Abstract: An oral-care implement has a handle containing an electric battery and a motor. The motor's shaft is connected to a motion transmitter to drive a treatment head having at least one functional element. The implement has a pressure-control system including a microcontroller configured to detect a stimulus to energize the motor, set a baseline current, and repeatedly execute an overpressure-detection control loop comprising: measuring an instantaneous current draw, adding an increment value to or subtract a decrement value from the baseline current, thereby generating a dynamically adjusted baseline current, determining whether a difference between the instantaneous current draw and the dynamically adjusted baseline current exceeds a threshold, thereby detecting an occurrence of overpressure, and causing the implement to perform a corrective action in response to the detected overpressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of a small electrical appliance, in particular hair removal device or toothbrush, comprising an electric DC motor; a detector for acquiring a detector signal indicative of a rotational speed of the electric DC motor; and a controller for controlling the electric DC motor. The controller is adapted to: determine, based on the detector signal, a first parameter indicative of the rotational speed of the DC motor; determine, based on the detector signal, a second parameter indicative of the rotational speed of the DC motor, wherein the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and wherein the second parameter is determined based on a frequency domain analysis of the detector signal; and adjust a supply voltage of the electric DC motor based on the first parameter and the second parameter.

Abstract: A method for controlling overpressure in an electric oral-care implement having a treatment head with at least one functional element driven by a motor. The method includes detecting a stimulus to energize the motor, setting a baseline current, and repeatedly execute an overpressure-detection control loop, said loop including measuring the motor's instantaneous current draw, adding an increment value to the baseline current or subtracting a decrement value from the baseline current thereby generating a dynamically adjusted baseline current, determining whether a difference between the instantaneous current draw and the dynamically adjusted baseline current exceeds a threshold thereby detecting an occurrence of overpressure, and performing a corrective action in response to the detected occurrence of overpressure.

Abstract: An oral-care implement has a handle containing an electric battery and a motor. The motor's shaft is connected to a motion transmitter to drive a treatment head having at least one functional element. The implement has a pressure-control system including a microcontroller configured to detect a stimulus to energize the motor, set a baseline current, and repeatedly execute an overpressure-detection control loop comprising: measuring an instantaneous current draw, adding an increment value to or subtract a decrement value from the baseline current, thereby generating a dynamically adjusted baseline current, determining whether a difference between the instantaneous current draw and the dynamically adjusted baseline current exceeds a threshold, thereby detecting an occurrence of overpressure, and causing the implement to perform a corrective action in response to the detected overpressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of a small electrical appliance, in particular hair removal device or toothbrush, comprising an electric DC motor; a detector for acquiring a detector signal indicative of a rotational speed of the electric DC motor; and a controller for controlling the electric DC motor. The controller is adapted to: determine, based on the detector signal, a first parameter indicative of the rotational speed of the DC motor; determine, based on the detector signal, a second parameter indicative of the rotational speed of the DC motor, wherein the second parameter is different from the first parameter, and wherein the second parameter is determined based on a frequency domain analysis of the detector signal; and adjust a supply voltage of the electric DC motor based on the first parameter and the second parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of battery powered electrical appliances or personal hygiene, in particular to a hair removal device such as an electric shaver or epilator as well as an electric toothbrush. A control device for a battery powered electrical appliance for personal hygiene is described, wherein the control device is adapted to cause the battery powered electrical appliance to perform automated contact fritting of a battery contact by controlling the battery powered electrical appliance such that a current pulse exceeding a wetting threshold is applied across the battery contact during a standby period.

Abstract: A cosmetic device with an exchangeable application head and a device body, wherein the device body contains a motor and drive mechanism, an actuating switch, a power supply, a head recognition element and a control element adapted to control the motor and drive mechanism based on an actuation of the actuation switch and the application head recognized by the head recognition element. It is provided that the head recognition element comprises at least one mechanical switch disposed on a carrier fixed at the device body. Further, a flexible actuation area is disposed in front of the at least one mechanical switch. The exchangeable application head has at least one recognition generating protrusion actuating through the flexible actuation area on one of the at least one mechanical switches when the exchangeable application head is mounted at the device body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of battery powered electrical appliances or personal hygiene, in particular to a hair removal device such as an electric shaver or epilator as well as an electric toothbrush. A control device for a battery powered electrical appliance for personal hygiene is described, wherein the control device is adapted to cause the battery powered electrical appliance to perform automated contact fritting of a battery contact by controlling the battery powered electrical appliance such that a current pulse exceeding a wetting threshold is applied across the battery contact during a standby period.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for charging a secondary battery that comprises a dc-converter and an output connector that can be connected to the positive terminal of the secondary battery for applying a charging current to the secondary battery. The dc-converter has a voltage feedback connector for sensing a feedback voltage, wherein the dc-converter is adapted to regulate the output voltage by adjusting the output current at the output connector depending on the sensed feedback voltage and a feedback-sub-circuit connected to the output connector and to the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for measuring currents during charging and discharging of a secondary battery are disclosed having a secondary battery, at least one shunt for determining the electrical current during charging and/or discharging of the secondary battery by measuring the voltage drop over the shunt, a switchable electrical load, two connectors for connecting a preferably switchable power supply to the electronic circuit for charging the secondary battery and a voltage measuring device.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for charging a secondary battery that comprises a dc-converter and an output connector that can be connected to the positive terminal of the secondary battery for applying a charging current to the secondary battery. The dc-converter has a voltage feedback connector for sensing a feedback voltage, wherein the dc-converter is adapted to regulate the output voltage by adjusting the output current at the output connector depending on the sensed feedback voltage and a feedback-sub-circuit connected to the output connector and to the voltage feedback connector of the dc-converter.

Abstract: A method for controlling a charging device transferring energy to an electrical load of an inductively coupled household appliance. The circuitry of the device includes an oscillator circuit having at least one output power coil element and one capacitor element; an electrical power source; a power-switching element feeding the oscillator circuit with electrical power; a sensor element for determining an electrical signal value indicative of the inductance of the oscillator circuit; and a microprocessor configured to adapt the electrical energy provided by the oscillator circuit dependent on a comparison of the measured electrical signal with a threshold. The method includes the steps of activating a threshold determining mode of the microprocessor starting upon the proximate powering up of the microprocessor and determining the threshold automatically after the proximate powering up of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A cosmetic device with an exchangeable application head and a device body is disclosed, wherein the device body contains a motor and drive mechanism, an actuating switch, a power supply, a head recognition element and a control element adapted to control the motor and drive mechanism based on an actuation of the actuation switch and the application head recognized by the head recognition element. It is provided that the head recognition element comprises at least one mechanical switch disposed on a carrier fixed at the device body. Further, a flexible actuation area is disposed in front of the at least one mechanical switch. The exchangeable application head has at least one recognition generating protrusion actuating through the flexible actuation area on one of the at least one mechanical switches when the exchangeable application head is mounted at the device body.

Abstract: An electronic circuit and method for measuring currents during charging and discharging of a secondary battery are disclosed having a secondary battery, at least one shunt for determining the electrical current during charging and/or discharging of the secondary battery by measuring the voltage drop over the shunt, a switchable electrical load, two connectors for connecting a preferably switchable power supply to the electronic circuit for charging the secondary battery and a voltage measuring device.

Abstract: An element of a machine is provided with a magnetically or optically readable data medium. The data medium is divided into grooves and sectors. A corresponding scanning head for scanning the data medium is arranged on another element of the machine. The data are coded so that it is possible to identify each sector and each groove on the data medium. After reading the contents of the data medium of the element of the machine by the scanning head of the other element, a value of the measurement of the relative positions of the two elements is affected to the data read by the head. This value may be used to control the position of the elements or to displace one of the elements relative to the other. The data medium may be linear or may be configured as a disc. The scanning head may be secured to the associated element. It may also be attached by means of a mechanism so as to have a relative motion with respect to the data medium even when the elements are stationary with respect to each other.

Abstract: Described is a piezoelectric drive element assembly for use in ink jet printer devices. The assembly comprises a piezoelectric drive element, which is characterized by a pair of electrodes spaced apart and thereby electrically isolated from one another on an external lateral face of the drive element. The assembly further includes a printed circuit board having holes through which the drive element is fitted, with the electrodes of the drive element being soldered to opposite sides of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A multiwired print head having an elongated conical center member with wire guiding sections formed thereon and with a plurality of recessed portions for minimizing the surface contact area between the print wire and the elongated member. In addition, the elongated member mounted within a frame having actuators operating therewith for imparting axial motion to the print wires and having wire bridge supports for supporting the elongated conical member to the frame at positions corresponding to the raised portions of the conical member which bridge members act to retain the print wires in their recessed notches.