Patents by Inventor Homayoun Kamkar Parsi

Homayoun Kamkar Parsi 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: 10848879
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method for improving the spatial hearing perception of a binaural hearing aid, said binaural hearing aid comprising a first local unit and a second local unit, wherein in the first local unit, a first input signal is generated from an environment sound by a first input transducer, and a first reference signal is derived from the first input signal, wherein in the second local unit, a second input signal is generated from the environment sound by a second input transducer, and a second reference signal is derived from the second input signal, wherein from the first reference signal and the second reference signal, a first binaural beamformer signal is derived, wherein from the first reference signal and the first binaural beamformer signal, a first coherence parameter is derived, wherein from the first coherence parameter, a first mixing parameter is derived, and wherein the first reference signal and the first binaural beamformer signal are mixed by means of the first mixing parameter
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hala As'Ad, Martin Bouchard, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • Patent number: 10798494
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing apparatus and hearing apparatus having at least one of a first microphone or a second microphone which generate a first microphone signal and a second microphone signal respectively, the first microphone and the second microphone being arranged in at least one of a first hearing device and a second hearing device, a third microphone which generates a third microphone signal, the third microphone being arranged in an external device, and a signal processing unit, wherein in the signal processing unit the third microphone signal and at least one of the first microphone signal or the second microphone signal are processed together thereby producing an output signal with an enhanced signal to noise ratio compared to the first microphone signal and/or the second microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Henning Puder, Dianna Yee
  • Publication number: 20200260196
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing system that has a first input transducer, a second input transducer and a signal processing device. An activity of a lateral useful signal source in an environment of the hearing system is ascertained by a first input signal being generated via an acoustic signal that impinges on the first input transducer, and a second input signal being generated via the acoustic signal that impinges on the second input transducer. A filtered input signal is generated via a directional notch filter based on the first and second input signals. A measure for attenuation that the directional notch filter causes is ascertained based on the filtered input signal and on the first and/or second input signals. The measure is compared with a reference, and from this comparison, the presence or absence of activity of the lateral useful signal source in the surroundings is inferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER
  • Publication number: 20200204927
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for noise reduction in a binaural hearing aid, said binaural hearing aid comprising a first local unit and a second local unit, weherein the method comprises the following steps: generating a first main signal and a first auxiliary signal in the first local unit from an environment sound, and a second main signal in the second local unit from the environment sound, estimating a direction of arrival of a useful sound signal in the environment sound, assigning a first frequency range and a second frequency range, generating a first range beamformer signal in the first frequency range from the first main signal, the first auxiliary signal and the second main signal by imposing at least one spatial condition related to the estimated direction of arrival on the directional characteristic of the first range beamformer signal, generating a second range beamformer signal in the second frequency range from the first main signal and the second main signal by imposing at least one spatia
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: HALA AS'AD, MARTIN BOUCHARD, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Publication number: 20200204932
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method for improving the spatial hearing perception of a binaural hearing aid, said binaural hearing aid comprising a first local unit and a second local unit, wherein in the first local unit, a first input signal is generated from an environment sound by a first input transducer, and a first reference signal is derived from the first input signal, wherein in the second local unit, a second input signal is generated from the environment sound by a second input transducer, and a second reference signal is derived from the second input signal, wherein from the first reference signal and the second reference signal, a first binaural beamformer signal is derived, wherein from the first reference signal and the first binaural beamformer signal, a first coherence parameter is derived, wherein from the first coherence parameter, a first mixing parameter is derived, and wherein the first reference signal and the first binaural beamformer signal are mixed by means of the first mixing parameter
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: HALA AS'AD, MARTIN BOUCHARD, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Patent number: 10638239
    Abstract: A hearing aid has a first input transducer that generates a first input signal from an ambient sound signal, a second input transducer that generates a second input signal from the sound signal and at least one output transducer. A first direction is assigned to a first useful signal source and a second direction is assigned to a second useful signal source, which is spatially separated from the first useful signal source. Based on the first input signal and the second input signal, a first reference signal oriented in the first direction and a second reference signal oriented in the second direction are formed. An output signal is formed on the basis of the first reference signal and the second reference signal, and the output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20200120431
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing system which has a hearing instrument worn in an ear. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment, processing the captured sound signal in dependence of a set of signal processing parameters, and outputting a processed sound signal to the user. The method further includes analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, analyzing the captured sound signal for an acoustic feature of the own voice of the user and/or analyzing a signal of a bio sensor. The bio sensor measures at least one non-acoustic vital function of the user and determines, from the acoustic feature and/or the non-acoustic vital function of the user, a measure of an emotional state of the user. A value of a signal processing parameter is adapted, within the own-voice intervals, to change the emotional state if a criterion is fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: RONNY HANNEMANN, ULRICH GIESE, MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Publication number: 20200120433
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing instrument that is worn in or at the ear of a user. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument; analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, and foreign-voice intervals, in which at least one different speaker speaks; and determining, from the recognized own-voice intervals and foreign-voice intervals, at least one turn-taking feature. From the at least one turn-taking feature a measure of the sound perception by the user is derived. Predefined action for improving the sound perception is taken if the measure or the at least one turn-taking feature fulfill a predefined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: MAJA SERMAN, MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Patent number: 10616694
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Tobias Rosenkranz
  • Publication number: 20200107139
    Abstract: A hearing system has a hearing instrument that may be worn in or on a user's ear, and a peripheral device or a control program that may run on a data processing device. A microphone signal detected by the hearing instrument is examined for the user's own-voice components and is processed by a signal processor of the hearing instrument as a function of predetermined signal processing parameters. When own-voice components are detected, a first parameter set of the signal processing parameters is applied; when own-voice components are not detected, a second parameter set of the signal processing parameters is applied. The first parameter set may be modified by the user via the peripheral device or the control program in order to adapt the own-voice components contained in the microphone signal to a user-desired perception of the user's own voice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MIRKO ARNOLD, ULRICH GIESE
  • Patent number: 10595136
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device. A first input signal is generated by a first input transducer of the hearing device from an ambient sound signal. An external input transducer outside of the hearing device generates an external input signal from the ambient sound signal. A relative transfer function from the external input transducer to the hearing device with respect to a target signal source is ascertained based on the first input signal and/or external input signal. The external input signal is filtered by the relative transfer function, thereby generating an estimated target signal. Noise suppression takes place in the hearing device based on the estimated target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Dianna Yee, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Henning Puder
  • Patent number: 10547956
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes at least a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a surrounding sound signal and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. A first direction is assigned to a first signal source. A first directional signal that is aligned in the first direction is formed on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal. Signal components of the first directional signal are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source that is predetermined in view of its type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20190394580
    Abstract: A method for enhancing a signal directionality in a hearing instrument wherein first and second signals are generated by first and second input transducers that are spaced apart from one another. A first directional signal is derived from the first input signal and the second input signal by applying a second-to-first relative transfer function with respect to a first target angle to the second input signal. The second-to-first relative transfer function is a relative transfer function from the second input transducer to the first input transducer with respect to the first target angle. Similarly, a second directional signal is derived from the second input signal and the first input signal by applying a first-to-second relative transfer function with respect to a second target angle to the first input signal. An angle-enhanced signal is derived from the first directional signal and the second directional signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: HALA AS'AD, MARTIN BOUCHARD, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Patent number: 10425746
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus has a microphone for converting ambient sounds into a microphone signal, a signal processor for processing the microphone signal and an output transducer for outputting an output signal. A characteristic voice measure is ascertained for a voice component in the ambient sounds, and a supplementary measure characteristic of an activity of the wearer of the hearing apparatus is ascertained. Subsequently, an evaluated correlation between the voice measure and the supplementary measure is used to increase a probability value for the presence of a communication situation between the user and a third party if the voice measure and the supplementary measure, under at least one prescribed criterion, assume a value representative of the presence of the voice component and of the activity of the wearer. The probability value forms the basis for altering a signal processing algorithm that is executed to process the microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Marko Lugger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • Patent number: 10403306
    Abstract: A method for fast recognition of a hearing aid wearer's own voice, and a corresponding apparatus for carrying out the method. The hearing aid receives audio signals from at least two acoustoelectric transducers. The hearing aid has an apparatus with a first filter and a second filter for spatial separation. First filter parameters of the first filter are ascertained and used to attenuate the own voice of the hearing aid wearer of the hearing aid. In addition, second filter parameters of the second filter are ascertained. The second filter parameters are used to attenuate an external audio source. The apparatus is then operated with the first and second parameters, and the wearer's own voice is recognized on the basis of an output signal from the first filter and the second filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20190268704
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device. A first input signal is generated by a first input transducer of the hearing device from an ambient sound signal. An external input transducer outside of the hearing device generates an external input signal from the ambient sound signal. A relative transfer function from the external input transducer to the hearing device with respect to a target signal source is ascertained based on the first input signal and/or external input signal. The external input signal is filtered by the relative transfer function, thereby generating an estimated target signal. Noise suppression takes place in the hearing device based on the estimated target signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: DIANNA YEE, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, HENNING PUDER
  • Patent number: 10349189
    Abstract: A method determines a direction of a useful signal source in an acoustic system that has a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. The first input signal and the second input signal are used to form a plurality of angle-dependent directional characteristics having a respective fixed central angle and a respective given angular expansion. The signal components pertaining to the individual directional characteristics are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source. The applicable central angle is assigned to a useful signal source ascertained in a particular directional characteristic as the direction of the useful signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10231064
    Abstract: A method improves a picked-up signal in a hearing system. The hearing system has at least one hearing device, particularly a hearing aid. The hearing aid device has an associated first directional microphone that has an adjustable first directional characteristic with a preferential direction. The first directional microphone converts sound into a first signal that is adopted in the picked-up signal. A speech activity of a user of the hearing system is monitored, and recognition of a speech activity of the user prompts the preferential direction of the first directional characteristic to be adjusted in comparison with a frontal direction of the user such that the sound sensitivity of the first directional microphone undergoes attenuation in the frontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10231063
    Abstract: In a binaural hearing aid system audio signals are transmitted between an antenna facility of a left ITE hearing aid and an antenna facility of a right ITE hearing aid. Binaural beam forming is based on a natural directivity of the pinna and/or based on a head shadowing effect. Each antenna facility has an antenna arrangement with a coil core made of magnetically permeable material, and extending along a longitudinal axis, a further electric hearing aid component, which emits electromagnetic interference radiation, and an at least partially planar shield made of magnetically permeable material. The shield is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component transversely to the longitudinal axis of the coil core and the shield is arranged at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the coil core, preferably 75 to 100 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Nikles, Juergen Reithinger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20190020957
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER, TOBIAS ROSENKRANZ