This application is a divisional of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 16/719,433, filed on Dec. 18, 2019; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In an embodiment, an eyebrow device comprises: a brow ink pen or pencil connected to a reciprocating or oscillating electric driver, wherein at least one of a stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate of the brow ink pen or pencil are adjustable.
In an embodiment of the eyebrow device, the driver comprises a linear resonant motor or an eccentric rotating mass motor.
In an embodiment of the eyebrow device, the driver comprises a pendulum arm and an adjustable weight, wherein the weight is adjustable on a length of the pendulum arm.
In an embodiment, the eyebrow device comprises a computer device that communicates with a mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device provides the eyebrow device with instructions for setting at least one of the stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate.
In an embodiment, the eyebrow device comprises a dial to select at least one of stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate.
In an embodiment of the eyebrow device, the cycle rate is from 10 cycles per minute to 10,000 cycles per minute.
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method of shaping an eyebrow comprises: creating, by a computing device, a pre-altered eyebrow of a user; creating, by the computing device, a plurality of eyebrow shaping effects; creating, by the computing device, a questionnaire in which the user selects at least one eyebrow shaping effect from the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects; and providing, by the computing device, instructions for an eyebrow device how to shape the pre-altered eyebrow of the user to resemble the eyebrow shaping effect selected by the user.
In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the instructions include at least one of stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate of a brow ink pen or pencil.
In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects are recommend by the computing device based on one or more photos of the pre-altered eyebrow of the user.
In an embodiment of the computer-implemented method, the pre-altered eyebrow of the user is compared to the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects by the computing device.
In an embodiment, the computer-implemented method further comprises providing instructions for creating an eyebrow shape selected from arched shape, a rounded shape, an S-shape, and a straight shape.
In an embodiment, a computing device, comprising at least a memory and processor, is configured to: create a pre-altered eyebrow of a user; create a plurality of eyebrow shaping effects; create a questionnaire in which the user selects at least one eyebrow shaping effect from the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects; and provide instructions for an eyebrow device how to shape the pre-altered eyebrow of the user to resemble the eyebrow shaping effect selected by the user.
In an embodiment of the computing device, the instructions include at least one of stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate of a brow ink pen or pencil.
In an embodiment of the computing device, the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects are recommend by the computing device based on one or more photos of the pre-altered eyebrow of the user.
In an embodiment of the computing device, the pre-altered eyebrow of the user is compared to the plurality of eyebrow styles by the computing device.
In an embodiment, the computing device is further configured to provide instructions for creating an eyebrow shape selected from arched shape, a rounded shape, an S-shape, and a straight shape.
In an embodiment, a system comprises: a brow analysis engine including computational circuitry configured to create a pre-altered eyebrow of a user and a plurality of eyebrow shaping effects; a questionnaire analysis engine including computational circuitry configured to provide a selection of at least one eyebrow shaping effect from the plurality of eyebrow styles; and an instruction engine including computational circuitry configured to provide instructions for an eyebrow device how to shape the pre-altered eyebrow of the user to resemble the eyebrow selected by the user.
In an embodiment of the system, the instructions include at least one of stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate of a brow ink pen or pencil.
In an embodiment, the system further comprises a recommendation engine including computational circuitry configured to make recommendations of eyebrow shaping effects based on one or more photos of the pre-altered eyebrow of the user.
In an embodiment of the system, the pre-altered eyebrow of the user is compared to the plurality of eyebrow shaping effects by the computing device.
In an embodiment of the system, the instruction engine further includes computational circuitry configured to provide instructions for creating an eyebrow shape selected from arched shape, a rounded shape, an S-shape, and a straight shape.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The disclosure is related to devices and methods for creating eyebrow microblading effects with a brow ink pen or eyebrow pencil. Eyebrow microblading is a cosmetic technique in which eyebrows are shaped or enhanced and made to look fuller by scratching the surface of the skin with small needles or blades, and then, applying a pigment so that the pigment is infused into the surface of the skin through the scratches. Microblading results in eyelash color that is less permanent than tattooing. Follow-up microblading treatments are usually necessary after the initial treatment. Also, unlike tattooing, microblading is not performed with an electrical instrument, but, still requires a person trained and perhaps certified to perform the technique. However, microblading skill requires disruption of the skin surface and some healing time before the microblading effects can be fully appreciated. Therefore, microblading is not a technique that can be practiced by unskilled persons or by persons wishing to perform microblading on oneself.
Very fine-tipped brow ink pens have been introduced as an alternative to attempt to achieve the microblading look and effects. Brow ink applied with a pen is much less permanent than microblading, however, any unskilled person can try using brow ink pens without fear of causing long lasting mistakes. Brow ink pens still require some skill in achieving the look and effect that is possible through mircoblading. Accordingly, there is need for devices and methods of skillfully applying brow ink using a brow ink pen.
This disclosure relates to devices and methods that improve the use of a brow ink pen or eyebrow pencil by introducing automation and customization.
Referring to
The brow ink pen (or eyebrow pencil) 106 fits into a reciprocating socket 116. The socket 116 is connected to an electric reciprocating driver 112 which is turned on and off via the switch 110. Various implementations of the gears to induce reciprocation of the socket 116 and brow ink pen (or eyebrow pencil) 106 are possible. The switch 110 may also be used as a dial to increase and decrease the brow ink pen (or eyebrow pencil) 106 stroke length. In one embodiment, a dial may be used to set the stroke length from “fine” to “super fine,” or any value inbetween.
Referring to
The brow ink pen 206 fits into an oscillating clip 208. In one embodiment, the clip 208 is made from a semi-rigid plastic and the brow ink pen (or eyebrow pencil) 106 can be snapped in and out of the clip 208. In one embodiment, the clip 208 further includes a lock to secure the brow ink pen 206 on the clip 208. The clip 208 is connected to an electric oscillating head 210, which is in turn connected to a oscillating driver 212. The device 200 further includes the gears, linkage, and other mechanisms to oscillate the head 210 via the oscillating driver 212. In this embodiment, oscillation refers to a back and forth rotational movement as contrasted with a reciprocating motion which is a linear back and forth movement. The oscillating driver 212 is turned on and off with the button 210, which may also be a dial which increases and decreases the rate of oscillation. In one embodiment, the button 210 may also include a dial to set the stroke length from “fine” to “super fine,” or any value inbetween. In one example, the clip 208 can be moved sideways on the oscillating head 210 in order to make the arc length (i.e., the length circumscribed by one cycle of oscillation as measured at the tip 204) larger or smaller. In one embodiment, instead of moving the clip 208 on the oscillation head 210, the brow ink pen 206 can be adjusted forwards or backwards on the clip 206 to either increase or decrease the arc length.
Referring to
The brow ink pen 306 fits into an oscillating socket 308. The brow ink pen 306 can be snapped in and out of the socket 308. The socket 308 is connected to an oscillating pendulum arm 316, which is in turn connected to a oscillating driver 312. The device 300 further includes the gears, linkage, and other mechanisms to oscillate the pendulum arm 316 via the oscillating driver 312. In one embodiment, the arc length of the pendulum arm 316 is controlled by a sliding weight 310. Moving the weight 310 up on the pendulum arm 316 increases the period and the arc length of the brow ink pen 306 stroke, while moving the weight 310 down on the pendulum arm 316 decreases the period and the arc length of the brow ink pen 306 stroke. The oscillating driver 312 is turned on and off with the button 318, which may also include a dial to control the period and arc length of the brow ink pen 306. In one embodiment, the button 318 may also include a dial to set the stroke length from “fine” to “super fine,” or any value inbetween.
In one embodiment, the brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils) 106, 206, 306 are interchangeable with similar or different brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils). Brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils) 106, 206, 306 for the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 can be made with thick or thin tips, as well as any number of tips on a single shaft. Further, brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils) 106, 206, 306 can come in a variety of shades and colors to match with the eyebrow color of the user.
In one embodiment, brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils) 106, 206, 306 are designed specifically to operate with the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300, respectively. In one embodiment, commercially available brow ink pens designed to be used manually can fit into any of the devices 100, 200, and 300, since there is a wide range of different brow ink pens currently in the market.
The brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 can be made light and small enough to be held manually. The brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 can be powered by alternating household current or direct current, such as batteries.
In one embodiment, the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 are powered by linear resonant motors. In one embodiment the brow ink pen devices are powered by an eccentric rotating mass motor. In one embodiment, the cycle rate in cycles per minute of either a reciprocating or oscillating motor is variable from several tens up to several thousand cycles per minute. In one embodiment, the frequency and/or amplitude of a linear resonant motor is controllable to vary the stroke length, arc length, stroke angle, stroke force, and cycle rate of the devices 100, 200, 300.
In one embodiment, if the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 are powered by direct current, the reciprocating motion may be achieved via a DC motor to which an orbital cam is attached to the motor shaft. The orbital cam can work in conjunction with a return spring to reciprocate the brow ink pen linearly backwards and forwards. A DC motor can be controlled by controlling the voltage. Thus, if devices 100, 200, 300 are DC powered, a voltage controller may be included to control the stroke length and arc length of the brow ink pens (or eyebrow pencils) 106, 206, 306.
In one embodiment, if the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 are powered by alternating current, the reciprocating motion may be achieved by an induction magnet that reverses polarity in phase with the current. The reversal of magnetic polarity causes a magnetic arm to reciprocate by alternatively being attracted and repelled by the changing magnetic polarity. An alternating current motor can be controlled by varying the frequency and or.
