Patents by Inventor Nadim El Guindi

Nadim El Guindi 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: 20200314523
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to adaptive tap control for a hearing device. In some implementations, the disclosed technology includes a hearing device configured to detect tapping of the hearing device based on learned tapping parameters. To learn an individual's tapping parameters for a hearing device, the disclosed technology can use a method that includes providing a tap task to a hearing device user; detecting a single tap or multiple taps in response to providing the tap task to the hearing device user; determining tap detection parameters associated with the single or multiple taps; and providing adjusted tap detection parameters for the hearing device based on the determined tap parameters. The hearing device can use the adjusted tap detection parameters to control the hearing device or perform operations by tap control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20200314521
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured adjust the tap detection sensitivity on based on context. The disclosed technology can determine a context for a hearing device based on sound received at the hearing device (e.g., determine loud environment) or a wireless communication signal from an external device received at the hearing device (e.g., receive a message that phone call is incoming); adjust a tapping sensitivity threshold of the hearing device based on the context; detect a tap of the hearing device based on the adjusted sensitivity threshold; and modify a setting of the hearing device (e.g., reduce volume based on a tap) or transmitting instructions to the external device based on detecting the tap. The hearing device can be a hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200314568
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device is configured to selectively connect to a remote audio source configured to provide remote audio content. The hearing device operates in a first audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a first audio signal based on a first combination of at least one of the ambient audio content detected by a microphone and the remote audio content. The hearing device determines, while operating in the first audio rendering mode and based on the accelerometer data, a movement of the user. The hearing device determines, based on the movement of the user, whether to switch from operating in the first audio rendering mode to operating in a second audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a second audio signal based on a second combination of at least one of the ambient audio content and the remote audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Ivo Spieler, Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Publication number: 20200314561
    Abstract: A hearing aid, including an inertial sensor for detecting movement of the hearing aid, and a power mode controller connected to the inertial sensor through a threshold comparison unit and adapted to switch the hearing aid off or into a low power mode if the threshold comparison unit detects that a characteristic of a signal including information on the movement detected by the inertial sensor is below a certain threshold. Also, a method for controlling a power mode of a hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Publication number: 20200252733
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn by a user includes a microphone, an accelerometer, and a processor. The microphone detects an audio signal. The accelerometer outputs accelerometer data associated with the hearing device. The processor is configured to 1) identify a music feature of the audio signal, the music feature indicating that the audio signal includes music content, 2) identify a movement feature of the accelerometer data, the movement feature representative of movement by the user while the microphone detects the audio signal, 3) determine a similarity measure between the music feature and the movement feature, and 4) perform, based on the similarity measure, an operation with respect to a sound processing program executable by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ullrich Sigwanz, Thomas Wessel
  • Patent number: 10728676
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn by a user includes a microphone, an accelerometer, and a processor. The microphone detects an audio signal. The accelerometer outputs accelerometer data associated with the hearing device. The processor is configured to 1) identify a music feature of the audio signal, the music feature indicating that the audio signal includes music content, 2) identify a movement feature of the accelerometer data, the movement feature representative of movement by the user while the microphone detects the audio signal, 3) determine a similarity measure between the music feature and the movement feature, and 4) perform, based on the similarity measure, an operation with respect to a sound processing program executable by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ullrich Sigwanz, Thomas Wessel
  • Publication number: 20200162825
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a hearing device configured to reduce audio artifacts related to electromagnetic interference between a transceiver and a T-coil. The hearing device can include a T-coil configured to receive audio signal; a processor configured to communicate with a transceiver, to process the EM inductive audio signal, and to provide a processed audio signal to a transducer. The processor can communicate with a memory to access instructions that include operations to: determine that the hearing device is receiving the EM inductive audio signal from the T-coil; determine that a noise associated with EM interference and the T-coil is anticipated based on the notification from the transceiver; and determine whether to apply a filter to the processed audio signal based on a sound level of the processed audio signal being below a masking threshold during a duration of the noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Nadim El Guindi
  • Patent number: 10652671
    Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing device (10, 11) to be worn by a user, comprising: defining a plurality of hearing device services and assigning to each hearing device service a service access confirmation level selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured service access confirmation levels; providing an access software platform for enabling third party service access to the hearing device services; providing at least one application program adapted to provide a third party service to the hearing device, each application program adapted to utilize the access software platform and at least one of the hearing device services; providing a manufacturer access service for approving or denying access to the hearing device for each of the application programs depending on whether or not approval for the respective service access confirmation level(s) has been previously obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim El Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
  • Patent number: 10638210
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device configured to be worn by a user includes an accelerometer configured to output accelerometer data representative of an acceleration of the hearing device and a processor configured to maintain data representative of a walking detection algorithm, determine an optimized parameter for the user for use with the walking detection algorithm, and apply, in accordance with the optimized parameter, the walking detection algorithm to the accelerometer data to determine a walking state of the user while the user wears the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Ullrich Sigwanz, Nathalie Leuthold
  • Publication number: 20200128335
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a hearing device (e.g., a HI) configured to detect own voice comprises two or more microphones configured to detect a voice, and a motion detection device or component, wherein the hearing device is configured to determine the direction of arrival (DOA) of the voice detected by the microphones of the hearing device, wherein the hearing device is configured to determine whether there is movement of the hearing device using the motion detection device or component, and wherein, if it is determined that the DOA of the voice detected by the microphones of the hearing device is from the front of a user of the hearing device and said detected voice remains stable, and there is movement detected by the motion detection device or component, the hearing device is configured to conclude that the voice detected by the hearing device is own voice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventor: Nadim El Guindi
  • Patent number: 10200795
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing system for conducting telephone calls as well as a hearing system capable of performing the proposed method. The hearing system includes a communication device (4) with a communication device microphone (3?) for picking up a first sound signal and providing a primary sidetone signal. The hearing system further includes a hearing device with a hearing device microphone for picking up a second sound signal and providing a secondary sidetone signal. A first amplification is applied to the primary sidetone signal and a second amplification is applied to the secondary sidetone signal. Adjusting of the first amplification is dependent on adjusting of the second amplification, or alternatively, adjusting of the second amplification is dependent on adjusting of the first amplification. The primary and secondary sidetone signals are then combined and subsequently output by a hearing device loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ivo Hasler
  • Patent number: 10187733
    Abstract: A method for controlling and/or configuring a user-specific hearing system using a computing and/or communication device. The hearing system includes at least one hearing device customizable according to the individual hearing ability and/or preferences of a user of the hearing system. The method includes connecting the hearing system to a server via a network, connecting the computing and/or communication device to the server via the network, providing by the server a hearing system control and/or configuration service tailored to the user-specific hearing system to the computing and/or communication device, determining and/or selecting at the computing and/or communication device control data and/or configuration data using the hearing system control and/or configuration service, sending the control and/or configuration data from the computing and/or communication device to the hearing system, and adjusting the hearing system based on control and/or configuration data received at the hearing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Philipp Schneider, Nadim El Guindi
  • Publication number: 20180359574
    Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing device (10, 11) to be worn by a user, comprising: defining a plurality of hearing device services and assigning to each hearing device service a service access confirmation level selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured service access confirmation levels; providing an access software platform for enabling third party service access to the hearing device services; providing at least one application program adapted to provide a third party service to the hearing device, each application program adapted to utilize the access software platform and at least one of the hearing device services; providing a manufacturer access service for approving or denying access to the hearing device for each of the application programs depending on whether or not approval for the respective service access confirmation level(s) has been previously obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim EL Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
  • Patent number: 9949038
    Abstract: A hearing assistance system having a first and second hearing assistance devices for hearing stimulation of first and second ears, each hearing assistance device having a first interface for wireless data exchange between the first hearing assistance device and the second hearing assistance device and a second interface for wireless reception of an external data stream from an external data stream source, each hearing assistance device being adapted to repeatedly exchange information concerning the charging status of the battery of the respective hearing assistance device with the other hearing assistance device in order to monitor the remaining battery lifetimes, wherein the hearing assistance devices are caused to switch the role of master and slave when the difference in the battery charges of the two devices exceeds a given threshold, with the hearing assistance device having the higher battery charge forming the new master after the role switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ivo Hasler
  • Publication number: 20160302015
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing system for conducting telephone calls as well as a hearing system capable of performing the proposed method. The hearing system includes a communication device (4) with a communication device microphone (3?) for picking up a first sound signal and providing a primary sidetone signal. The hearing system further includes a hearing device with a hearing device microphone for picking up a second sound signal and providing a secondary sidetone signal. A first amplification is applied to the primary sidetone signal and a second amplification is applied to the secondary sidetone signal. Adjusting of the first amplification is dependent on adjusting of the second amplification, or alternatively, adjusting of the second amplification is dependent on adjusting of the first amplification. The primary and secondary sidetone signals are then combined and subsequently output by a hearing device loudspeaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Nadim EL GUINDI, Ivo HASLER
  • Publication number: 20160212552
    Abstract: A method for controlling and/or configuring a user-specific hearing system using a computing and/or communication device. The hearing system includes at least one hearing device customisable according to the individual hearing ability and/or preferences of a user of the hearing system. The method includes connecting the hearing system to a server via a network, connecting the computing and/or communication device to the server via the network, providing by the server a hearing system control and/or configuration service tailored to the user-specific hearing system to the computing and/or communication device, determining and/or selecting at the computing and/or communication device control data and/or configuration data using the hearing system control and/or configuration service, sending the control and/or configuration data from the computing and/or communication device to the hearing system, and adjusting the hearing system based on control and/or configuration data received at the hearing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Philipp Schneider, Nadim El Guindi