Abstract: A personal care system has a personal care device including a memory unit, a display unit, a first wireless communication unit, and a separate input device comprising a second wireless communication unit arranged for wireless communication with the first wireless communication unit. The separate input device is arranged for allowing a user to provide text data or picture data or for selecting text data or picture data from a database, wherein the separate input device is arranged to wirelessly send the provided or selected text or picture data to the personal care device, which is arranged to receive the wirelessly sent data and to store that into a memory of the memory unit and to use the received data in replacement of previously stored default text data or picture data for user communication on the display unit.

Abstract: An oral-care system includes an oral-care device having a treatment head, a position-determination unit for determining position information of the treatment head in relation to a user's treatment area at a plurality of time instances during a treatment session, a sensor unit for determining treatment-parameter values of at least one treatment parameter at the plurality of time instances, a processor unit for processing the determined position information and the determined treatment parameter values to generate at least position-resolved treatment data, a memory unit for storing at least the position-resolved treatment data, and a control unit for triggering an action of the personal-hygiene system based at least on a current position information and on the stored position-resolved treatment data.

Abstract: An oral-care system includes an oral-care device having a treatment head, a position-determination unit for determining position information of the treatment head in relation to a user's treatment area at a plurality of time instances during a treatment session, a sensor unit for determining treatment-parameter values of at least one treatment parameter at the plurality of time instances, a processor unit for processing the determined position information and the determined treatment parameter values to generate at least position-resolved treatment data, a memory unit for storing at least the position-resolved treatment data, and a control unit for triggering an action of the personal -hygiene system based at least on a current position information and on the stored position-resolved treatment data.

Abstract: A personal hygiene system includes a personal hygiene device having a receiver unit, a control unit, and a functional unit; and a separate control device having a transmitter unit. The control unit drives the functional unit in at least one of a first functional mode and a second functional mode different from the first functional mode. The control unit inhibits provision of the second functional mode while the control unit is in a default state. The transmitter unit sends at least a first signal to the receiver unit of the personal hygiene device when the separate control device is switched from a default control mode to a first control mode. The control unit can be switched from the default state into a first state when the first signal is received by the receiver unit, in which first state the control unit permits provision of the second functional mode at least during a first allowance period.

Abstract: A personal hygiene system includes a personal hygiene device having a receiver unit, a control unit, and a functional unit; and a separate control device having a transmitter unit. The control unit drives the functional unit in at least one of a first functional mode and a second functional mode different from the first functional mode. The control unit inhibits provision of the second functional mode while the control unit is in a default state. The transmitter unit sends at least a first signal to the receiver unit of the personal hygiene device when the separate control device is switched from a default control mode to a first control mode. The control unit can be switched from the default state into a first state when the first signal is received by the receiver unit, in which first state the control unit permits provision of the second functional mode at least during a first allowance period.

Abstract: An oral care system is disclosed. The oral care system includes an electric toothbrush having an energy source; an electronic circuit including a microcontroller and one or more electric loads; and at least one sensor for providing a signal indicating a relevant change of an external condition; and a mobile computing device that stores a computer application. In response to a relevant change in an external condition, the signal has an energy content allowing the microcontroller to activate a ready mode, the ready mode causing the system to perform at least the following prior to turning the toothbrush on: switching on one or more of the electric loads for a preset period; enabling a wireless communication link between toothbrush and device; and exchanging data between toothbrush and device as part of the wireless communication.

Abstract: A method for determining a pattern of use of an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an electric toothbrush including a drive shaft for coupling to a brush part; an electric motor and a drive for providing a first motion of the drive shaft; measuring a characteristic parameter of the electric motor; detecting a distinctive change of the characteristic parameter; and evaluating the distinctive change.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for an electric appliance. In one embodiment, there is provided an electronic circuit for a battery-operated electric appliance, which can be inductively fed by an external electric power source, comprising a charging circuit for charging an accumulator (A), which encompasses a charging coil (L2) and a diode (D2), wherein the accumulator (A) is connected in series to the diode (D2) and the charging coil (L2), a light emitting diode (LED) as display for the charging process and/or charging status of the accumulator (A), wherein an end of the charging coil (L2) is connected to the cathode of the diode (D2) and the anode of the light emitting diode (LED) and the negative pole of the accumulator (A) is connected to the anode of the diode (D2).

Abstract: A method for determining a pattern of use of an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an electric toothbrush including a drive shaft for coupling to a brush part; an electric motor and a drive for providing a first motion of the drive shaft; measuring a characteristic parameter of the electric motor; detecting a distinctive change of the characteristic parameter; and evaluating the distinctive change.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for wireless unidirectional data transmission between a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter sends a data set to be transmitted several times in succession on a plurality of transmission channels, and the receiver receives data sets on only one transmission channel in each case. The number of transmission channels used is smaller than the number of repetitions that the transmitter uses to transmit the data set, and a series of transmission channels is used within which the sequence of transmission channels used is prescribed. The invention further relates to a toothbrush having a transmitter for performing the method described above, and to a system comprising a toothbrush and a separate auxiliary device, wherein a transmitter is present in the toothbrush and a receiver is present in the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device comprises a display device for displaying the transmitted data.

Abstract: Data is transmitted between an electric toothbrush and an external terminal, for example, a data processing and/or display unit, in some cases through an adapter connected to the toothbrush handle in place of a releasable attachment such as a brush head or application substance container. In some cases the data is transmitted wirelessly, such as in accordance to a wireless USB standard.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for a battery-operated electric appliance, can be inductively fed by an external electric power source. The circuit comprises a charging circuit for charging an accumulator (A), which encompasses a charging coil (L2) for generating an alternating current and a rectifier diode (D2), wherein the accumulator (A) is connected in series to the rectifier diode (D2) and the charging coil (L2). The circuit furthermore comprises a light emitting diode (LED) as display for the charging process and/or charging status of the accumulator (A) and a control circuit (uC) for controlling the light emitting diode (LED) and the charging process of the accumulator (A), wherein an end of the charging coil (L2) is connected to the cathode of the diode (D2) and to the anode of the light emitting diode (LED).

Abstract: A self-determining control circuit is configured to assume one of several states depending upon the interconnections of its input and output terminals. The self-determining circuit is enabled to sense which, if any, of its input and output have been interconnected and assume its proper state of operation. For example, a self-determining integrated circuit may have four input terminals (e.g., terminals 1, 2, 3, 4) and four output terminals (e.g., terminals A, B, C, D). The circuit may sense that a particular input terminal is directly connected with a particular output terminal (e.g., input terminal 2 is shorted to output terminal D) and operate under one set of parameters. If, however, the control circuit senses that a different set of terminals are interconnected (e.g., input terminal 4 with output terminal B), then the control circuit may operation under a different set of parameters.

Abstract: A self-determining control circuit is configured to assume one of several states depending upon the interconnections of its input and output terminals. The self-determining circuit is enabled to sense which, if any, of its input and output have been interconnected and assume its proper state of operation. For example, a self-determining integrated circuit may have four input terminals (e.g., terminals 1, 2, 3, 4) and four output terminals (e.g., terminals A, B, C, D). The circuit may sense that a particular input terminal is directly connected with a particular output terminal (e.g., input terminal 2 is shorted to output terminal D) and operate under one set of parameters. If, however, the control circuit senses that a different set of terminals are interconnected (e.g., input terminal 4 with output terminal B), then the control circuit may operation under a different set of parameters.