Determining operating parameters of a hair cutting device

Abstract

According to one aspect, a system (100) is provided, the system comprising a hair cutting device (102) having a cutting element for cutting hair of a subject; a positioning unit (104) for acquiring positional data indicating the position of the cutting element relative to a body part of the subject; a timer unit (106) for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; and a processing unit (108) communicating with the hair cutting device, the positioning unit and the timer unit, the processing unit being configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device based on the positional data and the time data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to hair cutting equipment, and more particularly to determining operating parameters to be applied to hair cutting equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Personal care devices can be used to perform personal care activities such as shaving, cutting, or trimming hair. The operating parameters of the personal care device can be adjusted to change the outcome of the personal care activity. For example, in the case of a hair trimmer, the blade guard can be adjusted to change the position of the cutting hair, thereby controlling the length of the cut hair.

[0003] When performing certain personal care activities (such as shaving), spending too much time treating specific areas of a user's body (such as a subject's skin) can adversely affect the user, for example by causing pain or irritation.

[0004] Users of personal care devices may not realize they are spending too much time on specific areas of their body while performing personal care activities, which can lead to irritation or pain afterward. Furthermore, users may find it difficult to adjust the settings and operating parameters of their personal care devices in a way that would allow them to adjust the device's operation to reduce the resulting pain or irritation.

[0005] Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a system capable of determining and adjusting the operating parameters of personal care devices in order to mitigate one or more of the aforementioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] When using hair-cutting devices (such as head trimmers or shaving devices) to perform personal care activities (such as hair-cutting activities), the user experience can be negatively impacted if the user experiences pain or discomfort as a result of using the hair-cutting device. This pain or discomfort can be caused by the user using the hair-cutting device on the same area of ​​skin on their body, such as moving a shaving device around the same area of ​​skin on their face. The inventors of this disclosure have recognized that by measuring the amount of time the device is used in a specific area, one or more operating parameters of the device can be adjusted to allow for faster hair-cutting activities in that area, thereby reducing the amount of time spent treating that area and thus reducing the likelihood of the user experiencing pain or discomfort.

[0007] According to a first specific aspect, a system is provided, comprising a hair cutting device having a cutting element for cutting hair of a subject; a positioning unit for acquiring position data indicating the position of the cutting element relative to a body part of the subject; a timer unit for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; and a processing unit communicating with the hair cutting device, the positioning unit, and the timer unit, the processing unit being configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device based on the position data and the time data.

[0008] In some embodiments, the system may further include a storage unit for storing location data, time data, and determined operating parameters.

[0009] The processing unit can also be configured to operate the hair cutting device according to the determined operating parameters.

[0010] In some embodiments, the processing unit may be configured to determine the region of the subject's body part corresponding to the location of the cutting element based on the acquired location data.

[0011] In some embodiments, the processing unit may be configured to determine, based on the time data and the determined body part region, the amount of time the cutting element spends within the determined body part region; and to determine, based on the determined amount of time, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the determined body part region.

[0012] The processing unit can be configured to determine the amount of time the cutting element spends within the determined body part area based on the time data and the determined body part area; calculate a performance score based on the determined amount of time and a reference duration corresponding to the determined body part area, the performance score indicating the hair cutting performance within the determined body part area; and determine the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device based on the performance score when the cutting element is within the determined body part area.

[0013] In some embodiments, the hair cutting device may include an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration data representing the acceleration of the hair cutting device during use.

[0014] In such an embodiment, the processing unit may be configured to determine, based on the acceleration data and the acquired position data, the number of passes the hair cutting device makes over the subject's skin within the determined body part area; and, when the cutting element is within the determined body part area, to determine, based on the number of passes over the skin, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device.

[0015] In some embodiments, the hair cutting device may include an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration data indicating the acceleration of the hair cutting device during use.

[0016] In such an embodiment, the processing unit may be configured to determine, based on acceleration data, the average speed of movement of the hair cutting device on the skin of the subject within the defined body part area; and to determine, based on the average speed of movement, parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the defined body part area.

[0017] The storage unit can be configured to store location and time data of the hair cutting device acquired during multiple hair cutting activities performed by the subject; and the processing unit is configured to determine optimal operating parameters based on the data stored during the multiple hair cutting activities.

[0018] In some embodiments, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device may include operating parameters selected from the group consisting of: the position of the blade of the cutting element relative to the subject's skin; the spindle force applied to the spindle of the cutting element; and the rotational speed of the blade of the cutting element.

