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: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200120431
    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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: RONNY HANNEMANN, ULRICH GIESE, MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Patent number: 10616694
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger, Tobias Rosenkranz
  • Publication number: 20200107139
    Abstract: A hearing system has a hearing instrument that may be worn in or on a user's ear, and a peripheral device or a control program that may run on a data processing device. A microphone signal detected by the hearing instrument is examined for the user's own-voice components and is processed by a signal processor of the hearing instrument as a function of predetermined signal processing parameters. When own-voice components are detected, a first parameter set of the signal processing parameters is applied; when own-voice components are not detected, a second parameter set of the signal processing parameters is applied. The first parameter set may be modified by the user via the peripheral device or the control program in order to adapt the own-voice components contained in the microphone signal to a user-desired perception of the user's own voice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MIRKO ARNOLD, ULRICH GIESE
  • Patent number: 10547956
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes at least a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a surrounding sound signal and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. A first direction is assigned to a first signal source. A first directional signal that is aligned in the first direction is formed on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal. Signal components of the first directional signal are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source that is predetermined in view of its type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10462584
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing apparatus that has a microphone for converting ambient sound into a microphone signal, involves a number of features being derived from the microphone signal. Three classifiers, which are implemented independently of one another for analyzing a respective assigned acoustic dimension, are each supplied with a specifically assigned selection from these features. The respective classifier is used to generate a respective piece of information about a manifestation of the acoustic dimension assigned to the classifier. At least one of the at least three pieces of information about the respective manifestation of the assigned acoustic dimension is then taken as a basis for altering a signal processing algorithm that is executed for the purpose of processing the microphone signal to produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10425746
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus has a microphone for converting ambient sounds into a microphone signal, a signal processor for processing the microphone signal and an output transducer for outputting an output signal. A characteristic voice measure is ascertained for a voice component in the ambient sounds, and a supplementary measure characteristic of an activity of the wearer of the hearing apparatus is ascertained. Subsequently, an evaluated correlation between the voice measure and the supplementary measure is used to increase a probability value for the presence of a communication situation between the user and a third party if the voice measure and the supplementary measure, under at least one prescribed criterion, assume a value representative of the presence of the voice component and of the activity of the wearer. The probability value forms the basis for altering a signal processing algorithm that is executed to process the microphone signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Marc Aubreville, Marko Lugger, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi
  • Patent number: 10403306
    Abstract: A method for fast recognition of a hearing aid wearer's own voice, and a corresponding apparatus for carrying out the method. The hearing aid receives audio signals from at least two acoustoelectric transducers. The hearing aid has an apparatus with a first filter and a second filter for spatial separation. First filter parameters of the first filter are ascertained and used to attenuate the own voice of the hearing aid wearer of the hearing aid. In addition, second filter parameters of the second filter are ascertained. The second filter parameters are used to attenuate an external audio source. The apparatus is then operated with the first and second parameters, and the wearer's own voice is recognized on the basis of an output signal from the first filter and the second filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10349189
    Abstract: A method determines a direction of a useful signal source in an acoustic system that has a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. The first input signal and the second input signal are used to form a plurality of angle-dependent directional characteristics having a respective fixed central angle and a respective given angular expansion. The signal components pertaining to the individual directional characteristics are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source. The applicable central angle is assigned to a useful signal source ascertained in a particular directional characteristic as the direction of the useful signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Patent number: 10231064
    Abstract: A method improves a picked-up signal in a hearing system. The hearing system has at least one hearing device, particularly a hearing aid. The hearing aid device has an associated first directional microphone that has an adjustable first directional characteristic with a preferential direction. The first directional microphone converts sound into a first signal that is adopted in the picked-up signal. A speech activity of a user of the hearing system is monitored, and recognition of a speech activity of the user prompts the preferential direction of the first directional characteristic to be adjusted in comparison with a frontal direction of the user such that the sound sensitivity of the first directional microphone undergoes attenuation in the frontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20190020957
