US5144674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digital programming device for hearing aids
Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 1989-10-13
•
Granted: 1992-09-01
•
Expires: 2009-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Digitally programmable, single-channel and multi-channel hearing aids of various manufacturers and/or hearing aids having different acoustic characteristics can be set and adjusted with the programming device of the invention. The programming device includes a microcontroller, main memories, interchangeable company program modules with plug-in locations, and a master program module with corresponding plug location. A display is also provided for the programming device.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfram Meyer
- 👤 Eduard Kaiser
- 👤 Ullrich Sigwanz
- 👤 Soeren Larsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/61; G06F8/64; H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/70; H04R25/50; H04R25/505; H04R25/55; H04R25/556
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A digital programming device for programming a plurality of different hearing aids comprising: a plurality of module plug-in locations each adapted to receive one of a plurality of interchangeable manufacturer program modules each manufacturer program module having characteristics stored therein for setting a hearing aid uniquely associated with said manufacturer program module; a master program module having a program stored therein for identifying one or more manufacturer program modules in said module plug-in locations; control means connected to each of said plug-in location can to said master program module for conducting a read operation, using said program in said master program module, of said module plug-in location thereby identifying which module plug-in locations are respectively occupied by which manufacturer program modules; hearing aid interface means connected to said module plug-in locations and to said control means and adapted for connection to a hearing aid to be set for supplying the characteristics from one of said manufacturer program modules to the hearing aid; said hearing aid interface means consisting of software-controlled digital-to-analog converter means for producing variable signal levels, software-controlled analog-to-digital converter means for determining external impedance, software-controlled analog switch-over means for adjusting the half- or full-duplex mode, software-controlled analog switch means for connecting or disconnecting different pull-up or pull-down resistors, and hardware-controlled operational amplifiers connected to an external resistor to produce variable signal levels and polarities; and means connected to said control means for selecting a manufacturer program module uniquely associated with said hearing aid and thereby connecting said hearing aid to said program module uniquely associated therewith via said hearing aid interface means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A digital programming device for programming a plurality of different hearing aids comprising: a plurality of module plug-in locations each adapted to receive one of a plurality of interchangeable manufacturer program modules each manufacturer program module having characteristics stored therein for setting a hearing aid uniquely associated with said manufacturer program module; a master program module having a program stored therein for identifying one or more manufacturer program modules in said module plug-in locations; control means connected to each of said plug-in location can to said master program module for conducting a read operation, using said program in said master program module, of said module plug-in location thereby identifying which module plug-in locations are respectively occupied by which manufacturer program modules; hearing aid interface means connected to said module plug-in locations and to said control means and adapted for connection to a hearing aid to be set for supplying the characteristics from one of said manufacturer program modules to the hearing aid; said hearing aid interface means consisting of software-controlled digital-to-analog converter means for producing variable signal levels, software-controlled analog-to-digital converter means for determining external impedance, software-controlled analog switch-over means for adjusting the half- or full-duplex mode, software-controlled analog switch means for connecting or disconnecting different pull-up or pull-down resistors, and hardware-controlled operational amplifiers connected to an external resistor to produce variable signal levels and polarities; and means connected to said control means for selecting a manufacturer program module uniquely associated with said hearing aid and thereby connecting said hearing aid to said program module uniquely associated therewith via said hearing aid interface means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means connected to said control means for displaying a manufacturing company and hearing aid type of said hearing aid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for displaying further indicates read operation information by said master program module of said company modules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for displaying is a graphic display panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a main memory means connected to said plurality of plug-in locations, said master program module, and said control means for storing hearing aid adjustments of said hearing aid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an interchangeable nonvolatile write/read memory for storing characteristics of said hearing aid; and a plug-in location in said digital programming device for receiving said nonvolatile write/read memory means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of sub-memories in said nonvolatile write/read memory, each of said sub-memories being allocated to one of said company program modules; and means for connecting said master program module means to said nonvolatile write/read memory means so as to confine access of said company program modules to said allocated sub-memories.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for storing a plurality of settable basic hearing aid parameters for fine-tuning said hearing aid; and means for storing a plurality of settable individual requirement hearing aid parameters for fine-tuning said hearing aid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said parameters are set by a personal computer connected to said digital programming device; said parameters are transferred to a printer via a standard interface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A digital programming device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a switch-over means for binaural fitting.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4065647A
Cited
DE2844218A1
Cited
US4481661A
Cited
US4736327A
Cited
EP0163775A1
Cited
US4768165A
Cited
EP0180428A2
Cited
US4759070A
Cited
US4879749A
Cited
US4989251A
Cited
US4992966A
Cited
US4961142A
Cited
US5007090A
Cited
US4991105A
Cited
US4947433A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-01 | 1996-03-02 | 1996-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-03-02 | 2000-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-01 | 2004-03-02 | 2004-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |