IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,581,253
Granted Patent B2
US 12,581,253 · App. 18/747,040 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Hearing assistance devices with control of other devices

Inventor: Dustin Degen (Waconia, MN)
Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
H04R25/558G08B7/06G08B17/117H04R25/505H04R25/554H04R25/602H04R25/603H04R25/604H04R25/609G08B3/10G08B5/38G08B6/00H04R2225/31H04R2225/51H04R2225/55H04R2225/61
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,581,253
App. No.
18/747,040
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to hearing assistance devices that can control other devices based on hearing assistance device events and/or status. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance system includes a hearing assistance device that can include a control circuit, a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit, an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit, and a power supply circuit. The hearing assistance device can be configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event. The hearing assistance device event can be raised by detection of at least one of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject, the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state, the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode, and the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Claims (53)

1 . A hearing assistance system comprising:

a hearing assistance device comprising

a control circuit;

a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;

an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;

a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

wherein the hearing assistance system is configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event, the hearing accommodative command comprising a sound mode change, wherein the sound mode change causes sound on the controllable device to be increased or decreased in frequency;

wherein the hearing assistance device event is raised by detection of at least one of

the hearing assistance device not being worn by a subject;

the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state;

the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode; and

the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence.

2 . The hearing assistance system of claim 1 , further comprising an accessory device configured to physically interface with the hearing assistance device when it is not being worn by a subject, wherein the hearing assistance device event can also be raised by detection of the hearing assistance device physically interfacing with the accessory device.

3 . The hearing assistance system of claim 2 , wherein detection of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject is determined based on a crossing of a threshold physical proximity of the hearing assistance device to the accessory device.

4 . The hearing assistance system of claim 2 , the accessory device comprising a charging case.

5 . The hearing assistance system of claim 2 , wherein the hearing accommodative command is sent from the accessory device.

6 . The hearing assistance system of claim 1 , the hearing assistance device further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein detection of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject is determined based on a change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

7 . The hearing assistance system of claim 1 , the separate controllable device selected from the group consisting of a TV, a radio, a doorbell, a smoke alarm, an oven, a stove, a phone, a wireless speaker, a carbon monoxide detector, a refrigerator, and a security system.

8 . A hearing assistance system comprising:

a hearing assistance device comprising

a control circuit;

a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;

an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;

a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

wherein the hearing assistance system is configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event, the hearing accommodative command comprising a sound mode change, wherein the sound mode change causes a pattern of sound on the controllable device to be changed;

wherein the hearing assistance device event is raised by detection of at least one of

the hearing assistance device not being worn by a subject;

the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state;

the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode; and

the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence.

9 . The hearing assistance system of claim 8 , further comprising an accessory device configured to physically interface with the hearing assistance device when it is not being worn by a subject, wherein the hearing assistance device event can also be raised by detection of the hearing assistance device physically interfacing with the accessory device.

10 . The hearing assistance system of claim 9 , wherein detection of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject is determined based on a crossing of a threshold physical proximity of the hearing assistance device to the accessory device.

11 . The hearing assistance system of claim 9 , the accessory device comprising a charging case.

12 . The hearing assistance system of claim 9 , wherein the hearing accommodative command is sent from the accessory device.

13 . The hearing assistance system of claim 8 , the hearing assistance device further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein detection of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject is determined based on a change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

14 . The hearing assistance system of claim 8 , the separate controllable device selected from the group consisting of a TV, a radio, a doorbell, a smoke alarm, an oven, a stove, a phone, a wireless speaker, a carbon monoxide detector, a refrigerator, and a security system.

15 . A hearing assistance system comprising:

a hearing assistance device comprising

a control circuit;

a microphone in electrical communication with the control circuit;

an electroacoustic transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the control circuit;

a power supply circuit in electrical communication with the control circuit;

wherein the hearing assistance system is configured to initiate sending a hearing accommodative command to a separate controllable device upon occurrence of a hearing assistance device event, the hearing accommodative command comprising an alert mode change, wherein the alert mode change causes an accessory device to monitor ambient sound for a trigger sound and initiate an alert signal when a trigger sound has been detected;

wherein the hearing assistance device event is raised by detection of at least one of

the hearing assistance device not being worn by a subject;

the hearing assistance device in a not-in-use operating state;

the hearing assistance device entering a recharging mode; and

the hearing assistance device entering a shut-down sequence.

16 . The hearing assistance system of claim 15 , the trigger sound comprising an audible alarm.

17 . The hearing assistance system of claim 15 , wherein the alert mode change causes a light associated with the separate controllable device to vary in at least one of color and intensity.

18 . The hearing assistance system of claim 15 , wherein the alert mode change causes a light associated with the separate controllable device to flash on and off.

19 . The hearing assistance system of claim 15 , further comprising an accessory device configured to physically interface with the hearing assistance device when it is not being worn by a subject, wherein the hearing assistance device event can also be raised by detection of the hearing assistance device physically interfacing with the accessory device.

20 . The hearing assistance system of claim 19 , wherein detection of the hearing assistance device not being worn by the subject is determined based on a crossing of a threshold physical proximity of the hearing assistance device to the accessory device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2024
From: DEGEN, DUSTIN
To: STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067906/0113 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17638615
Provisional Application 62891737 · Aug 26, 2019
Related Publication 20250024212A1 · Jan 16, 2025
References Cited (92)
US 5461371A · Matsumoto et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 6230130B1 · Castello et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6498955B1 · McCarthy et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 8780201B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8923543B2 · Sacha et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9055202B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9100694B1 · Chandel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9136881B2 · Groeschel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9167356B2 · Higgins et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9179107B1 · Scalisi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9179109B1 · Kasmir et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9210518B2 · Zhang · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9219964B2 · Merks · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9742890B2 · Gibbons · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9794701B2 · Flood et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9848273B1 · Helwani et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9940928B2 · Haubrich et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10543371B2 · Hunt · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10600291B2 · Kashar · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10605470B1 · Saxena et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743115B2 · Frederiksen · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 10827249B1 · Pine et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11304013B2 · Burwinkel et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11812213B2 · Bhowmik et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11825272B2 · Burwinkel et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 12035110B2 · Degen · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20050172006A1 · Hsiang · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050231356A1 · Bish et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060023900A1 · Erhart et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20080140868A1 · Kalayjian et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080181435A1 · Ozaki et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090031336A1 · Chavez et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076816A1 · Bradford et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20120060176A1 · Chai et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120102409A1 · Fan et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140223461A1 · Hatambeiki et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105029A1 · Russell et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170318145A1 · Gibbons · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170332183A1 · Shennib · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180081619A1 · Peters et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180204576A1 · Dhoot et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180317837A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180343527A1 · Edwards · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190082307A1 · Miller et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190246216A1 · Frederiksen et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190278555A1 · Carvajal et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190281389A1 · Gordon et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200069281A1 · Chan et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200086133A1 · Wang et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200260199A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200288251A1 · Kuipers · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220103927A1 · Bhowmik et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220286792A1 · Burwinkel et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220337962A1 · Degen · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230020019A1 · Bhowmik et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
DE 10030915 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
EP 2725818 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 3176782 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017120065 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020163722 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020236911 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021041522 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021127226 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
“Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC,” for European Patent Application No. 20768447.3 mailed Dec. 18, 2023 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC,” for European Patent Application No. 20842440.8 mailed Mar. 27, 2024 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Eye Tracking & Access Technologies,” PRC-Saltillo Product Overview page accessible at least as early as Dec. 9, 2019 at URL <https://www.prentrom.com/prc_advantage/eye-tracking-and-access-technologies> (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“How NFL Equipment Works,” HowStuffWorks article that mentions wireless communication in NFL helmets has been used since 1994. Accessible at URL <https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/fb-equip5.htm> at least as early … [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed Aug. 19, 2021 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/065682 mailed Jun. 30, 2022 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability,” for PCT/US2020/047967 mailed Mar. 10, 2022 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed Jul. 6, 2020 (21 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/047967 mailed Oct. 22, 2020 (13 pages). [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report and Written Opinion,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/065682 mailed Mar. 16, 2021 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Invitation to Pay Additional Fees,” for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/017222 mailed May 13, 2020 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Jul. 23, 2021 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041 mailed Jan. 10, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615 mailed Dec. 1, 2023 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926 mailed Jan. 17, 2023 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/786,675 mailed Mar. 28, 2024 (17 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 18/512,651 mailed Jun. 3, 2024 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Dec. 9, 2021 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041 mailed Jul. 5, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615 mailed Feb. 28, 2024 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Allowance,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926 mailed Jul. 13, 2023 (15 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 16/784,947 mailed Sep. 20, 2021 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/489,041 filed Apr. 10, 2023 (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Office Action,” for U.S. Appl. No. 17/700,926 filed Apr. 11, 2023 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to Non-Final Rejection,” mailed on Dec. 1, 2023, for U.S. Appl. No. 17/638,615, submitted via EFS-Web on Feb. 16, 2024, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Allan, Patrick “Build some DIY, Smart Switching Baby Monitor Headphones,” Synopsis of Ben Heck Show episode. Published Jan. 4, 17 and accessible at URL <https://lifehacker.com/build-some-diy-smart-switching-baby-monitor… [cited by applicant]
Martins Pereira, Cesar Augusto, et al.“Development and Evaluation of a Head-Controlled Human-Computer Interface with Mouse-Like Functions for Physically Disabled Users,” Clinics 2009; 64(10): 975-81 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
Zhang, Ben, et al. “HOBS: Head Orientation-Based Selection in Physical Spaces,” SUI 2014, Oct. 4-5, Honolulu, HI, USA. [cited by applicant]
“Communication pursuant to Article 94(3),” for European Patent Application No. 20768447.3 mailed May 28, 2025 (6 pages). [cited by applicant]