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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP2449798

EP2449798 - A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE DIRECTION OF ARRIVAL OF A SOUND [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusPatent maintained as amended
Status updated on  06.11.2020
Database last updated on 28.03.2026
Most recent event   Tooltip06.11.2020Patent maintained (B2 publication)published on 09.12.2020  [2020/50]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Sivantos Pte. Ltd.
18 Tai Seng Street
No. 08-08
18 Tai Seng
Singapore 539775 / SG
[2020/39]
Former [2012/19]For all designated states
HEAR IP PTY LTD
Audiology, Hearing and Speech Sciences The University of Melbourne
550 Swanston Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3010 / AU
Inventor(s)01 / MEJIA, Jorge
126 Greville St
Chatswood New South Wales 2067 / AU
 [2012/19]
Representative(s)FDST Patentanwälte
Nordostpark 16
90411 Nürnberg / DE
[2020/50]
Former [2012/19]Hamilton, Alistair, et al
Alistair Hamilton Intellectual Property Ty Eurgain Cefn Eurgain Lane Rhosesmor
Mold, Flintshire CH7 6PG / GB
Application number, filing date10807786.810.08.2010
[2016/01]
WO2010AU01016
Priority number, dateAU2009090373011.08.2009         Original published format: AU 2009903730
[2012/19]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report
No.:WO2011017748
Date:17.02.2011
Language:EN
[2011/07]
Type: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP2449798
Date:09.05.2012
Language:EN
The application published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 17.02.2011 takes the place of the publication of the European patent application.
[2012/19]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP2449798
Date:06.01.2016
Language:EN
[2016/01]
Type: B2 New European patent specification 
No.:EP2449798
Date:09.12.2020
Language:EN
[2020/50]
Search report(s)International search report - published on:AU17.02.2011
(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP22.11.2013
ClassificationIPC:H04R25/00, G01S3/803, G01S3/808
[2013/52]
CPC:
H04R25/407 (EP,US); G01S3/808 (EP,US)
Former IPC [2012/19]H04R25/00
Designated contracting statesAL,   AT,   BE,   BG,   CH,   CY,   CZ,   DE,   DK,   EE,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   HR,   HU,   IE,   IS,   IT,   LI,   LT,   LU,   LV,   MC,   MK,   MT,   NL,   NO,   PL,   PT,   RO,   SE,   SI,   SK,   SM,   TR [2012/19]
TitleGerman:SYSTEM UND VERFAHREN ZUR BESTIMMUNG DER RICHTUNG EINES ANKOMMENDEN KLANGS[2012/19]
English:A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE DIRECTION OF ARRIVAL OF A SOUND[2012/19]
French:SYSTÈME ET PROCÉDÉ D'ESTIMATION DE LA DIRECTION D'ARRIVÉE D'UN SON[2012/19]
Entry into regional phase02.02.2012National basic fee paid 
02.02.2012Search fee paid 
02.02.2012Designation fee(s) paid 
02.02.2012Examination fee paid 
Examination procedure21.03.2011Request for preliminary examination filed
International Preliminary Examining Authority: AU
02.02.2012Examination requested  [2012/19]
29.05.2014Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
14.07.2015Communication of intention to grant the patent
07.10.2015Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
13.11.2015Fee for grant paid
13.11.2015Fee for publishing/printing paid
Divisional application(s)The date of the Examining Division's first communication in respect of the earliest application for which a communication has been issued is  14.07.2015
Opposition(s)Opponent(s)01  06.10.2016  11.10.2016  ADMISSIBLE
K/S HIMPP
Nymoellevej 6
3540 Lynge / DK
Opponent's representative
Cohausz & Florack
Patent- & Rechtsanwälte
Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB
Postfach 10 18 30
40009 Düsseldorf / DE
 [2020/36]
Former [2016/46]
Opponent(s)01  06.10.2016  11.10.2016  ADMISSIBLE
K/S HIMPP
Nymoellevej 6
3540 Lynge / DK
Opponent's representative
TBK
Bavariaring 4-6
80336 München / DE
10.11.2016Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition
16.03.2017Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition
12.04.2018Date of oral proceedings
23.05.2018Despatch of interlocutory decision in opposition
23.05.2018Despatch of minutes of oral proceedings
23.06.2020Legal effect of interlocutory decision in opposition
25.08.2020Despatch of communication that the patent will be maintained as amended
30.10.2020Fee for printing new specification paid
Appeal following opposition01.08.2018Appeal received No.  T1956/18
01.10.2018Statement of grounds filed
23.06.2020Result of appeal procedure: appeal of the opponent withdrawn
Fees paidRenewal fee
18.07.2012Renewal fee patent year 03
17.06.2013Renewal fee patent year 04
11.06.2014Renewal fee patent year 05
09.06.2015Renewal fee patent year 06
Opt-out from the exclusive  Tooltip
competence of the Unified
Patent Court		 See the Register of the Unified Patent Court for opt-out data
Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Lapses during opposition  TooltipHU10.08.2010
AL06.01.2016
AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CY06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
MK06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
TR06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
GB10.08.2016
IE10.08.2016
LU10.08.2016
FR31.08.2016
MT31.08.2016
[2018/46]
Former [2018/33]HU10.08.2010
AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CY06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
MK06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
TR06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
GB10.08.2016
IE10.08.2016
LU10.08.2016
FR31.08.2016
MT31.08.2016
Former [2018/29]HU10.08.2010
AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CY06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
MK06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
TR06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
GB10.08.2016
IE10.08.2016
LU10.08.2016
FR31.08.2016
Former [2018/28]HU10.08.2010
AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CY06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
MK06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
GB10.08.2016
IE10.08.2016
LU10.08.2016
FR31.08.2016
Former [2017/41]AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
GB10.08.2016
IE10.08.2016
LU10.08.2016
FR31.08.2016
Former [2017/15]AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
MC06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SI06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
BG06.04.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2017/03]AT06.01.2016
BE06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2016/50]AT06.01.2016
CZ06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
RO06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
SK06.01.2016
SM06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2016/49]AT06.01.2016
EE06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2016/39]AT06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
LV06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
SE06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2016/38]AT06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
IS06.05.2016
PT06.05.2016
Former [2016/36]AT06.01.2016
ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
IT06.01.2016
LT06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
PL06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
Former [2016/35]ES06.01.2016
FI06.01.2016
HR06.01.2016
NL06.01.2016
NO06.04.2016
GR07.04.2016
Former [2016/30]NL06.01.2016
Documents cited:Search[Y] EP2063419  (HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYS et al.)
 [XYI] JP2000035474  (FUJITSU LTD et al.)
 [XI] US4198705  (MASSA FRANK et al.)
 [XI]   YUSUKE HIOKA ET AL: "DOA Estimation of Speech Signal using Equilateral-Triangular Microphone Array", 20030901, 1 September 2003 (2003-09-01), pages 1717, XP007006563
International search[Y] WO2008138365  (PHONAK AG et al.)
 [Y] US2005063553  (OZAWA KAZUHIKO et al.)
 [A] WO9313590  (AUDIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING CORP et al.)
by applicantWO2007137364
 WO2010051606
 JP2000035474
 US4198705
OppositionUS2002041695
 WO2007028250
 WO2008138365
 US2005063553
 WO9313590
 EP2063419
 JP2000035474
 US4198705
 US2002041695
 WO2007028250
   CHEN LIU ET AL.: "A two-microphone dual delay-line approach for extraction of a speech sound in the presence of multiple interferers", J. ACOUST. SOC. AM., vol. 110, no. 6, December 2001 (2001-12-01), pages 3218 - 3231, XP012002652

