Hearing aid having a data storage

• US 5,210,803 A
• Filed: 10/02/1991
• Issued: 05/11/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wagner, Jurgen, Martin, Raimund
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D.
• Application Number:
  US07/769,731
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/69, 381/68.7, 381/68.6, 381/60, 73/585
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing

Abstract

A hearing aid is provided comprising a microphone, an amplifier, an earphone, and at least one data storage. A large number of detailed hearing aid features are identifiable in an easy way. The data storage forms a component part of an identification means and stores at least one hearing aid feature which can be wirelessly output via an output means of the identification means allocated to the hearing aid for the identification of the hearing aid.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising:

a microphone, an amplifier connected to the microphone, and an earphone connected to an output of the amplifier;

first means for identifying the hearing aid, said identification means having a data storage containing at least one hearing aid feature which provides information for a person to identify the hearing aid and thus allow that person to match the hearing aid to a particular hearing impairment of a user who will be wearing the hearing aid;

and second means for wirelessly outputting to said person the at least one hearing aid feature.

2. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes said earphone connected to serve both as an output of the hearing aid for amplified sound and also for outputting said at least one hearing aid feature.

3. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said first means outputs from said hearing aid said at least one feature via said earphone.

4. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein a telephone coil of the hearing aid is employed as part of said second means.

5. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a display means arranged in the hearing aid for outputting by visual presentation said at least one feature of the hearing aid.

6. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said second means includes means for transmitting said at least one feature of the hearing aid as a coded signal to a separate evaluation and display unit which is separate from a main body of the hearing aid and which has a display means for visual presentation of said at least one feature of the hearing aid.

7. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein a triggering means is connected to said first means for triggering output of said at least one feature of the hearing aid when a control signal is received.

8. A hearing aid according to claim 7 wherein said triggering means comprises means for generating an externally generated control signal which is input via said microphone of the hearing aid.

9. A hearing aid according to claim 8 wherein said triggering means includes remote control means for transmitting a signal to said microphone of said hearing aid for triggering an output of said at least one feature of the hearing aid.

10. A hearing aid according to claim 8 wherein said control signal for outputting a feature of the hearing aid comprises a sound signal and said microphone of the hearing aid is employed as input means for the control signal.

11. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said data storage contains a plurality of hearing aid features including transmission properties of the hearing aid.

12. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein the hearing aid has printed thereon an indication that it contains an electronic identification system.

13. A hearing aid, comprising:

a microphone connecting through an amplifier to an earphone;

identification means for identifying at least one operating feature of the hearing aid which provides information to allow a person to identify the hearing aid and thus allowing that person to match the hearing aid to a particular hearing impairment of a user who will be wearing the hearing aid, said identification means including a data storage;

output means for wireless output of data from the hearing aid to said person; and

said identification means including means for providing said at least one feature to said output means as a result of a command received through said microphone and externally transmitted in wireless fashion to said hearing aid.

14. A hearing aid according to claim 13 wherein said output means includes a modulator connecting to said earphone, and wherein an external evaluation display means is provided to receive signals from said earphone and for displaying the at least one feature.

15. A hearing aid according to claim 13 wherein a remote transmitting means is provided for sending signals to said microphone for storing data in said data storage.

16. A hearing aid according to claim 13 wherein a transmitter means is provided for providing a trigger signal to actuate release of said at least one hearing aid feature from said data storage in said identification means.

17. A hearing aid, comprising:

a microphone connecting through an amplifier to an earphone;

identification means coupled to said microphone for identifying at least one operating feature of the hearing aid which provides information to allow a person to identify the hearing aid and thus allowing that person to match the hearing aid to a particular hearing impairment of a user who will be wearing the hearing aid, said identification means including a data storage; and

output means connected to said identification means for outputting, as a result of a command received through said microphone, said at least one hearing aid feature through a display means located on the hearing aid.