Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Marc Darrin Bovenkamp

Scott E Hall

Jeffrey Michael Alexander

The power toothbrush includes a handle (), a brushhead () and a drive assembly () which includes a processor () for driving the brushhead at a selected frequency and amplitude. A miniature gyroscope (MEMS) () and an accelerometer () are mounted on the brushhead or on a portion of the drive assembly within the handle for detecting rotational velocity of the brushhead and orientation of the brushhead in the mouth during operation. Information from the gyroscope (rotational) and the accelerometer are then provided to the processor for determining amplitude of brushhead movement. The amplitude information is provided to the user, or can be further processed and fed back () to the drive assembly for control of brushhead movement.

System for determining amplitude of a power toothbrush brushhead in the mouth

The appliance includes a DC motor () having a rotating output shaft (). A flexible coupling member () is connected at one end to the output shaft, and at the other end is connected to an eccentric mass (). The end of the coupling member with the eccentric mass is connected to a V-spring assembly () which drives a workpiece assembly () on a distal end of which is mounted a workpiece (). The spring assembly constrains the rotational movement of the coupling member to produce an oscillating, back-and-forth action of the workpiece shaft and the workpiece through a desired angle. The coupling member is elongated, and is elliptical in cross-section in an active region (), having a thin dimension () in the direction in which the active portion bends during operation of the motor and rotation of the motor output shaft.

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Snoqualmie, WA, United States of America

Marc Darrin Bovenkamp