Patents by Inventor Herbert Baechler

Herbert Baechler 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: 9075076
    Abstract: A sensor (1) for determining both a cadence of a crank and a travelling speed of a bicycle includes an accelerometer (4) providing a first signal dependent on a first acceleration along a first measurement axis (z) and a second signal dependent on a second acceleration along a second measurement axis (y) perpendicular to the first measurement axis. The accelerometer (4), a wireless transmitter (6) and a power source (8) are contained in a housing (2) that can be attached to a wheel of the bicycle. The sensor (1) determines the cadence from the rate at which consecutive changes of polarity occur in the first signal, or from the rate at which consecutive positive and negative extreme values occur in the first signal. The sensor also determines the travelling speed from the rate at which consecutive maximum and minimum extreme values occur in the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AR INNOVATION AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 8945216
    Abstract: A system for fitting a hearing prosthesis to a recipient. The system comprises a stimulation arrangement configured to at least one of mechanically and acoustically stimulate the recipient's inner ear based on an input signal; a neural response detection arrangement configured to detect the recipient's neural responses to the stimulation; and a processor configured to assess the recipient's neural responses, and to adjust operation of the hearing prosthesis based on the assessment of the neural responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Parker, Herbert Baechler, Markus Haller
  • Publication number: 20130289932
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for configuring a motion sensor (1) comprising an accelerometer (2) and/or a gyroscope (2), a processing unit (3), a memory unit (4) and a program selection means (7). The proposed method comprises providing configuration data to the program selection means (7), selecting by the program selection means (7) a signal processing program from a plurality of signal processing programs stored in the memory unit (4) dependent on the provided configuration data, and determining by the processing unit at least one motion parameter from one or more output signals of the accelerometer (2) and/or the gyroscope (2) using the selected signal processing program. Furthermore, the present invention proposes a corresponding configurable motion sensor (1) as well as a system for configuring such a versatile motion sensor (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: AR INNOVATION AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20130205896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor apparatus (1) for determining both a cadence of a crank and a travelling speed of a bicycle. The sensor apparatus (1) comprises a housing (2), an accelerometer (4) with a first and second measurement axis (z, y) arranged substantially perpendicular to one another, capable of providing a first signal dependent on a first acceleration along the first measurement axis (z) and a second signal dependent on a second acceleration along the second measurement axis (y), a wireless transmitter (6), and a power source (8). The accelerometer (4), the wireless transmitter (6) and the power source (8) are contained in the housing (2) which comprises an attachment means (3) for attaching the housing (2) to a wheel of the bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: AR INNOVATION AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 8224004
    Abstract: A hearing system includes a hearing device with a signal processing unit. A control input of the signal processing unit is connected to a device communication port. A remote control device has a wireless communication port for single or bi-directional wireless communication with the device communication port. A computer is embedded in the remote control device. An output of the computer is connected to the wireless communication port and to a machine/man interface at the remote control device. An input of the computer is connected to a man/machine interface at the remote control device. A set of application programs is executable by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Herbert Baechler, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki
  • Patent number: 8189837
    Abstract: The hearing system (1) comprises a filtering unit (6) for improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an S+N-audio signal (S+N) composed of a desired audio signal (S) and a unwanted audio signal (N), which filtering unit (6) comprises an adaptive filter; an S+N-input for receiving said S+N-audio signal (S+N); an N*-input for receiving an N*-audio signal (N*), which is used as an estimate for said unwanted audio signal (N); and an S*-output for outputting an S*-audio signal (S*) obtained in dependence of said S+N-audio signal (S+N) and said N*-audio signal (N*), which is an approximation towards said desired signal (S); wherein the hearing system (1) comprises a selecting unit (2) operationally connected to said filtering unit (6) for selecting a first input audio signal (In1; In2; . . . ) from at least two input audio signals (In1, In2) and feeding said first input audio signal (In1; In2) either to said S+N-input or to said N*-input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 8081787
    Abstract: A system providing hearing assistance to a user having a wireless remote control for transmitting control commands as an amplitude modulated radio frequency signal, an RF power detector for outputting a signal representative of the power envelope of the RF signal received by an antenna of the RF power detector, a classifier unit for analyzing the output signal of the RF power detector to detect control commands of the remote control and to detect the presence of a source of interfering RF signals, an audio signal processing unit, and a user's ear worn part for stimulating the user's hearing according to audio signals processed in the audio signal processing unit. The classifier unit provides a control signal representing detected remote control commands and an interference signal representing the presence of a source of interfering RF signals. Operation of the audio signal processing unit is controlled by the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Stefan Haenggi, Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 8073171
    Abstract: So as to adapt an antenna arrangement (13) for RF-signal transmission in a hearing device (5) to different needs of different types of signal-transmission, the bandwidth BW of the antenna arrangement (13) is manually (M) and/or automatically (A) adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Stefan Haenggi, Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 8064609
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of automatically monitoring and detecting indications indicative of a forthcoming event concerning hearing systems; if such an indication is detected, retrieving identification data identifying at least one device of the hearing system concerned, referred to as specific device, or a user of said hearing system concerned, referred to as specific user; and using said identification data for retrieving further data related to said specific device as device data or related to said specific user as user data. The method and the corresponding system can be used for adjusting said specific hearing system or other support actions, like dispensing consumables for said specific hearing system, or preparatory actions, like launching a suitable fitting program or loading audiological data related to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Herbert Baechler, Stefan Launer, Bernd Waldmann
  • Publication number: 20110190882
    Abstract: A system for fitting a hearing prosthesis to a recipient. The system comprises a stimulation arrangement configured to at least one of mechanically and acoustically stimulate the recipient's inner ear based on an input signal; a neural response detection arrangement configured to detect the recipient's neural responses to the stimulation; and a processor configured to assess the recipient's neural responses, and to adjust operation of the hearing prosthesis based on the assessment of the neural responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: John Parker, Herbert Baechler, Markus Haller
  • Patent number: 7970146
    Abstract: To improve the adjustment of the settings of a hearing aid or a hearing instrument respectively, a method is proposed according to which at least one setting of the hearing aid or instrument respectively for a particular acoustic environment is changed or deviated from the actual setting without any preceding action or manipulation of the user to provoke the user to interact or to readjust the setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20110150256
    Abstract: In a digital hearing aid device (1) frequency modification is employed above a lower spectral bound and in accordance with a compression factor. The frequency modification is dynamically adjusted in dependence on a sound environment analysis (10) or an end-user input (30), by modifying the frequency modification parameters such as a lower spectral bound and a compression factor. The adjustment can be based on an interpolation between predefined parameters. In certain sound environments, such as loud noise, own-voice and telephone conversations, frequency modification is reduced or switched off. The proposed solutions have the advantage that the occurrence of disturbing noise and of distortions of harmonic relationships at the end-user's ear is reduced and signal processing resources as well as battery resources are saved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Herbert Baechler, Raoul Glatt
  • Publication number: 20100303269
    Abstract: The method for adjusting a hearing device to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing device comprises the steps of a) classifying a hearing loss of said user according to one of N pre-defined hearing loss classes, wherein N?3; b) obtaining, in dependence of said one hearing loss class, a gain model. The hearing system according to the invention comprises a sound generating unit for generating test sounds; a user interface for receiving user input from a user of said hearing system; a control unit operationally connected to said sound generating unit and to said user interface; wherein said control unit is adapted to classifying a hearing loss of said user—in dependence of said test sounds and said user input—according to one of N pre-defined hearing loss classes, wherein N?3; and said control unit is adapted to obtaining—in dependence of said one hearing loss class—a gain model. A simplified hearing device fitting can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20100128906
    Abstract: A system providing hearing assistance to a user having a wireless remote control for transmitting control commands as an amplitude modulated radio frequency signal, an RF power detector for outputting a signal representative of the power envelope of the RF signal received by an antenna of the RF power detector, a classifier unit for analyzing the output signal of the RF power detector to detect control commands of the remote control and to detect the presence of a source of interfering RF signals, an audio signal processing unit, and a user's ear worn part for stimulating the user's hearing according to audio signals processed in the audio signal processing unit. The classifier unit provides a control signal representing detected remote control commands and an interference signal representing the presence of a source of interfering RF signals. Operation of the audio signal processing unit is controlled by the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Stefan Haenggi, Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 7688991
    Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing assistance system comprising a hearing device (10, 110, 210), which comprises means (24) for stimulating a user's hearing and which is worn at one of the user's ears, and a remote device (12, 30, 40) spaced apart from the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Herbert Baechler, Francois Callias, Stefan Haenggi
  • Publication number: 20090268933
    Abstract: The hearing system (1) comprises a filtering unit (6) for improving a signal-to-noise ratio of an S+N-audio signal (S+N) composed of a desired audio signal (S) and a unwanted audio signal (N), which filtering unit (6) comprises an adaptive filter; an S+N-input for receiving said S+N-audio signal (S+N); an N*-input for receiving an N*-audio signal (N*), which is used as an estimate for said unwanted audio signal (N); and an S*-output for outputting an S*-audio signal (S*) obtained in dependence of said S+N-audio signal (S+N) and said N*-audio signal (N*), which is an approximation towards said desired signal (S); wherein the hearing system (1) comprises a selecting unit (2) operationally connected to said filtering unit (6) for selecting a first input audio signal (In1; In2; . . . ) from at least two input audio signals (In1, In2) and feeding said first input audio signal (In1; In2) either to said S+N-input or to said N*-input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 7580535
    Abstract: Binaural hearing devices are operated by establishing a communication link between the devices. The communication link is exclusively for transmitting non-audio signals between two devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Patent number: 7450730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a personal monitoring system for a user, comprising: at least one of a sensor (26, 28) for sensing an internal body parameter of the user and a sensor (14, 26, 28) for sensing an ambient parameter of the ambient around said user, an earpiece (10) for being worn at least in part in the ear canal of the user including an acoustic output transducer (18) for providing sound to the user's ear canal, an evaluation unit (22) communicating with the sensor, means (32, 34) for individually implementing an individually defined regulation for the sensed parameter into said evaluation unit, the evaluation unit being adapted for monitoring sensed values of the parameter over time and comparing them to the individually defined regulations for the sensed parameter and being adapted for continuously judging whether the sensed values of the parameter comply with the individual regulation or not, and a compliance control unit (24) communicating with the evaluation unit and with the output transducer for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Christian Berg, Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20080049945
    Abstract: There is provided a system for providing binaural hearing assistance to a user, comprising a left ear unit to be worn at or in the user's left ear, a right ear unit to be worn at or in the user's right ear, each of the left ear unit and the right ear unit comprising means for stimulating the user's hearing and an inductive antenna for enabling bidirectional communication between the left ear unit and the right ear unit via an inductive link, which antenna has an axial symmetry axis which is oriented substantially vertically and which is substantially parallel to the antenna of the other one of the left ear unit and right ear unit, the system further comprising at least one device to be worn by the user which comprises an inductive antenna for enabling communication between the device and at least one of the left ear unit and the right ear unit via an inductive link, which antenna has an axial symmetry axis which is oriented substantially vertically and which is substantially parallel to the antennas of the le
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Stefan Haenggi, Francois Marquis, Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20080037798
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of automatically monitoring and detecting indications indicative of a forthcoming event concerning hearing systems; if such an indication is detected, retrieving identification data identifying at least one device of the hearing system concerned, referred to as specific device, or a user of said hearing system concerned, referred to as specific user; ans using said identification data for retrieving further data related to said specific device as device data or related to said specific user as user data. The method and the corresponding system can be used for adjusting said specific hearing system or other support actions, like dispensing consumables for said specific hearing system, or preparatory actions, like launching a suitable fitting program or loading audiological data related to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Herbert Baechler, Stefan Launer, Bernd Waldmann