IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,176,591
Granted Patent B2
US 8,176,591 · App. 13/227,041 · Granted May 15, 2012

Electrical toothbrush

Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,176,591
App. No.
13/227,041
Granted
May 15, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical toothbrush includes an electrical toothbrush main body including a drive source of a brush; an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the electrical toothbrush main body; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode of the electrical toothbrush according to a result of comparing an orientation value, which is a value calculated from an output of the orientation sensor, and a threshold value set in advance. A threshold value used for switching determination from an operation mode to an operation mode, and a threshold value used for switching determination from the operation mode to the operation mode are set to different values.

Claims (16)

1. An electrical toothbrush comprising:

an electrical toothbrush main body including a drive source of a brush;

an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the electrical toothbrush main body; and

a controller configured to switch an operation mode of the electrical toothbrush according to a result of comparing an orientation value, which is a value calculated from an output of the orientation sensor, and a threshold value set in advance; wherein

a first threshold value used for switching determination from a first operation mode to a second operation mode, and a second threshold value used for switching determination from the second operation mode to the first operation mode are set to different values.

2. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are set such that a difference thereof becomes greater than a maximum value of a fluctuation width of the orientation value caused by vibration of the drive source.

3. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 2 , wherein the orientation sensor is an acceleration sensor, and the orientation value is a function of an output value of the acceleration sensor.

4. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein

the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value; and

the controller is configured to switch the first operation mode to the second operation mode when the orientation value exceeds the first threshold value during the first operation mode, and configured to switch the second operation mode to the first operation mode when the orientation value becomes smaller than the second threshold value during the second operation mode.

5. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 4 , wherein the orientation sensor is an acceleration sensor, and the orientation value is a function of an output value of the acceleration sensor.

6. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein

the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value; and

the controller is configured to switch the first operation mode to the second operation mode when a state in which the orientation value exceeds the first threshold value is maintained for a predetermined time during the first operation mode, and configured to switch the second operation mode to the first operation mode when a state in which the orientation value becomes smaller than the second threshold value is maintained for a predetermined time during the second operation mode.

7. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 6 , wherein the orientation sensor is an acceleration sensor, and the orientation value is a function of an output value of the acceleration sensor.

8. The electrical toothbrush according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor is an acceleration sensor, and the orientation value is a function of an output value of the acceleration sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2011
From: IWAHORI, TOSHIYUKI; TOMIDA, KOTA; HASHINO, KENJI; KURASE, KOJI
To: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026892/0369 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-064274 · Mar 17, 2009 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2010051956 · Feb 10, 2010
Related Publication 20120036657A1 · Feb 16, 2012