Brush handle and electric toothbrush

Abstract

The utility model discloses a brush handle and an electric toothbrush. The brush handle comprises a shell, a machine core, an optical assembly and an image acquisition device, an installation cavity is formed in the shell, a light inlet area on the outer surface of the shell comprises a first light inlet area, the machine core is installed in the installation cavity, an output shaft extends out of the installation cavity, and the optical assembly and the image acquisition device are both arranged in the installation cavity. An included angle is formed between the optical axis direction of the image acquisition device and the axis direction of the first light inlet area, ambient light outside the shell enters the mounting cavity through the first light inlet area, and after the light transmission direction is changed through the optical assembly, the ambient light is transmitted to the image acquisition device. The transmission direction of the light passing through the first light inlet area is changed through the optical assembly, so that the optical path and the light transmission angle between the first light inlet area and the image acquisition device are conveniently and flexibly adjusted, the view field range of the image acquisition device is conveniently and flexibly adjusted, the position of the image acquisition device is conveniently and flexibly installed, and the image acquisition efficiency is improved. And the size of the brush handle can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of oral cleaning, and in particular to a brush handle and an electric toothbrush. Background Art

[0002] As electric toothbrushes become increasingly intelligent, image capture devices are often installed at various locations on the brush. These capture user motion and other information, enabling more accurate assessment of the user's brushing position and posture. When the image capture device is mounted on the handle, it is typically located near the brush head to facilitate image capture. However, this significantly increases the size of the handle housing near the brush head, significantly increasing the bulk of the electric toothbrush and diminishing its aesthetic appeal. Utility Model Content

[0003] The embodiments of the present application provide a brush handle and an electric toothbrush, which can solve the problem of improper installation position of the image acquisition device of the electric toothbrush.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a handle for an electric toothbrush, the handle comprising:

[0005] A housing is formed with a mounting cavity, and an outer surface of the housing has a light intake area, wherein the light intake area includes a first light intake area;

[0006] A movement, comprising an output shaft, the movement being mounted in the mounting cavity and the output shaft extending out of the mounting cavity, the output shaft being connected to a brush head of the electric toothbrush;

[0007] an optical component, disposed in the mounting cavity; and

[0008] An image acquisition device is disposed in the mounting cavity, wherein an optical axis of the image acquisition device forms an angle with an axial direction of the first light entrance area;

[0009] The ambient light outside the housing enters the installation cavity through the first light inlet area, and is transmitted to the image acquisition device after the light transmission direction is changed by the optical component.

[0010] Based on the brush handle of the electric toothbrush in the embodiment of the present application, the image acquisition device is stored inside the shell, and the propagation direction of the light passing through the first light input area is changed by the optical component, and the light is projected to the image acquisition device, which facilitates flexible adjustment of the optical path and light propagation angle between the first light input area and the image acquisition device, as well as flexible adjustment of the field of view of the image acquisition device. The image acquisition device is no longer limited by the field of view and must be installed at the end of the shell close to the brush head, but can be flexibly installed inside the shell to plan the installation position of the structural parts inside the shell, so that the structural parts inside the shell are installed compactly, which helps to reduce the volume of the brush handle and make the brush handle look smooth.

[0011] In some embodiments, the optical assembly includes at least one reflective element positioned on the optical axis of the image capture device to ensure that the direction of light reflected by the reflective element is parallel to the optical axis of the image capture device. Based on these embodiments, light reflected by the reflective element is projected onto the image capture device at an appropriate angle, thereby improving the quality of the ring-shaped information captured by the image capture device.

[0012] In some embodiments, the distance between the reflective element, located on the optical axis of the image capture device, and the central axis of the housing is greater than the distance between the image capture device and the central axis of the housing. Based on the above embodiment, the receiving end of the image capture device, which receives light, is positioned away from the central axis of the housing, thereby reserving appropriate space for mounting optical components. This allows the image capture device to obtain a suitable detection field of view, thereby meeting various detection requirements.

[0013] In some embodiments, the optical assembly includes a light guide disposed between the reflective element and the optical path of the first light inlet area, with a light inlet surface of the light guide facing the first light inlet area and a light outlet surface of the light guide facing the reflective element, so as to transmit light passing through the first light inlet area to the reflective element. Based on the above embodiment, transmitting light through the light guide facilitates smooth transmission of light passing through the first light inlet area to the image acquisition device, preventing other substances from entering the optical path between the first light inlet area and the image acquisition device and interfering with light transmission.

