Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Preetham Varghese

Jeffrey Paul Solum

Gregory John Haubrich

Christopher David Young

Yoshi Kasahara

Brian Dobson

Nathan Curtis Johnson

Daniel Hanson

Christopher Young

A hearing assistance device is described that includes: a behind-ear portion including a rechargeable energy source and a processor. The hearing assistance device further includes an in-ear portion including a processor, a microphone, and a speaker. The hearing assistant device further includes a tether configured to transmit electrical energy from the rechargeable energy source to the in-ear portion and communicatively couple the processor of the behind-ear portion with the processor of the in-ear portion. processor of the behind-ear portion and the processor of the in-ear portion communicate via the tether using a first communication protocol and the processor of the behind-ear portion and a processor of an external computing device communicate outside the tether using a second communication protocol that is different than or same as the first communication protocol.

Modular hearing assistance device

A portable case for storing hearing assistance devices is described that includes at least one retention structure configured to retain at least part of a hearing assistance device, one or more communication units configured to exchange information between the portable case and one or more external devices, and at least one processor. The processor is configured to: detect when the at least one retention structure shares an electrical connection with the at least part of the hearing assistance device that is retained by the at least one retention structure; and responsive to receiving data, from the hearing assistance device, via the electrical connection, while the at least part of the hearing assistance device is retained by the at least one retention structure, cause the one or more communication units to communicate with exchange the information data between the portable case and the one or more external devices.

Portable case for modular hearing assistance devices

A portable case for storing and charging hearing assistance devices is described. The portable case includes at least one retention structure configured to retain at least part of a hearing assistance device, an energy storage device, a charging circuitry electrically coupled to the energy storage device. The at least one processor is configured to detect when the at least one retention structure retains the at least part of the hearing assistance device, and responsive to detecting the at least one retention structure retaining the at least part of the hearing assistance device, cause the charging circuitry to charge, via an electrical connection shared by the at least part of the hearing assistance device and the charging circuitry, a power source of the hearing assistance device.

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Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Preetham Varghese