Portable system for programming hearing aids
First Claim
1. A hearing aid programmer for programming hearing aids, the hearing aid programmer comprising:
- a connector having lines to receive data signals from a host computer, the connector configured to operatively couple and decouple the hearing aid programmer to and from the host computer;
a memory to store hearing aid programming software operatively received from storage in the host computer;
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to receive the data signals from the connector;
a first interface coupled to the processor, the first interface configured to operatively couple and decouple the hearing aid programmer to and from a hearing aid, the hearing aid external to the hearing aid programmer; and
a second interface to couple to a portable unit, the second interface coupled to the processor to pass control signals from the portable unit to the processor arranged to utilize the control signals to download the hearing aid programming software to the portable unit, the portable unit being configured to program the hearing aid, the portable unit separate from the hearing aid programmer and separate from the hearing aid.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid programming system with a host computer for providing at least one hearing aid program and having at least one personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) defined port in combination with a PCMCIA card inserted in the port and arranged for interacting with the host computer for controlling programming of a hearing aid. The host computer provides power and ground to the PCMCIA card and provides for downloading the hearing aid programming software to the PCMCIA card upon initialization. A microprocessor on the PCMCIA card executes the programming software. A portable programming arrangement utilizes a portable multiprogram unit to store one or more hearing aid programs which may be downloaded from the host computer. The portable multiprogram unit includes a wireless interconnection for transmitting selected ones of the programs to hearing aids to be programmed.
312 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A hearing aid programmer for programming hearing aids, the hearing aid programmer comprising:
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a connector having lines to receive data signals from a host computer, the connector configured to operatively couple and decouple the hearing aid programmer to and from the host computer; a memory to store hearing aid programming software operatively received from storage in the host computer; a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to receive the data signals from the connector; a first interface coupled to the processor, the first interface configured to operatively couple and decouple the hearing aid programmer to and from a hearing aid, the hearing aid external to the hearing aid programmer; and a second interface to couple to a portable unit, the second interface coupled to the processor to pass control signals from the portable unit to the processor arranged to utilize the control signals to download the hearing aid programming software to the portable unit, the portable unit being configured to program the hearing aid, the portable unit separate from the hearing aid programmer and separate from the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for programming hearing aids, the system comprising:
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an apparatus, the apparatus including; a connection having lines to receive data signals from a host computer, the connection configured to operatively couple and decouple the apparatus to and from the host computer; a processor to receive the data signals from the connection and to interact with the host computer to receive programming software in the apparatus, the programming software including a hearing aid program to program a hearing aid, the hearing aid external to the apparatus; and an interface coupled to the processor; and a portable unit operable to program the hearing aid, the portable unit having a program load block to communicate with the processor through the interface to receive the hearing aid program from the apparatus, the portable unit having memory operatively coupled to the program load block to store the hearing aid program to program the hearing aid, the portable unit being separate from the apparatus and separate from the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus to program a hearing aid comprising:
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an interface configurable as a serial port to receive input from a source external to the apparatus, the input associated with programming the hearing aid, the interface having a connector configured to operatively couple and decouple the apparatus to and from the source; a processor coupled to the interface; a program memory coupled to the processor, the program memory to store hearing aid programming software; a hearing aid interface coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to programmably generate signals to the hearing aid through the hearing aid interface, the hearing aid being external to the apparatus; and a portable unit interface coupled to the processor, the portable unit interface structured to operatively couple to a portable unit to pass signals between the processor and the portable unit, the portable unit being configured to program the hearing aid, the portable unit separate from the apparatus, separate from the source, and separate from the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification