Patents Assigned to GN HEARING A/S
  • Publication number: 20230156907
    Abstract: A method comprises: providing a circuit board comprising a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a ground connection; defining a shielding zone and a non-shielding zone on the first surface, one or more shielding-zone electronic components being comprised within the shielding zone; providing a groove in the circuit board, the groove extending along at least part of the shielding zone and being in-between the shielding zone and the non-shielding zone; applying an insulating encapsulation layer to cover the shielding zone, whereby the one or more shielding-zone electronic components are encapsulated; applying an electrically conductive shielding layer on top of at least part of the encapsulation layer and to the ground connection so as to electrically couple the shielding layer to the ground connection, whereby the one or more shielding-zone electronic components are electromagnetically shielded. Further, disclosed is a circuit board, and a hearing device comprising a circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Thorvaldur Oli Bodvarsson, Maja Amskov Gravad, Kamila Piotrowska
  • Patent number: 11653153
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of performing bilateral dynamic range compression of first and second microphone signals generated by first and second hearing devices, respectively, of a binaural hearing system. The method comprises to pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's left or right ear by a first microphone to generate a first microphone signal in response to incoming sound and pick-up sound pressure inside an ear canal of the user's opposite ear by a second microphone to generate a second microphone signal in response to the incoming sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Piechowiak, Antonie Johannes Hendrikse, Changxue Ma
  • Patent number: 11653159
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure a hearing instrument is provided. The hearing instrument comprises a wireless communication unit for wireless communication, a speaker interconnected with the wireless communication unit and being configured to provide an output audio signal, a battery configured to supply power to the hearing instrument, a filter circuit interconnecting the battery and a power management circuit of the hearing instrument, the wireless communication unit being interconnected with the battery, the battery being configured for emission and reception of an electromagnetic field having an RF wavelength. The filter circuit is configured to de-couple the battery and the power management circuit at frequencies above 3 MHz and configured to connect the battery to the power management circuit at frequencies below 300 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Søren Kvist, Alexandre da Luz Pinto, Nikolaj Peter Brunvoll Kammersgaard
  • Patent number: 11653147
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: first and second primary microphones for provision of first and second primary microphone input signals; a secondary microphone for provision of a secondary microphone input signal; a mixing module for provision of a mixer output based on a primary mixer input and/or a secondary mixer input, primary mixer input being based on the first and second primary microphone input signals, the secondary mixer input being based on the secondary microphone input signal; a processing unit configured to provide an electrical output signal; and a receiver for converting the electrical output signal to an audio output signal; wherein the mixing controller is configured to increase an amount of the secondary mixer input in the mixer output for a time period after a presence of a sound event is determined, and reduce the amount of the secondary mixer input in the mixer output after the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Jesper B. Boldt, Fredrik Gran
  • Patent number: 11653137
    Abstract: A method performed by an electronic device, includes: enabling first communication to a pair of headphones having first and second acoustic output transducers; enabling second communication to a first hearing device that has a first gain stage; communicating a band-limited portion of a first audio test signal via a second gain stage and via the first acoustic output transducer to the first hearing device while the first hearing device is in a first ear canal of a first ear, and communicating a band-limited portion of a second audio test signal via the second acoustic output transducer to an eardrum of a second ear; and determining a first gain value based on a gain value of the first gain stage and/or a gain value of the second gain stage, the first gain value being associated with the user's perception of equal loudness at both the first and second ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Udesen, Jonas Raun Hansen
  • Patent number: 11653161
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a socket connector for a hearing device. The hearing device comprises a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) unit and a Receiver-In-the-Ear (RIE) unit, the BTE unit comprising a frame, wherein the frame comprises electronic components of the BTE unit, the RIE unit comprising a plug connector configured for providing an electrical connection between the RIE unit and the BTE unit. The socket connector is connectable to the frame of the BTE unit and is configured for detachably connecting the plug connector to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Laurids Egedal Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 11653156
