INTRA-ORAL CHARGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Systems and methods are disclosed for charging an intra-oral apparatus includes an intra-oral appliance having an appliance charger coil defining a first portion of an electromagnetic loop; and a charger base having a base charger coil defining a second portion of the electromagnetic loop, wherein the appliance charger coil and the base charger coil in combination transfer energy for inductive charging.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a. an intra-oral appliance having an appliance charger coil defining a first portion of an electromagnetic loop; and
b. a charger base having a base charger coil defining a second portion of the electromagnetic loop, wherein the appliance charger coil and the base charger coil in combination transfer energy for inductive charging.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a charger circuit coupled to the appliance coil portion.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the charger circuit comprises a regulator circuit coupled to a charging circuit.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , comprising an energy storage device coupled to the charger circuit.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , comprising a voltage regulator coupled to the energy storage device to supply power to the portable appliance.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the appliance comprises a behind the ear (BTE) external microphone housing.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , comprising a microphone coupled to the BTE external microphone housing.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising one or more intra-oral appliances each having an intra-oral appliance charger coil.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the charger base comprises one or more intra-oral appliance charger coils, each adapted to engage the intra-oral appliance charger coil to charge one intra-oral appliance.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the intra-oral appliance comprises a bone-conduction transducer.
11 . A method for charging an auditory appliance having a semi-circular appliance charger coil with a base station having a semi-circular base charger coil, comprising:
a. placing the semi-circular appliance charger coil next to the semi-circular base charger coil to form a loop; and
b. applying energy to the semi-circular base charger coil to inductively transfer energy to the semi-circular appliance charger coil.
12 . The method of claim 11 , comprising regulating energy to be delivered to the semi-circular base charger coil.
13 . The method of claim 11 , comprising storing energy in an energy storage device.
14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising regulating energy from the energy storage device and supplying regulated power to the hearing appliance.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the auditory appliance comprises a behind the ear (BTE) external microphone housing.
16 . The method of claim 11 , comprising capturing sound using a microphone.
17 . The method of claim 11 , comprising receiving sound signal at one or more intra-oral appliances, each having an intra-oral appliance charger coil.
18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising delivering sound to a user through a bone-conduction transducer.
19 . An apparatus, comprising:
a. an intra-oral appliance having a cylindrical appliance charger coil; and
b. a charger base having a base charger coil adapted to project through the cylindrical appliance charger coil, wherein the intra-oral appliance charger coil and the base charger coil in combination complete an electromagnetic flux for inductive charging.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the intra-oral appliance comprises a bone-conduction transducer.
21 . An apparatus, comprising:
a. an intra-oral appliance having a rod-shaped appliance charger coil; and
b. a charger base having a cylindrical base charger coil adapted to receive the rod-shaped appliance charger coil, wherein the intra-oral appliance charger coil and the base charger coil in combination complete an electromagnetic flux for inductive charging.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the intra-oral appliance comprises a bone-conduction transducer.
23 . An apparatus, comprising:
a. an intra-oral appliance having an appliance charger port accessible while under liquid immersion;
b. an energy storage device coupled to the appliance charger port and adapted to be recharged while under liquid immersion; and
c. a charger base having a base charger coil adapted to electrically couple to the appliance charger port to recharge the energy storage device.
24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery or a supercapacitor.
25 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the liquid comprises saliva or water.
26 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the energy storage device has first and second terminals, comprising a unidirectional electrical device to prevent shorting of the first and second terminals when exposed to the liquid.
27 . The apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the unidirectional electrical device comprises a transistor or a diode.
28 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the charger port comprises a twist lock door to allow access to electrical terminals to recharge the energy storage device.
29 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the charger port comprises waterproof septums coupled to electrical terminals to recharge the energy storage device.
30 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the charger port comprises O-rings or rubber covers to allow sealed access to electrical terminals to recharge the energy storage device.