The invention relates to a portable device (1100) comprising a bottom surface (BS) intended to be in contact with a textile (TXT). The portable device comprises an image sensor (5) for taking an image of a textile, and an illumination system (6) for illuminating a portion of the textile when said image is being taken. The portable device also comprises a control unit (8a) for executing an algorithm stored in the portable device, using the taken image as an input of said algorithm, to obtain a classification of the textile. The image sensor and the control unit are integrated within the portable device. The image sensor has an active surface sensitive to light, which is oriented compared to said bottom surface (BS), with an absolute value of the orientation angle being in the range 15-70 degrees; and/or the illumination system (6) has a light source oriented compared to the said bottom surface (BS), with an absolute value of the orientation angle being in the range 15-70 degrees.

The invention relates to a portable device (1100) comprising a bottom surface (BS) intended to be in contact with a textile (TXT). The portable device comprises an image sensor (5) for taking an image of a textile, and an illumination system (6) for illuminating a portion of the textile when said image is being taken. The portable device also comprises a control unit (8a) for executing an algorithm stored in the portable device, using the taken image as an input of said algorithm, to obtain a classification of the textile. The image sensor and the control unit are integrated within the portable device. The image sensor has an active surface sensitive to light, which is oriented compared to said bottom surface (BS), with an absolute value of the orientation angle being in the range 15-70 degrees; and/or the illumination system (6) has a light source oriented compared to the said bottom surface (BS), with an absolute value of the orientation angle being in the range 15-70 degrees.

A clothes iron including some or all of: a soleplate that narrows in a longitudinal direction and an at least partially enclosed aperture that extends in at least a transverse direction, for receiving at least a portion of a hand when in use; an interface configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from a fluid outlet external to the iron and a valve for enabling transfer of fluid from the fluid outlet to the iron via the interface while the interface is connected to the fluid outlet, and for inhibiting loss of fluid from the iron via the interface while the interface is disconnected from the fluid outlet; an aligning portion and an external aligning portion and one or more outlets to which the iron is connectable, wherein at least one of the outlets is configured to transfer fluid or electrical energy to the iron.

A clothes iron including some or all of: a soleplate that narrows in a longitudinal direction and an at least partially enclosed aperture that extends in at least a transverse direction, for receiving at least a portion of a hand when in use; an interface configured to be connectable to and disconnectable from a fluid outlet external to the iron and a valve for enabling transfer of fluid from the fluid outlet to the iron via the interface while the interface is connected to the fluid outlet, and for inhibiting loss of fluid from the iron via the interface while the interface is disconnected from the fluid outlet; an aligning portion and an external aligning portion and one or more outlets to which the iron is connectable, wherein at least one of the outlets is configured to transfer fluid or electrical energy to the iron.

A portable textile treatment device includes a heatable soleplate for contacting and treating the textile, an image sensor and an illumination system. The image sensor has an active surface sensitive and takes an image of the textile, and the illumination system has a light source that illuminates a portion of the textile when the image is being taken. The portable device also includes a control unit configured to execute an algorithm stored in the portable device for obtaining a classification of the textile based on taken image, and based on the classification for controlling at least one operating parameter of the portable textile treatment device. The image sensor and/or light source are oriented with respect to the surface of the heatable soleplate, with an absolute value of an orientation angle being in the range from 15 to 70° C.

A portable textile treatment device includes a heatable soleplate for contacting and treating the textile, an image sensor and an illumination system. The image sensor has an active surface sensitive and takes an image of the textile, and the illumination system has a light source that illuminates a portion of the textile when the image is being taken. The portable device also includes a control unit configured to execute an algorithm stored in the portable device for obtaining a classification of the textile based on taken image, and based on the classification for controlling at least one operating parameter of the portable textile treatment device. The image sensor and/or light source are oriented with respect to the surface of the heatable soleplate, with an absolute value of an orientation angle being in the range from 15 to 70° C.

The invention relates to a method of operating a textile treatment device comprising a heatable soleplate intended to be in contact with a textile for treating the textile. The method comprises a first step (1001) of setting a first temperature target for the heatable soleplate, and a step (1002) of detecting movement of said textile treatment device. If the step (1002) of 5 detecting movement did not detect any movement of said textile treatment device during more than a given first time duration, a step (1004) of actively decreasing the temperature of the heatable soleplate (4) up to reaching a first given temperature having a value below said first temperature target.

The invention relates to a method of operating a textile treatment device comprising a heatable soleplate intended to be in contact with a textile for treating the textile. The method comprises a first step (1001) of setting a first temperature target for the heatable soleplate, and a step (1002) of detecting movement of said textile treatment device. If the step (1002) of 5 detecting movement did not detect any movement of said textile treatment device during more than a given first time duration, a step (1004) of actively decreasing the temperature of the heatable soleplate (4) up to reaching a first given temperature having a value below said first temperature target.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for cleaning a substrate, such as a fabric material, involving the application of optical energy to the substrate, typically in the form of a beam of light, where the energy of the beam causes removal of the contaminant from substrate, such as from the fibres of a fabric material. The cleaning may occur via any mechanism, including one or more of, alone or in any combination, ablation, melting, heating or reaction with the substrate or contaminant or agent introduced to aid in the cleaning. The optical energy is typically applied to a selected area of the substrate (e.g., as a beam), and the substrate and beam or optical energy source moved relative to one another so as to clean a larger area of the substrate, either by moving the substrate or the beam, or both. Movement of the beam with respect to the substrate can be attained through a beam scanning mechanism or through movement of the optical source itself.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for cleaning a substrate, such as a fabric material, involving the application of optical energy to the substrate, typically in the form of a beam of light, where the energy of the beam causes removal of the contaminant from substrate, such as from the fibres of a fabric material. The cleaning may occur via any mechanism, including one or more of, alone or in any combination, ablation, melting, heating or reaction with the substrate or contaminant or agent introduced to aid in the cleaning. The optical energy is typically applied to a selected area of the substrate (e.g., as a beam), and the substrate and beam or optical energy source moved relative to one another so as to clean a larger area of the substrate, either by moving the substrate or the beam, or both. Movement of the beam with respect to the substrate can be attained through a beam scanning mechanism or through movement of the optical source itself.