US 11,729,540 B2
Water immune user-actuatable touch control for an ear-worn electronic device
Kyle Olson, St. Louis Park, MN (US); Sidney A. Higgins, Maple Grove, MN (US); and Brad Guertin, Roseville, MN (US)
Assigned to Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,729.
Prior Publication US 2023/0199365 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/1041 (2013.01) [G06F 3/015 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); H04R 1/1091 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ear-worn electronic device, comprising:
a housing configured to be worn in, at or about an ear of a wearer;
electronic circuitry disposed in or supported by the housing;
a controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the electronic circuitry;
a rechargeable power source and charging circuitry respectively disposed in the housing, the charging circuitry coupled to the controller and comprising first and second charge contacts situated at a wall of the housing; and
a user-actuatable control operatively coupled to the controller and comprising a touch sensor coupled to the first and second charge contacts, the touch sensor comprising a threshold detector configured to distinguish between skin contact with the first and second charge contacts and contact between a conductive material more conductive than skin and the first and second charge contacts.