Claims
- 1. A method for selecting an acoustical response of a hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting one of multiple acoustical formats of the hearing aid by transmitting a command; receiving the command at the hearing aid to determine which of the multiple acoustical formats is selected by a user; and compensating for a variation in a component of the hearing aid device based on a compensation factor that is previously programmed in the hearing aid, the compensation factor being used to adjust the acoustical response of the hearing aid so that a selected acoustical format of the hearing aid conforms to a standard.
- 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the command includes digital data that is stored in a memory device of the hearing aid to select an acoustical format.
- 3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the received command includes digital data that is latched to drive at least one input to a digital filter that defines the acoustical response of the hearing aid.
- 4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the user presses a keypad of a wireless transmitter module to select the acoustical format and a corresponding command is transmitted via a wireless signal to the hearing aid device to program the acoustical format.
- 5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the hearing aid is disposable.
- 6. A method as in claim 1, wherein a selection of a format by a user is permanent so that the hearing aid cannot be reprogrammed.
- 7. A method as in claim 1, wherein an acoustical format is selected by holding the hearing aid device to a phone receiver and pressing at least one keypad.
- 8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the command is transmitted via a wireless signal.
- 9. A method as in claim 2, wherein the digital data for selecting an acoustical format is stored in a volatile memory device.
- 10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the volatile memory device is RAM (Random Access Memory).
- 11. A method as in claim 1, wherein a selection of a format by a user is temporary so that the hearing aid can be subsequently reprogrammed with a different acoustical format.
- 12. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
filtering an acoustical input of the hearing aid to detect an audible programming command; and programming the hearing aid according to the audible programming command.
- 13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the audible programming command is generated via DTMF (Dual Tone Multiple Frequency) signals.
- 14. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
amplifying an acoustical input of the hearing aid based upon a selected acoustical format.
- 15. A method as in claim 14 further comprising the step of:
storing a compensation factor in memory of the hearing aid corresponding to characteristics of a tested component disposed in the hearing aid; and modifying an acoustical response of the hearing aid based upon the compensation factor.
- 16. A method for modifying an acoustical response of a hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of:
testing a component to be used in the hearing aid by measuring a characteristic of the component; identifying an appropriate compensation factor to correct for a variation in the component; and storing the compensation factor in a memory device to compensate for the component disposed in the hearing aid.
- 17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising the step of:
compensating for the variation in the component of the hearing aid device so that an overall acoustical response of the hearing aid conforms to a standard.
- 18. A method as in claim 16, wherein the component is a microphone used in the hearing aid.
- 19. A method as in claim 16, wherein the component is a speaker used in the hearing aid.
- 20. A method as in claim 16, wherein the component is an assembly including an electronic circuit.
- 21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the electronic circuit includes an amplifier.
- 22. A method as in claim 20, wherein the component is an assembly including a memory device in which a compensation factor is stored.
- 23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the compensation factor is stored in the memory device prior to assembly of the component in a hearing aid.
- 24. A method as in claim 16, wherein the memory device is EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
- 25. A method as in claim 16 further comprising the step of:
storing encoded data in the memory device for selecting one of multiple programmable acoustical responses of the hearing aid.
- 26. A method as in claim 16 further comprising the step of:
latching a digitally encoded compensation factor into a register device that drives circuitry disposed between a microphone and speaker of the hearing aid to compensate for the variation in the component.
- 27. A method as in claim 16 further comprising the step of:
testing multiple components of a similar type and grouping the components based on a corresponding deviation from a standard.
- 28. A method as in claim 27 further comprising the steps of:
assigning a compensation factor to a group of tested components having similar characteristics; and programming the hearing aid that includes a component selected from a particular group with a corresponding assigned compensation factor.
- 29. A method as in claim 16, wherein the compensation factor is used to adjust a gain of the hearing aid device.
- 30. A method as in claim 16, wherein the compensation factor is used to adjust an offset of the hearing aid device.
- 31. A method as in claim 20, wherein the characteristic response is an acoustical response.
- 32. A method for selecting an acoustical response of a hearing aid, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting one of multiple acoustical formats of the hearing aid by transmitting a command; receiving the command at the hearing aid to determine which of the multiple acoustical formats is selected by a user; and providing a patient with a programmer module that is temporarily coupled to the hearing aid for programming an acoustical format.
- 33. A method as in claim 32, wherein the command includes digital data that is stored in a memory device of the hearing aid to select an acoustical format.
- 34. A method as in claim 32, wherein the received command includes digital data that is latched to drive at least one input to a digital filter that defines the acoustical response of the hearing aid.
- 35. A method as in claim 32, wherein the user presses a keypad of the programmer module to select the acoustical format and a corresponding command is transmitted via a signal to the hearing aid device to program the acoustical format.
- 36. A method as in claim 32, wherein the hearing aid is disposable.
- 37. A method as in claim 32, wherein a selection of a format by a user is permanent so that the hearing aid cannot be reprogrammed.
- 38. A method as in claim 32 further comprising the step of:
amplifying an acoustical input of the hearing aid based upon a programmed acoustical format.
- 39. A method as in claim 32 further comprising the step of:
storing a compensation factor in memory of the hearing aid corresponding to characteristics of a tested component disposed in the hearing aid; and modifying an acoustical response of the hearing aid based upon the compensation factor.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/188,857 filed on Mar. 13, 2000, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (4)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60188857 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
|
60188997 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
|
60188996 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
|
60188721 |
Mar 2000 |
US |