Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B19/00—Clippers or shavers operating with a plurality of cutting edges, e.g. hair clippers, dry shavers
  • B26B19/38—Details of, or accessories for, hair clippers, or dry shavers, e.g. housings, casings, grips, guards
  • B26B19/3873—Electric features; Charging; Computing devices
  • B26B19/388—Sensors; Control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B19/00—Clippers or shavers operating with a plurality of cutting edges, e.g. hair clippers, dry shavers
  • B26B19/38—Details of, or accessories for, hair clippers, or dry shavers, e.g. housings, casings, grips, guards
  • B26B19/3886—Actuating members, e.g. switches or control knobs

Definitions

• the invention relates to an electric hair-cutting device comprising:
• the invention further relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling an electric hair-cutting device as described here before.
• An electric hair-cutting device as described in the section "field of the invention” is known from EP3300864B1 .
• the electric hair-cutting device of EP3300864B1 has several different operation modes in which a drive unit is operable, wherein for example the speed or oscillation frequency of a movable cutter may be varied.
• the shaving efficiency may be increased in a fast mode or high-speed mode, whereas the power consumption may be reduced in a slow mode or low-speed mode.
• other operation modes may be provided.
• the electric hair-cutting device of EP3300864B1 is provided with a menu input device, referred to as "mode input element" in EP3300864B1 , besides the power on-off control device typically found on every electric hair-cutting device.
• the mode input element used in EP3300864B1 comprises a touch button, a toggle switch or a gesture sensor to allow the user to input a respective mode command, for switching the drive unit and/or a control unit into the desired operation mode.
• the electric hair-cutting device has an information display device for displaying information about such operation mode so as to give the user feedback about which operation mode has been selected using the mode input element.
• EP3300864B1 discloses to use the same mode input element for both switching between the different operation modes of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device while the electric hair-cutting device is in an active state and for switching the information display into display information types from a first set of different information types when the electric hair-cutting device is inactive.
• This has the disadvantage that, in the active state of the hair-cutting device, actuation of the mode input element causes switching between the operation modes of the electric hair-cutting device.
• the navigation through information types of a second set of different information types, independently from the selected operation modes, by means of the same mode input element, i.e., similar to the independent navigation through the first set of different information types in the inactive state, is inhibited.
• an electric hair-cutting device as described in the section "field of the invention” is characterized in that the power on-off control device is configured to have, in the active state of the motor and in the motor operation display mode of the information display, a second functionality of, upon actuation of the power on-off control device, causing the motor to transition from one to another one of the different operation modes, wherein said second functionality is maintained, instead of the first functionality, during a first predetermined period after causing the information display to transition to the motor operation display mode by actuation of the menu input device.
• the actuation of the power on-off control device in the motor operation display mode temporarily causes the motor to transition between the different operation modes.
• This second functionality of the power on-off control device avoids confusing the user by a change of the functionality of the menu input device.
• the menu input device can retain the same expected functionality of independent menu navigation both in the active state and in the inactive state of the motor. So, an actuation of the menu input device causes the information display to transition from one to another one of the different information types of, respectively, the first and second sets of information types when in the inactive state respectively the active state, and independent from the operation mode of the motor in the active state of the motor.
• the second functionality of the power on-off control device i.e., of causing the motor to transition between the different operation modes when in the active state, is maintained at least during said first predetermined period after causing the information display to transition to the motor operation display mode. This allows the user sufficient time to select the operation mode.
• the power on-off control device is configured to transition, upon expiration of the first predetermined period, from having the second functionality to having the first functionality.
• the temporary second functionality of the power on-off control device is automatically cancelled and the first functionality of the power on-off control device, i.e., of controlling the transition of the motor from the inactive state to the active state respectively from the active state to the inactive state, is resumed.
• an actuation of the power on-off control device during the first predetermined period causes the second functionality to be maintained, instead of the first functionality, during a second predetermined period after said actuation of the power on-off control device.
• an actuation of the power on-off control device within the first predetermined period causes not only a transition into another operation mode of the motor but also causes the second functionality of the power on-off control device to be maintained for a second predetermined period, thus effectively extending the first predetermined period.
• the second predetermined period is equal to the first predetermined period.
• the second predetermined period being equal to the first predetermined period ensures a consistent response of the power on-off control device to actuation by the user during operation.
• the power on-off control device and the menu input device are actuatable by means of, respectively, a first push button and a second push button. Having two push buttons and an information display allows the user to intuitively and conveniently control the electric hair-cutting device.
• the operation modes of the motor include different motor speeds. Having different motor speeds allows the adjustment of the operation of the electric hair-cutting device to, e.g., different skin types or hair types and additionally provides aural feedback to the user indicating a change of the operation mode by a corresponding change in motor sound.
• the first set of different information types includes at least one of the following:
• the user may benefit from these types of information which are of particular interest when the user is not shaving, i.e., when the motor is in the inactive state.
• the information display displays the operation mode in which the motor is actually operating, and the second set of different information types includes at least one of the following:
• the charge information is needed to allow the user to judge whether he can safely complete the current shaving session.
• the operation mode information is needed to remind the user about the operation mode which is currently active to allow the user to take a decision as to whether to change the operation mode or not.
• the sensitivity of the user's skin might have changed since the previous shaving session and, thus, the user might become aware of a need to change the operation mode of the motor. Displaying the operation mode of the motor in the motor operation display mode helps the user in navigating to the desired operation mode.
• the electric hair-cutting device may have at least one additional function depending on the number and types of functional units in addition to the hair-cutting unit.
• the at least one functional unit may, e.g., be selected from the list of: a beard-styling unit, a nose-trimmer unit, a facial-brushing unit, a precision trimming unit.
• the detection system may detect which of the hair-cutting unit and the functional unit(s) is actually coupled to the main housing in any manner known to the skilled person, e.g., based on a combination of a sensed current in the motor and a sensed vibration level of the main housing.
• the menu input device has a further functionality of causing a transition between different secondary operation modes, which are not related to the motor, when the output of the detection system indicates that one of the additional functional units is coupled to the main housing.
• the secondary operation modes may include the on-state and the off-state of a light source arranged on the main housing to illuminate the skin.
• the secondary operation modes may include the on-state and the off-state of an additive-supply system arranged in the main housing to supply an additive to the skin.
• the invention further relates to a computer-implemented method for controlling an electric hair-cutting device, wherein the hair-cutting device comprises:
• the method is characterized in that the method comprises, in the active state of the motor and in the motor operation display mode of the information display:
• this temporary change of the functionality of the power on-off control device allows the transitioning between the different operation modes of the motor in an intuitive way and avoids user confusion by allowing the menu input device to have the same functionality, both in the inactive state and in the active state of the motor, of causing the information display to transition from one to another one of, respectively, the first display modes and the second display modes independently of the selected operation mode.
• the method further comprises causing the power on-off control device to transition, upon expiration of the first predetermined period, from having the second functionality to having the first functionality.
• the temporary second functionality of the power on-off control device is automatically cancelled, and the first functionality of the power on-off control device, i.e., to control the transition of the motor from the inactive state to the active state respectively from the active state to the inactive state, is resumed.
• the method comprises causing the second functionality of the power on-off control device, upon an actuation of the power on-off control device during the first predetermined period, to be maintained, instead of the first functionality, during a second predetermined period after said actuation of the power on-off control device.
• an actuation of the power on-off control device within the first predetermined period causes effectively the extension of the first predetermined period. Consequently, the second functionality of the power on-off control device remains active, i.e., to cause a transition of the motor between the different operation modes within the active state.
• the user has some time to decide whether the operation mode selected by activation of the power on-off control device is the desired operation mode or whether he wants, by means of another actuation of the power on-off control device, to cause the motor to transition to another operation mode.
• This avoids the user having to again actuate the menu control device to again transition the information display into the motor operation display mode to, thereby, enable the second functionality of the power on-off control device and the selection of the desired operation mode once again.
• the second predetermined period is equal to the first predetermined period.
• the second predetermined period being equal to the first predetermined period ensures a consistent response by the power on-off control device of the electric hair-cutting device during operation.
• the invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium has computer-readable code embodied therein, and wherein the computer readable code is configured such that, on execution by a suitable processor of an electric hair-cutting device, the processor is caused to perform the method according to the invention as described here before.
• Fig. 1 shows an electric hair-cutting device 1 according to the invention with a power on-off control device 2, a menu input device 4 and an information display 3 as provided by the invention.
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 comprises a main housing 10 which accommodates an electric motor (not shown).
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 further comprises a hair-cutting unit 11, which is supported by the main housing 10 and has at least one movable hair-cutting element (not shown).
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 is an electric shaver of the rotary type, comprising three shaving heads 12 that each have an external cutting member with hair-entry openings and an internal cutting member (i.e., the movable hair-cutting element) covered by and rotatable within the external cutting member.
• Such electric shavers are well known to the skilled person and, therefore, a detailed description of the hair-cutting unit 11 and other conventional parts of the electric shaver is not necessary for a proper understanding of the present invention. It is noted that the invention also relates to other types of electric hair-cutting device such as foil-type shavers wherein an elongated internal cutting member is arranged to linearly reciprocate within an arc-shaped elongated foil with hair-entry openings.
• the features "power on-off control device” and “menu input device 4" may include any processor, electric or electronic circuitry required to provide the functionalities of these features as described in detail in the following.
• the power on-off control device 2 and the menu input device 4 are each actuatable by the user by means of, respectively, a first push button and a second push button, as shown in Fig. 1 .
• the power on-off control device and the menu input device may be user-actuatable by means of any suitable operating elements known to the skilled person and different from push buttons, such as dedicated areas on a touch display of the electric hair-cutting device or a touch display of a remote electronic device in communication with the electric hair-cutting device.
• the electric hair-cutting device can have different operation modes in the active (on) state of the motor.
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 can have several operation modes in which the speed of the motor of the drive unit, that drives the movable hair-cutting element(s), differs between the different operation modes, or can have a cleaning mode that differs from the regular shaving modes.
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 also has the information display 3 configured to display electric hair-cutting device information relating to the general state of the electric hair-cutting device 1, such as battery charge level, battery charge progress, connectivity settings and status, and wear information. This type of information is useful both in the active and the inactive state of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1.
• the information display 3 can display information that is only related to the active state, such as a current operation mode of the motor, a shaving duration, an applied pressure, etc..
• the operation modes are typically related to the operation of the motor, but can also relate to providing feedback as to the skin condition, etcetera, while shaving.
• Fig. 2 shows a user interface of a prior art electric hair-cutting device having a power on-off control device, a menu control device and an information display.
• a motor of the prior art electric hair-cutting device has two states: an inactive state 21 and an active state 20.
• a first actuation 2a of the power on-off control device transitions the motor from the inactive state 21 to the active state 20 and typically causes the information display to display a first information type 3a for instance indicating the remaining battery charge level.
• a subsequent actuation 2b of the power on-off control device transitions the motor from the active state 20 to the inactive state 21.
• the prior art electric hair-cutting device also has a menu control device and an information display.
• a first actuation 4a of the menu control device while the motor is in the active state 20, causes the information display to display a second information type 3b of a first set 22 of different information types.
• actuations 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e of the menu control device a third, fourth, fifth and sixth information type 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f of the first set 22 of different information types are subsequently shown on the information display.
• the power on-off control device and menu control device thus have different functionalities, the power on-off control device only affecting the inactive and active states of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device and the menu control device only affecting the displaying of different information types 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f on the information display and the switching between the different operation modes of the motor where applicable.
• Figs. 3 , 4 and 5 the operation modes are indicated using respective icons that can optionally be displayed when entering the respective operation modes.
• Figs. 3 , 4 and 5 use the same reference numerals when referring to the operation modes and the corresponding icons.
• Fig. 3 shows a user interface of another prior art electric hair-cutting device having a power on-off control device, a menu control device and an information display.
• actuation 2a of the power on-off control device caused the electric hair-cutting device to transition from the inactive state 21 into the active state 20
• respective actuations 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f of the menu control device cause the information display, in the active state 20, to, respectively, display the different information types 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f belonging to a second set 32 of different information types.
• the actuation 2b of the power on-off control device, in the active state 20 causes the electric hair-cutting device to transition back into the inactive state 21.
• respective actuations 4b, 4h, 4i, 4j of the menu control device cause the information display to, respectively, display information types 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j belonging to a first set 33 of different information types which are related to the inactive state 21 of the motor.
• the respective actuations 4e, 4f, 4g of the menu control device, while the motor is in the active state 20, cause the motor to transition between the different operational modes of the active state 20, as described here before with respect to the prior art electric hair-cutting device shown in Fig. 2 . This however conflicts with the control, by means of the same menu control device, of the displaying of the information types 3b, 3c, 3d that are not related to the motor operation modes.
• Fig. 4 shows a user interface of the electric hair-cutting device 1 according to the invention, where the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 is temporarily changed using the menu control device 4.
• actuation 2a of the power on-off control device 2 causes the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition from the inactive state 21 to the active state 20.
• the motor starts driving the movable hair-cutting element of the shaving unit.
• the information display 3 transitions into a first one of a set of second display modes, wherein a general information type 3a is displayed, for instance indicating the remaining battery charge level.
• Actuation 4a of the menu control device 4 in the active state 20 of the motor causes the information display 3 to transition from said first one to a second one of the set of second display modes, being a motor operation display mode.
• an information type 3b is shown in the motor operation display mode which indicates a sensitive operation mode involving a relatively low motor speed.
• the information type 3b can alternatively be a default operation mode of the motor or an operation mode of the motor during a previous transition from the active state 20 to the inactive state 21 of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1.
• Actuation 4a of the menu control device 4 causing the information display 3 to transition to the motor operation display mode, also starts a first timer 41 configured to expire after a first predetermined period.
• the controller of the electric hair-cutting device 1 checks, upon an actuation 2c of the power on-off control device 2, whether the first timer 41 expired or not.
• the power on-off control device 2 retains its first functionality of transitioning the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 between the active state 20 and the inactive state 21. This can advantageously be indicated by the information display by returning to the first one of the set of second display modes, wherein the general information type 3a is displayed instead of information type 3b relating to the operation mode.
• the user can thus perform actuation 2c of the power on-off control device 2 to start and stop the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 as expected, because the normal use of the electric hair-cutting device 1 will take some time and the timer 41 will normally have expired by the time the user finishes shaving and performs the actuation 2c to switch off the motor.
• the first (normal) functionality of the power on-off control device 2 is thus maintained under normal use of the electric hair-cutting device 1, also when the user performed the actuation 4a of the menu control device 4 in order to activate the motor operation display mode of the information display 3 , and the general information type 3a is displayed again upon return of the power on-off control device 2 to its first functionality.
• the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 transitions from the first (normal) functionality into a second functionality or operation mode control functionality, wherein the actuation 2c of the power on-off control device 2 no longer causes the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition from the active state 20 to the inactive state 21 but causes the motor to transition from the first (sensitive) operation mode 3b to a second operation mode 3c within the active state 20.
• the second motor operation mode 3c is a normal or regular operation mode, involving a motor speed which is higher than the motor speed in the first (sensitive) operation mode intended for use on normal skin.
• Actuation 2c of the power on-off control device before expiration of the first timer 41 can also start a second timer 42 which is configured to expire after a second predetermined period or to extend the expiration time of the first timer 41.
• a second timer 42 is shown in Fig. 4 . This equally applies to the further timers 43, 44 in Fig.
• the power on-off control device 2 retains its second functionality, i.e., the operation mode control functionality, wherein the actuation 2d of the power on-off control device 2 causes the operation mode of the motor to transition from the second (normal) operation mode 3c to a third operation mode 3d within the active state 20.
• the third operation mode 3d is an intense operation mode, wherein the motor speed is even higher than in the second (normal) operation mode.
• the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 transitions back to the first (normal) functionality of transitioning the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 from the active state 20 to the inactive state 21.
• the actuation 2d in turn starts the third timer 43 which is configured to expire after a third predetermined period.
• the successive actuation 2e of the power on-off control device 2 before expiration of the third timer 43 causes the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition from the third (intense) operation mode 3e to a fourth operation mode 3e, in this example a battery saving operation mode, wherein the motor is run at a relatively low battery-power saving speed.
• the actuation 2e also starts the fourth timer 44 which is configured to expire after a fourth predetermined period.
• a next actuation 2f of the power on-off control device 2 will cause the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition back to the first (sensitive) operation mode 3b in case the fourth timer 44 did not expire before the actuation 2f. Otherwise, the actuation 2f will transition the motor to the inactive state 21.
• Using the circular set 40 of operation modes for the active state of the motor allows the inclusion of a relatively large number of operation modes in the motor operation display mode of the second display modes in the active state of the motor.
• the set of second display modes in the active state of the motor may be expanded with further second display modes if needed.
• the information display can display a corresponding icon 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e to remind the user of the current operation mode.
• This set 40 of icons 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e indicating the operation modes to the user thus form information types of the second set of different information types 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e that are related to the active state 20 of the motor and selectively displayed by the information display in the active state of the motor.
• the second set of different information types may further include, e.g., information about a time during which the motor is in the active state since the last transition into the active state, information about pressure exerted by the user, and information about motion of the electric hair-cutting device 1 relative to the user.
• These information types may be successively selectable, in addition to the general information type 3a and the motor operation display mode, by repetitive actuation of the menu input device 4 in the active state of the motor.
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 can also provide an audible indication of the current operation mode, respectively of a transition between the operation modes, e.g., by changing the speed of the motor of the drive unit or by causing variations in time of the speed of the motor.
• Each transition between the operation modes 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, caused by the actuation 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the power on-off control device 2 advantageously causes an extension of the second functionality of the power on-off control device 2.
• a successive actuation 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the power on-off control device 2 occurs after the expiry of the respective predetermined period as defined by the first, second, third and fourth timer 41, 42, 43, 44, the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 transitions to the first functionality, the normal on-off control functionality, and the electric hair-cutting device 1 is caused to transition to the inactive state 21 by these actuations.
• the actuations 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the power on-off control device 2 before expiry of the respective timers 41, 42, 43, 44 causes the second functionality of the on-off control device 2 to be maintained, instead of the first functionality, during a respective predetermined period after said actuation 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the power on-off control device 2. This allows the user to navigate through the operation modes 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e of the motor with a minimum number of actuations of the power on-off control device 2.
• Actuations 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f of the power on-off control device after expiry of the respective timers 41, 42, 43, 44 causes the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 to transition to the first functionality.
• the menu control device 4 has the same functionality as the menu control device of the prior art electric hair-cutting device as described with reference to Fig. 3 , i.e. to cause the information display 3 of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition, in the inactive state of the motor, between different first display modes wherein a respective information type of a first set 33 of different information types 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i is displayed.
• successive actuations 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f of the menu control device 4 allow the user to navigate through the different information types 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i as expected.
• the first set 33 includes information about a charging state of the battery of the electric hair-cutting device 1 (information type 3f in Fig. 4 ), information about an operation mode of the motor during a previous active state of the motor (not shown in Fig. 4 ), information about a pressure exerted by the user during the previous active state of the motor (not shown in Fig. 4 ), information about motion of the electric hair-cutting device 1 relative to the user during the previous active state of the motor (not shown in Fig. 4 ), information about a required cleaning or maintenance of the electric hair-cutting device 1 (information type 3i in Fig. 4 ), information about a state of connectivity between the electric hair-cutting device 1 and an external device (information type 3g in Fig. 4 ), and/or information about a selected display menu language (information type 3h).
• the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 is limited to the first functionality of causing the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 to transition into the active state 20, resulting in predictable behavior of the power on-off control device 2 and the menu control device 4 for the user.
• these functionalities of the power on-off control device 2 and the menu control device 4 cause the electric hair-cutting device 1 according to the invention to retain the expected functionalities and behavior, and at the same time allow the transitioning between the different operation modes 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e of the motor with the same control device, i.e., the power on-off control device 2, that is also used for transitioning between what the user experiences as the normal (basic) motor operation modes, i.e., the active state (on-state) 20 and the inactive state (off-state) 21.
• the functionalities of the power on-off control device 2 to control the motor and the menu control device 4 to control the display modes of the information display 3 are separated and mutually distinguished in a proper and intuitive manner.
• a selected operation mode of the motor when transitioned to, can be indicated by corresponding text or a corresponding icon (as shown in Fig. 4 ) on the information display 3, as well as through haptic feedback or optical signaling such as by color changes or brightness changes of an indicator light.
• the hair-cutting unit 11 may be detachably coupled to the main housing 10. This may be realized by means of, e.g., a releasable coupling mechanism between the main housing 10 and the hair-cutting unit 11 as disclosed in EP2086729B1 in the name of the applicant.
• the use of the releasable coupling mechanism enables the electric hair-cutting device 1 to be used with an additional functional unit instead of the hair-cutting unit 11.
• the additional functional unit when coupled to the main housing 10, may be driven by the motor in the active state of the motor. Two or more different additional functional units may be available.
• additional functional units examples include a beard-styling unit, a nose-trimmer unit, a facial-brushing unit, and a precision trimming unit.
