IPL Lamp Current Modulation to Smooth Hair Treatment Light Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair removal devices using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology cause user discomfort due to a high initial light output peak, which is painful and unpleasant, and current solutions for a more even light output are either costly or require significant space, making them impractical for home-use devices.
Innovation Solution
A hair treatment device with an IPL lamp driven by a drive circuit and a switch modulated at frequencies between 50 kHz to 500 kHz to provide pulsed current delivery, reducing the initial current peak and its associated light output peak without additional inductive or capacitive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a high-powered IPL lamp is used to deliver intense light pulses for effective hair removal, then the photo-epilation effectiveness is improved, but the initial light output peak causes user discomfort and pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by modulating the IPL lamp current through high-frequency switching (50-500 kHz) to create a pulsed current delivery pattern. This periodic modulation breaks the continuous high-power pulse into smaller sub-pulses, reducing the peak light output intensity that causes discomfort while maintaining the overall energy delivery for effective hair removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the current delivery parameters by introducing high-frequency switching between 50-500 kHz, transforming the single continuous pulse into a modulated pulse pattern. This parameter change in switching frequency allows the system to deliver total energy effectively while smoothing the peak intensity to reduce user discomfort during treatment.
2Illumination intensity
If additional inductive or capacitive components are added to smooth the light output, then the light intensity profile is improved, but the device complexity, size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the need for traditional inductive or capacitive smoothing circuits with an electronic switching control system. Instead of using passive components to smooth the current, the invention uses an active controller that switches the lamp current at high frequencies, achieving the same smoothing effect through electronic control rather than through additional reactive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit uses the lamp's own inductance and the switching action to generate the smoothed current profile. The system leverages the existing lamp characteristics and the switching frequency to achieve current smoothing without requiring separate dedicated smoothing components, making the system self-sufficient.
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 user discomfort by smoothing the light intensity profile over the IPL pulse duration, allowing for a more comfortable treatment experience while maintaining efficiency and minimizing device size and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical energy stored in the capacitor is discharged through the lamp, resulting in a pulsed operation of the lamp
Implementation Method 2
The lamp generates light pulses having a relatively high energy density, which propagate towards the radiation exit opening and irradiate the human skin
Implementation Method 3
The light absorbed by melanin in the hair and hair matrix generates heat
Implementation Method 4
The light absorbed by melanin in the hair and hair matrix generates heat that damages the hair follicles
Implementation Method 5
The high voltage is needed to generate the electrical breakdown of the gas inside the lamp
Implementation Method 6
The plasma ignition unit generates a conductive plasma channel of ionized gas atoms or molecules between the lamp electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A hair treatment device comprises an IPL lamp driven with pulses of energy. A switch is in series with the IPL lamp and is switched at a frequency in the range 50 kHz to 500 kHz to provide pulsed delivery of current to the IPL lamp with pulses shorter than the overall IPL pulse duration The current modulation is used to eliminate the initial current peak and its associated peak in light output. The modulation can be used during the entire IPL pulse, or only during a fraction of it, while the duty cycle or the frequency of the modulation can change during the IPL pulse in order to optimize the light output. A pulsed delivery of current is provided to the IPL lamp during a first portion of the pulses of energy and a continuous delivery of current is provided during a last portion of the pulses of energy.