Integrated digital nail system for artificial nails and associated methods

Abstract

An integrated digital nail system includes a client device, and an integrated artificial nail assembly. The client device includes a nail color app for providing color options for the integrated artificial nail assembly. The integrated artificial nail assembly includes a nail blank, and a color display coupled to an underside of the nail blank. The color display includes a chipset and power supply layer configured to communicate with the client device to receive the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, and generate programming signals corresponding to programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

Description

INTEGRATED DIGITAL NAIL SYSTEM FOR ARTIFICIAL NAILS AND ASSOCIATED METHODSCross-Reference To Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 650, 586 filed May 22, 2023, all of which is fully incorporated by reference.Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to artificial nails, and, more particularly, to an integrated digital nail system for programming a color display in an artificial nail and associated methods .Background

[0003] Nail polish is typically applied onto the nails of a person for decorative purpose. A number of items are generally needed by the person for this process. These items may include a nail polish container, a nail polish remover container, a top coat container, a base coat container, a nail polish remover pad, nail scissors, a nail clipper, a nail file, and so forth.

[0004] Furthermore, these items can become misplaced, which can be time consuming and / or expensive for the person to replace. Additionally, the nail polish frequently chips and fades within a short time period from application, thereby exposing the person's unpolished nail underneath. Although theperson can self-reapply the nail polish onto the nail, such self-reapplication may not be convenient when needed.

[0005] Also, using some of the fluid-based items often results in noxious fumes, flammable conditions, and / or spillage onto the person's belongings. Just like healthy adults, immunocompromised patients freguent nail salons as well as engage in their own nail beautification at home. The health problem is toxic industrial chemicals exposed through inhalation or skin can lead to adverse human health effects. Nail polish is made of toluene, formaldehyde, nickel, lead, tin. Organic solvents are used to remove the nail polish. For some individuals, the combinatorial effects of these chemicals may even lead to cancer or autoimmune disorders.

[0006] An alternative to applying polish is for the person to apply artificial nails instead, which results in the person having polished looking nails without reguiring all of the above discussed items associated with using nail polish. However, a drawback of artificial nails is that the user is limited to the particular polish color or design on the artificial nails. For the person to change colors, a different set of artificial nails are needed.

[0007] One approach to overcome limitations of using precolored artificial nails is to use artificial nails with a color display that allows the person to change colors of the artificial nails. Artificial nails with color displays are disclosed in U.S. published patent application no. 2016 / 0295989. Such a system includes a nail covering device comprising a body configured to mate with a fingernail of a user, a display associated with an upper surface of the body, and a receiving unit for communicating with a design transfer device. The display uses electrophoretic ink to display designs. The system further includes a design transfer device comprising a housingthat includes a processing unit and a memory unit for storing at least one design, wherein the design transfer device is configured to transmit the at least one design to the nail covering device. A server storing a plurality of designs is communicatively coupled with the design transfer device. A user causes the at least one design to be transferred from the server to the design transfer device using an application executing on a mobile device associated with the user.

[0008] Another approach for an artificial nail with a color display is disclosed in US patent no. 8, 863,759. A cosmetic device is to be applied to an artificial nail, wherein the device includes an electrochromic multilayer structure comprising an electrosensitive stack. The electrosensitive stack is formed by at least first and second electrode layers, with the first and second electrode layers being coatings supported by respective support layers. The support layers are formed by a single flexible film or an assembly of flexible films, first and second active electrochromic layers, and an electrolyte layer. The cosmetic device further includes an opt ically-act ive layer that is superposed, at least in part, on the electrosensitive stack. The opt ically-act ive layer is at least one of a layer including an effect pigment, a colored layer, a luminescent layer and printing.

[0009] Nonetheless, there is still a need to improve upon artificial nails with color displays and how to program the color displays.Summary

[0010] An integrated digital nail system includes a client device comprising a nail color app, and an integrated artificial nail assembly. The nail color app is for providing color options, with each color option having at least one color fileassociated therewith that includes programming signal values.

[0011] The integrated artificial nail assembly may include a nail blank, and a color display coupled to an underside of the nail blank and comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane.

[0012] The backplane may include a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces. The chipset and power supply layer may be configured to communicate with the client device to receive the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, and generate programming signals corresponding to the programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

[0013] In one embodiment, the power supply may be configured as a battery. The battery may be a microbattery, a solid-state battery, or a nuclear diamond battery.

[0014] In another embodiment, the power supply may be configured as a near-field communication (NFC) chipset configured to receive power and the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option via inductive coupling with the client device.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the power supply may be configured as a supercapacitor configured to be charged by connecting to an external power source.

