Patents Assigned to Phonak AG
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Patent number: 8712063Abstract: The binaural hearing system comprises a first hearing device and a second hearing device, each comprising an output transducer for converting audio signals into signals to be perceived by a user of the hearing system. A communication link interconnects the first and second hearing devices. A sound generator comprised in the first hearing device generates first audio signals. The first hearing device is adapted to transmit the first audio signals to the second hearing device via the communication link. Through the transmission of the generated first audio signals, it is possible to achieve a predictable latency for the perception of the first audio signals by the user's two ears.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Raoul Glatt, Micha Knaus, Rolf Laich
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Patent number: 8712082Abstract: The method of manufacturing a firmware-updated programmable hearing device comprising at least one processor and a memory unit in which hearing device firmware is stored, comprises the step of executing an update application in said processor installing an updated version of at least a portion of the hearing device firmware in said memory unit. The system for updating the firmware of a programmable hearing device as described above comprises: an update apparatus comprising a communication interface for communication via a wireless communication link and a storage unit in which an update application is stored, which is designed to be executed in said processor installing an updated version of at least a portion of the hearing device firmware in said memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Ivo Spieler, Rino Eichmann, Oliver Frank, Christoph Aerne
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Publication number: 20140105435Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device by applying a frequency transposition scheme to an input signal of the hearing device comprising an input transducer, a signal processing unit and an output transducer, the method comprising the steps of transforming the input signal from time domain into frequency domain by applying a transformation function in order to obtain an input spectrum having a frequency range comprising a source region (20) and a destination region (30), adaptively selecting signal components of the source region (20) taking into account momentary characteristics of the input signal, transposing the selected signal components to the destination region (30), and supplying the output spectrum or a transformation thereof to the output transducer, the output spectrum comprising signal components of the destination region (30).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2011Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Ralph Peter Derleth, Siddhartha Jha
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Patent number: 8693715Abstract: A system for providing hearing assistance to at least one user, having: at least one audio signal source (16, 20) for providing audio signals; a transmission unit (10) for wireless transmission of audio signals; at least one receiver unit (12, 14) for wireless reception of audio signals from the transmission unit; a device (42, 82) for stimulating the hearing of the user according to audio signals supplied from the at least one receiver unit. The transmission unit has both an analog transmitter (26) for applying an analog modulation scheme and a digital transmitter (28) for applying a digital modulation scheme in order to transmit the audio signals from the audio signal source (16, 20) simultaneously via an analog audio link (34) and a digital audio link (40).Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Marc Secall, Amre El-Hoiydi, Rainer Platz, Doninique Aparicio, Timothée Jost, Christoph Schmid
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Patent number: 8687833Abstract: Input parameters or information for the fitting process of individually shaped or customized hearing devices and/or ear pieces of a hearing device are provided by storing fitting relevant data during the manufacturing process of an ear piece for the use with a hearing device into storage means, the data storage means being arranged at/or in the ear piece and/or a storage means kept or linked to the ear piece of the hearing device.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Daniel Probst, Christoph Widmer, Samuel Hans Martin Roth, Tobias Poetzl
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Publication number: 20140079260Abstract: A hearing instrument microphone device includes at least two microphone sound ports (or sound inlets), a pressure difference microphone in communication with at least two of the sound ports and a pressure microphone in communication with at least one of the sound ports, wherein the acoustic centers of the pressure difference microphone and the pressure microphone essentially coincide.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Martin Kuster, Alfred Stirnemann, Axel Schlesinger
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Publication number: 20140079262Abstract: A hearing device comprising a locking mechanism for connecting an external component to the hearing device, the locking mechanism comprising a part (2) arranged at or in the housing wall (1) of the hearing device, moveable from or out of the housing wall such that by moving the part back towards the housing wall a section of the part is fixing a connecting element of the external component to the hearing device or housing of the hearing device respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2011Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erich Dittli, Paul Portmann, Marius Rufenacht, Andreas Uhlman
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Patent number: 8666084Abstract: The inventor has found that a considerable portion of hearing system users have a considerable lack of understanding the effect of adjusting adjustable audio processing parameters of the hearing system. Therefore, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of a) playing a first test sound to a user of a hearing system; r) receiving user input from said user in reaction to step a); s) interpreting said user input as a request for selecting and/or adjusting at least one audio processing parameter of a signal processing unit; h) calculating—based on said request obtained in step s), and in dependence of said first test sound played to said user—at least one value, which is related to said user's ability to make use of one or more adjustable audio processing parameters of said hearing system. This method can be used for improving said user's ability to make use of one or more adjustable audio processing parameters of said hearing system. A corresponding arrangement is disclosed, too.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventor: Michael Boretzki
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Patent number: 8666102Abstract: A hearing system includes at least one earpiece having a shell, an elongate retention element attached to the shell, and an insert unit. The shell has a sound tube portion carrying a soft tip for insertion into the user's ear canal, an outwardly oriented interface portion for detachably receiving the insert unit, and an engagement portion between the sound tube portion and the interface portion for engaging with the tragus/antitragus region of the ear, wherein the material and the dimensions of the retention element are such that the retention element can engage the user's concha by manual deformation by the user, and wherein the insert unit is a filter unit with at least one sound attenuation filter, or is an active electronic unit with at least a loudspeaker, and with an external electronic unit, which is worn on the user's body below the user's neck.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Henning Bruckhoff, Wolfgang Huep, Juergen Brinkmann, Peter Boschung
