WO2009001295A1

WO2009001295A1 - User interface for a power toothbrush using a physical token

Info

Publication number: WO2009001295A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/052505
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michiel Allan Schallig
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.; U.S. Philips Corporation
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2008-12-31

Abstract

The physical token (30) is attachable to and removable from a power toothbrush (10). It communicates with a control portion (22) of the toothbrush to enable a selected operation of the toothbrush, either by enabling an existing control program within the toothbrush or by transferring a control program to the toothbrush.

Description

USER INTERFACE FOR A POWER TOOTHBRUSH USING A PHYSICAL TOKEN

This invention relates generally to a user interface for a power toothbrush, and more specifically concerns a user interface member which is separable from the toothbrush body.

Many handheld devices, such as power toothbrushes, have a limited user interface for communication between the user and the device. In power toothbrushes, for example, typically only two buttons at most are available to the user for such communication. This makes it difficult for the user to significantly vary/control the operation of the toothbrush, beyond, for instance, conventional on/off control. Many devices, such as mobile phones, have a significant communication capability by virtue of a user interface involving a complex menu structure that is navigated with a limited number/set of buttons, although such an arrangement requires a display to assist the user. Such a user interface arrangement, including the display, will result in added expense and complexity, with a capability beyond what may be necessary for a device such as a power toothbrush. It is hence desirable that a user interface be developed which would permit a user to exercise significant control over the operation of a device such as a power toothbrush or other hand-held personal care appliance by selecting/enabling various operations/modes of the appliance without adding significant complication or complexity to the user interface operation.

Accordingly, the interface includes a physical token which acts as a user interface for a power toothbrush comprising: a token member, separate from the power toothbrush, for communication with a control portion within the toothbrush, to enable a selected operation present within the control portion or to transfer a selected operation to the control portion, said control portion in turn controlling the operation of the toothbrush accordingly.

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a typical power toothbrush and a series of token members which provide an expanded user interface capability.

Figure 2 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the toothbrush/token arrangement of Figure 1. A representative power toothbrush is shown at 10. The power toothbrush 10 includes a handle portion 14 and a brushhead portion 16, with a brush member 18 positioned at the end of the brushhead portion. A user interface for communication between the toothbrush and the user typically consists of an on/off switch 19 and, in some cases, another button 20 for other user-device communication. The buttons 19 and 20 communicate with a control 22 within the toothbrush which controls the operation of a motor 24. The control 22 can include a microprocessor and a variety of programmed routines for operation of the toothbrush, including brushing time and other characteristics, such as frequency and angle of movement, of the brushing action. The toothbrush 10 is mountable in a base 23 for charging of the toothbrush when not in use. Various possible modes of operation are described in more detail in PCT application No. PCT/IB2007/001047, which is owned by the assignee of the present invention, hereby incorporated by reference. Still other operational modes are possible.

A new user interface described herein for a power toothbrush includes one or more physical tokens 30. A physical token 30 is used to represent a particular action for existing toothbrushes which carry out the action. In one embodiment, physical token 30 is attachable to a portion of the toothbrush, e.g. the handle of the toothbrush. The tokens are attachable/removable from the handle or other part of the toothbrush, which could include the charger base 23. The token 30 communicates with the control 22 in the handle to trigger or enable a particular mode of operation which is present/programmed into the control.

The token can be attached to the toothbrush in various ways, including magnetic means, or mechanical means, such as clips, snaps or bands. Attachment of the token to the handle automatically results in the enabling of a program associated with/identified by the token already present in the control portion 22 of the toothbrush, which operates the toothbrush in a particular mode, such as a mode suitable for children of a certain age.

