Abstract: An exemplary hearing device assembly is configured to be worn at least partially within an ear canal of a user. The hearing device assembly includes a housing including an output transducer configured to provide an output audio signal representative of sound presented to the user. The housing is configured to be positioned entirely within the ear canal. The hearing device assembly also includes a tube extending from an end of the housing and configured to provide an acoustic pathway from outside the ear canal to the housing, an inner seal extending from the housing, and an outer seal extending from the tube. The inner seal and the outer seal are together are configured to enclose a main volume that surrounds the tube within the ear canal and that is acoustically sealed from an ambient environment of the user.
Abstract: A hearing device includes an acoustic transducer having a membrane configured to generate sound waves, a housing enclosing a first chamber and a second chamber acoustically coupled by the membrane, a sound outlet configured to release sound waves from the first chamber into the ear canal, and an acoustic port acoustically coupling the second chamber to an ambient environment outside the ear canal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 11, 2021
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2023
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Thomas Zurbruegg, Paul Wagner, Antonio Hoelzl
Abstract: A method for determining social interaction of a user wearing a hearing device which comprises at least one microphone and at least one classifier. The method comprises: receiving an audio signal from the at least one microphone and/or a sensor signal from the at least one further sensor; identifying, by the at least one classifier, one or more predetermined user activity values by evaluating the audio signal from the at least one microphone and/or the sensor signal from the at least one further sensor; and calculating a user social interaction metric indicative of the social interaction of the user from the identified user activity values, wherein the user activity values are assigned to predefined social interaction levels, and wherein the user social interaction metric is a function of the user activity values weighted with their respective contribution to each of the social interaction levels.
Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured to detect tapping based on input from at least two sensors of the hearing device. The tapping can relate to a tapping gesture that includes a single tap or double tapping. In response to the single or double tap, the hearing device can perform an operation to modify the device (e.g., change the mode, change, or modify a setting, provide a sound, or perform a task). The first sensor can be an accelerometer configured to detect a change in acceleration of the hearing device and the second sensor can include a photodiode to detect a change in distance between the hearing device and the ear with the hearing device. The disclosed technology can be implemented in a method and comprises a computer-readable medium storing instructions to perform the method.
Abstract: A system with a first hearing device including a rechargeable power source, a second hearing device including a rechargeable power source, and a hearing device charger including a charger housing, a power source, charge circuitry operably connected to the power source, a first charge location and a second charge location.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 18, 2021
Date of Patent:
February 28, 2023
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Marius Rüfenacht, Hans Wunderli, Markus Gaugler
Abstract: An illustrative stereo rendering system obtains a contradirectional audio input signal generated by a microphone assembly having a plurality of microphone elements. The contradirectional audio input signal implements a contradirectional polar pattern oriented with respect to a listener. The system also obtains an array of multidirectional audio input signals generated by the microphone assembly. The array of multidirectional audio input signals implements different unidirectional polar patterns that are collectively omnidirectional in a horizontal plane. The system generates a weighted audio input signal by mixing the array of multidirectional audio input signals in accordance with respective weight values assigned to each multidirectional audio input signal. The system then generates, based on the contradirectional audio input signal and the weighted audio input signal, a stereo audio output signal for presentation to the listener. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
Abstract: A hearing device component (6) comprises a sensor-unit (8) for receiving an audio-signal (AS), a separation device (9) for separating part-signals (PSi) from the audio-signal (AS), a classification device (10) for classifying the part-signals (PSi) separated from the audio-signals (AS), and a modulation device (11) for modulating the part-signals (PSi), wherein the classification device (10) is communicatively coupled to the modulation device (11) and wherein the modulation device (11) is designed to enable a concurrent modulation of different part-signals (PSi) with different modulation-functions depending on their classification.
