Hand-held tone generator for equalizing binaural hearing aids

• US 5,081,441 A
• Filed: 10/30/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Chojar, Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tumm, Brian R.
• Application Number:
  US07/630,790
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384 E, 340/388, 340/391, 73/585, 128/746
• US Class Current: 340/384.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0418 Pen-shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural

Abstract

Audible tone generators, particularly a hand-held tone generator for generating an audible tone as a test for equalizing binaural hearing aids. The circuit is characterized by its "fountain pen" size, as well as its extreme simplicity and reliability.

Claims

1. A tone generator comprising:

a. An elongated housing;

b. A hood supported upon an end of said housing, including a speaker aperture;

c. A tone generator circuit supported within the hood including;

i. a socket adapted for connection to a source of electrical power;

ii. a plurality of operational amplifiers whose balance is maintained by resistor and capacitor elements, and

iii. a speaker fitted within the speaker aperture;

d. the source of electrical power supported within said housing and connected to said tone generator circuit via said socket, and

e. an on/off switch in the form of a resilient clip supported on the outside of said housing and interconnecting said source of electrical power and said socket.

2. A tone generator as in claim 1, including a perforated screen fitted within said hood adjacent said speaker.

3. A tone generator as in claim 2, said tone generator circuit being in the form of a printed circuit board supported within said hood intermediate said socket and said speaker.

4. A tone generator as in claim 3, said operational amplifiers being united in four stages so as to provide a total gain of approximately 72 dB.

5. A tone generator as in claim 4, said circuit having a drain current of 0.45 mA.