Patents by Inventor Volker Kuhnel

Volker Kuhnel 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: 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: 9456286
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a binaural hearing system with two hearing devices (1, 1?) operationally interconnected by means of a bidirectional link (8) which improves hearing perception in windy listening situations. The method comprises determining the level of wind noise present at each of the two hearing devices (1, 1?) and sending the audio signal picked-up at the first hearing device (1) to the second hearing device (1?) via the link (8) and then providing an output signal derived from the received signal to the electrical-to-mechanical output converter (3?) of the second hearing device (1?) if the level of wind noise at the second hearing device (1?) exceeds the level of wind noise at the first hearing device (1) by a pre-set threshold value. Furthermore, a binaural hearing system capable of performing such a method is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Volker Kuhnel, Ralph Peter Derleth, Raphael Lamon, Alexander Reich
  • Publication number: 20150249892
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for operating a binaural hearing system with two hearing devices (1, 1?) operationally interconnected by means of a bidirectional link (8) which improves hearing perception in windy listening situations. The method comprises determining the level of wind noise present at each of the two hearing devices (1, 1?) and sending the audio signal picked-up at the first hearing device (1) to the second hearing device (1?) via the link (8) and then providing an output signal derived from the received signal to the electrical-to-mechanical output converter (3?) of the second hearing device (1?) if the level of wind noise at the second hearing device (1?) exceeds the level of wind noise at the first hearing device (1) by a pre-set threshold value. Furthermore, a binaural hearing system capable of performing such a method is given.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Volker Kuhnel, Ralph Peter Derleth, Raphael Lamon, Alexander Reich
  • Patent number: 9113272
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a hearing device (1) to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing (1). The hearing device (1) comprises an input transducer (20) for providing an electrical signal that corresponds to an acoustical input signal, a processing unit (10) for processing the electrical signal according to a set of process parameters (G1, . . . , Gn) to provide an intermediate signal, and an output transducer (30) for providing an output signal to the user of said hearing device (1), wherein the output signal corresponds to the intermediate signal. The method comprises the step of providing a set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . , Am), which, at least partly, represents an individual hearing characteristic of the user of said hearing device (1) and the further step of adapting the set of process parameters (G1, . . . , Gn) as a function of an adjustment control signal (ACS) and the set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . , Am).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Reto Kurmann, Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kühnel, Andreas Von Buol, Elmar Fichtl
  • Patent number: 8798296
    Abstract: A method for better matching of the needs of mild to very mild hearing losses is obtained than with known hearing devices. The method comprising the steps of determining an acoustic situation by processing an input signal of a hearing device openly coupled to an ear of a user, selecting at least two hearing programs in dependence on the determined acoustic situation, at least one of the hearing programs being suitable for calm acoustic situations, and at least another one of the hearing programs being suitable for noisy acoustic situations, applying a gain only above a predefined frequency limit to the input signal if one of the hearing programs for calm acoustic situations is selected, and reducing noise in the input signal only in a frequency range within audible frequencies if one of the hearing programs for noisy acoustic situations is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kühnel, Michael Boretzki
  • Publication number: 20130223662
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the adjusting of a hearing device (1) to the hearing preferences of a user of said hearing (1). The hearing device (1) comprises an input transducer (20) for providing an electrical signal that corresponds to an acoustical input signal, a processing unit (10) for processing the electrical signal according to a set of process parameters (G1, . . . ,Gn) to provide an intermediate signal, and an output transducer (30) for providing an output signal to the user of said hearing device (1), wherein the output signal corresponds to the intermediate signal. The method comprises the step of providing a set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . . ,Am), which, at least partly, represents an individual hearing characteristic of the user of said hearing device (1) and the further step of adapting the set of process parameters (G1, . . . ,Gn) as a function of an adjustment control signal (ACS) and the set of adjustment parameters (A1, . . .,Am).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Reto Kurmann, Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kuhnel, Andreas Von Buol, Elmar Fichtl
  • Publication number: 20130208933
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing device (1) that is openly coupled to an ear (4) of a hearing device user is described. The method comprising the steps of determining a momentary acoustic situation by processing an input signal of the hearing device (1), selecting a hearing program out of at least two hearing programs in dependence on the determined momentary acoustic situation, at least one of the at least two hearing programs being suitable for calm acoustic situations, and at least another one of the at least two hearing programs being suitable for noisy acoustic situations, applying a gain only above a predefined frequency limit to the input signal of the hearing device (1) if one of the at least one hearing program for calm acoustic situations is selected, and reducing noise in the input signal only in a frequency range within audible frequencies if one of the at least one hearing program for noisy acoustic situations is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Nicola Schmitt, Volker Kühnel, Michael Boretzki
  • 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: 7496205
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting a first hearing device based on adjustments of a second hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of converting an acoustic test signal into an electric test signal by a microphone of the second hearing device, of converting an acoustic signal generated by a receiver of the second hearing device into an electrical signal, of analyzing the electrical signal in an analyzing unit, and, finally, of adjusting the first hearing device based on results obtained in the analysis performed in the analyzing unit. By the present invention, an especially suitable procedure for performing the initial adjustment of a new hearing device is achieved. The method according to the present invention quickly leads to spontaneous user acceptance of the newly adjusted (i.e. fitted) hearing device, whilst considerably reducing the required fitting effort compared with today's state of the art techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Volker Kühnel
  • 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: 7194100
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the individualized adaptation of a hearing aid to a person. The method consists basically of the measurement and quantification by parameters of the loudness perception of the individual, weighted by a first factor. Also weighted is a standardized normal loudness perception and its parameters by a second factor. Finally, the weighted loudness perceptions and their parameters are used for determining the optimal settings of the hearing aid for the individual concerned. The advantage of the method according to this invention lies in the fact that it permits significantly better adaptation of the hearing aid to the individual person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Volker Kühnel, Andreas Von Buol
  • Publication number: 20050123145
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting a first hearing device based on adjustments of a second hearing device are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of converting an acoustic test signal into an electric test signal by a microphone of the second hearing device, of converting an acoustic signal generated by a receiver of the second hearing device into an electrical signal, of analyzing the electrical signal in an analyzing unit, and, finally, of adjusting the first hearing device based on results obtained in the analysis performed in the analyzing unit. By the present invention, an especially suitable procedure for performing the initial adjustment of a new hearing device is achieved. The method according to the present invention quickly leads to spontaneous user acceptance of the newly adjusted (i.e. fitted) hearing device, whilst considerably reducing the required fitting effort compared with today's state of the art techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventor: Volker Kuhnel
  • Publication number: 20040190739
    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 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert Bachler, Volker Kuhnel, Silvia Allegro, Stefan Daniel Menzl, Hilmar Meier, Michael Boretzki, Stefan Launer, Ivo Hasler
  • Publication number: 20040190737
    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: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Volker Kuhnel, Silvia Allegro
  • Publication number: 20020146137
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the individualized adaptation of a hearing aid to a person. The method consists basically of the measurement and quantification by parameters of the loudness perception of the individual, weighted by a first factor. Also weighted is a standardized normal loudness perception and its parameters by a second factor. Finally, the weighted loudness perceptions and their parameters are used for determining the optimal settings of the hearing aid for the individual concerned. The advantage of the method according to this invention lies in the fact that it permits significantly better adaptation of the hearing aid to the individual person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Volker Kuhnel, Andreas Von Buol