    Abstract: Hearing device, accessory device, and a method of operating a hearing system comprising a hearing device and an accessory device is disclosed, the method comprising obtaining, in the accessory device, an audio input signal representative of audio from one or more audio sources; obtaining image data with a camera of the accessory device; identifying one or more audio sources including a first audio source based on the image data; determining a first model comprising first model coefficients, wherein the first model is based on image data of the first audio source and the audio input signal; and transmitting a hearing device signal to the hearing device, wherein the hearing device signal is based on the first model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Andreas Tiefenau
  • Patent number: 11653158
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates in a first aspect to a head-wearable hearing instrument comprising first and second portions and a radio-frequency data communication interface configured to transmit and receive data packets at transmit and receipt time slots, respectively, through a wireless communication channel. The head-wearable hearing instrument comprises a connector assembly configured to electrically and mechanically interconnect the first portion with the second portion. The second portion comprises a sensor configured to measure a physical property and generate sensor data representative of the measured physical property. The head-wearable hearing instrument further comprises a wired data communication link extending between the first and second portions through the connector assembly for transmission of sensor data during transmit time slots. Said transmit time slots of the sensor data and at least said receipt time slots of the wireless communication channel are non-overlapping in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Søren Helstrup Kvist, Thorvaldur Oli Bodvarsson
  • Patent number: 11653154
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device having a microphone, where most of the microphone is shielded by an outer shielding of the hearing device. An inlet in the outer shielding allows sound from outside the hearing aid to travel to the microphone to be picked up by it. However, the combination of the microphone and the inlet results in the microphone becoming more sensitive at some audible frequencies. A damping filter positioned in connection with the inlet acts to counter the acoustic effect of the inlet by damping sound in the audible frequency range, where the microphone has increased sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Gojko Obradovic, Poul Rosenkilde Kristensen, Finn Hansen
  • Publication number: 20230145928
    Abstract: An audio rendering device includes: at least one wireless communications interface configured to receive a first plurality of audio packets from a wireless communication device, the first plurality of audio packets including frames of audio data for a first audio channel from a set of one or more audio channels; and a processing unit; wherein the audio rendering device is configured to release, at respective first buffer release times, the frames of the audio data for the first audio channel from a first buffer for rendering by the processing unit; wherein the audio rendering device is configured to receive one or more messages from an other audio rendering device; and wherein the audio rendering device is configured to synchronize the first buffer release times with second buffer release times associated with the other audio rendering device based on the received one or more messages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Thorkild Find PEDERSEN, Brian Dam PEDERSEN
  • Patent number: 11647341
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement in an ear canal, the hearing aid having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is inserted into the ear canal to face the tympanic membrane, the distal end is opposite. The hearing aid comprises a shell customized for the ear canal. The shell comprises an inner space configured for at least partly receiving a rechargeable battery, a charging arrangement, at least one microphone arrangement, and an integrated circuit. The hearing aid comprises a faceplate comprising an upper face and a lower face, the upper face being exposed at the distal end when the shell is placed in the user's ear canal. The faceplate is configured for closing the inner space, wherein the IC is arranged between the faceplate and the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Thomas John Chappell, Søren Davids
  • Publication number: 20230125941
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing active noise control, includes: one or more microphones configured to detect sound entering through an aperture of a building structure; a set of speakers configured to provide sound output for cancelling or reducing at least some of the sound; and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the set of speakers, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide control signals to operate the speakers, wherein the control signals are independent of an error-microphone output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Willem Bastiaan Kleijn, Daan Ratering
  • Patent number: 11638101
    Abstract: A hearing aid for placement in an ear canal of a user, includes: a shell; a faceplate comprising an upper face, and a lower face, and a circumference, the upper face being exposed when the shell is placed in an ear of the user; a coil arranged at the faceplate; and a button arrangement comprising a plunger configured to control an integrated circuit arranged below the coil, the coil comprising one or more windings, the one or more windings being circumferential of an inner cavity of the coil with respect to a center or longitudinal axis of the coil, the button arrangement being configured such that the plunger in at least one position extends through the inner cavity of the coil for engaging the integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Henrik Nielsen, Thomas John Chappell, Søren Davids, Shi Pu, Anders Hjermø Michaelsen
