LED irradiator and skin color restoration method using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an LED illuminator including a facial lens, and a method for skin color restoration using the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to an LED illuminator including a facial lens for controlling the direction and intensity of light emitted from an LED light source, and a method for reducing skin aging and wrinkles using the same.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2020-0043021, filed on April 8, 2020, and Korean Patent Application No. 2021-0046164, filed on April 8, 2021, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to an LED illuminator and a facial rejuvenation method using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to an LED illuminator capable of adjusting the direction and intensity of light irradiated from an LED light source, and a method for treating skin aging and wrinkles using the same. Background Art

[0003] Phototherapy, or light therapy, is a long-standing technique used to treat a variety of conditions. Skin conditions have been treated with sunlight for thousands of years. In recent years, light therapy has gained significant attention in the field of facial rejuvenation or regeneration.

[0004] Based on the principle that light accelerates biochemical reactions in the skin, phototherapy is performed using various light sources such as sunlight, lasers, fluorescent lamps, UV light, and LEDs. Phototherapy is a medical technology that treats or repairs damaged skin by selectively regenerating or destroying skin tissue.

[0005] Phototherapy began systematic research in 1903 by Nobel Prize winner in Medicine Niels Ryberg Finsen and has rapidly developed since the 1970s. Following a 2005 study on the use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for wrinkle treatment, home-use phototherapy skin care / medical devices emerged. The most recent product to gain widespread adoption of LLLT is an LED mask, which uses LEDs to directly apply light to the facial skin.

[0006] In South Korea, many LED face mask products have been released. However, LED face masks still need to be verified in terms of usability and effectiveness, and have many technical issues to be solved.

[0007] First, it fails to provide a uniform amount of light to the face. In current LED face masks, the positioning or arrangement of the LEDs does not take into account the user's face shape, and the optical design for uniform illumination is inadequate. This can result in more light than necessary being irradiated to a specific area due to overlapping light sources, or insufficient light being irradiated due to the large distance between the light sources. Additionally, there's the issue of uneven distance between the light source and the skin, resulting in an uneven amount of light reaching the skin through light diffusion. Taking into account the position or arrangement of the LEDs, the complexity of the facial shape, the diffusion of the light source, and so on, a uniform amount of light needs to be irradiated to the skin.

[0008] Second, it cannot provide customized light therapy based on the location of facial skin. Light emitted by LEDs reaches the dermis through the skin's stratum corneum, accelerating biochemical reactions within the skin. Facial skin is diverse, including the eyebrows, where sebaceous glands exert their strongest effects, the area around the lips, and particularly the area around the eyes, where the stratum corneum is thinnest. Detailed design of the light source and lens type and wavelength based on dermatological research is insufficient for customized light therapy tailored to each skin condition.

[0009] Third, the method of preventing light from the LED light source from directly hitting the eyeball can be improved. A typical side effect of LED masks is "eye burns". When the amount of light is increased to maximize the effect of the therapy, strong light will directly hit the eyeball, and eye burns will occur. When the amount of light is reduced to avoid this, the effect of light irradiation therapy may be halved. The current method of blocking light that hits the eyeball is to use silicone in the shape of swimming goggles to continuously press the periphery of the eyeball. However, if this method is used, the user may feel uncomfortable or may suffer from a headache due to excessive pressure. The periphery of the eye, which is most prone to wrinkling, is directly pressed, and thus the effect is very contrary to skin regeneration / recovery. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the lower edge of the eye socket cannot be directly irradiated, which may be the area that needs light irradiation therapy the most.

[0010] Patent document 1 relates to an LED mask device in which a plurality of LEDs configured to emit infrared light toward a user's face are mounted in a mask having an opening hole, a protective device configured to prevent light from the LEDs from being introduced into the eyes is formed at an inner surface inside the opening hole of the mask, and a head holder configured to prevent the LEDs mounted in the mask from directly contacting the facial skin is coupled to the upper surface of the mask; however, there are problems caused by pressing the periphery of the eyes, uneven irradiation, and a uniform light amount rather than a customized light amount.

[0011] Patent document 2 relates to an LED mask capable of irradiating LED light onto the face to achieve skin care, whitening and sterilization effects, and more specifically to an LED mask capable of irradiating the face with light three-dimensionally, irradiating the skin around the eyes with light while preventing glare caused by the LED light being introduced into the eyes, and preventing a foreign body sensation and skin damage caused by the skin contacting a light-blocking wall constructed to prevent glare; however, there is a problem in that the periphery of the eyes is pressed and light is irradiated without considering the skin around the eyes, which is relatively weak facial skin.

[0012] Patent document 3 relates to an LED mask device capable of complexly performing face and scalp care, in which both visible LED elements and near-infrared LED elements are used to perform skin care suitable for the face and scalp; however, there is a problem in that uniform irradiation and customized light quantity are not provided, and light cannot be prevented from directly irradiating the eyeballs.

[0013] Patent document 4 relates to an LED mask system with an ion introduction function, which includes: a mask unit configured to be worn on the user's face; an LED unit, which is arranged at the mask unit to irradiate LED light to the user's face; an ion introduction unit, which is arranged at the mask unit to contact the user's facial skin; a pairing electrode unit, which is electrically connected to the ion introduction unit, the pairing electrode unit presents a positive polarity, and the pairing electrode unit is configured to allow negative ions to accumulate on the ion introduction unit; and a power supply unit, which is configured to supply power to the LED unit and the ion introduction unit, wherein the LED light irradiates the user's skin and at the same time, the components of the hydrogel mask attached to the user's face are absorbed into the user's facial skin using the ion introduction unit; however, there is a problem in that uniform irradiation and customized light quantity are not provided, and the periphery of the eyes is pressed.

[0014] Patent Document 5 relates to an LED face mask device capable of emitting light having a wavelength range set for each facial area. More specifically, it relates to an LED face mask device capable of evenly irradiating the face with LED light effective for skin care and skin disease treatment, emitting light having a wavelength range corresponding to a user-defined pattern for a specific facial area. The wavelength range can be adjusted for each area, and irradiation can be performed; however, there is no structure that enables uniform irradiation for each area. If light is actually emitted from an LED device such as that described in Patent Document 5, the light from the center of the LED is brighter, while the light from the peripheral portion of the LED is dimmer. Consequently, spots may appear with continued use, and unevenness may occur.

[0015] Patent Document 6 relates to a beauty mask with LED patches. The invention aims to provide a skin treatment or beauty device using LED light in the form of a mask, wherein an element configured to irradiate LED light is provided in the mask in the form of a patch. The patch includes a transparent flexible pad and an LED module coupled to each other, and the patch is detachably attached to any point on the mask. However, there is a problem in that there is no structure that can perform uniform irradiation in the area to which the patch is attached, and light does not irradiate the empty spaces between the patches, resulting in uneven effects due to long-term exposure.

[0016] The LED mask of patent document 7 includes: a mask body formed to cover the wearer's face; a light source unit installed at the mask body, the light source unit being configured to emit light having a predetermined wavelength range; and a fixing unit being configured to fix the mask body to the wearer's face, wherein the mask body is provided with a light guide plate, the light guide plate being configured to allow light emitted from the light source unit to move through the light guide plate and guide the light to be uniformly irradiated toward the wearer's face; however, if a mode protrusion is used, a shadow area that does not correspond to the entire area of ​​the curved face appears, and due to the curvature of the face, a design for uniform illumination is basically impossible, and the light source is only provided at a portion of the mask, thereby posing a problem of low-temperature burns due to local overheating.

[0017] Patent document 8 relates to a beauty mask configured to allow a medicinal liquid having a predetermined efficacy to penetrate into the face to improve the skin, the beauty mask comprising: an inner skin and an outer skin formed to have a contour capable of coming into close contact with at least the face; a space configured to receive the medicinal liquid therein as a result of the contours of the inner skin and the outer skin being integrally joined to each other; an injection tube protruding from the outer skin so that the space is filled with the medicinal liquid; a transparent tubular wearing unit having a plug configured to be selectively and detachably attached to the injection tube to open and close the space, the wearing unit being capable of contracting and relaxing; and microneedle tubes protruding inwardly from the inner skin to communicate with the space, the microneedle tubes being configured to discharge the medicinal liquid into the skin, the microneedle tubes being arranged in a uniform pattern, wherein the needle tubes include an injection portion formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle to penetrate the skin, The injection part is formed integrally with a hard support member, which is configured to support the injection part so that it is fixed in the endothelium with a predetermined strength by injection molding when the injection part is connected to the support member. The injection part has a length of 0.3 to 0.5 mm protruding from the surface of the endothelium to penetrate into the dermis layer of the skin, and the light source part is arranged on the epidermis. The light source part includes an LED, and the LED is configured to irradiate light that activates the cells of the skin in coordination with the medicinal liquid. The LED is arranged in a predetermined pattern; however, the main purpose of this patent document is to discharge the medicinal liquid, so a uniform amount of light and customized irradiation cannot be achieved, and the eyeball is likely to be directly exposed to the LED light, thereby causing serious side effects, and it is difficult to produce the uniform parallel light described in the specification by constructing a convex lens around the LED.

[0018] Patent Document 9 relates to a light-guide-type LED face mask device comprising a support unit, a light-emitting unit, a light-guiding unit, a reflecting unit, and a controller. Patent Document 9 provides a light-guide-type LED face mask device configured so that LED light, such as visible light or near-infrared light, is uniformly irradiated onto the entire facial skin. However, this light-guide-type LED face mask device has a similar configuration to Patent Document 7 and, therefore, suffers from the problems encountered in Patent Document 7. Furthermore, the introduction of moisture or dust into the light-guiding unit may result in uneven light guidance, making it impossible to irradiate the face with light even when the face is finely divided into sections. Consequently, there is a problem in that no means is provided to prevent light from irradiating the eyeballs.

[0019] Patent Document 10 relates to an LED mask in which LED light irradiation time and wavelength are automatically selected according to the skin condition of the LED mask wearer; however, when worn for a long time, side effects such as spots may appear on the skin due to very uneven irradiation.

[0020] Patent Document 11 relates to an LED mask comprising an inner skin member formed into a curved shape corresponding to the face, the inner surface of the inner skin member being attached to the face, an LED board disposed on the outer surface of the inner skin member, the LED board including LED elements configured to irradiate LED light onto the face, and an outer skin member disposed on the outer surface of the LED board. Patent Document 11 provides an LED mask configured so that the size of the LED mask can be adjusted by adjusting the gap in the cutout portion according to the size or shape of the user's face, and the LED mask can be used regardless of its position; however, there is a problem in that a means for uniformly irradiating the light emitted from the LED board is not provided, and the means for preventing the light from irradiating the eyeballs is weak.

[0021] While many technologies related to LED masks have been proposed, as described above, the problems established by the present invention have never been recognized, and no solutions thereto have been proposed.

[0022] (Patent Document)

[0023] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1648415 (August 9, 2016) (“Patent Document 1”)

[0024] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2034145 (October 14, 2019) (“Patent Document 2”)

[0025] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1735703 (May 8, 2017) (“Patent Document 3”)

[0026] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1863698 (May 28, 2018) (“Patent Document 4”)

[0027] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1862280 (May 23, 2018) (“Patent Document 5”)

[0028] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1236335 (February 18, 2013) (“Patent Document 6”)

[0029] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1807533 (December 5, 2017) (“Patent Document 7”)

[0030] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1823263 (January 24, 2018) (“Patent Document 8”)

[0031] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2019-0121715 (October 28, 2019) (“Patent Document 9”)

[0032] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2019-0103077 (September 4, 2019) (“Patent Document 10”)

[0033] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1616707 (April 25, 2016) (“Patent Document 11”)

[0034] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2019-0018383 (February 22, 2019) (“Patent Document 12”)

[0035] (Non-patent literature)

[0036] Joel E. Pessa, "An Algorithm of Facial Aging: Verification of Lambros's Theory by Three-Dimensional Stereolithography, with Reference to the Pathogenesis of Midfacial Aging, Scleral Show, and the Lateral Suborbital Trough Deformity," Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, August, p479-488, (2000)

[0037] Bryan Mendelson and Chin-Ho Wong, “Changes in the Facial Skeleton With Aging: Implications and Clinical Applications in Facial Rejuvenation,” Journal of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 36: p753-760 (2012)

[0038] David M. Kahn and Robert B. Shaw Jr., "Overview of Current Thoughts on Facial Volume and Aging," Facial Plastic Surgery / Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 350-355 (2010) Summary of the Invention

[0039] Technical issues

[0040] The present invention has been developed in light of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an LED illuminator capable of irradiating uniform light onto a user's face regardless of the user's facial shape, and capable of providing customized light irradiation therapy based on the location of the facial skin. Another object of the present invention is to provide an LED illuminator capable of providing an optical pattern for facial skin restoration. Another object of the present invention is to provide an LED illuminator capable of preventing LED light from directly irradiating the eyeballs, and capable of providing customized light irradiation to the lower orbital rim and crow's feet, thereby maximizing the effect of light irradiation therapy on the lower orbital rim and crow's feet.

[0041] Technical Solution

[0042] To achieve this, the present invention incorporates a facial lens into an LED light source, allowing uniform light to reach specific areas of the face. This facial lens compensates for various variables that can affect the distribution of light from the LED until it reaches the skin, such as the distance from the skin to the light source, the curvature of the face, and variations in illumination due to the light's diffusion angle. As a result, light can be evenly distributed across specific areas of the skin.

[0043] Furthermore, the facial lens and at least one of the wavelength, direction, intensity, and flashing pattern of each individual LED are adjusted based on the location on the facial skin to provide customized light illumination therapy.

