Abstract: A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet has a first aperture at least partially defined by a first movable member, and a second aperture at least partially defined by a second movable member. Each of the first and second movable members are movable to vary a cross-sectional area of the respective first and second apertures, and movement of the first movable member causes movement of second movable member.

Abstract: A head wearable air purifier including a filter assembly, a motor-driven impeller for creating an airflow through the filter assembly to obtain a filtered airflow downstream of the filter assembly, and an ear assembly arranged to be worn over an ear of a user, the ear assembly including at least one light source for emitting light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum. The air purifier also includes a nozzle attached to the ear assembly, the nozzle including a nozzle inlet arranged to receive the filtered airflow downstream of the filter assembly, and a nozzle outlet for emitting the received filtered airflow from the head wearable air purifier. The at least one light source is arranged to illuminate at least part of the nozzle for the decontamination thereof.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The air outlet has a first aperture located on a first side of the haircare appliance, and a second aperture located on a second side of the haircare appliance opposite to the first side of the haircare appliance. The haircare appliance is configured such that engagement of the first side of the haircare appliance with hair increases airflow through the first aperture and decreases airflow through the second aperture, and engagement of the second side of the haircare appliance with hair increases airflow through the second aperture and decreases airflow through the first aperture.

Abstract: There is provided a mobile robot including a chassis, a drive system, and a collision detection system. The collision detection system includes first and second parts of the mobile robot, the first and second body parts being disconnected and moveable relative to the chassis in response to a collision with an object, and first and second sensors configured to sense relative movement between the chassis and the first and second body parts respectively and, in a collision event, to send a control signal causing the drive system to take corrective action. The mass of the second body part is substantially lower than the mass of the first body part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a haircare appliance including: an air inlet; a moveable member including an air outlet; an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet; a heater for heating the airflow; and a hair treatment chamber for receiving hair, the hair treatment chamber including an opening through which hair is insertable into the hair treatment chamber, the opening defined by a rim of the hair treatment chamber. The moveable member is moveable between an extended position at which the moveable member extends from the rim by a first extent and a retracted position at which the moveable member extends from the rim by a second extent less than the first extent.

Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent magnet motor having a plurality of phase windings and an inverter for applying voltage vectors to the plurality of the phase windings, the method including monitoring phase current flowing through a first phase winding to determine a zero-crossing point of the phase current flowing through the first phase winding. The method includes predicting a polarity of phase current flowing through a second phase winding based on the determined zero-crossing point of the phase current flowing through the first phase winding, and determining a timing of a control signal to control switches of the inverter to apply a voltage vector to the phase windings. The timing of the control signal is determined using the predicted polarity of phase current flowing through the second phase winding.

Abstract: A hair styling appliance is described that includes an airflow unit for generating an airflow, a heating unit for heating the airflow, and a control unit for controlling the airflow unit and the heating unit. The control unit receives user data relating to at least one of a desired style, a hair type and a previous styling by the appliance. The control unit controls the airflow unit and the heating unit in a sequence of modes to style the hair of a user, the airflow unit having a different flow rate and/or the heating unit having a different heat setting in different modes. The control unit uses the user data to define the sequence of modes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an attachment for a haircare appliance, the attachment including: an air inlet for receiving an airflow; an air outlet for emitting the airflow; and a hair treatment chamber for receiving hair, the hair treatment chamber in fluid communication with the air outlet. The hair treatment chamber includes a wall, an opening through which hair is insertable into the hair treatment chamber, and an aperture formed in the wall, the air outlet configured to direct airflow away from the opening and toward the aperture in use.

Abstract: An autonomous surface cleaning apparatus includes a body defining a generally planar front surface, a drive system carried by the body and configured to move the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus across a surface, a cleaning assembly disposed at a front of the body, a rechargeable battery system, and charging contacts disposed on the front surface of the body. The apparatus further includes a receptacle configured to receive dirt collected by the cleaning assembly, the receptacle being releasably attached to the body, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that, when the receptacle is attached to the body, the receptacle is at least partially disposed within a rearward facing recess defined by the body.

Abstract: A storage case is provided for a portable device, the storage case including at least one docking bay and at least one light source. The docking bay is shaped for holding at least a part of the portable device in a predetermined position. The light source is configured for emitting light in a violet portion of the visual spectrum, and arranged in such a way as to illuminate a specific portion of the portable device when the at least one part of the portable device is held in the predetermined position.

