Grazing Angle Illumination for Skin Feature Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging systems for body feature analysis, such as skin or hair, lack a comprehensive and user-friendly method for capturing, processing, and analyzing images to provide effective care product recommendations based on identified conditions.
Innovation Solution
A PDA-based imaging system that captures images of skin or other physical features, performs real-time analysis, and provides care regimen recommendations by using a processor, image management software, and coordinated illumination with LEDs positioned at specific angles to mimic the judgment of a dermatologist, offering a user interface for controlling these functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple light sources with specific light paths are used to illuminate the body feature, then the measurement precision and detail of surface attributes are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple independent light sources (first light source and second light source), each providing light through separate light paths. This segmentation allows each light source to be optimized for specific imaging needs while maintaining overall system functionality, resolving the contradiction by dividing the complex illumination task into manageable segments that improve measurement precision without overwhelming device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the body feature surface receive light at different grazing angles (first light path at first grazing angle, second light path at second grazing angle), creating locally optimized illumination conditions. This local quality approach allows precise control over how different surface attributes are highlighted in different areas, improving measurement precision while keeping each local illumination zone relatively simple
2Productivity
If real-time image analysis is performed to provide care regimen recommendations, then the productivity and user experience are improved, but the use of energy and processing power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images under different lighting conditions and preprocessing them before final analysis. The PDA device prepares and stores image data in advance, allowing the real-time analysis to work with pre-processed information rather than raw data, thus improving productivity while reducing the energy required for final processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of the body feature images and processes these copies rather than requiring continuous direct analysis. The PDA stores image files and can analyze copies multiple times without additional energy cost, enabling real-time recommendations while managing energy consumption through efficient data reuse
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
Enables real-time image analysis and personalized care regimen recommendations, effectively addressing skin or hair conditions by providing summary rating values and product suggestions based on attribute measurements.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor for receiving light from the light sources that is reflected from the surface of a body feature located on the object plane
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capturing and analyzing images of body features to identify treatments has a base unit with a processor and a display and an image management software component for presenting on the display a user interface to prompt a user to capture images in preselected locations on a body and to receive captured image data. The system has at least two light sources under control of the user interface that provide light following first and second light paths from the respective light sources to the plane of an imaging station, each light path having a significant portion of its light on the plane of the imaging station at a grazing angle of about ten to about thirty degrees. The first and second light paths when projected onto the plane of the imaging station intersect at an angle of at least sixty degrees. An image sensor receives light from the light sources that is reflected from the surface of a body feature located at the imaging station and produces pixel image data representing the body feature. A rating software component receives the pixel image data from the image sensor and is configured to mimic the judgment of a dermatologist to provide a rating vector representing the condition of three or more attributes of the body feature represented by the pixel image data.