IP Library Granted Patent US 10,413,052
Granted Patent B2
US 10,413,052 · App. 15/557,531 · Granted Sep 17, 2019

Methods and systems for oral cleaning device localization

Inventors: Stephanus Jacob Gerardus Tamminga (Groningen, NL); Dionisio Massingo Nunes (Groningen, NL)
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
A46B15/0006A46B15/0004A46B15/0008A61C1/0015A61C17/221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,413,052
App. No.
15/557,531
Granted
Sep 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method ( 300 ) for localizing an oral cleaning device within a user's mouth. The method includes the steps of: (i) determining ( 830 ), based on sensor information received from a motion identifier ( 28 ), a first location of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth; (ii) measuring ( 850 ), using sensor information received from the motion identifier, an amount of time elapsing between a start and a stop of a movement of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth at the first location; (iii) calculating ( 850 ), using Fitt's law and the measured elapsed amount of time, the number of teeth the oral cleaning device was displaced during the elapsed amount of time; and (iv) determining ( 850 ), based on the first location and the number of teeth the oral cleaning device was displaced during the elapsed amount of time, which of the user's teeth were included in the displacement.

Claims (32)

1. A method for localizing an oral cleaning device within a user's mouth, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, based on sensor information received from a motion identifier, a first location of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth;

measuring, using sensor information received from the motion identifier, an amount of time elapsing between a start and a stop of a movement of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth at the first location;

calculating, using Fitt's law and the measured elapsed amount of time, the number of teeth the oral cleaning device was displaced during the elapsed amount of time; and

determining, based on the first location and the number of teeth the oral cleaning device wa displaced during the elapsed amount of time, which of the user's teeth were included in the displacement.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determination step comprises determining which of the user's teeth were brushed by the oral cleaning device during the movement.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location is a section of the user's mouth.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Fitt's law comprises the formula

W* 2 ((MT-a)/b)-1 =D

where MT is the elapsed amount of time, W, a, and b are predetermined values, and D is a distance moved within the first location.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of providing calibration data for the oral cleaning device, the calibration data comprising one or more values for W, a, and b.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of evaluating the brushing session.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said evaluation comprises information about which of the user's teeth were cleaned during the brushing session.

8. An oral cleaning device comprising:

a motion identifier; and

a controller in communication with the motion identifier, wherein the controller is configured to: (i) determine, based on sensor information received from the motion identifier, a first location of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth; (ii) measure, using sensor information received from the motion identifier, an amount of time elapsing between a start and a stop of a movement of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth at the first location; (iii) calculate, using Fitt's law and the measured elapsed amount of time, the number of teeth brushed during the elapsed amount of time; and (iv) determine, based on the first location and the number of teeth the oral cleaning device was displaced during the elapsed amount of time, which of the user's teeth were included in the displacement.

9. The oral cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein said Fitt's law comprises the formula

W* 2 ((MT-a)/b)-1 =D

where MT is the elapsed amount of time, W, a, and b are predetermined values, and D is a distance moved within the first location.

10. The oral cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the controller further comprises calibration data for the oral cleaning device.

11. The oral cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to evaluate the brushing session.

12. The oral cleaning device of claim 8 further comprising a communications module, wherein the oral cleaning device is configured to transmit, via the communications module, sensor data from the motion identifier; and

a device in communication with the communications module and comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: (i) determine, based on sensor information received from the motion identifier, a first location of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth; (ii) measure, using sensor information received from the motion identifier, an amount of time elapsing between a start and a stop of a movement of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth at the first location; (iii) calculate, using Fitt's law and the measured elapsed amount of time, the number of teeth brushed during the elapsed amount of time; and (iv) determine, based on the first location and the number of teeth the oral cleaning device was displaced during the elapsed amount of time, which of the user's teeth were included in the displacement.

13. The oral cleaning device of claim 12 , wherein said Fitt's law comprises the formula

W* 2 ((MT-a)/b)-1 =D

where MT is the elapsed amount of time, W, a, and b are predetermined values, and D is a distance moved within the first location.

14. A method for localizing an oral cleaning device within a user's mouth, the method comprising the steps of:

determining, based on sensor information received from a motion identifier, a first location of the oral cleaning device within the user's mouth;

detecting, using sensor information received from the motion identifier, a transition of the oral cleaning device from the first location to a second location within the user's mouth;

calculating, using Fitt's law and an elapsed amount of time for the transition, a probability of which of a plurality of possible transitions occurred during the elapsed amount of time; and

determining, based on the first location and the calculated transition probability, the second location.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a location is a section of the mouth.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: TAMMINGA, STEPHANUS JACOB GERARDUS; NUNES, DIONISIO MASSINGO
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Reel/Frame 043798/0702 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62244338 · Oct 21, 2015
Related Publication 20180279763A1 · Oct 4, 2018