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: 9571943Abstract: The present invention proposes a hearing device with a housing and a receiver module which comprises a shell (16) with a cavity having an opening (17), wherein at least part of the shell (16) forms part of the housing, and wherein an electro-acoustic transducer, comprising a motor assembly (2) and an acoustic assembly (3) including a membrane, is arranged within the cavity, the acoustic assembly (3) being disposed within the shell (16) such that the cavity is divided into a front chamber (12) and a back chamber (13), the motor assembly (2) being disposed within the back chamber (13) or the front chamber (12) and being operatively coupled to the membrane, and the front chamber (12) being in acoustic communication with the exterior of the shell (16) via the opening (17), wherein the shell (16) has an outer surface individually shaped according to a measured inner shape of a section of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a receiver module is presented.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Roland Hug, Jonas Meyer, Sébastien Aubert, Daniel Baer, Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Andi Vonlanthen
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Patent number: 9363612Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a hearing device capable of receiving a plurality of input signals (i1, . . . , i5). The method comprises the steps of extracting source identification information embedded in one or more of the input signals (i1, . . . , i5), wherein the source identification information identifies a signal source (S1, . . . , SN) from which a particular input signal (i1, . . . , i5) originates, and/or extracting audio type information embedded in one or more of the input signals (i1, . . . , i5), wherein the audio type information provides an indication of the type of audio content present in a particular input signal (i1, . . . , i5), selecting from the plurality of input signals (i1, . . . , i5) one or more selected signals to be processed (u1, . . . , uM), processing the selected signals (u1, . . . , uM), and generating an output signal (o) of the hearing device by said processing of the selected signals (u1, . . . , uM).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: SONOVA AGInventor: Hilmar Meier
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Publication number: 20160112814Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2013Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Roland Hug, Alfred STIRNEMANN, Christian FREI-KRUMME, Daniel PROBST, Hilmar MEIER, Martin ROTH, Markus LEUTHOLD
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Patent number: 9088853Abstract: A hearing instrument receiver system for operation in an ear canal of a user for converting audio signals into sound, comprising a lateral receiver, a medial receiver and a flexible joint assembly connecting the medial end of the lateral receiver and the lateral end of the medial receiver in such a manner that the lateral receiver and the medial receiver are pivotable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
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Publication number: 20150139468Abstract: A hearing device includes at least one input transducer for generating an input signal, an output transducer for generating an output signal and a signal processing unit operationally interconnecting the input transducer and the output transducer. A method includes receiving context information describing a possible current acoustic situation and selecting an adjustment scheme taking into account the context information. The adjustment scheme is one of the following: predefined adjustment scheme, and scenario dependent adjustment scheme comprising at least two scenario adjustments (S1, . . . , Sn), each being assigned at least one hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm). The method also includes selecting a hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm) based on the selected adjustment scheme, and processing the input signal by applying the selected hearing program (P1, . . . , Pm) to obtain the output signal of the hearing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2012Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Manuela Feilner, Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 8913769Abstract: The method for operating a hearing system comprising at least one hearing device; at least one signal processing unit; at least one user control by means of which at least one audio processing parameter of said signal processing unit is adjustable; and a sensor unit; comprises the steps of a) obtaining adjustment data (userCorr) representative of adjustments of said at least one parameter carried out by operating said at least one user control; b) obtaining characterizing data (p1;p2) from data outputted from said sensor unit substantially at the time said adjustment data are obtained; c) deriving correction data (learntCorr) from said adjustment data (userCorr); wherein step c) is carried out in dependence of said characterizing data; and d) recognizing an update event; and, upon step d): e) using corrected settings for said at least one audio processing parameter in said signal processing unit, which corrected settings are derived in dependence of said correction data (learntCorr).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Manuela Feilner, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Harald Krueger, Ivo Spieler, Elmar Fichtl