[0014] In some embodiments, the image capture device has a detection field of view and is capable of receiving light reflected from structures within the detection field of view; the detection field of the image capture device covers at least a portion of the electric toothbrush head. Based on the above embodiment, the image capture device can obtain environmental information about the brush head, thereby providing a user with information about their brushing habits based on the environmental information.

[0015] In some embodiments, the brush handle includes multiple optical components and multiple image acquisition devices, each optical component corresponding to an image acquisition device. Based on the above embodiment, multiple optical components transmit multiple ring information to multiple image acquisition devices. Based on the information of multiple different areas collected by the multiple image acquisition devices, more comprehensive ring information of the electric toothbrush can be obtained, thereby enriching the usage modes of the electric toothbrush.

[0016] In some embodiments, the image capture device has a detection field of view and is capable of receiving light reflected from structures within the detection field of view; the detection fields of at least some of the image capture devices partially overlap; and / or the detection fields of at least some of the image capture devices are staggered. Based on the above embodiments, the detection field of view of the image capture device can be flexibly selected according to usage requirements. If the brush handle has multiple image capture devices, the environmental information from the detection fields of the multiple image capture devices can be spliced ​​to meet various detection requirements.

[0017] In some embodiments, the housing includes a transition section and a grip section, the transition section and the grip section enclose the mounting cavity, and the output shaft extends from the transition section into the mounting cavity; the surface of the transition section facing the brush head has the first light inlet area, and the optical assembly and the image acquisition device are both located on the side of the transition section facing away from the brush head. Based on the above embodiment, the orientation of the first light inlet area is appropriately adjusted so that the image acquisition device can obtain a detection field of view toward the brush head with a large detection field of view, and the transition section is a portion that is less likely to be gripped by the user. The first light inlet area is located in the transition section, which can reduce the probability of light being blocked by the user, allowing the image acquisition device to more smoothly receive annular information.

[0018] In some embodiments, the brush handle includes multiple first light inlet areas, each corresponding to each optical component, and each of the multiple first light inlet areas is located in the transition section. Based on the above embodiment, the multiple first light inlet areas can receive light from multiple different regions, allowing the image capture device to have a wider detection field of view. Moreover, when some of the first light inlet areas are blocked, the image capture device can still receive light that passes through other first light inlet areas.

[0019] In some embodiments, the entire surface of the transition section facing the brush head forms the first light intake area, and the entire transition section is light-transmissive; or, a portion of the surface of the transition section facing the brush head forms the first light intake area, with the portion of the transition section corresponding to the first light intake area being light-transmissive and the remaining portion being light-shielding. Based on the above embodiments, the types of first light intake areas of the transition section can be enriched, and at least a portion of the transition section can directly allow light to pass through, making the surface of the transition section smooth and preventing the accumulation of dirt.

[0020] In some embodiments, the surface of the transition section facing the brush head is inclined to direct fluid flow toward an area away from the brush head; and / or the surface of the transition section facing the brush head is coated with a hydrophobic film. Based on the above embodiments, fluid accumulation on the transition section or the surface of the brush head is prevented from blocking the first light inlet area, and the time the fluid remains attached to the first light inlet area is reduced.

[0021] In some embodiments, the brush handle further includes a controller, which is disposed within the brush handle and electrically connected to the image acquisition device, and is configured to determine the part of the user's body that the brush handle is acting on based on the image captured by the image acquisition device. Alternatively, the brush handle further includes a communication module, which is configured to transmit the image captured by the image acquisition device to an external terminal, and the terminal is configured to determine the part of the user's body that the brush head is acting on based on the image captured by the image acquisition device. Based on the above embodiments, the intelligent setting of the electric toothbrush is facilitated.

[0022] In some embodiments, the image capture device is mounted on the movement, and the image capture device and the movement are integrally mounted within the mounting cavity. This facilitates installation of the image capture device and facilitates internal wiring between the image capture device and the movement, helping to simplify and compact the structure installed within the housing.

[0023] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide an electric toothbrush comprising a brush head and a brush handle as described above, wherein the brush head is mounted to an end of the output shaft extending out of the mounting cavity. Based on the electric toothbrush of embodiments of the present application, since the electric toothbrush includes the brush handle, the electric toothbrush can accordingly have all the technical effects of the brush handle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a brush handle according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 3This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an optical component corresponding to an image acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the present application in which the detection fields of multiple image acquisition devices overlap at the brush head;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of a detection field misalignment arrangement of multiple image acquisition devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of a brush handle having a second light entrance area according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Reference numerals:

[0033] 10. Electric toothbrush;

[0034] 11. Brush handle; 12. Brush head;

[0035] 100, housing; 101, mounting cavity; 102, light inlet area; 1021, first light inlet area; 1022, second light inlet area; 110, grip section; 120, transition section; 130, light-transmitting layer; H, central axis; 121, output channel;

[0036] 200, movement; 210, output shaft; 220, drive motor; 230, support frame;

[0037] 300, image acquisition device; 310, receiving end;

[0038] 400, optical component; 410, reflective element; 420, light guide; 421, light input surface; 422, light output surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0040] The inventors have discovered that when an image acquisition device is mounted on a handle, it is typically installed at the end of the handle near the brush head to facilitate image acquisition. However, this installation significantly increases the volume of the handle housing near the brush head, significantly increasing the size of the electric toothbrush. This not only reduces the aesthetic appeal of the electric toothbrush, but also impacts the user experience. Based on this, embodiments of the present application provide a brush handle and an electric toothbrush.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the brush handle 11 of the electric toothbrush of one embodiment of the present application is used for the user to hold. Figure 2 As shown, an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present application is provided. The electric toothbrush further includes a brush head 12 , which is mounted on a brush handle 11 . The brush head 12 is used to act on the area to be cleaned in the user's oral cavity.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, the brush handle 11 includes a shell 100 and a movement 200. An installation cavity 101 is formed inside the shell 100. Part of the movement 200 can be accommodated in the installation cavity 101 and installed on the shell 100. The movement 200 includes an output shaft 210. The output shaft 210 extends out of the installation cavity 101. The output shaft 210 is connected to the brush head 12 of the electric toothbrush 10. The user can hold the shell 100 to adjust the position of the brush head 12 so that the brush head 12 is close to the part of the oral cavity to be cleaned.

[0043] The brush handle 11 also includes an image acquisition device 300. The outer surface of the shell 100 has a light inlet area 102, and the light inlet area 102 includes a first light inlet area 1021. The portion of the shell 100 corresponding to the first light inlet area 1021 allows light to pass through. When the user holds the shell 100 and moves the electric toothbrush 10, the ambient light in the electric toothbrush 10 passes through the first light inlet area 1021 and is transmitted to the image acquisition device 300. The image acquisition device 300 collects the light to obtain environmental information about the electric toothbrush 10, so that the user's brushing position or brushing posture can be determined based on the environmental information. For example, the environmental information can be a human body feature image (including face, mouth, nose, ears, eyes, neck, etc.), a brush head image, etc. Based on the environmental information collected by the image acquisition device 300 and combined with the AI ​​algorithm, the position of the brush head 12 relative to the user's mouth can be determined relatively accurately. Based on the determined position, the brushing status of each brushing position of the user can be monitored and indicated, such as whether the brushing time of each position meets the standard, whether the brushing force and brushing amplitude of each position are standardized, etc., so as to prompt the user or output correct guidance to the user. For example, when the user misses to brush part of the tooth surface, or the brushing time is insufficient, the electric toothbrush 10 can prompt the user, thereby reducing the user's risk of tooth decay. For another example, when the brushing time of a part of the tooth surface is insufficient, the user is prompted to continue brushing the tooth surface, or when the brushing time of a certain tooth surface reaches the preset time, the user is reminded to change the brushing position.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment of the present application, the image capture device 300 is installed in the mounting cavity 101. The optical axis S of the image capture device 300 is arranged at an angle to the axial direction T of the first light inlet area 1021. The axial direction T of the first light inlet area 1021 and the direction M in which the output shaft 210 extends from the mounting cavity 101 can be parallel or at an angle. The brush handle 11 also includes an optical assembly 400, which is disposed in the mounting cavity 101. Ambient light outside the housing 100 enters the mounting cavity 101 through the first light inlet area 1021, and after being redirected by the optical assembly 400, is transmitted to the image capture device 300.

[0045] In the embodiment of the present application, the image acquisition device 300 is housed inside the shell 100, and the propagation direction of the light passing through the first light inlet area 1021 is changed by the optical component 400, and the light is projected onto the image acquisition device 300, so as to facilitate flexible adjustment of the optical path and light propagation angle between the first light inlet area 1021 and the image acquisition device 300, as well as the flexible adjustment of the field of view of the image acquisition device 300. The image acquisition device 300 is no longer limited by the field of view and must be installed at the end of the shell 100 close to the brush head 12, but can be flexibly installed inside the shell 100, so as to plan the installation position of the internal structural components of the shell 100, so that the internal structural components of the shell 100 are installed compactly, which helps to reduce the volume of the brush handle 11 and make the brush handle 11 have a smooth appearance, thereby preventing the protruding structures on the outside of the brush handle 11 from causing bumps or harboring dirt.

[0046] In some embodiments, the optical component 400 includes at least one reflective element 410, wherein the at least one reflective element 410 is disposed on the optical axis S of the image acquisition device 300 to ensure that the transmission direction of the light reflected by the reflective element 410 is parallel to the optical axis direction S of the image acquisition device 300, so that the light passing through the first light input area 1021 can be received by the image acquisition device 300 after the propagation direction is changed by the at least one reflective element 410.

[0047] The image acquisition device 300 has a detection field of view, and the image acquisition device 300 can receive light reflected by a structure within the detection field of view, such as Figure 5 As shown, the area between boundary a and boundary b is the boundary of the detection field of view of the image acquisition device 300. In the embodiment of the present application, the image acquisition device 300 is used to receive an object outside the housing 100 and in the detection field of the image acquisition device 300 as the detection target of the image acquisition device 300. For example, the detection target can be a brush head and objects or human features near the brush head. The light reflected by the detection target passes through the first light input area 1021 and is projected onto the reflective element 410. After being reflected by the reflective element 410, the propagation direction is changed and then projected onto the image acquisition device 300. The angle of the reflective element 410 can be adjusted to adjust the range of light passing through the first light input area 1021 received by the reflective element 410, thereby deflecting the detection field of view of the image acquisition device 300 to change the detection field area.

[0048] The light reflected by the reflective element 410 disposed on the optical axis S of the image acquisition device 300 may be parallel to or at an angle to the optical axis S of the image acquisition device 300, as long as at least a portion of the light reflected by the reflective element 410 can be projected onto the image acquisition device 300. The present embodiment of the application does not limit the number of reflective elements 410 included in the optical assembly 400 or the installation angle, and the specific selection can be made based on actual needs.

[0049] For example, Figure 5 As shown, the axial direction T of the first light entrance area 1021 is at an angle to the direction in which the output shaft 210 extends out of the mounting cavity 101, and the optical axis direction S of the image acquisition device 300 is perpendicular to the direction in which the output shaft 210 extends out of the mounting cavity 101. The optical component 400 includes a reflective element 410, which is denoted as reflective element 410a. The ambient light outside the electric toothbrush 10 passes through the first light entrance area 1021 and is projected onto the reflective element 410a. After being reflected by the reflective element 410a, the ambient light is projected toward the image acquisition device 300 in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction S of the image acquisition device 300. In some other embodiments, the inclination angle of the reflective element 410a relative to the image acquisition device 300 can be adjusted, and the light reflected by the reflective element 410a can be adjusted to be projected toward the image acquisition device 300 in a direction at an angle to the optical axis S of the image acquisition device 300, so that the image acquisition device 300 can obtain a detection field of view in other ranges.

[0050] In some other embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the axial direction T of the first light entrance area 1021 forms an angle with the direction in which the output shaft 210 extends out of the mounting cavity 101, and the optical axis direction S of the image acquisition device 300 is perpendicular to the direction in which the output shaft 210 extends out of the mounting cavity 101. The optical component 400 can also be configured to include two reflective elements 410 (reflective element 410b and reflective element 410c). By adjusting the installation angle of the two reflective elements 410 relative to the image acquisition device 300, the image acquisition device 300 can obtain a detection field of view in other ranges.

[0051] In some embodiments, the reflective element 410 may have a planar structure, a curved structure, or an aspherical structure, etc. By adjusting at least one of the surface shape and size of the reflective element 410, the range of light received by the reflective element 410 passing through the first light input area 1021 can also be adjusted, thereby adjusting the detection field of view range of the image acquisition device 300.

[0052] The housing 100 has a central axis H. The direction in which the output shaft 210 extends from the mounting cavity 101 is parallel to the central axis H of the housing 100, and the output shaft 210 is located on the central axis H of the housing 100. Optionally, the housing 100 has an output channel 121 communicating with the mounting cavity 101. The output shaft 210 extends from the mounting cavity 101 after passing through the output channel 121. The central axis of the output channel 121 is the central axis H of the housing 100. In some embodiments, in a direction perpendicular to the central axis H of the shell 100, the distance between the reflective element 410 provided on the optical axis of the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100 is greater than the distance between the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100, so that the receiving end 310 of the image acquisition device 300 for receiving light is set back to the central axis H of the shell 100. In this way, the image acquisition device 300 can be set adjacent to the central axis H of the shell 100, so that the image acquisition device 300 can be compactly arranged with other structural components in the shell 100, and suitable space can be provided for flexible arrangement of the installation position of the reflective element 410, so that the reflective element 410 of the optical component 400 can receive light passing through the first light inlet area 1021 over a larger range, thereby enabling the image acquisition device 300 to obtain a larger field of view and more conveniently obtain environmental information of the area where the brush head 12 is located. At this time, when the optical component 400 includes multiple reflective elements 410, in the direction perpendicular to the central axis H of the shell 100, the distance between the reflective elements 410 of the optical component 400 arranged outside the optical axis of the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100 may be greater than or less than the distance between the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100, and the specific selection can be made according to actual needs.

[0053] In some other embodiments, the receiving end 310 of the image acquisition device 300 for receiving light may also be arranged toward the central axis H of the shell 100. In this case, the distance between the reflective element 410 arranged on the optical axis of the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100 is smaller than the distance between the image acquisition device 300 and the central axis H of the shell 100, and the reflective element 410 can also receive light passing through the first light inlet area 1021 and reflect the light to the image acquisition device 300.

[0054] The image acquisition device 300 is disposed in the mounting cavity 101. There is a certain distance between the image acquisition device 300 and the first light-entering area 1021. Correspondingly, the reflective element 410 is also spaced apart from the first light-entering area 1021. Figure 4In some embodiments, the optical assembly 400 includes a light guide 420, which is disposed in the optical path between the reflective element 410 and the first light inlet area 1021. The light guide 420 includes a light inlet surface 421 and a light outlet surface 422. The light inlet surface 421 of the light guide 420 faces the first light inlet area 1021, and the light outlet surface 422 of the light guide 420 faces the reflective element 410. Light passing through the light guide 420 enters the interior of the light guide 420 from the light inlet surface 421, exits from the light outlet surface 422, and is projected onto the reflective element 410. Furthermore, the light inlet surface 421 of the light guide 420 is sealed from the portion of the housing 100 having the first light inlet area 1021. The light outlet surface 422 of the light guide 420 is also sealed from the reflective element 410, preventing debris from entering the gaps in the light inlet surface 421 or the light outlet surface 422 of the light guide 420 and interfering with light propagation.

[0055] Optionally, when the optical assembly 400 includes a single reflective element 410, the reflective element 410 is positioned on the optical axis S of the image capture device 300. Light passing through the first light entrance area 1021 is transmitted to the reflective element 410 through the light guide 420, reflected by the reflective element 410, and then projected onto the image capture device 300. Optionally, when the optical assembly 400 includes multiple reflective elements 410, the light emitting surface 422 of the light guide 420 is positioned toward the reflective element 410 positioned on the optical axis S of the image capture device 300. Other reflective elements 410 positioned outside the optical axis S of the image capture device 300 are connected to the light guide 420. Light passing through the first light entrance area 1021 is transmitted to each reflective element 410 in sequence through the light guide 420, reflected by the corresponding reflective element 410, and then changes its propagation direction until it reaches the image capture device 300. Optionally, when the optical component 400 includes multiple reflective elements 410, a light guide 420 can be set on the light path between the first light inlet area 1021 and the reflective element 410 closest to the first light inlet area 1021 in the light path direction, and the remaining two adjacent reflective elements 410 are arranged with no air between them (that is, the light between the two reflective elements 410 propagates directly in the air) so as to flexibly set the positions of the multiple reflective elements 410.

[0056] In some embodiments, the reflective element 410 is a reflective sheet, which is connected to the light-emitting surface 422 of the light guide 420, the movement 200, or the housing 100 by bonding or snapping. In some embodiments, the reflective element 410 can also be configured as a reflective coating, which is applied to the light-emitting surface 422 of the light guide 420 to be integrally provided with the light guide 420, or the reflective coating is applied to the wall of the movement 200 or the housing 100.

[0057] In the embodiment of the present application, there is no limitation on the material of the light guide 420 and the material of the reflective element 410. Any light guide material that can transmit light can be used to prepare the light guide 420, and any reflective material that can reflect light can be used to prepare the reflective element 410.

[0058] In some embodiments, the detection field of view of the image acquisition device 300 is toward the brush head 12 of the electric toothbrush 10, so that the image acquisition device 300 can receive light reflected by objects on the side where the brush head 12 is located, thereby detecting environmental information near the brush head 12. By setting the optical component 400 to change the propagation direction of the light, the receiving end 310 of the image acquisition device 300 does not need to be directly facing the brush head 12 to collect environmental information near the brush head 12.

