Patents by Inventor Hilmar Meier
Hilmar Meier 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).
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Patent number: 11166110Abstract: A hearing aid, including an inertial sensor for detecting movement of the hearing aid, and a power mode controller connected to the inertial sensor through a threshold comparison unit and adapted to switch the hearing aid off or into a low power mode if the threshold comparison unit detects that a characteristic of a signal including information on the movement detected by the inertial sensor is below a certain threshold. Also, a method for controlling a power mode of a hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
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Patent number: 11159897Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for charging a rechargeable battery (5) of a hearing aid (1). The proposed method comprises detecting a power supply (8) being connected to the hearing aid (1), estimating a state of charge of the battery (5), selecting one of at least a normal and a fast charging mode in dependence of the estimated state of charge, and charging the battery (5) according to the selected charging mode. Moreover, the present invention provides a hearing aid (1) including a battery charging unit (9) and adapted to support the proposed method.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Christian Frei, Hilmar Meier, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille
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Patent number: 11134350Abstract: Provided is an audio transmission method between at least two audio communication systems including a transmitting audio communication system with first and second audio transmitting devices and a receiving audio communication system with at least one audio receiving device. The method includes transmitting a first wireless audio stream, via a first wireless audio link, by the first audio transmitting device and a second wireless audio stream, via a second wireless audio link, by the second audio transmitting device; and selecting, by the at least one audio receiving device, one of the first wireless audio stream or the second wireless audio stream based on quality parameters of the first audio link and the second wireless audio link.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Evert Dijkstra, Hilmar Meier, Sebastian Stenzel, Timothee Jost
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Patent number: 11089409Abstract: A hearing device including a housing, at least two microphones, and a sound receiving arrangement coupled to the housing such to span across the tragus of the user's ear in a direction from the rear of the user's head to the front of the user's head. The sound receiving arrangement includes a case formed with at least two openings adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to the at least two microphones, respectively, wherein the openings are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement such that one of the at least two openings is located in front of the tragus and one is located rear the tragus.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventor: Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 11070928Abstract: A hearing device to be worn in or at the ear of a user. The hearing device includes a housing for accommodating an electronic component, wherein the housing includes an electromagnetic wave shielding material and is formed with an indentation. The indentation provides a space at the outer side of the housing, allowing an antenna to be inserted into the indentation. The proposed hearing device achieves improved shielding of the antenna against electromagnetic waves radiated from at least one of the electronic components.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Hilmar Meier, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein, Leo Den Hartog, Christian Frei, Daniel Probst, Gabriel Perez, Paul Bechtiger
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Publication number: 20210219065Abstract: Provided is an audio transmission method between at least two audio communication systems including a transmitting audio communication system with first and second audio transmitting devices and a receiving audio communication system with at least one audio receiving device. The method includes transmitting a first wireless audio stream, via a first wireless audio link, by the first audio transmitting device and a second wireless audio stream, via a second wireless audio link, by the second audio transmitting device; and selecting, by the at least one audio receiving device, one of the first wireless audio stream or the second wireless audio stream based on quality parameters of the first audio link and the second wireless audio link.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Evert Dijkstra, Hilmar Meier, Sebastian Stenzel, Timothee Jost
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Patent number: 11057719Abstract: A hearing device including a housing, at least two microphones, and a sound receiving arrangement coupled to the housing such to span across the tragus of the user's ear in a direction from the rear of the user's head to the front of the user's head. The sound receiving arrangement includes a case formed with at least two openings adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to the at least two microphones, respectively, wherein the openings are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement such that one of the at least two openings is located in front of the tragus and one is located rear the tragus.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2017Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventor: Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 11032654Abstract: A method for the broadcasting of sound to persons (10, 20, 30) with mobile hearing systems (11, 21, 31) at a meeting with a speaker (1) and with an audiovisual system (2, 3, 4), the audiovisual system having a computer (2), a screen (3) and a microphone (4).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Hans-Ueli Röck, Hilmar Meier, Harald Krueger, Manuela Feilner
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Publication number: 20200314561Abstract: A hearing aid, including an inertial sensor for detecting movement of the hearing aid, and a power mode controller connected to the inertial sensor through a threshold comparison unit and adapted to switch the hearing aid off or into a low power mode if the threshold comparison unit detects that a characteristic of a signal including information on the movement detected by the inertial sensor is below a certain threshold. Also, a method for controlling a power mode of a hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
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Publication number: 20200252735Abstract: A hearing device to be worn in or at the ear of a user. The hearing device includes a housing for accommodating an electronic component, wherein the housing includes an electromagnetic wave shielding material and is formed with an indentation. The indentation provides a space at the outer side of the housing, allowing an antenna to be inserted into the indentation. The proposed hearing device achieves improved shielding of the antenna against electromagnetic waves radiated from at least one of the electronic components.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein, Leo Den Hartog, Christian Frei, Daniel Probst, Gabriel Perez, Paul Bechtiger
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Publication number: 20200162824Abstract: A hearing device including a housing, at least two microphones, and a sound receiving arrangement coupled to the housing such to span across the tragus of the user's ear in a direction from the rear of the user's head to the front of the user's head. The sound receiving arrangement includes a case formed with at least two openings adapted to allow sound entrance from the environment to the at least two microphones, respectively, wherein the openings are formed in portions of the sound receiving arrangement such that one of the at least two openings is located in front of the tragus and one is located rear the tragus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2017Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventor: Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 10652671Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing device (10, 11) to be worn by a user, comprising: defining a plurality of hearing device services and assigning to each hearing device service a service access confirmation level selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured service access confirmation levels; providing an access software platform for enabling third party service access to the hearing device services; providing at least one application program adapted to provide a third party service to the hearing device, each application program adapted to utilize the access software platform and at least one of the hearing device services; providing a manufacturer access service for approving or denying access to the hearing device for each of the application programs depending on whether or not approval for the respective service access confirmation level(s) has been previously obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim El Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
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Publication number: 20200037074Abstract: A method for the broadcasting of sound to persons (10, 20, 30) with mobile hearing systems (11, 21, 31) at a meeting with a speaker (1) and with an audiovisual system (2, 3, 4), the audiovisual system having a computer (2), a screen (3) and a microphone (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: SONOVA AGInventors: Hans-Ueli RÖCK, Hilmar MEIER, Harald KRUEGER, Manuela FEILNER
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Publication number: 20190090070Abstract: The present invention relates to a hearing device (10) comprising an electronic module (12) having at least one processor (14), a housing (18) for accommodating the electronic module (12), and at least one user control assembly (20) comprising at least one user control unit (22?-22??), accessible by a user of the hearing device (10). Said hearing device (10) further comprises at least one connector interface (24) operationally coupled to the electronic module (12), wherein said user control assembly (20) is detachably mounted to the housing (18), and said connector interface (24) is adapted to receive inputs from a plurality of different user control assemblies (20) and transfer said inputs to the electronic module (12) via at least one coupling means (28).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: Sonova AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier
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Publication number: 20180359574Abstract: There is provided a method of operating a hearing device (10, 11) to be worn by a user, comprising: defining a plurality of hearing device services and assigning to each hearing device service a service access confirmation level selected from a plurality of hierarchically structured service access confirmation levels; providing an access software platform for enabling third party service access to the hearing device services; providing at least one application program adapted to provide a third party service to the hearing device, each application program adapted to utilize the access software platform and at least one of the hearing device services; providing a manufacturer access service for approving or denying access to the hearing device for each of the application programs depending on whether or not approval for the respective service access confirmation level(s) has been previously obtained.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: Sonova AGInventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim EL Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
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Publication number: 20180332408Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for charging a rechargeable battery (5) of a hearing aid (1). The proposed method comprises detecting a power supply (8) being connected to the hearing aid (1), estimating a state of charge of the battery (5), selecting one of at least a normal and a fast charging mode in dependence of the estimated state of charge, and charging the battery (5) according to the selected charging mode. Moreover, the present invention provides a hearing aid (1) including a battery charging unit (9) and adapted to support the proposed method.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Sonova AGInventors: Christian Frei, Hilmar Meier, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille
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Patent number: 9866975Abstract: A hearing assistance system having a hearing assistance device to be worn at one of a user's ears and a scanning device, the hearing assistance device and the scanning device both having an interface for wireless data exchange between the hearing assistance device and the scanning device, wherein the hearing assistance device is adapted for wireless data exchange with an external device, wherein the scanning device is adapted to scan for wireless signals from the external device and to transmit, once such signals have been received by the scanning device, a message to the hearing assistance device for notifying the hearing assistance device of the availability of the external device, and wherein the hearing assistance device is adapted to decide, upon receipt of such notification message from the scanning device, whether on not to initiate wireless data exchange with the external device.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Marc Secall, Amre El-Hoiydi, Stephan Gehring, Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 9654884Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method of fitting a hearing instrument to a user's ear is provided. The method comprises taking an impression of the user's ear canal and manufacturing, based on geometrical data of the impression, an earmold. In accordance with the aspect of the invention, the method comprises the further step of performing an acoustical measurement while the impression is being taken.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Roland Hug, Alfred Stirnemann, Christian Frei-Krumme, Daniel Probst, Hilmar Meier, Martin Roth, Markus Leuthold
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Patent number: 9647462Abstract: A hearing instrument having an audio signal source for providing for audio signals; an audio signal processing unit for processing said audio signals; a unit to be worn at or in a user's ear or to be implanted in the user's head for stimulating the user's hearing according to the processed audio signals, and a rechargeable power source, in which the rechargeable power source is a wound capacitor comprising a capacitor foil arrangement which has at least a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer and a dielectric layer in-between and which is wound in a manner so as to form an induction coil for generating a current for charging of the capacitor when exposed to an external alternating electromagnetic field generated by a charging device.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
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Publication number: 20170070830Abstract: A hearing assistance system having a hearing assistance device to be worn at one of a user's ears and a scanning device, the hearing assistance device and the scanning device both having an interface for wireless data exchange between the hearing assistance device and the scanning device, wherein the hearing assistance device is adapted for wireless data exchange with an external device, wherein the scanning device is adapted to scan for wireless signals from the external device and to transmit, once such signals have been received by the scanning device, a message to the hearing assistance device for notifying the hearing assistance device of the availability of the external device, and wherein the hearing assistance device is adapted to decide, upon receipt of such notification message from the scanning device, whether on not to initiate wireless data exchange with the external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: SONOVA AGInventors: Marc SECALL, Amre EL-HOIYDI, Stephan GEHRING, Hilmar MEIER