Interface module for programmable hearing instrument
First Claim
1. An interface system for connecting a programmable hearing instrument having a programmable circuit and a battery receptacle with at least three electrical contacts therein to a source of programming signals, the system comprising:
- an interface module having a rectangular, block-shaped insertion element for insertion into the battery receptacle of the hearing instrument, said insertion element having a plurality of flat contact plates formed on flat sides of said insertion element for respectively contacting the electrical contacts in the battery receptacle to which the programmable circuit is connected;
an electronic circuit module containing electronic components and having a plurality of external electrical contacts and being formed to reside within a hollow portion of said insertion element of said interface module and wherein said interface module includes means for making electrical contact between said plurality of external electrical contacts and said plurality of flat contact plates, respectively; and
conductor means for electrically connecting the source of programming signals to said plurality of flat contact plates of said interface module to which said electronic circuit module is connected, whereby the programming signals from the source of programming signals are connected to said electronic circuit module and to the programmable circuit,wherein said means for making electrical contact comprises a plurality of metal tubes contacting respectively at first ends thereof said plurality of external electrical contacts and extending through a plurality of apertures formed in a flat surface of said insertion element and electrically connected at second ends thereof to said plurality of flat contact plates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface module for a digitally programmable hearing instrument is detachably connected to the programming system by a cable and plug arrangement and has three large contact surfaces on an insertion module body that fits into a battery receptacle of the hearing instrument so that programming signals from the programming system can be fed to control the response of the hearing instrument. The interface module contains an electronic circuit unit that is detachable so that various interface circuits, such as a decoder, a processor, a level matching circuit, or an impedance matching circuit can be selectively included in the interface module. Each interface module can be color coded so that it can be associated with the proper left-ear or right-ear hearing instrument.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An interface system for connecting a programmable hearing instrument having a programmable circuit and a battery receptacle with at least three electrical contacts therein to a source of programming signals, the system comprising:
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an interface module having a rectangular, block-shaped insertion element for insertion into the battery receptacle of the hearing instrument, said insertion element having a plurality of flat contact plates formed on flat sides of said insertion element for respectively contacting the electrical contacts in the battery receptacle to which the programmable circuit is connected; an electronic circuit module containing electronic components and having a plurality of external electrical contacts and being formed to reside within a hollow portion of said insertion element of said interface module and wherein said interface module includes means for making electrical contact between said plurality of external electrical contacts and said plurality of flat contact plates, respectively; and conductor means for electrically connecting the source of programming signals to said plurality of flat contact plates of said interface module to which said electronic circuit module is connected, whereby the programming signals from the source of programming signals are connected to said electronic circuit module and to the programmable circuit, wherein said means for making electrical contact comprises a plurality of metal tubes contacting respectively at first ends thereof said plurality of external electrical contacts and extending through a plurality of apertures formed in a flat surface of said insertion element and electrically connected at second ends thereof to said plurality of flat contact plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An interface connecting a hearing instrument having a programmable circuit and a battery compartment with three electrical contacts therein to a source of voltages and programming signals to be stored in the programmable circuit, the interface comprising:
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an interface module having a rectangular, block-shaped insertion element for insertion into the battery receptacle of the hearing instrument, said insertion element having three flat electrical contact plates for respectively contacting the three electrical contacts in the battery compartment to which the programmable circuit is connected; an electronic circuit module containing electronic components and having three electrical contact surfaces and being of a shape and size to reside within a hollow portion of said insertion element, and wherein said interface module includes means for electrically connecting said three flat electrical contact surfaces and said three electrical contact plates, respectively; and cable means for electrically connecting the source of voltages and programming signals to said three electrical contact plates of said interface module to which said electronic circuit module is electrically connected, whereby the voltages and programming signals are connected to said electronic circuit module and to the programmable circuit, wherein said means for electrically connecting comprises three metal tubes, first ends thereof contacting respectively said three contacts, said three metal tubes extending through three apertures formed in a flat surface of said insertion element and electrically connected at second ends to said three electrical contact plates. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification