Abstract: A toothbrush (10) includes a brushhead (18), a first force sensor (30A) for measuring a first force exerted by the brushhead at a first angle relative to a tooth and a second force sensor (30B) for measuring a second force exerted by the brushhead at a second angle relative to the tooth, the second angle being different than the first angle, and a processing unit (26). The processing unit is structured to: (i) receive first information indicative of the first force as measured by the first force sensor, (ii) receive second information indicative of the second force as measured by the second force sensor, and (iii) determine information regarding a current brushing angle of the brushhead based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: A toothbrush (10) includes a brushhead (18), a first force sensor (30A) for measuring a first force exerted by the brushhead at a first angle relative to a tooth and a second force sensor (30B) for measuring a second force exerted by the brushhead at a second angle relative to the tooth, the second angle being different than the first angle, and a processing unit (26). The processing unit is structured to: (i) receive first information indicative of the first force as measured by the first force sensor, (ii) receive second information indicative of the second force as measured by the second force sensor, and (iii) determine information regarding a current brushing angle of the brushhead based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: The invention describes a laser sensor module (100) which is adapted to detect or determine at least two different physical parameters by means of self-mixing interference by focusing a laser beam to different positions. Such a laser sensor module (100) may be used as an integrated sensor module, for example, in mobile devices (250). The laser sensor module (100) may be used as an input device and in addition as a sensor for detecting physical parameters in an environment of the mobile communication device (250). One physical parameter in the environment of the mobile communication device (250) may, for example, be the concentration of particles in the air (air pollution, smog . . . ). The invention further describes a related method and computer program product.

Abstract: An optical particle sensor has at least first and second threshold settings applied to an optical sensor (16) or a sensor signal to obtain first and second optical sensor readings. They are processed (24) to determine a parameter which is dependent on a type of pollution event. The parameter is used to determine from at least one of the first and second optical sensor readings a mass of all particles below a first particle size. In this way the mass of all particles below a desired size can be evaluated, even though the optical sensor may not be responsive to the smallest particles.

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port of a distal tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port. The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the second fluid medium (30) through a distal probe tip.

Abstract: A toothbrush (10) includes a brushhead (18), a first force sensor (30A) for measuring a first force exerted by the brushhead at a first angle relative to a tooth and a second force sensor (30B) for measuring a second force exerted by the brushhead at a second angle relative to the tooth, the second angle being different than the first angle, and a processing unit (26). The processing unit is structured to: (i) receive first information indicative of the first force as measured by the first force sensor, (ii) receive second information indicative of the second force as measured by the second force sensor, and (iii) determine information regarding a current brushing angle of the brushhead based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: An oral cleaning system provides motivating feedback to a user before brushing and includes: a power toothbrush (10); one or more sensors (26) on or within the toothbrush; a processor (30) within the toothbrush configured to process sensor information obtained from the one or more sensors during a first brushing session of a user; and a feedback system (40) on or within the toothbrush responsive to the processor and configured to communicate brushing information to the user at a time subsequent to the first brushing session but before a second brushing session of the user.

Abstract: A room divider (100) for dividing a room into two sub-portions (R1, R2) and for attenuating sound (S1, S2) travelling between the two sub-portions is provided. The room divider comprises hollow cylindrical elements (110) arranged periodically for dividing the room into the two sub-portions. At least some of the hollow cylindrical elements have a cylindrical shell (111) with at least one slit (112) extending in an axial direction (120) of the shell. The shell extends continuously along the perimeter of the corresponding hollow cylindrical element from one side (113) of the at least one slit to another side (114) of the at least one slit. Each of the at least one slit faces in a local elongation direction (130) of the room divider for increasing acoustic symmetry with respect to the two sub-portions. The use of destructive interference and resonance to attenuate sound allows for a less bulky/heavy acoustically absorbing room divider.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as an output device of a user interface to an information processing system includes at least one device for generating a synthetic jet. The device is capable of producing outputs with different modalities. Examples of different modalities that are possible include airflows, vibration and sound.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured such that passage of a fluid through an open port of a distal probe tip enables detection of a substance that may be present on a surface, e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid through the open port. The apparatus includes a proximal pump portion and at least one distal probe portion configured to be immersed in another fluid, e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system includes one or two such apparatuses. A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid through the distal probe tip. The distal probe tip may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port. The distal probe tip may also have a non-uniform wear profile. The at least one distal probe portion may include two or multiple components to improve performance and reliability.