To use the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 the device is held up to the eyebrow area so that the brow pen tip is slightly touching or slightly above the skin to be colored. When the brow ink pen device 100, 200, 300 is turned on to cause the brow ink pen to reciprocate or oscillate depending on the device, the device 100, 200, 300 is swept across the area of the eyebrow to be filled in. Therefore, the strokes of the brow ink pen are consistent when used with devices 100, 200, 300 avoiding much less inconsistent strokes by manual application.
In one embodiment, the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, and 300 include a computing device 114, 214, 314, respectively. The computing devices 114, 214, 314 may be configured to control the rate of the drivers 112, 212, 312. The computing devices 114, 214, 314, may communicate wirelessly with a mobile computing device 102. Accordingly, via the mobile computing device 102, the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 can be controlled according to instructions received through the mobile computing device 102 to produce specific brow effects based on the instructions received through the mobile computing device 102.
Referring to
As already described, the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 further include a computing system 114, 214, 314 with a communications module. In one embodiment, the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 are can be controlled by downloading instructions, such as through a mobile computing device 108. The instructions control the respective motors of the devices 100, 200, 300 to control the stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, or rate of the brow ink pens. When devices 100, 200, 300 communicate over a network, there exist possibilities for additional personalization, custom analysis, and recommendations to the user.
There are a plurality of operational options for the brow ink pen devices 100, 200, 300 when connected to a network. In one embodiment, the user can receive a free set of instructions for a “fine” setting with regards to stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and cycle rate. In one embodiment, the user can receive upgrades to the basic “fine” setting by paying for additional instructions in order to access additional advanced settings. In one embodiment, all the options become available upon purchase of the brow ink pen device. In one embodiment, all the options become available to user upon the purchase of an “app” or “application” which resides on the computing device 102. In one embodiment, the user may be a professional who runs a salon, and the professional may lease certain applications. In one embodiment, the app on the mobile computing device is used to get recommendations and/or instructions to achieve a certain brow effect. In one embodiment, the app may ask the user for certain preferences, and the user is provided with recommendations for brow effects. In one embodiment, the user can select from certain brow effects or a brow effect can be recommended to the user based on responses to a questionnaire and photos of the pre-altered brow of the user.
The mobile computing device 102 and the server computing system 220 communicate via a network 222. The network 222 may include any suitable networking technology, including but not limited to a wireless communication technology (including but not limited to Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and LTE), a wired communication technology (including but not limited to Ethernet, USB, and Fire Wire), or combinations thereof.
In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 102 may be a smartphone. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 102 may be any other type of computing device having the illustrated components, including but not limited to a tablet computing device or a laptop computing device. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 102 may not be mobile, but may instead by a stationary computing device such as a desktop computing device. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of the mobile computing device 102 may be within a single housing. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of the mobile computing device 102 may be in separate housings that are communicatively coupled through wired or wireless connections (such as a laptop computing device with an external camera connected via a USB cable). The mobile computing device 102 also includes other components that are not illustrated, including but not limited to one or more processors, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a power source, and one or more communication interfaces.
As shown, the mobile computing device includes a display device 211, a camera 213, and a user interface engine 215.
In one embodiment, the display device 211 is an LED display, an OLED display, or another type of display for presenting a user interface. In one embodiment, the display device 211 may be combined with or include a touch-sensitive layer, such that a user may interact with a user interface presented on the display device 211 by touching the display. In one embodiment, a separate user interface device, including but not limited to a mouse, a keyboard, or a stylus, may be used to interact with a user interface presented on the display device 211.
In one embodiment, the user interface engine 215 is configured to present a user interface on the display device 211, including presenting at least one questionnaire for collecting information from the user. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 215 may be configured to use the camera 213 to capture images of the user in order to determine the pre-altered brow for use in recommendations.
In one embodiment, the camera 213 is any suitable type of digital camera that is used by the mobile computing device 102. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 102 may include more than one camera 213, such as a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera.
In one embodiment, the server computing system 220 includes one or more computing devices that each include one or more processors, non-transitory computer-readable media, and network communication interfaces that are collectively configured to provide the components illustrated. In one embodiment, the one or more computing devices that make up the server computing system 220 may be rack-mount computing devices, desktop computing devices, or computing devices of a cloud computing service.
As shown, the server computing system 220 includes a user data store 202, an brow analysis engine 205, a questionnaire engine 209, an instruction engine 216, and a recommendation engine 218.
In one embodiment, the user data store 202 is configured to store records for each user that uses the system 201. The records may include the pre-altered brow analysis, at least one image, responses to a questionnaire, previous brow instructions used or selected, and/or other information collected or determined by the system 201.
