Method and apparatus for operating a feeding device

• US 9,008,826 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Design LLC
• Original Assignee: Design LLC
• Inventors: Dekar, Jonathan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMBESS, YOLANDA RENEE
• Application Number:
  US14/012,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/00 Table-ware crumb trays A47L13/52; table knives B26B
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/08 Serving devices for one-handed persons
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/10 Devices for counting or marking the number of consumptions on beverage-dispensing apparatus B65D, B67D; counting in general G06M
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/12 Consumption counters combined with table-ware or table-service
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/008 Manipulators for service tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/08 by means of sensing devices, e.g. viewing or touching devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

A method and apparatus for locating an individual'"'"'s mouth and using a feeding device to transfer food to the individual. For example, the apparatus includes a facial recognition sensor that approximates the location of the individual'"'"'s mouth. Based in part on the output of the facial recognition sensor a feed arm assembly delivers or transfers food to the individual'"'"'s mouth. In addition to a facial recognition sensor, distance or proximity sensors can also be used to determine the location of the individual'"'"'s mouth.

Claims

1. A feeding device comprising:

a feed arm operative to transfer a food to an individual; and

a sensor, said sensor operative to perceive a characteristic of said individual, wherein said sensor is operative to approximate the location of the individual'"'"'s mouth whereby the feed arm assembly delivers a utensil approximate the individual'"'"'s mouth.

2. A feeding device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a facial recognition sensor.

3. A feeding device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said facial recognition sensor is a camera.

4. A feeding device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said facial recognition sensor is a two-dimensional camera;

and

a distance sensor.

5. A feeding device as set forth in claim 1 including a distance sensor.

6. A feeding device set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor is attached to the feeding device.

7. A feeding device as set forth in claim 1 including:

a processor receiving an input from said sensor;

said processor generating an output including relative positional information of the individual'"'"'s mouth; and

a control unit receiving information as to the relative positional information and generating a control signal directing the feed arm assembly to position the food approximate the individual'"'"'s mouth.

8. A feeding device is set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a camera operative to capture an image of the individual'"'"'s face and a processor connected to said camera and operative to analyze said image and generate positional information of the individual'"'"'s mouth;

and

a controller connected to said processor and operative to control said feed arm based on said positional information.

9. A feeding device as set forth in claim 1 including:

a processor receiving an input from said sensor based on said perceived characteristic and generating an output based on said perceived characteristic;

a control unit receiving said output from said processor and generating a control signal operative to direct the feeding device to perform a function associated with said perceived characteristic.

10. A method of transferring food to an individual comprising:

providing a feed arm assembly;

providing a sensor, using said sensor to perceive a characteristic associated with an individual;

generating a signal corresponding to the characteristic;

operating said feed arm based on said signal;

providing a camera, using said camera to capture an image of the individual;

analyzing the image and generating an output signal based on said image;

using a distance sensor to determine a distance to the individual;

using said output signal and said distance to generate an approximate location of the individual'"'"'s mouth.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the steps of using a camera to obtain an image of an individual'"'"'s face;

using a facial recognition algorithm to determine a location of the individual'"'"'s mouth;

using a distance sensor to determine a distance to the individuals face;

generating an output signal corresponding to a position of the individual'"'"'s mouth and transmitting said output signal to a controller; and

using said controller to operate said feed arm to position the food approximate the individual'"'"'s mouth.

12. A method of transferring food to an individual comprising:

providing a feed arm assembly;

providing a sensor, using said sensor to perceive a characteristic associated with an individual;

generating a signal corresponding to the characteristic;

operating said feed arm based on said signal;

using a camera to obtain an image of an individual'"'"'s face;

using a facial recognition algorithm to determine a location of the individual'"'"'s mouth;

generating an output signal corresponding to a position of the individual'"'"'s mouth and transmitting said output signal to a controller; and

using said controller to operate said feed arm to position the food approximate the individual'"'"'s mouth.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said characteristic associated with the individual includes a predetermined movement of the individual;

and

associating a particular operation of the feed arm with the predetermined movement of the individual.

14. A method of using a feeding device for transferring the food to an individual for consumption comprising:

providing a facial recognition sensor, using said sensor to perceive a characteristic of the individual'"'"'s face;

analyzing said characteristic to determine position of the individual'"'"'s mouth; and

generating an output signal corresponding to the position of the individual'"'"'s mouth and transmitting said output signal to a controller; and

operating a feed arm to transfer food to the individual using said output signal.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the step of providing a facial recognition sensor includes using a camera to obtain an image of the individual'"'"'s face.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the step of providing a facial recognition sensor includes using a camera to obtain a 3-D image of the individual'"'"'s face and using the 3-D image to determine three-dimensional coordinates of the individual'"'"'s mouth.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of associating a predetermined physical movement of the individual with a particular operation of the feed arm;

and

monitoring the individual for the predetermined physical movement.