Patents by Inventor Silvia Allegro

Silvia Allegro 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: 10219727
    Abstract: A method for fitting a hearing device to the needs and preferences of a user of the hearing device is disclosed. In a first step of the disclosed method, a first range for a parameter setting of a first parameter is determined based on a first audiological test performed with the user. In a second step of the disclosed method, the first parameter is adjusted to a first final parameter setting within the first range and/or a second parameter of the hearing device is adjusted to a second final parameter setting based on a second audiological test performed with the user. The second parameter is functionally related to the first parameter such that the first parameter is expressible as a function of the second parameter, and the adjusting is performed such that the first parameter setting remains within the first range. Additionally, corresponding fitting apparatuses and computer-readable media are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Harald Krueger, Juliane Raether, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Julia Rehmann, Timo Boeld
  • Patent number: 9774965
    Abstract: An exemplary method for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user performed by a fitting system operatively connected to but remote from the hearing device includes providing, to the hearing device, an adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using a fitting system and a specification comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter defined by the fitter using the fitting system. The method further includes transferring the adjustable parameter and the specification to a user interface operatively connected to the hearing device and located with the hearing device for use by the hearing device user, receiving an adjusted parameter value for the adjustable parameter adjusted by the hearing device user with aid of the user interface to be within the allowed range, and updating the adjustable parameter in a transfer function of the hearing device based on the adjusted parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jha Siddhartha, Ralph Peter Derleth, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Harald Krueger
  • Patent number: 9641946
    Abstract: A hearing device is proposed comprising at least one microphone (1), at least one analog-to-digital converter (2), a signal processing unit (3), a communication unit (6) for establishing and/or maintaining a communication link to a second hearing device, and a detection unit (7) for determining a communication link quality. The at least one microphone (1) is operationally connected to the signal processing unit (3) via the at least one analog-to-digital converter (2), and the communication unit (6) is operationally connected to the signal processing unit (3). By providing said detection unit (7), which is operationally connected to the communication unit (6), together with a processing scheme selectable in the signal processing unit (3) in accordance to a determined communication link quality, a binaural hearing system with two hearing devices is for able to adjust its mode in line with the communication link quality, and therewith its capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Stefan Launer, Nail Cadalli, Silvia Allegro-Baumann
  • Publication number: 20160337769
    Abstract: An exemplary method for fitting a hearing device to a hearing device user performed by a fitting system operatively connected to but remote from the hearing device includes providing, to the hearing device, an adjustable parameter identified by a fitter using a fitting system and a specification comprising an allowed range for the adjustable parameter defined by the fitter using the fitting system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jha Siddhartha, Ralph Peter Derleth, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Harald Krueger
  • Publication number: 20160324448
    Abstract: A method for fitting a hearing device to the needs and preferences of a user of the hearing device is disclosed. In a first step of the disclosed method a first range for a parameter setting of a first parameter is determined based on a first audiological test performed with the user. In a second step of the disclosed method, the first parameter is adjusted to a first final parameter setting within the first range and/or a second parameter of the hearing device is adjusted to a second final parameter setting based on a second audiological test performed with the user. The second parameter is functionally related to the first parameter such that the first parameter is expressible as a function of the second parameter, and the adjusting is performed such second step it is ensured that the first parameter setting remains within the first range Additionally, corresponding fitting apparatuses and computer-readable media are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Harald KRUEGER, Juliane RAETHER, Silvia ALLEGRO-BAUMANN, Julia REHMANN, Timo BOELD
  • Patent number: 9319804
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device by applying a frequency transposition scheme to an input signal of the hearing device comprising an input transducer, a signal processing unit and an output transducer, the method comprising the steps of transforming the input signal from time domain into frequency domain by applying a transformation function in order to obtain an input spectrum having a frequency range comprising a source region (20) and a destination region (30), adaptively selecting signal components of the source region (20) taking into account momentary characteristics of the input signal, transposing the selected signal components to the destination region (30), and supplying the output spectrum or a transformation thereof to the output transducer, the output spectrum comprising signal components of the destination region (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Ralph Peter Derleth, Siddhartha Jha
  • Publication number: 20140105435
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device by applying a frequency transposition scheme to an input signal of the hearing device comprising an input transducer, a signal processing unit and an output transducer, the method comprising the steps of transforming the input signal from time domain into frequency domain by applying a transformation function in order to obtain an input spectrum having a frequency range comprising a source region (20) and a destination region (30), adaptively selecting signal components of the source region (20) taking into account momentary characteristics of the input signal, transposing the selected signal components to the destination region (30), and supplying the output spectrum or a transformation thereof to the output transducer, the output spectrum comprising signal components of the destination region (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Ralph Peter Derleth, Siddhartha Jha
  • Patent number: 8249284
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a hearing system comprising an input unit, an output unit and a transmission unit operationally interconnecting said input output units. Said transmission unit implements a transfer function describing, how audio signals generated by said input unit are processed in order to derive audio signals fed to said output unit, and can be adjusted by one or more transfer function parameters. Said method comprises obtaining, by means of said input unit and with a first directional characteristic, first audio signals from incoming acoustic sound; deriving from said first audio signals a first set of sound-characterizing data; and deriving, in dependence of first directional information, which is data comprising information on said first directional characteristic, and of said first set of sound-characterizing data, a value for each of said one or more transfer function parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Stefan Launer, Hilmar Meier, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Herbert Bächler
  • Patent number: 8094847
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustical device, especially a hearing device. A device casing is provided with an acoustical/electrical input converter arrangement with an electric output. An audio signal processing unit establishes audio signal processing of the device according to individual needs and/or purpose of the device. At least one electrical/mechanical output converter is provided. A filter arrangement with adjustable high-pass characteristic has a control input for the characteristic. The following operational connections are established: between the output of the input converter arrangement and the input of the filter arrangement, between the output of the filter arrangement and the control input, between said output of the filter arrangement and the input of the processing unit, between the output of the processing unit and the input of the at least once output converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Franziska Pfisterer
  • Patent number: 8077889
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device. The method consists in that a point in time of the recording and/or a recording frequency as well as the information to be recorded, as data and/or parameters and/or adjustments of the hearing device are adjusted freely or are programmable, respectively. Furthermore, a hearing device is described that is suitable to use the method. By the present invention, a multitude of the parameters being adjustable in a hearing device can be checked or surveyed all together or selectively in real, i.e. actually existing acoustic environments in order to optimally adjust or adapt the hearing device afterwards, that means after the analysis by the fitter, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Herbert Bächler, Volker Kühnel, Silvia Allegro, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Ivo Hasler, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christoph Widmer
  • Patent number: 7995781
    Abstract: In order to switch between different hearing programs to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, a method for adjusting a hearing device, in which one of several possible hearing programs can be selected in order to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, the method comprising the steps of detecting a desired hearing program change, changing parameters (b1, . . . , bm) of a transfer function provided between a microphone (M1) and a receiver of the hearing device in order to adapt it to the detected hearing program change, adjusting the parameters (b1, . . . , bm) to be changed from a momentary value to a desired value in such a manner that a smooth transition is perceived by the hearing device user while changing from a momentary hearing program to the desired hearing program, whereas each of the smooth transition is individually adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro Baumann, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 7957548
    Abstract: A hearing device has an adjustable transfer function comprising M?1 sub-functions (M is an integer). A method for operating the hearing device includes deriving input audio signals from a current acoustic environment. For each of the M sub-functions, derive, based on the input audio signals and for each class of N?2 classes that describe a predetermined acoustic environment, a class similarity factor indicative of the similarity of the current acoustic environment with the predetermined acoustic environment described by the respective class (N is an integer). Derive from N predetermined base parameter sets assigned to the respective sub-function and in dependence of the class similarity factors, an activity parameter set for the respective sub-function. Each of the N base parameter sets assigned to the respective sub-function is assigned to a different class of the N classes. Adjust the respective sub-function by means of the activity parameter set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Hubert Lechner, Manuela Feilner, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Publication number: 20100092018
    Abstract: In order to switch between different hearing programs to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, a method for adjusting a hearing device, in which one of several possible hearing programs can be selected in order to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, the method comprising the steps of detecting a desired hearing program change, changing parameters (b1, . . . , bm) of a transfer function provided between a microphone (M1) and a receiver of the hearing device in order to adapt it to the detected hearing program change, adjusting the parameters (b1, . . . , bm) to be changed from a momentary value to a desired value in such a manner that a smooth transition is perceived by the hearing device user while changing from a momentary hearing program to the desired hearing program, whereas each of the smooth transition is individually adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 7653205
    Abstract: In order to switch between different hearing programs to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, a method for adjusting a hearing device, in which one of several possible hearing programs can be selected in order to adjust to a momentary acoustic scene, the method comprising the steps of detecting a desired hearing program change, changing parameters (b1, . . . , bm) of a transfer function provided between a microphone (M1) and a receiver of the hearing device in order to adapt it to the detected hearing program change, adjusting the parameters (b1, . . . , bm) to be changed from a momentary value to a desired value in such a manner that a smooth transition is perceived by the hearing device user while changing from a momentary hearing program to the desired hearing program, whereas each of the smooth transition is individually adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro Baumann, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier
  • Patent number: 7545944
    Abstract: According to the invention, in a hearing instrument it is once or repeatedly checked whether a second hearing instrument is present and active. If a second hearing instrument is active on the contralateral side, a first gain (corresponding to the gain for binaural fitting) is applied. If, however, no further hearing instrument is found to be active, a second—increased—gain is applied. The second gain may simply correspond to the first gain increased by a certain dB value. It may as an alternative be a specifically adapted gain characteristic of a monaural fitting for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro Baumann, Stefan Launer
  • Publication number: 20090123009
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustical device, especially a hearing device. A device casing is provided with an acoustical/electrical input converter arrangement with an electric output. An audio signal processing unit establishes audio signal processing of the device according to individual needs and/or purpose of the device. At least one electrical/mechanical output converter is provided. A filter arrangement with adjustable high-pass characteristic has a control input for the characteristic. The following operational connections are established: between the output of the input converter arrangement and the input of the filter arrangement, between the output of the filter arrangement and the control input, between said output of the filter arrangement and the input of the processing unit, between the output of the processing unit and the input of the at least once output converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Franziska Pfisterer
  • Patent number: 7492916
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an acoustical device, especially a hearing device. A device casing is provided with an acoustical/electrical input converter arrangement with an electric output. An audio signal processing unit establishes audio signal processing of the device according to individual needs and/or purpose of the device. At least one electrical/mechanical output converter is provided. A filter arrangement with adjustable high-pass characteristic has a control input for the characteristic. The following operational connections are established: between the output of the input converter arrangement and the input of the filter arrangement, between the output of the filter arrangement and the control input, between said output of the filter arrangement and the input of the processing unit, between the output of the processing unit and the input of the at least once output converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Franziska Pfisterer
  • Publication number: 20080107296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device. The method consists in that a point in time of the recording and/or a recording frequency as well as the information to be recorded, as data and/or parameters and/or adjustments of the hearing device are adjusted freely or are programmable, respectively. Furthermore, a hearing device is described that is suitable to use the method. By the present invention, a multitude of the parameters being adjustable in a hearing device can be checked or surveyed all together or selectively in real, i.e. actually existing acoustic environments in order to optimally adjust or adapt the hearing device afterwards, that means after the analysis by the fitter, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Herbert Bachler, Volker Kuhnel, Silvia Allegro, Stefan Menzl, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Ivo Hasler, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christoph Widmer
  • Patent number: 7349549
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recording information in a hearing device and/or in a recording unit at least temporally operationally connected to the hearing device. The method consists in that a point in time of the recording and/or a recording frequency as well as the information to be recorded, as data and/or parameters and/or adjustments of the hearing device are adjusted freely or are programmable, respectively. Furthermore, a hearing device is described that is suitable to use the method. By the present invention, a multitude of the parameters being adjustable in a hearing device can be checked or surveyed all together or selectively in real, i.e. actually existing acoustic environments in order to optimally adjust or adapt the hearing device afterwards, that means after the analysis by the fitter, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Herbert Bächler, Volker Kühnel, Silvia Allegro, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Ivo Hasler, Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christoph Widmer
  • Patent number: 7319769
    Abstract: A method to adjust parameters of a transfer function of a hearing device is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of extracting features of an input signal fed to the hearing device, classifying the extracted features into one of several possible classes, selecting a class corresponding to a best estimate of a momentary acoustic scene, adjusting at least some of the parameters of the transfer function in accordance with the selected class representing the best estimated momentary acoustic scene, and training the hearing device to improve classification of the extracted feature or the best estimate of the momentary acoustic scene, respectively, during regular operation of the hearing device. As a result, the hearing device does not only improve its behavior when new data is presented lying outside of known training data, but the hearing device is also better and faster adapted to most common acoustic scenes, with which the hearing device user is confronted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Silvia Allegro-Baumann, Nail Cadalli, Stefan Launer, Valentin Chapero-Rueda