ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
First Claim
1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
- bristles;
a driving unit for driving the bristles;
an orientation detection sensor for detecting the orientation of the electric toothbrush; and
an electrode-based contact detection unit for detecting contact with a body,wherein the contact detection unit includes a first detection unit for detecting contact with or proximity to a rear surface side of a brush portion in which the bristles are disposed;
the electric toothbrush further comprises;
a detection unit for detecting orientation information of the electric toothbrush based on an output from the orientation detection sensor; and
an area estimation unit for estimating a brushing area based on at least the orientation information, andwherein the area estimation unit includes a determination unit for determining, in the case where the brushing area determined based on the orientation information is a dentition surface on a right buccal side or a left lingual side or a dentition surface on a left buccal side or a right lingual side, whether the brushing area corresponds to the buccal side or the lingual side based on an electric signal obtained from the first detection unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric toothbrush includes bristles, a bristle driving unit, an orientation detection sensor, and an electrode-based contact detection unit for detecting contact with a body. The contact detection unit includes a first detection unit for detecting contact with or proximity to a rear surface side of a brush portion. The electric toothbrush detects orientation information based on an output from the orientation detection sensor, and estimates a brushing area based on at least the orientation information. In the area estimation, in the case where the brushing area determined based on the orientation information is a dentition surface on a right buccal side or a left lingual side or a dentition surface on a left buccal side or a right lingual side, it is determined whether the brushing area corresponds to the buccal side or the lingual side based on an electric signal obtained from the first detection unit.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
-
bristles; a driving unit for driving the bristles; an orientation detection sensor for detecting the orientation of the electric toothbrush; and an electrode-based contact detection unit for detecting contact with a body, wherein the contact detection unit includes a first detection unit for detecting contact with or proximity to a rear surface side of a brush portion in which the bristles are disposed; the electric toothbrush further comprises; a detection unit for detecting orientation information of the electric toothbrush based on an output from the orientation detection sensor; and an area estimation unit for estimating a brushing area based on at least the orientation information, and wherein the area estimation unit includes a determination unit for determining, in the case where the brushing area determined based on the orientation information is a dentition surface on a right buccal side or a left lingual side or a dentition surface on a left buccal side or a right lingual side, whether the brushing area corresponds to the buccal side or the lingual side based on an electric signal obtained from the first detection unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification