Apparatus and method for the precision application of cosmetics

• US 20090025747A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TCMS Transparent Beauty, LLC
• Original Assignee: TCMS Transparent Beauty, LLC
• Inventors: Rabe, Thomas E., Edgar, Albert D., Iglehart, David C., Yeager, Rick B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,092,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/320
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/02 with dispensing means, e.g. sprinkling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/1691 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person or with a container fixed to the discharge device
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions

Abstract

One or more reflectance modifying agent (RMA) such as a pigmented cosmetic agent is applied selectively and precisely with a controlled spray to human skin according to local skin reflectance or texture attributes. One embodiment uses digital control based on the analysis of a camera images. Another embodiment, utilizes a calibrated scanning device comprising a plurality of LEDs and photodiode sensors to correct reflectance readings to compensate for device distance and orientation relative to the skin. Ranges of desired RMA application parameters of high luminance RMA, selectively applied to middle spatial frequency features, at low opacity or application density are each be significantly different from conventional cosmetic practice. The ranges are complementary and the use of all three techniques in combination provides a surprisingly effective result which preserves natural beauty while applying a minimum amount of cosmetic agent.

Claims

1. A device for selectively applying a reflectance modifying agent to an area of skin while guided over the area of skin, the device executing the method of

selecting a desired density level for the area of skin;

sensing attributes of a plurality of frexels in the area of skin;

determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin, such that the desired amount of RMA is in agreement or in opposition to the attributes of the plurality of frexels;

determining desired deposition control parameters; and

selectively depositing reflectance modifying agent with a non-drop control deposition element to the portion of the area of skin.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein

the device is guided by hand over the area of skin.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein

the reflectance modifying agent is highly differentiated with respect to the skin luminance of the area of skin.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

providing a preset density level;

determining the desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin in accordance with the attributes of the plurality of frexels and the preset density level.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining an average density for the area of skin;

and

determining the desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin in accordance with the attributes of the plurality of frexels and the average density for the area of skin.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein

the device further comprises

a plurality of illuminators,

at least one camera, and

a circular polarizing filter;

and

sensing attributes of a plurality of frexels in the area of skin further comprises

obtaining at least one camera image with at least a portion of the illuminators illuminated, and

analyzing the image to determine skin attributes for the plurality of frexels.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein

the plurality of illuminators are light emitting diodes which illuminate in a green wavelength.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein analyzing the image to determine skin attributes for the plurality of frexels further comprises at least one of

determining the reflectance of the plurality of frexels, and

determining the surface texture of the plurality of frexels.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein

the device comprises

a plurality of light emitting diodes, and

plurality of photodiode sensors;

and

sensing attributes of a plurality of frexels in the area of skin further comprises

sequencing the light emitting diodes through a plurality of illumination state combinations,

obtaining at least one sensor reading for each illumination state combination, and

analyzing the sensor readings to determine attributes for the plurality of frexels.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein sensing attributes of a plurality of frexels in the area of skin further comprises

providing a device calibration to compensate for device height and device tilt relative to the area of skin;

obtaining a sensor reading for each illumination state combination;

determining the height of the device from the area of skin and the tilt of the device with respect to the area of skin; and

determining attributes according to the device calibration and the height and tilt of the device.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining a desired amount of a first reflectance modifying agent, such that the first reflectance modifying agent is lighter than the portion of the area of skin;

and

determining a desired amount of a second reflectance modifying agent, such that the second reflectance modifying agent is darker than the portion of the area of skin.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining a total desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to be applied in multiple passes;

and

allocating a portion of the total desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent for a single pass.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining to deposit the reflectance modifying agent on middle spatial frequency skin features.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein determining to deposit the reflectance modifying agent on middle spatial frequency skin features further comprises

determining to deposit the reflectance modifying agent on at least one of age spots, rings, veins, and bumps.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining a total amount of a reflectance modifying agent composition, such that the application density of high refractive index particles in the reflectance modifying agent composition is in the range of 0.1 to 40 micrograms per square centimeter of the area of skin.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein determining a desired amount of the reflectance modifying agent to apply to a portion of the area of skin further comprises

determining to apply high refractive index particles to less than 40 percent of the skin area.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein determining desired deposition control parameters further comprises

determining when to begin a deposition event.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein determining desired deposition control parameters further comprises

determining a duration of a deposition event.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a drop control deposition element.

20. The device of claim 1 further comprising executing the method of determining whether there is repetitiveness of data;

predicting reflectance based on the repetitiveness of the data;

determining the difference between predicted reflectance and actual reflectance;

calculating an error-adjusted value by adding the difference between predicted reflectance and actual reflectance to actual reflectance; and

using the error-adjusted value to decide whether to apply a reflectance modifying agent.