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EP-4740790-A1 - BITING EVENT DETECTION AND PROTECTION FOR ORAL CLEANING DEVICES

EP4740790A1EP 4740790 A1EP4740790 A1EP 4740790A1EP-4740790-A1

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an oral cleaning device (100, 400) comprising a drive train (111) configured for actuating a cleaning element (118). The oral cleaning device further comprises a motion sensor (112, 112') configured for providing sensor data (132) descriptive of motion of the drive train. The oral cleaning device further comprises; a memory (128) storing machine executable instructions (130). The oral cleaning device further comprises a computational system (126). Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to: repeatedly (200) receive the sensor data from the motion sensor; detect (202) a biting event (136) by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detection algorithm (134); and execute (204) a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected, wherein the biting event protocol comprises reducing power (138) supplied to drive train for a predetermined duration.

Inventors

  • STEFAN, André Christian
  • VAN NOORD, Kris
  • Solerio, Daniele

Assignees

  • Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (15)

  1. An oral cleaning device (100, 400) comprising: - a drive train (111) configured for actuating a cleaning element (118); - a motion sensor (112, 112') configured for providing sensor data (132) descriptive of motion of the drive train; - a memory (128) storing machine executable instructions (130); - a computational system (126), wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to: - repeatedly (200) receive the sensor data from the motion sensor; - detect (202) a biting event (136) by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detection algorithm (134); and - execute (204) a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected, wherein the biting event protocol comprises reducing power (138) supplied to drive train for a predetermined duration.
  2. The oral cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the biting protocol is configured to prevent or reduce mechanical damage to drive train during the biting event.
  3. The oral cleaning device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive train comprises a mechanical resonator (402), wherein the mechanical resonator comprises: - a front mass (404) configured for oscillating about an axis of rotation (406), wherein the front mass is configured for actuating the cleaning element, wherein the sensor data is descriptive of motion of the front mass; - a rear mass (410) configured for oscillating about the axis of rotation; - an oscillatory linkage spring (414) configured for coupling oscillatory motion between the rear mass and the front mass; and - an electromagnetic oscillating system configured for driving oscillation of the rear mass, wherein reducing power supplied to drive train for a predetermined duration comprises reducing power to the electromagnetic oscillating system for the predetermined duration.
  4. The oral cleaning device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor data is descriptive of a time dependent rotational position of the cleaning element, wherein the biting event detection algorithm is configured to determine an amplitude signal (504) by repeatedly fitting a sinusoidal function to the sensor data within a sliding temporal window, wherein the biting event detection algorithm is configured to detect a decrease in amplitude of the motion of the drive shaft using the amplitude signal.
  5. The oral cleaning device of claim 4, wherein biting event detection algorithm is configured to detect the biting event by detecting a decrease in the amplitude signal (506) above a predetermined threshold.
  6. The oral cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the biting event detection algorithm is configured to detect changes in the amplitude signal within a moving temporal window using and one of the following: - calculating a standard deviation of the amplitude signal within the moving temporal window and detecting the biting event by detecting a predetermined increase in the amplitude signal with respect to the calculated standard deviation; - calculating a mean of the amplitude signal within the moving temporal window and detecting the biting event by detecting a predetermined decrease in the amplitude signal with respect to the calculated mean; and - applying a digital filter to the amplitude signal within the moving temporal window and detecting the biting event if the output of the digital signal is outside predetermined thresholds.
  7. The oral cleaning device of any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the biting event detection algorithm comprises a machine learning algorithm configured to detect the biting event in the sensor data.
  8. The oral cleaning device of any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the biting event detection algorithm is configured to: - repeatedly calculate a Fourier transform of the sensor data, wherein the calculated Fourier transform comprises a binned frequency spectrum; and - detect the biting event by detecting changes in at least one predetermined bin of the binned frequency spectrum;
  9. The oral cleaning device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive train comprises a drive shaft (106) configured for receiving the cleaning element, wherein the oral cleaning device comprises a reflective element (108) attached to the drive shaft; wherein the oral cleaning device comprises a body portion (102) for housing the drive train, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one light source (114) and multiple light sensors (116), wherein the optical sensor has a fixed position relative to the body portion, wherein the at least one light source is optically coupled to the multiple light sensors via the reflective element.
  10. The oral cleaning device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biting event protocol comprises providing a biting event warning signal (140).
  11. The oral cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the oral cleaning device comprises a warning indicator (160), wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to indicate the biting event warning signal using the warning indicator.
  12. The oral cleaning device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the oral cleaning device comprises a radio frequency transmitter (104), wherein execution of the machine executable instructions further causes the computational system to transmit the biting event warning signal as a radio frequency signal (306) using the radio frequency transmitter.
  13. An oral cleaning system (300), comprising the oral cleaning device of claim 12 and a handheld computing device (302), wherein the handheld computing device is configured to: - receive the biting event warning signal via the radio frequency signal; and - display a predetermined educational message (308) in response to receiving the biting event warning signal.
  14. A method of operating an oral cleaning device (100, 400), wherein the oral cleaning device comprises: - a drive train (111) configured for actuating a cleaning element; and - a motion sensor (112, 112') configured for providing sensor data descriptive of motion of the drive train; wherein the method comprises: - repeatedly (200) receiving the sensor data from the motion sensor; - detecting (202) a biting event (136) by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detection algorithm (134); and - executing (204) a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected, wherein the biting event protocol comprises reducing power (138) supplied to drive train for a predetermined duration.
  15. A computer program comprising machine executable instructions (130) for execution by a computational system (126) controlling an oral cleaning device (100, 400), wherein the oral cleaning device comprises: - a drive train (111) configured for actuating a cleaning element (118); and - a motion sensor (112, 112') configured for providing sensor data (132) descriptive of motion of the drive train; wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to: - repeatedly (200) receive the sensor data from the motion sensor; - detect (202) a biting event (136) by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detection algorithm; and - execute (204) a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected, wherein the biting event protocol comprises reducing power (138) supplied to drive train for a predetermined duration.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to oral cleaning devices, in particular to the protection of the drive train of an oral cleaning device during biting events. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Oral cleaning devices, such as electric toothbrushes or sonic toothbrushes, are designed to improve dental hygiene by utilizing motor-driven brushing techniques that enhance plaque removal and gum cleaning. These devices often incorporate features like oscillating or sonic movements and timers to ensure thorough and consistent cleaning. United States patent publication US 10,813,733 B2 discloses a drivetrain assembly for a personal care device, the drivetrain assembly including a primary resonator; a secondary resonator configured to reduce vibrations transmitted from the motor to a body of the personal care device; a fixed point positioned between the primary resonator and the secondary resonator; a first spring member connected at a first end to the primary resonator and at a second end to the fixed point; a second spring member connected at a first end to the secondary resonator and at a second end to the fixed point; a coupling spring connected at a first end to the primary resonator and at a second end to the secondary resonator; and an actuator configured to exert force on at least one of the primary resonator and the secondary resonator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides for an oral cleaning device, an oral cleaning system, a method of operating an oral cleaning device, and a computer program in the independent claims. Embodiments are given in the dependent claims. In one aspect an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning device comprises a drive train configured for actuating a cleaning element. The oral cleaning device further comprises a motion sensor configured for providing sensor data descriptive of the motion of the drive train. The oral cleaning device further comprises a memory storing machine-executable instructions. The oral cleaning device further comprises a computational system. Execution of the machine-executable instructions causes the computational system to repeatedly receive the sensor data from the motion sensor. Execution of the machine-executable instructions further causes the computational system to detect a biting event by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detector algorithm. Execution of the machine-executable instructions further causes the computational system to execute a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected. The biting event protocol comprises reducing power supplied to the drive train for a predetermined duration. In another aspect an oral cleaning system is disclosed. The oral cleaning system comprises an oral cleaning device. The oral cleaning device further comprises a radio-frequency transmitter. Execution of the machine-executable instructions further causes the computational system to transmit the biting event warning signal as a radio-frequency signal using a radio-frequency transmitter. The oral cleaning system further comprises a handheld computing device. The handheld computing device is configured to receive a biting event warning signal via the radio-frequency signal. The handheld computing device is further configured to display a predetermined educational message in response to receiving the biting event warning signal. In another aspect, a method of operating the oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning device comprises a drive train configured for actuating a cleaning element. The oral cleaning device further comprises a motion sensor configured for providing sensor data descriptive of motion of the drive train. The method comprises repeatedly receiving the sensor data from the motion sensor. The method further comprises detecting a biting event by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detector algorithm. The method further comprises executing a biting event protocol if the biting event is detected. The biting event protocol comprises reducing power supplied to the drive train for a predetermined duration. In another aspect, a computer program comprising machine-executable instructions for execution by a computational system is disclosed. The computational system is configured for controlling an oral cleaning device. The oral cleaning device comprises a drive train configured for actuating a cleaning element. The oral cleaning device further comprises a motion sensor configured for providing sensor data descriptive of motion of the drive train. Execution of the machine-executable instructions causes the computational system to repeatedly receive the sensor data from the motion sensor. Execution of the machine-executable instructions further causes the computational system to detect a biting event by inputting the repeatedly acquired sensor data into a biting event detection algorithm. Execution of the machine-executable instructions further causes the c