Personal Care Device Localization via Body Motion Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for localizing personal care devices on users rely on cameras or markers, which can be obstructed by the user's body, leading to unreliable or failed device localization.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method using a processor to detect the location of personal care devices by analyzing motions and anatomical features of the user's body, eliminating the need for cameras or markers, and adjusting device settings based on the detected information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera-based tracking with markers is used to determine device location, then localization information can be obtained, but the device complexity increases due to added markers and the reliability decreases when markers are obstructed by user's body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes markers and cameras from the personal care device, extracting the problematic components that caused obstruction issues. Instead, it uses the device's existing structure and the user's body motions as the basis for localization, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining localization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own body motions (caused by the device's operation) as the tracking signal. The personal care device itself generates the motion pattern that is detected by the camera to determine device location, eliminating the need for external markers
2Measurement precision
If markers are added to personal care device for tracking, then device location can be determined, but the manufacturing precision and design requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the marker components from the device design, eliminating the need for precise marker placement and reducing manufacturing complexity. The system achieves localization without requiring any additional manufactured features on the device
3Reliability
If camera is used to track personal care device, then localization information is obtained, but the reliability decreases when the device or markers are obstructed by user's body
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of tracking the device directly (which can be obstructed), the system inverts the approach by tracking the device's effect on the user's body. The camera observes body motions caused by the device rather than the device itself, thereby avoiding obstruction problems
Solution Approach 2:
The user's body acts as an intermediary between the personal care device and the camera. Rather than the camera directly observing the device (which may be blocked), it observes the body's response to the device's operation, using the body as a mediator to convey device location information
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus (100) for determining a location of a personal care device on a user. The apparatus (100) comprises a processor (102) configured to detect a location of one or more parts of the body of a user, detect motions of at least one of the parts of the body of the user induced by the personal care device when the personal care device is in use and determine the location of the personal care device on the user based on the detected motions of the at least one part of the body of the user in relation to the detected location of the at least one part of the body of the user. The processor (102) is configured to acquire images of the user from an imaging sensor (108) directed at the user, and detect the location of the one or more parts of the body of a user and the motions of the at least one part of the body of the user induced by the personal care device from the acquired images of the user.