Patents by Inventor Maja Serman

Maja Serman 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: 20250071489
    Abstract: A method assesses speech intelligibility of a test participant, in particular a wearer of a hearing instrument. In the method, a plurality of speech intelligibility tests are performed in normal life situations of the test participant, using a mobile device carried by the test participant. In each of the speech intelligibility tests, a number of phonemes or phoneme combinations are presented acoustically to the test participant, wherein the test participant is invited to indicate the presented phoneme or phoneme combination. Results of each of the speech intelligibility tests are stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Nadja SCHINKEL-BIELEFELD, Kaja STROBEL, Maja SERMAN
  • Publication number: 20240430626
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device, in particular a hearing aid. The hearing device has a microphone, a control unit coupled thereto, and also a receiver. The microphone is used to produce an audio signal containing voice components from the wearer of the hearing device. The voice components are taken as a basis for estimating a state of health of the wearer of the hearing device, and a setting of the hearing device is selectively altered as a function of the state of health. There is also disclosed a method for operating a hearing device system with a hearing device and a portable device, as well as a hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Claudia PISCHEL, Maja SERMAN, Rosa-Linde FISCHER, Ronny HANNEMANN
  • Publication number: 20240284125
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hearing aid of a user. The hearing aid has an input transducer, which produces an input signal, an analysis unit identifying a current scene from the input signal, and a signal processing unit having an OV processing unit. The signal processing unit is used to process the input signal into an output signal, and in this process, the OV processing unit processes the user's own voice in accordance with a number of OV parameters. The OV parameters are configured depending on the current scene, with the result that the processing of the own voice is scene-dependent. The hearing aid has an output transducer, which is used to output the output signal to the user. A corresponding hearing aid is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Claudia Pischel, Maja Serman, Ulrich Giese
  • Patent number: 12029572
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ivine Kuruvila, Ulrich Hoppe, Stefan Handrick, Eghart Fischer, Maja Serman, Henning Puder
  • Publication number: 20240089669
    Abstract: A method for customizing a hearing apparatus includes carrying out at least one test measurement that involves audio and/or video material being played back and a hearing apparatus user assessing a sound signal being heard by the user as a test result. A hearing apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Ulrich Giese, Cecil Wilson, Sebastian Best, Claudia Pischel
  • Publication number: 20230403523
    Abstract: A method and a system for fitting or adapting or matching a hearing aid to a user is provided to achieve a high level of acceptance of the user for the hearing aid. In a first step, an interoceptive awareness of the user is established and in a second step, a fitting process for fitting the hearing aid is defined based on the established interoceptive awareness of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Cecil Wilson
  • Publication number: 20230389828
    Abstract: A hearing device has an input transducer, a signal processor for signal amplification and generation of an output signal, and an output transducer for converting the output signal into a sound signal. In a fitting method for fitting the hearing device, at least one test measurement is carried out in which a test signal is generated as an acoustic signal, and in which the hearing device user assesses the resulting sound signal as a test result. A fitting formula is determined based on the test result, and the signal processing device is set based on the fitting formula such that if, during operation of the hearing device, a rise time of a signal start of the input signal is less than or equal to a stored threshold value, then the signal start of the output signal is amplified by a higher gain value than the remaining output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Cecil Wilson
  • Publication number: 20230362564
    Abstract: In a method for fitting a hearing device, a signal amplification is set or adapted on the basis of an ototoxic hearing loss. An input transducer picks up an acoustic signal and converts it into an input signal, a signal processing device processes the input signal and generates an output signal, and an output transducer converts the output signal into a sound signal. The signal processing of the signal processing device is set or adapted in dependence on the ototoxic hearing loss of the hearing device user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Claudia Pischel
  • Publication number: 20230156410
    Abstract: A hearing system (2) including a hearing instrument (2) and a method for operating a hearing instrument (2) are provided. Therein, a sound signal is captured from an environment of the hearing instrument (2). The captured sound signal is analysed to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks. The captured sound signal is analysed, during recognized own-voice intervals, to determine a rate of speech (RU) of the user. The captured sound signal is processed in dependence of a set of signal processing parameters (G, NL, BW), and the processed sound signal is output to a user of the hearing instrument (2). Said set of signal processing parameters (G, NL, BW) is adapted if said determined rate of speech (RU) falls below a threshold (TRU).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Cecil Wilson, Maja Serman
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11206501
