Nicolet "Phoenix" Behind-the-Ear Digital Hearing Aid
The Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing aid was the
world's first digital hearing aid. It was manufactured by the Nicolet
Instrument Corporation located in Madison, Wisconsin in 1987.
Project "Phoenix" to build this aid was a $20 million joint venture founded in 1984
between the University of Wisconsin and the Nicolet Instrument
Corporation to develop a programmable digital hearing aid.
This hearing aid/processor including batteries surprisingly just
weighed 3.4 oz. (96 g.).
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Front view of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing aid.
This aid was unique in that it consisted of two parts—a large pocket
processor and what looked like a behind-the-ear hearing aid. These two
units were connected by a cord. The reason for the large pocket
processor is because they hadn't yet miniaturized all the parts so
they'd fit in a BTE hearing aid case.
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Close-up of the front of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the three program buttons. The dots at the top left
of the buttons indicated buttons 1, 2 and 3. These buttons could be
programmed to process sounds in various ways.
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Top view of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing a two-position switch (left) and the plug for the
BTE cord (right).
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Close-up of the top left corner of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the two position switch in its left (non-blue) position.
The function of this switch is unknown, possibly used in conjunction
with the program buttons for changing programs.
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Close-up of the top left corner of the pocket processor of the Nicolet
"Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing aid showing the two position
switch in its right (blue) position.
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Close-up view of the top right corner of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the plug and socket for the cord connecting the
pocket processor with the BTE hearing aid. Notice that the plug and
socket both have a flat side so you could only plug it in the right way.
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Close-up view of the top right corner of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the BTE cord plugged into the socket on the pocket
processor.
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Rear view of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid.
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Rear view of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid with the center piece removed (left). This piece slid
tightly into the grooves in the raised "rails" and snapped in place. It
was likely you tied a lanyard around the two "posts" at the top of the
removable piece if you were going to wear it around your neck.
If you just put the pocket processor in your shirt pocket, it doesn't
seem to serve any purpose. |
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Bottom rear view of the pocket processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing
aid showing the name plate with the manufacturer (Nicolet) and model
(Phoenix) and the words "Warranty void if label removed". This was
because the two screws to take the processor apart are hidden under the
label. This way the manufacturer knew the processor hadn't been tampered
with.
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Bottom view of the Nicolet "Phoenix" pocket processor showing the gray
battery holder. To open the battery compartment, you squeezed the grey
ends of the battery holder and pulled it out.
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Bottom view of the Nicolet "Phoenix" pocket processor showing the gray
battery holder being removed from the pocket processor.
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Bottom view of the Nicolet "Phoenix" pocket processor showing the gray
battery holder removed from the pocket processor.
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Bottom view of the body processor of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the battery holder removed revealing the empty
battery compartment.
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Close-up of the left end of the battery compartment of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid body processor. The inscription reads 000-6001-00, Made in
U.S.A., Clip side, 8807.
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Top view of the pulled-out battery holder of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the 3 batteries in place. (Positive terminal side.)
The Nicolet Phoenix used 3
Duracell No. 630 HP (high power) 1.4 volt zinc-air hearing aid
batteries wired in series to give a total of 4.2 volts. |
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Bottom view of the pulled-out battery holder of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the 3 batteries in place. (Negative terminal side.)
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Top view of the pulled-out battery holder of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the 3 battery slots. The batteries go in negative
side down. The plastic clips at each end are slightly springy and snap
the battery holder in place. You squeeze the clips slightly to pull the
battery holder out.
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Inside view of the behind-the-ear part of the Nicolet "Phoenix"
behind-the-ear digital hearing aid. It used a standard ear mold like
other hearing aids of the same vintage.
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Front view of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear
digital hearing aid showing the rather unusual rectangular microphone grill right above the ear hook.
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Outside view of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear
digital hearing aid.
The BTE unit measured 1⅞" x ⅝" x ⅜" (4.9 x 1e5 x 1.0 cm). The BTE
unit as shown weighed 0.2 oz. (6 g.).
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Close-up of the bottom outside of the BTE part of the of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the name "Nicolet". The protrusion below the name
is the plug for the BTE cord to connect it to the pocket processor.
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Close-up of the bottom of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the BTE cord plugged into the BTE unit.
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Close-up of the bottom of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix"
behind-the-ear digital hearing aid showing the BTE cord unplugged from
the BTE unit. Note that the left pin is larger in diameter than the
other two pins so you can't plug the cord in the wrong way.
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Rear view of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the volume control (left) and M-T switch (center). |
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Close-up view of the rear of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the on-off/volume control wheel. Zero is the off
position. This off position controls the power to both the BTE unit and
the pocket processor. Note: the BTE unit doesn't have any batteries. It
gets its power from the pocket processor.
The wheel has the numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicating increasing
volume levels.
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Close-up of the back of the BTE part of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid showing the three position switch—M - microphone, MT - black dot
- microphone and t-coil at the same time?, and T - t-coil only. It is
shown with the switch in the MT position. |
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The Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing aid in its original
carrying case.
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Top view of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital hearing aid
carrying case with the name "Nicolet Phoenix" embossed in gold in the
bottom right corner of the case.
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The carrying case of the Nicolet "Phoenix" behind-the-ear digital
hearing aid. The case measured 8⅞" x 5½" x 1⅞" (22.5 x 13.7 x 4.7 cm).
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