EP0341903A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hearing aid programming interface and method
Assignee: GN Hearing Care Corp
•
Filing: 1989-05-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of programming a programmable hearing aid is disclosed. The programmable hearing aid has a serial data interface for receiving data transmissions, a decoder for decoding data transmissicns, a program memory which stores program data values received via the serial interface, and read control logic that transmits the program data stored in the program memory when the decoder detects the receipt of a predefined read signal. Programming begins with the sending a set of program data values to the programmable hearing aid, preceded by a predefined write signal. The hearing aid automatically mutes or inhibits its operation upon receiving the write signal. A first checksum value corresponding to the program data values sent to the programmable hearing aid is calculated. Next, the data stored in the hearing aid is checked by sending a predefined read signal to the hearing aid, causing the hearing aid to transmitting the program data stored in its program memory. A second checksum value corresponding to the program data transmitted by the hearing aid is calculated and compared with the first checksum value. If the first and seccnd checksum values do not match an error signal is generated and the hearing aid remains muted. If the checksum values do match, an unlock signal is sent to the hearing aid, causing the hearing aid to resume normal operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephan Eberhard Mangold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/55; H04R25/556; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; H04R25/50; H04R25/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; program loading means coupled to said signal processing means for loading a specified set of program data into said signal processing means; and muting means coupled to said signal processing means for temporarily muting said signal processing means while said program loading means loads a set of program data into said signal processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; program loading means coupled to said signal processing means for loading a specified set of program data into said signal processing means; and muting means coupled to said signal processing means for temporarily muting said signal processing means while said program loading means loads a set of program data into said signal processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
An auditory prosthesis as set forth in claim 1, said program loading means including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data, and reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means; said muting means coupled to said reprogramming means and including means for muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
An auditory prosthesis as set forth in claim 2, said program loading means including means for loading one of said plurality of stored sets of program data into said signal processing means after said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means; said muting means including means for muting said signal processing means while program data from an external source is being loaded into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until a set of program data has been loaded into said signal processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; programming means coupled to said signal processing means for enabling said signal processing means to use a specified set of program data; said programming means including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data; reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means; and muting means coupled to said reprogramming means and said signal processing means for muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; programming means coupled to said signal processing means for enabling said signal processing means to use a specified set of program data; said programming means including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data; reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means; and muting means coupled to said reprogramming means and said signal processing means for muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
An auditory prosthesis as set forth in claim 4, said programming means including program selection means for generating a program selection signal, and means responsive to said program selection signal for enabling said signal processing means to use a corresponding set of program data; said muting means including means for temporarily muting said signal processing means when said program selection means generates a program selection signal until said signal processing means is enabled to use a corresponding set of program data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
An auditory prosthesis as set forth in claim 5, said programming means including means for enabling said signal processing means to use one of said plurality of stored sets of program data after said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means; said muting means including means for muting said signal processing means while program data from an external source is being loaded into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until said signal processing means has been enabled to use a set of program data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; programming means coupled to said signal processing means for changing the program data used by said signal processing means; and muting means coupled to said programming means and said signal processing means for temporarily muting said signal processing means while said programming means changes the program data used by said signal processing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
An auditory prosthesis, comprising: programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data; programming means coupled to said signal processing means for changing the program data used by said signal processing means; and muting means coupled to said programming means and said signal processing means for temporarily muting said signal processing means while said programming means changes the program data used by said signal processing means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of programming a hearing aid having programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data, the steps of the method comprising: responding to a program selection signal by changing the program data used by said signal processing means; and temporarily muting said signal processing means while said programming means changes the program data used by said signal processing means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of programming a hearing aid having programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data, the steps of the method comprising: responding to a program selection signal by changing the program data used by said signal processing means; and temporarily muting said signal processing means while said programming means changes the program data used by said signal processing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method of programming a hearing aid as set forth in claim 8, said hearing aid including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data, and reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means; the method further including the steps of: responding to an externally generated write data signal by loading program data from an external source into said memory means in the hearing aid; and muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method of programming a hearing aid as set forth in claim 9, said step of loading program data from an external source including the step of changing the program data used by said signal processing means after said program data from an external source has been loaded into said memory means; said muting step including muting said signal processing means while program data from an external source is being loaded into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until the completion of said step of changing the program data used by said signal processing means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, and memory means coupled to said receiving means for storing program data values received via said receiving means; sending a predefined write signal and then a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid; automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal, and then storing the following program data values in the hearing aid's memory means; sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid after the set of program data values has been stored in the hearing aid memory means; said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, and memory means coupled to said receiving means for storing program data values received via said receiving means; sending a predefined write signal and then a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid; automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal, and then storing the following program data values in the hearing aid's memory means; sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid after the set of program data values has been stored in the hearing aid memory means; said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, decoding means for decoding said data transmissions, memory means coupled to said receiving means and decoding means for storing program data values received via said receiving means, and read control means coupled to said memory means and said decoding means for transmitting data stored in said memory means when said decoding means detects the receipt of a predefined read signal; sending a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid, preceded by a predefined write signal; automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal; calculating a first checksum value corresponding to the program data values sent to the programmable hearing aid; sending a predefined read signal to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid; said read control means of the programmable hearing and responding to said predefined read signal by transmitting the program data stored in the programmable hearing aid; calculating a second checksum value corresponding to the program data transmitted from the programmable hearing aid; comparing the first and second checksum values; generating an error signal when said first and second checksum values do not match; and sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid when said first and second checksum values do match; said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
255 words
A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, decoding means for decoding said data transmissions, memory means coupled to said receiving means and decoding means for storing program data values received via said receiving means, and read control means coupled to said memory means and said decoding means for transmitting data stored in said memory means when said decoding means detects the receipt of a predefined read signal; sending a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid, preceded by a predefined write signal; automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal; calculating a first checksum value corresponding to the program data values sent to the programmable hearing aid; sending a predefined read signal to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid; said read control means of the programmable hearing and responding to said predefined read signal by transmitting the program data stored in the programmable hearing aid; calculating a second checksum value corresponding to the program data transmitted from the programmable hearing aid; comparing the first and second checksum values; generating an error signal when said first and second checksum values do not match; and sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid when said first and second checksum values do match; said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.