Patents Assigned to Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
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Publication number: 20100182510Abstract: A smoothing method for suppressing fluctuating artifacts in the reduction of interference noise includes the following steps: providing short-term spectra for a sequence of signal frames, transforming each short-term spectrum by way of a forward transformation which describes the short-term spectrum using transformation coefficients that represent the short-term spectrum subdivided into its coarse and fine structures; smoothing the transformation coefficients with the respective same coefficient indices by combining at least two successive transformed short-term spectra; and transforming the smoothed transformation coefficients into smoothed short-term spectra by way of a backward transformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2008Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicants: RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM, SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBHInventors: Timo Gerkmann, Colin Breithaupt, Rainer Martin
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Patent number: 7756282Abstract: In a hearing device with multiple microphones, and a signal generation method, the dynamic range of hearing devices is improved by using a combination including a silicon microphone and an electret microphone for the hearing device input. Low frequencies thus can be acquired by the silicon microphone and high frequencies can be acquired by the electret microphone, in order to generate a wide-band hearing device input signal. The fact that a silicon microphone possesses a lower internal noise than a conventional electret microphone at low frequencies is utilized.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Uwe Rass, Christian Weistenhöfer
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Patent number: 7751578Abstract: The operation of appliances in a home network is to be made more user-friendly, for which purpose provision is made for the hearing device remote control unit to be integrated as a component in a network. This would, for example, enable warning signals triggered by the network to be provided in the hearing devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Winfried Arz, Thomas Fischer, Thomas Lotter, Gottfried Rückerl
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Patent number: 7747031Abstract: To reduce the disturbing effect of artifacts created by signal processing when reducing wind noises the microphone signal of a hearing device for the presence or the strength of a predefined wind noise signal and, if appropriate, the wind noise signal is released. A noise signal is generated that is emitted at the hearing aid output component in addition to the reduced wind noise signal. The noise signal is generated dependent on the wind noise signal, so that the wind noise signal is at least partly masked. The resultant signal is perceived by the wearer of the hearing aid to be less disturbing.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Andre Steinbuss
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Publication number: 20100158289Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system with a source separation device, include at least one hearing aid in which interference signals are intended to be suppressed and useful signals are intended to be accentuated with justifiable computational complexity. Source-specific reception signals are first of all generated and analyzed by the source separation device, in particular a BSS unit. Then, parameter settings for operating the hearing aid which effect the suppression of interference signals or the accentuation of useful signals are derived from the result of the analysis. An output signal generated by the hearing aid does not emerge directly from the source-specific reception signals and therefore a periodic operation of the BSS unit suffices and signal processing in real time is not necessarily required in the BSS unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2009Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBHInventors: Frank Beck, Ulrich Kornagel
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Patent number: 7742611Abstract: A hearing device is to be developed for hearing device wearers who speak different national languages. For this purpose, pro-vision is made to equip a hearing device with a storage facility for storing first data which is characteristic of a first language and a processing facility for processing an input signal. At least second data, which is characteristic of a second language, can be stored in the storage facility. The input signal can thus alternatively be processed as a function of the first or the second data. By way of example, the interference noise suppression or the microphone configuration can hereby be adjusted in a language-dependent manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Esfandiar Grafenberg, Volkmar Hamacher
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Patent number: 7742612Abstract: The training of a hearing aid for individual Situations is intended to be simpler and more comprehensive for the hearing aid wearer. The invention therefore provides for the hearing aid wearer just to have to associate a current acoustic Situation with a predetermined hearing Situation identification (3?). This association is learnt by a classifier, for example a neural network (5). After the training process, the neural network (5) can then reliably associate the corresponding hearing Situation identification (3?) with an acoustic input Signal (2). A current Parameter Set (4?) is varied or supplemented appropriately on the basis of this association.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Matthias Fröhlich, Thomas Hies
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Publication number: 20100150385Abstract: Feedback should be prevented effectively in a hearing aid which can be worn in the ear. To this end, the arrangement of two microphones, electrically interconnected to form a directional microphone, and a receiver is proposed along a straight line. The directional effect of the directional microphone is set such that, when viewed from the directional microphone, the receiver is arranged in the direction of the lowest sensitivity of the directional microphone. This can effectively suppress feedback even though the hearing aid has a relatively simple design.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBHInventor: Gerhard Sporer
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Patent number: 7737799Abstract: A simple, interference-free digital phase modulator is to be provided. To this end, the phase modulator is provided with a counter for outputting a counter signal on the basis of a predetermined clock signal and a comparator, which receives a current counter state from the counter, in order to record a digital input signal. The comparator compares the input signal with the current counter state on the basis of a predetermined allocation table and resets the counter, if the input signal corresponds to a counter state assigned via the allocation table. A predetermined signal value of the output counter signal is herewith phase-modulated as a function of the input signal. As only one phase position is generated with the circuit at any point in time, interferences, which are produced by the digital phase modulator itself, are significantly less.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Jürgen Reithinger
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Patent number: 7711132Abstract: The object is to ensure that device signals intended, for example, to inform hearing aid wearers about program changes or the end of a battery's life are perceived independently of ambient noise. Provision is therefore made, for instance, for reducing the level of the input signal with the aid of a gain adjuster (12) so that a device signal from a generator (4) driven via a control element (6) such as, for example, a program-changing switch, and via a control logic (5) can be perceived. Other possible solutions are to change the level of the device signal as a function of the level of the input signal or to mute the input signal while the device signal is fed out.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Birgit Küfner, Tom Weidner
