Handheld articulated user-assistive device with behavior control modes

1. At least one machine-accessible storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a controller of a handheld tool, will cause the handheld tool to perform operations comprising:

identifying a user-assistive implement attached to an implement mount disposed at an end of a handle of the handheld tool;

manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle with an actuator assembly mounted to the handle according to a behavior routine to aid a user while the user performs a task with the handheld tool;

monitoring at least one motion sensor mounted in or on the handheld tool to identify an intentional shake of the handheld tool;

locking the user-assistive implement in a current position when the intentional shake of the handheld tool is determined to have occurred; and

unlocking the user-assistive implement to resume manipulating the user-assistive implement when another instance of the intentional shake is determined to have occurred.

2. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

selecting the behavior routine from a plurality of different behavior routines stored in on-board memory of the handheld tool, each of the different behavior routines for aiding performance of a different task associated with each of a plurality of different types of user-assistive implements.

3. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 2 , wherein manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle according to the behavior routine comprises:

automatically maintaining a fixed orientation of the user-assistive implement despite changes in orientation of the handle according to the behavior routine.

4. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the implement mount includes a first identifier contact that aligns to a second identifier contact on the user-assistive implement, and wherein identifying the user-assistive implement comprises:

measuring a resistance value of a resistor disposed within the user-assistive implement through the first and second identifiers contacts;

comparing the resistance value to a table of resistance values that correlates resistance values to types of user-assistive implements.

5. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a toothbrush implement, the behavior routine comprises a toothbrush behavior routine for aiding a user while brushing teeth with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

activating a cleaning motion for bristles on the user-assistive implement;

maintaining a current orientation of the user-assistive implement while cleaning a current bank of teeth of the user despite changes in orientation of the handle;

adjusting the user-assistive implement to a next orientation for cleaning a next bank of teeth of the user; and

repeating the maintaining and adjusting until all banks of teeth of the user have been cleaned.

6. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a makeup applicator implement, the behavior routine comprises a makeup applicator behavior routine for aiding a user while applying facial makeup with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the user-assistive implement when the handle is between a horizontal position and an angular threshold position;

holding a locked position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is between the angular threshold position and an absolute vertical position, the locked position being a position of the user-assistive implement upon crossing over the angular threshold position; and

straightening the user-assistive implement into a straightened position that forms a straight line with the handle when the handle is dipped into an inverted position below the horizontal position.

7. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a drink holder implement, the behavior routine comprises a drink holder behavior routine for aiding a user while drinking with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the user-assistive implement when the handle is rotated less than a rotational threshold and tilted less than a tilt threshold from horizontal;

locking a rotational position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is rotated past the rotational threshold; and

locking both the rotational position and a tilt position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is tilted past the tilt threshold.

8. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a cooking utensil implement and the behavior routine comprises a cooking utensil behavior routine for aiding a user while flipping a food item with the handheld tool.

9. A method for assisting a user of a handheld tool, the method comprising: identifying, with a controller a type of user-assistive implement attached to an implement mount disposed at an end of a handle of the handheld tool;

Selecting, with the controller, a behavior routine based upon the type of the user-assistive implement identified;

manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle with an actuator assembly mounted to the handle according to the behavior routine to aid the user while the user performs a task with the handheld tool, monitoring at least one motion sensor mounted in or on the handheld tool to identify an intentional shake of the handheld tool;

locking the user-assistive implement in a current position when the intentional shake of the handheld tool is determined to have occurred;

and unlocking the user-assistive implement to resume manipulating the user-assistive implement when another instance of the intentional shake is determined to have occurred.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting the behavior routine comprises:

selecting, with the controller, the behavior routine from a plurality of different behavior routines stored in on-board memory of the handheld tool, each of the different behavior routines for aiding performance of a different task associated with each of a plurality of different types of user-assistive implements.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle according to the behavior routine comprises:

automatically maintaining a fixed orientation of the user-assistive implement despite changes in orientation of the handle according to the behavior routine.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the implement mount includes a first identifier contact that aligns to a second identifier contact on the user-assistive implement, and wherein identifying the type of the user-assistive implement comprises:

measuring a resistance value of a resistor disposed within the user-assistive implement through the first and second identifiers contacts;

comparing the resistance value to a table of resistance values that correlates resistance values to types of user-assistive implements.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a toothbrush implement, the behavior routine comprises a toothbrush behavior routine for aiding a user while brushing teeth with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

activating a cleaning motion for bristles on the user-assistive implement;

maintaining a current orientation of the user-assistive implement while cleaning a current bank of teeth of the user despite changes in orientation of the handle;

adjusting the user-assistive implement to a next orientation for cleaning a next bank of teeth of the user; and

repeating the maintaining and adjusting until all banks of teeth of the user have been cleaned.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a makeup applicator implement, the behavior routine comprises a makeup applicator behavior routine for aiding a user while applying facial makeup with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the user-assistive implement when the handle is between a horizontal position and an angular threshold position;

holding a locked position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is between the angular threshold position and an absolute vertical position, the locked position being a position of the user-assistive implement upon crossing over the angular threshold position; and

straightening the user-assistive implement into a straightened position that forms a straight line with the handle when the handle is dipped into an inverted position below the horizontal position.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a drink holder implement, the behavior routine comprises a drink holder behavior routine for aiding a user while drinking with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the user-assistive implement when the handle is rotated less than a rotational threshold and tilted less than a tilt threshold from horizontal;

locking a rotational position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is rotated past the rotational threshold; and

locking both the rotational position and a tilt position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is tilted past the tilt threshold.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a cooking utensil implement and the behavior routine comprises a cooking utensil behavior routine for aiding a user while flipping a food item with the handheld tool.

17. At least one machine-accessible storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a controller of a handheld tool, will cause the handheld tool to perform operations comprising:

identifying a type of user-assistive implement attached to an implement mount disposed at an end of a handle of the handheld tool;

selecting a behavior routine based upon the type of the user-assistive implement identified; and

manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle with an actuator assembly mounted to the handle according to a behavior routine to aid a user while the user performs a task with the handheld tool,

wherein the user-assistive implement comprises a makeup applicator implement, the behavior routine comprises a makeup applicator behavior routine for aiding a user while applying facial makeup with the handheld tool, and manipulating the user-assistive implement according to the behavior routine comprises:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the user-assistive implement when the handle is between a horizontal position and an angular threshold position;

holding a locked position of the user-assistive implement relative to the handle when the handle is between the angular threshold position and an absolute vertical position, the locked position being a position of the user-assistive implement upon crossing over the angular threshold position; and

straightening the user-assistive implement into a straightened position that forms a straight line with the handle when the handle is dipped into an inverted position below the horizontal position.

18. At least one machine-accessible storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a controller of a handheld tool, will cause the handheld tool to perform operations comprising:

manipulating a makeup applicator implement according to a makeup applicator behavior routine to aid a user with applying facial makeup with the handheld tool, wherein the makeup applicator implement is attached to an implement mount disposed at an end of a handle of the handheld tool and manipulated with an actuator assembly,

wherein the makeup applicator behavior routine includes:

continuously measuring an orientation of the handle;

actively leveling the makeup applicator implement when the handle is between a horizontal position and an angular threshold position; and

holding a locked position of the makeup applicator implement relative to the handle when the handle is between the angular threshold position and an absolute vertical position, the locked position being a position of the makeup applicator implement upon crossing over the angular threshold position.

19. The at least one machine-accessible storage medium of claim 18 , further providing instructions that, when executed by the controller, will cause the handheld tool to perform further operations, comprising:

straightening the makeup applicator implement into a straightened position that forms a straight line with the handle when the handle is dipped into an inverted position below the horizontal position.