Hearing aid programming interface and method

• US 4,989,251 A
• Filed: 05/10/1988
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Diaphon Development AB
• Inventors: Mangold, Stephan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Application Number:
  US07/192,259
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 381/68, 381/68.2, 381/60, 73/585
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmable hearing aid has a serial data interface for receiving data transmissions, a decoder for decoding data transmissions, a program memory which stores program data values received via the serial interface, and read control logic that transmits the program data stored in the program memory when the decoder detects the receipt of a predefined read signal. Programming begins with the sending a set of program data values to the programmable hearing aid, preceded by a predefined write signal. The hearing aid automatically mutes or inhibits its operation upon receiving the write signal. A first checksum value corresponding to the program data values sent to the programmable hearing aid is calculated. Next, the data stored in the hearing aid is checked by sending a predefined read signal to the hearing aid, causing the hearing aid to transmitting the program data stored in its program memory. A second checksum value corresponding to the program data transmitted by the hearing aid is calculated and compared with the first checksum value. If the first and second checksum values do not match an error signal is generated and the hearing aid remains muted. If the checksum values do match, an unlock signal is sent to the hearing aid, causing the hearing aid to resume normal operation.

Claims

1. An auditory prosthesis, comprising:

programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data;

program loading means coupled to said signal processing means for loading a specified set of program data into said signal processing means;

said program loading means including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data, reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means, and means for loading one of said plurality of stored sets of program data into said signal processing means after said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means; and

muting means coupled to said signal processing means for temporarily muting said signal processing means while said program loading means loads a set of program data into said signal processing means;

said muting means coupled to said reprogramming means and including means for muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until a set of program data has been loaded into said signal processing means.

2. An auditory prosthesis, comprising:

programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data;

programming means coupled to said signal processing means for enabling said signal processing means to use a specified set of program data;

said programming means including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data, program selection means for generating a program selection signal, and means responsive to said program selection signal for enabling said signal processing means to use a corresponding set of program data;

reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means; and

muting means coupled to said reprogramming means and said signal processing means for muting said signal processing means while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means;

said muting means including means for temporarily muting said signal processing means when said program selection means generates a program selection signal until said signal processing means is enabled to use a corresponding set of program data;

said programming means including means for enabling said signal processing means to use one of said plurality of stored sets of program data after said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means;

said muting means including means for muting said signal processing means while program data from an external source is being loaded into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until said signal processing means has been enabled to use a set of program data.

3. A method of programming a hearing aid having programmable signal processing means for filtering and amplifying auditory signals in accordance with a set of program data, said hearing aid further including memory means for storing a plurality of distinct sets of program data, and reprogramming means for loading sets of program data from an external source into said memory means;

the steps of the method comprising;

responding to a program selection signal by changing the program data used by said signal processing means; and

responding to an externally generated write data signal by loading program data from an external source into said memory means in the hearing aid;

temporarily muting said signal processing means while said programming means changes the program data used by said signal processing means and while said reprogramming means loads program data from an external source into said memory means.

4. A method of programming a hearing aid as set forth in claim 3, said step of loading program data from an external source including the step of changing the program data used by said signal processing means after said program data from an external source has been loaded into said memory means;

said muting step including muting said signal processing means while program data from an external source is being loaded into said memory means and continuing to mute said signal processing means until the completion of said step of changing the program data used by said signal processing means.

5. A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, and memory means coupled to said receiving means for storing program data values received via said receiving means;

sending a predefined write signal and then a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid;

automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal, and then storing the following program data values in the hearing aid'"'"'s memory means;

sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid after the set of program data values has been stored in the hearing aid memory means;

said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.

6. A method of programming a programmable hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a programmable hearing aid with receiving means for receiving data transmissions, decoding means for decoding said data transmissions, memory means coupled to said receiving means and decoding means for storing program data values received via said receiving means, and read control means coupled to said memory means and said decoding means for transmitting data stored in said memory means when said decoding means detects the receipt of a predefined read signal;

sending a set of program data values to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid, preceded by a predefined write signal;

automatically muting the operation of said programmable hearing aid upon receiving the predefined write signal;

calculating a first checksum value corresponding to the program data values sent to the programmable hearing aid;

sending a predefined read signal to the receiving means of the programmable hearing aid;

said read control means of the programmable hearing aid responding to said predefined read signal by transmitting the program data stored in the programmable hearing aid;

calculating a second checksum value corresponding to the program data transmitted from the programmable hearing aid;

comparing the first and second checksum values;

generating an error signal when said first and second checksum values do not match; and

sending an unlock signal to the programmable hearing aid when said first and second checksum values do match;

said programmable hearing aid responding to said unlock signal by ceasing muting the operation of the programmable hearing aid.