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US 9,543,778 B1Granted
Device for recharging hearing aid batteries using USB dongle
AssigneeStarkey Laboratories, Inc.
InventorDeborah Corti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for recharging hearing aid batteries using a USB adapter. A system includes a hearing assistance device and a battery recharger. The hearing assistance device includes a rechargeable battery, a recharge coil configured to receive power across a wireless inductive link, and charging circuitry configured to control power received by the recharge coil to recharge the battery. The battery recharger includes a device compartment configured to receive the hearing assistance device, a transmit coil configured to transmit power across the wireless inductive link, and a USB adapter port configured to connect to a USB adapter. The USB adapter is configured to provide power to the recharger.
Claims20
A battery recharger system, comprising:
- a spare battery recharger, the battery recharger including circuitry to recharge one or more individual spare rechargeable battery cells for a hearing assistance device, the battery recharger including:
- a housing configured to receive the one or more individual uninstalled rechargeable battery cells, the housing configured to cover the one or more individual spare rechargeable battery cells received in the housing;
- and
- a male USB connector configured for direct connection with a female power supply USB connector to receive power;
- a hearing assistance device recharger, separable from the spare battery recharger, comprising:
- a power connector to receive power;
- a female USB connector adapted to dock with the male USB connector and provide power to the spare battery recharger;
- a transmit coil configured to transmit power across a wireless inductive link;
- a device compartment configured to receive at least one hearing assistance device, the at least one hearing assistance device comprising:
- an installed rechargeable battery interchangeable with the one or more individual spare rechargeable battery cells;
- a recharge coil configured to receive power across the wireless inductive link;
- and
- charging circuitry configured to control power received by the recharge coil to recharge the installed rechargeable battery.
10 more elements
A recharging device comprising:
- a spare battery recharger for recharging one or more spare rechargeable battery cells for a hearing assistance device, the spare battery recharger comprising:
- a battery drawer configured to receive the individual one or more spare rechargeable battery cells;
- a housing configured to slidingly receive the battery drawer, the housing configured to cover the individual one or more spare rechargeable battery cells received in the battery drawer;
- and
- a male USB connector configured to dock with and to receive power directly from a USB wall adapter, a computer, or a cigarette lighter in a vehicle;
- a hearing assistance device recharger, separable from the spare battery recharger, the hearing assistance device recharger comprising:
- a power connector to receive power;
- a female USB connector adapted to connect with the spare battery recharger;
- a transmit coil configured to transmit power across a wireless inductive link;
- a device compartment configured to receive at least one hearing assistance device, the at least one hearing assistance device comprising:
- an installed rechargeable battery interchangeable with the one or more spare rechargeable battery cells;
- a recharge coil configured to receive power across the wireless inductive link;
- and
- charging circuitry configured to control power received by the recharge coil to recharge the installed rechargeable battery.
11 more elements
A portable recharging device, comprising:
- a hearing assistance device recharger comprising:
- a power connector to receive power;
- a transmit coil configured to transmit power across a wireless inductive link;
- a device compartment configured to receive at least one hearing assistance device, the at least one hearing assistance device comprising:
- an installed rechargeable battery;
- a recharge coil configured to receive power across the wireless inductive link;
- and
- charging circuitry configured to control power received by the recharge coil to recharge the installed rechargeable battery;
- a first spare battery connector;
- a spare battery recharger, separable from and dockable with the hearing assistance device recharger, for recharging one or more spare rechargeable battery cells for a hearing assistance device, wherein the spare rechargeable battery cells are interchangeable with the installed rechargeable battery, the spare battery recharger comprising:
- a housing configured to cover the individual one or more spare rechargeable battery cells received in the battery drawer;
- a second spare battery connector configured to dock with the first spare battery connector to receive power from the hearing assistance device recharger;
- and
- charging circuitry configured to control power received by the hearing assistance device recharger to recharge the one or more spare rechargeable battery cells.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.