What will they think of next?
Apple’s patent #11950040 envisions an in-ear device with a volume control feature on the stem, which the user can rotate — up to increase volume, down to decrease. Not exactly a new concept but the patent goes further by enabling volume control with head nods or with head turns — right to increase volume, left to decrease, or head nodding.
As usual with an Apple patent, it covers the bases by describing many approaches, not all of which we may have thought of in the past.
Bragi’s patent #11956191 (Audio-based social media platform) envisions a future in which people can interact with others without the need to use keyboards or screens. Imagine that. Of course, the platform aims to enable communications with those who aren’t right in front of us, but still. The retro idea of just talking with folks wherever they are is pretty exciting.
The April 2024 patent list
| Description | Patent Number | Assignee | Issued |
| Hearing protection device having dosimeter with alerting function | 11944517 | Minuendo AS (Oslo, NO) | 4/02/2024 |
| Input and edit functions utilizing accelerometer based earpiece movement system and method | 11947874 | Bragi GmbH (Munich, DE) | 4/02/2024 |
| Rechargeable hearing aid battery with slotted grommet | 11949060 | Energizer Brands LLC (St Louis, MO) | 4/02/2024 |
| Volume control of ear devices | 11950040 | Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) | 4/02/2024 |
| Method, apparatus and system for neural network hearing aid | 11950056 | Chromatic Inc (New York, NY) | 4/02/2024 |
| Hearing device comprising a speech intelligibility estimator | 11950057 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) | 4/02/2024 |
| Method, device and system for providing communication of data between a hearing device and an auxiliary device | 11950058 | GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 4/02/2024 |
| Antenna structure for hearing devices | 11950059 | Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) | 4/02/2024 |
| Hearing device | 11950060 | GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 4/02/2024 |
| Hearing device cerumen filter device | 11950061 | GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 4/02/2024 |
| Earbud | D1020703 | Zound Industries International AB (Stockholm, SE) | 4/02/2024 |
| Wireless communication in an implantable medical device system | 11951315 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/09/2024 |
| Ambient volume control in open audio device | 11955107 | Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) | 4/09/2024 |
| Audio signal processing method and system for noise mitigation of a voice signal measured by an audio sensor in an ear canal of a user | 11955133 | Analog Devices International Unlimited Company (Limerick, IE) | 4/09/2024 |
| Self-boosting amplifier | 11955936 | Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) | 4/09/2024 |
| Audio-based social media platform | 11956191 | Bragi GmbH (Munich, DE) | 4/09/2024 |
| Microphone unit having a pressurized chamber | 11956581 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/09/2024 |
| Earpiece for a hearing device, dome and earpiece part | 11956596 | GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 4/09/2024 |
| Audio synchronization for hearing devices | 11956597 | Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) | 4/09/2024 |
| Loudspeaker box and hearing device | 11956598 | Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) | 4/09/2024 |
| Sub-surface indicator lighting | 11956599 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/09/2024 |
| Device and method to reduce ear wax clogging of acoustic ports, hearing aid sealing system, and feedback reduction system | 11956600 | The Diablo Canyon Collective LLC (Wilmington, DE) | 4/09/2024 |
| Dynamic transmission rates for isochronous streaming | 11956676 | Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) | 4/09/2024 |
| Charger for hearing aids | D1021783 | GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 4/09/2024 |
| Earbud | D1021864 | Zound Industries International AB (Stockholm, SE) | 4/09/2024 |
| Keyboard with wireless earbuds | D1021902 | J2 International Group Limited (Shenzhen, China) | 4/09/2024 |
| Hearing aid | D1022214 | Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/09/2024 |
| Methods of treating hearing loss | 11957655 | The Regents of The University of California (Oakland, CA) | 4/16/2024 |
| Methods and systems for visualizing sound and hearing ability | 11961167 | Zimmerman, Jay Alan (New York, NY) | 4/16/2024 |
| Method for operating a hearing system | 11961382 | Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) | 4/16/2024 |