Abstract: A haircare appliance has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet. The haircare appliance has a fixed body defining the air outlet, and a rotatable member rotatable relative to the fixed body. The air outlet has a first aperture located on a first side of the fixed body, and a second aperture located on a second side of the fixed body opposite to the first side of the fixed body. The rotatable member is rotatable from a first configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the first aperture and blocks airflow through the second aperture, to a second configuration in which the rotatable member permits airflow through the second aperture and blocks airflow through the first aperture. The rotatable member is located internally of the fixed member.

Abstract: A mobile robot including a vision system, the vision system including a camera and an illumination system; the illumination system including a plurality of light sources arranged to provide a level of illumination to an area surrounding the mobile robot; and a control system for controlling the illumination system. The control system adjusts the level of illumination provided by the plurality of light sources based on an image captured by the camera; an exposure time of the camera at the time the image was captured; and robot rotation information.

Abstract: A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, and a fluid delivery system for receiving working fluid from the reservoir, and for delivering working fluid to the oral cavity of a user. The fluid reservoir includes a fluid port from which fluid is dispensed from the fluid reservoir, and through which the fluid reservoir is replenished. The fluid reservoir is moveable along the handle between a first position in which the fluid port is connected to the fluid delivery system, and a second position in which the fluid port is exposed to allow the fluid reservoir to be replenished.

Abstract: A dock for a floor cleaner, particularly a dock for cleaning a floor cleaner, is provided. The dock includes a receiving unit for receiving the floor cleaner, and a reservoir for containing liquid. The dock is arranged to feed liquid from the reservoir into the floor cleaner and receive the same liquid from the floor cleaner, the liquid having been flushed through the floor cleaner.

Abstract: A hair styling appliance is described that includes an airflow unit for generating an airflow, a heating unit for heating the airflow, and a control unit for controlling the airflow unit and the heating unit. The control unit controls the airflow unit and the heating unit in a predefined sequence of modes that includes a first mode, a second mode and a third mode. The airflow unit has a different flow rate and/or the heating unit has a different heat setting in each of the modes, and the control unit determines when to transition between modes of the predefined sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a haircare appliance including: an air inlet; an air outlet; an airflow generator for generating an airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet, the airflow generator disposed in a housing; and a hair treatment chamber for receiving hair, the air outlet configured to direct airflow into the hair treatment chamber. The hair treatment chamber is movable from a first orientation relative to the housing to a second orientation relative to the housing, the second orientation different to the first orientation.

Abstract: A wearable air purification system including: a support assembly, including: a first earpiece arranged to engage a first ear of a user, the first earpiece including an air filter; a second earpiece arranged to engage a second ear of the user; and a support member connecting the first earpiece to the second earpiece, the support member being arranged to be worn around the user's head; an air delivery mask connected to the support assembly, the air delivery mask being shaped to bound an air delivery region that contains the user's nose and/or mouth. In use, the air delivery mask includes an outlet in the air delivery region and an air channel configured to deliver a flow of air from the air filter to the outlet. Also, a motor is arranged to drive an impeller to pump air through the air channel to the air delivery region, the motor being housed in the first earpiece and being radially offset from a centre of the air filter.

Abstract: A wearable air purification system including a wearable support configured to be supported on or around a head region of a user, and an air delivery mask connected to the wearable support which is shaped to bound an air delivery region and to deliver a flow of air to the air delivery region. The air delivery mask includes an illumination source configured to illuminate the air delivery region, wherein the illumination source is directional and is oriented to target the air delivery region. The system or ‘air purifier’ is configured to direct light to the area occupied by the user's mouth when the air purifier is worn, as well as in some examples providing illumination to a mask or visor of the product itself. Examples herein are more visually appealing but the form of illumination means that the user's face is more visible to others which reduces facial features being obscured.

Abstract: A method for making an electrode for a battery includes: providing a current collector having a current collector surface; forming an electrode precursor by arranging a plurality of extruded electrode elements on the current collector surface, each electrode element defining an element height above the current collector surface, and neighbouring electrode elements being separated by a spacing; and forming an electrode from the electrode precursor by compressing the electrode elements, thereby reducing the element height of each electrode element and closing the spacing until neighbouring electrode elements meet to form an electrode layer.