Patents by Inventor Niels Ole KNUDSEN
Niels Ole KNUDSEN 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).
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Patent number: 11929855Abstract: A digital receiver being adapted for receiving an MSK modulated signal, comprises a digital front-end unit (10) adapted for providing samples having a phase value (?measure) of a down-mixed signal, a phase compensation unit (11) adapted for compensating the phase value (?measure) by delivering a phase offset compensated sample having a phase value (?sync), and a coherent demodulator (12) adapted for recovering information content from the phase offset compensated sample. The phase compensation unit (11) is adapted for analyzing a phase value (?sync) of the phase offset compensated sample, calculating a phase offset value (?offset) based on the phase value (?sync) of the phase offset compensated sample, and applying the phase offset value (?offset) when delivering a subsequent phase offset compensated sample.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Publication number: 20220393919Abstract: A digital receiver being adapted for receiving an MSK modulated signal, comprises a digital front-end unit (10) adapted for providing samples having a phase value (?measure) of a down-mixed signal, a phase compensation unit (11) adapted for compensating the phase value (?measure) by delivering a phase offset compensated sample having a phase value (?sync), and a coherent demodulator (12) adapted for recovering information content from the phase offset compensated sample. The phase compensation unit (11) is adapted for analyzing a phase value (?sync) of the phase offset compensated sample, calculating a phase offset value (?offset) based on the phase value (?sync) of the phase offset compensated sample, and applying the phase offset value (?offset) when delivering a subsequent phase offset compensated sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2020Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Publication number: 20220345151Abstract: A differential delta-sigma-modulator has an integrator including a pair of single-ended amplifiers. A sample clock is driving a first switchable capacitor configuration and a second switchable capacitor configuration at a predetermined switching cycle. The first switchable capacitor configuration is adapted for sampling respective outputs from the pair of single-ended amplifiers on a pair of output sampling capacitors in the first part of the switching cycle. The second switchable capacitor configuration is adapted for charging a common mode capacitor with the average voltage of the voltage sampled by the pair of output sampling capacitors in the second part of the switching cycle. The voltage across the common mode capacitor represents the common mode voltage for the integrator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Patent number: 11463822Abstract: A hearing assistive device including an audio processing circuit with an analog-to-digital converter having an integrator integrating a voltage present in the summation point; a comparator comparing an output from the integrator with a reference voltage (Vref) and outputting a logical level in accordance with the comparison; a feedback loop coupling a feedback signal back to the summation point; and a reference voltage generation circuit being adapted to provide the reference voltage (Vref) being lower than a power supply voltage (Vbattery) and following the decay of the power supply voltage (Vbattery) with a predefined margin.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Patent number: 10511916Abstract: A hearing assistive device having an input transducer (18) for picking up sound from the environment, a digital signal processor (27) for alleviating a hearing loss of a specific user by compensating an audio signal according to the users hearing deficit, and an output transducer (29) for reproducing the compensated audio signal. The hearing assistive device further includes an integrated circuit component (40) having at least one analog-to-digital converter adapted for receiving an audio input signal from a microphone and providing a data output for signal processing. The at least one analog-to-digital converter includes an AC filter (50) preventing audible signal losses towards the microphone, and the AC filter (50) is provided with all components integrated in the integrated circuit component (40).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Publication number: 20190297432Abstract: A hearing assistive device including an audio processing circuit with an analog-to-digital converter having an integrator integrating a voltage present in the summation point; a comparator comparing an output from the integrator with a reference voltage (Vref) and outputting a logical level in accordance with the comparison; a feedback loop coupling a feedback signal back to the summation point; and a reference voltage generation circuit being adapted to provide the reference voltage (Vref) being lower than a power supply voltage (Vbattery) and following the decay of the power supply voltage (Vbattery) with a predefined margin.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Publication number: 20180176695Abstract: A hearing assistive device having an input transducer (18) for picking up sound from the environment, a digital signal processor (27) for alleviating a hearing loss of a specific user by compensating an audio signal according to the users hearing deficit, and an output transducer (29) for reproducing the compensated audio signal. The hearing assistive device further includes an integrated circuit component (40) having at least one analog-to-digital converter adapted for receiving an audio input signal from a microphone and providing a data output for signal processing. The at least one analog-to-digital converter includes an AC filter (50) preventing audible signal losses towards the microphone, and the AC filter (50) is provided with all components integrated in the integrated circuit component (40).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Publication number: 20170226330Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid composition comprising a solid fraction and a liquid organic fraction, wherein said solid fraction and said liquid fraction are present in a state of being intermixed, wherein said solid fraction comprises a lignin component, wherein said liquid fraction comprises an organic substance. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of such fluid compositions, to various uses thereof, and to a process for treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: Inbicon A/SInventors: Niels Ole Knudsen, Mia Frosch Mogensbæk Foverskov
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Patent number: 9706315Abstract: A frequency-shift-keying (FSK) transceiver for use in a hearing aid system and having a resonant circuit including a transceiver inductance (L1), the resonant circuit having a resonance frequency, and a transfer function where gain and phase are frequency dependent, wherein the transceiver includes an FSK modulator receiving a data stream, and in response thereto outputting an FSK modulated signal to the resonant circuit for wireless transmission. The transceiver includes a controller monitoring the data stream received by the FSK modulator, and a phase equalizer unit controlled by the controller for substantially equalizing the phase distortion introduced by the frequency dependent resonant circuit. The invention also provides a hearing aid and a method of operating an FSK transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: WIDEX A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Patent number: 9271088Abstract: A digital, three-level output driver (7) of the H-bridge variety for a hearing aid (20) obtains a reduced capacitive interference by providing a primary voltage (3) and a secondary voltage (8) for the output driver (7) and applying the secondary voltage (8) to both sides of the output driver (7) whenever the middle level of the three-level output driver (7) is present in the input signal for the output driver (7). The output driver (7) may be controlled from a pulse-width modulated signal, a sigma-delta pulse-density modulated signal, or a combination of those signals. The output driver (7) produces a clocked output signal consisting of a positive level, a negative level, and a zero level for driving an acoustic output transducer of the hearing aid (20). The invention provides a hearing aid (20) and a method of driving an output stage (7) of a hearing aid (20).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Henning Haugaard Andersen, Niels Ole Knudsen
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Publication number: 20150312684Abstract: A frequency-shift-keying (FSK) transceiver for use in a hearing aid system and having a resonant circuit comprising a transceiver inductance (L1), said resonant circuit having a resonance frequency, and a transfer function where gain and phase are frequency dependent, wherein the transceiver comprises an FSK modulator receiving a data stream, and in response thereto outputting an FSK modulated signal to the resonant circuit for wirelessly transmission. The transceiver includes a controller monitoring the data stream received by the FSK modulator, and a phase equalizer unit controlled by the controller for substantially equalizing the phase distortion introduced by the frequency dependent resonant circuit. The invention also provides a hearing aid and a method of operating an FSK transceiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Patent number: 9041574Abstract: In order to minimize noise and current consumption in a hearing aid, an input converter including a first voltage transformer and an analog-to-digital converter of the delta-sigma type for a hearing aid is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage includes an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). The first voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage and is placed in the input converter upstream of the input stage. A second voltage transformer (OT) having a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, is optionally placed in the feedback loop of the converter. The voltage transformers (IT, OT) are switched-capacitor voltage transformers, each transformer (IT, OT) having at least two capacitors (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Patent number: 9020063Abstract: An frequency shift keying (FSK) transceiver for use in a hearing aid is capable of automatic tuning of the transceiver frequency. The automatic tuning makes use of a phase difference detector and a tuning manager adapted to control the frequency of a resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver according to information received from the phase difference detector. The phase difference detector measures the phase difference across a component of the resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver. If the phase difference of a binary FSK symbol is equal to the phase difference of the opposite binary FSK symbol, the resonant circuit is tuned, otherwise the tuning manager performs a tuning procedure in order to minimize the difference in phase differences, and adjusts the frequency of the resonant circuit accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Soren Mollskov Larsen, Niels Ole Knudsen
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Patent number: 8929813Abstract: In a monitoring device consisting of a reader and a data carrier, the reader (100) comprises a control unit (101), a memory (102), a digital signal generator (103), an output driver (104), resonance capacitors (105, 107) and a transmitter coil (106). The digital signal generator (103) is adapted for supplying a digital bit sequence selected among, at least two, bit sequences stored in the memory (102) whereby the strength of the magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil (106) can be varied dependent on the bit sequence selected by the control unit (101). The invention further provides a method of controlling the strength of a magnetic field generated by the reader of the monitoring device.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Henning Hougaard Andersen, Soren Kilsgaard, Niels Ole Knudsen
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Patent number: 8866661Abstract: In order to minimize noise and current consumption in an EEG monitoring system (40) which can be continuously carried by a person to be monitored, an input converter (44) for an EEG monitoring system is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage comprises an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). A voltage transformer (IT) is placed in the input converter upstream of input stage. The transformation ratio of the voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, thereby multiplying the signal voltage for the input stage by a fixed factor. The voltage transformer (IT) is a switched-capacitor voltage transformer having at least two capacitors (Cx, Cy, Cz). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal, and an EEG monitoring system comprising the input converter (44).Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Widex A/SInventors: Niels Ole Knudsen, Soren Kilsgaard
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Patent number: 8837758Abstract: In a hearing aid (40), a direct-digital H-bridge output driver stage (1) driven by a sigma-delta modulator (2) is configured to operate in a power-saving three-level output mode or a power-consuming two-level output mode. The three-level output mode of the H-bridge output driver stage (1) has low power consumption but suffers the disadvantage of emitting capacitive noise potentially interfering with the reception of radio signals in a radio receiver (17) in the hearing aid (40). By providing a novel method of selecting the two-level output mode whenever the radio receiver (17) is receiving signals, and selecting the three-level output mode whenever the radio receiver (17) is idle, this capacitive interference does not disturb the radio receiver (17) in the hearing aid (40). The invention provides a method and a hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Publication number: 20140241556Abstract: An FSK transceiver for use in a hearing aid has means for automatic tuning of the transceiver frequency. The automatic tuning means comprises a phase difference detector and a tuning manager adapted to control the frequency of a resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver according to information received from the phase difference detector. The phase difference detector measures the phase difference across a component of the resonant circuit of the FSK transceiver. If the phase difference of a binary FSK symbol is equal to the phase difference of the opposite binary FSK symbol, the resonant circuit is tuned, otherwise the tuning manager performs a tuning procedure in order to minimize the difference in phase differences, and adjusts the frequency of the resonant circuit accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventors: Soren Mollskov LARSEN, Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Publication number: 20130249726Abstract: In order to minimize noise and current consumption in a hearing aid, an input converter including a first voltage transformer and an analog-to-digital converter of the delta-sigma type for a hearing aid is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage includes an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). The first voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage and is placed in the input converter upstream of the input stage. A second voltage transformer (OT) having a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, is optionally placed in the feedback loop of the converter. The voltage transformers (IT, OT) are switched-capacitor voltage transformers, each transformer (IT, OT) having at least two capacitors (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole KNUDSEN
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Patent number: 8493256Abstract: In order to minimize noise and current consumption in a hearing aid, an input converter comprising a first voltage transformer and an analog-to-digital converter of the delta-sigma type for a hearing aid is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage comprises an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). The first voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage and is placed in the input converter upstream of the input stage. A second voltage transformer (OT) having a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, is optionally placed in the feedback loop of the converter. The voltage transformers (IT, OT) are switched-capacitor voltage transformers, each transformer (IT, OT) having at least two capacitors (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Widex A/SInventor: Niels Ole Knudsen
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Publication number: 20120010522Abstract: In order to minimize noise and current consumption in an EEG monitoring system (40) which can be continuously carried by a person to be monitored, an input converter (44) for an EEG monitoring system is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage comprises an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). A voltage transformer (IT) is placed in the input converter upstream of input stage. The transformation ratio of the voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, thereby multiplying the signal voltage for the input stage by a fixed factor. The voltage transformer (IT) is a switched-capacitor voltage transformer having at least two capacitors (Cx, Cy, Cz). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal, and an EEG monitoring system comprising the input converter (44).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: WIDEX A/SInventors: Niels Ole KNUDSEN, Soren KILSGAARD