Patents by Inventor Mark C. Flynn

Mark C. Flynn 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: 10015605
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system includes a processor arranged to communicate a stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of a first hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from a first transducer of a second hearing prosthesis. A processor calculates a feedback associated with the stimulation. The processor may also be further configured to adjust a gain table or an input to a feedback reduction algorithm in response to the calculated feedback. Additionally, the processor of the hearing prosthesis system may also be arranged to communicate a second stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of the second hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from the first hearing prosthesis. Further, the processor calculates a second feedback associated with the second stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Mark C. Flynn, Martin Hillbratt
  • Patent number: 9794698
    Abstract: A method includes programming a sound processor to apply frequency shifting on a stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal. The frequency shifting depends on one or more of a decibel level of a received sound signal, a hearing loss level associated with generating the stimulation signal, attenuation of an output based on the frequency shifted stimulation signal, or operating a hearing prosthesis in a single sided mode or a bilateral mode. The method includes receiving a sound signal, generating the stimulation signal from the sound signal, applying the frequency shifting to the stimulation signal to generate the frequency shifted stimulation signal, and generating, by an actuator of the hearing prosthesis, the output based on the frequency shifted stimulation signal, wherein the output is configured to be perceived as sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin E. G. Hillbratt, Mark C. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20170180895
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system includes a processor arranged to communicate a stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of a first hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from a first transducer of a second hearing prosthesis. A processor calculates a feedback associated with the stimulation. The processor may also be further configured to adjust a gain table or an input to a feedback reduction algorithm in response to the calculated feedback. Additionally, the processor of the hearing prosthesis system may also be arranged to communicate a second stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of the second hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from the first hearing prosthesis. Further, the processor calculates a second feedback associated with the second stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Mark C. Flynn, Martin Hillbratt Hillbratt
  • Patent number: 9338566
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed herein. A sample method includes determining one or more binaural correction factors at one or more frequencies. Each binaural correction factor is representative of an amount of binaural summation experienced by a recipient of a binaural stimulus at one of the one or more frequencies. The binaural stimulus is delivered about simultaneously to the recipient by a first stimulation device and a second stimulation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Mark C. Flynn, Tracey Adams
  • Publication number: 20160127840
    Abstract: A method includes programming a sound processor to apply frequency shifting on a stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal. The frequency shifting depends on one or more of a decibel level of a received sound signal, a hearing loss level associated with generating the stimulation signal, attenuation of an output based on the frequency shifted stimulation signal, or operating a hearing prosthesis in a single sided mode or a bilateral mode. The method includes receiving a sound signal, generating the stimulation signal from the sound signal, applying the frequency shifting to the stimulation signal to generate the frequency shifted stimulation signal, and generating, by an actuator of the hearing prosthesis, the output based on the frequency shifted stimulation signal, wherein the output is configured to be perceived as sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Martin E.G. Hillbratt, Mark C. Flynn
  • Patent number: 9301068
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for determining prescription rules for a hearing prosthesis. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes identifying a threshold hearing level and an uncomfortable loudness level for a channel of a hearing prosthesis. In one example, the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level are determined in response to a stimulation signal generated utilizing the hearing prosthesis in situ on a recipient. In the present example, the stimulation signal corresponds to the channel of the hearing prosthesis. The method further includes developing a prescription rule based on the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level. Generally, the prescription rule includes at least one of a linear compression scheme and a wide dynamic range compression scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Erwin Cas, Mark C. Flynn, Christopher J. James
  • Patent number: 9179222
    Abstract: A device includes a sound input element for receiving a sound signal and converting the sound signal into an electrical signal. The device also includes an actuator and a sound processor for processing the electrical signal to generate a stimulation signal. The sound processor is configured to apply frequency shifting on the stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal and to apply the frequency shifted stimulation signal as an output from the device. The frequency shifting can be triggered by detecting that the stimulation signal is associated with frequencies above an output limit of the device for a recipient and/or the stimulation signal can be applied as vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin E. G. Hillbratt, Mark C. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20140364682
    Abstract: A device includes a sound input element for receiving a sound signal and converting the sound signal into an electrical signal. The device also includes an actuator and a sound processor for processing the electrical signal to generate a stimulation signal. The sound processor is configured to apply frequency shifting on the stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal and to apply the frequency shifted stimulation signal as an output from the device. The frequency shifting can be triggered by detecting that the stimulation signal is associated with frequencies above an output limit of the device for a recipient and/or the stimulation signal can be applied as vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Martin E.G. Hillbratt, Mark C. Flynn
  • Publication number: 20140270190
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed herein. A sample method includes determining one or more binaural correction factors at one or more frequencies. Each binaural correction factor is representative of an amount of binaural summation experienced by a recipient of a binaural stimulus at one of the one or more frequencies. The binaural stimulus is delivered about simultaneously to the recipient by a first stimulation device and a second stimulation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mark C. Flynn, Tracey Adams
  • Publication number: 20140270291
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system includes a processor arranged to communicate a stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of a first hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from a first transducer of a second hearing prosthesis. A processor calculates a feedback associated with the stimulation. The processor may also be further configured to adjust a gain table or an input to a feedback reduction algorithm in response to the calculated feedback. Additionally, the processor of the hearing prosthesis system may also be arranged to communicate a second stimulation signal to a vibration stimulator of the second hearing prosthesis. The processor receives an indication of a measured input signal from the first hearing prosthesis. Further, the processor calculates a second feedback associated with the second stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mark C. Flynn, Martin Hillbratt
  • Publication number: 20130102923
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for determining prescription rules for a hearing prosthesis. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes identifying a threshold hearing level and an uncomfortable loudness level for a channel of a hearing prosthesis. In one example, the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level are determined in response to a stimulation signal generated utilizing the hearing prosthesis in situ on a recipient. In the present example, the stimulation signal corresponds to the channel of the hearing prosthesis. The method further includes developing a prescription rule based on the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level. Generally, the prescription rule includes at least one of a linear compression scheme and a wide dynamic range compression scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Erwin Cas, Mark C. Flynn, Christopher J. James