Patents by Inventor Ingo Vetter

Ingo Vetter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10874493
    Abstract: An oral-care system includes an oral-care device having a treatment head, a position-determination unit for determining position information of the treatment head in relation to a user's treatment area at a plurality of time instances during a treatment session, a sensor unit for determining treatment-parameter values of at least one treatment parameter at the plurality of time instances, a processor unit for processing the determined position information and the determined treatment parameter values to generate at least position-resolved treatment data, a memory unit for storing at least the position-resolved treatment data, and a control unit for triggering an action of the personal-hygiene system based at least on a current position information and on the stored position-resolved treatment data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Leo Faranda, Matthias Schiebahn
  • Patent number: 10713809
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining a position of a user's body portion. The device includes a camera, configured to capture the body portion, and a display for providing visual feedback. A sensor determines at least one of a roll angle, a pitch angle, and a yaw angle of the device, and an interface receives picture data related to a pictorial representation of the body portion captured and sensor data related to the determined angle of the device. An analyzer analyzes, based on the picture data, whether the captured body portion is within a predetermined region of the picture and, based on the sensor data, whether at least one of the roll angle, the pitch angle, and the yaw angle is within a predetermined angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventor: Ingo Vetter
  • Patent number: 10702191
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a body portion of a user treated by the user using a personal hygienic device. The apparatus includes a camera configured to capture the user to obtain a pictorial representation of the user while treating the body portion using the personal hygienic device; an interface configured to receive sensor data from at least one inertial sensor residing in the personal hygienic device; and an analyzer configured to analyze the pictorial representation and the sensor data to determine the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Carl Stückrath, Hansjorg Reick, Jens-Uwe Garbas, Jochen Seitz, Andreas Ernst, Marcus Bocksch
  • Patent number: 10702206
    Abstract: A toothbrush handle for providing oral cavity position detection during operation includes a handle body having a longitudinal axis, a receiver body elastically deformable relative to the longitudinal axis, and a three-axis force sensor that is operatively connected to the base portion and configured to obtain three-axis force data for oral cavity position detection during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Alexandre André Halbach
  • Patent number: 10433636
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Jannik Scheele, Martin Haas, Norbert Schaefer, Robert Schäfer, Sven Alexander Franke, Uwe Schober, Ingo Vetter, Frank Ziegler
  • Patent number: 10299902
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a fastenable device for oral area position detection that is fastenable to oral care implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Frank Kressmann, Alexandre Halbach
  • Publication number: 20190090999
    Abstract: An oral-care system includes an oral-care device having a treatment head, a position-determination unit for determining position information of the treatment head in relation to a user's treatment area at a plurality of time instances during a treatment session, a sensor unit for determining treatment-parameter values of at least one treatment parameter at the plurality of time instances, a processor unit for processing the determined position information and the determined treatment parameter values to generate at least position-resolved treatment data, a memory unit for storing at least the position-resolved treatment data, and a control unit for triggering an action of the personal -hygiene system based at least on a current position information and on the stored position-resolved treatment data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Ingo VETTER, Leo FARANDA, Matthias SCHIEBAHN
  • Patent number: 10242566
    Abstract: A personal hygiene system includes a personal hygiene device having a receiver unit, a control unit, and a functional unit; and a separate control device having a transmitter unit. The control unit drives the functional unit in at least one of a first functional mode and a second functional mode different from the first functional mode. The control unit inhibits provision of the second functional mode while the control unit is in a default state. The transmitter unit sends at least a first signal to the receiver unit of the personal hygiene device when the separate control device is switched from a default control mode to a first control mode. The control unit can be switched from the default state into a first state when the first signal is received by the receiver unit, in which first state the control unit permits provision of the second functional mode at least during a first allowance period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Matthias Schiebahn, Leo Faranda, Ingo Vetter
  • Patent number: 10117508
    Abstract: A fastenable device includes a housing having a base portion, a head portion opposite to the base portion, and a body portion between the base portion and the head portion. The base portion has a first fastener in the form of a full ring integral to the housing and defining a through-hole. The head portion has a second fastener in the form of an open ring integral to the housing and defining a snappable recess. The device includes a frequency generator housed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrode pair disposed on the housing, for applying a voltage with at least two different frequencies between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Frank Kressmann, Alexandre Halbach
  • Publication number: 20170236298
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining a position of a user's body portion. The device includes a camera, configured to capture the body portion, and a display for providing visual feedback. A sensor determines at least one of a roll angle, a pitch angle, and a yaw angle of the device, and an interface receives picture data related to a pictorial representation of the body portion captured and sensor data related to the determined angle of the device. An analyzer analyzes, based on the picture data, whether the captured body portion is within a predetermined region of the picture and, based on the sensor data, whether at least one of the roll angle, the pitch angle, and the yaw angle is within a predetermined angle range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Ingo VETTER
  • Publication number: 20170069083
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a body portion of a user treated by the user using a personal hygienic device. The apparatus includes a camera configured to capture the user to obtain a pictorial representation of the user while treating the body portion using the personal hygienic device; an interface configured to receive sensor data from at least one inertial sensor residing in the personal hygienic device; and an analyzer configured to analyze the pictorial representation and the sensor data to determine the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Ingo VETTER, Carl STÜCKRATH, Hansjorg REICK, Jens-Uwe GARBAS, Jochen SEITZ, Andreas ERNST, Marcus BOCKSCH
  • Publication number: 20170004703
    Abstract: A personal hygiene system includes a personal hygiene device having a receiver unit, a control unit, and a functional unit; and a separate control device having a transmitter unit. The control unit drives the functional unit in at least one of a first functional mode and a second functional mode different from the first functional mode. The control unit inhibits provision of the second functional mode while the control unit is in a default state. The transmitter unit sends at least a first signal to the receiver unit of the personal hygiene device when the separate control device is switched from a default control mode to a first control mode. The control unit can be switched from the default state into a first state when the first signal is received by the receiver unit, in which first state the control unit permits provision of the second functional mode at least during a first allowance period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Matthias SCHIEBAHN, Leo FARANDA, Ingo VETTER
  • Publication number: 20160374609
    Abstract: A toothbrush handle for providing oral cavity position detection during operation includes a handle body having a longitudinal axis, a receiver body elastically deformable relative to the longitudinal axis, and a three-axis force sensor that is operatively connected to the base portion and configured to obtain three-axis force data for oral cavity position detection during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo VETTER, Alexandre André HALBACH
  • Publication number: 20160331120
    Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a handle, a treatment head mounted for relative movement of at least a portion thereof with respect to the handle against a restoring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one direction onto the treatment head, a treatment-force-measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force comprising a light-emitting element, a light-sensitive element, and a light-changing element arranged at least partly in the light path between the light-emitting element and the light-sensitive element, wherein the light-changing element and at least one of the light-emitting element and light-sensitive element are arranged to be moved relatively to each other when at least the portion of the treatment head is moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jannik SCHEELE, Martin HAAS, Norbert SCHAEFER, Robert SCHÄFER, Sven Alexander FRANKE, Uwe SCHOBER, Ingo VETTER, Frank ZIEGLER
  • Patent number: 9427294
    Abstract: An electrical appliance with a resonant motor for driving a vibratory component is provided that has a control unit for driving the resonant motor with a predetermined driving frequency and for measuring the motion-induced voltage of the resonant motor and for determining whether the measured voltage value coincides with a predetermined target voltage value or whether the measured voltage value has crossed over the predetermined target value. The control unit measures the motion-induced voltage at a predetermined time of measurement (tm) within a driving cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BRAUN GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Klemm, Ingo Vetter, Uwe Jungnickel
  • Publication number: 20160022398
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a fastenable device for oral area position detection that is fastenable to oral care implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo VETTER, Frank KRESSMANN, Alexandre HALBACH
  • Publication number: 20160022024
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a fastenable device for oral area position detection that is fastenable to oral care implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ingo VETTER, Frank KRESSMANN, Alexandre HALBACH
  • Patent number: 9114542
    Abstract: Implementations of a method for determining a degree of dirtiness of a cutting tool that is driven in a back and forth motion by an electric motor include evaluating a parameter that corresponds to the motion of the cutting tool and that is used for controlling the electric motor. The degree of dirtiness is determined based on the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Holger Hild, Thomas Hohmann
  • Publication number: 20150230899
    Abstract: An oral care system is disclosed. The oral care system includes an electric toothbrush having an energy source; an electronic circuit including a microcontroller and one or more electric loads; and at least one sensor for providing a signal indicating a relevant change of an external condition; and a mobile computing device that stores a computer application. In response to a relevant change in an external condition, the signal has an energy content allowing the microcontroller to activate a ready mode, the ready mode causing the system to perform at least the following prior to turning the toothbrush on: switching on one or more of the electric loads for a preset period; enabling a wireless communication link between toothbrush and device; and exchanging data between toothbrush and device as part of the wireless communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Ingo Vetter, Matthias Schiebahn, Eddie Brzezinski, Felix Koenig
  • Patent number: 8943635
    Abstract: A personal care device is disclosed. The personal care device includes an electrically powered driving unit for driving a working implement of the personal care device at a desired speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency; and a control unit for controlling the driving unit in response to load onto the working implement. The control unit includes a detector for detecting an operating parameter of the driving unit responsive to load onto the working implement, and a powering unit for varying the electrical powering of the driving unit in response to a detected change of the value of the operating parameter such that speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency of the working implement is changed from an idling value to an operation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Heil, Thomas Fritsch, Ingo Vetter