Patents by Inventor Scott Robert Wills
Scott Robert Wills has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11497590Abstract: An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis (26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y- and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Lane Evan Kleppen, Scott Robert Wills
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Patent number: 11096476Abstract: A personal care appliance 10 comprises an actuator 14, a current sensor 28 for monitoring a driving current, and a controller 24. The actuator 14, operable according to a non-linear response characteristic 58 of amplitude versus frequency, includes a movable shaft 18 configured for resonant movement 38 in response to a drive signal 25, further for being coupled with a workpiece 20. The controller 24 (i) detects at least one of a plurality of different characteristic load states (100,102,104,106,108,110) in response to a perturbation in the monitored driving current 29 and (ii) actively delivers the drive signal 25 to the actuator 14 selected from at least two different drive signals (66,70) as a function of a detected characteristic load state.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Meng Peng, Scott Robert Wills, Sungsoo Lee
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Publication number: 20200205951Abstract: An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis (26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y- and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Lane Evan KLEPPEN, Scott Robert WILLS
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Patent number: 10603149Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Scott Robert Wills, Alexandra Kulas, Franciscus Jozef Bosman, Pieter Johannes Bax
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Patent number: 10582991Abstract: An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis(26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y-and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Lane Evan Kleppen, Scott Robert Wills
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Patent number: 10512529Abstract: An oral care appliance (100), such as an electric toothbrush, utilizing non-linear resonant systems is described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the oral care appliance includes a longitudinal shaft (102), a brush head (130), and a handle (190). The handle includes a motor (140) that generates a first amplitude (404) for the brush head based on the brush head being outside of the user's mouth, when no mass is applied to the brush head. In response to the brush head being inside of the user's mouth, when mass is applied, such as by pressing the brush head against the teeth, the motor causes a second amplitude (410) to be generated for the brush head that is larger than the first amplitude.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Scott Robert Wills, Meng Peng, Sungsoo Lee
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Publication number: 20190231500Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: SCOTT ROBERT WILLS, ALEXANDRA KULAS, FRANCISCUS JOZEF BOSMAN, PIETER JOHANNES BAX
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Patent number: 10299901Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Scott Robert Wills, Alexandra Kulas, Franciscus Jozef Bosman, Pieter Johannes Bax
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Publication number: 20180271630Abstract: An oral care appliance (100), such as an electric toothbrush, utilizing non-linear resonant systems is described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, the oral care appliance includes a longitudinal shaft (102), a brush head (130), and a handle (190). The handle includes a motor (140) that generates a first amplitude (404) for the brush head based on the brush head being outside of the user's mouth, when no mass is applied to the brush head. In response to the brush head being inside of the user's mouth, when mass is applied, such as by pressing the brush head against the teeth, the motor causes a second amplitude (410) to be generated for the brush head that is larger than the first amplitude.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: SCOTT ROBERT WILLS, MENG PENG, SUNGSOO LEE
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Publication number: 20180125224Abstract: A personal care appliance 10 comprises an actuator 14, a current sensor 28 for monitoring a driving current, and a controller 24. The actuator 14, operable according to a non-linear response characteristic 58 of amplitude versus frequency, includes a movable shaft 18 configured for resonant movement 38 in response to a drive signal 25, further for being coupled with a workpiece 20. The controller 24 (i) detects at least one of a plurality of different characteristic load states (100,102,104,106,108,110) in response to a perturbation in the monitored driving current 29 and (ii) actively delivers the drive signal 25 to the actuator 14 selected from at least two different drive signals (66,70) as a function of a detected characteristic load state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: MENG PENG, SCOTT ROBERT WILLS, SUNGSOO LEE
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Patent number: 9750587Abstract: A power toothbrush appliance (10) and a method for tuning a brushhead assembly system (41) thereof. The appliance includes a handle portion (16), a drive assembly and a brushhead assembly system (41). The drive assembly includes a DC motor (34) and an eccentric coupling (46) which drives the brushhead assembly system by means of a yoke mechanism. The brushhead assembly system includes a beam portion (50) which moves laterally about a pivot (47). A brushhead (12) is attachable to and removable from a distal end of the beam. The beam is tunable by changing the stiffness thereof, or the length thereof, or the cross-sectional moment thereof, in order to control the resonant frequency of the brushhead assembly system relative to the drive frequency of the appliance to maintain the amplitude of the brush member within a range of 1.0-2.5 mm, preferably 1.75 mm.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Ahren Karl Johnson, Scott Robert Wills, Tyler G. Kloster
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Publication number: 20170156836Abstract: An added inertia resonant system (12) for a power toothbrush (10) comprises a drive shaft (16), a drive system (22), and at least one inertial weight member (24). The drive shaft (16) has a principal axis (26) that defines a center of rotation. The drive system (22) imparts a reciprocating motion to the drive shaft (16) about the principal axis(26). The at least one inertial weight member (24) couples to the drive shaft (16) and comprises a planar material having a complex shape balanced along an x-, y-and z-axis to enable the drive system (22) to achieve low power, high amplitude motion of the drive shaft (16) when placed under user loading. A method for providing added inertia in a resonant system for a power toothbrush is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: LANE EVAN KLEPPEN, SCOTT ROBERT WILLS
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Publication number: 20170100224Abstract: A power toothbrush apparatus may include a body having a cavity and an opening leading to the cavity. An electric motor may be situated within the cavity and may include first and second biasing members; a stator casing situated between, and linearly biased by, the first and second biasing members, the stator casing may further include at least one opening and at least one electromagnet to generate a magnetic field; and a rotor which may have opposed ends and which may extend through the at least one opening of the stator casing, the rotor may further include an output shaft. The power toothbrush may further include a workpiece having a brush head coupled thereto and which may be coupled to one of the opposed ends of the output shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: SCOTT ROBERT WILLS, ALEXANDRA KULAS, FRANCISCUS JOZEF BOSMAN, PIETER JOHANNES BAX
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Publication number: 20150173874Abstract: A power toothbrush appliance (10) and a method for tuning a brushhead assembly system (41) thereof. The appliance includes a handle portion (16), a drive assembly and a brushhead assembly system (41). The drive assembly includes a DC motor (34) and an eccentric coupling (46) which drives the brushhead assembly system by means of a yoke mechanism. The brushhead assembly system includes a beam portion (50) which moves laterally about a pivot (47). A brushhead (12) is attachable to and removable from a distal end of the beam. The beam is tunable by changing the stiffness thereof, or the length thereof, or the cross-sectional moment thereof, in order to control the resonant frequency of the brushhead assembly system relative to the drive frequency of the appliance to maintain the amplitude of the brush member within a range of 1.0-2.5 mm, preferably 1.75 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Ahren Karl Johnson, Scott Robert Wills, Tyler G. Kloster