Patents by Inventor Steen Michael Munk
Steen Michael Munk 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: 9596551Abstract: A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Kenneth Rueskov Møller, Svend Oscar Petersen, Niels Stubager Kiemer, Jesper Kofoed Nielsen, Björn Ohl, Marianne Kleist Elmlund, Karin Carvalho, Henrik Bendsen, Regin Kopp Pedersen, Christian C. Bürger, Steen Michael Munk, Morten Christophersen, Julie Hefting Pedersen, Bo Westergård, Maria Oxenbøll
-
Publication number: 20160309266Abstract: A hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises a receiver (loudspeaker) adapted to generate and send an air-borne acoustic signal towards the eardrum when the hearing aid device is partly or fully inserted into the ear canal. The hearing aid device further comprises a microphone configured to receive acoustic signals. The hearing aid device comprises a processing unit configured to determine if the hearing aid device is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal on the basis of the acoustic signals received by the microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Thor Højlund OLSEN, Povl KOCH, Troels Holm PEDERSEN, Claus NIELSEN, Søren LAUGESEN, Karsten Bo RASMUSSEN, Peter SOMMER, Kåre Tais CHRISTENSEN, Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Jørn JOHANSEN, Bent SEVERIN, Jan FRANTZEN, Lars Lund JØRGENSEN, Glenn JENSEN, Anders Højsgaard THOMSEN, Steen Michael MUNK, Henrik Lodberg OLSEN, Anders HEBSGAARD, Vijay Kumar BHAT
-
Patent number: 9473858Abstract: A hearing device comprising a first and a second input sound transducers, a processing unit, and an output sound transducer. The first transducer is configured to be arranged in an ear canal or in the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate first electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The second transducer is configured to be arranged behind a pinna or on, behind or at the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate second electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The processing unit is configured to process the first and second electrical acoustic signals. The output sound transducer is configured to be arranged in the ear canal of the user and to generate acoustical output sound signals from electrical acoustic signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Thomas Kaulberg, Anders Thule, Steen Michael Munk, Karsten Bo Rasmussen
-
Patent number: 9432783Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an estimated transfer function of an acoustic feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, which receives acoustic signals from an individual's surroundings, modifies the acoustic signals electronically and transmits the modified acoustic signals into the individual's ear or ear canal. In order to save resources in the hearing device, the hearing device reuses a start-up jingle for determining an estimated transfer function during a fitting session upon reception of a predefined message from a fitting apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventor: Steen Michael Munk
-
Publication number: 20160249139Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising a) a forward path between an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal and an output transducer for converting an electric output signal to an output sound, the forward path comprising a signal processing unit for applying a level and/or frequency dependent gain to the electric input signal or a signal originating therefrom and for providing a processed signal, and feeding the processed signal or a signal originating therefrom to the output transducer, an acoustic feedback path being defined from said output transducer to said input transducer; b) a configurable anti-feedback system comprising a feedback estimation unit for providing an estimate of said acoustic feedback path; c) a number of detectors, each providing a detector signal for characterizing a signal of the forward path. The object of the present application is to save power in a hearing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Michael Smed KRISTENSEN, Anders MENG, Steen Michael MUNK
-
Publication number: 20160183012Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising an ITE-part adapted for being located at or in an ear canal of a user, a configurable signal processing unit for processing an input signal, and a feedback estimation unit for providing a current estimate of an acoustic feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer, a memory for storing frequency dependent reference estimates of the acoustic feedback path the real ear to coupler difference, when the ITE-part is correctly mounted, an optional probe signal generator for generating a probe signal at least in a specific measurement mode, wherein the hearing device is configured to perform measurement of the current estimate of the acoustic feedback path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Steen Michael Munk, Jacob Lindvig
-
Patent number: 9269343Abstract: An audio processing device comprises a feedback estimation system for estimating feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer, the feedback estimation system comprising an adaptive filter comprising a variable filter part for filtering an input signal according to variable filter coefficients and an algorithm part comprising an adaptive algorithm for dynamically updating filter coefficients, a control unit for controlling the de-correlation unit and the adaptive algorithm, and a correlation detection unit for determining a) the auto-correlation of a signal of the forward path and providing an AC-value and/or b) the cross-correlation between two different signals of the forward path and providing an XC-value.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: OTICON A/SInventors: Steen Michael Munk, Anders Meng
-
