587results about "Hearing device energy consumption reduction" patented technology

A personal sound system is described that includes a wireless network supporting an ear-level module, a companion module and a phone. Other audio sources are supported as well. A configuration processor configures the ear-level module and the companion module for private communications, and configures the ear-level module for a plurality of signal processing modes, including a hearing aid mode, for a corresponding plurality of sources of audio data. The ear module is configured to handle variant audio sources, and control switching among them.

A hearing assist device is associated with an ear of a user. Health characteristics of the user are measured by sensors of the hearing assist device. The measured health characteristics may be analyzed in the hearing assist device, or transmitted from the hearing assist device for remote analysis. Based on the analysis, alerts, instructions, and other information may be displayed to the user in the form of text or graphics, or may be played by the hearing assist device in the form of sound / voice. Medical personnel may be alerted when problems with the user are detected by the hearing assist device. The user may provide verbal commands to the hearing assist device. The hearing assist device may be configured to filter sounds, and may be configured for a personal hearing frequency response of the user. The hearing assist device may be configured for speech recognition to recognize commands.

Hearing assist devices and devices and services that are capable of providing external operational support thereto are described. In accordance with various embodiments, the performance of one or more functions by a hearing assist device is assisted or improved in some manner by utilizing resources of an external device and / or service to which the hearing assist device may be communicatively connected. Such performance assistance or improvement may be achieved, for example and without limitation, by utilizing power resources, processing resources, storage resources, sensor resources, and / or user interface resources of an external device or service to which the hearing assist device may be communicatively connected.

A hearing aid insertable into an ear canal includes a microphone which translates acoustic energy into electrical signals, signal processing circuitry which processes the electrical signals provided by the microphone, a receiver which converts the processed electrical signals into acoustic energy, and a power source connectable to the signal processing circuitry.

The invention relates to an energy saving headset that comprises a power management unit operable to reduce the power consumption of the headset when a user is not present. The power management unit uses capacitive sensing to detect the presence of the user. Capacitive sensing is advantageous since it provides a flexible and reliable sensor that can accurately detect the presence or absence of a user either by detecting user proximity or user contact. Moreover, in various embodiments, the sensitivity of a capacitive sensor may be adjusted to account for user movement or changes in environmental conditions, such as, for example, the presence of water, or sweat, on the headset to further improve sensing reliability. The invention further relates to headsets using user presence signals based on capacitive sensing to control other functions of the headset or to control external devices to which the headset is connected, either wirelessly or by wires.

Devices and methods of detecting a predetermined audio signal in audio signals are provided. A device includes a processor coupled to a clock signal generator, a power controller and an audio detector. The power controller controls a clock rate provided to the processor by the clock signal generator, to control the device to operate in a low power mode having a relatively low power consumption or in a normal power mode having a relatively high power consumption. The audio detector receives audio signals and detects, in the low power mode, probable presence of a predetermined audio signal in the audio signals. The power controller controls the device to switch from the low power mode to the normal power mode responsive to the detected presence of the predetermined audio signal by the audio detector.

A hearing aid that is capable of automatically switching between a full-function mode and a sleep mode depending on the location of the hearing aid. The hearing aid comprises a hearing aid module for processing an input signal and generating a compensated output signal and, a location sensor module for providing a location information signal to indicate one of an in-the-ear case and an out-of-the-ear case. The hearing aid module automatically switches to the full-function mode when the location information signal indicates the in-the-ear case and the hearing aid module automatically switches to the sleep mode when the location information signal indicates the out-of-the-ear case.

A wearable device has a motion detector configured to detect motion of the device and produce a motion signal relating to motion of the device, a contact sensor configured to detect if the device is in contact with an object and produce a contact signal relating to whether the device is in contact with an object, and a controller operatively coupled with the motion detector and the contact sensor. The controller is configured to switch between on and off-states as a function of at least one of the motion signal and contact signal. The device also has a sound transducer or other transducer operatively coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to change the state of the sound transducer between on and off-states in response to receipt of the motion signal, and the contact signal.

A system, method and wireless earpieces for managing power utilized by a pair of wireless earpieces. A signal strength is determined between the pair of wireless earpieces. Signal activity is determined for the pair of wireless earpieces. A low power mode is activated in response to determining the signal activity is below an activity threshold. The low power mode is activated for the one or more of the pair of wireless earpieces in response to the signal strength exceeding one or more signals thresholds.

A system, method and wireless earpieces for managing power utilized by a pair of wireless earpieces. Ambient light conditions and noise levels in an environment of the pair of wireless earpieces are determined. The low power settings are activated for the pair of wireless earpieces in response to determining the ambient light conditions are below a light threshold or the noise levels are below a noise threshold; signal activity is below an activity threshold.

A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and / or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and / or acceleration and / or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.

A system, method and wireless earpieces for determining a status of the wireless earpiece. Sensor measurements are made utilizing sensors of the wireless earpieces at a first location. The sensor measurements are analyzed. Data is extrapolated for one or more other locations utilizing the sensor measurements from the first location within the wireless earpiece.

A system, method and one or more wireless earpieces for determining a status of a user. Sensor readings for the user are performed utilizing sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces. The sensor readings are analyzed. A status of the user is determined utilizing the sensor readings from the sensors of the one or more wireless earpieces.

An apparatus is provided that includes an input system, an output system, and a sensor for sensing magnetic fields. In one example, a signal processing circuit electrically connects the input system to the output system, and a magnetic sensor adapted to inhibit the acoustic input and function as a magnetic input in the presence of a magnetic field. In one example, the magnetic sensor includes a giant magneto resistive (GMR) sensor. In another example, the magnetic sensor includes an anisotropic magneto resistive (AMR) sensor. The magnetic field can be generated by, among other things, a magnet in a telephone handset. The hearing aid further is programmed based on time-varying characteristics of the magnetic field. Wireless activation or deactivation of the hearing aid is also described. Other examples and options are provided herein.

The invention relats to wireless pairing of earbuds and a case. A case for a pair of wireless earbuds includes a lid and a lid sensor configured to generate a detect signal when the lid is moved from a closed position to an open position. The case further includes circuitry configured to, in response to receiving the detect signal, send a signal to the wireless earbuds to turn them on and to initiate a pairing sequence between the wireless earbuds and an electronic device.

A system, method, and wireless earpieces for managing power settings. Sensor measurements are performed utilizing a first sensor array of the wireless earpieces to detect light and motion. Sensor measurements are performed utilizing a second sensor array of the wireless earpieces to detect light and motion. The sensor measurements are analyzed from the first sensor array and the second sensor array. A determination is made whether a change event is detected in response to the sensor measurements. The change event is confirmed as detected. The wireless earpieces enter a full power mode in response to the change event being confirmed.

The invention discloses a method for controlling an intelligent terminal device and a system for controlling the intelligent terminal device. The method for controlling the intelligent terminal device and the system for controlling the intelligent terminal device are used for solving the problems that a method for manual operation is complex and a switch, a plug and an interface of an earphone are easy to abrade and age due to frequent mechanical operation are solved. The method for controlling the intelligent device terminal comprises the steps that a wearing state of a telephone receiver of the earphone connected with the intelligent terminal device is detected, and the wearing state comprises a put-on state and a take-off state; according to the wearing state of the telephone receiver, the operating state used in the intelligent terminal device and / or the work pattern of the intelligent terminal device are / is controlled. Manual operation is not needed for control, so that operation in the process of change of the wearing state of the earphone is simplified, the service life of the earphone mechanical portion is prolonged, and electric energy of the intelligent terminal device is saved.

A receiving antenna circuit is arranged in a reactive near-field of a modulated magnetic induction signal and forms a narrow band-pass filter. The output of the antenna circuit is not subjected to any frequency translation prior to digitising, and the signal may nevertheless be digitised with low resolution, which radically reduces the power consumption of the receiving circuits. The reduction in power consumption is of several orders of magnitude, which allows implementation of such receiving circuits in battery-driven devices such as hearing devices without substantially affecting the battery life.

A playback system includes headphones worn on a user's body and converting an electrical signal into sound and a playback apparatus supplying the electrical signal to the headphones. The headphones include first and second electrodes provided in first and second converters, respectively, so as to be in contact with the user's body. The first converter converts the electrical signal in a right channel into sound. The second converter converts the electrical signal in a left channel into sound. The playback apparatus includes measuring means for measuring a resistance or a capacitance between the first and second electrodes, determination means for determining whether or not the headphones are being worn on the user's body in accordance with the resistance or the capacitance measured by the measuring means, and control means for controlling a state of the playback apparatus in accordance with the determination result of the determination means.

A headphone detector including a headphone and a processor. The headphone has a microphone and a speaker, and the microphone is configured to generate an audio signal based on an output of the speaker. The processor is configured to receive the audio signal, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and assess whether the headphone is on ear or off ear based on a comparison of the characteristic to a threshold. In another aspect, an off-ear detection (OED) system includes a headphone and an OED processor. The headphone has a speaker, a feedforward microphone, and a feedback microphone. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on a headphone audio signal, a feedforward microphone signal, and a feedback microphone signal.

A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting audio data. The method includes setting a connection with a plurality of slave devices by using a short range wireless communication protocol, generating a data packet comprising the audio data, and repetitively transmitting the data packet to the plurality of slave devices through a multicast / broadcast channel a number of times.

A system, method, and smart case for managing wireless earpieces. The wireless earpieces are detected proximate the smart case. The power utilized by the wireless earpieces is lowered in response to detecting the wireless earpieces proximate the smart case. The wireless earpieces are charged utilizing a battery of the smart case in response to determining the wireless earpieces require charging.

A communication system for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, the system comprising: a first device configured to receive and modulate the at least one signal, the first device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a first human body and a second conductive element isolated from the first human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal; and a second device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a second human body, and a second conductive element isolated from the second human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to receive the transmitted modulated signal from the first device.

A low battery detection circuit is disclosed for detecting low battery voltages in hearing aids and other battery operated devices. The low battery detection circuit operates reliably on a small amount of current, which does not significantly increase overall battery drain. An output signal is generated whose amplitude and frequency increase as battery voltage decreases below a predetermined level. The circuits minimal number of components and output signal characteristics make it particularly applicable as a low battery early warning device for hearing aid devices.

A method is provided for managing signal distribution in a wireless speaker unit. The method includes monitoring a power level of the first wireless device; receiving, at the first wireless device, a first signal from the base unit if a power level of the first wireless device has not reached a threshold level; transmitting wirelessly a second signal, derived from the first signal, from said first wireless device to the second wireless device if a power level of the first wireless device has not reached the threshold level; receiving, at the second wireless device, the first signal from the base unit if the power level of the first wireless device reaches the threshold level; and transmitting wirelessly a third signal, derived from the first signal, from the second wireless device to the first wireless device if the power level of the first wireless device reaches the threshold level.

Disclosed is an audio amplification circuit comprising: an input terminal for receipt of an audio input signal; a first preamplifier having an input operatively coupled to the input terminal and operable to provide a first amplified audio signal with a first signal amplification; a second preamplifier having an input operatively coupled to the input terminal and operable to provide a second amplified audio signal with a second signal amplification, smaller than the first signal amplification; a switch having a first input operatively coupled to the first preamplifier, a second input operatively coupled to the second preamplifier, and an output; an analogue-to-digital converter operatively coupled to the output of the switch and operable to provide a digital audio signal; a signal selection circuit operable to control the switch to selectively provide one of the first and second amplified audio signals on the output of the switch.

The present invention discloses a wearing state detection method of a wearable device and a wearable device. The method includes the following steps that: a sensor is arranged in a region of the wearable device that contacts with the skin of a user, measured values which are outputted by the sensor when the user wears and removes the wearable device are different; a reference value which can indicate whether the wearable device is worn or not is obtained; after wearing detection is started, the measured values are acquired from the sensor according to a preset sampling frequency; whether the wearable device is in a worn state currently is judged based on the measured values and the reference value; and when the wearable device is in a non-worn state, the wearable device is controlled to turn off corresponding functions which are operating. With the wearing state detection method of the wearable device of the invention adopted, the accuracy of the result of wearing detection is high; unnecessary power consumption of the wearable device can be decreased as much as possible, and the comfort of use of the device can be improved; when the wearable device is removed, the corresponding functions of the wearable device that are operating can be automatically stopped without the manual operation of the user required, and therefore, high intelligence can be realized; and the use needs of the wearable device can be satisfied.