COMMUNICATION DEVICE COMPRISING A MOUTHPIECE

Abstract

COMMUNICATION DEVICE COMPRISING A MOUTHPIECE The invention relates to a communication device comprising a mouthpiece (1) intended to be worn in the mouth of a subject comprising: an acoustic conduction plate (20) intended to be bitten by the user; and a vibrating element (3) configured to convert an audio input into an acoustic output, the vibrating element (3) being coupled to the acoustic conduction plate (20) so as to transmit said acoustic output to said plate (20). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: COMMUNICATION DEVICE COMPRISING A MOUTHPIECE Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a mouthpiece, in particular a mouthpiece for a diving regulator, suitable for underwater communication. State of the art

[0002] Communication between two divers is made difficult by the fact that the aquatic environment is a poorer conductor of waves than air.

[0003] Document US2012 / 0213034 is known, describing a regulator mouthpiece to be placed in the mouth and comprising a microphone and a bone conduction earphone vibrating an acoustic conduction plate to pass the signal through the user's teeth.

[0004] A first defect is that the bone conduction of the acoustic signal is not optimal. A second defect is that the captured signal is not very intelligible due to the labial part of the mouthpiece preventing the user from moving their lips sufficiently.

[0005] The invention provides a mouthpiece making it possible to resolve the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to one aspect, the invention relates to a communication device comprising a mouthpiece for wearing in the mouth of a subject comprising an acoustic conduction plate for being bitten by the user; and a vibrating element configured to convert an audio input into an acoustic output, the vibrating element being coupled to the acoustic conduction plate so as to transmit said acoustic output to said plate.

[0007] The advantage is to conduct the acoustic signal through the diver's teeth to create a bone conduction earphone.

[0008] In one embodiment, the acoustic conduction plate intended to be bitten by the subject comprises a plurality of ridges. An advantage is to fill the cavity of the top of the tooth with the ridges of the plate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the conduction plate comprises an elastic coating and the thickness of the elastic coating at a peak of a ridge is less than the thickness of the elastic coating between two ridges. An advantage is to provide an ideal compromise between bone conduction and user comfort.

[0010] In one embodiment, the vibrating element is arranged to vibrate in a direction; and said vibrating element is encapsulated between at least one or at least two stop walls arranged to transmit the vibrations of the vibrating element to the acoustic conduction plate in said direction. The vibration direction is preferably substantially parallel to the plane of the acoustic conduction plate. An advantage is to improve the transmission of the acoustic signal to the plunger's teeth while avoiding shocks of the vibrating element against the conduction plate.

[0011] In another alternative mode, the vibration direction is preferably substantially perpendicular to the plane of the acoustic conduction plate.

[0012] In one embodiment, the mouthpiece is a regulator mouthpiece, and includes a microphone for picking up the subject's voice.

[0013] In one embodiment, the regulator mouthpiece further comprises a lip portion for receiving the user's lips; two air passage lumens through the lip portion; and a recess in the lip portion between the two air passage lumens.

[0014] One advantage is to provide a recess substantially in the center of the labial portion to improve the freedom of movement of the lips, and thus improve the intelligibility of the received signal.

[0015] In one embodiment, the microphone is arranged between the openings of the two lumens.

[0016] In one embodiment, the regulator mouthpiece further comprises a lip portion for receiving the user's lips; and an air passage lumen through the lip portion and formed at least in part by the walls of the lip portion.

[0017] In one embodiment, said labial portion of the device is designed so that said walls of the labial portion are deformable between: • a first configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are not in contact, so as to allow air to pass through the air passage light 6 and • a second configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are in contact.

[0018] In one embodiment, the microphone is at least partially integrated into the elastic covering of the eartip.

[0019] In one embodiment, the tip further comprises signal transmission means connected to the vibrating element and / or to the microphone, such as electronic cables or an electronic conduction sheet. Said transmission means may be integrated at least partially inside the elastic coating of the tip. Description of the invention

[0020] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to [Fig.l] ([Fig. 1]) showing the frame of a mouthpiece for a regulator intended to be placed in the mouth of a user in a perspective view. The elastic covering is not shown in this figure for the sake of clarity.

[0021] The mouthpiece 1 comprises a frame 2.

[0022] The frame 2 preferably comprises an elastic covering (not shown). The elastic covering advantageously improves user comfort. Preferably, the elastic covering is obtained by overmolding the frame.

[0023] The mouthpiece 1 comprises a labial portion 42. The labial portion 42 is intended to be covered by the user's lips during use. Said labial portion 42 comprises a lumen 6 allowing the passage of air on either side of the labial portion. Advantageously, this lumen 6 allows the passage of air from the channel of the regulator to the subject's mouth during use. The labial portion 42 makes it possible to create with the user's lips a sealed closure between the external environment and the air passage lumen 6.

[0024] The labial portion 42 extends between a breathing zone comprising the acoustic conduction plates 20 and a connection means 43. The connection means 43 advantageously allows the mouthpiece to cooperate with a diving regulator. Preferably, the connection means 43 is tubular in shape, the walls of which are rigid.

[0025] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the connection means forms, with the frame 2, a single piece and can be connected to each other by an arm 24 or two arms 24.

[0026] The coating may comprise an overmolding of the frame 2. In particular, the overmolding coating may comprise labial walls 41 intended to be placed between the teeth and lips of the user.

[0027] The mouthpiece 1 may comprise a slot 26. The slot 26 may extend along a connection means 43. The slot 26 advantageously makes it possible to deform the section of the connection means 43, for example to be able to cooperate with different models of regulators.

[0028] The air passage lumen 6 thus extends through the labial portion 42 and through the connection means 43.

[0029] The frame 2 comprises at least one acoustic conduction plate 20. The acoustic conduction plate 20 is arranged so as to be bitten by the user wearing the mouthpiece 1.

[0030] The mouthpiece 1 further comprises a transducer-type vibrating element. The vibrating element is connected to the conduction plate so as to transmit the vibrations of the vibrating element to the acoustic conduction plate.

[0031] The vibrating element 3 is configured to convert an audio input into an acoustic output and acoustically couple to the diver's upper and / or lower teeth to conduct the acoustic output from the diver's upper teeth through the skull to propagate the acoustic signal to the diver's inner ear via the skull and jaw bones when the diver wears the mouthpiece in the mouth.

[0032] The acoustic conduction plate 20 is designed and arranged to acoustically couple to the user's upper teeth to conduct the acoustic output of the diver's upper teeth through the skull to the cochlea to generate audible sound in at least one of the diver's inner ears when the diver wears the mouthpiece 1.

[0033] The acoustic conduction plate 20 is configured to acoustically engage and couple to the surface of the diver's teeth and is configured to conduct vibrations of the vibrating element 3 in response to an electrical signal. The vibration of the vibrating element 3 produces an acoustic output signal that is acoustically conducted to the diver's teeth, via the acoustic conduction plate, and then through the bones of the diver's jaw and skull to the inner ear, including the cochlea, where it is perceived as sound.

[0034] The material of the acoustic conduction plate 20 may comprise a ceramic, a metal or metal alloy, a polymeric material such as a resilient polymer. The acoustic conduction plate may have a size and shape allowing acoustic coupling with one or more teeth of the plunger.

[0035] In particular embodiments, the acoustic conduction plate 20 may have a curved horizontal shape corresponding in part to the curvature of the diver's dental arches to facilitate contact of the acoustic conduction plate 20 with several teeth.

[0036] The acoustic conduction plate 20 may also have one or more ridges or studs or other raised features 21 configured to enhance acoustic coupling and conduction with the plunger teeth. In particular embodiments, the ridges or studs 21 may be positioned to contact the central depressions of the plunger teeth.

[0037] The acoustic conduction plate 20 preferably comprises a coating of an elastic material to improve user comfort.

[0038] The thickness of said coating at the top of a stud 21 is preferably less than the thickness of the coating between two studs 21. In one embodiment, the top of a stud projects from the coating and / or is flush with the coating (its thickness is then zero). This advantageously makes it possible to improve the conduction of the acoustic signal between the acoustic conduction plate 20 and the user's teeth.

[0039] In one embodiment, the vibrating element 3 is arranged to vibrate in a vibration direction A. The vibrating element 3 is then encapsulated between at least two walls 31 in the vibration direction A and making it possible to transmit the vibrations of the vibrating element to the acoustic conduction plate 20. Preferably, and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vibration direction A is substantially parallel to the plane of the acoustic conduction plate 20. In an alternative embodiment, the vibration direction A may be perpendicular to the plane of the acoustic conduction plate 20.

[0040] The mouthpiece 1 further comprises a microphone 5. The microphone makes it possible to generate an electrical signal depending on the diver's voice. The microphone 5 can be at least partially integrated into the elastic covering of the frame 2 and can be protected by a protective wall arranged frontally to the microphone sensor. The protective wall advantageously makes it possible to reduce the difficulties of integrating the microphone into the covering during the step of overmolding the frame. Indeed, the protective wall makes it possible to protect the sensor from overmolding.

[0041] The mouthpiece 1 may further comprise signal transmission means connected to the microphone 5 and / or to the vibrating element 3. The transmission means may comprise electronic cables and / or a conduction sheet. These transmission means may be at least partially integrated into the elastic covering of the frame.

[0042] A second embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to [Fig.2] ([Fig.2]) and [Fig.3] ([Fig.3]).

[0043] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of a tip according to a second embodiment of the invention, and in which the coating is not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0044] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of a tip according to the second embodiment of the invention, and in which the coating is shown.

[0045] The mouthpiece 1 according to this second embodiment of the invention is similar to the mouthpiece of the first embodiment. However, the labial portion 42 comprises two air passage lumens (61 and 62) instead of just one. In addition, the labial portion 42 comprises a recess 63 between the two lumens 61 and 62. This recess 63 advantageously allows more freedom to be given to the diver's lips and thus improves the intelligibility of the speech recorded by the microphone. The recess 63 may be through, that is to say that the recess 63 between the two lumens opens out on the other side of the labial portion 42. In this embodiment, the mouthpiece advantageously allows contact between the lower and upper lips of the diver, further increasing the intelligibility of the speech recorded by the microphone 5 of the mouthpiece.

[0046] Preferably, the recess is arranged so as to be opposite the center of the lips of a user wearing the mouthpiece 1.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4] ([Fig.4]), the tip 1 comprises a single air passage lumen 6 and the labial portion 42, between the labial stop 43 and the connection means 43, has a deformable section.

[0048] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0049] In this mode, the deformable section of the labial portion allows a displacement of the walls of the labial portion 42 between a first configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are not in contact, so as to allow air to pass through the air passage light 6 and a second configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are in contact.

[0050] The first configuration can be achieved by the pressure of air through the lumen during the subject's inhalation or exhalation, pushing the walls of the labial portion in opposite directions.

[0051] The second configuration can be obtained by pressing the lips on either side of the labial portion until contact between the two opposite walls.

[0052] The labial portion is designed to allow passage between the first and the second by elastic deformation of these walls.

[0053] This deformation advantageously allows more freedom to be given to the diver's lips and thus improves the intelligibility of the speech recorded by the microphone. In this embodiment, the mouthpiece advantageously allows indirect contact between the diver's lower and upper lips, further increasing the intelligibility of the speech recorded by the microphone 5 of the mouthpiece.

[0054] The invention also relates to any type of communication device intended to be inserted into the mouth of a subject. The mouthpiece should not be limited to diving regulator mouthpieces alone. For example, the mouthpiece of a communication device according to the invention may relate to a mouthguard.

Claims

Claims

1. A communication device comprising a mouthpiece (1) for wearing in the mouth of a subject comprising: • an acoustic conduction plate (20) for being bitten by the user; and • a vibrating element (3) configured to convert an audio input into an acoustic output, the vibrating element (3) being coupled to the acoustic conduction plate (20) so as to transmit said acoustic output to said plate (20); wherein the acoustic conduction plate (20) for being bitten by the subject comprises a plurality of ridges (21) and wherein the conduction plate (20) comprises an elastic coating and the thickness of the elastic coating at a peak of a ridge (21) is less than the thickness of the elastic coating between two ridges (21).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating element (3) is arranged to vibrate in a vibration direction (A); said vibrating element being encapsulated between at least two stop walls (31) arranged to transmit the vibrations of the vibrating element (3) in said vibration direction (A) to the acoustic conduction plate (20).

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouthpiece (1) is a regulator mouthpiece, and characterized in that it further comprises a microphone (5) for picking up the subject's voice.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the mouthpiece (1) of the regulator further comprises: • a labial portion (42) for receiving the lips of the user; • two air passage lumens (61, 62) through the labial portion (42); wherein said labial portion (42) comprises a recess (42) between the two air passage lumens (61, 62).

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein the microphone (5) is arranged between the openings of the two lights (61, 62).

6. Device according to claim 4, wherein the mouthpiece (1) of the regulator further comprises: • a labial portion (42) for receiving the lips of the user; • a lumen (6) for the passage of air through the labial portion (42) and formed at least in part by the walls of the labial portion (42); wherein the labial portion (42) is designed so that said walls of the labial portion are deformable between a first configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are not in contact, so as to allow air to pass through the air passage lumen 6 and a second configuration in which the opposite walls of the labial portion are in contact.

7. Device according to claim 3, in which the microphone (5) is at least partially integrated into the elastic covering of the tip.

8. Device according to claim 3, further comprising signal transmission means connected to the vibrating element and / or to the microphone, such as electronic cables or an electronic conduction sheet; said transmission means being integrated at least partially inside the elastic coating of the tip.

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