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).

  • Patent number: 11166110
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Patent number: 11159897
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Christian Frei, Hilmar Meier, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille
  • Patent number: 11134350
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Evert Dijkstra, Hilmar Meier, Sebastian Stenzel, Timothee Jost
  • Patent number: 11089409
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventor: Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 11070928
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein, Leo Den Hartog, Christian Frei, Daniel Probst, Gabriel Perez, Paul Bechtiger
  • Publication number: 20210219065
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Amre El-Hoiydi, Evert Dijkstra, Hilmar Meier, Sebastian Stenzel, Timothee Jost
  • Patent number: 11057719
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventor: Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 11032654
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Röck, Hilmar Meier, Harald Krueger, Manuela Feilner
  • Publication number: 20200314561
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck
  • Publication number: 20200252735
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Andre Lucien Ochsenbein, Leo Den Hartog, Christian Frei, Daniel Probst, Gabriel Perez, Paul Bechtiger
  • Publication number: 20200162824
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 10652671
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim El Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
  • Publication number: 20200037074
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli RÖCK, Hilmar MEIER, Harald KRUEGER, Manuela FEILNER
  • Publication number: 20190090070
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier
  • Publication number: 20180359574
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Reto Kurmann, Nadim EL Guindi, Thomas Wessel, Stefan Launer
  • Publication number: 20180332408
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Christian Frei, Hilmar Meier, Kathrin Vuille-Dit-Bille
  • Patent number: 9866975
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Marc Secall, Amre El-Hoiydi, Stephan Gehring, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 9654884
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Roland Hug, Alfred Stirnemann, Christian Frei-Krumme, Daniel Probst, Hilmar Meier, Martin Roth, Markus Leuthold
  • Patent number: 9647462
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Publication number: 20170070830
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Marc SECALL, Amre EL-HOIYDI, Stephan GEHRING, Hilmar MEIER