Abstract: The current invention relates to a clothes dryer having a dryness sensing device and method of use comprising at least two electrically conductive sensor bars placed closely together but not touching one another so that articles in the dryer can contact two of the sensor bars at the same time. At least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical current source and at least one sensor bar is electrically connected to an electrical ground. A microcontroller is electrically connected between the electrical current source and the electrical ground so as to be capable of measuring the voltage across the sensor bars when the sensor bars are contacted by the articles being dried. The microcontroller is configured so as to determine the dryness of the articles by calculating the electrical resistance of the articles by using the value of the voltage across the sensor bars and the value of the current through the sensor bars.

Abstract: This invention is an automated switch scanning matrix for obtaining user input. The invention comprises an integrated circuit with an output register and an input register, the output register is operatively connected to one or more user switches or encoders and the switches or encoders are further operatively connected to the integrated circuit input register. A voltage is pulsed from the output register of the integrated circuit which then flows through closed contacts of the switches or encoders in the switching matrix and is then detected at the input registers of the integrated circuit. The switch position inputs are saved in a switch save register. The integrated circuit sets an interrupt bit if any of the switch positions in the matrix have changed. This, in turn, causes the microcontroller to read the switch save registers thereby saving time for the microcontroller by not having to continually read the switch inputs.

Abstract: A power toothbrush including a handle and a brush head with bristles. In one embodiment, the toothbrush includes vibratory means for causing the brush head and the bristles to vibrate, and vibration isolation means for reducing the transfer of vibrations from the vibratory means to the handle. The vibratory means can include an eccentric motor positioned in the brush head or the brush shaft of the toothbrush. Vibration dampening material can be included in the vibration isolation means to reduce the transfer of vibrations to the handle.