• additional functional units include a beard-styling unit, a nose-trimmer unit, a facial-brushing unit, and a precision trimming unit.
• the use of such additional functional units with an electric shaving device is well known to the skilled person and, therefore, will be clear to the skilled person without providing any further details. Examples are disclosed in WO 2023/083677 A1 and EP3855976B1 both in the name of the applicant.
• the electric hair-cutting device 1 comprises a detection system configured to detect which of the hair-cutting unit 11 and the additional functional unit(s) is actually coupled to the main housing 10 and to provide a corresponding output signal.
• a detection system is also known to the skilled person and, therefore, will not be explained in further detail.
• An example of such a detection system is disclosed in EP3855976B1 as already mentioned here before, wherein the type of functional unit actually coupled to the main housing is determined based on an analysis of the electric current in the motor driving the functional unit and the vibrations of the main housing caused by driving the functional unit.
• each functional unit is provided with an RFID tag, and the main housing comprises means for reading data in the RFID tag characteristic of the functional unit.
• the menu input device 4 may be configured to receive the output signal from the detection system indicating the type of functional unit actually coupled to the main housing 10.
• the menu input device 4 may transition, in the active state of the motor, into having a further functionality of causing a transition of the electric hair-cutting device 1 from one to another one of different secondary operation modes which are not related to the motor.
• the secondary operation modes may include the on-state and off-state of a light source on the main housing 10 arranged to illuminate the user's skin during use of the functional unit.
• the secondary operation modes may include the on-state and off state of an additive supply system in the main housing 10, which is configured to apply an additive to the user's skin during use of the functional unit.
• a motor operation display mode may be available for the information display 3 in the active state of the motor via which the user may select a motor-related operation mode (such as the motor speed) by means of the power on-off control device 2 as described here before.
• Fig. 5 shows an example of a processing unit 60 of the electric hair-cutting device 1 which provides the functionalities of the power on-off control device 2 and the menu control device 4 as described here before with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 4 .
• the processing unit 60 can be a dedicated electronic circuit comprising a motor power controller 65, a decision logic 66, a display mode controller 67 and an operation mode controller 64. As these blocks can also be implemented in software, a general-purpose microcomputer circuit can also be used as the processing unit 60.
• the decision logic 66 is coupled to the first push button 61 of the power on-off control device 2, the second push button 62 of the menu control device 4, the display mode controller 67, the operation mode controller 64 and the motor power controller 65.
• Actuation signals from the first push button 61 and the second push button 62 are both received by the decision logic 66.
• the decision logic 66 further comprises the timers 41, 42, 43, 44 as described here before with reference to Fig. 4 and needed for determining the intended functionality of the power on-off control device 2 as explained here before with reference to Fig. 4 .
• the decision logic 66 When the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 is determined by the decision logic 66 to be the first functionality of transitioning of the motor between the active state and the inactive state, the decision logic 66 will route the actuation signal from the first push button 61 to the motor power controller 65, so that the motor power controller 65 can effect the transition of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 between the inactive state and the active state.
• the decision logic 66 When the functionality of the power on-off control device 2 is determined by the decision logic 66 to be the second functionality, i.e. transitioning between the different operation modes of the motor, the decision logic 66 will route the actuation signal from the first push button 61 to the operation mode controller 64, so that the operation mode controller 64 can effectuate the transition of the motor of the electric hair-cutting device 1 between the different operation modes within the active state.
• the decision logic 66 will route the actuation signal provided by the first push button 61 of the power on-off control device 2 based on whether the decision logic 66 received an actuation signal from the second push button 62 of the menu control device 4 for transitioning the information display 3 into the motor operation display mode and based on whether, respectively, the first, second, third and fourth timers 41, 42, 43, 44 expired or not, as explained above with reference to Fig. 4 .
• the decision logic 66 can also route the actuation signal of the second push button 62 to the display mode controller 67 in order to cause the information display 3 to display the information type selected by actuation of the second push button 62.
• the decision logic 66 can also, based on the present functionality of the power on-off control device 2, cause the display mode controller 67 to cause the information display 3 to display an information type that corresponds to the current operation mode.

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  • 2024-06-26 EP EP24184724.3A patent/EP4670933A1/fr active Pending
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  • 2025-06-09 WO PCT/EP2025/065969 patent/WO2026002600A1/fr active Pending

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