Temperature sensor based ear-worn electronic device fit assessment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12342131-B2
Application number	US-202118025594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2021
Priority date	Sep 28, 2020
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to fit at least partially in an ear of a wearer, a power source situated in the housing, and a temperature sensor arrangement situated in or on the housing and coupled to the power source. The temperature sensor arrangement is configured to generate sensor signals in response to heat generated in the wearer's ear and a controller, situated in the housing and coupled to the power source and the temperature sensor arrangement, is configured to assess a fit of the device using the sensor signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ear-worn electronic device, comprising:
a housing configured to fit at least partially in an ear of a wearer;
a power source situated in the housing;
a temperature sensor arrangement situated in or on the housing and coupled to the power source, the temperature sensor arrangement comprising one or more temperature sensors configured to generate sensor signals in response to heat generated in the wearer's ear; and
a controller situated in the housing and coupled to the power source and the temperature sensor arrangement, the controller configured to assess a fit of the device within the wearer's ear using the sensor signals.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect whether the fit of the device is a proper fit or an improper fit using the sensor signals.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a time-varying characterization of temperature within the wearer's ear using the sensor signals; and
assess the fit of the device using the temperature characterization.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a plurality of time-varying characterizations of temperature within the wearer's ear using sensor signals produced by each of the temperature sensors;
measure differences between the temperature characterizations; and
assess the fit of the device using the temperature characterization differences.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a temperature profile using the sensor signals;
compare the temperature profile to a temperature profile pre-established for the device; and
assess the fit of the device using a result of the comparison.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the generated and pre-established temperature profiles comprise steady-state temperature profiles.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the generated and pre-established temperature profiles comprise dynamic temperature profiles representative of warming of the device prior to achieving a steady state temperature.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a temperature gradient using sensor signals produced by at least two temperature sensors;
compare the temperature gradient to a threshold; and
assess the fit of the device using a result of the comparison.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
generate a plurality of temperature gradients using temperature signals produced by respective pairs or combinations of three or more temperatures sensors;
compare the temperature gradients to at least one threshold; and
assess the fit of the device using a result of the comparison.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the threshold is a threshold pre-established for the device.

11. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the threshold is a threshold pre-established for the device and the wearer.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is:
a restricted medical hearing device;
a hearing aid;
an over-the-counter (OTC) hearing device;
a consumer hearing device;
a consumer sound amplifier; or
a consumer earbud.

13. A method implemented by an ear-worn electronic device configured for deployment in, on or about an ear of a wearer, the method comprising:
generating sensor signals by a temperature sensor arrangement of the device in response to heat generated in the wearer's ear;
receiving the sensor signals by a controller;
assessing, by the controller, a fit of the device in the wearer's ear using the sensor signals; and
generating, by the controller, an output indicative of the device fit assessment.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the temperature sensor arrangement comprises two temperature sensors spaced apart from one another; and
the method comprises:
generating a temperature gradient using sensor signals produced by the two temperature sensors;
comparing the temperature gradient to a threshold; and
assessing the fit of the device using a result of the comparison.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the temperature sensor arrangement comprises three or more temperature sensors spaced apart from one another; and
the method comprises:
generating a plurality of temperature gradients using temperature signals produced by respective pairs or combinations of the three or more temperatures sensors;
comparing the temperature gradients to at least one threshold; and
assessing the fit of the device using a result of the comparison.

16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing is configured to provide a sealed fit with respect to the wearer's ear; and
the controller is configured to assess the sealed fit of the device using the sensor signals.

17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the housing is configured to provide an unsealed fit with respect to the wearer's ear; and
the controller is configured to assess the unsealed fit of the device using the sensor signals.

18. The device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the device comprises an audio processing facility; and
the controller is configured to:
produce an output indicative of the fit assessment; and
communicate the output to an ear drum of the wearer's ear via the audio processing facility.

19. The device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the device comprises a wireless communication device; and
the controller is configured to:
produce a signal indicative of the fit assessment; and
cooperate with the wireless communication device to transmit the signal to an external device or system.

20. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect a trigger event and initiate device fit assessment in response to the trigger event.

21. The device according to claim 20 , wherein:
the trigger event comprises a change in temperature measured by the temperature sensor arrangement relative to a threshold; or
the trigger event comprises a rate of change in temperature measured by the temperature sensor arrangement relative to a threshold.

22. The device according to claim 20 , wherein:
the device comprises an auxiliary sensor configured to generate auxiliary sensor signals; and
the trigger event is detected by the controller in response to the temperature sensor signals and the auxiliary sensor signals.

23. The device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to detect an initiation signal and initiate device fit assessment in response to the initiation signal; and
the initiation signal comprises a signal generated by a button of the device in response to a wearer input or a signal received from an external communication device.

Assignees

• Starkey Labs Inc

Inventors

• Lin Andy S
• Flanagan Peter
• Sacha Michael Karl

Classifications

• H04R2225/83

  Aspects of electrical fitting of hearing aids related to problems arising from growth of the hearing aid user, e.g. children · CPC title

• H04R25/65

  Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R1/1041

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• H04R1/1075

  Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones · CPC title