Electric Toothbrush Orientation Detection via Magnetic Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric toothbrushes face challenges in enhancing plaque removal power and improving the sense of medical treatment due to limitations in detecting and adapting to different sections of the teeth, leading to inefficient brushing operations.
Innovation Solution
An electric toothbrush with orientation detection using a combination of acceleration sensors and gyroscopes to identify the section being brushed, allowing for automatic switching of operation modes, including rotational direction and frequency, to optimize brushing based on the specific area and angle of the teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conductive ball sensing mechanism is used to detect toothbrush orientation, then the orientation can be detected at multiple stages, but the size cannot be reduced and sensing accuracy is low due to ball position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical conductive ball sensing mechanism with a magnetic field-based detection system. A magnet is attached to the brush head and a magnetic sensor is placed in the toothbrush body. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical segmentation and ball position detection, significantly reducing device complexity while improving orientation detection accuracy through magnetic field measurements.
2Power
If the brush performs fast-moving motion to remove plaque, then plaque removing power is improved, but the sense of medical treatment deteriorates due to insufficient adaptation to different tooth sections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of brush motion parameters based on real-time orientation detection. The control unit modifies rotational speed, oscillation frequency, and brushing direction according to the detected tooth section. This allows the brush to maintain high plaque-removing power while adapting its motion characteristics to suit different oral regions, thereby improving the sense of medical treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors brush orientation through the magnetic sensor and feeds this information back to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts driving parameters to optimize brushing performance for the current tooth section being cleaned, ensuring both effective plaque removal and comfortable user experience.
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
This configuration enhances plaque removal power and the overall sense of medical treatment by ensuring proper brushing operations tailored to each section of the teeth, improving both effectiveness and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the orientation detection means has an acceleration sensor for detecting a three-dimensional orientation of the brush based on output of the acceleration sensor
Implementation Method 2
the orientation detection means has a gyroscope for detecting a three-dimensional orientation of the brush based on output of the acceleration sensor and output of the gyroscope
Data Source
AI summary
A three-axis acceleration sensor is mounted to a body of an electric toothbrush. A CPU detects the three-dimensional attitude of the body based on an output from the acceleration sensor and, based on the attitude of the toothbrush, estimates which portion is being brushed. Then, the CPU performs control for switching between operation modes (such as the rotational direction of a motor and the frequency of vibration of the brush) according to the estimated portion being brushed.