Electric razor

Abstract

To promote a user to proper shaving speed, and suppress damage to skin.SOLUTION: An electric shaver 100 includes a gripping part 110, and a head part 120 having a shaving part 121, includes an imaging device 131 for imaging skin, an image processing device 150 for processing an image, and a notification device 140 for notifying a user of a processing result of the image processing device, wherein the image processing device 150 includes a speed information generation part 151 for generating speed information indicating shaving speed to skin of the head part 120 on the basis of the image, a shaving information generation part 152 for generating shaving information on shaving speed on the basis of the speed information, and a result notification part 153 for controlling the notification device 140, and notifying a user of the shaving information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to an electric razor for removing body hair such as mustaches.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an imaging device for recording an image of a user's body part, a shaving guidance system that determines a local hair growth direction based on the captured image, and instructs the user of the direction and location in which the shaving device should be moved on the body has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional system, only the shaving direction and location can be recognized, and the optimal shaving speed cannot be indicated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electric razor that can notify a user of an optimal shaving speed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, an electric razor according to the present invention comprises a gripping part for the user to hold, and a head part having a shaving part for cutting body hair and connected to one end of the gripping part, wherein the electric razor comprises an imaging device for imaging the vicinity of the skin in contact with the shaving part, an image processing device for processing the image obtained from the imaging device, and a notification device for notifying the user of the processing results of the image processing device, wherein the image processing device comprises a speed information generation unit for generating speed information indicating the shaving speed of the head part on the skin based on the acquired image, a shaving information generation unit for generating shaving information relating to the shaving speed based on the speed information, and a result notification unit for controlling the notification device to notify the user of the shaving information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the optimal shaving speed can be notified to the user, allowing the electric razor to perform optimally and reducing the number of times it is rubbed over the same area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an electric razor according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the head portion according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional section of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows two images acquired by the image processing device according to the embodiment at a predetermined time interval. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a single image captured at a predetermined shutter speed by the image processing device according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes embodiments of the electric razor according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are provided as examples to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit it. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, formulas, the content of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical rigor and include substantially acceptable errors and deviations. Similarly, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0010] Furthermore, the drawings are schematic diagrams that have been appropriately emphasized, omitted, or had their proportions adjusted to illustrate the present invention, and therefore do not represent the actual shape, positional relationships, or proportions.

[0011] Furthermore, in the following, multiple inventions may be described comprehensively as a single embodiment. Also, some of the content described below is described as an optional component relating to the present invention.

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electric shaver. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the head. Note that the electric shaver 100 has rounded edges and areas with anti-slip bumps, but these are not shown in the illustration.

[0013] The electric razor 100 is a device that cuts and removes body hair such as beards using an electric blade, and comprises a gripping unit 110, a head unit 120, an imaging device 131, a notification device 140, and an image processing device 150 (not shown in Figure 1).

[0014] The gripping section 110 is the part that the user grips when using the electric shaver 100. In this embodiment, the gripping section 110 functions as a housing that accommodates the image processing device 150, a control device that controls the drive of the shaving blade, a battery, and the like. The outer surface of the gripping section 110 is provided with a power switch 111 for turning the power on and off, an input button 112 for receiving input from the user, and the like.

[0015] The head portion 120 is a member connected to one end of the gripping portion 110 and has a shaving portion 121 equipped with a blade for cutting body hair. In this embodiment, the head portion 120 is connected to the gripping portion 110 so as to be movable relative to it. The direction of movement of the head portion 120 is not particularly limited, but the electric razor 100 is capable of swinging in the circumferential direction with the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction in the figure), the width direction Y (Y-axis direction in the figure), and the up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) as its axes.

[0016] The shaving section 121 is equipped with a plurality of first outer blades 122 (four in this embodiment) in the front-to-back direction, each having a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the width direction and a mesh-like through-hole, and a second outer blade 123 having a slit-shaped through-hole positioned between the first outer blades 122. The first outer blades 122 and the second outer blades 123 are attached to the head frame 124, and the shaving section 121 is detachable from the head base 125.

[0017] The head portion 120 is equipped with a first inner blade (not shown) corresponding to the first outer blade 122, a second inner blade (not shown) corresponding to the second outer blade 123, and a drive device 126 that drives the first and second inner blades, respectively. In this embodiment, the drive device 126 causes the first and second inner blades, which are inner blades, to vibrate reciprocally relative to the outer blades in the width direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). Body hair inserted into the through holes of the first outer blade 122 and the second outer blade 123 is cut between the vibrating first and second inner blades.

