Electrically Operated Toothbrush for Tooth Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric toothbrushes and hand-held devices for personal hygiene lack the capability to extensively collect and evaluate operating data, adapt user-specific settings, and implement personalized care programs due to limitations in advanced electronics, size constraints, and environmental factors such as wet usage and shock resistance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a data transmission module with wireless bidirectional data transmission capabilities, including a microcontroller, antenna, and non-volatile memory, allowing for user-specific data acquisition and implementation of customized care programs, and energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If advanced electronics are added to enable data collection and evaluation, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate evaluation device that acts as an intermediary between the toothbrush and the user. The toothbrush collects and transmits raw operating data, while the evaluation device performs the complex data analysis and generates personalized care programs. This mediator approach allows advanced functionality without burdening the toothbrush itself with complex electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two functional segments: the toothbrush handles data collection and transmission, while the evaluation device handles data analysis and program generation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, keeping the toothbrush simple and portable while concentrating computational complexity in the evaluation device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If advanced electronics are added for data processing, then adaptability is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation device serves as an external intermediary that performs expensive data processing operations. By moving the computational burden from the toothbrush to a separate device (which could be a smartphone or personal computer), the patent avoids incorporating costly electronics into the toothbrush itself, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses data transmission to create a digital copy of operating data that can be analyzed externally. Instead of processing data directly in the toothbrush, the data is copied and transmitted to the evaluation device for analysis, allowing complex processing capabilities to be accessed without permanently installing expensive processing hardware in the toothbrush.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex electronics are installed in hand-held device, then data processing capability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex data processing functions from the hand-held toothbrush and places them in an external evaluation device. The toothbrush retains only the essential functions of data collection and transmission, while the bulky processing components are removed and relocated to a separate device, thereby maintaining the compact size of the hand-held unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-device architecture to a distributed architecture across multiple devices and dimensions. The toothbrush operates in the physical hand-held dimension, while the evaluation device operates in the digital processing dimension, allowing complex functionality without increasing the physical size of the toothbrush.
4Loss of information
If data transmission module is added, then user-specific data acquisition is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data transmission module in the toothbrush is designed as a simple intermediary that only handles data collection and wireless transmission. By making this component a dedicated data courier rather than a full processing unit, the patent minimizes its complexity while still achieving comprehensive operating data collection through cooperation with the external evaluation device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables comprehensive data recording, evaluation, and display of operating data, allowing for optimized personal hygiene through user-specific settings and programs, while reducing the need for expensive electronics and enhancing durability in wet environments.
Implementation Method 1
energy harvesting from electromagnetic waves for operation
Data Source
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Figure 5a~5c
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical hand-held device (1) for body care, having a care part (3) for exercising at least one electrically operated body-care function and having a handle body (2) for holding the hand-held device (1). The hand-held device (1) also contains an electronic part (38) for controlling the at least one electrically operated body care function. The electronics part (38) contains a data transmission module for wireless, bidirectional data transmission. The data transmission module includes a microcontroller, at least one memory for storing data, and an antenna (40), the data transmission module being designed to obtain at least part of the electrical energy required for its operation without contact.