Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

J Virgil Bradley

David A Preves

Thomas A Victorian

Jeffrey Paul Solum

Deborah Corti

Terrance A Ruzicka

Ear-level full duplex audio communication systems each include one or two ear attachment devices, such as in-the-ear (ITE) or behind-the-ear (BTE) devices, that wirelessly communicates to a remote device such as a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a walkie talkie, or a language translator. When used as a hearing aid, such a system allows a hearing impaired individual to communicate with or through the remote device, such as to talk to another person through a cellular phone. When being used as an ear piece wirelessly extended from the remote device, such system allows an individual with normal hearing to privately communicate with or through the remote device without the need of holding the device or wearing any device wired to the remote device. Each ear attachment device includes a voice operated exchange (VOX), housed within the device, to preserve energy and hence, maximize the period between battery replacement or recharges. The VOX also gates various sounds detected by the system to control possible echoes and ringing.

External ear canal voice detection

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved control of hearing assistance devices and hearing assistance applications. The present apparatus and method can be deployed on a hearing aid, a device in communication with the hearing aid, or on both. In one embodiment a programmable control, including, but not limited to a button or switch or sensor or microphone is adapted to provide control of the function or settings of the hearing aid. In one embodiment, a programmable control for a device including, but not limited to a button or switch or sensor or microphone is adapted to provide wireless control of the function or settings of the hearing aid. In various embodiments, a programmable control for the hearing aid and a programmable control of the device are used to provide wireless control of the function or settings of the hearing aid.

System for programming special function buttons for hearing assistance device applications

A hearing communication device with wireless components is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to hearing communication devices, which include, but are not limited to, hearing aids and other hearing assistance devices. According to an embodiment, the device includes an enclosure and at least one microphone within the enclosure. The device also includes an amplifier, a speaker, and a signal processing circuit within the enclosure. In various embodiments, the device includes a power supply, such as a battery, electrically connected to the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit. In varying embodiments, at least one of the at least one microphone, the amplifier, the speaker and the signal processing circuit is adapted to communicate wirelessly. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

J Virgil Bradley