[0019] According to a second specific aspect, a computer-implemented method for determining operating parameters of a hair cutting device is provided, the method comprising obtaining position data indicating the position of the cutting element of the hair cutting device relative to a body part of a subject using the hair cutting device to cut their hair; obtaining time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; and determining operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device based on the position data and the time data.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method may further include applying the determined operating parameters to the hair cutting device.

[0021] In some embodiments, determining operating parameters may include determining operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device to enable faster cutting of the subject's hair.

[0022] According to a third specific aspect, a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code implemented therein, the computer-readable code being configured to cause, when executed by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor to perform the steps of the method disclosed herein.

[0023] According to a fourth specific aspect, a hair cutting device is provided, comprising a cutting element for cutting hair of a subject; a positioning module for acquiring position data indicating the position of the hair cutting element relative to a body part of the subject; a timer module for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; and a processor configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device based on the position data and the time data.

[0024] These and other aspects will be apparent and illustrated with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Exemplary embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 These are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of systems according to various embodiments;

[0027] Figure 2 This is an illustration showing examples of various areas indicated on a subject's face;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for determining the operating parameters of hair cutting equipment;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of hair cutting equipment; and

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an example of a computer-readable medium communicating with a processor. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The embodiments disclosed herein provide a mechanism by which adjustments to the operating parameters of a hair cutting device can be automatically determined based on measurements of the device's position relative to a subject and the amount of time the device spends processing specific areas of the subject. By identifying areas where the device is used for a relatively long period, one or more settings or operating parameters of the device can be adjusted so that hair in those areas can be cut in a shorter time.

[0032] One aspect of the present invention relates to a system. Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of an example of system 100. System 100 may be referred to, for example, as a system for determining operating parameters of a hair cutting device. System 100 includes a hair cutting device 102, a positioning unit 104, a timer unit 106, and a processing unit 108. The components of the system can communicate with each other via wired or wireless (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth (RTM)). The hair cutting device 102 may include any device (e.g., a personal care device), such as a device capable of cutting and / or removing hair from a subject. For example, the hair cutting device 102 may include a hair trimmer or scissors, a shaving device, etc. The hair cutting device 102 has a cutting element for cutting the hair of a subject. The cutting element may include one or more blades that are movable relative to the hair to be cut, such that when the one or more blades engage the hair, the hair is cut at the point of engagement. Typically, such a hair cutting device may include a body to which the cutting element may be permanently or detachably attached, or the cutting element may be integrally formed with the body. The main body can accommodate various components of the hair cutting device 102, including, for example, a power supply (e.g., a battery) and a drive mechanism for the cutting elements. See below for reference. Figure 4 The features of the example hair cutting device 102 are discussed.

[0033] The positioning unit 104 of system 100 is used to acquire positional data indicating the position of the cutting element relative to a body part of the subject. In some examples, the positioning unit 104 may include an imaging device, such as a camera, configured to capture image data of the hair cutting device 102 from which the position of the cutting element relative to a body part of the subject can be determined. For example, such an imaging device can be used to capture images of the hair cutting device 102 and a body part (e.g., head or face) of the subject during a hair cutting activity (e.g., shaving). The imaging device may be a standalone device such as a camera, or it may be part of another device such as a laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone, or interactive mirror (sometimes called a smart mirror).

[0034] Techniques for determining the position of a personal care device relative to a subject or a part of the subject's body are known. In some examples, known detection techniques can be used to determine from captured image data which part of the subject's body is being treated by the personal care device (e.g., hair cutting device 102). For example, if the hair cutting device 102 is being used to cut hair on the subject's head or face, facial feature recognition techniques can be used to identify features of the subject's face, thereby determining the relative position of the cutting element.

[0035] In some cases, it may be desirable not to capture image data about the subject performing a personal care activity, for example, to ensure the subject's privacy. Therefore, in other examples, the positioning unit 104 may include components different from the image capture device. For example, the positioning unit 104 can determine the position of the cutting element of the hair-cutting device 102 relative to the subject's body part by determining the position of one or more sensors on the hair-cutting device relative to one or more sensors located on or on the subject's body part. In one example, the subject may position one or more sensors on their head (e.g., on a headband worn by the user during a shaving activity), and these sensors may interact with one or more sensors located on the hair-cutting device 102, such that the relative position and orientation of the hair-cutting device can be determined during use.

[0036] In other examples, other techniques may be used to determine the position of the cutting element relative to a user's body part. For example, skin and / or hair parameters may be measured during use and used to determine the relative position of the hair cutting device 102.

