# US 10,375,489 B2 · Audio system with integral hearing test > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,489 B2 - Document ID: US10375489B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/816,950 - Filed: 2017-11-17 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-17 - Applicants: Robert Newton Rountree, Sr. - Inventors: Robert Newton Rountree, Sr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375489B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/505: {using digital signal processing} - H04R 25/30: {Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power} - H04R 25/554: {using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils} - H04R 25/70: {Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting} - H04S 7/307: {Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control (H04S7/301 takes precedence)} - H04R 2205/041: Adaptation of stereophonic signal reproduction for the hearing impaired - H04R 2225/43: Signal processing in hearing aids to enhance the speech intelligibility - H04R 2225/55: Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04S: STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS ## Abstract An audio circuit with an integral hearing test is disclosed. The circuit includes at least one variable gain amplifier (VGA) coupled to receive an audio signal and a plurality of filters. Each filter is coupled to the at least one VGA and configured to filter an output signal from the at least one VGA. A processor is coupled to the VGAs and configured to apply a selected frequency to the at least one VGA in a test mode and to control a gain of the at least one VGA in a normal mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit, comprising: a plurality of variable gain amplifiers (VGAs) coupled to receive an audio signal; a switch to select the audio signal from a plurality of sources in a normal mode; a plurality of filters, each filter coupled to a respective VGA and configured to filter an output signal from the respective VGA; and a processor coupled to the VGAs and configured to apply a respective audio frequency to each VGA in a test mode to determine a respective Pain for each VGA based on user input and to apply the respective gain to each VGA in the normal mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, comprising a clock circuit configured to apply the respective audio frequency to each VGA in the test mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the respective gain of each VGA in the test mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the respective audio frequency of each VGA is filtered by the respective filter coupled to the VGA in the test mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, comprising: a sum circuit coupled to receive the filtered output signal from each filter and produce a sum signal; and an output VGA coupled to receive the sum signal and produce an output signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is produced during the normal mode by at least one of a portable electronic device, a telephone handset, and a microphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit of claim 1, comprising a wireless receiver configured to produce the audio signal. ### Claim 8 A method of operating a circuit, comprising: applying a first audio frequency to a first band-specific circuit in a test mode of operation; incrementing a first gain of the first band-specific circuit by a processor until a user input is received; displaying the first audio frequency and the first gain; storing the first gain in a nonvolatile memory of the processor in response to the user input; and applying the first gain to the first band-specific circuit by the processor during a normal mode of operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: applying a plurality of audio frequencies to a respective plurality of band-specific circuits in the test mode of operation after the step of applying a first audio frequency; incrementing a gain of each of the plurality of band-specific circuits by a processor until a respective user input is received; displaying the plurality of audio frequencies and their respective gains; storing each respective gain in the nonvolatile memory of the processor in response to the respective user input; and applying each respective gain to each of the plurality of band-specific circuits by the processor during a normal mode of operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: applying an input signal from a portable electronic device to the first band-specific circuit in the normal mode of operation; amplifying the input signal by the first band-specific circuit at the first gain; filtering the input signal by the first band specific circuit; and producing the amplified and filtered input signal at a hearing transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: applying an input signal from a telephone handset to the first band-specific circuit in the normal mode of operation; amplifying the input signal by the first band-specific circuit at the first gain; filtering the input signal by the first band specific circuit; and producing the amplified and filtered input signal at a hearing transducer of the telephone handset. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: applying an input signal from a microphone to the first band-specific circuit in the normal mode of operation; amplifying the input signal by the first band-specific circuit at the first gain; filtering the input signal by the first band specific circuit; and producing the amplified and filtered input signal at a hearing transducer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: applying an input signal from a wireless receiver to the first band-specific circuit in the normal mode of operation; amplifying the input signal by the first band-specific circuit at the first gain; filtering the input signal by the first band specific circuit; and producing the amplified and filtered input signal at a hearing transducer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, comprising: displaying a hearing threshold of the user in response to the user input; and displaying the first gain in response to the test mode of operation. ### Claim 15 A circuit, comprising: a plurality of band-specific circuits coupled to receive a respective audio frequency in a test mode and produce a respective band-specific output signal; a processor configured to store a gain of each respective band-specific output signal in response to a respective user input signal; a switch to select an audio signal from a plurality of sources in a normal mode; and an input circuit configured to apply the audio signal to each band-specific circuit during the normal mode, wherein each band-specific circuit produces a respective normal mode output signal having the respective stored gain. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The circuit of claim 15, wherein the plurality of band-specific circuits comprises a digital signal processor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The circuit of claim 15, wherein the plurality of band-specific circuits comprises at least one of a BiQuad filter, a finite impulse response (FIR) filter, and an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The circuit of claim 15, wherein at least one of the band-specific circuits comprises a low pass filter, and wherein at least another of the band specific circuits comprises a high pass filter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The circuit of claim 15, configured to receive the signal applied to each band-specific circuit during the normal mode from at least one of a portable electronic device, a telephone handset, a microphone, and a wireless receiver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The circuit of claim 15, comprising: a display configured to display the gain and audio frequency of the band-specific output signal; and a switch circuit configured to select the gain and audio frequency of the band-specific output signal.