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US4947433A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit for use in programmable hearing aids

Assignee: Sivantos Inc
•
Filing: 1989-03-29
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Granted: 1990-08-07
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Expires: 2009-03-29
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Abstract

Abstract A circuit for use in programmable hearing aids is programmed by inputting digital pulses along two input lines. The programmed information is stored in ring counters and then registered in EEPROMS. A multiplexer (itself a ring counter) selects the ring counter which will be incremented by pulses input to one of the input lines.

Inventors

  • 👤 Anton M. Gebert

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 12:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/70; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/61

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 173 words
A circuit for use in a programmable hearing aid, comprising: a microphone; a receiver; signal processing circuitry operatively connected to the microphone and the receiver; a plurality of variable electrical elements operatively connected to said circuitry and varying electrical characteristics thereof; a plurality of means for storing information, each of said storing means being a ring counter which is operatively connected to at least a corresponding one of the variable electrical elements, having a plurality of states which correspond to electrical values of said at least one corresponding element, and causing said at least one corresponding elements to assume said values when in states corresponding thereto, said storing means changing between states upon receipt of digital pulses; a first input adapted to receive said digital pulses; a multiplexer comprising a ring counter which is operatively connected to said first input and to all of the storing means and selectively directing digital pulses at said first input to individual ones of the storing means; and a second input which is connected to said multiplexer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 173 words
A circuit for use in a programmable hearing aid, comprising: a microphone; a receiver; signal processing circuitry operatively connected to the microphone and the receiver; a plurality of variable electrical elements operatively connected to said circuitry and varying electrical characteristics thereof; a plurality of means for storing information, each of said storing means being a ring counter which is operatively connected to at least a corresponding one of the variable electrical elements, having a plurality of states which correspond to electrical values of said at least one corresponding element, and causing said at least one corresponding elements to assume said values when in states corresponding thereto, said storing means changing between states upon receipt of digital pulses; a first input adapted to receive said digital pulses; a multiplexer comprising a ring counter which is operatively connected to said first input and to all of the storing means and selectively directing digital pulses at said first input to individual ones of the storing means; and a second input which is connected to said multiplexer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein each ring counter has an index state with an impedance which is different from the impedances of all the other states.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The circuit of claim 1 wherein each of the storing means has a volatile section and a nonvolatile section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
The circuit of claim 3, wherein each nonvolatile section is an EEPROM.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The circuit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the variable electrical elements comprises a matrix of resistors and a matrix of switches which connect the resistors into different resistive configurations.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4187183A Cited
US4396806A Cited
US4396806B1 Cited
US4396806B2 Cited
US4471171A Cited
GB2184629A Cited
EP0250679A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-08-06 1994-02-05 1994-08-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-08-06 1998-02-05 1998-08-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-08-06 2002-02-05 2002-08-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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