Patents by Inventor Frank Klefenz

Frank Klefenz 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: 10744322
    Abstract: A cochlear implant for processing signal parameters which are adapted for controlling the cochlear implant, which are based on the audio signal and which enable generating a representation of the audio signal by the cochlear implant includes a receive interface which is implemented to receive the signal parameters and a nerve stimulator for processing the signal parameters to generate nerve cell stimulation signals based on the signal parameters. A device for generating a control signal for a cochlear implant on the basis of an audio signal includes a cochlear parameter extractor for analyzing the audio signal which is implemented to generate signal parameters as input information for the cochlear implant based on an analysis of the audio signal using a human hearing simulation model, and a transmit interface for transmitting the signal parameters to the cochlear implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Bernd Edler, Andreas Buechner, Waldo Nogueira, Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 9704093
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a memristor having a first electrode, a second electrode and a memristive layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. Thereby, the memristor is adapted to obtain an asymmetrical current density distribution in the memristive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Technische Universitaet Ilmenau
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Peter Husar, Adam Williamson, Lars Schumann, Lars Hiller, Ingo Hoerselmann, Andreas Schober
  • Patent number: 9640870
    Abstract: The invention relates to an array antenna (1), comprising a first plate (2), which has means for distributing an electromagnetic signal to be emitted by the array antenna (1), a second plate (3), which has first openings (7) for conducting the electromagnetic signal to be emitted therethrough, and a third plate (4), which has means (12) used to emit the electromagnetic signal. The second plate (3) is arranged between the first plate and the third plate (2, 4) and is operatively connected to same. The second plate (3) has substantially plane-parallel, smooth lateral surfaces (5, 6), in which the first openings (7) are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Huber+Suhner AG
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Ulf Huegel
  • Publication number: 20160019453
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a memristor having a first electrode, a second electrode and a memristive layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. Thereby, the memristor is adapted to obtain an asymmetrical current density distribution in the memristive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Frank KLEFENZ, Peter HUSAR, Adam WILLIAMSON, Lars SCHUMANN, Lars HILLER, Ingo HOERSELMANN, Andreas SCHOBER
  • Patent number: 8761893
    Abstract: A device for analyzing an audio signal to obtain an analysis representation of the audio signal includes a converter for converting the audio signal into a representation representing a neurotransmitter vesicle occurrence in clefts between a plurality of nerve fibers and inner auditory cells of an ear model, and a calculator for calculating a neural activity pattern over time on the plurality of nerve fibers, which results based on the neurotransmitter vesicle occurrence, wherein the neural activity pattern is an analysis representation of the audio signal. The inventive device thus generates an especially suitable analysis representation of an audio signal in which masking effects occurring in the generation of action potentials on nerve fibers are considered. The inventive analysis representation is also suitable for an examination of the audio content and also for controlling cochlea implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, András Kátai, Gero Szepannek, Tamás Harczos
  • Patent number: 8649529
    Abstract: An apparatus for localizing a sound source includes at least two rotatably arranged microphones, a drive formed to set the microphones into rotation, and an evaluator. The evaluator is formed to receive microphone signals of the at least two microphones, while the at least two microphones are moving, and to obtain information on a direction from which sound arrives from the sound source or information on a position of the sound source, using the microphone signals obtained during the movement of the microphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Thomas Sporer
  • Publication number: 20130321229
    Abstract: The invention relates to an array antenna (1), comprising a first plate (2), which has means for distributing an electromagnetic signal to be emitted by the array antenna (1), a second plate (3), which has first openings (7) for conducting the electromagnetic signal to be emitted therethrough, and a third plate (4), which has means (12) used to emit the electromagnetic signal. The second plate (3) is arranged between the first plate and the third plate (2, 4) and is operatively connected to same. The second plate (3) has substantially plane-parallel, smooth lateral surfaces (5, 6), in which the first openings (7) are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Huber+Suhner AG
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Ulf Huegel
  • Patent number: 8570383
    Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing gestures in a picture includes a Hough transformer configured to identify elements in the picture or in a pre-processed version of the picture as identified gesture elements and to obtain information about the identified gesture elements. The apparatus further includes a gesture description creator configured to obtain a gesture description while using the information about the identified gesture elements. Moreover, the apparatus includes a gesture classifier configured to compare the gesture description to a plurality of comparative gesture descriptions having gesture codes associated with them. The gesture classifier is configured to provide, as the result of the comparison, a gesture code of a recognized gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschun e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Valiantsin Hardzeyeu
  • Patent number: 8538157
    Abstract: A device for detecting characters in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify, as identified elements of writing, circular arcs or elliptical arcs in the image or in a preprocessed version of the image. The device further includes a character description generator implemented to obtain, on the basis of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs, a character description which describes locations of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs. In addition, the device includes a database comparator implemented to compare the character description with a plurality of comparative character descriptions which have character codes associated with them, so as to provide, as a result of the comparison, a character code of a detected character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 8189834
    Abstract: A device for generating a filtered activity pattern based on a first activity pattern at an auditory model of a first ear and a second activity pattern at an auditory model of a second ear includes an identifier for identifying a first trajectory in the first activity pattern and a second trajectory in the second activity pattern which are associated with the same sound event. The device further includes a determiner for determining whether the two trajectories are associated with a sound event of a useful sound source. The device further includes a filter for filtering the first activity pattern or the second activity pattern based on a result of determining whether a trajectory is associated with a sound event of the useful sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 8170340
    Abstract: A device for identifying a traffic sign in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify a plurality of line sections running in different directions through the image in the image or in an edge image derived from same. The device further includes a shape detector implemented to detect a predefined shape in the image or in the edge image derived from same based on the identified line sections. The device apart from that includes a pattern identifier implemented to select an image section corresponding to the detected predefined shape based on the detected predefined shape and to identify a traffic sign based on the selected image section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Publication number: 20110234840
    Abstract: An apparatus for recognizing gestures in a picture includes a Hough transformer configured to identify elements in the picture or in a pre-processed version of the picture as identified gesture elements and to obtain information about the identified gesture elements. The apparatus further includes a gesture description creator configured to obtain a gesture description while using the information about the identified gesture elements. Moreover, the apparatus includes a gesture classifier configured to compare the gesture description to a plurality of comparative gesture descriptions having gesture codes associated with them. The gesture classifier is configured to provide, as the result of the comparison, a gesture code of a recognized gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank KLEFENZ, Valiantsin HARDZEYEU
  • Patent number: 7996212
    Abstract: A hardware device for analyzing an audio signal comprises a calculator for calculating a neural activity pattern over time resulting at nerve fibers of an ear model based on the audio signal and a processor for processing the neural activity pattern to obtain a sequence of time information as an analysis representation describing a temporal position of consecutive trajectories, wherein a trajectory includes activity impulses on different nerve fibers based on the same event in the audio signal. A two-dimensional representation of the neural activity pattern is gradually distorted over time, and it is recognized when an approximately straight line is contained in the distorted two-dimensional representation of the neural activity pattern over time. Accordingly, a time information belonging to the trajectory is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 7948493
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining information about shape and location of an ellipse involves determining two coordinates of a first ellipse point representing a point of the ellipse located furthest in the first direction, and determining two coordinates of a second ellipse point representing a point of the ellipse located furthest in a direction opposite to the first direction. The apparatus determines parameters of bent line segments approximating the ellipse at ellipse points or in a surrounding of ellipse points, and determines the coordinates of ellipse points based on the parameters of the bent line segments. The apparatus involves calculating ellipse parameters of the ellipse based on the two coordinates of the first ellipse point and the two coordinates of the second ellipse point. The apparatus enables real-time-capable determination of parameters of an ellipse included in an image to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Technische Universitaet e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Klefenz, Johannes Katzmann, Christian Holland-Nell, Peter Husar
  • Publication number: 20110110531
    Abstract: An apparatus for localizing a sound source includes at least two rotatably arranged microphones, a drive formed to set the microphones into rotation, and an evaluator. The evaluator is formed to receive microphone signals of the at least two microphones, while the at least two microphones are moving, and to obtain information on a direction from which sound arrives from the sound source or information on a position of the sound source, using the microphone signals obtained during the movement of the microphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank KLEFENZ, Thomas SPORER
  • Publication number: 20100329513
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position on the basis of a camera image from a camera includes a Hough transformer, a positional description establisher and a database comparator. The Hough transformer is formed to identify circular arcs or elliptical arcs in the camera image or in a preprocessed version of the camera image derived therefrom, and to identify a plurality of straight stretches passing in various directions through the camera image or through the preprocessed version. The positional description establisher is formed to obtain a positional description describing the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs and the identified straight stretches by parameters, on the basis of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs and on the identified straight stretches. The database comparator further is formed to compare the positional description with a plurality of comparative positional descriptions and to obtain information on a position as a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Publication number: 20100232631
    Abstract: A device for generating a filtered activity pattern based on a first activity pattern at an auditory model of a first ear and a second activity pattern at an auditory model of a second ear includes an identifier for identifying a first trajectory in the first activity pattern and a second trajectory in the second activity pattern which are associated with the same sound event. The device further includes a determiner for determining whether the two trajectories are associated with a sound event of a useful sound source. The device further includes a filter for filtering the first activity pattern or the second activity pattern based on a result of determining whether a trajectory is associated with a sound event of the useful sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 7797051
    Abstract: A method of generating a control signal for a cochlear implant based on an audio signal includes calculating first information on an activity pattern over time at a plurality of inner hair cells of an auditory model, which results based on the audio signal, and filtering out activity events described by the first information, based on a recognition of a characteristic pattern in the activity pattern, whereby cleared information is obtained. The cleared information is further used as a control signal for the cochlear implant, or the control signal for the cochlear implant is derived from the cleared information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Publication number: 20100067805
    Abstract: A device for identifying a traffic sign in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify a plurality of line sections running in different directions through the image in the image or in an edge image derived from same. The device further includes a shape detector implemented to detect a predefined shape in the image or in the edge image derived from same based on the identified line sections. The device apart from that includes a pattern identifier implemented to select an image section corresponding to the detected predefined shape based on the detected predefined shape and to identify a traffic sign based on the selected image section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Publication number: 20100054603
    Abstract: A device for detecting characters in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify, as identified elements of writing, circular arcs or elliptical arcs in the image or in a preprocessed version of the image. The device further includes a character description generator implemented to obtain, on the basis of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs, a character description which describes locations of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs. In addition, the device includes a database comparator implemented to compare the character description with a plurality of comparative character descriptions which have character codes associated with them, so as to provide, as a result of the comparison, a character code of a detected character.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz