Patents Assigned to Sonova
  • Diverse eavesdropping for a hearing device
    Patent number: 10979104
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to wireless communication. More specifically, the disclosed technology relates to activating and suspending diversity in transmission and reception of packets for hearing devices that are streaming audio information from a wireless communication device. For example, when a first hearing device is waiting for an acknowledgment of a signaling packet, the disclosed technology can suspend the transmission of acknowledgement packets in response to correctly received audio packets by a second hearing device until the first hearing device has successfully received an acknowledgment of the signaling packet. The disclosed technology also includes a policy that ensures correct sequence numbers are used in a packet header after diversity is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Federico Ferrari
  • Hearing device and systems and methods for communicating with the same
    Patent number: 10972845
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device configured to assist a user in hearing comprises a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions to receive, by way of a first wireless link established between the hearing device and a first external device using a first wireless communication protocol, audio content transmitted by the first external device, receive signaling data transmitted by a second external device and indicating that the second external device has additional audio content available to be transmitted to the hearing device, the signaling data transmitted to the hearing device using a second wireless communication protocol that is of a different type than the first wireless communication protocol, and perform, in response to receiving the signaling data, an action with respect to the additional audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Adaptive tapping for hearing devices
    Patent number: 10959008
    Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to adaptive tap control for a hearing device. In some implementations, the disclosed technology includes a hearing device configured to detect tapping of the hearing device based on learned tapping parameters. To learn an individual's tapping parameters for a hearing device, the disclosed technology can use a method that includes providing a tap task to a hearing device user; detecting a single tap or multiple taps in response to providing the tap task to the hearing device user; determining tap detection parameters associated with the single or multiple taps; and providing adjusted tap detection parameters for the hearing device based on the determined tap parameters. The hearing device can use the adjusted tap detection parameters to control the hearing device or perform operations by tap control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf
  • Automated Fitting of Hearing Devices
    Publication number: 20210084420
    Abstract: Systems and method for pre-fitting a sound processing device for a user in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In many embodiments, systems and methods can be executed by a computing device and include obtaining a hearing map representing the user's hearing, establishing a virtual signal processing path in the computing device which reflects a signal processing function of the sound processing device, updating parameters of the virtual signal processing path based on said hearing map, and passing an audio signal through the virtual signal processing path and playing back the processed audio signal to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Peter John Blamey, Henry Carter Smith, David Wright
  • Microphone assembly
    Patent number: 10945056
    Abstract: There is provided a microphone assembly, comprising a base body portion comprising a top plate at its distal end; and a dome portion mounted at the distal end of the base body portion and having a perforated structure with at least 50% of outwardly facing surface area of the dome portion being formed by open areas, the dome portion made of a plastic material; at least one microphone capsule located within the dome portion, and an RF antenna located within the dome portion, the top plate comprising a reflection cone pointing towards the dome portion in order to reflect sound axially impinging on the reflection cone radially outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Fabrice Charriere, Marc Herren, Samuel Harsch
  • Avoidance of user discomfort due to pressure differences by vent valve, and associated systems and methods
    Patent number: 10939215
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for avoidance of user discomfort due to pressure differences by vent valve. In one embodiment, a method for equalizing air pressure in ear canal includes sensing a pressure difference between a pressure in ear canal (PEC) and an ambient pressure (PAMB) by a sensor of a hearing device. Based on sensing the pressure difference, an active valve is set to a first position to open a vent through the hearing device or to a second position to close the vent through the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Erwin Kuipers
  • AVOIDANCE OF USER DISCOMFORT DUE TO PRESSURE DIFFERENCES BY VENT VALVE, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20210051419
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for avoidance of user discomfort due to pressure differences by vent valve. In one embodiment, a method for equalizing air pressure in ear canal includes sensing a pressure difference between a pressure in ear canal (PEC) and an ambient pressure (PAMB) by a sensor of a hearing device. Based on sensing the pressure difference, an active valve is set to a first position to open a vent through the hearing device or to a second position to close the vent through the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Erwin Kuipers
  • Reducing noise for a hearing device
    Patent number: 10904678
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a hearing device configured to reduce audio artifacts related to electromagnetic interference between a transceiver and a T-coil. The hearing device can include a T-coil configured to receive audio signal; a processor configured to communicate with a transceiver, to process the EM inductive audio signal, and to provide a processed audio signal to a transducer. The processor can communicate with a memory to access instructions that include operations to: determine that the hearing device is receiving the EM inductive audio signal from the T-coil; determine that a noise associated with EM interference and the T-coil is anticipated based on the notification from the transceiver; and determine whether to apply a filter to the processed audio signal based on a sound level of the processed audio signal being below a masking threshold during a duration of the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Nadim El Guindi
  • Training a filter for noise reduction in a hearing device
    Patent number: 10897675
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to training a neural network and using that training to design a filter for the hearing device. The training can include training a generative adversarial network (GAN) to determine whether a signal includes intelligible speech, wherein the GAN includes a generator and discriminator. The generator can provide a mixed noise and speech signal to the discriminator can output a signal that reduces noise in the mixed signal. The technology can then determine whether the output signal is intelligible based on a speech metric function or based on feedback from a hearing care expert. The generator and the discriminator can continue to train based on this feedback. And then the trained network can use the settings of the discriminator or information from the design of the discriminator to generate a noise filter for a hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Aliaksei Tsitovich
  • Customized device for insertion of a deep-cana hearing aid and a method for manufacturing and using such an insertion device
    Patent number: 10897676
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for insertion of a deep-in-the-canal hearing aid—alternatively designatable as extended wear hearing aid—into an ear canal of an individual user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof. The insertion device comprises a customized support comprising an outer profile conforming to the shapes of at least a portion of a conchal cavity and of an ear canal of said individual user; and a guide channel, disposed internal to said outer profile, extending between a lateral entry opening thereof, for loading said hearing aid; and a medial exit opening thereof, for releasing said hearing aid into said ear canal. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insertion device for inserting a hearing aid deep into an ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Paul Wagner, Michael Au, Barjinder Chana, Karamuk Erdal, Mehnaz Khan, Daniel Baer, Gerald van Oerle, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Method of controlling access to hearing instrument services
    Patent number: 10880661
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling access of a client to a service of a hearing instrument, the method comprising the steps of: requesting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument by providing a client authenticator to the hearing instrument; authenticating the client based on a validation of the provided client authenticator by the hearing instrument; upon successful authentication, comparing a security level associated with the service requested by the client with a highest security level assigned to the client by the hearing instrument, wherein the security level is selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured security levels, and granting access of the client to the service of the hearing instrument, if the requested security level is below or equal to the highest security level assigned to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Dickmann, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Michael von Tessin, Alexander Maksyagin
  • CABLE FOR A HEARING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200404436
    Abstract: A cable for a hearing device is provided. The hearing device may have an in-the-canal part with a receiver and a behind-the-ear part with an electronic module. The cable may be adapted to connect the in-the-canal part and the behind-the-ear part. The cable may be a flexible printed circuit board having a plurality of conductor tracks. An end of the flexible printed circuit board is populated with at least one of a sensor, an LED and a push button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Jonas Meyer
  • Providing feedback of an own voice loudness of a user of a hearing device
    Patent number: 10873816
    Abstract: A method for providing feedback of an own voice loudness of a user of a hearing device comprises: extracting an own voice signal of the user from an audio signal acquired with a microphone of the hearing device; determining a sound level of the own voice signal from the audio signal; determining an acoustic situation of the user; determining at least one of a minimal threshold and a maximal threshold for the sound level of the own voice signal from the acoustic situation of the user; and notifying the user, when the sound level is at least one of lower than the minimal threshold and higher than the maximal threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Manuela Feilner
  • Hearing device with two-half loop antenna
    Patent number: 10841716
    Abstract: A hearing device includes a wireless communication unit, such as a radio frequency transceiver, and a two-half loop antenna. The antenna includes a conductor defining a first half loop and a second half loop configured to be fed in series with a radio signal from a radio frequency transceiver. The first half loop and the second half loop have mirror images forming respective half loops of the two-half loop antenna. Transverse segments of the first half loop and second half loop join the first half loop and the second half loop at a mid-point of the antenna near a feeding point. The physical antenna length of the antenna is less than ¾ of the wavelength of the radio frequency signal to be transmitted or received through the antenna. An electrical length of the antenna is approximately equal to the wavelength of the radio frequency signal to be transmitted or received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Antonio Perri, Yves Oesch, Francois Callias
  • Hearing devices with proactive power management
    Patent number: 10834510
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hearing devices with proactive power management are provided. Various embodiments dynamically adapt power consumption to the preferences, needs, and behavior of the hearing device user such that the hearing device provides function until the hearing device can be recharged. Moreover, some embodiments exploit the trend of more intelligent devices and machine learning to create dynamic power management schedules which can be temporarily implemented to create an optimal blend of performance versus battery life while minimizing perception of the feature or performance reduction to the user. Moreover, the dynamic nature of the power management used in various embodiments can account for battery degradation, updated firmware, and/or other factors that may impact battery life as the hearing device ages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Stephan Gehring, Manuela Feilner
  • Dome for use with a receiver assembly , assembly , rceive module, hearing device and a method of connecting a dome
    Patent number: 10820127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dome (10) for use with a receiver assembly (20). The dome (10) comprises a core (12) and a shell (14), wherein the core (12) and the shell (14) are made of different materials, the material of the core (12) is rigid and the material of the shell (14) is soft, and wherein the dome (10) is connectable to the receiver assembly (20) by means of a threaded connection (34). Therefore, connecting and separating the dome (10) to and from the receiver assembly (20) can be simplified in a secure and easy operation performed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Georg Hans Meier, Andre Ochsenbein
  • Method of managing adaptive feedback cancellation in hearing devices and hearing devices configured to carry out such method
    Patent number: 10811028
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of managing adaptive feedback cancellation in a hearing device comprising at least a microphone (1); a receiver (2); and a signal processing circuitry, configured to receive from said microphone (1) an input signal (Xtd, Xfd, Xc) and to provide said receiver (2) with an output signal (Yfd, Ufd, Utd). An external acoustic feedback path (300) defined by feedback sound (fb) traveling from the receiver (2) to the microphone (1) is represented by an external feedback path transfer function (3). The signal processing unit comprises at least a gain unit (4); a feedback canceller unit (5) comprising an adaptive filter element (6) configured to adaptively accommodate changes in said external acoustic feedback path transfer function (3); and a frequency shift unit (7) configured to stabilize an adaptation of the feedback canceler unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova
    Inventors: Samuel Bucher, Xavier Gigandet, Jean-Louis Durrieu, Hannes Wuethrich, Markus Hofbauer
  • BTE hearing instrument comprising a loop antenna
    Patent number: 10804599
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing instrument comprising a BTE part to be worn behind the ear of a user (76), the BTE-part comprising: a first side, a second side substantially parallel to the first side, and a third side connecting the first side and the second side, wherein the first and second side are substantially parallel to the user's skin when the BTE part is worn behind the ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Javier Abadia, Yves Oesch, Francois Callias
  • Method of customizing a hearing device component, a hearing device component and a hearing device
    Patent number: 10805747
    Abstract: A method of customizing a component of a hearing device to the ear of a hearing device user. The method includes the steps of providing the hearing device component as a pre-form including a shape-memory material, heating the hearing device component, and bringing the hearing device component in contact with at least a portion of the ear after reaching a pre-set contact temperature such that the hearing device component conforms to the individual shape of the at least a portion of ear. The shape of the hearing device component is fixed by attending a hardening time of the shape-memory material. Therefore, the hearing device component perfectly fits to the geometry of the user's ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Natasha Thumm, Christoph Weder, Markus Muller, Erdal Karamuk, Petra Gunde, Anuja Gopal Shirole
  • Method of adapting settings of a hearing device and hearing device
    Patent number: 10805748
    Abstract: Provided is a method of adapting settings of a hearing device. The method includes the step of providing start settings and target settings of a user control, wherein the start settings and target settings define an effect of the user control at a start time and at an acclimatization completion time, and wherein the user control is for adjusting at least one setting of the hearing device. Further the method includes the steps of configuring an acclimatization transfer behavior of the user control from the start settings to the target settings, wherein the configuration defines how the settings, which determine an effect of the user control, change over time; and causing, during an acclimatization phase, the hearing device to adjust user control settings from the start settings to the target settings according to the configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Elmar Fichtl, Harald Krueger