IP Library Granted Patent US 10,299,902
Granted Patent B2
US 10,299,902 · App. 14/806,527 · Granted May 28, 2019

Fastenable device for oral cavity position detection

Inventors: Ingo Vetter (Karben, DE); Frank Kressmann (Eschborn, DE); Alexandre Halbach (Battice, BE)
Assignee: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
A61C19/04A46B15/0006A61B5/053A61B5/682A61C17/22A46B15/0008A46B15/0014A46B15/0071A46B15/0081A46B2200/108A46B2200/1066A61B5/7257A61C15/04A61C17/02A61C17/221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,299,902
App. No.
14/806,527
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides for a fastenable device for oral area position detection that is fastenable to oral care implements.

Claims (16)

1. An oral-area position-detection device comprising:

(a) housing;

(b) at least a first fastener configured to fasten the housing to an oral-care implement;

(c) at least one electrode pair disposed on the housing and having an impedance formed between the electrodes when electrified, wherein the housing houses an impedance-measurement unit electrically coupled to the electrode pair for measuring impedance values between the electrodes, and wherein the housing comprises a base portion, a head portion opposite to the body portion, and a body portion between the base portion and the head portion,

wherein the base portion comprises the at least one fastener as a first fastener defining an opening, wherein the opening is configured to be slideable along a neck portion of the oral-care implement,

wherein the at least one electrode pair is disposed on the head portion and wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises at least a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, wherein said electrodes are configured to form electrode pairs with one another,

wherein the head portion further comprises at least one fastener as a second fastener defining a snappable channel configured to be releasably fastenable to the neck portion of the oral-care implement; and

wherein the device further comprises a frequency generator electrically connected to the electrode pair for applying a voltage having at least two different frequencies between the electrode pair, wherein the impedance-measurement unit measures the impedance values between the electrodes at the at least two different frequencies.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an orientation-determination unit for measuring orientation data, wherein the orientation-determination unit is in communication with a position-determination unit, wherein the orientation-determination unit is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor, and any combination thereof, and wherein the device does not include any mechanical on/off switch.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing houses a transmitter for transmitting impedance values.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a contact-determination unit in communication with the impedance-measurement unit, wherein the contact-determination unit comprises a memory for storing a function, wherein the function correlates impedance values of a defined oral area, and wherein the contact-determination unit further comprises a processor for processing the measured impedance values to the stored function so as to determine contact information of the electrode pair with the defined oral area; and a transmitter for transmitting impedance values or contact information.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an orientation-determination unit for measuring orientation data and a wireless transmitter for transmitting measured impedance values or measured orientation data.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a position-determination unit in communication with the contact-determination unit and the orientation-determination unit in communication with the position-determination unit.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode pair is in electrical communication with an alternating-current (AC) voltage source.

8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store a controlled program to determine whether the measured impedance value is above a pre-established threshold value indicating that the device is near or within the oral cavity of a user, and thereafter actuating oral-care position detection of the device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion houses a rechargeable coil in electrical communication with a battery housed in the housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2018
From: VETTER, INGO; KRESSMANN, FRANK PETER; HALBACH, ALEXANDRE ANDRÉ
To: BRAUN GMBH
Reel/Frame 045059/0267 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 14178041 · Jul 22, 2014 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160022398A1 · Jan 28, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,324,504 US 12,690,664