Patents Assigned to Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
  • Double spiral antenna
    Patent number: 7646356
    Abstract: An antenna comprises a first antenna element, which has a first helix, and a second antenna element, which has a second helix. The first and the second antenna elements each have a feed point at an outer end of the corresponding helix and an open end at an inner end of the corresponding helix. A symmetrical helix antenna according to the invention can be integrated in a comparatively simple manner in an existing system, for example in a hearing aid. By integrating the antenna in a plastic housing, the antenna cannot be seen at all from the outside. The antenna is comparatively small in relation to conventional antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Adel, Rainer Wansch, Josef Bernhard, Thomas Fischer
  • Hearing Aid Having an Occlusion Reduction Unit and Method for Occlusion Reduction
    Publication number: 20100002896
    Abstract: A method is described for reduction of occlusion effects in an acoustic appliance which closes an auditory channel, wherein an audio signal in the transmission path of the acoustic appliance is processed by a signal processing unit and is emitted via an output transducer, which is arranged in the auditory channel, as an acoustic signal. A resultant sound signal is then detected by an auditory channel microphone and is supplied to a variable loop filter, which is arranged in a feedback loop of an occlusion reduction unit for the acoustic appliance. The output signal from the loop filter is injected into the transmission path of the audio signal. The occlusion reduction unit is in this case controlled adaptively, with at least one signal from the transmission path of the audio signal and/or from the feedback loop being used to control the loop filter for the occlusion reduction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Georg-Erwin Arndt, Frank Koch, Ulrich Komagel, Stefanie Müller, Gunter Sauer
  • Low-radiation electromagnetic earpiece
    Patent number: 7639829
    Abstract: In an electromagnetic earpiece with a housing in which a coil through which an energizing current flows as well as a membrane are arranged such that the membrane can be excited to vibrate as a result of the energizing current, the parasitic leakage field generated by the electromagnetic earpiece is be reduced. This is accomplished by internally-running connection lines optimally close together between the ends of the coil and the electrical connections of the electromagnetic earpiece so that the leakage field thereby generated is kept optimally low according to the physical principle of a double conductor, producing an advantageous electromagnetic earpiece in a hearing aid device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Kunibert Husung
  • ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT FOR HEARING DEVICE APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20090315787
    Abstract: A device having an electric antenna and a magnetic antenna is described, the antennas being spatially arranged in immediate mutual proximity. The electric antenna has at least one current-carrying electric conductor which acts as a resonator for the electric antenna, while the magnetic antenna has a coil with at least one current-carrying conductor loop which acts as an inductor of the magnetic antenna. Thus the electric antenna and the magnetic antenna are spatially arranged relative to each other such that the direction of the current in the electric conductor of the electric antenna extends substantially at right angles to the direction of the current in the conductor loop of the magnetic antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AUDIOLOGISCHE TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Ulrich Schätzle
  • Hearing aid
    Patent number: 7634097
    Abstract: The manner of informing a user about the current setting of manually adjustable parameters in a hearing aid is to be improved. In addition it is proposed that an information signal be transmitted to the user, on the basis of which said user is informed that an upper or lower end of the value range for a parameter to be set has been reached, so that further activation of the relevant actuator remains ineffective in respect of parameter setting. The invention is used in particular in conjunction with actuators which do not have a mechanical end stop, whereby the user could identify that the upper or lower end of the value range of the parameter to be set has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Torsten Niederdränk
  • System and method for performing a selective fill for a hearing aid shell
    Patent number: 7609259
    Abstract: A method and appertaining system load 3D shape information defining a hearing aid shell into a processor and present a representation of the shell on a display. A fill boundary is entered by a user operating a user input device and a fill region for the shell is thus defined. The fill boundary is then displayed, but can be modified by the user. Various checks may be performed to ensure that the fill region is a proper one, and if not, a status can be provided to the user indicating why the fill region is unacceptable. The displayed shell can be rotated and moved to assist the user. Once an acceptable fill region has been defined, an indication is provided by the user that the displayed fill region is to be used as the actual fill region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Fred McBagonluri, Artem Boltyenkov, Oleg Saltykov
  • Power-saving mode for hearing aids
    Patent number: 7602930
    Abstract: Hearing aid wearers can find themselves in situations in which the necessary replacement and/or recharging of a discharged voltage source is not immediately possible. In such a situation, reducing the low-frequency signal elements in the acoustic output signal allows a type of emergency mode to be maintained for a certain period. The majority of important acoustic information thus remains comprehensible to the hearing aid wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kasztelan
  • Method and device for matching the phases of microphone signals of a directional microphone of a hearing aid
    Patent number: 7587058
    Abstract: The phase differences of microphones of a hearing aid microphone are to be reduced. To do this, the level of an output signal (y1(t)) of a directional microphone is compared with an omnidirectional signal (y1?(t)). If the level of the output signal of the differential directional microphone (y1(t)) is above the level of the omnidirectional signal (y1?(t)), this level difference is minimized by an adaptive, frequency-selective transit time compensation (A) in individual frequency bands and phase matching of the microphones (M1,M2) is thus achieved. By means of an alternative method, microphone matching is achieved in that the measurable delay of the two microphone signals (x1,x2) is adaptively limited in individual frequency bands to a maximum value corresponding to the sound transit time between the microphones (M1,M2). Phase matching without knowing the position of a sound source can thus be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Henning Puder
  • Hearing aid and method for adjusting a hearing aid
    Patent number: 7587052
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to make the adjustment of a hearing aid more convenient, for which purpose the frequency response data relating to the frequency response individually measured for the present hearing aid (HG) is stored in a memory device (S) of the hearing aid. As a result the length of a sound tube installed in the hearing aid can also be taken directly into account, for example. For the purpose of adjusting the hearing aid, the individual frequency response can then be read out from the hearing aid, thereby enabling the adjustment process to be performed much more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kasztelan
  • Method and arrangement for transmitting signals to a hearing aid
    Patent number: 7580534
    Abstract: In a transmission apparatus for transmitting signals to a hearing device, as well as transmission and operating methods thereof, and a hearing aid apparatus, not only the acoustic path but also an electromagnetic path are used to transmit the same signal. So that the data rate can be reduced for low power consumption, only the envelope of the useful signal is transmitted electromagnetically. This allows a useful signal to be transmitted from one hearing device to another hearing device electromagnetically with low power consumption. The reception-end hearing device then restores the source signal, containing interference, with the electromagnetically transmitted envelope to produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Hearing aid and hearing aid system
    Patent number: 7577267
    Abstract: For a hearing aid, the information for the hearing aid wearer relating to the state of charge of the power source (4, 4?) or the remaining life of the hearing aid with the relevant power source (4, 4?) is to be improved. To this end means are provided for operating the hearing aid by which the state of charge or remaining life can be interrogated at any time, with the information about the state of charge or remaining life being provided to the hearing aid wearer by emitting an acoustic signal indicating the state of charge or remaining life. The hearing aid wearer can thus be informed conveniently and discretely at any time about the state of charge or the remaining life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik gmbH
    Inventors: Roland Barthel, Bernd Beimel, Joachim Eggers, Matthias Fröhlich
  • Stabilization of the system clock in a hearing aid
    Patent number: 7577268
    Abstract: As a result of the intended miniaturization of digital hearing aids, a quartz crystal cannot be used for generating the system clock. The inaccuracy of the system clock resulting therefrom cannot be tolerated in certain filter applications. It is thus proposed to adhere more precisely to the target value of the clock frequency of the system clock emitted by a clock generator by means of an externally generated clock signal. The external clock signal which can be generated for example in a remote controller for the hearing aid and can be transmitted wirelessly to the hearing aid is used to examine and if necessary readjust the system clock of the hearing aid. In this way, a relatively more precise and stable system c lock can be adhered to at least across more lengthy time segments and without the use of a quartz crystal in the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Hearing aid with noise suppression, and operating method therefor
    Patent number: 7574012
    Abstract: Concurrent signal paths going pass a hearing aid bring about interferences in the auditory canal. These interferences are compensated by estimating an interfering signal from the input signal disturbed by interference from a microphone and applying to the interfering signal a transfer function, with which the concurrent acoustic signal path is simulated, thereby forming an interfering output signal, and combining a usable output signal from a signal-processing device with the interfering output signal. In this way, a noise suppression by directional microphone switching configurations can be made possible when concurrent signal paths do not make such directional microphone switching possible by conventional approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Eggers, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Hearing aid
