Use of resonant systems to automatically modify power (amplitude) of an oral care appliance upon use in-mouth
First Claim
1. An oral care appliance, comprising:
- a longitudinal shaft;
a head located at a first end of the longitudinal shaft; and
a handle located at a second end of the longitudinal shaft opposite the first end, wherein the handle comprises a motor housed within the handle, the motor being operable fixed operating frequency in response to a constant non-linear energizing voltage signal, wherein;
responsive to no mass being applied to the head, the head has a first moment of inertia and the motor generates a first amplitude of oscillatory rotational motion through a first amount of degree of rotations about a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal shaft for the head; and
responsive to mass being applied to the head, the head has a second moment of inertia and the motor generates a second amplitude of oscillatory rotational motion through a second amount of degree of rotations about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal shaft for the head, wherein the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude;
wherein the motor further comprises at least one set of permanent magnets located at a fixed position within the handle, the at least one set of permanent magnets alternating circumferentially between a first polarity and a second polarity.
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Abstract
An oral care appliance (100), such as an electric toothbrush, utilizing non-linear resonant systems is described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the oral care appliance includes a longitudinal shaft (102), a brush head (130), and a handle (190). The handle includes a motor (140) that generates a first amplitude (404) for the brush head based on the brush head being outside of the user'"'"'s mouth, when no mass is applied to the brush head. In response to the brush head being inside of the user'"'"'s mouth, when mass is applied, such as by pressing the brush head against the teeth, the motor causes a second amplitude (410) to be generated for the brush head that is larger than the first amplitude.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An oral care appliance, comprising:
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a longitudinal shaft; a head located at a first end of the longitudinal shaft; and a handle located at a second end of the longitudinal shaft opposite the first end, wherein the handle comprises a motor housed within the handle, the motor being operable fixed operating frequency in response to a constant non-linear energizing voltage signal, wherein; responsive to no mass being applied to the head, the head has a first moment of inertia and the motor generates a first amplitude of oscillatory rotational motion through a first amount of degree of rotations about a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal shaft for the head; and responsive to mass being applied to the head, the head has a second moment of inertia and the motor generates a second amplitude of oscillatory rotational motion through a second amount of degree of rotations about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal shaft for the head, wherein the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude; wherein the motor further comprises at least one set of permanent magnets located at a fixed position within the handle, the at least one set of permanent magnets alternating circumferentially between a first polarity and a second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification