Biometric-sensor assembly, such as for acoustic reflectometry of the vocal tract
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first acoustic speaker;
a first set of one or more first acoustic microphones; and
a dental appliance, wherein;
the first acoustic speaker and the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones are attached to the dental appliance so that, when the dental appliance is placed into a user'"'"'s mouth;
the first acoustic speaker has a position that causes acoustic waves generated by the first acoustic speaker to enter the user'"'"'s vocal tract; and
the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones has a position that causes acoustic waves reflected from the vocal tract to impinge onto at least one of the first acoustic microphones;
a second acoustic speaker configured to generate second acoustic waves;
a second acoustic microphone; and
a headset having an earpiece and a boom arm that is movable with respect to the earpiece, wherein both the second acoustic speaker and the second acoustic microphone are mounted on the boom arm, wherein;
when the headset is placed onto the user'"'"'s head, the boom arm is configurable for;
the second acoustic speaker to have a position that causes the second acoustic waves to reflect off the user'"'"'s lips; and
the second acoustic microphone to have a position that causes reflected second acoustic waves to impinge onto the second acoustic microphone.
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Abstract
A biometric-sensor assembly, e.g., for acoustic reflectometry of the vocal tract. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly includes a dental appliance for in-mouth mounting, an acoustic sensor attached to the dental appliance, and an optional headset. The dental appliance enables secure placement of the acoustic sensor in the mouth of the user, e.g., for tracking movements of the tongue and/or other internal articulators of the vocal tract. A boom arm of the headset can be used for holding an additional acoustic sensor and/or a miniature video camera, e.g., for tracking movements of the lips.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first acoustic speaker; a first set of one or more first acoustic microphones; and a dental appliance, wherein; the first acoustic speaker and the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones are attached to the dental appliance so that, when the dental appliance is placed into a user'"'"'s mouth; the first acoustic speaker has a position that causes acoustic waves generated by the first acoustic speaker to enter the user'"'"'s vocal tract; and the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones has a position that causes acoustic waves reflected from the vocal tract to impinge onto at least one of the first acoustic microphones; a second acoustic speaker configured to generate second acoustic waves; a second acoustic microphone; and a headset having an earpiece and a boom arm that is movable with respect to the earpiece, wherein both the second acoustic speaker and the second acoustic microphone are mounted on the boom arm, wherein; when the headset is placed onto the user'"'"'s head, the boom arm is configurable for; the second acoustic speaker to have a position that causes the second acoustic waves to reflect off the user'"'"'s lips; and the second acoustic microphone to have a position that causes reflected second acoustic waves to impinge onto the second acoustic microphone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first acoustic speaker; a first set of one or more first acoustic microphones; a second acoustic speaker; a second acoustic microphone; and a dental appliance, wherein; the first acoustic speaker, the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones, the second acoustic speaker, and the second acoustic microphone are attached to the dental appliance so that, when the dental appliance is placed into a user'"'"'s mouth; the first acoustic speaker has a position inside the user'"'"'s mouth that causes acoustic waves generated by the first acoustic speaker to enter the user'"'"'s vocal tract; the first set of one or more first acoustic microphones has a position inside the user'"'"'s mouth that causes acoustic waves reflected from the vocal tract to impinge onto at least one of the first microphones; the second acoustic speaker is configured to generate second acoustic waves and has a position outside the user'"'"'s mouth that causes the second acoustic waves to reflect off the user'"'"'s lips; and the second acoustic microphone has a position outside the user'"'"'s mouth that causes reflected second acoustic waves to impinge onto the second acoustic microphone. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification