Methods and apparatus for aligning antennas of low-powered intra- and extra-oral electronic wireless devices
First Claim
1. A wireless electronic system, comprising:
- I. an intra-oral electronic unit comprising an intra-oral directional antenna, said intra-oral unit configured to;
(A) transduce electrical energy to mechanical energy and impart low amplitude vibrations to at least one tooth of a subject for conduction via a dental bone conduction pathway to an inner ear of the subject; and
(B) transduce vibrations within the dental bone conduction pathway to electrical energy;
II. an extra-oral electronic unit comprising an extra-oral directional antenna, said extra-oral unit in wireless communication with said intra-oral unit via said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas, wherein the electrical energy is magnetically induced or electromagnetically transmitted between said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas; and
III. an alignment tool configured to determine a first orientation of said intra-oral electronic unit and a second orientation of said extra-oral electronic unit, wherein said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas are stably, fixedly and spatially oriented relative to each other for optimal gain and polarization when said intra-oral electronic unit is disposed in said first orientation and said extra-oral electronic unit is disposed in said second orientation, wherein said alignment tool comprises a mouth tray portion and an ear tray portion, wherein said mouth tray portion includes an oral impression material holding tray, and said ear tray portion including an ear impression material holding tray.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the design and optimal placement of transmitting and receiving directional antennas, a priori, as used in intra-oral to extra-oral (or visa versa) wireless electronic systems regardless of the type and purpose of the data transmitted between the antennas (intra-oral and extra-oral). Systems related to the invention transmit data via electromagnetic radio waves or through an inductive loop coupling such as in stimulating the human hearing nerve (inner ear) via dental bone conduction pathway when operating in “receive mode”. “Send mode” systems related to the invention transmit non-acoustic information or voice data from inside the mouth to a receiver located outside the mouth.
47 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wireless electronic system, comprising:
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I. an intra-oral electronic unit comprising an intra-oral directional antenna, said intra-oral unit configured to; (A) transduce electrical energy to mechanical energy and impart low amplitude vibrations to at least one tooth of a subject for conduction via a dental bone conduction pathway to an inner ear of the subject; and (B) transduce vibrations within the dental bone conduction pathway to electrical energy; II. an extra-oral electronic unit comprising an extra-oral directional antenna, said extra-oral unit in wireless communication with said intra-oral unit via said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas, wherein the electrical energy is magnetically induced or electromagnetically transmitted between said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas; and III. an alignment tool configured to determine a first orientation of said intra-oral electronic unit and a second orientation of said extra-oral electronic unit, wherein said intra-oral and extra-oral antennas are stably, fixedly and spatially oriented relative to each other for optimal gain and polarization when said intra-oral electronic unit is disposed in said first orientation and said extra-oral electronic unit is disposed in said second orientation, wherein said alignment tool comprises a mouth tray portion and an ear tray portion, wherein said mouth tray portion includes an oral impression material holding tray, and said ear tray portion including an ear impression material holding tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification