Mead C Killion

US Patent:

6453051, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Oct 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/685706

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381315, 381312, 340407, 340626

Abstract:

A low battery detection circuit is disclosed for detecting low battery voltages in hearing aids and other battery operated devices. The low battery detection circuit operates reliably on a small amount of current, which does not significantly increase overall battery drain. An output signal is generated whose amplitude and frequency increase as battery voltage decreases below a predetermined level. The circuits minimal number of components and output signal characteristics make it particularly applicable as a low battery early warning device for hearing aid devices.

US Patent:

6466678, Oct 15, 2002

Filed:

Apr 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/542133

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Chris W. Papalias - Redwood City CA
Anthony J. Becker - San Jose CA
Dan Mapes-Riordan - Evanston IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381314, 381312, 381320, 381321

Abstract:

A hearing aid is set forth that includes one or more hearing aid components that introduce an undesired undamped peak into the frequency response of the hearing aid. An electronic damping filter is utilized to compensate for the undamped peak. The electronic damping filter has a notch filter response that includes an inverse peak across the frequency range of the undamped peak thereby electronically damping the frequency response so that the hearing aid output is generally unaffected by the undesired characteristics of the inverse peak. The electronic damping filter may be programmable to vary the magnitude and/or shift the frequency of the inverse peak. A method is set forth that exploits this programmability and allows the same circuit topology to be used in two different hearing aids respectively having two different undamped peaks. A further method allows handling two or more peaks.

US Patent:

6567526, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Oct 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/687931

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Jonathan Stewart - Bloomingdale IL
Don Wilson - Barrington IL
Matthew J. Roberts - Palatine IL
Steve Iseberg - Rolling Meadows IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381356, 381328

Abstract:

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

US Patent:

6666295, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Jan 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/767521

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

181130, 181135

Abstract:

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube.

US Patent:

6704424, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Jun 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/176200

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381323, 381312, 381315, 340636

Abstract:

A low battery detection circuit is disclosed for detecting low battery voltages in hearing aids and other battery operated devices. The low battery detection circuit operates reliably on a small amount of current, which does not significantly increase overall battery drain. An output signal is generated whose amplitude and frequency increase as battery voltage decreases below a predetermined level. The circuits minimal number of components and output signal characteristics make it particularly applicable as a low battery early warning device for hearing aid devices.

US Patent:

6798890, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

Oct 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/973078

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Robert B. Schulein - Schaumburg IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL
Viorel Drambarean - Skokie IL
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL
John S. French - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381387, 381369

Abstract:

A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

US Patent:

6830876, Dec 14, 2004

Filed:

Nov 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/705082

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Andrew J. Haapapuro - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

G10K 1100

US Classification:

430320, 430322, 181175, 181166

Abstract:

An acoustic resistor or damper and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The damper has mesh material and mounting material attached to the mesh material. The mounting material defines an open region for transmission of sound through the mesh material, and has a mounting surface for mounting the damper on a surface surrounding an acoustic port or tube. The mounting surface is located on a plane different from the mesh material, thereby shielding the mesh material from adhesive applied between the mounting surface and the surface surrounding the acoustic port or tube. The method of manufacturing an acoustic damper comprises exposing emulsion applied to a mesh material through at least one opening in a photographic mask to ultraviolet light and removing the emulsion exposed. A portion of the remaining emulsion and mesh material is cut in a shape surrounding the removed emulsion.

US Patent:

6831987, Dec 14, 2004

Filed:

May 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/441544

Inventors:

Mead C. Killion - Elk Grove Village IL
Jonathan Stewart - Bloomingdale IL
Don Wilson - Barrington IL
Matthew J. Roberts - Palatine IL
Steve Iseberg - Rolling Meadows IL
Timothy S. Monroe - Schaumburg IL

Assignee:

Etymotic Research, Inc. - Elk Grove Village IL

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

381313, 381356, 381357

Abstract:

A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.