Patent Application
20190047162
The present invention relates to a method of automated hairstyle processing and to a system for automated hairstyle processing. The disclosure further relates to a hair cutting device that may form part of the system. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding computer program.
As used herein, automated hairstyle processing particularly relates to an approach that involves processing, particularly cutting, a subject's hair with an appliance that is capable of automatically adjusting a least one operation parameter, particularly a cutting length, depending on or as a function of an actual location of the appliance with respect to the individual subject. Automated hairstyle processing may be also referred to as automatic, semi-automatic or smart hairstyle processing.
The term automated hairstyle processing does not necessarily exclude any human/manual contribution or intervention. For instance, hand-held and hand-guided hair cutting devices may be used which implement an automated adjustment of an actual cutting length. Hence, automated hairstyling within the context of the present disclosure may also be referred to as computer-aided or computer-assisted smart hairstyling.
WO 2013/163999 A1 discloses a programmable hair trimming system comprising a hair trimming device, said hair trimming system being arranged to detect, by means of an electromagnetic tracking system, the position of the hair trimming device in relation to the head of a person on whom a hair trimming operation is being performed; relate said position to previously generated hair length profile data regarding the desired hair trimming length at various positions; automatically and dynamically adjust the hair trimming length of said hair trimming device according to its present position and the hair length profile data. Further reference in this context is made to WO 2013/096572 A1 which discloses an automated system for cutting hair on a subject to conform to a specified style, the system comprising a hair cutting device configured to engage a cutting mechanism to cut said hair on said subject; and a positioning structure operable to interact with said hair cutting device to determine a position of said hair cutting device relative to a reference point.
US2014/200734 A1 discloses a method for assigning coordinate locations to positioning interfaces on a positioning device, said positioning device comprising a plurality of positioning interfaces and a structure at least partially extending in front of and to either side of the face of a user wearing said positioning device, so that changes to the locations of said positioning interfaces associated with said positioning device being worn by said user are at least partially accounted for, the method comprising directing said user to adjust said positioning device so that said positioning device is aligned with at least one of said user's eyes and nose; measuring at least one dimension between at least two points on said structure of said positioning device, said two points selected such that the dimension between them may vary depending on the size or shape of the head of a user wearing said positioning device; associating a coordinate system to said positioning device; and determining coordinate values for at least one of said positioning interfaces at least partially based on said at least one dimension between at least two points on said structure of said positioning device.
US2015/0217465 A1 discloses a user interface for use with automated hair cutting systems. The user interface allows the user to adapt a selected hairstyle to take into account the user's hair thickness, hair orientation, hair length, hair stiffness, hair curliness and hair care habits such as combing patterns.
Hair cutting and hairstyling are, to a great extent, manual tasks which typically require a skilled operator (hair stylist, hair dresser, etc.) who performs a haircut and/or hairstyling operation at a client. Generally, even if the client is satisfied with a particular haircut or hairstyle, the manual task needs to be performed repeatedly, for instance every four to eight weeks for relatively short haircuts. Further, even a well-experienced hairdresser or hairstylist cannot always exactly reproduce a certain haircut. The hairdresser may, on the one hand, imagine the to-be-applied haircut based on the current (grown) state of the hair. On the other hand, the hairdresser may recall and visualize the originally processed state of the previously performed haircut. Further, a client may choose and request a certain haircut by pointing at a visual representation of his/her own or other people wearing a model haircut.
Several attempts have been made to provide smart hair cutting appliances which allow a user to cut his/her hair or the hair of another person in a machine supported and controlled fashion. To this end, a hair cutting appliance may be provided which is arranged to adjust a present cutting length dependent on a certain position at the head of the to-be-treated person. In other words, the desired haircut is stored in a computing device which is arranged to operate the hair cutting appliance accordingly, for instance by adjusting a movable spacing comb. However, this basically requires that the model of the haircut is already stored in the computing device.
A data representation of a model haircut/hairstyle involves for instance a head topology map and a corresponding hair topology map. A head topology map may involve a three-dimensional representation of the (haired) head portion. A hair topology map may involve a corresponding length representation of the hair at the head portion. As a result, a desired hair length at certain point of the head is known. More generally, a point cloud or mesh may be provided which sufficiently describes the model haircut/hairstyle by a plurality of data sets involving positional data and associated hair property data. For illustrative purposes, aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure primarily address head hair (scalp hair) cutting and styling. However, this does not exclude an application in the field of facial hair (beard) grooming and total body grooming including intimate hair styling. Further, human hairstyling but also animal hairstyling may be addressed.
In accordance with a first approach to the preparation of hairstyle/haircut models, it has been proposed to record machine parameters of the hair cutting appliance when the haircut is actually performed, or after a haircut is performed. This may involve recording a plurality of pairs of values indicating a respective cutting length at a respective position so as to eventually generate a point cloud representing a topological hair map.
In accordance with another approach, predefined hairstyle/haircut models are generated which are not personalized but rather represent typical head shapes and therefore match a considerably large number of individuals. Hence, the hairstyle/haircut models are defined without having knowledge of the actual to be treated subject's shape (e.g. head topology).
Further, in accordance with yet another approach, users may adopt personal hairstyle/haircut models of other individuals so as to imitate their hairstyle. The models may be exchanged, shared or downloaded via a hairstyle/haircut model marketplace, or via a data link between two respective appliances. Further, a user may simply use one and the same appliance for a number of individuals which allows to copy or transfer hairstyles haircuts between those individuals.
However, in practical use, the above discussed approaches still show only a limited accuracy and performance. A large amount of manual intervention may be necessary so as to eventually apply someone else's hair model or even a standard non-personalized hair model to a certain individual, i.e. another individual. There is a certain risk that the resulting hairstyle/haircut has a somewhat artificial appearance.
Simply adopting a predefined hairstyle/haircut model and imposing it on the to-be-treated individual may result in an amateurish, non-professional hairstyle. Consequently, there is a certain need for improvements in and alternative approaches to model based automated haircut/hairstyle processing. In particular the adoption and transfer of existing hairstyle/haircut models to other individuals still faces major challenges. Hence, there is still room for improvement in automated haircut recording appliances and methods.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an automated hairstyle processing method, an automated hairstyle processing system and a corresponding automated hair cutting device which address at least some of the above-indicated issues.
Particularly, improvements in model based automated haircut/hairstyle processing are sought for. Preferably, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure facilitate the exchange of hair profiles between different individuals. Further, it is desired to define an automated computer-aided hairstyle processing approach which includes an integrated feature compensation and enables a swift and proper adaption of a predefined hairstyle/haircut setting to a certain individual so as to improve the resulting overall appearance of the hairstyle.
It would be further preferred that, in accordance with the method, system and device of the present disclosure, an automated adjustment and adaption of the utilized pre-defined haircut/hairstyle models to characteristics of a certain individual may be achieved, or at least facilitated.
In a first aspect of the present disclosure there is presented a method of automated hairstyle processing, the method comprising the following steps:
In a further aspect of the present disclosure a system for automated hairstyle processing is presented, the system comprising:
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an automated hair cutting device, particularly a hand-held device, comprising:
The step of adapting the hair property model involves a local adjustment of the hair property model. This involves a local adjustment of the (overall) hairstyle model as the underlying contour model is somewhat changed.
Major embodiments and aspects of the current disclosure are based on the insight that an adaption of a predefined hairstyle model to an actual individual may further improve the appearance and the resulting shape of the resulting hairstyle. Further, as automated hair cutting or hairstyling basically requires that a current position of the hair cutting device with respect to the head of the individual is monitored, the data required for an adaptation of the hairstyle model is, so to say, obtained as a byproduct and does not require huge structural modifications at the level of such a “smart” hair cutting device.
Hence, an actual shape of the to-be-treated individual and a predefined shape based on which the predefined hairstyle model is generated may be matched so as to detect the deviations (also referred to as significant deviations) therebetween which might have an adverse effect on the resulting hairstyle.
Generally, a generic, predefined hairstyle model may be present which includes a generic hair property or hair length model. Further, an adapted actual hairstyle model may be processed which includes an adapted actual hair property or hair length model.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to processing considerable (notable) detection between the actual body shape and the model body shape. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of detecting deviations of the actual body shape portion from the model body shape portion of the predefined hairstyle model involves detecting considerable deviations that exceed a defined range or threshold, and wherein the step of adapting the hair property model of the predefined hairstyle model is performed when considerable deviations are present.
As used herein, the term considerable deviations relates to deviations that exceed an allowed deviation level. The allowed deviation level involves a defined range or threshold value. Defining allowed ranges or thresholds for body/head shape variations may be a practical measure as basically each individual's shape is at least slightly different from basically any other subject's shape. Hence, absolute or relative values may be defined so as to classify detected deviations and to label them as acceptable deviations or as non-standard deviations the presence of which triggers a compensation or adaption action on the model level. For instance, an imaginary “envelope” for the model shape may be defined which represents an accepted tolerance level for the sampled actual head or body shape.
The subject may be a human being, but also an animal. The body shape of interest is basically a haired body portion, particularly a haired skin or scalp portion. Further, also adjacent portions may be of interest, for instance a skin portion, a neck portion or an ear portion, which may influence the automated hair cutting or hair styling operation.
The head shape may be also referred to as scalp shape. Generally, actual skin or scalp contours of the individual subject of interest may be addressed, since notable deviations from a model contour may be present.
In an exemplary embodiment of the method, an overall appearance of a processed haircut is maintained within an accepted tolerance level by adapting the hair property representing values of the hairstyle model. This may be achieved even when considerably huge deviations of the level of the skin are present. Hence, even if deformations or other exceptional features are present, the desired resulting hairstyle or haircut look and appearance may be maintained. Since for instance a model scalp contour does not comprise uncommon exceptional depressions or elevations, the presence of such exceptional features in real life applications might be reflected in respective deviations in shape of the hairstyle contour. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure those resulting unsightly deviations at the hair level may be avoided or at least considerably reduced. The accepted tolerance level may be a defined tolerance range or a defined threshold value for the resulting hairstyle contour, for instance. The accepted tolerance level may involve one of absolute tolerance values and relative tolerance values.
Hence, even when a certain deviation level at the body/head shape is present, a resulting deviation level at the hairstyle contour may be significantly reduced by adapting for instance the hair length values of the involved region(s) accordingly.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the predefined hairstyle model includes a topological hair model including a set of data points involving position values and hair property values, particularly hair length values. The topological hair model may involve a skin or scalp shape model representing the (three-dimensional) contour and the level of the skin, and a hair property model, particularly a hair length model, defining the to-be-processed length of the hair at a certain position of the skin or scalp where the hair grows. In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of adapting the hair property model comprises:
Hence, a smooth and leveled haircut appearance may be achieved.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of adapting the hair property model comprises:
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of adapting the hair property model comprises:
Unsymmetrical features and/or displaced features may be present in a great number of individuals. Typically, the left side and the right side of the head of an individual are not perfectly mirror symmetric. Rather, for instance, the position and the shape of the left ear and the right ear may somewhat deviate from one another. Further, accidents, surgical treatment, burn injuries, and suchlike may cause non-conform features than may be detected and that may induce a respective adaption of the hairstyle model.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of sampling the actual body shape is performed when the hair of subject of interest is processed, and wherein an in-process adaption of the hair property model is performed. Hence, no separate sampling procedure is necessary. For instance, this embodiment may involve that initially regions are processed which are not prone to deviations, and wherein, when the hair cutting operation progresses, contour deviations may be detected so as to promptly adapt the hair length model for involved deviating regions/spots.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the sampled actual body shape is used for an adaption of the hair property model for a subsequent hair processing operation. This may have to advantage that the actual contour may be sampled before an adaption actually takes place. Hence, a match between or a comparison of the predefined sample contour and the actual contour may be processed and assessed. As a result, the actual hairstyle model may be defined. A general objective may be for instance applying only a minimum level of adaptions.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of sampling the actual body shape is performed in a sampling mode, preferably prior to a subsequent hair processing operation in which an adapted hair property model is used. This may have the advantage that a pure sampling stage may be performed which ensures a fine-meshed sampling and generation of the actual shape model.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, an iteration procedure is performed involving a repetitive refinement of the body shape sampling and the hair property model adaption. Hence, the quality and appearance of the resulting haircut may be gradually improved as a further detailed and adjusted actual hairstyle model may be obtained. Repetitive refinement may involve applying an approximation and/or iteration algorithm. For instance least mean squares approximation and similar algorithms may be applied to define the adapted hairstyle model.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the method, the step of sampling the actual body shape involves providing a position indicating section that is arranged, when moved in an arbitrary and/or targeted fashion, to record a point cloud representing the outer shape of a skin portion of a part of the body of the to be treated subject.
In an exemplary embodiment of the automated hairstyle processing system, the system further comprises a position determination unit that is arranged to record a point cloud representing the outer shape of a skin portion of a part of the body of the to be treated subject. Hence, by moving an involved hair cutting device, in the vicinity of or in contact with the skin or scalp of the individual, an outer boundary of the body portion of interest (e.g. head portion) may be sampled which gradually generates a model of the actual skin/scalp contour of the individual. For instance, given a certain sampling rate, a point cloud including a plurality of contact points where the device touches the skin may be generated. More generally, a three-dimensional (contact or non-contact) scan of the individual's contour of interest may be obtained.
In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program which comprises program code means for causing a computing device to perform the steps of the methods as discussed herein when said computer program is carried out on that computing device.
The program code can be encoded in one or more non-transitory, tangible media for execution by a computing machine, such as a computer. In some exemplary embodiments, the program code may be downloaded over a network to a persistent memory unit or storage from another device or data processing system through computer readable signal media for use within the system. For instance, program code stored in a computer readable memory unit or storage medium in a server data processing system may be downloaded over a network from the server to the system. The data processing device providing program code may be a server computer, a client computer, or some other device capable of storing and transmitting program code.
As used herein, the term “computer” may stand for a large variety of processing devices. In other words, also mobile devices having a considerable computing capacity can be referred to as computing devices, even though they provide less processing power resources than standard “computers”. Needless to say, such a “computer” can be part of a personal care device and/or system. Furthermore, the term “computer” may also refer to a distributed computing device which may involve or make use of computing capacity provided in a cloud environment. The term “computer” or “computing” may also relate to medical technology devices, health tech devices, personal care devices, fitness equipment devices, and monitoring devices in general, that are capable of processing data. Any automated information processing device or system capable of processing respective data may be referred to as computing device.
Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are defined in the dependent claims. It should be understood that the claimed method and the claimed computer program can have similar preferred embodiments as the claimed system and the claimed device and as defined in the dependent system/device claims, and vice versa.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. In the following drawings
As already indicated further above, the present disclosure generally relates to grooming, processing and styling human hair and animal hair which involves head hair and body hair.
The system 10 comprises a hair cutting device 20 which may be also referred to as automated hair cutting device. The device 20 is arranged as a hand-held or hand-guided device. The device 20 may be basically arranged as a hair cutting appliance which is supplemented by additional processing and control capabilities. Generally, the device 20 may be grasped by a user and operated so as to cut hair at the subject 12. This may involve moving the device 20 through the haired portion 16 at the head portion 14 of the subject 12 and cutting hairs to a desired length.
The device 20 may be held and operated by the subject 12 itself (whose haircut is to be processed). In the alternative, the device 20 may be operated by another individual. The operator of the hand-held device 20 shall be referred to hereinafter as the user.
The device 20 comprises a blade set 22 which is not explicitly shown in
The system 10 further comprises a position determination unit 30 which may be also referred to as tracking unit or position detection unit. The position determination unit 30 is indicated in
As exemplarily shown in
Further, user feedback units 44, 46 may be provided so as to establish an interaction between the user and the hair cutting device 20 via the computing device 40. For instance, the user feedback units may comprise a display or screen 44 and speakers 46. The computing device 40 may further comprise a memory unit 48 which may be arranged to store hairstyle and/or haircut models. Further operational data may be stored in the memory unit 48. In
As will be discussed further below, the hair cutting device 20 and the computing device 40 are preferably arranged to exchange data therebetween. This may for instance involve a wireless and/or a cable communication.
There are further embodiments of the system 10 wherein the hair cutting device 20 as such provides sufficient computing capacity. However, also if this is the case, providing the computing device 40 may be beneficial for a setup and further configuration operations.
In
In some embodiments, the position indicating section 60 is operable to cooperate with a positional reference 32. In
The device 20 further comprises a control interface 62 through which data and information may be exchanged. In one embodiment of the system 10, the device 20, the position determination unit 30 and the computing device 40 (refer also to
Hence, a sampling unit 74 of the computing device 40 may be supplied with samples which involve the actual position of the device 20 with respect to the positional reference 32 and, consequently, with respect to the subject 12. Hence, by moving the device 20 along and in close proximity to the head of the subject 12, a virtual data representation of the actual shape thereof may be obtained. In other words, assuming that a certain sampling rate is used, a point cloud, data mash or data set may be generated which represents the shape of at least a part of the head 14.
The computing device 40 as shown in
In case the deviation detection unit 76 detects a significant deviation, for instance a considerable protrusion or depression at the scalp of the subject 12, the model adaption unit 70 may adapt the hairstyle model accordingly so as to ensure the desired overall appearance and accuracy of the haircut.
The computing device 40 of
The arrangement of
Needless to say, remote position sensors as illustrated in
The hairstyle model 90 involves a scalp or head model 92 describing a model shape of the subject 12, i.e. at the level of the skin or scalp. The hairstyle or haircut model 90 further involves a hair length model 94 which may be also referred to as hair property model. The hair length model 94 involves respective hair length values associated with respective positions at the model 92 representing a skin or scalp contour of the subject 12. The scalp model 92 and the hair length model 94 jointly form the hairstyle model 90. Hence, when performing a hair cutting operation, the position determination unit 30 (
As indicated above, the scalp model 92 does not necessarily match an actual individual. Rather, the scalp model 92 may represent a predefined model corresponding to another individual or to a fictional standard person.