[0059] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 includes multiple optical assemblies 400 and multiple image capture devices 300. Each optical assembly 400 corresponds to an image capture device 300. The multiple image capture devices 300 receive light passing through the multiple optical assemblies 400 in a one-to-one correspondence. By integrating the environmental information acquired by the multiple image capture devices 300, environmental information about the exterior of the housing 100 can be acquired from a wider range and from a wider angle. Each optical assembly 400 and the corresponding image capture device 300 form an image capture unit. By distributing the multiple image capture units, more comprehensive environmental information can be acquired. Optionally, the multiple image capture units are disposed around the circumference of the output shaft 210 to acquire environmental information distributed circumferentially around the output shaft 210. Alternatively, the multiple image capture units are spaced apart perpendicular to the extension direction M of the output shaft 210, and, when the reflective element 410 changes the propagation direction of the light, environmental information distributed along the extension direction M of the output shaft 210 can be acquired.

[0060] In some embodiments, the detection fields of any two adjacent image acquisition devices 300 partially overlap, and the environmental information acquired by the image acquisition devices 300 with overlapping detection fields can be spliced ​​together to obtain a larger range of information about the same detection object. Optionally, when the brush handle 11 includes multiple image acquisition units, the detection field of the image acquisition device 300 of each image acquisition unit covers at least a portion of the brush head 12 of the electric toothbrush 10. The multiple image acquisition units are evenly arranged around the circumference of the output shaft 210, and the detection field edges of each two adjacent image acquisition devices 300 overlap. In this way, the environmental information acquired by the image acquisition devices 300 of the multiple image acquisition units can be spliced ​​together to obtain 360° all-round environmental information about the brush head 12.

[0061] In some embodiments, the detection fields of any two adjacent image acquisition devices 300 are staggered. In this case, each image acquisition device 300 acquires environmental information of the detection object within its own independent detection field, so as to detect environmental information of more detection objects.

[0062] In some embodiments, the detection fields of some of the image acquisition devices 300 may be partially overlapped, while the detection fields of the remaining image acquisition devices 300 may be staggered. The image acquisition devices 300 with overlapping detection fields may be used to detect environmental information of the same detection object, and the image acquisition devices 300 with staggered detection fields may be used to detect environmental information of different targets, so that the brush handle 11 can have richer detection modes to meet more detection needs.

[0063] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 includes a plurality of first light inlet areas 1021. In this case, the brush handle 11 may include a set of optical components 400 and a set of image acquisition devices 300. All light passing through the plurality of first light inlet areas 1021 may be projected onto the same image acquisition device 300 after changing the propagation direction through the set of optical components 400. For example, in this case, the reflective element 410 may be a concave arc structure to converge the light from the plurality of first light inlet areas 1021 onto the same image acquisition device 300. Alternatively, the brush handle 11 may include a set of optical components 400 and a plurality of sets of image acquisition devices 300. The plurality of sets of image acquisition devices 300 correspond one-to-one to the plurality of first light inlet areas 1021. All light passing through the plurality of first light inlet areas 1021 may be projected onto the same image acquisition device 300 after changing the propagation direction through the set of optical components 400. For example, the reflective element 410 may have a convex arc structure to diverge the light from the multiple first light inlet areas 1021 and project it one-to-one to the multiple image acquisition devices 300. Alternatively, the brush handle 11 may include multiple sets of optical components 400 and multiple sets of image acquisition devices 300. The multiple sets of image acquisition devices 300 and the multiple sets of optical components 400 correspond to the multiple first light inlet areas 1021 one-to-one, respectively. All light passing through the multiple first light inlet areas 1021 can be changed in propagation direction by the corresponding optical components 400 and then projected to the corresponding image acquisition device 300. For example, the reflective element 410 may have a planar structure to directly reflect the light from the corresponding first light inlet area 1021 to the corresponding image acquisition device 300.

[0064] The housing 100 includes a transition section 120 and a grip section 110. The transition section 120 and the grip section 110 enclose a mounting cavity 101. The output shaft 210 extends from the transition section 120 into the mounting cavity 101. The outer peripheral wall of the grip section 110 is intended for handholding by the user. Some structural components of the movement 200 are correspondingly mounted on the grip section 110. Therefore, to facilitate transition and increase the outer peripheral contour of the grip section 110, the transition section 120 is arranged at an angle to the outer peripheral wall of the grip section 110. The surface of the transition section 120 facing the brush head 12 can be provided with a first light-entry area 1021. The optical assembly 400 and the image acquisition device 300 are both located on the side of the transition section 120 facing away from the brush head 21. The first light-entry area 1021 is oriented appropriately to allow the image acquisition device 300 to obtain a detection field of view toward the brush head 12.

[0065] In some embodiments, the entire surface of the transition section 120 facing the brush head 12 forms a first light-entry area 1021 , and the transition section 120 as a whole is light-transmissive. In this case, the image acquisition device 300 can have a larger detection field of view.

[0066] In some embodiments, a portion of the surface of the transition section 120 facing the brush head 12 forms a first light inlet area 1021, and the portion of the transition section 120 corresponding to the first light inlet area 1021 is light-transmissive, and the remaining portion is light-shielding. At this time, the surface of the transition section 120 facing the brush head 12 may have one or more first light inlet areas 1021. The size of the first light inlet area 1021 can be adjusted to change the detection field range of the image acquisition device 300 to meet detection requirements such as pixels and anti-interference. At this time, the part of the transition section 120 corresponding to the first light inlet area 1021 can be set to be injection-molded integrally with the other parts of the transition section 120, so that the surface of the transition section 120 is smooth and well sealed. Alternatively, the transition section 120 is set to include a light-shielding layer and a light-transmitting layer 130, the light-shielding layer has a first light-inlet area 1021, and the first light-inlet area 1021 has a light-inlet opening, the light-transmitting layer 130 is arranged in the light-inlet opening, the light-transmitting layer 130 is connected to the light-shielding layer, and the surface of the light-transmitting layer 130 and the light-shielding layer has a smooth transition to prevent the accumulation of dirt.

[0067] In some other embodiments, such as Figure 7As shown, when the brush handle 11 includes multiple first light inlet areas 1021, the light inlet area 102 also includes a second light inlet area 1022. The second light inlet area 1022 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the gripping section 110. The portion of the gripping section 110 corresponding to the second light inlet area 1022 can allow light to pass through. The second light inlet area 1022 can be provided on the optical axis of the image acquisition device 300, and the axial direction P of the second light inlet area 1022 is parallel to the optical axis S of the image acquisition device 300. The light passing through the second light inlet area 1022 can be directly projected onto the image acquisition device 300. Alternatively, the light guide 420 of the optical component 400 can be provided corresponding to the second light inlet area 1022. The light passing through the first light inlet area 1021 is transmitted to the image acquisition device 300 via the reflective element 410 and the light guide 420 of the optical component 400, and the light passing through the second light inlet area 1022 is transmitted to the image acquisition device 300 via the light guide 420.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 4 In some embodiments, the transition section 120 is inclined toward the surface of the brush head 12 to guide the fluid to flow toward an area away from the brush head 12, thereby preventing the fluid from accumulating on the transition section 120 or on the surface of the brush head 12 and blocking the first light inlet area 1021. Optionally, the inclination angle of the transition section 120 relative to the extension direction M of the output shaft 210 ranges from 90° to 120°, so that the first light inlet area 1021 can obtain light at a suitable angle from the brush head 12 side.

[0069] In some embodiments, the surface of the transition section 120 facing the brush head 12 is covered with a hydrophobic film, which is used to reduce the adhesion of the liquid to the transition section 120, and to guide the fluid to quickly leave the first light inlet area 1021 through the hydrophobic film to prevent the fluid from blocking the first light inlet area 1021.

[0070] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 assembly further includes a heating element, which is mounted on the brush handle 11 and configured to heat the portion of the brush handle 11 having the light-entering area 102 to evaporate and remove attachments on the surface of the light-entering area 102 .

[0071] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 assembly further includes a vibration component mounted on the brush handle 11 . The vibration component is configured to vibrate the portion of the brush handle 11 having the light-entering area 102 to remove attachments on the surface of the light-entering area 102 .

[0072] In some embodiments, the image acquisition device 300 may include a camera, a TOF (time-of-flight) camera, etc.

[0073] In some embodiments, the movement 200 also includes a drive motor 220, which is connected to the output shaft 210 to drive the output shaft 210 to rotate around the central axis H of the shell 100, or to drive the output shaft 210 to move in the direction of the central axis H of the shell 100, thereby driving the brush head 12 installed on the output shaft 210 to better act on the part of the oral cavity to be cleaned.

[0074] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 further includes a controller, which is disposed inside the brush handle 11 and electrically connected to the image acquisition device 300 . The controller is configured to determine the part of the user's body that the brush handle 11 acts on based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device 300 .

[0075] In some embodiments, the brush handle 11 further includes a communication module for sending the image acquired by the image acquisition device 300 to an external terminal, and the terminal is used to determine the part of the user's body that the brush head 12 acts on based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device 300.

[0076] In some embodiments, the image acquisition device 300 is installed on the movement 200, and the image acquisition device 300 and the movement 200 are installed together in the installation cavity 101. Optionally, the movement 200 also includes a mounting support frame 230, and the drive motor 220, the image acquisition device 300, the controller and the communication module can all be installed on the support frame 230. These structural components are integrated into one so that they can be pre-assembled and then extended into the installation cavity 101 of the shell 100, which is convenient for assembly.

