Patents by Inventor Bernhard KUENZLE

Bernhard KUENZLE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11862138
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a forward path comprising an input transducer providing at an electric input signal representative of environment sound, a signal processor for processing said at least one electric input signal and providing a processed signal, and a loudspeaker connected to a speaker sound outlet providing an output sound to an eardrum of the user in dependence of said processed signal. The hearing device comprises an ITE-part adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user, an active emission canceller providing an electric sound cancelling signal, and an environment facing loudspeaker providing an output sound to the environment. The electric sound cancelling signal is determined in dependence of said processed signal to attenuate sound leaked from the speaker sound outlet to the environment when played by the environment facing loudspeaker. The environment facing loudspeaker has a sound outlet on an environment facing surface of the ITE-part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11849284
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, h) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Patent number: 11825269
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to the input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit form part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback reduction unit configured to reduce risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate the forward gain in time to provide that the forward gain exhibits an increased or unchanged forward gain in one or more first time periods and a reduced forward gain in one or more second time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle, Anders Meng, Martin Kuriger, Mojtaba Farmani, Mikkel Grønbech, Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao, Kim Tilgaard Petersen
  • Patent number: 11812224
    Abstract: A hearing device includes a feedback control system that applies an adaptive filtering algorithm. The adaptive algorithm provides a filter control signal to adaptively control filter coefficients based on first and second algorithm input signals of a forward path. The feedback control system further includes first and second transform units for transforming the first and second algorithm input signals to the transform domain, and an inverse transform unit to convert an estimate of the current feedback path in the transformed domain to a time domain estimate, and a combination unit in the forward path to subtract the estimate of the current feedback signal from a signal of the forward path to provide a feedback corrected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11785404
    Abstract: In a method of fitting of a hearing device having an input transducer and an output transducer, the method includes executing a fitting application on a graphical user interface of an external device in communication with the hearing device, detecting by measuring reactions of the user to picked-up sound, performing acoustic feedback measurements as a background process without a user's involvement, assessing the probability of a correct physical fit based on the position of the inserted hearing device, assessing feedback risk based on the correct physical fit assessment and the acoustic feedback measurements, and fine tuning fitting parameter of the hearing device based on the result of at least one of the detected reactions of the user, acoustic feedback measurements and saved, within the fitting application, personal information of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Publication number: 20230254649
    Abstract: A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path of a hearing aid is based on a gradient of an adaptive filter comprising an adaptive algorithm configured to estimate the feedback/echo path. The method may comprise comparing a smoothed and processed version of the gradient values over time to a threshold value. A hearing aid configured to detect a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is furthermore provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11671767
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a feedback control system for handling external feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer. The feedback control system includes an open loop gain estimator for providing an instant open loop gain estimate; an adaptive filter configured to provide a current estimate of the feedback path transfer function; a feedback change estimator configured to provide an instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function in dependence of the forward path transfer function, the instant open loop gain estimate; and an adaptive filter controller for providing an update transfer function estimate for the adaptive filter in dependence of the instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function. The hearing aid is configured to use the update transfer function estimate in the adaptive filter to update the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function. A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Publication number: 20230048848
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, h) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Patent number: 11516600
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, b) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Publication number: 20220322019
    Abstract: In a method of fitting of a hearing device having an input transducer and an output transducer, the method includes executing a fitting application on a graphical user interface of an external device in communication with the hearing device, detecting by measuring reactions of the user to picked-up sound, performing acoustic feedback measurements as a background process without a user's involvement, assessing the probability of a correct physical fit based on the position of the inserted hearing device, assessing feedback risk based on the correct physical fit assessment and the acoustic feedback measurements, and fine tuning fitting parameter of the hearing device based on the result of at least one of the detected reactions of the user, acoustic feedback measurements and saved, within the fitting application, personal information of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Publication number: 20220312129
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to the input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit form part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback reduction unit configured to reduce risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate the forward gain in time to provide that the forward gain exhibits an increased or unchanged forward gain in one or more first time periods and a reduced forward gain in one or more second time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE, Anders MENG, Martin KURIGER, Mojtaba FARMANI, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Kim Tilgaard PETERSEN
  • Publication number: 20220286790
    Abstract: A hearing device includes a feedback control system that applies an adaptive filtering algorithm. The adaptive algorithm provides a filter control signal to adaptively control filter coefficients based on first and second algorithm input signals of a forward path. The feedback control system further includes first and second transform units for transforming the first and second algorithm input signals to the transform domain, and an inverse transform unit to convert an estimate of the current feedback path in the transformed domain to a time domain estimate, and a combination unit in the forward path to subtract the estimate of the current feedback signal from a signal of the forward path to provide a feedback corrected signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard KUENZLE, Meng GUO
  • Publication number: 20220284878
