Patents by Inventor Daniel Lucas

Daniel Lucas 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).

  • Publication number: 20210360357
    Abstract: A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Doris Zahnd
  • Patent number: 11115762
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
  • Patent number: 11102592
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing device to be worn by a user for stimulating the user's hearing, comprising an interface (20) for wireless communication with external devices (11, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56), and a pairing control unit (38) for controlling pairing of the hearing device with external devices. The pairing control unit is configured to maintain a plurality of pairing tables (P1, P2), wherein each pairing table is configured to persistently store a limited number of pairing information entries for external devices paired with hearing device, and wherein, once the maximum number of external devices has been reached, one of the existing entries is overwritten when a new pairing information entry is to be stored in the paring table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Patent number: 11089411
    Abstract: A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickman, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Doris Zahnd
  • Patent number: 10972845
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device configured to assist a user in hearing comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive, by way of a first wireless link established between the hearing device and a first external device using a first wireless communication protocol, audio content transmitted by the first external device, receive signaling data transmitted by a second external device and indicating that the second external device has additional audio content available to be transmitted to the hearing device, the signaling data transmitted to the hearing device using a second wireless communication protocol that is of a different type than the first wireless communication protocol, and perform, in response to receiving the signaling data, an action with respect to the additional audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Publication number: 20210099812
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device configured to assist a user in hearing comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive, by way of a first wireless link established between the hearing device and a first external device using a first wireless communication protocol, audio content transmitted by the first external device, receive signaling data transmitted by a second external device and indicating that the second external device has additional audio content available to be transmitted to the hearing device, the signaling data transmitted to the hearing device using a second wireless communication protocol that is of a different type than the first wireless communication protocol, and perform, in response to receiving the signaling data, an action with respect to the additional audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Publication number: 20210084419
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Michael von Tessin, Alexander Maksyagin
  • Patent number: 10880661
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Michael von Tessin, Alexander Maksyagin
  • Publication number: 20200314565
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
  • Patent number: 10715936
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing device (10) comprising a BTLE 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Publication number: 20200217022
    Abstract: A dowel basket includes a metal frame with a plurality of non-metallic dowel bars having weld members secured to the dowel bars and welded to the metal frame. The dowel basket may provide wherein the weld members include weldable metal though pins extending through through-holes provided on opposed ends of each dowel bar and welded to loop wires of the metal frame, or weldable metal caps on opposed ends of each dowel bar welded to the metal frame, or weldable metal caps with at least one lug on opposed ends of each dowel bar welded to the metal frame. A method of forming a dowel basket including a metal frame with a plurality of non-metallic dowel bars comprises the steps of securing weld members to opposed ends of each of the dowel bars and welding each of the dowel bars to the metal frame via the weld members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Chad Johnson, Monica Parker, Katey Doman, Daniel Lucas
  • Publication number: 20200221239
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a system and method for providing pairing information to assist in pairing devices for wireless communication. For example, the disclosed technology includes a method for visually displaying time remaining in pairing time windows for hearing aid devices. A hearing aid professional can view the displayed information on a computer, fitting station, or mobile device and then use this information to determine which devices can be paired or how much time is remaining to pair the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nanda SANDHU, Daniel LUCAS-HIRTZ
  • Publication number: 20200213777
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to operation modes for hearing devices. In some implementations, the disclosed technology includes a hearing device entering into and operating in airplane mode or a mode of operation that limits communication with a select frequency or select group of frequencies. To enter a mode of operation, a user can use two inputs for the hearing device. For example, one input is a battery closing and another input is the device pushing of a button on the device (e.g., on the hearing device or a mobile device in communication with the hearing device).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jonas Högberg, Michael von Tessin, ivo Spieler, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Jan Mattmüller
  • Publication number: 20200196070
    Abstract: A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Georg Dickman, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Doris Zahnd
  • Publication number: 20200162883
    Abstract: There is provided a method of wirelessly connecting a communication device to other devices using a communication protocol, wherein the communication device searches for external devices known to the communication device by executing a search activity in which the search effort to be spent by the communication device increases with the number of known external devices to be searched, wherein the communication device adjusts the search effort spent on the search activity for each one of the external devices according to the relevance of that external device, with a higher relevance of the external device resulting in a higher search effort, and wherein the search effort is determined by at least one of the following parameters of the search activity: scheduling frequency, duty cycle and transmission power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Publication number: 20200156520
    Abstract: The Lucas Pro Seat protects the prostate area of the male rider from continuous bouncing and jarring by providing an air space between the seat and the prostate. The Lucas Pro Seat is a stationary seat. The stationary seat would have two 9.5? square seats with a 2? air space. The 42? stationary seat would have two 9.5? square stationary seats at each end with a 2? air space. The center of the seat would be 9? by 21? and would be stationary. The center space of each cushion would have a depth of 2?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Eugene Daniel Lucas
  • Publication number: 20200108337
    Abstract: A filter arrangement for liquids has a filter housing and a functional carrier arranged inside the filter housing. A cylindrical filter element is inserted axially into the filter housing and defines an unfiltered side and a filtered side inside the filter housing. A non-return diaphragm is arranged on the filter element within the filter housing, wherein the non-return diaphragm is connected to the functional carrier and held at an axial spacing against a stop of filter housing so as to effect an axial and/or radial sealing action of the unfiltered side relative to the filtered side of the filter arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Markus Kolczyk, Rainer Loos, Daniel Lucas, Sven Epli, Herbert Jainek, Ralf Blum, Joerg Kramer
  • Publication number: 20200053491
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing device to be worn by a user for stimulating the user's hearing, comprising an interface (20) for wireless communication with external devices (11, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56), and a pairing control unit (38) for controlling pairing of the hearing device with external devices. The pairing control unit is configured to maintain a plurality of pairing tables (P1, P2), wherein each pairing table is configured to persistently store a limited number of pairing information entries for external devices paired with hearing device, and wherein, once the maximum number of external devices has been reached, one of the existing entries is overwritten when a new pairing information entry is to be stored in the paring table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Publication number: 20190335281
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Michael von Tessin, Alexander Maksyagin
  • Patent number: 10456716
    Abstract: A filter arrangement for liquids has a filter housing and a functional carrier arranged inside the filter housing. A cylindrical filter element is inserted axially into the filter housing and defines an unfiltered side and a filtered side inside the filter housing. A non-return diaphragm is secured within the filter housing, wherein the non-return diaphragm is arranged on the functional carrier so as to effect an axial and/or radial sealing action of the unfiltered side relative to the filtered side of the filter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kolczyk, Rainer Loos, Daniel Lucas, Sven Epli, Herbert Jainek, Ralf Blum, Joerg Kramer