[0037] Additional or alternative locations may be determined using other location determination techniques not discussed here.

[0038] Timer unit 106 is configured to measure time data associated with the use of hair cutting device 102. Timer unit 106 can, for example, measure the amount of time the hair cutting device 102 is operated during a hair cutting activity, and specifically, it can measure the amount of time the hair cutting device 102 is located at various positions or locations relative to a body part of the subject. In some examples, as referenced below... Figure 2 In more detail, the timer unit 106 can measure the amount of time the hair cutting device 102 operates within certain areas or zones of the subject (e.g., defined areas of the subject's head or face, such as "upper left cheek," "upper right cheek," "chin," "left side of the neck," etc.). These areas or zones can be defined at any desired level of granularity or resolution and can include small, specifically defined areas of the face, or larger, more generally defined areas of the subject's body, such as "scalp," "face," "back," "legs," etc.

[0039] Processing unit 108 communicates with hair cutting device 102, positioning unit 104, and timer unit 106. Processing unit 108 may operatively communicate with one or more components of system 100, enabling it to control hair cutting device 102, positioning unit 104, and / or timer unit 106, and in some embodiments, processing unit may be configured to receive data from one or more components, perform processing tasks on the data, and operate one or more components in response to data obtained from the processing tasks.

[0040] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, processing unit 108 is configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to hair cutting device 102 based on location and time data. Generally, based on the amount of time the hair cutting device 102 is used at a specific location (e.g., within a defined area), processing unit 108 determines one or more operating parameters that can be changed or adjusted to reduce the amount of time the hair cutting device is used at that specific location while still achieving the same results from the hair cutting activity. In one example, it can be determined that a subject is using a shaving device to shave hair on their face and neck. It can be determined that the subject spends significantly more time shaving their neck than their cheeks, which may result in pain or irritation in the neck area. The increased time may be due to differences in hair growth in different areas of the body; for example, neck hair may be thicker than cheek hair and therefore typically requires more time to cut. Therefore, in this example, processing unit 108 can determine that increasing the rotational speed of the shaving device's blades will help cut hair in the neck area more quickly, meaning the subject can spend less time working on that area, thus reducing the risk of pain or irritation. In some embodiments, the operating parameters determined by the processing unit 108 may be considered as optimized operating parameters for the time spent by the hair cutting device 102 at a specific location, or operating parameters designed to provide improved or even optimal hair cutting performance. In some embodiments, the processing unit 108 may apply adjustment to the shaving device when it is determined that the shaving device is located in the neck region (i.e., when the subject is using the shaving device to shave their neck).

[0041] In some embodiments, system 100 may further include a storage unit 110, such as a memory for storing data. Storage unit 110 may be used to store location data, time data, and determined operating parameters. Storage unit 110 also communicates with and is accessible by processing unit 108 and / or other components of system 100. As discussed in more detail below, the data stored in storage unit 110 may be accessed by processing unit 108 and used for other purposes.

[0042] Once the processing unit 108 determines the operating parameters, in some embodiments, the processing unit can operate the hair cutting device 102 according to the determined operating parameters. Therefore, if the processing unit 108 determines that the operating parameters need to be adjusted to increase the hair cutting rate in a specific area, the processing unit can send an operation signal or instruction signal to the hair cutting device 102 to adjust the operating parameters in an appropriate manner.

[0043] The location data acquired using the positioning unit 104 may include data indicating the location of the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 within different spatial resolutions or scales. In some embodiments, the positioning unit 104 may be configured to acquire location data at the millimeter level or smaller. In such examples, the location data may be mapped onto an image of a body part of a subject or a model of a body part of a subject divided into small (e.g., square millimeter) units or pixels, such that the location of the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 can be precisely defined with reference to the image or model. It should be understood that the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 will be larger than the units (e.g., millimeter units) that can be used to define its location. Therefore, the location of the cutting element can be defined based on the location of a single reference point of the cutting element (e.g., the center of the cutting element). Alternatively, the boundaries or perimeter of the cutting element may be known, and the location of the cutting element can be defined based on the pixels or units of the image or model covered by the cutting element (i.e., corresponding to the area of ​​the subject's body covered by the cutting element). In other examples, larger units may be used to define the location of the cutting element, thus corresponding to a lower resolution.

