Beauty Containers

Abstract

To provide a cosmetic device and a control method of the cosmetic device which are capable of varying a frequency while keeping voltage or the like constant, in order to adjust the degree of somesthesis.SOLUTION: A cosmetic device 1 for impressing AC current to the skin surface of a user comprises: an electrode part 31 provided with two or more electrodes and impresses AC current between the electrodes; a frequency setting unit 34 which sets the frequency of AC current in three or more steps or no step; a sensitivity adjustment unit 32 for adjusting the degree of the somesthesis of the user; and an AC current generation unit 35 for outputting the set frequency. Then, the cosmetic device 1 adjusts sensitivity by allowing the frequency setting unit 34 to set a frequency on the basis of the adjustment by the sensitivity adjustment unit 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beauty device that applies an alternating current to give electrical stimulation to the skin surface of a user, and in particular to a method for controlling the degree of sensation. [Background technology]

[0002] Cosmetic devices that apply electric current at a specific frequency have been known for some time. These include beauty devices that apply electrical muscle stimulation called EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation), and RF beauty devices that use even higher frequencies to create a thermal effect and improve skin firmness and elasticity. EMS applies electrical stimulation to the skin at frequencies between several Hz and several kHz, causing muscle contraction and activating muscle movement, thereby improving sagging. RF uses high frequencies of several hundred kHz or higher to heat the inside of the skin, improving wrinkles and firmness.

[0003] Patent Document 1 proposes a technology for preventing localized skin heating in a high-frequency cosmetic treatment device. This document discloses a high-frequency cosmetic treatment device comprising a portable housing, parallel electrodes arranged at the tip of the housing with a predetermined distance between them and having treatment surfaces that come into contact with the skin of the patient, and a first power supply unit built into the housing that supplies high-frequency current to the pair of parallel electrodes.

[0004] Patent Document 2 proposes a muscle training device capable of delivering a large current into the user's body without causing excessive pain to the user. In this device, the control unit receives an electrical stimulation signal, i.e., the magnitude of the current value, from the user via the operation unit, and receives an instruction to increase the electrical stimulation signal. The control unit accesses the memory unit to refer to current-frequency correlation data, obtains a frequency corresponding to the magnitude of the electrical stimulation signal specified by the user, and outputs the magnitude and frequency of the electrical stimulation signal to the electrical stimulation output unit. The electrical stimulation output unit is disclosed to be configured to input data from the control unit, generate electrical stimulation signals, and output them to each electrode.

[0005] Patent Document 3 proposes an interference low-frequency therapy device that can adjust the depth of the interference wave generation position in the affected part of the human body to provide satisfactory electrical treatment. In this interference low-frequency therapy device, the control unit has a frequency setting function, and it is said that the depth of the interference wave generation position in the local part of the human body can be changed by arbitrarily changing the frequencies of the two medium-frequency currents.

[0006] It is known in the prior art that the frequency can be varied, but the purpose of this is to achieve different cosmetic effects by switching between a relatively low frequency band that provides electrical stimulation and a relatively high frequency band that provides a thermal effect.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses that the electrical stimulation signal and frequency are directly proportional to each other, but the frequency used is in the range of several Hz to several kHz, and it is not technically possible to handle higher frequencies. The magnitude of the electrical stimulation signal is the current value, and it is not possible to adjust the frequency alone; the current value also needs to be adjusted.

[0008] In Patent Document 3, in order to arbitrarily set two medium frequency currents and change the depth at which the interference wave is generated, a frequency setting knob and an intensity setting knob are provided, and the intensity is adjusted by the magnitude of the interference wave carrier current. Therefore, the intensity is not adjusted by frequency, and a complex configuration is required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6212608 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4057558 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-112362 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The conventional technique for adjusting the sensation of electrical beauty devices is to adjust the voltage or current, but increasing the voltage increases the tingling sensation, causing discomfort, making it difficult to continue using the device and resulting in poor results, or making it unusable for users with sensitive skin.

[0011] The present invention was created in consideration of the problems with the above-mentioned conventional technology, and aims to provide a beauty device and a control method thereof that adjusts the degree of sensation by changing the frequency while keeping the voltage, etc. constant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following beauty device. That is, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a beauty device that applies alternating current to the skin surface of a user, comprising an electrode unit having two or more electrodes that applies alternating current between the electrodes, a frequency setting unit that sets the frequency of the alternating current in multiple steps of three or more or continuously, a sensitivity adjustment unit that adjusts the degree of sensation experienced by the user, and an alternating current generating unit that outputs the set frequency, and the frequency setting unit adjusts the sensitivity by setting the frequency based on adjustment by the sensitivity adjustment unit.

[0013] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a beauty device in which the above-mentioned frequency ranges from at least 70 kHz to 300 kHz.

[0014] According to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a beauty device in which the sensitivity adjustment section is provided with an adjustment means that allows the user to arbitrarily adjust the sensitivity.

[0015] According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a beauty device can be provided that is configured in at least one of the following ways: the beauty device is equipped with a resistance value measuring unit that measures the resistance value of the user's skin surface, and the frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule depending on the adjustment of the sensitivity adjustment unit and the resistance value; or the beauty device does not include a sensitivity adjustment unit, and the frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule depending on the resistance value.

[0016] According to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide the above-mentioned beauty device further equipped with a heater for warming the skin surface.

[0017] According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, there can be provided a control method for a beauty device that applies alternating current to the skin surface of a user, characterized in that the frequency of the alternating current is set in multiple steps of three or more or steplessly while keeping the voltage or current approximately constant, and the alternating current of the set frequency is applied from the electrode portion to adjust the degree of sensation experienced by the user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the degree of sensation can be adjusted by changing the frequency while keeping the voltage constant, so that even users with sensitive skin can receive electrical stimulation of the optimal strength, which effectively exercises the muscles and contributes to the improvement of sagging skin. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a front view of a beauty device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 4 is an explanatory diagram of a control method for a beauty device according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a beauty device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a beauty device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings, but the embodiments are not limited to the following. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a front view of a cosmetic device (1) according to the present invention. The cosmetic device (1) is composed of a main body (10) that the user holds in his / her hand and a head (11) equipped with electrodes. The main body (10) is equipped with a level switch (12) for adjusting the level of sensation, a power switch (13) for turning the power on and off and switching modes, and an indicator (14) that shows the status of the main body.

[0021] The main body (10) is equipped with a rechargeable battery and can be charged or used by supplying power from a power supply terminal on the bottom, but the presence or absence of a charging function and the method of power supply are not important.

[0022] The head portion (11) is equipped with two annular electrode portions (20) and (21), and the user can achieve beauty effects such as electrical stimulation by placing the head portion (11) against the skin and applying an alternating current between the central electrode portion (20) and the outer electrode portion (21). Furthermore, although not essential to the present invention, applying an alternating current in a relatively high frequency band can also produce a thermal effect on the skin surface.

[0023] Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and the warming effect using RF (radio frequency) are well known, so we will not explain the principles here. Furthermore, the configuration of the above-described beauty device can be freely modified. There are no limitations on the shape of the main body, nor on the form and shape of the electrode portion.

[0024] In conventional beauty devices, the intensity of EMS stimulation was adjusted by changing the voltage while keeping the frequency of the AC current constant. Figure 3(a) shows an image of the waveform of a conventional AC current, and increasing the amplitude (voltage) increases the stimulation. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the present invention proposes adjusting the intensity of stimulation by changing the frequency while keeping the voltage constant.

[0025] As mentioned in the section on conventional technology, techniques for changing frequency have been known for some time, but their purpose is to switch between EMS and RF. That is, in EMS, an alternating current in the frequency range of several Hz to several kHz is applied, and when switching to RF, the frequency is changed to a range of several hundred kHz or more. Therefore, to switch between beauty effect modes, it is sufficient to change the frequency in two stages: low and high.

[0026] In addition to switching modes, the voltage can be varied to adjust the intensity, for example, from 40V to 80V. Because sensitivity to stimulation varies depending on the characteristics and sense of skin, users can test the electrical stimulation by placing it on their skin, and if muscle movement is insufficient, they can increase the voltage. This allows the level of sensation to be changed, but there is a problem in that increasing the voltage not only increases muscle movement, but also causes an uncomfortable tingling sensation.

[0027] The inventors have found that frequency changes can be used to adjust the strength of the sound, and have conducted further research to provide the frequency range required for adjustment. First, lowering the frequency activates muscle movement and intensifies the sensation. Conversely, increasing the frequency gradually calms muscle movement and increases the warming sensation. In particular, experiments conducted by multiple testers have shown that there is a boundary between electrical stimulation and warming sensation in the high-to-mid frequency range between 70 kHz and 300 kHz.

[0028] Although it varies depending on the subject, below around 70 kHz the warm sensation is weak and only electrical stimulation is felt. As the frequency decreases below this level, the degree of physical sensation increases. At around 300 kHz the electrical stimulation is weak and the thermal effect is strong. Although it is not essential to produce a thermal effect in the present invention, it is preferable that the lower limit be around 100 kHz and the upper limit be around 200 kHz in order to also produce a warm sensation. In other words, the frequency variation range of the present invention may be from about 100 kHz to about 200 kHz.

[0029] According to the above characteristics discovered through the inventor's research, in the range of 70 kHz to 300 kHz, it is preferable for people who are less likely to feel physical sensations to lower the frequency and increase the electrical stimulation, while people who are more likely to feel physical sensations to raise the frequency and decrease the electrical stimulation.By changing the physical sensation without changing the voltage, it is possible to achieve a strong physical sensation without a tingling sensation.

[0030] In the present invention, the voltage is preferably in the range of 40 V to 80 V. Experiments by the inventors have confirmed that voltages above 80 V can cause increased discomfort for some users. A voltage that provides comfortable and appropriate electrical stimulation is preferably in the range of 40 V to 80 V, particularly about 60 V. The above frequency range is particularly effective in this voltage range.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of a cosmetic device (1) according to the present invention. The beauty device (1) is provided with a control board (30) consisting of an electric circuit and a computer, an electrode unit (31) connected to the control board (30), a sensitivity adjustment unit (32), a battery (33), etc. The control board is provided with a frequency setting unit (34) that sets the frequency of the AC current in three or more steps or continuously, and an AC current generating unit (35) that outputs the set frequency.

[0032] The electrode unit (31) has two or more electrodes and applies an alternating current between the electrodes. The sensitivity adjustment unit (32) adjusts the level of sensation felt by the user using a button-type switch like the level switch (12) shown in Figure 1, or a dial-type switch. The battery (33) can be a rechargeable battery, a dry cell battery, or even a solar panel or an external power source.

[0033] Previously, it was technically difficult to change the frequency due to the capabilities of the CPU of the computer that made up the control board. For example, a CPU with a clock speed of around 4MHz could only control an AC current of around 1kHz by software, and a fixed constant oscillator circuit was required to switch frequencies.

[0034] However, in recent years, CPUs with clock speeds of 32 MHz or so have become inexpensive, making it possible to generate high-frequency AC currents of 100 kHz or 1 MHz using only software. Due to this technical background, it has not previously been thought of to vary the frequency in small devices such as beauty devices, but with advances in CPUs, the present invention can now be easily realized.

[0035] Therefore, in the present invention, the AC frequency set by the CPU frequency setting unit 34 can be output as AC from the software-implemented AC current generating unit 35. Since the output is digital, in this embodiment, it is output as a square wave, as shown in Figure 3(b). In the present invention, the method of generating AC current is not limited, so a variable frequency oscillator circuit may be provided, and the waveform may be a sine wave or a pseudo-sine wave.

[0036] A specific control method will be described. The user sets the desired intensity of the electrical stimulation by operating the sensitivity adjustment unit (32), which is an adjustment means. For example, when the power is turned on, it is set to the lowest level. At this time, the frequency setting unit (34) sets the frequency to 300 kHz, and the AC current generation unit (35) generates an AC current of 300 kHz.

[0037] When the sensation is weak, the sensitivity adjustment unit (32) can be operated to increase the sensitivity, and the frequency setting unit will set the frequency to a lower frequency in sequence. For example, in the case of three levels, the frequencies are 70 kHz, 150 kHz, and 300 kHz, and in the case of eight levels, the frequencies are 70 kHz, 90 kHz, 120 kHz, 150 kHz, 180 kHz, 220 kHz, 260 kHz, and 300 kHz.

[0038] If the lower limit of the variable range is 100 kHz and the upper limit is 200 kHz, the frequencies can be set in three steps: 100 kHz, 150 kHz, and 200 kHz; or in eight steps: 100 kHz, 110 kHz, 120 kHz, 130 kHz, 140 kHz, 160 kHz, 180 kHz, and 200 kHz.

[0039] To further enhance the sensation, the frequency band may be changed from a few Hz to a few kHz. Furthermore, since the beauty device (1) of this embodiment only provides the thermal effect of RF, the frequency band may be changed to a higher frequency band.

[0040] In the present invention, in addition to the user operating the sensitivity adjustment unit (32), frequency setting can also be automated. One factor that affects the user's sensation is the resistance value of the skin surface, and as shown in Figure 4, a resistance value measurement unit (36) is provided on the control board (30) and measures the resistance value of the skin by passing electricity between the electrode unit (31). Note that a separate electrode for resistance measurement may also be provided.

[0041] In response to the measured resistance value, the frequency setting unit 34 sets a frequency according to the characteristics of the skin, for example, as shown in Table 1 below.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] In the table above, when the resistance value is relatively low, the current flows easily, resulting in a stronger sensation, so the frequency should be set high. On the other hand, when the resistance value is relatively high, the current flows less easily, resulting in a weaker sensation, so the frequency should be set low. Since the resistance of the skin changes depending on the humidity and the degree of wetness of the skin, even for the same person, the sensation varies from time to time even if the level switch is adjusted in the same way. Therefore, by automatically adjusting the resistance based on the measurement results of the resistance measurement unit (34), the device can be used with the same sensation every time.

[0044] 5, the sensitivity adjustment unit (32) is omitted, but the sensitivity adjustment unit (32) may be provided to allow switching between weak, medium, strong, etc. In this case, the frequency can be set by combining the resistance value of the sensitivity adjustment unit (32) and the user's setting, as shown in Table 2 below.

[0045] [Table 2]

[0046] In this way, the frequency setting unit 34 sets the optimum frequency according to the measurement value of the resistance value measuring unit 36, which allows the user to use the device easily. The values ​​in the above table are just an example, and the frequency values, switching stages, etc. can be changed as desired. Furthermore, the rule for setting the frequency does not have to be based on a table, and may instead be the result of calculation using a predetermined formula.

[0047] The cosmetic device (1) of the present invention may further include a heater (not shown). An example of a heater is a ceramic Peltier heater that generates far infrared rays and can heat the skin deep inside.

[0048] Of the frequency range of 70 kHz to 300 kHz of the present invention, frequencies in the vicinity of 200 to 300 kHz, which are the range in which users are most likely to feel a warm sensation, heats the epidermis on the skin surface. In addition, by using a heater, the dermis, which is deeper, is heated, allowing for a mild yet effective effect on the skin.

[0049] Furthermore, in the low frequency range, while it is easy to feel electrical stimulation, it may be difficult to feel the warmth. By using a heater in combination, the warmth can be adjusted to suit the user's preferences, which is particularly effective in combination with the frequency adjustment technology of the present invention.

[0050] In addition to the above-described beauty device, the present invention can also provide a method for controlling a beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of a user. That is, while keeping the voltage or current approximately constant, the frequency of the AC current is set in multiple steps of three or more or steplessly, and the AC current of the set frequency is applied from the electrode portion to adjust the degree of sensation experienced by the user.

[0051] A specific example of the method is shown in the above-mentioned beauty device (1), and it is clear that the method is implemented by a combination of the control board (30), the electrode unit (31), and the sensitivity adjustment unit (32), but is not limited to this. The device implementing this control method is not limited to a portable beauty device, but may also be a stationary device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 beauty device 10 Main body 11 Head 12 Level switch 13 Power switch 14 Indicators 20 Electrode part 21 Electrode section 30 Control board 31 Electrode part 32 Sensitivity adjustment section 33 Batteries 34 Frequency setting section 35 AC current generator 36 Resistance measurement section

Claims

1. A beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of a user, an electrode unit including two or more electrodes and applying the AC current between the electrodes; a sensitivity adjustment unit that receives the intensity of the electrical stimulation input by the user; a frequency setting unit that sets the frequency of the AC current in three or more steps or continuously in accordance with the intensity of the electrical stimulus while maintaining a constant effective value of the voltage; an AC current generating unit that outputs an AC current between the electrodes at the set frequency, The frequency range includes at least 70 kHz to 300 kHz. A beauty device characterized by:

2. the effective value of the voltage is at least in the range of 40V to 80V; The beauty device according to claim 1.

3. In the beauty device, A resistance value measuring unit is provided to measure the resistance value of the skin surface of the user, The frequency setting unit adjusts the frequency in accordance with a predetermined rule in accordance with the adjustment of the sensitivity adjustment unit and the resistance value. Adjust The cosmetic device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the beauty device, It also has a heater that warms the skin surface. The beauty device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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