Search Patents
  • HEARING AID FOR PLACEMENT AT AN EAR OF A USER
    Publication number: 20220109942
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement on head of a user comprising a first second part. The first part may comprise an acoustic input transducer adapted to convert ambient sound picked up at the ear of the user to an electric signal, a signal processor adapted to process the electric signal according to specifications of user into a processed electric signal, and an output transducer adapted to covert the processed electric signal into a transmission signal, The second part may comprise an anchor adapted to fixate said second part under the skin to skull bone of the user, and a receiver adapted to receive the transmission signal and convert the transmission signal to an output signal perceivable as sound by the user. The first part may comprise an inner recess adapted to receive an insert element, where the insert element may comprise a first magnet adapted to in cooperation with the second part to cause the first part to attach to the head of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventors: Emilie Munk HAAGERUP, Peder Hesselbjerg PEDERSEN, Mads Buur MORTENSEN, Johan ROSENGREN
  • AUDIO PROCESSING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING A SIGNAL-TO-NOISE-RATIO OF A SOUND SIGNAL
    Publication number: 20210058713
    Abstract: A hearing aid includes a) at least one input unit for providing a time-frequency representation Y(k,n) of an electric input signal representing sound consisting of target speech and noise signal components, where k and n are frequency band and time frame indices, respectively, b) a noise reduction system configured to b1) determine an a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate ?(k,n) of the electric input signal, and to b2) determine an a priori signal to noise signal ratio estimate ?(k,n) of the electric input signal from the a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate ?(k,n) based on a recursive algorithm providing non-linear smoothing. The a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimate of said electric input signal is provided as a mixture of first and second different a posteriori signal to noise ratio estimates. The invention may be used in audio processing devices, such as hearing aids, headsets, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Jesper JENSEN, Andreas Thelander BERTELSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN
  • Hearing device comprising a feedback cancellation system based on signal energy relocation
    Patent number: 10200796
    Abstract: A hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, is provided, comprising a forward path comprising an input transducer for providing an electric input signal, a signal processing unit configured to apply a requested forward gain to the electric input signal, and an output transducer. The hearing device further comprises a feedback reduction unit for reducing a risk of howl due to feedback from the output transducer to the input transducer. The forward path and the external feedback path defines a roundtrip loop delay. The feedback reduction unit is configured to modulate said requested forward gain in time, to provide that the resulting forward gain exhibits a first, increased gain AH in a first time period TH and a second, reduced gain AL in a second time period TL, wherein at least one of AH, AL, TH, and TL is/are determined according to a predetermined or adaptively determined criterion including said roundtrip loop delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: Oticon A/S, Bernafon AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Künzle, Meng Guo
  • Audio system with feedback detection means
    Patent number: 8477952
    Abstract: The invention concerns in a first aspect an audio system comprising a microphone, audio signal processing means, an output transducer and means for detecting a possible feedback tone and the corresponding frequency of the feedback tone in the audio system between the output transducer and the microphone. According to the invention means for counteracting feedback are provided. Further, means are provided for changing the phase of the audio signal at a given frequency. In a further aspect, a binaural hearing aid system comprising first and second hearing instruments according to the first aspect, each hearing instrument comprising transceiver circuitry allowing an exchange of signals between the two hearing instruments, and wherein the binaural hearing aid system is adapted to provide that a phase change introduced in the first audio signal by a controller of the first hearing instrument is or can be introduced in the second audio signal of the second hearing instrument via said transceiver circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Johan Hellgren
  • HEARING AID SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING ACOUSTIC TRANSFER FUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20210274296
    Abstract: A hearing aid system comprises a hearing aid, and a portable auxiliary device' adapted to establish a communication link between them. The hearing aid comprises a microphone providing an electric input signal, a signal processor, and an output unit. The auxiliary device comprises a microphone providing an auxiliary electric input signal, and a user control interface allowing a user to initiate a specific calibration mode of operation of the hearing aid system. The signal processor of the hearing aid is configured to receive corresponding time segments of said electric input signal and said auxiliary electric input signal to provide an estimate of an acoustic transfer function from said microphone of said auxiliary device to said microphone of said hearing aid. A method of operating a hearing aid system is further disclosed. The invention may e.g. be used in various applications related to own voice detection and estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Nels Hede ROHDE, Thomas BENTSEN, Anders Brødløs OLSEN, Michael Syskind PEDERSEN, Svend FELDT, Jesper JENSEN
  • HEARING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ADJUSTABLE VENT
    Publication number: 20200260197
    Abstract: A hearing device with an adjustable vent is disclosed. The device includes at least one microphone configured to provide an input signal representing sound, a processor configured to process the input signal and provide a processed signal, at least one loudspeaker configured to receive the processed signal from the processor and to provide an acoustic signal based on the processed signal to the ear of a user, an earpiece comprising a vent, and an electrically controllable valve configured to control the vent, and a valve control unit configured to receive one or more control signals in dependence of a current hearing situation of the hearing device, wherein the valve control unit is configured to adjust the electrically controllable valve in dependence of the one or more control signals to provide the vent to be in a state between an acoustically more open and an acoustically less open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Anders Højsgaard THOMSEN, Karsten Bo RASMUSSEN, Svend Oscar PETERSEN, Edvinas BUREIKA, Christian Asp MOGENSEN, Troels Holm PEDERSEN, Gorm DANNESBOE, Jacob Anders ROUG, Mathias Bruun LARSEN, Mikkel NIELSEN
  • NOISE ESTIMATION FOR USE WITH NOISE REDUCTION AND ECHO CANCELLATION IN PERSONAL COMMUNICATION
    Publication number: 20140056435
    Abstract: A method comprises processing M subband communication signals and N target-cancelled signals in each subband with a set of beamformer coefficients to obtain an inverse target-cancelled covariance matrix of order N in each band; using a target absence signal to obtain an initial estimate of the noise power in a beamformer output signal averaged over recent frames with target absence in each subband; multiplying the initial noise estimate with a noise correction factor to obtain a refined estimate of the power of the beamformer output noise signal component in each subband; processing the refined estimate with the magnitude of the beamformer output to obtain a postfilter gain value in each subband; processing the beamformer output signal with the postfilter gain value to obtain a postfilter output signal in each subband; and processing the postfilter output subband signals to obtain an enhanced beamformed output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicants: Retune DSP ApS, OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Ulrik KJEMS, Jesper JENSEN
  • HEARING DEVICE COMPRISING A FEEDBACK CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230044509
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a) at least one input transducer for providing at least one electric input signal representing said sound; b) an output transducer for providing stimuli perceivable to the user as sound; c) a feedback control system configured to minimize feedback from said output transducer to said at least one input transducer, and to at least provide a feedback corrected version of said at least one electric input signal; and d) an audio signal processor configured to apply one or more processing algorithms to said feedback corrected version of said at least one electric input signal, and to provide a processed signal in dependence thereof. The feedback control system is based on a machine learning model receiving input data at least representing said at least one electric input signal; and said processed signal; and providing said feedback corrected version of the at least one electric input signal as an output. A method of training a machine learning model is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Meng GUO, Jesper JENSEN
  • METHOD OF ADAPTING A HEARING DEVICE TO A USER'S EAR, AND A HEARING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20160255448
    Abstract: The application relates to a hearing device comprising an input unit for providing an electric input audio signal, a configurable signal processing unit for processing an audio signal and providing a processed audio signal, and a reversible output transducer for converting an electric output signal to an acoustic output sound. The hearing device further comprises a measurement unit configured to convert a sound pressure level to an electric signal, termed the measurement signal, and a control unit configured to determine a present electric impedance of the output transducer or a measure indicative of said present electric impedance from said measurement signal. This has the advantage that no additional microphone or other measurement equipment is needed to provide a (e.g. in-situ) real ear measurement of sound pressure level. The invention may e.g. be used to control audio signal processing in hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicants: Oticon A/S, Bernafon AG
    Inventors: Fabian MORANT, Stefan Stegmann JENSEN
  • METHOD FOR DETECTING A PLURALITY OF HEALTH CONDITIONS OF A COCHLEA
    Publication number: 20210138236
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting a plurality of health conditions of a cochlea during insertion of an electrode array is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventors: Pierre STAHL, Attila FRATER, Manuel SEGOVIA MARTINEZ, Dan GNANSIA, Behnam MOLAEE, Thomas DEMARCY
  • WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH MULTIPLE EXTERNAL DEVICES VIA A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION UNIT
    Publication number: 20230336502
    Abstract: A method and wireless communication device use a first processing unit to perform a first communication event within a first communication window by use of a first communication protocol, a second processing unit to perform a second communication event within a second communication window by use of a second communication protocol, and a wireless communication unit connected to a radio-frequency antenna to transmit and/or receive a packet wirelessly. The first and second processing units may perform the first and second communication events via the wireless communication unit. The second processing unit or the wireless communication unit may transmit an event signal to the first processing unit when performing the second communication event or receiving a packet, respectively, to allow the first processing unit to arrange the first communication window (or first communication event) with respect to the second communication window (or second communication event) to minimize interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Franz TREUE, Bjarne KLEMMENSEN, Rune SØ
  • RF antenna and hearing device with RF antenna
    Patent number: 10779095
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an RF antenna adapted to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic RF signals within a first frequency range enclosing a first frequency of resonance of the RF antenna, the RF antenna comprising: an electrically conductive antenna element having a feed for electrically connecting to an RF transmitter and/or an RF receiver; an electronic component adapted to receive and/or provide one or more electric signals from/to an electronic circuit within a second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range; and one or more electric leads electrically connected to lead the one or more electric signals between the electronic component and the electronic circuit, each of the one or more electric leads being electrically connected to the electronic circuit through a respective inductor adapted to reflect and/or attenuate signals within the first frequency range and pass signals within the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Oliver Sundberg, Kåre Tais Christensen, Henning Knak Poulsen
  • Hearing aid for placement at an ear of a user
    Patent number: 11937050
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement on head of a user comprising a first second part. The first part may comprise an acoustic input transducer adapted to convert ambient sound picked up at the ear of the user to an electric signal, a signal processor adapted to process the electric signal according to specifications of user into a processed electric signal, and an output transducer adapted to covert the processed electric signal into a transmission signal, The second part may comprise an anchor adapted to fixate said second part under the skin to skull bone of the user, and a receiver adapted to receive the transmission signal and convert the transmission signal to an output signal perceivable as sound by the user. The first part may comprise an inner recess adapted to receive an insert element, where the insert element may comprise a first magnet adapted to in cooperation with the second part to cause the first part to attach to the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventors: Emilie Munk Haagerup, Peder Hesselbjerg Pedersen, Mads Buur Mortensen, Johan Rosengren
  • RF antenna and hearing device with RF antenna
    Patent number: 9680209
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an RF antenna adapted to receive and/or transmit electromagnetic RF signals within a first frequency range enclosing a first frequency of resonance of the RF antenna, the RF antenna comprising: an electrically conductive antenna element having a feed for electrically connecting to an RF transmitter and/or an RF receiver; an electronic component adapted to receive and/or provide one or more electric signals from/to an electronic circuit within a second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range; and one or more electric leads electrically connected to lead the one or more electric signals between the electronic component and the electronic circuit, each of the one or more electric leads being electrically connected to the electronic circuit through a respective inductor adapted to reflect and/or attenuate signals within the first frequency range and pass signals within the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Jens Troelsen, Oliver Sundberg, Kåre Tais Christensen, Henning Knak Poulsen
  • Drill bit, drill kit and method for drilling a cavity or a recess into a skull
    Patent number: 11937832
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a cavity or a recess into a skull, wherein the cavity or the recess is configured to receive an implantable fixture screw unit of a hearing aid system, is disclosed. The drill bit includes a first part including a drill tip with a first drill diameter, wherein the drill tip comprises a tip angle of between 137 degrees to 143 degrees along a longitudinal axis of the drill bit and wherein the drill tip comprises a back rake angle of between ?1 degree and +1 degree, in particular a back rake angle of substantially 0 degrees, a second part including a plurality of flute blades with a second drill diameter, wherein the second drill diameter is greater that the first drill diameter, and a transition part which is arranged between the first part and the second part and along the longitudinal axis, wherein the transition part includes a body clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Oticon Medical A/S
    Inventors: Hanna Peters, Emelie Lager, Anton Hedström, Martin Johansson, Thomas Eriksson
  • HEARING SYSTEM COMPRISING A HEARING AID AND A PROCESSING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20230188909
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises an input transducer configured to convert sound around a user to at least one electrical input signal representing the sound; an output transducer for providing an audible signal based on the at least one electrical input signal; transceiver circuitry configured to establish a wireless audio communication link with a secondary device; and a processor configured to operate the hearing aid in a system mode or a device mode. The hearing aid is configured to initiate establishment of the wireless audio communication link in dependence of a mode control signal. A non-wearable device comprising transceiver circuitry configured for establishing a wireless audio communication link with a hearing aid comprises a processor configured to receive and process at least one electrical input signal from a hearing aid to at least partially compensate for hearing impairment of a user; a power supply interface. The non-wearable device is integrated with another device having a specific other function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Lars RIEMER, Martin BERGMANN, Christian VENG, David Thorn BLIX
  • Hearing aid comprising a directional microphone system
    Patent number: 10587962
    Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a BTE-part adapted for being located behind an ear (ear) of a user, and comprising a) a multitude M of microphones, which—when located behind the ear of the user—are characterized by respective transfer functions, HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), representative of propagation of sound from sound sources S to the respective microphones b) a memory unit comprising complex, frequency dependent constants Wi(k)?, i=1, . . . , M, c) a beamformer filtering unit for providing a beamformed signal Y as a weighted combination of the microphone signals using said complex, frequency dependent constants The frequency dependent constants are determined to provide a resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k)=?i=1MWi(k)·HBTEi(?, ?, r, k), so that a difference between the resulting transfer function Hpinna(?, ?, r, k) and a transfer function HITE(?, ?, r, k) of a microphone located close to or in the ear canal fulfils a predefined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: OTICON A/S
    Inventors: Michael Syskind Pedersen, Andreas Thelander Bertelsen
  • Hearing aid system with feedback arrangement to predict and cancel acoustic feedback, method and use
    Patent number: 8687832
    Abstract: A hearing aid system includes an input transducer, an output transducer, and an electrical signal path between them. The signal path includes a signal processing unit. An electrical feedback cancellation path is formed between the output side and the input side of the signal path and subtracts an estimate of acoustical feedback from a signal on the input side of the amplifier part, the electrical feedback cancellation path including an adaptive filter for providing a variable filtering function. A probe signal generator generates a probe signal characterizing an acoustical feedback path, the probe signal being fed to the adaptive filter of the electrical feedback cancellation path. A second input transducer is located at a position where the acoustical signal is substantially free from acoustic feedback from the output transducer, and the adaptive filter uses a signal derived from the second electrical input signal to influence its filtering function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Bo Elmedyb, Johan Hellgren
  • Integrated tube and dome for thin tube BTE
    Patent number: 9473843
    Abstract: The invention describes a hearing device with a BTE (Behind-The-Ear) unit and an air filled tube. The BTE unit comprises a power source, a microphone, an amplifier, and a receiver and is configured to be mounted behind or on the ear of a user. The air filled tube as a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the air filled tube is connected to the receiver of the BTE unit and a flexible sealing part is provided at the distal end. The flexible sealing part comprises a core hole permeable for sound transmitted from the air filled tube through a core pathway. The air filled tube is further configured to be arranged in a user's ear canal to transmit sound generated by the BTE unit to a tympanic membrane of the user. The flexible sealing part is arranged in a bony portion of the user's ear canal when in use. The diameter of the flexible sealing part is at least as large as the diameter of the bony portion of the ear canal of a user to close the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: OTICON A/S, BERNAFON AG
    Inventors: Karsten Bo Rasmussen, Monika Bertges Reber, Martin Lindebjerg
  • Bilateral hearing assistance system and a method of fitting a bilateral hearing assistance system
    Patent number: 9584928
    Abstract: The application relates to a bilateral hearing assistance system comprising first and second hearing assistance devices a processing unit, which in a NORMAL mode of operation processes an input audio signal based on configurable processing parameters and provides a processed electric stimulation signal. The system further includes one or more stimulation units for—in a TEST mode delivers first and second electric TEST stimulation signals to output units of said first and second devices respectively. The application further relates to a method of fitting a bilateral hearing assistance system to a particular user. The disclosure provides a measure allowing an improved fitting of bilaterally implanted Cochlear Implant users. The system further includes an evaluation unit configured to analyze the recorded physiological response of the user and to provide an objective measure of the user's perception of said TEST stimulation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: OTICON MEDICAL A/S, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
    Inventors: Jonathan Laudanski, Jamie A. Undurraga, Nick Haywood, Torsten Marquardt, David McAlpine
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