Shaving Appliance Notification Circuit for Cumulative Shave Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shaving razors with sensors do not provide comprehensive information to users for improving their shaving experience, as they lack the capability to track and analyze various aspects of shaving techniques and blade conditions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A networked shaving appliance system equipped with motion, orientation, and pressure sensors that generate shave event information, which is communicated to a computer network for processing with user profile data to provide personalized feedback on blade wear, shaving technique, and facial region-specific guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple sensors (motion, orientation, pressure) are integrated into the shaving appliance to collect comprehensive shave data, then the information quality and user feedback accuracy are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive shave informationVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shaving appliance is divided into functional modules: motion sensors detect stroke patterns, orientation sensors track shaving direction, and pressure sensors monitor contact force. Each sensor type independently captures specific aspects of shaving technique, and their data is integrated by a processing unit to provide comprehensive feedback without requiring a single complex sensing system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system is designed to serve multiple functions: motion sensors detect both stroke speed and stroke patterns, orientation sensors determine both shaving direction and facial region, and pressure sensors monitor both contact force and blade wear indicators. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If the system processes and communicates detailed cumulative shave event information to users, then the user feedback quality improves, but the information processing and communication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecumulative shave event informationVSAvoiddata processing and communication system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously accumulates and processes shave event data in the background during normal shaving operations, building comprehensive profiles of user technique, blade wear patterns, and performance metrics before user review. This preliminary data aggregation allows the notification circuit to present ready-analyzed insights rather than requiring users to manually interpret raw sensor data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification circuit provides continuous feedback to users about their shaving technique quality, blade wear status, and performance optimization opportunities. This feedback loop enables users to adjust their technique in real-time and understand the cumulative impact of their habits on blade life and shave quality, transforming complex sensor data into actionable insights

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the notification circuit provides continuous feedback on shaving technique and blade condition, then the user experience and shaving effectiveness are improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaving performance optimizationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification circuit operates periodically rather than continuously, providing feedback at key moments such as after completing a full shave cycle, when blade wear reaches thresholds, or when technique patterns indicate optimization opportunities. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring and notification while still delivering valuable performance insights

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3513927B2Shaving appliance including a notification circuit for communicating cumulative shave event information
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 THE GILLETTE CO
  • EP3513927B2 patent drawingFigure 1~1a
  • EP3513927B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3513927B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shaving appliance includes: (a) a handle and a shaving head cartridge connected to the handle; (b) motion, orientation, and/or pressure sensors associated with the handle and/or the shaving head cartridge; (c) a cartridge replacement sensor/circuit; (d) a sensor circuit connected via a data connection to receive sensor signals from the motion, orientation and/or pressure sensors, to receive a new cartridge event signal from the cartridge replacement sensor/circuit, and to generate cumulative shave event information from the sensor signals upon receiving a new cartridge event signal; and (e) a notification circuit communicating cumulative shave event information to a user.