In one embodiment, the brow analysis engine 205 may be configured to process an image of a brow from a photo of the user in order to be able to make recommendations or provide the proper settings of device instructions. In one embodiment, the brow analysis engine 205 may be further configured to compare the pre-altered brow of the user to a brow effect that is selected by the user or recommended by the recommendation engine 218.
In one embodiment, the questionnaire analysis engine 209 may be configured to receive responses to a questionnaire from the user and any photos. The responses and photos to the questionnaire may determine the best brow effect that is suited for the user.
In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 218 provides brow recommendations to the user based on the responses to the questionnaire. In one embodiment, the recommendations can be in the form of pictures showing various brow effects.
In one embodiment, the instruction engine 216 may be configured to generate device instructions as to the stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, arc length, and rate, so as to modify the pre-altered brow into the selected or recommend brow.
“Engine” refers to logic embodied in hardware or software instructions, which can be written in a programming language, such as C, C++, COBOL, JAVA™, PHP, Perl, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, ASPX, Microsoft.NET™, Go, and/or the like. An engine may be compiled into executable programs or written in interpreted programming languages. Software engines may be callable from other engines or from themselves. Generally, the engines described herein refer to logical modules that can be merged with other engines, or can be divided into sub-engines. The engines can be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or computer storage device and be stored on and executed by one or more general purpose computers, thus creating a special purpose computer configured to provide the engine or the functionality thereof.
“Data store” refers to any suitable device configured to store data for access by a computing device. One example of a data store is a highly reliable, high-speed relational database management system (DBMS) executing on one or more computing devices and accessible over a high-speed network. Another example of a data store is a key-value store. However, any other suitable storage technique and/or device capable of quickly and reliably providing the stored data in response to queries may be used, and the computing device may be accessible locally instead of over a network, or may be provided as a cloud-based service. A data store may also include data stored in an organized manner on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, RAM, ROM, or any other type of computer-readable storage medium. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that separate data stores described herein may be combined into a single data store, and/or a single data store described herein may be separated into multiple data stores, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
A method for using the devices 100, 200, 300 may, for example, begin by the user starting an app on the mobile computing device 102. The method may then present a questionnaire generated by the questionnaire analysis engine 209 on the server computing system 220. The questionnaire may ask for the user to take one or more photos of the present pre-altered eyebrows. The questionnaire may ask questions relating to the brow effect desired.
In one embodiment, the responses and photos are transmitted to the server computing system 220. In one embodiment, the responses are analyzed by the recommendation engine 218. Then, the recommendation engine 218 transmits the recommendations to the user. Then, the user can select from the recommendations. In one embodiment, one way of recommending a brow effect for the user is to overlay different styles of brows on the photos taken by the user. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 218 may use preferences and/or feedback provided by other users with similar responses to determine the brow effects to recommend. When the user sees the recommend brow effects based on the questionnaire, the user may select a brow effect. Alternatively, recommendations do not need to be generated. In one embodiment, the questionnaire includes a plurality of brow effects from which the user may select the desired brow effect without being presented with recommendations.
Next, the selected brow effect is transmitted to the server computing system 220. In one embodiment, the brow analysis engine 205 can compare the photos of the pre-altered brow to the selected brow effect and determine the physical differences. For example, the desired brow effect is overlaid over the pre-altered brow to determine the physical differences. The instruction engine 216 can convert the physical differences between the pre-altered brow to the selected brow effects into instructions for determining the treatment parameters, for example, the stroke length, stroke angle, stroke force, the arc length, and rate to result in a brow that will resemble the selected brow.
Each time the user downloads instructions, the instructions may be stored in the user data store 202.
Referring to
In an embodiment, another controlled variable that can be independent of eyebrow shape is the level of ink deposition or color, wherein more ink that is deposited achieves darker eyebrows, and less ink that is deposited results in lighter eyebrow color. For example, one single arch length could deposit a “darker strand” of hair or a “lighter strand” of hair depending on how much perpendicular force (stroke force) is applied to the skin in the eye brow area.
In its most basic configuration, the computing device 400 includes at least one processor 402 and a system memory 404 connected by a communication bus 406. Depending on the exact configuration and type of device, the system memory 404 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory, such as read only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), EEPROM, flash memory, or similar memory technology. Those of ordinary skill in the art and others will recognize that system memory 404 typically stores data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or currently being operated on by the processor 402. In this regard, the processor 402 may serve as a computational center of the computing device 400 by supporting the execution of instructions.
As further illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” includes volatile and non-volatile and removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology capable of storing information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. In this regard, the system memory 404 and storage medium 408 depicted in
Suitable implementations of computing devices that include a processor 402, system memory 404, communication bus 406, storage medium 408, and network interface 410 are known and commercially available. For ease of illustration and because it is not important for an understanding of the claimed subject matter,
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16719433 | Dec 2019 | US |
Child | 18750020 | US |