Mouth-operated control device

The mouth-operated control device with an arched casing and dual input interfaces addresses the limitations of existing devices by enabling faster and more precise control through bidirectional input detection, enhancing navigation and control in complex environments.

JP2025520632APending Publication Date: 2025-07-03XPND TECHNOLOGIES SL
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024575109
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-06-20
Filing Date
2023-06-19
Publication Date
2025-07-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing mouth-operated control devices are limited in the number of simultaneous control commands they can generate, are often bulky, and hinder navigation control in three-dimensional environments or devices with multiple degrees of freedom due to their slow usage and lack of bidirectional input signals.

Method used

A mouth-operated control device with an arched casing that fits between the user's upper and lower dental arches, featuring two-way input interfaces operated by the tongue and jaw movements, and a control electronic circuit to transmit signals to external devices, optionally including additional input interfaces for enhanced control.

Benefits of technology

Enables faster and more precise interaction with external devices by detecting movements in multiple axes, improving navigation and control in complex environments like virtual reality or drone operation.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

An arch-shaped casing (10), the casing (10) configured such that at least a part of the casing (10) is arranged between the user's upper dental arch and the upper dental arch in the operating position, a first at least two-way input interface (21) housed within the concave region of the casing (10) and accessible to the user's tongue, a second at least two-way input interface (22) within a portion of the casing (10) selected to be arranged facing the user's lower dental arch and intended to be arranged between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch, the second at least two-way input interface (22) enabling its operation using the relative movement between the user's upper dental arch and the lower dental arch, and a control electronic circuit (30) connected to all input interfaces (21, 22, 23) for transmitting a control signal to an external device, a mouth-operated control device comprising the same.
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Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] This type of control device is often used by people with mobility problems in their limbs, such as quadriplegia, to control an electric wheelchair or to control a computer, smartphone, or other computing or communication device.

[0003] However, the above control device (or device) also has other uses for users without mobility problems, for example, for people who need to keep their hands free to perform other tasks or simply to increase productivity or speed when controlling different external devices.

[0004] Some examples of these other uses are, for example, controlling a virtual reality environment, controlling different external support devices by people who perform high-precision tasks with their hands, such as surgeons, or being a simple operator who controls a machine but can simultaneously perform other tasks with their hands.

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] <Prior Art> Mouth-operated control devices are known.

[0006] For example, JoystickHolding it in front of the mouth, in the mouth, or under the jaw enables the generation of control commands, but since only a limited number of simultaneous control commands can be generated, some devices with slow usage are known. Furthermore, many of these control devices are bulky and not very useful.

[0007] Some devices that can be held by the user biting to improve ergonomics and usability are also known, but they still present the problem of slow usage.

[0008] This is particularly relevant, for example, when these devices are used to control navigation, especially in three-dimensional environments such as virtual reality or augmented reality environments, or for the control of devices with two or more degrees of freedom of movement such as drones and multi-joint arms.

[0009] Some of these known prior art devices with the above problems are described, for example, in US Patent Application Publication No. 5460186A, US Patent Application Publication No. 2006071781A1, and US Patent Application Publication No. 2004164881A1. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 5212476A includes a first input device located in the user's palate region that can be operated by the user's tongue during use, and by tooth engagement and lateral jaw movement Activation possible (activable) also includes a mouth-operated control device that includes switches. These two switches provide a single input parameter from the up-down Z movement and a single input parameter from the left-right horizontal X movement, but do not provide a two-way input signal in each of these two orthogonal directions, so navigation control via these switches is hindered.

[0010] The present invention solves the above and other problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] <Brief Description of the Invention> The present invention relates to a mouth-operated control device according to claim 1.

[0012] The proposed control device is in a manner known per se, · An arched casing that defines a concave region and a convex region, configured to hold at least a portion of the casing between the user's maxillary dentition and mandibular dentition at an operating position, and the casing is preferably completely housed inside the user's buccal cavity; and · A first input interface, which is at least two-way (or bidirectional), attached to the casing in the concave region of the casing, i.e., oriented in a first front-back direction, and preferably placed in the central region of a control device intended to be behind the user's incisors, and can be operated by the user's tongue when the casing is in the operating position.

[0013] It is understood that the arched casing has a geometric shape in the form of an arch similar to the arch defined by the maxillary dentition, the concave region is the region of the casing surrounded by the arch defined by the casing, accommodates the tongue at the operating position, and the convex region is the region of the casing surrounding the outside of the arch defined by the casing.

[0014] It will also be understood that the input interface is a device that enables the user to generate control commands for an external device. The control commands are usually generated by an input interface that detects some movement (or movement) of the user, but other alternative forms are also conceivable, such as detecting the user's voice or an increase in air pressure in the buccal cavity.

[0015] In this case, the first input interface detects the movement of the user's tongue, preferably the tip thereof, and is an input interface for at least two directions, that is, at least two different axes out of the three X-axis (left - right horizontal), Y-axis (front - back horizontal), and Z-axis (up - down) that are perpendicular to each other and defined by the casing when in the operating position inside the mouth of an upright user, usually an interface that detects movements on at least two different axes, usually the X-axis (left - right horizontal) and the Z-axis (up - down). This enables the first input interface to detect, for example, movements above, below, to the right, and to the left of the tongue tip, as well as all diagonal movements resulting from two combinations of said movements by combining said detections.

[0016] The casing is in the operating position when it is completely housed inside the user's buccal cavity and at least a part of it is located between the user's upper dental arch (upper teeth) and lower dental arch (lower teeth), but no clenching force needs to be applied to recognize that the casing is in the operating position.

[0017] The anteroposterior direction (or anteroposterior direction) is understood to be a horizontal direction aligned with the length from the base of the buccal cavity to the mouth, which coincides with the Y-axis for example, the craniocaudal direction is the up - down direction, which coincides with the Z-axis for example, and the interaural direction is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction, which coincides with the X - direction for example.

[0018] Also, the present invention is such that the control device · is attached to the casing at a portion of the casing intended to be disposed between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch and intended to face the user's lower dental arch in the operating position, enabling its operation using the relative movement between the user's upper dental arch and lower dental arch, a second input interface, and Propose to further include a control electronic device that is incorporated (or integrated) within the casing and is connected to all input interfaces to transmit control signals generated by the input interfaces to an external device.

[0019] The second input interface is at least in the left-right horizontal direction orthogonal to each other (transverse horizontal direction) and the front-back direction, and in the diagonal direction resulting from combinations of these left-right horizontal and front-back directions, in two directions (bidirectionally) is adapted to detect movement. In this case, the second input interface is intended to detect movement on at least two different axes, for example, X and Y.

[0020] Similar to the first input interface, it is proposed that the second input interface is a bidirectional input interface, that is, it can detect the movement of the user's part in two orthogonal directions or in a diagonal direction (or diagonal direction) resulting from a combination of these two directions.

[0021] All signals generated by all input interfaces are managed by a control electronic device incorporated in the casing, and the signals are transmitted to the external device by radio signals emitted by an antenna incorporated in the control electronic device. The control electronic circuit can also receive radio signals from the external device via the antenna.

[0022] The external device can be any type of electrical or electronic device. Some examples of external devices to be controlled are, for example, a vehicle, an electric wheelchair, a remote control vehicle, a flying drone, a robotic arm, an industrial machine, a computer, a smartphone, a communication device, a video game console, etc., such as any computing device having computing capabilities with one or more displays for controlling, for example, a three-dimensional virtual environment. The proposed device also enables each input interface to be specialized for the control of different external devices or different functions of the same external device.

[0023] By including at least two input interfaces, each being at least a two-way input interface, the proposed control device enables increasing the speed of interaction (or, interaction) between the user and the external device to be controlled.

[0024] Based on the above, it is understood that the first and / or second input interfaces are two-dimensional, that is, have motion detection on two axes orthogonal to each other.

[0025] Notwithstanding the above, the first and / or second input interfaces are preferably two-way input interfaces with push buttons, that is, capable of detecting pressure on the interface in the direction of a third axis perpendicular to the two orthogonal axes of motion detection, that is, three-way input interfaces, that is, having motion detection on three axes orthogonal to each other.

[0026] The push button can be a button or an optical occlusion detector (optical occlusion detector), and it will be understood that it can detect when the surface of the light detector is completely covered, for example, by a tongue.

[0027] Optionally, the control device also A third input interface that is connected to the control electronic device, is attached to the casing at a third position that coincides with the convex region of the casing, and is selected to be accessible to the upper and / or lower lips of the user at the operating position, and / or A fourth input interface that is connected to the control electronic device and is attached to the casing, the fourth input interface being an accelerometer, and / or A fifth input interface that is connected to the control electronic device and is attached to the casing, the fifth input interface being a microphone connected to a voice recognition device, 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, and / or At least one sixth input interface that is connected to the control electronic device and is attached to the casing at a position adjacent to the first input interface, each sixth input interface being a push button, and / or A seventh input interface that is connected to the control electronic device and is attached to the casing, the seventh input interface being a pressure detector for detecting the pressure of the air in the oral cavity, may be included.

[0028] The third input interface can be a push button, a one-way input interface, a two-way input interface, a two-way input interface having a push button, or a three-way input interface.

[0029] The fourth input interface can be an accelerometer having 1 to 3 axes, 6 axes, or 9 axes. The accelerometer enables detection of the movement of the user's head.

[0030] The fifth input interface enables detection of the voice of the user wearing the device, and a voice recognition device incorporated in the control electronic device or an external device communicating with the control electronic device can identify sounds uttered by the user, such as words or voice commands, and execute actions (or, actions) in response to the identified sounds.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the microphone is disposed at a position adjacent to the first input interface, i.e., at the central position of the mouth-driven control device, whereby the sound of the user's voice is closer to the user's lips and more recognizable, enabling recognition of voices at a low volume, for example, a whisper, or a sub-audible volume, i.e., a volume lower than the whisper volume.

[0032] The fifth input interface can include an airflow direction detector in combination with a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, whereby it is also possible to detect whether air is being exhaled 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 voice recognition device can recognize words pronounced at a sub-audible volume with higher accuracy.

[0033] The airflow direction detector may be, for example, a recognition system that can distinguish the sound of air entering the mouth from the sound of air exiting the mouth by analyzing the sound captured by the microphone. It may also be composed of two microphones disposed at different distances from the lips, whereby the difference between the sounds of the two microphones can be detected to determine whether the air flow is entering or exiting the mouth. Other examples of the flow direction detector are also conceivable.

[0034] Each sixth input interface is at least one push button, which, as described above, can be a button or a light shielding detector. Each sixth input interface is arranged within the concave region of the casing, adjacent to the first input interface, for example, one on each side thereof, and thus is accessible to the tongue so that the tongue can be pressed. Preferably, the sixth input interface is arranged at a position of the casing intended to be arranged substantially behind the canine tooth of the upper dental arch in the operating position.

[0035] The seventh input interface can be a pressure detector for detecting the pressure of the air contained within the oral cavity, whereby the user can provide a control command by controlling the pressure of the air contained within the oral cavity.

[0036] Optionally, the casing also incorporates a control electronics connected to at least one bone conduction speaker, i.e., a speaker that, when in contact with the user's teeth, transmits sound in the form of vibrations to the user's ear via the teeth and the skull. The bone conduction speaker is preferably housed at the rear of the device intended to be arranged facing the molars of the user's upper dental arch. Optionally, the device can include two bone conduction speakers, one on each side, to provide stereo sound.

[0037] The at least one bone conduction speaker is connected to an external device via a control electronic circuit, enabling an acoustic signal to be received, for example, in response to the operation of the input interface or in response to a signal received from the external device, and further enabling verbal communication with other users.

[0038] The control device can further incorporate within the casing at least one haptic emitter or at least one vibration-generating haptic emitter connected to a control electronic circuit. This haptic emitter can supply information to the user, for example, in response to an operation of an input interface or in response to a signal received from an external device.

[0039] Also, it is conceivable that the second input interface can have two sets of sensors arranged on symmetrical sides of a dental attachment to improve the detection of mandibular movement.

[0040] Other features of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0041] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood based on the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be construed in an illustrative and non-limiting manner. In the drawings:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

[0043] The present embodiment of the present invention consists of an oral operation type control device. The control device includes a casing 10 configured to be completely accommodated inside the user's buccal cavity when in the operating position, and at least a part of the casing (10) is accommodated between the user's upper dental arch and lower dental arch. The control device is preferably fixed to the upper dental arch when in the operating position, allowing the user to open their mouth and even speak without the control device coming off.

[0044] The casing 10 has an arch shape that reproduces the arch shape of the upper dental arch, defines a concave region on the concave side of the arch-shaped casing that accommodates the tongue portion in the operating position, and defines a convex portion on the convex side of the arch-shaped casing.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the casing can include two flat side portions that define an upper surface intended to be disposed under the sides of the upper dental arch and a lower surface intended to be disposed over the sides of the lower dental arch, and one of the side portions houses a second input interface 22 on its lower surface. The central portion that houses the first input interface 21 is obtained by connecting the two side portions.

[0046] The central part may be at least mostly above the plane defined by the upper surfaces of the two side parts and is thus located behind the incisors of the upper dental arch. In such a case, the central part defines a front face intended to face the inner curvature of the incisors of the upper dental arch in the operating position and a rear face that houses the first input interface 21 accessible to the tongue.

[0047] Preferably, the casing 10 also includes a dental attachment 11 or a flexible dental attachment 11 and defines a dental housing intended to accommodate a part of the user's upper dental arch in the operating position by fixing the casing 10 to the upper dental arch.

[0048] When the dental attachment is flexible, the attachment can be elastically deformed by providing an elastic force that presses on the dental attachment, preferably in a region close to the gingival line where the teeth contact the gums, against the part of the upper dental arch housed within the dental housing due to the presence of the part of the upper dental arch within the dental housing.

[0049] In one embodiment, the dental housing is an arch-shaped housing, the ends of which are at least externally surrounded by two substantially symmetrical dental attachments 11 on its convex outer surface, and the central part of which is internally surrounded on its concave inner surface by the central part of the casing 10 that houses the first input interface 21, as shown in FIGS. 1 - 4.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment, the dental attachment 11 may include, on the symmetrical side surfaces of the casing 10, convex regions, i.e., two opposing outer retainers protruding from the casing 10 on the outside thereof, so as to contact the outer surface of the upper dental arch, and / or concave regions, i.e., two inner retainers protruding from the casing 10 on the inside thereof and facing each other's backs, so as to contact the inner surface of the upper dental arch.

[0051] When applied to a casing defined by a central portion and two side portions, this may include, respectively, on the side portions of the casing 10 adjacent to the upper surface of the side portions and the convex region above it, i.e., two opposing outer retainers fixed on the outside thereof, for applying to the outer surface of the upper dental arch, and / or, respectively, on the side portions of the casing 10 adjacent to the upper surface and the concave region above it, i.e., two inner retainers fixed on the inside thereof and facing each other's backs, for applying to the inner surface of the upper dental arch.

[0052] When both outer retainers and inner retainers are present, they can cooperate to elastically press the right and left portions of the upper dental arch, thereby holding the casing 10.

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the entire arch-shaped casing is elastically deformed when the dental retainer is connected to the upper dental arch, opening and closing its arch shape, providing elastic pressure, and facilitating its adaptation to users with different upper dental arches.

[0054] According to one embodiment, a part of the casing including the first input interface and the second input interface is rigid, ensuring the accurate positioning of both input interfaces, and the remaining part of the casing is flexible, enabling the opening and closing of the arch shape to facilitate its adaptation to users with upper dental arches of different widths.

[0055] Accordingly, the dental attachment provides a location (or point) for securing the control device in the oral cavity.

[0056] Optionally, the casing 10 can comprise a frame 12 or a rigid frame 12 to which at least a portion of the control electronics is secured, and 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, cured moldable or thermoformable material secured to the frame 12 on at least the surface facing the dental housing.

[0057] The flexible material conforms to the shape of the teeth when the device is placed in the operating position, providing a secure and comfortable fit.

[0058] The cured moldable material allows the user to place the device in the operating position before it is used for the first time while the moldable material is still in a plastic state. The subsequent curing of the material fixes its shape corresponding to the shape of the user's maxillary dentition, providing a comfortable and accurate fit of the device. The cured material can be rigid or flexible.

[0059] The thermoformable material can be brought into a plastic state by heating. Similar to the case of the cured moldable material, this allows the device having the thermoformable material in a plastic state to be placed in the operating position, such that upon cooling, the device assumes a shape complementary to the shape of the user's maxillary dentition. The non-plastic thermoformable material can be rigid or flexible.

[0060] The casing 10 may also comprise a frame 12 or a rigid frame 12 to which at least a portion of the control electronics is secured, and the dental attachment 11 can be formed by a flexible, cured moldable or thermoformable material secured to the frame 12 or by a material overmolded on or around the frame 12.

[0061] It is also proposed that the control electronic device 30 integrates at least one non-flat molded electronic sheet with at least most of the components connected to the control electronic device 30 fixed thereto.

[0062] In such a case, the dental attachment 11 can be formed by a flexible, curable moldable or thermoformable material fixed to the at least one molded electronic sheet described above, or by a material overmolded on or around the at least one molded electronic sheet described above.

[0063] In other words, the control electronic device 30 can include conductive tracks and surface-mounted electronic components integrated on the surface of a molded thermoplastic material having a non-flat geometric shape adapted to the geometric shape of the device.

[0064] The control device includes a first input interface 21 and a second input interface 22.

[0065] The first input interface 21 and the second input interface 22 are at least two-way input interfaces, that is, each of the interfaces can detect the movement of the user's part in two different directions, typically the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X, or the horizontal direction X and the front-rear direction Y, but preferably can also include a push button for detecting a pressing action.

[0066] All input interfaces are connected to a control electronic circuit 30 that transmits control commands generated by the input interfaces to a remote device to be controlled.

[0067] The first input interface 21 is arranged in the oral cavity and is intended to be operable by the user's tongue when the casing is in the operating position. To achieve this, the first input interface 21 is attached to the casing 10 at a first position included in the concave region of the casing 10 within the reach of the tongue.

[0068] The second input interface 22 is intended to be operable using the relative movement between the user's upper and lower dental arches when the casing is in the operating position, i.e., to detect the movement of the lower jaw relative to the rest of the skull. This is achieved by arranging the second input interface 22 at a second position located below a portion of the casing (10) intended to be received between the upper and lower dental arches. The second input interface 22 preferably enables the detection of movements in the anterior-posterior horizontal direction Y and the left-right horizontal direction X.

[0069] Optionally, in addition to the first and second input interfaces 21, 22, the device can include a third input interface 23 intended to be operable by the movement of the upper and / or lower lips when the casing 10 is in the operating position. To achieve this, the third input interface 23 is attached to the casing 10 at a third position included in the convex region of the casing 10 at the front end of the casing. The third input interface 23 preferably enables the detection of pressing actions and / or the detection of movements in the vertical direction Z and / or the left-right horizontal direction X.

[0070] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the first input interface 21, and / or the second input interface 22, and / or the third input interface 23 are JoystickOr a touch panel, or, for example, by a technology similar to that used in a computer mouse that enables detection of two-way movement, or by a camera connected to an image recognition device configured to detect two-way or three-way movement of the tongue or teeth, it is an optical sensor suitable for detecting movement without requiring contact.

[0071] Joystick usually incorporates four microswitches distributed in a cross shape around it, enabling detection of movement in any of these four directions, or in any of the intermediate diagonal directions. Joystick of movement.

[0072] The first input interface 21 and the second input interface 22 can be made at their respective Joystick and each further includes a knob adapted to the ergonomics of the body part with which they have to interact, the knob being surrounded by a leak-proof (or leak-tight) O-ring to prevent saliva from leaking into the casing 10.

[0073] It is proposed that the knob operated by the tongue includes a rough finish to improve the grip, and the knob operated by the lower dental arch is proposed to include, for example, a cross-shaped relief for an optimal grip or to be custom-made for the operator's dental arch.

[0074] The touch panel may be, for example, a capacitive panel and can detect the position and movement of a part of the user's body on its surface.

[0075] When the first input interface 21 is Joystick it is preferably substantially parallel to the front-rear direction X in the standby position and enables detection of movement in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction Y. Joystick

[0076] ​When the first input interface 21 is a touch panel, the touch panel is preferably arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and can detect movements in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction Y, or extends substantially horizontally parallel to the longitudinal direction X and parallel to the roof of the palate and can detect movements in the longitudinal direction X and the horizontal direction Y.

[0077] 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-directional or three-directional magnetic detector in combination with a magnetic element that can be associated with or implanted in the lower dental arch, the tongue, or the upper and / or lower lips. The magnetic element that can be implanted can be, for example, a magnetic element that can be fixed to a tooth, the tip of the tongue, or the upper and / or lower lips, for example, by a clip, or by piercing, or inside the cavity of a tooth, or inside an artificial tooth.

[0078] Furthermore, it is proposed that the first input interface 21, and / or the second input interface 22, and / or the third input interface 23 is a three-directional input interface or includes a sensor for detecting pressure or pressing actions. The three-directional sensor enables the detection of movements in three directions X, Y, Z that are orthogonal to each other. This can be achieved, for example, Joystick by adding a fifth sensor for detecting different intensities of the pressure applied in the direction of Joystick said Joystick or by using a touch panel having the ability to perceive different pressure intensities on its surface, or by using an optical or magnetic sensor to detect the separation existing between the input interface and the lower dental arch, the tip of the tongue or the lower and / or upper lips, preferably by detecting the movements of these parts of the mouth on three axes X, Y, Z. Alternatively, a sensor for detecting pressure or pressing actions, for example, a simple button that enables the detection of pressing actions, is included.

[0079] Alternatively, the control device may further include a fourth input interface 24 fixed to the casing 10, and the fourth input interface 24 is an accelerometer having one axis, three axes, six axes, or nine axes. This also makes it possible to detect the movement or inclination of the user's head, thereby adding additional control.

[0080] The device may also include a fifth input interface 25 connected to the control electronics and attached to the casing 10, and the fifth input interface 25 is a microphone connected to voice recognition Device for.

[0081] As an option, the incorporation of at least a sixth input interface 26 connected to the control electronics and attached to the casing 10 at a position adjacent to the first input interface 21 is also proposed, and each sixth input interface 26 is a push button.

[0082] According to another embodiment, the device may also incorporate a seventh input interface 27 connected to the control electronics and attached to the casing 10, and the seventh input interface 27 is a pressure detector for detecting the pressure of the air in the oral cavity.

[0083] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the control device may further incorporate at least one tactile emitter 40, such as a vibration generator, connected to and controlled by the control electronics 30.

[0084] When the tactile emitter 40 is a vibration generator, the tactile emitter can be incorporated into the first, second, and / or third input interfaces 21, 22, 23 to transmit vibrations to the user's tongue, teeth, or lips.

[0085] The casing 10 may also incorporate at least one bone conduction speaker 41 connected to the control electronics and transmitting sound to the ear via the upper dental arch.

[0086] Optionally, the control electronic device 30 can include a wireless signal transmission antenna for transmitting a signal generated by the input interface to a remote device to be controlled.

[0087] Also, the control electronic device 30 may further incorporate at least one electrical battery 31 that provides power thereto. In this way, the control device can be a wireless and autonomous device. The battery may have charging means, for example, a connection port or a wireless induction charger.

[0088] The at least one battery may be accommodated, for example, on the convex side of the arch-shaped casing, and the at least one battery is accommodated between the upper dental arch and the user's cheek.

[0089] Optionally, the at least one battery is two batteries arranged on both sides of the casing 10.

[0090] Obviously, embodiments lacking a battery and an antenna and directly connected to an external device to be controlled by a cable are also conceivable, or a device powered wirelessly, for example by electromagnetic induction, from outside the oral cavity is also conceivable.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the rigid frame 12 forms the lower half of the device, and the buccal anchoring is made of a flexible material in the upper half of the casing and is welded, adhered, or overmolded onto the frame 12.

[0092] Alternatively, the frame 12 is completely embedded in a flexible material that forms the buccal anchoring, typically in the upper half of the casing.

Claims

Claim 1 An arch-shaped casing (10) defining a concave region and a convex region configured to hold at least a part of the casing (10) between the user's upper dental arch and lower dental arch at an operating position; A mouth-operated control device comprising a first input interface (21) that is at least two-directional, attached to the casing (10) in the concave region, and accessible to the user's tongue when the casing (10) is in the operating position; A second input interface (22) that is at least two-directional, intended to be disposed between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch, and attached to the casing (10) at a portion of the casing (10) intended to face the user's lower dental arch at the operating position, enabling the operation using the relative movement between the user's upper dental arch and lower dental arch; The mouth-operated control device further comprising control electronics (30) incorporated in the casing (10) and connected to all of the input interfaces (21, 22, 23) for transmitting control signals generated by the input interfaces (21, 22, 23) to an external device. Claim 2 The mouth-operated control device according to claim 1, further comprising a third input interface (23) connected to the control electronics and attached to the casing (10) at a third position that coincides with the convex region of the casing (10) and is selected to be accessible to the user's upper lip and / or lower lip at the operating position. Claim 3 The mouth-operated control device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fourth input interface (24) connected to the control electronics and attached to the casing (10), wherein the fourth input interface (24) is an accelerometer. Claim 4 The control device further includes a fifth input interface (25) connected to the control electronic device and attached to the casing (10), and the fifth input interface (25) is a microphone connected to a voice recognition device, or a microphone adjacent to the first input interface, or a combination of an air flow direction detector and a microphone adjacent to the first input interface. The oral operation type control device according to claim 1, 2 or 3.

5. The control device further includes at least one sixth input interface (26) connected to the control electronic device and attached to the casing (10) at a position adjacent to the first input interface (21), and each of the sixth input interfaces (26) is a push button. The oral operation type control device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4.

6. The control device further includes a seventh input interface (27) connected to the control electronic device and attached to the casing (10), and the seventh input interface (27) is a pressure detector for detecting the pressure of the air in the oral cavity. The oral operation type control device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

7. The casing (10) also incorporates at least one bone conduction speaker (41) in connection with the control electronic device. The oral operation type control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The control device further incorporates at least one tactile emitter (40) or at least one vibration generating tactile emitter (40) connected to the control electronic device (30) within the casing (10). The oral operation type control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The casing is two flattened side portions each defining an upper surface intended to be disposed below a side portion of the upper dental arch and a lower surface intended to be disposed above a side portion of the lower dental arch, one of the side portions accommodating the second input interface (22) on the lower surface thereof, the two side portions, and a central portion connecting the two side portions and accommodating the first input interface (21). The oral operation type control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The central portion is, at least in most parts, above the plane defined by the upper surfaces of the two side portions, and the central portion is arranged to face the inside of the incisors of the upper dental arch when in the operating position, and a front surface intended to be arranged as such, and a rear surface defining the first input interface (21) are provided. The oral operation type control device according to claim 9.

11. The casing (10) also includes a dental attachment (11) or a flexible dental attachment (11), defines a dental housing intended to accommodate a part of the upper dental arch of the user, and fixes the casing (10) to the upper dental arch when in the operating position. The oral operation type control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The dental attachment (11) or the flexible dental attachment (11) includes, in the convex region, two opposing outer retainers protruding from the casing (10) on the symmetrical side surfaces of the casing (10), and / or In the concave region, two inner retainers protruding from the casing (10) on the symmetrical side surfaces of the casing (10) and having their backs facing each other are included. The oral operation type control device according to claim 11.

13. The casing (10) includes a frame (12) or a rigid frame (12) to which at least a part of the control electronics is fixed, and each of the two outer retainers and / or each of the two inner retainers is formed by a part of the frame (12). A part of the frame (12) is covered with a flexible, curable moldable or thermoformable material fixed to the frame (12) at least on the surface facing the dental housing. The oral operation type control device according to claim 12.

14. The casing (10) includes a frame (12) or a rigid frame (12) to which at least a part of the control electronics is fixed, and the dental attachment (11) is formed by a flexible, curable moldable or thermoformable material fixed to the frame (12), or by a material overmolded on or around the frame (12). The oral operation type control device according to claim 11 or 12.

15. The control electronic device (30) integrates at least one non-flat molded electronic sheet in which at least most of the components connected to the control electronic device (30) are fixed, according to any one of claims 1 to 14. The oral operation type control device described.

16. The control electronic device (30) integrates at least one molded electronic sheet in which at least most of the components connected to the control electronic device (30) are fixed, and the dental attachment (11) is a flexible, curable moldable or thermoformable material fixed to the at least one molded electronic sheet, or formed by a material overmolded on or around the at least one molded electronic sheet, according to claim 11 or 12. The oral operation type control device described.

17. The first input interface (21) and / or the second input interface (22) and / or the third input interface (23) is a two-way control lever, a two-way control lever with a push button, or a three-way control lever, a two-way touch panel, a two-way touch panel with a push button, 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 that can be associated with or embedded in the lower dental arch, tongue, or upper and / or lower lips, according to any one of claims 1 to 16. The oral operation type control device described.

18. The casing (10) further incorporates at least one electric battery (31) connected to the control electronic device (30), according to any one of claims 1 to 17. The oral operation type control device described.