Two-wired hearing aid system utilizing two-way communication for programming

• US 20020094098A1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Etymotic Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Delage, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,590,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired

Abstract

A hearing aid system is disclosed that enables a two-wire configuration for power, data and ground, and two-way communication between a hearing aid and an external programming device or system. In one embodiment, the hearing aid includes a receiver and a bypass capacitor, such as commonly found with Class D receivers. Circuitry is included that switches between a normal hearing aid operating mode in which the bypass capacitor is connected, and a programming mode in which at least the bypass capacitor is disconnected. Switching may occur in response to the input voltage of the hearing aid rising above and falling below a predetermined threshold. The hearing aid may operate using three different voltages, one for normal operation and two others representative of logic signals during the programming mode.

Claims

1. A programmable hearing aid comprising:

a microphone;

an amplifier;

a receiver;

a bypass capacitor connected across the receiver; and

circuitry for disconnecting at least one load and the bypass capacitor during a hearing aid programming operation, and for reconnecting the at least one load and the bypass capacitor after the hearing aid programming operation.

2. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a comparator and a switch.

3. The programmable hearing aid of claim 2 wherein the switch is opened to disconnect the at least one load and the bypass capacitor in response to an input voltage rising above a predetermined threshold.

4. The programmable hearing aid of claim 3 wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 1.5 volts.

5. The programmable hearing aid of claim 3 wherein the switch is closed to reconnect the at least one load and the bypass capacitor in response to the input voltage falling below the predetermined threshold.

6. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising a single wire for providing power to the microphone, amplifier, receiver, bypass capacitor and circuitry, and for communicating data signals between the hearing aid and an external programmer during the programming operation.

7. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising only two wires for providing power to the hearing aid, for providing two-way communication between the hearing aid and an external programmer, and for ground.

8. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the circuitry enables automatic determination by an external programmer of at least one of the hearing aid data transfer speed and the hearing aid make and model.

9. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the hearing aid operates in a normal mode when an input voltage is in a range about a first voltage level, and during the programming operation, receives a first logic signal when the input voltage is in a range about a second voltage level and a second logic signal when the input voltage is in a range about a third voltage level.

10. The programmable hearing aid of claim 9 wherein the circuitry disconnects the at least one load and the bypass capacitor when an input voltage rises above a fourth voltage level.

11. The programmable hearing aid of claim 10 wherein the first voltage level is approximately 1.25 volts, the second voltage level is approximately 1.6 volts, the third voltage level is approximately 2.5 volts and the fourth voltage level is approximately 1.5 volts.

12. The programmable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the at least one load comprises the receiver.

14. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 wherein both the bypass capacitor and the at least one load are disconnected during the programming mode.

15. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 wherein switching from the hearing aid operating mode to the hearing aid programming mode is responsive to an input voltage rising above a predetermined threshold, and switching from the programming mode to the operating mode is responsive to the input voltage falling below the predetermined threshold.

16. The programmable hearing aid of claim 15 wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 1.5 volts.

17. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 further comprising a single wire for providing power to the microphone, amplifier, receiver, bypass capacitor and circuitry, and for communicating data between the hearing aid and an external programmer during the programming mode.

18. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 further comprising only two wires for providing power to the hearing aid, for providing two-way communication between the hearing aid and an external programmer, and for ground.

19. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the circuitry enables automatic determination by an external programmer of at least one of the hearing aid data transfer speed and the hearing aid make and model.

20. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the hearing aid is in the operating mode when an input voltage is in a range about a first voltage level, and is in the programming mode when the input voltage is above the first voltage level.

21. The programmable hearing aid of claim 20 wherein the hearing aid receives a first logic signal when the input voltage is in a range about a second voltage level and a second logic signal when the input voltage is in a range about a third voltage level.

22. The programmable hearing aid of claim 21 wherein the first voltage level is approximately 1.25 volts, the second voltage level is approximately 1.6 volts, and the third voltage level is approximately 2.5 volts.

23. The programmable hearing aid of claim 13 wherein the at lest one load comprises the receiver.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising restoring power to the at least bypass capacitor when the detected input voltage falls below the predetermined threshold.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising performing normal hearing aid operation when the detected input voltage is below the predetermined threshold.

13. A programmable hearing aid comprising:

a microphone;

an amplifier;

a receiver;

a bypass capacitor connected across the receiver; and

circuitry for switching between a hearing aid operating mode in which at least one load and the bypass capacitor are connected and a hearing aid programming mode in which at least the bypass capacitor is disconnected.

24. A method of operating a programmable hearing aid comprising:

providing power to a hearing aid microphone, amplifier, receiver, and bypass capacitor;

detecting an input voltage;

shutting off power to at least the bypass capacitor when the detected input voltage is above a predetermined threshold;

recognizing a first logic signal when the detected input voltage is at a first voltage level greater than the predetermined threshold;

recognizing a second logic signal when the detected input voltage is at a second voltage level greater than the predetermined threshold and the first voltage level; and

restoring power to the at least bypass capacitor when the detected input voltage falls below the predetermined threshold.

25. A method of operating a programmable hearing aid comprising:

providing power to a hearing aid receiver and bypass capacitor;

detecting an input voltage;

shutting off power to at least the bypass capacitor when the detected input voltage rises above a predetermined threshold; and

performing a programming operation when the detected input voltage is above the predetermined threshold.