Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8103012 | Electromechanical speech aid An electromechanical system for the stimulating of vibration of biological tissue, particularly of the human throat tissue, is provided with an electromechanical converter (12) having a self-resonant frequency and being operative for converting electric energ... | 01/24/2012 |
| 7269446 | Hands-free signal processing device in a mobile communication terminal Disclosed is a hands-free signal processing device in a mobile communication terminal. More particularly, disclosed is a hands-free signal processing device in a mobile communication terminal, which may separate hands-free signals, such as a microphone signal and an... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7212639 | Electro-larynx An improved electro-larynx includes a linear transducer and/or an improved waveform generator. The improved electro-larynx sets up a sound wave within the pharynx of the user which closely approximates a normal glottal excitation. The linear transducer preserves the... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7193219 | Intraoral image sensor An intraoral sensor includes a radiation sensitive sensor array, an event detection circuit, and a transmitter. The radiation sensitive sensor array includes a scintillator which converts x-rays into visible light radiation, and a plurality of pixels sensitive to vi... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7107074 | Computer system with wireless audio signal transmitter module A computer system provides a wireless audio signal transmitter module which is capable of transmitting audio signal wirelessly from a host computer to at least one remote wireless signal receiver. The wireless audio signal transmitter module is connected to a sound ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7082395 | Signal injection coupling into the human vocal tract for robust audible and inaudible voice recognition A means and method are provided for enhancing or replacing the natural excitation of the human vocal tract by artificial excitation means, wherein the artificially created acoustics present additional spectral, temporal, or phase data useful for (1) enhancing the ma... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7071844 | Mouth mounted input device A mouth mounted computer input device is comprised of a curved housing shaped to closely engage the roof of the mouth against the front teeth. A touch pad is arranged on the bottom of the housing, and an electrical stimulator is arranged on the top of the housing. A... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7072443 | Intraoral image sensor A system for capturing multiple intraoral images includes an intraoral sensor. The sensor includes a sensor array, a transmitter and a power source that provides power to the sensor array and the transmitter. The sensor is configured to be inserted inside a patient'... | 07/04/2006 |
| 6999924 | System and method for characterizing voiced excitations of speech and acoustic signals, removing acoustic noise from speech, and synthesizing speech The present invention is a system and method for characterizing human (or animate) speech voiced excitation functions and acoustic signals, for removing unwanted acoustic noise which often occurs when a speaker uses a microphone in common environments, and for synth... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6975984 | Electrolaryngeal speech enhancement for telephony A technique for separating an acoustic signal into a voiced (V) component corresponding to an electrolaryngeal source and an unvoiced (U) component corresponding to a turbulence source. The technique can be used to improve the quality of electrolaryngeal speech, and... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6972411 | Method of event detection for intraoral image sensor A method of determining that radiation is incident upon a radiation sensor comprising a plurality of radiation sensitive pixels includes the steps of monitoring an amount of current drawn by the pixels, and generating a signal indicating a presence of incident radia... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6924486 | Intraoral sensor having power conservation features An electronic image sensor includes a first subsystem that has a radiation sensitive sensor array that captures an image upon the presence of incident radiation, a second subsystem that provides signals to control the reading out of data from the sensor array; and a... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6735315 | Electric artificial larynx This electric artificial larynx 1 comprises a sound source generating unit 3 which is held by interposition means 2 attached directly or indirectly to the human body 10 and can be always placed near the cervical region 10a a... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6724898 | Speech recovery device There is provided an apparatus and method for assisting speech recovery in people with inability to speak due to aphasia, apraxia or another condition with similar effect. A hollow, rigid, thin-walled tube with semi-circular or semi-elliptical cut out shapes at each... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6628195 | Tactile stimulation device for use by a deaf person The tactile stimulation device designed to be used by a deaf person includes, in particular, an electroacoustic transducer. The invention is noteworthy in that the device consists of a case which can be held in one hand and which has a sensor associated w... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6359988 | Process for introduce realistic pitch variation in artificial larynx speech In electrolaryngeal speech, an excitation signal is provided by means of a buzzer held against the neck. The buzzer is usually operated at a constant frequency. While such Transcutaneous Artificial Larynges (TALs) provide a means for verbal communication ... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6252966 | Artificial larynx An artificial larynx includes a case containing a circuitboard subassembly, a battery subassembly, a transducer subassembly, and a switch subassembly that are interconnected to function as means for producing an artificial larynx tone. A radially inwardly... | 06/26/2001 |
| 5828758 | System and method for monitoring the oral and nasal cavity A system of the present invention includes a sound source for providing sound in the oral-nasal cavity, a microphone to receive sound modulated by the user's mouth, tongue, teeth, and lips as he or she speaks or attempts vocalization, and a circuit. The c... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5812681 | Artificial larynx with frequency control An artificial larynx of the type having a case and a battery-powered, tone-producing, electrical circuit within the case, includes control components for enabling a user to turn on the circuit and vary the frequency of the tone. The turn-on control compon... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5326349 | Artificial larynx An artificial larynx consists of (1) a first unit mounted in the mouth comprising a dental prosthesis, including a loud speaker, a power amplifier, a self-contained power source, plus a radio frequency receiver, and (2) a second unit held in the hand equi... | 07/05/1994 |
| 5233662 | Oral controller method and apparatus An oral controller and related method for lingual control of remote apparatus are disclosed. Preferably, the controller includes a mouthpiece having an intraoral structure and lingual transducer electronics including an array of photosensitive switches th... | 08/03/1993 |
| 4993071 | Post-laryngectomy speech aid A speech aid for laryngectomy patients is described and comprises an electromechanical transformer with a power output stage connected upstream, a pulse generator for the production of a basic frequency, manually operated switches and electrical filters d... | 02/12/1991 |
| 4821326 | Non-audible speech generation method and apparatus A non-audible speech generation apparatus and method for producing non-audible speech signals which includes an ultrasonic transducer or vibrator for projecting a series of glottal shaped ultrasonic pulses to the vocal track of a speaker. The glottal puls... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4726066 | Inter-oral speech aid A touch switch contacts on a unit housing are bridged by the fingers of a person's hand when holding the housing to trigger operation of a signal generating oscillator driving a transducer from which "voice" sound is generated and transmitted through a so... | 02/16/1988 |
| 4706292 | Speech prosthesis In a speech prosthesis, a direct radiator speaker, a rubber membrane over a speaker for sealing against liquid and food, and an O-ring seal for a battery compartment.... | 11/10/1987 |
| 4691360 | Voice simulator A hand held housing encloses a battery powered sound generator from which an audible voice simulating tone is transmitted through a tube when a push button switch is depressed also causing illumination of an indicator lamp. The tube is displaceable relati... | 09/01/1987 |
| 4672673 | Artificial larynx The present invention provides a completely self-contained intraoral larynx comprising a power source, tongue activated controls, power saving signal generation circuitry, acoustic and audio amplifiers, and an intra-oral speaker. These components are cont... | 06/09/1987 |
| 4669643 | Electronic larynx carrier A carrier for supporting an electronic larynx adjacent portions of the throat of a user so that muscles of the user can be employed to switch on and off the larynx without manual action. The carrier employs a base plate to which are mounted an interfacing... | 06/02/1987 |
| 4633399 | Method of seismic data enhancement using a phase of rectified trace seismic parameter A method for developing a novel seismic data attribute enables improvements in seismic data processing and interpretation. Seismic signals or trace data are first rectified and then Hilbert transformed and processed with the arc tangent function to develo... | 12/30/1986 |
| 4627095 | Artificial voice apparatus An artificial voice apparatus including a pump for producing an airflow within a tube. The tube is connected to a sounding mechanism for combining an audible sound with the airflow. A mouthpiece including a second tube is connected to the sounding mechani... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4612664 | Artificial speech aid tone generating device The present invention consists of a novel device for the production of a tone suitable for use in artificial speech aids. Artificial speech aids provide for a method of speech, for individuals who have either temporarily or permanently lost the use of the... | 09/16/1986 |
| 4571739 | Interoral Electrolarynx A prosthetic tone emitter for laryngectomy patients which in combination with natural apparatus enables comprehensible speech. Components of the tone emitter are constructed into an artificial tooth such that articulation is relatively unhindered.... | 02/18/1986 |
| 4550427 | Artificial larynx The present invention provides a completely self-contained intraoral larynx comprising a power source, tongue activated controls, power saving signal generation circuitry, acoustic and audio amplifiers, and an intra-oral speaker. These components are cont... | 10/29/1985 |
| 4547894 | Replaceable battery pack for intra-oral larynx An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplify... | 10/15/1985 |
| 4539698 | Replaceable saliva barrier for intra-oral larynx An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplify... | 09/03/1985 |
| 4539699 | Replaceable battery pack for intra-oral larynx An intra-oral artificial larynx includes a signal generator encapsulated within a custom-molded prosthetic means for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity, as well as a speaker and tongue activatable switch for enabling the signal generator and... | 09/03/1985 |
| 4502151 | Replaceable saliva barrier for intra-oral larynx An intra-oral artificial larynx is provided including a signal generator and a speaker mounted on a prosthesis for mounting the larynx within the intra-oral cavity. A horn is provided having an input opening coupled to the speaker for acoustically amplify... | 02/26/1985 |
| 4502150 | Artificial larynx The present invention provides a completely self-contained intraoral larynx comprising a power source, tongue activated controls, power saving signal generation circuitry, acoustic and audio amplifiers, and an intra-oral speaker. These components are cont... | 02/26/1985 |
| 4489440 | Pressure-compensated pneumatic speech simulator A pneumatic speech simulator has a vibratory tone-generating element which produces an audible tone in response to the flow of pressurized air within a predetermined pressure range, said tone being transmitted to a patient's pharyngeal region by a conduit... | 12/18/1984 |
| 4473905 | Artificial larynx The present invention provides a completely self-contained intraoral larynx comprising a power source, tongue activated controls, power saving signal generation circuitry, acoustic and audio amplifiers, and an intra-oral speaker. These components are cont... | 09/25/1984 |
