IP Library Granted Patent US 8,712,078
Granted Patent B2
US 8,712,078 · App. 13/572,189 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Headset systems and methods

Inventor: Amir A. Abolfathi (Woodside, CA)
Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
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 8,712,078
App. No.
13/572,189
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
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 (29)

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

a. a bracket securable to at least one tooth;

b. a mouth wearable communicator having a housing which is attachable to the bracket such that the mouth wearable communicator is vibrationally connected to the bracket;

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

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

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

f. 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 second microphone comprises an intraoral microphone or an extraoral microphone.

5. The wireless headset of claim 1 , wherein the sound source comprises a telephone and wherein the second microphone cancels environmental noise and transmits a user's voice through the telephone.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

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

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

a. providing a wireless headset having a mouth wearable communicator having a housing which is attachable to a bracket secured to at least one tooth such that the mouth wearable communicator is vibrationally connected to the bracket;

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.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting sound through the at least one tooth using a bone conduction device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing a wireless headset comprises providing the mouth wearable communicator as a custom oral device.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second microphone comprises a directional microphone.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second microphone comprises a noise cancelling microphone.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the portable appliance is configured to receive short-range transmission from the mouth wearable communicator and relay the transmission over a wide area network.

18. The method of claim 12 , further 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 Aug 10, 2012
From: ABOLFATHI, AMIR A.
To: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 028769/0442 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12032226 · Feb 15, 2008
Related Publication 20130034238A1 · Feb 7, 2013