Portable Skin Image Capture With Detachable Sensing Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring chromophores and malformations of human skin are large in size, expensive, and have limited data processing capabilities due to their optics elements and internal processing units, necessitating external data processing units.
Innovation Solution
A portable image capturing device with a sensing protection device that is attachable and detachable, equipped with a light source, image sensor, and controller, capable of emitting light, obtaining images, and performing mathematical modeling to determine chromophore concentrations using a Monte Carlo algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional optics elements and processing units are used for skin measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a mobile device camera to capture skin images instead of traditional complex optics elements. The camera acts as a simplified copying mechanism that records skin reflectance information, which is then processed through mathematical modeling to derive chromophore concentrations. This approach maintains measurement capability while dramatically reducing device complexity and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical optics systems with a computational approach. Instead of using complex optical components to directly measure skin properties, the system captures images with a camera and uses mathematical algorithms (Monte Carlo simulation) to extract physiological information. This substitution of mechanical optics with computational processing reduces device complexity while preserving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If traditional processing units are used for data processing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a mobile device camera to capture skin images instead of traditional complex optics elements. The camera acts as a simplified copying mechanism that records skin reflectance information, which is then processed through mathematical modeling to derive chromophore concentrations. This approach maintains measurement capability while dramatically reducing device complexity and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the universal processing capabilities of mobile device processors to perform Monte Carlo simulations and mathematical modeling. The mobile device's existing processor, which is designed for general-purpose computing, is utilized to handle the specialized skin analysis computations, eliminating the need for dedicated complex processing units while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If a portable device is used for skin measurement, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement environment control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent includes a sensing protection device that is attachable to the mobile device before measurement. This protection device pre-establishes a controlled measurement environment by blocking ambient light and isolating the skin measurement area from external interference. By preparing the measurement environment in advance, the system maintains reliability despite the portability of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing protection device acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the skin being measured. It creates a controlled optical environment by blocking ambient light and ensuring that only the intended light sources interact with the skin. This intermediary structure maintains measurement reliability while allowing the use of a portable device.
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 convenient and reliable skin state measurement by maintaining a constant measurement environment, utilizing a mobile device for chromophore analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to emit light on a skin; an image sensor configured to obtain an image of the skin from lights reflected from the skin
Implementation Method 2
perform mathematical modeling to model light propagation in the skin to simulate a reflectance spectrum of skin in the visible spectrum range
Data Source
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AI summary
An image capturing device and a sensing protection device are provided. The image capturing device includes a light source configured to emit lights on a skin, an image sensor configured to obtain an image of the skin from lights reflected from the skin, a sensing protection device, which is an attachable and detachable, configured to surround the light source and the image sensor and includes a connection unit configured to be attached to and detached from the image capturing device, and a controller configured to process characteristics of the skin based on the obtained image.