Patents by Inventor Shigekiyo Fujii

Shigekiyo Fujii 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: 8494194
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: first and second microphones; first and second A/D converters; a microphone sensitivity correction unit; a hearing assistance processing unit; a microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit; a storage unit; a failure detection unit; a sound output unit; a D/A converter; and a receiver. The outputs of the first and second A/D converters are input to the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit. One output the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit is connected to the microphone sensitivity correction unit, and another output thereof is connected to the storage unit. An output of the storage unit and a signal output from the another output of the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit are input to the failure detection unit. Output signals of the failure detection unit and the hearing assistance processing unit are input to the sound output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Isozaki, Yasushi Ueda, Yasushi Imamura, Shigekiyo Fujii
  • Patent number: 8462957
    Abstract: A hearing aid (101) comprises a microphone (121) converting sound into an electrical signal, a processor (105) disposed inside a main body case (102), a first volume adjuster (104) having a variable resistor, and a receiver (123) converting an electrical signal into sound. The processor (105) has an amplifier (135) amplifying an electrical signal from the microphone (121), a second volume adjuster (105b) setting a degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and a controller (130) controlling the second volume adjuster (105b) and the amplifier (135). The controller (130) detects the resistance value of the variable resistor, determines whether or not the resistance value has exceeded a specific threshold, acquires a specific value for the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and sets the degree of amplification by the amplifier (135) to this specific value when the controller determines that the resistance value has exceeded the specific threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekiyo Fujii, Hiroshi Kondo, Yasushi Ueda, Yasushi Imamura, Kazutaka Maruoka
  • Patent number: 8121298
    Abstract: The invention is a hearing aid that is mounted on both the left and right ears and generates a notification sound to notify the user to a state change. This hearing aid comprises a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid mounted on the left and right ears, respectively. The first and second hearing aids each have a communication unit, an operating unit, a notification sound generator, and a notification sound generation delay unit. The communication unit performs communication between the first and second hearing aids. The operating unit changes the operating state of the first and second hearing aids. The notification sound generator generates a notification sound when the operating state of the first and second hearing aids changes due to operating of the operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ochi, Yasushi Ueda, Shigekiyo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20110299710
    Abstract: The invention is a hearing aid that is mounted on both the left and right ears and generates a notification sound to notify the user to a state change. This hearing aid comprises a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid mounted on the left and right ears, respectively. The first and second hearing aids each have a communication unit, an operating unit, a notification sound generator, and a notification sound generation delay unit. The communication unit performs communication between the first and second hearing aids. The operating unit changes the operating state of the first and second hearing aids. The notification sound generator generates a notification sound when the operating state of the first and second hearing aids changes due to operating of the operating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Akira OCHI, Yasushi UEDA, Shigekiyo FUJII
  • Patent number: 8073170
    Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To easily associate the parameters representing the acoustic characteristic of a hearing aid with the audibility of the hearing aid user, shorten the time for adjusting the hearing aid, and improve the accuracy of the adjustment of the parameter. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] By applying a two-dimensional matrix for changing the acoustic parameters of the hearing aid, a person adjusting the hearing aid can easily change the acoustic parameters depending on the audibility of the hearing aid user, the accuracy of the adjustment of the acoustic parameters is improved, and the period of time for adjusting the hearing aid is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kondo, Shigekiyo Fujii, Yoshiyuki Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20110274302
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes: first and second microphones; first and second A/D converters; a microphone sensitivity correction unit; a hearing assistance processing unit; a microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit; a storage unit; a failure detection unit; a sound output unit; a D/A converter; and a receiver. The outputs of the first and second A/D converters are input to the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit. One output the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit is connected to the microphone sensitivity correction unit, and another output thereof is connected to the storage unit. An output of the storage unit and a signal output from the another output of the microphone sensitivity correction value calculation unit are input to the failure detection unit. Output signals of the failure detection unit and the hearing assistance processing unit are input to the sound output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: HIROYOSHI ISOZAKI, YASUSHI UEDA, YASUSHI IMAMURA, SHIGEKIYO FUJII
  • Publication number: 20110019848
    Abstract: A hearing aid (101) comprises a microphone (121) configured to convert sound into an electrical signal, a processor (105) disposed inside a main body case (102), a first volume adjuster (104) having a variable resistor, and a receiver (123) configured to convert an electrical signal into sound. The processor (105) has an amplifier (135) configured to amplify an electrical signal from the microphone (121), a second volume adjuster (105b) configured to set a degree of amplification by the amplifier (135), and a controller (130) configured to control the second volume adjuster (105b) and the amplifier (135).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Shigekiyo Fujii, Hiroshi Kondo, Yasushi Ueda, Yasushi Imamura, Kazutaka Maruoka
  • Patent number: 7627127
    Abstract: A hearing aid adjusting apparatus 104 for adjusting a parameter of a hearing aid 101 has an input device 201 for accepting an operation input, a storage 203 for storing the parameter for every predetermined surrounding setting, a controller 202 for controlling the parameter for every surrounding setting, and a display 204 for displaying information about the parameter, and the input device 201 accepts selection of the plural surrounding settings and operates one of the selected surrounding settings, and the controller 202 collectively converts a parameter in the selected surrounding setting based on an operation accepted by the input device 201.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Aida, Hiroshi Kondo, Shigekiyo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20090185703
    Abstract: A hearing aid adjusting apparatus for making adjustment so that duplication, movement, etc. of surrounding setting can easily be changed on software is provided. A hearing aid adjusting apparatus 104 for adjusting a parameter of a hearing aid 101 has an input device 201 for accepting an operation input, a storage 203 for storing the parameter every predetermined surrounding setting, a controller 202 for controlling the parameter every the surrounding setting, and a display 204 for displaying information about the parameter, and the input device 201 accepts selection of the plural surrounding settings and operates one of the selected surrounding settings, and the controller 202 collectively converts a parameter in the selected surrounding setting based on an operation accepted by the input device 201.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke AIDA, Hiroshi KONDO, Shigekiyo FUJII
  • Patent number: 7539320
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed, which can shorten attack time and release time without using RC filter with time constant. According to this technique, diodes 51 and 52 rectify AC signal at output stage of an amplifier 30 by voltage doubler rectification, and a smoothing capacitor 53 smoothens the signals rectified by the diodes 51 and 52. A transistor 41 of an attenuation circuit 40 turns on when DC voltage smoothened by the smoothing capacitor exceeds a predetermined level, and level of the output signal of the amplifier is attenuated by drawing the input signal of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekiyo Fujii, Hiroshi Kondo, Yoshiyuki Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20090022346
    Abstract: [Problems] To easily associate the parameters representing the acoustic characteristic of a hearing aid with the audibility of the hearing aid user, shorten the time for adjusting the hearing aid, and improve the accuracy of the adjustment of the parameter. [Means for Solving Problems] By applying a two-dimensional matrix for changing the acoustic parameters of the hearing aid, a person adjusting the hearing aid can easily change the acoustic parameters depending on the audibility of the hearing aid user, the accuracy of the adjustment of the acoustic parameters is improved, and the period of time for adjusting the hearing aid is shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kondo, Shigekiyo Fujii, Yoshiyuki Yoshizumi
  • Publication number: 20070058828
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed, which can shorten attack time and release time without using RC filter with time constant. According to this technique, diodes 51 and 52 rectify AC signal at output stage of an amplifier 30 by voltage doubler rectification, and a smoothing capacitor 53 smoothens the signals rectified by the diodes 51 and 52. A transistor 41 of an attenuation circuit 40 turns on when DC voltage smoothened by the smoothing capacitor exceeds a predetermined level, and level of the output signal of the amplifier is attenuated by drawing the input signal of the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigekiyo Fujii, Hiroshi Kondo, Yoshiyuki Yoshizumi