WIRELESS INTERFACE FOR AUDIOMETERS

Abstract

An interface adapted for use with an audiometer, including a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives signals from the audiometer and provides the signals to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a digital wireless interface;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart depicting operation of the digital wireless interface;

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a base unit connected to an audiometer with a digital output;

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a remote unit;

FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of an audio output amplifier;

FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a buffer and control block;

FIG. 3E illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a first position of a de-multiplexer;

FIG. 3F illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a second position of the de-multiplexer;

FIG. 3G illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a third position of the de-multiplexer;

FIG. 3H illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a calibration block;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of an analog base unit;

FIG. 4B illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a signal conditioning and multiplexing block;

FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram a first position of a multiplexer;

FIG. 4D illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a second position of the multiplexer;

FIG. 4E illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a third position of the multiplexer;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary comparison of an upper threshold to a lower threshold;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an automatic scaling method;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an automatic multiplexing detection process;

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of another embodiment of the analog base unit;

FIG. 8B illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a signal conditioner;

FIG. 8C illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of another remote unit;

FIG. 9A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an insert earphone tip;

FIG. 9B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a sensing tube connected to a miniature microphone;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary method for conducting an audiometric test;

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of another embodiment of the analog base unit;

FIG. 11B illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a mode detector;

FIG. 11C illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram of a scale detector;

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary waveform related to the spoken word “you”; and

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary method for selecting one of a high scaling state and a low scaling state.

Claims

1. An interface adapted for use with an audiometer, comprising: a digital wireless interface supported by a base unit and a remote unit wherein the base unit receives signals from the audiometer and provides the signals to the remote unit via the digital wireless interface.

2. The interface as in claim 1, wherein the digital wireless interface comprises high density coding.

3. The interface as in claim 2, wherein the high density coding comprises minimum shift keying.

4. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising earphones coupled to the remote unit.

5. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising insert earphones coupled to the remote unit.

6. The interface as in claim 1, further comprising a bone conduction transducer coupled to the remote unit.

7. A base unit adapted for receiving signals from an audiometer, comprising: a receiver for receiving test sound information and transmitting encoded test sound information to a remote unit through a digital wireless interface.

8. The base unit as in claim 7, further comprising a user interface.

9. The base unit as in claim 7, wherein the base unit comprises at least one of an analog base unit and a digital base unit for receiving the test sound information.

10. The base unit as in claim 7, wherein the base unit comprises a computer-processing unit adapted for rung a digital audiometer.

11. A remote unit adapted for providing a test sound, the remote unit comprising: a digital wireless interface for receiving encoded test sound information and outputting a test sound signal to a transducer for providing the test sound.

12. The remote unit as in claim 11, further comprising a response switch.

13. A method for conducting an audiometric test of a test subject, the method comprising: receiving test sound information; andusing a digital wireless interface, providing the test sound information to the test subject as at least one test sound.

14. The method as in claim 13, further comprising calibrating a sound pressure level of the at least one test sound to at least one ear canal of the test subject.

15. The method as in claim 13, further comprising identifying an ear canal of the test subject to which a masking sound is transmitted.

16. The method as in claim 13, further comprising transmitting a masking sound to an ear canal of the test subject.

17. The method as in claim 13, further comprising measuring ambient noise in at least one ear canal of the test subject.

18. The method as in claim 13, further comprising canceling ambient noise in at least one ear canal of the test subject.

19. The method as in claim 13, further comprising sending a response via a response switch from the test subject.

20. A system for conducting audiometric tests, the system comprising: means for receiving test sound information;means for producing encoded test sound information;means for transmitting the encoded test sound information over a digital wireless interface;means for receiving the encoded test sound information; andmeans for producing test sounds.

21. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for calibrating a sound pressure level of at least one test sound to at least one ear canal of a test subject.

22. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for transmitting a masking sound to an ear canal of a test subject.

23. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for identifying an ear canal of a test subject to which a masking sound is transmitted.

24. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for measuring ambient noise in at least one ear canal of a test subject.

25. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for canceling ambient noise in at least one ear canal of a test subject.

26. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for sending a response from a test subject.

27. The system as in claim 20, further comprising means for generating test sound information.

28. An audiometer adapted for providing input to a remote unit, comprising: a test sound information generator for generating test sounds and a transceiver for transmitting encoded test sound information to the remote unit through a digital wireless interface.

29. A method for calibrating an audiometric testing system having a digital wireless interface, the method comprising: producing a test sound in an ear canal of a test subject;monitoring a corresponding sound pressure level; andadjusting the audiometric testing system to match the sound pressure level to a predetermined value.