    Patent number: 7561708
    Abstract: The increasing miniaturization of hearing aids means that less and less space is available for accommodating controls (9). It is thus proposed that, at least one proximity sensor (6; 12A, 12B) be provided on a hearing aid (1; 11) so as to enable an operating function to be performed even without touching a control directly. For operation of a hearing aid (1; 11) in accordance with the invention, in addition to the hearing aid (1; 11) itself, no further technical aids such as remote control, magnets etc. have to be worn as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Röhrlein
  • Method and apparatus for identifying the direction of incidence of an incoming audio signal
    Patent number: 7561701
    Abstract: To determine the direction of incidence for a signal from an acoustic signal source using a directional microphone system, which has at least two microphones, two or more directional microphone signals are produced, each having a direction-dependent sensitivity distribution with a minimum in one direction. The directional microphone signals are assessed with regard to a quantity to determine the directional microphone signal which is most influenced by the associated direction dependent sensitivity distribution. The direction of incidence is determined as being the direction in which the minimum of the sensitivity distribution of this directional microphone signal is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Hearing aid system
    Patent number: 7561707
    Abstract: The user (2) of a binaural hearing aid or communication system (1A, 1B) is to be provided with an easier assignment or identification of acoustic signals generated in the system for keeping a user (2) informed about current settings or states of the system. To this end the signal is emitted by the hearing aid or communication system (1A, 1B) in such a way that for the user (2) the signals appear to come from different signal sources (3 to 6; 8 to 11) in the space (7) surrounding the user. In this way the acoustic signals carry additional information perceived consciously or unconsciously by the user (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Kornagel
  • Ear insert for a hearing aid
    Patent number: 7542581
    Abstract: Feedbacks in hearing aids are to be attenuated and avoided in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The invention thus proposes producing a hearing aid component at least partially from a material comprising a plurality of Helmholtz resonators (8). An otoplastic (2) can be produced from a material of this type for example, thus enabling high frequency sound which leaks out of a ventilation bore (5) in the otoplastic (2) and which leads to feedback, to be attenuated in the otoplastic (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Baumann
  • Hearing aid with a switching device for switching on and off and corresponding method
    Patent number: 7522739
    Abstract: It is intended that the switching on and off of a hearing aid (I) should be made more user-friendly. To this end the hearing aid (I) is fitted with a temperature sensor (TS) to detect the body heat of the hearing aid wearer and therefore that the hearing aid is inserted in the auditory canal. The hearing aid is then switched on and off again based on the temperature signal. As an alternative to the temperature sensor, it is possible to use a pressure sensor to detect contact pressure of the hearing aid housing on the auditory canal, a resistance sensor to detect an electrical load resistance as a function of volume or an acoustic sensor to detect a sound level. It is also possible to switch the hearing aid (I) on and off wirelessly using a remote control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Rass, Riku Sinikallio
  • Hearing aid system and operating method therefor in the audio reception mode
    Patent number: 7519194
    Abstract: In a hearing aid device system with two hearing aids for binaural supply to a hearing aid user, a coupling of the settings of both hearing aids is not always reasonable in the “audio reception” mode and therefore the hearing aid that is in the “audio reception” operating mode is not adapted to changed settings when parameters in the other hearing aid of the hearing aid system have been readjusted. The use of a remote control also has different effects on a hearing aid in the active “audio reception” mode than on the hearing aid device that is in a passive “audio reception” mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Niederdränk, Gottfried Rückerl
  • Hearing aid with a control element
    Patent number: 7507920
    Abstract: In the case of a hearing aid with a movable control element as compact a structure as possible should be achieved and at the same time a large number of movement cycles of the control element should be possible. To this end it is proposed to connect contacts of the movable control element by means of a flexible PCB to the PCB. Preferably the flexible PCB also acts as a support for a flat spring-loaded switch which is activated when the control element performs a swivel movement. Furthermore the flexible PCB has a bending zone which is devoid of electrical contacts and components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Ehrenfried Erbe