Publication number: 20150341730Abstract: A hearing device comprising a first and a second input sound transducers, a processing unit, and an output sound transducer. The first transducer is configured to be arranged in an ear canal or in the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate first electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The second transducer is configured to be arranged behind a pinna or on, behind or at the ear of the user, to receive acoustical sound signals from the environment and to generate second electrical acoustic signals from the received acoustical sound signals. The processing unit is configured to process the first and second electrical acoustic signals. The output sound transducer is configured to be arranged in the ear canal of the user and to generate acoustical output sound signals from electrical acoustic signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Thomas KAULBERG, Anders THULE, Steen Michael MUNK, Karsten Bo RASMUSSEN
-
Publication number: 20150230036Abstract: A hearing aid device is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises means to improve, augment and/or protect the hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from the surroundings of the user, generating corresponding audio signals, possibly modifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audio signals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. The hearing aid device comprises a sensor member for detecting the movement and/or acceleration and/or orientation (or spatial position) of the hearing aid device. The hearing aid device comprises at least two hearing aid microphones and a control unit for determining the position or a deviation from an intended position of the hearing aid device or hearing aid microphones. The hearing aid device is configured to compensate for a possible dislocation of the hearing aid microphones.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Kenneth Rueskov MØLLER, Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Niels Stubager KIEMER, Jesper Kofoed NIELSEN, Björn OHL, Marianne Kleist ELMLUND, Karin CARVALHO, Henrik BENDSEN, Regin Kopp PEDERSEN, Christian C. BÜRGER, Steen Michael MUNK, Morten CHRISTOPHERSEN, Julie Hefting PEDERSEN, Bo WESTERGÅRD, Maria OXENBØLL
-
Publication number: 20140146977Abstract: An audio processing device comprises a feedback estimation system for estimating feedback from an output transducer to an input transducer, the feedback estimation system comprising an adaptive filter comprising a variable filter part for filtering an input signal according to variable filter coefficients and an algorithm part comprising an adaptive algorithm for dynamically updating filter coefficients, a control unit for controlling the de-correlation unit and the adaptive algorithm, and a correlation detection unit for determining a) the auto-correlation of a signal of the forward path and providing an AC-value and/or b) the cross-correlation between two different signals of the forward path and providing an XC-value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Steen Michael MUNK, Anders MENG
-
Publication number: 20130294610Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining an estimated transfer function of an acoustic feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, which receives acoustic signals from an individual's surroundings, modifies the acoustic signals electronically and transmits the modified acoustic signals into the individual's ear or ear canal. In order to save resources in the hearing device, the hearing device reuses a start-up jingle for determining an estimated transfer function during a fitting session upon reception of a predefined message from a fitting apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: Oticon A/SInventor: Steen Michael MUNK
-
Patent number: 8437487Abstract: A hearing device (HD) incorporates a method for adaptive cancellation of acoustic feedback (AF). The method comprises generating an estimated feedback signal (EF) and subtracting the estimated feedback signal (EF) from the microphone signal (MS) before feeding it to a signal processor (SP) providing the primary hearing device function. The estimated feedback signal (EF) is generated in an adaptive filter (FE1), which is controlled using a least-mean-square algorithm, which operates on an error signal (E) and a reference signal (R). The algorithm may behave erroneously if the feedback path changes while a signal with low HF content, such as speech, is received. In this case, the hearing device (HD) will not be able to quickly adapt the HF characteristic of the adaptive filter (FE1) to the changed conditions. The adaptive filter (FE1) may thus have an incorrect HF gain when a subsequent signal with high HF content is received.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Steen Michael Munk
-
Patent number: 8229148Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing instrument, which comprises a first microphone converting ambient sound to an ambient sound signal, a signal processor generating a processed sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, a controllable output stage generating a driving signal based on the processed sound signal and in accordance with a control signal, a speaker unit generating a sound in the ear canal based on said driving signal, a second microphone located in the ear canal of the user and converting the sound in the ear canal to the monitor sound signal, and a linearization stage comparing the processed sound signal and the monitor sound signal and generating the control signal based thereon.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Steen Michael Munk
-
Publication number: 20120121114Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing instrument, which comprises a first microphone converting ambient sound to an ambient sound signal, a signal processor generating a processed sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, a controllable output stage generating a driving signal based on the processed sound signal and in accordance with a control signal, a speaker unit generating a sound in the ear canal based on said driving signal, a second microphone located in the ear canal of the user and converting the sound in the ear canal to the monitor sound signal, and a linearization stage comparing the processed sound signal and the monitor sound signal and generating the control signal based thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Karsten Bo RASMUSSEN, Steen Michael Munk
-
Patent number: 8130992Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing aid, where at least part of the hearing aid is adapted to be inserted into an ear canal of a user such that one end of the hearing aid and the tympanic membrane in the ear canal define a residual space of the ear canal, the hearing aid comprising an ambient space input transducer adapted to convert ambient sound to an electric sound signal, when the ambient sound reaches the ear of a user from an ambient space, a processor connected to said ambient space input transducer and adapted to process said electric sound signal, an output transducer connected to said processor and adapted to convert said processed electric sound signal to a sound pressure in the residual space of the ear canal, and wherein the hearing aid further comprises a residual space input transducer connected to said processor and arranged to predominantly receive said sound pressure in the residual space, and wherein the residual space input transducer is adapted to convert said sound pressure to an electric residual spType: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Steen Michael Munk, Karsten Bo Rasmussen
-
Patent number: 8130991Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing instrument (100), which comprises a first microphone (102) converting ambient sound to an ambient sound signal, a signal processor (104) generating a processed sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, a controllable output stage (106) generating a driving signal based on the processed sound signal and in accordance with a control signal, a speaker unit (110) generating a sound in the ear canal based on said driving signal, a second microphone (116) located in the ear canal of the user and converting the sound in the ear canal to the monitor sound signal, and a linearization stage (108) comparing the processed sound signal and the monitor sound signal and generating the control signal based thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Oticon A/SInventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Steen Michael Munk
-
Publication number: 20110188686Abstract: A hearing device (HD) incorporates a method for adaptive cancellation of acoustic feedback (AF). The method comprises generating an estimated feedback signal (EF) and subtracting the estimated feedback signal (EF) from the microphone signal (MS) before feeding it to a signal processor (SP) providing the primary hearing device function. The estimated feedback signal (EF) is generated in an adaptive filter (FE1), which is controlled using a least-mean-square algorithm, which operates on an error signal (E) and a reference signal (R). The algorithm may behave erroneously if the feedback path changes while a signal with low HF content, such as speech, is received. In this case, the hearing device (HD) will not be able to quickly adapt the HF characteristic of the adaptive filter (FE1) to the changed conditions. The adaptive filter (FE1) may thus have an incorrect HF gain when a subsequent signal with high HF content is received.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Inventor: Steen Michael Munk
-
Publication number: 20090052708Abstract: Disclosed is a hearing aid, where at least part of the hearing aid is adapted to be inserted into an ear canal of a user such that one end of the hearing aid and the tympanic membrane in the ear canal define a residual space of the ear canal, the hearing aid comprising an ambient space input transducer adapted to convert ambient sound to an electric sound signal, when the ambient sound reaches the ear of a user from an ambient space, a processor connected to said ambient space input transducer and adapted to process said electric sound signal, an output transducer connected to said processor and adapted to convert said processed electric sound signal to a sound pressure in the residual space of the ear canal, and wherein the hearing aid further comprises a residual space input transducer connected to said processor and arranged to predominantly receive said sound pressure in the residual space, and wherein the residual space input transducer is adapted to convert said sound pressure to an electric residual spType: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Steen Michael Munk, Karsten Bo Rasmussen
-
Publication number: 20080253594Abstract: This invention relates to a hearing instrument (100), which comprises a first microphone (102) converting ambient sound to an ambient sound signal, a signal processor (104) generating a processed sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, a controllable output stage (106) generating a driving signal based on the processed sound signal and in accordance with a control signal, a speaker unit (110) generating a sound in the ear canal based on said driving signal, a second microphone (116) located in the ear canal of the user and converting the sound in the ear canal to the monitor sound signal, and a linearization stage (108) comparing the processed sound signal and the monitor sound signal and generating the control signal based thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: Oticon A/SInventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Steen Michael Munk