Resonant actuator for a personal care appliance having a programmable actuation capability

A drive system for a personal care appliance, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first opposing pair of permanent magnets positioned longitudinally along an interior surface of the housing, each first permanent magnet having a first portion with a north polarity and a second portion with a south polarity, the first and second portions each extending the length of the first permanent magnet;
• a second opposing pair of permanent magnets, generally orthogonal with the first pair of permanent magnets, positioned longitudinally along the internal surface of the housing, each second permanent magnet having a plurality of parts along the length thereof, alternating between north and south polarities, the first part of one second permanent magnet having a north polarity and the first part of the other second permanent magnet having a south polarity;
• at least one moving armature mounted within the housing for moving rotationally or axially when energized;
• at least one drive winding positioned within the housing;
• a spindle element to which the at least one armature is connected or forms a part of, the spindle element extending outwardly from one end of the housing and adapted to be connected to an output assembly, which includes a workpiece, wherein the spindle rotates or moves axially, respectively, when the at least one armature rotates or moves axially;
• a source of power;
• and
• programmable control means for applying the power to the drive winding in a selected manner to produce rotational or axial movement of the workpiece on the output assembly.

A drive assembly for a personal care appliance, comprising:

• a housing;
• first and second opposing pairs of spaced permanent magnet assemblies extending longitudinally of the housing, wherein each of the first pair of permanent magnet assemblies comprise north and south pole magnet sections which extend the length of the permanent magnet assemblies, and wherein the second pair of permanent magnet assemblies are positioned generally orthogonal to the first pair of permanent magnet assemblies, each of the second pair of permanent magnet assemblies having a plurality of parts along the length thereof, alternating between north and south polarities, the first part of one of the second pair of permanent magnet assemblies having a north polarity and the first part of the other of the second pair of permanent magnet assemblies having a south polarity;
• a spindle member mounted within the housing and capable of moving rotationally and longitudinally;
• first and second armature arrangements attached to or forming a part of the spindle element, wherein the first armature arrangement, when energized, moves the spindle member rotationally, while the second armature arrangement, when energized, moves the spindle element longitudinally;
• a source of power;
• and
• a control assembly for selectively energizing the first and/or second armature assemblies to produce movement of the spindle element and a workpiece attached thereto.