Systems and methods to provide communication, positioning and monitoring of user status

• US 8,270,638 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Abolfathi, Amir A., Kassayan, Reza
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCARTY, TAUNYA A
• Application Number:
  US12/580,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20100098270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326, 381/151, 381/315, 381/380
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/00 Transducers of moving-armature or moving-core type acoustic diaphragm of magnetisable material directly coacting with electromagnet H04R13/00

Abstract

A communication apparatus includes a bone conduction communication apparatus with a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of at least one tooth of a user; a transceiver mounted in the housing; and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth to transmit sound through the at least one tooth. A positioning system is provided to transmit positional information to the transceiver to be delivered to the transducer; and a communication device links the transceiver with a second person. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus, comprising:

a bone conduction communication apparatus, comprising;

a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of at least one tooth of a user;

a transceiver mounted in the housing; and

a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth to transmit sound through the at least one tooth; and

,

a communication device coupled to the transceiver to link the user with a second person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a hearing protection unit adapted to be inserted or positioned within or in proximity to the user'"'"'s ear.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a positioning system to transmit positional information to the transceiver to be delivered to the transducer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device transmits the user'"'"'s position to another location.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is interoperable with at least one additional communication device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a wireless communication device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio or wireless telephone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a user interface to alter a channel, volume, or both.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface is mounted on a weapon to enable the user to control a channel, volume, or both without removing the user'"'"'s hand.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user interface is voice activated to enable hands-free operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a motion sensor to detect a force imposed on the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a protective vest actuated by the motion sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a protective vest that inflates when the motion sensor detects an incoming force.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the protective vest is actuated by a blast.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, comprising a linkage coupling the vest and a helmet, the linkage being hardened when the blast is detected.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a controller that disables the communication apparatus when worn by an unauthorized user.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor captures a blast vector comprising direction and magnitude of a blast.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the blast vector is stored and transmitted to another location.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the motion sensor comprises a three axis accelerometer.