H04R25/554

GENERATING AN AUDIO SIGNAL FROM MULTIPLE INPUTS
20220408200 · 2022-12-22 ·

A system, such as an ear-wearable device or a hearing aid, can receive multiple audio signals representing a same audio content, can cross-correlate the multiple audio signals to determine relative delays between the audio signals, can apply the determined delays to at least one of the audio signals to form multiple synchronized audio signals, and can mix at least two of the synchronized audio signals in time-varying proportions to form an output audio signal. The system can optionally adjust the mix proportions, in real time, to increase or optimize the signal-to-noise ratio of the output audio signal. The system can optionally perform the cross-correlation repeatedly, at regular or irregular time intervals, to update the relative delays. The system can optionally divide the audio signals into frequency bands, and apply these operations to each frequency band, independent of the other frequency bands.

Method and system for streaming a multichannel audio signal to a binaural hearing system
20220408202 · 2022-12-22 ·

There is provided a method for streaming a multichannel audio signal comprising a first channel (L) and a second channel (R) from an audio source device to a binaural hearing system comprising a first hearing device worn at first ear of a user and a second hearing device worn at a second ear of the user.

SELF-CHECK PROTOCOL FOR USE BY EAR-WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

An ear-wearable electronic device includes one or more processors configured to detect presence of first and second hearing devices in a charging case, and to initiate a self-check protocol by at least one of the first and second hearing devices. The self-check protocol comprises wirelessly coupling the first and second hearing devices, selectively activating at least one electronic component of the first hearing device, and assessing performance of the second hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the first hearing device. The self-check protocol also comprises selectively activating at least one electronic component of the second hearing device, assessing performance of the first hearing device using an output or a response of the at least one electronic component of the second device, and storing results of the performance assessment in a memory.

EAR-MOUNTABLE LISTENING DEVICE WITH MAGNETIC CONNECTOR
20220400330 · 2022-12-15 ·

An ear-mountable listening device includes an acoustic package and an electronics package. The acoustic package is configured to emit audio in response to an audio signal. The acoustic package includes a first set of magnets arranged annularly about a central axis of the ear-mountable listening device. The electronics package is electrically coupled to the acoustic package when the ear-mountable listening device is worn to provide the audio signal to the acoustic package. The electronics package includes a second set of magnets arranged annularly about the central axis proximate to a proximal end of the electronics package to removably affix the electronics package to the acoustic package via magnetic forces between the first set of magnets and the second set of magnets.

Power management features

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.

Battery life estimation for hearing instruments

A system may obtain data related to hearing instruments, such as data indicating answers of a user to a questionnaire or historical usage data of the hearing instruments. For each respective feature of one or more features, the system may determine a feature duty cycle corresponding to an amount of time during a period in which the respective feature is anticipated to be active based on the data related to the hearing instruments. The system may further determine an energy cost for the respective feature at least based on the respective feature duty cycle for the respective feature and a power consumption rate of the respective feature. The system may calculate a battery life of one or more batteries in the hearing instruments at least based on the energy costs for each feature of the one or more features.

WIRELESSLY RECHARGEABLE IN-EAR HEARING DEVICE AND CHARGER FOR SAME

The present disclosure relates to a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, a charger for a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device, and a system comprising a wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device and a charger for the wirelessly rechargeable in-ear hearing device.

EAR-WORN ELECTRONIC HEARING DEVICE INCORPORATING AN ANTENNA WITH CUTOUTS

An ear-worn electronic hearing device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the enclosure and comprises a wireless transceiver. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure and operably coupled to the wireless transceiver. The antenna has a physical size and comprises a plurality of cutouts disposed along a periphery of the antenna. The cutouts are configured to increase an electrical length of the antenna without an increase in the physical size of the antenna. The antenna can comprise at least one interior window having a window periphery. A plurality of window cutouts are disposed along the window periphery. The window cutouts are configured to increase a path length of current distribution along the window periphery.

AUDIO-BASED NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION

The disclosed systems and method provide for an audio playback device to form a Bluetooth connection with an audio source device based on audio generated by an acoustic transducer. The audio is encoded with Bluetooth connectivity data corresponding to the audio source device. The acoustic transducer can be arranged on the audio source device, or it can be arranged on an audio playback device connected to the audio source device via a Bluetooth connection. The audio is received by a microphone of an audio playback device. The audio playback device then extracts the Bluetooth connectivity information from the audio, and forms a Bluetooth connection with the audio source device. If the Bluetooth connection is a Broadcast Audio stream, as defined by the LE Audio standard, multiple audio playback devices can be able to connect audio source device, allowing for a communal listening experience.

AUDIO-BASED METHOD FOR DETERMINING DEVICE DISTANCE
20220390580 · 2022-12-08 · ·

Systems and methods directed to determining the distance between two devices are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize a Bluetooth connection between a first device, such as a smartphone with an acoustic transducer, and a second device, such as an earbud with an embedded microphone, and the audio capturing capabilities of the second device to determine a distance between the two devices. The first device plays audio via the acoustic transducer. This audio is captured by a microphone of the second device. The second device transmits data including the captured audio back to the first device via the Bluetooth connection. The first device calculates a time delay from the playing of the audio to the reception of the data over the Bluetooth connection. The first device then calculates the distance based on the time delay, the latency constant, and the speed of sound.