Patents by Inventor Rainer Platz

Rainer Platz 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: 20110243358
    Abstract: A system for picking-up a user's voice, having an earpiece (10) that has a shell (12) and is to be worn at least partly in the user's ear canal (18), an elongate C-shaped bow-like retention element (14) attached to the shell for retaining the shell within the user's ear (18, 66, 68) and an ear microphone (16) oriented acoustically inwardly towards the user's ear canal for picking-up the user's voice. The material and the dimensions of the retention element are selected such that the retention element can be brought into engagement with the user's concha (68) by manual plastic deformation by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Rainer Platz, Wolfgang Huep
  • Publication number: 20100278365
    Abstract: A method for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising capturing audio signals by a microphone arrangement; measuring at least one mechanical parameter; selecting an audio signal processing scheme according to the measured at least one mechanical parameter; processing, by a signal processing unit, the captured audio signals according to the selected audio signal processing scheme; transmitting the processed audio signals to stimulating means worn at or in at least one of the user's ears via a wireless audio link; and stimulating the user's hearing by said stimulating means according to the processed audio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Giuseppina Biundo Lotito, Evert Dijkstra, Hans Mulder, Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20100278366
    Abstract: A method for providing hearing assistance to a user, comprising capturing audio signals by an internal microphone arrangement and supplying the captured audio signals a central signal processing unit; estimating whether a certain type of external audio signal supply device is connected to the audio signal processing unit in order to supply external audio signals to the central signal processing unit, and selecting an audio signal processing scheme according to the estimated type of external audio signal supply device; processing, the captured audio signals and the external audio signals according to the selected audio signal processing scheme; transmitting the processed audio signals to stimulating means worn at or in at least one of the user's ears via a wireless audio link; and stimulating the user's hearing by said stimulating means according to the processed audio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Giuseppina Biundo Lotito, Evert Dijkstra, Hans Mulder, Rainer Platz
  • Patent number: 7791551
    Abstract: A receiver device for receiving audio signals from a remote source has a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit. The antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-shaped conductor on an at least partially flexible insulating substrate. A first portion defines a first plane and a second portion defines a second plane, the first plane and second planes being oriented at an angle of 60° to 120° relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Patent number: 7777681
    Abstract: A receiver device for receiving audio signals from a remote source has a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit. The antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-shaped conductor on an at least partially flexible insulating substrate. A first portion defines a first plane and a second portion defines a second plane, the first plane and second planes being oriented at an angle of 60° to 120° relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20100195836
    Abstract: A communication system, comprising: a transmission unit comprising at least two microphones, with a separate audio signals channel for each microphone, a first ear unit and, a second ear unit worn at the each side of the user's head, each ear unit comprising a receiver unit; the transmission unit comprising means for transmitting at least a first channel and a second channel of the audio signals to the first and second ear unit, at least one of the receiver units being capable of receiving the at least first and second audio signal channel, at least one of the ear units comprising audio signal processing means for generating processed audio signals received via the at least first and second audio signal channel, with the first ear unit and the second ear unit comprising means for stimulating the user's hearing at the right ear and the left ear, accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20100172526
    Abstract: A transmission system and a method for controlling the transmission system comprising at least one interface unit and at least one adjustable device are disclosed. The method includes configuring the at least one interface unit according to interface configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one interface unit according to the interface configuration parameters. The method can also include transmitting device configuration parameters from the at least one interface unit to at least one of the adjustable devices, configuring the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters in order to transmit data via the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Rainer Platz, Thomas Von Dach
  • Publication number: 20100135512
    Abstract: A communication system having at least one user worn receiver unit for receiving audio signals via a wireless audio link connected to a stimulating means for stimulating the user's hearing according to audio signals received via the audio link; and a plurality of user worn transmission units and a microphone arrangement for capturing audio signals from the respective user's voice, an audio signal transmission portion for establishing the wireless audio link to at least one receiver unit to transmit the captured audio signals to the at least one receiver unit, an assistive digital link transceiver portion for establishing a bidirectional assistive digital link to at least one of the other transmission units and/or to an external command unit, and a control unit for controlling signal transmission of the transmission unit according to data exchanged with the control unit of the at least one of the other transmission units and/or the external command unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Stefan Haenggi, Francois Marquis, Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20100119077
    Abstract: An active hearing protecting system right earplug and a left earplug and a wearable central unit to be worn at the user's body a digital audio signal processing unit which has at least two channels and which can be connected via an audio input to an external audio signal source each earplug including a microphone and a loudspeaker which are connected to the audio signal processing unit. The central unit also has a detector for detecting audio signals and being adapted to control the audio signal processing unit when audio signal is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Rainer Platz, Olivier Hautier
  • Patent number: 7698440
    Abstract: A transmission system and a method for controlling the transmission system comprising at least one interface unit and at least one adjustable device are disclosed. The method includes configuring the at least one interface unit according to interface configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one interface unit according to the interface configuration parameters. The method can also include transmitting device configuration parameters from the at least one interface unit to at least one of the adjustable devices, configuring the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters in order to transmit data via the second link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Rainer Platz, Thomas Von Dach