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port (136, 2604) of a distal probe tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port (136, 2604). The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid (30) through the distal probe tip (112, 112?). The distal probe tip (112, 112?) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (136, 2604).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit (1) for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface (40) to be cleaned in order for the particles to become dislodged from the surface (40) and to be received by the unit (1). The unit (1) comprises a housing (10) having an internal space (11) enclosed by a housing wall (12) in which at least one opening (13) is arranged, a movable surface (30) which is integrated in the housing wall (12), and means (31) for actuating the movable surface (30), which are adapted to realize an oscillating movement of the surface (30) that causes air to alternately be drawn into the housing (10) through the opening (13) and expelled from the housing (10) through the opening (13). At least a portion of the housing wall (12), particularly a portion of the housing wall (12) in which the opening (13) is located, is movably arranged in the unit (1).

Abstract: A system for analysis of the upper airway has at least two sensors are provided along a flow path leading to the mouth and/or nose of a user. A relation is derived between the two sensor signals, and this is interpreted to detect at least the presence of upper airway obstructions, and preferably also the location and/or extent of such obstructions.

Abstract: A proximal body portion (210) of a detection apparatus for detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes pump portion (124, 142) and a proximal probe portion (111, 120) in fluid communication with one another. A controller (225) processes signal readings sensed by the parameter sensor (P, P1 or P2) and determines whether the signal readings are indicative of a substance (116) obstructing the passage of fluid (130) through the open port of the distal tip (112, 112?) of a distal probe portion (110) of the detection apparatus (100, 100?, 100?, 100?a, 100?b, 100?c, 100?d, 100c). The controller (225) transmits a signal that changes dynamic pressure at the distal tip (112, 112?) upon determining that the signal readings are indicative of a substance (116) obstructing the passage of fluid (130) through the open port of the distal tip (112, 112?).

Abstract: A room divider (100) for dividing a room into two sub-portions (R1, R2) and for attenuating sound (S1, S2) travelling between the two sub-portions is provided. The room divider comprises hollow cylindrical elements (110) arranged periodically for dividing the room into the two sub-portions. At least some of the hollow cylindrical elements have a cylindrical shell (111) with at least one slit (112) extending in an axial direction (120) of the shell. The shell extends continuously along the perimeter of the corresponding hollow cylindrical element from one side (113) of the at least one slit to another side (114) of the at least one slit. Each of the at least one slit faces in a local elongation direction (130) of the room divider for increasing acoustic symmetry with respect to the two sub-portions. The use of destructive interference and resonance to attenuate sound allows for a less bulky/heavy acoustically absorbing room divider.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position estimate for an audio source comprises two microphones (M1, M2) and an acoustic element (203) providing an acoustic effect to sound from sound source positions to the first microphone (M1). The acoustic effect is asymmetric with respect to an axis (201) between the microphones (M1, M2). A position circuit (305) estimates two possible positions on different sides of the axis for the sound source in response to time of arrivals at the microphones (M1, M2). An estimator (307) determines an acoustic effect measure being indicative of a degree to which an acoustic effect of the first microphone signal matches an expected characteristic of the acoustic effect for sound sources on one side of the axis (201). Another circuit (309) determines the position estimate by selecting between the two possible positions in response to the acoustic effect measure.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning device comprises a unit (1) for aerodynamically affecting dust particles and/or a surface to be cleaned. The unit (1) comprises a housing (30) having a housing wall (31) encompassing two internal sections (20, 22), and a movable surface (11) arranged at an interface of the two sections (20, 22), wherein a portion (32) of the housing wall (31) delimiting a first section (20) is provided with at least one opening (21), and wherein means for actuating the movable surface (11) are arranged in a second section (22). A portion (33) of the housing wall (31) delimiting the second section (22) is adapted to at least hinder exchange of air between an inside of this section (22) and an outside of the housing (30) at the location of this section (22), in order to at least hinder a migration of dust to the second section (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port (136, 2604) of a distal probe tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port (136, 2604). The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid (30) through the distal probe tip (112, 112?). The distal probe tip (112, 112?) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (136, 2604).

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port (136, 2604) of a distal probe tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port (136, 2604). The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid (30) through the distal probe tip (112, 112?). The distal probe tip (112, 112?) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (136, 2604).

Abstract: An apparatus (100, 100?) is configured such that passage of a fluid (30) through an open port (136, 2604) of a distal probe tip (112, 112?) enables detection of a substance (116) that may be present on a surface (31, 33), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through the open port (136, 2604). The apparatus (100, 100?) includes a proximal pump portion (124) and at least one distal probe portion (110) configured to be immersed in another fluid (11), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system (3000) includes one or two such apparatuses (3100, 3200). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone (17) for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid (30) through the distal probe tip (112, 112?). The distal probe tip (112, 112?) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (136, 2604).