SKIN CARE SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skin care system (10), comprising: (i) a skin treatment device (12) for treating a skin of a user; (ii) a receiving unit (14) for receiving information on the skin of the user; and (iii) an evaluation unit (16) which is configured to evaluate the received information on the skin of the user and to determine based on said evaluation one or more personalized device settings for operating the skin treatment device (12). The skin treatment device (12) comprises a control unit (36) which is configured to operate the skin treatment device (12) upon initiation based on the determined one or more personalized device settings.

Claims

1. A skin care system (10), comprising: a skin treatment device (12) for treating a skin of a user; a receiving unit (14) for receiving information on the skin of the user; and an evaluation unit (16) which is configured to evaluate the received information on the skin of the user and to determine based on said evaluation one or more personalized device settings for operating the skin treatment device (12); wherein the skin treatment device (12) comprises a control unit (36) which is configured to operate the skin treatment device (12) upon initiation based on the determined one or more personalized device settings.

2. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein said information on the skin of the user comprises a plurality of skin parameters measured by means of one or more sensors (20), wherein said skin parameters include at least one of: (i) a parameter indicative of an amount of cutaneous sebum of the skin, (ii) a parameter indicative of a hydration state of the skin, (iii) a parameter indicative of an elasticity characteristic of the skin, (iv) a parameter indicative of an amount and/or characteristic of pores of the skin, (v) a parameter indicative of an amount and/or characteristic of wrinkles of the skin, (vi) a parameter indicative of an extent of UV-damage of the skin, (vii) a parameter indicative of a skin cleansing, (viii) a parameter indicative of a makeup quantity on the skin, (ix) a parameter indicative of a redness of the skin, (x) a parameter indicative of a colour of the skin, and (xi) a parameter indicative of a pigmentation of the skin.

3. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit (16) is configured to evaluate the received information on the skin of the user by individually scoring the plurality of skin parameters and ranking them in predefined ranking scales.

4. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit (16) is configured to determine based on said evaluation not only one or more personalized device settings, but also a personalized advice for the user in graphical, text and/or audible form, wherein the skin care system further comprises an output unit for outputting the personalized advice.

5. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit (14) comprises an input interface (22) for receiving personal data of the user, and wherein the evaluation unit (16) is configured to evaluate not only the received information on the skin of the user, but also the personal data of the user in order to determine the one or more personalized device settings.

6. The skin care system of claim 1, comprising at least one computing device (44, 46) which includes the receiving unit (14) and/or the evaluation unit (16), wherein the skin treatment device (12) is implemented as a handheld device that is structurally separate from the at least one computing device (44, 46).

7. The skin care system of claim 6, further comprising a data transmission unit (48) for transmitting the personalized device settings from the evaluation unit (16) to the skin treatment device (12).

8. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the skin treatment device (12) is implemented as a handheld device with a device housing (28), wherein the receiving unit (14) and/or the evaluation unit (16) are arranged within the device housing (28).

9. The skin care system of claim 1, wherein the skin treatment device (12) comprises a memory unit (40) for storing the one or more personalized device settings.

10. The skin care system of claim 9, wherein the skin treatment device (12) comprises: a base unit (26) with a device housing (28) in which the control unit (36) and a driving unit (34) is arranged; and at least one treatment head (30) that is configured to be releasably coupled to the device housing (28), wherein the control unit (36) is configured to control the driving unit (34) to drive the at least one treatment head (30) based on the determined one or more personalized device settings stored in the memory unit (40).

11. The skin care system of claim 10, wherein the memory unit (40) is arranged at or within the at least one treatment head (30).

12. The skin care system of claim 10, wherein the one or more personalized device settings comprises at least one of (i) a rotational speed with which the at least one treatment head is driven, (ii) a vibration frequency speed with which the at least one treatment head is driven, (iii) a movement direction along which the at least one treatment head is driven, (iv) a treatment time which defines how long the at least one treatment head is driven per treatment session, (v) an underpressure level generated at the treatment head, (vi) a frequency and/or pattern of an underpressure generated at the treatment head, (vii) a light intensity of a light generated at the treatment head, and (viii) a frequency of a light generated at the treatment head.

13. The skin care system of claim 11, wherein the at least one treatment head (30) includes a first treatment head (30a) and a second treatment head (30b) which may be exchanged such that either the first or the second treatment head (30a, 30b) is coupled to the base unit (26), wherein the evaluation unit (16) is configured to determine based on said evaluation (i) first personalized device settings and (ii) second personalized device settings, wherein the first treatment head (30a) comprises a first memory unit (40a) for storing the first personalized device settings, wherein the second treatment head (30b) comprises a second memory unit (40b) for storing the second personalized device settings, and wherein the control unit (36) is configured to control the driving unit (34) based on the first device settings stored in the first memory unit (40a) if the first treatment head (30a) is attached to the base unit (26), and to control the driving unit (34) based on the second device settings stored in the second memory unit (40b) if the second treatment head (30b) is attached to the base unit (26).

14. A method, comprising the steps of: providing a skin treatment device (12) for treating a skin of a user, wherein the skin treatment device (12) comprises a memory unit (40) and a control unit (36) that is configured to operate the skin treatment device (12) upon initiation based on one or more personalized device settings stored in the memory unit (40); receiving information on the skin of the user; evaluating the received information on the skin of the user; determining based on said evaluation the one or more personalized device settings for operating the skin treatment device (12); and storing the determined one or more personalized device settings in the memory unit (40).

15. A skin evaluation device (18), comprising: a receiving unit (14) for receiving information on a skin of a user; an evaluation unit (16) which is configured to evaluate the received information on the skin of the user and to determine based on said evaluation one or more personalized device settings for operating a skin treatment device (12); and a data transmission unit (48) for transmitting the personalized device settings from the evaluation unit (16) to the skin treatment device (12).

16. A skin treatment device (12) for treating a skin of a user, comprising: a memory unit (40) having stored thereon one or more personalized device settings for operating the skin treatment device (12) which have been determined based on an evaluation of information on the skin of the user; and a control unit (36) which is configured to operate the skin treatment device (12) upon initiation based on the one or more personalized device settings stored in the memory unit (40).

17. A treatment head (30) for a skin treatment device (12) for treating a skin of a user, the skin treatment device (12) comprising (i) a base unit (26) with a device housing (28), (ii) a driving unit (34) which is arranged in the device housing (28) and configured to drive the treatment head (30), and (iii) a control unit (36) which is arranged in the device housing (28) and configured to control the driving unit (34) to drive the treatment head (30) based on personalized device settings which have been determined based on an evaluation of information on the skin of the user, wherein the treatment head (30) comprises a memory unit (40) which is configured to store the personalized device settings, and wherein the treatment head (30) is configured to be releasably coupled to the device housing (28).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. In the following drawings

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a skin care system according to the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the skin care system according to the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of a skin treatment device according to the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates in a block diagram a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates several examples of a questionnaire that may be evaluated in the skin care system according to the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a first example of an evaluation result provided by the skin care system according to the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a second example of an evaluation result provided by the skin care system according to the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an exemplary personalized advice provided by the skin care system according to the present invention; and

[0060] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an exemplary personalized device setting provided by the skin care system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates components of a skin care system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The skin care system is therein denoted in its entirety by reference numeral 10.

[0062] The skin care system 10 according to the first embodiment comprises a skin treatment device 12, a receiving unit 14, and an evaluation unit 16. The skin treatment device 12 is in this embodiment provided as a separate entity/device which is separate from the receiving unit 14 and the evaluation unit 16. The receiving unit 14 and the evaluation unit 16 may also be provided as separate entities/devices. However, in the exemplary embodiment that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 both the receiving unit 14 and the evaluation unit 16 are implemented in one and the same entity/device which shall be herein denoted as skin evaluation device 18.

[0063] The skin care system 10 may furthermore comprise one or more sensors 20, 20, 20, an input interface 22 and an output unit 24. The one or more sensors 20, 20, 20, the input interface 22 and the output unit 24 are, however, optional components of the system 10. These components may also be provided as external components that do not belong to the system 10 itself.

[0064] The function of the skin care system 10 may be explained with reference to the method which is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0065] The receiving unit 14 in a first step S101 receives information on the skin of a user. This information on the skin of the user (in the following simply denoted as skin data) preferably includes a plurality of skin parameters measured by means of the one or more sensors 20, 20, 20. Said measured skin parameters may e.g. include measurements of (a) cutaneous sebum, (b) hydration, (c) elasticity, (d) pores, (e) wrinkles, (0 pigmentation, (g) skin texture, (h) UV-damage, (i) skin cleansing, (j) makeup quantity on the skin, (k) redness of the skin, and/or (1) colour of the skin.

(a) Cutaneous sebum is a skin parameter that is indicative of how oily the skin is. This skin parameter is usually measured by means of a translusive measurement sensor.
(b) The hydration of the skin is preferably measured by means of a capacitive sensor.
(c) The elasticity of the skin is preferably measured by an especially designed skin elasticity measurement device that generates a vacuum for sucking the skin into a cavity for a certain distance, wherein the skin elasticity is determined by measuring the time the skin of the user needs to relax again (i.e. the time the skin needs to get back to its original shape).
(d) The number, structure and/or size of the pores is preferably measured by means of an optical sensor that captures an image of the skin and determines the number and size of the pores by means of an image analysis of the captured image.
(e) The wrinkles within the skin are measured in a similar way as the pores, i.e. by means of an optical sensor and a following image analysis.
(f)-(l) Pigmentation, UV-damage and the texture of the skin are preferably also derived from images taken of the face of the user. Makeup quantity may be e.g. measured by means of an optical or capacitive sensor. Redness and colour of the skin may be also measured by means of an optical sensor

[0066] In addition to the above-mentioned skin parameters measured by the one or more sensors 20, 20, 20 the receiving unit 14 may also receive personal data that are entered to the system 10 by means of the data input interface 22. The data input interface may e.g. be implemented as a keyboard, mouse or speech recognition sensor.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment the personal data are entered to the system by providing a predefined questionnaire that the user may answer to provide his/her personal data. An exemplary excerpt of such a questionnaire is provided in FIG. 5. Personal data provided by the electronic questionnaire may e.g. include answers to questions regarding the skin color, the hair color, the amount of sleep, the environment of the user, the experienced stress level of the user, the smoking habits of the user, the gender and age of the user, the dexterity of the user, etc.

[0068] In the next step S102 the evaluation unit 16 evaluates the above-mentioned skin data. The evaluation unit thereto preferably carries out an algorithm that combines the above-mentioned different types of skin parameters and personal data to compute more detailed, quantified skin characteristics including skin conditions and skin concerns. This algorithm preferably scores the plurality of skin parameters and ranks them in predefined scales that are indicative of different types of skin characteristics.

[0069] Skin characteristics that may be used as evaluation criteria are (i) the number and extend of the pores, (ii) impurities of the skin, (iii) the radiance level of the skin, (iv) the pigmentation level of the skin, (v) the firmness of the skin, etc.

[0070] This quantifying/scoring/ranking of the skin characteristics in step S103 helps to make the received skin data of one user comparable to the skin data of another user. It also helps to give the users an objective feedback regarding the concerns and conditions of their skin, as this will be elucidated in more detail further below.

[0071] The evaluation unit 16 is furthermore configured to determine one or more personalized device settings based on the aforementioned evaluation and quantification of the skin data (step S104).

[0072] The personalized device settings determined by the evaluation unit 16 may then be used to operate the skin treatment device 12 in a manner that is specifically individualized for the user, i.e. specifically adapted to the individual skin characteristics of the user that have been analyzed and quantified before.

[0073] In the last step S105 the personalized device settings are transferred from the evaluation unit 16 to the skin treatment device 12. The skin treatment device 12 is in this step so to say programmed to the determined personalized device settings. The data transfer between the evaluation unit 16 and the skin treatment device 12 may be realized in many ways, either by means of a hard-wired data connection or by means of a wireless data connection.

[0074] The evaluation unit 16 may be furthermore configured to determine a personalized advice in addition to the personalized device settings (see step S106). This personalized advice may be output to the user in step S107 via the output unit 24 which is preferably implemented as a display.

[0075] The personalized advice may on the one hand include the evaluation results visualized in graphical form. FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate two exemplary graphical representations that should help the user understanding more about his/her individual skin characteristics. These graphical representations are preferred to be kept as simple as possible in order to make it comprehensible for the user. The quantification of each skin characteristic/category may e.g. be shown in simple bar graphs as schematically illustrated in FIG. 6 or in a common spider graph as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0076] On the other hand, the personalized advice may include specific advices relating to which type of treatment head of the skin treatment device 12 the user should use, at what time, for how long, and/or to treat which skin characteristic. An example of such a specific personal advice is schematically illustrated in FIG. 8. The personal advice may finally also include information regarding the personalized device settings. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 9, such personalized device settings may include a vibration frequency, a rotation speed, a duration of the treatment, an underpressure level generated at the treatment head, a frequency and/or pattern of an underpressure generated at the treatment head, a light intensity of a light generated at the treatment head, and a frequency of a light generated at the treatment head. The type of device settings mainly depends from the type of treatment head used. The skin treatment device may be used with several types of treatment heads, e.g. brushes, massage heads, microdermabrasive treatment heads, light treatment heads, etc. The device settings may either be feedback to the user in text form, or, as shown in FIG. 9 in graphical form which is in most of the cases better comprehensible for the user.

[0077] However, it shall be noted that the personalized device settings do not necessarily have to be shown to the user, since they are anyway transferred to the skin treatment device 12 in the way explained above, such that the skin treatment device 12 is automatically operated based on these device settings upon initiation of the device 12. According to a preferred embodiment the skin treatment device 12 is configured to automatically carry out the operation based on the personalized device settings when being turned on (e.g. by pressing an on/off button).

[0078] Even though the general concept of the herein presented method has been described above with respect to FIG. 4 in a way that could imply a single algorithm that is carried out by the evaluation unit 16, one could also think of implementing three different algorithms: 1.) one algorithm for evaluating the measured skin parameters (and/or the personal data) and determining the personal skin characteristics of the user, 2.) another algorithm for translating the skin characteristics into the personalized device settings, and 3.) a third algorithm for translating the skin characteristics into the personalized user advice.

[0079] FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of the skin treatment device 12. The skin treatment device 12 is preferably implemented as an electronic device that is either powered by main supplied electricity or battery-driven. The skin treatment device 12 is in general preferably configured to provide cosmetic treatments of the skin. It is preferably configured for cleaning and/or massaging the skin of the user. It may also be configured for other cosmetic treatments, such as thermal skin treatments or microdermabrasive skin treatments.

[0080] The skin treatment device 12 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a base unit 26 which incorporates several components of the device 12 enclosed in a device housing 28. The skin treatment device 12 is preferably implemented as a modular device in the sense that different types of treatment heads 30 may be removably coupled to the base unit 26. The base unit 26 thereto preferably comprises a mechanical connector 32 for removably connecting the treatment head 30 to the device housing 28.

[0081] The treatment head 30 exemplarily shown in FIG. 3 comprises a brush for cleaning the skin of the user. The skin treatment device 12 furthermore comprises a driving unit 34 (e.g. an electro motor) that is configured to drive the treatment head 30, a control unit 36 (a controller or microprocessor) that is configured to control the driving unit 34, and an operating button 38 (on/off button) for operating/initiating the control unit 36.

[0082] The control unit 36 controls the driving unit 34 based on the above-mentioned personalized device settings that have been determined by the evaluation unit 16 and transferred to the skin treatment device 12. The skin treatment device 12 thereto comprises a memory unit 40 in which the personalized device settings are stored. This memory unit 40 may be arranged within the base unit 26. However, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 it is arranged at or within the treatment head 30. The advantage of this configuration is that by transferring the determined personalized device settings to the memory unit 40 the treatment head 30 gets personalized (i.e. adapted to the specific needs of the user) and not the base unit 26. A plurality of users may thus use one and the same base unit 26 of the skin treatment device 12 together, while each user has his own one or more treatment heads 30 that are adapted and programmed to the individual needs of each user.

[0083] The base unit 26 according to this embodiment therefore comprises a data read-out unit 42 that is configured to read out the memory unit 40 and transfer the read-out device settings to the control unit 36. It shall be noted that the read-out device settings do not necessarily have to be directly transferred to the control unit 36, but may also be temporarily stored in a temporary memory unit (e.g. a buffer memory) that is implemented in the base unit 26.

[0084] As it is illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the skin treatment device 12 may not only comprise a single type of treatment head 30, but a plurality of different types of treatment heads 30a-30d that are all directed and configured for specific types of skin treatments. This may, for example, include several types of brushes, such as a sensitive brush 30a, a deep pore brush 30b, and an acne brush 30c. A treatment head 30d which is especially designed for massaging the skin may also be attached to the base unit 26.

[0085] All these different types of treatment heads 30a-30d may be personalized to the user in the above-mentioned way by storing the personalized device settings that have been evaluated by the evaluation unit 16 in the memory unit 40a-40d of the respective treatment head 30a-30d. Each of the memory units 40a-40d may e.g. comprise at least two memory locations, one for storing the personalized device settings and the other one for storing a treatment head ID that identifies the type of treatment head. When attaching the treatment head 30 to the base unit 26 of the skin treatment device 12 the control unit 36 may thus not only implement the device settings stored in the respective memory unit 40a-40d, but also identify the type of treatment head 30a-30d that is attached to the base unit 26.

[0086] Further details of the skin care system 10 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 relate to the type of implementation of the receiving unit 14 and the evaluation unit 16. The receiving unit 14 is according to the second embodiment preferably implemented as a computing device 44, e.g. a smartphone, tablet PC, laptop or desktop PC. It may thus also comprise the input interface 22 for receiving the personal data (e.g. realized as a keyboard or touchscreen). The one or more sensors 20 may again be realized as external sensors that are connected to the computing device 44 by means of a hard-wired or wireless data connection.

[0087] The evaluation unit 16 is in contrast to the first embodiment in this case realized as a separate entity. The evaluation unit 16 may e.g. be implemented as a remote server or cloud server 46 which is accessible by the computing device 44 containing the receiving unit 14 via a data network, e.g. the internet.

[0088] In a practical example the user or another person would thus first collect the skin data by means of the one or more sensors 20, 20, 20 and the user or an assisting person could answer the personal questions of the above-mentioned predefined questionnaire that is either implemented on the computing device 44 or received from an online server or web platform. These skin data would then be transferred to the remote server 46 in order to be evaluated and quantified in the way explained above. The evaluation results will then be automatically sent back to the computing device 44, or they may be manually retrieved from the server 46 by means of the computing device 44 such that they may be shown to the user via the display of the computing device 44.

[0089] In order to personalize the different types of treatment heads 30a-30d of the user, a data transmission unit 48 could be used that is connected to the computing device 44 or even integrated therein. The data transmission unit 48 may e.g. be implemented as an NFC interface. The personalized device settings could then be transferred to the memory units 40a-40d by bringing the treatment heads 30a-30d into close proximity of the NFC interface. However, it shall be noted that other types of data transmission techniques, such as Bluetooth or WLAN could be used alternatively.

[0090] Even though this is not specifically illustrated in the drawings, it is also conceivable to integrate all components of the system, especially the receiving unit 14 and the evaluation unit 16 (but optionally also the one or more sensors 20, 20, 20) in the skin treatment device 12 so as to be arranged within the device housing 28 of the base unit 26 of the device 12.

[0091] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0092] In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0093] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.