[0044] In some embodiments, the position of the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 may be defined with reference to one or more defined regions of the subject's body. For example, the subject's face may be divided into multiple defined regions, and the position of the cutting element (e.g., a reference point, such as the center point of one or more blades of a shaving device) may be defined with reference to the defined regions. Figure 2 This is an illustrated example of multiple defined regions indicated on an image 200 of a subject's face. In this example, 13 defined regions 202a to 202m are indicated on the subject's face; however, it should be understood that more or fewer regions may be defined depending on the expected resolution of the location, body part, etc. Figure 2 For example, region 202b corresponds to the subject's upper right cheek, region 202i corresponds to the area above the subject's upper lip, region 202k corresponds to the left side of the subject's chin, and region 202l corresponds to the right side of the subject's neck. Figure 2Other areas defined in the text correspond to other parts of the subject's body. In this example, if the reference point for the cutting element is determined from the positioning unit 104 to be within region 202b, the processing unit 108 can classify the determined location as "upper right cheek". Therefore, the processing unit 108 can be configured to determine the regions of the subject's body parts corresponding to the location of the cutting element (e.g., defining region 202) based on the acquired location data.

[0045] Timer unit 106 can measure the amount of time spent operating the hair cutting device 102 within each defined area. Therefore, if a subject begins shaving with the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 located within area 202b, timer unit 106 can record the duration the cutting element spends in that area. If the subject moves the hair cutting device 102 to a new position, such that the cutting element is determined to be within area 202f, the timer unit begins recording a new duration indicating the time spent by the cutting element in that area. The durations recorded for each defined area can be combined (e.g., added together) to calculate the total time spent treating each area of ​​the subject's body part (e.g., face) during a particular hair cutting activity. Therefore, processing unit 108 can be configured to determine the amount of time the cutting element spends within a defined body part area based on time data and the determined body part area (e.g., area 202).

[0046] In some embodiments, processing unit 108 may also be configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to hair cutting device 102 when the cutting element is within the determined body part area, based on a determined amount of time (i.e., a determined amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part area). In some examples, processing unit 108 may be configured to apply specific operating parameters to its hair cutting device 102 when it is determined that the cutting element is within a specific body part area. For example, processing unit 108 may refer to a lookup table or database to determine that if specific operating parameters are applied or adjusted (e.g., if the blade rotation speed is increased), hair within a specific body part area can be cut more efficiently (e.g., faster). Such reference material (e.g., a lookup table or database) may be stored in storage unit 110 or accessed by some other means (e.g., via access to a cloud storage facility).

[0047] Therefore, each region in a set of body part regions can have one or more corresponding operating parameters that can be applied when it is determined that the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 is in a specific region. In an example where there are no predefined operating parameters for a given set of body part regions, the processing unit 108 can "learn" how to modify the operating parameters based on the subject's use of the hair cutting device 102. When the user of the hair cutting device 102 (e.g., the subject) performs a hair cutting activity (e.g., shaving), the positioning unit 104 and the timer unit 106 can acquire position data and corresponding time data, respectively. The data can be stored in memory (e.g., in storage unit 110) and analyzed (e.g., by processing unit 108) to determine the cutting element in each defined region of the subject's body part (e.g., ...). Figure 2 The amount of time spent in region 202). If it is determined that the subject spends a relatively long time cutting hair in certain regions (e.g., in regions 202l and 202m, corresponding to the subject's neck), operating parameters or adjustments can be allocated or assigned to those regions, for example, to increase the blade rotation speed so that the hair in those regions is cut more quickly. Once the operating parameters or adjustments to the operating parameters are determined, they can be stored (e.g., in storage unit 110) as an association with one or more body part regions, so that during future hair cutting activities, when it is determined that the cutting element is in a body part region, the appropriate operating parameters can be retrieved from the storage unit and applied to the hair cutting device 102.

[0048] In some examples, the stored operational parameters of a particular agent can be automatically updated based on new and updated data acquired during the hair cutting activity, or manually updated, for example, by the subject or another user of the hair cutting device, to provide a personalized element.

[0049] In some embodiments, further processing of the acquired data (e.g., location data and time data) may be performed to make the determination of operating parameters more appropriate. As described above, processing unit 108 may determine the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part region based on the time data and the determined body part region. Processing unit 108 may also be configured to calculate a performance score based on the determined amount of time and a reference duration corresponding to the determined body part region, the performance score indicating hair cutting performance within the determined body part region. The reference duration for a specific body part region may represent the “ideal” or “optimal” duration spent processing (e.g., cutting hair) that body part region. In some examples, the reference duration may be determined by calculating the average duration spent by other users of the hair cutting device in the corresponding region. For example, data obtained from a group of users may be used to calculate the average time spent processing each defined body part region, and the average duration of each body part region may be used as the reference duration. The performance score may be calculated based on a comparison of the measured duration of a specific body part region with the reference duration of that body part region.

