Personal care device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal care devices with interchangeable treatment heads face challenges in accurately identifying and adapting to different treatment heads due to varying operational requirements, leading to potential inefficiencies and user intervention in setting parameters.

Innovation Solution

A handheld personal care device with a motor-driven system that includes a sensor to measure motor current and a control unit to identify treatment heads based on predefined current thresholds, automatically retrieving and applying specific working parameters for efficient operation without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If selection buttons or wireless communication (RFID/NFC) are used to identify treatment heads, then treatment head identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment head identification capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electronic identification systems (RFID/NFC tags, selection buttons) with a mechanical sensing approach. The sensor detects physical characteristics of the treatment head through mechanical contact via the drive shaft coupling, eliminating the need for complex wireless communication hardware and software protocols while achieving reliable treatment head identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment head automatically provides identification information through its physical characteristics when coupled to the drive shaft. The sensor passively detects these characteristics without requiring the treatment head to have active electronics, communication capabilities, or user intervention via selection buttons, enabling self-identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If treatment heads have different working conditions requiring different parameters, then personal care operation effectiveness is improved, but user intervention for parameter setting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonal care operation effectivenessVSAvoiduser intervention for parameter setting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor provides feedback about the detected treatment head characteristics to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically selects and applies the appropriate working parameters for that specific treatment head, eliminating the need for users to manually set parameters while ensuring optimal performance for each treatment head type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic parameter selection and adjustment based on the detected treatment head characteristics. The control unit autonomously configures the driving unit parameters without requiring user knowledge or intervention, making the device self-adjusting to the attached treatment head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If measurement is performed after treatment head is exposed to load, then measurement accuracy may be affected, but device operation time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor current measurement accuracyVSAvoiddevice operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor measures the electrical characteristics of the treatment head during the coupling process between the drive shaft and treatment head, before the treatment head is exposed to operational load. This preliminary measurement ensures accurate detection of treatment head characteristics without the interference of load-induced variations, and the identification is completed before the device begins its normal operation.

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

Ensures reliable identification and adaptation of treatment heads, enabling efficient and automatic performance of personal care operations with reduced risk of errors and user intervention, ensuring optimal parameters are applied for each operation.

Implementation Method 1

The device further comprises a sensor for measuring the current drawn from the motor during the operation of the motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentUS11259626B2Personal care device

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

This invention relates to a device (1) for performing personal care operations on a subject. The device (1) comprises a handheld base body (3), a driving unit (400) to receive and drive an interchangeable treatment head (2) to perform the personal care operation, a sensor (7) for measuring the amount of current drawn from a motor arrangement (5, 6) while the driving unit (400) is being operated. The device (1) further comprises a control unit (8) operably connected to the sensor (7) and the driving unit (400) and configured to control the driving unit (400). The control unit (8) is configured to identify the individual treatment head (2) fitted on the driving unit (400) by comparing the measured motor current at the predefined measuring time (t1) with at least one predefined current threshold (C).