Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to oral care devices, system and methods for advanced ionic micro-current control. In some embodiments, an oral care device is actuated upon completion of an electric circuit by a users hand and oral cavity. The electrode on an oral care implement may be configured to lose conductivity over time to indicate a replacement oral care implement is need. In some embodiments, a controller of the oral care device may detect the type of oral care implement and control the ionic micro-current accordingly. Additionally, embodiments may detect a region within the oral cavity that the oral care device is in contact with and apply the ionic micro-current accordingly. Further, in some embodiments, the health status of various regions of a user's oral cavity may be detected and monitored over time.

Abstract: A linear electro-polymer motor includes a fixed member, a linear shaft having an axis, a polymer actuator, and a bias member. The polymer actuator includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The bias member includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The polymer actuator changes length after receipt of voltage to linearly move the linear shaft along the axis.

Abstract: An electro-polymer motor comprising a fixed member and a first actuator having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end is presented. The first actuator comprises a polymer positioned between two electrodes. The electrodes are in communication with a power supply. The motor also comprises a driven member comprising a first leg and a second leg such that the first leg and the second leg are separated by an axis. The driven member is fixedly connected to the second end of the first actuator. The motor also comprises a compressible member having a first end fixedly connected to the fixed member and a second end fixedly connected to the second leg of the driven member. The compressible member is spaced apart from the first actuator. The first actuator elongates after the power supply applies a voltage across the electrodes to move the driven member.

Abstract: An oral hygiene implement is provided. The oral hygiene implement includes a handle; a head including a plurality of contact elements; a neck disposed between the handle and the head; an indication element; and an electromagnetic energy output source. The electromagnetic energy is directed from the output source to the indication element such that a Total Visible Projected Angle (?T) of the oral hygiene implement is greater than about 300 degrees.

Abstract: An oral hygiene implement is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle; a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. The head has a plurality of contact elements. An indication element is positioned between the neck and handle of the oral hygiene element. A transmission element is positioned between the indication element and a light emitting source. The light emitting source provides electromagnetic energy to the transmission element.

Abstract: An oscillatory system for a motorized drive unit for the generation of a rotary oscillatory movement is provided. The system includes a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another. The spring elements are elastic in the direction of the rotary oscillatory movement. For each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees.

Abstract: An insert for an oral hygiene handle having a cavity is described. The insert has a load member capable of pivoting with respect to the housing and an output source disposed in electromagnetic communication with the load member, a power source in electrical communication with the output source having first and second contact areas, and an indication element forming an outer facing surface. When the load member pivots a predetermined amount, a first contact arm makes contact with a first contact area and/or a second contact arm makes contact with the second contact area thereby causing the power source to deliver power to the output source, wherein the output source provides electromagnetic energy to the load member, wherein the load member transmits the electromagnetic energy from the output source to the indication element, and wherein load member, the indication element, and the engagement section are integral with one another.

Abstract: An oral hygiene implement is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle; a head, and a neck disposed between the handle and the head. The head has a plurality of contact elements. A sealing element is positioned between the handle and the neck. The sealing element is translucent. An indication element is positioned between the adjacent the sealing element. A light emitting source provides electromagnetic energy to the indication element, and the electromagnetic energy passes through the sealing element.

Abstract: An oral hygiene implement for evaluating applied force is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle region, a head, and a neck extending between the handle region and the head. The head has a plurality of cleaning elements attached to the head. The handle region has a first portion and a second portion and a force sensor pivotally connected to the first portion and the second portion. The force sensor includes the head and the neck and at least a portion of the force sensor is integrally formed with the first portion and/or the second portion.

Abstract: An electrical appliance with a resonant motor for driving a vibratory component is provided that has a control unit for driving the resonant motor with a predetermined driving frequency and for measuring the motion-induced voltage of the resonant motor and for determining whether the measured voltage value coincides with a predetermined target voltage value or whether the measured voltage value has crossed over the predetermined target value. The control unit measures the motion-induced voltage at a predetermined time of measurement (tm) within a driving cycle.

