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US 9,794,696 B2Granted
Sound processor apparatuses with a multipurpose interface assembly for use in an auditory prosthesis system
AssigneeAdvanced Bionics AG
InventorsRoger S. Meier, Logan P. Palmer, R. Tissa Karunasiri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system includes 1) an interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that interacts with each of the external components by overloading each contact included in the plurality of contacts with a plurality of functions. Corresponding sound processor apparatuses, systems, and methods are also described.
Claims15
A sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system and comprising:
- a casing configured to be located entirely external to a patient and that houses
- an interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that facilitates interchangeable connectivity of a plurality of external components to the sound processor apparatus, wherein the plurality of contacts includes a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact, and wherein the plurality of external components includes a battery module and a programming system;
- and
- a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that, while the casing is located entirely external to the patient,
- processes an audio signal presented to the patient,
- directs a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within the patient to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the patient, and
- interacts with each of the external components by overloading each contact included in the plurality of contacts with a plurality of functions;
- wherein the control module overloads the first, second, and third contacts by
- using the first and second contacts to identify a battery type associated with the battery module while the battery module is connected to the interface assembly,
- using the third contact to identify a battery model associated with the battery module while the battery module is connected to the interface assembly,
- using the first and second contacts to communicate with the programming system in accordance with a differential signaling heuristic while the programming system is connected to the interface assembly, and
- using the third contact as an auxiliary audio input port while the programming system is connected to the interface assembly.
9 more elements
A sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system and comprising:
- a casing that houses
- an interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts, the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact;
- and
- a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that,
- processes an audio signal presented to a patient,
- directs a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within the patient to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the patient,
- detects a connection of a battery module to the interface assembly by way of the plurality of contacts,
- uses, in response to the connection of the battery module to the interface assembly, the first and second contacts to identify a battery type associated with the battery module and the third contact to identify a battery model associated with the battery module,
- detects a disconnection of the battery module from the interface assembly and a connection of a programming system to the interface assembly by way of the plurality of contacts in place of the battery module, and
- uses, in response to the connection of the programming system to the interface assembly, the first and second contacts to communicate with the programming system in accordance with a differential signaling heuristic and the third contact to receive auxiliary audio input from the programming system.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- processing, by a control module included in a sound processor apparatus that is a part of an auditory prosthesis system, an audio signal presented to the patient;
- directing, by the control module, a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the patient;
- detecting, by the control module, a connection of a battery module to an interface assembly by way of a plurality of contacts included in the interface assembly, the interface assembly included in the sound processor apparatus and the plurality of contacts including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact;
- using, by the control module in response to the connection of the battery module to the interface assembly, the first and second contacts to identify a battery type associated with the battery module and the third contact to identify a battery model associated with the battery module;
- detecting, by the control module, a disconnection of the battery module from the interface assembly and a connection of a programming system to the interface assembly by way of the plurality of contacts in place of the battery module;
- and
- using, by the control module in response to the connection of the programming system to the interface assembly, the first and second contacts to communicate with the programming system in accordance with a differential signaling heuristic and the third contact to receive auxiliary audio input from the programming system.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.