Patents Assigned to GN ReSound A/S
  • Patent number: 8792663
    Abstract: The present application relates to a new type of hearing device housing having a canal section that is adapted for fitting in the ear canal of a wearer and having a short vent, the longitudinal extension of which is shorter than the longitudinal extension of the canal section, and an output port for emission of sound towards the eardrum of the wearer when inserted in the ear canal, and an outer ear section for accommodation of electronic components and being attached to the canal section and adapted for positioning in front of the ear during use, the short vent reducing the occlusion effect, wherein the canal section comprises an open and flexible earpiece manufactured in standard sizes. The hearing device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, etc. Unlike a conventional BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid having a housing to be positioned behind the ear, the housing of the hearing device according to the present invention is positioned in front of the ear, i.e. in front of the pinna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Miguel A. Cano, Mark T. Sodoma
  • Patent number: 8781143
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a magnetically sensitive transducer for conversion of a varying magnetic field into an audio signal, a processor configured to generate a hearing loss compensated output signal based on the audio signal, an output transducer for providing an auditory output signal based on the hearing loss compensated output signal, an RF transceiver for wireless communication, and a communication controller that is configured to turn the RF transceiver on and off, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the hearing loss compensated output signal based on an estimate of the audio signal within a time period comprising an event that the RF transceiver changes state between on and off, and wherein the estimate is based at least on a part of the audio signal input to the processor outside the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam Pedersen, Gerard Nijsse
  • Publication number: 20140185847
    Abstract: A method of determining parameters of a BTE hearing aid having at least one ITE microphone and at least one BTE microphone, the method includes: determining Head-Related Transfer functions HRTFl(ƒ); determining a hearing aid related transfer function Hl,iITEC(ƒ) of a ith microphone of the at least one ITE microphone for direction l; determining a hearing aid related transfer functions Hl,jBTEC(ƒ) of a jth microphone of the at least one BTE microphone; determining transfer functions GiIEC(ƒ) of a ith cue filter of at least one cue filter filtering audio sound signals of the at least one ITE microphone; and determining transfer functions GjBTEC(ƒ) of a jth cue filter of the at least one cue filter filtering audio sound signals of the at least one BTE microphone; wherein the transfer functions GiIEC(ƒ) and the transfer functions GjBTEC(ƒ) are determined using a processing unit based on equation: minGiIEC(ƒ),GiBTEC(ƒ)?l=0L-1W(l)?W(ƒ)HRTFl(ƒ)??iGiIEC(ƒ)Hl,iIEC(ƒ)??jGjBTEC(ƒ)Hl,jBTEC(ƒ))?p.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventors: Karl-Fredrik Johan GRAN, Guilin MA
  • Publication number: 20140185846
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a cue filter having an input that is provided with an output from the BTE sound input transducer; an adaptive feedback canceller configured to provide an output modelling a feedback path between the output transducer and the BTE sound input transducer, wherein the output modelling the feedback path is provided to a subtractor for subtraction of the output modelling the feedback path from the output of the BTE sound input transducer to obtain a difference, the subtractor outputting the difference to the cue filter; and a feedback and cue controller connected to the adaptive feedback canceller and the cue filter, wherein the feedback and cue controller is configured to control the cue filter to reduce a difference between an output of the ITE microphone and a combined output that is obtained using at least the cue filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventor: GN ReSound A/S
  • Publication number: 20140185845
    Abstract: A spectacle hearing device system includes: a first hearing instrument, the first hearing instrument having a first wireless hearing instrument transceiver and a first acoustic output transducer; a pair of spectacles, the pair of spectacles comprising a first wireless spectacle transceiver, and a first plurality of microphones, the first plurality of microphones forming a first directional microphone array configured for generating a first electrical signal from acoustic signals picked up by the first plurality of microphones; a first processor for processing the first electrical signal according to a hearing loss compensation prescription; and a first amplifier for applying the first electrical signal to the first acoustic output transducer; wherein the first wireless spectacle transceiver is configured for transmitting the first electrical signal wirelessly to the first hearing instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GN RESOUND A/S
    Inventor: Jesper UDESEN
  • Publication number: 20140185849
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: a feedback monitor connected to the adaptive feedback canceller and configured to monitor a state of feedback and having an output providing an indication of the state of feedback; and a cue controller connected to the feedback monitor and the at least one adaptive cue filter, and configured to control, in response to an output of the feedback monitor, the at least one adaptive cue filter so that the difference between the output of the at least one ITE microphone and the combined output of the at least one adaptive cue filter is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventors: Guilin MA, Karl-Fredrik Johan GRAN
  • Patent number: 8755545
    Abstract: A hearing device includes a first filter configured for providing a first frequency part of an input signal of the hearing device, the first frequency part comprising a low pass filtered part, a second filter configured for providing a second frequency part of the input signal, the second frequency part comprising a high pass filtered part, a first synthesizing unit configured for generating a first synthetic signal from the first frequency part using a first model based on a first periodic function, and a combiner configured for combining the second frequency part with the first synthetic signal for provision of a combined signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventor: James Mitchell Kates
  • Publication number: 20140153758
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a microphone for converting audio into an audio signal; a preprocessing unit for analog processing of the audio signal and having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected to an output of the microphone; an A/D converter for converting the processed analog audio signal into a digital audio signal, the A/D converter having an input and an output, wherein the input of the A/D converter is connected to the output of the preprocessing unit; and a processing unit for digital processing of an output from the A/D converter, wherein the processing unit is connected to the preprocessing unit, and is configured to apply a first transfer function to the audio signal in a first mode of operation, or a second transfer function with a cutoff frequency to the audio signal in a second mode of operation, depending on a control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventor: Peter SIEGUMFELDT
  • Patent number: 8744103
    Abstract: A fitting device for fitting a hearing device to compensate for a hearing loss of a user is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a receiver and a microphone, wherein a feedback path exists between the receiver and the microphone, wherein the hearing device further comprises an adaptive feedback canceller configured to reduce feedback, the adaptive feedback canceller comprising a fixed filter corresponding to an invariant portion of the feedback path, and an adaptive filter corresponding to a variant portion of the feedback path, the fitting device comprising a processor configured to determine the invariant portion of the feedback path, wherein the processor is configured to provide the fixed filter with information relating to the invariant portion of the feedback path independently of the user using the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventor: Guilin Ma
  • Publication number: 20140146986
    Abstract: In a hearing aid with a signal processor for signal processing in accordance with selected values of a set of parameters ?, a method of automatic adjustment of a set z of the signal processing parameters ?, using a set of learning parameters ? of the signal processing parameters ? is provided, wherein the method includes extracting signal features u of a signal in the hearing aid, recording a measure r of an adjustment e made by the user of the hearing aid, modifying z by the equation z=u ?+r, and absorbing the user adjustment e in ? by the equation ?N=?(u,r)+?P, wherein ?N is the new values of the learning parameter set ?, ?P is the previous values of the learning parameter set ?, and ? is a function of the signal features u and the recorded adjustment measure r.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventors: Alexander YPMA, Almer Jacob VAN DEN BERG, Aalbert DE VRIES
  • Patent number: 8737657
    Abstract: A suspension for a hearing device having a receiver includes a first part, a second part, and a vibration isolator positioned between the first and the second parts, and mechanically coupled to the first and second parts, wherein the first part is configured to at least partly enclose the receiver, wherein the second part is configured to at least partly enclose a sound outlet of the hearing device, wherein the vibration isolator comprises an acoustic passage part and a damping part enclosing the acoustic passage, wherein the acoustic passage part provides an acoustic passage between the first and second parts, wherein the damping part of the vibration isolator is asymmetrical along a longitudinal, a transverse axis, or both the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis, of the vibration isolator, and wherein the vibration isolator is freely suspended between the first and second parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Morten Birkmose Søndergaard, Jan Johansen
  • Patent number: 8718304
    Abstract: A hearing instrument configured to receive power from an energy source, the energy having an output voltage, the hearing instrument includes an analog-to-digital converter for conversion of an input audio signal to a digital input signal, a digital signal processor for processing the digital input signal into a processed signal, an audio amplifier for amplifying the processed signal, a communication unit for wireless data communication between the hearing instrument and another device, and a stabilizing circuit having an energy storing element and a rectifying element, wherein the energy storing element is configured to supply power to one or more of the analog-to-digital converter, the digital signal processor, and the audio amplifier, and the rectifying element is configured to prevent the energy storing element from supplying power to the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventor: Brian Dam Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20140112508
    Abstract: A fitting device for fitting a hearing device to compensate for a hearing loss of a user is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a receiver and a microphone, wherein a feedback path exists between the receiver and the microphone, wherein the hearing device further comprises an adaptive feedback canceller configured to reduce feedback, the adaptive feedback canceller comprising a fixed filter corresponding to an invariant portion of the feedback path, and an adaptive filter corresponding to a variant portion of the feedback path, the fitting device comprising a processor configured to determine the invariant portion of the feedback path, wherein the processor is configured to provide the fixed filter with information relating to the invariant portion of the feedback path independently of the user using the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventor: Guilin MA
  • Patent number: 8693716
    Abstract: A hearing device includes: a microphone for converting audio into an audio signal; a preprocessing unit for analog processing of the audio signal and having an input and an output, wherein the input is connected to an output of the microphone; an A/D converter for converting the processed analog audio signal into a digital audio signal, the A/D converter having an input and an output, wherein the input of the A/D converter is connected to the output of the preprocessing unit; and a processing unit for digital processing of an output from the A/D converter, wherein the processing unit is connected to the preprocessing unit, and is configured to apply a first transfer function to the audio signal in a first mode of operation, or a second transfer function with a cutoff frequency to the audio signal in a second mode of operation, depending on a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventor: Peter Siegumfeldt
  • Publication number: 20140086417
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a first hearing aid, the first hearing aid comprising: a first microphone for converting sound into electrical signals; a processor communicatively coupled to the first microphone, wherein the processor is configured to provide an output based on the electrical signals from the first microphone; a first speaker communicatively coupled to the processor, and is configured to provide an acoustic signal based on the output provided by the processor; and a first communication device configured to receive a control signal transmitted from a second hearing aid in response to a reception or detection of a signal associated with a phone by the second hearing aid; wherein the first hearing aid is configured to reduce a gain of the first hearing aid to a non-zero value in response to the control signal received from the second hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GN RESOUND A/S
    Inventors: Kim Heegaard HANSEN, Brian Dam PEDERSEN
  • Publication number: 20140087675
    Abstract: A head-worn device includes: a transceiver for wireless interconnection of the head-worn device with another device; and a housing for accommodation of parts of the head-worn device, the housing having a battery compartment for accommodation of a battery for power supply of the head-worn device, and a battery cover for closing the battery compartment; and a controller that is configured to disable the transceiver in response to repeated opening and closing operations of the battery cover, while the parts of the head-worn device are operational.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GN RESOUND A/S
    Inventors: Brian Dam PEDERSEN, Jesper Lund NIELSEN
  • Patent number: 8663529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a simplified manufacturing method for provision of a sound tube with a pre-formed shape, especially a sound tube for use in a BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid utilizing a holder with an external surface for imparting the shape of the surface to the sound tube, a first attachment element that is adapted to receive and hold a first connector at a first end of the sound tube, and a second attachment element that is adapted to receive and hold a second connector at a second end of the sound tube thereby keeping the sound tube in abutting contact with at least parts of the external surface whereby the external surface imparts the shape of the surface to the sound tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Klaus Sommer Ipsen, Dennis Norman Andersen
  • Publication number: 20140056456
    Abstract: A BTE hearing aid includes: a hearing aid housing configured to be worn behind a pinna of a user; and an elongated securing member having a first end coupled to the hearing aid housing proximate a sound output at the hearing aid housing, and a second end, the second end being a free end, wherein the elongated securing member is configured to be in abutment with an outer surface of an auricular sulcus for improved retention of the hearing aid housing when the hearing aid housing is worn in its intended position behind the pinna of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventor: Jan Johansen
  • Publication number: 20140050343
    Abstract: A BTE hearing aid includes: a hearing aid housing configured to be worn behind a pinna; a sound signal transmission member for transmission of a hearing loss compensated output signal from a first end of the sound signal transmission member to an ear canal of a user at a second end of the sound signal transmission member; a connector at the first end of the sound signal transmission member for coupling the sound signal transmission member with the housing; and an elongated securing member with a first end coupled with the hearing aid housing, and a second end, the second end of the elongated securing member being a free end; wherein the elongated securing member extends from its first end along at least a part of the hearing aid housing, and is for improved retention of the hearing aid housing in its intended position behind the pinna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GN ReSound A/S
    Inventors: Hans Henrik Bjorstrup, Jan Johansen, Brian Jeppesen
  • Patent number: 8638960
    Abstract: A BTE hearing aid includes a BTE hearing aid housing, at least one BTE sound input transducer, a processor configured to generate a hearing loss compensated output signal, a sound signal transmission member for transmission of a signal from a sound output of the BTE hearing aid housing to an ear canal of a user at a second end of the sound signal transmission member, an earpiece configured to be inserted in the ear canal, an output transducer, and an ITE microphone housing accommodating at least one ITE microphone, wherein the ITE microphone housing is configured to be positioned in an outer ear, wherein the processor is further configured for processing an audio signal from the at least one ITE microphone and an audio signal from the at least one BTE sound input transducer in such a way that the hearing loss compensated output signal substantially preserves spatial cues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventors: Karl-Fredrik J. Gran, Guilin Ma, Jacob U. Telcs