Scuba diving voice and communication system using bone conducted sound

• US 5,579,284 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trigger Scuba, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trigger Scuba, Inc.
• Inventors: May, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US08/541,826
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 367/132, 367/131, 340/850
• US Class Current: 367/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/14 Throat mountings for microphones

Abstract

An underwater scuba diver communication system is disclosed which is comprised of an oral bone conduction mouthpiece based sound transmission and conduction device, an oral--mouthpiece based microphone, an ultrasonic sound transmission device, an ultrasonic receiving device and the electronic circuitry required to facilitate the transmission or reception of ultrasound transmitted signals through a water medium. The system is constructed to provide underwater diver voice communication with a modified scuba mouthpiece not unlike in appearance or function from a conventional second stage mouthpiece for a scuba diver breathing apparatus. This mouthpiece can also be configured to provide binaural input and/or output with two different transducers for locating sound direction underwater.

Claims

1. A scuba diving mouthpiece for supplying air to a diver, said mouthpiece attachable to a source of air, said mouthpiece comprising:

a mouth engageable body including at least one biteplate, each said biteplate adapted for being disposed between and engageable by the teeth of the driver;

at least one sound transducer associated with said body; and

at least one sound conducting member, each said sound conducting member being operatively connected to one of said sound transducers, each said sound conducting member being embedded within said body and configured to receive audio sounds from said connected sound transducer, each said sound conducting member also being configured to transmit audio sounds through at least one said biteplate, whereby said audio sounds may be conducted to the teeth of the diver.

2. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one biteplate comprises two biteplates, each said biteplate adapted for being disposed between and engageable by the teeth of the diver.

3. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each said sound transducer comprises a vibratable membrane, each said sound conducting member attached to a respective said membrane.

4. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each said sound conducting member comprises a sound conducting strip.

5. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein each said sound conducting member is comprised of a metallic material.

6. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one biteplate comprises two biteplates, and wherein said at least one sound transducer comprises one sound transducer.

7. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one biteplate comprises two biteplates, and wherein said at least one sound transducer comprises two sound transducers respectively associated with said two biteplates.

8. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one biteplate comprises two biteplates, and wherein said at least one sound transducer comprises three sound transducers, two of said three sound transducers being respectively disposed within said two biteplates.

9. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said sound transducer is capable of receiving sounds through said biteplate.

10. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said sound transducer is disposed within said body.

11. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said body is comprised of a material consisting essentially of polyvinylacetate-copolymer polyethylene.

12. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver connected to each said sound transducer, said transceiver adapted for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic signals.

13. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said body is connectable to a second stage regulator.

14. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said sound transducer is operable between a frequency range of approximately 100 to 10,000 hertz, said sound transducer being selected from the group consisting of a voice coil type transducer, piezoelectric transducer, and magnetostrictive transducer.

15. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, wherein said body is moldable for enhanced engagement with the teeth of the diver.

16. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising an actuating device for actuating said at least one sound transducer, said actuating device comprising one of a push-to-talk actuator and voice actuator.

17. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising an enlarged piece connected to the body which is sized and configured to cover the lips of the diver, said enlarged piece defining an air chamber, said at least one sound transducer comprising a plurality of sound transducers, one of said sound transducers disposed in said air chamber.

18. A communication system, comprising:

a transceiver adapted for receiving and transmitting signals corresponding to sounds; and

a mouthpiece including at least one sound transducer disposed therein, each said sound transducer connected to said transceiver, said mouthpiece further including at least one sound conducting member embedded therein, each said sound conducting member being operatively connected to one of said sound transducers and being configured to transmit audio sounds through said mouthpiece.

19. The communication system of claim 18, wherein each said sound transducer comprises a membrane, each said sound conducting member being attached to a respective said membrane.

20. The communication system of claim 18, wherein said at least one sound transducer comprises at least two sound transducers, each said sound transducer being independently operable to provide stereophonic sound output.

21. The communication system of claim 18, wherein said transceiver sends audio signals to and receives signals from each said transducer, and further comprising means for processing said signals.

22. The communication system of claim 21, further comprising means for reducing and canceling portions of said signals representing audio noise.

23. The communication system of claim 18, wherein said transceiver includes user selectable channels for transmitting and receiving.

24. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 18, wherein each said sound conducting member comprises a sound conducting strip.

25. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 18, wherein each said sound conducting member is comprised of a metallic material.

26. A mouthpiece which may be positioned within the mouth of a user, said mouthpiece comprising:

a U-shaped portion including at least one biteplate, said biteplate adapted for being disposed between and engageable by the teeth of the user;

at least one sound transducer associated with said U-shaped portion; and

at least one sound conducting member, each said sound conducting member being operatively connected to one of said sound transducer, each said sound conducting member being embedded within said body and configured to receive audio sounds from said connected sound transducer, each said sound conducting member also being configured to transmit audio sounds through at least one said biteplate, whereby said audio sounds may be conducted to the teeth of the user.

27. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 26, wherein each said sound conducting member comprises a sound conducting strip.

28. The scuba diving mouthpiece of claim 26, wherein each said sound conducting member is comprised of a metallic material.