  • Patent number: 11638107
    Abstract: A hearing device and related methods are disclosed. The hearing device comprises a housing comprising a wall, a microphone inlet comprising a through-going opening, a microphone arranged within the housing for receiving audio via the microphone inlet, a first filter device comprising a first filter material, the first filter device being arranged at the microphone, and a second filter device substantially having the shape of a torus or a hollow cylinder and comprising a second filter material, the second filter device being arranged at the wall, wherein the first filter device is arranged between the microphone and the second filter device, and wherein the through-going opening comprises an outer recess in an outer surface of the wall, wherein the second filter device is arranged in the outer recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Andreas Tiefenau, Timea Denisa Merca, Anders Hjermø Michaelsen
  • Patent number: 11638080
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device assembly comprising a behind-the-ear base unit and an in-the-ear transducer module, which communicate via a communication interface and wherein the base unit is configured to detect whether the transducer module comprises a microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Flemming Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11627403
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing device assembly comprising a behind-the-ear base unit and an in-the-ear transducer module, which communicate via a single wire interface and wherein the base unit is configured to take on a communication role in response to a signal asserted by the transducer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventor: Flemming Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230099122
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hearing device, e.g., a hearing aid, wherein open-cell foam is compressed between a receiver and a second section, e.g., receiver chamber, of the hearing device, a method for providing such hearing device, and a method for identifying a desired property of such open-cell foam of such hearing device. The hearing device comprises a first section comprising the open-cell foam being compressed, such that the open-cell foam has at least a strain value of a first point of an elastic modulus-strain curve of the open-cell foam and at most the strain value of a third point of the elastic modulus-strain curve, and such that the receiver is connected to the second section via the first section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Yu LUAN, Anders Hjermø MICHAELSEN, Gojko OBRADOVIC
  • Publication number: 20230102851
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising a camera and a processing unit operatively coupled to the camera, wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive a sequence of images captured by the camera; process a first image of the received sequence of images to compute respective likelihoods of each of a plurality of predetermined facial features being visible in the first image; compute, from the computed likelihoods, a probability that the first image depicts a predetermined first side of a human head; responsive to at least the computed probability exceeding the predetermined detection probability, trigger performance of a predetermined action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Kirill Kondrashov, Qi Yang
  • Publication number: 20230099549
    Abstract: A hearing device for placement in a user’s ear includes: at least one input transducer, an output transducer, a wireless communication unit and an antenna arrangement adapted for providing a wireless link, and a reference axis, the reference axis being parallel to the user’s ear-to-ear axis, when the hearing device is placed in an operable position, wherein in that the antenna arrangement comprises a first antenna configured for transmitting/receiving EM-radiation at a first frequency, the first antenna comprising a first electrically conducting segment extending in a first direction, a second antenna configured for transmitting/receiving EM-radiation at the first frequency, the second antenna comprising a second electrically conducting segment extending in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction, a first feed coupling the first antenna to the wireless communication unit, and a second feed coupling the second antenna to the wireless communication unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventors: Søren Helstrup KVIST, Alexandre Da Luz PINTO
  • Publication number: 20230099728
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for locating an electronic accessory device, the system comprising one or more electronic accessory devices and a hearing device. One or more electronic accessory devices comprise a first electronic accessory device. Each of the one or more electronic accessory devices being configured to provide a wireless connection with the hearing device. The hearing device, when wirelessly connected with the first electronic accessory device, is configured to send a first request to the first electronic accessory device, and wherein the first electronic accessory device is configured to generate a first notification upon reception of the first request. The disclosure further relates to a method for locating an electronic accessory device and a computer program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: GN Hearing A/S
    Inventor: Fang WANG