[0016] The integrated artificial nail assembly may further include a power input layer coupled to the battery for charging thereof. The power input layer comprises a photovoltaic cell.The photovoltaic cell may be configured as a transparent photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the upper surface of the first conductive layer.

[0017] The electronic paper layer may include an electrophoretic layer. The first conductive layer is transparent. The second conductive layer may include a plurality of spaced apart second conductive layer sections, with each second conductive layer section being separately controlled for configuring the electronic paper layer to display different colors .

[0018] The plurality of traces may include a first trace for the first conductive layer, and a plurality of second traces for the second conductive layer sections, and wherein the plurality of vias may include a first via extending between the first trace and the first conductive layer, and a plurality of second vias extending between the plurality of second traces and the plurality of second conductive layer sections.

[0019] The underside of the nail blank may be shaped as a simple curve for bonding with an upper surface of the display that is shaped as a simple curve, and wherein an upper surface of the nail blank is shaped as a compound curve.

[0020] An underside of the chipset and power supply layer may be shaped as a simple curve, and the integrated artificial nail assembly may further include a nail interface adapter having an upper surface shaped as a simple curve for bonding with the underside of the chipset and power supply layer, and an underside shaped as a compound curve for directly bonding with the user's nail.

[0021] Edges of the nail interface adapter and edges of the nail blank may be bonded together so that a load on the nail interface adapter is transferred to the nail blank and not to the color display.

[0022] An outer exposed surface of the nail blank may be etched to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank. A subsurface of the nail blank may include micro air bubbles to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank .

[0023] The nail color app may be activated using the client device to scan a code before the color display is programmed to the at least one user-selected color option. The integrated digital nail system may further include a data collection server, and wherein after activation of the nail color app, data associated with the user programming the intreated artificial nail assembly is transmitted to the data collection server. The data comprises user trend lines, timestamps, locations, and demographics .

[0024] Another aspect is directed to an integrated artificial nail assembly that includes a nail blank, and a color display coupled to an underside of the nail blank and comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane. The backplane may include a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces. The chipset and power supply layer may be configured to communicate with a client device to receive at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, with the at least one color file including programming signal values, and to generate programming signals corresponding to programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

[0025] Yet another aspect is directed to a method for making an integrated artificial nail assembly comprising forming a nail blank, forming a color display as described above, and bonding an underside of the nail blank to a topside of the color display .

[0026] Yet another aspect is directed to a digital color changing object system that includes a client device comprising a color app for providing color options, with each color option having at least one color file associated therewith including programming signal values, a color changing object, and a color display carried by the color changing object. The color display may include a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane.

[0027] The backplane may include a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces. The chipset may be configured to communicate with the client device to receive the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user- selected color option, and generate programming signals corresponding to the programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

[0028] The digital color changing object system may include at least one of broaches, pendants, jewelry, ear rings, cell phone cases, and glasses.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an integrated digitalnail system in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented .

[0030] FIG. 2A is a top view of the support layer illustrated in FIG. 1 with a second conductive layer deposited thereon for a single-color display.

[0031] FIG. 2B is bottom view of the support layer illustrated in FIG. 2A with the traces deposited thereon.

[0032] FIG. 3A is a top view of the support layer illustrated in FIG. 1 with the second conductive layer deposited thereon in sections for a multi-color display.

[0033] FIG. 3B is bottom view of the support layer illustrated in FIG. 3A with the traces deposited thereon.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a top view of the support layer illustrated in FIG. 1 with the second conductive layer deposited thereon and with tails extending from the support layer.

[0035] FIGS. 5A-5C are different views of the artificial nail assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the nail blank, the color display and the nail interface adapter illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0037] FIGS. 7A-7B are different views of the nail blank illustrated in FIG. 1 with surface modifications formed therein.

[0038] FIGS. 8A-8B are different views of the nail blank illustrated in FIG. 1 with micro air bubbles formed in a subsurface thereof.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a diagram of the integrated digital nail system illustrated in FIG. 1 that includes use of nail access codes and a data collection server.

[0040] FIGS. 10A-10B are screenshots of the nail polish app on the client device illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an integrated color changing object system in which various aspects of thedisclosure may be implemented.Detailed Description

[0042] The present description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. However, many different embodiments may be used, and thus the description should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notations may be used to indicate similar elements in different embodiments .

[0043] Referring initially to FIG. 1, an integrated digital nail system 120 includes a client device 130 and an artificial nail assembly 160 with a color display 162 bonded to an underside of a nail blank 192. The color display 162 is programmable for displaying one or more user-selected colors. The artificial nail assembly 160 is to be bonded to a nail of a user, which may be a fingernail or a toenail.

[0044] The integrated digital nail system 120 avoids the use of fluid-based nail polish chemicals that often result in noxious fumes and flammable conditions. The health problem associated with toxic industrial chemicals exposed through inhalation or skin leading to adverse human health effects is advantageously avoided.

[0045] The client device 130 may be a desktop computing device or a mobile computing device. A mobile computing device includes a cell phone or a personal display assistant (PDA) , for example. The client device 130 includes a nail color app 132 that is configured to display a set of color options 134 available for the color display 162. Each color option 134 has at least one color file 136 associated therewith. Each colorfile 136 includes programming signal values corresponding to a color option 134.

[0046] The integrated artificial nail assembly 160 includes a chipset and power supply layer 200. The chipset and power supply layer 200 includes a chipset 202 and a power supply 204 coupled to the chipset 202, wherein the chipset 202 communicates directly with the client device 130 for programming the color display 162 to display one or more user-selected colors.

[0047] The color display 162 includes a first conductive layer 170 that may also be referred to as a first electrode, an electronic paper layer 172 and a backplane 166. A transparent protective layer 190 covers the first conductive layer 170. The protective layer 190 is a thermoplastic polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) . The first conductive layer 170 is a transparent electrically conductive material, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) .

[0048] In one embodiment, the electronic paper layer 172 is an electrophoretic layer. In other embodiments, the electronic paper layer 172 may be an electrochromic layer, for example. For discussion purposes of the color display 162, the electronic paper layer 172 is configured as the electrophoretic layer.

[0049] Electronic paper is a technology that replicates the appearance of ordinary ink on paper. It works by using tiny capsules filled with clear fluid containing minuscule particles, each about the width of a human hair. These capsules are arranged in a thin film with particles of different colors and electric charges. The electric charges are initially set at the factory so that the capsules remain in a charged state. When an electric field is applied to the individual electrodes, i.e., first and second conductive layers 170 and 176, the particles move within the charged capsules, causing the electronic paper layer 172 to appear as a certain color.

[0050] The electronic paper layer 172 is bistable, meaning it retains a static image even without electricity, and it is reflective, reflecting ambient light rather than emitting its own. Because of these properties, electronic paper is energyefficient and can display content without constant refreshing, making it ideal for artificial nails.

[0051] The backplane 166 may also be referred to as a custom backplane and is configured so that the color display 162 is functional within the integrated artificial nail assembly 160 and can be programmed via the chipset 202. The backplane 166 includes a support layer 174, a second conductive layer 176 on an upper surface of the support layer 174, and a plurality of traces 178, 179 on an underside of the support layer 174. The second conductive layer 176 may also be referred to as a second electrode. The support layer 174 may be a thermoplastic polymer.

[0052] The second conductive layer 176 is an electrically conductive material, and does not need to be transparent.Example electrically conductive materials are carbon, copper, silver and gold. The second conductive layer 176 may be split into sections, with each section being separately controlled for configuring the electronic paper layer 172 to appear as different colors. The traces 178, 179 are also an electrically conductive material, such as silver. The second conductive layer 176 and the traces 178, 179 are printed on opposing sides of the support layer 174.

[0053] The backplane 166 further includes a plurality of vias 180, 182 extending between the plurality of traces 178, 179 and the first and second conductive layers 170, 176. Via 180 extends between a first one of the traces 178 and the first conductive layer 170. Via 182 extends between a second one of the traces 179 and the second conductive layer 176.

[0054] The chipset and power supply layer 200 are adjacentthe underside of the support layer 174. The chipset and power supply layer 200 are shown as being on the same layer, but in other embodiments the chipset 202 and the power supply 204 are on different layers. The chipset 202 is conductively coupled to the to the plurality of traces 178, 179. The function of the chipset 202 may be provided by a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or by a collection of individual chips .

[0055] The chipset 202 may be Bluetooth® compatible for communicating with the client device 130. The chipset 202 is to receive the at least one color file 136 corresponding to at least one user-selected color option 134, and to generate programming signals corresponding to the programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file 136 to program the color display 162 to the at least one user-selected color option 134.

[0056] Each microcapsule in the electronic paper layer 172 may include red, green and yellow (RGY) pigments. The programming signal values in the color file 136 provide the voltage potential that is to be applied to the color display 162, and for how long the voltage potential is to be applied. The voltage potential may be applied to the color display 162 in one time cycle or may be applied over a number of time cycles. A time cycle may fall within the microsecond range or within the millisecond range, for example.

[0057] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2B, the opposing top and bottom sides of the support layer 174 will be discussed for the color display 162 configured as a single-color display. The top side of the support layer 174 has the second conductive layer 176 p rinted thereon as a continuous section, as shown in FIG. 2A. Likewise, the first conductive layer 170 is also printed as a continuous sheet.

[0058] A small area of the support layer 174 is not covered by the second conductive layer 176 so as to allow via 180 to pass through without making contact with the second conductive layer 176. The bottom side of the support layer 174 has the first trace 178 and the second trace 179 printed thereon, as shown in FIG. 2B. Via 180 extends from the first trace 178 to the first conductive layer 170, and via 182 extends from the second trace 179 to the second conductive layer 176.

[0059] The chipset 202 is electrically connected to the first and second traces 178, 179. This allows the chipset 202 to make electrical contact with the first conductive layer 170 using via 180, and to make electrical contact with the second conductive layer 176 using via 182.

[0060] When the chipset 202 applies a differential in voltage to the first and second electrodes 170, 176, the capsules in the electronic paper layer 172 are all set to the same color. The electronic paper layer 172 appears as a single pixel. As an example, the differential in voltage may be based on ground being applied to the first electrode 170 and 24 volts being applied to the second electrode 176. The differential in volage is based on the chipset 202 generating programming signals over predefined time intervals corresponding to programming signal values provided by a color file 136, wherein the programming signal values program the color display 166 to the desired user- selected color option.

[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3B, the opposing top and bottom sides of the support layer 174 will be discussed for the color display 162 configured as a multi-color display. This requires the first conductive layer 170 or the second conductive layer 176 to be divided into sections, where each section is electrically separated from the other sections and can be separately controlled with a different voltage level. As anexample, the second conductive layer 176 may be divided into second conductive layer sections 176(1), 176(2) for a French nail design, as shown in FIG. 3A. A gap 177 electrically separates the second conductive layer sections 176(1) , 176(2) .

[0062] Since there are now two second conductive layer sections 176(1), 176(2) for a French nail design, an extra trace and via are needed, as shown in FIG. 3B. The first trace 178 still interfaces with the first conductive layer 170 using via 180. The second trace 179 is now separated into second traces 179(1) and 179(2) . Second trace 179(1) is to connect with second conductive layer section 176(1) using via 182(1), and second trace 179(2) is to connect with the second conductive layer section 176(2) using via 182(2) .

[0063] An advantage of switching the color display 166 at the second conductive layer sections 176(1), 176(2) is that there will be less interruptions in the color display 162 since only one contact (i.e. , via 180) is required for the first conductive layer 170 formed as a single continuous layer. Dividing the first conductive layer 170 into sections would require multiple contacts, and since the first conductive layer 170 is transparent, this would lead to more interruptions in the color display 162. In contrast, the contacts for the second conductive layer sections 176(1), 176(2) are not visible.

[0064] The second conductive layer sections 176(1) , 176(2) are separately controlled second electrodes. When a differential in voltage is applied to the first electrode 170 and the second electrode 176(1), the respective capsules in the electronic paper layer 172 between the first and second electrodes 170, 176(1) are all set to the same first color. When a different differential in voltage is applied to the first electrode 170 and the second electrode 176(2), the respective capsules in the electronic paper layer 172 between the first and secondelectrodes 170, 176(2) are all set to the same second color that is different from the first color. As noted above, the differential in volage is based on the chipset 202 generating programming signals over predefined time intervals corresponding to programming signal values provided by the color files 136, wherein the programming signal values program the color display 166 to the desired user-selected color options.

[0065] For the color display 166 to display more than the first and second colors, the second conductive layer would be further divided into more than two second conductive layer sections. Each second conductive layer section would require its own trace and via. As readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, each second conductive layer section may be shaped so that a desired pattern, symbol, design or alpha-numeric value is displayed .

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative design for the second conductive layer 176 and the first and second traces 178, 179 is based on configuring the second conductive layer 176' with tails 178' , v79' . Tail 178' functions as first trace 178, and tail 179' functions as second trace 179. The tails 178' , 179' are flexible so that they can be folded from the top side to the bottom side of the second conductive layer 176' .

[0067] The tails 178' , 179' may be printed separate from the second conductive layer 176' and then placed on a top side of the support layer 174' to be folded. Alternatively, the tails 178' , 179' may be printed at the same time as the second conductive layer 176' so that tail 179' is an extension of the second conductive layer 176' .

[0068] Tail 179' is in electrical contact with the second conductive layer 176' . This advantageously avoids the need for via 182 since an electrical connection exists between the second conductive layer 176' and the tail 179' . Since tail 178' is toconnect with via 180' , the tail 178' is electrically separated from the second conductive layer 176' . Via 180' extends between the first conductive layer 170 and the top side of the support layer 174' . Connection of the via 180' to the bottom side of the support layer 174' is not needed since tail 178' is folded from the top side to the bottom side of the second conductive layer 176' .

[0069] Referring back to FIG. 1, the power supply 204 may be a battery, such as a micro battery, a solid-state micro battery or a nuclear diamond battery. The micro battery may be referred to as an electrochemical cell micro battery, which uses liquid, paste or gel as the ion conduction media, and depletes ion resources. The electrochemical cell may be conformal to the nail in shape, rechargeable, air breathing and / or bio interactive.The solid-state micro battery uses a solid electrolyte for ionic conductions between the electrodes, and depletes ion resources. The solid-state micro battery may be conformal to the nail in shape, rechargeable, air breathing and / or bio interactive. The nuclear diamond battery, a beta-voltaric cell, works by converting energy released by decaying isotopes into electricity. The electricity may be generated a very long time (decades or more) without the need for charging or maintenance. The nuclear diamond battery may be conformal to the nail in shape.

[0070] In other embodiments, the power supply 204 may be configured as a near-field communication (NFC) chipset that operates similar to Apple Pay™. The NFC chipset receives power and the at least one color file 136 corresponding to the at least one user-selected color option via inductive coupling with the client device 130. The client device 130 includes a corresponding NFC chipset.

[0071] In other embodiments, the power supply 204 maycomprise a supercapacitor configured to be charged by connecting to an external power source, receiving and converting solar energy, or any number of RF energy absorption and conversion processes. The supercapacitor may also be referred to as an ultracapacitor, and may be conformal to the nail in shape. The supercapacitor is a high-capacity capacitor, with a capacitance value much higher than solid-state capacitors but with lower voltage limits. It bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries.

[0072] The integrated artificial nail assembly 160 may further include a power input layer 206 for charging the power supply 204. The power input layer 206 may be a photovoltaic cell positioned on an underside of the chipset and power supply layer 200, and may be conformal to the nail in shape. Although not shown in the figures, the photovoltaic cell may alternatively be configured as a transparent photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the upper surface of the first conductive layer 170. The photovoltaic cell is integrated into the protective layer 190, and / or integrated into the second conductive layer 176, and may be conformal to the nail in shape. Any of these instances are for the conversion of photonic energy into electrical potential energy to be stored in the power supply 204. The photovoltaic cell generates electrical power from ambient or supplied visible light. In other embodiments, the photovoltaic cell may also function as an optical detector for receiving from the client device 130 the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option.

[0073] The integrated artificial nail assembly 160 may further include a nail interface adapter 194 that interfaces between an upper surface of the user's nail and a lower surface of the power input layer 206. If the integrated artificial nail assembly 160 does not include the power input layer 206, thenthe nail interface adapter 194 interfaces with a lower surface of the chipset and power supply layer 200.

[0074] Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5C, different views of the artificial nail assembly 160 are provided. The human nail has curvature in both the axis of the finger as well as the axis perpendicular to the finger. That is, an upper surface of the human nail has a complex curve shape since there are two axis of curvature. Consequently, an upper surface 193 of the nail blank 192 has a complex curve shape to aesthetically look like a natural nail .

[0075] However, there are physical limitations imposed by the mechanical layout of the color display 162 and / or its material makeup. These limitations may restrict or otherwise dictate how best the various layers can be curved or flexed to interface with the underside of the nail blank 192. Physical limitations may dictate the color display 162 to have a less than desired complex curve shape due to mechanical stresses inducing strain on the electronic paper layer 172 which could negatively effect performance of the color display 162. In other words, there are physical limitations on how much the color display 162 can be curved or flexed to interface with the underside of the nail blank 192. The color display 162 is preferably curved to have a conformal curve shape instead of a complex curve shape.

[0076] As best shown in FIG. 6, the color display 162, the chipset and power supply layer 200 and the power input layer 206 may be characterized as an integrated color display 163 since the different layers are bonded together. An upper surface 167 and a lower surface 168 of the integrated color display 163 are curved about a single axis. That is, the upper and lower surfaces 167, 168 of the integrated color display 162 each have a single axis of curvature.

[0077] For the nail blank 192 to interface with the uppersurface 168 of the integrated color display 163, a bottom surface 195 of the nail blank 192 is formed to have single axis of curvature. For the lower surface 167 of the integrated color display 163 to bond securely to the upper surface of the user' s nail, a nail interface adapter 194 is provided. A lower surface 197 of the nail interface adapter 194 has a complex curve shape to securely interface with the user' s nail, and an upper surface 199 of the nail interface adapter 194 has a simple curve shape to interface with the lower surface 167 of the integrated color display 163.

[0078] The nail blank 192 may be formed with injection molding. The 3D curvature of the artificial nail assembly 160 is achieved with a physical surface-to-surface bonding of the integrated color display 163 to a precast thermosetting polymer. The precast thermosetting polymer acrylic nail blank 192 may be an acrylic nail blank 192, for example. Bonding of the integrated color display 163 to the polymer nail blank 192 is done with an optically clear adhesive creating a bonded optical system. The integrated color display 163 is attached to the user' s nail using a precast nail interface adapter 194, wherein an optically transparent adhesive is used to secure the nail interface adapter 194 to the user' s nail surface.

[0079] The artificial nail assembly 160 may be between 5 and 15 mils in stack thickness, consisting of a 3 to 7 mil thick integrated color display 163, one or more 1 mil bond layers, and a 1 to 10 mil thick optically transparent polymer over-element nail blank 192. Conventional thermosetting polymer casting equipment used for the nail blank 192 may be hot pressed from sheet polymer, blow molded, cast separate or fusion cast directly to the integrated color display 163. Although not shown, stereo lithographic resin fusion may be utilized to create one or more subcomponents or as a method of overpackagecreation .

[0080] A surface of the nail blank 192 may be modified to adjust the various parameters to enhance the underlying color of the artificial nail assembly 160, altering its prismatic visual effect, amplifying desired optical effects or minimizing undesired optical effects. One example of surface modification is laser ablation surface modification, where an outer exposed surface 193 of the nail blank 192 or the final artificial nail assembly 160 is etched to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank 192. As an example, lines 223 having a triangular shape may be etched into the upper surface 193 of the nail blank 192, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B.

[0081] The uppermost surface 193 of the nail blank 192 may be a pre-formed thermosetting resin shell that can be modified via laser energy surface ablation so that fine lines, curves or patterns of geometrical figures may be etched into the uppermost surface 193. The volume of material that makes up the etching is effectively removed to establish a lower surface topography along the length of the nail blank 192, or in any repeating pattern that is required to effect the optical result desired. The illustrated instance of chromatic enhancement is based on repeating parallel lines running the length of the nail blank 192 f rom rear to tip.

[0082] The underlying physics that allows for the optical alteration of the uppermost surface 193 and effect on the underlying color is the establishment of constructive and or destructive interference patterns across the nail assembly surface that alter the passage of light through the outer protective shell of the artificial nail assembly 160. To achieve a specific optical outcome, certain ablation characteristics may be varied.

[0083] Ablation characteristics include the base material,ablation depth, width, ablation profile, energy frequency, ablation rate, base material surface roughness, ablated surface roughness, pattern, pattern width, optical properties of polymer overcoat, thermal distortion characteristics of the base material and the wavelength of the underlying color to be optimized. Once the processing parameters of the ablation are established, the physical pattern is burned onto one or more of the surfaces of the pre-formed thermosetting resin shell nail blank 192 and or the external surface of the final artificial nail assembly 160.

[0084] Another instance of surface modification via laser ablation is the creation of micro bubbles within the nail shell for the purposes of prismatic optical alteration. A subsurface 225 of the nail blank 192 is altered using dual lasers to create micro air bubbles 227 to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank 192, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8B.

[0085] Laser ablation surface modification can adjust the various parameters to enhance the prismatic effect of patterned micro air bubbles 227 formed within the acrylic shell of the nail blank 192. Selective bouncing of light rays within patterned micro air bubbles 227 can produce desired optical effects on the final artificial nail assembly 160. The preformed thermosetting resin nail blank 192 or shell can be modified via laser energy cavity ablation so that micro air bubbles 227 are formed in the volume of the nail blank 192 for the effect of light ray scattering. The formation of micro air bubbles 227 in the material will induce physical stress in the optical material inducing a host of prismatic optical ray scatterings including polarization, chromatic aberration, internal cavity reflection and absorption. Careful placement of the micro bubble patterns can effect the optical result desired. This instance of chromatic enhancement is based on micro cavityablation and void creation within the nail shell material.

[0086] The underlying physics that allows for the optical alteration of the volume of the nail blank 192 and underlying color expression is the restructuring of incident light rays into unique and contrast enhancing patterns within the transparent surfaces of the nail blank 192. Light rays that would normally enter the nail assembly surface, penetrate to the color layer, reflect off the color layer, transverse the acrylic shell and exit the upper most surface of the nail surface will now have to interact with micro voids in the transparent material that have irregular internal reflective surfaces, variable indexes of refraction, polarization and optical absorption properties.

