Hair dryer and hair drying system

Abstract

To provide a hair dryer and a hair drying system capable of suppressing excessive drying of hair appropriately.SOLUTION: A hair dryer 10 includes a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the air drying mode as operation modes. The hair dryer 10 includes a temperature sensor 21 for measuring the temperature of an object for which the hair dryer is used and a notification part for notifying certain information to a user. When the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes a predetermined value or less after the operation mode of the hair dryer changes from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, the notification part notifies the user accordingly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hair dryer and a hair drying system.

Background Art

[0002] A general hair dryer is capable of blowing out warm air or cold air according to its use. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a hair dryer that can thermally block between adjacent flow paths to make the temperature of the air flowing through each flow path appropriate, and can efficiently perform hair deformation and drying with warm air, and hair fixation and prevention of over-drying with cold air.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The hair dryer 1 described in Patent Document 1 has a plurality of flow paths 2 and 3 through which air of different temperatures flows, and has a blowing means for simultaneously discharging the air flowing through each of the flow paths 2 and 3 toward the hair. Then, by applying warm air, which is the air discharged from the discharge part of one flow path 2, and cold air, which is discharged simultaneously with the warm air and is the air discharged from the discharge part of the other flow path 3, to the hair, first, warm air is applied to a desired part of the hair to perform hair deformation and drying, and then the hair dryer 1 is moved (or turned) to apply cold air to the part of the hair that has been exposed to the warm air to attempt to prevent over-drying of the hair.

[0005] However, in this method, since cold air and warm air are blown out simultaneously, warm air hits the areas adjacent to the areas where the cold air hits, and the entire hair cannot be cooled. Also, when a person (user) uses a hair dryer for the purpose of drying wet hair, there is a tendency to blow high-temperature and high-volume air onto the hair so that the hair dries in a shorter time. When the hair is dried in this way, after drying (after using the hair dryer), the hair is maintained in a relatively high-temperature state (i.e., a state where water evaporates easily) for a long time, and the hair may become over-dried.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a hair dryer and a hair drying system made in view of the above.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A hair dryer according to one aspect of the present invention has a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes. This hair dryer includes a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the object to be used, and a notification unit that notifies the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode.

[0008] A hair drying system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of an object, a hair dryer that has a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes, and an information terminal that can communicate with the hair dryer. The information terminal has a notification unit that notifies the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after the operation mode of the hair dryer switches from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a hair dryer or a hair drying system that can more appropriately suppress over-drying of hair.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0012] <First Embodiment> In the present embodiment, a hair dryer 10 which is an example of the hair dryer according to the present invention will be described as an example. The hair dryer 10 can be used for the purpose of drying hair and styling hair.

[0013] (Configuration of the hair dryer) First, the configuration of the hair dryer 10 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the hair dryer 10. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the hair dryer 10.

[0014] The outer shape of the hair dryer 10 is mainly composed of the main body 11. The main body 11 has a front part 11a, side parts 11b, a back part, and the like. An air outlet 15 is provided in the front part 11a.

[0015] The main body 11 is provided with an electric blower 12, a heater 13, a temperature sensor 21, a three-dimensional sensor 22, an operation unit 31, a speaker 32, a control unit 40, and the like.

[0016] The electric blower 12 includes a fan and a drive motor, and the fan is connected to the drive motor. When the hair dryer 10 is operating, the fan rotates by the driving force of the drive motor. As a result, an air flow directed toward the air outlet 15 is formed inside the hair dryer 10. The electric blower 12 starts or stops operating (rotating) based on a command from the control unit 40. Also, the electric blower 12 changes the rotation speed of the fan based on a command from the control unit 40.

[0017] The heater 13 heats the air taken into the main body 11 from an air inlet (not shown). When the hair dryer 10 is operating, by operating the heater 13, the air taken into the hair dryer 10 is heated, and warm air can be sent out from the air outlet 15. The heater 13 has its on / off heating controlled based on a command from the operation control unit 42 in the control unit 40.

[0018] The temperature sensor 21 is disposed, for example, on the front portion 11a of the main body 11 (see FIG. 1). The temperature sensor 21 measures the temperature of an object (such as the user's hair) to which the hair dryer 10 is applied. Preferably, the temperature sensor 21 is capable of simultaneously measuring temperatures at a plurality of locations. By adopting such a temperature sensor 21, for example, the temperature of a measurement target such as the user's hair can be detected over a wider range. Examples of such a temperature sensor 21 include an infrared array sensor and an infrared thermographic camera. The temperature information measured by the temperature sensor 21 is transmitted to the control unit 40. This temperature information is stored in the memory 51 within the control unit 40.

[0019] The three-dimensional sensor 22 is disposed, for example, on the front portion 11a of the main body 11 (see FIG. 1). The three-dimensional sensor 22 is a sensor that grasps the spatial position (three-dimensional position) of the hair dryer 10. Examples of the three-dimensional sensor 22 include a 3D acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor. The three-dimensional position information measured by the three-dimensional sensor 22 is transmitted to the control unit 40. This three-dimensional position information is stored in the memory 51 within the control unit 40. The three-dimensional sensor 22 may be provided within the gripping portion.

[0020] The operation unit 31 is provided, for example, on the front portion 11a of the main body 11. The operation unit 31 includes, for example, a power switch, operation changeover buttons (such as an air volume changeover button and an air temperature changeover button). The operation unit 31 is operated by the user, and this operation information is transmitted to the control unit 40.

[0021] When using the hair dryer 10, by the user operating the operation unit 31, the hair dryer 10 starts or stops operating. Also, by operating the operation unit 31, the type of wind (hot air / cold air) blown out from the air outlet 15 and the air volume are adjusted. Further, by operating the operation unit 31, the operation mode of the hair dryer 10 is switched.

[0022] Speaker 32 emits sounds such as various notification sounds or voice messages to the user based on commands transmitted from the control unit 40. Speaker 32 is an example of a notification unit that notifies the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode.

[0023] In addition, other examples of the notification unit include a display unit (not shown) that displays the current operating mode of the hair dryer 10, etc. For example, after switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the user may be notified to that effect by changing the color of a display lamp (e.g., LED) included in the display unit.

[0024] The control unit 40 is connected to each component within the hair dryer 10 and controls these. Inside the control unit 40, a memory 51, a timer 52, a drying determination unit 41, an operation control unit 42, etc. are provided. The control unit 40 controls the operations of the electric blower 12, the heater 13, the speaker 32, etc. according to the content operated on the operation unit 31, the detection results of various sensors, etc.

[0025] After switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the control unit 40 stops the operation of the electric blower 12. As a result, the blowing from the hair dryer 10 stops. The user of the hair dryer 10 can recognize that the temperature of the hair measured by the temperature sensor 21 has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value due to the stoppage of the blowing from the hair dryer 10. The stoppage of the blowing from the hair dryer 10 corresponds to the notification to the user. Therefore, the control unit 40 is an example of a notification unit that notifies the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode.

[0026] The memory 51 includes a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 51 stores the operation program and setting data of the hair dryer 10 and temporarily stores the calculation results by the control unit 40 and the like. Further, the memory 51 stores the detection results of the temperature sensor 21 and the three-dimensional sensor 22. The timer 52 measures, as necessary, the time of the processing performed in the control unit 40, the operation time of each component in the hair dryer 10, and the like.

[0027] The drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state (degree of drying) of the object to be used by the hair dryer 10. The drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object based on, for example, the temperature, moisture content, humidity, electrical conductivity, etc. of the object. In one example, the drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object based on the measurement results of the temperature sensor 21 and the three-dimensional sensor 22.

[0028] The operation control unit 42 switches the operation mode of the hair dryer 10 based on the command from the operation unit 31, information from various sensors (for example, the temperature sensor 21 and the three-dimensional sensor 22), and the drying determination unit 41 and the like. In one example, the operation control unit 42 switches from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" based on the determination result of the drying determination unit 41.

[0029] In addition to the above configuration, the hair dryer 10 may be provided with an ion generator (not shown) and a distance sensor (not shown) and the like.

[0030] The ion generator generates at least one of positive (+) ions (for example, H + (H 2 O) m (m is an arbitrary natural number)) and negative (-) ions (for example, O 2 - (H 2 O) n (n is an arbitrary natural number)). By having the ion generator in the hair dryer 10, ions can be contained in the blown air.

[0031] The ion generator is an example of a charged particle supply (generation) mechanism. Note that the charged particle supply (generation) mechanism is a mechanism that supplies (generates) charged particles.

[0032] Charged particles mean particles that are not electrically neutral or active species activated to a non-electrically neutral state. Charged particles are not limited to particles with a charge. For example, particles such as atoms or molecules that do not have a charge but have unpaired electrons are also included. Specifically, charged particles include, for example, ions with a positive or negative charge, complexes of ions with a positive or negative charge, radicals, electrons, protons, etc.

[0033] The charged particle supply (generation) mechanism may be, for example, a mechanism that supplies (generates) only one type of charged particle, or a mechanism that supplies (generates) multiple types of charged particles. The charged particle supply (generation) mechanism may be, for example, a mechanism that supplies (generates) both positive ions or complexes of positive ions (for example, a complex in which polar molecules such as water molecules are coordinated to positive ions) and negative ions or complexes of negative ions (for example, a complex in which polar molecules such as water molecules are coordinated to negative ions). The charged particle supply (generation) mechanism may be, for example, a mechanism that supplies (generates) only one of the complexes of positive and negative ions.

[0034] The distance sensor measures, for example, the distance between the hair dryer 10 and the user. Examples of the distance sensor include a ToF (Time of Flight) distance measurement sensor that measures the above-mentioned distance based on the reflection time of infrared light from the distance sensor to a specific part of the user's hair. Alternatively, instead of the distance sensor, for example, GPS, a reflection Doppler sensor, a camera, and a dot projector may be used to measure the distance between the hair dryer 10 and the user.

[0035] (Operation of the hair dryer) Next, the operation of the hair dryer 10 will be described. The hair dryer 10 according to the present embodiment can operate in a plurality of operation modes. By the user selecting a predetermined operation mode by operating the operation unit 31, for example, the amount and temperature of the air sent out from the air outlet 15 can be made to vary in various ways. For example, when the hair dryer 10 is used for the purpose of styling hair, the styler mode is selected. Also, when the hair dryer 10 is used for the purpose of drying hair, the dryer mode is selected.

[0036] And when the dryer mode is selected in the hair dryer 10, for the purpose of making the finished state of the hair, which is the object to be dried, better, the hair dryer 10 is set to automatically change the mode (for example, based on a command from the control unit 40) from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode". In another embodiment, the user may manually switch from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" by operating the operation unit 31.

[0037] Here, the "hair drying mode" means an operation mode set mainly for the purpose of drying wet hair in a shorter time. In a state where the "hair drying mode" is selected, the heater 13 is in the ON state, and the rotation speed of the electric blower 12 increases compared to the "finishing mode". As a result, from the air outlet 15, air with a higher temperature and a larger air volume (that is, high-speed warm air) than in the "finishing mode" is sent out. The "hair drying mode" can also be described as, for example, the "warm air mode", the "high-speed warm air mode", etc.

[0038] Also, the "finishing mode" means an operation mode that is executed at the finishing stage of hair drying after the above-mentioned "hair drying mode". This "finishing mode" is an operation mode built into the hair dryer 10 in order to improve the finished state when drying wet hair. By providing such a "finishing mode", it is possible to cool the hair heated by the warm air during drying, prevent over-drying of the hair, and tighten the hair cuticle.

