U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jan Reinder De Boer

Hugo Schemmann

Pieter Gerrit Blanken

Leo Bertram

Jacobus N Dekker

Olivier Sterk

Martinus M Rijken

Jan Reinink

Albertus J Van Der Borst

Andries T Reeder

Pieter De Pooter

Godefridus Franciscus Bernardus Hulshof

Berendien Jacoba Papenburg

The invention pertains to surface topographies which can be used to modulate the morphology, proliferation, biochemical functioning, differentiation, attachment, migration, signaling, and/or cell death of a cell population by physical stimulation. Such topographies can be applied in vitro and in vivo to modulate cell behavior. Specific examples include implants provided with a topography of the invention which regulates the immune response, or an implant which increases osteogenesis. The invention furthermore pertains to objects which are used in vitro to modulate cell behavior.

Surface topographies for altering the physiology of living cells

The invention relates to a switched mode power supply with current mode control, in which an inductive element () is connected to a power source () by means of a controllable switch (). During closure of the switch () the increasing current through the inductive element () is sensed by a current sensor () and compared with a reference signal (). When the signal from the current sensor is equal to the reference signal, the switch () is opened. Due to circuitry delays the off-switching of the switch () occurs at a higher current level than sensed by the current sensor (). To compensate for this effect the switched mode power supply has means () for generating a compensation signal (Ic*R) proportional to the gradient (di/dt) of the current i through the inductive element (). The circuitry delay can be compensated for by a suitable choice of values of components ().

Switched mode power supply with delay-compensated current mode control

A comparator (,) compares the voltage of a battery (,) with a switchable reference voltage (Uref,A, Uref,B,,) and supplies a signal (IS) if the voltage of the battery passes the reference voltage. The switching point of the reference voltage is defined by means of a first resistor (,). By means of the first resistor the number of cells of the battery is set to one or two. A second resistor (,) in series with the battery enables an additional voltage to be obtained in order to correct the reference voltage for the type of battery cell used.

Voltage indicator for indicating that the voltage of a battery passes a given value

A shaving apparatus (1, 105) with at least one adjustable cutting unit (11, 121) which comprises an external cutting member (13, 123) with at least one hair trap opening (17) and an internal cutting member (19, 125) which is rotatable inside the external cutting member (13, 123) by means of an electric motor (23, 127). The cutting unit (11, 121) is adjustable by means of an electrical actuator (91, 179) which is controllable by an electrical control unit (103, 191). In a first embodiment of the shaving apparatus (1), the external cutting member (13, 123) can be positioned relative to a holder (17) during a shaving operation by means of the actuator (91). In a second embodiment of the shaving apparatus (105), the external cutting member (123) is displaceable relative to the holder (111) under the influence of a skin contact force against a pretensioning force which has a value which is adjustable by means of the actuator (179). In both embodiments, the motor (23, 127) has a speed which is controlled by the control unit (103, 191). The control unit (103, 191) adjusts the cutting unit (11, 121) and the motor speed (23, 127) as a function of a measured skin contact force, a measured cutting frequency, a time which has elapsed during a shaving operation, and a balance between shaving performance and shaving comfort desired by the user. In a special embodiment, the control unit (103, 191) controls the cutting unit (11, 121) and the motor speed in accordance with an algorithm based on fuzzy logic. The shaving apparatus (1, 105) provides a user of the shaving apparatus (1, 105) with an optimum balance between the achieved shaving performance, i.e. skin smoothness and shaving speed, and the experienced shaving comfort, i.e. skin irritation level, during a shaving operation.

Shaving apparatus with electrically adjustable cutting unit

A shaving apparatus is provided having a housing (1), provided with a holder (2) in which at least one cutting unit (3) is mounted, which cutting unit comprises an external cutting member (4) and an internal cutting member (5) which is rotatably drivable relative to said external cutting member, and provided with a skin supporting rim (6) surrounding the external cutting member, which external cutting member (4) has at least one hair-entry aperture (8) and is mounted so as to be movable relative to the holder (2), said internal cutting member (5) being in resilient engagement with the external cutting member. For a better control of the pressure between the external cutting member (4) and the skin the skin supporting rim (6) is pivotable both relative to its associated external cutting member (4) and relative to the holder (2).

Shaving apparatus

A capacitive sensor circuit is provided which comprises: a sensor electrode (16) forming a first plate of a sensing capacitor (14) relative to a reference terminal (10), a first (2) and a second (26) inverting Schmitt trigger having the same threshold voltages. A feedback resistor (8) provides feedback from the output (6) to the input (4) of the first trigger (2), which together with the sensing capacitor (14) forms an oscillator whose frequency depends on the magnitude of the sensing capacitor (14). The input (24) of the second trigger (26) is connected to the output of the first trigger (2) via a series resistor (22) and to the reference terminal (10) via a reference capacitor (30). The resistance values of the feedback resistor (8) and the series resistor (22) are equal. A d.c. signal will appear on the output (32) of the second trigger if the capacitance of the sensing capacitor (14) is smaller than the capacitance of the reference capacitor (30) and an a.c. signal in the opposite case.

Capacitive sensor circuit

An amplifier circuit, for example, a class AB output stage, includes a series arrangment of a first transistor (T.sub.1) and a second transistor (T.sub.2), both arranged as diodes, a series arrangement of a third transistor (T.sub.3) and a fourth transistor (T.sub.4) and a series arrangement of a fifth transistor (T.sub.5) and an impedance (R). The first main electrode of the first transistor (T.sub.1) is coupled via the impedance (R) to the control electrode of the fourth transistor (T.sub.4). The first main electrodes of the second and fifth transistors (T.sub.2, T.sub.5) are coupled together and to the control electrode of the third transistor (T.sub.3). The control electrodes of the first, second and fifth transistors (T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.5) are coupled together and to the second main electrodes of the first and the second transistor. This circuit provides a small quiescent current in the output transistors using relatively small input transistors (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) and relatively large output transistors (T.sub.3, T.sub.4).

Quiescent current setting for an amplifier circuit

The invention relates to an electric motor having a U-shaped stator iron such as a series-, split-pole- or single-phase synchronous motor. Between the free shank ends of the stator, pole shoes are formed, and on the shanks, induction coils are provided. The shanks of the stator iron in the area between the pole shoes and the coils are bent with respect to the central plane of the stator iron in such manner that the shaft of the rotor with the central plane of the stator iron encloses an angle differing from the perpendicular to the central plane.

Electric motor having a U-shaped stator iron

In a dry-shaving apparatus having an electric motor switch and an element for coupling a trimmer to the motor, there is provided an arrangement for coupling the motor switch to the coupling element for the trimmer so that when the motor is switched off, the trimmer is automatically disengaged.

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Drachten, Netherlands

Jan Reinder De Boer