Patents by Inventor Ullrich Sigwanz

Ullrich Sigwanz 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: 11776558
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions to generate a modified audiogram for a user of a hearing device. The modified audiogram may be based on a frequency lowering scheme that maps at least some audio frequencies included in a first set of audio frequencies to relatively lower audio frequencies to form a second set of audio frequencies. The modified audiogram may indicate a set of modified hearing thresholds of the user at the first set of audio frequencies. The generating of the modified audiogram may include applying an inverse of the frequency lowering scheme to the set of modified hearing thresholds at the second set of audio frequencies to obtain the set of modified hearing thresholds of the modified audiogram at the first set of audio frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Robert Baur
  • Publication number: 20230308818
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions to provide a frequency lowering scheme that maps at least some audio frequencies included in a first set of audio frequencies to relatively lower audio frequencies to form a second set of audio frequencies, provide a first output frequency-based curve representing a set of values of a fitting-related parameter at frequencies included in the second set of audio frequencies, generate, based on an inverse application of the frequency lowering scheme, a second output frequency-based curve representing the set of values of the fitting-related parameter with respect to the first set of audio frequencies, and present a graph including a first axis to which the first set of audio frequencies is assigned, a second axis to which a quantification of the fitting-related parameter is assigned, and the second frequency-based curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Robert Baur
  • Publication number: 20230306983
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a processor communicatively coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions to generate a modified audiogram for a user of a hearing device. The modified audiogram may be based on a frequency lowering scheme that maps at least some audio frequencies included in a first set of audio frequencies to relatively lower audio frequencies to form a second set of audio frequencies. The modified audiogram may indicate a set of modified hearing thresholds of the user at the first set of audio frequencies. The generating of the modified audiogram may include applying an inverse of the frequency lowering scheme to the set of modified hearing thresholds at the second set of audio frequencies to obtain the set of modified hearing thresholds of the modified audiogram at the first set of audio frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Robert Baur
  • Patent number: 11297450
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing system worn by a user, the hearing system being a binaural hearing system including first and second hearing aids and being prepared for processing a sound. The processing includes a beamforming which can be adjusted to at least a first beamforming mode and a second beamforming mode. The method includes receiving sound by the hearing system, determining whether the beamforming is to be adjusted to the first beamforming mode or the second beamforming mode and adjusting the beamforming accordingly and generating a processed sound, and presenting the processed sound to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Tobias Neher, Michael Boretzki, Ralph Peter Derleth, Volker Kuhnel, Ullrich Sigwanz, Matthias Latzel, Olaf Strelcyk, Sascha Liebe
  • Patent number: 11297451
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a system and method for providing pairing information to assist in pairing devices for wireless communication. For example, the disclosed technology includes a method for visually displaying time remaining in pairing time windows for hearing aid devices. A hearing aid professional can view the displayed information on a computer, fitting station, or mobile device and then use this information to determine which devices can be paired or how much time is remaining to pair the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nanda Sandhu, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz
  • Patent number: 11284207
    Abstract: A method for adjusting at least one hearing device comprises: providing the at least one hearing device with basic sound classes, each basic sound class comprising an actuator parametrization with parameters for at least one actuator of the hearing device; collecting of adjustments of sound properties of at least one user of the at least one hearing device together with weightings of a sound signal acquired by the hearing device at which the adjustments have been made; analyzing the collected adjustments, whether same adjustments have been applied at same weightings; generating at least one supplementary sound class, when the same adjustments have been applied at a weighting, wherein the actuator parametrization of the supplementary sound class is a modified actuator parametrization based on the adjustments at the weighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Elmar Fichtl, Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Patent number: 11240616
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for adjusting a hearing device to personal preferences and needs of a user. The proposed method comprises providing initial settings and target settings for signal processing parameters of the hearing device, the user operating the user control element to provide an input for adjusting the current settings so as to meet the personal preferences and needs of the user, adjusting the current settings based on the initial settings and the target settings in dependence of the input to provide adjusted settings for the signal processing parameters. Thereby the user control element is located at the hearing device and/or a hearing device accessory such as a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the present invention provides a system structured and configured to carry out the proposed method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Michael Boretzki, Maxi Susanne Moritz, Elmar Fichtl, Volker Kuehnel, Ullrich Sigwanz, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 11184713
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to concurrently present, within a graphical user interface displayed by a display device, a gain limit curve and a target gain curve representing a target gain profile for the useable gain by a hearing device across a range of frequencies, the target gain curve corresponding to a first sound input level and initially having an amplitude greater than an amplitude of the gain limit curve within a subset of frequencies included in the range of frequencies. The processor is further configured to detect user input representative of a request to increase the amplitude of the gain limit curve, increase a portion of the gain limit curve, and update the gain limit profile in accordance with the increased portion of the gain limit curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventor: Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Publication number: 20210297796
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing system worn by a user, the hearing system being a binaural hearing system including first and second hearing aids and being prepared for processing a sound The processing includes a beamforming which can be adjusted to at least a first beamforming mode and a second beamforming mode. The method includes receiving sound by the hearing system, determining whether the beamforming is to be adjusted to the first beamforming mode or the second beamforming mode and adjusting the beamforming accordingly and generating a processed sound, and presenting the processed sound to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Tobias Neher, Michael Boretzki, Ralph Peter Derleth, Volker Kuhner, Ullrich Sigwanz, Matthias Latzel, Olaf Strelcyk, Sascha Liebe
  • Patent number: 11115762
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20210258706
    Abstract: A method for adjusting at least one hearing device comprises: providing the at least one hearing device with basic sound classes, each basic sound class comprising an actuator parametrization with parameters for at least one actuator of the hearing device; collecting of adjustments of sound properties of at least one user of the at least one hearing device together with weightings of a sound signal acquired by the hearing device at which the adjustments have been made; analyzing the collected adjustments, whether same adjustments have been applied at same weightings; generating at least one supplementary sound class, when the same adjustments have been applied at a weighting, wherein the actuator parametrization of the supplementary sound class is a modified actuator parametrization based on the adjustments at the weighting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Elmar Fichtl, Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Publication number: 20210152947
