Abstract: A hearing aid dehumidifier and disinfectant chamber. The chamber comprises an enclosure, including a vapor permeable wall, adapted to removably enclose a hearing aid. In vapor transmitting relationship with the vapor permeable wall is an electrochemical ozone generator, which is designed to draw water vapor from inside the enclosure and electrolyze it into at least ozone, which is discharged into the enclosure. Drawing the water vapor from the enclosure dries the hearing aid. The electrochemical action ceases when all water vapor is removed. Bathing the hearing aid in ozone for at least until the ozone decomposes, sterilizes the hearing aid, inside and out.

Abstract: This invention is a method of fabricating a conformal lithium polymer battery comprising the steps of: selecting a slab of lithium polymer battery material of a desired height, containing a desired number of cells; freezing the slab; vertically cutting the slab to a desired shape; attaching a lead to each anode conductor; and attaching a lead to a each cathode conductor. The slab may contain one or many cells. The leads may be made of multistranded, metallic wire, metallic ribbon, low melting point alloy, self-healing metal, and litz wire. Attachment is accomplished so as to minimize tension on the leads. The cut slab may need to be deburred after cutting and before attaching leads. Preferably, burr formation is prevented by recessing the edge of the anodic or cathodic half cells.

Abstract: A secondary button cell battery that is particularly suited for use in hearing aid appliances, and an associated charging station. Recharging is accomplished without direct conductive connection between the source of the energy and either the battery or its appliance. Radio frequency energy is harvested in an enclosed chamber in a charging station and applied to the recharging of the button cell. Such energy is harvested by the use of one or more energy harvesting diodes connected in parallel with the battery. Multiple diodes connected in parallel or serial may be used to adjust charging current or voltage or both. Charge control is provided by directly or indirectly detecting the level of charge on the cell. Where the associated appliance is a hearing aid, the charge level detection may be accomplished acoustically by determining the characteristics of the sound emitted by the hearing aid, and charging is accomplished with the cell within the hearing aid appliance.

Abstract: An entirely solid state audio device wherein a solid state audio player is preferably waterproofingly and shock dampingly enclosed within a case member. The audio player comprises a plurality of solid state components and does not include any electromechanical components. The operation of the audio device is controlled by a solid state control member that is operable from outside of the case. The control member is preferably a solid state optoelectronic control member. The optoelectronic control member is controllingly associated with the audio player. The optoelectronic control member does not include any electromechanical components. A typical optoelectronic control member includes a source or emitter of perturbatable radiation, such as light, and a radiation perturbation detector. The light or other radiation is controllingly perturbatable by an operator from outside of the case member.