Patents by Inventor Manfred Zollner

Manfred Zollner 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: 4983236
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying sealing glands to electric lines. The sealing glands are positioned in guide sleeve, and the electric line is held by centering jaws so that the electric line and the sealing gland are in alignment with each other. Clamping jaws secure the electric line a short distance behind the end of the line, which is secured with very little play in the centering jaws. A ram is inserted into the guide sleeve, and moves the guide sleeve and the sealing gland toward the electric line until the sealing gland strikes the centering jaws. The centering jaw mechanism then moves toward the clamping jaw mechanism, and the sealing gland is pushed over the electric line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Grote & Hartmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Zollner
  • Patent number: 4428377
    Abstract: In the exemplary embodiments, the sound signals are converted into electrical signals, which are wirelessly transmitted to an implanted receiver, and from the latter, electric stimuli in electrode channels are brought to act on the auditory nerve. The transmission proceeds in the time division multiplex technique in such a manner that the electrical signals are subjected to a pulse modulation and are transmitted in an HF-channel. Thus, the receiver can be reduced with regard to the volume of its construction as well as with regard to its energy requirement. The disclosed method and hearing prostheses for its realization are particularly suited for attending to the needs of the extremely hard of hearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Zollner, Christian Hoffmann, Eberhard Zwicker
  • Patent number: 4403118
    Abstract: In the illustrated embodiments, the signals to be transmitted are converted into electrical signals and are divided by means of filters into a plurality of frequency bands. The envelopes of the signals coming out of the filters are then employed for the modulation of tones. Finally, the original tones and the modulated tones are supplied to the hearing-impaired person as an audio signal. To this end, the disclosure provides that the original signal to be transmitted is transmitted together with the modulated tones, and that the ratio of the volumes of the original tones and those of the modulated tones is set to a ratio which is comfortable for the hearing-impaired person. The transmission of the modulated tones is at least partially interrupted for voiced sounds. Standard ear sets or implanted devices with direct electrical transmission of the signals to the auditory nerve can be employed for transmission to the hearing-impaired person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Zollner, Christian Hoffmann, Eberhard Zwicker
  • Patent number: 4390756
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, the point of departure is that of a substitute signal system for deaf individuals which codes acoustical signals, in particular speech sound, into electrocutaneous stimulation patterns. Current pulse patterns serve as substitute signals which, via skin surface electrodes, e.g. on the forearm, bring about sensory patterns which can be interpreted as speech information. To this end, the sound signal is separated with band pass filters into e.g. twelve component signals characteristic for the recognition of speech, whose levels are converted into pulse durations, whereby the dependency of the sensation intensity upon the stimulation parameters is taken into account. The mean frequencies of the band pass filters are associated with a corresponding number of locations on the forearm (i.e. in the present example twelve). A simulation of lateral inhibition suppresses irrelevant spectral components and thus acts in a selectivity-increasing (or enhancing) fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Hoffmann, Manfred Zollner, Eberhard Zwicker
  • Patent number: 4289935
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, the signals to be transmitted are converted into electric signals and resolved into a multiplicity of frequency bands by means of filters. The signals coming from the filters are then employed for the modulation of tone signals. Finally, original tones are supplied to the person hard of hearing together with the modulated tones as the auditory signal. To this end, the disclosure provides that the resolution ensues into at least three frequency bands and that the frequencies of the modulated tones are adapted to the residual frequency band of the person hard of hearing and that all of the signals to be transmitted are transmitted together with the modulated tones and that the ratio of the loudness of the original tones and that of the modulated tones is set at a ratio which is useful for the person hard of hearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Zollner, Christian Hoffmann, Eberhard Zwicker