Systems, devices, and methods for generating auditory alerts/indications using resonant sonic motor

Abstract

A personal skincare appliance is provided that includes a brush head; a motor configured to cause angular rotation of the brush head; and a controller configured to control a drive frequency of the motor. The controller is configured to detect an event corresponding to a status or condition of the personal skincare appliance and to set the drive frequency of the motor to a predetermined frequency which causes an auditory tone to be emitted from the personal skincare appliance.

1 . A personal skincare appliance comprising:
 a brush head;   a motor configured to cause angular rotation of the brush head; and   a controller configured to control a drive frequency of the motor,   wherein the controller is configured to detect an event corresponding to a status or condition of the personal skincare appliance and to set the drive frequency of the motor to a predetermined frequency which causes an auditory tone to be emitted from the personal skincare appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush head is configured to be applied to a skin of the user, and the predetermined frequency is different than a frequency set by the drive controller for applying the brushhead against the skin of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a brush head replacement timer, and the event is an amount of time remaining on the brush head replacement timer being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery configured to provide power to operate the personal skincare appliance, and the event is an estimated amount of power remaining in the battery being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a topical agent reservoir and a dispenser configured to dispense the topical agent, wherein the event is a detected amount of the topical agent in the reservoir being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured to start measuring a time from when the user starts applying the brush head to the skin of the user, and the event is a predetermined amount of time the brush head has been applied to the skin of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator, and the controller is configured to cause the visual indicator to emit a visual output in conjunction with the auditory tone. 
     
     
         8 . A method, implemented by a personal skincare appliance that includes a brush head, a motor configured to cause angular rotation of the brush head, and a controller configured to control a drive frequency of the motor, the method comprising:
 detecting, by the controller, an event corresponding to a status or condition of the personal skincare appliance; and   setting, by the controller, the drive frequency of the motor to a predetermined frequency which causes an auditory tone to be emitted from the personal skincare appliance.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the brush head is configured to be applied to a skin of the user, and the predetermined frequency is different than a frequency set by the drive controller for applying the brushhead against the skin of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the personal skincare appliance includes a brush head replacement timer, and the event is an amount of time remaining on the brush head replacement timer being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the personal skincare appliance includes a battery configured to provide power to operate the personal skincare appliance, and the event is an estimated amount of power remaining in the battery being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal skincare appliance includes a topical agent reservoir and a dispenser configured to dispense the topical agent, and the event is a detected amount of the topical agent in the reservoir being below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal skincare appliance includes a timer configured to start measuring a time from when the user starts applying the brush head to the skin of the user, and the event is a predetermined amount of time the brush head has been applied to the skin of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal skincare appliance includes a visual indicator, and method includes causing the visual indicator to emit a visual output in conjunction with the auditory tone. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 the personal skincare appliance according to  claim 1 ; and   a client device configured to communicate with the personal skincare appliance,   wherein the client device receives an input from a user to select the auditory tone to be emitted from the personal skincare appliance upon the detection of the event.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of different types of events are configured to be detected by the controller, and the client device receives an input from the user to select different auditory tones to be associated with each of the plurality of different types of events.