Electric toothbrush and brush handle and pressure sensitivity calibration method thereof

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses an electric toothbrush and a brush head and a pressure sensitivity calibration method thereof, and a brush handle comprises a shell assembly, a driving part, an elastic supporting part and a pressure obtaining element; the shell assembly is provided with a mounting cavity and a first connecting structure; the driving part is provided with a second connecting structure, at least part of the driving part is arranged in the mounting cavity, the peripheral side wall of the driving part and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity are arranged in a spaced mode, and the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure are connected in a swinging mode; the elastic supporting part is clamped between the peripheral side wall of the driving piece and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity; the pressure obtaining element is fixedly arranged on the shell assembly and makes direct or indirect contact with the outer side wall of the driving piece. After the brush handle is applied to the electric toothbrush, the possibility that teeth are beaten by the brush head can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electric toothbrush technology, and in particular to an electric toothbrush, its handle, and a pressure-sensing calibration method. Background Technology

[0002] An electric toothbrush is a device that uses motor vibration to drive the brush head to vibrate and clean teeth. In related technologies, the vibration amplitude and force of the brush head are relatively large when the electric toothbrush is in operation. When the user brushes their teeth too hard, the brush head can easily hit the teeth. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the embodiments of this application aim to provide an electric toothbrush and its handle, as well as a pressure-sensing calibration method, which is intended to help reduce the possibility of the brush head hitting the teeth.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application embodiment is implemented as follows: This application provides a brush handle for use in an electric toothbrush, the brush handle comprising: The housing assembly includes a mounting cavity and a first connecting structure; A driving component is provided with a second connecting structure. At least a portion of the driving component is disposed in the mounting cavity, and the peripheral sidewall of the driving component and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity are spaced apart. The first connecting structure and the second connecting structure are oscillatingly connected. An elastic support portion is sandwiched between the peripheral sidewall of the driving member and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity; The pressure acquisition element is fixedly disposed on the housing assembly and in direct or indirect contact with the outer wall of the drive component.

[0005] In some embodiments, the elastic support includes a plurality of support protrusions that contact the peripheral sidewall of the drive member; At least some of the support protrusions are spaced apart circumferentially along the drive member; and / or, at least some of the support protrusions are spaced apart axially along the drive member.

[0006] In some embodiments, the drive member is in its initial state, and the support protrusion is in a state of fully recovering elastic deformation.

[0007] In some embodiments, the pressure-generating element and at least a portion of the support protrusion are located on the same reference section, wherein the reference section is perpendicular to the axial direction of the brush handle.

[0008] In some embodiments, the support protrusion located on the same reference cross section as the pressure acquisition element is a first protrusion; With a line passing through the center of the pressure-sensing element and perpendicular to the axis of the drive member as the axis of symmetry, each of the first protrusions is symmetrically distributed on both sides of the axis of symmetry; and / or, with a surface passing through the axis of the drive member and parallel to the pressure-sensing element as the interface, the number of first protrusions on both sides of the interface is equal.

[0009] In some embodiments, the outer surface of the support protrusion includes a mating surface that contacts the peripheral sidewall of the drive member; and / or, The hardness range of the support protrusion is 55A-70A.

[0010] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a main housing having the mounting cavity, the resilient support being in direct contact with the main housing, and the main housing being made of a water-resistant nylon; and / or, The elastic support is made of silicone.

[0011] In some embodiments, the bristles of the electric toothbrush are located at one end of the drive member, and the housing assembly includes a main housing having the mounting cavity, the main housing having a clearance hole that penetrates the cavity wall of the mounting cavity and the outer side wall of the main housing, and the clearance hole avoids the end of the drive member away from the bristles during the swinging of the drive member relative to the main housing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the main housing is provided with a limiting part, and when the driving member swings to abut against the limiting part, the elastic support part is in a recoverable elastic deformation state.

[0013] In some embodiments, the brush handle further includes a main control board disposed on the outer periphery of the drive member, and the pressure acquisition element is disposed on the main control board and located on the side of the main control board facing the drive member.

[0014] In some embodiments, the brush handle further includes a force transmission component sandwiched between the outer wall of the drive member and the pressure acquisition element.

[0015] In some embodiments, the force transmission component is made of silicone, and the force transmission component is interference-fitted with the pressure acquisition element.

[0016] In some embodiments, the end of the brush handle that is axially close to the bristles of the electric toothbrush is a first end, and the first connecting structure is closer to the first end than the elastic support portion.

[0017] This application provides an electric toothbrush, the electric toothbrush comprising: Brush head; and The brush handle described in any of the above embodiments, wherein the brush head is disposed on the brush handle and is drivenly connected to the driving component.

[0018] This application provides a pressure sensitivity calibration method for an electric toothbrush, the pressure sensitivity calibration method comprising: Associated device and the electric toothbrush; A component with a first weight is placed on the device; The device provides feedback to the electric toothbrush with a first pressure. Determine that the first pressure is equal to the gravity corresponding to the first weight; The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records data corresponding to the first pressure; A component with a second weight is placed on the device; The device provides feedback to the electric toothbrush with a second pressure. Determine that the second pressure is equal to the gravity corresponding to the second weight; The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records the data corresponding to the second pressure.

[0019] This application provides an electric toothbrush, which is calibrated using the pressure-sensitive calibration method described in the above embodiments.

