Dielectric Hair Styler Control for Sensing Without EMI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hair styling appliances that use heating plates to reshape hair can cause damage due to excessive heating and drying, and they are inefficient in power usage when no hair is present between the plates.
Innovation Solution
A hair styling appliance that heats hair dielectrically using electrodes, with a sensor assembly to sense hair properties and a control system to suspend electrode energization during sensing, allowing for efficient and safe heating without thermal masses, and regulating power based on sensed properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating plates are used to heat hair, then hair can be styled, but the appliance heats to high temperatures causing damage to hair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical thermal conduction system (heating plates transferring heat to hair) with a dielectric heating system (electrodes generating electromagnetic fields to heat hair directly). This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature thermal masses, thereby preventing hair damage from excessive heating while maintaining effective hair styling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the heating mechanism parameter from thermal conduction at high temperatures (200°C heating plates) to dielectric heating at lower temperatures through electromagnetic field interaction. This parameter change allows precise temperature control and prevents the harmful effects of excessive heating on hair.
2Power
If heating plates are used in conventional appliances, then hair can be heated, but significant power is consumed even when no hair is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the resistive heating element system with a dielectric heating system using electrodes. In the absence of hair (dielectric material), the electrodes draw minimal power because there is no dielectric loss. When hair is present, the electrodes efficiently transfer energy to the hair through dielectric heating. This substitution resolves the energy waste problem of conventional heating plates that consume significant power regardless of hair presence.
3Productivity
If electrodes are energised continuously for heating, then heating efficiency is high, but electromagnetic field interferes with sensing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between energizing the electrodes for dielectric heating and suspending energization for sensor measurement. This periodic cycle allows the heating process to be highly efficient during energization phases while eliminating electromagnetic interference during sensing phases, thereby resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and sensor interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by rapidly alternating between heating and sensing phases. The heating is nearly continuous through frequent energization cycles, while the sensing occurs during brief suspension periods. This approach ensures both effective hair heating and accurate property measurement without significant loss of heating efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The appliance provides safer and more efficient hair styling by preventing excessive heating and drying, using sensors to monitor and adjust heating based on real-time hair properties, ensuring optimal styling results.
Implementation Method 1
a control system operable to energise the electrodes to heat hair dielectrically
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a hair styling appliance that include electrodes and a control system that energises the electrodes to heat hair dielectrically. A sensor assembly is used to sense a property of the hair for the hair styling apparatus. During operation, the control system be used to suspend energisation of the electrodes during sensing of the property of the hair by the sensor assembly.