INTRA-ORAL CHARGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120235632A9
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Soundmed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: KASSAYAN, Reza, SPIRIDIGLIOZZI, John, ABOLFATHI, Amir
• Application Number:
  US12/365,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/55 using an external connection, either wireless or wired

Abstract

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.

Claims

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.