Device and system for dispensing cosmetic material

Abstract

To provide a system which includes a mobile user device that determines and transmits a recipe for producing a target cosmetic material.SOLUTION: In a system, a cosmetic dispensation device 100 receives a recipe transmitted from a mobile user device, and a target cosmetic material is achieved when respective dispensed amounts of a plurality of separate components are blended on a dispensation surface. A visible portion of a cosmetic dispenser includes a base 102 connected to a power cord 104. The base provides support for a dispenser body 106. A compact 108 is disposed on the dispenser body. A power button 110 is partially disposed within the dispenser body 1 such that the dispenser body secures a power button's placement. An indicator light and a button 122 are partially disposed within the dispenser body such that the dispenser body secures the indicator light and button's placement.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 968,877, filed January 31, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 139,454, filed December 31, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 139,340, filed December 31, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 139,457, filed December 31, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 139,338, filed December 31, 2020, U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 139,391, filed December 31, 2020, and French Patent Application No. FR2004504, filed May 6, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] The disclosure herein generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for determining combinations of cosmetic ingredients that can be blended and dispensed for a particular user. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a mobile user device including processing circuitry configured to determine a user's skin tone and determine and transmit a recipe for generating a target foundation based on a combination of a plurality of separate foundation components associated with the user's skin tone; and a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and dispense each of the plurality of separate foundation components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target foundation is achieved when a dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate foundation components is blended on the dispensing surface, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to determine the user's skin tone based on detected facial features of the user in a self-portrait image of the user captured by a camera of the mobile user device.

[0004] In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a mobile user device including processing circuitry configured to execute an application that receives a selection of a target lipstick color from a user and to determine and transmit a recipe for producing the target lipstick color based on a combination of a plurality of separate lipstick components; and a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and to dispense each of the plurality of separate lipstick components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target lipstick color is achieved when a dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate lipstick components is blended on the dispensing surface, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to present at least one candidate lipstick color to the user based on at least a user profile of the user of the smartphone.

[0005] In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a mobile user device including processing circuitry configured to execute an application that receives a selection of a target skin care formulation from a user and to determine and transmit a recipe for generating the target skin care formulation based on a combination of a plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients; and a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and to dispense each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients onto a common dispensing surface such that the target skin care formulation is achieved when a dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients is blended onto the dispensing surface, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to present to the user at least one candidate priority skin condition to be addressed by the target skin care formulation based on a user profile of the smartphone user.

[0006] In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a dispensing device configured to receive at least one cartridge containing cosmetic material and dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area, wherein the at least one cartridge includes an electronic communication and storage device configured to store data related to the cosmetic material stored in the cartridge; and a mobile user device configured to communicate with a dispensing assembly to receive information related to the data stored in the electronic communication and storage device and to transmit a command to cause the dispensing assembly to dispense the specified amount of cosmetic material, wherein the electronic communication and storage device stores data related to (i) a production process of the at least one cartridge created before the at least one cartridge is initially inserted into the dispensing device, and (ii) use of the at least one cartridge after the at least one cartridge is inserted into the dispensing device.

[0007] In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing cosmetic material is provided, the apparatus comprising a dispensing device configured to receive at least one cartridge containing the cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge onto a dispensing surface, wherein the dispensing surface is configured to be part of a removable portion of the apparatus, the dispensing device further comprising a retractable plate disposed below the removable portion, the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge configured to penetrate the retractable plate and the removable portion such that (i) when the retractable plate is in a stable, highest position, the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge is flush with the surface of the retractable plate, and (ii) when the retractable plate is moved to a predetermined, stable, downward position below the highest position and the removable portion is placed on the retractable surface, the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge is flush with the dispensing surface, and the retractable plate is configured to move further downward to an unstable position in response to a downward force on the removable portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic dispensing device, or cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser body according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic dispenser with the dispenser body removed, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the internal components of a cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the internal components of a cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cartridge gear according to one embodiment. [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottom plate according to one embodiment. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bottom plate, as viewed from the bottom, according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base according to one embodiment. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a compact disposed over a manifold, according to one embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compact in an open position, according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary sequence of primary processes of a cosmetic blending method 900, according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a process diagram illustrating an example of a process for detecting cosmetic materials in a cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figures 12A-12B] FIG. 1 is a process diagram depicting an example of a process for selecting a cosmetic formulation, according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a process diagram illustrating an example of a process for dispensing cosmetic materials into a cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a connected cosmetic dispensing system, according to one embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary circuit of a controller and a cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. [Figure 16] Illustrates components of an ecosystem that utilizes cosmetic dispensers to create personalized doses for users. [Figure 17] It shows the ecosystem that has been built by suggesting trending lipstick colors to users. [Figure 18A] 1 illustrates an exemplary flow of operations in an ecosystem for dispensing personalized lipstick shades from an app perspective. [Figure 18B]10 shows an additional flowchart of how an algorithm of a smartphone app in a lipstick ecosystem may allow a user to see lipstick shades on the user's selfie image. [Figure 18C] It further illustrates how a particular set of cartridges can provide areas of different shades to be presented to the user. [Figure 18D] Showing how the "Match My Look" mode works for apps within the lipstick ecosystem. [Figure 18E] Here's a detailed look at how a lipstick recommendation engine works, based on a selfie of the user's outfit. [Figure 19] It presents an ecosystem built around suggesting to users the most efficient skin care formulations for them. [Figure 20A] 1 illustrates an exemplary flow of operations in an ecosystem for dispensing personalized skin care formulas from the perspective of an app. [Figure 20B] An example is provided of how a combination of different environmental factors determined to be present for a user can result in different doses from three different cartridges. [Figure 21] 1 illustrates an ecosystem used to dispense personalized foundation for a user. [Figure 22A] 1 illustrates an exemplary flow of operation of an ecosystem for dispensing personalized foundation from the perspective of an app. [Figure 22B] Provides details on how to perform a skin tone assessment. [Figures 22C-22D] We provide details on how deep learning is used to estimate skin tones in images. [Figure 23] 1 shows the structure of a cartridge with an NFC tag. [Figure 24] Indicates the data format of the data stored in the cartridge's NFC tag. [Figure 25]Here is a table with a description of the various fields contained in the NFC tag data format. [Figure 26] 1 shows the structure of a dispensing device equipped for a smart replaceable cartridge system. [Figure 27] 1 illustrates a handshake between a dispensing device and a user smartphone device. [Figure 28] 10 shows a state machine for a consumer app that illustrates the process from the app's perspective of priming a cartridge before using a dispensing device. [Figure 29] We will show how to manage defective cartridge NFC tags in the above scenario. [Figure 30] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a dispensing device including a retractable plate. [Figure 31A-31B] 4 shows different states when the retractable plate is at different heights. [Figure 32] 10 shows a cleaning formulation reservoir disposed between the body of the dispensing device and the retractable plate. [Figure 33] An alternative use of the retractable plate described above is shown to provide a way to flush the cartridge of any remaining ingredients or residue. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "a," "an," etc. generally have the meaning "one or more" unless otherwise specified.

[0011] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0012] Selecting cosmetic formulations, and the component cosmetic ingredients for formulating cosmetic formulations, is a common activity that often relies on subjective decision-making and manual input. There is a wide variety of cosmetic ingredients available, resulting in countless combinations and permutations of possible cosmetic formulations.

[0013] In each use scenario, a subjective decision to create a satisfactory cosmetic formulation is often made by the end user of the cosmetic product. The outcome is generally the result of experimentation, possibly requiring multiple iterations to produce a satisfactory outcome. In part, due to limited knowledge of the specific characteristics and required proportions of the base cosmetic ingredients, the resulting cosmetic formulation may lack precision. Therefore, reproducibility in creating a specific cosmetic formulation is difficult to achieve. The following embodiments address these problems in the prior art.

[0014] Specifically, the following description relates to an ecosystem for creating a formulation personalization system for home use based on dedicated dispensing devices that enables skin care and cosmetic ingredients to be instantly blended into a user's preferred end result and then conveniently transported for portability.

[0015] The system shown below is the first AI-powered 3-in-1 device for personalized at-home skincare, foundation, and liquid lipstick. The device and its corresponding app assess the user's individual skin and local environmental data to create and deliver personalized, on-the-fly skincare and cosmetic formulations optimized for increasing levels of personalization over time.

[0016] The overall ecosystem features the AI-enabled motorized cartridge system described above, which creates personalized skincare and cosmetic formulations in four steps: The device creates personalized skin serums through the following process: 1. Personal Skin Analysis: Users take a photo with their smartphone camera and open the smartphone app, which uses AI to analyze the user's overall skin condition, assessing deep wrinkles, fine lines, blackheads, lack of firmness, pore visibility, and lack of radiance. 2. Environmental Assessment: The app (and / or a separate cloud computing platform) assesses local environmental conditions that may affect the user's skin condition, including weather, temperature, humidity, UV index, air quality, and pollen. 3. Product Preferences: Users then input their specific skin care concerns into the app, such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, rough skin texture, dullness, etc. 4. Custom Formulation and Dispensing: A personalized blend of high performance skin care is then dispensed in divided single doses into the top of the device.

[0017] A motor system located at the top of the device moves and compresses the formulation in an upward motion from a cartridge at the base of the machine to a dispensing tray above for clean application.

[0018] With regular use, the AI ​​platform can evaluate the user's skin appearance over time, helping them identify what's working and adjust future formulas. The AI-powered system can optimize the effectiveness of personalized formulas. Users can periodically take photos, allowing the smart system to recognize the formula's effectiveness and adjust the dosage of active ingredients accordingly. However, users can override the system's recommendations if, for example, they want additional moisturizer.

[0019] The skin care system contains active ingredients including AHA, Vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, retinol, cucumber, thyme and mulberry.

[0020] Cosmetic offerings for foundation and liquid lipstick can incorporate color matching technology as well as real-time trend information into personalized product offerings, as described below.

[0021] The lipstick system allows consumers to create liquid lipstick based on their individual skin tone and preferences. The system can shade-match the user's clothing or accessories, or choose to create a specific color that's trending on social media. The device has three cartridges that can be combined to create hundreds of shades.

[0022] The foundation system described below includes three cartridges ranging from light to deep shades. Knowing that foundation is never one-size-fits-all, these color trio selections can be offered to match the widest range of shades. Using the shade matching tool, the three cartridges dispense various levels of color to create personalized shades. The device has the capability to create hundreds of custom shades. While the device creates a single dose of color, users can easily double or triple the amount for an extra touch.

[0023] The system described herein has three dose settings: a standard size dose (0.7 grams, roughly the size of a pistachio) that the user can double or triple with an additional touch;

[0024] The device features a removable mirrored compact, allowing users to carry divided doses of the product with them.

[0025] The user experience with this system takes about three minutes, from opening the app and taking a photo of their face to dispensing the product.

[0026] [Dispensing device] 1 is an overall perspective view of a cosmetic dispensing device 100, or cosmetic dispenser, according to one embodiment. The visible portion of the cosmetic dispenser 100 includes a base 102 connected to a power cord 104. The base 102 provides support for a dispenser body 106. A compact 108 is disposed on the dispenser body 106, a power button 110 may be partially disposed within the dispenser body 106 such that the dispenser body 106 secures the placement of the power button 110, and an indicator light and button 122 may be partially disposed within the dispenser body 106 such that the dispenser body 106 secures the placement of the indicator light and button 122. The indicator light and button 122 may be a mechanical or capacitive touch button.

[0027] 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser body 106, according to one embodiment. The dispenser body 106 is a hollow, thin-walled container that serves as a cover for many of the components of the cosmetic dispenser 100. In this embodiment, the dispenser body 106 has a top, first end having a generally square cross-section with rounded corners, while the bottom, second end has a circular cross-section. The dispenser body 106 may provide a base for the compact 108, or other components that serve as a base for the compact 108. The dispenser body 106 may also include attachment points for a power button 110 and an indicator light and button 122.

[0028] 3 is a perspective view of the cosmetic dispenser 100 with the dispenser body 106 removed, according to one embodiment. The power button 110, indicator light and button 122, controller 150, bottom plate 166, guide plate 176, and gear housing 170 are visible in this view, as are the lower body section 154, middle body section 155, and upper body section 156. The power button 110 is electrically connected to the controller 150.

[0029] Controller 150 includes circuitry for distributing power received via power cord 104, controlling one or more motors 112 for dispensing cosmetic material, detecting readings from optical encoder 192, charging one or more batteries 126, operating any indicators such as indicator lights and buttons 122, chimes, or other audiovisual signals, sensors for detecting the availability status, type, and quantity of cosmetic material, and wirelessly communicating with external devices, including circuitry for sending and receiving signals and data using various communication protocols such as radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular, e.g., via smartphones and other wireless devices.

[0030] The guide plate 176 supports the bottom plate 166, and the remainder of the cosmetic dispenser 100, except for the base 102 and power cord 104, is disposed on top of the bottom plate 166. The gear housing 170 is disposed on, connected to, and provides support for the internal components of the cosmetic dispenser 100, which are further described by FIGS. 4-9B. Additionally, the gear housing 170 includes a plurality of gear housing cartridge bores 178, one for each cartridge 114 in the cosmetic dispenser 100. The nozzle 160 of each cartridge 114 is disposed inside one of the gear housing cartridge bores 178. Various additional substructures and covers may be disposed between the internal components of the cosmetic dispenser 100 and the dispenser body 106.

[0031] For example, the upper body section 156 is disposed above the middle body section 155, and the lower body section 154 is disposed below the middle body section 155. When connected, the dispenser body 106 is attached to the outside of at least one of the lower body section 154, the middle body section 155, and the upper body section 156. The bottom plate 166 is disposed below and connected to the lower body section 154.

[0032] 4A and 4B are perspective views of the internal components of a cosmetic dispenser 100, according to one embodiment. The internal assembly includes multiple dispensing assemblies 120 disposed on a bottom plate 166 and a guide plate 176. Each dispensing assembly 120 includes a cartridge 114, a cartridge gear 116, a motor 112, a motor gear 124, an ejector 140, an ejector index ring 190, an ejector spring 142, an ejector spring pin 144, a detent plunger 146, and a detent spring 152. A controller 150 controls the operation of each of the dispensing assemblies 120. The cosmetic dispenser 100 includes at least one dispensing assembly 120. While the embodiment described herein includes three dispensing assemblies 120, one skilled in the art will recognize that the cosmetic dispenser 100 can have any number of dispensing assemblies 120.

[0033] Additionally, multiple batteries 126 inside the cosmetic dispenser 100 are electrically connected to multiple dispensing assemblies 120 and provide power for operation of the controller 150, the dispensing assemblies 120, the motor 112, and various indicators such as indicator lights and buttons 122 (further described in FIG. 3), chimes, and other audiovisual signals.

[0034] The controller 150 and connection device 300 (shown in FIG. 14) allow a user to wirelessly operate the cosmetic dispenser 100. Cosmetic material formulation and recipe commands to the controller 150 may be received from a connected device 300, such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer configured to communicate with the cosmetic dispenser 100. Additionally, dispensing of cosmetic materials may also be triggered by a user by touching the indicator lights and buttons 122 on the cosmetic dispenser 100.

[0035] The cartridge 114 also has a cartridge key 162 disposed on or near the nozzle 160 and is connected near a first end to a cartridge gear 116, a motor gear 124 connected to the motor 112, the motor gear 124 drivingly connected to the cartridge gear 116, and a bottom plate 166 connected near a second end. The cartridge 114 and cartridge gear 116 are held in place by a gear housing 170 (shown in FIG. 3 ). The cartridge 114 may be disposed inside the cosmetic dispenser 100 and secured in place by an ejector 140 connected to an ejector spring 142, and the ejector spring pin 144 may be connected to the ejector spring 142 at a first end and rigidly connected at a second end to an inner surface of at least one of the dispenser body 106, the lower body section 154, the middle body section 155, the upper body section 156, and other internal structures. The dispensing assembly 120 further includes an ejector index ring 190 (shown in FIG. 4A) for guiding movement of the ejector 140 within the cosmetic dispenser 100 during insertion and removal of the cartridge 114, the ejector index ring 190 being disposed against an inner surface of at least one of the dispenser body 106, the lower body section 154, the middle body section 155, and the upper body section 156 to provide guidance for movement of the ejector 140.

[0036] Additionally, a detent plunger 146 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 114 and connected near the second end of the cartridge 114 to provide lateral pressure to the circumferential groove 134 of the cartridge 114, maintaining the cartridge 114 in place along the vertical Y-axis and countering the opposing force exerted by the tension on the cartridge 114 by the ejector 140, ejector spring 142, and ejector spring pin 144. The ejector 140 is disposed within the cosmetic dispenser 100 and is movable substantially parallel to the cartridge 114, connected to an ejector spring 142 which is further connected to the ejector spring pin 144. When the cartridge 114 is inserted into the cosmetic dispenser 100, an edge of the ejector 140 contacts an edge near the first end of the cartridge 114. The ejector 140 applies pressure to the cartridge 114 as the ejector spring 142 expands with an increasing distance between the stationary ejector spring pin 144 and the ejector 140 and moves further into the cosmetic dispenser 100 with the cartridge 114. When the cartridge 114 is inserted to the point where the first end of the detent plunger 146 contacts the circumferential groove 134 of the cartridge 114, movement of the cartridge 114 along the Y axis is restricted holding the cartridge 114 in place.

[0037] The detent plunger 146 is a mechanism for holding the cartridge 114 in place. The detent plunger 146 moves along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the main shaft of the cartridge 114. A first end of the detent plunger 146 is disposed to contact the cartridge 114. A second end is connected to a first end of the detent spring 152, a second end of the detent spring 152, and contacts an inner surface of at least one of the dispenser body 106, the lower body section 154, the middle body section 155, the upper body section 156, or other internal structure. When the cartridge 114 is inserted into the cosmetic dispenser 100, the detent plunger 146 is displaced against the detent spring 152, compressing it. Because the contour of the cartridge 114 varies over the length of the cartridge 114, the detent plunger 146 and detent spring 152 are displaced by amounts that vary depending on the position of the cartridge 114 relative to the cosmetic dispenser 100. At the point where the detent plunger 146 contacts the circumferential groove 134 of the cartridge 114, the first end of the detent plunger 146 can lock the cartridge 114 in place due to the pressure of the detent spring 152 and the geometric relationship between the detent plunger 146 and the circumferential groove 134.

[0038] Additionally, the cartridge 114 is inserted into the cosmetic dispenser 100 through a cartridge through-hole 172 in the bottom plate 166. The cartridge through-hole 172 has a base key cutout 165 ( FIG. 7A ) shaped to correspond to the base key 164 so that when the base key 164 and base key cutout 165 contact, the cartridge 114 cannot rotate relative to the bottom plate 166. The cartridge 114 is also shaped to fit the bottom plate 166 and cartridge gear 116 in a specific orientation. When the cartridge 114 is fully inserted into the cosmetic dispenser 100 and locked in place by the detent plunger 146, the cartridge 114 seats against the cartridge gear 116. Additionally, the cartridge gear 116 has a collar 168 portion rotatably connected to the gear housing 170, which limits the movement of the cartridge gear 116 so that the cartridge gear 116 can rotate about the longitudinal axis but may not or may not move axially, and supports the respective positions of the cartridge gear 116 and the motor gear 124. Similarly, the motor gear 124 has a motor gear collar 169 portion rotatably connected to the gear housing 170, which limits the movement of the motor gear 124 so that the motor gear 124 can rotate about the longitudinal axis but may not or may not move axially, and maintains the relationship between the cartridge gear 116 and the motor gear 124 so that rotational movement of the motor gear 124 results in rotational movement of the cartridge gear 116 at a fixed ratio.

[0039] As illustrated by FIG. 4B, the motor gear 124 may be a spur gear that includes a key cutout 163 (FIG. 6) that fits over a cartridge key 162 of the cartridge 114.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cartridge 114 according to one embodiment. The cartridge 114 has a circular, cylindrical body and a nozzle 160 at a first end. The nozzle 160 is further disposed near a cartridge key 162. The cartridge key 162 fits inside an opening in the cartridge gear 116 and corresponds to the shape of a key cutout 163 of the cartridge gear 116, locking the rotational movement of the portion of the cartridge 114 near the first end with the rotational movement of the cartridge gear 116 when the cartridge gear 116 is driven by the motor gear 124 and the motor 112. The second end of the cartridge 114 includes a base key 164. The base key 164 fits inside a base key cutout 165 of a bottom plate 166, securing the second end of the cartridge 114 to the bottom plate 166 and preventing rotational movement of the second end of the cartridge 114 relative to the bottom plate 166. Because the first end of the cartridge 114 is fixed to the movement of the cartridge gear 116, actuation of the motor 112 rotates the motor gear 124, driving the cartridge gear 116, thereby opening and closing the nozzle 160 of the cartridge 114. The first and second ends of the cartridge 114 may rotate relative to one another.

[0041] Cartridge 114 contains and dispenses a quantity of cosmetic material into compact 108 as needed (further illustrated by FIG. 9). Cartridge 114 dispenses cosmetic material through rotation of cartridge gear 116, while cartridge 114 remains in place substantially vertically along the Y-axis. Cartridge gear 116 is driven by motor gear 124, which is turned by rotation of motor 112. The magnitude of rotation of motor 112 is controlled by controller 150.

[0042] A quantity of cosmetic material is expelled from the cartridge 114 through the nozzle 160 by a first rotational movement of the first end relative to the second end of the cartridge 114. Rotational movement of the first end of the cartridge 114 in a second direction opposite the first rotational movement can close the nozzle 160 of the cartridge 114.

[0043] The cartridge gear 116 actuates the nozzle 160 of the cartridge 114, which is attached to a hollow cartridge lead screw 202 within the cartridge 114. Rotation of the cartridge lead screw 202 proportionally displaces the cartridge piston 200, which forces a quantity of cosmetic material through the cartridge lead screw 202 and out of the nozzle 160 of the cartridge 114. The amount of cosmetic material expelled during opening and closing of the nozzle 160 is a function of the displacement of the cartridge lead screw 202, which in turn is dependent on the rotational displacement of the cartridge gear 116. Rotation of the motor 112 rotates the respective motor gear 124 and cartridge gear 116. The controller 150 detects the relative motion of the cartridge gear 116 using an optical encoder 192 and counts the number of cartridge gear slots 148 that pass through the optical encoder 192 as the cartridge gear 116 rotates, as well as the direction of rotation of the cartridge gear 116. A specific unit of measure for the cosmetic material is the dosage unit 118.

[0044] In one embodiment, the cartridge lead screw 202 has a pitch of approximately 1 mm, and one rotation of the cartridge lead screw 202 dispenses approximately 1 mL of cosmetic material from the cartridge 114 .

[0045] In another embodiment, depending on the shape of the cartridge key 162 of the cartridge 114, the circumferential groove 134 may be a notch or groove centered around a portion of the circumference of the cartridge 114, rather than extending completely around the circumference of the cartridge 114 and securing the cartridge 114 to the detent plunger 146 in substantially the same manner.

[0046] 6 is a perspective view of the cartridge gear 116, according to one embodiment. The cartridge gear 116 may be a spur gear including key cutouts 163 corresponding to the shape of the cartridge key 162 of the cartridge 114. The cartridge gear 116 may further include a collar 168 that rotatably connects to the inner surface of the gear housing 170 to align and support the position of the cartridge gear 116 and corresponding motor gear 124. The cartridge gear 116 may include a plurality of cartridge gear slots 148 for use with an optical encoder 192 to detect the angular position of the cartridge gear 116 and cartridge lead screw 202.

[0047] 7A is a perspective view of a bottom plate 166, according to one embodiment. The bottom plate 166 is connected to the dispenser body 106 and / or the lower body section 154 to restrain a plurality of cartridges 114 disposed inside the cosmetic dispenser 100 and to connect the cosmetic dispenser 100 to a guide plate 176 disposed below the bottom plate 166.

[0048] The bottom plate 166 has a plurality of cartridge through-holes 172, which allow for the insertion, removal, and fixation of a plurality of cartridges 114. Each cartridge through-hole 172 includes a base key cutout 165, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the base key 164 of each cartridge 114 to prevent rotational movement of the second end of the cartridge 114, the portion that contacts the bottom plate 166, when the cartridge 114 is installed in the cosmetic dispenser 100.

[0049] Additionally, the bottom plate 166 has contact pins 174 (shown in FIG. 7B) that contact the induction plate, providing electricity to the bottom plate 166 and allowing the cosmetic dispenser 100 to charge multiple batteries 126 through contact or induction.

[0050] 7B is a perspective view of a bottom plate 166, as viewed from the bottom, according to one embodiment. The bottom plate 166 includes three cartridge through-holes 172 disposed therein, and contact pins 174. When the bottom plate 166 is disposed within the cosmetic dispenser and on the base 102, the contact pins 174 can conduct electricity from the base 102 to the bottom plate 166. The bottom plate 166 can then inductively charge a plurality of batteries 126 disposed on the bottom plate 166.

[0051] 8 is a perspective view of the base 102, according to one embodiment. A power cord 104 is connected at a first end to the base 102. The power cord 104 is connected at a second end to a power source (not shown) to provide power for operation of the cosmetic dispenser 100 and for charging the plurality of batteries 126. The base 102 includes a base recess 128 for positioning an inductive plate 176 and other portions of the cosmetic dispenser 100. The base recess 128 may be capable of inductively charging the plurality of batteries 126 using power provided by the power cord 104. Additionally, the cosmetic dispenser 100 may also be filled through contact pins 174 disposed inside the bottom plate 166 when the bottom plate 166 is disposed within the base recess 128.

[0052] FIG. 9A is an exploded perspective view of a compact 108 disposed on a manifold 130, according to one embodiment. The compact 108 includes a top lid 180, a compact base 182, and a bottom lid 184. The top lid 180 is disposed on top of the compact base 182, which is disposed on or within the bottom lid 184. The top lid 180 is secured to the compact base 182 by magnets, as further illustrated by FIG. 9B. The compact base 182 includes a plurality of compact base through-holes 138. In this embodiment, there is one compact base through-hole 138 for each cartridge 114 in the cosmetic dispenser 100. The bottom lid 184, having a plurality of bottom lid through-holes 136, is disposed below the compact base 182. In this embodiment, there is one bottom lid through-hole 136 for each cartridge 114 in the cosmetic dispenser 100, and the bottom lid 184 is arranged such that each bottom lid through-hole 136 corresponds to and connects to a compact base through-hole 138 in the compact base 182.

[0053] The compacts 108 are connected to a manifold 130, which is connected to and disposed above a gear housing 170 and further disposed within a dispenser body 106 of the cosmetic dispenser 100, with the compacts 108 disposed above both the manifold 130 and the dispenser body 106. The manifold 130 includes one manifold through-hole 132 for each cartridge 114 in the cosmetic dispenser 100, and the manifold 130 is disposed such that each manifold through-hole 132 corresponds to and is connected to a compact base through-hole 136 in a bottom lid 184. Furthermore, each manifold through-hole 132 in the manifold 130 corresponds to and is disposed above a gear housing cartridge hole 178 in the gear housing 170, providing a passageway through which cosmetic material can be dispensed from the nozzle 160 of each cartridge 114, through the manifold 130, the bottom lid 184, and into the compact base 182.

[0054] The compact 108 may have a configuration such that there is only one orientation in which the compact 108 can be connected to the cosmetic dispenser 100. In another example, the configuration of the compact 108 may allow connection to the compact 108 in more than one orientation.

[0055] Additionally, cosmetic materials dispensed into the compact 108 can be prevented from backflowing by using one-way duckbill valves 194 (not shown) disposed within each of the compact base through-holes 136 in the bottom lid 184 of the compact 108.

[0056] 9B is a perspective view of compact 108 in an open position, according to one embodiment. Compact 108 includes top lid 180, compact base 182, bottom lid 184, a plurality of hinge magnets 186a, 186b, 186c, and 186d, a plurality of lid magnets 188a, 188b, 188c, and 188d, and a plurality of mounting magnets 196a, 196b, and 196c.

[0057] In one example, compact base 182, multiple mounting magnets 196a-196c, front half portions of multiple lid magnets 188b and 188d, and front half portions of multiple hinge magnets 186b and 186d are disposed within bottom lid 184, with compact base 182 disposed thereon. Multiple mounting magnets 196a-196c are arranged to magnetically connect compact 108 to cosmetic dispensing device 100, for example, by connecting to manifold 130 (FIG. 9A). Manifold 130, or a portion of a surface of manifold 130, may be formed of a ferrous material or may contain corresponding magnets for magnetically attaching to multiple mounting magnets 196a-196c.

[0058] The rear half of the plurality of lid magnets 188a and 188c are disposed within a side surface of the top lid 180, and the rear half of the plurality of hinge magnets 186a and 186c are disposed within a side surface of the top lid 180. The hinge magnets 186b and 186d are disposed within a side surface of the bottom lid 184 so as to be able to contact the corresponding hinge magnets 186a and 186c in at least two planes depending on the relative positions between the top lid 180 and the bottom lid 184. The hinge magnets 186a and 186b have opposite magnetic polarities, as do the respective pairs of hinge magnets 186c and 186d, lid magnets 188a and 188b, and lid magnets 188c and 188d.

[0059] The plurality of 196 and the plurality of lid magnets 188a-188d may be arranged such that the plurality of bottom lid through-holes 138 disposed in the compact base 182 are unobstructed to allow cosmetic material to flow from each of the cartridges 114 into the compact 108 as the cosmetic material is dispensed.

[0060] When compact 108 is in the open position, top lid 180 and bottom lid 184 are positioned in a generally vertical plane, and hinge magnets 186a and 186c are magnetically connected to hinge magnets 186b and 186d, respectively. The magnetic force between each pair of hinge magnets 186a and 186b and hinge magnets 186c and 186d is sufficient to hold top lid 180 in place relative to bottom lid 184.

[0061] When compact 108 is in the closed position, top lid 180 and bottom lid 184 are positioned in substantially parallel planes, hinge magnets 186a and 186c, which are magnetically connected to hinge magnets 186b and 186d, respectively, and lid magnets 188a and 188c are disposed in corresponding positions and are magnetically connected to lid magnets 188b and 188d, respectively, and the magnetic connections between the pair of hinge magnets 186a and 186b and hinge magnets 186c and 186d, the pair of lid magnets 188a and 188b, and the pair of lid magnets 188c and 188d are sufficient to keep top lid 180 connected to bottom lid 184 in the closed position.

[0062] Because the top lid 180 is magnetically connected to the bottom lid 184, the top lid 180 can be completely removed from the bottom lid 184. Furthermore, depending on the arrangement of the multiple hinge magnets 186a-186d and lid magnets 188a-188d within the top lid 180 and bottom lid 184, it may be possible to connect with the bottom lid 184 in the closed position in more than one orientation about the x-z plane. Furthermore, the top lid 180 may be able to open or close about the bottom lid 184, or vice versa, about more than one axis, such as about the x-axis or the z-axis.

[0063] Alternatively, the multiple mounting magnets 196a-196c may be replaced by a single mounting magnet 196 that is strong enough to secure the compact 108 to the cosmetic dispensing device 100.

[0064] Alternatively, the multiple hinge magnets 186a-186d may be replaced by a single hinge magnet 186a of sufficient strength in the top lid 180 and a single hinge magnet 186b of sufficient strength in the bottom lid 184 to secure one side of the top lid 180 to the bottom lid 184 with the compact 108 in either the open or closed position.

[0065] Alternatively, the multiple lid magnets 188a-188d may be replaced by a single lid magnet 188a of sufficient strength in the top lid 180 and a single lid magnet 188b of sufficient strength in the bottom lid 184 to secure one side of the top lid 180 to the bottom lid 184 with the compact 108 in the closed position.

[0066] FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting an exemplary sequence of primary processes of a cosmetic blending method 900, according to one embodiment. While the examples provided herein each have three cartridges, the same process may be used by a cosmetic dispenser 100 equipped with any number of cartridges 114. The cosmetic blending method 900 includes a detection process S920, a selection process S940, and a dispensing process S960. An additional mixing process S980 may be performed by a user. As described in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the detection process S920, the selection process S940, and the dispensing process S960 are performed by the cosmetic device 100 based on commands received from the controller 150, which transmits data to and receives input from the user via the smart device 300 or by indicators on the cosmetic device 100 itself.

[0067] 11 is a process diagram illustrating an example of a process for detecting cosmetic material in cosmetic dispenser 100, according to one embodiment. S920 illustrates a process for detecting cosmetic material. Process S920 may include at least one of the following steps: step 921 detecting removal and installation of cartridge 114; step 922 detecting at least one material characteristic of cartridge 114; optional step 923 detecting the amount of cosmetic material in cartridge 114; and optional step 924 calculating an estimated wear of the cartridge after a future dispensing operation has been performed.

[0068] The optional step 923 of detecting the amount of material in each of the multiple cartridges 114 may include, for example, step 923a of detecting the amount of material in cartridge A, step 923b of detecting the amount of material in cartridge B, and step 923c of detecting the amount of material in cartridge C based, for example, on the total net displacement (rotation) of the cartridge gear 116 detected by the optical encoder 192 since installation of each cartridge 114.

[0069] The optional step 924 of detecting at least one material characteristic of each of the plurality of cartridges 114 may include, for example, step 924a detecting at least one material characteristic of cartridge A, step 924b detecting at least one material characteristic of cartridge B, and step 924c detecting at least one material characteristic of cartridge C. The material characteristics may include at least one from the set consisting of color, texture, gloss, moisture, nutrient content, and chemical formula. This detection may be performed based on a near-field sensor disposed within the dispenser 100 that detects an RFID tag on the cartridge that stores information about the cartridge's contents, according to methods well understood in the art. Alternative detection methods may also be used, such as barcode detection of a barcode printed on the cartridge, or detection using methods well understood in the art. The step of detecting at least one material characteristic in each cartridge may be performed before the optional step of detecting the amount of cosmetic material in each cartridge.

[0070] Additionally, process S920 may include an optional step 926 for reporting information that may be derived from historical usage data aggregated for a user or across a group of users, such as which cartridges 114 in the cosmetic dispenser 100 are expected to run out of cosmetic material first and by when.

[0071] 12A is a process diagram illustrating an example of a process S940 for selecting a cosmetic formulation, according to one embodiment. Process S940 includes a process for selecting a cosmetic formulation. Process S940 includes identifying possible cosmetic formulation combinations based on the types and amounts of cosmetic ingredients present in cosmetic dispenser 100, as established by detection process S920.

[0072] Step 942d may be based on the user selecting from a set of cosmetic formulations possible for the types and amounts of cosmetic ingredients present in the cosmetic dispenser 100, or step 942c allows the user to select from a larger set 204 of cosmetic ingredient inventory possible for the types and amounts of cosmetic ingredients that the cosmetic dispenser 100 can use.

[0073] In another example, step 943 of process S940 includes allowing a user to select a desired dosage unit 118. Varying dosage units 118 can change the set of cosmetic formulations available from within cosmetic dispenser 100 if a greater amount of one or more cosmetic ingredients is required for a particular cosmetic formulation than is available to dispense a particular amount of dosage unit 118.

[0074] For example, if cartridge A contains yellow cosmetic material, cartridge B contains red cosmetic material, and cartridge C contains green cosmetic material, and only one dosage unit 118 of cartridge A remains, the user cannot select to dispense any combination of dosage unit 118 and cosmetic formulation that requires two or more dosage units 118 of yellow cosmetic material.

[0075] Additionally, process S940 may include step 942a for the user to select a cosmetic formula based on a photo match, step 942b for the user to select a cosmetic formula based on a recommendation, or a step of selecting a cosmetic formula based on another process. U.S. Patent No. 8,634,640 describes a method for selecting colors from an image or photo in a camera or electronic device and substantially matching the colors using color reference data, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0076] In another embodiment, a skin diagnosis (sometimes referred to herein as a skin profile) may be performed to provide a recommended plurality of predetermined colors for a user to select based on an analysis of the user's skin characteristics. The skin diagnosis determines the appropriate color for the user based on an imaging operation performed on the user's face. Examples of skin diagnosis tools known in the art are Lancome Diagnos ABS, HR Skinscope, Biotherm Bluesmart, Kiehl's Skinprofiler V.0, CA Dermanalyzer, and Vichy Vichyconsult.

[0077] For cosmetic formulations that are possible but not available based on the results of the detection process S920, the cosmetic dispenser 100 may inform the user what cosmetic ingredients are needed to dispense such cosmetic formulation.

[0078] In one embodiment, in step 944, the user selects a dosage unit 118 of a cosmetic formulation that is not currently available. Step 944 may determine what cosmetic materials, e.g., what type of cartridge 114, are needed to mix and dispense the selected cosmetic formulation.

[0079] In another example, step 944 may determine what additional cosmetic formulations may become available if a particular cartridge 114 is replaced with a complete but otherwise identical cartridge 114 .

[0080] In another example, step 944 may determine what additional cosmetic formulations may become available if the cartridge 114 is replaced with another cartridge 114 containing different cosmetic ingredients.

[0081] Step 945, based on the results of step 944, prompts the user for confirmation and determines whether to proceed to step 947 to proceed with dispensing the cosmetic formulation, or to step 946 to report which cartridge(s) 114 are required to dispense the desired cosmetic formulation.

[0082] Figure 12B shows optional process S940b, which is performed solely by the dispenser apparatus 100 after a cosmetic formulation has been previously received and currently stored in the dispenser apparatus 100 in step 948. The remaining steps 943-947 of S940b are identical to those of S940 described in Figure 12A. The process of Figure 12B may be performed without an existing connection being established between the dispenser apparatus 100 and the device 300.

[0083] 13 is a process diagram illustrating an example of a process S960 for dispensing cosmetic materials into a cosmetic dispenser 100, according to one embodiment. Step 961 represents a step for dispensing at least one dosage unit of a cosmetic formula. Process S960 includes steps 962a-962c of ejecting a requested amount of cosmetic materials from at least one cartridge 114 to produce the cosmetic formula selected by the user in process S940, so that the cosmetic formula may be applied, transported in a container, or otherwise made available to the user. Process S960 includes optional steps 963a-963c of detecting the remaining amount of cosmetic materials in each cartridge, and optional step 964 of recording the result in the memory of the dispenser.

[0084] After the dispensing process S960 is completed, the user may perform a process S980 to manually mix the released cosmetic ingredients to produce the desired cosmetic formulation.

[0085] 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connected cosmetic dispensing system, according to one embodiment. A system 400 implementing the cosmetic dispenser 100 described above includes at least the cosmetic dispenser 100 and a connected device 300. Optionally, the system may further include one or more external servers 410 implemented as part of a cloud computing environment. Additionally, the system may optionally include a cosmetic material inventory 204, which is an inventory of potential cosmetic materials that can be inserted into the cosmetic device 100.

[0086] The connected device 300 may be a personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a smartphone, a tablet device, a UMPC (ultra-mobile personal computer), a netbook, or a notebook personal computer. In the following examples, the connected device 300 is assumed to be a tablet device such as an Apple iPad.

[0087] The connected devices 300 can communicate wirelessly with the cosmetic dispenser 100 via a wireless communication interface circuit 774 on the cosmetic dispenser 100. However, the connected devices 300 can also have a wired connection to the cosmetic dispenser 100 via a USB interface 776 on the device 100. In addition, each device, including the cosmetic dispenser 100, can communicate with each other and one or more external devices through an internet connection via an 802.11 wireless connection to a wireless internet access point, or through a physical connection to an internet access point, for example, through an Ethernet interface. Each connected device 300 can communicate wirelessly with other devices, such as through a Bluetooth connection or other wireless means.

[0088] The connected device 300 is configured to receive information from a user for use in generating a cosmetic formulation that is used by the cosmetic dispenser 100 to dispense cosmetic materials into the compact 108.

[0089] 15 is a block diagram representing the controller 150 and circuitry of the cosmetic dispenser 100, according to one embodiment. A central processing unit (CPU) 710 provides primary control over the separate circuit components included in the device, such as the dispenser control circuitry 740 (which may include control circuitry for the motor 112, circuitry for the optical encoder 192, and inductive sensor circuitry). The CPU 710 may also control optional input / output devices 772 (such as a keyboard or mouse), memory 780, wireless communication interface circuitry 774, a universal serial bus (USB) controller 776, an LED driver 778, and a display module 780. The LED driver 778 controls the pulsing of one or more indicator lights 122.

[0090] In an embodiment, the circuitry includes, among other things, one or more computing devices such as a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a quantum processor, a qubit processor, etc.), a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc., or any combination thereof, and may include discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or a combination thereof.

[0091] In one embodiment, a module includes one or more ASICs having a number of predetermined logic components.

[0092] In one embodiment, the module includes one or more FPGAs, each having multiple programmable logic components.

[0093] In an embodiment, a circuit includes one or more components operably coupled (e.g., communicatively, electromagnetically, magnetically, ultrasonically, optically, inductively, electrically, capacitively coupled, wirelessly coupled, etc.) to each other.

[0094] In some embodiments, the circuitry includes one or more remotely located components.

[0095] In one embodiment, the remotely located components are operatively coupled via wireless communication, such as with the connected device 300 .

[0096] In some embodiments, remotely located components are operatively coupled, for example, via one or more communication modules, receivers, transmitters, transceivers, and the like.

[0097] In an embodiment, the CPU 710 or any of the other components shown in FIG. 15 may be replaced with alternative circuit elements. Examples of circuitry include, for example, memory for storing instructions or information. Non-limiting examples of memory include volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), etc.), non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), etc.), persistent memory, etc. Further non-limiting examples of memory include erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, etc.

[0098] In one embodiment, the memory is coupled to one or more computing devices, for example, by one or more instruction, information, or power buses.

[0099] In one embodiment, the circuitry includes one or more computer-readable media drives, interface sockets, universal serial bus (USB) ports, memory card slots, etc., and one or more input / output components, such as a graphical user interface, a display, a keyboard, a keypad, a trackball, a joystick, a touch screen, a mouse, switches, dials, etc., and any other peripheral devices.

[0100] In an embodiment, the module includes one or more user input / output components operably coupled to at least one computing device configured to control (electrical, electromechanical, software-implemented, firmware-implemented, or other control, or a combination thereof) at least one parameter associated with determining one or more tissue thermal properties in response to a detected shift in, for example, the turned-on voltage.

[0101] In an embodiment, the circuitry includes a computer-readable medium drive or memory slot configured to receive a signal-bearing medium (e.g., a computer-readable memory medium, a computer-readable recording medium, etc.).

[0102] In certain embodiments, a program for causing a system to perform any of the disclosed methods can be stored on, for example, a computer-readable recording medium, a signal-bearing medium, etc. Non-limiting examples of signal-bearing media include recordable-type media such as magnetic tape, floppy disks, hard disk drives, compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), Blu-ray disks, digital tape, computer memory, etc., as well as transmission-type media such as digital or analog communication media (e.g., fiber optic cables, wave guides, wired communication links, wireless communication links (e.g., receivers, transmitters, transceivers, transmitting logic, receiving logic, etc.)). Further non-limiting examples of signal-bearing media include, but are not limited to, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, CD-ROM, Super Audio CD, CD-R, CD+R, CD+RW, CD-RW, video compact disc, Super Video Disc, flash memory, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk, MINI DISCS, non-volatile memory cards, EEPROM, optical disks, optical storage, RAM, ROM, system memory, web servers, etc.

[0103] In one embodiment, the circuit includes an acoustic transducer, an electroacoustic transducer, an electrochemical transducer, an electromagnetic transducer, an electromechanical transducer, an electrostatic transducer, an optoelectric transducer, a wireless acoustic transducer, a thermoelectric transducer, or an ultrasonic transducer.

[0104] In one embodiment, the circuitry includes electrical circuitry operatively coupled to a transducer (eg, an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), etc.).

[0105] In one embodiment, the circuitry includes an electrical circuit having at least one discrete electrical circuit, an electrical circuit having at least one integrated circuit, or an electrical circuit having at least one application specific integrated circuit.

[0106] In one embodiment, the circuitry includes electrical circuitry forming a general-purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general-purpose computer configured by a computer program to at least partially execute the processes and / or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program to at least partially execute the processes and / or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., a form of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read-only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, a communications switch, an optical-electrical device, etc.), and / or any non-electrical analog thereof, such as optical or other analog.

[0107] [Personalized Cosmetics Ecosystem] FIG. 16 shows components of an ecosystem 1600 common to each type of product. The ecosystem includes a dispenser 1610, a user smartphone device 1620, and a cloud platform 1630. The smartphone is shown to include two functional blocks: smartphone application (“app”) setup 1621 and smartphone application usage 1622. Smartphone application setup 1621 is described in detail below with respect to different personalization examples and involves establishing initial setup information for configuring a user's user profile. The setup information can then be utilized when the smartphone application is used, and it can also be transmitted to the cloud platform 1630 for use in transmitting associated appearance selections for the user.

[0108] Use of the smartphone application itself involves the user actually making the selections that lead to the color decision and performing interactive communication with the dispenser, such as sending the recipe to the dispenser and tracking the dispenser's status (such as the inventory and remaining amount of cartridges in the dispenser). The smartphone application also performs interactive communication with the cloud platform. For example, the smartphone application can receive the associated appearance selections described above, and it can also provide direct user feedback from the user regarding the cloud platform's previously submitted appearances, which can inform the cloud platform regarding the color and recipe actually selected by the user and dispensed by the dispenser. Such feedback can provide the cloud platform with a form of machine learning to improve the algorithms used by the cloud platform.

[0109] [Personalized Lipstick Ecosystem] Figure 17 shows the above ecosystem (1700) built on suggesting trending lipstick colors to consumers after analyzing social media trends, combining favorite shades, geographic location, favorite influencers, past choices, etc. It gives consumers the opportunity to choose colors based on their appearance, try them on virtually, adjust as needed, and finally generate formulas on the fly using a connected dispenser. It is also possible to suggest colors based on the user's outfit, digitized in a selfie. Consumers can save their most favorite colors and share them with the virtual community.

[0110] FIG. 17 shows that the user smartphone ultimately delivers the recipe to the dispensing device via a smartphone application ("app"). The smartphone app interacts with both the connected dispenser and the cloud platform. Before the user can perform normal operation (use) of the smartphone app, the app requires setup (1710) with setup information to configure the user profile. App setup can be based on the following setup inputs: Onboarding surveys (favorite colors, etc.) Social media credentials (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) Your favorite influencers to follow for color Geographical location based on local fashion Environmental data (UV index, pollution, humidity, pollen)

[0111] The setup inputs are used during regular use of the app on the smartphone, but they are also transmitted to a cloud platform, which may be an external server device connected via the internet.

[0112] Actual use (1720) of the smartphone app includes selecting a mode for lipstick selection. In this example, the mode includes a mode for selecting social media trend recommendations from an algorithm (described in more detail below) running on a cloud platform. In another mode, the user can create their own lipstick color using a wide variety of color options.

[0113] Another mode may allow a user to match a lipstick color to their "look" based on a selfie. In this example, suggested shade and finish selections are extracted from the photo. The user can virtually try on the lipstick in real time, and the user can adjust the suggested color. Once the user is satisfied with the color, the user can touch a button displayed in the app to dispense the formula, and an internal neural network will break down the requested color into different color cartridge doses. After sending the recipe to the dispenser and dispensing the lipstick shade, the user can apply the lipstick.

[0114] After using the lipstick, users can use the app to provide feedback on whether they liked the rendering or not. Users can also save their favorite looks and colors for later reuse, and users can share their looks and colors on the web via social media platforms.

[0115] The cloud platform implements the functionality shown in 1730, such as the remote algorithm workflow and improvement process.

[0116] In a workflow performed by a cloud platform, personal accounts on social media networks (influencers, most trending looks) may be scraped for data related to lipstick color. The cloud platform may perform an analysis of one or more collected images to extract an average makeup color (lip, foundation, hair color) by segmenting the makeup's lip finish using a deep learning algorithm. For example, the cloud platform may accomplish this by first detecting lips in multiple images using techniques known in the art (such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,745, incorporated herein by reference). The cloud platform may then compare the extracted colors with the colors most liked by one or more communities of users, taking into account user setup input received from the user's smartphone device. Taking all of the collected data into account, the final step is for the cloud platform to send the results of the analysis to the user in the form of a selection of the relevant look described above.

[0117] In the improvement process, which is carried out by the cloud platform and smartphone app, users can save their favorite looks and "like" popular colors to enrich the scraping algorithm for later relevant recommendations. The cloud platform can further aggregate all of the users' feedback, and the platform can send the most trending areas per localization to new users.

[0118] The dispenser operations in block 1740 have already been described in detail above, but are summarized below: The dispenser receives a command to dispense a specific percentage of each cartridge. The dispenser dispenses the top portion, which the user can mix to obtain the desired color. The dispenser sends the remaining inventory of the formula back to the consumer app, ensuring that when the user makes a selection, there are only colors available in the UI that can be dispensed.

[0119] 18A illustrates an exemplary flow of operations in the above ecosystem for dispensing personalized lipstick shades from the perspective of an app. In step 1810, a user can select a "mode" as discussed above, which may be a mode for selecting trending social media recommendations from a cloud-running algorithm, allowing the user to create a unique lipstick color using a wide variety of color options, or allowing the user to match a lipstick color to their "look" based on a selfie.

[0120] Step 1820 shows an example of a display when a mode is selected to select a trending appearance driven by the cloud platform's AI algorithms. Step 1820 also shows that a menu is provided at the bottom of the interface to allow the user to switch between the above-mentioned modes.

[0121] Step 1830 shows an example of a display when the user can select a potential shade and adjust the shade using an appropriate adjustment mechanism, such as a color palette or slider. The shade may be displayed on the user's selfie image.

[0122] Step 1840 shows that after a color is finally selected by the user, the color is resolved into a combination of available colors contained in the cartridge of the dispensing device, and then the recipe is transmitted to the dispensing device for dispensing.

[0123] FIG. 18B shows an additional flowchart of how a smartphone app algorithm in a lipstick ecosystem might allow a user to see lipstick shades on the user's selfie. Recipe prediction module 1860 ("Module 2") may receive as input the device's dispensing capabilities, which is the set of three lipstick ingredient cartridges currently inside the dispensing device. Another input may be the masstone color of the diluted mixture, representing the actual color value that can be produced by the ingredients in the cartridges. The output from Module 2 is a list of recipes (actual dispensed amounts from each cartridge) and the corresponding RGB predicted masstone color resulting from each recipe. Module 1 (1870) can then perform a projection of how the lipstick will look on the actual lips based on the RGB masstone colors in the recipes and the user's lip color (lip tone), resulting in a list of recipes and the corresponding RGB applied colors. The relationship between masstone colors and applied colors based on the user's lip tone may be predetermined and stored. Thus, what may be presented to the user on the display is a palette based on the RGB color space, as shown in 1890.

[0124] FIG. 18C further illustrates how a particular set of cartridges can provide different shade areas for presentation to the user.

[0125] FIG. 18D illustrates how the “Match My Look” mode might operate in a lipstick ecosystem app. At state 1881, a user may input a selfie image that includes the user's outfit. Recommendations may be generated in different ways based on recognition of the colors and / or type of outfit in the image. For example, a first approach at 1882 (“Approach 1”) may aim to form a specific type of relationship between lipstick shades and outfit colors based on color wheel relationships as exemplified in Approach 1, using the seven rules of color and harmony science. Alternatively, at state 1883, a pre-determined palette may be presented based on a makeup artist's recommendations, taking into account the seasonal style of the outfit combined with the outfit's color.