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Patent number: 7711130Abstract: A hearing aid is provided. The hearing aid includes at least one optical microphone. The at least one optical microphone comprises an acoustic-optical transformer for transforming an acoustic input signal into an optical signal, the optical signal is processed in the hearing aid using an optical signal processing unit, and the processed optical signal is transformed into an acoustic output signal using an opto-electrical transformer.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Kunibert Husung
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Patent number: 7702121Abstract: The automatic switching of acoustic systems and especially of hearing aids into different processing programs is to be improved. To this end there is provision for the signal processing device of the acoustic system to feature a high-frequency detector for analysis of an input signal, with the output signal of said device being able to be used for processing one or more input signals by the signal processing unit. Specifically the presence of an active mobile telephone which emits electromagnetic radiation in the high-frequency range can be established in this way. This enables the system to be switched into telephone made with a high degree of certainty to suit a particular situation.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Kunibert Husung, Tom Weidner
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Patent number: 7702124Abstract: The penetration of moisture and dirt often leads to a premature failure of electroacoustic miniature transducers that are used in hearing aids. A transducer membrane of a miniature transducer is provided at least in part with a hydrophobic and/or oliophobic and/or biofilm-inhibiting coating that, because its layer thickness is less than 10 ?m, does not significantly influence the acoustic characteristic of the miniature transducer, and that prevents degradation of the transmission characteristic due to moisture, or moisture-caused damage to the miniature transducer. In addition, the adherence of dirt particles is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Torsten Niederdraenk, Joseph Sauer
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Publication number: 20100092001Abstract: In a system and method for open fitting hearing aid frequency response sound measurements, a test space is provided having located therein a sound source, a hearing aid with a microphone, and an open fit receiver. An acoustic shield is provided and within the acoustic shield an ear simulator coupler is provided having an ear extension attached thereto, the ear extension having mounted thereto at least a portion of the open fit receiver. A measurement unit receives sound signals from the ear simulator coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicants: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH, Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Oleg Saltykov, Anton Gebert, Ottmar Ruschig, Marco Lederer
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Patent number: 7676051Abstract: A linking element is provided for a hearing device, which connects the first behind-the-ear part and second behind-the-ear-part. In one embodiment the linking element is rigid. In another embodiment the linking element may be made of a memory material or have a spring component, so that the second behind-the-ear part is automatically pushed into the auditory canal. A helical groove around the second behind-the-ear part is also advantageous, thereby ensuring automatic_insertion into the auditory canal and also ventilation for an open fitting.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Eghart Fischer, Uwe Raβ
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Patent number: 7676050Abstract: Protective facilities in microphone inputs of a hearing device should be able to be exchanged in a more user-friendly manner. For this purpose, provision is made for a cover fixture for at least one microphone input of a hearing device with an essentially acoustically permeable protective facility to protect the at least one microphone input against solid particles. The cover fixture can be fixed to the surface of the hearing device in a friction-fitted or form-fitted manner. The cover fixture can however also be designed in one piece with the upper shell of the hearing device.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2006Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Joseph Sauer
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Patent number: 7672468Abstract: In a method for adjusting the transmission characteristic of a hearing aid, the characteristic being defined by hearing aid-specific parameters, a data processing device is used that has a screen and a pointer device. On a graphics user interface of the data processing device, an object displayed in a first area of the screen is selected and copied with the pointer device and the copy is moved into the second area of the screen and stored there, with the transmission characteristic of the hearing aid being able to be changed by the stored object. Settings selected for a hearing aid or a hearing program thus can be transferred quickly and easily to a second hearing aid or a second hearing program.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventors: Eduard Kaiser, Reinier Kortekaas, Sören Kuhrt, Michael Sieber
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Patent number: 7664280Abstract: The operation of a hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is to be improved. It is proposed here that the acoustic auditory environment in which the hearing aid (10) or hearing aid system (10, 11) is found is analyzed and one of the adjustment functions dependent on the relevant auditory situation is assigned to at least one control element (7; 12-15) as a function of the auditory situation detected in this way. The adjustment possibility of the hearing aid (10) is thereby restricted to the adjustment possibilities which are meaningful to the relevant auditory situation.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Uwe Rass
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Patent number: 7657047Abstract: The emission of information signals for informing a user about specific settings or statuses of a hearing aid should be improved. In addition, it is proposed to offer the user a plurality of different information signals which he can freely assign to different settings and or statuses of the hearing aid. In addition, different information signals are emitted as a function of the currently available hearing situation and/or the currently set hearing program for one and the same setting and/or for one and the same status of the hearing aid. The user is thus able to better identify the information signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Eghart Fischer
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Patent number: 7650005Abstract: The object of the claimed hearing aid device is to improve the speech intelligibility of a speech signal transmitted by the hearing aid device. To this end provision is made to define a maximum gain of the input signal and to determine a target gain at least at a first and second frequency of an input signal. A resulting gain is set in the hearing aid device, which does not exceed the maximum gain. A reduction of the resulting gain compared with the target gain at the first frequency is compensated for according to the invention by an automatic increase in the set resulting gain compared with the target gain at the second frequency, with compensation preferably being achieved by improving the speech intelligibility of a speech signal transmitted with the aid of the hearing aid device.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbHInventor: Josef Chalupper
