Temperature control of functional units of styling devices

Abstract

In the field of performing styling operations on an item to be styled, a styling device, such as a hair curler 100, is provided of the type having a functional unit 40, a heating section configured to heat the functional unit 40, and a processor 50. The temperature control algorithm applied by the processor 50 after the heating section has been operated to initially heat the functional unit 40 includes a feed-forward control procedure that includes operating the heating section at a certain percentage of its full power, which is beneficial to the effectiveness of the styling operation, as it helps to prevent the temperature of the functional unit 40 from initially dropping to a level significantly lower than would be expected as a result of the item to be styled initially contacting or approaching the functional unit 40.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a styling device having a functional unit configured to perform a styling operation on an item to be styled during use of the styling device, a heating section configured to heat the functional unit, and a processor configured to control operation of the styling device, the processor being configured to apply a temperature control algorithm after the heating section has been operated to initially heat the functional unit to a temperature within an operating temperature range, the temperature control algorithm being designed to operate the heating section to maintain the temperature of the functional unit within the operating temperature range. [Background technology]

[0002] A practical example of a styling device is an automatic hair curler. In this regard, it is noted that WO2017 / 029382A1 discloses an automatic hair curler, which comprises a handle, a housing, a barrel element, a heater for heating the barrel element, a hair winder element rotatable around the barrel element, a drive for driving said hair winder element, and a hair curl cavity with an opening at its upper end formed between the inner surface of the hair winder element and the outer surface of the barrel element. The upper end of the housing has a notch extending downward from the upper end surface of the housing and communicating with the opening of the hair curl cavity. Furthermore, a hair winding part is provided on the hair winder element for winding hair around the barrel element when the hair winder element is rotating. During operation, hair can be placed in the notch provided on the housing and enter the hair curl cavity from the notch, and when the hair winder element rotates, the hair is wound around the barrel element, so that an automatic curl can be realized. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Conventionally, automatic hair curlers rely on an internal temperature sensor and a microprocessor to control the temperature of the barrel element. However, when a hair strand is loaded onto the barrel element, the temperature of the barrel element drops significantly, and it takes some time for the internal temperature sensor to detect the temperature drop and send a signal to the microprocessor to power the heater that serves to heat the barrel element to compensate for the heat loss. During this time, the hair strand is exposed to less heat than desired, and as a result, it takes a long time to achieve the desired styling effect of the hair strand. In practical cases, it may take more than 7 seconds for the internal temperature sensor to react to the sudden temperature drop due to the loading of hair, and it may take more than 3 seconds for the heat to be transferred to the outer surface of the barrel element after the heater is powered. Thus, from the moment the hair strand is wound onto the barrel element and the curling cycle is started, the hair strand is initially subjected to less heat, and the person using the hair curler, hereinafter referred to as the user, has to wait a significantly longer time and / or increase the set temperature to achieve the desired styling effect, compared to the theoretical case in which the temperature of the barrel element remains continuously at the expected operating level. The temperature drop referred to may be, for example, of the order of 10°C.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of barrel element temperature control that is capable of preventing a situation in which an increase in the duration and / or set temperature of a hair curling action relative to theoretical values ​​is required to achieve a desired curl effect. More generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of operating a heating section of a styling device such that the extent to which the effectiveness of the styling action is reduced by initial contact or proximity of the item to be styled to the functional unit is reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention provides a styling device comprising a functional unit configured to perform a styling operation on an item to be styled during use of the styling device, a heating section configured to heat the functional unit, and a processor configured to control operation of the styling device, the processor is configured to apply a temperature control algorithm after the heating portion is operated to initially heat the functional unit to a temperature within the operating temperature range, the temperature control algorithm being designed to operate the heating portion to maintain a temperature of the functional unit within the operating temperature range; the temperature control algorithm includes a feedforward control procedure that includes operating the heating section at a specific percentage of full power; The temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate a feedforward control procedure when the processor receives an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed.

