Bernafon AG Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160073203 | HEARING DEVICE COMPRISING A DIRECTIONAL SYSTEM - The application relates to a hearing device comprising an input unit for providing first and second electric input signals representing sound signals, a beamformer filter for making frequency-dependent directional filtering of the electric input signals, the output of said beamformer filter providing a resulting beamformed output signal. The application further relates to a method of providing a directional signal. The object of the present application is to create a directional signal. The problem is solved in that the beamformer filter comprises a directional unit for providing respective first and second beamformed signals from weighted combinations of the electric input signals, an equalization unit for equalizing a phase (and possibly an amplitude) of the beamformed signals and providing first and second equalized beamformed signals, and a beamformer output unit for providing the resulting beamformed output signal from the first and second equalized beamformed signals. This has the advantage to create a directional signal where the phase of the individual components is preserved, and therefore introducing no phase distortions. The invention may e.g. be used in hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, and combinations thereof. | 03-10-2016 |
20150264496 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING HEARING AID FITTINGS - A method for producing a custom-fit hearing device is disclosed. The method for producing a custom-fit hearing device comprises the step of scanning the hearing aid user's ear(s). The method comprises the step of scanning the outer ear of at least one of the user's ears and/or at least a region of the skull bone of the hearing aid user and providing data obtained during scans. | 09-17-2015 |
20150222999 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING COCHLEAR DEAD REGION - An apparatus for determining cochlear dead region comprising a sound generation unit, an output transducer, and a control unit. The control unit causes the sound generation unit to provide a first electrical sound signal representing a first frequency band adjacent to a frequency region of interest, with a first bandwidth, a first sound pressure level and a first subsequent electrical sound signal representing a first subsequent frequency band comprising the frequency region of interest with a first subsequent bandwidth, a first subsequent sound pressure level, and a first subsequent time delay to the first electrical sound signal. In response, the output transducer generates a first output sound and a first subsequent output sound with the first subsequent time delay. A user compares the first output and first subsequent output sounds and decides, whether he hears a difference between the two sounds and gives a positive or negative decision input. | 08-06-2015 |
20140321682 | HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH A LOW-POWER MODE - A portable hearing assistance device comprises an input unit, an output unit, a forward path between the input unit and the output unit, and an energy source for energizing components of the hearing assistance device. The hearing assistance device further comprises a control unit to control activation (or deactivation) of a low-power mode of operation of the hearing assistance device. When the low-power mode is activated—the draw of current from said energy source is reduced compared to a normal mode of operation of the device, the activation (or deactivation) being influenced by a combination of at least two different control input signals to the control unit, each control input signal being a signal selected from 1) signals relating to current physical environment, 2) signals relating to current acoustic environment, 3) signals relating to current wearer state, and 4) signals relating to current state or operation mode. | 10-30-2014 |
20140169597 | HEARING INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AN OUTPUT TRANSDUCER OF A HEARING INSTRUMENT - A method for identifying an output transducer of a hearing instrument is disclosed. The method includes applying a pseudo-random signal to the output transducer, receiving a response signal indicative of the impedance of the output transducer, computing a cross-correlation of the response signal and the pseudo-random signal, computing a Fourier transform of the computed cross-correlation, comparing the computed Fourier transform with one or more reference models, and identifying the output transducer based on the comparison. | 06-19-2014 |
20130243228 | HEARING AID AND DETECTION DEVICE - The disclosure describes a hearing aid part, a detection device for finding the hearing aid part when lost, and a hearing aid system comprising a hearing aid part and a detection device. The hearing aid part comprises, a control unit and an antenna circuit that are part of a wireless unit for wireless transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic signals. The antenna circuit comprises a capacitance and an inductance that together define a resonance frequency of the antenna circuit. The hearing aid part further comprises a dissipative resistance and a switch. The dissipative resistance and the switch are arranged to allow selective coupling or decoupling of the dissipative resistance to or from, respectively, the antenna circuit to thus allow controlling of the dissipative properties of the antenna circuit by the switch. | 09-19-2013 |
20130223634 | METHOD OF FITTING A BINAURAL HEARING AID SYSTEM - A method fits a binaural hearing aid system for a person with a small or moderate asymmetrical hearing loss. The method comprises providing first hearing loss data for a right ear of a user; providing second hearing loss data for a left ear of a user; determining a difference between the first and second hearing loss data; classifying the degree of similarity of the first and second hearing loss data; determining basic hearing loss data to for each of the first and second hearing instruments depending on hearing loss classes; and calculating frequency dependent target gain values for each of the first and second hearing instruments. | 08-29-2013 |