The configuration or other characteristic of the token attached to the toothbrush could identify the program enabled by the token to the user. For instance, a token could be shaped like a small child, as shown at 31 , or could include a characteristic of a favorite cartoon character. The user, or others, would thus be able to readily identify the particular mode of operation of the toothbrush. One physical token is sufficient to enable a program in the toothbrush. However, multiple tokens could be used to control different aspects of a particular mode. For instance, one token could be used to control brushing time, while another token could be used to control the frequency or other action of the brush. Hence, multiple tokens could be used to build a complete mode of operation particularly suited to one individual. Each aspect of the complete mode could thus be adjusted separately. Frequency could be adjusted, for instance, by simply switching the token associated with the frequency of operation.

The communication between token 30 and the toothbrush can vary. For instance, RF communication could be used, in which case the token 30 could take the form of an RFID tag, or the communication could be by other means, such as mechanical, in which the token could have a mechanical arrangement, such as extending fingers, cooperating with a mating mechanical receiving arrangement on the handle, e.g. a "Braille" system, to communicate the particular mode selected. Other keying mechanisms, such as a pattern of dots and/or stripes could be used, with an interrogating signal from the handle. A wide variety of communication arrangements between the attachable token and the handle are thus possible.

As an alternative, a token 32 could itself contain the desired mode (toothbrush action) program/information. This complete mode information is communicated to control 22, instead of just an enabling signal relative to an existing program control 22.

Further, the token could be programmable, either by an external computer or by using the toothbrush itself. For instance, the user could brush for an optimal time with the toothbrush, programming the token to that optimal time. In another embodiment, shown in Figure 2, a token or tokens 34 are mounted/positioned in the vicinity of the device, but not on the toothbrush, such as on a stand 36 or other mounting member. The toothbrush 10 can then be pointed to a selected token 34 and a button positioned on the handle operated to obtain the desired enabling signal or program from the token. The handheld toothbrush is thus used as a pointer relative to a particular token. The toothbrush receives the enabling signal/program from the token in response to operation of the button on the toothbrush. Hence, the token need not be physically attached to the handle to produce the desired user interface action. Although the embodiment described is in the context of a power toothbrush, the token user interface structure described herein can be applied to other hand-held personal care appliances, such as, for example, shavers, massagers, hairdryers and skin brushes. Hence, a user interface for a power toothbrush has been shown and described which includes a physical token or tokens which enable particular routines present within the toothbrush or which provide a routine to the toothbrush. The toothbrush is thus capable of operating in a variety of modes with such a user interface without any increase in the complexity or expense of the controls on the toothbrush. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed here for the purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A physical token which acts as a user interface for a power toothbrush comprising: a token member (30), separate from the power toothbrush, for communication with a control portion (22) within the toothbrush, to enable a selected operation present within the control portion or to transfer a selected operation to the control portion, said control portion in turn controlling the operation of the toothbrush accordingly.

2. The token of claim 1, wherein the token is attachable to and removable from a selected part of the toothbrush.

3. The token of claim 1, including a plurality of tokens, each of which is associated with a different aspect of said selected operation.

4. The token of claim 1, wherein the token (31) includes a characteristic which identifies the operation enabled/transferred by the token.

5. The token of claim 4, wherein said characteristic is the appearance of the token.

6. The token of claim 1, wherein the token is positionable in the vicinity of the toothbrush and wherein the toothbrush is arranged and configured so that as the toothbrush is pointed toward a particular selected token, an element (20) on the toothbrush can be operated to establish communication with the selected token.

7. The token of claim 1, wherein the communication between the token and the toothbrush is a radio frequency (RF) signal.

8. The token of claim 7, wherein the token is a RFID token.

9. The token of claim 1, wherein the communication between the token and the toothbrush is mechanical.

10. The token of claim 1, wherein the token is programmable.

11. A physical token which acts as a user interface for a hand-held personal care appliance, comprising: a token member (30), separate from the appliance, for communication with a control portion with the appliance, to enable a selected operation present within the control portion (22) or to transfer a selected operation to the control portion, said control portion in turn controlling the operation of the appliance accordingly.

12. The token of claim 11, wherein the token is attachable to and removable from a selected part of the appliance.