[0044] An orbital light irradiation unit is provided, which is directly attached to the face or is provided adjacent to the face and near the eyes, wherein light is transmitted to the orbital light irradiation unit through an optical fiber, thereby effectively treating the lower orbital rim or crow's feet without directly irradiating the eyeball.

[0045] In addition, as another method of irradiating light to the infraorbital part, an eye mask unit may be added that is configured to allow light from the light source unit to irradiate only the infraorbital periphery of the user through the eye mask unit without directly irradiating the user's eyes.

[0046] The eye mask unit is constructed to have any of the following: an annular structure that extends in the left-right direction so that both eyes are located in the annular structure; a structure in which a partition wall is added to the middle of the annular structure that extends in the left-right direction; and two annular structures that correspond to the left eye and the right eye.

[0047] As a specific example of this technical solution, the present invention provides an LED illuminator, which includes: a shell unit, which is configured to cover at least a portion of a user's face; and a light source unit, which is arranged inside the shell unit, and the light source unit includes a plurality of LEDs, which are configured to irradiate light toward the user's face.

[0048] The light source unit may include: a plurality of LEDs; and a facial lens provided at a front surface of each of the plurality of LEDs, the facial lens being configured to adjust at least one of a wavelength, a direction, a dispersion, and an intensity of light irradiated to the user's face.

[0049] The facial lens can be at least one of the following: a) a microarray lens; b) a Fresnel lens; c) a concave mirror lens having a light source set at the parabola focus of the concave mirror lens; d) a lens including a microscopic dispersion portion, the microscopic dispersion portion being set at the front surface of the LED light source; e) a reflective portion, the reflective portion being configured to reflect light irradiated from the LED; and f) a polymer material, the polymer material being configured to disperse light.

[0050] The facial lens may include at least one unit lens, wherein the unit lens may include a peripheral portion that is straight, curved, or straight and curved, at least one of the overlap, monochromaticity, refractive index, transparency, thickness, coating, and surface roughness of the unit lens may be adjusted to adjust the amount of light transmitted through the unit lens, and at least one of the setting direction, single surface shape, and cross-sectional shape of the unit lens may be adjusted to adjust at least one of the direction, intensity, dispersion, focus, and focal length of the light.

[0051] The unit lens may be provided with a transmissive portion including a hole or a slit configured to allow diffraction of light irradiated from the LED to pass therethrough, or an additional reflective portion configured to reflect the light irradiated from the LED.

[0052] Here, one LED may correspond to one unit lens, a plurality of LEDs may correspond to one unit lens, or one LED may correspond to a plurality of unit lenses.

[0053] At this time, the unit lenses may have a uniform total thickness regardless of whether the unit lenses are concave lenses or convex lenses.

[0054] The facial lens can optimally adjust the diffusion angle of the light irradiated from the LED so that the symmetry of the light in a predetermined area of ​​the user's face exceeds 50% regardless of the distance between the LED and the face, or the facial lens can adjust the light irradiated from the LED so as to irradiate as parallel light.

[0055] In order to make the symmetry of light in a predetermined area of ​​the user's face exceed 50%, the light irradiated from the LED can be emitted as parallel light, and the diffusion angle of the light can be adjusted to +10 degrees to -10 degrees based on the parallel light.

[0056] At least one of the wavelength, energy and intensity of the light irradiated to the user's face is changed according to: the upper part of the face above the eyebrows, the middle part of the face from below the eyebrows to above the lips including the eyebrows, and the lower part of the face below the lips; or the forehead, lower orbital rim, crow's feet, eyeballs, nasolabial folds and other parts.

[0057] By adjusting at least one of the wavelength, direction, intensity, and blinking pattern of each individual LED, the light irradiated from the light source unit can form a wave irradiation pattern.

[0058] Regarding eye protection, a shielding unit can be added that is configured to prevent light emitted from the light source unit from directly irradiating the user's eyes. The shielding unit can be made of an elastic material that is configured to reflect or absorb light at its surface. Specifically, the shielding unit may include a cover portion configured to cover the periphery of the eye and a cover fixing portion configured to push the cover portion from its outer surface so that the cover portion and the user's face around the eye come into close contact with each other.

[0059] As another solution related to eyeball protection, the LED illuminator may further include: 1) an orbital lighting unit that is directly attached to the face or is disposed adjacent to the face on at least a portion of the face, at least a portion of the orbital lighting unit being transparent; and 2) an orbital light source unit that is configured to provide light to the orbital lighting unit.

[0060] The orbital light irradiation unit may be: 1) configured such that at least a portion of the surface of the orbital light irradiation unit adjacent to the skin is transparent, while other surfaces of the orbital light irradiation unit are opaque or configured to prevent light from being exposed to the outside; or 2) an optical fiber connected to the orbital light source unit.

