Patent · US Expired

System and method for determining the resonant frequency and/or amplitude of an oscillating appliance such as a power toothbrush

US6918300B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 24, 2002
Grant dateJul 19, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61C17/20
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and corresponding method for determining the frequency and/or amplitude of an oscillating apparatus, which includes a driving assembly having a stator portion and an armature portion, and a driving signal circuit which supplies a driving signal to the stator portion. A control circuit interrupts the drive signal momentarily, for at least a quarter of a cycle, at periodic intervals, resulting in a signal being induced into the stator coil from continuing movement of the armature. A measurement/read circuit is connected to the stator coil for determining one or both of the frequency of the induced signal and the amplitude of the induced signal. The frequency or amplitude information is then compared against pre-established values and any differences are used to change the driving signal so as to provide maximum performance of the appliance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.