Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Paul Anders Shriner

Gregory John Haubrich

Aaron Anderson

Ryan J Owens

Danita Prabhu

Nasser Thomas Pooladian

Achintya K Bhowmik

Stephen Paul Flood

Zhenchao Yang

Ezdeen Elghannai

Andrew Joseph Johnson

Alexander Botz

Casey Edward Murray

Dong Xue

Ezdeen Elgahannai

An antenna system for a wearable device comprises an antenna that includes a plurality of elements. The elements include an antenna element that comprises an electrically conductive material. The antenna also includes one or more feed points configured for operable coupling to a wireless transceiver. Additionally, the antenna includes a set of one or more switch units. For each respective switch unit of the set of switch units: the respective switch unit is connected to one or more elements of the respective switch unit in the plurality of elements, a flow of electrical current to the one or more elements connected to the respective switch unit is dependent on a switch state of the respective switch unit. A radiation characteristic of the antenna is dependent on the switch states of the switch units.

Antenna designs with switch units for wearable devices

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.

Ear-worn electronic hearing device incorporating an antenna with cutouts

Embodiments herein relate to hearing device systems that can utilize proxy devices to convey emergency communications. In an embodiment, the system operates in a first communication mode and a second communication mode. The first communication mode can include the hearing device being paired to a wireless communication enabled device for conveying data to a non-local network as initiated by the hearing device. The second communication mode can include the hearing device accessory being paired to the wireless communication enabled device for conveying data to the non-local network as initiated by the hearing device. The system can enter the second communication mode when the hearing device cannot communicate with the wireless communication enabled device. The hearing device accessory uses a hardware address of the hearing device to communicate with the wireless communication enabled device as if it was paired thereto. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Hearing devices using proxy devices for emergency communication

A system includes a hearing instrument and a case configured to store at least a portion of the hearing instrument. The hearing instrument includes a speaker configured to generate a sound wave, and at least one magnetic component that includes one or more of a coil configured to generate a current in response to detecting an alternating magnetic field, a magnetic shield configured to provide an electromagnetic shield for one or more components of the hearing instrument, a crosspin configured to provide a structural support between two opposing sides of the hearing instrument, a battery, or a charging contact configured to electrically couple the battery to a power source. The case includes a retention magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field that detachably couples at least the portion of the hearing instrument with the case by attracting the magnetic component of the hearing instrument to the case retention magnet.

Hearing instrument and charger

A system comprises a first hearing device and a second hearing device each comprising a housing configured to be supported at, on or in the wearer's ear, a processor, memory, a radio frequency transceiver, and an antenna arrangement disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor. The antenna arrangement comprises an antenna coupled to a phase shifter. The processor is configured to adjust a phase shift of the phase shifter. The system also comprises a clock synchronization link between the transceivers, a second link configured to communicate received signal information between the transceivers, and a master processor defined by the processor of the first or second hearing device. The master processor is configured to cause the first and second hearing devices to operate the antenna arrangements as a phased array antenna arrangement via the clock synchronization link and the second link.

Hearing device system incorporating phased array antenna arrangement

An ear-worn electronic monitoring system includes an on-ear component comprising a housing configured for placement on, in or about the wearer's ear. The on-ear component comprises a power source and a first interface coupled to the power source. The monitoring system also includes an in-ear component comprising a housing configured for deployment at least partially within an ear canal of the wearer. The in-ear component comprises a second interface configured to couple to and decouple from the first interface, a controller coupled to a memory, one or more physiologic sensors coupled to the controller and memory, and power management circuitry coupled to the controller. The power management circuitry comprises a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from a wireless powering arrangement. The power management circuitry is further configured to receive power from the power source of the on-ear component when the second interface is coupled to the first interface.

Ear-worn electronic system employing wireless powering arrangement for powering an in-ear component during sleep

Embodiments herein relate to ear-wearable devices that can be used to control other device and related methods. In a first aspect, an ear-wearable device is included having a control circuit, a wireless communications circuit, a microphone, and a motion sensor. The ear-wearable device is configured to receive an input from a wearer of the ear-wearable device, select a controllable device to be controlled based on factors including at least one of physical proximity between the ear-wearable device and the controllable device and a direction that the head of the wearer is pointing, and issue a control command to the controllable device. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Ear-wearable devices for control of other devices and related methods

Embodiments are directed to an ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn by a wearer. The device comprises an enclosure configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the enclosure. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the enclosure and coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed in or on the enclosure. A magnetically coupled feed arrangement comprises a separable transformer. The separable transformer comprises a first coil coupled to the antenna and a second coil coupled to the transceiver, wherein the second coil is physically and electrically separated from the first coil. The feed arrangement is configured to feed the antenna via mutual inductance between the first and second coils.

Ear-worn electronic device incorporating magnetically coupled feed for an antenna

An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of the wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a radio frequency transceiver and a power source. An antenna is disposed in, on, or extending from the housing and operably coupled to the transceiver. A non-Foster circuit is operably connected to the antenna and coupled to the power source. The non-Foster circuit is configured to actively load the antenna and provide a negative reactance that offsets a reactance of the antenna.

Ear-worn electronic device incorporating an antenna actively loaded using a non-foster circuit

An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises an enclosure configured to be supported by, 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 coupled to the wireless transceiver via a feedline. The antenna comprises two antenna elements each comprising electrically conductive material and having an area greater than an area of the feedline. The two antenna elements are oriented substantially in opposition to one another and at least some of the electronic circuitry is disposed between the two antenna elements. At least one strap is connected to and between the two antenna elements. At least one slot radiating element is incorporated in at least one of the two antenna elements and the at least one strap.

Hearing device incorporating antenna arrangement with slot radiating element

An ear-worn electronic device is adapted to be worn at, by, in or on an ear of a wearer. The device comprises a housing configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the housing. A speaker or a receiver is coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the housing and coupled to the processor. An antenna arrangement is disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver. The antenna arrangement comprises a primary antenna and a chip antenna connected to the primary antenna. The primary antenna serves as a counterpoise for the chip antenna and feeds the chip antenna.

Hearing device incorporating a primary antenna in conjunction with a chip antenna

A hearing device comprises a housing configured to be supported at, on or in a wearer's ear. A processor is coupled to memory, and the processor and memory are disposed in the housing. A radiofrequency transceiver is coupled to the processor and disposed in the housing. A phased array antenna arrangement is disposed in or on the housing and coupled to the transceiver and the processor. The phased array antenna arrangement comprises a plurality of antennas each coupled to one of a plurality of phase shifters. The processor is configured to adjust a phase shift of each of the phase shifters to steer an antenna array pattern.

Growing community of inventors

Hopkins, MN, United States of America

Paul Anders Shriner