# US 12,015,899 B2 · Light sensor in hearing instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,899 B2 - Document ID: US12015899B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/811,759 - Filed: 2022-07-11 - Published: 2022-10-27 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-14 - Assignees: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Applicants: Starkey Laboratories, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Flanagan; Kyle Olson; Michael Karl Sacha; Andy S. Lin; Fa Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015899B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/505: {using digital signal processing} - A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) - A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature} - A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal} - G01J 1/4204: {with determination of ambient light (solar light G01J2001/4266)} - G01J 1/429: {applied to measurement of ultraviolet light (using counting tubes G01T)} - G01J 3/28: Investigating the spectrum (using colour filters G01J3/51) - G01K 13/20: Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals - H04R 25/658: {Manufacture of housing parts} - G01J 2001/4266: {for measuring solar light} - H04R 2225/31: Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells - H04R 2225/41: Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract A system may have a rechargeable hearing instrument with a power source, an ultraviolet (UV) sensor configured to convert received UV light into electrical power and charging circuitry coupled to the UV sensor and to the power source. The charging circuitry may use the electrical power to charge the power source. A charger may have a charging cavity configured to receive the rechargeable hearing instrument. A power source within the charger powers a UV light source located within the charger configured to provide UV light to the UV sensor of the rechargeable hearing instrument when the rechargeable hearing instrument is placed within the charging cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a hearing instrument, the method comprising the following steps: measuring, with one or more sensors of the hearing instrument, an ambient light level at the hearing instrument; determining a delta ambient light level that indicates a change in the detected ambient light level detected by the one or more sensors of the hearing instrument at different times; recording the delta ambient light level; determining whether an absolute value of the delta ambient light level exceeds a predetermined threshold; determining, based on the absolute value of the delta ambient light level exceeding the predetermined threshold and the delta ambient light level being positive, a user has moved to an outdoor environment; and setting a signal processing parameter of the hearing instrument as a function of the determination the user is in the outdoor environment or an indoor environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the user has not changed environments based on the predetermined threshold not being exceeded. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the user has moved to the indoor environment based on the delta ambient light level being negative. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the PPG sensor has an optical coating to restrict detected wavelengths to wavelengths common to the indoor environment and the outdoor environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include multiple photosensors, each of the multiple photosensors being sensitive to a specific wavelength. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include an ultraviolet (UV) sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a spectrometer to determine a spectral range and intensity correlating to ambient light. ### Claim 9 A hearing instrument comprising: one or more sensors configured to measure an ambient light level at the hearing instrument; and one or more processors configured to: determine a delta ambient light level that indicates a change in the detected ambient light level detected by the one or more sensors of the hearing instrument at different times; record the delta ambient light level; determine whether an absolute value of the delta ambient light level exceeds a predetermined threshold; determine, based on the absolute value of the delta ambient light level exceeding the predetermined threshold and the delta ambient light level being positive, a user has moved to an outdoor environment; and set a signal processing parameter of the hearing instrument as a function of the determination the user is in the outdoor environment or an indoor environment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the user has not changed environments based on the predetermined threshold not being exceeded. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the user has moved to the indoor environment based on the delta ambient light level being negative. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the sensor is a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hearing instrument of claim 12, wherein the PPG sensor has an optical coating to restrict detected wavelengths to wavelengths common to the indoor environment and the outdoor environment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors include multiple photosensors, each of the multiple photosensors being sensitive to a specific wavelength. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors include an ultraviolet (UV) sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The hearing instrument of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors include a spectrometer to determine a spectral range and intensity correlating to ambient light.