IP Library Granted Patent US 8,270,637
Granted Patent B2
US 8,270,637 · App. 12/032,226 · Granted Sep 18, 2012

Headset systems and methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,270,637
App. No.
12/032,226
Granted
Sep 18, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wireless headset is adapted to communicate with a sound source such as a music player or a cell phone or a suitable audio or sound communicated through a one-way or two-way communication device. The headset includes a mouth wearable communicator; and a linking unit coupled to the mouth wearable communicator, the linking unit adapted to communicate with the sound source.

Claims (30)

1. A wireless headset adapted to communicate with a sound source, comprising:

a. a mouth wearable communicator having a housing which produces an interference fit between the housing and at least two surfaces of at least one tooth;

b. a linking unit coupled to the mouth wearable communicator, the linking unit adapted to communicate with the sound source;

c. a first microphone to pick up body conduction sound;

d. a second microphone to pick up ambient sound; and

e. a noise canceller to subtract ambient sound from the body conduction sound.

2. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the mouth wearable communicator comprises a bone conduction transducer.

3. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the mouth wearable communicator comprises a custom oral device.

4. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the mouth wearable communicator comprises a microphone.

5. The wireless headset of claim 4 , wherein the microphone comprises one of: an intraoral microphone, an extraoral microphone.

6. The wireless headset of claim 4 , wherein the sound source comprises a telephone and wherein the microphone cancels environmental noise and transmits a user's voice through the telephone.

7. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the sound source comprises one of: a music player, a video player, a cellular telephone, a computer, a one-way communication device, a two-way communication device, a wireless hands-free communication device.

8. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the mouth wearable communicator comprises a data storage device.

9. The wireless headset of claim 1 , comprising:

an actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth; and

a wireless communication transceiver coupled to the transducer to provide received sound to the user and to provide communication for the user.

10. The wireless headset of claim 1 , comprising an oral appliance having a shape which conforms to the at least one tooth.

11. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the communicator includes a transducer, comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and in communication with the transducer.

12. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the linking unit comprises a transceiver compatible with one of: an 802 protocol, cellular protocol, Bluetooth protocol.

13. A method for communicating with a portable appliance, comprising:

a. providing a wireless headset having a mouth wearable communicator having a housing which produces an interference fit between the housing and at least two surfaces of at least one tooth;

b. intraorally wearing the mouth wearable communicator; and

c. linking the mouth wearable communicator to the portable appliance, the wireless headset further including a first microphone to pick up body conduction sound, a second microphone to pick up ambient sound, and a noise canceller to subtract ambient sound from the body conduction sound.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising transmitting sound using a bone conduction device.

15. The method of claim 13 , comprising providing the mouth wearable communicator as a custom oral device.

16. The method of claim 13 , comprising providing a directional microphone in the mouth wearable communicator.

17. The method of claim 13 , comprising providing a noise cancelling microphone.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the portable appliance receives short-range transmission from the mouth wearable communicator and relays the transmission over a wide area network.

19. The method of claim 13 , comprising transmitting sound using bone conduction.

20. The method of claim 13 , comprising transmitting sound through a tooth, a maxillary bone, a mandibular bone, or a palatine bone.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: SOUNDMED, LLC
To: SONITUS MEDICAL (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057649/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2016
From: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
To: SONITUS (ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREDITORS), LLC
Reel/Frame 038060/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2016
From: SONITUS (ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREDITORS), LLC
To: SOUNDMED, LLC
Reel/Frame 038061/0168 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ZIP CODE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037154 FRAME: 0115. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 8, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS AGENT DBA HFS HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 037461/0095 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
To: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 037154/0115 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2015
From: SONITUS MEDICAL INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 034912/0276 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2008
From: ABOLFATHI, AMIR
To: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 020630/0419 →