Toothbrush with adaptive load sensor
US5784742A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C2204/002
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electric toothbrush (10) with an adaptive load sensor (12) is disclosed. The toothbrush of this invention includes a brushhead (16) that is vibrated by a drive assembly (18). The load sensor monitors the current drawn by the drive assembly to determine the mechanical load to which the toothbrush is exposed. The load sensor assembly produces an adaptive threshold signal that represents the instantaneous maximum pressure load. If the sensed load voltage exceeds the adaptive threshold signal, the load sensor assembly deenergizes the drive assembly and generates an alarm signal so as to give the user a warning that the toothbrush has been excessively loaded.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.