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Publication number: 20140153755Abstract: The present invention proposes a hearing device with a housing and a receiver module which comprises a shell (16) with a cavity having an opening (17), wherein at least part of the shell (16) forms part of the housing, and wherein an electro-acoustic transducer, comprising a motor assembly (2) and an acoustic assembly (3) including a membrane, is arranged within the cavity, the acoustic assembly (3) being disposed within the shell (16) such that the cavity is divided into a front chamber (12) and a back chamber (13), the motor assembly (2) being disposed within the back chamber (13) or the front chamber (12) and being operatively coupled to the membrane, and the front chamber (12) being in acoustic communication with the exterior of the shell (16) via the opening (17), wherein the shell (16) has an outer surface individually shaped according to a measured inner shape of a section of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a receiver module is presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Roland Hug, Jonas Meyer, Sebastien Aubert, Daniel Baer, Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Andi Vonlanthen
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Publication number: 20140010396Abstract: The invention relates to a CIC hearing aid (30) for operation within an ear canal (10) of a user, comprising a lateral module (32), a medial module (34) and a flexible joint assembly (36) connecting the medial end (38) of the lateral module and the lateral end (40) of the medial module in such a manner that the lateral module and the medial module are movable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal, wherein the flexible joint assembly is adapted to removably receive an axially extending guide element (68) for temporarily stiffening the flexible joint assembly with regard to bending and/or axial motions when the hearing aid is pushed into the ear canal, and wherein the guide element is adapted to be removed at least from a medial portion (66) of the flexible joint assembly after insertion of the hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: Phonak AGInventors: Erdal Karamuk, Jan Angst, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen, Matthias Riepenhoff
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Publication number: 20130272553Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a hearing device capable of receiving a plurality of input signals (i1, . . . , i5). The method comprises the steps of extracting source identification information embedded in one or more of the input signals (i1, . . . , i5), wherein the source identification information identifies a signal source (S1, . . . , SN) from which a particular input signal (i1, . . . , i5) originates, and/or extracting audio type information embedded in one or more of the input signals (i1, . . . , i5), wherein the audio type information provides an indication of the type of audio content present in a particular input signal (i1, . . . , i5), selecting from the plurality of input signals (i1, . . . , i5) one or more selected signals to be processed (u1, . . . , uM), processing the selected signals (u1, . . . , uM), and generating an output signal (o) of the hearing device by said processing of the selected signals (u1, . . . , uM).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventor: Hilmar Meier
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Publication number: 20130243230Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
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Publication number: 20130182877Abstract: A hearing instrument receiver system for operation in an ear canal of a user for converting audio signals into sound, comprising a lateral receiver, a medial receiver and a flexible joint assembly connecting the medial end of the lateral receiver and the lateral end of the medial receiver in such a manner that the lateral receiver and the medial receiver are pivotable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2010Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: PHONAK AGInventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
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Patent number: 8249284Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing system comprising an input unit, an output unit and a transmission unit operationally interconnecting said input output units. Said transmission unit implements a transfer function describing, how audio signals generated by said input unit are processed in order to derive audio signals fed to said output unit, and can be adjusted by one or more transfer function parameters. Said method comprises obtaining, by means of said input unit and with a first directional characteristic, first audio signals from incoming acoustic sound; deriving from said first audio signals a first set of sound-characterizing data; and deriving, in dependence of first directional information, which is data comprising information on said first directional characteristic, and of said first set of sound-characterizing data, a value for each of said one or more transfer function parameters.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Stefan Launer, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Herbert Bächler
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Patent number: 8243938Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a hearing device, by registering characteristics of an individual (I) a personality vector (K(CI)) is established in a fitting machine. The personality vector (K(CI)) of the individual (I) momentarily involved is compared with stored personality vectors (K1(C) to Kn(C)). That stored personality vector which is most similar to that of the individual (I) is selected and therefrom a personality profile (PP) which is assigned to such personality vector. There is assigned to the personality profile which accords to the most similar personality vector, a respective fitting vector which controls subsequent manufacturing of the hearing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Valentin Chapero-Rueda, Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 8224004Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Herbert Baechler, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki
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Patent number: 8077889Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device. The method consists in that a point in time of the recording and/or a recording frequency as well as the information to be recorded, as data and/or parameters and/or adjustments of the hearing device are adjusted freely or are programmable, respectively. Furthermore, a hearing device is described that is suitable to use the method. By the present invention, a multitude of the parameters being adjustable in a hearing device can be checked or surveyed all together or selectively in real, i.e. actually existing acoustic environments in order to optimally adjust or adapt the hearing device afterwards, that means after the analysis by the fitter, for example.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Herbert Bächler, Volker Kühnel, Silvia Allegro, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Ivo Hasler, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christoph Widmer
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Patent number: 7995781Abstract: In order to switch between different hearing programs to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, a method for adjusting a hearing device, in which one of several possible hearing programs can be selected in order to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, the method comprising the steps of detecting a desired hearing program change, changing parameters (b1, . . . , bm) of a transfer function provided between a microphone (M1) and a receiver of the hearing device in order to adapt it to the detected hearing program change, adjusting the parameters (b1, . . . , bm) to be changed from a momentary value to a desired value in such a manner that a smooth transition is perceived by the hearing device user while changing from a momentary hearing program to the desired hearing program, whereas each of the smooth transition is individually adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Silvia Allegro Baumann, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 7957548Abstract: A hearing device has an adjustable transfer function comprising M?1 sub-functions (M is an integer). A method for operating the hearing device includes deriving input audio signals from a current acoustic environment. For each of the M sub-functions, derive, based on the input audio signals and for each class of N?2 classes that describe a predetermined acoustic environment, a class similarity factor indicative of the similarity of the current acoustic environment with the predetermined acoustic environment described by the respective class (N is an integer). Derive from N predetermined base parameter sets assigned to the respective sub-function and in dependence of the class similarity factors, an activity parameter set for the respective sub-function. Each of the N base parameter sets assigned to the respective sub-function is assigned to a different class of the N classes. Adjust the respective sub-function by means of the activity parameter set.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Hubert Lechner, Manuela Feilner, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Andi Vonlanthen
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Patent number: 7869606Abstract: For modifying or adapting at least one basic hearing aid setting such as volume, low/high frequency balance etc., it is suggested that at particular time intervals at least one current user-selected setting entered on the hearing aid is registered and combined or linked with the existing basic setting in or on the hearing aid by means of a predefined algorithm in order to arrive at a new basic setting and to store same in or on the hearing aid. The current user setting is acquired for instance in sound-specific fashion, i.e. with reference to a specific registered sound category or at least one hearing-related ambient parameter, and is linked with the corresponding, associated sound-specific basic setting in order to arrive at the new sound-specific basic setting.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Elmar Fichtl, Michael Boretzki, Hilmar Meier
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Publication number: 20100260363Abstract: The method for providing a user of a hearing device with speech sound comprises the step of a) providing in the hearing device speech-representing data representative of speech-bound contents. The speech-bound contents is encoded in said speech-representing data in a compressed way by means of a set of encoded-speech-segment data, wherein each of the encoded-speech-segment data of the set is indicative of one speech segment, and wherein the speech-representing data comprise a multitude of the encoded-speech-segment data. And it also comprises the steps of b) deriving from the multitude of the encoded-speech-segment data audio signals representative of the speech-bound contents by composing audio signal segments derived by decoding the multitude of encoded-speech-segment data; and c) converting the so-derived audio signals into speech sound by means of an output converter of the hearing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: Phonak AGInventors: Raoul Glatt, Hilmar Meier
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Patent number: 7804975Abstract: A housing inserted in to the ear of a user is disclosed, said housing comprising a lateral end defined by being a part of the housing which is directed towards surroundings if the housing is inserted into the ear, a medial end defined by being a part of the housing which is directed towards the inner ear of the user if the housing is inserted into the ear, said medial end comprising at least a medial opening, wherein at least the lateral end of the housing is covered by a cover element. The cover element is acoustically transparent and made of open porous foam. The inventive in-ear device can be used as hearing device to improve the hearing of a hearing impaired person or as a communication device for natural as well as for remote communication.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Phonak AGInventors: Hilmar Meier, Christoph Schwob