US 12,069,436 B2
Ear-worn electronic device employing acoustic environment adaptation for muffled speech
Martin McKinney, Edina, MN (US); David Fabry, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Jumana Harianawala, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Ke Zhou, Prior Lake, MN (US); and Jaymin Baroda, Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Assigned to STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/778,889
Filed by STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 3, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/012017
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/138648, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/108,765, filed on Nov. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/956,824, filed on Jan. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0353957 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); G10L 21/0364 (2013.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01); G10L 25/78 (2013.01)
CPC H04R 25/507 (2013.01) [G10L 21/0364 (2013.01); H04R 1/1041 (2013.01); H04R 1/1083 (2013.01); G10L 25/78 (2013.01); H04R 2225/41 (2013.01); H04R 2225/43 (2013.01); H04R 2225/61 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ear-worn electronic device configured to be worn in, on or about an ear of a wearer, comprising:
at least one microphone configured to sense sound in an acoustic environment;
an acoustic transducer;
a memory configured to store a plurality of parameter value sets each associated with a different acoustic environment, wherein at least one or more of the parameter value sets are associated with an acoustic environment wivth muffled speech;
a control input configured to receive a control input signal produced by at least one of a user-actuatable control of the ear-worn electronic device and a sensor of the ear-worn electronic device responsive to a touch or a tap by the wearer; and
a processor operably coupled to the microphone, the acoustic transducer, the memory, and the control input, the processor configured to classify the acoustic environment as one with muffled speech uttered by one or more mask-wearing persons using the sensed sound and, in response to a signal received from the control input, apply one or more of the parameter value sets appropriate for the classification to enhance intelligibility of muffled speech.