Waterpik and control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a water pick and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of water picks. In the control method of the water pick, the pH value collected by a sensing unit is acquired, and the acidity value is determined according to the pH value. In the case that the acidity value is greater than a preset first acidity threshold, the water pick is controlled to perform a flushing action in a protection mode. In the case that the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold and less than or equal to the preset first acidity threshold, the water pick is controlled to perform the flushing action in a mild mode. In the case that the acidity value is less than the preset second acidity threshold, the water pick is controlled to perform the flushing action in a standard mode. The application aims to improve the adaptability of the water pick to the chemical environment in the oral cavity, and thus improve the cleaning effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of oral irrigator technology, and more particularly to an oral irrigator and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing oral irrigators typically focus only on adjusting water pressure and frequency, neglecting the real-time changes in the oral cavity's chemical environment (especially pH). When users consume acidic foods (such as cola and juice), experience acid reflux, or suffer from certain oral diseases, tooth enamel becomes fragile and demineralized. Oral irrigators lack a targeted rinsing strategy. For example, when teeth are in a highly acidic environment, continuing to use the standard high-intensity rinsing mode, while ensuring cleaning efficiency, may exacerbate the physical impact on softened enamel, even leading to dentin hypersensitivity or gum damage. Therefore, oral irrigators cannot automatically adjust the rinsing intensity according to the oral cavity's chemical environment, resulting in poor adaptability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a water flosser and its control method, which aims to improve the adaptability of the water flosser to the chemical environment inside the oral cavity, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a control method for a water flosser. The water flosser includes a nozzle and a body, the nozzle being detachably connected to the body. The nozzle is equipped with a sensing unit for collecting the pH level of liquid on the tooth surface. The control method for the water flosser includes: The pH value is determined based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit. When the acidity value is greater than a preset first acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a protection mode; When the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold and less than or equal to a preset first acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a gentle mode. When the acidity value is less than a preset second acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a standard mode; Wherein, the preset first acidity threshold is greater than the preset second acidity threshold, the water flow pressure in the standard mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the mild mode, the water flow pressure in the mild mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the protection mode, the pulse frequency in the standard mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the mild mode, and the pulse frequency in the mild mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the protection mode.

[0005] In one embodiment, the method for controlling the oral irrigator further includes: Obtain food type label records, and determine the corresponding expected acid etching coefficient based on the food type label records and a preset database; The acidity value is compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient, and the acidity value is updated based on the compensated acidity value.

[0006] In one embodiment, compensating the acidity value according to the expected acid etching coefficient includes: The acidity value is summed and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient; Alternatively, the acidity value can be weighted and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient.

[0007] In one embodiment, the main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine reservoir, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank stores water, the medicine reservoir stores a neutralizing solution, the inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipe, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine reservoir via a pipe, the outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. The control method of the oral irrigator further includes: When the oral irrigator is controlled to perform rinsing action in mild mode or in protective mode, the water pump and the medicine pump are controlled to operate. While controlling the oral irrigator to perform rinsing actions in the standard mode, the system controls the operation of the water pump and the shutdown of the medication pump.

[0008] In one embodiment, controlling the operation of the water pump and the medicine pump when controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in a mild mode or in a protective mode includes: While controlling the oral irrigator to perform rinsing action in a gentle mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at a first water flow pressure and a first pulse frequency, and the medicine pump is controlled to operate at a second water flow pressure and a second pulse frequency. When the oral irrigator is controlled to perform the rinsing action in the protection mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at the third water flow pressure and the third pulse frequency, and the medicine pump is controlled to operate at the fourth water flow pressure and the fourth pulse frequency. Wherein, the first water flow pressure is greater than the third water flow pressure, and the second water flow pressure is less than the fourth water flow pressure; the first pulse frequency is greater than the third pulse frequency, and the second pulse frequency is less than the third pulse frequency; the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the mild mode is less than the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the protection mode.

[0009] In one embodiment, the method for controlling the oral irrigator further includes: After the water flosser completes the rinsing action, calculate the amount of medicine consumed by the medicine tank in a single rinsing action; The remaining amount of medicine in the medicine tank is determined and updated based on the output volume of the medicine; If the remaining liquid medicine is lower than a preset liquid medicine threshold, a liquid medicine replenishment prompt message will be generated.

[0010] In one embodiment, the method for controlling the oral irrigator further includes: Upon receiving a drug replenishment and calibration instruction, or upon determining that the change in the liquid level of the drug tank exceeds a preset change threshold, the current liquid volume of the drug tank is obtained. The current volume of the medicine solution is taken as the remaining volume of the medicine solution in the medicine solution tank.

[0011] The present invention also proposes a water flosser, the water flosser including a control device, the control device including: a memory, a processor and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the control method of the water flosser described above.

[0012] In one embodiment, the oral irrigator further includes: The nozzle and the main body of the oral irrigator are detachably connected; A sensing unit is located in the nozzle. The sensing unit is used to collect the pH of the liquid on the tooth surface and output the corresponding pH detection signal to the control device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine reservoir, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank is used to store water, the medicine reservoir is used to store a neutralizing solution, the inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipeline, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine reservoir via a pipeline, the outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. The fluid mixing assembly is used to store clean water from the clean water inlet and neutralized liquid from the medicine inlet into the mixing chamber, and to output the mixed liquid stored in the mixing chamber through the mixing outlet.

[0014] In practical applications, by comparing the acidity value with a preset acidity threshold, the system can automatically identify the acidity risk level of the oral cavity (strong acid, weak acid, neutral) and match the corresponding rinsing mode (protective mode, gentle mode, standard mode). This dynamic adaptation capability overcomes the limitations of traditional water flossers' "fixed mode rinsing," balancing cleaning efficiency and tooth protection, allowing the rinsing strategy to automatically adjust according to changes in the oral environment. Thus, the water flosser can ensure cleaning effectiveness under different oral environments while maintaining safety, improving its adaptability to the oral cavity's chemical environment, thereby enhancing cleaning results and user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention; Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention; Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention; Figure 4 A flowchart is provided for yet another embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention; Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention.

[0018] The objectives, features, and advantages of this invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0019] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0020] To better understand the technical solution of the present invention, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] Existing oral irrigators typically focus only on adjusting water pressure and frequency, neglecting the real-time changes in the oral cavity's chemical environment (especially pH). When users consume acidic foods (such as cola and juice), experience acid reflux, or suffer from certain oral diseases, tooth enamel becomes fragile and demineralized. Oral irrigators lack a targeted rinsing strategy. For example, when teeth are in a highly acidic environment, continuing to use the standard high-intensity rinsing mode, while ensuring cleaning efficiency, may exacerbate the physical impact on softened enamel, even leading to dentin hypersensitivity or gum damage. Therefore, oral irrigators cannot automatically adjust the rinsing intensity according to the oral cavity's chemical environment, resulting in poor adaptability.

[0022] Therefore, refer to Figure 1 This invention proposes a control method for a water flosser, the water flosser comprising a nozzle and a body, the nozzle being detachably connected to the body, the nozzle being equipped with a sensing unit for collecting the pH of liquid on the tooth surface, and the control method for the water flosser comprising: Step S100: Obtain the pH value collected by the sensing unit and determine the pH value based on the pH value; Step S200: When the acidity value is greater than the preset first acidity threshold, control the water flosser to perform the rinsing action in the protection mode; Step S300: When the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold and less than or equal to a preset first acidity threshold, control the oral irrigator to perform a rinsing action in a gentle mode. Step S400: When the acidity value is less than the preset second acidity threshold, control the water flosser to perform the rinsing action according to the standard mode; Wherein, the preset first acidity threshold is greater than the preset second acidity threshold, the water flow pressure in the standard mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the mild mode, the water flow pressure in the mild mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the protection mode, the pulse frequency in the standard mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the mild mode, and the pulse frequency in the mild mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the protection mode.

[0023] In this embodiment, the control method for the oral irrigator of the present invention can be applied to a control device for the oral irrigator. The control device includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. The computer program is configured to implement the steps of the control method for the oral irrigator. The control device can be implemented using a main controller, such as an MCU, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), PLC, or SOC (System on Chip).

[0024] It is understood that the acidity value referred to in this embodiment is positively correlated with the acidity intensity. The higher the acidity value, the stronger the acidity of the oral fluid (i.e., the lower the pH value); the lower the acidity value, the weaker the acidity of the oral fluid (i.e., the higher the pH value).

[0025] In this embodiment, the control device can be located in the main body of the water flosser. The detachable nozzle of the water flosser can be equipped with a sensing unit (including but not limited to a micro pH electrode or an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor), which can directly contact the liquid on the tooth surface or in the gingival sulcus. The sensing unit converts the sensed chemical signal (hydrogen ion concentration) into an analog electrical signal (such as a voltage value). The control device reads the analog electrical signal and, according to a preset algorithm (such as the Nernst equation or a pre-stored calibration curve), converts the collected electrical signal into a specific acidity value. The preset algorithm can be stored in advance by the researchers in the internal or external memory of the control device.

