Patents by Inventor Martin KURIGER

Martin KURIGER 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: 20230396940
    Abstract: A hearing aid and a method performed by a hearing aid including at least one microphone unit, an accelerometer unit, and a processor. The method performed by the hearing aid includes generating a processed microphone signal including attenuating the microphone signal in accordance with an attenuation value; wherein the attenuation value is based on a measure of correlation between a microphone signal from the microphone unit and an acceleration signal from the accelerometer unit. The hearing aid instantly reduces noise arising from mechanical handling of the hearing aid based on input from the microphone unit and the accelerometer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Hongyan SUN, Martin KURIGER, Morten CHRISTOPHERSEN
  • Patent number: 11825269
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to the input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit form part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback reduction unit configured to reduce risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate the forward gain in time to provide that the forward gain exhibits an increased or unchanged forward gain in one or more first time periods and a reduced forward gain in one or more second time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle, Anders Meng, Martin Kuriger, Mojtaba Farmani, Mikkel Grønbech, Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao, Kim Tilgaard Petersen
  • Patent number: 11736872
    Abstract: A hearing aid and a method performed by a hearing aid including at least one microphone unit, an accelerometer unit, and a processor. The method performed by the hearing aid includes generating a processed microphone signal including attenuating the microphone signal in accordance with an attenuation value; wherein the attenuation value is based on a measure of correlation between a microphone signal from the microphone unit and an acceleration signal from the accelerometer unit. The hearing aid instantly reduces noise arising from mechanical handling of the hearing aid based on input from the microphone unit and the accelerometer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Hongyan Sun, Martin Kuriger, Morten Christophersen
  • Publication number: 20230254649
    Abstract: A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path of a hearing aid is based on a gradient of an adaptive filter comprising an adaptive algorithm configured to estimate the feedback/echo path. The method may comprise comparing a smoothed and processed version of the gradient values over time to a threshold value. A hearing aid configured to detect a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is furthermore provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11671767
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a feedback control system for handling external feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer. The feedback control system includes an open loop gain estimator for providing an instant open loop gain estimate; an adaptive filter configured to provide a current estimate of the feedback path transfer function; a feedback change estimator configured to provide an instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function in dependence of the forward path transfer function, the instant open loop gain estimate; and an adaptive filter controller for providing an update transfer function estimate for the adaptive filter in dependence of the instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function. The hearing aid is configured to use the update transfer function estimate in the adaptive filter to update the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function. A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Publication number: 20230074554
    Abstract: A hearing aid configured to be worn by a user, the hearing aid comprising a user interface allowing the user to control functionality of the hearing aid, and a feedback sensor for repeatedly providing a feedback signal indicative of a current estimate of feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer of the hearing aid, wherein the user interface is based on changes to the current estimate of the feedback path, e.g. provided by the user. A method of operating a hearing aid is further disclosed. Thereby an alternative user interface for a hearing aid may be provided. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids or headsets, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Anders MENG, Meng GUO, Mojtaba FARMANI, Martin KURIGER, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Nels Hede ROHDE, Thomas JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20220312127
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to said input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit are forming part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback control unit configured to reduce a risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit of said hearing aid, where the hearing aid is configured to receive motion data characterising movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation and/or position of the hearing aid to control processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Anders MENG, Mojtaba FARMANI, Martin KURIGER, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Meng GUO
  • Publication number: 20220312129
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes an input unit, an output unit, a signal processing unit connected to the input unit and output unit, where the input unit, the signal processing unit and the output unit form part of a forward path of the hearing aid, where the signal processing unit is configured to apply a forward gain to the at least one electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom. The hearing aid further includes a feedback reduction unit configured to reduce risk of howl due to acoustic, electrical, and/or mechanical feedback of an external feedback path from the output unit to the input unit. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate the forward gain in time to provide that the forward gain exhibits an increased or unchanged forward gain in one or more first time periods and a reduced forward gain in one or more second time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE, Anders MENG, Martin KURIGER, Mojtaba FARMANI, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Kim Tilgaard PETERSEN
  • Publication number: 20220303694
    Abstract: A hearing aid and a method performed by a hearing aid including at least one microphone unit, an accelerometer unit, and a processor. The method performed by the hearing aid includes generating a processed microphone signal including attenuating the microphone signal in accordance with an attenuation value; wherein the attenuation value is based on a measure of correlation between a microphone signal from the microphone unit and an acceleration signal from the accelerometer unit. The hearing aid instantly reduces noise arising from mechanical handling of the hearing aid based on input from the microphone unit and the accelerometer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Hongyan SUN, Martin KURIGER, Morten CHRISTOPHERSEN
  • Publication number: 20220264232
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a forward path comprising an input transducer an electric input signals representing a sound comprising target signal components and background noise, a hearing aid processor for providing a processed signal in dependence of said at least one electric input signal and for providing a processed output signal in dependence thereof, and an output transducer for providing stimuli perceivable as sound to the user in dependence of said processed signal. The forward path provides a frequency dependent intended forward path transfer function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Anders MENG, Martin KURIGER, Mojtaba FARMANI, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Sudershan Y.S
  • Publication number: 20220210581
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a feedback control system for handling external feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer. The feedback control system includes an open loop gain estimator for providing an instant open loop gain estimate; an adaptive filter configured to provide a current estimate of the feedback path transfer function; a feedback change estimator configured to provide an instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function in dependence of the forward path transfer function, the instant open loop gain estimate; and an adaptive filter controller for providing an update transfer function estimate for the adaptive filter in dependence of the instant estimate of the feedback path transfer function. The hearing aid is configured to use the update transfer function estimate in the adaptive filter to update the current estimate of the feedback path transfer function. A method of detecting a sudden change in a feedback/echo path is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 11184714
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises an input transducer providing an input gain GI, a signal processor comprising a compressor for determining a frequency and level dependent desired compressor gain GP to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user, and to provide a resulting compressor gain G?P, and an output transducer for providing output stimuli perceivable as sound for the user based on a processed signal, the output transducer providing an output gain, GO. A resulting forward path gain G? is defined in a logarithmic representation as GI+G?P+GO. The hearing device further comprises a loop gain estimator for continuously estimating a current loop gain ?L(n), configured to provide a loop gain estimate within a predefined number of feedback loop delays after a feedback buildup has started, and a loop gain controller for dynamically controlling said resulting forward path gain G? in dependence of said estimate of said current loop gain ?L(n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Meng Guo, Bernhard Kuenzle, Martin Kuriger
  • Patent number: 10966038
    Abstract: A method of conducting a fitting session for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user's needs is provided. The method comprises S1. providing an estimate of, a current feedback from said output transducer to said input transducer, while the hearing device is in an operational state; S2. evaluating said estimate of a current feedback and providing a value of a feedback risk indicator in dependence of said estimate of a current feedback; S3. determining whether said value of the feedback risk indicator fulfils a high-risk criterion; and S4. if said high-risk criterion is fulfilled providing at least one of a warning, a recommendation, and an action in relation to said feedback risk. Steps S1 to S4 are configured to be automatically performed as background processes. Thereby a simplified scheme for fitting a hearing device to a user's needs may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Susanna Løve Callaway, Nicolas Le Goff, Terri Ives, Nimrod Bogdanovski, Mikkel Bo Rasmussen, Anders Meng, Martin Kuriger, Meng Guo, Mikkel Grønbech, Mojtaba Farmani, Nels Hede Rohde, Stefan Gram, Sudershan Yalgalwadi Sreepadarao, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Publication number: 20200275217
    Abstract: A hearing device comprises an input transducer providing an input gain GI, a signal processor comprising a compressor for determining a frequency and level dependent desired compressor gain GP to compensate for a hearing impairment of the user, and to provide a resulting compressor gain G?P, and an output transducer for providing output stimuli perceivable as sound for the user based on a processed signal, the output transducer providing an output gain, GO. A resulting forward path gain G? is defined in a logarithmic representation as GI+G?P+GO. The hearing device further comprises a loop gain estimator for continuously estimating a current loop gain ?L(n), configured to provide a loop gain estimate within a predefined number of feedback loop delays after a feedback buildup has started, and a loop gain controller for dynamically controlling said resulting forward path gain G? in dependence of said estimate of said current loop gain ?L(n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Bernhard KUENZLE, Martin KURIGER
  • Patent number: 10687152
