Patent ID: 8284968

Claim:
A programmable apparatus for improving perception of sound by a person, the apparatus comprising: a housing configured to be worn in, on or behind an ear of the person; memory disposed within the housing, the memory for storing a plurality of audio processing programs including initial-tuning programs and fine-tuning programs that may be used in processing digital audio signals; a processor disposed within the housing and connected to the memory, the processor operable in an initial-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected initial-tuning programs to process digital audio signals, and operable in a fine-tuning mode wherein the processor executes one or more selected fine-tuning programs to process digital audio signals; a selection device disposed on the housing and connected to the processor, the selection device operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning programs and select one of the initial-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the initial-tuning mode; means disposed within the housing for causing the processor to switch from operating in the initial-tuning mode to operating in the fine-tuning mode; the selection device further operable by the person to cycle through the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode and the one or more fine-tuning programs, and further operable by the person to select the initial-tuning program selected in the initial-tuning mode or one of the fine-tuning programs to be used in processing the digital audio signals while in the fine-tuning mode; a digital-to-analog converter disposed within the housing, the digital-to-analog converter for generating output analog audio signals based on the digital audio signals; and an audio output section disposed within the housing, the audio output section for receiving and amplifying the output analog audio signals, generating audible sound based thereon and providing the audible sound to the person.