Apparatus and Method for Providing Condition-Based Vibrotactile Feedback

• US 20090320227A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Xu, Tianning, Cohen, Robert F., Ratzat, Walter E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,351,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/167.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0006 with a controlling brush technique device, e.g. stroke movement measuring device
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0084 self-reinflatable by elasticity, e.g. resuscitation squeeze bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/122 with dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring motion parameters of an object are described in the present disclosure. In one embodiment among many, a sensor, coupled to a housing, senses motion associated with the housing and provides a sensor output based on the sensed motion. A processing device receives the sensor output, accumulates counts associated with the sensor output, and provides an output once a threshold associated with the accumulated counts is reached. A vibrotactile device, that receives the output from the processing device, provides a haptic output in response to the output from the processing device. In one embodiment among many, a toothbrush is described as a monitoring mechanism for monitoring a plurality of brush strokes that a user executes with the toothbrush. The monitoring mechanism is incorporated in the handle of the toothbrush. The monitoring mechanism may be used to provide an alert once a sufficient number of brush strokes is achieved.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a timer coupled to the housing that measures at least one time period and provides a timer output on expiration of the at least one time period; and

an alerting device that receives the timer output and provides an alert in response to the received timer output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the housing that senses motion associated with the housing and provides a sensor output based on the sensed motion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the timer receives the sensor output, resets the at least one time period, and provides the timer output on expiration of the reset at least one time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the timer measures a plurality of time periods and provides the timer output on expiration of each of the plurality of time periods.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the timer measures a plurality of substantially uniform time periods.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one time period is adjustable.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one time period is adjustable based on the sensor output.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one time period is selectable by a user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alerting device comprises a vibrotactile device, and wherein the alert comprises a haptic output.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the alerting device comprises a vibrotactile device, and wherein the alert comprises a haptic output.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a handle of a toothbrush.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a bladder of a bag-valve-mask.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a bladder of a bag-valve-mask.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a strap to which the vibrotactile device is attached such that when the strap is worn by a user, the user perceives the haptic output.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a strap to which the housing is attached such that when the strap is worn on a limb of a user:

the sensor senses motion of the limb, the processor accumulates counts based on sensed motion of the limb, and the user perceives the haptic output.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a sensor coupled to the housing that senses motion associated with the housing and provides a sensor output based on the sensed motion;

a processing device that receives the sensor output, that accumulates counts associated with the sensor output, and that provides an output once a threshold associated with the accumulated counts is reached; and

a vibrotactile device that receives the output from the processing device and provides a haptic output in response to the output from the processing device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the haptic output is perceptible to a user of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the counts accumulated by the processing device correspond to units of time during which the sensor senses motion.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the counts accumulated by the processing device correspond to a number of sensed motions.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processing device resets the accumulated counts each time the threshold is reached.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a bag valve mask; and

a vibrotactile system coupled to the bag valve mask, the vibrotactile system comprising;

a timer that provides a timer output, and

a vibrotactile device that receives the timer output and that provides a haptic output in response to the received timer output, wherein the haptic output is perceptible to a user of the bag valve mask.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the timer provides a periodic timer output.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the timer provides an adjustable periodic timer output.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the timer provides a user-selectably adjustable periodic timer output.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the vibrotactile device provides a haptic output with an adjustable magnitude.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the vibrotactile device provides a haptic output with a user-selectable magnitude.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a timer that provides a periodic timer output; and

a vibrotactile device responsive to the timer that provides a corresponding periodic haptic output.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the periodic timer output is adjustable.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the periodic timer output is user-selectable.

31. A toothbrush comprising:

a handle;

bristles having first ends supported at one end of the handle; and

means for monitoring a plurality of brush strokes that a user executes with the toothbrush;

wherein the monitoring means resides at least partially in the handle.

32. The toothbrush of claim 31, wherein the monitoring means is configured to determine the total number of executed brush strokes.

33. The toothbrush of claim 31, wherein the monitoring means is configured to monitor an accumulation of a parameter associated with the plurality of brush strokes.

34. The toothbrush of claim 33, wherein the accumulated parameter is an accumulated number of changes of acceleration of the plurality of brush strokes.

35. The toothbrush of claim 33, wherein the accumulated parameter is an accumulated length of the plurality of brush strokes.

36. The toothbrush of claim 31, wherein the monitoring means further comprises means for sensing motion of the toothbrush.

37. The toothbrush of claim 36, wherein the monitoring means further comprises:

means for summing a motion parameter associated with the plurality of brush strokes to obtain a sum; and

means for comparing the sum to a predetermined threshold.

38. The toothbrush of claim 37, wherein the monitoring means further comprises means for alerting the user when the sum reaches the predetermined threshold.

39. A motion monitoring system supported by an object and configured to monitor motion of the object, the motion monitoring system comprising:

a motion sensing device configured to sense a plurality of motion parameters related to the movement of the object caused by forces exerted on the object by a user;

a processing device configured to sum the plurality of motion parameters and to determine when the sum reaches a predetermined threshold; and

an alerting device configured to alert the user when the sum reaches the predetermined threshold.

40. The motion monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the motion sensing device comprises an accelerometer.

41. The motion monitoring system of claim 40, wherein the processing device is configured to detect when the value of the accelerometer changes signs and is further configured to count the number of sign changes.

42. The motion monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the motion sensing device comprises a stationary electrical coil and a magnetic rod that is moveable within the electrical coil.

43. The motion monitoring system of claim 42, further comprising a capacitor that is charged by the motion sensing device, wherein the processing device determines when the charge on the capacitor reaches a predetermined threshold.

44. The motion monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the motion sensing device comprises a ball positioned in a cage that comprises contacts for detecting the location of the ball within the cage.

45. The motion monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the object is a toothbrush.

53. The motion monitoring system of claim 39, wherein the alerting device configured to alert the user when the sum reaches the predetermined threshold comprises a vibrotactile device.

46. A method for monitoring motion of an object, the method comprising:

sensing a first motion parameter related to a first motion of the object;

sensing a next motion parameter related to a next motion of the object;

summing the next motion parameter with previous motion parameters to obtain a sum;

determining whether the sum has reached a predetermined threshold;

repeating the sensing of the next motion parameter and summing with the previous motion parameters when the sum has not reached the predetermined threshold; and

providing an alert signal when the sum has reached the predetermined threshold.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

resetting the sum before sensing the first motion parameter.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the predetermined threshold is associated with a specific number of repeated motions.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the predetermined threshold is associated with a total force calculated from an accumulation of the motion parameters.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the predetermined threshold is associated with a total length calculated from an accumulation of the motion parameters.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the object is a toothbrush.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein providing an alert signal when the sum has reached the predetermined threshold comprises providing a haptic effect.