Patents by Inventor Elmar Fichtl
Elmar Fichtl 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).
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Patent number: 11343618Abstract: A hearing device with online (real-time) intelligent performance management. The online management component of the hearing device learns a hearing device user's preferences for operation of the hearing device while the user is using the hearing device in every-day life. The online management component learns the user's preferences from the user's perception of the hearing device output in different listening environments and/or during different activities. The users perception include positive/satisfactory responses of the user to the output from the hearing device. The online management component builds up an individualized model for the user based upon the users perceptions whilst encountering different listening environments and/or engaging in different activities. The individualized model is used to control the hearing device to produce an acoustic output for the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Sonova AGInventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Patent number: 11284207Abstract: A method for adjusting at least one hearing device comprises: providing the at least one hearing device with basic sound classes, each basic sound class comprising an actuator parametrization with parameters for at least one actuator of the hearing device; collecting of adjustments of sound properties of at least one user of the at least one hearing device together with weightings of a sound signal acquired by the hearing device at which the adjustments have been made; analyzing the collected adjustments, whether same adjustments have been applied at same weightings; generating at least one supplementary sound class, when the same adjustments have been applied at a weighting, wherein the actuator parametrization of the supplementary sound class is a modified actuator parametrization based on the adjustments at the weighting.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Elmar Fichtl, Ullrich Sigwanz
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Patent number: 11240616Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for adjusting a hearing device to personal preferences and needs of a user. The proposed method comprises providing initial settings and target settings for signal processing parameters of the hearing device, the user operating the user control element to provide an input for adjusting the current settings so as to meet the personal preferences and needs of the user, adjusting the current settings based on the initial settings and the target settings in dependence of the input to provide adjusted settings for the signal processing parameters. Thereby the user control element is located at the hearing device and/or a hearing device accessory such as a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the present invention provides a system structured and configured to carry out the proposed method.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Maxi Susanne Moritz, Elmar Fichtl, Volker Kuehnel, Ullrich Sigwanz, Josef Chalupper
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Patent number: 11178498Abstract: A hearing device system including a hearing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the hearing device, and a module for processing a psychoacoustic model. The psychoacoustic model is adapted to derive a modification proposal based on hearing relevant data, wherein the modification proposal is adapted to solve a hearing issue of the user of the hearing device. The hearing device system is adapted to dynamically present the modification proposal to the user via the user interface, and to adapt the user interface such to receive inputs made by the user to the dynamically presented modification proposal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Patent number: 11153693Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid comprises: acquiring a sound signal; classifying the acquired sound signal with respect to predefined sound classes, wherein a raw class mixing weighting is determined, in which the sound signal is weighted with respect to the sound classes; processing the sound signal with at least one actuator, wherein the actuator processes the sound signal based on an actual actuator parameterization, wherein each sound class comprises a sound class actuator parameterization for each actuator, and the actual actuator parameterization for each actuator is generated by mixing the sound class actuator parameterization of the sound classes based on the raw class mixing weighting; and outputting the processed sound signal to be perceived by the user of the hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Sonova AGInventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Publication number: 20210258706Abstract: A method for adjusting at least one hearing device comprises: providing the at least one hearing device with basic sound classes, each basic sound class comprising an actuator parametrization with parameters for at least one actuator of the hearing device; collecting of adjustments of sound properties of at least one user of the at least one hearing device together with weightings of a sound signal acquired by the hearing device at which the adjustments have been made; analyzing the collected adjustments, whether same adjustments have been applied at same weightings; generating at least one supplementary sound class, when the same adjustments have been applied at a weighting, wherein the actuator parametrization of the supplementary sound class is a modified actuator parametrization based on the adjustments at the weighting.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2018Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Elmar Fichtl, Ullrich Sigwanz
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Publication number: 20210092534Abstract: A hearing device with online (real-time) intelligent performance management. The online management component of the hearing device learns a hearing device user's preferences for operation of the hearing device while the user is using the hearing device in every-day life. The online management component learns the user's preferences from the user's perception of the hearing device output in different listening environments and/or during different activities. The users perception include positive/satisfactory responses of the user to the output from the hearing device. The online management component builds up an individualized model for the user based upon the users perceptions whilst encountering different listening environments and/or engaging in different activities. The individualized model is used to control the hearing device to produce an acoustic output for the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2017Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Patent number: 10805748Abstract: Provided is a method of adapting settings of a hearing device. The method includes the step of providing start settings and target settings of a user control, wherein the start settings and target settings define an effect of the user control at a start time and at an acclimatization completion time, and wherein the user control is for adjusting at least one setting of the hearing device. Further the method includes the steps of configuring an acclimatization transfer behavior of the user control from the start settings to the target settings, wherein the configuration defines how the settings, which determine an effect of the user control, change over time; and causing, during an acclimatization phase, the hearing device to adjust user control settings from the start settings to the target settings according to the configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Elmar Fichtl, Harald Krueger
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Publication number: 20200322742Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for adjusting a hearing device to personal preferences and needs of a user. The proposed method comprises providing initial settings and target settings for signal processing parameters of the hearing device, the user operating the user control element to provide an input for adjusting the current settings so as to meet the personal preferences and needs of the user, adjusting the current settings based on the initial settings and the target settings in dependence of the input to provide adjusted settings for the signal processing parameters. Thereby the user control element is located at the hearing device and/or a hearing device accessory such as a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the present invention provides a system structured and configured to carry out the proposed method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Michael Boretzki, Maxi Susanne Moritz, Elmar Fichtl, Volker Kuehnel, Ullrich Sigwanz, Josef Chalupper
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Publication number: 20200245084Abstract: A hearing device system including a hearing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the hearing device, and a module for processing a psychoacoustic model. The psychoacoustic model is adapted to derive a modification proposal based on hearing relevant data, wherein the modification proposal is adapted to solve a hearing issue of the user of the hearing device. The hearing device system is adapted to dynamically present the modification proposal to the user via the user interface, and to adapt the user interface such to receive inputs made by the user to the dynamically presented modification proposal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Publication number: 20200204928Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid comprises: acquiring a sound signal; classifying the acquired sound signal with respect to predefined sound classes, wherein a raw class mixing weighting is determined, in which the sound signal is weighted with respect to the sound classes; processing the sound signal with at least one actuator, wherein the actuator processes the sound signal based on an actual actuator parameterization, wherein each sound class comprises a sound class actuator parameterization for each actuator, and the actual actuator parameterization for each actuator is generated by mixing the sound class actuator parameterization of the sound classes based on the raw class mixing weighting; and outputting the processed sound signal to be perceived by the user of the hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Publication number: 20190158969Abstract: Provided is a method of adapting settings of a hearing device. The method includes the step of providing start settings and target settings of a user control, wherein the start settings and target settings define an effect of the user control at a start time and at an acclimatization completion time, and wherein the user control is for adjusting at least one setting of the hearing device. Further the method includes the steps of configuring an acclimatization transfer behavior of the user control from the start settings to the target settings, wherein the configuration defines how the settings, which determine an effect of the user control, change over time; and causing, during an acclimatization phase, the hearing device to adjust user control settings from the start settings to the target settings according to the configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2016Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Elmar Fichtl, Harald Krueger
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Patent number: 9237403Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a binaural hearing system and devices being operable according to said method. The hearing system comprises two hearing devices (10, 20), each comprising a signal processing unit (12, 22) for processing an audio input signal according to at least one hearing program (P) to provide an output signal being forwarded to an output transducer (13, 23) of the respective hearing device (10, 20). The method comprises the steps of: determining device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra) being related to the hearing devices (10, 20) and to at least one hearing device specific adjustment having been applied earlier to the at least one hearing program (P); calculating synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)) according to a function that depends on the device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra); and; synchronizing the hearing devices (10, 20) by taking into account the synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)).Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: SONOVA AGInventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Method for adjusting a hearing device and a hearing device that is operable according to said method
Patent number: 9113272Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a hearing device (1) to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing (1). The hearing device (1) comprises an input transducer (20) for providing an electrical signal that corresponds to an acoustical input signal, a processing unit (10) for processing the electrical signal according to a set of process parameters (G1, . . . , Gn) to provide an intermediate signal, and an output transducer (30) for providing an output signal to the user of said hearing device (1), wherein the output signal corresponds to the intermediate signal. The method comprises the step of providing a set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . , Am), which, at least partly, represents an individual hearing characteristic of the user of said hearing device (1) and the further step of adapting the set of process parameters (G1, . . . , Gn) as a function of an adjustment control signal (ACS) and the set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . , Am).Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: PHONAK AGInventors: Reto Kurmann, Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kühnel, Andreas Von Buol, Elmar Fichtl -
Patent number: 8913769Abstract: The method for operating a hearing system comprising at least one hearing device; at least one signal processing unit; at least one user control by means of which at least one audio processing parameter of said signal processing unit is adjustable; and a sensor unit; comprises the steps of a) obtaining adjustment data (userCorr) representative of adjustments of said at least one parameter carried out by operating said at least one user control; b) obtaining characterizing data (p1;p2) from data outputted from said sensor unit substantially at the time said adjustment data are obtained; c) deriving correction data (learntCorr) from said adjustment data (userCorr); wherein step c) is carried out in dependence of said characterizing data; and d) recognizing an update event; and, upon step d): e) using corrected settings for said at least one audio processing parameter in said signal processing unit, which corrected settings are derived in dependence of said correction data (learntCorr).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Manuela Feilner, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger, Ivo Spieler, Elmar Fichtl
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Publication number: 20140307903Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a binaural hearing system and devices being operable according to said method. The hearing system comprises two hearing devices (10, 20), each comprising a signal processing unit (12, 22) for processing an audio input signal according to at least one hearing program (P) to provide an output signal being forwarded to an output transducer (13, 23) of the respective hearing device (10, 20). The method comprises the steps of: determining device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra) being related to the hearing devices (10, 20) and to at least one hearing device specific adjustment having been applied earlier to the at least one hearing program (P); calculating synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)) according to a function that depends on the device information (ACCorr(P)ipsi, ACCorr(P)contra); and; synchronizing the hearing devices (10, 20) by taking into account the synchronization data (learnt_pref(P)).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventor: Elmar Fichtl
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Patent number: 8787603Abstract: Acclimatization of a hearing device user to a hearing device is made more acceptable by automatic acclimatization management. The intensity of the hearing device is increased in the long term, e.g. during several months. The speed of the intensity increase depends on user inputs. A user controls an audio processing parameter (APP), such as volume, with a user control. Each time the user switches the hearing device off and on again, the power-on value (POV) of the audio processing parameter (APP) is changed. The amount of the change depends on which settings for the audio processing parameter (APP) have been selected by the hearing device user and how long the settings have been active. An initial power-on value (iPOV) and a target power-on value (tPOV), which is to be reached at the end (H) of the acclimatization phase, may be programmed by an audiologist.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Elmar Fichtl, Michael Boretzki
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METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A HEARING DEVICE AND A HEARING DEVICE THAT IS OPERABLE ACCORDING TO SAID METHOD
Publication number: 20130223662Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a hearing device (1) to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing (1). The hearing device (1) comprises an input transducer (20) for providing an electrical signal that corresponds to an acoustical input signal, a processing unit (10) for processing the electrical signal according to a set of process parameters (G1, . . . ,Gn) to provide an intermediate signal, and an output transducer (30) for providing an output signal to the user of said hearing device (1), wherein the output signal corresponds to the intermediate signal. The method comprises the step of providing a set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . ,Am), which, at least partly, represents an individual hearing characteristic of the user of said hearing device (1) and the further step of adapting the set of process parameters (G1, . . . ,Gn) as a function of an adjustment control signal (ACS) and the set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . .,Am).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Reto Kurmann, Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kuhnel, Andreas Von Buol, Elmar Fichtl -
Publication number: 20130114836Abstract: Acclimatization of a hearing device user to a hearing device is made more acceptable by automatic acclimatization management. The intensity of the hearing device is increased in the long term, e.g. during several months. The speed of the intensity increase depends on user inputs. A user controls an audio processing parameter (APP), such as volume, with a user control. Each time the user switches the hearing device off and on again, the power-on value (POV) of the audio processing parameter (APP) is changed. The amount of the change depends on which settings for the audio processing parameter (APP) have been selected by the hearing device user and how long the settings have been active. An initial power-on value (iPOV) and a target power-on value (tPOV), which is to be reached at the end (H) of the acclimatization phase, may be programmed by an audiologist.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Elmar Fichtl, Michael Boretzki
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Patent number: 8090127Abstract: A method for: Adjusting a hearing device in a computer-aided manner towards the needs of an individual, and storing a workflow data of the adjusting. The workflow data may include adjusting steps, fitting operations, timing of performing of the adjusting steps or fitting operations, or a time sequence of the adjusting steps or fitting operations. The adjusting can be performed in dependency of the workflow data of adjusting hearing devices, as performed and stored previously.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Manfred Duerst, Elmar Fichtl