Method of taking polarized images of the skin and the use thereof

• US 6,907,193 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kollias, Nikiforos, Payonk, Gregory, Merola, Kenneth, Pote, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/007,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20030086703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 396/4, 396/14, 396/15, 396/155, 396/182, 396/1, 396/661, 348/77, 348/370, 348/371, 600/407, 600/476, 356/364, 356/369, 606/9, 606/10
• US Class Current: 396/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of photographing the skin of a person comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating the skin with at least one light source, where the light emitted from the light source is filtered using a polarizing filter; and (ii) capturing the image of the illuminated skin with a camera; wherein the angle formed by the light source, the skin, and the camera is from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees.

Claims

1. A method of photographing the skin of a person, said method comprising the steps of:

i) illuminating said skin with at least one light source, where the light emitted from said light source is filtered using a polarizing filter; and

ii) capturing the image of said illuminated skin with a camera wherein the angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees, and wherein said light filtered using said polarizing filter is not filtered with another polarizing filter prior to such light entering said camera.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said polarizing filter is a linear polarizing filter.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.

4. A method of claim 2, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about perpendicular to the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera.

5. A method of claim 2, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.

6. A method of claim 4, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about vertical and the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera is about horizontal.

7. A method of claim 4, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin and said camera is about 45 degrees.

8. A method of claim 6, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.

9. A method of promoting a skin care product, said method comprising:

(i) illuminating the skin of a person with at least one light source, where the light emitted from said light source is filtered using a polarizing filter;

(ii) capturing the image of such illuminated skin with a camera, wherein the angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees;

(iii) presenting said image to said person; and

(iv) suggesting skin care products based upon said person'"'"'s review of said image;

wherein said light filtered using said polarizing filter is not filtered with another polarizing filter prior to such light entering said camera.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises presenting said person with one or more questions relating to said presented image and said suggestion of skin care products is based upon said person'"'"'s answers to said one or more questions.

11. A method of claim 9, wherein said polarizing filter is a linear polarizing filter.

12. A method of claim 9, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is from about 45 degrees.

13. A method of claim 10, wherein said polarizing filter is a linear polarizing filter.

14. A method of claim 10, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.

15. A method of claim 11, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about perpendicular to the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera.

16. A method of claim 11, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin and said camera is about 45 degrees.

17. A method of claim 13, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about perpendicular to the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera.

18. A method of claim 13, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin and said camera is about 45 degrees.

19. A method of claim 15, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about vertical and the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera is about horizontal.

20. A method of claim 15, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin and said camera is about 45 degrees.

21. A method of claim 17, wherein said linear polarizing filter is arranged such that the electric field of the emitted light is about vertical and the plane formed by said light source, said person'"'"'s skin, and said camera is about horizontal.

22. A method of claim 17, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin and said camera is about 45 degrees.

23. A method of claim 19, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.

24. A method of claim 21, wherein said angle formed by said light source, said skin, and said camera is about 45 degrees.