US3673328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rate of amplitude change control for audiometers of the von bekesy type
Assignee: GRASON STADLER CO Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-26
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract The rate of amplitude change control disclosed herein is adapted for use in an audiometer of the von Bekesy type in which the subject being tested controls the sense or direction of variation in test-tone amplitude, the amplitude level around which the subject hunts at each test-tone frequency being an accurate indication of the threshold of the subject''s hearing at that frequency. The control of the present invention causes the rate of change of amplitude to itself vary from a relatively high rate to a relatively low rate as a test sequence progresses. In this way, a substantial amplitude range can be scanned in a short period until the subject''s threshold is first reached and then a slower rate enables the final hunting procedure to proceed gradually and therefore relatively accurately.
Inventors
- 👤 Rufus L Grason
- 👤 Joseph Mihaly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; a counter responsive to said signal, said counter incrementing through a succession of predetermined states as the sense of amplitude variation is cyclically reversed; means for setting said counter to a first state at the start of a test sequence; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at an adjustable rate; and means for setting said rate of amplitude variation at a first predetermined value when said counter is in said first state and for setting said rate at a second predetermined value when said counter is in subsequent ones of said succession of states.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; a counter responsive to said signal, said counter incrementing through a succession of predetermined states as the sense of amplitude variation is cyclically reversed; means for setting said counter to a first state at the start of a test sequence; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at an adjustable rate; and means for setting said rate of amplitude variation at a first predetermined value when said counter is in said first state and for setting said rate at a second predetermined value when said counter is in subsequent ones of said succession of states.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; a counter responsive to said signal; means for setting said counter to a first state at the start of a test sequence, said counter incrementing through a succession of predetermined states as the sense of amplitude variation is cyclically reversed from said first state, through a plurality of intermediate states, to a last state; means for varying the amplitude of said tEst tone at a preselectable rate; and means for setting said rate of amplitude variation at a first, relatively high predetermined value when said counter is in said first state, for setting said rate at a second, intermediate predetermined value when said counter is in one of said intermediate states, and for setting said rate at a third, relatively high rate when said counter is in said last state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; a counter responsive to said signal; means for setting said counter to a first state at the start of a test sequence, said counter incrementing through a succession of predetermined states as the sense of amplitude variation is cyclically reversed from said first state, through a plurality of intermediate states, to a last state; means for varying the amplitude of said tEst tone at a preselectable rate; and means for setting said rate of amplitude variation at a first, relatively high predetermined value when said counter is in said first state, for setting said rate at a second, intermediate predetermined value when said counter is in one of said intermediate states, and for setting said rate at a third, relatively high rate when said counter is in said last state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A rate-of-change control as set forth in claim 2 including means, operative when said counter is in said last state, for returning said counter to a predetermined one of said intermediate states if the sense of amplitude variation is not reversed within a predetermined time interval.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rate-of-change control as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first value is about 10 decibels per second, said intermediate value is about 5 decibels per second and said third value is about 2 and 1/2 decibels per second.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A rate-of-change control as set forth in claim 4 wherein said predetermined time interval is about 5 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An audiometer as set forth in claim 2 including means for changing the test-tone frequency between successive test sequences.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an audiometer of the von Besesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at a selected one of at least two different predetermined rates; and switching means, operative when said amplitude varying means is functioning at a lower of said rates and responsive to said sense change signal, for changing to a higher of said rates if the sense of variation is not reversed within a preselected time interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an audiometer of the von Besesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of testtone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at a selected one of at least two different predetermined rates; and switching means, operative when said amplitude varying means is functioning at a lower of said rates and responsive to said sense change signal, for changing to a higher of said rates if the sense of variation is not reversed within a preselected time interval.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An audiometer as set forth in claim 7 including means for progressively changing the test-tone frequency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An audiometer as set forth in claim 8 wherein said frequency is changed stepwise.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of test-tone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at a selected one of at least two different predetermined rates; and switching means, operative when said amplitude varying means is functioning at a higher one of said rates and responsive to said sense change signal, for changing to a lower one of said rates when the sense of amplitude variation is reversed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an audiometer of the von Bekesy type, in which the subject being tested controls the sense of variation of test-tone amplitude, an amplitude rate-of-change control comprising: means for providing a signal indicating changes in the sense of amplitude variation; means for varying the amplitude of said test tone at a selected one of at least two different predetermined rates; and switching means, operative when said amplitude varying means is functioning at a higher one of said rates and responsive to said sense change signal, for changing to a lower one of said rates when the sense of amplitude variation is reversed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2605355A
Cited
US2719940A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |