Patents Assigned to Widex A/S
  • Patent number: 10582312
    Abstract: A mobile communication device (50) receives an audio stream as input and delivers a processed audio stream as output. The mobile communication device has a data connection providing access to the Internet, and a short range data connection for delivering a processed audio stream as output to a specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device acquires a data set containing hearing aid settings for the specific hearing aid from a remote server (71), and adjusts the emulation software application by means of the data set containing hearing aid settings for the specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device transmits the control signals and a processed audio stream to the specific hearing aid via the short range data connection and the specific hearing aid outputs the audio signal to the user without additional amplification. The invention also provides a method of signal processing in a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Michael Ungstrup, Mike Lind Rank
  • Publication number: 20200045481
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a hearing aid (10) and personal communication device (20) connected via a short range data communication link. The hearing aid has a signal processor (13) processing an audio signal according to audio processing parameters, a sub-system applying respective sets of processing parameters for at least two modes, a classifier component (51) statistically analyzing the environment by comparing specific characteristics of an electrical input signal to one or more thresholds. A program selector component (16) selects automatically an appropriate mode for the signal processing sub-system according to the classifier output. The personal communication device offers the user an interface for controlling and interacting with the program selector component of the hearing aid, and for generating and transmitting a notification to the hearing aid. Upon reception of the notification, the processor adjusts at least one of the one or more thresholds used by the classifier component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventors: MICHAEL UNGSTRUP, Mike Lind Rank
  • Patent number: 10542353
    Abstract: An input transducer (11, 12) of a hearing aid (10) converts audio from the environment into an electric input signal. A signal processor (13) amplifies and conditions the electric input signal according to a preset set of audio processing parameters, and an output transducer (14) reproduces output audio. The hearing aid (10) is connected with a personal communication device (20) via a short range radio communication link (15, 29). The personal communication device (20) identifies music included in the background noise. The personal communication device (20) retrieves a music stream based on the identified music, and streams the music stream to the hearing aid (10). The signal processor (13) of the hearing aid (10) combines the input signal from the input transducer (11, 12) and music signal in order to reduce the presence of the music included in the background noise from the audio signal delivered by the output transducer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Michael Ungstrup
  • Publication number: 20200021923
    Abstract: A method (200) of operating a hearing aid system with a very low delay. The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100, 300, 400) adapted for carrying out such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Bo ELMEDYB, Lars Dalskoy MOSGAARD, Jakob NIELSEN, Georg STIEFENHOFER, Adam WESTERMANN, Michael PIHL
  • Patent number: 10524065
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a hearing aid (10) and personal communication device (20) connected via a short range data communication link. The hearing aid has a signal processor (13) processing an audio signal according to audio processing parameters, a sub-system applying respective sets of processing parameters for at least two modes, a classifier component (51) statistically analyzing the environment by comparing specific characteristics of an electrical input signal to one or more thresholds. A program selector component (16) selects automatically an appropriate mode for the signal processing sub-system according to the classifier output. The personal communication device offers the user an interface for controlling and interacting with the program selector component of the hearing aid, and for generating and transmitting a notification to the hearing aid. Upon reception of the notification, the processor adjusts at least one of the one or more thresholds used by the classifier component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Michael Ungstrup, Mike Lind Rank
  • Patent number: 10524064
    Abstract: A hearing assistive device has an input transducer (12) converting sound into an audio signal applied to a processor (14; 65). The processor (14; 65) is configured to compensate a hearing loss of a user of the hearing assistive device and to output a compensated audio signal. An output transducer (16; 65) converts the compensated audio signal into sound. The hearing assistive device (10) further comprises a wireless transceiver (21) enabling audio streaming from an external device (30) to the hearing assistive device, an attenuator (23) associated with said processor (14; 65) applying attenuation to the compensated audio signal, and an audio stream analyzer (22a) classifying the audio stream received via said wireless transceiver. The attenuator (23) is controlled in accordance to the audio stream classification from the audio stream analyzer (22a). The invention further provides a method of operating a hearing assistive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Svend Vitting Andersen
  • Publication number: 20190387331
    Abstract: A hearing system includes at least one hearing aid (10) and a personal communication device (17) both having a short range radio transceiver for providing a short range radio communication link. The personal communication device includes application software for controlling the operation of said at least one hearing aid. The at least one hearing aid has a user operable control for opening the user interface of the application software on said personal communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventor: MORTEN KJAER JOHANSEN
  • Patent number: 10510446
    Abstract: A data system for handling user data for a hearing aid user and at least one hearing aid (10, 11) having a memory for storing personal settings for alleviating a hearing loss for the hearing aid user includes a remote server (25) accessible by means of an Internet enabled computer device. A personal communication device (13) is Internet enabled and is able to act as a gateway to the Internet for the at least one hearing aid. The user may create a user account on the remote server, enter personal information into the user account and store the entered personal information on the remote server, and enter the gateway information to the user account. The personal communication device and the at least one hearing aid are provided with respective transceivers for establishing a wireless connection under guidance of said application software. The least one hearing aid uploads the personal settings for alleviating the hearing loss via the gateway to the remote server for storing in the user account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Soren Erik Westermann, Svend Vitting Andersen, Anders Westergaard, Niels Erik Boelskift Maretti
  • Patent number: 10511916
    Abstract: A hearing assistive device having an input transducer (18) for picking up sound from the environment, a digital signal processor (27) for alleviating a hearing loss of a specific user by compensating an audio signal according to the users hearing deficit, and an output transducer (29) for reproducing the compensated audio signal. The hearing assistive device further includes an integrated circuit component (40) having at least one analog-to-digital converter adapted for receiving an audio input signal from a microphone and providing a data output for signal processing. The at least one analog-to-digital converter includes an AC filter (50) preventing audible signal losses towards the microphone, and the AC filter (50) is provided with all components integrated in the integrated circuit component (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
  • Publication number: 20190356993
    Abstract: An audio streaming system including an audio streamer connected to an audio source, and at least one ear worn device. The audio streamer includes a first antenna with a first polarization, a second antenna with a second polarization, and a radio configured for transmitting a first audio stream signal (30) from the first antenna and a second audio stream signal (31) from the second antenna. The first audio stream signal (30) and the second audio stream signal (31) carry the same audio information and are shifted in time. At least one ear worn device is configured to receive the first audio stream signal (30) and the second audio stream signal (31), compare the signal strength of the first audio stream signal (30) and the second audio stream signal (31), and select either the first audio stream signal (30) and the second audio stream signal (31) as input for audio reception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Morten SCHMIDT, Claus Svane BJERREGAARD, Thomas Lindhardt IVERSEN
  • Publication number: 20190349691
    Abstract: A hearing assistive system includes a personal communication device and a head-worn device. The personal communication device has a user interface for user interaction, a processor controlling the user interface and for running an application program, and input and output transducers. The head-worn device has an input transducer adapted for converting sound into an electric signal applied to a processor outputting a modified audio signal via an output transducer. The application program generates a data packet modulated on an audio carrier for output via the output transducer, decodes a data packet modulated on an audio carrier and received via the input transducer. The head-worn device has an audio signaling block having a detector block and a response block. The detector block detects and decodes the data packet received by the input transducer. The response block generates a data packet modulated on an audio carrier for output via the output transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Michael Ungstrup, Michael Johannes Pihl, Jan Hesselballe, Mike Lind Rank
  • Patent number: 10469959
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) having an adaptive filter (103, 213, 404, 503). The invention also provides a hearing aid system (100, 200, 400, 500) adapted for carrying out such a method and a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carries out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jens Brehm Bagger Nielsen, Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Kristian Timm Andersen
  • Patent number: 10462585
    Abstract: A hearing system includes at least one hearing aid (10) and a personal communication device (17) both having a short range radio transceiver for providing a short range radio communication link. The personal communication device includes application software for controlling the operation of said at least one hearing aid. The at least one hearing aid has a user operable control for opening the user interface of the application software on said personal communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Morten Kjaer Johansen
  • Publication number: 20190327565
    Abstract: A method (300) of operating a hearing aid system wherein the acoustical output signal intensity levels are confined to a range that primarily high-spontaneous rate auditory nerve fibres respond to, hereby providing sound processing that may benefit individuals with an auditory neurodegeneration, a computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed carries out the method, a hearing aid system (100, 200) adapted to carry out the method and a method of fitting a hearing aid system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Anne Vikaer Damsgaard, Carsten Paludan-Muller
  • Patent number: 10455332
    Abstract: A method (300) of operating a hearing aid system (100), wherein the dynamic range of input signal levels is improved by reducing the sensitivity of an input transducer in response to a trigger event while at the same time applying a gain adapted to compensate the reduced sensitivity and a hearing aid system (100, 200) adapted to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Lars Baekgaard Jensen
  • Publication number: 20190320271
    Abstract: A hearing assistance device includes a housing component (12) hosting a transceiver (68) and processing circuitry arranged in a compact block structure (50). A small feed loop (40) is mounted on the compact block structure (50), and is electrically connected to the transceiver (68). The compact block structure (50) is adapted for carrying the small feed loop (40), and the housing component (12) includes an integrated antenna element (30, 80). The housing component (12) and the compact block structure (50) are provided with a set of cooperating mechanical guiding components for maintaining the small feed loop (40) and the antenna element (30, 80) in a well-defined mechanical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventors: JAN HESSELBALLE, Martin Rosqvist, Niels Christian Damgaard Jakobsen
  • Patent number: 10448173
    Abstract: A hearing assistance device includes a housing component (12) hosting a transceiver (68) and processing circuitry arranged in a compact block structure (50). A small feed loop (40) is mounted on the compact block structure (50), and is electrically connected to the transceiver (68). The compact block structure (50) is adapted for carrying the small feed loop (40), and the housing component (12) includes an integrated antenna element (30, 80). The housing component (12) and the compact block structure (50) are provided with a set of cooperating mechanical guiding components for maintaining the small feed loop (40) and the antenna element (30, 80) in a well-defined mechanical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Jan Hesselballe, Martin Rosqvist, Niels Christian Damgaard Jakobsen
  • Patent number: 10429421
    Abstract: A method of operating a hearing aid system, comprising a hearing aid (200), adapted for detection of congestion of a sound output of the hearing aid. The invention also relates to hearing aid systems capable of carrying out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: WIDEX A/S
    Inventors: Jorgen Cederberg, Klaus Krogsgaard, Kristian Timm Andersen, Villy Jensen
  • Publication number: 20190297432
    Abstract: A hearing assistive device including an audio processing circuit with an analog-to-digital converter having an integrator integrating a voltage present in the summation point; a comparator comparing an output from the integrator with a reference voltage (Vref) and outputting a logical level in accordance with the comparison; a feedback loop coupling a feedback signal back to the summation point; and a reference voltage generation circuit being adapted to provide the reference voltage (Vref) being lower than a power supply voltage (Vbattery) and following the decay of the power supply voltage (Vbattery) with a predefined margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
  • Patent number: D864889
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventor: Thomas Lindhardt Iversen