Hair color advice system

• US 6,719,565 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KAO Corporation
• Original Assignee: KAO Corporation
• Inventors: Saita, Yoshimichi, Yanagiya, Manabu, Koshika, Tomohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/857,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 434/81, 434/94, 434/98, 434/365, 434/377, 434/395, 428/42.3, 347/4, 347/129, 345/633, 345/962, 700/90, 702/32, 705/26
• US Class Current: 434/94
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/0066 Coloring or bleaching
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/526 for choosing a combination of different colours, e.g. to produce a pleasing effect for an observer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/8444 Fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/84 Systems specially adapted for particular applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/171 Local features and components; Facial parts eye characteristics G06V40/18; Occluding parts, e.g. glasses; Geometrical relationships
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1495 Adhesive is on removable layer

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to build a simulated image in which a subject'"'"'s hair is changed to a desired color, and to accurately suggest the hair dye needed to dye the subject'"'"'s hair from its existing color to the desired color. To achieve this object, the hair color advice system according to the present invention includes (i) an image memory into which image data regarding the subject is input and stored, (ii) a processor that finds the hair area in the input image of the subject and builds a simulated image in which the color of the hair area is changed to any color, and (iii) a monitor 4 on which the input image of the subject and/or the simulated image are displayed.

Claims

1. A hair color advice system, comprising:

an image memory configured to receive and store an image of a subject having a first hair color;

a processor configured to locate an area of hair on the image and to create a simulated image of the subject having a second hair color; and

a monitor configured to display both the image and the simulated image.

2. The hair color advice system according to claim 1, further including an image reading apparatus configured to read data of the image.

3. The hair color advice system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform an anti-masking function for determining the area of hair and a masking function for determining a second area that is not the area of hair.

4. The hair color advice system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to output an appropriate dye for dyeing hair of the subject based at least in part on the simulated image.

5. The hair color advice system according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to select the appropriate dye from a database, the database including information for a plurality of dyes.

6. The hair color advice system according to claim 5, wherein the information includes characteristics of the plurality of dyes before and after application.

7. The hair color advice system according to claim 1, wherein the simulated image is an array of simulated images.

8. A hair color advice method, comprising:

inputting an image of a subject having a first hair color into an image memory;

locating an area of hair on the image;

creating a simulated image of the subject having a second hair color; and

displaying both the image and the simulated image.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

performing an anti-masking function for determining the area of hair and a masking function for determining a second area that is not the area of hair.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

suggesting an appropriate dye for dyeing hair of the subject based at least in part on the simulated image.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the suggesting step includes selecting the appropriate dye from a database, the database including information for a plurality of dyes.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information includes characteristics of the plurality of dyes before and after application.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the simulated image is an array of simulated images.

14. A hair color advice system, comprising:

an image memory configured to receive and store an image of a subject having a first hair color;

a processor configured to locate an area of hair on the image and to create a simulated image of the subject having a second hair color on the area of hair; and

a monitor configured to display at least one of the image and the simulated image, wherein the area of hair includes an eyebrow.

15. The hair color advice system according to claim 14, further including an image reading apparatus configured to read data of the image.

16. The hair color advice system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to perform an anti-masking function for determining the area of hair and a masking function for determining a second area that is not the area of hair.

17. The hair color advice system according to claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to output an appropriate dye for dyeing hair of the subject based at least in part on the simulated image.

18. The hair color advice system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to select the appropriate dye from a database, the database including information for a plurality of dyes.

19. The hair color advice system according to claim 18, wherein the information includes characteristics of the plurality of dyes before and after application.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the simulated image is an array of simulated images.

21. A hair color advice method, comprising:

inputting an image of a subject having a first hair color into an image memory;

locating an area of hair on the image;

creating a simulated image of the subject having a second hair color; and

displaying at least one of the simulated image and the image, wherein the area of hair includes an eyebrow.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

performing an anti-masking function for determining the area of hair and a masking function for determining a second area that is not the area of hair.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

suggesting an appropriate dye for dyeing hair of the subject based at least in part on the simulated image.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the suggesting step includes selecting the appropriate dye from a database, the database including information for a plurality of dyes.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the information includes characteristics of the plurality of dyes before and after application.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the simulated image is an array of simulated images.