However, it has been observed that in many individuals considerable deviations of the head or scalp shape are present. An actual scalp shape of the individual shown in
Assuming that the predefined hairstyle model 90 is imposed on the actual individual without compensating the deviation 110, a respective deviation would be also present at the processed haircut as the depression 112 would be reflected in a corresponding hairstyle imperfection.
Therefore, in accordance with at least some embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure, it is proposed to detect respective deviations so as to obtain an actual scalp shape based on which the predefined hairstyle model may be adjusted so as to ensure that the resulting haircut can be achieved at the desired accuracy and appearance.
With reference to
The chart of
In
In the predefined hairstyle model 90 illustrated in
The actual hairstyle model 130 of
As further indicated in
The compensation approach illustrated in
However, further types of deviations may be present. In this context, reference is made to
Basically the same may apply to unsymmetrical features which may for instance involve a left ear and a right ear that are arranged at a different height level at the head of one and the same individual.
Generally, a relocating offset 150 may be derived and applied to the hairstyle model which may for instance trigger a relocation of a model hairline.
Reference is made to
The method involves a first step S10 which includes providing a hairstyle or haircut model for a hair cutting operation. The hairstyle model involves a combined scalp and hair length model defining position-dependent hair length values. The hairstyle model may be provided from a memory unit, step S12. In the alternative, the hairstyle model may be obtained from a cloud or online environment, step S14.
The method may further involve a step S16 which includes detecting a current position of a hand-held device with respect to a body portion of interest of a to-be-treated subject. A sampling step S18 may follow which includes sampling a large number of position values which may result in a point cloud which generates a representation of at least a portion of the head or scalp of the subject.
In yet another step S20, deviations between the detected actual head model and a head model underlying the predefined hairstyle model are detected. The deviations may for instance involve depressions, elevations, dislocated features, asymmetric features, etc.
A decision step S22 may follow which includes an assessment as to whether or not the detected deviations are within a defined (allowed) range. In case the deviations exceed the defined range or threshold, an adaption step S24 may follow. Consequently, the hairstyle model may be adapted to current conditions, particularly to an actual head or scalp shape. The adapted model may be stored in the memory unit, step S26, or may be distributed via a cloud or online environment, step S28.
A further step S30 involves the hair processing or hair cutting operation as such. Automated hair cutting involves so-called smart hair cutting devices which are arranged to adapt or adjust the current hair length dependent on an actual position of the device, for instance by operating a motorized spacing comb. Therefore, also an unexperienced or non-professional user may achieve haircuts and hairstyles at a considerably impressive quality level.
In the step S30, the adapted model processed in a step S24 may be used. When it is assessed in the decision step S22 that the deviations are small enough so that no adaption of the hairstyle model is required, the adaption step S24 may be bypassed.
As indicated by a dashed arrow connecting the blocks for the steps S30 and S16, the hairstyle model adaptation may be an iterative process. For instance, when one and the same individual is treated several times, allowed deviations from the predefined contour or shape model may be gradually reduced so as to further improve the hairstyle appearance.
In
In the alternative or in addition, a step S52 may be provided which involves the generation of a hairstyle model by another individual whose hair is styled. Both generic models as provided by the step S50 and individual models as provided by the step S52 may form a basis for a model adaption procedure as discussed herein.
For instance, the models provided by the steps S50 and S52 may be distributed via a cloud environment, step S54. The models may be downloaded or otherwise stored in a memory unit, step S56. A further subsequent step S58 involves selecting and providing a respective hairstyle model for a planned hairstyling operation.
A further step S60 may follow which involves a model adaption to a certain individual. As already discussed above, the model adaption may involve a detection of the individual's head or scalp shape and, consequently, a match of the predefined shape and the individual's shape. In case significant deviations are detected, an adaption and adjustment action may take place.
The adapted model may be stored in a memory unit, step S62. Further, the adapted model may be distributed via an online or cloud environment, step S64.
A further step S66 involves the desired hair processing operation which is based on the adapted model. As indicated by a dashed line that connects the boxes indicating the steps S60 and S66, also the hair processing operation may be used to further refine and adapt the underlying hairstyle model.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems.
Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16158018.8 | Mar 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/054635 | 2/28/2017 | WO | 00 |
