Mouth movement control device

Abstract

An oral movement control device comprising: an arcuate housing (10) designed in an operative position such that at least part of the housing (10) is disposed between an upper jaw dentition and a lower jaw dentition of a user; an at least bidirectional first input interface (21) accommodated in the concave area of the housing (10) and accessible by the tongue of the user; an at least bi-directional second input interface (22) located in a portion of the housing (10) for arrangement between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition, selected to be arranged facing the user's mandibular dentition, allowing the second input interface to operate with relative movement between the user's maxillary dentition and mandibular dentition; and control electronics (30) connected to all of the input interfaces (21, 22, 23) to transmit control signals to an external device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, that is, a device for controlling other devices by oral operation, that is, the control device is intended to be operated by oral operation.

[0002] This type of control device is often used by people with limited mobility, such as, for example, quadriplegics, to control a motorized wheelchair or to control a computer, smartphone or other computing or communication device.

[0003] However, such a control device also has other applications for users who do not have limited mobility, for example for people who need to be able to free their hands to perform other tasks, or simply to increase their productivity or speed in controlling different external devices.

[0004] Some examples of these other uses could be, for example, the control of virtual reality environments, control of different external support devices by people who perform high-precision tasks with their hands, such as, for example, surgeons, or operators who simply control a machine but are able to perform other tasks with their hands at the same time. Background Art

[0005] Mouth-actuated control devices are known.

[0006] For example, some devices are known that allow a control stick to be held in front of the mouth, inside the mouth, or under the chin to generate control commands, but only allow a limited number of simultaneous control commands to be generated, making them slow to use. In addition, many of these control devices are bulky and not very practical.

[0007] Some devices are also known that can be secured by the user biting down, which can improve their comfort and usability, but they still suffer from the problem of being slow to use.

[0008] This is particularly relevant, for example, when these devices are used to control navigation, in particular navigation in three-dimensional environments, such as virtual reality or augmented reality environments, or for controlling devices with more than two axes of operational freedom, such as drones, articulated arms, etc.

[0009] Some known prior art devices having the above mentioned problems are described, for example, in documents US5460186A, US2006071781A1 and US2004164881A1.

[0010] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems and other problems. Summary of the invention

[0011] The present invention relates to a mouth-actuated control device as claimed in claim 1.

[0012] The proposed control device comprises in a known manner:

[0013] an arcuate housing defining a concave region and a convex region, configured to retain at least a portion of the housing between the maxillary and mandibular dentition of a user in an operative position, the housing preferably being completely received within the oral cavity of the user;

[0014] A first input interface, which is at least bidirectional, is attached to a concave area of ​​the shell, i.e. oriented in a first front-to-back direction, and is preferably located in a central area of ​​the control device, which area is intended to be located behind the user's incisors, and when the shell is in an operating position, the first input interface can be operated by the user's tongue.

[0015] It will be appreciated that the arched shell has an arched geometry similar to the arch defined by the maxillary dentition, wherein the concave region is the shell area enclosed by the arch defined by the shell and accommodates the tongue in the operative position, and the convex region is the shell area enclosed by the arch defined by the shell.

[0016] It should also be understood that an input interface is a device that allows a user to generate control commands for an external device. The control commands are usually generated by the input interface detecting movements on the part of the user, although other alternatives can also be envisioned, such as, for example, detecting the user's voice or an increase in air pressure in the mouth.

[0017] In this case, the first input interface detects the movement of the user's tongue, preferably the movement of the tongue tip, and is at least a bidirectional input interface, that is, an interface capable of detecting movements on at least two different axes, typically the X-axis (horizontal), Y-axis (front-back horizontal) and Z-axis (vertical) of three mutually perpendicular axes, the X-axis (horizontal), Y-axis (horizontal), and Z-axis (vertical), which are defined by the housing in an operating position in the upright user's mouth. This allows the first input interface to detect, for example, upward, downward, rightward and leftward movements of the tongue tip by combining the detections, as well as all diagonal movements caused by a combination of two of the movements.

[0018] The shell will be in the operative position when the shell is fully contained within the buccal cavity of the user and at least a portion of it is located between the maxillary dentition (upper teeth) and mandibular dentition (lower teeth) of the user, although no clenching force is required to consider the shell to be in the operative position.

[0019] The anterior-posterior direction is understood to be a horizontal direction aligned with the length of the buccal cavity from its base to the oral cavity, for example coinciding with the Y axis, the craniocaudal direction is a vertical direction, for example coinciding with the Z axis, and the interaural direction is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the anterior-posterior direction, for example coinciding with direction X.

[0020] The present invention is also proposed in a manner not shown in the prior art, that the control device further comprises:

[0021] a second input interface, which is at least bidirectional, attached to the housing in a portion of the housing for arrangement between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition, and for arrangement facing the mandibular dentition of the user in an operating position, allowing it to operate with relative movement between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition of the user; and

[0022] The control electronic device is integrated in the housing and connected to all the input interfaces for transmitting the control signals generated by the input interfaces to the external device.

[0023] In this case, the second input interface is intended to detect motion in at least two different axes, for example X and Y.

[0024] Like the first input interface, the proposed second input interface is a bidirectional input interface, ie it allows detecting movements of parts of the user in two orthogonal directions or in a diagonal direction resulting from a combination of these two directions.

[0025] All signals generated by all input interfaces are managed by control electronics integrated in the housing, which transmit said signals to external devices via wireless signals emitted by an antenna integrated in the control electronics. The control electronics can also receive wireless signals from external devices via said antenna.

[0026] The external device may be any type of electrical or electronic device. Some examples of external devices to be controlled are, for example, vehicles, electric wheelchairs, remote controlled vehicles, flying drones, robotic arms, industrial machinery, any computing device with computing capabilities having one or more displays, such as a computer, a smartphone, a communication device, a video game console, etc., or similar, such as for controlling a three-dimensional virtual environment, etc. The proposed device also allows dedicating each input interface to the control of a different external device or a different function of the same external device.

[0027] By comprising at least two input interfaces, each of which is at least a bidirectional input interface, the proposed control device allows to increase the speed of the user's interaction with the external device to be controlled.

[0028] Based on the foregoing, it can be understood that the first and / or second input interface will be two-dimensional, that is, motion detection is performed on two axes orthogonal to each other.

[0029] Nevertheless, the first input interface and / or the second input interface is preferably a bidirectional input interface with a button, i.e. having the ability to detect pressure on the interface in the direction of a third axis perpendicular to the two orthogonal axes of motion detection, or a three-way input interface, i.e. having motion detection on three axes orthogonal to each other.

[0030] It will be appreciated that the button may be a button or an optical occlusion detector capable of detecting when the surface of the optical detector is fully covered, for example by a tongue.

[0031] Optionally, it is also conceivable that the control device further comprises:

[0032] a third input interface connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing at a third position coinciding with the convex area of ​​the housing, the third input interface being selected to be accessible by the upper and / or lower lip of a user in the operating position; and / or

[0033] a fourth input interface connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing, the fourth input interface being an accelerometer; and / or

[0034] a fifth input interface connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing, the fifth input interface being a microphone, or a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, or a combination of an airflow direction detector and a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, the fifth input interface being connected to a speech recognition device; and / or

[0035] at least one sixth input interface connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing adjacent to the first input interface, each sixth input interface being a button; and / or

[0036] A seventh input interface, which is connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing, is a pressure detector for detecting the air pressure in the buccal cavity.

[0037] The third input interface may be a button, a one-way input interface, a two-way input interface, a two-way input interface with a button, or a three-way input interface.

[0038] The fourth input interface may be an accelerometer with one to three axes, six axes or nine axes. The accelerometer will allow the movement of the user's head to be detected.

[0039] A fifth input interface allows detection of the voice of a user wearing the device, and a voice recognition device integrated in the control electronics or in an external device communicating with the control electronics allows recognition of sounds uttered by the user, such as words or voice commands, and execution of operations in response to the recognized sounds.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the microphone is located adjacent to the first input interface, i.e., at a central location of the mouth-actuated control device, which will be close to the user's lips, where the sound of the user's voice is easier to recognize, thereby allowing voice recognition at a lower volume, such as at a low volume, or even at a sub-audible volume, i.e., at a volume lower than a low volume.

[0041] It is also conceivable that the fifth input interface may include an airflow direction detector combined with a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, which allows detection of whether air is exhaled from the user's mouth or inhaled from the user's mouth. By combining the information obtained by the microphone with the information obtained by the airflow direction detector, the speech recognition device can recognize sub-vocalized words with higher accuracy.

[0042] The airflow direction detector may be, for example, a recognition system that is able to distinguish between the sound of air entering the mouth and the sound of air leaving the mouth by analyzing the sound captured by a microphone. It may also include two microphones placed at different distances from the lips, allowing the difference between the sounds of the two microphones to be detected to determine whether the airflow is entering or leaving the mouth. Other examples of airflow direction detectors are also conceivable.

[0043] There will be at least one button per sixth input interface, which may be a physical button or an optical blockage detector as described above. Each sixth input interface will be located next to the first input interface, for example one on each side thereof, in a concave area of ​​the housing and therefore accessible to the tongue so that the tongue can press it. Preferably, the sixth input interface will be located at a position of the housing which is intended to be arranged in an operating position almost behind the canines of the maxillary teeth.

[0044] The seventh input interface may be a pressure detector for detecting the air pressure contained in the cheek cavity, which allows the user to provide a control command by controlling the air pressure contained in the cheek cavity.

[0045] Optionally, the housing also integrates at least one bone conduction speaker, i.e. a speaker, in combination with the control electronics, which contacts the user's teeth and transmits sound in the form of vibrations through the teeth and skull to the user's ears. The bone conduction speaker will preferably be housed in the rear of the device, which is intended to be arranged facing the molars of the user's maxillary teeth. Optionally, the device may include two bone conduction speakers, one on each side, to provide stereo sound.

[0046] The at least one bone conduction speaker will be connected to an external device via control electronics, allowing, for example, reception of acoustic signals in response to operation of the input interface or in response to signals received from an external device, or even allowing verbal communication with other users.

[0047] The control device may also integrate at least one tactile transmitter or at least one vibration generating tactile transmitter into the housing, the tactile transmitter being connected to the control electronics. This tactile transmitter may, for example, provide information to the user in response to operation of the input interface or in response to a signal received from an external device.

[0048] It is also envisioned that the second input interface may have two sets of sensors located on symmetrical sides of the tooth attachment to improve jaw movement detection.

[0049] Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The above and other advantages and features will be better understood from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner. In the drawings:

[0051] Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a control device according to a first embodiment, viewed from a bottom front perspective, showing the housing with the tooth attachment at the top, and showing the remaining components of the device separated from the housing at the bottom;

[0052] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the control device shown in FIG. 1 from a top rear perspective;

[0053] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 a front portion of the device shown in an operational position secured to the maxillary dentition of a user, with the partial housing disposed between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition;

[0054] Figure 4 Shows that Figure 3 a view of the device in the operative position shown as viewed from inside the buccal cavity;

[0055] Figure 5 An exploded perspective view of a control device according to a second embodiment is shown, the control device being viewed from a top rear perspective, provided with a third input interface, and the housing being provided with a rigid lower half and a less rigid or flexible upper half, the rigid lower half and the less rigid or flexible upper half integrating dental attachments in concave and convex areas of the housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The accompanying drawings show illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

[0057] Embodiments of the present invention include an oral control device. The control device includes a housing 10, which is intended to be completely contained within the buccal cavity of a user when the housing is in an operating position, with at least a portion of the housing 10 contained between the maxillary and mandibular dentition of the user. When in the operating position, the control device is preferably fixed to the maxillary dentition, allowing the user to open the mouth without removing the control device, and even allowing the user to speak.

[0058] The shell 10 has an arched shape that replicates the arched shape of the maxillary dentition and defines a concave area on the concave side of the arched shell that will accommodate the tongue in the operative position and a convex portion on the convex side of the arched shell.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the housing may include two flat sides, each side defining an upper surface for placement below the side of the maxillary dentition, and a lower surface for placement above the side of the mandibular dentition, wherein one of the sides accommodates the second input interface 22 on its lower surface. A central portion accommodating the first input interface 21 is obtained by connecting the two sides.

[0060] The central portion (at least a large part thereof) may be located above a plane defined by the upper surfaces of the two side portions and thus be arranged behind the incisors of the maxillary dentition. In this case, the central portion will define a front surface for facing the inner curve of the incisors of the maxillary dentition in the operating position and a rear surface for accommodating the first input interface 21, which can be touched by the tongue.

[0061] Preferably, the housing 10 further comprises a tooth attachment 11 or a flexible tooth attachment 11 defining a tooth receiving space intended to receive, in the operating position, a portion of the maxillary dentition of a user by fixing the housing 10 to the maxillary dentition.

[0062] When the tooth attachment is flexible, it can be elastically deformed when a portion of the maxillary dentition is present in the tooth receiving space by providing an elastic force, which presses the tooth attachment against the portion of the maxillary dentition received in the tooth receiving space, preferably in the area near the gum line where the teeth meet the gums.

[0063] In one embodiment, the tooth receiving space is an arched space, the ends of which are surrounded by two almost symmetrical tooth attachments 11 at least on the convex surface outside thereof, and the central part of which is surrounded internally by the central part of the housing 10 that receives the first input interface 21 on the concave surface inside thereof, such as Figures 1 to 4 shown.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment, the tooth attachment 11 may include: two facing external retainers, which protrude from the convex area of ​​the symmetrical side of the shell 10, that is, on its exterior, so as to abut against the outer surface of the maxillary dentition; and / or two internal retainers, whose backs are opposite to each other, which protrude from the concave area of ​​the symmetrical side of the shell 10, that is, on its interior, so as to abut against the inner surface of the maxillary dentition.

[0065] When applied to a shell defined by a center portion and two side portions, this may include: two facing external retainers, each retainer being fixed to the side of the shell 10, located above the upper surface of the side portion and adjacent to the convex area, i.e., on the outside thereof, so as to abut against the outer surface of the maxillary dentition; and / or two internal retainers with their backs opposite to each other, each retainer being fixed to the side of the shell 10, located above the upper surface of the side portion and adjacent to the concave area, i.e., on the inside thereof, so as to abut against the inner surface of the maxillary dentition.

[0066] When the outer and inner retainers are present, they can work together to elastically press the left and right portions of the maxillary dentition, thereby retaining the shell 10.

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, when the dental retainer is coupled to the maxillary dentition, the entire arched shell will elastically deform, opening or closing its arched geometry, providing elastic pressure and facilitating its adaptation to users with different maxillary dentitions.

[0068] According to one embodiment, a portion of the shell, which includes the first input interface and the second input interface, is rigid, ensuring precise positioning of the two input interfaces, and the rest of the shell is flexible, allowing the arch geometry to be opened or closed so as to adapt it to users with maxillary dentition of different widths.

[0069] Thus, the tooth attachment provides a point for the control device to be anchored to the buccal cavity.

[0070] Optionally, the housing 10 may include a frame 12 or a rigid frame 12 to which at least part of the control electronics is fixed, and wherein each of the two outer retainers and / or each of the two inner retainers is formed by a portion of the frame 12 which is coated with a flexible, curable formable or thermoformable material at least on the surface facing the tooth receiving space and is fixed to the frame 12.

[0071] When the device is placed in the operating position, the flexible material will adapt to the shape of the teeth, providing a secure and comfortable hold.

[0072] Curing the formable material allows the user to place the device in an operating position prior to first use of the device, wherein the cured formable material is still in a plastic state. Subsequent curing of the material will fix its shape to correspond to the shape of the user's maxillary dentition, thereby providing comfortable and precise device fixation. The cured material may be rigid or flexible.

[0073] The thermoformable material allows the adoption of a plastic state by means of heating. Similar to the case of curing the formable material, this allows the device to be placed in an operating position with the thermoformable material in a plastic state so that, upon cooling, it adopts a shape complementary to the shape of the maxillary dentition of the user. The thermoformable material in a non-plastic state may be rigid or flexible.

[0074] The housing 10 may also include a frame 12, or a rigid frame 12 to which at least a portion of the control electronics are secured, and wherein the dental attachment 11 may be formed from a flexible, curable formable or thermoformable material secured to the frame 12 or by overmolding the material over or around the frame 12.

[0075] It is also proposed that the control electronics 30 integrate at least one non-planar molded electronics sheet, on which at least most of the components connected to the control electronics 30 are fixed.

[0076] In this case, it is envisaged that the tooth attachment 11 is formed of a flexible, cured formable or thermoformable material secured to or overmolded over or around the at least one molded electronics sheet mentioned.

[0077] In other words, the control electronics 30 may include conductive tracks and surface mount electronic components integrated onto a surface of a molded thermoplastic material having a non-planar geometry adapted to the geometry of the device.

[0078] The control device includes a first input interface 21 and a second input interface 22 .

[0079] The first input interface 21 and the second input interface 22 are at least bidirectional input interfaces, that is, each of the interfaces is capable of detecting partial movements of the user in two different directions, typically the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X, or the horizontal direction X and the front-to-back direction Y, although preferably, they may also include buttons for detecting pressing actions.

[0080] All input interfaces are connected to control electronics 30 which transmit the control commands generated by said input interfaces to the remote devices to be controlled.

[0081] The first input interface 21 is intended to be arranged in the oral cavity and can be operated by the user's tongue when the housing is in the operating position. To achieve this, the first input interface 21 is attached to the housing 10 at a first position contained in a concave area of ​​the housing 10, within the reach of the tongue.

[0082] The second input interface 22 is intended to be operable with relative movement between the maxillary and mandibular dentition of the user when the housing is in the operating position, i.e. for detecting movement of the mandible relative to the rest of the skull. This is achieved by positioning the second input interface 22 in a second position, which is located below the portion of the housing 10 that is intended to be accommodated between the maxillary and mandibular dentition. The second input interface 22 will preferably allow detection of movement in the anterior-posterior horizontal direction Y and the lateral horizontal direction X.

[0083] Optionally, in addition to the first and second input interfaces 21, 22, the device may also include a third input interface 23, which is intended to be able to operate with the movement of the upper lip and / or the lower lip when the housing 10 is in the operating position. To achieve this, the third input interface 23 is attached to the housing 10 in a third position, which is included in the convex area of ​​the housing 10, at the front end of the housing. The third input interface 23 will preferably allow the detection of a pressing operation, and / or the detection of a movement in the vertical direction Z and / or the lateral horizontal direction X.

[0084] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first input interface 21 and / or the second input interface 22 and / or the third input interface 23 is a joystick, a touch panel or an optical sensor, suitable for detecting contactless movements, for example with the aid of a technology similar to that used in a computer mouse, which allows detection of bidirectional movements, or with the aid of a camera connected to an image recognition device, which is configured to detect bidirectional or three-way movements of the tongue or teeth.

[0085] The joystick usually integrates four micro switches distributed around the joystick in a cross shape, allowing detection of movement of the joystick in any of these four directions and in any intermediate diagonal directions.

[0086] The first input interface 21 and the second input interface 22 may be made of respective control rods, each control rod further comprising an ergonomic knob adapted to the body part interacting therewith, the knob being surrounded by a sealed O-ring to prevent saliva from penetrating into the housing 10 .

[0087] It is recommended that knobs operated with the tongue include a roughened finish to improve grip, and it is recommended that knobs operated with the mandibular dentition include, for example, a cross shape or a relief customized to the operator's teeth for optimal grip.

[0088] The touch panel may be, for example, a capacitive panel which allows detecting the position and movement of parts of the user's body on its surface.

[0089] When the first input interface 21 is a joystick, preferably, the joystick is almost parallel to the front-to-back direction X in the standby position, allowing the detection of vertical Z and horizontal Y movements.

[0090] When the first input interface 21 is a touch panel, the touch panel is preferably arranged almost perpendicular to the front-to-back direction X, allowing detection of vertical Z and horizontal Y movements, or extends parallel to the top of the palate, in an almost horizontal direction parallel to the front-to-back direction X, allowing detection of front-to-back direction X and horizontal direction Y movements.

[0091] It is also conceivable that the first input interface 21, and / or the second input interface 22, and / or the third input interface 23 can be a two-way or three-way magnetic detector combined with a magnetic element, which can be associated with or implanted in the mandibular dentition, the tongue or the upper and / or lower lip. The implantable magnetic element can be, for example, a magnetic element that can be fixed to the teeth, the tip of the tongue or the upper and / or lower lip, for example by a clip, or implanted by puncture, or fixed in a cavity of a tooth, or fixed in a denture.

[0092] Furthermore, it is suggested that the first input interface 21, and / or the second input interface 22, and / or the third input interface 23 are three-way input interfaces or include sensors for detecting pressure or pressing operations. The three-way sensor allows the detection of movements in three directions X, Y, and Z that are orthogonal to each other. For example, this can be achieved by adding a fifth sensor to the joystick, which detects different intensities in the pressure applied to the joystick in the direction of the joystick, or by using a touch panel with the ability to sense different pressure intensities on its surface, or by detecting the separation between the input interface and the mandibular teeth, the tip of the tongue, or the lower lip and / or the upper lip through an optical or magnetic sensor, preferably by detecting the movement of these parts of the oral cavity on three axes X, Y, and Z. Optionally, a sensor for detecting pressure or pressing operations will be included, for example, a simple button that allows the detection of a pressing operation.

[0093] Optionally, the control device may also include a fourth input interface 24 fixed to the housing 10, the fourth input interface 24 being an accelerometer with one, three, six or nine axes. This will also allow the movement or tilt of the user's head to be detected, thereby adding additional control.

[0094] The device may also comprise a fifth input interface 25 connected to the control electronics and to the housing 10, the fifth input interface 25 being a microphone connected to the speech recognition device.

[0095] As an option, it is also proposed to integrate at least a sixth input interface 26 which is connected to the control electronics and is attached to the housing 10 at a location near the first input interface 21 , each sixth input interface 26 being a button.

[0096] According to another embodiment, the device also integrates a seventh input interface 27 connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing 10, the seventh input interface 27 being a pressure detector for detecting the air pressure in the buccal cavity.

[0097] According to another embodiment of the invention, the control device may further integrate at least one tactile emitter 40 , such as a vibration generator, which will be connected to and controlled by the control electronics 30 .

[0098] When the tactile transmitter 40 is a vibration generator, it can be integrated into the first, second and / or third input interface 21, 22, 23 to transmit the vibration to the user's tongue, teeth or lips.

[0099] The housing 10 may also integrate at least one bone conduction speaker 41 in conjunction with control electronics for transmitting sound to the ear through the maxillary dentition.

[0100] Optionally, the control electronics 30 may include a wireless signal transmission antenna for transmitting the signal generated by the input interface to a remote device to be controlled.

[0101] It is also conceivable that the control electronics 30 may further integrate at least one battery 31 which provides it with power. In this way, the control device may be a wireless and autonomous device. The battery may have a charging device, such as a connection port or a wireless inductive charger.

[0102] The at least one battery may be housed, for example, on a convex side of the arched housing, the at least one battery being housed between the maxillary dentition and the cheek of the user.

[0103] Alternatively, the at least one battery will be two batteries arranged on opposite sides of the housing 10 .

[0104] Obviously, embodiments are also conceivable that lack a battery and an antenna, the battery and antenna being connected to an external device for direct control via a cable, or it is also conceivable that the device is powered from outside the mouth by wireless means (for example by electromagnetic induction).

[0105] According to one embodiment, the rigid frame 12 will form the lower half of the device, with the cheek anchors being made of flexible material in the upper half of the housing, welded, bonded or overmolded over the frame 12 .

[0106] Optionally, the frame 12 will be completely embedded in the flexible material forming the cheek anchors, typically in the upper half of the shell.

Claims

1. A mouth-actuated control device, comprising: an arched housing (10) defining a concave region and a convex region, configured to maintain at least a portion of the housing (10) between the maxillary and mandibular dentition of a user in an operative position; a first input interface (21), the first input interface (21) being at least bidirectional and attached to the concave area of ​​the housing (10), the first input interface (21) being accessible to the user's tongue when the housing (10) is in the operating position; Characterized in that the control device also includes: a second input interface (22) which is at least bidirectional, attached to the housing (10) in a portion of the housing (10) for being arranged between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition, and for being arranged facing the mandibular dentition of the user in the operating position, allowing manipulation with relative movement between the maxillary dentition and the mandibular dentition of the user; and The control electronic device (30) is integrated in the housing (10) and connected to all the input interfaces (21, 22, 23) for transmitting the control signals generated by the input interfaces (21, 22, 23) to an external device.

2. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 1, wherein: The control device also includes a third input interface (23), which is connected to the control electronic device and is attached to the shell (10) at a third position corresponding to the convex area of ​​the shell (10) and is selected to be able to be contacted by the upper lip and / or lower lip of the user in the operating position.

3. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The control device further comprises a fourth input interface (24) connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing (10), the fourth input interface (24) being an accelerometer.

4. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: The control device also includes a fifth input interface (25) connected to the control electronic device and attached to the shell (10), the fifth input interface (25) is a microphone, or a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, or a combination of a microphone adjacent to the first input interface and an airflow direction detector, and the fifth input interface is connected to a speech recognition device.

5. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein: The control device further comprises at least one sixth input interface (26), which is connected to the control electronics and is attached to the housing (10) at a position adjacent to the first input interface (21), each sixth input interface (26) being a button.

6. The oral control device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein: The control device also comprises a seventh input interface (27) connected to the control electronics and attached to the housing (10), the seventh input interface (27) being a pressure detector for detecting the air pressure in the buccal cavity.

7. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing (10) also integrates at least one bone conduction speaker (41) connected to the control electronics.

8. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control device also integrates in the housing (10) at least one tactile emitter (40) or at least one vibration-generating tactile emitter (40) connected to the control electronics (30).

9. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing comprises: two flat sides, each side defining an upper surface for placement below the side of the maxillary dentition, and a lower surface for placement above the side of the mandibular dentition, one of the two flat sides accommodating a second input interface (22) on its lower surface; and A central portion connects the two side portions and accommodates the first input interface (21).

10. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 9, wherein: The central portion is at least mostly above a plane defined by the upper surfaces of the two side portions, the central portion defines a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface being arranged to face the inner side of the incisor of the maxillary dentition when in an operating position, and the rear surface accommodating the first input interface (21).

11. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The shell (10) also includes a tooth attachment (11) or a flexible tooth attachment (11), which defines a tooth receiving space for receiving a portion of the user's maxillary dentition, thereby fixing the shell (10) to the maxillary dentition when in the operating position.

12. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 11, wherein: The tooth attachment (11) or the flexible tooth attachment (11) comprises: two facing external retainers protruding from convex areas of symmetrical sides of the housing (10); and / or Two inner retainers with their backs facing each other protrude from the concave area of ​​the symmetrical side of the housing (10).

13. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 12, wherein: The housing (10) comprises a frame (12) or a rigid frame (12), to which at least part of the control electronics is fixed, and wherein each of the two outer retainers and / or each of the two inner retainers is formed by a portion of the frame (12), the frame (12) being coated with a flexible, curable formable or thermoformable material fixed to the frame (12) at least on the surface facing the tooth receiving space.

14. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The housing (10) comprises a frame (12) or a rigid frame (12), to which at least part of the control electronics is fixed, and wherein the tooth attachment (11) is formed of a flexible, curable formable or thermoformable material fixed to the frame (12) or by overmolding over or around the frame (12).

15. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The control electronics (30) integrates at least one non-planar molded electronics sheet, on which at least most of the components connected to the control electronics (30) are fixed.

16. The mouth-actuated control device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein: The control electronics (30) integrates at least one molded electronics sheet, at least most of the components connected to the control electronics (30) are fixed to the molded electronics sheet, and wherein the tooth attachment (11) is formed by a flexible, curable formable or thermoformable material fixed to the at least one molded electronics sheet or by a material overmolded above or around the at least one molded electronics sheet.

17. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first input interface (21) and / or the second input interface (22) and / or the third input interface (23) is a two-way joystick, a two-way joystick with buttons, or a three-way joystick, a two-way touch panel, a two-way touch panel with buttons, or a three-way touch panel, a two-way or three-way optical motion sensor, or a two-way or three-way magnetic detector combined with a magnetic element, wherein the magnetic element is associated with or implanted in the mandibular teeth, the tongue or the upper lip and / or the lower lip.

18. A mouth-actuated control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing (10) also integrates at least one battery (31) connected to the control electronics (30).

Images