, and the output is configured to be played via audio to a wearer of the hearing assistance device and to interrupt a current audio stream being played to the wearer, in various embodiments. Another aspect of the present subject matter relates to the one or more message and alert inputs being received from one or more home appliances through a hub device. The output informs the wearer of the hearing assistance device of states of the one or more home appliances. | 11-20-2014 |
20140348362 | THREE DIMENSIONAL SUBSTRATE FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - A hearing assistance device for a user comprising a housing, a three dimensional electronic substrate disposed in the housing, the substrate adapted to conform to a battery of the hearing assistance device and hearing assistance electronics mounted to the substrate. | 11-27-2014 |
20150010179 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES IN A BLUETOOTH NETWORK - A hearing assistance system provides for wireless communication between hearing assistance devices that are in a Bluetooth connection with a host device. In various embodiments, during a Bluetooth connection interval, one or more time slots are used for communication between the host device and one or more of the hearing assistance devices, while one or more additional time slots are reserved for communication between the hearing assistance devices. | 01-08-2015 |
20150016646 | PARALLEL ANTENNAS FOR STANDARD FIT HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises a housing, a power source, a radio circuit, an antenna and a transmission line. The radio circuit is within the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The antenna has an aperture, and the radio circuit is at least substantially within the aperture. The transmission line electrically connects to the antenna to the radio circuit. Various antenna embodiments include a flex circuit antenna. | 01-15-2015 |
20150023513 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN HEARING ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS - A system collects information on performance of short-range wireless communication in local hearing aid systems. The information is analyzed, for example, to inform local users to adjust the local hearing aid systems, to adjust operational parameters for improving wireless communication in the local hearing aid systems, and/or to improve wireless connectivity and reliability in future products. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023537 | WIRELESS BEACON SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES - A beacon device adapted to wirelessly communicate with a hearing assistance device, the beacon device comprising a sensor to sense a signal related to determination of an acoustic environment, a memory to store information relating to the signal, a processor in communication with the memory and the sensor, the processor adapted to process the information, a wireless transmitter in communication with the memory and an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver to transmit information to the hearing assistance device. | 01-22-2015 |
20150036853 | MUSIC PLAYER WATCH WITH HEARING AID REMOTE CONTROL - Described herein are devices and methods for enabling a hearing aid user to control the operation of the hearing aid and also select an audio source for streaming audio information such as music directly to the hearing aid. In one embodiment, these functionalities are combined into a single wrist-worn remote device that may also function as a watch. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036855 | RANGE CONTROL FOR WIRELESS HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE SYSTEMS - Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for wireless hearing assistance devices and in particular to a controllable range control for wireless hearing assistance device systems. An advertisement is used to allow the receiver to quickly receive streaming information, thus conserving power. In various embodiments, a system for communications with a hearing assistance device includes a wireless streaming device having a range control. The range control is configured to provide a first range for an advertisement transmission and a second range for a streaming information transmission. The first range is less than the second range, in various embodiments. | 02-05-2015 |
20150071469 | CONTROL OF LOW POWER OR STANDBY MODES OF A HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE - Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing aids and hearing aid applications. In one embodiment, a hearing assistance device includes a microphone, a receiver for playing sound to a wearer, a processor connected to the microphone and the receiver, and a radio connected to the processor. The processor is adapted to enter a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. The processor is further adapted to exit a low power or standby mode upon receipt of a predetermined command from one or more of the microphone or the radio. Other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present subject matter. | 03-12-2015 |