Various operational mode arrangements of an electric toothbrush (10) include pre-programming a controller portion (16) of the electric toothbrush such that a single brushing event of approximately two minutes comprises automatically at least two different operating modes and specified times for each mode. Another operational mode includes the capability of operating the on/off button (20) of the toothbrush within a specified short time following termination of a normal brushing event to provide the user a specified additional time, e.g. 30 seconds of toothbrush action. A special toothbrush interface arrangement includes a display (80) which encourages children to maintain brushing for the full brushing period. This is accomplished through sequential illustration of the progress of an article from an initial state to a final desired state as the toothbrush is used for increasing portions of a full brushing time period. In another embodiment, a toothbrush (120) includes a capability of adjusting the performance/operating characteristics in accordance with the age of a child user.

A cosmetic device with an exchangeable application head and a device body, wherein the device body contains a motor and drive mechanism, an actuating switch, a power supply, a head recognition element and a control element adapted to control the motor and drive mechanism based on an actuation of the actuation switch and the application head recognized by the head recognition element. It is provided that the head recognition element comprises at least one mechanical switch disposed on a carrier fixed at the device body. Further, a flexible actuation area is disposed in front of the at least one mechanical switch. The exchangeable application head has at least one recognition generating protrusion actuating through the flexible actuation area on one of the at least one mechanical switches when the exchangeable application head is mounted at the device body.

A personal care appliance 10 comprises an actuator 14, a current sensor 28 for monitoring a driving current, and a controller 24. The actuator 14, operable according to a non-linear response characteristic 58 of amplitude versus frequency, includes a movable shaft 18 configured for resonant movement 38 in response to a drive signal 25, further for being coupled with a workpiece 20. The controller 24 (i) detects at least one of a plurality of different characteristic load states (100,102,104,106,108,110) in response to a perturbation in the monitored driving current 29 and (ii) actively delivers the drive signal 25 to the actuator 14 selected from at least two different drive signals (66,70) as a function of a detected characteristic load state. In this manner, the controller 24 implements self-adaptive amplitude regulation of the movable shaft's resonant movement 38 among the plurality of difference characteristic load states that include additional loads of force, spring, mass, and/or damping to a given load state of a resonant spring mass system of actuator 14 coupled with workpiece 20.

In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care system that includes a toothbrush; a user interface configured to receive a brushing goal from a user; and a programmable processor operably coupled to the user interface. The programmable processor can be configured to receive brushing goal data indicative of the brushing goal received by the user interface; and determine, based at least in part on the brushing goal data, a suggested brushing routine and a brushing evaluation for a brushing session.

Controllable brush, comprising a bristle carrier (BC) having a plurality of bristles (B), and a supplementary carrier (SC) having a plurality of protrusions (P), a distance (d) between the supplementary carrier (SC) and the bristle carrier (BC) being modifiable, whereby decreasing the distance (d) results in the protrusions (P) being inserted through the bristle carrier (BC). Decreasing the distance (d) results in the protrusions (P) being inserted inside the bristles (B). Alternatively, decreasing the distance (d) results in the protrusions (P) being inserted between the bristles (B). The controllable brush may further comprise an actuator for modifying the distance (d), and a control unit for controlling the actuator in response to a sensor output. The sensor may be arranged for measuring a force experienced by the brush. Alternatively, the sensor may be a camera of a smartphone.

A method and system for reducing distraction of a user (10) of an oral health care device (102), includes: a sensor (112) configured to determine positions of the user during use of the oral health care device; a processor (150) in communication with the sensor and configured to calculate differences between the determined positions and to determine if the differences reach or exceed a threshold value for notifying the user; and a user interface (114) in communication with the processor and configured to alter from a normal state in an event the differences between the determined positions reach or exceed the threshold value for notifying the user.

The invention provides a system for cleaning teeth. The system comprises a smart toothbrush and a smart device. The smart device includes a display. The smart device further comprises a true 3D representation of a user's teeth. The smart toothbrush is arranged to send brushing data to the smart device, and to analyse the brushing data and overlay the brushing data onto the 3D representation of a user's teeth via the display. By providing a true representation of a user's teeth, the system provides a more accurate feedback mechanism to the user, improving the brushing technique of the user.

A hair information collection device for providing information relating to hair of a user includes a device body having at least first and second regions configured such that the hair of the user is movable between the first and second regions while in contact with the first and second regions, at least one microphone arranged in or on the device body for detecting a noise during movement of the hair between the first and second regions, a speed sensor circuit arranged in or on the device body and comprising at least one sensor for determining a value representing the speed of the device body, and an electronic circuit device arranged in or on the device body, wherein the electronic circuit device is configured to provide the user with information regarding the hair based on the received detected noise and the speed of the device body.

A motion tracking element for an oral hygiene element such as a toothbrush. The motion tracking element may be detachably coupled to the oral hygiene element. The motion tracking element may include a body having an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface having a pattern that includes a plurality of indicators with a non-circular shape. The indicators may be flush with and form part of the outer surface. A plurality of visual markers may be located on the outer surface, each of the visual markers having a circular shape. The plurality of visual markers may be formed integrally with the body. A method for estimating a pose of an oral hygiene device may be achieved using the motion tracking element.

A method (400) for determining a user's compliance with a guided cleaning session during use of an oral cleaning device (10) includes the steps of: (i) providing (410) an oral cleaning device including a sensor (28), a guidance generator (46), and a controller (30); (ii) providing (420), by the guidance generator, a guided cleaning session to the user; (iii) generating (430), at a first location during the guided cleaning session, sensor data from the sensor indicating a position or motion of the oral cleaning device; (iv) comparing (440) the generated sensor data to expected sensor data for the first location; and (v) generating (450), based on the comparison, an estimate of the user's compliance with the guided cleaning session.