The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 03, 2015
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2010
Scott E. Hall, Issaquah, WA (US);
Scott E. Hall, Issaquah, WA (US);
Koninklijke Philips N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
The power toothbrush includes a handle () and a brushhead () having a conductive electrode sensing element () therein. The toothbrush includes a driver assembly () for the brushhead and a sensor system () for measuring the capacitance between the sensing element on/in the brushhead and an electronics ground () in the handle of the toothbrush. A microprocessor/controller () is programmed to determine whether the measured capacitance is above a threshold value, which indicates that the toothbrush is near or within the mouth of the user. The microprocessor actuates the driver assembly for operation of the toothbrush when the capacitance value is above the threshold value.