Patents Assigned to Sonova
  • Publication number: 20190104371
    Abstract: There is provided a system for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising: a table microphone unit (10) for capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice, comprising a microphone arrangement (16) comprising at least three microphones (M1, M2, M3) arranged in a non-linear manner, a beamformer unit (48) comprising a plurality of beamformers (BF1, BF2, . . . ), wherein each beamformer is configured to generate an acoustic beam (B1, B2, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: William Ballande, Timothée Jost
  • Publication number: 20190090070
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing device (10) comprising an electronic module (12) having at least one processor (14), a housing (18) for accommodating the electronic module (12), and at least one user control assembly (20) comprising at least one user control unit (22?-22??), accessible by a user of the hearing device (10). Said hearing device (10) further comprises at least one connector interface (24) operationally coupled to the electronic module (12), wherein said user control assembly (20) is detachably mounted to the housing (18), and said connector interface (24) is adapted to receive inputs from a plurality of different user control assemblies (20) and transfer said inputs to the electronic module (12) via at least one coupling means (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier
  • Publication number: 20190090071
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing assistance device to be worn by a user, comprising: a microphone arrangement (12) for capturing audio signals from ambient sound, an audio signal processing unit (14) for processing the captured audio signals, and an ear-level output transducer (16) for stimulating the user's hearing according to the processed audio signals, at least one wireless interface (18, 20, 42, 44) for signal reception from an external device (11, 40), a context detection unit (46) for determining, by regularly analyzing signals received via the at least one wireless interface, present values of a set of context parameters, the context parameters being indicative of the present location of the hearing assistance device (10), with the context detection unit being configured to select, based on the determined location, one location context out of a plurality of location contexts as the presently valid location context, and a security control unit (48) for controlling security aspects of the hearing assistance
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Michele Mazzucchi, Pascal Magnenat
  • Publication number: 20190090055
    Abstract: There is provided a multi-talker acoustic network system for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising at least two table microphone units (10, 12) for capturing audio signals from a speaker's voice, each comprising a microphone arrangement (30) having an omnidirectional characteristic, a VAD (32) for detecting voice activity of the microphone arrangement and a transmitter (36) for transmitting the captured audio signals via a wireless audio link (40), a control unit (34) for selecting one of tire table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, wherein the control unit is configured to select, in case that at a time only for one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone unit, and to select, in case that at a time for more than one of the table microphone units voice activity is detected, at least for a certain time period that one of the table microphone units as the presently active microphone u
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Timothée Jost, Francois Marquis
  • Patent number: 10237665
    Abstract: Hearing devices, configured to fit within the ear canal, that include a hearing device core, a seal, including a shell wall and a cavity that has an opening located at the end of the shell wall, and a volume of viscous medium located within the cavity between the hearing device core exterior surface and the shell wall interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Petra Gunde, Simone Keller, Chuangang Lin, Paul Wagner, Michael Au
  • Publication number: 20190082274
    Abstract: There is provided a personal device to be worn at the body of a user (15), comprising an interface (20) for wireless data exchange with an external device (11, 39, 50); at least one sensor (28, 42, 44, 46) for sensing a parameter indicative of the proximity of the personal device (10) to the user; a loss detection unit (40) for determining, by regularly analyzing signals received from the sensor, whether the personal device is presently worn by the user or not; a control unit (38) for controlling operation of the personal device in a regular mode as long as the loss detection unit determines that the personal device is worn by the user and in a loss mode as long as the loss detection unit determines that the personal device is no longer worn by the user, wherein the wireless interface is directed to transmit in the regular mode a non-traceable device address and to transmit in the loss mode a traceable public device address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Patent number: 10231068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hearing device (1) for being worn at least partly within an ear canal of a user of the hearing device (1), the hearing device (1) comprising a shell (2) with a wall and an opening (4), wherein the wall has a rim (11) at the opening (4), and wherein the wall is thickened along at least part of the rim (11). Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a hearing device (1) is specified, especially comprising determining an area of a bonding surface (12) at the rim (11) for bonding a face plate (3) to the shell at the opening (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Christian Frei, Natasha Oatman, Thomas Winkler, Matthias Stadler
  • Patent number: 10231069
    Abstract: A method for evaluating an individual hearing benefit of an advanced hearing device feature, including providing a basic and an advanced hearing device feature in a hearing device, automatically classifying a current hearing situation, automatically selecting the advanced hearing device feature dependent on the classified hearing situation, applying the selected advanced hearing device feature for processing an audio signal, providing the processed audio signal to an output transducer of the hearing device, indicating to the user that the advanced hearing device feature is currently being applied, and providing a control for the user to switch off and on an effect of the second hearing device feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Hubert Lechner
  • Publication number: 20190075404
    Abstract: A method of monitoring state of health of a rechargeable battery (11) comprised within a hearing device (1) is provided, the rechargeable battery (11) being adapted to provide energy for electronic components (2, 8) of the hearing device (1), the method comprising the steps of: dividing a usage time of the hearing device (1) into time slots, determining a number of full equivalent charges applied to the rechargeable battery (11) in each of the time slots, and determining a performance level of the rechargeable battery (11) in dependence on the number of full equivalent charges per time slot. Furthermore, a hearing device adapted to perform the method and an arrangement with the hearing device are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille, Fethi Cherigui, Sahba Aazami, Jonas Hoegberg
  • Patent number: 10225670
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing system including a hearing device, a camera and an auxiliary device, the method including the steps of providing an input signal to the hearing device, capturing an image or a sequence of images of at least sections of a surrounding of a user wearing the hearing device, processing the image or the sequence of images in the auxiliary device) for obtaining consolidated data of a sound source being important for the user, transmitting the consolidated data to the hearing device, generating an output signal in the hearing device by processing the audio signal and by taking into account the consolidated data, and feeding the output signal to an output transducer of the hearing device. Thereby, a hearing system having improved capabilities is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Manuela Feilner, Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger
  • Patent number: 10222973
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hearing device via touch gestures carried out by a wearer of the hearing device. As part of the gesture a finger is swiped across first and second sound inlets of the hearing device. A gesture is detected by determining if a first output signal from a first microphone at the first sound inlet contains a component caused by the finger touching the hearing device at the first sound inlet and if a second output signal from a second microphone at the second sound inlet contains a component caused by the finger touching the hearing device at the second sound inlet. Based on the detected gesture a control signal changes a processing parameter or setting of a signal processing unit of the hearing device. Additionally, a hearing device capable of performing the proposed method and a method of fitting such a hearing device are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Franz Schnyder, Christian Frei, Reto Kurmann, Enea Affini
  • Patent number: 10219727
    Abstract: A method for fitting a hearing device to the needs and preferences of a user of the hearing device is disclosed. In a first step of the disclosed method, a first range for a parameter setting of a first parameter is determined based on a first audiological test performed with the user. In a second step of the disclosed method, the first parameter is adjusted to a first final parameter setting within the first range and/or a second parameter of the hearing device is adjusted to a second final parameter setting based on a second audiological test performed with the user. The second parameter is functionally related to the first parameter such that the first parameter is expressible as a function of the second parameter, and the adjusting is performed such that the first parameter setting remains within the first range. Additionally, corresponding fitting apparatuses and computer-readable media are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Harald Krueger, Juliane Raether, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Julia Rehmann, Timo Boeld
  • Publication number: 20190069106
    Abstract: A hearing device sizer apparatus including a medial sizer, with a medial core portion and a medial seal secured to the medial core portion, and a lateral sizer, with a lateral core portion and a lateral seal secured to the lateral core portion, that are configured to be releasably engaged with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Paul WAGNER, MIchael AU, Barjinder CHANA, Shilpi BANERJEE, Erdrl KARAMUK
  • Publication number: 20190046089
