ST semiconductor chips in an electric toothbrush

STMicroelectronics has revealed its contributions to an intelligent toothbrush system from Oral-B, with the motion-sensing and control chip inside the toothbrush helping to develop healthier brushing habits.

Brushing incorrectly can negatively affect oral health. To help people brush like their dental professional recommends, the Oral-B GENIUS intelligent toothbrush system combines Position Detection technology with Triple Pressure Control and a Professional Timer.

ST’s low-power 3-axis accelerometer captures permanently the orientation of the toothbrush handle while the user is brushing. Its 8-bit STM8 microcontroller, meanwhile, performs preprocessing of the accelerometer data and other housekeeping functions on the toothbrush and leverages the company’s packaging technologies for miniaturisation.

“Our contribution to improving personal health care through an electronic toothbrush that brushes like your dental professional recommends is yet another example of how semiconductor technologies help people get more from life,” said Kevin Gagnon, vice president of central sales, Americas Region, STMicroelectronics. “A powerful demonstration of the exceptional creativity of the Oral-B technology team, the GENIUS smart electronic toothbrush is a testament to the variety of highly innovative products that ST’s solutions can be used to develop and bring to market.”