Patents by Inventor Marko Lugger

Marko Lugger 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: 12212927
    Abstract: A hearing aid has at least two input transducers and at least one output transducer. The input transducers generate an input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings. At least two directional signals with different directional characteristics are formed from the input signals and the directional signals are examined for the presence of a useful signal. A first weighting factor is assigned to the directional signal with the largest signal component of the useful signal and a second weighting factor is assigned to the other directional signals. The directional signals are multiplied by the respectively assigned weighting factor, and an output signal is then formed from the multiplication result. The output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Juliane Borsum, Manuel Busch, Michael Bürger
  • Patent number: 12211503
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system which has a hearing aid and a peripheral device which provides a voice-controlled digital assistant. A microphone signal from the hearing aid is examined for own voice components of the wearer of the hearing aid. If own voice components are detected by the hearing aid the microphone signal is examined for a pre-defined activation command for the digital assistant. If the activation command is recognized, a portion of the microphone signal representing the activation command and a subsequent speech sequence is processed by the hearing aid for a speech recognizer of the digital assistant using an algorithm. The processed portion of the microphone signal is transmitted to the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Patent number: 12009005
    Abstract: A method for rating the speech quality of a speech signal by a hearing device. An acousto-electric input transducer records sound containing the speech signal and converts it into an input audio signal. At least one articulatory and/or prosodic property of the speech signal is quantitatively acquired through analysis of the input audio signal, and a quantitative measure of speech quality is derived based on the articulatory and/or prosodic property. A hearing device with an acousto-electric input transducer configured to record a sound and convert it into an input audio signal, and a signal processing apparatus that is designed to quantitatively acquire at least one articulatory and/or prosodic property of a component, contained in the input audio signal, of a speech signal based on analysis of the input audio signal and to derive a quantitative measure of the speech quality based on the at least one articulatory and/or prosodic property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jana Thiemt, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20240169987
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system which has a hearing aid and a peripheral device which provides a voice-controlled digital assistant. A microphone signal from the hearing aid is examined for own voice components of the wearer of the hearing aid. If own voice components are detected by the hearing aid the microphone signal is examined for a pre-defined activation command for the digital assistant. If the activation command is recognized, a portion of the microphone signal representing the activation command and a subsequent speech sequence is processed by the hearing aid for a speech recognizer of the digital assistant using an algorithm. The processed portion of the microphone signal is transmitted to the peripheral device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Publication number: 20240144953
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device on the basis of a speech signal. An acousto-electric input transducer of the hearing device records a sound containing the speech signal from surroundings of the hearing device and converts the sound into an input audio signal. A signal processing operation generates an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. At least one articulatory and/or prosodic feature of the speech signal is quantitatively acquired through analysis of the input audio signal by way of the signal processing operation, and a quantitative measure of a speech quality of the speech signal is derived on the basis of the property. At least one parameter of the signal processing operation for generating the output audio signal based on the input audio signal is set on the basis of the quantitative measure of the speech quality of the speech signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: SEBASTIAN BEST, MARKO LUGGER
  • Patent number: 11967334
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device on the basis of a speech signal. An acousto-electric input transducer of the hearing device records a sound containing the speech signal from surroundings of the hearing device and converts the sound into an input audio signal. A signal processing operation generates an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. At least one articulatory and/or prosodic feature of the speech signal is quantitatively acquired through analysis of the input audio signal by way of the signal processing operation, and a quantitative measure of a speech quality of the speech signal is derived on the basis of the property. At least one parameter of the signal processing operation for generating the output audio signal based on the input audio signal is set on the basis of the quantitative measure of the speech quality of the speech signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sebastian Best, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 11943586
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid which has an auditory canal microphone for capturing sound in the auditory canal of the wearer and an own voice recognition unit for carrying out an adaptive own voice recognition. Sound in the auditory canal is captured by the auditory canal microphone and a signal that corresponds to the sound is output by the auditory canal microphone, and training of the adaptive own voice recognition is controlled only based on the signal output by the auditory canal microphone. A corresponding hearing aid configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Patent number: 11929071
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system which has a hearing aid and a peripheral device which provides a voice-controlled digital assistant. A microphone signal from the hearing aid is examined for own voice components of the wearer of the hearing aid. If own voice components are detected by the hearing aid the microphone signal is examined for a pre-defined activation command for the digital assistant. If the activation command is recognized, a portion of the microphone signal representing the activation command and a subsequent speech sequence is processed by the hearing aid for a speech recognizer of the digital assistant using an algorithm. The processed portion of the microphone signal is transmitted to the peripheral device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Publication number: 20230239635
    Abstract: A method for adapting signal processing parameters of a hearing instrument of a hearing system. A number of acoustic indicators (IndA) for a temporary environmental situation of a user of the hearing instrument is ascertained from an input signal generated by a transducer. A first sensor ascertains a number of peripheral indicators (IndP) for the existing temporary environmental situation. Based on the acoustic and peripheral indicators (IndA, IndP) the system determines whether the existing temporary environmental situation falls into a known class of temporary environmental situations. If it does not, a new class is defined with the respective ascertained acoustic and peripheral indicator(s) (IndA, IndP), and the plurality of signal processing parameters are assigned a corresponding plurality of parameter values, according to which the first input signal is to be processed to form the output signal upon the future existence of a temporary environmental situation from the new class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Cornelia Wiedenbrüg, Ronny Hannemann, Nadja Schinkel-Bielefeld, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20230080855
    Abstract: A hearing aid has at least two input transducers and at least one output transducer. The input transducers generate an input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings. At least two directional signals with different directional characteristics are formed from the input signals and the directional signals are examined for the presence of a useful signal. A first weighting factor is assigned to the directional signal with the largest signal component of the useful signal and a second weighting factor is assigned to the other directional signals. The directional signals are multiplied by the respectively assigned weighting factor, and an output signal is then formed from the multiplication result. The output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Juliane Borsum, Manuel Busch, Michael Bürger
  • Patent number: 11388528
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing system which has a hearing instrument worn in an ear. The method includes capturing a sound signal from an environment, processing the captured sound signal in dependence of a set of signal processing parameters, and outputting a processed sound signal to the user. The method further includes analyzing the captured sound signal to recognize own-voice intervals, in which the user speaks, analyzing the captured sound signal for an acoustic feature of the own voice of the user and/or analyzing a signal of a bio sensor. The bio sensor measures at least one non-acoustic vital function of the user and determines, from the acoustic feature and/or the non-acoustic vital function of the user, a measure of an emotional state of the user. A value of a signal processing parameter is adapted, within the own-voice intervals, to change the emotional state if a criterion is fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ronny Hannemann, Ulrich Giese, Marko Lugger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • Publication number: 20220124441
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing aid which has an auditory canal microphone for capturing sound in the auditory canal of the wearer and an own voice recognition unit for carrying out an adaptive own voice recognition. Sound in the auditory canal is captured by the auditory canal microphone and a signal that corresponds to the sound is output by the auditory canal microphone, and training of the adaptive own voice recognition is controlled only based on the signal output by the auditory canal microphone. A corresponding hearing aid configured to carry out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Publication number: 20220122606
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing device system which has a hearing aid and a peripheral device which provides a voice-controlled digital assistant. A microphone signal from the hearing aid is examined for own voice components of the wearer of the hearing aid. If own voice components are detected by the hearing aid the microphone signal is examined for a pre-defined activation command for the digital assistant. If the activation command is recognized, a portion of the microphone signal representing the activation command and a subsequent speech sequence is processed by the hearing aid for a speech recognizer of the digital assistant using an algorithm. The processed portion of the microphone signal is transmitted to the peripheral device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Umut Goekay
  • Publication number: 20220068293
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device on the basis of a speech signal. An acousto-electric input transducer of the hearing device records a sound containing the speech signal from surroundings of the hearing device and converts the sound into an input audio signal. A signal processing operation generates an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. At least one articulatory and/or prosodic feature of the speech signal is quantitatively acquired through analysis of the input audio signal by way of the signal processing operation, and a quantitative measure of a speech quality of the speech signal is derived on the basis of the property. At least one parameter of the signal processing operation for generating the output audio signal based on the input audio signal is set on the basis of the quantitative measure of the speech quality of the speech signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: SEBASTIAN BEST, MARKO LUGGER
  • Publication number: 20220068294
    Abstract: A method for rating the speech quality of a speech signal by a hearing device. An acousto-electric input transducer records sound containing the speech signal and converts it into an input audio signal. At least one articulatory and/or prosodic property of the speech signal is quantitatively acquired through analysis of the input audio signal, and a quantitative measure of speech quality is derived based on the articulatory and/or prosodic property. A hearing device with an acousto-electric input transducer configured to record a sound and convert it into an input audio signal, and a signal processing apparatus that is designed to quantitatively acquire at least one articulatory and/or prosodic property of a component, contained in the input audio signal, of a speech signal based on analysis of the input audio signal and to derive a quantitative measure of the speech quality based on the at least one articulatory and/or prosodic property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: JANA THIEMT, MARKO LUGGER
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11153692
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing system that has a first input transducer, a second input transducer and a signal processing device. An activity of a lateral useful signal source in an environment of the hearing system is ascertained by a first input signal being generated via an acoustic signal that impinges on the first input transducer, and a second input signal being generated via the acoustic signal that impinges on the second input transducer. A filtered input signal is generated via a directional notch filter based on the first and second input signals. A measure for attenuation that the directional notch filter causes is ascertained based on the filtered input signal and on the first and/or second input signals. The measure is compared with a reference, and from this comparison, the presence or absence of activity of the lateral useful signal source in the surroundings is inferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 11122372
    Abstract: A hearing aid device and a method for operating the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device has an acousto-electrical transducer, a signal processing unit, an electro-acoustic transducer and a unit for recognizing a wearer's own voice. The hearing aid device detects and recognizes the wearer's own voice by way of the recognition unit and, when the wearer's own voice has been detected, operates the signal processing unit with a modified signal processing parameter that is modified such that the sound of the wearer's own voice is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ulrich Giese, Sebastian Pape, Marko Lugger, Homayoun Kamkar Parsi
  • Publication number: 20200260196
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing system that has a first input transducer, a second input transducer and a signal processing device. An activity of a lateral useful signal source in an environment of the hearing system is ascertained by a first input signal being generated via an acoustic signal that impinges on the first input transducer, and a second input signal being generated via the acoustic signal that impinges on the second input transducer. A filtered input signal is generated via a directional notch filter based on the first and second input signals. A measure for attenuation that the directional notch filter causes is ascertained based on the filtered input signal and on the first and/or second input signals. The measure is compared with a reference, and from this comparison, the presence or absence of activity of the lateral useful signal source in the surroundings is inferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER
  • Patent number: 10638239
    Abstract: A hearing aid has a first input transducer that generates a first input signal from an ambient sound signal, a second input transducer that generates a second input signal from the sound signal and at least one output transducer. A first direction is assigned to a first useful signal source and a second direction is assigned to a second useful signal source, which is spatially separated from the first useful signal source. Based on the first input signal and the second input signal, a first reference signal oriented in the first direction and a second reference signal oriented in the second direction are formed. An output signal is formed on the basis of the first reference signal and the second reference signal, and the output signal is converted into a sound signal by the output transducer of the hearing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger