System for determining a relative orientation of a device to a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018024507-A1
Application number	US-201615542807-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application relates to a system for determining an orientation of a first device relative to a user. The system comprises a first device including a first orientation measuring unit arranged to measure an orientation of the first device relative to the earth, a second device arranged to be worn by the user on a body part, the second device including a second orientation measuring unit arranged to measure an orientation of the second device relative to the earth. The system also comprises a processing unit arranged to calculate an orientation of the first device relative to the second device by comparing the measured orientation of the first device relative to the earth with the measured orientation of the second device relative to the earth.

First claim

1 . A system for determining an orientation of a first device relative to a user, comprising:
a first device including a first orientation measuring unit arranged to measure an orientation of the first device relative to the earth; a second device associated with the user, the second device including a second orientation measuring unit arranged to measure an orientation of the second device relative to the earth; and a processing unit arranged to calculate an orientation of the first device relative to the second device by comparing the measured orientation of the first device relative to the earth with the measured orientation of the second device relative to the earth.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device is arranged to adjust a functionality of the first device based on the orientation of a first device relative to the user.

3 . The system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first device further comprises a first communication unit, and the second device further comprises a second communication unit, wherein the second communication unit is arranged to transmit the measured orientation of the second device relative to the earth to the first communication unit.

4 . The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the processing unit is arranged to calculate the orientation of the first device relative to the second device by performing geometric subtraction of the measured orientation of the first device relative to the earth and the measured orientation of the second device relative to the earth.

5 . The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first orientation measuring unit comprises at least one of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a digital inclinometer, and the second orientation measuring unit comprises an accelerometer, a gyroscope, compass, a north-finder, and a digital inclinometer.

6 . The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit is located in at least one of: the first device, the second device, and a third device.

7 . The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a position measuring unit arranged to measure a relative position of the first device to the second device.

8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the position measuring unit is located in at least one of: the first device, the second device, and a third device.

9 . The system according to claim 7 or claim 8 , wherein the first position measuring unit comprises an electromagnetic field sensor or a laser-distance sensor.

10 . The system of any of any one of claims 7 to 9 , wherein the first device is further arranged to adjust a functionality of the first device based on the relative orientation of the first device to the second device and on the relative position of the first device to the second device.

11 . The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first device is a personal appliance including any one of an electric shaver, a hair clipper, a beard trimmer, an electric toothbrush, a hair dryer, skin care device, cleansing appliance, and a beauty appliance.

12 . The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second device is arranged to be worn by the user on a body part.

13 . A device comprising:
a first orientation measuring unit arranged to measure an orientation of the first device relative to the earth; a first communication unit arranged to receive an orientation of a second device relative to the earth, the second device being worn by the user; and a processing unit arranged to calculate an orientation of the first device relative to the user by comparing the measured orientation of the first device to the received orientation of the second device.

14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein the device is further arranged to adjust its functionality based on the relative orientation of the first device to the user.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Godlieb Robert

Classifications

• G01C9/00

  Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels · CPC title

• G01C21/16

  by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation · CPC title

• G01B21/16

  for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects · CPC title

• B26B19/388 Primary

  Sensors; Control · CPC title

• A45D20/12

  Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands · CPC title