Artificial larynx with frequency control

Abstract

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 components include a switch having a switch actuator and a pushbutton or other suitable depressor component, while the frequency-control components include a pressure-sensitive resistor (PSR) electrically connected in the circuit and physically disposed intermediate the depressor component and the switch actuator. The PSR is electrically connected in the circuit so that the frequency of the tone varies when force is applied to the PSR, and it is physically disposed intermediate the depressor component and the switch actuator so that pressing the depressor component applies force to the switch actuator and the PSR simultaneously, thereby enabling the user to turn on the electrical circuit and vary the frequency of the tone by operation of just the one depressor component. One embodiment includes remote volume control capabilities using an infrared or other suitable signal encoded with volume control information derived from a pressure sensor placed proximate the users throat where the user exhales (e.g. a stoma).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.