[0018] The imaging device 131 is a device that images the vicinity of the skin with which the hair removal unit 121 abuts. In the case of the present embodiment, when the hair removal unit 121 is in contact with the skin, the imaging device 131 has an imaging angle that can image, at one time, the skin having a length corresponding to the entire first outer blade 122 and the second outer blade 123, which are outer blades, in the front-rear direction (the X-axis direction in the figure), and the skin having a length corresponding to the entire width of the first outer blade 122 (the Y-axis direction in the figure) in the width direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure). Thereby, it is possible to accurately image the state of the body hair and the skin immediately before and after hair removal.

[0019] The type of the imaging device 131 is not particularly limited, and for example, a so-called digital camera including an optical system including a lens or the like and an image pickup device that converts an image formed by the optical system into an electrical signal can be exemplified.

[0020] The imaging device 131 of the present embodiment is fixed to the head base 125 of the head unit 120, and the imaging device 131 also operates together with the operation of the head unit 120 with respect to the grip unit 110. Thereby, even during hair removal by the electric shaver 100, the distance between the skin and the imaging device 131 can be stabilized, and a clearer image can be captured. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device 131 is attached to a substrate 133 that protrudes forward from the front surface (the X-side in the figure) of the head base 125. According to this, it is preferable because the imaging device 131 does not get in the way when attaching and detaching the head frame 124. Further, an illumination device 135 such as an LED that illuminates the skin within the imaging angle of the first imaging device 131 is attached to the substrate 133. The substrate 133, the imaging device 131, and the illumination device 135 are covered with a cover 134.

[0021] The notification device 140 is a device that notifies the user of the processing result of the image processing device 150. The notification method of the notification device 140 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include methods of notification by sound (including voice), light, vibration, electrical stimulation, or combinations thereof. In the case of this embodiment, the notification device 140 is a device that notifies information by light, and includes a plurality of light emitting elements such as LEDs at the end on the head portion 120 side of the gripping portion 110. The notification device 140 can change at least one of the brightness, color, and light emission pattern of the light. In FIG. 1, the light emitting elements of the notification device 140 are shown provided on one (Y-side) side surface of the gripping portion 110, but the number of light emitting elements is not limited thereto, and they may be provided on the other (Y+ side) side surface of the gripping portion 110 or the like. Also, the specific method of notifying shaving information will be described later.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional units of the image processing device. The image processing device 150 is a device that processes the image obtained from the imaging device 131, and includes a speed information generation unit 151, a shaving information generation unit 152, and a result notification unit 153 as processing units realized by causing a processor to execute a program. In the case of this embodiment, the image processing device 150 includes an information acquisition unit 154, a drive control unit 155, and a rhythm generation unit 156.

[0023] The information acquisition unit 154 is a processing unit that acquires information such as an image captured by the imaging device 131. In the case of this embodiment, the information acquisition unit 154 also acquires input information input by the user using the input button 112 or the like.

[0024] The speed information generation unit 151 generates speed information indicating the shaving speed, which is the relative moving speed of the head portion 120 with respect to the skin, based on the image acquired by the information acquisition unit 154 from the imaging device 131. The method by which the speed information generation unit 151 calculates the shaving speed is not particularly limited, and for example, the following two examples can be cited.

[0025] (Calculation Example 1) The speed information generation unit 151 generates speed information indicating the shaving speed, which is the movement speed of the head unit 120 relative to the skin, based on the displacement amount of at least one of body hair and skin texture in multiple images captured by the imaging device 131 at predetermined time intervals. For example, as shown in Figure 4, a body hair of interest is selected from the previously captured image (upper part in Figure 4) (the area enclosed by the rectangle in the upper part), and the position of the selected body hair in the image is identified. Next, the same body hair as the one previously focused on is extracted from the image captured after a predetermined time interval (lower part in Figure 4) (the area enclosed by the rectangle in the lower part), and the position of the extracted body hair in the image is identified. Based on the displacement amount of the position of the same body hair in the two images and the capture interval between the two images, the speed information generation unit 151 generates speed information.

[0026] Furthermore, the body hair used to generate speed information is not limited to a single hair; multiple hairs may be used. Alternatively, speed information may be generated based on skin texture rather than body hair.

[0027] (Calculation Example 2) The speed information generation unit 151 generates speed information indicating the shaving speed, which is the movement speed of the head unit 120 relative to the skin, based on the blur range of at least one of the body hair and skin texture in a single image captured by the imaging device 131 at a predetermined shutter speed (exposure time). For example, as shown in Figure 5, a body hair of interest is selected from a single image, and the blur range d in the image of the selected body hair is detected. The speed information generation unit 151 generates speed information based on the blur range d and shutter speed (exposure time) in the two images.

[0028] Furthermore, the body hair that is focused on in order to generate speed information is not limited to a single hair; the variation range of multiple body hairs may be focused on. Also, speed information may be generated based on the variation range of skin texture instead of body hair. In addition, the speed information generation unit 151 may generate speed information using multiple calculation methods, rather than executing just one calculation method.

[0029] The hair shaving information generation unit 152 generates hair shaving information based on the speed information generated by the speed information generation unit 151. For example, if the speed information generated by the speed information generation unit 151 is above a speed threshold, the hair shaving information generation unit 152 may generate hair shaving information for excessive speed, and if the speed information generated by the speed information generation unit 151 is below the speed threshold, it may generate hair shaving information for appropriate speed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the hair removal information generation unit 152 generates hair removal information corresponding to the input information entered by the user using the input button 112 or the like. For example, the image processing device 150 holds multiple speed thresholds, and the hair removal information generation unit 152 selects a speed threshold according to the input information. By using the selected speed threshold, the hair removal information generation unit 152 can change the speed that serves as the criterion for generating hair removal information indicating excessive speed, and the manner in which the speed information is presented can be adjusted to the user's preference.

[0031] Furthermore, the hair removal information generation unit 152 may also maintain multiple thresholds with different values, such as a first speed threshold that is 20% slower than the speed threshold, and a second speed threshold that is 40% slower than the speed threshold, and generate hair removal information that increases or decreases in stages according to the stages of head movement speed.

[0032] The result notification unit 153 notifies the user of the shaving information generated by the shaving information generation unit 152 by controlling the notification device 140. For example, the result notification unit 153 notifies the user of the shaving information by controlling the light emitted by the light-emitting device to change at least one of the brightness, color, and light emission pattern. The result notification unit 153 notifies the user of excessive speed by controlling the light emission to emit red light, and when it obtains shaving information for the appropriate speed from the shaving information generation unit 152, it notifies the user of the appropriate speed by controlling the light emission to emit blue light or to stop emitting red light. Furthermore, if the excessive speed condition continues for a predetermined time or longer, the notification device 140 may be controlled to flash red light.

[0033] Furthermore, if the hair removal information generation unit 152 is generating hair removal information that increases or decreases in stages, the result notification unit 153 may notify the user of the staged hair removal information by controlling the light emitted by the light-emitting device to gradually change at least one of the brightness, color, and light emission pattern. For example, the device may be controlled to emit blue light at the appropriate speed, yellow light at a slightly faster speed, and red light at an excessive speed, thereby encouraging the user to navigate to the appropriate speed in a more intuitive way by gradually changing the color. The intensity of the light and the interval between flashes of the light emission may also be gradually lengthened or shortened.

[0034] If the shaving information generation unit 152 generates stop information indicating that no shaving operation has been performed for a certain period of time, the drive control unit 155 controls the drive device 126 that drives the shaving unit 121 to stop the driving of the shaving unit 121. For example, the drive control unit 155 sequentially acquires speed information from the speed information generation unit 151, and if it acquires speed information below a stop threshold for a period of time longer than a time threshold, it stops the driving of the shaving unit 121. If it acquires speed information faster than the stop threshold after the driving of the shaving unit 121 has stopped, it may restart the driving of the shaving unit 121.

[0035] Furthermore, if the hair removal information generation unit 152 receives information indicating that information about body hair and skin texture cannot be obtained from the image, it may be determined that the hair removal unit 121 is separated from the skin, and the operation of the hair removal unit 121 may be stopped.

[0036] The rhythm generation unit 156 generates a constant rhythm and controls the notification device 140 to notify the user of the generated rhythm. For example, the color and intensity of the light emitted by the notification device 140 may be changed at regular intervals to notify the user of the rhythm. If the notification device 140 is equipped with a speaker, it may also generate a sound with a regular interval, such as a metronome, or music that repeats at regular intervals. By operating the electric razor 100 in accordance with the regular interval information obtained from the notification device 140, it becomes possible to notify the user of the appropriate movement speed of the head unit 120.

[0037] According to the electric shaver 100 of the above embodiment, shaving information regarding the shaving speed can be provided to the user based on the movement of body hair or skin texture in the image obtained from the imaging device 131. Therefore, the user can perform the shaving process while recognizing the speed at which to operate the electric shaver 100 on the skin, and can complete the shaving process in a short time while making the most of the performance of the electric shaver 100 and suppressing damage to the skin.

[0038] Furthermore, by generating shaving information corresponding to the input information entered by the user, the user can select their preferred shaving speed, and the electric shaver 100 can be changed to a mode that suits the user's preferences.

[0039] Furthermore, by including a light-emitting element in the notification device 140, it becomes possible to easily notify the user of multiple shaving information by changing the brightness, color, and emission pattern of the light.

[0040] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, other embodiments of the present invention may be realized by arbitrarily combining the components described herein, or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, modifications obtained by applying various modifications to the above embodiments that a person skilled in the art could conceive of without departing from the spirit of the present invention, that is, the meaning indicated by the wording in the claims, are also included in the present invention.

[0041] For example, a notification device 140 equipped with a light-emitting element has been given as an example, but the notification device 140 may also be equipped with a sound-producing device such as a speaker, a vibration device that generates vibrations in the gripping part 110, and a stimulation device that provides electrical stimulation to the user gripping the gripping part 110 to simulate the feeling of weight, thereby encouraging the movement of the head part 120 to be slow. With such a notification device 140, shaving information can be notified by changing the intensity and generation pattern of sound, vibration, stimulation, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, the electric shaver 100 may be equipped with a second imaging device that captures a wider area than the imaging device 131 when the shaving section 121 is in contact with the skin. For example, the second imaging device may be fixed to the end of the gripping section 110 opposite to the head section 120 and have a field of view that can capture, for example, the entire cheek on one side when the shaving section 121 is in contact with the skin. This makes it possible to accurately grasp the condition of the skin immediately after shaving.

[0043] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a shaving unit 121 equipped with four first outer blades 122 and one second outer blade 123, for a total of five outer blades, the number of outer blades is not particularly limited, and the shaving unit 121 may be equipped with four or fewer outer blades, or six or more outer blades.

[0044] Furthermore, the shaving section 121 may also be one in which the inner blade rotates relative to the outer blade to shave the hair.

[0045] Furthermore, the mounting position of the first imaging device 131 is not limited to the above embodiment, and it may be mounted on the rear side (X+ side in the figure) or the side (Y- side, Y+ side in the figure), for example. It may also be mounted on the gripping part 110. The number of first imaging devices 131 is not limited to one, and they may be mounted in multiple locations. [Industrial applicability]

[0046] This invention can be applied to electric razors that can shave the body hair of animals, including humans, such as electric shavers for shaving beards and electric clippers for shaving hair. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 110 Gripping part 111 Power switch 112 Input Buttons 120 Head section 121 Shaving area 122 First outer blade 123 Second outer blade 124 Head frame 125 Head base 126 Drive unit 131 Imaging device 133 circuit boards 134 Cover 135 Lighting device 140 Notification device 150 Image Processing Devices 151 Speed ​​information generation section 152 Shaving information generation section 153 Results Reporting Department 154 Information Acquisition Department 155 Drive control unit 156 Rhythm generation section

Claims

1. An electric shaver comprising: a grip portion to be gripped by a user; and a head portion having a shaving portion for cutting body hair and connected to one end of the grip portion, an imaging device that images an image of the vicinity of the skin that the shaving unit contacts; an image processing device that processes an image obtained from the imaging device; a notification device that notifies a user of a processing result of the image processing device, The image processing device includes: a speed information generating unit that generates speed information indicating the shaving speed of the head unit relative to the skin based on the acquired image; a shaving information generating unit that generates shaving information related to a shaving speed based on the speed information; a result notification unit that controls the notification device to notify the user of the shaving information. Electric razor.

2. The speed information generation unit Generate speed information indicating a shaving speed based on the amount of displacement of at least one of body hair and skin texture in the plurality of images. The electric shaver according to claim 1.

3. The speed information generation unit Generate speed information indicating the shaving speed based on the blur width of at least one of body hair and skin texture in a single image taken at a predetermined shutter speed. The electric shaver according to claim 1.

4. The image processing device includes: an information acquisition unit that acquires input information input by a user; The shaving information generation unit Generate shaving information corresponding to the input information The electric shaver according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The notification device A device that notifies information by light, The result notification unit The notification device is controlled to change brightness, color, and light emission pattern to notify the user of the shaving information. The electric shaver according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The image processing device includes: a drive control unit that controls a drive device that drives the shaving unit to stop driving the shaving unit when the shaving information generation unit generates stop information that indicates that shaving has not been performed for a certain period of time; The electric shaver according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The image processing device includes: A rhythm generating unit generates a constant rhythm and controls the notification device to notify the user of the generated rhythm. The electric shaver according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images