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises an input transducer for providing an electric input signal representative of a sound in the environment of the hearing device, an output transducer for providing an output sound representative of said electric input signal, a signal processor operationally connected to the input and output transducers, and forming part of an electric forward path for processing said electric input signal and providing a processed electric output signal, and a feedback detector for providing first and second indications of current feedback in an external—acoustic and/or mechanical—feedback path from said output transducer to said input transducer. The feedback detector is configured to determine the first and second indications of current feedback, respectively, based on said electric input signal or a processed version thereof and—optionally—on a current open loop magnitude of a feedback loop defined by said forward path and said external feedback path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 10659891
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises a forward path for processing an electric signal representing sound including a) an input unit for receiving or providing an electric input signal representing sound, b) a signal processing unit, c) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable as sound to a user, d) a feedback detection unit configured to detect feedback or evaluate a risk of feedback via an acoustic or mechanical or electrical feedback path from said output transducer to said input unit and comprising d1) a magnitude and phase analysis unit for repeatedly determining magnitude, Mag, and phase, Phase, of said electric input signal and further parameters based thereon, and d2) a feedback conditions and detection unit configured to check criteria for magnitude and phase feedback condition, respectively, based on said values, and to provide a feedback detection signal indicative of feedback or a risk of feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo
  • Patent number: 10499167
    Abstract: The application relates to a method of reducing reverberation in an audio processing device and to an audio processing device. The object of the present application is to provide an alternative method of reducing noise, e.g. reverberation, in a sound signal. The method comprises the steps of a) providing a time variant electric input signal representative of a sound; b) providing a logarithmic representation of said electric input signal; c) providing a predefined statistical model of the likelihood that a specific slope of the logarithmic representation of the electric input signal is due to reverberation; d) identifying time instances of the electric input signal being reverberant according to the statistical model; and e) applying an attenuation to the time instances identified as reverberant. This has the advantage of providing an enhanced sound signal. The invention may e.g. be used for enhancing noisy, e.g. reverberant, signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle
  • Publication number: 20190297433
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises a forward path for processing an electric signal representing sound including a) an input unit for receiving or providing an electric input signal representing sound, b) a signal processing unit, c) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable as sound to a user, d) a feedback detection unit configured to detect feedback or evaluate a risk of feedback via an acoustic or mechanical or electrical feedback path from said output transducer to said input unit and comprising d1) a magnitude and phase analysis unit for repeatedly determining magnitude, Mag, and phase, Phase, of said electric input signal and further parameters based thereon, and d2) a feedback conditions and detection unit configured to check criteria for magnitude and phase feedback condition, respectively, based on said values, and to provide a feedback detection signal indicative of feedback or a risk of feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Martin KURIGER, Bernhard KUENZLE, Meng GUO
  • Publication number: 20190253817
    Abstract: A method of conducting a fitting session for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user's needs is provided. The method comprises S1. providing an estimate of, a current feedback from said output transducer to said input transducer, while the hearing device is in an operational state; S2. evaluating said estimate of a current feedback and providing a value of a feedback risk indicator in dependence of said estimate of a current feedback; S3. determining whether said value of the feedback risk indicator fulfils a high-risk criterion; and S4. if said high-risk criterion is fulfilled providing at least one of a warning, a recommendation, and an action in relation to said feedback risk. Steps S1 to S4 are configured to be automatically performed as background processes. Thereby a simplified scheme for fitting a hearing device to a user's needs may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Susanna Løve CALLAWAY, Nicolas LE GOFF, Terri IVES, Nimrod BOGDANOVSKI, Mikkel Bo RASMUSSEN, Anders MENG, Martin KURIGER, Meng GUO, Mikkel GRØNBECH, Mojtaba FARMANI, Nels Hede ROHDE, Stefan GRAM, Sudershan Yalgalwadi SREEPADARAO, Bernhard KUENZLE
  • Patent number: 10368175
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, comprises a forward path for processing an electric signal representing sound including a) an input unit for receiving or providing an electric input signal representing sound, b) a signal processing unit, c) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable as sound to a user, d) a feedback detection unit configured to detect feedback or evaluate a risk of feedback via an acoustic or mechanical or electrical feedback path from said output transducer to said input unit and comprising d1) a magnitude and phase analysis unit for repeatedly determining magnitude, Mag, and phase, Phase, of said electric input signal and further parameters based thereon, and d2) a feedback conditions and detection unit configured to check criteria for magnitude and phase feedback condition, respectively, based on said values, and to provide a feedback detection signal indicative of feedback or a risk of feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Martin Kuriger, Bernhard Kuenzle, Meng Guo