DRIVE NOISE TOLERANT PLAQUE DETECTION
First Claim
1. A dental implement, comprising:
- a drive train having a drive train frequency (fdt);
a light source configured to emit an excitation light; and
a plaque detector configured to receive a return light beam from the teeth for generating a plaque identification signal;
wherein the plaque detector demodulates identification signal to an intermediate frequency (fIF) such that the drive train frequency (fdt) and the intermediate frequency (fIF) are derived from a same master clock (f0).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dental implement (4) is presented that includes, in one embodiment, a light source (331) configured to emit an excitation light, and at least one optical unit for removing reflected excitation light and receiving a fluorescence light beam from the teeth. The dental implement further includes a detector (333) configured to receive the fluorescence light beam for detecting plaque and communicating a plaque identification signal of the teeth based on frequency domain lifetime measurements via a plaque detection circuit configured to reduce noise generated by a drive train at a drive train frequency (fdt). The plaque identification signal is demodulated to an intermediate frequency (fIF) such that the drive train frequency and the intermediate frequency are derived from a same master clock.
18 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A dental implement, comprising:
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a drive train having a drive train frequency (fdt); a light source configured to emit an excitation light; and a plaque detector configured to receive a return light beam from the teeth for generating a plaque identification signal; wherein the plaque detector demodulates identification signal to an intermediate frequency (fIF) such that the drive train frequency (fdt) and the intermediate frequency (fIF) are derived from a same master clock (f0). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of detecting plaque on teeth via a dental implement having a drive train having a drive train frequency (fdt), the method comprising:
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providing an excitation light; receiving a return light beam from the teeth; generating a plaque identification signal from the return light beam; and demodulating the plaque identification signal to an intermediate frequency (fIF) such that the drive train frequency (fdt) and the intermediate frequency (fIF) are derived from a same master clock. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification