Hair Iron Temperature Control via Plate Change Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hair irons cause damage to hair due to high temperatures, especially when applied to wet or damp hair, leading to temporary or permanent structural deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A hair iron with temperature sensors and a controller that monitor temperature changes during use and adjust power supply to the heating plates based on predetermined thresholds to prevent excessive temperature fluctuations, reducing power when significant changes are detected to minimize heat damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high temperature is applied to the hair iron plates to achieve effective hair styling, then the styling effectiveness is improved, but the hair damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehair styling effectivenessVSAvoidhair damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system using temperature sensors to continuously monitor the temperature of the plates and adjust the power supply accordingly. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically reduces power to prevent excessive heat damage to the hair, while maintaining effective styling temperatures within safe ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the temperature parameter by adjusting the power supply to the heating elements based on real-time temperature measurements. This allows the plates to maintain optimal styling temperatures while preventing excessive temperature rises that would cause hair damage, effectively controlling the thermal parameters throughout the styling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the hair iron is applied to wet or damp hair, then the styling process is simplified, but the temperature fluctuation increases causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestyling process simplicityVSAvoidtemperature fluctuation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback control system detects temperature fluctuations caused by applying the iron to wet or damp hair and automatically adjusts the power supply to compensate. When rapid temperature changes are detected, the system modulates power delivery to maintain stable temperature, preventing the excessive fluctuations that would otherwise occur with moisture-evaporating hair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If continuous monitoring and power adjustment is implemented, then the hair damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat damage reductionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback control mechanism with temperature sensors and a controller that automatically adjusts power based on temperature readings. This relatively simple feedback loop continuously monitors plate temperature and modulates power supply to prevent heat damage, achieving protective functionality without requiring complex control algorithms or multiple sensor arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution effectively reduces heat damage by dynamically controlling the temperature of the hair iron, preventing excessive heat exposure, especially when applied to wet or damp hair, thereby minimizing short-term frizz and long-term irreversible damage.

Implementation Method 1

at least one temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of at least one of the one or more plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

Most hair irons today use electric heating, with power being supplied to heat the hair iron heating elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3491960B1Hair iron and method of temperature control
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 VESTEL ELEKTRONIK SANAYI & TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
  • EP3491960B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3491960B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The temperature of a hair iron (100) is controlled to prevent damage to hair being ironed by the hair iron (100). Whilst the hair iron (100) is being applied to the hair, the controller determines a temperature change of one or more plates (102) of the hair iron (100) over a time period starting from an initial application of the hair iron (100) to the hair being ironed. If the temperature change of the one or more plates (102) is larger than a threshold, the controller reduces the power supplied to the one or more plates (102).