IP Library Granted Patent US 8,660,278
Granted Patent B2
US 8,660,278 · App. 13/493,722 · Granted Feb 25, 2014

Headset systems and methods

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,660,278
App. No.
13/493,722
Granted
Feb 25, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A digital audio player device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form an intraoral MP3 player. In another embodiment, the device provides an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a DAP. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Claims (38)

1. An intra-oral digital audio player, comprising:

a. a mouth wearable housing;

b. a data storage device positioned within or upon the mouth wearable housing to store digital audio;

c. a transducer mounted within or upon the mouth wearable housing and in vibratory communication with one or more teeth;

d. a linking unit to receive audio content and coupled to the data storage device; and

e. a remote controller in communication with the digital audio player to adjust playback volume, play and pause and navigate between tracks, wherein the remote controller comprises a squeeze control to allow a user to pause/play (single squeeze) and skip to the next track (double squeeze).

2. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a bone conduction transducer.

3. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the mouth wearable housing comprises a custom oral device.

4. The digital audio player of claim 1 , comprising a radio receiver to receive AM or FM broadcast content.

5. The digital audio player of claim 1 , comprising an oral appliance having a shape which conforms to the at least one tooth.

6. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the transducer includes a transducer comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and in communication with the transducer.

7. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the linking unit comprises a transceiver compatible with one of: an 802 protocol, cellular protocol, wireless USB protocol.

8. The digital audio player of claim 1 , comprising:

a. a player 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 player charger coil and the base charger coil in combination transfer energy for inductive charging.

9. The digital audio player of claim 8 , comprising a charger circuit coupled to the player coil portion.

10. The digital audio player of claim 9 , wherein the charger circuit comprises a regulator circuit coupled to a charging circuit.

11. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the data storage devices comprises MP3 content.

12. The digital audio player of claim 1 , wherein the squeeze control comprises a bite control to allow the user to pause/play (single bite) and skip to another track (double bite).

13. An intra-oral digital audio player, comprising:

a. a mouth wearable housing;

b. a data storage device to store digital audio;

c. a transducer mounted within or upon the mouth wearable housing and in vibratory communication with one or more teeth;

d. a linking unit to receive audio content and in communication with the data storage device; and

e. a remote controller in communication with the digital audio player to adjust playback volume, play and pause and navigate between tracks, wherein the remote controller comprises a squeeze control to allow a user to pause/play (single squeeze) and skip to next track (double squeeze).

14. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the transducer comprises a bone conduction transducer.

15. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the mouth wearable housing comprises a custom oral device.

16. The digital audio player of claim 13 , comprising a radio receiver to receive AM or FM broadcast content.

17. The digital audio player of claim 13 , comprising an oral appliance having a shape which conforms to the at least one tooth.

18. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the transducer includes a transducer comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and in communication with the transducer.

19. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the linking unit comprises a transceiver compatible with one of: an 802 protocol, cellular protocol, wireless USB protocol.

20. The digital audio player of claim 13 , comprising:

a. a player 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 player charger coil and the base charger coil in combination transfer energy for inductive charging.

21. The digital audio player of claim 20 , comprising a charger circuit coupled to the player coil portion.

22. The digital audio player of claim 21 , wherein the charger circuit comprises a regulator circuit coupled to a charging circuit.

23. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the data storage devices comprises MP3 content.

24. The digital audio player of claim 13 , wherein the remote controller comprises a squeeze control to allow a user to pause/play (single squeeze) and skip to the next track (double squeeze).

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 Jun 11, 2012
From: ABOLFATHI, AMIR A.; SHELTON, JASON R.; KASSAYAN, REZA
To: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 028355/0413 →