An electronic device may include: a communication circuit; and a processor operatively connected to the communication circuit. The processor may be configured to generate a communication link to a first electronic device for audio by using the communication circuit, and when identifying a first state in which the remaining battery capacity of the electronic device for audio is smaller than the remaining battery capacity of the first electronic device for audio, and a difference between the remaining battery capacity of the electronic device for audio and the remaining battery capacity of the first electronic device for audio is greater than or equal to a threshold value, change a master role from the electronic device for audio to the first electronic device for audio. Various other embodiments may be provided.

A sensor on an earpiece is used to attempt to detect a signal corresponding to a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, it can be determined that the earpiece is being worn by a user. The sensor may be an acoustic transducer on a surface of the earpiece that is located within the wearer's ear canal, while the earpiece is being worn normally.

A method performed by an electronic controller includes determining a charge level of a power supply configured to provide power to a medical device, and estimating, based on the charge level of the power supply, a first power supply life for operating the medical device according to a first mode. Further, the method includes estimating, based on the charge level of the power supply, a second power supply life for operating the medical device according to a second mode. As recited, operating the medical device according to the first mode has a different power use or consumption characteristic from operating the medical device according to the second mode. The method also includes generating a notification indicative of the first power supply life and the second power supply life.

A method is indicated for operating a hearing aid, wherein the hearing aid is switchable between a usage state, in which a signal processing unit of the hearing aid is activated, and an idle state, in which the signal processing unit is deactivated. The hearing aid has a time measuring unit, which has a first timer and a second timer. The first timer is activated in the usage state and is deactivated in the idle state, for time measurement during the usage state. The second timer is activated in the idle state for time measurement during the idle state. Furthermore, a corresponding hearing aid is indicated.

A method for initializing a long-term-storage mode for a hearing instrument having a rechargeable battery cell includes predetermining an upper limiting value of a parameter for a state of charge of the rechargeable battery cell for long-term storage of the hearing instrument. An actual value, actually present, of the parameter for the state of charge is measured within an activation routine for long-term storage. The measured actual value of the parameter for the state of charge is compared with the upper limiting value of the parameter for the state of charge, and if the measured actual value of the parameter lies above the upper limiting value, the battery cell is discharged at least until the parameter has reached the predetermined upper limiting value, and the hearing instrument is placed into a long-term-storage mode. A hearing instrument is also provided.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device may include: a housing configured to be mounted on or detached from an ear of a user, at least one processor disposed within the housing, an audio module including audio circuitry, and a sensor device including at least one sensor operatively coupled to the at least one processor and the audio module. The sensor device may be configured to: output acceleration-related data to the at least one processor through a first path of the sensor device, identify whether an utterance has been made during the output of the acceleration-related data; obtain bone conduction-related data based on the identification of the utterance; and output the obtained bone conduction-related data to the audio module through a second path of the sensor device.

A system comprising a plurality of processing devices is arranged for performing an algorithm having a plurality of computational tasks. The plurality of processing devices are interconnected with each other. A control logic module is adapted to select an implementation of the algorithm among a plurality of implementations. At least a part of the control logic module resides in one of the processing devices and the implementation is selected according to at least one criterion of (latency requirements, computational power, resource availability, data locality, privacy requirements, precision requirements, hardware capabilities, distance, location, acoustical performance requirements, energy efficiency, orientation) and in the selected implementation the plurality of computational tasks of the algorithm is distributed over at least two of the processing devices.

A method and device for determining a wearing state of earphones, and corresponding earphones, are disclosed. The method includes determining an onto-ears event or off-ears event experienced by the earphones on the basis of first data indicating motion of the earphones. The method further includes determining a first wearing state of the earphones on the basis of second data indicating proximity of the earphones to a user's skin. The method additionally includes determining the wearing state of the earphones on the basis of the determined onto-ears event or off-ears event and the first wearing state. This increases the accuracy of detection of the wearing state of the earphones. And based on this more accurately determined wearing state, the earphones can switch appropriately between a low power consumption mode and a normal operating mode, thereby improving the energy consumption of the earphones.

A wearable multifunction device or earpiece or a pair of earpieces includes one or more processors, at least one microphone coupled to the one or more processors, a biometric sensor coupled to the one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory having computer instructions causing the one or more processors to perform the operations of sensing a remaining battery life and based on the sensing, prioritizing one or more of the functions of always on recording, biometric measuring, biometric recording, sound pressure level measuring, voice activity detection, key word detection, key word analysis, personal audio assistant functions, transmission of data to a tethered phone, transmission of data to a server, transmission of data to a cloud device.

A headset which includes an earpiece; a flexible headband coupled to the earpiece, the flexible headband including a flex sensing component, the headband profile sensing component determining when the headset is in a headset un-used orientation and a headset used orientation; and, a smart power control system, the smart power control system performing a smart power control operation based upon whether the headset is in the headset un-used orientation or the headset used orientation.