Abstract: A resonant motor unit that has a resonant motor, a control unit, a measurement unit, and an evaluation unit is described. The control unit drives the resonant motor at a driving frequency, short-circuits the resonant motor during at least a first short-circuiting phase in successive driving cycles and concludes the first short-circuiting phases by switching off the current flow through the resonant motor at least at a predetermined first time instant within the driving cycles. The measurement unit successively measures at least a first voltage signal provided by the resonant motor at the predetermined first time instant, and the evaluation unit for determines whether the first voltage signal has changed between successive measurements.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is disclosed. The electric toothbrush includes at least one switch element and a control unit. The at least one switch element is operable by a user to switch the toothbrush to an on/off state, and operable by a user during the time that the at least one switch element is in its on state to select a brushing mode from a set of at least a first brushing mode and a second brushing mode. The control unit is arranged to control the electric toothbrush such that when the at least one switch element is operated to select a particular brushing mode in the on state, the toothbrush will then operate in that particular selected brushing mode when the at least one switch element is thereafter switched to an off state and then subsequently switched back to an on state, provided that the toothbrush was in the off state for a time period less than a threshold period (T).

Abstract: A display panel including a translucent carrier element that has an inner side, an outer side, and a display area is provided. At least one display element is arranged within the display area, the display element being formed by geometric structures realized as protrusions and/or depressions on both of the inner side and the outer side of the translucent carrier element. The display panel can be used in an information display that in particular comprises at least a light emitting element for backlighting the display element. The information display can be used in an appliance such as an electric toothbrush, wherein the protrusions and/or depressions integrally formed with the translucent carrier element.

Abstract: An oral cleaning section for detachable connection with a handle section of an oral cleaning device is disclosed. The oral cleaning section has a connector structure for detachably attaching the oral cleaning section to the handle section. The connector structure has a first receptacle suitable for accommodating a first protrusion of the handle section in the attached state, the first receptacle having a first resilient element provided on a first circumferential side of the first receptacle arranged in a circumferential direction, the circumferential direction being defined with respect to the longitudinal extension axis of the oral cleaning section. The disclosure is also directed to an oral cleaning device that includes an oral cleaning section attached to a handle section.

Abstract: A small electric appliance is described which comprises an oscillation-capable mechanism (4), an electric motor (1) to drive the oscillation-capable mechanism (4), wherein the electric motor (1) can be operated with a drive current (10) at a predetermined frequency (f), and a device (3) for adjusting the frequency (f) of the drive current of the electric motor (1). Furthermore, a method for adjusting the frequency (f) of a drive current (10) of an electric motor is described comprising the following steps of detecting, at a specified time (tmeas), in relation to the period of the drive current, an electric variable (20) generated by the electric motor (1) determining, at the specified measuring time (tmeas), whether the detected electric variable (20) essentially has a zero-crossing and changing the frequency (f) of the drive current until the detected electric variable (20) essentially has a zero-crossing at the measuring time (tmeas).

Abstract: A toothbrush having a brush section and a handle section that longitudinally extends between a first end distal to the brush section and a second end proximal to the brush section is provided. The handle section includes at least three longitudinally extending edges on the outer surface of the handle section defining at least three longitudinally extending surface areas that each span between two neighboring edges. The at least three edges each twist in the longitudinal direction by a total twist angle lying in the range of from about 80 degrees to about 100 degrees.

Abstract: An oscillatory system for a motorized drive unit for the generation of a rotary oscillatory movement is provided. The system includes a first oscillatory component and a second oscillatory component, the components capable of oscillating relative to one another around an axis of oscillation; and at least two elongate spring elements, each spring element having a first fastening point and a second fastening point spaced apart from one another. The spring elements are elastic in the direction of the rotary oscillatory movement. For each spring element the first fastening point is connected to the first oscillatory component and the second fastening point is connected to the second oscillatory component such that the spring elements intersect at the axis of oscillation, the axis of oscillation having an angle of intersection different from 0 degrees.

Abstract: A toothbrush drive includes a first drive component for generating a magnetic field and a second drive component driven in both a translational and rotational manner under the influence of the magnetic field. A transmission element is deflected out of a predetermined position for transmission of both translational and rotary movement of the second drive component. The deflection of the transmission element varies along its longitudinal axis. A transmission element can be deflected out of a predefined position for transmission of a translatory movement and a rotational movement of the second drive component to the brush element along a longitudinal axis of the transmission element. The deflection of the transmission element out of the predefined position is varied along the longitudinal axis of the transmission element.