Patents by Inventor Tony M. Nygard
Tony M. Nygard 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: 9166655Abstract: A communication system for an active implantable medical device. The communication system includes an isolation transformer a coil coupled to the isolation transformer, and first and second communication components each coupled to the isolation transformer such that the first and second communication components are electrically isolated from the coil, and such that the isolation transformer enables the first and second communication components to communicate, via magnetic induction (MI) using the coil, with at least one external component.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Werner Meskens, Erika J. Van Baelen, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 9008787Abstract: A method and system for charge imbalance compensation in a stimulating medical device is provided. The stimulating medical device includes at least one electrode contact configured for providing stimulation to a recipient. A charge imbalance compensation system in the stimulating medical device measures any residual charge remaining on the electrode contact that may result from an imbalance in the applied stimulation. If the measured residual charge exceeds a threshold, the charge imbalance compensation system causes a compensator current to be applied to reduce the residual charge. This residual charge may be measured by measuring a potential difference between the electrode contact and a reference electrode; or, by measuring a potential difference across a capacitor in-series with the electrode contact.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Paul M. Carter, Torsten Lehmann, Christopher van den Honert, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 8953810Abstract: Aspect of the present invention are generally directed to synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system. In this system, a primary wireless communications channel, usable for synchronizing the first and second prostheses, may be disabled to, for example, conserve power. Then, upon detection of a trigger in sound received by one or more of the prostheses, the primary wireless communication channel is enabled and the prostheses synchronized using the primary wireless communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Werner Meskens, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 8626307Abstract: An electronic system is provided which includes a number of components. Each component includes one or more integrated circuits. During normal operation of the system, each integrated circuit provides individual operating functionality for its respective component. At least one of the integrated circuits is installed as a generic integrated circuit capable of providing any one of a number of potential operating functionalities. The generic integrated circuit is arranged to determine where in the system it has been installed upon system initialization, and, based upon the determination, configure itself to provide the required individual operating functionality for normal operation of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Erika J. Van Baelen, Jan Janssen, Tony M. Nygard, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 8588928Abstract: A body stimulating device operatively adapted to provide electrical stimuli within a body, the device including stimulating electrodes, stimulus generator, and electrode voltage sensors, said electrode voltage sensors operatively measuring the DC/LF voltage of the electrodes, wherein if the sensors determine that the electrode voltage for an electrode is outside a predetermined range, then a compensating current is applied to that electrode, so as to reduce the voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Torsten Lehmann, Paul Carter, Christopher van den Honert, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 8454529Abstract: The invention provides a method of electrical artefact compensation in measurement of a neural response. The neural response is evoked by a first stimulus, after which a compensatory stimulus is applied in order to counteract a stimulus artefact caused by the first stimulus. The invention also provides for short circuiting the stimulating electrode subsequent to the first stimulus. A system for implementing such steps is also provided. The invention may be of application in measurement of physiological responses, including neural responses and in particular a neural response of the auditory nerve.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Christopher N. Daly, Tony M. Nygard, Helmut C. Eder
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Publication number: 20120224705Abstract: Aspect of the present invention are generally directed to synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system. In this system, a primary wireless communications channel, usable for synchronizing the first and second prostheses, may be disabled to, for example, conserve power. Then, upon detection of a trigger in sound received by one or more of the prostheses, the primary wireless communication channel is enabled and the prostheses synchronized using the primary wireless communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 7999515Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for operating a rechargeable battery, the system comprising: current maintaining device for maintaining a predetermined current to the rechargeable battery until the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined maximum voltage; voltage maintaining device for maintaining a predetermined voltage to the rechargeable battery until a predetermined minimum current is delivered to the rechargeable battery; determining device for determining a cyclical charge value delivered to the rechargeable battery by the current maintaining device and the voltage maintaining device during a cycle; and a correction device for correcting the determining device when charge is not being delivered to the rechargeable battery, on the basis of the charge value.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Benjamin N. Elias, Tony M. Nygard
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Patent number: 7990301Abstract: A low-power, high-dynamic range, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal having a controllable amplifier for amplifying the analog signal received at an input of the amplifier in response to a first control signal and for generating an amplified analog signal, a low dynamic range A/D converter for converting the amplified analog signal to an intermediary digital signal, a controllable bit shift register for scaling the intermediary digital signal in response to a second control signal to generate the digital signal, and a gain control component (AGC) for generating the first control signal to cause the amplified analog signal to be within the dynamic range of the A/D converter and for generating the second control signal to cause the scaling to compensate for the amplification by the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Tony M. Nygard, Helmut C. Eder, Van Herck Koen
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Publication number: 20110125217Abstract: A method and system for charge imbalance compensation in a stimulating medical device is provided. The stimulating medical device includes at least one electrode contact configured for providing stimulation to a recipient. A charge imbalance compensation system in the stimulating medical device measures any residual charge remaining on the electrode contact that may result from an imbalance in the applied stimulation. If the measured residual charge exceeds a threshold, the charge imbalance compensation system causes a compensator current to be applied to reduce the residual charge. This residual charge may be measured by measuring a potential difference between the electrode contact and a reference electrode; or, by measuring a potential difference across a capacitor in-series with the electrode contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: Paul M. Carter, Torsten Lehmann, Christopher van den Honert, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Tony M. Nygard
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Publication number: 20110087325Abstract: An electronic system is provided which includes a number of components. Each component includes one or more integrated circuits. During normal operation of the system, each integrated circuit provides individual operating functionality for its respective component. At least one of the integrated circuits is installed as a generic integrated circuit capable of providing any one of a number of potential operating functionalities. The generic integrated circuit is arranged to determine where in the system it has been installed upon system initialization, and, based upon the determination, configure itself to provide the required individual operating functionality for normal operation of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Inventors: Erika J. Van Baelen, Jan Janssen, Tony M. Nygard, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Publication number: 20090028365Abstract: A low-power, high-dynamic range, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal having a controllable amplifier for amplifying the analog signal received at an input of the amplifier in response to a first control signal and for generating an amplified analog signal, a low dynamic range A/D converter for converting the amplified analog signal to an intermediary digital signal, a controllable bit shift register for scaling the intermediary digital signal in response to a second control signal to generate the digital signal, and a gain control component (AGC) for generating the first control signal to cause the amplified analog signal to be within the dynamic range of the A/D converter and for generating the second control signal to cause the scaling to compensate for the amplification by the amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Tony M. Nygard, Koen Van Herck, Helmut C. Eder
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Patent number: 7429943Abstract: A low-power, high-dynamic range, analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuit for converting an analog signal to a digital signal having a controllable amplifier for amplifying the analog log signal received at an input of the amplifier in response to a first control signal and for generating an amplified analog signal, a low dynamic range A/D converter for converting the amplified analog signal to an intermediary digital signal, a controllable bit shift register for scaling the intermediary digital signal in response to a second control signal to generate the digital signal, and a gain control component (AGC) for generating the first control signal to cause the amplified analog signal to be within the dynamic range of the A/D converter and for generating the second control signal to cause the scaling to compensate for the amplification by the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2006Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Tony M. Nygard, Helmut C. Eder, Koen Van Herck