The Sound of Music and Group Dynamics
UT’s patent 1120816 describes a natural ear to aid the “tonally challenged,” who have trouble singing on pitch or “carrying a tune.” A wearable device (e.g., glasses, BT hearable) emphasizes the fundamental frequency sung versus the intended fundamental so that singers can detect differences and adjust their vocal organs as they sing the note. It can also be an app on a cell phone, allowing it to serve as a convenient cell headset useful for media content and phone calls.
Or hearing aids.
For instance, better musicality could influence group listening choices, either drawing or repelling device wearers to or from singers. Sonova and Oticon are thinking of group dynamics like this among device wearers, depending on location, subject matter (Sonova, #11128962) or listening effort (Oticon, #11134351).
Consider the possibilities: a singer is singing off-tune in a noisy subway, with bystanders blocking him/her by streaming other content. Suddenly, the natural ear gets the singer in tune, thereby creating a listening pod of the bystanders whose ear devices automatically zero in on the singer, reduce background noise and monitor pulse transmission for those in the pod. Then, something happens — the singer stops, the train comes in, a better musician starts up –the pod vanishes or morphs as the devices go on the hunt for other potential group listening situations. Fascinating.
Patent List for September 2021
|
Description |
Patent Number |
Assignee |
Issued |
|
Subscription-based wireless service for a hearing device |
K/S HIMPP (Lynge, DK) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Systems and methods for antenna and ground plane mounting schemes for in-ear headphone |
Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
In-ear active noise-cancelling earphone |
Austrian Audio GmbH (Vienna, AT) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
System and method for multiplexed ultrasound hearing |
Regents of the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
System and method for aiding hearing |
Texas Institute of Science Inc (Richardson, TX) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Signal amplifier |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Methods and systems for hearing device signal enhancement using a remote microphone |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device for own voice detection and method of operating a hearing device |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Low-power differential communication architectures |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Hearing systems, sensor systems, and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Binaural dialogue enhancement |
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (San Francisco, CA), Dolby International AB (Amsterdam Zuidoost, NL) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Surgical tool |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Extended length antenna assembly for use within a multi-component system |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Earbud case |
LG Electronics Inc (Seoul, KR) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Earbud case |
LG Electronics Inc (Seoul, KR) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Earbud case |
LG Electronics Inc (Seoul, KR) |
9/07/2021 |
|
|
Natural ear |
Board of Regent, The University of Texas System (Austin, TX) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting power and data to an implantable stimulator |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for on ear detect |
Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd (Austin, TX) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing sensitivity acquisition methods and devices |
Staton Techiya LLC (Delray Beach, FL) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device comprising a vent with an adjustable acoustic valve |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing test system and method for a hearing test |
Merry Electronics (Shenzhen) Co Ltd (Guangdong, CN) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Method and device for the improved perception of one’s own voice |
Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device configured to utilize non-audio information to process audio signals |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
System and method for personalizing a hearing aid |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Ear-worn electronic device incorporating magnetically coupled feed for an antenna |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Volume control for external devices and a hearing device |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid dryer and disinfection kit |
Applicant: Schumaier, Daniel R (Elizabethton, TN) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Devices and methods for binaural spatial processing and projection of audio signals |
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid |
Xiamen Retone Hearing Technology Co Ltd (Xiamen, CN) |
9/14/2021 |
|
|
Cochlear implants including electrode arrays and methods of making the same |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Acoustic output device with antenna |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Antenna apparatus for use with medical implants |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Sound processing with increased noise suppression |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device with acoustic shock control and method for acoustic shock control in a hearing device |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Electronic devices with protective capacity |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid device comprising a sensor member |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Grouping of hearing device users based on spatial sensor input |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid and method for use of same |
Texas Institute of Science Inc (Richardson, TX) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Filter for a microphone system, a microphone system, a miniature electronic device and a method of equipping a printed circuit board |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Implantable medical device comprising a wireless transcutaneous link |
Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Charging and drying station for hearing aid device |
Applicant: Serene Group Inc (Norwalk, CA) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Transducer placement for growth accommodation |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Bone conduction skin interface |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/21/2021 |
|
|
Bone bed drilling template |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Wireless earbud |
Amazon Technologies Inc (Seattle, WA) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Earbud speech estimation |
Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd (Austin, TX) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Acoustic receiver-in-canal ear tip |
Knowles Electronics LLC (Itasca, IL) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid and method for use of same |
Texas Institute of Science Inc (Richardson, TX) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Method of operating a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Hearing assistance device with smart audio focus control |
International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Dual wireless audio streams transmission allowing for spatial diversity or own voice pickup (OVPU) |
Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid comprising a physiological sensor |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Hearing device with wax guard interface |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/28/2021 |
|
|
Hearing aid |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
9/28/2021 |
Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, owned and operated a dispensing audiology practice in Tucson and was active in management of HearingHealthMatters.org through 2017. She holds BA degrees in Communication Sciences, Psychology and Economics; MA in Communication Disorders; PhD in Hearing Sciences. Following post-doctoral work at Max Planck Institute (Munich, DE) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston), she joined the Stanford medical school faculty as director of audiology. She has authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles and taught Marketing and Practice Management in a variety of academic settings. She continues to consult and write on topics related to hearing health care vis-à-vis consumer demands, professional training, technological advancement, capital investment, industry consolidation, regulatory control, product and service distribution, and strategic pricing.
