Patent attributes
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for regulating a parameter on a handheld appliance, such as a hair styling appliance. A hair styling apparatus comprises a body having at least one arm bearing a hair styling heater; a temperature sensor arranged to sense a temperature of the hair styling heater and generate a temperature sense signal; and a power supply unit comprising a magnetic energy transfer element, an AC input coupled to a first side of the magnetic energy transfer element, a heater drive output coupled to a second side of the magnetic energy transfer element and to the hair styling heater to power said hair styling heater, and a power controller configured to regulate the heater drive output. A power controller is coupled to the temperature sense signal and configured to regulate the heater drive output of the power supply so as to control the temperature of the hair styling heater responsive to the temperature sense signal.