Patent US3875932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3875932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audiotactile stimulation and communications system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-03-02
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Random or controlled electronically synthesized signals are converted to sound waves that are directly coupled to the skin of a life form, such as a human body, to stimulate the skin or internal portions of the life form and to communicate the intelligence, sense or feeling of the sound to the brain, bypassing the ear as the channel for reception of audio information. Control signals are derived from biopotentials or other sources, to modulate an electronic synthesizer. The amplified signals then drive an electroacoustic transducer which directs the sound waves through a wave guide to a probe adapted to couple the sound directly to the skin of a life form with a minimum of acoustical radiation. Recording, reproduction, analysis, synthesis or communication systems employing such instrumentation and related software.
Inventors
- 👤 How F Wachspress
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/04; A61F11/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An audiotactile communications system comprising, a source of electrical signals, a transducer connected to said source of electrical signals and producing sound waves from said signals in a substantially sound-proof container, a sound wave guide coupled into said container for transmitting said sound waves along said guide, and probe means connected to said guide for receiving sound waves therefrom and having at least one sound pervious portion for coupling sound therefrom into a life form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
An audiotactile communications system comprising, a source of electrical signals, a transducer connected to said source of electrical signals and producing sound waves from said signals in a substantially sound-proof container, a sound wave guide coupled into said container for transmitting said sound waves along said guide, and probe means connected to said guide for receiving sound waves therefrom and having at least one sound pervious portion for coupling sound therefrom into a life form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 further defined by said source of electrical signals comprising a recorder/reproducer producing electrical signals representing recording.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 further defined by said audiotactile transducer comprising a unit including a flexible diaphragm moved by an electrically energized coil from said synthesizing means mounted by vibration isolation means within a substantially sound-proof housing and coupled to said sound wave guide extending into the housing for transmitting sound waves generated by the diaphragm to said probe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The system of claim 1 further defined by said unit being mounted upon an apertured baffle plate carried by mounting bars secured to the housing interior and connected through vibration isolation mounts to the baffle plate, said diaphragm being disposed adjacent said baffle plate aperture and a hollow conduit extending from said baffle plate aperture to an aperture in said housing at which said sound wave guide is secured for coupling sound waves into said wave guide with a minimum of sound transmission in other directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 1 further defined by said unit including a container having said diaphragm sealing the top thereof and an impedance-matching horn extending from the top of the container into communication with said sound wave guide within said housing, a plurality of flexible fibers suspending said container and horn within said housing for minimizing sound transmission to said housing, and sound transmitting material disposed in said sound wave guide and horn above said diaphragm for transmitting audio waves to said probe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said sound transmitting material is a liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 further defined by a second audiotactile transducer connected to a second source of electrical signals and producing sound waves therefrom in a substantially sound-proof container and having a second sound wave guide extending to said probe for multichannel sound wave application to a human body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A multichannel internal body probe for an audiotactile communication system transmitting sound waves through at least two liquid filled sound wave guides comprising a porous cylinder closing the end of a first of said wave guides and extending therefrom with a curved reflector on the outer end of the cylinder, a flexible liquid-tight membrane covering said cylinder and said second wave guide extending axially through said cylinder from the inner end thereof and terminating near the middle convex surface of said curved reflector whereby sound waves from the two guides traverse the porous cylinder material in opposite directions for coupling through said membrane into the human body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A multichannel internal body probe for an audiotactile communication system transmitting sound waves through at least two liquid filled sound wave guides comprising a porous cylinder closing the end of a first of said wave guides and extending therefrom with a curved reflector on the outer end of the cylinder, a flexible liquid-tight membrane covering said cylinder and said second wave guide extending axially through said cylinder from the inner end thereof and terminating near the middle convex surface of said curved reflector whereby sound waves from the two guides traverse the porous cylinder material in opposite directions for coupling through said membrane into the human body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
An audiotactile communication system comprising a source of electrical signals, synthesizing means connected to said source and producing therefrom message signals of a low fundamental frequency, a transducer connected to said synthesizing means and producing sound waves from said message signals in a substantially sound proof container, a sound wave guide coupled into said container for transmitting said sound waves along said guide, and probe means connected to said guide for receiving sound waves therefrom and having at least one sound pervious portion for coupling sound therefrom into a life form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
An audiotactile communication system comprising a source of electrical signals, synthesizing means connected to said source and producing therefrom message signals of a low fundamental frequency, a transducer connected to said synthesizing means and producing sound waves from said message signals in a substantially sound proof container, a sound wave guide coupled into said container for transmitting said sound waves along said guide, and probe means connected to said guide for receiving sound waves therefrom and having at least one sound pervious portion for coupling sound therefrom into a life form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 9 further defined by said probe having an elongated substantially cylindrical configuration dimensioned to fit within an orifice of the human body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 9 further defined by said transducer further comprising vibration isolation means mounting and electrically driven diaphragm within said container with sound absorbing material about said electrically driven diaphragm for minimizing sound transmission from said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system of claim 9 further defined by a second source of electrical signals, a second synthesizing means connected to said second source or electrical signals and producing therefrom second message signals, a second transducer connected to said second synthesizing means and producing second sound waves from said second message signals, a second sound wave guide coupled to said second transducer for transmitting said second sound waves along the second guide, and said probe means being connected to both of said sound wave guides for coupling multichannel sound into a life form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 12 further defined by said probe comprising a cellular cylinder extending from an end of the first wave guide and having a concave sound reflector at the outer end thereof, and a tube extending from the end of said second wave guide axially of said cellular cylinder with an open end directed toward and spaced from said reflector whereby sound waves from said two wave guides combine in said cylinder for coupling to a life form contacted thereby.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9 further defined by an oscilloscope connected to the input and output of said synthesizer for visual display and analysis of the message at the time of use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |