IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,747,030
Granted Patent B2
US 7,747,030 · App. 11/357,362 · Granted Jun 29, 2010

Method for identifying a hearing aid

Assignee: Zounds Hearing, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,747,030
App. No.
11/357,362
Granted
Jun 29, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hearing aid is identified by storing a first binary code in the hearing aid as a first identification code, storing a second binary code in the hearing aid as a default code, and replacing the default code with a second identification code if a second hearing aid is used by the person using the first hearing aid. The identification code includes a bit indicating for which ear the hearing aid is intended. If two hearing aids are used, the identification code of the first hearing aid is substituted for the default code in the second hearing aid and vice-versa, thereby pairing the first hearing aid with the second hearing aid and indicating that there are two hearing aids needed, even if one hearing aid should become lost or inoperative.

Claims (18)

1. A method for identifying a hearing aid, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a first binary code in a first hearing aid as a first portion of an identification code;

storing a default code in the first hearing aid as a second portion of the identification code; and

replacing the default code with at least a portion of the identification code of a second hearing aid if the second hearing aid is used by the person using the first hearing aid; thereby linking the two identification codes.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification code of the first hearing aid includes a bit indicating for which ear the hearing aid is intended.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification code of the first hearing aid is odd or even depending upon for which ear a hearing aid is intended.

4. A method for identifying a pair of hearing aids, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a first binary code in a first hearing aid as a first portion of a first identification code;

storing a second binary code in the first hearing aid as a second portion of the first identification code;

storing a third binary code in a second hearing aid as a first portion of a second identification code;

storing a fourth binary code in the second hearing aid as a second portion of the second identification code;

replacing the second binary code with the first portion of the second identification code;

replacing the fourth binary code with the first portion of the first identification code;

thereby pairing the first hearing aid with the second hearing aid and indicating that there are two hearing aids needed, even if one hearing aid should become lost or inoperative.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein each identification code includes a bit indicating for which ear the hearing aid is intended.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein each identification code is odd or even depending upon for which ear a hearing aid is intended.

7. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein each identification code is positive or negative depending upon for which ear a hearing aid is intended.

8. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second binary code and the fourth binary code are the same.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 15, 2012
From: ZOUNDS ACQUISITION, LLC
To: ZOUNDS HEARING, INC.
Reel/Frame 028789/0862 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2011
From: ZOUNDS HEARING, INC.
To: DS&S CHASE, LLC; DERWOOD S. CHASE, JR., THE, GRAND TRUST; D. SUMNER CHASE, III, THE, 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST; STUART F. CHASE, THE, 2001 IRREVOCABLE TRUST
Reel/Frame 025780/0205 →
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 3, 2006
From: FINK, SCOTT RAYMOND; THOMASSON, SAMUEL L.
To: ZOUNDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017912/0964 →
Continuity (1)
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