[0020] In the brush handle of this application embodiment, the gap between the peripheral sidewall of the driving member and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity is filled by an elastic support portion on at least one cross-section of the brush handle. In this way, no noise caused by assembly gaps will be generated between the driving member and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity during the operation of the electric toothbrush. At the same time, when the user brushes too hard, the brush head is squeezed by the cleaning part. Thus, the end of the brush head with bristles acts as the end point of the lever movement and is subjected to force. The end of the driving member away from the bristles lifts up and squeezes the elastic support portion. The elastic support portion undergoes elastic deformation, and the driving member can squeeze the pressure acquisition element that is in direct or indirect contact with the outer sidewall of the driving member. The pressure acquisition element is triggered to acquire pressure. When the pressure acquired by the pressure acquisition element reaches a certain threshold, it is determined that the user is brushing too hard, so the electric toothbrush can be automatically switched to low frequency mode to prevent teeth from hitting and improve the user experience. In other words, when the brush handle of this application embodiment is applied to an electric toothbrush, it helps to reduce the noise when the electric toothbrush is working. At the same time, it also facilitates the detection of pressure on one side of the electric toothbrush head, so that the frequency of the electric toothbrush can be controlled by real-time pressure sensing. This helps to reduce the possibility of the brush head hitting the teeth. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is an axial view of the brush handle according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the brush handle from another perspective; Figure 3 For along Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of section AA; Figure 4 This is an axial view of a housing assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded view of the housing assembly of the embodiment shown; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a drive component according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support portion according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the brush handle according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic flowchart of a pressure sensitivity calibration method for an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is a comparison diagram of the pressure sensitivity deviation between an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application and an electric toothbrush in the related art; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the results of manual pressure testing of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing the reliability test results of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 13 A schematic diagram showing the variation of pressure sensitivity value after a reliability test of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the test results of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application using different testing methods; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram comparing the output pressure of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application when using different testing methods.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 10. Brush handle; 10a. First end; 11. Housing assembly; 11a. First connecting structure; 111. Main housing; 111a. Mounting cavity; 111b. Mounting port; 111c. Clearance hole; 112. Housing cover; 12. Drive component; 121. Main body; 121a. Mounting surface; 121b. First positioning part; 122. Flange; 122a. Second connecting structure; 122b. Second positioning part; 123. Output shaft; 13. Elastic support part; 131. Support protrusion; 131a. Fitting surface; 14. Main control board; 15. Pressure acquisition element; 16. Force transmission component; 17. Support bar. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are therefore only examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0025] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0027] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the technical term "contact" should be interpreted broadly, and can be direct contact, contact through an intermediate medium layer, contact between two contacting parties with substantially no interaction force, or contact between two contacting parties with interaction force.

[0029] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] This application provides an embodiment of an electric toothbrush; please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1 to 8 The electric toothbrush includes a brush head and a brush handle 10 according to any embodiment of this application.

[0031] It should be noted that when an electric toothbrush adopts the brush handle 10 of any embodiment of this application, the electric toothbrush has all the advantages of the brush handle 10 of the corresponding embodiment, and the specific advantages are described in detail below.

[0032] The brush head includes a shaft and bristles. The shaft is connected to the handle 10, and the bristles are located on the shaft. When a user uses an electric toothbrush to clean their mouth, the bristles come into direct contact with areas inside the mouth (such as teeth, gums, tongue, etc.). The handle 10 provides power output and drives the brush head to vibrate, thereby cleaning these areas.

[0033] In some embodiments, the brush head and brush handle 10 are detachably connected. This allows the brush head to be replaced after a period of use, while the brush handle 10 can continue to be used, thus reducing user costs. It should be noted that the specific method of detachable connection between the brush head and brush handle 10 is not limited; for example, these methods may include plug-in, snap-fit, magnetic connection, etc.

[0034] Please see Figures 1 to 8 This application provides a brush handle 10, which includes a housing assembly 11, a drive member 12, an elastic support 13, and a pressure acquisition element 15.

[0035] The housing assembly 11 is the frame base component of the brush handle 10, and can provide a mounting base for other components.

[0036] The drive unit 12 is the power output component of the brush handle 10. The specific type of the drive unit 12 is not limited; for example, it can be various types of motors.

[0037] The brush head is connected to the drive unit 12, which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, thereby causing the brush head to vibrate. It should be noted that the brush handle 10 generally also includes a battery, which can be a primary battery or a secondary battery, specifically a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a button battery, etc.

[0038] Please see Figures 1 to 3The housing assembly 11 is provided with a mounting cavity 111a and a first connecting structure 11a; the driving member 12 is provided with a second connecting structure 122a, at least a portion of the driving member 12 is provided in the mounting cavity 111a, and the peripheral sidewall of the driving member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a are spaced apart, and the first connecting structure 11a and the second connecting structure 122a are oscillatingly connected; the elastic support part 13 is sandwiched between the peripheral sidewall of the driving member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a; the pressure acquisition element 15 is fixedly provided on the housing assembly 11 and is in direct or indirect contact with the outer sidewall of the driving member 12.

[0039] By providing the mounting cavity 111a, at least a portion of the structure of the drive member 12 can be protected by the housing assembly 11, thereby improving the reliability of the drive member 12; at the same time, it also facilitates the installation of the drive member 12 on the housing assembly 11.

[0040] For ease of description, the position where the first connecting structure 11a and the second connecting structure 122a are oscillatingly connected will be referred to as the oscillating connection position in the following text. That is, the drive member 12 can oscillate relative to the housing assembly 11 with the oscillating connection position as the fulcrum, and the oscillation axis intersects with the length direction of the electric toothbrush.

[0041] At least one cross-section of the brush handle 10, the gap between the peripheral sidewall of the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a is filled by the elastic support portion 13. In this way, no noise caused by the assembly gap will be generated between the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a during the operation of the electric toothbrush.

[0042] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, "cross section" specifically refers to a cross section perpendicular to the length direction of the electric toothbrush.

[0043] The drive unit 12 is connected to the brush head drive. When the user brushes their teeth too hard, the brush head is squeezed by the cleaning part. In this way, the end of the brush head with bristles is subjected to force as the end point of the lever movement, and the end of the drive unit 12 away from the bristles lifts up to squeeze the elastic support part 13.

[0044] Understandably, as the user gradually reduces the force of brushing their teeth, the elastic support 13 recovers its elastic deformation, thereby allowing the drive component 12 to return to its initial position.

[0045] Specifically, the maximum displacement that the oscillation can generate can be related to the deformability of the elastic support 13. For example, at the position where the drive member 12 is in direct contact with the elastic support 13, the maximum displacement that the drive member 12 at that position can generate in the radial direction of the electric toothbrush can be less than or equal to the deformability of the elastic support 13 at that position in the radial direction of the electric toothbrush. Further, it can be less than the maximum deformability of the elastic support 13 at that position in the radial direction of the electric toothbrush. This helps reduce the probability of irreversible deformation of the elastic support 13, thereby extending its service life and improving the reliability of the electric toothbrush.

[0046] It should be noted that, in the embodiments of this application, "radial" refers to the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the electric toothbrush.

[0047] In other words, the displacement generated by the drive element 12 can enable a wider range of functions for the electric toothbrush. For example, the brush handle 10 also includes a pressure sensing element 15. The drive element 12 can directly contact the pressure sensing element 15 or indirectly contact it through other components. When the user brushes too hard, the brush head is squeezed by the cleaning area. The end of the brush head with bristles acts as the lever point, and the end of the drive element 12 away from the bristles lifts up and squeezes the elastic support 13. The elastic support 12 undergoes elastic deformation, which in turn squeezes and triggers the pressure sensing element 15, thus detecting the pressure on one side of the electric toothbrush head. When the pressure sensed by the pressure sensing element 15 reaches a certain threshold, it is determined that the user is brushing too hard. This "threshold" can be set as, for example, by the brush head hitting the teeth. Therefore, after determining that the user is brushing too hard, the electric toothbrush automatically switches to a low-frequency mode to prevent hitting the teeth and improve the user experience.

[0048] For example, please refer to Figure 3 The brush handle 10 also includes a force transmission component 16, which may be made of materials such as silicone. One side of the force transmission component 16 may be interference-fitted with the pressure acquisition element 15, and the other side may be attached to the outer wall of the drive component 12. The drive component 12 is indirectly in contact with the pressure acquisition element 15 through the force transmission component 16.

[0049] Specifically, the force transmission component 16 is sandwiched between the outer wall of the driving component 12 and the pressure acquisition element 15. It is understood that certain precision errors inevitably occur in the production of the various sub-components of the brush handle 10. If the outer wall of the driving component 12 and the pressure acquisition element 15 are in direct contact, an installation gap may occur between them after the brush handle 10 is assembled, resulting in poor contact. In this embodiment, the force transmission component 16 is used to achieve indirect contact between the outer wall of the driving component 12 and the pressure acquisition element 15. This eliminates production precision errors, thereby improving the contact effect between the outer wall of the driving component 12 and the pressure acquisition element 15. Consequently, the production precision requirements of the various sub-components of the brush handle 10 can be reduced, thus reducing the production difficulty and improving the production efficiency of the brush handle 10.

[0050] The material used to manufacture the force transmission component 16 is not limited. For example, the force transmission component 16 may be made of silicone, and the force transmission component 16 is interference-fitted with the pressure acquisition element 15. In this way, after the drive component 12 generates displacement, the pressure acquisition element 15 can quickly acquire this information and react accordingly, thereby shortening the reaction time and further reducing the possibility of tooth-piercing problems.

[0051] The specific type of pressure acquisition element 15 is not limited. For example, it may be a pressure sensor.

[0052] The mounting structure of the pressure acquisition element 15 is not limited. Exemplarily, the brush handle 10 also includes a main control board 14, which is disposed on the outer periphery of the drive member 12. That is, the main control board 14 and the drive member 12 are spaced apart along the thickness direction of the main control board 14, and the pressure acquisition element 15 is disposed on the side of the main control board 14 facing the drive member 12. This facilitates the transmission of the pressure signal acquired by the pressure acquisition element 15 to the data processing module of the electric toothbrush.

[0053] In related technologies, if there is a gap between the peripheral wall of the drive component and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity, the drive component will generate noise during operation. Therefore, the drive component is often installed in the mounting cavity in a tight-fitting manner. However, with this assembly structure, the drive component connected to the brush head cannot be displaced, making it difficult to obtain pressure sensitivity on one side of the brush head. When the user brushes their teeth with greater force, the brush head is prone to hitting the teeth.

[0054] In the brush handle 10 of this application embodiment, the gap between the peripheral sidewall of the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a on at least one cross-section of the brush handle 10 is filled by the elastic support part 13. In this way, no noise caused by the assembly gap will be generated between the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a during the operation of the electric toothbrush. At the same time, when the user brushes too hard, the brush head is squeezed by the cleaning part. In this way, the end of the brush head with bristles is subjected to force as the end point of the lever movement. The end of the drive member 12 away from the bristles lifts up and squeezes the elastic support part 13. The elastic support part 13 undergoes elastic deformation. The drive member 12 can then squeeze the pressure acquisition element 15 that is in direct or indirect contact with the outer sidewall of the drive member 12. The pressure acquisition element 15 is triggered to acquire pressure. When the pressure acquired by the pressure acquisition element 15 reaches a certain threshold, it is determined that the user is brushing too hard. The electric toothbrush can then be automatically switched to low frequency mode to prevent teeth from hitting each other and improve the user experience. In other words, when the brush handle 10 of this application embodiment is applied to an electric toothbrush, it helps to reduce the noise when the electric toothbrush is working. At the same time, it also facilitates the detection of pressure on one side of the brush head of the electric toothbrush, so that the frequency of the electric toothbrush can be controlled by real-time pressure sensing, thereby helping to reduce the possibility of the brush head hitting the teeth.

[0055] In other words, in the electric toothbrush of this application embodiment, when the user brushes too hard, the end of the brush head with bristles acts as a lever end point to receive force. The driving member 12 rotates around the swing connection point, thereby pressing against the elastic support part 13. The elastic support part 13 undergoes elastic deformation under pressure and can press against the pressure acquisition element 15. The pressure acquisition element 15 acquires the pressure signal and can then provide feedback to the user to remind them that the brushing force is too strong. After receiving the reminder, the user reduces the brushing force in time, and the elastic support part 13 can restore its elastic deformation, so that the driving member 12 gradually returns to its initial position.

[0056] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 7 The elastic support portion 13 includes a plurality of support protrusions 131, which contact the peripheral sidewall of the drive member 12. This improves the support effect of the elastic support portion 13 on the drive member 12.

[0057] It should be noted that in the initial state, i.e., when the brush head of the electric toothbrush is not subjected to a squeezing force, the degree of contact between the support protrusion 131 and the drive member 12 is not limited. In one specific embodiment, the drive member 12 is in the initial state, and the support protrusion 131 is in a state of fully recovering its elastic deformation. That is, the support protrusion 131 and the drive member 12 are in just contact. In this state, the support protrusion 131 does not undergo elastic deformation. This helps to slow down the aging problem of the support protrusion 131, thereby improving the reliability of the electric toothbrush during long-term use.

[0058] The distribution of the multiple support protrusions 131 is not limited.

[0059] For example, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 7 At least some of the support protrusions 131 are spaced apart circumferentially along the drive member 12. This means that at least two support protrusions 131 exist on the same cross-section of the brush handle 10. For details, please refer to... Figure 3 On the same cross-section, there can be four support protrusions 131. In this embodiment, on the same cross-section, the gap between the peripheral sidewall of the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a is not completely filled by the elastic support portion 13. This facilitates the drive member 12 to swing relative to the housing assembly 11, thereby realizing functions such as pressure sensing.

[0060] For example, please refer to Figure 7 At least some of the supporting protrusions 131 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the drive member 12. It should be noted that the axial direction of the drive member 12 is the same as the length direction of the electric toothbrush. In this embodiment, it is beneficial to improve the support effect on the drive member 12, thereby further reducing the possibility of noise generated between the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a due to assembly gap.

[0061] Here, the multiple support protrusions 131 can be distributed in the following three ways: The first type: all the supporting protrusions 131 are spaced apart along the circumference of the driving member 12.

[0062] The second type: all the supporting protrusions 131 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the driving member 12.

[0063] The third type: Partially spaced support protrusions 131 are arranged circumferentially along the drive member 12, and all support protrusions 131 on the same cross-section are referred to as a support body. The elastic support portion 13 includes multiple support bodies, each of which is spaced axially along the drive member 12. This facilitates the drive member 12 to swing relative to the housing assembly 11, thereby realizing functions such as pressure sensing; at the same time, multiple support bodies can improve the support effect on the drive member 12, which helps to further reduce the possibility of noise generated between the drive member 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a due to assembly gaps.

[0064] The specific structure of the elastic support 13 is not limited. For example, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 7 The elastic support part 13 includes a plurality of support bars 17, each support bar 17 extending along the length direction of the brush handle 10, and all support bars 17 are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the drive member 12, and support protrusions 131 are provided on the support bars 17.

[0065] Specifically, please refer to Figure 7 Each support bar 17 is provided with a plurality of support protrusions 131 spaced apart along its length, such that at least some of the support protrusions 131 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the drive member 12.

[0066] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 The pressure acquisition element 15 and at least part of the support protrusion 131 are located on the same reference section, wherein the reference section is perpendicular to the axis of the brush handle 10.

[0067] In this way, these support protrusions 131 can even cooperate with the force transmission component 16 to distribute the force when the drive component 12 is displaced. The drive component 12 can more stably squeeze the pressure acquisition element 15, thereby improving the accuracy of the pressure sensing obtained by the pressure acquisition element 15. Furthermore, when the user reduces the force of brushing their teeth, the support protrusions 131 can more stably restore the drive component 12 to its initial position.

[0068] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 The support protrusion 131 located on the same reference section as the pressure acquisition element 15 is the first protrusion. With the line passing through the center of the pressure acquisition element 15 and perpendicular to the axis of the drive member 12 as the axis of symmetry, each first protrusion is symmetrically distributed on both sides of the axis of symmetry.

[0069] For example, the axis of symmetry is as follows Figure 3 As shown in L1. Specifically, taking an example with four first protrusions, that is, there are two first protrusions on each side of the axis of symmetry, which helps to improve the uniformity of force distribution.

[0070] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the axis of the driving member 12 should be understood as the driving member 12 being in its initial state.

[0071] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 The support protrusion 131 located on the same reference section as the pressure acquisition element 15 is the first protrusion. The interface is the surface that passes through the axis of the drive member 12 and is parallel to the pressure acquisition element 15. The number of first protrusions on both sides of the interface is equal.

[0072] For example, in Figure 3 From the perspective shown, the interface is the line shown in L2. Specifically, the distance is explained by the number of the first protrusions being four. That is, there are two first protrusions on both sides of L2.

[0073] In this way, when the external force is removed, the first protrusion on the side of the interface closer to the pressure acquisition element 15 can cooperate with the force transmission component 16 to bounce the drive component back to the center position, while the first protrusion on the side of the interface away from the pressure acquisition element 15 plays a supporting role, together with the first protrusion on the side of the interface closer to the pressure acquisition element 15, to maintain the drive component 12 in the center position of the product.

[0074] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 The hardness range of the support protrusion 131 is 55A-70A. For example, it can be 55A, 56A, 57A, 58A, 59A, 60A, 61A, 62A, 63A, 64A, 65A, 66A, 67A, 68A, 69A, 70A, etc. This facilitates the injection molding of the support protrusion 131 and the calibration range of the pressure sensitivity. Furthermore, when the hardness of the support protrusion 131 is 55A, the calibration range of the pressure sensitivity is more pronounced.

[0075] In some embodiments, the housing assembly 11 includes a main housing 111 having a mounting cavity 111a, an elastic support portion 13 in direct contact with the main housing 111, and the main housing 111 is made of a water-resistant nylon.

[0076] The main shell 111 is the structure in the shell assembly 11 used to mount the drive unit 12. Furthermore, the entire shell assembly 11 can be made of water-resistant nylon.

[0077] Water-resistant nylon refers to nylon whose water absorption deformation does not exceed 15% under conditions where the humidity is in the range of 65%-90%.

[0078] Water-resistant nylon is a low-absorption material; however, the material used to prepare the main shell 111 can also include other types of low-absorption materials. Specifically, the water-resistant nylon can be modified nylon. The specific type of modified nylon is not limited. For example, it can be PA10T+30GF, where PA10T+30GF refers to PA10T resin reinforced with 30% glass fiber (GF).

[0079] In related technologies, electric toothbrushes experience pressure sensitivity drift of up to 120g after being stored in high temperature and humidity for a period of time. Research has revealed that this is because the main shell is made of PA66 material, which undergoes dimensional changes after absorbing water, leading to inaccurate pressure sensitivity detection. Specifically, when the main shell is made of PA66 material, the initial distance between the pressure sensing element 15 and the outer wall of the drive component 12 is approximately 10.09 mm. After a period of use, this distance reaches 10.18 mm, causing pressure sensitivity drift.

[0080] In this embodiment, the main shell 111 is made of water-resistant nylon, which is a low-absorption material, thus improving the accuracy of pressure sensing.

[0081] The specific material of the elastic support part 13 is not limited.

[0082] In some embodiments, the elastic support portion 13 is made of silicone.

[0083] Specifically, the silicone can be pressure-resistant silicone. In a related technology, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), also known as thermoplastic polyurethane rubber, is used as the material for the elastic support part 13. During the use of the electric toothbrush, the elastic support part 13 is prone to deformation under pressure. The TPU elastic support part 13, after aging at room temperature (with a load of 200g), prematurely triggers pressure feedback. Research has found that this is due to the deformation of the support protrusion 131. Specifically, in the initial stage of use, the height of the support protrusion 131 is 0.41mm, but after a period of use, it is flattened to only 0.35mm.

[0084] In this embodiment, the elastic support 13 is made of silicone, a thermosetting elastomer. Its molecular chains form a permanent, three-dimensional network structure through chemical cross-linking bonds (usually siloxane bonds -Si-O-Si-). These chemical bonds are stronger and more stable, which helps to improve the reliability of the electric toothbrush.

[0085] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 8The bristles of the electric toothbrush are located at one end of the drive member 12. The housing assembly 11 includes a main housing 111 with a mounting cavity 111a. The main housing 111 has a clearance hole 111c, which penetrates the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a and the outer wall of the main housing 111. During the swinging of the drive member 12 relative to the main housing 111, the clearance hole 111c avoids the end of the drive member 12 away from the bristles.

[0086] Understandably, the clearance hole 111c is located on the side of the mounting cavity 111a closer to the pressure acquisition element 15.

[0087] In this way, during the swinging process of the drive member 12 around the fulcrum, the end away from the bristles can swing to the area where the clearance hole 111c is located. This makes it easier for the drive member 12 to swing and better trigger the pressure acquisition element 15, thereby realizing the detection of brushing force.

[0088] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 8 The main shell 111 is provided with a limiting part. When the driving member 12 swings to the state of abutting against the limiting part, the elastic support part 13 is in a state of recoverable elastic deformation.

[0089] The specific structure of the limiting part is not limited. For example, the limiting part can be formed by the outer edge of the clearance hole 111c near the bristles. That is, after the drive member 12 swings to abut against the outer edge of the clearance hole 111c, the force is borne by the main shell 111. The limiting part limits the swing range of the drive member 12, thereby reducing the possibility of the elastic support part 13 being crushed, protecting the elastic support part 13, and extending the service life of the elastic support part 13.

[0090] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 7 The outer surface of the support protrusion 131 includes a mating surface 131a, which contacts the peripheral wall surface of the drive member 12.

[0091] For example, in the cross-section of the driving member 12, the cross-section of the outer side wall of the driving member 12 is generally an outwardly convex arc shape. In this case, in the same cross-section, the cross-section of the mating surface 131a can be an inwardly concave arc shape. In this way, the mating surface 131a and the peripheral side wall of the driving member 12 achieve surface bonding.

[0092] In related technologies, the support protrusion and the driving component are in point contact. However, in this embodiment, the support protrusion 131 and the driving component 12 are in surface contact, which makes it easier for the driving component 12 to spring back to its initial position. Furthermore, the support protrusion 131 provides better support for the driving component 12. That is, on the same cross-section, multiple support protrusions 131 provide better clamping effect for the driving component 12. This helps to further reduce the possibility of noise generated between the driving component 12 and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity 111a due to assembly gaps.

[0093] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 , Figures 4 to 6 The first connecting structure 11a is a shaft hole, and the second connecting structure 122a is a rotating shaft. The axis of the rotating shaft intersects with the axis of the brush handle 10, and the rotating shaft is rotatably disposed in the shaft hole.

[0094] The axis of the rotating shaft can, for example, overlap with the axis of the shaft hole. This results in a smaller assembly clearance between the rotating shaft and the shaft hole, which helps to reduce the noise generated when the drive component 12 oscillates.

[0095] For example, please refer to Figures 4 to 6 The number of shafts and shaft holes can both be two, with the two shafts being coaxial and spaced apart, and the two shaft holes also being coaxial and spaced apart.

[0096] The specific type of shaft hole is not limited. For example, it can be a through hole or a blind hole.

[0097] The oscillating fit between the shaft hole and the rotating shaft is relatively simple and easy to manufacture.

[0098] It is understandable that the first connecting structure 11a is generally located inside the housing assembly 11. If the first connecting structure 11a is set as a pivot and the second connecting structure 122a is set as a shaft hole, it is difficult to complete the assembly of the drive component 12 during installation in the mounting cavity 111a. However, the structure of this embodiment is conducive to further improving the swing fit structure, thereby facilitating the swing connection between the first connecting structure 11a and the second connecting structure 122a and reducing the assembly difficulty.

[0099] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The housing assembly 11 includes a housing cover 112 and a main housing 111 having a mounting cavity 111a. One side of the mounting cavity 111a is open and forms a mounting opening 111b. The housing cover 112 covers the mounting opening 111b and together with the main housing 111 forms a shaft hole.

[0100] In other words, when the cover 112 is not installed on the main housing 111, the shaft hole is not a fully enclosed structure in its circumferential direction. Thus, during the installation of the drive member 12 into the mounting cavity 111a, the shaft can enter the shaft hole from the area with the opening on the circumference of the shaft hole, and then the cover 112 is placed on the main housing 111 to close the shaft hole. This facilitates the placement of the shaft inside the shaft hole, which is beneficial for realizing the swing connection between the drive member 12 and the housing assembly 11.

[0101] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The driving component 12 includes a main body 121 and a flange 122 disposed on the main body 121, and a rotating shaft is provided on the outer periphery of the flange 122.

[0102] Specifically, the drive unit 12 also includes an output shaft 123, one end of which is located on the main body 121. The output shaft 123 is connected to the brush head drive. The main body 121 and the output shaft 123 together form a general structure of the drive unit 12. The drive unit 12 with the general structure is a conventional motor.

[0103] In other words, in this embodiment, a flange 122 is added to a conventional motor to obtain the drive component 12 of this application embodiment. Since the structure of the conventional motor does not need to be modified, it is convenient to implement the structural improvement of the drive component 12 of this application embodiment, and it is also beneficial to reduce development costs.

[0104] The connection method between flange 122 and body 121 is not restricted.

[0105] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The flange 122 and the body 121 are welded together. For example, the connection can be laser welded.

[0106] Specifically, laser welding can be used to connect the outer edge of the contact area between the flange 122 and the body 121. This will help improve the welding speed and welding accuracy, thereby increasing production efficiency.

[0107] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The main body 121 is provided with a first positioning part 121b, and the flange 122 is provided with a second positioning part 122b. The first positioning part 121b and the second positioning part 122b are positioned and engaged.

[0108] The specific structures of the first positioning part 121b and the second positioning part 122b are not limited. For example, one is a positioning protrusion and the other is a positioning hole.

[0109] In this embodiment, when the flange 122 is connected to the body 121, positioning is achieved through the first positioning part 121b and the second positioning part 122b. This helps to improve the alignment accuracy of the body 121 and the flange 122 and improve the assembly efficiency of the two.

[0110] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 6 The end face of one axial end of the main body 121 includes a mounting surface 121a, a flange 122 is covered on the mounting surface 121a, the mounting surface 121a is provided with a first positioning part 121b, and a second positioning part 122b is provided on the side of the flange 122 facing the mounting surface 121a.

[0111] It is understood that the flange 122 is mounted on the body 121 along its thickness direction. In this embodiment, the positioning and engagement direction of the first positioning part 121b and the second positioning part 122b is consistent with the direction in which the flange 122 is mounted on the body 121. That is, during the process of the flange 122 being attached to the mounting surface 121a, the positioning of the first positioning part 121b and the second positioning part 122b can be achieved. This helps to simplify the assembly steps and improve assembly efficiency.

[0112] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 1 to 3 The end of the brush handle 10 that is close to the bristles of the electric toothbrush along its axial direction is the first end 10a, and the first connecting structure 11a is closer to the first end 10a than the elastic support part 13.

[0113] That is, along the length of the electric toothbrush, the bristles, the swing connection, and the elastic support 13 are arranged sequentially. That is, the drive unit 12 can perform lever movement with the swing connection as a fulcrum, and the elastic support 13 and the bristles are located at opposite ends of the swing support.

[0114] It is understandable that, compared to the embodiment where the elastic support 13 is located between the bristles and the swing support, the structure of this embodiment allows for a larger displacement of the elastic support 13 under the condition that the displacement of the bristles is constant. This facilitates the detection of a wider range of pressure sensitivity, thereby improving the accuracy of pressure sensitivity detection.

[0115] This application provides a pressure sensitivity calibration method for an electric toothbrush. Please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 9 Pressure sensitivity calibration methods include: S101: Related devices and electric toothbrushes.

[0116] In this way, the device can apply force to the electric toothbrush, thereby simulating the brushing force of an electric toothbrush during brushing. Specifically, the device and the electric toothbrush can also be connected to transmit data, allowing the device to feed back the simulated brushing force to the electric toothbrush. The data connection can be, for example, via Bluetooth.

[0117] S102: Place a component with a first weight on the equipment.

[0118] The specific type of component is not limited. For example, it could be a weight.

[0119] S103: The device provides feedback on the first pressure to the electric toothbrush.

[0120] S104: Determine that the gravity corresponding to the first pressure is equal to that corresponding to the first weight.

[0121] Here, it can be determined by whether the placement of the component with the first weight on the device is stable and accurate; and / or, it can be determined by whether the brush head of the electric toothbrush is in a stable state.

[0122] S105: The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records the data corresponding to the first pressure.

[0123] The data type recorded by the pressure acquisition element 15 is not limited. For example, it can record data such as current or voltage. Thus, the pressure is converted into an electrical signal for recording. It is understood that different pressures correspond to different data.

[0124] S106: Place a component with a second weight on the equipment.

[0125] S107: The device provides feedback to the electric toothbrush with a second pressure.

[0126] S108: Determine that the second pressure is equal to the gravity corresponding to the second weight.

[0127] Here, it can be determined by whether the placement of the component with the second weight on the device is stable and accurate; and / or by whether the brush head of the electric toothbrush is in a stable state.

[0128] S109: The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records the data corresponding to the second pressure.

[0129] The specific values ​​of the first and second weights are not restricted, as long as they are not equal.

[0130] In some embodiments, the first weight can be 200g and the second weight can be 450g. This way, the first and second weights are closer to the extreme pressure experienced by the electric toothbrush during use, thereby improving the accuracy of the calibration.

[0131] Here, the pressure acquisition element 15 records the data (such as current, voltage and other electrical signals) when the first pressure and the second pressure are applied respectively. In this way, a linear function is formed. During the actual use of the electric toothbrush, the corresponding pressure can be obtained based on the data (such as current, voltage and other signals) of the current pressure acquisition element 15. In this way, pressure acquisition is realized.

[0132] In related technologies, during pressure sensitivity calibration of electric toothbrushes, factors such as the speed of weight pressing down, instability of the toothbrush head, or deviation in the placement of the weight can cause a discrepancy between the actual pressure applied to the electric toothbrush and the weight of the weight, resulting in inaccurate pressure sensitivity calibration. However, the pressure sensitivity calibration method for the electric toothbrush in this application embodiment, by calibrating both the first and second pressures, improves the accuracy of the pressure corresponding to the data recorded by the pressure acquisition element 15, thereby improving the accuracy of the brushing force detected during actual use of the electric toothbrush.

[0133] This application provides an electric toothbrush, which is calibrated using the pressure-sensitive calibration method of any embodiment of this application.

[0134] The following describes a method for calibrating the pressure sensitivity of an electric toothbrush according to a specific embodiment of this application: The calibration method before optimization (i.e., test plan one): S1: Place the electric toothbrush into the fixture.

[0135] S2: Start the device.

[0136] S3: The device automatically connects to the electric toothbrush via Bluetooth.

[0137] S4: The device sends the SN to write to the electric toothbrush.

[0138] S5: Enter calibration mode.

[0139] S6: Equipment pressure relief value of 200g.

[0140] S7: Confirm whether the pressure sensitivity calibration point is accurate; if yes, proceed to S8; if no, the test ends.

[0141] S8: The electric toothbrush communicates with the device via a response command.

[0142] S9: Equipment pressure relief value of 450g.

[0143] S10: Reconfirm whether the pressure sensitivity calibration point is accurate; if yes, proceed to S11; if no, the test ends.

[0144] S11: The electric toothbrush and the device exchange response commands again.

[0145] S12: The equipment is depressurized again by 450g.

[0146] S13: Report pressure test values.

[0147] The optimized calibration method (i.e., test scheme two) differs from the original calibration method mainly in that the following steps are inserted between S9 and S10: S91: Confirm whether the equipment pressure relief is stable. If yes, proceed to S92; otherwise, re-execute S9.

[0148] S92: Indicates that the electric toothbrush pressure is stable.

[0149] The test results are as follows: Please see Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a comparison chart showing the pressure sensitivity deviation between an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application and an electric toothbrush in the related art.

[0150] Please see Figure 11 , Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram showing the results of manually measuring pressure in an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application.

[0151] Please see Figure 12 , Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing the reliability test results of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application.

[0152] Please see Figure 13 , Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram showing the variation in pressure sensitivity after a reliability test of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application.

[0153] Please see Figure 14 , Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram showing the test results of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application using different test methods.

[0154] Please see Figure 15 , Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram comparing the output pressure of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of this application when using different testing methods.

[0155] The various embodiments / implementations provided in this application can be combined with each other without creating contradictions.

[0156] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A brush handle for use in an electric toothbrush, characterized in that, The brush handle includes: The housing assembly includes a mounting cavity and a first connecting structure; A driving component is provided with a second connecting structure. At least a portion of the driving component is disposed in the mounting cavity, and the peripheral sidewall of the driving component and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity are spaced apart. The first connecting structure and the second connecting structure are oscillatingly connected. An elastic support portion is sandwiched between the peripheral sidewall of the driving member and the cavity wall of the mounting cavity; The pressure acquisition element is fixedly disposed on the housing assembly and in direct or indirect contact with the outer wall of the drive component.

2. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic support portion includes a plurality of support protrusions, which contact the peripheral sidewall of the drive member; At least some of the support protrusions are spaced apart circumferentially along the drive member; and / or, at least some of the support protrusions are spaced apart axially along the drive member.

3. The brush handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive component is in its initial state, and the support protrusion is in a state of fully recovering elastic deformation.

4. The brush handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure-generating element and at least a portion of the support protrusion are located on the same reference section, wherein the reference section is perpendicular to the axis of the brush handle.

5. The brush handle according to claim 4, characterized in that, The support protrusion located on the same reference cross section as the pressure acquisition element is the first protrusion; With a line passing through the center of the pressure-sensing element and perpendicular to the axis of the drive member as the axis of symmetry, each of the first protrusions is symmetrically distributed on both sides of the axis of symmetry; and / or, with a surface passing through the axis of the drive member and parallel to the pressure-sensing element as the interface, the number of first protrusions on both sides of the interface is equal.

6. The brush handle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer surface of the support protrusion includes a mating surface that contacts the peripheral wall surface of the driving member; and / or, The hardness range of the support protrusion is 55A-70A.

7. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes a main housing with the mounting cavity, the elastic support portion being in direct contact with the main housing, and the main housing being made of a water-resistant nylon; and / or, The elastic support is made of silicone.

8. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bristles of the electric toothbrush are located at one end of the drive member. The housing assembly includes a main housing with the mounting cavity and a clearance hole that penetrates the cavity wall of the mounting cavity and the outer side wall of the main housing. During the swinging of the drive member relative to the main housing, the clearance hole avoids the end of the drive member that is away from the bristles.

9. The brush handle according to claim 8, characterized in that, The main shell is provided with a limiting part. When the driving member swings to the state of abutting against the limiting part, the elastic support part is in a state of recoverable elastic deformation.

10. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The brush handle also includes a main control board, which is located on the outer periphery of the drive component. The pressure acquisition element is located on the main control board and on the side of the main control board facing the drive component.

11. The brush handle according to claim 10, characterized in that, The brush handle also includes a force transmission component, which is sandwiched between the outer wall of the drive member and the pressure acquisition element.

12. The brush handle according to claim 11, characterized in that, The force transmission component is made of silicone, and the force transmission component is interference-fitted with the pressure acquisition element.

13. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the brush handle that is close to the bristles of the electric toothbrush along its axial direction is the first end, and the first connecting structure is closer to the first end than the elastic support portion.

14. An electric toothbrush, characterized in that, The electric toothbrush includes: Brush head; and The brush handle according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the brush head is disposed on the brush handle and is drivenly connected to the driving member.

15. A pressure sensitivity calibration method for an electric toothbrush, characterized in that, The pressure sensitivity calibration method includes: Associated device and the electric toothbrush; A component with a first weight is placed on the device; The device provides feedback to the electric toothbrush with a first pressure. Determine that the first pressure is equal to the gravity corresponding to the first weight; The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records data corresponding to the first pressure; A component with a second weight is placed on the device; The device provides feedback to the electric toothbrush with a second pressure. Determine that the second pressure is equal to the gravity corresponding to the second weight; The pressure acquisition element of the electric toothbrush records the data corresponding to the second pressure.

16. An electric toothbrush, characterized in that, The electric toothbrush is an electric toothbrush calibrated using the pressure-sensitive calibration method described in claim 15.

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