System and method for applying a reflectance modifying agent to improve the visual attractiveness of human skin

• US 8,007,062 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TCMS Transparent Beauty, LLC
• Original Assignee: TCMS Transparent Beauty, LLC
• Inventors: Edgar, Albert D., Iglehart, David C., Yeager, Rick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; Tse
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAO, ELMER M
• Application Number:
  US11/503,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600473-479, 600/310, 382/128, 348/77, 347/2, 347/108, 347/109, 358/423, 400/88
• US Class Current: 347/1
• 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 40/30 Masks for marking lips or eyelashes
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/005 for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/444 Evaluating skin marks, e.g. mole, nevi, tumour, scar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6888 Cabins
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/25 specially adapted for the application of sunscreen, tanning or self-tanning lotions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• 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: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/60 relating to illumination properties, e.g. using a reflectance or lighting model
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/168 Feature extraction; Face representation
• 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: H04N 1/628 Memory colours, e.g. skin or sky

Abstract

A computer-controlled system determines attributes of a frexel, an area of human skin, and applies a modifying agent (RMA) at the pixel level, typically to make the skin appear more youthful and so more attractive. The system scans the frexel, identifies unattractive attributes, and applies the RMA, typically with an inkjet printer. The identified attributes relate to reflectance and may refer to features such as irregular-looking light and dark spots, age-spots, scars, and bruises. Identified attributes may also relate to the surface topology of the skin, for more precisely enhancing surface irregularities such as bumps and wrinkles. Feature mapping may be used, for example to make cheeks appear pinker and cheekbones more prominent. The RMA can be applied in agreement with identified patterns, such as adding red to a red frexel, or in opposition, such as adding green or blue to a red frexel, according to idealized models of attractiveness.

Claims

1. A method to generate a map of a region of human skin, the method comprising

generating a first image of the region of human skin using a first lighting orientation, the region of human skin allocated into a plurality of frexels;

obtaining first reflectance data for each of a the plurality of frexels in the region of human skin by processing the first image;

generating a second image of the region of human skin using a second lighting orientation;

obtaining second reflectance data for each of the plurality of frexels in the region of human skin by processing the second image;

analyzing the first and second reflectance data to determine reflectance and orientation of the frexels of the plurality of frexels;

generating a map of the region of skin based on the reflectance and orientation, the map indicating reflectance and skin profile;

determining, from the map, a correction plan comprising an amount of an reflectance modifying agent compound to apply to the one or more specific frexels in order to remove at least a portion of detected middle spatial frequency features in the range of 2 mm to 12 mm, wherein the reflectance modifying agent is a cosmetic comprising one or more pigments or dyes; and

applying the reflectance modifying agent to the one or more specific frexels based on the correction plan.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

generating the map as a first map at a first time;

generating a second map at a second time; and

comparing the second map to the first map in order to detect changes in skin reflectance or profile.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second lighting orientations are created by at least three controllable light sources.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing a handheld device comprising

at least three controllable light emitting diodes, and

at least one camera.