Communication component for oral care device attachment and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

According to one aspect, there is provided a method (100) of manufacturing a communication component for an attachment assembly of an oral care device, the method comprising: creating (102) an antenna assembly; and fitting (110) the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring. Creating (102) the antenna assembly includes forming (104) a base of the antenna assembly using an injection molding process; positioning (106) an antenna on the base; and forming (108) a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication component for an oral care device attachment and a method of making the same. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a communication component including an antenna assembly and a cold-formed metal ring coupled to the antenna assembly. Background Art

[0002] Previously, manufacturing communications components may have involved using a semi-automatic coil winding method to make an antenna, which can be labor-intensive and can result in damage to the antenna due to handling of the antenna. The chip may then be manually soldered to the antenna, which can also be a labor-intensive process and require high precision and be prone to errors due to the small size of the chip. Previous methods may also involve covering the antenna and chip with an epoxy material to secure the components together. However, securing the components together in this manner requires care and can be a time-consuming process due to the temperature sensitivity of the epoxy material, due to the epoxy material comprising two parts that need to be mixed in a specific ratio, and due to the difficult nature of handling liquid epoxy materials. Another disadvantage of using epoxy materials is associated with the negative environmental footprint of epoxy resins. Previous methods may also involve, for example, using an alloy from the ZAMAK alloy family to manufacture a metal ring, which is formed using a molten material that requires a lot of energy to melt. In addition, the metal ring formed in this manner may need to be coated with another material to improve the corrosion resistance of the ring. Previous methods may also involve gluing the epoxy coated antenna into the metal ring, which requires applying a certain amount of glue and sometimes heat in order to melt the glue. Due to the liquid nature of the glue, care must be taken when performing this process. Further disadvantages associated with the use of glue include that the glue may require a long drying time and / or may need to be dried in an oven, the glue may be sticky, and if problems occur (such as improper glue application), the communication component may be difficult to handle and / or correct.

[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to improve methods of manufacturing communication components so that the energy and costs associated with manufacturing communication components are reduced, and so that more reliable communication components are manufactured in a more automated manner. It is also desirable to use more environmentally friendly materials to manufacture communication components.

[0004] US2021 / 297113A1 describes a wireless communication system comprising a first unit, a coil antenna, a conductive loop, a second unit, and a wireless communication tag.

[0005] US 2006 / 267853 A1 describes an antenna coil including an air-core type flat coil body and a coil support member disposed between the coil body and a substrate so that the coil body is supported on a surface of the substrate. Summary of the invention

[0006] The communication component may form part of the oral care device, for example, to provide communication between an attachment assembly (in which the communication component may be mounted) and a base portion of the oral care device. Another purpose of such a component may be to provide an appropriate inertia ratio between the attachment assembly and the base portion of the oral care device, so that stable operation of the oral care device is achieved and the oral care device is able to provide good results (e.g., satisfactory cleaning results).

[0007] Manufacturing communication components for attachment assemblies of oral care devices has traditionally been an expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive process, which can require significant energy consumption and manual handling of certain components. In addition, traditional methods for manufacturing communication components require stringent processing conditions due to the materials used and the processes implemented. Therefore, the invention described herein aims to overcome these shortcomings and thereby provide more reliable and higher quality communication components in a more automated manner, which is achieved by utilizing injection molding and cold forming processes, etc.

[0008] According to a first specific aspect, a method of manufacturing a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device is provided. The method includes creating an antenna assembly by: forming a base of the antenna assembly using an injection molding process; placing an antenna on the base; and forming a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process. The method also includes assembling the antenna assembly to a cold-formed metal ring.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method may further include forming the cold-formed metal ring using a cold forming process.

[0010] In some embodiments, the cold forming process may include a stamping process.

[0011] In some embodiments, the injection molding process used to form the cover may include an overmolding injection molding process.

[0012] In some embodiments, assembling the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring may include using a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method may further include forming the antenna using an air coil winding process.

[0014] According to a second aspect, a communication component for an attachment assembly of an oral care device is provided. The communication component includes an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly including: an injection molded base; an antenna located on the base; and an injection molded cover located on the base and above the antenna. The communication component also includes a cold-formed metal ring coupled to the antenna assembly.

[0015] In some embodiments, the cold-formed metal ring may include steel.

[0016] According to a third aspect, there is provided an attachment assembly for an oral care device.The attachment assembly comprises a communication component as defined herein.

[0017] In some embodiments, the attachment assembly may include a brush head, a tongue cleaner, or an oral rinse attachment.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided an oral care device. The oral care device comprises a base portion; and an attachment assembly as defined herein.

[0019] In some embodiments, the antenna assembly may further include a chip attached to the antenna, the chip configured to enable communication between the communication component and the base portion of the oral care device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the chip may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip or a near field communication (NFC) chip. According to a fifth aspect, a computer-implemented method for facilitating manufacturing of a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device is provided. The method includes operating an injection molding device to form a base for an antenna assembly; operating a placement device to place the antenna on the base; operating the injection molding device to form a cover over the base and the antenna; and operating a coupling device to couple the antenna assembly to a cold-formed metal ring.

[0021] According to a sixth aspect, a system for making a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device is provided. The system includes: a base forming device configured to form a base of an antenna assembly using an injection molding process; an antenna placement device configured to place the antenna on the base; a cover forming device configured to form a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process; and a coupling device configured to couple the antenna assembly to a cold-formed metal ring.

[0022] These and other aspects will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is a flow chart of an example of a method of manufacturing a communication component for an attachment assembly of an oral care device;

[0025] Figure 2 is a flow chart of another example of a method of manufacturing a communication component for an attachment assembly of an oral care device;

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a communication component and components thereof for an attachment assembly of an oral care device;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an example of a cold-formed metal ring;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an example of an attached assembly;

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an example of an oral care device;

[0030] Figure 7 is a flow chart of an example of a computer-implemented method for facilitating manufacturing a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device;

[0031] Figure 8 is an example of a system for making a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device; and

[0032] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a processor in communication with a non-transitory computer-readable medium. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device. Figure 1 is a flow chart of an example of such a method 100. The method 100 includes, at step 102, creating an antenna assembly by forming a base of the antenna assembly using an injection molding process at step 104. The base can be produced using any type of injection molding process, such as insert molding, overmolding, etc. In some examples, injection molding can include one or more of the following steps: melting a plastic resin, pressing the resulting liquid plastic resin into a mold, and cooling the liquid plastic resin to solidify the resin. Injection molding can use materials including, for example, thermoplastic materials. Thermoplastic materials that can be used in the injection molding process described herein can include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, etc.

[0034] Creating the antenna assembly also includes, at step 106, placing the antenna on a base. In some examples, the antenna may include an antenna coil (e.g., a coil forming the antenna). In some examples, the antenna may be placed on the base by a machine. In some examples, the antenna may be placed around an edge protruding from the base, which may help secure the antenna to the base. In other words, the edge may support the antenna or hold the antenna on the base. For example, the antenna may be pushed onto the edge of the antenna assembly. In some examples, the edge may help prevent damage or deformation of the antenna. In some examples, the positioning of the edge on the antenna assembly may define the position of the antenna relative to the antenna assembly, thereby defining the position of the antenna relative to any product (e.g., an oral care device) to which the antenna assembly may be assembled. The edge may also provide assistance in a subsequent step of forming a cover above the base. The antenna may be made of a metal material. For example, the antenna may be made of copper or the like.

[0035] At step 108, creating the antenna assembly also includes forming a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process. In some embodiments, the injection molding process for forming the cover may include an overmolding injection molding process. Overmolding is an injection molding process that involves molding a first material over a second material to form a single product. Forming the cover of the antenna assembly in this manner may be advantageous for several reasons, including that multiple parts (e.g., the base and cover of the antenna assembly) may be seamlessly joined, which may improve the durability and / or strength of the product, thereby improving the quality and reliability of the product. For example, the cover may be configured to protect the antenna from impact and / or prevent material (e.g., water) from contacting the antenna. In some examples, depending on the material used in the overmolding process, the antenna assembly may exhibit improved shock absorption (e.g., if a resin including rubber is used in the overmolding process). In some examples, overmolding may use a thermoplastic material. For example, an easy-flowing thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene (e.g., a polypropylene random copolymer) may be used in the overmolding process. The advantages of using polypropylene include, for example, chemical resistance, elasticity, fatigue resistance, and electrical resistance of polypropylene.

[0036] Method 100 also includes, at step 110, assembling the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring. In some embodiments, assembling the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring may include using a snap-fit ​​mechanism. Using a snap-fit ​​mechanism to assemble the antenna assembly to the metal ring may allow two components (i.e., the antenna assembly and the metal ring) to be easily, reliably, and / or securely connected. In some examples, the metal ring may include protrusions and / or grooves so that the antenna assembly can be connected to the metal ring in a secure manner. For example, the antenna assembly may be configured so that it fits over a protrusion of the metal ring (e.g., see Figure 3). In some examples, the metal ring may include a groove, and the antenna assembly may include a corresponding protrusion, such that when the antenna assembly is assembled to the metal ring, the protrusion of the antenna assembly is embedded in the groove of the metal ring. In some examples, the antenna assembly can be glued to the cold-formed metal ring, screwed to the cold-formed metal ring, etc.

[0037] Figure 2 is a flow chart of another example of a method 200 for manufacturing a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device. Method 200 includes the steps of method 100. In some embodiments, method 200 may also include, at step 202, forming a cold-formed metal ring using a cold forming process. In some embodiments, the cold forming process may include a stamping process. In some examples, the stamping process may include cutting a piece of material from a sheet of material (e.g., a plate). In some examples, the stamping process may include forming a specific shape from a sheet of material (e.g., a piece of material cut from a sheet of material). In some examples, once the cold-formed metal ring 304 is formed, a cutout portion may be cut out of the metal ring (e.g., see Figure 3 In other examples, the cutout portion (e.g., Figure 3 The metal ring may include one or more cutout portions. The advantage of using a cold forming process to form the metal ring is that no heating is required, thereby reducing the energy required to manufacture the metal ring and simplifying the manufacturing setup required to make the metal ring (for example, no equipment for handling molten metal materials is required). Other advantages of cold forming the metal ring include obtaining a better surface finish and / or better repeatability, minimizing contamination issues, etc.

[0038] In some embodiments, method 200 may further include, at step 204, forming the antenna using an air coil winding process. Thus, the antenna may include an air coil. Advantageously, the air coil winding may be fully automated, thereby minimizing any handling of the antenna, thereby minimizing the possibility of damaging the antenna. An air coil is a coil of material without a magnetic core (e.g., copper wire bundled or wound together).

[0039] Figure 3An example of a communication component 300 and its components for an attachment assembly for an oral care device, and how these components are assembled together, is shown. The communication component 300 includes an antenna assembly 302 and a cold-formed metal ring 304 coupled to the antenna assembly. The antenna assembly 302 includes an injection molded base 306, an antenna 308 located on the base, and an injection molded cover 310 located on the base and above the antenna. In some examples, the base 306 can be referred to as a carrier ring. In some examples, the cover 310 can encapsulate the entire antenna 308 (located above the antenna 308). In other examples, the cover 310 can encapsulate a portion of the antenna 308. In some examples, the base 306 can be circular. In some examples, the base 306 can have a non-circular shape, such as an ellipse, a square, etc. In some examples, the base 306 can be annular in shape. In some examples, the base 306 can include an edge. For example, if the shape of the base 306 is annular, the edge can protrude from the inner circumference 314 of the base. In some examples, the edge may extend around the entire circumference / periphery or a portion of the circumference / periphery of the base 306. In some examples, the chip 312 may be connected to the antenna 308. In some examples, the chip may be connected to the antenna using a welding process, a fusion process, etc. The cover 310 may be located above part or all of the chip 312. In some examples, the base 306 may include a groove so that the groove can accommodate the chip 312. In some examples, the groove may be referred to as a pocket (where the chip 312 can be placed). For example, the groove may fix the chip 312 in place and / or protect the chip. In some examples, the groove may be configured to protect the connection between the antenna 308 and the chip 312 (e.g., a welding or fusion connection). In some examples, the metal ring 304 may have a circular shape. In other examples, the metal ring 304 may have an elliptical, square, etc. shape. In some examples, the metal ring 304 may be an annular shape. In some examples, the metal ring 304 may have the same or similar shape as the base. In some examples, the metal ring 304 may include a cutout portion 316. The cutout portion 316 is shaped to enable the metal ring and the communication component to fit together with adjacent components (e.g., when the communication component is installed in an attachment assembly of an oral care device). For example, the metal ring (and therefore the communication component) can form a part of an attachment assembly for an oral care device, wherein the cutout portion of the metal ring can be configured to connect to an adjacent component of the attachment assembly.

[0040] In some examples, the metal ring 304 may include a protrusion 318. The antenna assembly 302 may be configured to fit over the protrusion 318 of the metal ring, thereby enabling connection of the antenna assembly to the metal ring. In some examples, the metal ring 304 may include two or more protrusions instead of a single protrusion 318. Figure 4 Schematic diagram of an example of a cold-formed metal ring 400 is shown, the metal ring 400 includes four protrusions 404 and a cutout portion 402. Advantageously, a metal ring having two or more protrusions rather than a single protrusion (e.g., Figure 3 In some examples, when the communication component is installed in the attachment assembly of the oral care device, the lighter weight of the metal ring (and therefore the lighter weight of the communication component) may be beneficial. For example, the frequency of the brush head of the oral care device may require the attachment assembly to be within a defined weight range so that the vibration frequency of the brush head is within a defined (e.g., desired) frequency range.

[0041] In some embodiments, the attachment assembly may include a brush head, a tongue cleaner, or an oral rinse attachment.

[0042] In some embodiments, the cold-formed metal ring 304 may include steel. In some examples, the cold-formed metal ring 304 may include stainless steel, which may advantageously reduce corrosion of the metal ring. In other examples, the metal ring 304 may be formed of a metal or metal alloy such as iron, copper, brass, etc.

[0043] In some embodiments, the antenna assembly 302 may also include a chip 312 attached to the antenna 308, the chip being configured to enable communication between the communication component 300 and the communication component located in the base portion of the oral care device. In some examples, the chip 312 may be attached to the antenna 308 using laser welding or the like. In some examples, the chip 312 may include one or more pads (e.g., on the upper surface of the chip). The pad may include solder. The antenna may be attached to the chip by placing the end of the antenna (e.g., the loose end of the antenna coil) onto the pad of the chip 312. In some examples, each end of the antenna coil may be located on a different pad of the chip 312. For example, each end of the antenna may be located on a different pad on the chip 312. Then, one or more pins (e.g., melting pins) may press the end of the antenna onto the pad of the chip. As the melting pins are pressed down on the end of the antenna, the antenna and / or pad may be heated, so that the antenna may become fixed to the chip. For example, the heat generated by the melting pin pressing against the antenna may cause a portion of the pad to melt, thereby forming a bond between the antenna and the pad (and to the chip 312) when the melted portion of the pad solidifies. This method may be referred to as a thermal compression method.

[0044] In some embodiments, chip 312 may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip or a near field communication (NFC) chip.

[0045] In some examples, communication between the communication component 300 and the base portion of the oral care device (e.g., using an RFID chip or an NFC chip) can allow the base portion of the oral care device to identify the attachment component. The base portion of the oral care device can be configured to control the operation of the attachment component, such as the vibration speed of the brush head. Due to the communication between the communication component 300 and the base portion of the oral care device, the base portion can be configured to change settings associated with the operation of the attachment component. In this way, different attachment components can be assembled to the base portion of the oral care device, where each attachment component can be operated in a different manner based on the identification of the attachment component by the base portion of the oral care device.

[0046] In some examples, communication between the communication component 300 and the base portion of the oral care device can be used to improve the safety of the oral care device. The base portion can include a handle portion, which can include a drive assembly that causes the drive shaft to oscillate at a specific angle. The base portion can include a battery, etc. For example, the base portion can be configured to be inoperable before the attachment assembly has been assembled to the base portion (e.g., a motor of the base portion can not receive power).

[0047] According to a third aspect, there is provided an attachment assembly for an oral care device, the attachment assembly comprising a communication component 300 as described herein. According to various embodiments, Figure 5 A schematic diagram of an example of an attachment assembly 500 assembly for an oral care device is shown. The attachment assembly 500 includes a communication component 300. In some examples, the attachment assembly may include a head portion 504, which may include a brush head, a tongue cleaner, etc. In some examples, the attachment assembly 500 may include a connecting portion (not shown) configured to connect the attachment assembly to the base of the oral care device. The connecting portion may include any suitable connecting mechanism for attaching the attachment assembly 500 to the base of the oral care device. Such connecting mechanisms are known to those skilled in the art. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the head portion 504 and / or the connecting portion may be omitted.

[0048] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided an oral care device comprising a base portion and an attachment assembly as described herein. Figure 6 600 is a schematic diagram of another example of an oral care device 600 according to various embodiments. The oral care device 600 includes a base portion 602 and an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly can include the attachment assembly 500 discussed above. The attachment assembly 500 can be connected to or attached to the base portion 602 using a connecting portion, for example, which can interact with a complementary connecting mechanism of the base portion 602. The attachment assembly can be mounted on the end of the drive shaft 604.

[0049] According to a fifth aspect, a computer-implemented method 700 is provided for facilitating the manufacture of a communication component 300 for an attachment assembly for an oral care device. The method 700 includes, at step 702, operating an injection molding device to form a base 306 of an antenna assembly. The injection molding device can be used for mass production of manufacturing parts (e.g., a base portion of an antenna assembly). The injection molding device can feed a plastic resin into a screw unit. The screw unit can be configured to heat the resin to turn it into a liquid. Once the resin becomes liquid, the resin can be injected into (e.g., pressed into) an injection molding mold cavity under high pressure (e.g., 1000 bar, greater than 1000 bar, 1500 bar, etc.). Next, a cooling process can be performed, thereby causing the liquid resin to become solid (e.g., frozen). Once the resin solidifies, the mold can be pushed out of the mold cavity. For example, an ejector pin can be used to push an injection molded product (e.g., a base) out of the mold.

[0050] The method 700 also includes, at step 704, operating the placement device to place the antenna 308 on the base. The placement of the antenna on the base can be performed automatically, for example, using a robot. For example, a mechanical gripper can be connected to the arm, wherein the gripper is configured to pick up the antenna and place it on the base.

[0051] The method 700 also includes, at step 706 , operating an injection molding apparatus to form a cover 310 over the base and the antenna.

[0052] The method 700 also includes, at step 708, operating the coupling device to couple the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring 304. This step can be performed in an automated manner, for example, using a robot. The antenna assembly can be placed above the cold-formed metal ring. The antenna assembly and the cold-formed metal ring can be pressed together. The antenna assembly and the cold-formed metal ring can be held together using a snap mechanism.

[0053] Devices 702, 704, 706, 708 can be placed in a production hall, can include their own frames (e.g., separated from each other), and can be automatically operated using a separate control system. Each device 702, 704, 706, 708 can include a safety cabinet to ensure the safety of anyone near the device. An automatic transmission system (e.g., a conveyor belt) can be used to transfer the components of the present invention disclosed herein (e.g., base portion 306) between devices 702, 704, 706, 708. In some examples, each device 702, 704, 706, 708 can perform its function independently of other devices. For example, an injection molding device can be configured to form a base for an antenna assembly, wherein the base is subsequently transmitted (e.g., using a conveyor belt) to a placement device so that the antenna is placed on the base. In other examples, an injection molding device can be used to form a base, and at a later defined time, the antenna can be assembled to the base (e.g., the base can be removed from the injection molding device and later input to the placement device).

[0054] According to a sixth aspect, a system 800 for making a communication component 300 of an attachment assembly for an oral care device is provided. The system comprises: a base forming device 802 configured to form a base 306 of an antenna assembly using an injection molding process; an antenna placement device 804 configured to place an antenna 308 on the base; a cover forming device 806 configured to form a cover 310 above the base and the antenna using an injection molding process; and a coupling device 808 configured to couple the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring 304.

[0055] Another aspect of the invention relates to a computer program product. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a non-transitory computer readable medium 902 in communication with a processor 904. In some embodiments, a computer program product may be provided that includes the non-transitory computer readable medium 902 having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that when executed by a suitable computer or processor 904, the computer or processor is caused to perform the steps of the methods disclosed herein.

[0056] The processor 904 may include one or more processors, processing units, multi-core processors, or modules that are configured or programmed to control the components of the system 800 in the manner described herein. In a specific implementation, the processor 904 may include a plurality of software modules and / or hardware modules, each of which is configured to perform or be used to perform a single or multiple steps of the methods described herein.

[0057] The term "module" used herein is intended to include: a hardware component, such as a processor or a component of a processor configured to perform a specific function; or a software component, such as a set of instruction data having a specific function when executed by a processor.