[0050] In some embodiments, the performance score can be calculated based on how close the determined amount of time is to a reference duration; a higher performance score can be awarded if the amount of time spent by the cutting element in a particular body part region is relatively close to the reference duration. In some examples, the performance score can be based on a scoring system (e.g., a three-score system), whereby a maximum score (e.g., 3 points) is awarded if the determined amount of time is within a first defined tolerance of the reference duration (e.g., + / - 2 seconds), a medium score (e.g., 2 points) is awarded if the determined amount of time is outside the first defined tolerance but within a second defined tolerance of the reference duration (e.g., + / - 4 seconds), and a lower score (e.g., 1 point) is awarded if the determined amount of time is outside the second defined tolerance but within a third defined tolerance of the reference duration (e.g., + / - 6 seconds). Alternatively, other methods for calculating the performance score can be used. By calculating a performance score relative to a reference duration, a more meaningful understanding of the measured duration can be achieved because a relative duration is used instead of an absolute duration. Therefore, the reference duration can be referred to as a baseline value or duration, or a standardized value or duration.

[0051] In the example of calculating the performance score, the processing unit 108 can also be configured to determine, based on the performance score, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 102 when the cutting element is within a defined body part region. For example, if the performance score for a specific body part region exceeds a first threshold, a first operating parameter can be applied to the hair cutting device 102, while if the performance score for that body part region is below a second threshold, a second operating parameter can be applied to the hair cutting device. In some embodiments, different operating parameters can be applied based on the performance score achieved for a specific body part region. More generally, the operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device 102 can vary as a function of the amount of time spent by the hair cutting device within the specific body part region.

[0052] In further developments, in some embodiments, performance scores can be calculated based on the area of ​​the body part region. This takes into account the expectation that subjects will spend more time processing (e.g., shaving) relatively large body part regions than they would spend processing relatively small ones. In this way, the defined body part region (e.g., Figure 2 Regions 202 in the calculation do not need to be of equal size, because the calculated performance score will take into account any differences between regions.

[0053] In other embodiments, the operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device 102 can be determined not only based on the time spent by the cutting element in a specific body part area, but also based on the number of passes made by the cutting element in the body part area. This information allows for more appropriate adjustments to the operating parameters, as the cutting element can move rapidly and repeatedly across the subject's skin in a specific body part area, allowing for a relatively small amount of time spent by the cutting element in that area. However, the repetitive movement of the cutting element against the subject's skin can potentially cause irritation and discomfort.

[0054] In some embodiments, the positioning unit 104 may be used to measure the number of passes made by the hair-cutting device within a specific body part area. For example, in embodiments where the positioning unit 104 includes an imaging device, the acquired image data may be used to measure the number of passes made by the cutting elements of the hair-cutting device 102. However, in other embodiments, additional components may be used to determine the number of passes. In some embodiments, the hair-cutting device 102 may include an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration data indicating the acceleration of the hair-cutting device during use. The accelerometer may be part of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that may include other components such as a gyroscope and / or a magnetometer. The acceleration data may be used to determine how the subject moves the hair-cutting device 102 during use, and, combined with position data, the acceleration data provides an indication of how many times the accelerometer (i.e., the hair-cutting device) moves back and forth within each defined body part area. Therefore, the processing unit 108 may be configured to determine, based on the acceleration data and the acquired position data, the number of passes made by the hair-cutting device 102 over the subject's skin within the defined body part area.

[0055] The processing unit 108 can also be configured to determine the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is in a defined body part area based on the number of passes over the skin. For example, if it is determined that the cutting element moves back and forth on the skin many times (e.g., 20 passes), the processing unit 108 can determine that the operating parameters should be applied or adjusted so that the hair in the body part area can be cut with fewer passes.

[0056] In some embodiments, a processing pass-through density map can be created based on the number of passes determined in each defined body part region. Such a map can digitally or visually show how the number of passes made by the processing element varies across different body part regions. In some embodiments, an average processing pass-through density can be determined for each defined body part region, and an average processing speed can be calculated using the average processing pass-through density for each defined body part region. The average processing speed can be calculated based on the relative distance traveled by the cutting element, which can be determined based on acceleration data and knowledge of the location and area of ​​each defined body part region. Therefore, in embodiments where the hair cutting device 102 includes an accelerometer, the processing unit 108 can also be configured to determine the average speed of movement of the hair cutting device 102 on the subject's skin within the defined body part region based on acceleration data. In some examples, the processing unit 108 can determine the average speed of movement of the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 on the subject's skin within a predetermined body part region. The processing unit 108 can also be configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the defined body part region based on the average speed of movement. For example, the blade rotation speed of a shaving device can be adjusted in response to determining the average speed of movement of the shaving device on the skin of a subject in a specific body part area.

[0057] In some embodiments, a performance score for each defined body part area can be calculated based on the coverage area of ​​the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102, the amount of time the cutting element spends in a specific body part area, the average movement speed of the cutting element in that body part area, and a reference value. The area coverage of the cutting element within the body part area can be calculated based on acceleration data from an accelerometer or data acquired using an inertial measurement unit. In this case, the reference value may include the average or best value for a specific body part area based on historical data. Based on the corresponding performance score, operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 102 can be determined for each body part area.

[0058] When determining the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 102, the processing unit 108 can use historical data acquired using various components of the system 100. The storage unit 110 can be configured to store location and time data of the hair cutting device 102 acquired during multiple hair cutting activities performed by the subject (e.g., acquired using the positioning unit 104 and timer unit 106, respectively). Therefore, data can be stored in the storage unit 110 whenever the subject uses the hair cutting device 102 for a hair cutting activity. In some examples, indications of the operating parameters used during each hair cutting activity and / or at each location can also be stored in the storage unit 110. The processing unit 108 can be configured to determine optimal operating parameters based on the data stored during multiple hair cutting activities. For example, the processing unit 108 can analyze data acquired during the first three hair cutting activities and determine optimal operating parameters based on these activities. The optimal operating parameters can be applied to the hair cutting device 102 for the next hair cutting activity performed by the subject. If, during several (e.g., three) hair cutting activities, the values ​​representing the operating parameters have converged to a specific value, then the operating parameters can be considered optimal. For example, if a gradual change in the operating parameters results in a corresponding reduction in the time spent cutting hair in a specific body part area, then the change in the operating parameters can be considered to have converged to an optimal value.

[0059] A wide range of operating parameters can be adjusted or applied depending on the hair cutting device 102 used in system 100. In some examples, the operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device 102 may include those selected from the group consisting of: the position of the blade of the cutting element relative to the subject's skin; the spindle force applied to the spindle of the cutting element; and the rotational speed of the blade of the cutting element. In some examples, multiple operating parameters may be applied. Adjusting the position of the blade of the cutting element relative to the subject's skin may include reducing the distance between the blade and the subject's skin, allowing the hair to be cut with better proximity. This can result in the subject achieving a desired closed cut more quickly in a specific body part area. In some hair cutting devices, changing the spindle force applied to the spindle of the cutting element causes a change in the position of the blade of the cutting element relative to the cap of the cutting element. During use, the cap is located between the blade and the user's skin, and increasing the spindle force causes the blade to move closer to the cap, thereby improving the cutting efficiency of the blade. Changing the spindle force can be achieved by adjusting the force applied to the spindle with an electric actuator and / or by applying heat to a shape memory alloy component to cause it to expand, thereby increasing the force applied to the spindle. In some examples, increasing the rotational speed of the blades of the cutting element can make the hair cut faster.

[0060] Table 1 below shows examples of how the operating parameters of the hair cutting device 102 can vary based on the hair cutting efficiency, which is calculated based on data obtained using the components of the system 100 disclosed herein.

[0061]

[0062] Table 1

[0063] Hair cutting efficiency can be defined as the area processed per second by the hair cutting device 102, and a performance score can be assigned based on the measured efficiency. The category definition for each performance score provides an indication of the predictive difficulty involved in the shaving area based on the hair cutting efficiency. The operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device 102 based on each possible performance score are indicated in the right-hand column of Table 1.

[0064] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method. Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of method 300. Method 300 may include a computer-implemented method and can be considered a method for determining operating parameters of a hair cutting device (e.g., hair cutting device 102). Method 300 includes, in step 302, obtaining position data indicating the position of the cutting element of the hair cutting device 102 relative to a body part of a subject using the hair cutting device to cut their hair. The position data can be obtained using the positioning unit 104 of the system 100 described above. In step 304, method 300 includes obtaining time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device. The time data can be obtained using the timer unit 106 described above. In step 306, method 300 includes determining operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 102 based on the position data and the time data. Step 306 can be performed using the processing unit 108 described above. In some embodiments, method 300 may further include applying the determined operating parameters to the hair cutting device 102.

[0065] While different effects can be achieved depending on the operating parameters applied to the hair cutting device 102, some embodiments disclosed herein aim to reduce the time spent performing hair cutting activities, particularly by identifying areas of the subject (e.g., areas of the subject's body parts), where the time required to cut the subject's hair can be reduced by adjusting the parameters of the hair cutting device. Therefore, determining the operating parameters may include determining the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 102 so that the subject's hair is cut more quickly.

[0066] The processing unit 108 can be used to perform one or more steps of method 300. According to some embodiments, method 300 may also include additional steps corresponding to the functions performed using the processing unit 108 discussed herein.

[0067] Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus. Specifically, this aspect relates to a personal care device, such as a hair cutting device. According to some embodiments, components of the system 100 discussed above can be integrated into a single device, such as a hair cutting device. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an example of a hair cutting device 400. The hair cutting device may include or function similarly to the hair cutting device 102 of the system 100 discussed herein. The hair cutting device 400 includes a cutting element 402 for cutting the hair of a subject. In some examples, the cutting element 402 may include one or more blades and / or one or more linear and / or rotary tooth paths, and may include cutting elements as discussed herein. The hair cutting device 400 also includes a positioning module 404 for acquiring positional data indicating the position of the hair cutting element 402 relative to a body part of the subject. The positioning module 404 may include or function similarly to the positioning unit 104 discussed herein. The hair cutting device 400 also includes a timer module 406 for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device. The timer module 406 may include or function similarly to the timer unit 106 discussed herein. The hair cutting device 400 also includes a processor 408 configured to determine operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device 400 based on position and time data. The hair cutting device 400 can be used in system 100.

[0068] In some embodiments, the hair cutting device 400 may also include other components described herein. For example, the hair cutting device 400 may include a storage unit 410, which may be the storage unit 110 of the system 100 discussed herein or function similarly to the storage unit 110 of the system 100 discussed herein. In some embodiments, the hair cutting device 400 may also include an accelerometer or inertial measurement unit (IMU) 412 for at least measuring acceleration data indicating the acceleration of the hair cutting device 400 during use. The hair cutting device 400 may also include other components, such as a power supply (not shown) and a power switch 414 for operating the hair cutting device.

[0069] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product. Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of an example of a processing unit 502 communicating with a computer-readable medium 504. The processing unit 502 may include, or function similarly to, the processing unit 108 and / or processor 408 disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium 504 having computer-readable code contained therein, the computer-readable code being configured to cause, when executed by a suitable computer or processing unit 502, to cause that computer or processor to perform the steps of the method 300 disclosed herein.

[0070] Processing units 108, 408, and 502 may include one or more processors, processing units, multi-core processors, or modules configured or programmed to control hair cutting devices 102 and 400 in the manner described herein. In a particular implementation, processing units 108, 408, and 502 may include multiple software and / or hardware modules, each configured to perform or be used to perform one or more steps of the methods described herein.

[0071] The term “module” as used herein is intended to include hardware components, such as processors or processor components configured to perform specific functions, or software components, such as a set of instructions or data that have specific functions when executed by a processor.

[0072] It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or within a carrier in which the present invention is practiced. The program may be in the form of source code, object code, intermediate source code, and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the methods according to embodiments of the present invention. It should also be understood that such a program may have many different architectural designs. For example, program code implementing the functionality of the method or system according to the present invention may be subdivided into one or more subroutines. Many different ways of distributing functionality among these subroutines will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Subroutines may be stored together in an executable file to form an independent program. Such an executable file may include computer-executable instructions, such as processor instructions and / or interpreter instructions (e.g., Java interpreter instructions). Alternatively, one or more or all subroutines may be stored in at least one external library file and linked to the main program, for example, statically or dynamically at runtime. The main program contains at least one call to at least one subroutine. Subroutines may also include function calls to each other. Embodiments relating to computer program products include computer-executable instructions corresponding to each processing stage of at least one method set forth herein. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and / or stored in one or more files that can be statically or dynamically linked. Another embodiment relating to a computer program product includes computer-executable instructions corresponding to each component of at least one system and / or product set forth herein. These instructions may be subdivided into subroutines and / or stored in one or more files that can be statically or dynamically linked.

