Patents Assigned to Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
  • Patent number: 8139779
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to make using a hearing device and in particular a hearing aid more comfortable and more effective for the user. To this end the setting of a portable hearing device is to be checked. First the acoustic data of a sound from the environment of the hearing device is recorded and/or determined simultaneously with the setting of the hearing device with at least one setting value. The setting of the hearing device is evaluated against the chronologically matching, recorded acoustic data in the hearing device using at least one predeterminable criterion. If necessary, the hearing device outputs an appropriate message. By this means a hearing aid wearer can, for example, be alerted to contact an acoustician, if the settings he made on the hearing aid are not effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Barthel, Frank Beck, Robert Bäuml, Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 8139778
    Abstract: The training of a hearing apparatus in respect of an individual adjustment is to be developed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, provision is firstly made to automatically classify a hearing situation, to adjust a parameter of the signal processing facility of the hearing apparatus and to automatically learn the adjusted parameters for the current hearing situation. A temporal monitoring of the steps “classifying” and “adjusting” is however carried out here and the automatic learning is only triggered if the classified hearing situation and the adjustment of the parameters have not changed over a predetermined time period. This not only simplifies the training, but also enables a more rapid training by means of automatically triggered training events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Barthel, Robert Bäuml, Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 8139802
    Abstract: Inductive transmission to a hearing apparatus and in particular to a hearing device is to be improved. To this end, it is proposed to equip the hearing apparatus with two or three orthogonal coils. The coil signals are added with different signs and that signal which exhibits the highest level is forwarded from the resulting signals for further processing. It is thus possible to ensure an optimum reception quality in all alignments of the hearing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lotter, Jürgen Reithinger
  • Patent number: 8139800
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus is to be provided, with which the battery can be exchanged in an almost wear-free fashion. Provision is thus made to magnetically attach a battery compartment or a battery holding device in the housing of the hearing apparatus or hearing device. The battery holding device is inserted into an opening in the housing. A detachable magnetic connection realized by magnetic elements thus exists between the housing and the battery holding device, the principle force component of which runs in the insertion direction. It is thus possible to dispense with plug or snap connections for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Wai Kit David Ho, Wee Haw Koo, Beng Hai Tan
  • Patent number: 8135154
    Abstract: Switch arrangement for hearing devices, which includes a connector socket which can be covered by a socket cover. The connector socket and the socket cover are arranged and embodied such that an electrical switching contact can be produced by applying pressure to the socket cover covering the connector socket. A method for changing over programs in hearing devices with a behind-the-ear part is also specified, in which an electrical switching contact is produced by means of a connector socket of the behind-the-ear part and its socket cover. Space can be saved as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Krämer
  • Patent number: 8130990
    Abstract: In a hearing aid system comprising two hearing aids between which wireless signal transmission is provided. The hearing aids are automatically switched on and off. To this end, a field strength or value of an electromagnetic signal received by a hearing aid that is transmitted from the respective other hearing aid may be determined. The determined value is compared with a threshold value, the relevant hearing aid being switched off (sleep mode), as long as the field strength is greater than the threshold value and the hearing aid being switched on as long as the measured field strength is lower than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Reithinger
  • Patent number: 8130993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a securing system for a receiver tube in a hearing device. The object of the invention is to provide a securing system for the receiver tube in a hearing device, which reliably prevents the occurrence of disruptive acoustic feedback and does not require adhesive to secure the receiver tube. This object of the invention is achieved with a hearing device, in particular a BTE hearing device, in which a receiver facility is disposed, wherein the hearing device has a connector piece, which is connected to the receiver facility by way of a receiver tube, in order to conduct an acoustic signal or acoustic signals generated by the receiver facility to an acoustic output of the hearing device, with the receiver tube being provided with a connecting element, which connects the receiver tube and the connector piece to each other in an essentially acoustically sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Wai Kit David Ho, Wee Haw Koo, Beng Hai Tan
  • Patent number: 8130989
    Abstract: The spontaneous acceptance by a hearing device wearer in respect of a new hearing device is to be improved. To this end, a method for adjusting the amplification of a hearing device to an individual hearing device wearer is proposed, with which a target amplification for the hearing device wearer is determined on the basis of his/her hearing loss. Data relating to the gender of the hearing device wearer is provided in order to improve the adjustment. The target amplification is then also determined on the basis of the gender of the hearing device wearer. With the gender-specific target amplification, it is possible for instance to take account of the fact that women exhibit a more sensitive perception for average voice levels than men, thereby allowing the target amplification to correspondingly drop much lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Latzel
  • Patent number: 8121322
    Abstract: A method for identifying hearing aids is described wherein a wireless connection is established between a control device and at least one unidentified hearing aid, and which comprises the following procedural steps: a request is sent by the control device to at least one unidentified hearing aid; the request is received by the hearing aid addressed; a response is provided in the hearing aid addressed, whereby the response contains an individual identifier of the respective hearing aid; and the response is sent by the hearing aid addressed to the control device, whereby the response is transmitted at a point in time that is individually determined by the responding hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Alber, Jamil Ismail, Gottfried Rückerl, Gunter Sauer
  • Patent number: 8121309
    Abstract: The directional effect of a static directional microphone is to be improved. In particular shadowing effects of the head for a hearing device worn on the head of the user are to be taken into account when adjusting at the directional microphone. To this end it is proposed that—like the adaptation of an adaptive directional microphone—the energy or power of the directional microphone signal emitted by the directional microphone is minimized, with the difference that in this case extremely long adaptation times are predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Jens Hain
  • Patent number: 8116494
    Abstract: Changing batteries in hearing apparatuses worn in the auditory canal is to be designed in a more user-friendly manner. To this end, a hearing apparatus is provided with a first component which can be worn in the auditory canal, said component comprising a receiver unit for the wireless reception of signals. The hearing apparatus also exhibits a second component which is separated from the first component in terms of design, said second component likewise being able to be worn in the auditory canal and a transmitter unit for the wireless transmission of signals and/or energy to the receiver unit of the first component. The first component can be designed to be battery-less. The second component, which is positioned further outside in the auditory canal, can be easily removed from the auditory canal in order to change the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Rass
  • Patent number: 8116492
    Abstract: The hearing device operated with an accumulator and comprising an externally accessible electrically conductive structure element is provided. The structure element fulfilling an additional function as a contact element, in order to receive a charging current when electrically connected to an external charging device. The term “structure element” is understood in the context of the present invention to mean an element, which is constitutively present in the structure of the hearing device due to its construction, e.g. the structure element can be a housing element, a fastening element, such as a screw, a control element, a nameplate or suchlike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Sattler, Christian Schmitt, Erwin Singer, Markus Trautner
  • Patent number: 8116490
    Abstract: There is described a method for operation of a hearing device system with two microphones arranged spatially separated from one another and with sound-generating output units assigned to these microphones, in which, by comparison of the microphone signals or of signals derived therefrom, feedback is detected, and on detection of the feedback measures are initiated for reducing the feedback, and with the comparison of the microphone signals or of signals derived therefrom comprising a frequency-selective power comparison. There is also described a hearing device system suitable for this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Henning Puder, Tobias Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 8116491
    Abstract: It should be possible to carry out dynamic range compression in hearing devices, and in particular in hearing aids, so it is free from distortion and practically in real time. For this purpose it is proposed that the modulation spectrum be obtained from the audio or input signal. The modulation spectrum is subsequently directly modified corresponding to a predefined compression function. Finally a modified or compressed output signal is recovered from the modified modulation spectrum. Alternatively a complex envelope may be obtained from the input signal, which is filtered using time-variant modulation filtering corresponding to a predefined compression rule. A distortion-free, compressed output signal may also be recovered herefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Chalupper, Markus Fruhmann
  • Patent number: 8111851
    Abstract: Fine customization of a hearing aid to the individual hearing environments and habits of a user are to be simplified and improved. To this end, when the hearing aid is turned on or when the hearing aid is switched to a particular operating mode, neither the value most recently valid for the parameter prior to turning off or switching to a different operating mode nor the parameter value transferred to the hearing aid at the beginning of programming is set. Rather, from the changes to the value of the parameter taking place during operation of the hearing aid a new start value is ascertained and stored, which value is then set automatically after turning on or switching mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Giesner, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Patent number: 8111852
    Abstract: A hearing aid has at least one converter element which, in order to reduce mechanical vibrations, is flexibly attached inside or at the hearing aid housing. The converter is mounted in the housing by at least one clip that flexibly is moveable or displaceable in its range of action like a spring, in order to damp and attach the converter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Wai Kit David Ho, Wee Haw Koo, Beng Hai Tan
  • Patent number: 8107658
    Abstract: Hearing instruments and in particular hearing aids whose signal processing can be adjusted by the user are to be returned to a defined, individual state in a more convenient manner. For this purpose it is provided that at least one individual, current parameter value for ongoing operation of the hearing instrument is automatically stored in a first memory device. The at least one individual, current parameter value can also be stored manually or automatically in a second memory device. If the user wishes to revert to an earlier setting, he can manually reset the at least one parameter of the hearing instrument to the parameter value stored in the second memory device by actuating a button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Heerlein, Thomas Kasztelan, Bock Swee Joshua Tan
  • Patent number: 8107656
    Abstract: A method for noise reduction in a hearing aid device is described, with a signal, which comprises a useful and an interference signal part, being processed in the hearing aid device and with the interference signal part being reduced to the benefit of the useful signal part and with the reduction of the interference signal part being carried out as a function of the input level of the signal, with the interference signal part being more heavily attenuated with a high input level than with a low input level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Dreβler, Henning Puder
  • Patent number: 8103030
    Abstract: A differential direction microphone system for a hearing aid device is described, comprising: a first directional microphone stage with a first differential directional microphone, and a second directional microphone stage with a further differential directional microphone, with the second directional microphone stage being connected downstream from the first directional microphone stage, where the directivity of the first directional microphone stage is essentially oriented in the opposite direction to the directivity of the second directional microphone stage, with the differential direction microphone system having a directional characteristic, of which the directivity is essentially orthogonal to an axis predetermined by the directivities of the first and the second directional microphone stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Barthel, Robert Bäuml, Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 8098857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid having a sound receiver and a sound generator. The hearing aid also has an audio signal unit that is functionally linked to the sound generator and has a tone signal generator for generating a tone signal as a function of a trigger signal and of a generation parameter which represents a frequency that can be perceived by a human ear. The hearing aid also has a memory, connected to the tone signal generator, for storing the generation parameter. The audio signal unit changes the generation parameter stored in the memory, generates a trigger signal for each tone signal requiring to be generated, sends said trigger signal to the tone signal generator, and sends the generated tone signal to the sound generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Sörgel