Personal Care Drive Unit Motor Current and Vibration Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personal care devices face challenges in reliably identifying different functional units attached to a main body, especially in harsh environments, due to space constraints, mechanical limitations, and compatibility issues with existing units.

Innovation Solution

A personal care device drive unit that utilizes both vibration sensing and motor current sensing to generate an output signal associated with the connected functional unit, allowing for accurate identification and control of various functional units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical or mechanical switches are used to identify functional units, then information transfer is achieved, but space is insufficient and connections cannot withstand harsh environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical/mechanical switches with motor current sensing to identify functional units. The controller detects the functional unit type by measuring current characteristics during motor operation, eliminating the need for separate identification components and their associated space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor itself serves dual purposes: both driving the functional unit and providing identification information through its current characteristics. The functional unit's nature is revealed through its electrical load signature during operation, making the motor self-identifying rather than requiring separate sensors or switches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If wireless communication (e.g. RFID) is used for data transfer, then identification is achieved, but cost increases and antenna placement is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces wireless communication systems with direct electrical measurement through the motor circuit. By analyzing current parameters during motor operation, the system achieves functional unit identification without requiring RFID antennas, wireless modules, or associated complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If motor current sensing alone is used to identify functional units, then simple implementation is achieved, but detection accuracy is insufficient for similar units

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system simplicityVSAvoidfunctional unit identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a temporal dimension to current sensing by measuring current at multiple time points during motor operation. The controller evaluates current characteristics across different operational phases, enabling differentiation between functional units with similar static current signatures through their dynamic current profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic motor operation cycles to gather identification data. By running the motor through standardized sequences and measuring current at specific intervals, the controller accumulates sufficient information to accurately identify functional units, transforming a single-point measurement into a multi-phase detection process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic 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

Enables reliable identification and control of multiple functional units, even in wet or dirty environments, without requiring significant additional components or modifications to existing units, thereby improving detection accuracy and compatibility.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration sensor arranged in the main body for measuring at least one vibration parameter relating to a vibration of the main body during driving of the selected one of the set of different functional units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a current sensor for measuring at least one current parameter relating to an electric current driving the motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical current measurement: Ohmmeter

Data Source

PatentUS12269182B2Personal care system including a person care device drive unit and multiple functional units

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A personal care device drive unit comprises a main body housing a motor and enabling releasable connection to any selected one of a set of different functional units. A controller of the personal care device drive unit generates an output signal associated with the selected one of the functional units connected to the main body in dependence on a sensed motor current and a sensed vibration occurring in the main body. The use of both vibration sensing and current sensing (which detects the electrical motor load resulting from driving the selected one of the functional units connected to the main body) enables multiple different functional units to be identified more reliably.