Hands-free input device for operating a computer having mouthpiece with plurality of cells and a transducer for converting sound into electrical control signals
First Claim
1. A hands-free input device for operating a computer or other electronic device by aspiration, comprising:
- (a) a mouthpiece having a housing that includes a sound chamber;
(b) a plurality of cells which produce sounds when a user aspirates through the cells, wherein each cell is designed to produce a sound distinct from the sound produced by any other cell, each of said plurality of cells communicating with said sound chamber;
(c) a sound transducer mounted within said sound chamber for converting the sounds produced by each cell into electrical control signals; and
(d) communications media connecting the sound transducer to the computer or electronic device for transmitting the control signals to the computer or electronic device to control the same.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device for a computer includes a mouthpiece and a interface for coupling the mouthpiece to the computer. The mouthpiece includes a plurality of air cells arranged in rows for entering commands to the computer. The are each assigned a command and a chosen command can be entered by inhaling or exhaling through the corresponding cell. The interface identifies which cell a user has selected and produces a distinct digital signal corresponding to that cell. In the preferred embodiment, a MIDI interface is used which discriminates between the different sounds produced by each cell. An on-screen keyboard is selectively displayed on the display screen of the computer to aid a user in selecting and entering commands into the computer. Software allows the user to interact and control different programs loaded on the computer. Potential users include the physically-challenged, astronauts, SCUBA divers, surgeons, construction workers, and musicians.
54 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A hands-free input device for operating a computer or other electronic device by aspiration, comprising:
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(a) a mouthpiece having a housing that includes a sound chamber; (b) a plurality of cells which produce sounds when a user aspirates through the cells, wherein each cell is designed to produce a sound distinct from the sound produced by any other cell, each of said plurality of cells communicating with said sound chamber; (c) a sound transducer mounted within said sound chamber for converting the sounds produced by each cell into electrical control signals; and (d) communications media connecting the sound transducer to the computer or electronic device for transmitting the control signals to the computer or electronic device to control the same. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hands-free input device for operating a computer or other electronic device by aspiration, comprising:
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(a) a mouthpiece having a plurality of cells for producing a sound when a user aspirates through each cell, wherein said cells are arranged in a plurality of transverse rows with the cells in each row forming a generally concave shape to facilitate the user'"'"'s access to said cells with limited head or neck movement; (b) sound transducing means for sensing the sound produced by each cell and converting the sound into an electrical control signal; and (c) communications media connecting the sound transducing means to a computer or electronic device for transmitting the control signals to the computer or electronic device to control the same. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hands-free method for inputting commands to a computer or other electronic device by aspiration, comprising:
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(a) providing a mouthpiece having a housing that includes a sound chamber and a plurality of air cells communicating with the sound chamber; (b) producing distinct sounds by aspirating through the cells; (c) detecting the sounds produced by aspirating through the cells with sound transducing means mounted within the mouthpiece; (d) converting the sounds to electrical signals with the sound transducing means; and (e) transmitting the electrical signals to the electronic device to control the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification