Patents Assigned to Sonova
  • Prioritization of speakers in a hearing device system
    Patent number: 11184484
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling hearing devices are disclosed. Each hearing device is worn by a user, the hearing devices being communicatively interconnected with each other for data exchange to form a hearing device system. A method includes acquiring a sound signal of each user with a microphone of the hearing device of the user; determining from the sound signal a speaker signal, which indicates, whether the user is a speaking user; determining a priority score for each user from the speaker signal of the user; outputting sound signals from speaking users to the users via the hearing devices of the users, such that sound signals from speaking users with a priority score smaller than a threshold are muted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Manuela Feilner, Harald Kruger
  • Hearing device system and a method for dynamically presenting a hearing device modification proposal to a user of a hearing device
    Patent number: 11178498
    Abstract: A hearing device system including a hearing device, a user interface communicatively coupled to the hearing device, and a module for processing a psychoacoustic model. The psychoacoustic model is adapted to derive a modification proposal based on hearing relevant data, wherein the modification proposal is adapted to solve a hearing issue of the user of the hearing device. The hearing device system is adapted to dynamically present the modification proposal to the user via the user interface, and to adapt the user interface such to receive inputs made by the user to the dynamically presented modification proposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventor: Elmar Fichtl
  • Hearing aid and method for controlling a power mode thereof
    Patent number: 11166110
    Abstract: A hearing aid, including an inertial sensor for detecting movement of the hearing aid, and a power mode controller connected to the inertial sensor through a threshold comparison unit and adapted to switch the hearing aid off or into a low power mode if the threshold comparison unit detects that a characteristic of a signal including information on the movement detected by the inertial sensor is below a certain threshold. Also, a method for controlling a power mode of a hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Method for operating a hearing system and hearing system comprising two hearing devices
    Patent number: 11166113
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of operating a hearing system comprising a first hearing device configured to be worn at a first ear of a user, and a second hearing device configured to be worn at a second ear of the user. The disclosure further relates to a hearing system and a hearing device of the hearing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Module of a hearing device, a removal tool, a hearing device and a method of separating a module from a housing
    Patent number: 11159898
    Abstract: A module of a hearing device is removably connectable with a housing of the hearing device, the module being prepared for insertion of a removal tool. The module includes at least two side walls opposing each other. The side walls are provided with a first engagement means, and the side walls are deformable such to allow engagement of the first engagement means and a second engagement means formed on an anchoring portion of the removal tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Christian Frei, Matthias Stadler, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein, Tobias Balmer
  • Method for charging a battery of a hearing aid and a hearing aid with a battery charging unit
    Patent number: 11159897
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for charging a rechargeable battery (5) of a hearing aid (1). The proposed method comprises detecting a power supply (8) being connected to the hearing aid (1), estimating a state of charge of the battery (5), selecting one of at least a normal and a fast charging mode in dependence of the estimated state of charge, and charging the battery (5) according to the selected charging mode. Moreover, the present invention provides a hearing aid (1) including a battery charging unit (9) and adapted to support the proposed method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Christian Frei, Hilmar Meier, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille
  • User adjustable weighting of sound classes of a hearing aid
    Patent number: 11153693
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid comprises: acquiring a sound signal; classifying the acquired sound signal with respect to predefined sound classes, wherein a raw class mixing weighting is determined, in which the sound signal is weighted with respect to the sound classes; processing the sound signal with at least one actuator, wherein the actuator processes the sound signal based on an actual actuator parameterization, wherein each sound class comprises a sound class actuator parameterization for each actuator, and the actual actuator parameterization for each actuator is generated by mixing the sound class actuator parameterization of the sound classes based on the raw class mixing weighting; and outputting the processed sound signal to be perceived by the user of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Elmar Fichtl
  • Systems for authorizing performance of an operation by a hearing device
    Patent number: 11153698
    Abstract: An exemplary authorization system is located remotely from a hearing device that is configured to facilitate hearing by a recipient. The authorization system comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to: receive, from a client in communication with the hearing device, a request for the hearing device to perform an operation; determine, based on device characteristic data that is representative of one or more characteristics specific to the hearing device, that the operation is valid for the hearing device; and transmit, in response to determining that the operation is valid for the hearing device, an authorization message to the hearing device, the authorization message authorizing the hearing device to perform the operation requested by the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Alexander Maksyagin
  • Hearing device with wax guard interface
    Patent number: 11134352
    Abstract: An apparatus with a hearing device housing including at least one wall with a sound aperture and a counterbore around the sound aperture, and a bushing, having a portion thereof located within the counterbore and secured thereto, configured to receive a hearing device cerumen guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Valerie Mena Kröni, Heinz-Thomas Winkler
  • Dual wireless audio streams transmission allowing for spatial diversity or own voice pickup (OVPU)
    Patent number: 11134350
    Abstract: Provided is an audio transmission method between at least two audio communication systems including a transmitting audio communication system with first and second audio transmitting devices and a receiving audio communication system with at least one audio receiving device. The method includes transmitting a first wireless audio stream, via a first wireless audio link, by the first audio transmitting device and a second wireless audio stream, via a second wireless audio link, by the second audio transmitting device; and selecting, by the at least one audio receiving device, one of the first wireless audio stream or the second wireless audio stream based on quality parameters of the first audio link and the second wireless audio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Evert Dijkstra, Hilmar Meier, Sebastian Stenzel, Timothee Jost
  • Grouping of hearing device users based on spatial sensor input
    Patent number: 11128962
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling hearing devices are disclosed. Each hearing device is worn by a user, the users of the hearing devices having a conversation and the hearing devices being communicatively interconnected with each other for data exchange to form a hearing device system. A method includes acquiring a sound signal of each user with a microphone of the hearing device of the user; acquiring spatial information of each user; determining conversation patterns from the spatial information acquired for all users; determining conversation groups from the conversation patterns; outputting the sound signals from the users with a hearing device, such that sound signals from users of a conversation group that the user of the hearing device is a member of are output to the user and that sound signals from users of conversations groups of which the user is not a member are muted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Manuela Feilner, Harald Kruger, Anahi Balbi, Claudio Santelli
  • Filter for a microphone system, a microphone system, a miniature electronic device and a method of equipping a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 11128964
    Abstract: A filter for a microphone system of a miniature electronic device. The filter includes a sound inlet and a sound outlet, wherein the filter is adapted to be mounted on a surface of a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Manuel Weibel, Paul Portmann, Axel Schlesinger
  • Hearing device with acoustic shock control and method for acoustic shock control in a hearing device
    Patent number: 11128946
    Abstract: A hearing device for being worn at or at least partly within an ear of a user and including an acoustic shock detector for detecting an acoustic shock event present in an input audio signal from an input transducer and providing shock detection information related to the acoustic shock event. The hearing device further includes an acoustic shock controller for determining a first gain factor (Gb) and a second gain factor (Gp) in dependence of the shock detection information, a first attenuator for attenuating a processed input audio signal by the first gain factor (Gb) and providing an attenuated audio signal to an output limiter providing a limited audio signal, and a second attenuator for attenuating the limited audio signal by the second gain factor (Gp) and providing a further attenuated audio signal to an output transducer. A corresponding method for acoustic shock control in a hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Henry Luo, Shawn Lee, Ara Talaslian, Greg Nawrocki
  • Volume control for external devices and a hearing device
    Patent number: 11122377
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a hearing device that can determine whether a client device is implementing rich and/or simple volume control. Based on if the client device implementing rich and/or simple volume control, the hearing device can locally adjust the volume, levels, or amplification of output signals at the hearing device. In some implementations, the hearing device determines that the client device is implementing a rich volume control, and the hearing device only adjust master volume amplification for output signals of the hearing device. In other implementations, the hearing device determines that the client device is implementing simple volume control and the hearing device adjusts a balance of ambient and external sound levels for the output signal of the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Georg Dickmann
  • Hearing device comprising a vent with an adjustable acoustic valve
    Patent number: 11122358
    Abstract: Provided is a hearing device including a housing configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal of a user, a vent that provides venting between an inner region of the ear canal and the ambient environment, an acoustic valve with a valve member configured to adjust the effective size of the vent, an actuator that actuates the valve member, and an acoustic output transducer acoustically coupled to the inner region of the ear canal and configured to generate a sound output according to an audio signal. The hearing device further includes a control unit operatively connected to the actuator and the acoustic output transducer and configured to control the audio signal supplied to the acoustic output transducer such that the sound output is modified during adjustment of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventor: Erwin Kuipers
  • Methods and systems for hearing device signal enhancement using a remote microphone
    Patent number: 11115761
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device is configured to receive a first signal output by a local microphone that is a part of the hearing device at a first location. The first signal is representative of a degraded version of audio content as detected by the local microphone. The audio content is provided by an audio source at a second location. The hearing device is further configured to receive a second signal from a remote microphone system located in proximity of the second location. The second signal is representative of a cleaner version of the audio content as detected by the remote microphone system. The hearing device is further configured to determine a relatedness factor between the first signal and the second signal and apply, based on the relatedness factor, a signal enhancing operation to the first signal to output an enhanced first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Gilles Courtois, Eleftheria Georganti
  • Hearing systems, sensor systems, and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user
    Patent number: 11115764
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Natasha Thumm, Markus Leuthold, Christian Frei
  • Hearing device for own voice detection and method of operating a hearing device
    Patent number: 11115762
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
  • Distributing software among hearing devices
    Patent number: 11102333
    Abstract: A hearing system comprising a hearing device and a connected device, wherein the hearing device comprises a microphone; a processor for processing a signal from the microphone; an output device for outputting the processed signal to an ear of the user; a memory for storing program code modules to be processed by the processor; and a transceiver for exchanging data with the connected device. In the memory of the hearing device a first set of program code modules and in the memory of the connected device a second set of program code modules different from the first set is stored. A program code module of the second set of program code modules is transferred from the connected device to the hearing device upon request from the hearing device or the connected device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Andreas Breitenmoser, David Perels
  • Wireless hearing device comprising split pairing tables
    Patent number: 11102592
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing device to be worn by a user for stimulating the user's hearing, comprising an interface (20) for wireless communication with external devices (11, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 54, 56), and a pairing control unit (38) for controlling pairing of the hearing device with external devices. The pairing control unit is configured to maintain a plurality of pairing tables (P1, P2), wherein each pairing table is configured to persistently store a limited number of pairing information entries for external devices paired with hearing device, and wherein, once the maximum number of external devices has been reached, one of the existing entries is overwritten when a new pairing information entry is to be stored in the paring table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz