Wireless head set for lingual manipulation of an object, and method for moving a cursor on a display
First Claim
1. A head set for facilitating movement of an object through lingual manipulation, the head set comprising:
- a head piece;
an arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end;
an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein configured to respond to pressure applied by the tongue of an individual when the mouthpiece is in a mouth of the individual;
a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, and the proximal end being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a respective transducer, wherein;
each transducer is configured to convert changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, andeach transducer is mechanically supported by the head set;
a first processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells; and
a transmitter for sending wireless signals from the first processor to a second processor in accordance with the pressure profile, wherein;
the second processor is in electrical communication with a cursor on a display, andthe second processor is programmed to cause the cursor to move across the display in response to the wireless signals received from the transmitter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A head set is provided. The head set is beneficial for assisting an individual who is significantly impaired in the use of his or her upper extremities. The system enables this individual to move a cursor on a display of a computer or other processing device using lingual musculature. The head set includes a head piece. The head piece supports an articulating arm. The articulating arm supports a mouthpiece at a distal end. The mouthpiece has a plurality of cells embedded therein. The cells are configured to receive pressure applied by the tongue of the user. Movement of the tongue over and against the cells causes the cursor to be moved on the display. A method for moving a cursor on a display using a mouthpiece controlled through lingual movement is also provided. In addition, a method of typing characters on a virtual keyboard using lingual musculature is offered.
46 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A head set for facilitating movement of an object through lingual manipulation, the head set comprising:
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a head piece; an arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end; an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein configured to respond to pressure applied by the tongue of an individual when the mouthpiece is in a mouth of the individual; a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, and the proximal end being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a respective transducer, wherein; each transducer is configured to convert changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, and each transducer is mechanically supported by the head set; a first processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells; and a transmitter for sending wireless signals from the first processor to a second processor in accordance with the pressure profile, wherein; the second processor is in electrical communication with a cursor on a display, and the second processor is programmed to cause the cursor to move across the display in response to the wireless signals received from the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for moving a cursor on a display using lingual manipulation, comprising:
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providing a head set for a user, the head set comprising; a head piece; an arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end; an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein for receiving pressure applied by the tongue of a user; a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, and the proximal end being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a respective transducer wherein; each transducer converts changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, and each transducer is mechanically supported by the head set; a first processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells; a transmitter; placing the plurality of tubes in fluid communication with the corresponding plurality of transducers; and placing the first processor in operative electrical communication with the second processor, wherein the second processor; is in electrical communication with a cursor on a display, and is programmed to cause the cursor to move across the display in response to wireless electrical signals received form the transmitter in accordance with the pressure profile. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of typing characters on a virtual keyboard using lingual musculature, comprising:
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wearing a head set on a head, the head set comprising; a head piece; an articulating arm extending from the head piece and having a distal end; an elastomeric mouthpiece comprising a bulb, the bulb being connected proximate the distal end of the articulating arm, and the bulb having a plurality of fluid-containing cells embedded therein and configured for receiving pressure applied by the tongue of a user when the mouthpiece is in a mouth of the user; a plurality of tubes, each tube having a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding plurality of transducers for converting changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, and with the distal end of each of the tubes being in substantially sealed fluid communication with a corresponding cell, wherein; each transducer converts changes in pressure within the cells to electrical signals, and each transducer is mechanically supported by the head set; a first processor for processing the electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are modulated to generate a pressure profile from the cells, the pressure profile representing a magnitude of pressure within the cells, a direction of pressure, a duration of pressure, or combinations thereof; a transmitter; placing the mouthpiece in one'"'"'s mouth; moving one'"'"'s tongue across a bottom surface of the mouthpiece so as to apply pressure to cells of the mouthpiece in order to move a cursor on a display, the display having a digital keyboard associated with a second processor that receives the electrical signals via a wireless communications system, and the cursor moving across the digital keyboard in accordance with the pressure profile; using the cursor to select characters on the digital keyboard; and clicking on selected characters on the digital keyboard using lingual musculature on the mouthpiece in order to compose a textual message. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification