FACE IMAGING DEVICE AND FACE IMAGING METHOD

Abstract

A face imaging device incudes a casing defining an interior space and an opening, at least one light source, at least one sensor configured to detect real-time face orientation, at least one camera, at least one display configured to display symbology associated with face orientation, and a controller configured to display fixed symbology indicating a desired face orientation, display movable symbology indicating a real-time orientation of the face to be imaged, and image the face when the movable symbology aligns with the fixed symbology.

Claims

1. A face imaging device, comprising: a casing defining an interior space and an opening for positioning a face to be imaged; at least one light source disposed in the interior space and configured to illuminate the face to be imaged; at least one sensor disposed in the interior space and configured to detect an orientation of the face to be imaged; at least one camera disposed in the interior space and configured to capture at least one image of the face; at least one display disposed in the interior space and configured to display symbology associated with the orientation of the face to be imaged; and a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor, the at least one camera, and the at least one display, the controller including at least one processor configured to: display, by the at least one display, fixed symbology indicating a desired face orientation; display, by the at least one display, movable symbology indicating a real-time orientation of the face to be imaged; and image, by the at least one camera, the face when the movable symbology aligns with the fixed symbology.

2. The face imaging device of claim 1, wherein the fixed symbology represents at least one degree of freedom of the desired face orientation, and the movable symbology represents at least two degrees of freedom of the real-time orientation of the face to be imaged.

3. The face imaging device of claim 2, wherein the movable symbology represents lateral and rotational movement of the face to be imaged.

4. The face imaging device of claim 1, wherein the fixed symbology and the movable symbology comprise lines.

5. The face imaging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a central sensor aligned with a midline of the opening and two lateral side sensors positioned on opposite sides of the central sensor.

6. The face imaging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one camera are integrally formed.

7. The face imaging device of claim 1, further comprising a chin support extending from the casing and positioned outside of the interior space, the chin support configured to receive and support a user's chin while the user's face is positioned at the opening.

8. The face imaging device of claim 7, wherein the chin support is configured to constrain lateral, vertical, and forward/aft face movement.

9. The face imaging device of claim 1, wherein the at least one display comprises a central display aligned with a midline of the opening and two lateral side displays positioned on opposite sides of the central display.

10. A face imaging device, comprising: a casing defining an opening for positioning a face to be imaged; a chin support extending from the casing and configured to constrain movement of the face to be imaged in at least three degrees of freedom; at least one light source mounted to the casing and configured to illuminate the face to be imaged; at least one camera mounted to the casing and configured to detect an orientation of the face to be imaged and capture at least one image of the face; at least one display mounted to the casing and configured to display symbology associated with the orientation of the face to be imaged; and a controller operably coupled to the at least one camera and the at least one display, the controller including at least one processor configured to: display, by the at least one display, fixed symbology indicating a desired face orientation; display, by the at least one display, movable symbology indicating a real-time orientation of the face to be imaged; and image, by the at least one camera, the face when the movable symbology corresponds to the fixed symbology.

11. The face imaging device of claim 10, wherein the chin support is configured to constrain lateral, vertical, and forward movement of the face.

12. The face imaging device of claim 10, wherein the fixed symbology represents at least one degree of freedom of the desired face orientation, and the movable symbology represents at least two degrees of freedom of the real-time orientation of the face to be imaged.

13. The face imaging device of claim 12, wherein the movable symbology represents lateral and rotational movement of the face to be imaged.

14. The face imaging device of claim 10, wherein the fixed symbology and the movable symbology comprise lines.

15. The face imaging device of claim 10, wherein the at least one camera comprises a central camera aligned with a midline of the opening and two lateral side cameras positioned on opposite sides of the central camera.

16. The face imaging device of claim 10, wherein the at least one display comprises a central display aligned with a midline of the opening and two lateral side displays positioned on opposite sides of the central display.

17. A method for imaging a face, the method comprising: providing a face imaging device comprising: a casing defining an interior space and an opening for positioning a face to be imaged; at least one light source disposed in the interior space and configured to illuminate the face to be imaged; at least one sensor disposed in the interior space and configured to detect an orientation of the face to be imaged; at least one camera disposed in the interior space and configured to capture at least one image of the face; at least one display disposed in the interior space and configured to display symbology associated with the orientation of the face to be imaged; and a controller operably coupled to the at least one sensor, the at least one camera, and the at least one display, the controller including at least one processor; positioning a face at the opening of the casing; illuminating, by the at least one light source, the face; detecting, by the at least one sensor, the real-time orientation of the face; displaying, by the at least one display, fixed symbology indicating a desired face orientation; displaying, by the at least one display, movable symbology indicating the detected real-time orientation of the face; and imaging, by the at least one camera, the face when the movable symbology aligns with the fixed symbology.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fixed symbology represents at least one degree of freedom of the desired face orientation, and the movable symbology represents at least two degrees of freedom of the real-time orientation of the face to be imaged.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the movable symbology represents lateral and rotational movement of the face to be imaged.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the face imaging device further comprises a chin support extending from the casing and positioned outside of the interior space, the chin support configured to constrain lateral, vertical, and forward/aft face movement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the appended figures showing exemplary embodiments of a face imaging device. In the drawings:

[0018] FIGS. 1a-d show views of a face imaging device;

[0019] FIGS. 2a-f show views of the face imaging device shown in FIGS. 1a-d, a display and a person's head in various positions;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a view of the face imaging device shown in FIGS. 1a-d in combination with a person's head;

[0021] FIGS. 4a and 4b show top views of a the face imaging device;

[0022] FIGS. 5a-c show various positions of a person's head with respect to the six degrees of freedom; and

[0023] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a display of the face imaging device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Like parts are indicated by the same reference signs in the various figures.

[0025] Each feature disclosed with reference to the figure can also be combined with another feature disclosed in this disclosure including the claims, unless it is evident for a person skilled in the art that these features are incompatible.

[0026] FIGS. 1a and 1c show a face imaging device 1, wherein FIGS. 1b and 1d show a detail of the device. The device 1 is a portable device comprising a base mount 3 to be placed on a support (not shown), for example a table. The device 1 comprises a casing 5 having an endless edge 6 defining an opening for a face to be imaged. In the interior of the casing 5 various light LED sources 7, reflectors 9, and a mirror 11 are arranged. The device 1 may be provided with a light shield (not shown) connected or to be connected to the casing 5 to be positioned in use around a person's head for blocking environmental light. As shown in more detail in FIGS. 1b and 1d the casing 5 comprises three sensors 15a-c for determining the actual face orientation of the face to be positioned at least partially in the opening or in front of the opening of the casing 5 on a chin support 17 of the device 1. The three sensors 15a-c comprise a central sensor 15a and two outer sensors 15b,c. The device 1 further comprises a viewing opening/hole 19 positioned near the central sensor 15a for a camera. The camera is a camera of a tablet computer 21. The face imaging device 1 may also comprise a fixed camera (not shown). The device 1 further comprises a camera holding unit 23 (FIG. 2a) for holding the camera of the tablet computer 21 in a releasable manner in a predetermined position in the device 1 to provide at least one image of the face. The light sources 7 of the face imaging device 1 are configured to provide two or more face observation modes, for example a first mode using UV radiation to make diagnostic observations and a second mode to make a daylight observation. These observations of the face can be imaged by the camera of the tablet computer 21.

[0027] The face imaging device 1 for taking images of a face of a person is configured for obtaining an image of the face of the person with standardized face positioning and/or for obtaining at least a first image of the face and at least a second image of the same face for comparison, for example to compare the effects of a skin treatment performed on the face between the at least one first and the at least one second image, preferably the first and second image are taken under substantially identical conditions, for example substantially identical light conditions. At least one of the sensors 15a-c determines a face orientation of the face as shown in FIGS. 2a-f, i.e. at least one of the sensors 15a-c determines at least one degree of freedom of a person's head 25. In addition, the chin support 17 for supporting a chin of a person's head 25 restricts head movement in three (of the total of six, see FIG. 5) degrees of freedom. The sensors 15a-c are configured to use a portion of the person's head or face, for example a portion of the forehead to determine at least one of the three degrees of freedom not restricted by the chin support 17. The sensors 15a-c may also determine more than one degree of freedom, for example two or three degrees of freedom as will be discussed below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1a-d and 2a-f, the face imaging device 1 comprises three displays 35, 37, 39 arranged in the interior of the casing to show the person a desired face orientation, indicated by the symbols/lines 41 on the display 35 (FIGS. 2b, 2d, 2f), and the actual face orientation of the face determined by the sensor 15a and indicated on the display 35 by the symbol/line 43 such that the person is able to position his/her face in the desired face orientation. In the device, one display 35, 37, 39 and one sensor 15a-c are arranged in one unit 51, 53, 55 (FIGS. 1a-d), i.e., a central unit 51 and two outer units 53, 55. In FIG. 2a the person's head is in the incorrect position as shown in the display 35 presented in FIG. 2b. By moving his/her head upwards, the symbol/line 43 moves upwards for example to a position as shown in FIG. 2f. Then, by moving his/her head downwards the symbol/line 43 can be aligned with the symbols/lines 41 as shown in FIG. 2d which corresponds with the position of the person's head as shown in FIG. 2c, in which position the camera of the tablet computer 21 may take the image of the face of the person positioned in or near the opening of the casing to obtain an image of the face with standardized face positioning. The displays 35, 37, 39 may have an identical user interface. The user interface as shown in FIGS. 2a-2f and 6 facilitates the correct positioning of the face for taking the image of the face with standardized face positioning. The display 35, 37, 39 is configured to show at least two associated symbols/lines 41, 43, representing at least one degree of freedom of the head of the person, wherein one 41 of the two associated symbols corresponds to the at least one degree of freedom of the desired face orientation and the other 43 of the two associated symbols corresponds to the at least one degree of freedom of the actual face orientation determined by at least one of the sensor 15a-c. By moving his/her head between positions as shown in FIGS. 2a, c, e in the at least one degree of freedom indicated by the two associated symbols 41, 43, a user intuitively is able to position his head/face in the desired face orientation in a relatively accurate manner, i.e., as soon as the associated symbols/lines 41, 43 coincide or align an image can be taken, wherein in the position of the person's head shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d an image may be taken to obtain the image of the face with standardized face positioning. In other words, the displays 35, 37, 39 inside the casing 5 of the device 1 are arranged to show the person a desired face orientation and the actual face orientation of the face determined by the at least one sensor 15a-c such that the person is able to position his/her face in the desired face orientation for taking at least one image of the face.

[0029] The device 1 further comprises a processor 29 (FIGS. 2a, 2c, 2e) configured to use the face orientation of the face determined by at least one of the sensors 15a-c to permit the device to obtain the image of the face with standardized face positioning if the face orientation of the face determined by the at least one sensor 15a-c corresponds to the desired face orientation of the face.

[0030] The processor 29 may be configured to communicate with the camera of the tablet computer 21 to instruct the camera to automatically take the image if the face orientation of the face determined by the at least one sensor corresponds to the desired face orientation of the face. Further, by automatically obtaining the second image, the face imaging device 1 itself provides the image of the face without the risk that an operator or the person himself makes an image which has a different face orientation than the desired face orientation.

[0031] In the embodiment of the device and the display 35 as shown in FIGS. 2a-f, the face orientation in each image of at least two images of the face to be taken by the device for comparison purposes is identical in at least four degrees of freedom to compare the first and second images for example for showing progress of a face skin treatment and/or for diagnosing skin and/or scalp conditions. Using this corresponding face orientation of the face in the first and the second image guarantees an improved comparison quality, wherein external effects can be reduced significantly. Further, identical lighting conditions between the at least two images to be compared may be preferred by using the light sources 7 in the same face observation mode and/or by using a shield shielding off in combination with the casing 5 environmental light or other external influences.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the vertical viewing angle of the camera of the tablet computer 21 and the viewing direction 47 of the sensor 15a to determine the face orientation of the face of the person's head 25. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b the chin support is pivotably connected about a pivot 49 to the device 1 to permit the chin support to move to a different position for taking images of the side face of the face of the person's head 25.

[0033] FIGS. 5a-c show a person's head in various positions, in particular the movement of the person's head in the fifth degree of freedom in FIG. 5b and the sixth degree of freedom in FIG. 5c. The arrows 80 show all the six degrees of freedom of a person's head.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows that the display may be configured to show additional symbols, wherein each symbol represents one or two further degrees of freedom, for example a second visualization mode of a display 135 and a third visualization mode of a display 235, wherein in the second visualization mode of the display 135 two degrees of freedom are captured/detected by the sensor 15a and shown on the display in real time, whereas in the third visualization mode of the display 235 three degrees of freedom are captured/detected by the sensor 15a and shown on the display 135, 235 in real time. In addition, to the variable symbol/line 43 representing one (fourth) degree of freedom, the display 135 also shows another variable symbol/line 44 which represents a further (fifth) degree of freedom of a person's head as shown for example in FIG. 5b, wherein the display 235 shows an additional variable symbol/line 46 which besides the further (fifth) degree of freedom represents an additional (sixth) degree of freedom of a person's head as shown in FIG. 5c. The display 135, 235 is configured to show additional symbols, wherein each symbol represents one or two further degrees of freedom. In other words, it is possible with the display to show a person of whose face images should be taken between one and three degrees of freedom to obtain the image of the face of the person with standardized face positioning and/or to obtain at least two images having a corresponding face orientation. The corresponding face orientation in the at least one first and the at least one second image may vary between having four corresponding degrees of freedom in the two images to be compared and up to six corresponding degrees of freedom in the two images to be compared. The symbol/line 46 is configured to rotate around its center and to move from right to left, whereas the symbol/line 44 is configured to move from the right to the left only. The upper left display 135 in FIG. 6 shows a position of a person's head which has the desired face orientation to take an image of his/her face.

[0035] By means of the face imaging device 1, it is also possible to store a face orientation of a first image of a person's face determined by the at least one sensor in a computer storage unit (not shown) of the device 1 as the desired face orientation, wherein the face imaging device comprises the processor 29 configured to access the computer storage unit and to display the desired face orientation of the face in the display to obtain a second image of the person's face, such that the first image and the second image have a corresponding face orientation of the person's face. Such a desired face orientation which may change during various imaging sessions may be represented in the display 35, 135, 235 as symbol/line 41.

[0036] In an embodiment of the face imaging device not shown in the figures, it is also possible to use the camera of the device or the camera of the tablet computer 21 attached to the device as the sensor for determining a face orientation of the face, i.e. such a the face imaging device does not require the sensors 15a-c. The camera in such an embodiment is configured to communicate with the display arranged inside the casing to show the person a desired face orientation and the actual face orientation of the face determined by the at least one sensor such that the person is able to position his/her face in the desired face orientation for taking at least one image of the face. The face imaging device may also comprises at least two sensors, wherein each sensor uses different technology to determine a face orientation of the face.

[0037] The face imaging device may also use a desired face orientation which is a fixed predetermined face orientation of the face. The fixed predetermined face orientation may be a fixed value or values programmed and stored in the device by the manufacturer of the face imaging device or may be adjusted by an operator if desired before taking an image with the device. The fixed predetermined face orientation may be represented in the display 35, 135, 235 as symbol/line 41.

[0038] After taking the standardized image it is possible to use software, for example provided on the tablet computer, to analyze the images and to compute the differences between the images and/or emphasize the differences in the image and for example an standard image or between images taken by the device 1 to be shown to a user for example an operator or the person whose face has been imaged. Further, it is possible that the display 35, 135, 235 of the device 1 serves to position the face to be imaged in the desired face orientation, wherein software on the tablet computer 21 communicating with the processor also shows the actual face orientation and the desired face orientation in a tablet computer's display such that an operator of the tablet computer 21 may provide instruction by means of the tablet computer 21 to take the standardized image of a face of a person.