Hearing prosthesis system having interchangeable housings

Abstract

There is disclosed a hearing prosthesis comprising a first housing containing a primary signal processor that receives signals output by a microphone; and a second housing removably connectable to the first housing; wherein a user interface is provided on the second housing that provides control of one or more features of the operation of the primary signal processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hearing prosthesis system comprising:
 a first housing containing a primary signal processor, that receives signals output by a microphone; and   a plurality of second housings that are removably connectable to the first housing; wherein only one of said second housings is connectable to said first housing at any one time and further wherein at least one of said second housings has a user interface that provides control of one or more features of the operation of the primary signal processor.   
     
     
         2 . A hearing prosthesis comprising:
 a first housing containing a primary signal processor that receives signals output by a microphone; and   a second housing removably connectable to the first housing.   
     
     
         3 . A hearing prosthesis comprising:
 a first housing containing a primary signal processor that receives signals output by a microphone; and   a remote module;   wherein a user interface is provided on the remote module that provides control of one or more features of the operation of the primary signal processor.   
     
     
         4 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second housing includes circuitry that receives RF signals.   
     
     
         5 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second housing includes circuitry that receives and processes RF signals.   
     
     
         6 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first housing is configured to receive a third housing different in form from the second housing, when the second housing is removed, the third housing including a user interface component.   
     
     
         7 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first housing includes one form of a user interface to control different features of the hearing prosthesis than that of features controlled by a user interface of the second housing.   
     
     
         8 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first housing includes one form of a user interface to control different features of the hearing prosthesis than that of features controlled by a user interface of the second housing.   
     
     
         9 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a user interface is removably mounted to the first housing.   
     
     
         10 . The hearing prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a user interface is non-removably mounted to the first housing.