Non-Invasive Tongue Interface with Guided Inductive Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tongue-based interfaces require invasive methods such as piercing or gluing a metallic activator to the tongue, which are inconvenient, unhealthy, and unacceptable for many users, especially for short-term applications.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive tongue-based interface with a guide structure that integrates the activation unit as part of the sensor panel, allowing for easy mounting and removal, using a metal frame structure to facilitate 2D and perpendicular movements of the activation unit, eliminating the need for invasive attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metallic activation unit is pierced or glued to the user's tongue to enable tongue-based interface control, then the interface can be manipulated, but health risks and user acceptance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metallic activation unit from the user's tongue and relocates it to the sensor panel structure. The activation unit is now carried by the sensor panel rather than being attached to the user, eliminating the need for piercing or gluing while maintaining the inductive interaction capability for tongue-based control.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor panel structure acts as an intermediary between the user's tongue and the electronic system. Instead of directly attaching the activation unit to the tongue, the system uses the sensor panel with integrated activation unit as a mediator that the tongue interacts with indirectly, eliminating health risks while preserving control functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tongue piercing or gluing procedure is used to attach the activation unit, then the interface becomes functional, but the procedure becomes invasive and unacceptable for short-term use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the invasive attachment step by extracting the activation unit from the user's tongue and integrating it into the sensor panel. This allows the interface to be functional without requiring any invasive procedures, making it suitable for short-term and repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the activation unit to the user's tongue as in conventional approaches, the patent inverts the arrangement by carrying the activation unit on the sensor panel structure. This reversal eliminates the need for invasive attachment procedures while maintaining the required interface functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the activation unit is integrated with the sensor panel as a one-unit device, then mounting and removal become easy, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the activation unit with the sensor panel structure to form an integrated one-unit device. This combination simplifies mounting and removal operations while the internal integration is designed to be straightforward, balancing ease of use with manageable device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and hygienic operation with increased user acceptance, allowing both disabled and able-bodied individuals to use the interface for various applications without health risks, and providing a one-unit device for easy mounting and removal.
Implementation Method 1
By inductive interaction between an electric coil and the activation unit, it is possible to activate a number of different activation zones
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention provides a non-invasive tongue based with a tongue sensor device arranged for position in the oral cavity of the user. A sensor panel to be placed on an upper part of the oral cavity of the user, and having a 2D array of activation zones and related electric coils. A guide structure, e.g. a metal or polymer frame, carries a ferrous or metallic activation unit movably in a plane upon manipulation by the user's tongue. This allows the user to position the activation unit in relation the activation zones. The guide structure allows the activation unit to move also perpendicular to the plane, to allow the user's tongue to manipulate the activation unit near one activation zone for activation of the activation zone. An electronic circuit inductively senses activation of any one or more of the plurality of activation zones and related electric coils and generates an output accordingly, e.g. a wireless RF output. E.g. a frame structure of metal wires or bars can be used to implement the guide structure, thus allowing the activation unit, e.g. a metal sphere or cylinder, to form an integrated part of the rather than being mounted in an invasive way on the user's tongue.