[0058] It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to computer programs, particularly computer programs suitable for putting the present invention into practice on or in a carrier. The program may be in the form of source code, target code, code intermediate source, and target code (such as in a partially compiled form), or may be any other form suitable for implementing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. It should also be understood that such a program may have many different architectural designs. For example, a program code that implements the functionality of a method or system according to the present invention may be subdivided into one or more subroutines. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the many different ways of allocating functionality between these subroutines. The subroutines may be stored together in an executable file to form a self-contained program. Such an executable file may include computer executable instructions, such as processor instructions and / or interpreter instructions (e.g., Java interpreter instructions). Alternatively, one or more or all subroutines may be stored in at least one external library file and linked to a main program statically or dynamically (e.g., at runtime). The main program includes at least one call to at least one of the subroutines. The subroutines may also include mutual function calls. Embodiments associated with a computer program product include computer executable instructions corresponding to at least one of the processing stages of the method set forth herein. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and / or stored in one or more files that may be linked statically or dynamically. Another embodiment associated with a computer program product includes computer executable instructions corresponding to each device of at least one of the systems and / or products described herein. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and / or stored in one or more files that may be linked statically or dynamically.

[0059] The carrier of a computer program may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier may include a data storage device such as a ROM (e.g., a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM), or a magnetic recording medium (e.g., a hard disk). In addition, the carrier may be a transmissible carrier (such as an electrical signal or an optical signal) that may be transmitted via an electrical cable or an optical cable or by radio or other means. When the program is embodied in such a signal, the carrier may be constituted by such a cable or other device or apparatus. Alternatively, the carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded, the integrated circuit being suitable for executing or being used to execute the relevant method.

[0060] Those skilled in the art, in practicing the principles and techniques described herein, can understand and implement variations to the disclosed embodiments by studying the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "one" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit can implement the functions of several items stated in the claims. The fact that certain measures are stated in mutually different dependent claims does not in itself indicate that the combination of these measures cannot be fully utilized. The computer program may be stored on or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or solid-state medium provided with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems. Any reference symbols in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A method (100) of manufacturing a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device, the method comprising: Create (102) the antenna component by doing the following: forming (104) a base of the antenna assembly using an injection molding process; placing (106) an antenna on the base; as well as forming (108) a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process; as well as The antenna assembly is assembled (110) to a cold-formed metal ring.

2. The method (100, 200) according to claim 1, further comprising: The cold-formed metal ring is formed (202) using a cold-forming process.

3. The method (100, 200) according to claim 2, wherein the cold forming process comprises a stamping process.

4. The method (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the injection molding process used to form the cover comprises an overmolding injection molding process.

5. The method (100, 200) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein assembling the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring comprises using a snap-fit ​​mechanism.

6. The method (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: The antenna is formed (204) using an air coil winding process.

7. A communication component (300) for an attachment assembly of an oral care device, the communication component comprising: An antenna assembly (302) comprising: an injection molded base (306); an antenna (308) located on the base; and an injection molded cover (310) located on the base and above the antenna; and A cold-formed metal ring (304, 400) is coupled to the antenna assembly.

8. The communication component (300) of claim 7, wherein the cold-formed metal ring (304, 400) comprises steel.

9. An attachment assembly (500) for an oral care device, the attachment assembly comprising a communication component (300) according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The attachment assembly (500) of claim 9, further comprising a brush head, a tongue cleaner, or an oral rinse attachment.

11. An oral care device (600), comprising: A base portion (602); as well as An attachment assembly (500) according to claim 9 or 10.

12. An oral care device (600) according to claim 11, wherein the antenna assembly (302) of the attachment assembly (500) further includes a chip (312) attached to the antenna (308), the chip being configured to enable communication between the communication component and the base portion of the oral care device.

13. The communication component (300) according to claim 12, wherein the chip (312) comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip or a near field communication (NFC) chip.

14. A computer-implemented method (700) for facilitating manufacturing of a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device, the method comprising: Operating (702) an injection molding device to form a base of the antenna assembly; Operating (704) a placement device to place the antenna on the base; operating (706) an injection molding device to form a cover over the base and the antenna; as well as A coupling device is operated (708) to couple the antenna assembly to the cold-formed metal ring.

15. A system (800) for making a communication component of an attachment assembly for an oral care device, the system comprising: A base forming device (802), the base forming device (802) being configured to form a base of the antenna assembly using an injection molding process; An antenna placement device (804), the antenna placement device (804) being configured to place the antenna on the base; a cover forming device (806) configured to form a cover over the base and the antenna using an injection molding process; as well as A coupling device (808) is configured to couple the antenna assembly to a cold-formed metal ring.

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