[0006] The present invention introduces a feedforward control procedure that is triggered by an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed, to compensate for the expected heat loss of the functional units of the styling device. The processor of the styling device, which may be a microprocessor if practical, is configured to use such input to initiate the power-up of the heating section at an appropriate level of power. In this process, unlike what is known in the art, it is not necessary to wait for a temperature sensor to react to an initial temperature drop of the functional unit. Instead, the heating section is automatically operated, so that the temperature of the functional unit is placed at a level high enough to compensate for the heat loss due to the first contact or proximity of the item to be styled to the functional unit, thereby achieving a more stable styling temperature, so that the effectiveness of the styling operation is maintained, and both the duration of the styling operation and the temperature of the functional unit can be kept within acceptable limits. In the context of the present invention, the appropriate power level at which the heating section is operated in the feedforward control procedure is a certain percentage of its full power, which may be a fixed percentage of its full power throughout the entire time that the feedforward control procedure is performed. Advantageously, the percentage is selected in relation to factors including the expected initial temperature drop, the operating temperature range, and the time available to operate the heating section in this predictive manner.

[0007] Such hair curlers usually have a start winding button, which is pressed by the user at the moment when the hair strand is properly placed in the notch provided in the housing and it is intended to start the hair curling operation, and which remains pressed throughout the hair curling operation. When the present invention is applied in the context of a hair curler, the event of the processor receiving an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed is initiated as soon as the user presses the start winding button. At that point, without waiting for an input from the internal temperature sensor, a feedforward control procedure is initiated, as a result of which the barrel elements are heated by the heating unit at a higher power than in the conventional case, i.e. at a certain percentage of the full power of the heating unit. As a result, the temperature of the barrel elements is brought to a level such that the temperature drop resulting from the contact of the hair with the barrel elements does not result in a temperature so low that the hair curling operation is significantly hindered, so that the hair strand to be curled can be exposed to heat closer to the set temperature specified by the user. In this way, compared to the conventional situation, the time for which the hair strand needs to be held in the hair curler to obtain the desired styling result is reduced, and the user does not feel anxious about the styling result or feel the need to set a high temperature.

[0008] It is practical if the temperature control algorithm is arranged to terminate the feedforward control procedure when an operating time period has elapsed after the start of the feedforward control procedure, or earlier when the input indicating that a styling action is to be performed beforehand is removed. For example, when the styling device according to the invention is a hair curler as proposed above, the feedforward control procedure can be terminated after a few seconds, for example 6 seconds, after the start, or earlier when the user releases the start winding button. For the latter possible criterion, it is possible to have a delay period, so that the feedforward control procedure is terminated only if the start winding button remains released during said delay period.

[0009] It is advantageous if the power level at which the heating unit is operated is adapted to the level of the operating temperature range of the functional unit. In other words, it may be advantageous if the temperature control algorithm is configured to determine a certain percentage of the full power of the heating unit based on the level of the operating temperature range of the functional unit. In this respect, it is particularly preferred if the temperature control algorithm is configured to apply a relationship between a certain percentage of the full power of the heating unit and the level of the operating temperature range of the functional unit, based on which a low percentage of the full power is selected when the temperature of the functional unit needs to be increased and overheating problems are avoided under all circumstances, the percentage decreases as the level of the operating temperature range increases, and the percentage increases as the level of the operating temperature range decreases. An example of a default percentage is 80%, an example of a percentage that can be selected at a higher temperature level is 70%, and an example of a percentage that can be selected at a lower temperature level is 90%.

[0010] In the foregoing, the practical possibility of a hair curler having a start winding button has been addressed, where the start winding button is shown to remain pressed throughout the hair curling operation. Generally speaking, in a practical embodiment, the styling device has a user interface configured to enable a user to provide input to a processor, including an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed, where the user interface can be configured to provide input to the processor indicating that a styling operation is to be performed as long as the user interacts with the user interface.

[0011] In order to ensure the safety of use of the styling device according to the invention, it is proposed that the operation of operating the heating unit at a certain percentage of its full power is a conditional operation, in which case it may be practical if the processor is arranged to determine, for example via a suitable sensor, that an item to be styled is absent, despite an input being provided to the processor indicating that a styling operation is to be performed, and to prevent the initiation of the operation of operating the heating unit at a certain percentage of its full power if this proves to be true. The conditional operation may be realised in the following manner: the feedforward control procedure further comprising a preliminary operation of obtaining a value representative of an actual temperature of the functional unit and determining whether the value is within or outside a safe range of values; The temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate an operation to operate the heating section at a particular percentage of its full power only when the value is found to be within a safe range of values ​​during a previous operation.

[0012] It is therefore proposed to check the actual temperature of the functional unit to determine whether it is safe to start the operation of operating the heating part at a certain percentage of full power. In this way, a potential overheating risk included in the feedforward control can be eliminated. In this context, it is practical if the styling device has a temperature sensor and the temperature control algorithm is configured to operate the temperature sensor to provide a value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit. If the styling device is an automatic curler, an internal temperature sensor of the automatic curler can be used in the process of performing the safety check. Without the safety check, there is a risk of overheating, especially if the user presses the start winding button in a situation where there is no hair in the housing of the automatic curler. It is noted that with regard to the safety range of values, this range can include all low and high temperatures in the operating temperature range plus a limited additional range, such as an additional range of 5°C. This does not change the fact that the invention covers other options as well.

[0013] Optionally, the temperature control algorithm includes a feedback control procedure in addition to the feedforward control procedure defined and described above, as follows: The temperature control algorithm further includes a feedback control procedure which includes the operation of monitoring a value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit to determine whether the value is within, below, or above a range of operable values, and activating the heating section so long as the value is found to be below the range of operable values. The temperature control algorithm is configured to execute a feedback control procedure as a default, initiate a feedback control procedure when a feedforward control procedure is terminated, and terminate a feedback control procedure when a feedforward control procedure is initiated.

[0014] Thus, when the temperature control algorithm is applied, other than at times when the feedforward control procedure is executed, a conventional method of maintaining the temperature of the functional unit is achieved, which conventional method relies on monitoring a value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit and operating the heating section as long as that value is found to be below the operating range value.

[0015] When practical, the styling device according to the invention comprises a unit configured to provide a warning signal to a person, the processor being configured to activate this unit when the time period during which an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is received exceeds a maximum value. In this way, a situation is avoided in which the item to be styled is subjected to a styling action for a longer period of time than necessary, which is particularly advantageous when the styling action is of such a nature that it may ultimately be harmful to the item to be styled if the styling action is continued after the safe time period has elapsed. In any case, having a warning function improves the ease of use of the styling device and contributes to the user's perception of the quality and reliability of the styling device.

[0016] The present invention covers several types of styling devices, including a hair styling device, the functional unit of which is adapted to perform a styling operation on at least a part of a person's hair. As suggested above, the styling device according to the invention may in particular be an automatic hair curler having a rotatable hair winder element adapted to engage a strand of hair, the functional unit comprising a barrel element contained by the hair winder element. In the context of such a hair curler, it is a practical possibility that the input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed is generated when the hair winder element is actuated to rotate.

[0017] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and elucidated by reference to the following detailed description of an automatic hair curler having a barrel element about which a strand of hair is wound, a heater for heating the barrel element, and a microprocessor programmed to control the temperature of the heater in a manner that anticipates the cooling effect of contact of the strand of hair being curled with the barrel element, which serves to maintain the temperature of the barrel element within an operating temperature range so that an effective hair curling action can be achieved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a perspective view of an automatic hair curler according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a hair curler. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a barrel element of a hair curler with the top cover removed so that the inside of the barrel element can be seen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures, in which equivalent or similar parts are designated with the same reference numbers.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an automatic hair curler 100, which is designed to be used to perform a curling action on hair and which comprises the following elements: A handle 10 that allows a user to hold the hair curler 100 in his / her hand. The housing 20 has a hair bundle support surface 21 on which the root of the hair bundle rests, and a notch 22 that constitutes a hair bundle entrance for storing the tip of the hair bundle inside the housing 20. A hair winder element 30 for storing a hair strand in the housing 20. A motor 31 configured to rotate the hair winder element 30 about a longitudinally extending axis of rotation R. A barrel element 40 shaped as a hollow cylinder having a generally circular periphery, suitable for winding a hair strand thereon. A microprocessor 50 mounted on a circuit board located inside the handle 10 . A heater 60 configured to heat the barrel element 40, the heater 60 being configured to be controlled by the microprocessor 50 and attached to an adapter 61 configured to contact an inner surface of the barrel element 40, thereby providing conductive heat transfer from the heater 60 to the barrel element 40. a user interface 70 on the handle 10, the user interface 70 including a start winding button 71 for a user to signal the motor 31 of the hair winder element 30 via the microprocessor 50 to rotate the hair winder element 30 to begin winding a hair strand into the housing 20 and around the barrel element 40; and A temperature sensor 80 mounted inside the barrel element 40 which provides a temperature signal to the microprocessor 50 for feedback control of the temperature of the barrel element 40 by operating the heater 60.

