Patents by Inventor Thomas Lunner
Thomas Lunner 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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Publication number: 20170311097Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprising a first part for being inserted in an ear canal or fully or partially implanted in the head of a user, the first part comprising at least one electrode unit, termed a PR-electrode unit, for making contact to skin or tissue of a user when mounted or implanted in an operational condition, the at least one PR-electrode unit being configured to pick up a physiological response from the user, and wherein the at least one PR-electrode unit comprises an electrically conductive material, e.g. a shape memory alloy. The first part may comprise an implanted part, e.g. in combination with an external part adapted for being located in an ear canal, wherein both parts comprise one or more PR-electrode units. The invention may e.g. be used hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, or combinations thereof, e.g. to control processing of the hearing device or to monitor a condition of the user wearing the hearing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicants: Oticon A/S, Oticon Medical A/SInventors: Claus NIELSEN, Thomas LUNNER, Regin Kopp PEDERSEN, Carina GRAVERSEN, Dorothea WENDT, Karsten Bo RASMUSSEN, Eline Borch PETERSEN, Troels Holm PEDERSEN, Martin LINDEBJERG
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Method, device and system for increasing a person's ability to suppress non-wanted auditory percepts
Patent number: 9743197Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for reducing a listener's task-irrelevant auditory perception, the method comprising providing a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta gamma and/or theta activity and providing a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity. The listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is measured and if the measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is increased by the provision of the alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Eline Borch Petersen, Thomas Lunner, Niels Henrik Pontoppidan -
Patent number: 9700261Abstract: The application relates to a hearing assistance system comprising first and second spatially separated parts adapted for being mounted fully or partially at a first ear and on the head of a user, respectively, the first and second parts comprising a number of first and second electrodes located at a surface of first and second housings, respectively, to allow said first and second electrodes to contact the skin of the user when said parts are operationally mounted on the user's head. The first and second electrodes are adapted to pick up low-voltage electric signals from the user's brain and a reference voltage, respectively, to provide voltage difference signals. An improved binaural hearing assistance system further comprising a comparison unit for determining the voltage difference signal, and an electric interface allowing the reference voltage or a measure representative thereof to be transferred from said second part to said comparison unit is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventor: Thomas Lunner
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Publication number: 20170180882Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprising a sensor part adapted for being located at or in an ear or for fully or partially for being implanted in the head of a user. The application further relates to a hearing system. The object of the present application is to provide an improved hearing device. The problem is solved in that the sensor part comprises an electrical potential sensor for sensing an electrical potential, and the hearing device further comprises electronic circuitry coupled to the electrical potential sensor to provide an amplified output. The invention may e.g. be used in binaural hearing aid systems to control the processing, e.g. using EarEOG.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Thomas LUNNER, Fredrik GUSTAFSSON
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Patent number: 9635469Abstract: A hearing aid includes at least one electrode located at a surface of a housing of the hearing aid to allow the electrodes to contact the skin of a user during use of the hearing aid, at least one electrode being adapted to pick up a low voltage signal from the user's brain, an amplifier unit operationally connected to the electrode(s) and adapted for amplifying the low voltage signal(s) to provide amplified brain signal(s), and a signal processing unit adapted to process the amplified brain signal(s) to provide a processed brain signal as well as to apply a time and frequency dependent gain to an input audio signal and to provide a processed audio output signal. Also a method of operating a hearing aid and a hearing aid system.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Thomas Lunner, Tobias Neher
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Patent number: 9560458Abstract: A system for operating a hearing instrument is disclosed. The system comprises one or more electrodes for measuring the brain wave signals of a user wearing a hearing instrument. The electrodes are placed on the scalp of the user. Based on the measured brain wave signals, a detecting unit is configured to detect a relaxation state of the hearing instrument. A controller sets the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the detection of the relaxation state of the user.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Thomas Lunner, Niels Henrik Pontoppidan
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METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING A PERSON'S ABILITY TO SUPPRESS NON-WANTED AUDITORY PERCEPTS
Publication number: 20160261962Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for reducing a listener's task-irrelevant auditory perception, the method comprising providing a measuring device or system configured for measuring the listener's alpha, beta gamma and/or theta activity and providing a generation device or system configured for generating an alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal that, when provided to the listener will increase the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity. The listener's alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is measured and if the measured alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is below a predefined threshold, the listener's ongoing alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity is increased by the provision of the alpha, beta, gamma and/or theta activity boosting signal to the listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Eline Borch PETERSEN, Thomas LUNNER, Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN -
Patent number: 9432777Abstract: A hearing device is adapted to be arranged on or at least partly implanted in an individual's head and comprises: an input unit providing an input audio signal; a signal processing circuit adapted to process the input audio signal; an output unit adapted to provide an audible signal to the individual; one or more electrodes adapted to detect electric brain potentials of the individual; and a brainwave measurement circuit adapted to determine one or more EEG signals from electric signals received from the one or more electrodes. The hearing device further comprises: a first spectrum analyzer determining first audio spectra; a reconstructor adapted to repeatedly reconstruct second audio spectra; a first correlator to determine coherence between the first and the second audio spectra; and a control unit adapted to alter said processing in dependence on the coherence.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Thomas Lunner, Fredrik Gustafsson
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Patent number: 9369102Abstract: A method for processing an audio signal (i(t)), comprises: receiving a first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals representing a first sound comprised in the audio signal (i(t)), the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals comprising an amplitude modulation signal (a(t)), a carrier frequency signal (fc(t)), a pitch signal (f0(t)) and an FM index signal (h(t)); and modifying the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals by modifying the amplitude of the FM index signal (h(t)), thereby providing a first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals. The resulting first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals may subsequently be modulated to provide an audio output signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Niels Henrik Pontoppidan, Thomas Lunner, Marianna Vatti, Lars Bramsløw
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Publication number: 20160119726Abstract: The present disclosure relates to communication devices. Such devices may comprise input for receiving sound signal to be processed and presented to a user, and output for outputting the processed signal to a user perceivable as sound. Such processing may be performed by use of a processor for processing the sound signal in dependence of a setting or a set of setting to compensate a hearing loss profile. Further, the communication device may comprise a bio-signal acquisition and amplifier component in communication with a user interface for providing the bio-signals as input to the user interface, the user interface controlling the setting or set of setting for operation of the communication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN, Thomas LUNNER, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Lars Ivar HAUSCHULTZ, Povl KOCH, Graham NAYLOR, Eline Borch PETERSEN
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Patent number: 9313585Abstract: A method of operating a hearing instrument for processing an input sound and to provide an output stimulus according to a user's particular needs, and related system, computer readable medium and data processing system. An object is to provide an improved customization of a hearing instrument. The method includes the steps a) providing an estimate of the present cognitive load of the user; b) providing processing of an input signal originating from the input sound according to a user's particular needs; and c) adapting the processing in dependence of the estimate the present cognitive load of the user. The estimate of the present cognitive load of a user is produced by in-situ direct measures of cognitive load (e.g. based on EEG-measurements, body temperature, etc.) or by an on-line cognitive model in the hearing aid system whose parameters have been preferably adjusted to fit to the individual user.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventor: Thomas Lunner
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Publication number: 20160081623Abstract: The application relates to a hearing assistance system comprising first and second spatially separated parts adapted for being mounted fully or partially at a first ear and on the head of a user, respectively, the first and second parts comprising a number of first and second electrodes located at a surface of first and second housings, respectively, to allow said first and second electrodes to contact the skin of the user when said parts are operationally mounted on the user's head. The first and second electrodes are adapted to pick up low-voltage electric signals from the user's brain and a reference voltage, respectively, to provide voltage difference signals. An improved binaural hearing assistance system further comprising a comparison unit for determining the voltage difference signal, and an electric interface allowing the reference voltage or a measure representative thereof to be transferred from said second part to said comparison unit is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventor: Thomas LUNNER
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Publication number: 20160080876Abstract: A method of operating a hearing instrument for processing an input sound and to provide an output stimulus according to a user's particular needs, and related system, computer readable medium and data processing system. An object is to provide an improved customization of a hearing instrument. The method includes the steps a) providing an estimate of the present cognitive load of the user; b) providing processing of an input signal originating from the input sound according to a user's particular needs; and c) adapting the processing in dependence of the estimate the present cognitive load of the user. The estimate of the present cognitive load of a user is produced by in-situ direct measures of cognitive load (e.g. based on EEG-measurements, body temperature, etc.) or by an on-line cognitive model in the hearing aid system whose parameters have been preferably adjusted to fit to the individual user.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventor: Thomas LUNNER
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Patent number: 9210517Abstract: The present disclosure relates to communication devices. Such devices may comprise input for receiving sound signal to be processed and presented to a user, and output for outputting the processed signal to a user perceivable as sound. Such processing may be performed by use of a processor for processing the sound signal in dependence of a setting or a set of setting to compensate a hearing loss profile. Further, the communication device may comprise a bio-signal acquisition and amplifier component in communication with a user interface for providing the bio-signals as input to the user interface, the user interface controlling the setting or set of setting for operation of the communication device.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Niels Henrik Pontoppidan, Thomas Lunner, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Lars Ivar Hauschultz, Povl Koch, Graham Naylor, Eline Borch Petersen
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Publication number: 20150333717Abstract: A method for processing an audio signal (i(t)), comprises: receiving a first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals representing a first sound comprised in the audio signal (i(t)), the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals comprising an amplitude modulation signal (a(t)), a carrier frequency signal (fc(t)), a pitch signal (f0(t)) and an FM index signal (h(t)); and modifying the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals by modifying the amplitude of the FM index signal (h(t)), thereby providing a first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals. The resulting first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals may subsequently be modulated to provide an audio output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN, Thomas LUNNER, Marianna VATTI, Lars BRAMSLØW
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Patent number: 9130523Abstract: A method for processing an audio signal (i(t)), comprises: receiving a first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals representing a first sound comprised in the audio signal (i(t)), the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals comprising an amplitude modulation signal (a(t)), a carrier frequency signal (fc(t)), a pitch signal (f0(t)) and an FM index signal (h(t)); and modifying the first set (x(t)) of time-varying signals by modifying the amplitude of the FM index signal (h(t)), thereby providing a first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals. The resulting first modified set (x?(t)) of time-varying signals may subsequently be modulated to provide an audio output signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Niels Henrik Pontoppidan, Thomas Lunner, Marianna Vatti, Lars Bramsløow
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Publication number: 20150164361Abstract: The present invention regards an in-ear stimulation device comprising at least one in-ear sensor, a control unit, and an output transducer. The in-ear stimulation device is configured to be worn at or on an ear of a human user and at least partly in an ear canal of the user. The at least one in-ear sensor is arranged and configured to measure electrical activity signals indicative of an electroencephalogram (EEG) of a user wearing the device. The control unit is configured to receive the electrical activity signals and to detect a presence of a slow oscillation, which is in a frequency range between 0.5 Hz and 1 Hz, in the electrical activity signals. The control unit is further configured to trigger, in response to detecting the presence of a slow oscillation, a generation of at least one stimulus impulse. The output transducer is configured to receive the at least one stimulus impulse and to generate a corresponding output sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Oticon A/SInventor: Thomas LUNNER
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Patent number: 8971558Abstract: A hearing device has a housing and a first electrode arranged to abut the skin of the individual. The hearing device further comprises at least two different elements selected from the group comprising: a brain-wave measurement circuit receiving measurement signals from the first electrode and from a second electrode arranged to abut the skin of the individual; a communication circuit receiving communication signals from and/or transmitting communication signals to the first electrode; a touch-sensing circuit transmitting sensing signals to the first electrode; a thermoelectric generator thermally connected to the outer surface of the housing mainly through the first electrode; and a charge control circuit sinking a charging current in dependence on a voltage across the first electrode and a third electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Thomas Lunner
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Publication number: 20140369537Abstract: The present disclosure relates to communication devices. Such devices may comprise input for receiving sound signal to be processed and presented to a user, and output for outputting the processed signal to a user perceivable as sound. Such processing may be performed by use of a processor for processing the sound signal in dependence of a setting or a set of setting to compensate a hearing loss profile. Further, the communication device may comprise a bio-signal acquisition and amplifier component in communication with a user interface for providing the bio-signals as input to the user interface, the user interface controlling the setting or set of setting for operation of the communication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN, Thomas LUNNER, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Lars Ivar HAUSCHULTZ, Povl KOCH, Graham NAYLOR, Eline Borch PETERSEN
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Publication number: 20140169596Abstract: A system for operating a hearing instrument is disclosed. The system comprises one or more electrodes for measuring the brain wave signals of a user wearing a hearing instrument. The electrodes are placed on the scalp of the user. Based on the measured brain wave signals, a detecting unit is configured to detect a relaxation state of the hearing instrument. A controller sets the hearing instrument to a relaxation mode setting in response to the detection of the relaxation state of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Thomas LUNNER, Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN