System for communicating operational data between an electric toothbrush and a separate control unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for communicating data between an electric toothbrush and a separate control unit, comprising:
- means in the electric toothbrush for collecting and storing data concerning operation of the electric toothbrush;
means for transmitting the data to a receiving member in the control unit when the toothbrush is present in the control unit, wherein the toothbrush is removable from the control unit;
storing means located in the control unit for storing the transmitted data from the toothbrush, including means for collecting and storing the data transmitted from the toothbrush over a period of time covering a plurality of uses of the electric toothbrush; and
means for accomplishing at least one of the following;
(a) displaying the transmitted and stored data and (b) analyzing the transmitted and stored data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for communicating data between a battery powered electric toothbrush and a separate control unit includes a microprocessor in the toothbrush which collects and stores data concerning selected operational aspects of the toothbrush. The data is transmitted from the toothbrush to the control unit by means of an infrared link. The transmitted data is processed in the control unit and displayed there or is transmitted to a separate device for display and/or analysis.
169 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A system for communicating data between an electric toothbrush and a separate control unit, comprising:
-
means in the electric toothbrush for collecting and storing data concerning operation of the electric toothbrush;
means for transmitting the data to a receiving member in the control unit when the toothbrush is present in the control unit, wherein the toothbrush is removable from the control unit;
storing means located in the control unit for storing the transmitted data from the toothbrush, including means for collecting and storing the data transmitted from the toothbrush over a period of time covering a plurality of uses of the electric toothbrush; and
means for accomplishing at least one of the following;
(a) displaying the transmitted and stored data and (b) analyzing the transmitted and stored data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for communicating data between a battery powered instrument and a separate control unit therefor, comprising:
-
means in the instrument for collecting and storing data concerning operation of the instrument;
means for transmitting the data to a receiving member in the control unit when the instrument is present in the control unit, wherein the instrument is removable from the control unit;
storing means located in the control unit for storing the transmitted data from the instrument, including means for collecting and storing the data transmitted from the instrument over a period of time covering a plurality of uses of the instrument; and
means for accomplishing at least one of the following;
(a) displaying the transmitted and stored data and (b) analyzing the transmitted and stored data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A system for communicating data between an electric toothbrush and a separate control unit, comprising:
-
means in the electric toothbrush for collecting and storing data concerning operation of the electric toothbrush;
means for transmitting the data to a receiving member in the control unit when the toothbrush is in the control unit;
means for accomplishing at least one of the following;
(a) displaying the transmitted data and (b) analyzing the transmitted data; and
means for transmitting programming information for program control of the electric toothbrush from the control unit to the electric toothbrush. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 22)
-
-
19. A system for communicating data between a battery powered instrument and a separate control unit, comprising:
-
means in the instrument for collecting and storing data concerning operation of the instrument;
means for transmitting the data to a receiving member in the control unit when the instrument is present in the control unit;
means for accomplishing at least one of the following;
(a) displaying the transmitting data and (b) analyzing the transmitted data; and
means for transmitting programming information for program control of the instrument from the control unit to the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23)
-
Specification