[0026] In this embodiment, the control device compares the determined acidity value with a preset acidity threshold and controls the water flosser to operate according to the corresponding working mode based on the comparison result. The preset acidity threshold can be set by the researchers and stored in the memory of the control device. In this embodiment, the preset acidity threshold includes a preset first acidity threshold, a preset second acidity threshold, and a preset third acidity threshold. The preset first acidity threshold (representing a strong acid environment, such as pH < 4.5). When the acidity value exceeds the preset first acidity threshold, it indicates that the enamel is in a high-risk period of softening or demineralization. At this time, the control device can output a corresponding control signal to control the water flosser to perform the rinsing action in a protection mode, such as locking the water pump and pulse valve to the lowest power output state. In a strong acid environment, the hardness of the enamel decreases, and using a strong water flow at this time can easily cause physical wear. In this way, basic cleaning can be provided in the gentlest way to avoid secondary damage to the fragile tooth surface. When the acidity value is between the preset second acidity threshold and the preset first acidity threshold (representing a weak acid environment), it indicates that there is a certain acidic risk in the oral environment but it has not reached the extreme value. At this point, the control device outputs a corresponding control signal, instructing the water flosser to perform the rinsing action in a gentle mode. For example, it can select the drive parameters for the intermediate setting, controlling the motor and pulse mechanism to operate at a moderate intensity. This provides stronger cleaning power than the protective mode to remove plaque in slightly acidic environments (such as some time after eating), while being gentler than the standard mode, acting as a buffer and allowing the user to adapt. When the acidity value is below the preset second acidity threshold (representing a neutral or slightly alkaline environment), it indicates that the tooth enamel is in a healthy and firm state. At this time, the control device can control the water flosser to operate in standard mode, such as controlling the water pump to run at high speed and outputting high-frequency pulses. Compared to the protective and gentle modes, this maximizes cleaning efficiency. Under safe dental conditions, high pressure and high-frequency pulses are used to flush away plaque and food debris from between teeth and hard-to-reach areas, meeting the user's need for deep cleaning.

[0027] In this embodiment, three modes are defined by adjusting the water pressure (which determines the impact force) and pulse frequency (which determines the rhythm of the water impact). Optionally, the protection mode is designed for highly acidic environments or extremely sensitive gums to avoid physical damage. In the three operating modes, the protection mode has the lowest water pressure, providing a gentle flow that only removes surface plaque without cutting into softened enamel. It also has the lowest pulse frequency and longer pulse intervals, giving the gums and tooth surfaces sufficient recovery time and reducing fatigue and irritation from continuous impacts. The mild mode is suitable for daily slightly acidic environments or the adaptation period for beginners, striking a balance between cleaning power and comfort. Therefore, the water pressure is moderate, higher than in the protection mode, effectively removing soft plaque between teeth, but lower than in the standard mode to avoid causing gum bleeding. The pulse frequency is moderate, with a moderate pulse rhythm that generates sufficient turbulence to disturb plaque without the strong impact of high-frequency pulses. The standard mode is suitable for deep cleaning in a healthy oral environment; this is the normal operating state of the water flosser, aiming for good cleaning results. The highest water pressure allows the powerful water flow to penetrate deep into periodontal pockets and hard-to-reach areas, washing away stubborn food debris. The highest pulse frequency (e.g., over 1200 pulses per minute) generates strong shearing force, effectively stripping away plaque biofilm attached to the tooth surface.

[0028] In practical applications, by comparing the acidity value with a preset acidity threshold, the system can automatically identify the acidity risk level of the oral cavity (strong acid, weak acid, neutral) and match the corresponding rinsing mode (protective mode, gentle mode, standard mode). This dynamic adaptation capability overcomes the limitations of traditional water flossers' "fixed mode rinsing," balancing cleaning efficiency and tooth protection, allowing the rinsing strategy to automatically adjust according to changes in the oral environment. Thus, the water flosser can ensure cleaning effectiveness under different oral environments while maintaining safety, improving its adaptability to the oral cavity's chemical environment, thereby enhancing cleaning results and user experience.

[0029] In another embodiment, reference Figure 2 The control method for the oral irrigator further includes: Step S500: Obtain food type label records, and determine the corresponding expected acid etching coefficient based on the food type label records and the preset database; Step S600: Compensate the acidity value according to the expected acid etching coefficient, and update the acidity value based on the compensated acidity value.

[0030] The step of compensating the acidity value based on the expected acid etching coefficient includes: The acidity value is summed and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient; Alternatively, the acidity value can be weighted and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient.

[0031] In this embodiment, the food type labeling record serves as a bridge connecting the user's subjective behavior and the device's objective control. It represents the user's manual confirmation of the ingested substances, transforming uncontrollable dietary behavior into a digital signal recognizable by the device, serving as one of the input variables for the algorithm. The expected acid erosion coefficient is a quantitative parameter characterizing the degree of risk of tooth erosion from a specific food. It includes not only the food's pH value but may also include the food's buffering capacity (i.e., the food's ability to resist pH changes) or sugar content (the acid produced after sugar metabolism). The expected acid erosion coefficient is divided into two types (high coefficient and low coefficient). A high coefficient indicates that the food (such as lemon juice) is highly likely to cause oral acidification, requiring a more aggressive protection strategy. A low coefficient indicates that the food (such as milk or water) has a relatively small impact on the oral environment.

[0032] In this embodiment, the oral irrigator (or its accompanying mobile app) provides a human-computer interface, allowing users to manually mark the type of food or medication they have just ingested after eating (e.g., clicking icons such as "carbonated beverage," "lemon," "sweet treat," or "water"), generating a corresponding food type marking record. Upon receiving this record, the control device retrieves the corresponding physicochemical property data from its internal storage or cloud database. For example, it retrieves the expected acid erosion coefficient from the database. It should be noted that the expected acid erosion coefficient is pre-determined by researchers through experiments or empirical values, representing the potential of food to create an acidic environment or cause enamel demineralization.

[0033] In this embodiment, the control device determines the original acidity value based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit. The control device can update the final acidity value based on the expected acid corrosion coefficient using a preset compensation algorithm. This preset compensation algorithm can be pre-set by the developers and stored in the control device's memory. Optionally, the preset compensation algorithm can be a summation compensation algorithm, where the control device adds the original acidity value to the expected acid corrosion coefficient (e.g., updated acidity value A1 = original acidity value A0 + expected acid corrosion coefficient a). It should be noted that if a food is marked as a high-risk irritant, the expected acid corrosion coefficient is positive. Optionally, the preset compensation algorithm can also be a weighted compensation algorithm, where the control device multiplies the original acidity value by the expected acid corrosion coefficient to obtain the final acidity value, and updates the original acidity value based on the final acidity value. This involves comparing the final acidity value with a preset acidity threshold, and then controlling the water flosser to perform the rinsing action according to the corresponding working mode based on the comparison result. If a food is marked as a high-risk irritant, the expected acid corrosion coefficient is greater than 1, thus amplifying the current acidity value. In this way, a compensation mechanism can be established, allowing the control device to eliminate errors from a single data source. For example, if the sensor reading is at a critical value, but the user has marked "drinking cola," the weighted compensation acidity value will increase significantly, thus forcing the device into "protection mode" and reducing the risk of misjudgment due to sensor sensitivity issues.

[0034] By allowing users to manually label the types of food or medications they ingest, information about future changes in the oral cavity's pH environment can be obtained. The control device, combined with the anticipated acid erosion coefficient, no longer relies solely on the passive detection of the current oral environment by the sensor unit. Instead, it can predict risks based on the user's dietary behavior, enabling the water flosser to intervene and adjust the rinsing intensity before or at the initial stage of actual deterioration of the oral environment, thus enhancing the water flosser's adaptability to complex oral environments.

[0035] In one embodiment, the main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine reservoir, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank stores water, the medicine reservoir stores a neutralizing solution, the inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipe, the outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine reservoir via a pipe, the outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. Figure 3 The control method for the oral irrigator further includes: Step S700: When controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in mild mode or controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in protective mode, control the water pump and the medicine pump to work. Step S800: While controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in the standard mode, control the water pump to work and control the medicine pump to stop working.

[0036] In this embodiment, the clean water tank and clean water pump constitute the basic rinsing flow path. The clean water tank serves as a storage container for the main solvent (such as clean water), while the clean water pump provides the primary rinsing power (pressure and flow rate) to ensure the removal of food residue and plaque. The medicine tank and medicine pump constitute a functional regulating flow path. The medicine tank specifically stores a neutralizing solution (such as a weakly alkaline solution), and the medicine pump controls the output of the medicine. Its function is to adjust the pH value of the sprayed liquid by injecting a neutralizing solution when the oral environment is too acidic, thus assisting in tooth remineralization or preventing acid erosion. The mixing chamber of the fluid mixing component serves as a turbulence generation zone, ensuring that the clean water and medicine are fully mixed before spraying, avoiding the user's perception of uneven water composition. The clean water / medication inlet physically isolates the two fluid paths to prevent backflow contamination. The mixing outlet guides the proportioned mixed fluid to the nozzle. The nozzle interface connects to a detachable nozzle (including a sensing unit), which is the terminal for fluid output. Thus, the clean water tank and the medicine tank are two independent storage sources. The water pump and the chemical pump drive their respective fluids independently, meaning the control device can independently control their flow ratio (e.g., water pump at full speed, chemical pump at low speed; or water pump at full speed, chemical pump stopped). The two fluids (chemical and water) merge in the mixing chamber of the fluid mixing assembly, and the mixed fluid flows to the nozzle through the mixing outlet.

[0037] In this embodiment, when the control device determines that the acidity value is greater than a preset first acidity threshold based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit, it needs to control the oral irrigator to operate in a protection mode (strong acid environment). At this time, the control device simultaneously sends drive signals to the water pump and the medicine pump. The water pump draws clean water, and the medicine pump draws neutralizing liquid. The two are mixed in the mixing chamber, and the final spray is a mixed water stream containing the mixed liquid. Simultaneously, when the control device determines that the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold but less than or equal to the preset first acidity threshold based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit, it needs to control the oral irrigator to operate in a mild mode. At this time, the control device will also simultaneously send drive signals to the water pump and the medicine pump, so that the final spray is a mixed water stream containing the mixed liquid. Understandably, in an acidic environment (protective / mild mode), simple water rinsing may not be enough to quickly restore the pH value of the oral cavity. Therefore, the medication pump is activated to inject neutralizing solution (mixture), which aims to quickly reduce the acidity of the oral cavity through chemical neutralization reaction. Combined with a gentle water flow (controlling water pressure and pulse frequency), it provides teeth with dual care of chemical protection and physical cleaning.

[0038] In this embodiment, when the control device determines that the acidity value is less than a preset second acidity threshold based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit, the oral environment is neutral / slightly alkaline. The control device only drives the water pump, while keeping the medication pump in a power-off or sleep state (stopped working). Only water passes through the mixing chamber (medication inlet closed or no fluid passing through), and the final spray is water. Thus, in standard mode, the oral environment is healthy, requiring no additional chemical neutralization. High-intensity rinsing with only water achieves good physical cleaning while avoiding waste of precious neutralizing solution. It also reduces unnecessary long-term contact of chemicals with the oral mucosa, realizing the "on-demand" nursing concept.

[0039] In one embodiment, reference Figure 4 The step of controlling the operation of the water pump and the medicine pump when controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in a mild mode or in a protective mode includes: Step S710: While controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in the gentle mode, control the water pump to operate at a first water flow pressure and a first pulse frequency, and control the medicine pump to operate at a second water flow pressure and a second pulse frequency. Step S720: While controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in the protection mode, control the water pump to operate at the third water flow pressure and the third pulse frequency, and control the medicine pump to operate at the fourth water flow pressure and the fourth pulse frequency. Wherein, the first water flow pressure is greater than the third water flow pressure, and the second water flow pressure is less than the fourth water flow pressure; the first pulse frequency is greater than the third pulse frequency, and the second pulse frequency is less than the third pulse frequency; the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the mild mode is less than the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the protection mode.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the control device determines that the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold and less than or equal to a preset first acidity threshold, the control device drives the clean water pump to operate at a first water flow pressure and a first pulse frequency. Simultaneously, it drives the medicine pump to operate at a second water flow pressure and a second pulse frequency.

[0041] At this point, the nozzle sprays a mixed water stream containing a certain proportion of neutralizing solution. This water stream has some cleaning power but is not overly irritating. Specifically, when the oral cavity is in a slightly acidic environment (such as some time after eating), the tooth enamel is slightly softened but not yet at its limit. At this time, a stronger water stream than in the protection mode is needed to remove the plaque that is beginning to form. Because the acidity risk is not the highest, the output (water pressure / pulse frequency) of the medication pump is set relatively low, only providing basic auxiliary neutralization to avoid overuse of medication. When the control device determines that the acidity value is greater than the preset first acidity threshold, the control device drives the clean water pump to operate at the third water pressure and third pulse frequency—the lowest pressure and frequency setting—resulting in a very gentle water flow. Simultaneously, it drives the medication pump to operate at the fourth water pressure and fourth pulse frequency. At this point, the output force of the medication pump is greater than in the gentle mode. The nozzle sprays a mixed water stream of high-concentration / high-flow-rate neutralizing solution, but the water flow impact is very small. Thus, when the oral cavity is in a highly acidic environment (such as immediately after drinking cola), tooth enamel is extremely fragile and requires minimal physical impact to prevent the high-pressure water stream from "washing away" or abrading the already softened enamel. Therefore, the water pump is reduced to its lowest operating setting (third water flow pressure and third pulse frequency). Because the acidity is extremely strong, chemical neutralization is needed to salvage the tooth environment. Therefore, the output of the medication pump is increased in reverse (fourth water flow pressure and fourth pulse frequency) to ensure that the sprayed water contains a higher proportion of neutralizing solution, neutralizing the acidity more quickly and protecting the teeth. Thus, the stronger the acidity and the higher the risk, the lower the water pressure, but the higher the medication strength (strong neutralization).

[0042] Through dual-pump coordinated control, a dual protection mechanism of "physical impact" and "chemical protection" is achieved, protecting oral and dental health and improving user experience.

