Patents by Inventor Andrew DITTBERNER

Andrew DITTBERNER has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11856370
    Abstract: An electronic device configured to communicate with a binaural hearing device, includes: a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly receive, from the binaural hearing device, a signal indicating an orientation of a head of a user of the binaural hearing device; a memory storing head-related transfer functions (HRTF) respectively for a left ear and a right ear of the user; an input transducer configured to capture sound at a distance from the user; and a processing unit configured to provide a spatialized binaural audio signal based on the captured sound, the orientation of the head of the user, and the head-related transfer functions (HRTF); wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit the spatialized binaural audio signal to the binaural hearing device for allowing the binaural hearing device to provide left and right audio outputs based on the spatialized binaural audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Andrew Dittberner, Eugene Brandewie
  • Patent number: 11570561
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: an earpiece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the earpiece is configured for insertion into an ear canal of a user, and wherein at least a part of the earpiece is configured for placement along a first bend of the ear canal; wherein the earpiece comprises a flexible member, at least a part of the flexible member located at the first end of the earpiece, wherein at least a part of the flexible member is configured for placement along a second bend of the ear canal located between the first bend and an eardrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Falcom A/S
    Inventors: Vidya Krull, Andrew Dittberner
  • Patent number: 11477584
    Abstract: Hearing system, accessory device, agent and method for situated design of a hearing algorithm of a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising initializing a model comprising a parameterized objective function; providing one or more operating parameters indicative of the hearing algorithm to the hearing device; obtaining operating data comprising corresponding input data and output data of the hearing device; obtaining evaluation data indicative of user evaluation of the output data; determining one or more updated operating parameters based on the model, the operating data and the evaluation data; and providing the updated operating parameters to the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Aalbert De Vries, Joris Kraak, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20220225036
    Abstract: Hearing system, accessory device, agent and method for situated design of a hearing algorithm of a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising initializing a model comprising a parameterized objective function; providing one or more operating parameters indicative of the hearing algorithm to the hearing device; obtaining operating data comprising corresponding input data and output data of the hearing device; obtaining evaluation data indicative of user evaluation of the output data; determining one or more updated operating parameters based on the model, the operating data and the evaluation data; and providing the updated operating parameters to the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Aalbert DE VRIES, Joris KRAAK, Andrew Dittberner
  • Patent number: 11228849
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a microphone configured to provide a microphone signal that corresponds with an acoustic stimulus naturally received by a user of the hearing aid; a processing unit coupled to the microphone, the processing unit configured to provide a processed signal based at least on the microphone signal; a speaker coupled to the processing unit, the speaker configured to provide an acoustic signal based on the processed signal; and a sensor configured to measure a neural response of the user to the acoustic stimulus, and to provide a sensor output; wherein the processing unit is configured to detect presence of speech based on the microphone signal, and to process the sensor output and the microphone signal to estimate speech intelligibility; and wherein the processing unit is also configured to adjust a sound processing parameter for the hearing aid based at least on the estimated speech intelligibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Piechowiak, Andrew Dittberner, Lucas Cristobal Parra, Ivan Vladimirov Iotzov
  • Publication number: 20210392448
    Abstract: An electronic device configured to communicate with a binaural hearing device, includes: a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly receive, from the binaural hearing device, a signal indicating an orientation of a head of a user of the binaural hearing device; a memory storing head-related transfer functions (HRTF) respectively for a left ear and a right ear of the user; an input transducer configured to capture sound at a distance from the user; and a processing unit configured to provide a spatialized binaural audio signal based on the captured sound, the orientation of the head of the user, and the head-related transfer functions (HRTF); wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit the spatialized binaural audio signal to the binaural hearing device for allowing the binaural hearing device to provide left and right audio outputs based on the spatialized binaural audio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Changxue MA, Andrew DITTBERNER, Eugene BRANDEWIE
  • Patent number: 10924837
    Abstract: A acoustic device includes a pinna replica, wherein an inner surface of the pinna replica faces the exterior so that exterior sounds are received by the pinna replica and a microphone unit for collecting said exterior sounds, said microphone unit being configured to emit a first electric signal comprising information on the collected exterior sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Andrew Dittberner, Vidya Krull
  • Patent number: 10911877
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing device and method of operating a hearing device in a binaural hearing system, the method comprising: receiving distal data from a distal hearing device; receiving an audio signal and converting the audio signal to a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal; and determining a beamforming scheme based on the distal data, the first microphone input signal, and the second microphone input signal, wherein determining the beamforming scheme comprises obtaining a zero-direction index, and wherein the beamforming scheme is based on the zero-direction index; and applying the beamforming scheme in a beamforming module of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Rob De Vries, Changxue Ma, Andrew Dittberner
  • Patent number: 10848880
    Abstract: A hearing device for a binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device, comprising: a transceiver module for obtaining a contralateral filtered beamform signal from the contralateral hearing device; microphones for provision of a first and second microphone input signals; a first beamforming module for provision of a first beamform signal based on the first and second microphone input signals; a filter bank, connected to the first beamforming module, for filtering the first beamform signal into a plurality of filtered beamform signals including a first bandpass beamform signal; a bandpass beamformer coupled to the filter bank; an adder, connected to the bandpass beamformer, for provision of a beamformed input signal; a processing circuit for processing the beamformed input signal and providing an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Rob De Vries, Changxue Ma, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20200213779
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a microphone configured to provide a microphone signal that corresponds with an acoustic stimulus naturally received by a user of the hearing aid; a processing unit coupled to the microphone, the processing unit configured to provide a processed signal based at least on the microphone signal; a speaker coupled to the processing unit, the speaker configured to provide an acoustic signal based on the processed signal; and a sensor configured to measure a neural response of the user to the acoustic stimulus, and to provide a sensor output; wherein the processing unit is configured to detect presence of speech based on the microphone signal, and to process the sensor output and the microphone signal to estimate speech intelligibility; and wherein the processing unit is also configured to adjust a sound processing parameter for the hearing aid based at least on the estimated speech intelligibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicants: GN Hearing A/S, City University of New York
    Inventors: Tobias PIECHOWIAK, Andrew DITTBERNER, Lucas Cristobal PARRA, Ivan Vladimirov IOTZOV
  • Publication number: 20200186949
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: an earpiece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the earpiece is configured for insertion into an ear canal of a user, and wherein at least a part of the earpiece is configured for placement along a first bend of the ear canal; wherein the earpiece comprises a flexible member, at least a part of the flexible member located at the first end of the earpiece, wherein at least a part of the flexible member is configured for placement along a second bend of the ear canal located between the first bend and an eardrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Vidya KRULL, Andrew DITTBERNER
  • Patent number: 10681476
    Abstract: A hearing device of a binaural hearing system is disclosed, the binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device. The hearing device comprises: a transceiver module for communication with the contralateral hearing device of the binaural system, the transceiver module configured for provision of a contralateral signal received from the contralateral hearing device; and a set of microphones comprising a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively. The hearing device comprises: a beamforming module connected to the first microphone and the second microphone for processing the first microphone input signal, the second microphone input signal and the contralateral signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a first beamformed input signal. The hearing device comprises a beamforming controller connected to the beamforming module and the transceiver module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20200145765
    Abstract: Hearing system, accessory device, agent and method for situated design of a hearing algorithm of a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising initializing a model comprising a parameterized objective function; providing one or more operating parameters indicative of the hearing algorithm to the hearing device; obtaining operating data comprising corresponding input data and output data of the hearing device; obtaining evaluation data indicative of user evaluation of the output data; determining one or more updated operating parameters based on the model, the operating data and the evaluation data; and providing the updated operating parameters to the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Aalbert DE VRIES, Joris Kraak, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20200112803
    Abstract: A hearing device for a binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device, comprising: a transceiver module for obtaining a contralateral filtered beamform signal from the contralateral hearing device; microphones for provision of a first and second microphone input signals; a first beamforming module for provision of a first beamform signal based on the first and second microphone input signals; a filter bank, connected to the first beamforming module, for filtering the first beamform signal into a plurality of filtered beamform signals including a first bandpass beamform signal; a bandpass beamformer coupled to the filter bank; an adder, connected to the bandpass beamformer, for provision of a beamformed input signal; a processing circuit for processing the beamformed input signal and providing an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Rob DE VRIES, Changxue MA, Andrew DITTBERNER
  • Patent number: 10555094
    Abstract: A hearing device for a binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device is disclosed. The hearing device comprises a transceiver module; microphones for provision of first and second microphone input signal; a first beamforming module for provision of a first beamform signal based on the first microphone input signal and the second microphone input signal; a filter bank for filtering the first beamform signal into a plurality of first sub-band beamform signals including a first bandpass beamform signal, and for filtering a contralateral beamform signal into a contralateral bandpass beamform signal; a second beamforming module comprising an adaptive bandpass beamformer for provision of a second bandpass beamform signal; an adder for provision of a beamformed input signal; a processor for providing an electrical output signal based on the beamformed input signal; and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Rob De Vries, Changxue Ma, Andrew Dittberner
  • Patent number: 10536785
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal. The method comprises obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method may comprise obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method comprises determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal. The method may comprise combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. The method comprises providing the output beamform signal for further processing including hearing loss compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Gn Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20190174236
    Abstract: A hearing device of a binaural hearing system is disclosed, the binaural hearing system comprising the hearing device and a contralateral hearing device. The hearing device comprises: a transceiver module for communication with the contralateral hearing device of the binaural system, the transceiver module configured for provision of a contralateral signal received from the contralateral hearing device; and a set of microphones comprising a first microphone and a second microphone for provision of a first microphone input signal and a second microphone input signal, respectively. The hearing device comprises: a beamforming module connected to the first microphone and the second microphone for processing the first microphone input signal, the second microphone input signal and the contralateral signal, the beamforming module configured to provide a first beamformed input signal. The hearing device comprises a beamforming controller connected to the beamforming module and the transceiver module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Changxue Ma, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20190174235
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal. The method comprises obtaining a first beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method may comprise obtaining a second beamform signal based on the first microphone signal and the second microphone signal. The method comprises determining a first parameter based on the first beamform signal. The method may comprise combining the first beamform signal and the second beamform signal based on the first parameter for provision of an output beamform signal. The method comprises providing the output beamform signal for further processing including hearing loss compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Gn Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Changxue MA, Rob De Vries, Andrew Dittberner
  • Publication number: 20190141429
    Abstract: A acoustic device includes a pinna replica, wherein an inner surface of the pinna replica faces the exterior so that exterior sounds are received by the pinna replica and a microphone unit for collecting said exterior sounds, said microphone unit being configured to emit a first electric signal comprising information on the collected exterior sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Andrew DITTBERNER, Vidya KRULL
  • Patent number: 10212503
    Abstract: A acoustic device includes a supra-aural ear cup, a pinna replica at least partially enclosed by the supra-aural ear cup, wherein an inner surface of the pinna replica faces the exterior so that exterior sounds are received by the pinna replica and a microphone unit for collecting said exterior sounds, said microphone unit being configured to emit a first electric signal comprising information on the collected exterior sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Andrew Dittberner, Vidya Krull