# US 2014/0194794 A1 · Massager with touch-sensing head

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0194794 A1
- Document ID: US20140194794A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/734,908
- Filed: 2013-01-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04
- Assignees: LELO Inc.
- Applicants: Lelo Inc.
- Inventors: Filip Sedic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194794A1

## CPC

- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 23/0254: {with rotary motor}
- A61H 2201/0153: hand-held
- A61H 2201/5005: for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2201/5028: Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A massager includes a massager head with a capacitive sensor. A controller uses the capacitive sensor to sense capacitance changes that indicate a human body is in close proximity or in contact with the massager head. Responsive to activating the capacitive sensor, the controller activates a massager motor in the massager head. When a human body is sensed, the controller increases the vibrations caused by the massager motor from a starting speed to a final speed through a period of time. When the capacitive sensor no longer senses a body, the massager motor is slowed down and may be stopped.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A massager configured for control based on touching a human body, comprising:
a massager body;
a massager motor enclosed within the massager body, such motor being capable of a plurality of operating speeds;
a capacitive sensor disposed in at least a portion of the massager body surrounding the massager motor, the capacitive sensor configured for sensing contact with a human body of at least a portion of the massager body;
a controller disposed within the massager body for operating the massager motor, the controller configured to turn the device on and off, execute a plurality of motor patterns and change the operating speed of the massager motor, wherein the controller increases the operating speed of the massager motor responsive to the capacitive sensor sensing close proximity or contact with a human body, and the controller decreases the operating speed of the massager motor responsive to the capacitive sensor no longer sensing such proximity or contact.

### Claim 1

A massager configured for control based on touching a human body, comprising:
a massager body;
a massager motor enclosed within the massager body, the massager motor being capable of a plurality of operating speeds;
a capacitive sensor disposed in at least a portion of the massager body, the capacitive sensor configured for sensing contact or close proximity of a human body with at least the portion of the massager body comprising the capacitive sensor;
a controller disposed within the massager body for operating the massager motor, the controller configured to execute a massage using the massager motor, the massage comprising one of a plurality of motor patterns and an operating speed of the massager motor, wherein the controller is configured to change the massage executed by the massager motor responsive to the capacitive sensor sensing contact or close proximity of the human body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The massager of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to increase the operating speed of the massager motor responsive to the capacitive sensor sensing the contact of human body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The massager of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to increase the operating speed of the massager motor over an amount of time from an initial speed to a final speed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The massager of claim 3, wherein the initial speed is zero.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The massager of claim 3, wherein the initial speed is non-zero.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The massager of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to change the motor pattern of the massage responsive to the capacitive sensor sensing contact of human body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The massager of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to stop the massage responsive to the capacitive sensor no longer sensing contact or close proximity of human body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The massager of claim 1, wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to sense the presence or absence of human body using a relaxation oscillator.

### Claim 9

A method for massager control based on touching a body, comprising:
sensing contact or close proximity with a human body by a capacitive sensor associated with at least a portion of a massager;
adjusting operation of a massager motor of a massager in response to the sensing of contact or close proximity with the human body;
sensing by the sensor that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body; and
adjusting operation of the massager motor of the massager in response to the sensing that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing of contact or close proximity with the human body comprises automatically activating at least one setting of the massager.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing of contact close proximity with the human body comprises automatically causing the massager motor to start vibrating.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing of contact close proximity with the human body comprises automatically increasing operation speed of the massager from a lower to a higher speed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body comprises automatically deactivating at least one setting of the massager.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body comprises automatically causing the massager to stop vibrating.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the adjusting operation in response to the sensing that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body comprises automatically decreasing operation speed of the massager from a higher to a lower speed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of adjusting operation of the massager in response to sensing of contact or close proximity with the human body and adjusting operation of the massager in response to sensing that the massager is no longer contacting or in close proximity to the human body occur without a user manipulating a user control.