Sound processor apparatus with sound processing integrated circuit that includes an integrated power supply module

An integrated circuit included in a sound processor apparatus that is external to a patient and a part of an auditory prosthesis system associated with the patient, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a digital signal processor that performs one or more sound processing operations with respect to an audio signal presented to the patient;
• a charge pump that
• receives, from a linear regulator included in the sound processor apparatus, an intermediate voltage signal having an intermediate voltage level,
• doubles the intermediate voltage level, and
• outputs an additional intermediate voltage signal having the doubled intermediate voltage level;
• and
• one or more linear regulators that
• receive the additional intermediate voltage signal,
• drop the doubled intermediate voltage level to the one or more supply voltage levels, and
• output the one or more supply voltage signals having the one or more supply voltage levels.

A method comprising:

• performing, by a single integrated circuit included in a sound processor apparatus that is external to a patient and part of an auditory prosthesis system associated with the patient, one or more sound processing operations with respect to an audio signal presented to the patient associated with the auditory prosthesis system;
• receiving, by the single integrated circuit, an intermediate voltage signal having an intermediate voltage level provided by a linear regulator included in the sound processor apparatus;
• converting, by the single integrated circuit, the intermediate voltage level into one or more supply voltage levels, and
• outputting, by the single integrated circuit, one or more supply voltage signals having the one or more supply voltage levels.