Patent policing of ear device technologies is big news these days, as are the patent wars they spawn. Nowadays, “Honoring a patent” is less an ethical concept than a court-ordered process; patents are more assets on the balance sheet than they are original inventions.
New Definitions for Old Terms and Devices
In the words of retired Chief Judge Paul Redmond Michel (US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit):
“…a patent [is] a ticket to file a lawsuit. That’s all it is. So then patent values follow enforceability. The less enforceable the patent is in various ways, the lower the value of the patent for the whole portfolio.{{1}}[[1]]https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2015/05/12/judge-michel-says-congress-stuck-in-a-time-warp-on-patent-reform/id=57648/[[1]]
Patent value/enforceability seems, to the layman, to mean defining an idea broadly enough to cover all that one wants protected, but narrowly enough to be enforceable. Which may explain the title and wording of Samsung’s USPTO #9161138:
Title: Method for Adapting Sound of Hearing Aid and hearing Aid and Electronic Device Performing the Same.
“Head-worn devices with transceivers for wireless communication with other devices and with other functions that do not require wireless communication are well-known, e.g. hearing aids.”
Samsung’s debut into the hearing aid world may carry a brand other than “hearing aid.” Let’s hope it’s catchier than “electronic device performing the same.”
The Patent List
| Description | Patent Number | Assignee | Issued |
| Custom In-Ear Monitor | 9113266 | Aurisonics, inc. (Nashville, TN) | 8/18/2015 |
| Transmitting Audio Control Data to a Hearing Aid | Google Inc. (Mountain View, CA) | 8/25/2015 | |
| Implantable Sound Transmission Device for Magnetic Hearing Aid, and Corresponding Systems, Devices and Components | 9119010 | Sophono, Inc. (Boulder, CO) | 8/25/2015 |
| Systems and Methods for High Power Factor Charging | 9118185 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 8/25/2015 |
| Systems and Methods for Controlling Output Power of a Wireless Power Transmitter | 9118357 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 8/25/2015 |
| Systems and Methods for Induction Charging with a Closed Magnetic Loop | 9118203 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 8/25/2015 |
| Feedback control in a Listening Device | 9124986 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) | 9/01/2015 |
| Hearing Aid, Signal Processing Method, and Program | 9124984 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) | 9/01/2015 |
| Cochlear implant system component having multiple electrode assemblies | 9119957 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/01/2015 |
| Methods and Apparatus for Processing Audio Signals | 9130523 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) | 9/08/2015 |
| Method and Apparatus for Communication between Hearing Assistance Devices in a Bluetooth Network | 9131322 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 9/08/2015 |
| Method for Selectively Passing or Blocking Environmental Ambient Sound and Switchable Electrical Connections | 9131311 | Polk Audio, LLC (Baltimore, MD) | 9/08/2015 |
| Reduction of Transient Sounds in Hearing Implants | 9126041 | MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) | 9/08/2015 |
| Wireless Power Overvoltage Protection Circuit with Reduced Power Dissipation | 9130369 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 9/08/2015 |
| Audio Device with a Voice Coil Channel and a Separately Amplified Telecoil Channel | 9131320 | Apple Inc. (Cupertino, CA) | 9/08/2015 |
| Implantable Acoustic Sensor | 9126040 | Hearworks Pty, Limited (East Melbourne, Victoria, AU) | 9/08/2015 |
| Optimizing Operational Control of a Hearing Prosthesis | 9131324 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/08/2015 |
| Hearing prosthesis having an implantable actuator system | 9131323 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/08/2015 |
| Method and system for providing hearing assistance to a user | 9131318 | Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) | 9/08/2015 |
| Portable power charging of implantable medical devices | 9132276 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/15/2015 |
| Hearing Aid Comprising a Feedback Alarm | 9137612 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) | 9/15/2015 |
| Bone Anchored Hearing Aid with Adjustable Resonance Damping | 9137614 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) | 9/15/2015 |
| Ear strap for a probe tube | 9137615 | Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) | 9/15/2015 |
| Metal Air Cathode Manganese Oxide Contained in Octahedral Molecular Sieve | 9136540 | Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Madison, WI) | 9/15/2015 |
| Wireless Sound Transmission System and Method | 137613 | Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) | 9/15/2015 |
| Moisture resistant headpieces and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same | 9132270 | Advanced Bionics AG (Zug, CH) | 9/15/2015 |
| Blast Attenuating Earplug | 9138352 | The Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) | 9/22/2015 |
| In-Ear Earpiece and Expansion Adaptor | 9143855 | Sennheiser Electronics GmbH & Co KG (Wedemark, DE) | 9/22/2015 |
| Method and System for Self-Managed Sound Enhancement | 9138178 | Ace Communications Ltd. (Hong Kong Sar, China) | 9/22/2015 |
| Micro Converter, Audio Device and Hearing Aid | 9143871 | Exsilent Research B.V. (Amsterdam) | 9/22/2015 |
| Bottom Port Surface Mount MEMS Microphone | 9139422 | Knowles Electronics, LLC (Itasca, IL) | 9/22/2015 |
| Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Small Device Wireless Charging Modes | 912999 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 9/22/2015 |
| Hearing device comprising a locking mechanism for an external connector and method | 9143874 | Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) | 9/22/2015 |
| Wireless Streaming Link Break-In | 9143872 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/22/2015 |
| Inter-chip communications for implantable stimulating devices | 9141576 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/22/2015 |
| Methods and Apparatus for Transmitting Vibrations | 9143873 | Abolfathi, Amir A. (Woodside, CA) | 9/22/2015 |
| Vestibular Implant System with Internal and External Motion Sensors | 914467 | Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) | 9/29/2015 |
| Systems and Methods for Calibration of a Wireless Power Transmitter | 9148201 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 9/29/2015 |
| Method for Testing Hearing Aids | 9148732 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 9/29/2015 |
| Implant Magnet System | 9144676 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/29/2015 |
| Feedback Path Evaluation Implemented with Limited Signal Processing | 9148734 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/29/2015 |
| Automatic Power-Off of Hearing Aid | 9148737 | Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) | 9/29/2015 |
| Reduced Power Usage for a Hearing Prosthesis Having Transcutaneous Power and Data Transfer | 9148736 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 9/29/2015 |
| Hearing Aid with Improved Localization | 9148733 & 9148735 | GN Resound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) | 9/29/2015 |
| Device, Method, and Program for Adjustment of Hearing Aid | 9149202 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) | 10/02/2015 |
| Mobile Communication Watch Utilizing Projected Directional Sound | 9152130 | PH Technical Labs LLC (Plano, Texas) | 10/06/2015 |
| System and Method for Hearing Aid Appraisal and Selection | 9154888 | Eastern Ontario Audiology Consultants (L’Original, Canada) | 10/06/2015 |
| Hearing instrument with a balloon and a separate sound channel and air supply channel | 9154892 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 10/06/2015 |
| Wireless data transmission with predictive transmission adjustment | 9154890 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/06/2015 |
| Hearing Aid Having Level and Frequency-Dependent Gain | 9154889 | Meyer Sound Laboratories, Inc. (Berkeley, CA) | 10/06/2015 |
| Hearing System Having Improved High Frequency Response | 9154891 | EarLens Corp (Menlo Park, CA) | 10/06/2015 |
| Wireless Power Orthogonal Polarization Antenna Array | 9153998 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 10/06/2015 |
| Wireless Power System with Capacitive Proximity Sensing | 9154189 | Qualcomm Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 10/06/2015 |
| BTE Hearing Instrument with Housing and Sound Tube | 9161143 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 10/13/2015 |
| Cochlear Implant Systems Including Magnetic Flux Redirection Means | 9155888 | Advanced Bionics AG (Zug, CH) | 10/13/2015 |
| Dynamic Audio Parameter Adjustment Using Touch Sensing | 9160829 | Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif) | 10/13/2015 |
| Stereo Audio Headphone Apparatus for a User Having a Hearing Loss and Related Methods | 9161131 | K&E Holdings LLC (Lakeland, Fla) | 10/13/2015 |
| Push Button Insertion Tool Systems | 9161142 | Dennis Wagner (Nescopeck, PA) | 10/13/2015 |
| Earmolds | 9161114 | Treefrog Developments, Inc. (San Diego, CA) | 10/13/2015 |
| Medical Device Battery Charging System and Methods | 9155900 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/13/2015 |
| Medical Device Diagnostics Using a Portable Device | 9158891 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/13/2015 |
| Optical Microphone for Implantable Hearing Instrument | 9155660 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/13/2015 |
| Medical Device for Lessening the Effects of Noise and Interference from Varying or Alternating Magnetic Fields | 9161140 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/13/2015 |
| Fitting an auditory prosthesis | 9155886 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/13/2015 |
| Method and Apparatus for Detecting Cellular Telephones for Hearing Assistance Devices | 9161139 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 10/13/2015 |
| Telecommunications Methods and Systems Providing User Specific Audio Optimization | 9161136 | Avaya Inc. (Basking Ridge, NJ) | 10/13/2015 |
| Mixing of In-the-Ear Microphone and Outside-the-Ear Microphone Signals to Enhance Spatial Perception | 9161137 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 10/13/2015 |
| Head-Worn Device with Flight Mode | 9161138 | GN Resound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) | 10/13/2015 |
| Methods and Systems for Observation of Tympanic Function | 9155459 | Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA) | 10/13/2015 |
| Corded Hearing Protective Device and Method of Manufacturing the Same | 9155661 | 3M Innovative Properties Company (St. Paul, MN) | 10/13/2015 |
| Method and Device for Encoding a High Frequency Signal, and Method and Device for Decoding a High Frequency Signal | 9161038 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, CN) | 10/13/2015 |
| Wireless Charging System for Hearing Instruments | 9161141 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Munich, DE) | 10/13/2015 |
| Electrode with Movable Insertion Stopper | 9155880 | MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) | 10/13/2015 |
| Threshold-derived fitting method for frequency translation in hearing assistance devices | 9167366 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 10/20/2015 |
| Antennas for custom fit hearing assistance devices | 9167360 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 10/20/2015 |
| Electrooculogram as a control in a hearing assistance device | 9167356 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 10/20/2015 |
| Implantable Receptacle for a Hearing Aid Component | 9167362 | OtiKinetics, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) | 10/20/2015 |
| Method for the Binaural Left-Right Localization for Hearing Instruments | 9167358 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 10/20/2015 |
| Valve apparatus, hearing device with the valve apparatus, and method
|
9167328 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 10/20/2015 |
| Method for the binaural left-right localization for hearing instruments | 9167357 | Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore SG) | 10/20/2015 |
| Hearing system and method for operating a hearing system | 9167359 | Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) | 10/20/2015 |
| Smoothing power consumption of an active medical device | 9167361 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/20/2015 |
| Magnetic induction communication system for an implantable medical device | 9166655 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/20/2015 |
| Post-filter common-gain determination | 9166546 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/20/2015 |
| Implantable component interface | 9162054 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/20/2015 |
| Drug delivery using a sacrificial host | 9162009 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) | 10/20/2015 |
| Speech enhancement system and method | 9173028 | Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) | 10/27/2015 |
| Method for Fine Tuning a Hearing Aid | 9173043 | Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) | 10/27/2015 |
Editor’s note: The Patent Series is updated every two months. Click links for patents approved in Jul/Aug 2015, May/Jun 2015, Mar/Apr 2015, Jan/Feb 2015, Nov/Dec 2014, Sep/Oct 2014, July/Aug 2014, May/Jun 2014, Mar/Apr 2014, Jan/Feb 2014, Nov/Dec 2013, September/October 2013, Jul/Aug 2013, May/Jun 2013, Mar/Apr 2013, Jan/Feb 2013, Nov/Dec 2012
feature image adapted from hearing tracker
