Jon Schmidt Kindred

US Patent:

7489790, Feb 10, 2009

Filed:

Dec 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/730200

Inventors:

Jon Schmidt Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US
Bryant Sorensen - Colorado Springs CO, US
Jerry Wahl - Woodland Park CO, US

Assignee:

AMI Semiconductor, Inc. - Pocatello ID

International Classification:

H03G 3/00
H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381104, 381102, 381321, 381106

Abstract:

Systems, devices, and methods are provided to inhibit apparent amplitude modulation in non-linear processing that causes distortion in a processed signal. One aspect of the invention includes a hearing aid. The hearing aid includes a microphone to receive an input signal, a speaker to reproduce the input signal, and a processor. The processor processes the input signal using a gain. The processor includes an inhibitor, which inhibits distortions, and an adjuster, which adjusts the gain. The inhibitor acts to smooth an envelope of the input signal to inhibit undesired modulation. The adjuster adjusts the gain if the envelope is either above or below a threshold.

US Patent:

7809150, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

May 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/857599

Inventors:

Harikrishna P. Natarajan - Shakopee MN, US
Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381318, 381 93, 381 7111

Abstract:

A system providing method and apparatus to detect occurrence of an entrainment artifact and address it. The system analyzing a feedback canceller filter for certain characteristics that are associated with an entrained filter. When an entrained filter is detected, the feedback canceller filter is reset to a good filter that ideally represents the current approximate external acoustic feedback path without the characteristics of the entraining signal.

US Patent:

7945066, May 17, 2011

Filed:

Jun 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/135856

Inventors:

Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381318, 381 83, 381 93

Abstract:

A hearing assistance system having adjustable bulk delay for cancellation of a time varying acoustic feedback path. The hearing assistance system including an FIR filter, coefficient update module, and delay rules module for programmable adaptive filtering. The hearing assistance system adjustable for continuous bulk delay adjustments. The hearing assistance system providing a number of coefficient update routines, including, but not limited to an LMS coefficient update process and a normalized LMS coefficient update process.

US Patent:

7986790, Jul 26, 2011

Filed:

Mar 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276795

Inventors:

Tao Zhang - Eden Prairie MN, US
Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H04R 29/00
H04R 25/00
A61N 1/00

US Classification:

381 60, 381312, 381314, 381315, 600 25, 607 56, 607 57

Abstract:

The present subject matter provides method and apparatus for hearing assistance devices, and more particularly to a system for evaluating hearing assistance device settings using detected sound environment. Various examples of a hearing assistance device and method using actual use and hypothetical use logs are provided. Such logs provide a dispenser or audiologist the ability to see how a device is operating with actual settings and how the device would have operated had hypothetical settings been used instead. In various examples, the system allows for collection of statistical information about actual and hypothetical use which can assist in parameter setting determinations for a specific user. The settings may be tailored to that user's commonly experienced sound environment. Wireless communications of usage logs is discussed.

US Patent:

8116473, Feb 14, 2012

Filed:

Mar 13, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276763

Inventors:

Arthur Salvetti - Colorado Springs CO, US
Harikrishna P. Natarajan - Shakopee MN, US
Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

A61F 11/06
H04R 27/00
H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381 7111, 381 7112, 381 83, 381317, 381318

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for entrainment containment in digital filters using output phase modulation. Phase change is gradually introduced into the acoustic feedback canceller loop to avoid entrainment of the feedback canceller filter. Various embodiments employing different output phase modulation approaches are set forth and time and frequency domain examples are provided. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

US Patent:

8229147, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Mar 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/402849

Inventors:

Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US
Jeffrey Paul Solum - Deephaven MN, US

Assignee:

Strakey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381315, 381326

Abstract:

According to various embodiment of a method of operating a hearing instrument, an acoustic signal pathway is provided from a microphone through a signal processor to a hearing instrument (HI) receiver in an acoustic mode of operation. An RF transmit signal pathway is provided from the microphone to an RF transmitter, and an RF receive signal pathway is provided from the RF receiver through the signal processor to the HI receiver in an RF mode of operation. An input signal representative of sound detected by the microphone is adaptively filtered. A first adaptation rate is used for the acoustic mode of operation and a second adaptation rate is used for the RF mode of operation. The second adaptation rate is faster than the first adaptation rate.

US Patent:

8494193, Jul 23, 2013

Filed:

Mar 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276793

Inventors:

Tao Zhang - Eden Prairie MN, US
Kaibao Nie - Bothwell WA, US
Brent Edwards - San Francisco CA, US
William S. Woods - Berkeley CA, US
Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

H04R 25/00
G10L 11/00

US Classification:

381312, 704200

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for environment detection and adaptation in hearing assistance devices. Performance of feature extraction and environment detection to perform adaptation to hearing assistance device operation for a number of hearing assistance environments. The system detecting various noise sources independent of speech. The system determining adaptive actions to take place based on predicted sound class. The system providing individually customizable response to inputs from different sound classes. In various embodiments, the system employing a Bayesian classifier to perform sound classifications using a priori probability data and training data for predetermined sound classes. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.

US Patent:

8553899, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Dec 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/336460

Inventors:

Arthur Salvetti - Colorado Springs CO, US
Harikrishna P. Natarajan - Shakopee MN, US
Jon S. Kindred - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

A61F 11/06
H04R 29/00
H04R 3/00
H04R 25/00

US Classification:

381 7112, 381 7111, 381 58, 381 96, 381317, 381318

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for entrainment containment in digital filters using output phase modulation. Phase change is gradually introduced into the acoustic feedback canceller loop to avoid entrainment of the feedback canceller filter. Various embodiments employing different output phase modulation approaches are set forth and time and frequency domain examples are provided. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.