EP0917933A2 - Method for transferring data between a shaving apparatus and a cleaning device, and apparatus conceived accordingly - Google Patents

Abstract

The evaluation process determines the soiling level of the cutting head due to the shaved hair. It detects the noise from the top or bottom (102) cutter blade during cutting, by a measuring system (104,105). The frequency of the detected noise is evaluated by comparison with an ideal value corresponding to a clean cutting head, to provide an indication of the soiling level.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for data transmission between a Shaver and a cleaning device and appropriately designed devices

A method is already known from US Pat. No. 5,111,580 in which the need to clean the shaving apparatus is indicated purely on a time-controlled basis.
Furthermore, a solution is known from JP 61-220 688 A1 in which the shaving head contamination by shaving dust is determined by means of optical methods.
It is possible to store a shaving apparatus in a holder which either represents a cleaning device for the shaving apparatus at the same time or is coupled to such a cleaning device. In order not to activate the cleaning device each time the shaver is inserted and thus to cause a certain consumption of cleaning liquid, it is advantageous to limit the frequency of activation of the cleaning device. Basically, it is conceivable to activate the cleaning device by the user, for example by pressing a button. It is useful for the user to do this when the signal indicating the need to clean the shaver is issued. From DE 44 02 236 a cleaning device for a shaving apparatus is known which has a coil which can be controlled by a switching device, by means of which the shaving apparatus can be switched on and off by means of a reed contact switch in the shaving apparatus. Furthermore, the cleaning device has a sensor with which it can be determined whether the shaver is connected to the mains. The shaving apparatus used in the cleaning device is supplied with power via a lever arm, the end of which creates a power connection between the cleaning device and contact pins of the shaving apparatus.

The invention has for its object the data transmission between a shaver and to make a cleaning device as simple as possible.

According to the invention, for example, a controller in the shaver can be held in the holder be connected to the cleaning device so that a signal transmission is possible. This can be done, for example, by contacting the shaver this signal is also transmitted for the mains plug. If this signal then the cleaning device is supplied, a cleaning process can be started by placing the shaver in a certain cleaning position, if necessary is brought into the holder and then by the cleaning device is activated.

Fig. 1:

ein Meßsystem an einem Rasierapparat zur Signalaufnahme,

Fig. 2:

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur Signalauswertung,

Fig. 3:

eine Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Sollwertes,

Fig. 4:

eine weitere Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Sollwertes,

Fig. 5:

eine Vorgehensweise, um den notwendigen Wechsel des bewegbaren Unter- bzw. Obermessers anzuzeigen,

Fig. 6:

eine weitere Vorgehensweise zur Bestimmung des Sollwertes und zur Anzeige eines notwendigen Wechsels des bewegbaren Unter- bzw. Obermessers,

Fig. 7:

eine Anordnung, um dem Benutzer die Notwendigkeit einer Reinigung und/oder eines Wechsels des bewegbaren Unter- bzw. Obermessers anzuzeigen und

Fig. 8:

eine Reinigungsvorrichtung, in die ein Rasierapparat einbringbar ist.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1:

a measuring system on a shaver for signal recording,

Fig. 2:

1 shows a flowchart of a method for signal evaluation,

Fig. 3:

a procedure for determining the setpoint,

Fig. 4:

another procedure for determining the setpoint,

Fig. 5:

a procedure to indicate the need to change the movable lower or upper knife,

Fig. 6:

a further procedure for determining the target value and for indicating a necessary change of the movable lower or upper knife,

Fig. 7:

an arrangement to indicate to the user the need for cleaning and / or changing the movable lower or upper knife and

Fig. 8:

a cleaning device into which a shaver can be inserted.

1 shows a measuring system 104 or 105 on a shaving apparatus 101 for recording signals shown. The shaver 101 has a housing, for example there is an accumulator and the mains voltage is converted. Also located there is still a motor in this housing, which can be designed as a DC motor. From this motor, not shown in more detail, is used in the illustrated shaver 101 Lower knife 102 driven. The shaver 101 also has a shaving head, which consists of the lower knife 102 and one not shown Top knife. This upper knife can consist of a shaving foil, which means a shaving foil carrier is attached to the shaver 101. The lower knife 102 is moved back and forth by the motor of the shaver 101 in accordance with the arrow 103 moved. Together with the shaving foil installed during operation, the Whiskers cut off.

During the shaving, the lower knife 102 becomes soiled by it Lower knife 102 sebum and shaving dust. With a certain pollution the shaving result is affected.

1 that that directly on the movable lower knife 102 a structure-borne noise sensor 104 can be attached. Using this structure-borne sound sensor 104 the sounds can then be recorded while shaving, frequencies in the structure-borne noise range can be distinguished.

As an alternative to the structure-borne noise sensor 104, an airborne sound microphone 105 can also be used be provided. The noises can then be generated by means of this airborne sound microphone 105 be recorded while shaving, with frequencies in the audible range being distinguished can be.

The shaving apparatus 101 can have a microprocessor, for example, by means of e.g. the state of charge of the battery can also be determined. This Microprocessor can the signal of the structure-borne sound sensor 104 or the airborne sound microphone 105 supplied and then evaluated accordingly in the microprocessor become.

It proves to be advantageous with the airborne sound microphone 105 that this Airborne sound microphone 105 attached directly to the housing of the shaver 105 can be. The signal feed to that which is also located in the razor housing The microprocessor is then simpler than when using a structure-borne sound sensor 104, in which the signal via the movable connection of the movable lower knife 102 must be transmitted with the shaver 101. To use a Airborne sound microphones 105 the running noise of the To filter motors, it is necessary to provide a high-pass filter whose corner frequency can be, for example, at 10 kHz.

A piezoelectric film can be used, for example, as structure-borne sound sensor 104 Find. If the movable lower knife 102 is designed as a tubular knife block is attached to a plastic carrier, the piezoelectric film be introduced between this plastic carrier and the tubular knife block. Since the Structure-borne noise sensor 104 is attached directly to the movable lower knife 102, disturbing running noises of the engine have a significantly lower impact. It will that is, the signal is detected immediately, without a disturbing background. For this reason Under certain circumstances, signal filtering can be dispensed with.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for signal evaluation, with which the contamination of the shaving apparatus 101 can be derived.
In step 201, the signal from the measuring system is recorded.
A frequency analysis of the signal is then carried out in step 202. Here, for example, the signal can be broken down into its spectral components using the Fast Fourier transform. It is also possible to determine the power density spectrum. The frequency is then determined at which the spectral decomposition of the signal gives a maximum value. This frequency then corresponds to the natural frequency of the movable lower or upper knife.
In step 203, this frequency is then compared with a target value of the natural frequency of the movable upper or lower knife. This nominal value of the natural frequency corresponds to the natural frequency of the movable lower or upper knife in a clean shaving apparatus 101. If the determined natural frequency is smaller than the nominal value of the natural frequency by more than a certain threshold value, a transition is made to step 204.
In a transition to step 204, it can be concluded that the natural frequency was lowered due to such heavy contamination that cleaning of the shaving apparatus 101 is necessary or at least sensible. In step 204, a signal is then generated which, for example, controls a display device which is perceptible to the user of the shaving apparatus 101 or which cleans the shaving apparatus 101.

The check in step 203 showed that the natural frequency determined was not around more than a certain threshold value less than the nominal value of the natural frequency, so it can be concluded that no cleaning is necessary. The procedure can then be ended.

3 shows a procedure for how the setpoint can be determined.

In the simplest case, the setpoint for the movable lower or upper knife becomes one Razor type predefined. This procedure is very easy to carry out because this setpoint in the microprocessor is only for a certain type of shaver must be filed.

3, however, tolerances in the Manufacture of the movable lower and upper knives are balanced, the influence on have the natural frequency.

For this purpose, when the shaving apparatus 101 is put into operation in step 301 Natural frequency determined and this value of the natural frequency in step 302 as Setpoint saved.

This setpoint is then in the following with the currently determined natural frequency at 2 used.

Commissioning can still be carried out as part of a functional test at the Manufacturer or the first commissioning by the user.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, tolerances of the movable Lower and upper knives are compensated, the influence on the natural frequency to have. Advantageously, the setpoint is also adjusted here if during the life of the shaver 101, the movable lower or upper knife is exchanged. The setpoint is then not given once Value held.

For this purpose, it is checked in step 401 whether the movable lower or upper knife was removed. If this is not the case, the process according to FIG. 4 is ended.

However, if the movable upper or lower knife has been removed, the first step is in step 402 the natural frequency is determined and this value of the natural frequency in the Step 403 stored as a setpoint.

This setpoint is then in the following with the currently determined natural frequency at 2 used.

After the new setpoint has been determined in the method according to claim 4, can according to the procedure shown in Fig. 5, whether an exchange of the movable lower and upper knife. It is also possible that the movable lower knife or upper knife was removed to clean it and reinsert after cleaning. In this case, the newly determined one Setpoint corresponds to the previous setpoint. Depending on the extent of Changing the setpoint with the manufacturing tolerance is also conceivable after a Reinstall the movable lower knife 102 or upper knife from the deviation of the newly determined setpoint from the previous setpoint, whether the movable lower knife 102 or upper knife is the same as before or whether a new lower knife 102 or upper knife was used. So it will be in that Step 501 checks whether the new setpoint is more than one from the old setpoint predefined threshold value deviates. If so, it can be concluded that a new movable lower or upper knife was used. In this case a counting device or another device is standardized in step 502, by means of the need to replace the movable lower or upper knife should be determined.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, tolerances of the movable Lower and upper knives are compensated, the influence on the natural frequency to have. Advantageously, the setpoint is also adjusted here if during the life of the shaver 101, the movable lower or upper knife is exchanged. The setpoint is then not given once Value held.

First, the setpoint is determined during commissioning, such as this was explained in connection with FIG. 3.

For this purpose, it is checked in step 601 whether the natural frequency currently determined during operation has experienced a sudden increase compared to the natural frequency at last shave. It is therefore checked whether the currently determined natural frequency is more than is a certain amount greater than the natural frequency determined during the last shave. If this is not the case, the process according to FIG. 6 is ended.

If this is the case, however, it can be seen that either a new one movable lower or upper knife was used or the previously used Upper and lower knife was cleaned. So it becomes the current one in step 602 Natural frequency value saved as new natural frequency setpoint.

This new setpoint is then in the following with the currently determined natural frequency used in the sequence according to FIG. 2.

After the new setpoint has been determined, it can still be determined whether a The movable lower and upper knife was replaced. It is possible that movable lower knife 102 or upper knife was removed to clean it and reinsert after cleaning. In this case, the newly determined one Setpoint corresponds to the previous setpoint. Depending on the extent of Changing the setpoint with the manufacturing tolerance is also conceivable after a abrupt change in natural frequency in the sense of an increase in frequency the deviation of the newly determined target value from the previous target value conclude whether the movable lower knife 102 or upper knife is the same as before or whether a new lower knife 102 or upper knife was used. It will to this end, in step 603 it is checked whether the new setpoint is more than the old setpoint deviates as a predetermined threshold. If this is the case, it can be closed be that a new movable lower or upper knife was used. In in this case, in step 604, a counting device or other device standardized, by means of which the need to replace the movable base or Upper knife is to be determined.

FIG. 7 shows an evaluation unit 701 which, for example, contains a microprocessor in the Razor case can be. This microprocessor can then be used, for example Signal to an output device 702 are output if the need cleaning of the shaver 101 has been recognized. Likewise, a Signal are issued when the need to change the movable Lower or upper knife has been recognized. The signal can the user optically, acoustically and / or haptically - for example by clocking the speed - are displayed. It is advantageous if the acoustic or optical signal User for a certain time after the shaver 101 has been switched off is shown.

8 shows a cleaning device 801, into which the shaving apparatus 101 is introduced can be. This is done, for example, so that the shaving head of the razor 101 is brought down. From the evaluation unit 701, which is in the Shaver 101 is located in the event that the need for cleaning of the shaver 101 has been detected, a signal via the mains connection of the Shaver 101 are issued. The cleaning device 801 will connected to the shaver 101 via this network contact of the shaving apparatus 101. This signal can thus be sent to the evaluation unit 701 of the cleaning device 801 are supplied. However, it is also conceivable for the cleaning device 801 to supply the signal to the evaluation unit 701 by means of remote data transmission. The Cleaning device 801 has holding bolts in the exemplary embodiment shown 802, which hold the shaver 101 in an upper position when none Cleaning should take place and the cleaning device 801, for example, only for Storage of the shaver 101 is to be used. In the event that of the Evaluation unit 701 the signal is output, these retaining bolts 802 retracted, for example, by electromagnets and the shaver 101 into one brought lower position. Furthermore, the cleaning device takes in this case 801 on their operation, which may consist, for example, that the cleaning liquid 803, which is located in the cleaning device 801, is pumped around, to clean the shaver 101.

Claims (6)

Method for data transmission between a shaving apparatus and a cleaning device, the shaving apparatus having a device for determining the degree of soiling, which if necessary emits a soiling signal, characterized in that
that the signal is output via a mains connection of the shaver and fed to the cleaning device (801). Method for data transmission between a shaving apparatus and a cleaning device, the shaving apparatus having a device for determining the degree of soiling, which if necessary emits a soiling signal, characterized in that
that the signal is fed to the cleaning device (801) by means of remote data transmission. The method of claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the cleaning device automatically starts cleaning the shaving apparatus (101) depending on the signal supplied. Cleaning device for a shaver, which has a mains connection with a contact,
characterized,
that the cleaning device can be connected for the purpose of signal transmission via the contact with the shaver. Cleaning device with a device for remote data transmission for one Shaver, which has a device for remote data transmission. Shaving apparatus with a device for determining the level of pollution, by means of which a pollution signal can be emitted if necessary,
characterized,
that the signal can be output via a mains connection of the shaving apparatus or can be supplied to a cleaning device (801) by means of remote data transmission.

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