20120288107 | TEST SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING FEEDBACK PERFORMANCE OF A LISTENING DEVICE - A test system for evaluates acoustic feedback characteristics of a listening device by changing the transfer function of the signal path from an acoustic output to an acoustic input of the listening device. A variable filter comprises an acoustic input, an acoustic output, and a control unit for changing a transfer function of the filter. First and/or second acoustic propagation elements propagate acoustic sound, the first acoustic propagation element acoustically connecting the acoustic output of the listening device with the acoustic input of the variable filter, the second acoustic propagation element acoustically connecting the acoustic output of the variable filter with the acoustic input of the listening device; wherein the system is configured to allow a determination of acoustic feedback or a level of acoustic feedback of the listening device at different frequencies. | 11-15-2012 |
20110261984 | HEARING AID WITH A CASING - A hearing aid is provided with a casing where to a battery drawer or lid is movably attached for movement between a closed position and an open position, where the open position grants access to a battery, wherein a leverage tool is removably fastened to the battery drawer. By way of the leverage tool, a hearing aid user with poor dexterity may now easily open the battery drawer. | 10-27-2011 |
20110026725 | METHOD FOR MONITORING THE INFLUENCE OF AMBIENT NOISE ON STOCHASTIC GRADIENT ALGORITHMS DURING IDENTIFICATION OF LINEAR TIME-INVARIANT SYSTEMS - A hearing aid system and a method of estimating ambient noise in a listening device includes an input transducer and an output transducer, an electrical forward path between the input transducer and the output transducer providing a forward gain, an electrical feedback path comprising an adaptive filter for estimating the acoustic feedback gain from the output transducer to the input transducer. A method determines the quality of a critical gain measurement for a listening device. The method comprises a) monitoring the energy of the first-difference of the filter coefficients of the adaptive filter over time and b) applying a predefined threshold criterion to the change in energy content from one time instance to another to determine an acceptable impact of the ambient noise. This technique may e.g. be used for the fitting of hearing instruments where background noise is variable. | 02-03-2011 |
20110002489 | HEARING AID SYSTEM COMPRISING A RECEIVER IN THE EAR AND A SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE TYPE OF RECEIVER - The invention relates to a hearing aid system comprising a BTE-part adapted for being located at an ear of a user and an ITE-part adapted to be located in an ear canal of a user, the ITE-part comprising a receiver for converting an electric output signal comprising frequencies in the human audible frequency range to an output sound, the ITE-part further comprising a resistive ID-element. The invention further relates to a method and use. The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple scheme for identifying a receiver in a hearing aid system. The problem is solved in that the hearing aid system comprises a measurement circuit for measuring an ID-parameter indicative of the resistance of said resistive ID-element, wherein said measurement circuit is adapted to use said electric output signal to determine said ID-parameter. An advantage of the invention is that it utilizes the electric output signal used for driving the receiver (speaker). It does NOT require an additional signal, for example a DC voltage, in order to determine the ID-parameter. This reduces the complexity of the circuitry and/or the firmware running in the hearing instrument. Furthermore, the detection can be done anytime where an output signal is present in the hearing aid system. The invention may e.g. be used for listening devices comprising exchangeable receivers. | 01-06-2011 |
20090185704 | HEARING AID ADAPTED TO A SPECIFIC TYPE OF VOICE IN AN ACOUSTICAL ENVIRONMENT, A METHOD AND USE - A hearing aid having a microphone for converting an ambient sound signal to an electric sound signal, a voice detector adapted to determine if a voice is present in said electric sound signal and a frequency analyzer to determine a fundamental frequency of a voice present in said electric sound signal, a signal processor adapted to process said electric sound signal, or an electric signal derived from it, independent of adjustable processing parameters, a memory having corresponding sets of processing parameters and fundamental voice frequencies, a decision unit to select and forward from the memory to the signal processor a set of processing parameters in accordance with a fundamental frequency determined by the frequency analyzer. Further, a method of adapting a hearing aid and to the use of such hearing aid. | 07-23-2009 |
20090041275 | BEHIND THE EAR HEARING AID PART WITH EXCHANGEABLE COVER - The invention regards a BTE hearing aid shell shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user wherein the shell has first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user. According to the invention an ornamental cover plate is detachably attached to at least one of the opposed side walls, and a release tool is provided for release of the cover plate. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041273 | BEHIND THE EAR HEARING AID PART WITH EXCHANGEABLE COVER - The invention regards a BTE hearing aid shell shaped to fit behind an outer portion of an ear of a user wherein the shell has first and second opposed side walls where the first side wall faces away from, and the second side wall faces towards the head of the user. According to the invention an ornamental cover plate is detachably attached to at least one of the opposed side walls, and a release tool is provided for release of the cover plate. | 02-12-2009 |