Mass-Spring Attachment Identification via Resonance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal care appliances, such as power toothbrushes, face challenges in cost-effectively recognizing and distinguishing disposable attachments without requiring significant extra space, as current methods like conductive, wireless, or optical systems are costly and space-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a mass-spring identifiable assembly with a ring mass-spring component and leaf springs, which has distinct resonant frequencies, allows the appliance's controller to recognize the attachment via a permanent magnet resonant actuator and sensing coil, enabling unique identification and operation adjustments based on detected resonant frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conductive, wireless, or optical systems are used for data transfer between brush head and handle, then information transfer capability is improved, but cost and device space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation transfer capabilityVSAvoidcost and space requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex electronic data transfer systems (conductive, wireless, or optical) with a mechanical resonance-based identification system. The mass-spring assembly's resonant frequency serves as the identification signal, eliminating the need for separate communication hardware and reducing both cost and space requirements while maintaining attachment recognition capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mass-spring assembly serves dual functions: it provides the necessary mechanical resonance for brush head operation and simultaneously encodes identification information through its resonant frequency. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate identification hardware, resolving the contradiction between information transfer capability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If resonant frequency detection is performed during normal operation, then attachment identification is achieved, but operational frequency stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment identificationVSAvoidoperational frequency stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs frequency sweeps periodically (e.g., when brush head is first attached or at scheduled intervals) rather than continuously during operation. This periodic detection approach allows attachment identification while minimizing interference with normal operational frequency stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The resonant frequency detection and attachment identification is performed in advance (during attachment phase or before normal operation) rather than during active brushing. This preliminary action ensures frequency stability is maintained during the actual operational phase while still achieving identification goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution provides an inexpensive and space-efficient method for recognizing disposable attachments, enabling personalized settings, monitoring user behavior, and tracking attachment status, without disturbing the primary operational frequency of the appliance.

Implementation Method 1

The mass-spring identifiable assembly has at least one identifiable resonant frequency in response to a given excitation, wherein the at least one identifiable resonant frequency comprises a resonant frequency selected from at least two different resonant frequencies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

The actuator comprises a permanent magnet resonant actuator having a principal coil, wherein the permanent magnet resonant actuator with principal coil is operable as a sensing device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3193777B1Attachment with identification means for personal care appliance and personal care appliance

Publication Date: 2021.10.06 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

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AI summary

A personal care appliance (10) comprises a handle(12), an attachment(14), and a controller(16).The handle (12) includes an actuator (20) and drive shaft(22). The attachment (14) has a body (30) with a principal axis (32) extending between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, wherein the proximal end couples to the drive shaft. The attachment (14) further includes a mass-spring identifiable assembly (40) having at least one identifiable resonant frequency in response to a given excitation, wherein the at least one identifiable resonant frequency comprises a resonant frequency selected from at least two different resonant frequencies. The controller (16) is configured to control the attachment(14), via the actuator(20), over a predefined range of frequencies that includes the given excitation. The controller (16) is further configured, in at least a detection mode, to uniquely recognize the attachment (14) via detecting a presence of the at least one identifiable resonant frequency of the mass-spring identifiable assembly (40) of the attachment (14) in response to the given excitation.