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises a forward path comprising an input transducer providing at an electric input signal representative of environment sound, a signal processor for processing said at least one electric input signal and providing a processed signal, and a loudspeaker connected to a speaker sound outlet providing an output sound to an eardrum of the user in dependence of said processed signal. The hearing device comprises an ITE-part adapted for being located in an ear canal of the user, an active emission canceller providing an electric sound cancelling signal, and an environment facing loudspeaker providing an output sound to the environment. The electric sound cancelling signal is determined in dependence of said processed signal to attenuate sound leaked from the speaker sound outlet to the environment when played by the environment facing loudspeaker. The environment facing loudspeaker has a sound outlet on an environment facing surface of the ITE-part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard KUENZLE, Meng GUO
  • Publication number: 20220264231
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a forward path including a) an input transducer proving an electric input signal, b) a hearing aid processor, and c) an output transducer. The hearing aid further includes d) a feedback control system having d1) a feedback path estimator including an adaptive filter configured to provide an estimate of a current feedback path from the output transducer to at least one input transducer, the feedback path estimator being controllable via a feedback estimation control input, and d2) a combination unit in the forward path configured to subtract the estimate (v?) of the current feedback path signal (v) from a signal of the forward path (y) to provide a feedback corrected signal (e), and e) a detector for providing the feedback estimation control input in dependence of an offset control signal indicative of an offset in the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Anders MENG, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Publication number: 20220210581
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a feedback control system for handling external feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer. The feedback control system includes an open loop gain estimator for providing an instant open loop gain estimate; an adaptive filter configured to provide a current estimate of the feedback path transfer function; a feedback change estimator configured to provide an instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function in dependence of the forward path transfer function, the instant open loop gain estimate; and an adaptive filter controller for providing an update transfer function estimate for the adaptive filter in dependence of the instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function. The hearing aid is configured to use the update transfer function estimate in the adaptive filter to update the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function. A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Publication number: 20220046363
    Abstract: A hearing aid is configured to be worn in and/or at an ear of a user, and comprises a) an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal representing sound, b) an output transducer for converting a processed electric output signal to an output sound, c) a signal processor operationally coupled to the input and output transducers and configured to apply a forward gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom, wherein the input transducer, the signal processor and the output transducer forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Patent number: 11184714
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises an input transducer providing an input gain GI, a signal processor comprising a compressor for determining a frequency and level dependent desired compressor gain GP to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user, and to provide a resulting compressor gain G?P, and an output transducer for providing output stimuli perceivable as sound for the user based on a processed signal, the output transducer providing an output gain, GO. A resulting forward path gain G? is defined in a logarithmic representation as GI+G?P+GO. The hearing device further comprises a loop gain estimator for continuously estimating a current loop gain ?L(n), configured to provide a loop gain estimate within a predefined number of feedback loop delays after a feedback buildup has started, and a loop gain controller for dynamically controlling said resulting forward path gain G? in dependence of said estimate of said current loop gain ?L(n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger
  • Patent number: 10966038
    Abstract: A method of conducting a fitting session for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user's needs is provided. The method comprises S1. providing an estimate of, a current feedback from said output transducer to said input transducer, while the hearing device is in an operational state; S2. evaluating said estimate of a current feedback and providing a value of a feedback risk indicator in dependence of said estimate of a current feedback; S3. determining whether said value of the feedback risk indicator fulfils a high-risk criterion; and S4. if said high-risk criterion is fulfilled providing at least one of a warning, a recommendation, and an action in relation to said feedback risk. Steps S1 to S4 are configured to be automatically performed as background processes. Thereby a simplified scheme for fitting a hearing device to a user's needs may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Susanna Løve Callaway, Nicolas Le Goff, Terri Ives, Nimrod Bogdanovski, Mikkel Bo Rasmussen, Anders Meng, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo, Mikkel Grønbech, Mojtaba Farmani, Nels Hede Rohde, Stefan Gram, Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Publication number: 20200275217
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises an input transducer providing an input gain GI, a signal processor comprising a compressor for determining a frequency and level dependent desired compressor gain GP to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user, and to provide a resulting compressor gain G?P, and an output transducer for providing output stimuli perceivable as sound for the user based on a processed signal, the output transducer providing an output gain, GO. A resulting forward path gain G? is defined in a logarithmic representation as GI+G?P+GO. The hearing device further comprises a loop gain estimator for continuously estimating a current loop gain ?L(n), configured to provide a loop gain estimate within a predefined number of feedback loop delays after a feedback buildup has started, and a loop gain controller for dynamically controlling said resulting forward path gain G? in dependence of said estimate of said current loop gain ?L(n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE, Martin KURIGER
  • Patent number: 10687152
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises an input transducer for providing an electric input signal representative of a sound in the environment of the hearing device, an output transducer for providing an output sound representative of said electric input signal, a signal processor operationally connected to the input and output transducers, and forming part of an electric forward path for processing said electric input signal and providing a processed electric output signal, and a feedback detector for providing first and second indications of current feedback in an external—acoustic and/or mechanical—feedback path from said output transducer to said input transducer. The feedback detector is configured to determine the first and second indications of current feedback, respectively, based on said electric input signal or a processed version thereof and—optionally—on a current open loop magnitude of a feedback loop defined by said forward path and said external feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo