Two-way communication system and method of use

• US 10,348,350 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Tactical Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Technologies, Inc. (Integrated Tactical Technologies, LLC)
• Inventors: Pare, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Simon
• Application Number:
  US15/702,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20180191389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 455 661, 455 6711
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/085 Mouth or teeth protectors A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/04 Microphones H04R19/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers

Abstract

The two-way communication system comprises a non-invasive and non-implanted system which remains completely invisible to an outside observer when in use by an operator or user and allows for clear two-way communications. This system is generally comprised of a mouthpiece component, relay component, infrastructure communication device, and an optional system control which may interface with the relay component.

Claims

1. A two-way communication system, comprising:

a mouthpiece component having a housing which is configured for temporary securement upon a tooth or teeth of a user, wherein the housing has at least one integrated antenna, and wherein the housing has an actuator configured to provide bone conduction sound transmission into the tooth or teeth of the user;

an infrastructure communication device configured to transmit or receive signals from the mouthpiece component to a remote communication device; and

a relay component in communication with the mouthpiece component and configured to interface between the mouthpiece component and the infrastructure communication device,

wherein the mouthpiece component further comprises a microphone integrated within the housing,

wherein the housing has a housing first portion and a housing second portion, wherein the housing first portion has the microphone and the housing second portion has the actuator, wherein the housing first portion and the housing second portion are configured to be on opposite sides of the tooth or teeth when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, and wherein the housing second portion is configured to contact the tooth or teeth when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one integrated antenna is configured to be insensitive to positioning upon a left or right side of the dentition.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one integrated antenna is configured for near field magnetic induction.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one integrated antenna comprises a wire-wound ferrite core or wide loop antenna.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the microphone comprises a MEMS-type air microphone.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an attenuation element in vibrational communication with the microphone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing defines air cavity in communication with the microphone.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a PVDF film vibrational sensor integrated within the housing.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power supply integrated within the housing.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the infrastructure communication device is configured to transmit or receive communications wirelessly.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the relay component is wirelessly in communication with the infrastructure communication device via near field magnetic induction.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising an antenna in proximity to the relay component and configured as a loop configuration.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the relay component is integrated with the infrastructure component.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a system control in communication with the relay component.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the microphone is configured to capture the user'"'"'s speech for outgoing audio transmissions, and wherein the actuator is configured to vibrate against the tooth or teeth to provide the user with incoming audio transmissions via bone conduction.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing first portion is configured to contact the user'"'"'s palate and the housing second portion is configured to contact an inner surface of a cheek of the user.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing first portion is on a buccal side of the tooth or teeth and the housing second portion is on a lingual side of the tooth or teeth.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing first portion is on a lingual side of the tooth or teeth and the housing second portion is on a buccal side of the tooth or teeth.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing second portion has a tooth contact portion configured to fit in an interproximal space between two adjacent teeth.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing first portion is coupled to the housing second portion via a connector, and wherein the connector extends partially around a posterior-most tooth of the tooth or teeth when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing has a housing first configuration and a housing second configuration, wherein the tooth or teeth of the user are on a left side of the user'"'"'s dentition or on a right side of the user'"'"'s dentition, wherein when the housing is in the housing first configuration, the housing is securable to the tooth or teeth on the left side of the user'"'"'s dentition, and wherein when the housing is in the housing second configuration, the housing is securable to the tooth or teeth on the right side of the user'"'"'s dentition.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is securable to the tooth or teeth of the user with an interference fit.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, occlusal surfaces of the tooth or teeth remain unobstructed by the housing.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing allows for normal speech, eating, and drinking without impediment.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the relay component is configured to be worn around the user'"'"'s neck or around the user'"'"'s head.

26. A two-way communication system, comprising:

a mouthpiece component having a housing which is configured for temporary securement upon a tooth or teeth of a user, wherein the housing has at least one integrated antenna, and wherein the housing has an actuator configured to vibrate against the tooth or teeth to provide the user with incoming audio transmissions via bone conduction;

an infrastructure communication device configured to wirelessly transmit or receive signals from the mouthpiece component to a remote communication device;

a relay component in communication with the mouthpiece component and configured to wirelessly interface between the mouthpiece component and the infrastructure communication device; and

a system control in communication with the relay component and configured to wirelessly provide an input to the relay component,

wherein the housing has a housing first portion and a housing second portion, wherein the housing first portion has a microphone and the housing second portion has the actuator, wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing second portion is configured to contact the tooth or teeth, wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, the housing first portion is configured to be on a lingual side of the tooth or teeth and the housing second portion is configured to be on a buccal side of the tooth or teeth, wherein the housing second portion has a tooth contact portion configured to fit in an interproximal space between two adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth contact portion is configured to vibrate to transmit audio signals into the tooth or teeth, wherein the housing first portion is coupled to the housing second portion via a connector, and wherein the connector extends partially around a posterior-most tooth of the tooth or teeth when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the microphone is configured to capture sound for outgoing audio transmissions.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the relay component is configured to be worn by the user.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the housing is securable to the tooth or teeth of the user with an interference fit, or wherein when the housing is secured to the tooth or teeth, an occlusal surface of the tooth or teeth remain unobstructed by the housing.