Toothbrush Handle Feedback Ring for Pressure and Brushing Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an affordable, consumer-level toothbrush that provides meaningful feedback without requiring a connection to a smartphone and includes ergonomic functionality, addressing the complexity and cost issues of high-tech electric toothbrushes.
Innovation Solution
An oral care system with features like a trend tracker, timer, pressure indicator, and mode selection mechanism integrated into the toothbrush, providing user feedback through visual and tactile stimuli without the need for smartphone connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If high-tech features (motion sensors, cameras, smartphone integration) are incorporated into electric toothbrushes, then feedback quality and oral care improvement are enhanced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the smartphone connectivity and external camera components from the toothbrush system. The feedback mechanism is contained entirely within the toothbrush itself through internal sensors that detect brushing parameters and provide immediate feedback via the toothbrush's own display and audio components, removing the need for external smart devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush performs self-monitoring and self-feedback using its own integrated sensors and processing capabilities. The system independently tracks brushing duration, pressure, and motion without requiring external devices, and provides feedback through its built-in display and speaker, making the system self-sufficient.
2Loss of information
If high-tech features (motion sensors, cameras, smartphone integration) are incorporated into electric toothbrushes, then feedback quality and oral care improvement are enhanced, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes expensive components such as external cameras, wireless communication modules for smartphone connectivity, and complex processing units. The system uses simpler internal sensors and processing capabilities that are less costly to manufacture while still providing effective feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective sensors and processing elements that can be easily replaced or are sufficiently simple for the application. The focus is on using affordable components that provide adequate functionality without the high cost of sophisticated high-tech alternatives.
3Loss of information
If smartphone connectivity is required for feedback, then advanced tracking and analysis capabilities are achieved, but ease of operation and accessibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush independently performs all tracking and analysis functions using its own integrated sensors and processing capabilities. The system self-monitors brushing parameters, stores data locally, and provides immediate feedback without requiring the user to connect to or operate a smartphone, significantly simplifying the user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the toothbrush's internal display and audio components as intermediaries between the sensors and the user. These built-in feedback mechanisms directly communicate brushing information to the user without requiring an external smartphone interface, eliminating the complexity of wireless connections and app operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care device having a head with cleaning elements and a handle coupled to the head. The handle may include a selectively rotatable ring arranged between the head and a distal end of the handle that is configured to allow a user to select a desired mode of operation of the oral care device. The handle may include a selectively illuminated light that is configured to display at least one color that visually indicates that certain behaviors, patterns, and/or consistent habits have been performed successfully. The handle may include a processor configured to track a duration of a user's brushing session, a light ring on a bottom surface of the handle, and a pressure sensor. Respective portions of the light ring may be selectively illuminated by the processor to visualize progress toward achieving a predetermined brushing routine time and/or to visualize an over-pressure condition sensed by the pressure sensor.