Method for identifying a hearing aid

• US 7,974,427 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc. (Zounds Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc. (Zounds Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomasson, Samuel L., Fink, Scott Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRITCHARD, JASMINE L
• Application Number:
  US11/357,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381/323
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A hearing aid is identified by storing a binary code in the hearing aid, receiving a transmitted code, reading out a subset of bits from the stored binary code, and comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification. The reading step preferably reads the lowest order nibble, byte, or word of the binary code. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a charger for the hearing aid, a controller for the hearing aid, and a programmer for the hearing aid store the identification codes for two way communication among the devices.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a binary code having a plurality of bits in the hearing aid, where the binary code uniquely identifies the hearing aid;

receiving a transmitted code;

reading a subset of lowest order bits from the stored binary code;

comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order four bits of the binary code.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order eight bits of the binary code.

4. A method for identifying a hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a binary code having a plurality of bits for identifying the hearing aid in a charger for the hearing aid, where the binary code uniquely identifies the hearing aid;

receiving a transmitted code from a hearing aid;

reading a subset lowest order bits from the stored binary code;

comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order four bits of the binary code.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order eight bits of the binary code.

7. A method for identifying a hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a binary code having a plurality of bits for identifying the hearing aid in a programmer for the hearing aid where the binary code uniquely identifies the hearing aid;

receiving a transmitted code from a hearing aid;

reading a subset of lowest order bits from the stored binary code;

comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order four bits of the binary code.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order eight bits of the binary code.

10. A method for identifying a hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a binary code having a plurality of bits for identifying the hearing aid in a controller for the hearing aid, where the binary code uniquely identifies the hearing aid;

receiving a transmitted code from a hearing aid;

reading a subset of lowest order bits from the stored binary code;

comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order four bits of the binary code.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order eight bits of the binary code.

13. A method for identifying a programmable hearing aid in a system including the hearing aid, a charger for the hearing aid, a controller for the hearing aid, and a programmer for the hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a binary code having a plurality of bits for identifying the hearing aid in the charger, the controller, and the programmer, where the binary code uniquely identifies the hearing aid;

receiving a transmitted code from a hearing aid;

reading out a subset of lowest order bits from the stored binary code;

comparing the transmitted code with the subset for identification.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order four bits of the binary code.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said reading step reads the lowest order eight bits of the binary code.