Ear-worn electronic device incorporating microphone fault reduction system and method
US11895465B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 2021 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W4/80
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An ear-worn electronic device comprises a housing configured to be supported by, at, in or on an ear of a wearer. Electronic circuitry is disposed in the housing and comprises a processor. A power source and a receiver or a speaker are respectively disposed in or on the housing. A microphone array is disposed in or on the housing and operatively coupled to the electronic circuitry. The microphone array comprises a plurality of microphones. The processor is configured to operate a set of two or more of the microphones in a directional mode, detect degradation in performance of any microphone of the microphone set, and switch microphone operation from the directional mode to a safe mode using at least one non-degraded microphone of the microphone set in response to detecting the microphone performance degradation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.