Grooming Motor Acoustic Data Transmission

Solution Overview

Problem

Grooming appliances like shavers and hair-clippers lack the capability to interact with users effectively due to limited user interface and data processing functionality, requiring additional components for communication with external devices, which increases complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

Modulating the sound produced by the motor of the grooming appliance to transmit data to a user terminal, such as a smartphone, using patterns in the motor's operation to encode information without the need for additional communication front-ends like RF modules or cables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional communication components (cable, connector, RF transceiver, antenna) are added to enable data transmission from the grooming appliance to a user terminal, then the user interface and data processing capabilities are enhanced, but the device complexity, manufacturing cost, and footprint increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor serves multiple functions: it drives the grooming mechanism and simultaneously acts as an acoustic transducer to emit modulated sound waves for data transmission. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated communication components, reducing device complexity while maintaining data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The grooming appliance uses its own operational motor to generate the sound waves for communication, rather than requiring separate communication hardware. The motor's inherent acoustic emissions are harnessed for data transmission, making the system self-sufficient and reducing component count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional communication components (cable, connector, RF transceiver, antenna) are added to enable data transmission from the grooming appliance to a user terminal, then the user interface and data processing capabilities are enhanced, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The motor performs dual roles as both the actuator for grooming and the acoustic transducer for data transmission. This eliminates the need for expensive additional communication components like RF transceivers and antennas, significantly reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining enhanced data processing capability through cloud connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional communication components (cable, connector, RF transceiver, antenna) are added to enable data transmission from the grooming appliance to a user terminal, then the user interface and data processing capabilities are enhanced, but the footprint of the appliance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidfootprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor serves as both the grooming actuator and the acoustic communication transducer, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware components that would occupy additional space. This multi-functional approach maintains enhanced user interaction capability while preserving the compact footprint of the handheld appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables enhanced user interaction and data processing capabilities without adding extra components, reducing the appliance's complexity and cost, while allowing for the transmission of status, identification, and usage instructions to the user terminal.

Implementation Method 1

a motor arranged to operate the grooming mechanism; and a controller configured to modulate a data signal into sound produced by the grooming appliance during the operation of the grooming mechanism by the motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10751892B2Grooming apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A grooming appliance (100) comprising: a grooming mechanism (102) for grooming a user; a motor (104) arranged to operate the grooming mechanism; and a controller (106) configured to modulate a data signal into sound produced by the grooming appliance during the operation of the grooming mechanism by the motor, in order to transmit information relating to the grooming appliance. In embodiments, the sound being modulated is caused by the motor when operating the grooming mechanism. In this case the controller is arranged to supply a drive signal to the motor in order to control the motor, and to perform the modulation by varying the drive signal in order to modulate the data signal into the sound caused by the motor during operation of the grooming mechanism.