[0039] As described above, the hair dryer 10 according to this embodiment has a "hair drying mode" and a "finishing mode" that is performed after the "hair drying mode". In one example, among the operation modes (for example, the dryer mode) used for the purpose of drying hair, the "hair drying mode" and the "finishing mode" are included. When the user selects the dryer mode, first, the "hair drying mode" is executed. Then, after satisfying a predetermined condition, the operation mode of the hair dryer 10 shifts from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode".

[0040] In a state where the "finishing mode" is selected, the heater 13 is in the OFF state, and the rotational speed of the fan of the electric blower 12 decreases compared to that in the "hair drying mode". As a result, from the air outlet 15, air with a lower temperature and a smaller air volume (that is, low-speed cold air) than in the "hair drying mode" is sent out. Note that the "finishing mode" can also be described as, for example, the "cold air mode", the "low-speed cold air mode", etc.

[0041] The mode change from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" can be performed, for example, based on the determination result of the drying determination unit 41. More specifically, the drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object based on the measurement results of the temperature sensor 21 and the three-dimensional sensor 22. Also, in a configuration where the hair dryer 10 has means (for example, a moisture sensor, etc.) capable of measuring the moisture content (or humidity) of the hair, the drying determination unit 41 may determine the drying state of the object based on the moisture content, humidity, etc. of the object.

[0042] When the drying determination unit 41 determines that the object has reached a state where it should shift to the finishing mode, upon receiving the determination result, the operation control unit 42 switches the operation mode from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode".

[0043] This can make the finished state of the hair, which is the object to be dried, better.

[0044] Normally, when a person (user) uses a hair dryer for the purpose of drying wet hair, in order to dry the hair in a shorter time, there is a tendency to direct hot air with a high temperature and a large air volume onto the hair. And after the person (user) determines that the hair to be dried has reached a dry state, the person stops the operation of the hair dryer 10. Or, in order to cool the hair in a high-temperature state, the person switches the air of the hair dryer 10 from warm air to cold air. However, when a person determines the dry state of the hair and stops the operation of the hair dryer 10 (or switches the operation), due to the influence of the heat trapped in the hair, the drying of the hair may further progress even after the operation stops, and the hair may become over-dried.

[0045] Therefore, in the hair dryer 10 according to the present embodiment, in order to more reliably suppress over-drying of the hair, after the operation mode of the hair dryer 10 is switched from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode", the temperature sensor 21 measures the temperature of the hair, which is the object to be dried. And when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, it is set to notify the user to that effect.

[0046] Examples of the method of notifying the user include notifying the user by stopping the air blowing of the hair dryer, or the speaker 32 emitting sound, or stopping the air blowing and emitting sound.

[0047] In addition, when the temperature sensor 21 can measure the temperatures at a plurality of locations simultaneously and can detect the temperature of the object to be measured over a wider range, it is preferably set to notify the user to that effect when the maximum temperature among the measured values within the obtained predetermined range is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. This can avoid the situation where the air blowing of the hair dryer stops while a part of the hair is insufficiently cooled.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows the flow of operations when the hair dryer 10 is used in the dryer mode. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image of the temperature measurement results stored in the memory 51 in the control unit 40 during the use of the hair dryer 10.

[0049] When the user selects the dryer mode by operating the operation unit 31 (step S11), the control unit 40 in the hair dryer 10 first starts operating in the "hair drying mode" (step S12). Specifically, the operation control unit 42 in the control unit 40 controls the rotational speed of the fan of the electric blower 12, the set temperature of the heater 13, etc. based on the operation conditions at the time of setting the "hair drying mode" stored in the memory 51.

[0050] When the hair dryer 10 starts operating in the "hair drying mode", the drying determination unit 41 in the control unit 40 starts determining the drying state of the object to be dried (for example, the user's hair) (step S13).

[0051] The drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object based on the measurement results of the temperature sensor 21, the three-dimensional sensor 22, etc. As the method for determining the drying state here, for example, the methods described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-19835) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-19837) can be used, but other known methods may also be used.

[0052] When the drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object and determines that it is not yet time to shift from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" (NO in step S14), the operation in the "hair drying mode" continues.

[0053] On the other hand, when the drying determination unit 41 determines the drying state of the object and determines that it is time to shift from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" (YES in step S14), the hair dryer 10 shifts from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode" (step S15). Specifically, the operation control unit 42 controls the rotational speed of the fan of the electric blower 12, the operation of the heater 13 (or the set temperature), etc. based on the operation conditions at the time of setting the "finishing mode" stored in the memory 51.

[0054] When the hair dryer 10 starts operating in the "finishing mode", the control unit 40 measures the temperature of the object using the temperature sensor 21 (more specifically, the array sensor). At the same time, the control unit 40 measures the three-dimensional position of the object during temperature measurement using the three-dimensional sensor 22.

[0055] The temperature information from the temperature sensor 21 (more specifically, the measured values from the array sensor) and the position information from the three-dimensional sensor 22 are associated with each other and stored in the memory 51 within the control unit 40.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows an image of the temperature information T of the hair H obtained as a result of the hair dryer 10 measuring the temperature and position of the hair H that is the object to be dried. This temperature information T is formed as image information, for example, within the hair dryer 10 based on the temperature information and position information stored in the memory 51. When the hair dryer 10 is capable of communicating with an external information terminal (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc.), this temperature information T is displayed on the display unit of the external information terminal. In FIG. 4, the image of the temperature information T is shown as viewed from the front by the user, but the temperature information T also includes an image when viewed from the back side by the user and can be freely switched and confirmed.

[0057] The operation control unit 42 refers to the temperature information T and, when the measured temperature is higher than a predetermined value (NO in step S16), continues to operate in the "finishing mode". When the measured temperature is higher than a predetermined value, for example, it means that the maximum temperature among the respective temperatures in the measurement area is higher than the predetermined value.

[0058] On the other hand, when referring to the temperature information T and the measured temperature becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value (YES in step S16), the operation control unit 42 stops the operation of the electric blower 12 etc., to notify the user of the end of the finishing mode (step S17). When other components such as the heater 13 and the ion generator are operating, the operation of those components is also stopped.

[0059] Furthermore, the control unit 40 notifies the user of the end of the finishing mode using the speaker 32 (step S18). Thereafter, the operation of the dryer mode by the hair dryer 10 ends.

[0060] (Summary of the First Embodiment) The hair dryer 10 according to the present embodiment has a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes. The hair dryer 10 includes a temperature sensor 21 that measures the temperature of an object (object to be dried) on which the hair dryer is used, and a notification unit that notifies the user of some information. The notification unit notifies the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after the operation mode of the hair dryer has switched from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode.

[0061] For example, in the present embodiment, the control unit 40, the speaker 32, etc. function as notification units. After switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the control unit 40 stops the operation of the electric blower 12. As a result, the air blowing from the hair dryer 10 stops. The user of the hair dryer 10 can recognize that the temperature of the hair measured by the temperature sensor 21 has become equal to or lower than the predetermined value due to the stoppage of the air blowing from the hair dryer 10. The stoppage of the air blowing from the hair dryer 10 corresponds to the notification to the user.

[0062] After switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the speaker 32 emits an audio message or the like to that effect to notify the user.

[0063] According to the above configuration, instead of a person using the hair dryer judging the drying state of the hair by their own judgment, based on the temperature measurement result of the object to be dried by the temperature sensor 21, the timing to end the finishing mode can be determined. Thereby, over-drying of the hair that may occur when a person judges the drying state of the hair can be suppressed, and the finished state of the hair can be made better.

[0064] <Second Embodiment> Subsequently, the second embodiment will be described. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the hair dryer 10 has the three-dimensional sensor 22 that grasps its own spatial position (three-dimensional position) has been described as an example. However, a hair dryer according to another embodiment may not include a three-dimensional sensor.

[0065] Also, in the first embodiment, the hair dryer 10 in which both the control unit 40 and the speaker 32 function as notification units has been described as an example. However, in another embodiment, only the control unit 40 may function as a notification unit.

[0066] Therefore, in the second embodiment, a hair dryer that does not include a three-dimensional sensor and a speaker will be described as an example. FIG. 5 shows the internal configuration of the hair dryer 110 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the hair dryer 110 does not include a three-dimensional sensor and a speaker. This is different from the hair dryer 10 according to the first embodiment. For other configurations in the hair dryer 110, the same configurations as those in the first embodiment can be applied.

[0067] As the temperature sensor 21, one that can measure the temperatures at a plurality of locations simultaneously is used. Examples of such a temperature sensor 21 include an infrared array sensor and an infrared thermographic camera. The temperature information measured by the temperature sensor 21 is transmitted to the control unit 40. This temperature information is stored in the memory 51 within the control unit 40.

[0068] For example, when the user uses the hair dryer 110 in a state where the dryer mode is selected, the user blows air onto the entire hair while moving the hair dryer 110 around the hair, which is the object to be dried. At this time, the temperature sensor 21 of the hair dryer 110 simultaneously measures the temperatures at a plurality of locations on various parts of the object to be dried in accordance with the movement of the hair dryer 110. Then, the temperature information measured by the temperature sensor 21 is stored in the memory 51 as needed.

[0069] The control unit 40 can obtain the temperature information T (see FIG. 4) of the entire object to be dried (for example, hair) from the plurality of temperature information stored in the memory 51 as needed. The hair dryer 110 refers to this temperature information T and determines whether the measured temperature of the object to be dried has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value after the operation mode has switched from the "hair drying mode" to the "finishing mode".

[0070] When the measured temperature of the object to be dried has become equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the operation control unit 42 stops the operation of the electric blower 12 or the like to notify the user to that effect. Thereby, over-drying of the hair can be more reliably suppressed.

[0071] <Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment, an embodiment of a hair drying system will be described. FIG. 6 shows the overall configuration of the hair drying system 1 according to this embodiment. The hair drying system 1 includes a hair dryer 210 and an information terminal 220 that can communicate with the hair dryer 210. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the hair drying system 1 may have a server between the hair dryer 210 and the information terminal 220. The server controls the communication between the hair dryer 210 and the information terminal 220.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows the internal configuration of the hair dryer 210. FIG. 8 shows the internal configuration of the information terminal 220. The information terminal 220 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a wearable terminal, or the like. The hair dryer 210 and the information terminal 220 can communicate via Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), a carrier network, the Internet, a router, or the like.

[0073] The hair dryer 210 includes a temperature sensor 21 that measures the temperature of an object, and includes a dryer mode having a hair drying mode and a finishing mode that is performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes. As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the temperature sensor 21, the hair dryer 210 includes an electric blower 12, a heater 13, a three-dimensional sensor 22, an operation unit 31, a speaker 32, a communication interface 233, and a control unit 40. Except for the communication interface 233, the same configuration as the hair dryer 10 described in the first embodiment can be applied. Note that the hair dryer 210 may have the same configuration as the hair dryer 110 described in the second embodiment.

[0074] The communication interface 233 is realized by an antenna or a connector. The communication interface 233 exchanges data with other devices by wired communication or wireless communication. Specifically, the communication interface 233 transmits temperature information T generated in the hair dryer 210 to an external terminal (for example, the information terminal 220).

[0075] As shown in FIG. 8, the information terminal 220 includes a display unit 251, an operation unit 252, a speaker 253, a communication interface 254, a control unit 260, and the like.

[0076] The display unit 251 includes a liquid crystal display panel, an LED light, and the like. The display unit 251 outputs a screen such as characters and images based on a signal from the control unit 260. The operation unit 252 receives a command from the user and inputs the command to the control unit 260. In this embodiment, the information terminal 220 has a touch panel in which the display unit 251 and the operation unit 252 are combined.

[0077] The speaker 253 emits sounds such as various notification sounds or voice messages to the user based on a command from the control unit 260.

[0078] The communication interface 254 is realized by an antenna and a connector. The communication interface 254 exchanges data with other devices through wired communication or wireless communication. Specifically, the communication interface 254 receives the temperature information T transmitted from the hair dryer 210.

[0079] The control unit 260 is connected to each component in the information terminal 220 and controls these components. The control unit 260 is provided with a memory 261, a timer 262, and the like. For example, the same temperature information as the temperature information T stored in the memory 51 of the hair dryer 210 is stored in the memory 261.

[0080] In this embodiment, the temperature information T transmitted from the hair dryer 210 is displayed on the display unit 251. Then, after the operation mode of the hair dryer 210 is switched from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 21 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the display unit 251 performs a display to notify the user to that effect. In this way, the display unit 251 is an example of a notification unit.

[0081] Note that, in addition to the display unit 251, the control unit 260 may notify the user to that effect using the speaker 253. Thus, the speaker 253 is an example of a notification unit.

[0082] As a result of the hair dryer 210 measuring the temperature and position of the hair H that is the object to be dried, the obtained temperature information T of the hair H is stored in the memory 261 in the information terminal 220 via the communication interfaces 233 and 253. Based on the temperature information stored in the memory 261, the control unit 260 of the information terminal 220 forms image information and displays an image in which the temperature information T is reflected on the display unit 251 (see FIG. 6). Note that, in FIG. 6, the image of the temperature information T is displayed in a state where the user is seen from the front, but the temperature information T also includes an image when the user is seen from the back side and can be freely switched and confirmed.

[0083] On the display unit 251, for example, the temperature of the hair H that is the object to be dried is displayed by dividing it into various colors. The user can confirm the temperature of the hair by recognizing the color of the image displayed on the display unit 251. And when the temperature of the hair becomes higher than necessary, it is possible to more reliably prevent over-drying of the hair by, for example, stopping the operation of the hair dryer 210 or lowering the heater temperature.

[0084] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims be included. Also, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of different embodiments described in this specification with each other are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0085] 1: Hair drying system 10: Hair dryer 21: Temperature sensor (array sensor) 22: Three-dimensional sensor 32: Speaker (Notification Unit) 40: Control Unit (Notification Unit) 41: Drying Determination Unit 42: Operation Control Unit 51: Memory 110: Hair Dryer 210: Hair Dryer 220: Information Terminal 251: Display Unit (Notification Unit)

Claims

1. A hair dryer having a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of an object to which the hair dryer is applied, and a notification unit for notifying the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode. The hair dryer is provided with the above components.

2. The notification unit notifies the user by stopping the air blowing of the hair dryer when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value. The hair dryer according to Claim 1.

3. A drying determination unit for determining the drying state of the object, and an operation control unit for switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode based on the determination result of the drying determination unit. The hair dryer according to Claim 1, further comprising the above components.

4. A drying determination unit for determining the drying state of the object, and an operation control unit for switching from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode based on the determination result of the drying determination unit. The hair dryer according to Claim 2, further comprising the above components.

5. The temperature sensor is capable of measuring temperatures at a plurality of locations. The hair dryer according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. The hair dryer further comprises a memory for storing the measured values of the temperature sensor. The hair dryer according to Claim 5.

7. The hair dryer further comprises a three-dimensional sensor. The temperature sensor is an array sensor. The memory stores the measured values of the array sensor in association with the position information obtained by the three-dimensional sensor. The hair dryer according to Claim 6.

8. A hair dryer system including a hair dryer having a hair drying mode and a finishing mode performed after the hair drying mode as operation modes, and having a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of an object, and an information terminal capable of communicating with the hair dryer. The information terminal has a notification unit for notifying the user to that effect when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value after the operation mode of the hair dryer switches from the hair drying mode to the finishing mode. The hair dryer system.

9. The temperature sensor is capable of measuring temperatures at a plurality of locations. At least one of the hair dryer and the information terminal has a memory for storing the measured values of the temperature sensor. ​ At least one of the notification units is a display unit that displays temperature information of the object based on the measurement value of the temperature sensor stored in the memory. The hair drying system according to claim 8.

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