Abstract: A method for fitting a hearing device comprises: receiving an audio signal in the hearing device; providing a user interface for inputting at least one modifier value into the fitting device, the modifier value indicating, how a sound property of the audio signal should be modified by the hearing device; processing the audio signal with a sound processor of the hearing device in dependence of the at least one modifier value, thus providing a processed audio signal; outputting the processed audio signal to a user of the hearing device; determining an modifier effectiveness value based on the audio signal, the modifier effectiveness value indicating how much a change of the at least one modifier value results in a perceptible change of the processed audio signal output to the user; and restricting the inputting of the at least modifier value in dependence of the modifier effectiveness value.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 8, 2021
Date of Patent:
January 17, 2023
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Nicola Hildebrand, Volker Kuehnel, Michael Boretzki
Abstract: An ITE hearing instrumentality, for use in an ear canal, that includes a housing, a receiver located within the housing, an earpiece on the housing that is configured to mount the housing within the ear canal, and at least one biometric sensor on the earpiece.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 7, 2020
Date of Patent:
December 6, 2022
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Michael Au, Frank Wang, Grace Gardner, Lu Zhang, Stephan Gehring, Daniel Baer
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cover plate for covering a lateral opening of a shell of an earpiece configured to be worn at least partially within an ear canal, wherein the cover plate comprises a circumferential trench for receiving an antenna on a medial side of the cover plate, wherein the cover plate comprises a circumferential wall radially outward from the trench and adjacent the wall a surface for gluing the shell on.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 28, 2021
Date of Patent:
December 6, 2022
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Andre Ochsenbein, Michael Takacs, Gabriel Perez
Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at an ear of a user may include a sensor unit configured to provide sensor data, the sensor unit comprising a biometric sensor configured to provide biometric data included in the sensor data; and a processor configured to determine a physiological parameter from the sensor data, the physiological parameter indicative of a physiological property of the user. The processor is configured to determine whether the physiological parameter fulfills a condition, and provide, depending on whether the physiological parameter fulfills the condition, output data based on the sensor data, the output data including at least part of the biometric data and/or information derived from at least part of the biometric data different from the physiological parameter.
Abstract: A method for adjusting a hearing device (12) adapted to be worn behind an ear (28) comprises: determining a cymba angle (54) between a cartilage (50) above the cymba (46) of the ear (28) and a viewing direction (38) of the user; estimating a tilt angle (39) of the hearing device (12) with respect to the viewing direction (38) from the cymba angle (54); and adjusting a beam former direction (37) of a beam former (34) of the hearing device (12), such that the beam former direction (37) is aligned with the viewing direction (38).
Abstract: A binaural hearing system includes first and second hearing devices communicatively coupled by way of a binaural communication link. The first hearing device determines that a signal quality measure of a wireless signal transmitted by the remote audio source is greater than an upper threshold level. In response, both hearing devices enter a wireless audio rendering mode in which they render a remote audio stream from the remote audio source to a user. While operating in the wireless audio rendering mode, both hearing devices determine that a signal quality measure of the remote audio stream drops below a lower threshold level. In response to this determination, both hearing devices exit the wireless audio rendering mode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2021
Date of Patent:
November 22, 2022
Assignee:
Sonova AG
Inventors:
Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Doris Zahnd
Abstract: A method for compensating hearing deficiencies with a hearing device includes receiving a sound signal; attenuating an output sound pressure level of the sound signal dependent on an input sound pressure level of the sound signal; and outputting the attenuated sound signal with a loudspeaker of the hearing device; wherein the output sound pressure level is attenuated, when the input sound pressure level is above an upper speech recognition kneepoint of a user, which upper speech recognition kneepoint is stored in the hearing device and which has been selected dependent on a sound pressure level dependent speech recognition ability of the user.
Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a hearing device configured to adjust its settings when it detects the hearing device user is experiencing stress related to the hearing device applying a processing scheme. The hearing device can use vital signs of the hearing device user to determine whether a user is stressed. The hearing device can also determine whether the user has become stressed as a result of applied setting or an applied processing scheme of the hearing device based on a change in the vital sign of the hearing device user. The disclosed technology also includes a method for reducing stressing when using a hearing device.
Abstract: An acoustic device is described that comprises an acoustic channel extending through its housing and an acoustic valve disposed in the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve is configured to determine a passage of sound through the housing via the acoustic channel. The acoustic valve comprises a deformable shape forming a deformable perimeter of the acoustic channel, and an actuating mechanism configured to exert an actuating force deforming the deformable shape causing the deformable perimeter to move and change the passage of sound.
Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to a microphone device configured to receive sound from different beams, where each beam has a different spatial orientation and is configured to receive sound from different directions. The microphone device is also configured to process the received sound using a generic or specific head related transfer function (HRTF) to generate processed audio and transmit the processed audio to hearing devices worn by a hearing-impaired user. Additionally, the microphone device can use a reference line and/or reference point when processing the received audio.
Abstract: A hearing device may include a housing configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal of a user and comprising a venting channel, wherein the venting channel is configured to provide for venting between an inner region of the ear canal and an ambient environment outside the ear canal through the venting channel; an acoustic valve comprising a valve member moveable relative to the venting channel between different positions; a sound detector configured to provide an audio signal representative of a detected sound; a processor configured to determine a characteristic from the audio signal and to classify the audio signal by assigning the audio signal to a class from a plurality of predetermined classes depending on the determined characteristic; and an output transducer configured to be acoustically coupled to the inner region of the ear canal.