[0073] The carrier of a computer program can be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier can include data storage, such as ROM, like a CD-ROM or semiconductor ROM, or magnetic recording media, such as a hard disk. Furthermore, the carrier can be a transmissible medium such as electrical or optical signals, which can be transmitted via cables or optical fibers or by radio or other means. When a program is contained within such a signal, the carrier can be constituted by such cables or other devices or components. Alternatively, the carrier can be an integrated circuit in which a program is embedded, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform the relevant method or to be used in the performance of the relevant method.

[0074] Those skilled in the art, by practicing the principles and techniques described herein and studying the accompanying drawings, disclosure, and appended claims, can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple. A single processor or other unit can implement the functions of several items as described in the claims. The fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not imply that combinations of these measures cannot be advantageously used. Computer programs can be stored or distributed on suitable media, such as optical storage media or solid-state media provided with or as part of other hardware, but can also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems. Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A system comprising: The hair cutting device (102) has a cutting element for cutting the hair of the subject; Positioning unit (104) is used to acquire position data, the position data indicating the position of the cutting element relative to the body part of the subject; Timer unit (106) for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; as well as Processing unit (108), which communicates with the hair cutting device, the positioning unit, and the timer unit, is configured to: Based on the acquired location data, the region of the subject's body part corresponding to the location of the cutting element is determined; Based on the time data and the determined body part region, the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part region is determined; Based on the determined amount of time, determine the operating parameters that will be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the determined body part area; as well as The hair cutting device (102) is operated according to the determined operating parameters.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: Storage unit (110) is used to store the location data, the time data and the determined operation parameters.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (108) is configured to: Based on the time data and the determined body part region, the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part region is determined; A performance score is calculated based on the determined amount of time and a reference duration corresponding to the determined body part area, the performance score indicating the hair cutting performance within the determined body part area; as well as Based on the performance score, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is located within the defined body part area are determined.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit (108) is configured to: Based on the time data and the determined body part region, the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part region is determined; A performance score is calculated based on the determined amount of time and a reference duration corresponding to the determined body part area, the performance score indicating the hair cutting performance within the determined body part area; as well as Based on the performance score, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is located within the defined body part area are determined.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hair cutting device (102) includes an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration data indicating the acceleration of the hair cutting device during use; and The processing unit is configured as follows: Based on the acceleration data and the acquired position data, the number of passes made by the hair cutting device on the subject's skin within the determined body part area is determined; as well as Based on the number of passes over the skin, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within a defined body part area are determined.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hair cutting device (102) includes an accelerometer configured to measure acceleration data indicating the acceleration of the hair cutting device during use; and The processing unit is configured as follows: Based on the acceleration data, the average speed of the hair cutting device on the subject's skin within the determined body part area is determined; as well as Based on the average movement speed, the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the defined body part area are determined.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the storage unit (110) is configured to store location and time data of the hair cutting device acquired during multiple hair cutting activities performed by the subject; and The processing unit (108) is configured to determine optimal operating parameters based on data stored during the plurality of hair cutting activities.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device include operating parameters selected from the group consisting of: the position of the blade of the cutting element relative to the skin of the subject; the spindle force applied to the spindle of the cutting element; and the rotational speed of the blade of the cutting element.

9. A computer-implemented method for determining operating parameters of a hair cutting device, the method comprising: Obtain location data indicating the position of the cutting element of the hair cutting device relative to a body part of a subject whose hair is being cut using the hair cutting device; Obtain time data associated with the use of the hair cutting equipment; as well as Based on the acquired location data, the region of the subject's body part corresponding to the location of the cutting element is determined; Based on the time data and the determined body part area, the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part area is determined; and the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within the determined body part area are determined.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, further comprising: The determined operating parameters are applied (308) to the hair cutting device.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 or 10, wherein determining the operating parameters includes determining operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device to enable faster cutting of the subject's hair.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium (504) having computer-readable code implemented therein, the computer-readable code being configured to cause the computer or processor (502) to perform the method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 when executed by a suitable computer or processor.

13. A hair cutting device, comprising: Cutting element (402) for cutting the subject's hair; Positioning module (404) is used to acquire position data, the position data indicating the position of the hair cutting element relative to the body part of the subject; Timer module (406) for measuring time data associated with the use of the hair cutting device; and The processor (408) is configured as follows: Based on the location data, the region of the subject's body part corresponding to the location of the cutting element is determined; as well as Based on the time data and the determined body part region, the amount of time spent by the cutting element within the determined body part region is determined. Determine the operating parameters to be applied to the hair cutting device when the cutting element is within a defined body part area; as well as The hair cutting device (102) is operated according to the determined operating parameters.

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