[0087] To achieve a specific optical outcome, the ablation characteristics of the base material, micro cavity generation characteristic, cavity depth, cavity width, energy frequency, cavity volume rate, base material surface roughness, ablated surface roughness, pattern, optical properties of base material, thermal distortion characteristics of the base material and the refractive index of the base material and ablated surface may be varied. Once the processing parameters of the micro cavity ablation creation are established, the physical pattern is burned onto the transparent volume of the pre-formed acrylic nail blank 192 and or the final artificial nail assembly 160.

[0088] Referring now to FIG. 9, the integrated digital nail system 120 may include use of a nail access code 530 to be received by the nail color app 132 in the client device 130 before the intreated artificial nail assembly 160 can be programmed. The nail access code 530 is used to activate the nail color app 132.

[0089] The nail access code 530 may be placed on a box or packaging enclosing the integrated artificial nail assemblies160 when purchased by the user. The nail access code 530 may be a QR code or a bar code, for example, that is to be scanned by a camera on the client device 130. In other embodiments, the nail access code 530 may be manually entered into the client device 130 by the user.

[0090] The electronic paper layer 172 in the color display 162 in the artificial nail assembly 160 may vary as a function of temperature. The client device 130 includes a temperature sensor 138 that provides a temperature value. The temperature value is used by the client device 130 to select the color file 136 corresponding to the temperature value. In other words, each respective color option 134 may have a number of color files 136 for the respective color option 134. The programming signal values in the color files 136 for the respective color option 134 vary between different temperature values. In other embodiments, the temperature is determined by the artificial nail assembly 160.

[0091] After activation of the nail color app 132, data associated with the user programming the intreated artificial nail assembly 160 may be relayed to a cloud-based data collection server 540. Example data collected by the client device 130 and stored in the data collection server 540 may include user trend lines, timestamps, locations, demographics, palette sharing, etc. The stored data may be referred to as a datalake .

[0092] Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10B, the nail polish app 132 p rovides a relatively straight forward user interface (UI) for programming the integrated artificial nail assembly 160. An example screenshot 300 of the nail polish app 132 displays a number of different colors and color themes for the user to view and select. The colors may include trending colors 302, curated palette colors 304, what' s your vibe? colors 306, and morepalette colors 308. As an example, the more palette colors 308 include pastel oasis 310 color and earth serenity colors 312.

[0093] To initiate selection of one or more colors for the integrated artificial nail assembly 160, the user taps UI interface 314 to connect with the integrated artificial nail assembly 160. Once connected, the user is able to select the one or more colors, which are displayed in prompt 316 in screenshot 320. To transfer the user selected colors to the integrated artificial nail assembly 160, the user selects prompt 318.

[0094] Yet another aspect is directed to a method for making an integrated artificial nail assembly 160 comprising the steps of forming a nail blank 192, forming an integrated color display 163 as described above, and bonding an underside 195 of the nail blank 192 to a topside 168 of the integrated color display 193 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0095] Referring now to FIG. 11, another aspect is directed to a digital color changing object system 620 that includes a client device 130 and a color changing object 640. The color changing object 640 may include broaches, pendants, jewelry, ear rings, cell phone cases, and glasses, for example. The description of these objects is not to be limiting, as other color changing object types may be used. Although not shown, the digital color changing object system 620 may also operate with the use of object access codes and a data collection server as discussed above for the integrated digital nail system 120.

[0096] In particular, the color changing object 640 includes an integrated color display 163 that may be programmed by the user for displaying user-selected colors. The integrated color display 163 is based on the integrated artificial nail assembly 160 il lustrated in FIG. 1 minus the nail blank 192 and the nail interface adapter 194. User-selected color options are provided by the client device 130 to the integrated color display 163 sothat the chipset 502 programs the integrated color display 163 based on the received user-selected colors.

[0097] In the above discussions of the integrated artificial nail assembly 160 and the color changing object 640, use of the color display 162 is based on electronic paper that includes microcapsules. In alternate embodiments, the electronic paper may be replaced by a digital display. The digital display may be configured as an LED display, for example. An LED display is a flat panel display that uses an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as pixels for a video display. The LED display allows images and graphics to be displayed. The brightness of the LEDs allows them to be used outdoors where they are easily visible in the sun.

[0098] Many modifications and other embodiments will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the foregoing is not to be limited to the example embodiments, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims .

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An integrated digital nail system comprising: a client device comprising a nail color app for providing color options, with each color option having at least one color file associated therewith that includes programming signal values; and an integrated artificial nail assembly comprising: a nail blank; and a color display coupled to an underside of the nail blank and comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane, the backplane comprising : a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces, and configured to communicate with the client device to receive the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, and generate programming signals corresponding to the programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

2. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

3. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 2 wherein the battery comprises at least one of a microbattery, a solid-state battery, and a nuclear diamond battery.

4. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a near-field communication (NFC) chipset configured to receive power and the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option via inductive coupling with the client device.

5. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the power supply comprises a supercapacitor configured to be charged by connecting to an external power source.

6. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 2 wherein the integrated artificial nail assembly further comprises a power input layer coupled to the battery for charging thereof.

7. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 6 wherein the power input layer comprises a photovoltaic cell.

8. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 7 wherein the photovoltaic cell is configured as a transparent photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the upper surface of the first conductive layer.

9. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the electronic paper layer comprises an electrophoretic layer .

10. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the first conductive layer is transparent.

11. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the second conductive layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart second conductive layer sections, with each second conductive layer section being separately controlled for configuring the electronic paper layer to display different colors .

12. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of traces comprises a first trace for the first conductive layer, and a plurality of second traces for the second conductive layer sections, and wherein the plurality of vias comprises a first via extending between the first trace and the first conductive layer, and a plurality of second vias extending between the plurality of second traces and the plurality of second conductive layer sections.

13. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the underside of the nail blank is shaped as a simple curve for bonding with an upper surface of the display that is shaped as a simple curve, and wherein an upper surface of the nail blank is shaped as a compound curve.

14. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein an underside of the color display is shaped as a simple curve, and further comprises a nail interface adapter having an upper surface shaped as a simple curve for bonding with the underside of the color display, and an underside shaped as a compound curve for directly bonding with the user's nail.

15. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 14 wherein edges of the nail interface adapter and edges of the nail blank are bonded together so that a load on the nail interface adapter is transferred to the nail blank and not to the color display.

16. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein an outer exposed surface of the nail blank is etched to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank.

17. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein a subsurface of the nail blank comprises micro air bubbles to optically alter passage of light through the nail blank .

18. The integrated digital nail system according to claim 1 wherein the nail color app is activated based on the client device scanning a code before the color display is programmed to the at least one user-selected color option.

19. The integrated digital nail system according to claim18 further comprising a data collection server, and wherein after activation of the nail color app, data associated with the user programming the intreated artificial nail assembly is transmitted to the data collection server.

20. The integrated digital nail system according to claim19 wherein the data comprises user trend lines, timestamps, locations, and demographics.

21. An integrated artificial nail assembly comprising: a nail blank; anda color display coupled to an underside of the nail blank and comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane, the backplane comprising: a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces, and configured to communicate with a client device to receive at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, with the at least one color file includes programming signal values, and generate programming signals corresponding to programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

22. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

23. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 22 wherein the battery comprises at least one of a microbattery, a solid-state battery, and a nuclear diamond battery .

24. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the power supply comprises a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) chipset configured to receive power and the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user- selected color option via inductive coupling with the client device .

25. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the power supply comprises a supercapacitor configured to be charged by connecting to an external power source .

26. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 further comprises a power input layer coupled to the battery for charging thereof.

27. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 26 wherein the power input layer comprises a photovoltaic cell .

28. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 27 wherein the photovoltaic cell is configured as a transparent photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the upper surface of the first conductive layer.

29. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the electronic paper layer comprises an electrophoretic layer.

30. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the first conductive layer is transparent.

31. The integrated artificial nail assembly according to claim 21 wherein the second conductive layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart second conductive layer sections, with each second conductive layer section being separately controlledfor configuring the electronic paper layer to display different colors .

32. A method for making an integrated artificial nail assembly comprising: forming a nail blank; and forming an integrated color display comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane, the backplane comprising: a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces, and configured to communicate with a client device to receive at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, and generate programming voltages in a programming voltage list provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option; and bonding an underside of the nail blank to a topside of the integrated color display.

33. A digital color changing object system comprising: a client device comprising a color app for providing color options, with each color option having at least one color fileassociated therewith that includes programming signal values; and a color changing object; and a color display carried by the color changing object and comprising a first conductive layer, an electronic paper layer and a backplane, the backplane comprising: a support layer, a second conductive layer on an upper surface of the support layer, a plurality of traces on an underside of the support layer, a plurality of vias extending between the plurality of traces and the first and second conductive layers, and a chipset and power supply layer adjacent the underside of the support layer and coupled to the plurality of traces, and configured to communicate with the client device to receive the at least one color file corresponding to at least one user-selected color option, and generate programming signals corresponding to the programming signal values provided by the received at least one color file to program the color display to the at least one user-selected color option.

34. The digital color changing object system according to claim 33 wherein the color changing object comprises at least one of broaches, pendants, jewelry, ear rings, cell phone cases, and glasses.

Images