    Abstract: A method operates a hearing aid where a sound is recorded by a microphone. The sound is analyzed with respect to the correspondence thereof with the own voice of the hearing aid wearer and a characteristic value is produced, which indicates how strongly the sound corresponds with the own voice. The own voice is a sound type. The characteristic value is compared with a threshold value and, depending on whether the characteristic value lies above or below the threshold value, the sound is identified as the own voice. Depending on whether the sound has been identified as the own voice, the hearing aid is switched among a plurality operating modes. The method is characterized in that the threshold value is set in accordance with the user. Thus, an improved own-voice identification recognizer is formed, which distinguishes the own voice of the hearing aid wearer from another sound type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER, TOBIAS ROSENKRANZ
  • Publication number: 20180317028
    Abstract: A hearing apparatus has a microphone for converting ambient sounds into a microphone signal, a signal processor for processing the microphone signal and an output transducer for outputting an output signal. A characteristic voice measure is ascertained for a voice component in the ambient sounds, and a supplementary measure characteristic of an activity of the wearer of the hearing apparatus is ascertained. Subsequently, an evaluated correlation between the voice measure and the supplementary measure is used to increase a probability value for the presence of a communication situation between the user and a third party if the voice measure and the supplementary measure, under at least one prescribed criterion, assume a value representative of the presence of the voice component and of the activity of the wearer. The probability value forms the basis for altering a signal processing algorithm that is executed to process the microphone signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: MARC AUBREVILLE, MARKO LUGGER, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI
  • Publication number: 20180288534
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing apparatus that has a microphone for converting ambient sound into a microphone signal, involves a number of features being derived from the microphone signal. Three classifiers, which are implemented independently of one another for analyzing a respective assigned acoustic dimension, are each supplied with a specifically assigned selection from these features. The respective classifier is used to generate a respective piece of information about a manifestation of the acoustic dimension assigned to the classifier. At least one of the at least three pieces of information about the respective manifestation of the assigned acoustic dimension is then taken as a basis for altering a signal processing algorithm that is executed for the purpose of processing the microphone signal to produce an output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: MARC AUBREVILLE, MARKO LUGGER
  • Patent number: 10063980
    Abstract: A method improves a picked-up signal in a hearing system. The hearing system has at least one hearing device, particularly a hearing aid. The hearing aid device has an associated first directional microphone that has an adjustable first directional characteristic with a preferential direction. The first directional microphone converts sound into a first signal that is adopted in the picked-up signal. A speech activity of a user of the hearing system is monitored, and recognition of a speech activity of the user prompts the preferential direction of the first directional characteristic to be adjusted in comparison with a frontal direction of the user such that the sound sensitivity of the first directional microphone undergoes attenuation in the frontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20180213337
    Abstract: A method improves a picked-up signal in a hearing system. The hearing system has at least one hearing device, particularly a hearing aid. The hearing aid device has an associated first directional microphone that has an adjustable first directional characteristic with a preferential direction. The first directional microphone converts sound into a first signal that is adopted in the picked-up signal. A speech activity of a user of the hearing system is monitored, and recognition of a speech activity of the user prompts the preferential direction of the first directional characteristic to be adjusted in comparison with a frontal direction of the user such that the sound sensitivity of the first directional microphone undergoes attenuation in the frontal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: TOBIAS DANIEL ROSENKRANZ, HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER
  • Publication number: 20180176697
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi, Marko Lugger
  • Publication number: 20180176694
    Abstract: A method determines a direction of a useful signal source in an acoustic system that has a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a sound signal from the surroundings and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. The first input signal and the second input signal are used to form a plurality of angle-dependent directional characteristics having a respective fixed central angle and a respective given angular expansion. The signal components pertaining to the individual directional characteristics are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source. The applicable central angle is assigned to a useful signal source ascertained in a particular directional characteristic as the direction of the useful signal source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER
  • Publication number: 20180176698
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes at least a first input transducer and a second input transducer. The first input transducer generates a first input signal from a surrounding sound signal and the second input transducer generates a second input signal from the sound signal. A first direction is assigned to a first signal source. A first directional signal that is aligned in the first direction is formed on the basis of the first input signal and the second input signal. Signal components of the first directional signal are examined for the presence of a useful signal from a useful signal source that is predetermined in view of its type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: HOMAYOUN KAMKAR-PARSI, MARKO LUGGER
  • Patent number: 9973861
    Abstract: In a method for operating a hearing aid, an input signal is generated by way of one or more microphones. The input signal is amplified in an amplifier with an adjustable gain factor and output as an amplified input signal by way of a receiver. Furthermore, an OVD (own-voice-detection) parameter is established by an OVD unit. The OVD parameter specifies whether or not the user themselves is speaking. The gain factor is adjusted in a manner dependent on the OVD parameter and additionally adjusted in a manner dependent on noise, in particular stationary noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Daniel Rosenkranz, Homayoun Kamkar Parsi, Marko Lugger