PREPROGRAMMED HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH USER SELECTION OF PROGRAM
First Claim
1. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:
- one or more housings configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person;
memory disposed within at least one of the housings, the memory for storing a plurality of audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals;
a processor disposed within at least one of the housings and connected to the memory, the processor operable in an initial-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected initial-tuning programs to process digital audio signals, and operable in a fine-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected fine-tuning programs to process digital audio signals;
a selection device disposed on at least one of the housings and connected to the processor, the selection device operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning programs and select one of the initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the initial-tuning mode;
means for causing the processor to switch from operating in the initial-tuning mode to operating in the fine-tuning mode;
the selection device further operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode and the one or more fine-tuning programs, and further operable by the person to select the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode or one of the fine-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the fine-tuning mode;
a digital-to-analog converter disposed within at least one of the housings, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; and
an audio output section disposed within at least one of the housings, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user programmable hearing aid allows a user to select acoustical configuration programs that provide optimum performance for the user. The user may cycle through and evaluate various available programs by momentarily pressing a push button on the hearing aid housing. When a preferred program is active, the user can press the push button for an extended time to designate that program as a selected program. The acoustical configuration programs include initial-tuning programs that are operable in an initial-tuning mode and fine-tuning programs that are operable in a fine-tuning mode. The hearing aid may also operate in a Configuration Mode wherein configuration settings may be changed using the push button and a volume control. In the Configuration Mode, a clinician or patient may easily change configuration settings manually, with no need to connect the apparatus to a computer or other programming interface.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more housings configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person; memory disposed within at least one of the housings, the memory for storing a plurality of audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals; a processor disposed within at least one of the housings and connected to the memory, the processor operable in an initial-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected initial-tuning programs to process digital audio signals, and operable in a fine-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected fine-tuning programs to process digital audio signals; a selection device disposed on at least one of the housings and connected to the processor, the selection device operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning programs and select one of the initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the initial-tuning mode; means for causing the processor to switch from operating in the initial-tuning mode to operating in the fine-tuning mode; the selection device further operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode and the one or more fine-tuning programs, and further operable by the person to select the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode or one of the fine-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the fine-tuning mode; a digital-to-analog converter disposed within at least one of the housings, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; and an audio output section disposed within at least one of the housings, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for improving perception of sound by a person using a hearing assistance device, the method comprising:
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(a) storing a plurality of audio processing programs in a memory device, the audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals; (b) making the initial-tuning programs available for selection by the person; (c) selecting one of the initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while the hearing assistance device is in an initial-tuning mode; (d) operating the hearing assistance device using the selected initial-tuning program while in the initial-tuning mode; (e) after a period of time operating in the initial-tuning mode, making one or more of the fine-tuning programs and the initial-tuning program selected in step (c) available for selection by the person; (f) selecting one of the fine-tuning programs or the initial-tuning program selected in step (c) to be used in processing the digital audio signals; and (g) operating the hearing assistance device using the program selected in step (h). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of audio processing programs in a memory device, the audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals; means for making the initial-tuning programs available for selection by the person; means for selecting one of the available initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while the hearing assistance device is in an initial-tuning mode; means for processing the digital audio signals using the selected initial-tuning program while in the initial-tuning mode; means for counting occurrences of events that are indicative of the application of power to or removal of power from the hearing assistance device while in the initial-tuning mode; means for determining whether a number of occurrences of events that are indicative of the application of power to or removal of power from the hearing assistance device exceeds a predetermined value; means for making one or more of the fine-tuning programs and the previously selected initial-tuning program available for selection by the person; means for selecting one of the available fine-tuning programs or the previously selected initial-tuning program to be used in processing the digital audio signals; and means for processing the digital audio signals using the selected initial-tuning program or fine-tuning program.
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20. A method for controlling a hearing assistance device disposed in a housing having a battery compartment door, wherein the hearing assistance device has three controls that are operable to control the hearing assistance device, the three controls consisting of a volume-up control, a volume-down control and a push button control, a controller for sensing open or closed states of the battery compartment door and states of the three controls, and a processor for operating in a configuration mode and in one or more other operational modes, wherein the processor is operable to execute a configuration control routine selected from a plurality of configuration control routines while in the configuration mode, the method comprising:
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(a) pressing the push button control continuously for an extended time while closing the battery compartment door; (b) the controller sensing the push button control being pressed continuously for at least a predetermined time during and after the closing of the battery compartment door; (c) the controller generating a first control signal based on completion of steps (b); (d) the processor entering the configuration mode based on the first control signal; (e) the controller sensing the opening and subsequent closing of the battery compartment door; (f) the controller generating a second control signal based on completion of step (e); and (g) the processor exiting the configuration mode and entering one of the other operational modes based on the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification