Abstract: An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, comprising a flexible head formed of a plurality of flexibly connected segments. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. The head can be formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments constructed of a rigid material and separated by a channel containing an elastomeric material. An elastomeric cleaning element comprising, a base portion and an upper portion extends form a front surface of the head. The elastomeric cleaning element extends from and is connected to the elastomeric material of the channel so that the base portion overlies a portion of each of the front surfaces of the segments on opposing sides of the channel. In another embodiment, the invention can be the elastomeric cleaning element itself, irrespective of the type of head in which it is incorporated. In yet another embodiment, the base portion can be tapered.

Abstract: An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements may be provided on a front surface of the head. The head is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments formed of a rigid material. The segments are isolated from one another by channels containing an elastomeric material that flexibly connects the segments together. The oral care implement further comprises an elastomeric soft tissue cleaner located on a rear surface of the head opposite the front surface of the head. The elastomeric soft tissue cleaner comprises a plurality of grooves that are aligned with the channels.

Abstract: An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush. In one aspect, the invention is an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements may extend from a front surface of the head, which is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments formed of a rigid material, wherein the plurality of segments include a cruciform segment integrally formed with and extending from a distal end of the handle, a first pair of segments located on opposite sides of a longitudinal portion of the cruciform segment, and a second pair of segments located on opposite sides of the longitudinal portion of the cruciform segment, the first pair of segments located on an opposite side of a transverse portion of the cruciform segment from the second pair of segments. The segments of the first and second pairs are flexibly connected to the cruciform segment.

Abstract: Toothbrushes comprising components with light transmitting and structural characteristics provide enhanced visual and other sensory effects. The components in combination are generally chemically compatible and function to provide areas of varying visibility of features and optionally varying scent release.

Abstract: Automated determination of a number of profiles for a training data set to be used in training a machine learning system for generating target function information from modeled profile parameters. In one embodiment, a first principal component analysis (PCA) is performed on a training data set, and a second PCA is performed on a combined data set which includes the training data set and a test data set. A test data set estimate is generated based on the first PCA transform and the second PCA matrix. The size of error between the test data set and the test data set estimate is used to determine whether a number of profiles associated with the training data set is sufficiently large for training a machine learning system to generate a library of spectral information.

Abstract: Methods of generating wide process range libraries for metrology are described. For example, a method includes generating a first library having a first process range for a first parameter. A second library is generated having a second process range for the first parameter. The second process range is overlapping with the first process range. The second library is stitched to the first library to generate a third library having a third process range for the first parameter. The third process range is wider than each of the first and second process ranges.