Patents by Inventor Eghart Fischer

Eghart Fischer 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).

  • Publication number: 20240031746
    Abstract: A method operates a binaural hearing device having two individual devices. The individual devices each have an input transducer to receive an acoustic signal and convert it into a multi-channel input signal, impulse noise suppression to generate an attenuation curve to reduce impulse noise signal levels, an amplifier for the multi-channel signal amplification of the input signal and for generating an output signal based on the attenuation curve, an output transducer to convert the output signal into a sound signal, and a transceiver unit for signal coupling between the individual devices. In each individual device a scalar limitation value is defined from the attenuation curve. The limitation values are communicated to the respective other individual device. A common limitation value is defined from the two limitation values. The attenuation curves are limited with the common limitation value, and the signal amplification is set based on the limited attenuation curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 11743637
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing for an acoustic system, wherein first and second input transducers generate a first and a second input signal from an ambient sound. First and second intermediate signals are generated from the first and second input signal, wherein a preliminary superposition parameter is obtained for a first superposition of the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal in such a way that for the first superposition an attenuation in a first target direction has a maximum. A superposition parameter is formed from the preliminary superposition parameter so that a second superposition of the first and second intermediate signals, formed in the first target direction with the superposition parameter, has a pre-specified first value for a gain that is greater than zero. An output signal of the acoustic system is formed from the second superposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Johannes Zeitler
  • Publication number: 20230047868
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a hearing instrument for capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument. The captured sound signal is processed, and the processed sound signal is output to a user of the hearing instrument. In a speech recognition step, the captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. In a speech enhancement procedure performed during recognized speech intervals, the amplitude of the processed sound signal is periodically varied according to a temporal pattern that is consistent with a stress rhythmic pattern of the user. A method for operating the hearing instrument is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Cecil Wilson, Maja Serman, Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20230007408
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing of signals of a microphone array, including first and second microphones generating first and second input signals from an ambient sound, uses the first input signal to form a reference signal transformed into the frequency domain, thereby generating a frequency-space reference signal. The first and second input signals are transformed into the frequency domain, and a first frequency-space directional signal is formed in the frequency domain using the transformed first and second input signals. A frequency-resolved comparison of the frequency-space reference signal with the first frequency-space directional signal or signal derived therefrom in the frequency domain, is used to generate frequency-dependent first gain factors to generate a time filter in the time domain. The reference signal is filtered by the time filter and an output signal is generated from the reference signal filtered by the time filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Henning Puder, Eghart Fischer, Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 11510018
    Abstract: A hearing system contains a hearing instrument and the hearing instrument is configured to support the hearing of a hearing-impaired user. The hearing instrument is operated via an operating method. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument, processing the captured sound signal to at least partially compensate the hearing-impairment of the user and outputting the processed sound signal to the user. The captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. During recognized speech intervals, at least one time derivative of an amplitude and/or a pitch of the captured sound signal is determined. The amplitude of the processed sound signal is temporarily increased, if the at least one derivative fulfills a predefined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Cecil Wilson, Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20220070579
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing for an acoustic system, wherein first and second input transducers generate a first and a second input signal from an ambient sound. First and second intermediate signals are generated from the first and second input signal, wherein a preliminary superposition parameter is obtained for a first superposition of the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal in such a way that for the first superposition an attenuation in a first target direction has a maximum. A superposition parameter is formed from the preliminary superposition parameter so that a second superposition of the first and second intermediate signals, formed in the first target direction with the superposition parameter, has a pre-specified first value for a gain that is greater than zero. An output signal of the acoustic system is formed from the second superposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Johannes Zeitler
  • Patent number: 11089410
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing for a hearing aid. First and second input transducers generate first and second input signals from an ambient acoustic signal. A forward signal and a backward signal are generated from the first and second input signals and a first directional parameter is determined as a linear factor of a linear combination of the forward and backward signals. The first directional signal has a maximum attenuation in a first direction. A correction parameter is ascertained such that a second directional signal has a defined relative attenuation in the first direction. The second directional signal is generated from the forward signal and the backward signal with the first directional parameter and the correction parameter or with the first directional signal and the omnidirectional signal based on the correction parameter. An output signal of the hearing aid is generated based on the second directional signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Jens Hain
  • Publication number: 20210161418
    Abstract: A system response of an individual listener's brain to a sound signal stimulus is estimated. The system response represents the generation of an electroencephalography signal measured at a given measuring point of the listener's head by the sound signal stimulus. A sound signal with the sound signal stimulus is presented to the ear of the listener. An audio signal corresponding to the sound signal is generated, and audio signal data is extracted from the audio signal with a measuring electrode that measures an electroencephalography training signal. A measurement data set is generated from the first electroencephalography training signal. A noise signal is measured on the listener's head while the first sound signal impinges on the listener's ear. A Gaussian conditional probability density function taken as the system response of the listener's brain to the sound signal stimulus, with respect to the given measurement point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Ivine Kuruvila, Ulrich Hoppe, Stefan Handrick, Eghart Fischer, Maja Serman, Henning Puder
  • Publication number: 20210152949
    Abstract: A hearing system contains a hearing instrument and the hearing instrument is configured to support the hearing of a hearing-impaired user. The hearing instrument is operated via an operating method. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument, processing the captured sound signal to at least partially compensate the hearing-impairment of the user and outputting the processed sound signal to the user. The captured sound signal is analyzed to recognize speech intervals, in which the captured sound signal contains speech. During recognized speech intervals, at least one time derivative of an amplitude and/or a pitch of the captured sound signal is determined. The amplitude of the processed sound signal is temporarily increased, if the at least one derivative fulfills a predefined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Cecil Wilson, Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20210044908
    Abstract: A method for directional signal processing for a hearing aid. First and second input transducers generate first and second input signals from an ambient acoustic signal. A forward signal and a backward signal are generated from the first and second input signals and a first directional parameter is determined as a linear factor of a linear combination of the forward and backward signals. The first directional signal has a maximum attenuation in a first direction. A correction parameter is ascertained such that a second directional signal has a defined relative attenuation in the first direction. The second directional signal is generated from the forward signal and the backward signal with the first directional parameter and the correction parameter or with the first directional signal and the omnidirectional signal based on the correction parameter. An output signal of the hearing aid is generated based on the second directional signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: EGHART FISCHER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, JENS HAIN
  • Patent number: 10659890
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device. In the hearing device a first directional signal and a second directional signal are generated from an ambient sound signal. The first directional signal and the second directional signal are used to determine at a first response time a first adaptation coefficient for a first superposition of the first directional signal with the second directional signal for the purpose of noise suppression. It is intended here that the first directional signal and the second directional signal are used to determine at a second response time a second adaptation coefficient for a second superposition of the first directional signal with the second directional signal for the purpose of noise suppression. The first adaptation coefficient and the second adaptation coefficient are used to determine an output adaptation coefficient for forming an output signal by superposition of the first directional signal and the second directional signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Oliver Dressler, Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 10412507
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device includes generating first and second input signals from a sound signal by using respective first and second input transducers, providing a first angle and an angular range and, with respect to frequency bands, based on the first and second input signals and first angle, forming an attenuation directional signal having relative attenuation at least for a second angle in the angular range about the first angle and thereby setting and an overlay parameter. A gain directional signal is formed based on the first and second input signals and the overlay parameter and/or second angle, having relative gain for the second angle. An angled directional signal is generated from the attenuation directional signal and the gain directional signal. An output signal is generated based on the angled directional signal. A hearing device and a binaural hearing device system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 10231063
    Abstract: In a binaural hearing aid system audio signals are transmitted between an antenna facility of a left ITE hearing aid and an antenna facility of a right ITE hearing aid. Binaural beam forming is based on a natural directivity of the pinna and/or based on a head shadowing effect. Each antenna facility has an antenna arrangement with a coil core made of magnetically permeable material, and extending along a longitudinal axis, a further electric hearing aid component, which emits electromagnetic interference radiation, and an at least partially planar shield made of magnetically permeable material. The shield is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component transversely to the longitudinal axis of the coil core and the shield is arranged at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the coil core, preferably 75 to 100 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Nikles, Juergen Reithinger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Eghart Fischer
  • Publication number: 20190075405
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device includes generating first and second input signals from a sound signal by using respective first and second input transducers, providing a first angle and an angular range and, with respect to frequency bands, based on the first and second input signals and first angle, forming an attenuation directional signal having relative attenuation at least for a second angle in the angular range about the first angle and thereby setting and an overlay parameter. A gain directional signal is formed based on the first and second input signals and the overlay parameter and/or second angle, having relative gain for the second angle. An angled directional signal is generated from the attenuation directional signal and the gain directional signal. An output signal is generated based on the angled directional signal. A hearing device and a binaural hearing device system are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: EGHART FISCHER
  • Publication number: 20180310105
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device. In the hearing device a first directional signal and a second directional signal are generated from an ambient sound signal. The first directional signal and the second directional signal are used to determine at a first response time a first adaptation coefficient for a first superposition of the first directional signal with the second directional signal for the purpose of noise suppression. It is intended here that the first directional signal and the second directional signal are used to determine at a second response time a second adaptation coefficient for a second superposition of the first directional signal with the second directional signal for the purpose of noise suppression. The first adaptation coefficient and the second adaptation coefficient are used to determine an output adaptation coefficient for forming an output signal by superposition of the first directional signal and the second directional signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: OLIVER DRESSLER, EGHART FISCHER
  • Patent number: 10051382
    Abstract: A method performs noise suppression in hearing aids. A step of the method involves a first audio signal being split into a plurality of essentially disjunct frequency bands. A further step of the method involves a reference band being selected from the plurality of frequency bands, which reference band has an establishable first component of a speech signal. Another step involves a correlation between the reference band and a first frequency band being ascertained. A further step involves a value that indicates a second component of a speech signal in the first frequency band being ascertained on the basis of the correlation. Another step of the method involves a noise suppression being set in the first frequency band on the basis of the ascertained value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Eghart Fischer, Ulrich Kornagel, Rainer Martin, Henning Puder, Alexander Schasse
  • Publication number: 20180007478
    Abstract: In a binaural hearing aid system audio signals are transmitted between an antenna facility of a left ITE hearing aid and an antenna facility of a right ITE hearing aid. Binaural beam forming is based on a natural directivity of the pinna and/or based on a head shadowing effect. Each antenna facility has an antenna arrangement with a coil core made of magnetically permeable material, and extending along a longitudinal axis, a further electric hearing aid component, which emits electromagnetic interference radiation, and an at least partially planar shield made of magnetically permeable material. The shield is arranged between the antenna arrangement and the further hearing aid component transversely to the longitudinal axis of the coil core and the shield is arranged at a distance of 50 to 150 micrometers from the coil core, preferably 75 to 100 micrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: PETER NIKLES, JUERGEN REITHINGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, EGHART FISCHER
  • Patent number: 9723414
    Abstract: A method performs signal processing in a binaural hearing device that has first and second hearing aids with first and second microphones producing first and second signals and with first and second sound generators. The first and second signals ascertain a direction of a main sound source. A deviation in the direction from a frontal direction prompts the hearing aid that is closer to the main sound source to be defined as the local hearing aid and the hearing aid that is more remote from the main sound source to be a remote hearing aid. The local hearing aid, in one frequency band, filters the first signal using an angle-dependent first filter factor, and thus produces a first filtered signal. The first signal, the second signal and/or the direction of the main sound source is used for determining an adaptation coefficient, a first adapted signal and a local directional characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Eghart Fischer
  • Patent number: 9584907
    Abstract: Signals free of wind noise should be made available with a short latency time in particular for binaural hearing device provision. To this end a method and a hearing apparatus are proposed, in which in a first branch with a first latency time the wind is analyzed and in a second branch with a shorter, second latency time the wind is reduced for a transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Eghart Fischer, Homayoun Kamkar Parsi, Stefan Petrausch
  • Patent number: 9584914
    Abstract: A method of operation saves energy during the operation of a binaural hearing system having a left-hand hearing device and a right-hand hearing device. The method includes providing a left-hand internal input signal in the left-hand hearing device and a right-hand internal input signal in the right-hand hearing device. A sending mode of the left-hand hearing device and/or right-hand hearing device is activated and/or deactivated. The sending mode is therein activated in one of the hearing devices automatically in dependence on the respective internal input signal and the sending mode is deactivated in one of the hearing devices automatically in dependence on the respective internal input signal and of a communication signal received from the respective other hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Eghart Fischer