US 11,812,213 B2
Ear-wearable devices for control of other devices and related methods
Achintya Kumar Bhowmik, Cupertino, CA (US); Gregory John Haubrich, Champlin, MN (US); and Paul Shriner, Hopkins, MN (US)
Assigned to Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed by Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/489,041.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/085,281, filed on Sep. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0103927 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. H04R 1/10 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G10L 15/22 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/1041 (2013.01) [G06F 1/163 (2013.01); G06F 3/011 (2013.01); G10L 15/22 (2013.01); G10L 2015/223 (2013.01); H04R 2420/07 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ear-wearable device comprising:
a control circuit;
a wireless communications circuit, wherein the wireless communications circuit is in electronic communication with the control circuit;
a microphone, wherein the microphone is in electronic communication with the control circuit; and
a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is in electronic communication with the control circuit;
wherein the ear-wearable device is configured to
receive an input from a wearer of the ear-wearable device;
select a controllable device from a plurality of controllable devices that are not held or worn by the user to be controlled based on factors including at least one of physical proximity between the ear-wearable device and the controllable device and a direction that the head of the wearer is pointing; and
issue a control command to the controllable device.