  • Patent number: 7639828
    Abstract: A hearing system is provided, having a hearing device, an audio signal transmitter, an audio signal source for providing audio signals to the audio signal transmitter, an audio signal receiver unit adapted to establish a wireless link for transmission of the audio signals from the audio signal transmitter to the audio signal receiver unit which is connected to or integrated within the hearing device, a device for generating and wirelessly transmitting a polling signal to the audio signal receiver unit, a device for receiving the polling signal at the audio signal receiver unit, a device for generating and wirelessly transmitting a status information signal containing data regarding the status of the wireless audio signal link or the receiver unit, and a device for receiving the status information signal and displaying status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20090197562
    Abstract: A receiver device for receiving audio signals from a remote source has a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit. The antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-shaped conductor on an at least partially flexible insulating substrate. A first portion defines a first plane and a second portion defines a second plane, the first plane and second planes being oriented at an angle of 60° to 120° relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Rainer PLATZ
  • Publication number: 20090196449
    Abstract: A receiver device for receiving audio signals from a remote source has a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit. The antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-shaped conductor on an at least partially flexible insulating substrate. A first portion defines a first plane and a second portion defines a second plane, the first plane and second planes being oriented at an angle of 60° to 120° relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer PLATZ
  • Patent number: 7548211
    Abstract: A receiver device (10) for receiving audio signals from a remote source is provided, comprising: a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit, wherein the antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-like conductor on an at least partially flexible insolating substrate and comprises a first portion defining a first plane and a second portion defining a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are oriented at an angle of 60 to 120 degrees relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20080080394
    Abstract: A transmission system and a method for controlling the transmission system by adjusting one or more of its components comprising at least one interface unit and at least one adjustable device are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of configuring the at least one interface unit according to interface configuration parameters, enabling the at least one interface unit according to the interface configuration parameters in order to transmit data via the first link, transmitting device configuration parameters from the at least one interface unit to at least one of the adjustable device via a second link, configuring the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters, and enabling the at least one adjustable device according to the device configuration parameters in order to transmit data via the second link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Rainer Platz, Thomas Von Dach
  • Publication number: 20070229369
    Abstract: A receiver device (10) for receiving audio signals from a remote source is provided, comprising: a magnetic loop antenna for receiving radio frequency signals carrying audio signals, a signal processing unit for reproducing audio signals from the radio frequency signals received by the antenna, an output interface which is capable of being mechanically connected to an input interface of a hearing instrument to be worn at a user's ear in order to supply the audio signals from the signal processing unit as input to the hearing instrument, and a housing enclosing the antenna and the signal processing unit, wherein the antenna is designed as a printed board circuit with a loop-like conductor on an at least partially flexible insolating substrate and comprises a first portion defining a first plane and a second portion defining a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are oriented at an angle of 60 to 120 degrees relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer PLATZ
  • Publication number: 20070160243
    Abstract: A system for separation of a user's voice from ambient sound, comprising a device to be worn at the user's ear or at least partly in the user's ear canal comprising a first microphone oriented acoustically outwardly towards the environment and a second microphone oriented acoustically inwardly towards the user's ear canal, and an audio signal processing unit for processing audio signals from the first and second microphone by a blind source separation algorithm adapted to separate the user's voice from ambient sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Evert Dijkstra, Oliver Hautier, Nicolas Destrez, Rainer Platz
  • Publication number: 20070147641
    Abstract: A hearing system is provided, comprising a hearing device, an audio signal transmitter, an audio signal source for providing audio signals to the audio signal transmitter, an audio signal receiver unit adapted to establish a wireless link for transmission of the audio signals from the audio signal transmitter to the audio signal receiver unit which is connected to or integrated within the hearing device, means for generating and wirelessly transmitting a polling signal to the audio signal receiver unit, means for receiving the polling signal at the audio signal receiver unit, means for generating and wirelessly transmitting a status information signal containing data regarding the status of the wireless audio signal link or the receiver unit, and means for receiving the status information signal and displaying status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Rainer Platz
  • Patent number: 6894576
    Abstract: A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate around an axis of rotation (O) substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure having a plurality of thermally compensating members (65) which are adapted to alter a mass moment of inertia of the free-standing oscillating structure as a function of temperature so as to compensate for the effect of temperature on the resonant frequency of the ring resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Metin Giousouf, Heinz Kück, Rainer Platz
  • Patent number: 6859113
    Abstract: A time base including a resonator (4) and an integrated electronic circuit (3) for driving the resonator into oscillation and for producing, in response to the oscillation, a signal having a determined frequency. The resonator is an integrated micromechanical ring resonator supported above a substrate (2) and adapted to oscillate in a first oscillation mode. The ring resonator includes a free-standing oscillating structure (6). Electrodes (100, 120; 130, 150) are positioned under the free-standing oscillating structure in such a way as to drive and sense a second oscillation mode in a plane substantially perpendicular to the substrate and having a resonant frequency which is different from the resonant frequency of the first oscillation mode, a frequency difference between the resonant frequencies of both oscillation modes being used for compensating for the effect of temperature on the frequency of the signal produced by the time base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: ETA SA Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventors: Metin Giousouf, Heinz Kück, Rainer Platz