    Abstract: A method of performing real ear measurements by a measuring system is described herein. The measuring system comprises a probe element adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of an individual; a loudspeaker configured to deliver a sample sound signal to the ear canal; at least one microphone configured to detect a response to the sample sound signal, wherein the probe element is in acoustic communication with the loudspeaker and cooperates with the at least one microphone; and a signal processing unit for performing an acoustic measurement of a response to the sample sound signal, based on an electrical input signal from the microphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Stefan Pislak, Alfred Stirnemann, Michael Boretzki, Manfred Duerst, Harald Krueger, Ullrich Sigwanz, Martina Schuepbach-Wolf
  • Patent number: 10200795
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing system for conducting telephone calls as well as a hearing system capable of performing the proposed method. The hearing system includes a communication device (4) with a communication device microphone (3?) for picking up a first sound signal and providing a primary sidetone signal. The hearing system further includes a hearing device with a hearing device microphone for picking up a second sound signal and providing a secondary sidetone signal. A first amplification is applied to the primary sidetone signal and a second amplification is applied to the secondary sidetone signal. Adjusting of the first amplification is dependent on adjusting of the second amplification, or alternatively, adjusting of the second amplification is dependent on adjusting of the first amplification. The primary and secondary sidetone signals are then combined and subsequently output by a hearing device loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ivo Hasler
  • Patent number: 10187733
    Abstract: A method for controlling and/or configuring a user-specific hearing system using a computing and/or communication device. The hearing system includes at least one hearing device customizable according to the individual hearing ability and/or preferences of a user of the hearing system. The method includes connecting the hearing system to a server via a network, connecting the computing and/or communication device to the server via the network, providing by the server a hearing system control and/or configuration service tailored to the user-specific hearing system to the computing and/or communication device, determining and/or selecting at the computing and/or communication device control data and/or configuration data using the hearing system control and/or configuration service, sending the control and/or configuration data from the computing and/or communication device to the hearing system, and adjusting the hearing system based on control and/or configuration data received at the hearing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Philipp Schneider, Nadim El Guindi
  • Publication number: 20190020636
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to broadcasting encrypted data to multiple receiver devices, where some receiver devices have long-term access to the encrypted data and some receiver devices have a temporary access to the encrypted data. Receivers having long-term access are part of a “member group” because these member group devices have a master key and the master key enables the member group devices to derive the necessary information to decrypt the encrypted broadcast. In contrast, devices with temporary access possess only a guest key and not master key, without a master key the devices need to receive the guest key from another device to decrypt the broadcast. Access to the encrypted stream can also be based on broadcasting multiple or single diversifiers, where a diversifier can include group identification information to assist in restricting access to the encrypted stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Stephan Gehring
  • Publication number: 20180376264
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing aid comprising at least one electroacoustic transducer; a signal processing circuitry, configured to receive from the at least an electroacoustic transducer an electrical input signal and/or to provide said at least an electroacoustic transducer with an electrical output signal; and power supply means configured to provide power to the electroacoustic transducer and to said signal processing circuitry; wherein the hearing aid further comprises at least one electroosmotic porous membrane configured to transport liquid and/or vapor outside of the hearing aid, or away from a component thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Markus Mueller
  • Publication number: 20180359574
    Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing device (10, 11) to be worn by a user, comprising: defining a plurality of hearing device services and assigning to each hearing device service a service access confirmation level selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured service access confirmation levels; providing an access software platform for enabling third party service access to the hearing device services; providing at least one application program adapted to provide a third party service to the hearing device, each application program adapted to utilize the access software platform and at least one of the hearing device services; providing a manufacturer access service for approving or denying access to the hearing device for each of the application programs depending on whether or not approval for the respective service access confirmation level(s) has been previously obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim EL Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
  • Patent number: D844146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Martyn Beedham, Stefanie Klein