Abstract: A connector is disclosed comprising at least one contact clip. The contact clip comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a longitudinal axis, a first terminal located at a first end of the substrate, wherein the first terminal comprises at least two contact tongues between which a longitudinal slot is formed, which contact tongues are elastically deformable with respect to each other in a first direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second terminal located at a second end of the substrate. The connector may further comprise a chassis and a PCB. In addition, a device comprising an energy consumer, an electrical energy source, a PCB and at least one connector is disclosed.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a resonant motor and a motor control unit for applying a periodic voltage signal with a driving frequency at the resonant motor for driving the resonant motor into an oscillating motion with an oscillating frequency equal to the driving frequency. The motor control unit comprises a synthesizer circuit for digitally synthesizing the periodic voltage signal from voltage pulses of variable length provided with a pulse frequency higher than the driving frequency such that at least two voltage pulses are applied at least in one of two half cycles of each period of the periodic voltage signal.

Abstract: Method for controlling the battery capacity of a secondary battery in a battery-driven household electrical appliance and a respective household electrical appliance are described, wherein the battery-driven household electrical appliance has an electrical load and a control means adapted to control the operation of the household electrical appliance and to monitor the capacity of the secondary battery, said method comprising the following steps: recognizing a situation of storage of the household electrical appliance in which the household electrical appliance is not in use; determining the current capacity of the secondary battery; comparing the current capacity of the secondary battery with a desired storage capacity for the electrical household appliance; activating an energy-consuming load in the electrical household appliance if the current capacity of the secondary battery is higher than the desired storage capacity until the current capacity is equal to the desired storage capacity; activating an e

Abstract: A circuit for displaying the state of a battery that is almost discharged features a battery, an inductive load, and a controllable switch connected in series. The circuit also includes a display element connected in series with the inductive load and the battery. The controllable switch is opened when a voltage of the battery is lower than a first threshold level and is only closed again when the voltage of the battery is greater than a second threshold level. The circuit may also include a control circuit having a comparator which compares the voltage of the battery with the first threshold level and the second threshold level and triggers the controllable switch accordingly.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for protection against an undue overheating of a charging control, discharging control and/or a secondary battery is disclosed, the circuit arrangement comprising the secondary battery, the charging and/or discharging control for charging and/or discharging the secondary battery, a connector for connecting the charging and discharging control to an external power supply, at least one current limiting electronic component arranged in electrical connection to the charging and/or discharging control and optionally, a switchable load.

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: A personal hygiene device has a resonant motor and a motor control unit for applying a periodic voltage signal with a driving frequency at the resonant motor for driving the resonant motor into an oscillating motion with an oscillating frequency equal to the driving frequency. The motor control unit comprises a synthesizer circuit for digitally synthesizing the periodic voltage signal from voltage pulses of variable length provided with a pulse frequency higher than the driving frequency such that at least two voltage pulses are applied at least in one of two half cycles of each period of the periodic voltage signal.

Abstract: A skin treatment apparatus, preferably an epilator, comprising at least one detector for detecting approximation and/or contact with the skin and a control unit to actuate the device depending on the signal received from the detector. The control unit has at least one regulator which increases the speed of the drive unit upon detection of an increased resistance and/or current consumption by a sensor and/or decreases the speed of the drive unit upon detection of an decreased resistance and/or current consumption by a sensor.

Abstract: A personal hygiene device has a resonant motor and a motor control unit for applying a periodic voltage signal with a driving frequency at the resonant motor for driving the resonant motor into an oscillating motion with an oscillating frequency equal to the driving frequency. The motor control unit comprises a synthesizer circuit for digitally synthesizing the periodic voltage signal from voltage pulses of variable length provided with a pulse frequency higher than the driving frequency such that at least two voltage pulses are applied at least in one of two half cycles of each period of the periodic voltage signal.

Abstract: Method for controlling the battery capacity of a secondary battery in a battery-driven household electrical appliance and a respective household electrical appliance are described, wherein the battery-driven household electrical appliance has an electrical load and a control means adapted to control the operation of the household electrical appliance and to monitor the capacity of the secondary battery, said method comprising the following steps: recognizing a situation of storage of the household electrical appliance in which the household electrical appliance is not in use; determining the current capacity of the secondary battery; comparing the current capacity of the secondary battery with a desired storage capacity for the electrical household appliance; activating an energy-consuming load in the electrical household appliance if the current capacity of the secondary battery is higher than the desired storage capacity until the current capacity is equal to the desired storage capacity; activating an e

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 personal hygiene device has a resonant motor and a motor control unit for applying a periodic voltage signal with a driving frequency at the resonant motor for driving the resonant motor into an oscillating motion with an oscillating frequency equal to the driving frequency. The motor control unit comprises a synthesizer circuit for digitally synthesizing the periodic voltage signal from voltage pulses of variable length provided with a pulse frequency higher than the driving frequency such that at least two voltage pulses are applied at least in one of two half cycles of each period of the periodic voltage signal .

Abstract: A circuit for a small electric appliance is disclosed. The circuit includes a battery (B); a control circuit (uC) for measuring the charging current of the battery (B); a DC-DC converter (DC/DC) which supplies the control circuit (uC) from the battery; and a current sensing resistor (R1), whose one end lies at a reference potential and whose other end is connected to the battery (B). The control circuit (uC) has a terminal which is at reference potential, and a measurement input which is related to the reference potential.

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: 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: A circuit arrangement that has an energy source that can provide a charging voltage for charging an electrical energy storage unit in a charging circuit when it is connected to an energy supply, wherein it is possible to represent the charging voltage using an alternating quantity, and that has a capacitor circuit having a first capacitor element, a first valve element, and the energy source, wherein the first capacitor element is charged by the energy source via the first valve element if the charging voltage is negative, so that, if the charging voltage is positive, the voltage over the first capacitor element has the same orientation in the capacitor circuit, in terms of sign, as the charging voltage, and the voltage over the capacitor element.

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 power supply circuit for a small electrical appliance is disclosed. The power supply circuit includes a battery; a first load with a relatively high power consumption; a controllable switch; at least a second load with a low power consumption; and a DC-to-DC converter. The first load is connected to the battery via the controllable switch and the DC-to-DC controller supplies power from the battery to the second load, such that the controllable switch supplies to the first load a pulsed voltage having a pulse-pause ratio. The DC-to-DC converter powers the second load at least during the pauses.

Abstract: A circuit for a small electric appliance is disclosed. The circuit includes a battery (B); a control circuit (uC) for measuring the charging current of the battery (B); a DC-DC converter (DC/DC) which supplies the control circuit (uC) from the battery; and a current sensing resistor (R1), whose one end lies at a reference potential and whose other end is connected to the battery (B). The control circuit (uC) has a terminal which is at reference potential, and a measurement input which is related to the reference potential.

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).