[0126] FIG. 18E shows in more detail how a lipstick recommendation engine works based on a user's outfit selfie. In state 1891, probes may be configured by the user at different points in the outfit, where a single probe may be prioritized. In state 1892, different color palettes may be assigned to each probe based on a makeup artist's recommended palette, or it may be based on a predetermined color wheel relationship, as shown in FIG. 18D. As seen in state 1893, the output may recommend colors based on the set of cartridges installed in the dispensing device and the number and priority of probes the user decides to use. Optionally, the user can swipe to view available options on other color wheels if other sets of cartridges have been used. This may prompt the user to purchase a new set of cartridges.

[0127] [Personalized Skincare Ecosystem] Figure 19 shows the above ecosystem (1900) built on suggesting the most effective skin care formula to the user based on the user's geographic location, environmental factors, cumulative UV exposure, and clinical signs assessed via smartphone or dermatologist consultation. The system adjusts the proportion of active ingredients to obtain the most effective recipe for each day. Users can save their most favorite colors and share them with the virtual community.

[0128] FIG. 19 shows that the user smartphone ultimately delivers the recipe to the dispensing device via a smartphone application ("app"). The smartphone app interacts with both the connected dispenser and the cloud platform. Before the user can perform normal operation (use) of the smartphone app, the app requires setup (1910) with setup information to configure the user profile. App setup can be based on the following setup inputs: Onboarding surveys (favorite colors, etc.) Skin care analysis by a dermatologist or an AI algorithm using a selfie -Geographic location based on smartphone location detection capabilities Environmental data (UV index, pollution, humidity, pollen)

[0129] The setup inputs are used during regular use of the app on the smartphone, but they are also transmitted to a cloud platform, which may be an external server device connected via the internet.

[0130] The actual use of the smartphone app (1920) involves collecting environmental data based on geographic location and combining it with smartphone diagnostics that assess clinical signs (wrinkles, dark spots, firmness, pores, fine lines, dullness).

[0131] Users can also collect UV sensor data, such as the wearable UV sensor described in U.S. Patent No. 10,060,787, incorporated herein by reference, which provides an accurate measurement of cumulative UV exposure actually received. Based on historical data of skin assessments and environmental factors, the app processes the ideal formula to combat and protect against signs of skin aging from the environment. Once the user is satisfied with the formula, they can touch a button displayed in the app to dispense the formula, and an internal neural network breaks down the requested formula into different cartridge components. After the recipe is sent to the dispenser and the formula is dispensed, the user can apply the formula. Users can provide feedback on their favorite formulas over a specified period of time.

[0132] The cloud platform implements the functionality shown in Figure 1930, including the remote algorithm workflow and improvement process. In the workflow implemented by the cloud platform, specific notifications are sent to the app user to adjust recipes based on environmental predictions for UV, pollen, pollution, and temperature. For example, there is a known correlation between environmental conditions and skin aging (see "Assessing the impact of an aerial chronic urban pollution (UP) on some facial signs of differently aged Chinese men" at www.researchgate.net and "The skin aging exposome" at www.jdsjournal.com). Additionally, air quality determinations can be provided using tools such as Breezometer™ and local UV index predictions (or UV exposure can be obtained based on the UV sensor described above). By providing input for the user's geographic location, the cloud platform can adjust recipes to address environmental factors such as UV exposure and air quality. For example, Figure 20B below shows a sample combination of environmental factors and how they correlate with the ingredients in the cartridge.

[0133] The refinement process is run by a cloud platform and smartphone app, allowing users to save their favorite recipes that are most effective over time or feel the best on their skin. Users can also share their recipes with the community.

[0134] The cloud platform can further aggregate all user feedback, and the platform can send the most trending blending areas for each localization to new users.

[0135] The dispenser operations in block 1940 have already been described in detail above, but are summarized below: The dispenser receives a command to dispense a specific percentage of each cartridge. The dispenser dispenses the top portion, which the user can mix to obtain the desired color. The dispenser sends the remaining inventory of the formula back to the consumer app, ensuring that only the dispenseable ingredients are available in the UI when the user makes their selection.

[0136] 20A illustrates an exemplary flow of operations in the above ecosystem for dispensing a personalized skin care formulation from the perspective of an app. In step 2010, a user may perform a skin care diagnosis as described above, which may be performed by taking a 360° selfie or a series of photos at different angles using a smartphone's camera function. In step 2020, the app performs an analysis of the user's skin to detect skin features such as blackheads, wrinkle firmness, pores, fine lines, and dullness. Methods for performing deep learning to train and perform this type of detection are described in more detail below. Alternative known methods may also be used, such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 10,325,146 and 9,760,935, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0137] Step 2030 presents the analysis results for one or more of the analyzed skin features. The results may be presented as a score, which may be relevant to people within the user's age range. For example, each of the skin features may be presented on a 5-point scale, and features representing a worse than average score may be highlighted as the user's priority, while features representing a better than average score may be presented as an intensity.

[0138] Step 2040 shows that the app may present recommended skin care formulations ("blends") that address the user's priority skin care concerns while taking into account current environmental conditions. After a formulation is finally selected by the user, the formulation is broken down into available color combinations contained in the cartridges of the dispensing device, and the recipe is then transmitted to the dispensing device for dispensing in step 2050.

[0139] Figure 20B shows an example of how different combinations of environmental factors determined to be present for a user can result in different doses from three different cartridges. In this example, the cartridges each contain a director of ingredients for deep damage repair, cell renewal, and daily skin aggressor protection (which may include SPF ingredients and pollution protection ingredients). In this example, a fixed dose of cartridge 1 can always be used for efficacy, while the proportion of the remaining cartridges varies based on the level of UV or pollution present.

[0140] [Personalized Foundation Ecosystem] FIG. 21 shows an ecosystem 2100 used to dispense personalized foundation for a user. The ecosystem 2100 uses deep learning algorithms to measure the user's skin tone with a smartphone. Combined with environmental information or makeup tutorials, the system can adjust throughout the year to always provide the consumer with the best foundation color that matches their tan level / skin tone variations. Based on weather forecasts and UV exposure, the device can also increase skin care actives or SPF.

[0141] FIG. 21 shows that the user smartphone ultimately delivers the recipe to the dispensing device via a smartphone application ("app"). The smartphone app interacts with both the connected dispenser and the cloud platform. Before the user can perform normal operation (use) of the smartphone app, the app requires setup (2110) with setup information to configure the user profile. App setup can be based on the following setup inputs: Onboarding surveys (favorite colors, etc.) 360° video and skin tone algorithms detect your skin tone -Geographic location based on smartphone location detection capabilities Environmental data (UV index, pollution, humidity, pollen)

[0142] The setup inputs are used during regular use of the app on the smartphone, but they are also transmitted to a cloud platform, which may be an external server device connected via the internet.

[0143] The actual use of the smartphone app (2120) involves collecting environmental data based on geographic location and combining it with smartphone diagnostics to assess the user's skin tone. While methods for determining a user's skin tone for foundation matching are known in the art, the following method related to deep learning is detailed. Depending on the user's skin condition, when environmental conditions are not optimal, the app may decide to mix skin care actives, such as SPF, with the foundation. The app makes decisions based on the time of year and the person's sun exposure level to slightly adjust the foundation color as their skin tone evolves. If the color matching process is not perfect, the user can send feedback to the cloud to remotely improve the algorithm. In some cases, the user may want to use the device to adjust the primer color and achieve a specific makeup strategy by layering different colors.

[0144] The cloud platform implements the functionality shown at 2130, such as the remote algorithm workflow and improvement process. The cloud platform executes workflows in which specific notifications are sent to app users to add SPF and adjust the recipe based on environmental predictions of UV, pollen, pollution, and temperature. The cloud platform may shift the master skin tone formula for a user when the consumer's tan level differs from the initial diagnosis.

[0145] The improvement process, carried out by the cloud platform and smartphone app, allows users to save their favorite recipes, which are the most effective over time or feel the best on their skin. Users can also share their recipes with the community. The cloud platform can further aggregate all user feedback, and the platform can send the most trending formulas for each localization to new users.

[0146] The dispenser operations in block 2140 have already been described in detail above, but are summarized below: The dispenser receives a command to dispense a specific percentage of each cartridge. The dispenser dispenses the top portion, which the user can mix to obtain the desired color. The dispenser sends the remaining inventory of the formula back to the consumer app, ensuring that only the dispenseable ingredients are available in the UI when the user makes their selection.

[0147] 22A shows an example flow of operations in the above ecosystem for dispensing personalized foundation from the perspective of an app. In step 2210, the user may perform a skin tone diagnosis as discussed above, which may be performed by taking a 360° selfie or a series of photos at different angles using the smartphone's camera function. In step 2220, the app performs an analysis of the user's skin to detect skin tone and shade.

[0148] In step 2230, the app may present recommended foundations ("blends") that match the user's skin tone while taking into account current environmental conditions. After a foundation is finally selected by the user, the foundation is broken down into combinations of available ingredients contained in the cartridge of the dispensing device, and the recipe is then transmitted to the dispensing device for dispensing in step 2240.

[0149] FIG. 22B provides further details of a method for performing the above-described skin tone diagnosis. In step 2211, the user records their own video until face detection is achieved by the smartphone app. In step 2212, face detection is performed according to known methods. If a face is not detected, the user may be displayed an error message and requested to change the camera angle or position relative to the user until face detection is achieved. Once face detection is performed, preprocessing is performed on the 10 frames of video data, where normalization and zoom processes are performed to evaluate specific features of the user's face. Normalization is the process of matching all frames according to the same resolution, orientation width, lighting, etc. Normalization is intended to make the frames comparable to each other, ensure that the main algorithm functions within the validated operating conditions / range, and avoid outlier data points. Next, in step 2213, a skin tone prediction model is run based on the median skin tones detected in the 10 frames used for prediction. In addition, prediction noise assessment is performed using a median approach to filter / average noise. If the noise prediction is low, the LAB values ​​of the skin tones are used to determine the blends used to create the foundation in the dispensing device. However, if the noise level is high, a safety net backup questionnaire is triggered in step 2214 that queries the previous foundation the user has used. The previous foundation color is then mapped to the stored LAB values ​​that are used to determine the blends used to create the foundation in the dispensing device.

[0150] 22C-22D provide additional details on how deep learning is performed to allow a smartphone app (or cloud platform) to estimate skin tone in an image. The same process can also be used to allow a device to estimate skin care conditions in an image. In FIG. 22C, training is performed on a deep learning model. Input is provided in stage 2221, where a photo (which may be a 360 video selfie or a photo selfie) is input along with metadata associated with the input photo and external metadata. The metadata associated with the photo may include date and time (and / or season), along with an optional GPS location and an indication of whether the photo was taken inside or outside. The external metadata may be historical climate data. In stage 2222, preprocessing is performed on the input image, which may include face detection, centering and scaling, face recognition (depending on library availability), and lighting condition correction. In stage 2223, a deep learning model is trained on the photo by learning features for skin tone estimation. The deep learning model may also perform frame selection to determine a scalar weight for the importance of selected frames based on a group of images from the same user. The output of the deep learning model (2224) provides a weighted average of skin color from the selected frames and weights from the frame selection and post-processing. To calibrate the accuracy of the model, measured skin color is input into the system for actual users in images to train the deep learning model.

[0151] Figure 22D shows the use of a deep learning model after training has reached an appropriate level. This is called "inference time" because skin tone (or skin condition) is inferred from images without being able to perform a true measurement on the user's actual skin. It can be seen that the stages in Figure 22D are the same except that there is no measurement of the user's skin color in the final stage.

[0152] [Smart replaceable cartridge system] The dispensing device allows for smart and efficient replacement of consumable cartridges. The cartridges (consumables) used in the dispensing device are preferably managed in sets (e.g., a set of three cartridges). For example, there may be separate sets of cartridges for lipstick, skin care, and foundation applications. In the system, the consumable sets are equipped with smart chips or electronic devices (e.g., NFC, RFID, or contact chips) configured for data storage and transmission / reception. While the following description refers to NFC (near field communication) tags, the claims are not limited to this example. Each cartridge has a unique formulation identifier that can identify different cosmetic attributes and attributes such as shade / finish, texture, and skin / hair benefits. The attributes are stored in an integrated circuit during production and signed using an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm.

[0153] As described in detail below, the NFC tag applied to the cartridge ensures the management of user color space, multi-device use cases, and traceability. The tag has two memory zones: one for production data (encoded during the filling process) and one for usage, where the device encodes the usage and follow-up amounts. Furthermore, the following security mechanisms are implemented: (i) ensuring the non-modification of production data, i.e., the sector edition is password-protected (secret password); (ii) ensuring the absence of cartridge data duplication in case of misappropriation, i.e., adding a signature mechanism using UIID (tag unique ID, encoded data, manufacturing secret key). The app that reads the cartridge using the device then verifies that the signature comes from the manufacturing entity before allowing dispensing.

[0154] FIG. 23 shows the structure of cartridge 2300, similar to the cartridge described above, but further including area 2310, an area where metallization is not allowed, and an NFC tag (smart chip) 2320 that is glued flat and edgeless to the bottom of the cartridge.

[0155] Figure 24 shows the data format for the data stored on the NFC tag on the cartridge. The "OFF" column is for "offset," which is the hex-coded coordinate of the data. A "page" represents a contiguous data array block, since the system can only read and write one complete page at a time. The format can be seen to include a tag identifier (tag ID) and several fields. In this non-limiting example, the data size of the data contained in the NFC tag is 56 bytes, but this can be increased or decreased. The data format shows that there are information fields intended for production information and other fields intended for usage tracking.

[0156] Figure 25 shows a table with self-explanatory descriptions of the various fields included in the NFC tag data format. Additionally, "Base Type" refers to the type of data; for example, "u8" refers to an 8-bit unsigned integer; "Ule16" refers to a 16-bit unsigned integer; "Length" and "Page" refer to the coordinates and allocation required in the NFC tag's memory page. For example, "u8" is an 8-bit coded unsigned integer, which requires 8 bits of memory space in the page 0 location.

[0157] 26 shows the structure of a dispensing device 2600 equipped for a smart replaceable cartridge system. It can be seen that the dispensing device 2600 includes a contact / Hall effect sensor 2610 that detects and counts lid open / close cycles to trigger consumable reading and change detection operations. The device further includes a communication interface 2620, in this case a specific NFC antenna, for each cartridge tube that can read and write information to the cartridge's NFC tag upon each dispense.

[0158] FIG. 27 illustrates a handshake between a dispensing device 2600 and a user smartphone device 2710. Various triggers for initiating communication between the dispensing device and smartphone may include a connection being established between the devices (e.g., Bluetooth pairing), the dispensing device lid being opened, a dispense command from a smartphone app (such as one of the apps described above), or a dispense command entered directly into the dispensing device. In response to the trigger, the handshake includes, in step 1, reading the consumable status of the cartridge stored in the dispensing device and sending that status to the smartphone. Simultaneously, a user experience is updated and sent to the smartphone. "User experience" refers to the device context with respect to the user viewing a specific interface that displays a pop-up to the user when the lid is open, the cartridge is empty, or the color wheel has the correct color available. In step 2, the smartphone may transmit or adjust a dispense command to the dispensing device. In step 3, the dispensing device may transmit actual dispense feedback to the smartphone. In step 4, the smartphone may transmit instructions to update the NFC tag on the cartridge when the dispensing session is complete.

[0159] FIG. 28 shows a consumer app state machine illustrating the process from the app's perspective of priming cartridges before using a dispensing device. In an initial priming step 2810, several formulations may be dispensed in a predetermined sequence and / or simultaneously from each cartridge to verify that dispensing can be performed from each cartridge. In an additional priming step 2820, the user can practice clicking on displayed colors to control individual dispenses on command. This may be performed to ensure that the correct colors are detected in the correct tubes in the device so that recipes can be automatically assigned to the correct tubes. Step 2830 shows a display of the status of the cartridges in the dispensing device when priming is complete.

[0160] The priming process is therefore able to detect when a new cartridge has been installed and allows for proper engagement of the plunger of the dispensing device and the formulation contained in the cartridge so that the appropriate dose can be dispensed when the actual blend is being created.

[0161] Additionally, by detecting the exact cartridges installed, a set of cartridges (e.g., a set of three cartridges) can be determined, and the color attributes (or skin care attributes) possible for the current set will be automatically updated in the app.

[0162] It can also perform consumables management by suggesting or automatically performing pipe cleaning when cartridges are changed. The app can further adapt the formulation area of ​​the user interface functionality depending on the type of cartridge set installed.

[0163] Additionally, the app's state machine can detect inconsistent or missing cartridge sets and suggest purchasing missing sets to reach a result. It can automatically detect cartridge expiration dates. Because safety information is stored on the cartridge, each user's smartphone can independently detect the information on the cartridge, naturally enabling multi-user and multi-device functionality.

[0164] The cartridge can also be authenticated during priming. A 32-bit hash code is generated at production time using the manufacturer's private key, and the code is encoded onto the cartridge's NFC tag. The smartphone contains a hard-coded private key, which may be included in a software developer kit (SDK), and the hash code is verified when reading data from the NFC tag transmitted from the dispensing device. If possible, the smartphone can also be hard-coded with the private key. A unique item identification (UIID) tag may also be physically added to the cartridge or NFC tag (e.g., in the form of a barcode) and read by the dispensing device. If the cartridge authentication process fails, the dispensing device can transmit a notification to the smartphone.

[0165] In some rare cases, users may encounter a cartridge whose NFC tag cannot be read by the machine (encoding error, tag corruption, device out of range, or other defect). In this case, the user should still be able to dispense formulations and use the device as normally as possible. To ensure this acceptable default mode, a recovery cartridge mode takes over, requiring the user to enter cartridge information. Applications relying on the SDK then create a virtual cartridge to continue the dispensing algorithm. This auto-triggered recovery mode is turned off when a new cartridge is inserted or the NFC is in range again.

[0166] FIG. 29 illustrates how a defective cartridge NFC tag is managed in the aforementioned scenario. If there is an error in the read data from the NFC tag, the process begins in step 2910, where the SDK installed on the smartphone enables recovery mode for a specific tube in the dispensing device. In step 2911, the SDK attempts to write a new production sequence onto the tag (by transmitting it to the tag via the dispensing device) based on the last read value. In step 2912a, if the tag was successfully written, the process ends. However, if rewriting the tag fails in step 2912b, the process proceeds to step 2940. In step 2913, the app displays a message asking the user to verify that the cartridge is in the appropriate channel (tube), and the dispensing device automatically opens the lid in step 2914. In other words, if the problem was that the cartridge was not inserted, this step corrects this possibility. In step 2915, the user verifies that the cartridge is in the channel. If a read is still not possible, in step 2916, the user is asked to select a cartridge color that matches the sticker on the cartridge. In step 2917, the user is prompted to enter the cartridge's batch ID and serial number and to verify whether the cartridge is new. In step 2918, the SDK creates a virtual cartridge for the channel number. The dispense operation can proceed based on the virtual cartridge being used as a proxy to successfully read the NFC tag on the actual cartridge. In step 2919, the virtual cartridge is stopped if the cartridge suddenly becomes readable for a predetermined number of consecutive dispense operations or if the entire set of cartridges is changed.

[0167] [Dispensing and automatic cleaning system] Because the above system includes many different types of swapping cartridges, a special cleaning mechanism was developed that integrates with the structure of the removable compact to provide unique cleaning capabilities for an enhanced user experience.

[0168] 30 shows a simplified side view of an embodiment of this dispensing device 3000 showing that the dispensing device includes a retractable plate 3010 with a hole 3020 for accommodating the dispensing end of a cartridge 3030. The device includes a spring 3040 that hides the retractable plate and cartridge nozzle in a "stable, raised position" when the spring is not compressed. The stable, raised position also hides the nozzle tip and reduces dust or contamination within the nozzle.

[0169] It can be seen that the retractable plate includes sides that are bent at approximately 90 degrees relative to the top surface, allowing the plate to move downwardly into slide channels 3050 in the body of the dispensing device.

[0170] FIG. 31A shows that when a force is applied to the retractable plate, the spring is compressed and the retractable plate is in the "down position."

[0171] FIG. 31B then shows that when the removable compact / cup 3110 is placed on top of the retractable plate, the "lowered position" causes the cartridge nozzle to be flush with the dispensing surface 3120 of the compact / cup, allowing the dispensed formulation 3130 to be dispensed smoothly onto the dispensing surface.

[0172] With the retractable plate mechanism in place, the method of cleaning the surface of the compact will now be described with reference to FIG.

[0173] 32 shows that a cleaning formulation reservoir 3250 is disposed between the body of the dispensing device and the retractable plate. In the "stable lowered position" in state 3210, the dispensing end of the cleaning reservoir is below the opening in the retractable plate. When additional force is applied to the retractable plate in state 3220, the dispensing end of the cleaning reservoir becomes flush with the surface of the compact, and compression on the reservoir causes the cleaning formulation to be dispensed onto the surface of the compact, as shown in state 3230.

[0174] Examples of cleaning formulations include soap, alcohol, or other known cleaning fluids.

[0175] Each of the above positions may be achieved by manual force provided by a user. Alternatively, each position may be achieved by electromechanical means, such as an electric actuator device, as understood in the art. The cleaning formulation may be manually wiped, spread, and / or brushed off by a user.

[0176] 33 illustrates an alternative use of the retractable plate described above to provide a method (shown as 3350 in state 3310) of flushing the cartridge of any remaining ingredients or residue. In state 3310, the dispensing device is shown in a stable lowered position. In state 3320, when the compact is depressed, the downward motion can translate into actuation of the cartridge's piston. This may allow the user to use / flush the last remaining ingredients in the cartridge, if desired.

[0177] Accordingly, the foregoing description discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the present invention, as with the remaining claims. This disclosure, including any readily identifiable variations of the teachings herein, defines in part the scope of the following claim terms, so that the subject matter of the invention is not dedicated to the public.

Claims

1. 1. A system comprising:

1. A mobile user device including a processing circuit, the processing circuit comprising: running an application that determines a user's skin tone; and determining and transmitting a recipe for creating a target foundation based on a combination of a plurality of distinct foundation ingredients associated with the skin tone of the user; and a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and dispense each of the plurality of separate foundation components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target foundation is achieved when the dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate foundation components is blended on the dispensing surface; The system, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to determine the user's skin tone based on detected facial features of the user in a self-portrait image of the user captured by a camera of the mobile user device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-captured image is a 360° video.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to perform face detection of the user in multiple frames of the video and predict the skin tone of the user based on a median of detected skin tones in the multiple frames.

4. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to predict the skin tone of the user further based on a deep learning model.

5. the processing circuitry of the mobile user device performing face detection of the user's face within a plurality of frames of the video and performing noise prediction assessment within the plurality of frames of the video; predicting the skin tone of the user based on a median of detected skin tones in the plurality of frames when the noise prediction assessment indicates a noise level below a threshold; 3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the noise prediction evaluation indicates a noise level above a threshold, the system is configured to request the user to provide information about previously used foundations to predict the skin tone of the user.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing surface is configured to be part of a removable portion of the device.

7. 1. A method implemented by a system including a mobile user device and a dispensing device, the method comprising: executing, by the mobile user device, an application for determining a user's skin tone; determining and transmitting, by the mobile user device, a recipe for creating a target foundation based on a combination of a plurality of distinct foundation ingredients associated with the skin tone of the user; receiving, by the dispensing device, the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device; and dispensing each of the plurality of separate foundation components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target foundation is achieved when the dispensed amounts of each of the plurality of separate foundation components are blended on the dispensing surface; A method in which the mobile user device determines the user's skin tone based on detected facial features of the user in a self-filmed video of the user captured by a camera of the mobile user device.

8. 1. A system comprising:

1. A mobile user device including a processing circuit, the processing circuit comprising: running an application that receives a selection of a lipstick target color from a user; a mobile user device configured to: determine and transmit a recipe for producing the target color of the lipstick based on a combination of a plurality of separate lipstick ingredients; a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and dispense each of the plurality of separate lipstick components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target color of the lipstick is achieved when the dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate lipstick components is blended on the dispensing surface; The system, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to present at least one candidate color of lipstick to the user based on at least a user profile of the user of a smartphone.

9. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to present the user with at least one candidate color of lipstick further based on at least one of a survey completed by the user, the user's social media accounts, social media accounts followed by the user, local fashion information based on a geographic location, and environmental data associated with the user.

10. an external server in communication with the mobile user device over a network, the processing circuitry of the mobile user device configured to transmit user inputs used to configure the user profile to the external server; 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the external server includes processing circuitry configured to determine related images including candidate lipstick colors based on the user input and transmit the determined related images to the mobile user device.

11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry of the external server is configured to determine the relevant images based on images of people wearing lipstick contained on a social media platform.

12. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to display an interface that enables the user to virtually try on the at least one candidate color of lipstick on a self-portrait image of the user.

13. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to display to the user a color palette representing all colors that can be produced by the dispensing device based on the particular set of the plurality of separate lipstick components currently installed in the dispensing device.

14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to determine the color palette to display to the user based on an outfit the user is wearing in a selfie image.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing surface is configured to be part of a removable portion of the device.

16. 1. A method implemented by a system including a mobile user device and a dispensing device, the method comprising: executing, by the mobile user device, an application that receives a selection of a lipstick target color from a user; determining and transmitting, by the mobile device, a recipe for producing the target color of the lipstick based on a combination of a plurality of separate lipstick ingredients; receiving, by the dispensing device, the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device; and dispensing each of the plurality of separate lipstick components onto a common dispensing surface such that the target color of the lipstick is achieved when the dispensed amounts of each of the plurality of separate lipstick components are blended on the dispensing surface; The method, wherein the mobile user device presents at least one candidate color of lipstick to the user based on at least a user profile of the user of the smartphone.

17. 1. A system comprising:

1. A mobile user device including a processing circuit, the processing circuit comprising: running an application that receives a selection of a target skin care formulation from a user; and determining and transmitting a recipe for generating the target skin care formulation based on a combination of a plurality of distinct skin care formulation ingredients; and a dispensing device configured to receive the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device and dispense each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients onto a common dispensing surface such that the target skin care formulation is achieved when the dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients is blended on the dispensing surface; The system, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to present to the user at least one candidate priority skin condition to be addressed by the target skin care formulation based on a user profile of the user of the smartphone.

18. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to determine the at least one candidate priority skin condition based on performing image analysis on an image of the user.

19. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry of the mobile user device is configured to determine the at least one candidate preferred skin condition further based on environmental data associated with the user.

20. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the environmental data associated with the user includes ultraviolet (UV) exposure levels and air quality levels associated with the user's location.

21. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one candidate priority skin condition for the user is wrinkles, dark spots, firmness, pore visibility, fine lines, or radiance.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the dispensing surface is configured to be part of a removable portion of the device.

23. 1. A method implemented by a system including a mobile user device and a dispensing device, the method comprising: executing, by the mobile user device, an application that receives a selection of a target skin care formulation from a user; determining and transmitting, by the mobile user device, a recipe for generating the target skin care formulation based on a combination of a plurality of distinct skin care formulation ingredients; receiving, by the dispensing device, the transmitted recipe from the mobile user device; and dispensing each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients onto a common dispensing surface such that, when a dispensed amount of each of the plurality of separate skin care formulation ingredients is blended on the dispensing surface, the target skin care formulation is achieved; The method, wherein the mobile user device presents the user with at least one candidate priority skin condition to be addressed by the target skin care formulation based on a user profile of the user of the smartphone.

24. 1. A system comprising: a dispensing device configured to receive at least one cartridge containing a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area, the at least one cartridge including an electronic communication and storage device configured to store data related to the cosmetic material stored in the cartridge; a mobile user device configured to communicate with the dispensing assembly to receive information regarding the electronic communication and the data stored in a storage device, and to transmit a command to the dispensing assembly to dispense the specified amount of the cosmetic material; The system, wherein the electronic communication and storage device stores data regarding (i) a production process for the at least one cartridge that is created before the at least one cartridge is first inserted into the dispensing device, and (ii) the use of the at least one cartridge after the at least one cartridge is inserted into the dispensing device.

25. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronic communication and storage device is one of a near field communication (NFC) tag, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and a contact chip.

26. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the dispensing device includes a communication interface for at least one cartridge tube configured to communicate with the electronic communication and storage device.

27. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the dispensing device includes a sensor configured to detect and count lid openings and closings to trigger a consumable reading and alteration detection process.

28. 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the triggering of the consumable reading and change detection process initiates a communication process between the dispensing device and the mobile user device.

29. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one cartridge is a plurality of cartridges, and the mobile user device receives information regarding the particular set of cartridges based on receiving the electronic communication and data stored in a storage device for each of the plurality of cartridges.

30. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile user device automatically determines possible color or skin care attributes that are possible based on the plurality of cartridges.

31. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile user device detects inconsistent or missing cartridges based on the received information regarding the particular set of the plurality of cartridges.

32. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the mobile user device is configured to authenticate the at least one cartridge as being provided by a particular manufacturer before allowing any dispensing to occur with the dispensing device.

33. 1. A method implemented by a system including: a dispensing device configured to receive at least one cartridge containing a cosmetic material and dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge into a receiving area, the at least one cartridge including an electronic communication and storage device configured to store data related to the cosmetic material stored in the cartridge; and a mobile user device, the method comprising: communicating with the dispensing assembly by the mobile user device to receive information related to the electronic communication and the data stored on a storage device, and transmitting a command to the dispensing assembly to dispense the specified amount of the cosmetic material; The method, wherein the electronic communication and storage device stores data regarding (i) a production process for the at least one cartridge that is created before the at least one cartridge is first inserted into the dispensing device, and (ii) the use of the at least one cartridge after the at least one cartridge is inserted into the dispensing device.

34. 1. An apparatus for dispensing cosmetic materials, comprising: a dispensing device configured to receive at least one cartridge containing a cosmetic material and to dispense a specified amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge onto a dispensing surface; the dispensing surface is configured to be part of a removable portion of the device; the dispensing device further includes a retractable plate disposed below the removable portion, wherein the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge is configured to penetrate the retractable plate and the removable portion such that (i) when the retractable plate is in a stable, highest position, the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge is flush with a surface of the retractable plate, and (ii) when the retractable plate is moved to a predetermined, stable, downward position below the highest position and the removable portion is placed on the retractable surface, the dispensing end of the at least one cartridge is flush with the dispensing surface, and the retractable plate is configured to move downward to a more unstable position in response to a downward force on the removable portion.

35. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a cleaning formulation reservoir disposed between the body of the dispensing device and the retractable plate, the cleaning formulation reservoir configured to pass through the retractable plate and the removable portion and having a dispensing end configured to dispense a cleaning formulation onto the dispensing surface when the retractable plate is configured to move further downward to the unstable position.

36. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a spring mechanism coupled at one end to a bottom surface of the retractable plate and at another end to a body of the dispensing device.

37. 35. The device of claim 34, wherein the at least one cartridge is configured to dispense a remaining amount of the cosmetic material from the cartridge onto the dispensing surface when the retractable plate is configured to move further downward to the unstable position.

Images