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Patent number: 8651895Abstract: For the connection of a programming device to a hearing device an insertable plate (21) into the casing or frame of the hearing device is provided, comprising on one side contacts (29) to the hearing device electronics and on the other side contact pins (27), provided for the connection of a contact adapter/cable system of the programming device.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Paul Portmann, Erich Dittli, Bruno Gabathuler, Erdal Karamuk
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Publication number: 20140010396Abstract: The invention relates to a CIC hearing aid (30) for operation within an ear canal (10) of a user, comprising a lateral module (32), a medial module (34) and a flexible joint assembly (36) connecting the medial end (38) of the lateral module and the lateral end (40) of the medial module in such a manner that the lateral module and the medial module are movable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal, wherein the flexible joint assembly is adapted to removably receive an axially extending guide element (68) for temporarily stiffening the flexible joint assembly with regard to bending and/or axial motions when the hearing aid is pushed into the ear canal, and wherein the guide element is adapted to be removed at least from a medial portion (66) of the flexible joint assembly after insertion of the hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: Phonak AGInventors: Erdal Karamuk, Jan Angst, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen, Matthias Riepenhoff
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Patent number: 8625830Abstract: The hearing device comprises an outer part to be worn behind a hearing device user's ear, an inner part to be worn within the hearing device user's ear, and a connecting portion operationally interconnecting said outer part and said inner part. An output transducer is comprised in said outer part or in said connecting portion. Said inner part comprises an input transducer and, operationally interconnected between said input transducer and said output transducer, a signal processing unit .Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Daniel Probst, Roland Hug
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Patent number: 8620013Abstract: A communication system has a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The transmitter is built into a hearing device to be worn at one or both ears of an individual. The hearing device has an input acoustical-to-electrical converter unit and an output electrical-to-mechanical converter unit. The wireless transmitter is operationally connectable to the output of the input converter unit. The receiver is remote from the hearing device by a distance larger than any distance between two areas at one single individual. The transmitter and receiver form a wireless communication link at least for audio representing signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventor: Hans-Ueli Roeck
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Patent number: 8611574Abstract: Within a casing of a hearing device to be worn in an area of an auricle such as behind an ear, comprises bendable portions such that the hearing device can be at least partially deformed.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Hans Georg Meier, Richard Niccolai, Urs Zuger
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Patent number: 8611569Abstract: A hearing system that includes a user control and a signal processing unit controllable by adjustable parameters can be adjusted to preferences of a user. Such an adjustment can involve providing a first set of start-up parameter settings upon start-up of said signal processor unit, using parameter settings included in or derived from said first set of start-up parameter settings as default parameter settings for said signal processing unit, obtaining a set of parameter settings currently used in said signal processing unit upon operating said user control, deriving a second set of start-up parameter settings in dependence of said first set of start-up parameter settings and of said set of parameter settings obtained, and using said second set of start-up parameter settings as said first set of start-up parameter settings when providing said first set of start-up parameter settings upon a following start-up of said signal processor unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Leonard Cornelisse, Henry Luo, Ara Talaslian, Robert Walesa, Donald Hayes
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Publication number: 20130322669Abstract: The present invention proposes two alternative methods for remote fitting of one or two hearing devices (5, 5?), i.e. where a hearing device fitter (1) located in a first room (R1) provides remote support to a user (6) of the one or two hearing devices (5, 5?) located in a distant second room (R2) in order to adjust the one or two hearing devices (5, 5?) to the individual needs of the user (6). According to a first method a voice rendering signal processing is applied to the fitter's voice, thus achieving that the fitter's voice is perceived by the user (6) as if the user (6) were at a virtual user location (L) in the first room (R1) wearing the one or two hearing devices (5, 5?). The same is achieved according to a second, alternative method, wherein the fitter's voice is picked up by at least one or two microphones of one or two further hearing devices located at the virtual user location (L) at a first position (P1) and/or at a second position (P2).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2011Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger, Stefan Launer
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Patent number: 8594337Abstract: A method to operate a hearing device and a hearing device are disclosed comprising a plurality of source units (S1, . . . , Sn). The method comprises the steps of monitoring activities of the source units (S1, . . . , Sn), selecting input signals of active source units (S1, . . . , Sn), processing the selected input signals of active source units (S1, . . . , Sn), and generating an output signal of the hearing device by said processing. According to the present invention, the parameters for controlling said processing are derived from at least one active source unit (S1, . . . , Sn) and/or from at least one selected input signal, respectively. The new technology describes for the first time a hearing device comprising a plurality of source units that are dealt with in automatic manner.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventor: Bernd Waldmann
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Patent number: 8588442Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing device with a transfer function describing input/output behavior of the hearing device is presented. A sound signal is recorded by an input transducer of the hearing device. At least one of the sound signal and characteristics of the sound signal are stored in a memory unit. A data base is provided having at least media samples. The at least one of the sound signal and its characteristics are compared with at least some of the media samples or characteristics thereof, respectively, to obtain a qualitative measure for at least some of the media samples with respect to the sound signal or its characteristics. The media sample having the best qualitative measure is selected and the transfer function is adjusted on the basis of the selected media sample.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Nicola Schmitt, Harald Krueger
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Patent number: D700592Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Peter Boschung, Lennart Behrmann, Christian Harbeke
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Patent number: D701604Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventor: Basil Dubs