[0043] In one embodiment, reference Figure 5 The control method for the oral irrigator further includes: Step S10: After the water flosser completes the rinsing action, calculate the amount of medicine consumed by the medicine tank in a single rinsing action; Step S20: Determine and update the remaining amount of medicine in the medicine tank based on the output volume of the medicine; Step S30: If the remaining liquid volume is lower than the preset liquid volume threshold, generate a liquid replenishment prompt message.

[0044] Among them, reference Figure 6 The control method for the oral irrigator further includes: Step S40: Upon receiving a drug replenishment calibration instruction, or upon determining that the change in the liquid level of the drug tank exceeds a preset change threshold, obtain the current liquid volume of the drug tank. Step S50: Use the current volume of medicine liquid as the remaining volume of medicine liquid in the medicine liquid tank.

[0045] In this embodiment, during the rinsing action, the control device monitors the operating status of the medicine pump in real time. For example, it can calculate the amount of medicine consumed in the medicine tank using a built-in preset integral method (flow rate * time) or a preset counting method (number of pulses of the medicine pump * pump volume per pulse). For instance, if the medicine pump discharges 0.05 ml per pulse, and the pump operates 100 times in this rinsing cycle, the consumption is 5 ml. Thus, the control device can update the latest remaining medicine volume based on the consumed medicine volume and the remaining medicine volume in the medicine tank, and store it in the memory. Calculating the consumed medicine volume serves as the basic data for accurate remaining volume management, ensuring the control device knows how much medicine has just been "used." The control device can also read the remaining medicine volume from the memory of the previous cycle, subtract the calculated medicine volume (consumption in this cycle) to obtain a new remaining medicine volume value, and write it back to the memory. In this way, through continuous accumulation and subtraction, the value recorded internally by the control device is made close to the actual physical liquid level in the medicine tank. The control device compares the updated remaining medication volume with a preset medication volume threshold. If the remaining medication volume is lower than the preset threshold, the control device triggers a feedback mechanism, such as illuminating the red indicator light on the water flosser, displaying a "refill" icon on the water flosser or the accompanying mobile terminal screen, or sending a notification to the mobile app. This prevents the neutralization assist function from failing due to running out of medication, informing the user in advance to replenish the medication, reducing the risk that the "neutralization mode" cannot be activated due to running out of medication, and ensuring that it will not affect the next oral care experience.

[0046] In this embodiment, upon receiving a medication replenishment calibration command, the control device can obtain the current medication volume in the medication tank. The medication replenishment calibration command can be issued manually by the user (e.g., by pressing and holding the oral irrigator button for 3 seconds, or by clicking "Medication Added" on the App). Alternatively, the control device can actively obtain the current medication volume in the medication tank when it automatically detects a sudden change in liquid level. For example, the pressure sensor reading at the bottom of the medication tank suddenly increases, or the liquid level sensor on the side wall detects a jump in liquid level from "low" to "high," and the change exceeds a preset threshold (indicating that the user has indeed added liquid). That is, upon receiving a medication replenishment calibration command, or after determining that the liquid level change in the medication tank exceeds the preset threshold, the control device actively obtains the current values ​​of the pressure sensor or liquid level sensor. Thus, considering that the simple "subtraction calculation" in steps S10 and S20 may produce errors due to minor pump damage or leakage, detecting the actual liquid level or user confirmation can forcibly correct the system's perception and identify the "replenishment" behavior.

[0047] In this embodiment, the control device also needs to directly overwrite the original low value (e.g., 10ml) in the memory with the newly acquired current medicine volume (e.g., the detection shows that it has been filled to 85ml), updating 85ml as the new remaining medicine volume. In this way, the control device will restart a new round of accurate counting, ensuring that subsequent calculations are based on the correct initial value of 85ml.

[0048] First, the system uses the operating parameters of the medication pump (such as pulse count or flow integral) to calculate the consumption per use in real time, and then dynamically updates the remaining medication volume through a cumulative decrement algorithm. When the remaining medication volume falls below a preset threshold, a replenishment prompt is generated immediately, effectively reducing the risk of sudden failure of the neutralizing function due to medication depletion, and ensuring the continuity of oral acid neutralization treatment and the integrity of the dental care experience. Furthermore, a dual calibration mechanism is introduced to improve the cumulative error problem that may exist in simple software counting. When the medication tank is detected to be replenished, the baseline value is immediately reset, and a new round of precise measurement begins. This not only eliminates data drift over long-term use but also gives users a great deal of operational freedom; whether adding small amounts or completely changing the medication, the water flosser can automatically recognize and synchronize its status. This improves the water flosser's accuracy and responsiveness in managing functional medications, enhancing the reliability of the water flosser and the user experience.

[0049] This application proposes a water flosser, the water flosser including a control device, the control device including: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the control method of the water flosser according to any of the above claims.

[0050] Optionally, the oral irrigator further includes: The nozzle and the main body of the oral irrigator are detachably connected; A sensing unit is located in the nozzle. The sensing unit is used to collect the pH of the liquid on the tooth surface and output the corresponding pH detection signal to the control device.

[0051] The main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine tank, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank is used to store water, the medicine tank is used to store neutralizing liquid, the water inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the water inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. The fluid mixing assembly is used to store clean water from the clean water inlet and neutralized liquid from the medicine inlet into the mixing chamber, and to output the mixed liquid stored in the mixing chamber through the mixing outlet.

[0052] In this embodiment, the control device is responsible for receiving sampling signals from various sensors (including but not limited to sensing units, pressure sensors, liquid level sensors, etc.), and performing real-time calculations (such as acidity value conversion and compensation algorithms). Then, it sends control commands to the water pump and / or the medicine pump to control parameters such as the timing of operation of the water pump and / or the medicine pump, water flow pressure, and pulse frequency.

[0053] In conjunction with the above embodiments, when the nozzle is inserted into the oral cavity and contacts the teeth or gingival sulcus, the sensing unit directly collects the hydrogen ion concentration in the liquid, converts the chemical signal into an electrical signal (analog voltage value), and transmits it to the control device in real time. The control device determines whether the oral cavity is in a "high acid risk" (such as after drinking cola), a "weak acid environment", or a "healthy neutral environment" based on the electrical signal.

[0054] In this embodiment, a dual-pump design allows the control device to independently control the output of the two liquids. The path of the clean water flow path (the main physical cleaning agent) is: clean water tank → clean water pipeline → clean water pump → fluid mixing assembly (clean water inlet). The clean water flow path provides basic rinsing power and is mainly responsible for washing away food debris and plaque. The path of the chemical solution flow path (the main chemical neutralizing agent) is: chemical solution tank → chemical solution pipeline → chemical solution pump → fluid mixing assembly (chemical solution inlet). The chemical solution flow path provides a neutralizing solution (usually weakly alkaline) to neutralize the acidic environment in the oral cavity and protect tooth enamel. According to the instructions of the control device, the clean water pump and the chemical solution pump respectively push measured amounts of clean water and neutralizing solution into the mixing chamber. Inside the mixing chamber, the two fluids mix to form a homogeneous mixture, which flows through the mixing outlet to the nozzle and is finally sprayed onto the tooth surface.

[0055] In this embodiment, when the control device detects an acidity value less than a preset second acidity threshold (low acidity) based on the pH value, chemical neutralization is unnecessary. The control device simply controls the water pump to operate at a preset speed according to default parameters or user input commands, providing high-pressure, high-frequency pulses. At this time, the medication pump stops working. The water flosser only sprays water for powerful deep cleaning, conserving medication. When the control device determines that the acidity value is greater than a preset first acidity threshold, indicating a highly acidic oral environment, the control device controls the water pump to operate at a low speed (e.g., with a third water flow pressure), providing an extremely gentle water flow (e.g., with a third pulse frequency) to prevent enamel abrasion. The medication pump can operate at high speed / high flow rate (with a fourth water flow pressure and a fourth pulse frequency), outputting a large amount of neutralizing solution. Thus, the water flosser nozzle sprays a high-concentration neutralizing mixture, rapidly neutralizing oral acidity while gently rinsing, protecting teeth. It should be noted that during the operation of the oral irrigator, the control device can determine the remaining medication level in real time by calculating the historical pulse count of the medication pump. If the remaining medication level is found to be lower than the preset medication level threshold, a medication replenishment prompt message is generated, triggering a warning mechanism, such as an indicator light or an app notification, to remind the user to add medication. Simultaneously, when a sudden change in the medication level is detected or the user confirms adding medication, the control device resets the remaining medication level to ensure accurate data for the next use.

[0056] The oral irrigator proposed in this application achieves a leap from simple water rinsing to "on-demand, proportionate rinsing" through dual-pump independent drive and fluid mixing components. This not only provides physical cleaning but also performs chemical treatment (neutralizing acid erosion) based on the oral cavity's pH level, making it an intelligent oral care device that improves the oral irrigator's adaptability to the oral cavity's chemical environment and enhances the user experience.

[0057] The oral irrigator provided by this invention is based on the oral irrigator control method described above. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the oral irrigator provided by this invention are the same as the beneficial effects of the oral irrigator control method provided in the above embodiments, and other technical features of the oral irrigator are the same as those disclosed in the methods of the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0058] The above description is only a part of the embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made under the technical concept of the present invention using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a dental flosser, characterized in that, The oral irrigator includes a nozzle and an irrigator body, the nozzle being detachably connected to the irrigator body. The nozzle is equipped with a sensing unit for collecting the pH level of liquid on the tooth surface. The control method of the oral irrigator includes: The pH value is determined based on the pH value collected by the sensing unit. When the acidity value is greater than a preset first acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a protection mode; When the acidity value is greater than a preset second acidity threshold and less than or equal to a preset first acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a gentle mode. When the acidity value is less than a preset second acidity threshold, the water flosser is controlled to perform a rinsing action in a standard mode; Wherein, the preset first acidity threshold is greater than the preset second acidity threshold, the water flow pressure in the standard mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the mild mode, the water flow pressure in the mild mode is greater than the water flow pressure in the protection mode, the pulse frequency in the standard mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the mild mode, and the pulse frequency in the mild mode is greater than the pulse frequency in the protection mode.

2. The control method for the oral irrigator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control method for the oral irrigator also includes: Obtain food type label records, and determine the corresponding expected acid etching coefficient based on the food type label records and a preset database; The acidity value is compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient, and the acidity value is updated based on the compensated acidity value.

3. The control method for a dental flosser as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The compensation of the acidity value based on the expected acid etching coefficient includes: The acidity value is summed and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient; Alternatively, the acidity value can be weighted and compensated based on the expected acid etching coefficient.

4. The control method for the oral irrigator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine tank, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank is used to store water, the medicine tank is used to store neutralizing liquid, the water inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the water inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. The control method for the oral irrigator also includes: When the oral irrigator is controlled to perform rinsing action in mild mode or in protective mode, the water pump and the medicine pump are controlled to operate. While controlling the oral irrigator to perform rinsing actions in the standard mode, the system controls the operation of the water pump and the shutdown of the medication pump.

5. The control method for a dental flosser as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The control of the water pump and the medicine pump when controlling the oral irrigator to perform the rinsing action in a mild mode or in a protective mode includes: While controlling the oral irrigator to perform rinsing action in a gentle mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at a first water flow pressure and a first pulse frequency, and the medicine pump is controlled to operate at a second water flow pressure and a second pulse frequency. When the oral irrigator is controlled to perform the rinsing action in the protection mode, the water pump is controlled to operate at the third water flow pressure and the third pulse frequency, and the medicine pump is controlled to operate at the fourth water flow pressure and the fourth pulse frequency. Wherein, the first water flow pressure is greater than the third water flow pressure, and the second water flow pressure is less than the fourth water flow pressure; the first pulse frequency is greater than the third pulse frequency, and the second pulse frequency is less than the third pulse frequency; the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the mild mode is less than the output flow rate of the medicine corresponding to the protection mode.

6. The control method for a water flosser as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The control method for the oral irrigator also includes: After the water flosser completes the rinsing action, calculate the amount of medicine consumed by the medicine tank in a single rinsing action; The remaining amount of medicine in the medicine tank is determined and updated based on the output volume of the medicine; If the remaining liquid medicine is lower than a preset liquid medicine threshold, a liquid medicine replenishment prompt message will be generated.

7. The control method for a dental flosser as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The control method for the oral irrigator also includes: Upon receiving a drug replenishment and calibration instruction, or upon determining that the change in the liquid level of the drug tank exceeds a preset change threshold, the current liquid volume of the drug tank is obtained. The current volume of the medicine solution is taken as the remaining volume of the medicine solution in the medicine solution tank.

8. A dental flosser, characterized in that, The oral irrigator includes a control device comprising: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the computer program being configured to implement the steps of the control method for the oral irrigator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The oral irrigator as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The oral irrigator also includes: The nozzle and the main body of the oral irrigator are detachably connected; A sensing unit is located in the nozzle. The sensing unit is used to collect the pH of the liquid on the tooth surface and output the corresponding pH detection signal to the control device.

10. The oral irrigator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The main body of the oral irrigator includes a water tank, a medicine tank, a water pump, a medicine pump, and a fluid mixing assembly. The fluid mixing assembly has a mixing chamber, a water inlet, a medicine inlet, and a mixing outlet. The water tank is used to store water, the medicine tank is used to store neutralizing liquid, the water inlet of the water pump is connected to the water tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet, the water inlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine tank via a pipeline, the water outlet of the medicine pump is connected to the medicine inlet, the water inlet and the medicine inlet are respectively connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing outlet is connected to the mixing chamber and extends to the nozzle interface of the oral irrigator. The fluid mixing assembly is used to store clean water from the clean water inlet and neutralizing liquid from the medicine inlet into the mixing chamber, and to output the mixed liquid stored in the mixing chamber through the mixing outlet.

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