| Wearable audio device with feedback instability control | 11961502 | Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) | 4/16/2024 |
| Earbud | 11962963 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Torrance, CA) | 4/16/2024 |
| Wireless earbud having external ear contact point | 11962965 | EM-TECH Co Ltd (Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) | 4/16/2024 |
| Systems and methods for customizing auditory devices | 11962974 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/16/2024 |
| Method for operating a hearing aid system, and hearing aid system with a hearing aid | 11962976 | Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) | 4/16/2024 |
| Custom electronic switchable hearing protection system | 11962977 | Schumaier, Daniel (Elizabethton, TN) | 4/16/2024 |
| Calibration of a remote-control unit for use in acoustic remote control | 11962978 | Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) | 4/16/2024 |
| Dynamic fitting for device worn on recipient’s body | 11962979 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/16/2024 |
| Hearing evaluation systems and methods implementing a spectro-temporally modulated audio signal | 11962980 | Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/16/2024 |
| Dual hearing protection system | 11963849 | 3M Innovative Properties Company (St Paul, MN) | 4/23/2024 |
| Treatment of hearing loss | 11963968 | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (Boston, MA) | 4/23/2024 |
| Method for operating a hearing device based on a speech signal, and hearing device | 11967334 | Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) | 4/23/2024 |
| Adapters for microphones and combinations thereof | 11968487 | Knowles Electronics LLC (Itasca, IL) | 4/23/2024 |
| Dome for hearing aids | 11968490 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Earpiece with GPS receiver | 11968491 | Bragi GmbH (Munich, DE) | 4/23/2024 |
| Headset and/or hearing protection device comprising a waterproof speaker assembly with decompression | 11968493 | Invisio A/S (Hvidor, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Hearing aid and a method of operating a hearing aid | 11968499 | Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Hearing device or system comprising a communication interface | 11968500 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Hearing device comprising a transmitter | 11968501 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Implantable medical device comprising a wireless transcutaneous link | 11968502 | Oticon Medical (Smorum, DK) | 4/23/2024 |
| Hearing-assist systems and methods for audio quality enhancements in performance venues | 11968504 | The Epstein Hear Us Now Foundation (Dallas, TX) | 4/23/2024 |
| Systems and methods for providing augmented audio | 11968517 | Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA) | 4/23/2024 |
| Sleep-inducing earbud | D1024032 | LG Electronics Inc (Seoul, KR) | 4/23/2024 |
| Personal hearing device | D1024335 | Relajet Tech (Taiwan) Co Ltd (Taipei, TW) | 4/23/2024 |
| Therapeutic sound through bone conduction | 11969556 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU) | 4/30/2024 |
| Systems and methods for detecting electrode lead proximity to cochlear tissue | 11969595 | Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/30/2024 |
| Slotted stiffening member for electrode lead insertion | 11969603 | Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/30/2024 |
| Wearable sound device | 11972749 | xMEMS Labs Inc (Santa Clara, CA) | 4/30/2024 |
| Systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting power and data to an implantable stimulator | 11973354 | Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/30/2024 |
| User-actuatable touch control for an ear-worn electronic device | 11974088 | Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) | 4/30/2024 |
| Hearing device system incorporating phased array antenna arrangement | 11974096 | Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) | 4/30/2024 |
| Systems and methods for visualizing effects of a frequency lowering scheme implemented by a hearing device | 11974098 | Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) | 4/30/2024 |
| Connector tip with bristles for hearing instruments | 11974099 | Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) | 4/30/2024 |
| Hearing device | 11974100 | Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG) | 4/30/2024 |
| In-car headphone acoustical augmented reality system | 11974103 | Harman International Industries Inc (Stamford, CT) | 4/30/2024 |
| Pair of wireless earbuds | D1025023 | Shenzhen Weitong Technology Co Ltd (Shenzhen, CN) | 4/30/2024 |
| Earbud | D1025026 | Google LLC (Mountain View, CA) | 4/30/2024 |
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.