[0061] The orbital light source unit can provide light to the orbital lighting unit using at least one of: 1) an LED disposed adjacent to the orbital lighting unit; 2) an LED inserted into and disposed in the orbital lighting unit; and 3) an LED disposed spaced apart from the orbital lighting unit and an optical fiber or light guide configured to connect the LED and the orbital lighting unit to each other.

[0062] The light irradiated to the eye socket light irradiation unit can be irradiated only to the face around the user's eyes. At this time, the light irradiated from the eye socket light irradiation unit can form a pattern, or the amount or color of the light can change over time.

[0063] As another solution for eyeball protection or irradiating light only to the lower edge of the eye socket, an eye mask unit can be added, which is configured to allow light from the light source unit to irradiate only to the lower edge of the user's eye socket through the eye mask unit without directly irradiating the user's eyes.

[0064] The eye mask unit can be constructed to have any of the following: an annular structure that extends in the left-right direction so that both eyes are located in the annular structure; a structure in which a partition wall is added to the middle of the annular structure that extends in the left-right direction; and two annular structures that correspond to the left eye and the right eye.

[0065] The eye mask unit may include: a light source blocking portion, which is located in the middle of the annular structure and is configured to block light from the light source unit; and a peripheral portion, which is continuously connected to the light source blocking portion, the peripheral portion including an infraorbital illumination portion, which is configured to irradiate light from the light source unit to at least a portion of the user's infraorbital skin.

[0066] The middle portion of the annular structure may be open to the outside, may be hidden by the housing unit, or may be hidden by a separate shielding member.

[0067] The interior or exterior of the light source blocking portion may include a material configured to prevent light from being transmitted therethrough, and the infraorbital illumination portion may illuminate light from the light source unit while directly contacting the user's infraorbital skin or while not contacting the user's infraorbital skin. Since the light source blocking portion and the infraorbital illumination portion contact the skin or are positioned adjacent to the skin, each of the light source blocking portion and the infraorbital illumination portion may be made of an elastic material.

[0068] When the LED irradiator is used once, the area 1 cm from the light source unit to the user's face is illuminated. 2 The total energy of the light may be 50 J or less, preferably 25 J or less, more preferably 15 J or less, and may be irradiated from the light source unit to 1 cm from the user's face. 2 The maximum intensity of the light may be 200 mW or less, preferably 100 mW or less, more preferably 50 mW or less. Meanwhile, in order to achieve the desired effect of the present invention, the 1 cm range from the light source unit to the user's face is preferably 200 mW or less, preferably 100 mW or less, more preferably 50 mW or less. 2 The minimum intensity of the light must be 1 mW or greater. The total energy and intensity (mW) of the light irradiated from the light source unit to the user's face may vary depending on the position on the user's face.

[0069] The LED according to the present invention may include at least one of a visible LED, an infrared LED, and an ultraviolet LED.

[0070] The following effects can be achieved depending on the wavelength of the LED: LEDs with a blue wavelength of 440 to 500 nm can be used to remove Propionibacterium acnes, reduce acne inflammation, regulate sebaceous gland secretion, and can also serve as an alternative treatment for eczema or psoriasis through non-UV irradiation.

[0071] The red wavelength of LED is 625 to 700nm, which has the effects of increasing natural moisturizing ability, reducing flushing and inflammation, shrinking pores, regulating sebaceous glands, improving blood circulation, and treating skin damage. As a specific example, rosacea can be treated.

[0072] Infrared light has a maximum wavelength of 700 to 1000 nm. Due to its long wavelength, infrared light penetrates deep into the skin and is absorbed by it. Therefore, infrared light is effective in treating wrinkles, improving skin elasticity, and alleviating inflammation and associated pain. Infrared light is also effective in treating pustules.

[0073] The housing unit according to the present invention may include a fixing portion configured to allow a plurality of LEDs to be fixed thereto, wherein the fixing portion may be a ribbed frame. A skin unit made of a transparent material may be provided at the outermost side of the housing unit, and the material for the skin unit may be any of various resins, and may include at least one of the following resins.

[0074] Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyester (PES), polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyacetal (POM), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA).

[0075] The present invention may provide any combination of the above-mentioned solutions.

[0076] Beneficial effects

[0077] Compared with the conventional LED illuminator, the present invention has the following effects.

[0078] First, a uniform amount of light can be provided to the face. In this invention, a uniform amount of light is emitted from an LED light source and directed to the user's face through a facial lens comprising multiple unit lenses. The diffusion angle of light that has passed through the facial lens is optimally adjusted according to the distance between the light source and the skin, or the light is emitted in parallel, thereby providing a uniform amount of light.