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a memory storing instructions and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to concurrently present, within a graphical user interface displayed by a display device, a gain limit curve and a target gain curve representing a target gain profile for the useable gain by a hearing device across a range of frequencies, the target gain curve corresponding to a first sound input level and initially having an amplitude greater than an amplitude of the gain limit curve within a subset of frequencies included in the range of frequencies. The processor is further configured to detect user input representative of a request to increase the amplitude of the gain limit curve, increase a portion of the gain limit curve, and update the gain limit profile in accordance with the increased portion of the gain limit curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Patent number: 10987031
    Abstract: A method of performing real ear measurements by a measuring system is described herein. The measuring system comprises a probe element adapted to be inserted in the ear canal of an individual; a loudspeaker configured to deliver a sample sound signal to the ear canal; at least one microphone configured to detect a response to the sample sound signal, wherein the probe element is in acoustic communication with the loudspeaker and cooperates with the at least one microphone; and a signal processing unit for performing an acoustic measurement of a response to the sample sound signal, based on an electrical input signal from the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Stefan Pislak, Alfred Stirnemann, Michael Boretzki, Manfred Duerst, Harald Krueger, Ullrich Sigwanz, Martina Schuepbach-Wolf
  • Publication number: 20200322742
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for adjusting a hearing device to personal preferences and needs of a user. The proposed method comprises providing initial settings and target settings for signal processing parameters of the hearing device, the user operating the user control element to provide an input for adjusting the current settings so as to meet the personal preferences and needs of the user, adjusting the current settings based on the initial settings and the target settings in dependence of the input to provide adjusted settings for the signal processing parameters. Thereby the user control element is located at the hearing device and/or a hearing device accessory such as a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the present invention provides a system structured and configured to carry out the proposed method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Boretzki, Maxi Susanne Moritz, Elmar Fichtl, Volker Kuehnel, Ullrich Sigwanz, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 10798499
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device is configured to selectively connect to a remote audio source configured to provide remote audio content. The hearing device operates in a first audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a first audio signal based on a first combination of at least one of the ambient audio content detected by a microphone and the remote audio content. The hearing device determines, while operating in the first audio rendering mode and based on the accelerometer data, a movement of the user. The hearing device determines, based on the movement of the user, whether to switch from operating in the first audio rendering mode to operating in a second audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a second audio signal based on a second combination of at least one of the ambient audio content and the remote audio content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Ivo Spieler, Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Publication number: 20200314568
    Abstract: An exemplary hearing device is configured to selectively connect to a remote audio source configured to provide remote audio content. The hearing device operates in a first audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a first audio signal based on a first combination of at least one of the ambient audio content detected by a microphone and the remote audio content. The hearing device determines, while operating in the first audio rendering mode and based on the accelerometer data, a movement of the user. The hearing device determines, based on the movement of the user, whether to switch from operating in the first audio rendering mode to operating in a second audio rendering mode in which the processor provides the user with a second audio signal based on a second combination of at least one of the ambient audio content and the remote audio content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Nina Stumpf, Ivo Spieler, Ullrich Sigwanz
  • Publication number: 20200314565
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn at a head of a user. The hearing device includes a vibration sensor to detect a vibration conducted through the user's head to the hearing device and to output a vibration signal including information about the vibration. At least part of the vibration can be caused by an own voice activity of the user. A method of operating the hearing device allows a reliable own voice detection at rather low processing effort. The processor determines a presence of an own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at a vibration frequency associated with the own voice characteristic and identifies the own voice activity based on an identification criterion including the presence of the own voice characteristic in the vibration signal at the associated vibration frequency. The own voice characteristic indicative of part of the vibration can be caused by the own voice activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nadim El Guindi, Daniel Lucas-Hirtz, Nina Stumpf
  • Publication number: 20200252733
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn by a user includes a microphone, an accelerometer, and a processor. The microphone detects an audio signal. The accelerometer outputs accelerometer data associated with the hearing device. The processor is configured to 1) identify a music feature of the audio signal, the music feature indicating that the audio signal includes music content, 2) identify a movement feature of the accelerometer data, the movement feature representative of movement by the user while the microphone detects the audio signal, 3) determine a similarity measure between the music feature and the movement feature, and 4) perform, based on the similarity measure, an operation with respect to a sound processing program executable by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ullrich Sigwanz, Thomas Wessel
  • Patent number: 10728676
    Abstract: A hearing device configured to be worn by a user includes a microphone, an accelerometer, and a processor. The microphone detects an audio signal. The accelerometer outputs accelerometer data associated with the hearing device. The processor is configured to 1) identify a music feature of the audio signal, the music feature indicating that the audio signal includes music content, 2) identify a movement feature of the accelerometer data, the movement feature representative of movement by the user while the microphone detects the audio signal, 3) determine a similarity measure between the music feature and the movement feature, and 4) perform, based on the similarity measure, an operation with respect to a sound processing program executable by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Nadim El Guindi, Ullrich Sigwanz, Thomas Wessel
  • Publication number: 20200221239
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a system and method for providing pairing information to assist in pairing devices for wireless communication. For example, the disclosed technology includes a method for visually displaying time remaining in pairing time windows for hearing aid devices. A hearing aid professional can view the displayed information on a computer, fitting station, or mobile device and then use this information to determine which devices can be paired or how much time is remaining to pair the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Ullrich Sigwanz, Nanda SANDHU, Daniel LUCAS-HIRTZ