DE10101163A1 - Toothbrush that monitors cleaning direction and time between tooth cleaning events has direction of motion or acceleration sensor and detector of time between tooth cleaning events - Google Patents

Abstract

The device monitors the cleaning direction and the time between tooth cleaning actions. The device contains at least one sensor that detects the direction of motion or the direction of acceleration and a time measurement device that detects the period between tooth cleaning events and outputs a visible and/or audible signal after a defined time.

Description

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Sick teeth not only cause pain, they can also affect your overall wellbeing affect. Regular and correct brushing is therefore of great importance Importance. It should be taught to children early, because the technique once learned is usually maintained for a lifetime.

In general, the following 4 factors are considered important when brushing your teeth:
Regular cleaning: at least in the morning and in the evening
Sufficient time: at least 3 minutes
Low contact pressure: max. 2 Newtons
Correct cleaning direction: circular motion (bass or rotation method) or from the gums to the crown (red-white or Stillmann method)

"One thing you shouldn't do when brushing your teeth -" scrub horizontally ".. real dents can be milled into the tooth neck and the gums can be injured. " (Dr. H. P. Slatin).

Product research on the internet shows that there are toothbrushes in a wide variety of ways guides and with different functions. In addition to the simple toothbrushes out there it, for example, electric toothbrushes, which in addition to their electric drive Monitor cleaning time (example: "plak control 3D action" from Braun) or Zahn brushing with music for children who are motivated to brush their teeth.

In the publications of the German Patent Office (e.g. DE 39 35 554 A1; DE 34 33 250; DE 31 17 160;...) One finds:

• - Toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes with built-in cleaning clock, which may be by sensors automatically start timing
• - Toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes that monitor the correct contact pressure
• - Toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes with built-in cleaning clock that only the times summed up in which a given contact pressure is registered.

Aids for monitoring the correct cleaning method or direction are against it not known. Since, as mentioned above, a cleaning method once learned - right or wrong - is usually maintained for a lifetime, but this would be particularly desirable for children value.

The invention mentioned in the preamble proposes a toothbrush, the measuring device ent to measure the direction of movement or the direction of acceleration of the toothbrush holds. The measured values are also specified by an integrated or external device compared parameters. With an external facility, the data transmission can be done via Cabled or wireless (e.g. by infrared signal). For undesirable plaster movements ("scrubbing") is given an acoustic or visual signal.

The proposed construction can be done with known methods for controlling the type Combine press pressure and cleaning time.

Unfortunately, brushing teeth is often a nuisance for children. There is a lack of awareness of Importance. Tools for automatic monitoring of the time between brushing your teeth are not known.

The invention mentioned in the preamble proposes a toothbrush that is monitored regular brushing of teeth is allowed by parents, but also adults as Erin can help serve. A built-in or external time measurement signa optically or acoustically indicates that brushing your teeth again is desirable. The signal will switched off again by using the toothbrush correctly. Turning off the signal can be delayed by specifying a minimum usage time. Farther can measure the minimum usage time from the presence of the correct contact pressure and / or the correct cleaning process.  

B Examples of the provisional patent application

The invention mentioned in the preamble of claim 1 can both by a discrete electrical circuit as well as a suitably programmed microprocessor will be realized. Two exemplary embodiments are described in more detail below. The associated illustrations can be found on the page following this text.

Show it

Fig. 1 Example of the structure of the toothbrush

Fig. 2 Example of a discrete electrical circuit

Fig. 3 Example of an external circuit of the microprocessor programmed in the sense of the preamble of claim 1

To Fig. 1 Example of the structure of the intelligent toothbrush

Fig. 1 shows schematically an example of the invention mentioned in the preamble of claim 1. The head of the toothbrush holds the interchangeable brush. A moisture sensor is attached to the right of the interchangeable brush. There is a simple contact in the toothbrush neck, which closes on the teeth when the brush head is pressed lightly. The toothbrush handle is used to hold the discrete electronic circuit or to hold a suitably programmed microprocessor. There are also two vibrating contacts in the handle. One vibrating contact for the vertical and one vibrating contact for the horizontal cleaning movement. At the top end of the handle there is an acoustic signal generator, which can be used to play warning signals when brushing the teeth incorrectly or - with children's toothbrushes - motivating and rewarding melody when brushing the teeth correctly. The LEDs on the toothbrush head and at the end of the handle visually inform whether the user needs to brush his teeth again or whether he is brushing properly.

To Fig. 2 Example of a discrete electrical circuit

Fig. 2 shows a possible discrete circuit for the invention mentioned in the preamble of claim 1. If the sensor switches 1 and 2 for pressure and for moisture are closed at the same time, ie the toothbrush is pressed onto the teeth and the bristle area is moist, the timer IC 1 is started. It now runs for 3 minutes and closes switches 3 and 4 . Now the counter IC can register how often the vibrating vibrating contact closes when brushing teeth. The vibrator contact used in this circuit only closes when the toothbrush is moved in the right direction according to the well-known toothbrush technique. With every correct movement, the green LED on the toothbrush handle lights up. It signals to the user that the cleaning direction is correct. After a predetermined number of counts, the counter IC closes switches 6 and 7 . This turns on the music for children's toothbrushes as a reward for proper and long brushing and resets the timer IC 2 . The timer IC 2 monitors the time interval for toothbrushes for children and adults, which is between two tooth brushing processes. Is this time interval z. B. greater than 7 hours, the timer IC 2 turns on the red flashing LEDs at the top and bottom of the toothbrush. They signal to the user that he should not forget to brush his teeth.

To Fig. 3 Example of an external circuit in the sense of the waiter Concept of microprocessor programmed in claim 1

A programmed microprocessor is to be used in this example. On the Pressure and humidity sensors are dispensed with in this example. All the electronics except for the LED on the toothbrush head is together with the microprocessor housed in the toothbrush handle. The microprocessor in the toothbrush handle also contains an external circuit in the program described in more detail below. Is that in the program the time set after the last brushing of the teeth has elapsed, the red lights light up diode. They indicate that it is time to brush your teeth again. Two vibrating contacts, one for horizontal and one for vertical movement start the program as soon as the toothbrush is used and inform it of the toothbrushing movements of the User. At the same time, the time for the brushing time and the melodies are measured Module switched on for children's toothbrushes. In contrast to the one described above discreet circuit, in which the child is rewarded with music for brushing his teeth properly In this example, the music should motivate the child to brush their teeth.

While brushing your teeth, the program compares the number of left-right movements with the number of up-down movements. If the user brushes his teeth incorrectly, alarm 1 is activated for 3 seconds. The program also monitors the brushing time via alarm 2 . After brushing your teeth properly and long enough, the LED and the accompanying music (for children's toothbrushes) are switched off and the program is reset to the starting position.

Claims (9)

1. Toothbrush, characterized in that it monitors the brushing direction and the time between brushing the teeth. 2. Toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one Contains sensor that detects the direction of movement or acceleration. 3. Toothbrush according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a timing direction, which covers the time between brushing your teeth and after one predefined time an optical and / or an acoustic signal. 4. Toothbrush according to claim 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the measured value Evaluation is carried out by means of a microprocessor and / or discrete electronics. 5. Toothbrush according to claim 1, 2 and 4, characterized in that in the wrong Brushing teeth ("scrubbing") sounds an optical and / or an acoustic signal. 6. Toothbrush according to claim 4, characterized in that the microprocessor and / or the discrete electronics are housed in the toothbrush handle. 7. Toothbrush according to claim 4, characterized in that the microprocessor and / or the discrete electronics are accommodated in a separate, external unit, to which the data transmission both by cable and wirelessly, e.g. B. by infrared can be done. 8. Toothbrush according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that in 1 and 2 mentioned properties with a measurement of the contact pressure of the toothbrush are combined. 9. Toothbrush according to claim 3, characterized in that the timing device through proper brushing (correct brushing movements and sufficient time) is reset to zero.