[0079] Second, customized light therapy can be performed based on the location of the facial skin. In the present invention, the user's face can be divided into the upper part of the face above the eyebrows, the middle part of the face from below the eyebrows to above the lips (including the eyebrows), and the lower part of the face below the lips. Alternatively, the face can be divided into the forehead, lower orbital rim, crow's feet, eyeballs, nasolabial folds, and other parts. At least one of the wavelength, energy, and intensity of the light irradiated to the face can be changed based on the aforementioned divisions.

[0080] Third, the present invention provides a separate irradiation method that prevents light from a light source from directly irradiating the eyeball and can be applied directly to the lower orbital rim. This protects the user's eyeball and significantly treats the lower orbital rim, which is significantly affected by light irradiation therapy. In the present invention, a shielding unit configured to protect the user's eyes can be added, or an orbital irradiation unit and an orbital light source unit and / or an eye mask unit can be separately provided, each of which is configured to allow LED light to pass through and directly irradiate the skin around the eyeball without directly irradiating the user's eyes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] Figure 1 This diagram shows the anatomical structure of the skull and is used to describe the area around the eyeball.

[0082] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an LED illuminator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] Figure 3 : is an exploded perspective view showing only the facial lens, the fixing portion, and the outer skin unit of the LED illuminator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0084] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a facial lens according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an example in which LEDs are provided with respect to the facial lens.

[0085] Figure 5 : is a schematic diagram showing a facial lens according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an example in which LEDs are provided with respect to the facial lens.

[0086] Figure 6 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a facial lens according to a third embodiment of the present invention and an example in which LEDs are provided with respect to the facial lens.

[0087] Figure 7 1 is a schematic diagram of a unit lens of a facial lens according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] Figure 8 1 is a schematic diagram of a unit lens of a facial lens according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] Figure 9 : is a schematic diagram showing an orbital light irradiation unit and an orbital light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] Figure 10 Schematic diagram showing an orbital light irradiation unit and an orbital light source unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] Figure 11 Schematic diagram showing an orbital light irradiation unit and an orbital light source unit according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an eye mask unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section of an eye mask unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] Figures 14 to 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating only the eye mask unit according to the embodiment of the present invention when the light blocking portion of the eye mask unit is removed and when the light blocking portion of the eye mask unit is not removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] Now, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, when describing the operating principles of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, when the detailed description of known functions and structures contained herein may obscure the subject matter of the present invention, their detailed description will be omitted.

[0096] In addition, in all drawings, the same reference numerals will be used to represent components that perform similar functions or operations. Throughout the specification, when a component is said to be connected to another component, not only can a component be directly connected to another component, but a component can also be indirectly connected to another component via another component. In addition, the inclusion of a particular element does not mean that other elements are excluded, but rather means that such elements may be further included unless otherwise mentioned.

[0097] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments. However, these embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes only and therefore the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

[0098] Now, refer to Figures 2 to 17 Give a description. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an LED illuminator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 1 is an exploded perspective view showing only the facial lens 130 , the housing unit 120 including the fixing portion 121 , and the skin unit 110 of the LED illuminator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] The present invention provides an LED illuminator 100, which includes: a housing unit 120, which is configured to cover at least a portion of a user's face; and a light source unit 140, 240 or 340, which is arranged inside the housing unit 120 and includes a plurality of LEDs, which are configured to illuminate the user's face with light.

[0100] The light source unit 140 , 240 , or 340 includes a plurality of LEDs and a facial lens 130 provided at a front surface of each of the plurality of LEDs, the facial lens configured to adjust at least one of a wavelength, a direction, and an intensity of light irradiated to the user's face.

[0101] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the skin unit 110 may be provided at the outermost side and may be made of a transparent material. Various resins may be used as a material for the skin unit 110, and the material may include at least one of the following resins.

[0102] Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyester (PES), polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyacetal (POM), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), modified polyphenylene oxide (MPPO), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA).

[0103] according to Figure 3 The fixing portion 121 may include rib-shaped frames 125 and spaces 122 defined between the frames. The fixing portion 121 may also be made of resin or metal. Metal coated with insulating resin may be used.

[0104] according to Figure 3 The facial lens 130 may include unit lenses 135 and spaces 132 defined between the unit lenses 135 to separate the unit lenses from each other.

[0105] Figure 4 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a facial lens 130 according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an arrangement of LEDs relative to the facial lens. The facial lens 130 may include unit lenses 135 and spaces 132 defined between the unit lenses 135 to separate the unit lenses from each other. Each individual LED of the light source unit 140 is fixed to a fixing portion 121 provided at the front surface of the facial lens 130. However, when the fixing portion 121 and the facial lens 130 are coupled to each other, the individual LEDs of the light source unit 140 may be fixed as shown in FIG. Figure 4 Settings shown.

[0106] Figure 5 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a facial lens 230 according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an arrangement of LEDs relative to the facial lens. Figure 5 In the facial lens 230, the unit lenses 235 are arranged without gaps therebetween to form a lattice structure. Figure 5 , one LED is provided at one unit lens 235. However, alternatively, one LED may correspond to one unit lens, a plurality of LEDs may correspond to one unit lens, or one LED may correspond to a plurality of unit lenses.

[0107] Figure 6 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a facial lens 330 according to a third embodiment of the present invention and an arrangement of LEDs relative to the facial lens. Figure 6In the facial lens 330, the unit lenses 335 are arranged without gaps therebetween to form a lattice structure.

[0108] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Schematic diagrams of unit lenses of facial lenses according to fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

[0109] Each unit lens can be Figure 7 The circular Fresnel lens shown, or it can be as Figure 8 The micro-array lens shown. The micro-array lens is a single large lens composed of multiple micro-lenses, which is formed like an insect eye, especially a dragonfly eye.

[0110] Although not shown in the drawings, the facial lens according to the present invention can be made of a polymer material that simply disperses light. Similar to how the glass surface of an incandescent lamp is conventionally coated with a milky white color to disperse light, the interior of the facial lens can be coated, or the facial lens can be made of a translucent material.

[0111] Figures 9 to 11 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams respectively illustrating an orbital light irradiation unit and an orbital light source unit according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0112] The LED illuminator also includes: 1) an orbital lighting unit 150, 250 or 350 that is directly attached to the face or is positioned adjacent to the face near the user's eyes 400, at least a portion of the orbital lighting unit being transparent; and 2) an orbital light source unit 160, 260 or 360 that is configured to provide light to the orbital lighting unit 150, 250 or 350.

[0113] At least a portion of the surface of the orbital light irradiation unit 150 , 250 , or 350 that contacts the skin must be transparent, and the other surface must be opaque or configured to prevent light from being exposed to the outside.

[0114] The orbital light source unit may be composed of: 1) an LED 162 disposed adjacent to the orbital lighting unit 150; 2) an LED 262 inserted and disposed in the orbital lighting unit 250; or 3) an LED 362 disposed spaced apart from the orbital lighting unit 350 and an optical fiber or light guide 365 configured to connect the LED 362 to the orbital lighting unit 350. These may be fixed by the orbital light fixing portion 170, 270, or 370, and the orbital light fixing portion 170, 270, or 370 may not be provided separately but may be replaced by a facial lens or a fixing portion.

[0115] The orbital light support portion 166 or 266 may be configured to support the orbital light illumination unit, or the optical fiber or light guide 365 may also serve as the orbital light support portion. Figure 10 It is shown that an empty space is provided between the orbital light irradiation unit 150 and the orbital light fixing portion 170, Figure 11 An orbital light shield 266 is shown provided to block light.

[0116] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an eye mask unit 180 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section of the eye mask unit 180 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0117] Reference Figure 12 and Figure 13 The eye mask unit 180 is configured to have an annular structure extending in the left-right direction so that both eyes are located in the annular structure, wherein the light from the light source unit is irradiated only to the periphery of the user's eye sockets, and not directly to the user's eyes. The eye mask unit 180 includes: a light source blocking portion 184, which is located in the middle of the annular structure extending in the left-right direction, and is configured to block the light from the light source unit while allowing the user's eyes to pass to the outside; and a peripheral portion 188, which is continuously connected to the light source blocking portion 184, and includes a suborbital irradiation portion 187 configured to irradiate the light from the light source unit to at least a portion of the skin below the user's eye sockets.

[0118] The portion leading to the outside can be hidden by a separate device.

[0119] An optical fiber configured to supply light to the infraorbital illumination portion 187 or a resin configured to transmit light is provided in the eye mask unit 180 .

[0120] Each of the light blocking portion 184 and the peripheral portion 188 can be made of an elastic material, preferably a material that is weakly or non-irritating to human skin when in contact with human skin. Each of the light blocking portion 184 and the peripheral portion 188 can be made of a translucent material. In particular, the light blocking portion 184 can be generally made of a translucent material, and the portion facing the user's eyes can be made of an opaque material, or a metal foil can be added to its interior to make it opaque.

[0121] Figures 14 to 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating only the eye mask unit according to the embodiment of the present invention when the light blocking portion of the eye mask unit is removed and when the light blocking portion of the eye mask unit is not removed.

[0122] Figure 14 and Figure 16The eye mask unit 180 is shown in a state without the light source blocking portion 184. Figure 15 and Figure 17 The eye mask unit 180 is shown with the light blocking portion 184 installed. Without the light blocking portion 184, it can be seen that light directly illuminates the user's eyes, making the area around each eye bright. With the light blocking portion 184 installed, the eyes and their area are dark.

[0123] In Patent Document 12, a face contact unit 242 is provided that is configured to protect each eye so that light does not directly irradiate the eye, such as swimming goggles. In Patent Document 12, the face contact unit 242 surrounds the eye in a circular shape while also contacting the skin. One very important function of the LED irradiator according to the present invention is to treat the lower orbital rim; however, a problem with the structure disclosed in Patent Document 12 is that the face contact unit 242, which can be made of rubber or silicone and has an opaque color, is located very close to the eye (the present invention). Figure 1 The portion of the lower orbital rim (the lower orbital rim and its surroundings shown in FIG) where the lower orbital rim is located contacts the skin so that no light is irradiated to this area.

[0124] In the present invention, a light source blocking portion 184 and a peripheral portion 188 are provided to solve the above-mentioned problem, while at the same time the light does not directly illuminate the eyes, thereby ensuring safety. In particular, the light source blocking portion 184 may not directly contact the skin. A minimum angle is required for the light to illuminate the eyes. However, when the light source blocking portion 184 contacts the skin or is located very close to the skin, the internal light does not directly illuminate the eyes. In addition, the light source blocking portion 184 is made of a material that is constructed to prevent light from being transmitted through the portion closest to the eyes around the eyes. In addition, the light source blocking portion 184 is not arranged to be perpendicular to the skin, but is arranged to be tilted outward so as to have an open feeling around the eyes, so that the suborbital irradiation portion 187 is arranged as close to the eyes as possible, thereby improving the treatment effect of the suborbital rim.

[0125] from Figures 14 to 17 It can be seen that the eye mask unit 180 according to the present invention can prevent light from directly irradiating the eyes, thereby ensuring safety, and can clearly identify light irradiating the lower edge of the eye socket.

[0126] (Description of Reference Signs)

[0127] 100: LED illuminator

[0128] 110: Skin unit

[0129] 120: Shell element

[0130] 121: Fixed part

[0131] 122: Space between frames

[0132] 125: Framework

[0133] 130, 230, 330: facial lenses

[0134] 132: Space between unit lenses

[0135] 135, 235, 335, 435, 535: unit lens

[0136] 140, 240, 340: Light source unit

[0137] 150, 250, 350: Orbital light irradiation unit

[0138] 160, 260, 360: Orbital light source unit

[0139] 162, 262, 362: LED

[0140] 166: Orbital light support part

[0141] 266: Orbital Light Shield

[0142] 365: Optical fiber or light guide

[0143] 170, 270, 370: orbital light fixed part

[0144] 180: Eye mask unit

[0145] 184: Light source blocking part

[0146] 186: Eye mask unit light source

[0147] 187: Infraorbital irradiation

[0148] 188: Peripheral part

[0149] 400: User's Eyes

[0150] Industrial Applicability

[0151] The present invention relates to an LED illuminator capable of adjusting the direction and intensity of light irradiated from an LED light source, and thus the present invention is industrially applicable.

Claims

1. An eye mask unit, the eye mask unit being configured to have any of the following: an annular structure extending in the left-right direction so that both eyes are located in the annular structure, a structure in which a partition wall is added to a middle portion of the annular structure extending in the left-right direction; as well as Two annular structures, the two annular structures corresponding to the left eye and the right eye; wherein, The light from the light source unit is irradiated only to the periphery of the user's eye socket, but not directly to the user's eyes, and Wherein, the eye mask unit comprises: a light source blocking portion located in the middle of the annular structure and not in contact with the user's skin or in close contact with the user's skin, the light source blocking portion being configured to block light from the light source unit from directly irradiating the user's eyes; and a peripheral portion continuously connected to the light source blocking portion, the peripheral portion including an infraorbital irradiation portion configured to irradiate light from the light source unit to at least a portion of the infraorbital skin of the user, in, The interior or exterior of the light source blocking portion includes a material configured to prevent light from being transmitted therethrough, and The infraorbital irradiation portion is configured to irradiate light from the light source unit in a state of directly contacting the infraorbital skin of the user or in a state of not contacting the infraorbital skin of the user, Wherein, an optical fiber configured to provide light to the infraorbital illumination portion or a resin configured to transmit light is provided in the eye mask unit.

2. The eye mask unit according to claim 1, wherein The light source blocking portion is not disposed perpendicularly to the skin but is disposed to be inclined outwardly so as to have an open feeling around the eyes.

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