Patent US3883954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3883954A
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Method and apparatus for recording occlusal vibrations
Assignee: THRESHOLD Tech Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for producing a viewable record of the acoustic vibrations resulting from a successive plurality of acts of dental occlusion. Transducer means are provided for generating an electrical signal representative of vibrations from each act of occlusion. A threshold detector is responsive to the electrical signal and generates an enable signal when a predetermined threshold level is exceeded. A digitizing means, responsive to the enable signal, samples the electrical signal at a first clock rate and generates digital representations of the signal. A counter means, also responsive to enable signals, counts the number of acts of occlusion which have occurred since a particular reference time. A plurality of digital storage means are each operative in response to a particular count from the counter to store the digital representations resulting from a single act of dental occlusion. Means are also provided for sequentially reading out the digital representations from the plurality of storage means at a second lower clock rate. The read out digital signals are converted to analog signals and means are provided for recording the analog signals in visual form.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence R Simmering
- 👤 Thomas B Martin
- 👤 Marvin B Herscher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/04; A61C19/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for producing a viewable display of the acoustic vibrations resulting from an act of dental occlusion, comprising: transducer means for generating an electrical signal representative of vibratIons from oral occlusion; threshold detection means responsive to said electrical signal for generating an enable signal when said electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold condition; digitizing means responsive to said enable signal for sampling said electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; means for storing said digital representations; means for reading out the stored digital representations at a second lower clock rate; means for converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and means for displaying said analog signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for producing a viewable display of the acoustic vibrations resulting from an act of dental occlusion, comprising: transducer means for generating an electrical signal representative of vibratIons from oral occlusion; threshold detection means responsive to said electrical signal for generating an enable signal when said electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold condition; digitizing means responsive to said enable signal for sampling said electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; means for storing said digital representations; means for reading out the stored digital representations at a second lower clock rate; means for converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and means for displaying said analog signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means for storing said digital representations comprises; a shift register responsive to said enable signal for storing said digital representations at said first clock rate; a sample counter for counting the duration of information receipt by said shift register; and means responsive to the output of said sample counter for automatically disabling further action by said shift register after a predetermined amount of information has been received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for producing a veiwable record fo the acoustic vibrations resulting from a successive plurality of acts of dental occlusion, comprising: transducer means for generating an electrical signal output representative of vibrations from each act of occlusion; threshold detection means responsive to the output of said transducer means for generating an enable signal when a predetermined threshold condition is attained; digitizing means responsive to said enable signal for sampling said electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; bite counter means responsive to enable signals for counting the number of acts of occlusion which have occurred from a particular reference time; a plurality of storage means, each operative in response to a particular count from said bite counter to store the digital representations resulting from a single act of dental occlusion; means for sequentially reading out the digital representations from said plurality of storage means at a second lower clock rate; means for converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and means for recording said analog signals in viewable form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus for producing a veiwable record fo the acoustic vibrations resulting from a successive plurality of acts of dental occlusion, comprising: transducer means for generating an electrical signal output representative of vibrations from each act of occlusion; threshold detection means responsive to the output of said transducer means for generating an enable signal when a predetermined threshold condition is attained; digitizing means responsive to said enable signal for sampling said electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; bite counter means responsive to enable signals for counting the number of acts of occlusion which have occurred from a particular reference time; a plurality of storage means, each operative in response to a particular count from said bite counter to store the digital representations resulting from a single act of dental occlusion; means for sequentially reading out the digital representations from said plurality of storage means at a second lower clock rate; means for converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and means for recording said analog signals in viewable form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 2 wherein each of said storage means comprises a shift register responsive to said enable signal for storing said digital representations at said first clock rate; and further comprising: a sample counter for counting the duration of information clocked into or out of said shift register; and means responsive to the output of said sample counter for temporarily diabling further action by said shift registers after a predetermined amount of information has been transferred.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 4 wherein said means for sequentially reading out the digital representations comprises: a plurality of gates corresponding to the plurality of shift registers, each of said gates being activated by a particular count from said bite counter to allow the clocking out of its corresponding shift register; and means for sequentially stepping said bite counter to effect the sequential clocking out of all shift registers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said means for recording comprises a chart recorder.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for producing a viewable record of the acoustic vibrations resulting from a successive plurality of acts of dental occlusion, comprising the steps of: a. generating an electrical signal output representative of vibrations from each act of occlusion; b. generating an enable signal when the electrical signal output attains a predetermined threshold condition; c. sampling the electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of the signal; d. counting the number of acts of occlusion wHich have occurred; e. storing in different locations the digital representations resulting from each act of occlusion, the instantaneous storage location depending on the count at a particular time; f. sequentially reading out the digital representations from the storage means at a second lower clock rate; g. converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and h. recording the analog signals in viewable form.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for producing a viewable record of the acoustic vibrations resulting from a successive plurality of acts of dental occlusion, comprising the steps of: a. generating an electrical signal output representative of vibrations from each act of occlusion; b. generating an enable signal when the electrical signal output attains a predetermined threshold condition; c. sampling the electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of the signal; d. counting the number of acts of occlusion wHich have occurred; e. storing in different locations the digital representations resulting from each act of occlusion, the instantaneous storage location depending on the count at a particular time; f. sequentially reading out the digital representations from the storage means at a second lower clock rate; g. converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and h. recording the analog signals in viewable form.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for producing a viewable display of the acoustic vibrations resulting from an act of dental occlusion, comprising the steps of: a. generating an electrical signal representative of vibrations from oral occlusion; b. generating an enable signal when the electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level; c. sampling the electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; d. storing the digital representations; e. reading out the stored digital representations at a second lower clock rate; f. converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and g. displaying said analog signals in viewable form.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for producing a viewable display of the acoustic vibrations resulting from an act of dental occlusion, comprising the steps of: a. generating an electrical signal representative of vibrations from oral occlusion; b. generating an enable signal when the electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level; c. sampling the electrical signal at a first clock rate and generating digital representations of said signal; d. storing the digital representations; e. reading out the stored digital representations at a second lower clock rate; f. converting the read out digital signals to analog signals; and g. displaying said analog signals in viewable form.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |