The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 05, 1999
John Gregory Aceti, Cranbury, NJ (US);
Walter Paul Sjursen, Washington Crossing, PA (US);
Marvin Allan Leedom, Princeton, NJ (US);
Derek Mahoney, Manalapan, NJ (US);
Fredrick Fritz, Skillman, NJ (US);
Sarnoff Corporation, Princeton, NJ (US);
Abstract
A hearing aid includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry, receiver and integral battery all mounted in a casing. The battery may be a metal-air device. The battery may be activated by removing a tape which blocks air holes on the battery or, if the battery is sealed into the hearing aid, air-vent holes on the hearing aid. The hearing aid may also include an air-blocking mechanism which is activated when the hearing aid is inserted in the user's ear and deactivated when the hearing aid is removed. The assembled hearing aid may also be packaged in non-permeable packaging material to extinguish battery activity. The hearing aid may also include an electronic switch which monitors the battery potential to disconnect the battery from the hearing aid electronics when the battery is deprived of oxygen and which connects the battery to the electronics when oxygen is provided to the battery. In one embodiment of the invention, the integral battery is a rechargeable battery which is recharged via external contacts. In another embodiment, the battery is recharged using an induced alternating current potential which is rectified before being applied to the battery.