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing instrument that is worn in or at the ear of a user. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument; analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, and foreign-voice intervals, in which at least one different speaker speaks; and determining, from the recognized own-voice intervals and foreign-voice intervals, at least one turn-taking feature. From the at least one turn-taking feature a measure of the sound perception by the user is derived. Predefined action for improving the sound perception is taken if the measure or the at least one turn-taking feature fulfill a predefined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Maja Serman, Marko Lugger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • 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: 20200120433
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing instrument that is worn in or at the ear of a user. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment of the hearing instrument; analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, and foreign-voice intervals, in which at least one different speaker speaks; and determining, from the recognized own-voice intervals and foreign-voice intervals, at least one turn-taking feature. From the at least one turn-taking feature a measure of the sound perception by the user is derived. Predefined action for improving the sound perception is taken if the measure or the at least one turn-taking feature fulfill a predefined criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: MAJA SERMAN, MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Patent number: 9686620
    Abstract: Individual adjustment of a hearing apparatus, and in particular a hearing aid, is improved by testing the auditory sensory memory of a user of the hearing apparatus. At least one test result is obtained and the hearing apparatus is adjusted in dependence on the at least one test result. The test person must detect, perceive and be able to reproduce changes in a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronny Hannemann, Maja Serman
  • Patent number: 8948429
    Abstract: Hearing apparatuses, in particular hearing aids, have improved intelligibility. This is accomplished by a method for amplifying a speech signal for a hearing apparatus by detection of an input sound, determining an input level of the input sound and amplification of the input sound. A mean input level of the input sound is determined and it is established whether the input sound has a speech component. If not, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined first amplification characteristic. However, if a speech component is found, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined second amplification characteristic. The second amplification characteristic is formed in dependence on the mean input level such that amplification is increased with respect to first amplification characteristic in a predefined level interval below the mean input level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulrich Giese, Maja Serman
  • Patent number: 8811641
    Abstract: A hearing aid device has an input converter for receiving an input signal and converting the signal into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit for processing and frequency-dependent amplification of the electrical input signal and generating an electrical output signal, an output converter for converting the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, and a sound detector facility for identifying sounds in a signal. Facilities increase an amplification above a normal amplification for a frequency range in which an identified sound contains signal components. Further facilities set the normal amplification of an electrical input signal in dependence on a signal frequency. The amplification is restricted to a maximum amplification in a specific frequency range. The amplification exceeds the normal amplification or the maximum amplification for the duration of the identified sound and at most for a duration which lies below a setting time of a feedback whistling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sebastian Pape, Maja Serman
  • Patent number: 8644538
    Abstract: The understanding of speech is to be improved in cases of hearing loss in which certain frequency ranges can no longer be perceived even at high volume or amplification, as applicable. A frequency transposition is performed on an input signal coming into a hearing aid and specific features of an electrical input signal are detected and a transposed signal is filtered as a function of the specific features detected in the electrical input signal. The hearing aid provides appropriate facilities for detecting specific features of the electrical input signal and filtering facilities for filtering the transposed signal. The objective of this is to detect particular properties of the input signal, in particular signal properties which are characteristic of fricatives, which may possibly be lost as a result of the frequency transposition, and at least partially to restore them in the transposed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sebastian Pape, Maja Serman
  • Publication number: 20130230198
    Abstract: Hearing apparatuses, in particular hearing aids, have improved intelligibility. This is accomplished by a method for amplifying a speech signal for a hearing apparatus by detection of an input sound, determining an input level of the input sound and amplification of the input sound. A mean input level of the input sound is determined and it is established whether the input sound has a speech component. If not, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined first amplification characteristic. However, if a speech component is found, the input signal is amplified in dependence on the input level in accordance with a predefined second amplification characteristic. The second amplification characteristic is formed in dependence on the mean input level such that amplification is increased with respect to first amplification characteristic in a predefined level interval below the mean input level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: ULRICH GIESE, MAJA SERMAN