Automatic power adjustment system for introductory use of a vibrating device on a human body

• US 5,994,855 A
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Oral Healthcare Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Optiva Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Bayeh, Daniel, Lundell, William G., McCoy, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JUDSON
• Application Number:
  US09/074,144
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 318/114, 318/119, 318/128, 318/686, 318/127, 318/126, 364/474.17
• US Class Current: 318/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32021 Energy management, balance and limit power to tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Abstract

Driving power for a vibrating device is provided at less than full level when the device is initially used. Power is gradually increased in successive steps after a selected number of uses in each step until full power is achieved. Also, a battery-energized driving signal for a vibrating device has a selected characteristic, such as duty cycle, which is set initially at less than an optimum value, when the battery is at full strength. As the battery discharges, the selected characteristic is adjusted toward optimum so as to compensate for reduction in the battery voltage and ensure full power output.

Claims

1. A system for gradually increasing power to a vibrating device used on the human body, comprising:

means for producing driving power to a vibrating device in response to a driving signal;

means for providing less than full driving power to the vibrating device at a first selected point in time; and

means for increasing the power in successive steps in response to selected successive uses of the device by the user, until substantially full power is achieved.

2. A system of claim 1, wherein the selected point in time is the first use of the vibrating device by a particular user.

3. A system of claim 1, wherein the power is increased only in response to a use which exceeds a selected amount of time.

4. A system of claim 1, wherein the vibrating device is a toothbrush.

5. A system of claim 3, including at least three steps of power increase.

6. A system of claim 1, including means for increasing the power by increasing the duty cycle of the driving signal from an initial value which is substantially less than 100% to a value which is approximately 100%.

7. A system of claim 1, wherein the vibrating device is a resonant system having a resonant frequency, and wherein the means for increasing the power includes means for changing the frequency of the driving signal from an initial value which is removed from said resonance frequency to a value which is approximately equal to the resonant frequency.

8. A system of claim 1, including means for changing the level of driving power to full power at any point in operation of said system.

9. An article of claim 1, including means permitting initiation and re-initiation by the user of operation of the system.