Hearing aid and hearing aid dual use dongle

Abstract

A power dongle for a hearing aid includes conductive wires, each wire having a computing device end and a hearing aid end. A first connector is connected to the computing device end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasbly couple to an input/output port of the computing device and a second connector is connected to the hearing aid end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasably couple to an interface of the hearing aid, the second connector configured to deliver at least one of a first power supply and an audio signal from the computing device to the interface of the hearing aid.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An audio playback system, comprising:
 a left playback device configured to fit in a left ear of a user;   a right playback device configured to fit in a right ear of a user;   a first proximity sensor configured to detect a first proximity of the left playback device to the left ear of the user;   a second proximity sensor configured to detect a second proximity of the right playback device to the right ear of the user;   a memory configured to store a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes provide parameters for reproducing a wireless audio signal received by the audio playback system, wherein at least one of the plurality of operating modes has parameters specific to at least one of the left playback device and the right playback device; and   a processor configured to select one of the plurality of operating modes based on the first proximity and the second proximity.   
     
     
         22 . The audio playback system of  claim 21 , further comprising a dongle couplable with the left playback device and the right playback device, the dongle comprising a power source, a first connection interface, and a second connection interface. 
     
     
         23 . The audio playback system of  claim 22 , wherein the first connection interface is releasably couplable to a first receptacle on the left playback device and the second connection interface releasably couplable to a second receptacle on the right playback device. 
     
     
         24 . The audio playback system of  claim 23 , wherein the first connection interface and the second connection interface comprise a magnetic element which magnetically couples the first receptacle and the second receptacle. 
     
     
         25 . The audio playback system of  claim 22 , wherein the power source is a rechargable power source. 
     
     
         26 . The audio playback system of  claim 25 , wherein the power source provides a power signal to the left playback device and the right playback device through the first connection interface and the second connection interface. 
     
     
         27 . The audio playback system of  claim 26 , wherein the left playback device and the right playback device are operable to perform a battery management operation in response to receiving the power signal. 
     
     
         28 . The audio playback system of  claim 25 , further comprising a recharge circuit couplable with the power source, the recharge circuit includes an interface that is configured to be relealsably received via a magnetic coupling in a first connector of a charging device, the charging device comprising a power regulator that generates a regulated power signal for recharging the power source of the audio playback system via the first connector. 
     
     
         29 . The audio playback system of  claim 21 , wherein the left playback device and the right playback device each includes a controllable element accessible via a control device to select one of the plurality of operating modes. 
     
     
         30 . The audio playback system of  claim 21 , wherein the control device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile device, a portable computer, and a cell phone.