Digital programming device for hearing aids

Claim 1

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.