[0021] The hair curler 100 is an example of a styling device according to the present invention. The barrel element 40 serves as a functional unit, and the combination of the heater 60 and the adapter 61 is a practical embodiment of a heating part configured to heat the functional unit. A view of the part of the hair curler 100 located at the top of the handle 10 is provided by Fig. 2, while in Fig. 3 the heater 60, the adapter 61 and the temperature sensor 80 arranged inside the barrel element 40 can be seen. In Fig. 1 the motor 31 and the microprocessor 50 of the hair winder element 30 are represented by a dashed rectangle.

[0022] When the start winding button 71 is pressed by the user, a hair strand is inserted into the notch 22 of the housing 20, and a predictable amount of hair load is expected to be introduced to the outer surface of the barrel element 40 during the few seconds following such action by the user, so that an amount of heat loss can be predicted. The microprocessor 50 is programmed to operate the heater 60 in such a manner that a situation is avoided in which the amount of heat loss dramatically reduces the effectiveness of the hair curling action, at least during the first few seconds of said action. In particular, the microprocessor 50 is programmed to feed-forward control the temperature of the barrel element 40 upon the first pressing of the start winding button 71. With regard to the temperature control algorithm applied by the microprocessor 50 after the heater 60 is operated to initially heat the barrel element 40 to a temperature within the operating temperature range, the temperature control algorithm in fact includes a feed-forward control procedure that includes an operation of operating the heater 60 at a certain percentage of its full power, and this feed-forward control procedure is initiated when the start winding button 71 is pressed by the user. Implementing a feedforward control procedure results in immediate compensation of heat loss resulting from hair contact with the barrel element 40. The percentage is selected in relation to the expected amount of heat loss, so that the temperature of the barrel element 40 is well within, or at least close to, the operating temperature range. Note that in this example, the user interface 70 includes a button 72 that allows the user to select a set temperature for the hair curling operation, and that the operating temperature range that applies to the temperature of the barrel element 40 is directly related to said set temperature.

[0023] In view of the above, the hair curler 100 is operated as follows: The initial position of the hair winder element 30 is a free position in which the notches 22 can receive a hair strand. The user holds the handle 10 of the hair curler 100 with one hand, inserts a hair strand through the notches 22 with the other hand, and presses the start winding button 71 with the fingers of the first hand to start the hair curling operation. The hair winder element 30 starts to rotate around the barrel element 40 for a defined number of revolutions, which forces the length of hair to wind around the barrel element 40. When the start winding button 71 is pressed, the microprocessor 50 is signaled to activate the feedforward control procedure of the temperature control algorithm. The feedforward control procedure is practical to start by checking the loading of hair in the hair curler 100. In the present example, this can be done by checking the actual temperature with the temperature sensor 80. In that case, the heater 60 is powered at a certain percentage of its full power for a period of time, e.g., 80% of its full power for 6 seconds, only if said temperature is within the safe range. The safe range can be a temperature range that includes temperatures below the set temperature and up to, e.g., 5° C. above the set temperature. The heat thus generated is sufficient to compensate for the expected heat loss due to loading on the barrel element 40 introduced by the hair bundle.

[0024] Information regarding the amount of heat loss following the introduction of a hair strand onto the outer surface of the barrel element 40 is determined during tests carried out during the development phase of the hair curler 100, and the programming of the microprocessor 50 is designed based on the results of such tests. For example, a test barrel element similar to the real barrel element 40 of the hair curler 100 is equipped with several thermocouples, for example three thermocouples, and a data logger is connected to the thermocouples. As a result, it is possible to precisely monitor the temperature of the outer surface of the barrel element 40 and to carry out the following sequence of steps for different temperature settings: The test barrel elements are heated until a steady state temperature is reached that is based on a set temperature. Start the data logger and record the temperature from the thermocouple. A hair strand is wrapped around the test barrel element. The hair tuft is held on the test barrel element for a limited period of time, such as 10 seconds. The hair bundle is removed to complete the test.

[0025] In this way, it can be seen how the temperature of the outer surface of barrel element 40 changes over time. This information is useful in the process of determining the details of the feedforward control procedure and programming microprocessor 50 accordingly. Advantageously, the accuracy of the test results is improved by repeating each of the different tests multiple times and averaging the values ​​found during the repeated tests.

[0026] The user keeps the start winding button 71 pressed throughout the hair curling operation. The hair curler 100 comprises a unit (not shown) configured to send a signal to the user, which unit is controlled by the microprocessor 50 on the basis of a timer function. In particular, the microprocessor 50 is configured to activate this unit when a certain time, for example 8 seconds, has elapsed after the start winding button 71 is first pressed, so that the user knows when the hair curling operation is completed and the start winding button 71 can be released. The signal can be in the form of a beep from an internal speaker, in the form of vibration feedback generated by an internal haptic motor, or in a visual form, such as a flashing light. In this example, the user interface 70 includes a button 73 that allows the user to select the duration of the hair curling operation and thus set the moment when said unit is activated. It is envisaged that when the hair curling operation is finished, the user removes the curled hair strand from the hair curler 100.

[0027] In this example, besides the hair winding button 71 , the temperature setting button 72 and the time setting button 73 , the user interface 70 includes a button 74 with which the user can set the direction of rotation of the hair winder element 30 .

[0028] The duration of the feedforward control procedure can typically be shorter than the duration of the hair curling action. Once the feedforward control procedure is completed, conventional feedback control of the temperature of the barrel element 40 is applied. This can be done in any suitable manner. In this example, this involves the use of an on-board temperature sensor 80 by the microprocessor 50 to monitor the temperature of the barrel element 40 and control the power of the heater 60 to keep the temperature of the barrel element 40 near the set temperature. This feedback control of the heater 60 can cause the hair curler 100 to idle until the start winding button 71 is pressed again. Pressing the start winding button again triggers the feedforward control again. If the start winding button 71 is released before the complete time period of the feedforward control procedure has elapsed, the feedforward control procedure is aborted, at which point the feedback control procedure is initiated. A situation in which the feedback control procedure may continue despite the start winding button 71 being pressed is if the actual temperature of the barrel element 40 is outside the safe range from the safety checks described above.

[0029] According to a sophisticated possibility, the feedforward procedure is unique for each setting, where when a high temperature setting is selected, the power of the heater 60 is set low and when a low temperature setting is selected, the power of the heater 60 is set high. For example, the default percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 80%, the low percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 70% and the high percentage of full power of the heater 60 is 90%. The duration of the feedforward control procedure can be the same under all circumstances, with 6 seconds being a practical example as suggested above.

[0030] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims. It is intended that the present invention be construed as including all such modifications and changes insofar as they are within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and description, such illustrations and descriptions are merely explanatory or exemplary and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, in which details that are not necessary for understanding the present invention may be omitted and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0031] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0032] Elements and aspects discussed for or in connection with a particular embodiment can be combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments as appropriate, unless otherwise expressly stated. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0033] The terms "having" and "including" as used herein will be understood by those skilled in the art to cover the term "consisting of." Thus, the terms "having" or "including" may mean "consisting of" in one embodiment, but may mean "including / having / comprising at least the specified species and, optionally, one or more other species" in another embodiment.

[0034] Notable aspects of the invention can be summarized as follows: In the field of performing a styling operation on an item to be styled, a styling device, such as a hair curler 100, is provided of the type having a functional unit 40, heating sections 60, 61 configured to heat the functional unit 40, and a processor 50 configured to control the operation of the styling device. The temperature control algorithm applied by the processor 50 after the heating sections 60, 61 have been operated to initially heat the functional unit 40 to a temperature within the operating temperature range includes a feedforward control procedure that includes an operation of the heating sections 60, 61 at a specific percentage of its full power, which is beneficial to the effectiveness of the styling operation, since it helps to prevent the temperature of the functional unit 40 from initially dropping to a level significantly lower than would be expected as a result of the item to be styled initially contacting or approaching the functional unit 40. All that is required for the controller 50 to activate the feedforward control procedure is the receipt of an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed, and no input regarding the actual temperature of the functional unit 40 is required during the operation of the heating sections 60, 61 at a specific percentage of its full power.

Claims

1. A styling device comprising: a functional unit for performing a styling operation on an item to be styled during use of the styling device; a heating section for heating the functional unit; and a processor for controlling operation of the styling device, the processor applies a temperature control algorithm after a heating unit is operated to initially heat the functional unit to a temperature within an operating temperature range, the temperature control algorithm being designed to operate the heating unit to maintain a temperature of the functional unit within the operating temperature range; the temperature control algorithm includes a feedforward control procedure that includes an operation of operating the heating section at a particular percentage of full power; the temperature control algorithm is configured to initiate the feedforward control procedure when the processor receives an input indicating that the styling operation is to be performed; 11. A styling device comprising: a temperature control algorithm configured to terminate the feedforward control procedure when a period of operation time following initiation of the feedforward control procedure has elapsed, or earlier when an input indicating that a styling operation is to be performed before that time is removed.

2. The styling device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature control algorithm determines a particular percentage of full power of the heating section based on a level of an operating temperature range of the functional unit.

3. 3. The styling device of claim 2, wherein the temperature control algorithm applies a relationship between a particular percentage of full power of the heating section and a level of an operating temperature range of the functional unit such that the percentage decreases as the level of the operating temperature range increases and the percentage increases as the level of the operating temperature range decreases.

4. 4. A styling device according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface to enable a person using the styling device to provide input to the processor, the input including an input indicating a styling operation is to be performed.

5. The styling device of claim 4 , wherein the user interface provides input to the processor indicating that the styling action is to be performed as long as a person using the styling device interacts with the user interface.

6. the operation of operating the heating section at a particular percentage of full power is a conditional operation; the feedforward control procedure further comprises a pre-operation for obtaining a value determined by the presence or absence of an item to be styled in the functional unit; 6. The styling device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control algorithm initiates an operation of operating the heating section at a certain percentage of the full power only when a value obtained during the previous operation is found to indicate the presence of an item to be styled in the functional unit.

7. the operation of operating the heating section at a particular percentage of full power is a conditional operation; the feedforward control procedure further includes a proactive operation of obtaining a value representative of an actual temperature of the functional unit and determining whether the value is within or outside a safe range of values; 6. The styling device of claim 1, wherein the temperature control algorithm initiates an operation to operate the heating element at a particular percentage of the full power only when the value is found to be within a safe range of values ​​during the previous operation.

8. 8. A styling device according to claim 7, comprising a temperature sensor, the temperature control algorithm activating the temperature sensor to provide a value representative of the actual temperature of the functional unit.

9. the temperature control algorithm further comprises a feedback control procedure, the feedback control procedure including the operations of monitoring a value representative of an actual temperature of the functional unit, determining whether the value is within an operating range, below the range, or above the range, and operating the heating section so long as the value is found to be below the operating range; 9. The styling device of claim 1, wherein the temperature control algorithm executes the feedback control procedure as a default, initiates the feedback control procedure when the feedforward control procedure is terminated, and terminates the feedback control procedure when the feedforward control procedure is initiated.

10. 10. A styling device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a unit for providing a warning signal to a person, the processor activating said unit when the time period during which an input indicating that a styling action is to be performed is received exceeds a maximum value.

11. 11. The styling device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the styling device is a hair styling device and the functional unit performs a styling action on at least a portion of a person's hair.

12. 12. The styling device of claim 11, wherein the styling device is an automatic hair curler having a rotatable hair winder element that engages a strand of hair, and the functional unit comprises a barrel element contained in the hair winder element.

13. The styling device of claim 12, wherein the input indicating that the styling action is to be performed is generated when the hair winder element is actuated to rotate.

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