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1419090
   B. KOLLMEIER ET AL.: "Real-time multiband dynamic compression and noise reduction for binaural hearing aids", JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, vol. 30, no. 1, 1993, pages 82 - 94, XP055048125
   S. ALBANI ET AL.: "Model of binaural localization resolving multiple sources and spatial ambiguities", PSYCHOACOUSTICS, SPEECH AND HEARING AIDS, 1996, Singapore, pages 227 - 232, XP055314225
   T. WITTKOP: "Two channel noise reduction algorithms motivated by models of binaural interaction", PH.D. THESIS, March 2001 (2001-03-01), pages 1 - 145, XP055314254
   N. ROMAN ET AL.: "Speech segregation based on sound localization", J ACOUST SOC AM., vol. 114, October 2003 (2003-10-01), pages 2236 - 2252, XP012003735

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1610463
   H. NAKASHIMA: "Frequency domain binaural model based on interaural phase and level differences", ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 24, no. 4, 2003, pages 172 - 178, XP055314262

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1250/ast.24.172
   J. PEISSIG ET AL.: "Verbesserung der Sprachverstandlichkeit durch interaurale Verstrkung", FORTSCHRITTE DER AKUSTIK - DAGA 1988, DPG KONGRESS-GMBH, BAD HONNEF, 1988, pages 685 - 688, XP055314266
   T. WITTKOP ET AL.: "Speech Processing for Hearing Aids: Noise Reduction Motivated by Models of Binaural Interaction", ACTA ACUSTICA UNITED WITH ACUSTICA, vol. 83, no. 4, July 1997 (1997-07-01), pages 684 - 699, XP000884158
   CHEN LIU ET AL.: "Localization of multiple sound sources with two microphones", J ACOUST SOC. AM., vol. 108, no. 4, October 2000 (2000-10-01), pages 1888 - 1905, XP055314276

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.1290516
   N. Y. WANG ET AL.: "A New High-resolution-and-capacity DOA Estimation Technique Based on Subarray Beamforming", IEEE CONFERENCE RECORD OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ASILOMAR CONFERENCE ON SIGNALS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTERS, vol. 2, 7 November 2004 (2004-11-07), pages 2345 - 2349, XP010781139

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ACSSC.2004.1399588
   Y. HIOKA ET AL.: "DOA Estimation of Speech Signal using Equilateral-Triangular Microphone Array", PROCEEDINGS OF 8TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON SPEECH COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY, EUROSPEECH 2003 - INTERSPEECH 2003 (ISCA 2003, 1 September 2003 (2003-09-01), Geneva, Switzerland, XP055314353
   M. RASPAUD ET AL.: "Binaural Source Localization by Joint Estimation of ILD and ITD", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUDIO, SPEECH, AND LANGUAGE PROCESSING, vol. 18, no. 1, 26 May 2009 (2009-05-26), pages 68 - 77, XP011329111

DOI:   http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TASL.2009.2023644
   CHEN LIU ET AL.: "A two-microphone dual delay-line approach for extraction of a speech sound in the presence of multiple interferers", J. ACOUST. SOC. AM., vol. 110, no. 6, December 2001 (2001-12-01), pages 3218 - 3231
   B. KOLLMEIER ET AL.: "Real-time multiband dynamic compression and noise reduction for binaural hearing aids", JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, vol. 30, no. 1, 1993, pages 82 - 94
   S. ALBANI ET AL.: "Model of binaural localization resolving multiple sources and spatial ambiguities", PSYCHOACOUSTICS, SPEECH AND HEARING AIDS, 1996, Singapore, pages 227 - 232
   T. WITTKOP: "Two channel noise reduction algorithms motivated by models of binaural interaction", PH.D. THESIS, March 2001 (2001-03-01), pages 1 - 145
   N. ROMAN ET AL.: "Speech segregation based on sound localization", J ACOUST SOC AM., vol. 114, October 2003 (2003-10-01), pages 2236 - 2252
   H. NAKASHIMA: "Frequency domain binaural model based on interaural phase and level differences", ACOUSTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 24, no. 4, 2003, pages 172 - 178
   J. PEISSIG ET AL.: "Verbesserung der Sprachverstandlichkeit durch interaurale Verstrkung", FORTSCHRITTE DER AKUSTIK - DAGA 1988, DPG KONGRESS-GMBH, BAD HONNEF, 1988, pages 685 - 688, XP055314266
   T. WITTKOP ET AL.: "Speech Processing for Hearing Aids: Noise Reduction Motivated by Models of Binaural Interaction", ACTA ACUSTICA UNITED WITH ACUSTICA, vol. 83, no. 4, July 1997 (1997-07-01), pages 684 - 699
   CHEN LIU ET AL.: "Localization of multiple sound sources with two microphones", J ACOUST SOC. AM., vol. 108, no. 4, October 2000 (2000-10-01), pages 1888 - 1905
   N. Y. WANG ET AL.: "A New High-resolution-and-capacity DOA Estimation Technique Based on Subarray Beamforming", IEEE CONFERENCE RECORD OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH ASILOMAR CONFERENCE ON SIGNALS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTERS, vol. 2, 7 November 2004 (2004-11-07), pages 2345 - 2349
   Y. HIOKA ET AL.: "DOA Estimation of Speech Signal using Equilateral-Triangular Microphone Array", PROCEEDINGS OF 8TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON SPEECH COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY, EUROSPEECH 2003 - INTERSPEECH 2003 (ISCA 2003, 1 September 2003 (2003-09-01), Geneva, Switzerland
   M. RASPAUD ET AL.: "Binaural Source Localization by Joint Estimation of ILD and ITD", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AUDIO, SPEECH, AND LANGUAGE PROCESSING, vol. 18, no. 1, 26 May 2009 (2009-05-26), pages 68 - 77
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.