Audiometer with interchangeable transducer

Abstract

An audiometer including a processor controlled test signal generator is adjustable so as to produce a uniform output signal when coupled with a transducer load. Each transducer set to be used with the test signal generator includes recordable indicia in written or electronic form, upon which correction values for adjusting the electronic signal output of the audiometer module to produce a desired sound output from the each transducer in the transducer set. When the transducer set is connected to the audiometer module, the correction values are either retrieved automatically from the electronic indicia, which may be an EEPROM, or are input to the processor manually by a user through an interface such as a keyboard. These correction values are then used by the processor to dynamically adjust the output of the audiometer to correct for sound output response deviation of each transducer in the transducer set.

1 . A method of calibrating an audiometer and earphones for audiometric testing, the method comprising:
 normalizing a voltage output level of the audiometer;   performing acoustical calibration of the earphones independent from the audiometer to calculate correction factors for a variety of frequencies;   storing the calculated correction factors in an integrated circuit chip associated with the earphones;   connecting the earphones to the audiometer;   reading the calculated correction factors into the audiometer from the integrated circuit chip associated with the earphones; and   creating a composite calibration table based on the calculated correction factors to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones from the audiometer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein acoustical calibration of the earphones is performed at the same location where the earphones are manufactured. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing information related to the date and/or revision level of calibration of the earphones in the integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing information related to where and/or by whom the acoustical calibration of the earphones was performed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing left and right earphone information in the integrated circuit chip to ensure proper connection of the earphones to the audiometer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing serial number information related to the earphones in the integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         7 . A method of replacing earphones for use with an audiometer for audiometric testing, comprising:
 initially performing the method of  claim 1  to calibrate the audiometer for use with a first set of earphones;   performing acoustical calibration of a second set of earphones independent from the audiometer to calculate correction factors for the second set of earphones for a variety of frequencies;   storing the calculated correction factors for the second set of earphones in an integrated circuit chip associated with the second set of earphones;   discarding the first set of earphones and connecting the second set of earphones to the audiometer;   reading the calculated correction factors for the second set of earphones into the audiometer from the integrated circuit chip associated with the second set of earphones; and   creating a composite calibration table based on the calculated correction factors for the second set of earphones to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones from the audiometer to the second set of earphones.   
     
     
         8 . A calibrated audiometric testing system comprising:
 an audiometer having a normalized voltage level output; and   a set of independently acoustically calibrated earphones connected to the audiometer, the earphones including an integrated circuit chip having calibration information stored thereon; wherein the audiometer is operable to read the calibration information from the integrated circuit chip and create a calibration table based on the calibration information to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones.   
     
     
         9 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 8 , wherein the calibration information comprises correction factors for each ear calculated for a variety of frequencies. 
     
     
         10 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit chip further includes information related to the date and/or revision level of calibration of the earphones stored thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit chip further includes information related to where and/or by whom acoustical calibration of the earphones was performed. 
     
     
         12 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit chip further includes left and right earphone information to ensure proper connection of the earphones to the audiometer. 
     
     
         13 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 8 , wherein the integrated circuit chip further includes serial number information related to the earphones. 
     
     
         14 . A method of calibrating an audiometer and transducer for audiometric testing, the method comprising:
 standardizing an output signal of the audiometer;   performing acoustical calibration of the transducer independent from the audiometer to calculate correction values for a variety of frequencies;   storing the calculated correction values in electronic memory associated with the transducer;   connecting the transducer to the audiometer;   reading the calculated correction values into the audiometer from the electronic memory associated with the transducer; and   creating a composite calibration table based on the calculated correction values to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones from the audiometer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein acoustical calibration of the transducer is performed at the same location where the transducer is manufactured. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing information related to the date and/or revision level of calibration of the transducer in the electronic memory. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing information related to where and/or by whom the acoustical calibration of the transducer was performed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing left and right transducer information in the electronic memory to ensure proper connection of the transducer to the audiometer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing serial number information related to the transducer in the electronic memory. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 performing acoustical calibration of a second transducer independent from the audiometer to calculate correction values for the second transducer for a variety of frequencies;   storing the calculated correction values for the second transducer in electronic memory associated with the second transducer;   discarding the first transducer and connecting the second transducer to the audiometer;   reading the calculated correction values for the second transducer into the audiometer from the electronic memory associated with the second transducer; and   creating a composite calibration table based on the calculated correction values for the second transducer to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones from the audiometer to the second transducer.   
     
     
         21 . A calibrated audiometric testing system comprising:
 an audiometer having a standardized output level; and   an independently acoustically calibrated transducer connected to the audiometer, the transducer including electronic memory having calibration information stored therein;   wherein the audiometer is operable to read the calibration information from the electronic memory and create a calibration table based on the calibration information to set final adjustment factors for outputting audible test tones.   
     
     
         22 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 21 , wherein the calibration information comprises correction factors for each ear calculated for a variety of frequencies. 
     
     
         23 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic memory further includes information related to the date and/or revision level of calibration of the transducer stored thereon. 
     
     
         24 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic memory further includes information related to where and/or by whom acoustical calibration of the transducer was performed. 
     
     
         25 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic memory further includes left and right earphone information to ensure proper connection of the transducer to the audiometer. 
     
     
         26 . The calibrated audiometric testing system of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic memory further includes serial number information related to the transducer.