[0077] An embodiment of the present application also provides an electric toothbrush 10, which includes a brush head 12 and the brush handle 11 as described above. The brush head 12 is installed on one end of the output shaft 210 that extends out of the mounting cavity 101. Since the electric toothbrush 10 includes all the technical features of the above-mentioned brush handle 11, the electric toothbrush 10 can correspondingly have all the technical effects of the above-mentioned brush handle 11.

[0078] The same or similar numbers in the drawings of this embodiment correspond to the same or similar parts; in the description of this application, it should be understood that if the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. indicate an orientation or position relationship, they are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms describing the position relationship in the drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and cannot be understood as a limitation on this patent. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0079] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A handle for an electric toothbrush, characterized in that: The brush handle comprises: A housing is formed with a mounting cavity, and an outer surface of the housing has a light intake area, wherein the light intake area includes a first light intake area; A movement, comprising an output shaft, wherein the movement is mounted in the mounting cavity and the output shaft extends out of the mounting cavity, and the output shaft is connected to the brush head of the electric toothbrush; an optical component, disposed in the mounting cavity; and An image acquisition device is disposed in the mounting cavity, wherein an optical axis of the image acquisition device forms an angle with an axial direction of the first light entrance area; The ambient light outside the housing enters the installation cavity through the first light inlet area, and is transmitted to the image acquisition device after the light transmission direction is changed by the optical component.

2. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The optical component includes at least one reflective element, which is arranged on the optical axis of the image acquisition device to ensure that the transmission direction of the light reflected by the reflective element is parallel to the optical axis direction of the image acquisition device.

3. The brush handle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The distance between the reflective element arranged on the optical axis of the image acquisition device and the central axis of the housing is greater than the distance between the image acquisition device and the central axis of the housing.

4. The brush handle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The optical component includes a light guide, which is arranged between the reflective element and the light path of the first light inlet area. The light inlet surface of the light guide faces the first light inlet area, and the light outlet surface of the light guide faces the reflective element to transmit the light passing through the first light inlet area to the reflective element.

5. The brush handle according to claim 4, characterized in that: The image acquisition device has a detection field of view and is capable of receiving light reflected by a structure within the detection field of view; The detection field of view of the image acquisition device covers at least a portion of the brush head of the electric toothbrush.

6. The brush handle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The brush handle includes a plurality of optical components and a plurality of image acquisition devices, and each optical component corresponds to an image acquisition device.

7. The brush handle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The image acquisition device has a detection field of view and is capable of receiving light reflected by a structure within the detection field of view; The detection fields of at least some of the image acquisition devices partially overlap; and / or, The detection fields of at least some of the image acquisition devices are staggered.

8. The brush handle according to claim 6, characterized in that: The housing includes a transition section and a grip section, wherein the transition section and the grip section enclose the mounting cavity, and the output shaft extends from the transition section into the mounting cavity; The surface of the transition section facing the brush head has the first light entrance area, and the optical component and the image acquisition device are both arranged on the side of the transition section facing away from the brush head.

9. The brush handle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The brush handle includes a plurality of the first light entrance areas, each of the first light entrance areas corresponds to each of the optical components, and the plurality of the first light entrance areas are all arranged in the transition section.

10. The brush handle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The entire surface of the transition section facing the brush head forms the first light-entry area, and the transition section as a whole is light-transmissive; or A portion of the surface of the transition section facing the brush head forms the first light-entering area. The portion of the transition section corresponding to the first light-entering area is light-transmissive, and the remaining portion is light-shielding.

11. The brush handle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The surface of the transition section facing the brush head is inclined to guide the fluid to flow toward an area away from the brush head; and / or, The surface of the transition section facing the brush head is covered with a hydrophobic film.

12. The brush handle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The brush handle further includes a controller, which is disposed inside the brush handle and electrically connected to the image acquisition device, and is configured to determine the part of the user's body that the brush handle is acting on based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device; or The brush handle further includes a communication module, which is used to send the image acquired by the image acquisition device to an external terminal, and the terminal is used to determine the part of the user's body that the brush head acts on based on the image acquired by the image acquisition device.

13. The brush handle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The image acquisition device is installed on the core, and the image acquisition device and the core are integrally installed in the installation cavity.

14. An electric toothbrush, characterized in that: include: Brush head; The brush handle of the electric toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the brush head is mounted on an end of the output shaft extending out of the mounting cavity.

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