IP Library › Patent Application 12152751
Patent Application
App. No. 12/152,751

Solar powered hearing aid

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/152,751
Abstract

A hearing aid includes a case, a photovoltaic cell located within the case, and a light gathering member optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is preferably a multi-junction cell and the light gathering member gathers light at the wavelengths preferentially absorbed by the multi-junction cell.

Claims (13)

1 . A hearing aid including a case containing electronics for processing audio signals, a battery for powering the electronics, and a photovoltaic cell for charging the battery characterized in that:

the photovoltaic cell is located within the case; and

the case includes a light gathering member optically coupled to said photovoltaic cell.

2 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a multi-junction cell.

3 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light gathering member is translucent and has a convex surface.

4 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light gathering member has a corrugated surface.

5 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light gathering member has a convex outer surface and a corrugated inner surface.

6 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a multi-junction cell and the light gathering member gathers light at the wavelengths preferentially absorbed by the multi-junction cell.

7 . A hearing aid comprising a case, a photovoltaic cell located within the case, and a light gathering member optically coupled to the photovoltaic cell.

8 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light gathering member is molded into and is part of the case.

9 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light gathering member is a component attached to the case.

10 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light gathering member has a convex surface.

11 . The hearing aid as set forth in claim 7 wherein said light gathering member has a corrugated surface.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 15, 2012
From: ZOUNDS ACQUISITION, LLC
To: ZOUNDS HEARING, INC.
Reel/Frame 028789/0862 →
TRANSFER OF ASSETS IN BANKRUPTCY Recorded Oct 22, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: ZOUNDS, LLC (FORMERLY ZOUNDS ACQUISITION LLC)
Reel/Frame 023413/0826 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 23, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: D. SUMNER CHASE, III 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, THE; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DS&S CHASE, LLC; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST, THE; STUART F. CHASE 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST, THE; STEWART, J. MICHAEL; MICHAELIS, LAWRENCE L.; HUDSON FAMILY TRUST; COSTELLO, JOHN H.; POCONO LAKE PROPERTIES, LP; LINSKY, BARRY R.; WHEALE MANAGEMENT LLC; O'CONNOR, RALPH S.; BARNES, KYLE D.; MCGAREY, MAUREEN A.; CONKLIN, TERRENCE J.; ALLEN, RICHARD D.; NIEMASKI, WALTER, JR.; TROPEA, FRANK; STOUT, HENRY A.; POMPIZZI FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GEIER, PHILIP H., JR.; HICKSON, B.E.; LANCASTER, JAMES R., TTEE JAMES R. LANCASTER REVOCABLE TRUST U/A/D9/5/89; COLEMAN, CRAIG G.; SHOBERT, BETTY; SHOBERT, ROBERT; REGEN, THOMAS W.; MASSAD & MASSAD INVESTMENTS, LTD.; SCOTT, DAVID B.; C. BRADFORD JEFFRIES LIVING TRUST (1994); JULIAN, ROBERT S., TRUSTEE, INSURANCE TRUST OF 12/29/72; HINTLIAN, VARNEY J.; BOLWELL, FARLEY; SOLLOTT, MICHAEL H.; FOLLAND FAMILY INVESTMENT COMPANY; BEALL FAMILY TRUST; STOCK, STEVEN W.; PATTERSON, ELIZABETH T.; BORTS, RICHARD; STONE, JEFFREY M.; LANDIN, ROBERT; GOLDBERG, JEFFREY L.; LAMBERTI, STEVE; ROBERT P. HAUPTFUHRER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP; SCHELLENBACH, PETER; MIELE, R. PATRICK; MIELE, VICTORIA E.
Reel/Frame 022440/0370 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 5, 2009
From: ZOUNDS, INC.
To: DS&S CHASE, LLC; THE DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR. GRAND TRUST; THE D. SUMNER CHASE, III 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; THE STUART F. CHASE 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; STEWART, J. MICHAEL
Reel/Frame 022214/0011 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2008
From: THOMASSON, SAMUEL L.; WU, FAN
To: ZOUNDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021005/0357 →