Patents Assigned to Oticon A/S
  • Publication number: 20230092761
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid with an RF antenna arranged within the hearing aid's housing, and a loudspeaker positioned in the ear canal of the user. The RF antenna is configured to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic RF signals within a first frequency range enclosing a first frequency of resonance of the RF antenna corresponding to a first wavelength. The hearing aid further comprises one or more electric leads electrically connected to lead one or more electric signals within a second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range between the loudspeaker in the ear canal of the user and an electronic circuit in the housing, with the one or more electrical leads being decoupled, at a connector end of the one or more electrical leads, by means of one or more decoupling components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jens TROELSEN, Oliver SUNDBERG, Kåre Tais CHRISTENSEN, Henning Knak POULSEN
  • Publication number: 20230083192
    Abstract: A hearing device adapted for being located at or in an ear of a user, or for being fully or partially implanted in the head of a user comprises a) an input unit for providing at least one electric input signal representing sound in an environment of the user, said electric input signal comprising a target speech signal from a target sound source and additional signal components, termed noise signal components, from one or more other sound sources, b) a noise reduction system for providing an estimate of said target speech signal, wherein said noise signal components are at least partially attenuated, and c) an own voice detector for repeatedly estimating whether or not, or with what probability, said at least one electric input signal, or a signal derived therefrom, comprises speech originating from the voice of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Poul HOANG, Jan M. DE HAAN, Jesper JENSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN
  • Publication number: 20230074554
    Abstract: A hearing aid configured to be worn by a user, the hearing aid comprising a user interface allowing the user to control functionality of the hearing aid, and a feedback sensor for repeatedly providing a feedback signal indicative of a current estimate of feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer of the hearing aid, wherein the user interface is based on changes to the current estimate of the feedback path, e.g. provided by the user. A method of operating a hearing aid is further disclosed. Thereby an alternative user interface for a hearing aid may be provided. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids or headsets, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Anders MENG, Meng GUO, Mojtaba FARMANI, Martin KURIGER, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Nels Hede ROHDE, Thomas JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230073936
    Abstract: A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Kenneth Rueskov MØLLER, Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Niels Stubager KIEMER, Jesper Kofoed NIELSEN, Björn OHL, Marianne Kleist ELMLUND, Karin CARVALHO, Henrik BENDSEN, Regin Kopp PEDERSEN, Christian C. BÜRGER, Steen Michael MUNK, Morten CHRISTOPHERSEN, Julie Hefting PEDERSEN, Bo WESTERGÅRD, Maria OXENBØLL
  • Patent number: 11594228
    Abstract: A hearing system comprises a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, configured to be worn by a particular user at or in an ear, or to be fully or partially implanted in the head at an ear of the user. The hearing device comprises at least one microphone for converting a sound in the environment of the hearing device to an electric input signal. The hearing system, e.g. the hearing device, comprises a processor comprising an own voice analyzer configured to characterize the voice of a person presently wearing the hearing device based at least partly on said electric input signal, and to provide characteristics of said person's voice, and an own voice acoustic channel analyzer for estimating characteristics of an acoustic channel from the mouth of the person presently wearing the hearing device to the at least one microphone based at least partly on said electric input signal, and to provide characteristics of said acoustic channel of said person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Sławomir Kwasiborski, Morten Guld, Svend Oscar Petersen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Christophe Lesimple
  • Publication number: 20230054213
    Abstract: A hearing system comprises a) a multitude of M of microphones providing M corresponding electric input signals xm(n), m=1, ..., M, and n representing time, b) a processor connected to said multitude of microphones and providing a processed signal in dependence thereof, c) an output unit for providing an output signal in dependence of said processed signal, and d) a database (?) comprising a dictionary (?pd) of previously determined acoustic transfer function vectors (ATFpd). The processor is configured A) to determine a constrained estimate of a acoustic transfer function vector (ATFpd,cur) in dependence of said M electric input signals and said dictionary (?pd), B) to determine an unconstrained estimate of a current acoustic transfer function vector (ATFuc,cur) in dependence of said M electric input signals, and C) to determine a resulting acoustic transfer function vector (ATF*) for a user of the hearing system in dependence thereof and of a confidence measure related to said electric input signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jan M. DE HAAN, Jesper JENSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Svend FELDT, Stig PETRI, Jakob Sloth LAURIDSEN
  • Publication number: 20230056617
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises an input transducer comprising a microphone for providing an electric input signal representative of sound in the environment of the hearing device, a pre-processor for processing electric input signal and providing a multitude of feature vectors, each being representative of a time segment thereof, a neural network processor adapted to implement a neural network for implementing a detector configured to provide an output indicative of a characteristic property of the at least one electric input signal, the neural network being configured to receive said multitude of feature vectors as input vectors and to provide corresponding output vectors representative of said output of said detector in dependence of said input vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Asger Heidemann ANDERSEN, Jesper JENSEN, Nels Hede ROHDE, Anders Brødløs OLSEN, Michael Smed KRISTENSEN, Thomas BENTSEN, Svend Oscar PETERSEN
  • Patent number: 11589173
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a) an input transducer; b) an output transducer; c) an input buffer connected to the input transducer configured to store audio data representing one or more time segments of an electric input signal; d) an own voice detector for providing an own voice control signal, and e) a combiner allowing to insert audio data from the input buffer in a forward audio signal path. The hearing aid further comprises f) an input controller configured to control storage of a time segment of the electric input signal in dependence of said own voice control signal; and g) an output controller configured to select audio data from said one or more time segments of the electric input signal currently stored in the input buffer for insertion in the forward path in dependence of an output control signal originating from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Lars Riemer
  • Publication number: 20230050184
    Abstract: A hearing aid with an earpiece for placement in the ear canal, and a dome, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Jens MØRUP, Nicolai Terp HOLM, Sune HEIBING, Anders THULE
  • Publication number: 20230048848
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, h) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Patent number: 11582562
    Abstract: A hearing system configured to be located at or in the head of a user, comprises a) at least two microphones providing at least two electric input signals, b) an own voice detector, c) access to a database (Ol, Hl) comprising c1) relative or absolute own voice transfer function(s), and corresponding c2) absolute or relative acoustic transfer functions for a multitude of test-persons, d) a processor connectable to the at least two microphones, to the own voice detector, and to the database. The processor is configured A) to estimate an own voice relative transfer function for sound from the user's mouth to at least one of the at least two microphones, and B) to estimate personalized relative or absolute head related acoustic transfer functions from at least one spatial location other than the user's mouth to at least one of the microphones of the hearing system in dependence of the estimated own voice relative transfer function(s) and the database (Ol, Hl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Jensen, Nels Hede Rohde, Thomas Bentsen, Michael Syskind Pedersen, Svend Oscar Petersen
  • Publication number: 20230044509
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a) at least one input transducer for providing at least one electric input signal representing said sound; b) an output transducer for providing stimuli perceivable to the user as sound; c) a feedback control system configured to minimize feedback from said output transducer to said at least one input transducer, and to at least provide a feedback corrected version of said at least one electric input signal; and d) an audio signal processor configured to apply one or more processing algorithms to said feedback corrected version of said at least one electric input signal, and to provide a processed signal in dependence thereof. The feedback control system is based on a machine learning model receiving input data at least representing said at least one electric input signal; and said processed signal; and providing said feedback corrected version of the at least one electric input signal as an output. A method of training a machine learning model is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Jesper JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20230037356
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a processing device, a hearing aid adapted to be worn by a user, and a data logger. The hearing aid includes an input transducer providing an electric input signal representing sound in the environment of the user, and a hearing aid processor executing a processing algorithm in dependence of a specific parameter setting. The data logger stores time segments of said electric input signal, and data representing a corresponding user intent. The processing device comprises a simulation model of the hearing aid. The simulation model is based on a learning algorithm configured to provide a specific parameter setting optimized to the user's needs in dependence of a hearing profile of the user, the logged data, and a cost function. A method of determining a parameter setting for a hearing aid is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Niels Henrik PONTOPPIDAN, James Michael HARTE, Hamish INNES-BROWN, Lorenz FIEDLER
  • Publication number: 20230044634
    Abstract: A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device’ adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Nels Hede ROHDE, Thomas BENTSEN, Anders Brødløs OLSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Svend FELDT, Jesper JENSEN
  • Patent number: 11576001
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises an input unit providing an electric input signal representing sound, a wake word detector configured identifying a particular wake word based on said electric input signal, and providing a wake word control signal indicative of whether, or with what probability, the wake word is detected, or an own voice detector estimating whether, or with what probability, the electric input signal originates from the voice of the user and providing an own voice control signal indicative thereof, transceiver circuitry establishing a communication link to another hearing aid allowing the transmission and/or reception of the electric input signal to/from the other hearing aid, and a pre-processor controlling the transceiver circuitry in dependence of the wake word control signal or the own voice control signal. A binaural hearing aid system and a method of operating a hearing aid are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Nels Hede Rohde, Thomas Bentsen, Anders Brødløs Olsen, Jesper Jensen, Peter Mølgaard Sørensen, Gusztáv Lõcsei
  • Publication number: 20230035448
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, configured to be worn by a user, comprises a) two or more input transducers (e.g. microphones) wherein said two or more input transducers during use of the hearing device are arranged with a distance between them; b) a directional system comprising a directional algorithm configured to provide a directional pattern in dependence of said distance. The hearing device is configured to estimate a current value of said distance, or an equivalent acoustic delay, or beamformer weights of said directional system, thereby the directional performance can be optimized to the individual user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Anders THULE
  • Patent number: 11570537
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dome-type inserts, or simply domes, for a hearing aid. The dome is intended to be attached to a housing, such as an in-the-ear housing, and abut the ear canal. The dome-type insert comprises one or more vent channels for alleviating air pressure built-up and/or occlusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Alexandru M. Simion
  • Publication number: 20230027782
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a) an ITE-part adapted for being located at or in an ear canal of the user, b) a forward path for processing sound from the environment of the user. The forward path comprises b1) at least one first input transducer providing at least one first electric input signal representing said sound as received at the respective at least one first microphone, said at least one first input transducer being located to allow picking up sound from the environment of the user, b2) an audio signal processor comprising a gain unit for applying a frequency and/or level dependent prescribed gain to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user to said at least one first electric input signal, or a signal or signals originating therefrom, and configured to provide a processed signal in dependence thereof, b3) an output transducer for providing stimuli perceivable as sound to the user in dependence of said processed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Lars BRAMSLØW, Svend Oscar PETERSEN
  • Patent number: 11564048
    Abstract: A method of defining and setting a nonlinear signal processing of a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, by machine learning is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Lars Bramsløw
  • Patent number: 11564047
    Abstract: A hearing aid system comprising at least a first hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid is configured to establish a communication link over the internet with a remote entity based on a protocol stack, wherein the protocol stack includes an internet protocol, and the protocol stack is implemented in the first hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventor: Bjarne Klemmensen