Head Portion And Handle Portion Of An Oral Care Device

Abstract

An oral care device is disclosed. The oral care device includes a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material; a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and a processor unit being electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the oral care device it determines a capacitance (x) of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head portion for an oral care device comprising:
 a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material;   a moveable drive member;   a first electrode for forming part of a capacitor; and   a first electrically conducting path for connecting the first electrode to a processor;   
       wherein the first electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the head portion; and wherein the drive member forms at least part of the first electrode, the drive member including a mechanical and electrical coupling for attachment to a handle portion of the oral care device. 
     
     
         2 . A head portion according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second electrode and a second electrically conducting path for connecting the second electrode to a power source, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode form a capacitor; and wherein the second electrode is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the head portion. 
     
     
         3 . A head portion according to  claim 2 , wherein the head portion further comprises at least a first connector being arranged for providing a removable electric connection to the handle portion; and wherein the electrically conducting path electrically connects the first electrode and the first connector. 
     
     
         4 . A head portion according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second connector being arranged for electrically connecting the second electrode to the handle portion, and the second electrically conducting path electrically connecting the second electrode and the second connector. 
     
     
         5 . A handle portion for an oral care device comprising:
 a processor unit being connectable to a first electrode and a second electrode of a capacitor;   a motor; and   a drive shaft for the transfer of rotating motion of the motor to an oscillating pivoting motion of a bristle carrier;   
       wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the handle portion it determines a capacitance of a capacitor formed by the first electrode and the second electrode in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not; and wherein the drive shaft provides both mechanical coupling to a head portion and electrical coupling to the first electrode of the head portion. 
     
     
         6 . A handle portion according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material; and   at least one electrode being electrically connected to the processor unit;   
       wherein the second electrode is located such that it is electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that it is not exposed to an outside environment of the handle portion. 
     
     
         7 . A handle portion according to  claim 6 , further comprising an electrically conducting functional element, wherein the functional element forms at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode. 
     
     
         8 . A handle portion according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the handle portion it compares a capacitance (x) of a capacitor formed by a first electrode and a second electrode to a threshold value (z). 
     
     
         9 . A handle portion according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the handle portion it prevents switching on of a drive in the handle portion once the capacitance determined is above or below the threshold value. 
     
     
         10 . A handle portion according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the handle portion it outputs a warning signal once the capacitance determined is above or below the threshold value. 
     
     
         11 . An oral care device comprising:
 a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material;   a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and   a processor unit being electrically connected to the first and second electrodes;   
       wherein the processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the oral care device it determines a capacitance (x) of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not. 
     
     
         12 . The oral care device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a head portion according to  claim 1  and a handle portion according to  claim 5 .