Method for determining glossiness of a portion of a skin of a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955340-B2
Application number	US-201916695765-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2018
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable storage medium for determining a glossiness value of a skin of a user are provided. In an embodiment, a polarized light having a property value is emitted from a portable light source towards the portion of the skin of the user. The portable light source is coupled to a handheld device. The polarized light is cast on the portion of the skin of the user from the portable light source. Reflected light reflected from the portion of the skin of the user is measured using a sensor coupled to the handheld device. The reflected light has a property value. A ratio between the property values of the emitted polarized light and the measured reflected light is determined using a processor of the handheld device. The glossiness value of the portion of the skin of the user is determined based on the determined ratio.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for determining a glossiness value of a portion of a skin of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting a polarized light having a property value from a portable light source towards the portion of the skin of the user, the portable light source coupled to a handheld device, the polarized light being cast on the portion of the skin of the user from the portable light source;
measuring reflected light reflected from the portion of the skin of the user using a sensor coupled to the handheld device, the reflected light having a property value;
determining a ratio between the property value of the emitted polarized light and the property value of the measured reflected light using a processor of the handheld device;
determining the glossiness value of the portion of the skin of the user based on the determined ratio, and
outputting or triggering an outputting of the determined glossiness value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable light source is integral with the handheld device.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the portable light source comprises part of a display of the handheld device, the method further comprising:
activating a part of the display of the handheld device to emit the polarized light.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
activating different parts of the display of the handheld device, the different parts differing by a distance separating the different parts of the display of the handheld device from the sensor.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the different parts of the display of the handheld device are activated sequentially.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the polarized light of known properties is cast on the portion of the skin of the user with an incident angle comprised between about 10° and about 75°.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring light scattered by the portion of the skin of the user.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the scattered light is measured with a camera of the handheld device.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the handheld device is chosen from the group comprising: a portable phone, a tablet, and a smart watch.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the glossiness value of the portion of the skin of the user based on the determined ratio, and outputting or triggering an outputting of the determined glossiness value comprise:
recording a glossiness value determined for the portion of the skin of the user at a first time;
recording a glossiness value determined for the portion of the skin of the user at a second time differing from the first time; and
outputting an evolution of a glossiness of the portion of the skin of the user based on the glossiness value determined at the first time and the glossiness value determined at the second time.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a recommended non-therapeutic skin care product for the portion of the skin of the user based on the determined glossiness value; and
outputting a reference identifying the determined recommended non-therapeutic skin care product.

12. A system for determining a glossiness value of a portion of a skin of a user, the system comprising:
a portable light source configured to emit polarized light having a property value towards the portion of the skin of the user so that the polarized light is cast on the portion of the skin of the user from the portable light source;
a sensor configured to measure reflected light reflected from the portion of the skin of the user, the reflected light having a property value;
a handheld device comprising a processor configured to:
determine a ratio between the property value of the emitted polarized light and the property value of the measured reflected light; and
determine the glossiness value of the portion of the skin of the user based on the determined ratio;

wherein the portable light source and the sensor are physically coupled to the handheld device.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the portable light source is physically integral with the handheld device.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor is physically integral with the handheld device.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the portable light source is removably connected to the handheld device.

16. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor is removably connected to the handheld device.

17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to output or trigger an output of the determined glossiness value.

18. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the portable light source comprises part of a display of the handheld device and wherein the handheld device is configured to activate the part of the display to emit the polarized light.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the part of the display comprises different parts of the display of the handheld device, the different parts differing by a distance separating the different parts of the display of the handheld device from the sensor.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying a computer program product, the program product comprising a program for determining a glossiness value of a portion of a skin of a user, the program configured to:
emit a polarized light having a property value from a portable light source towards the portion of the skin of the user, the portable light source coupled to a handheld device, the polarized light being cast on the portion of the skin of the user from the portable light source;
measure reflected light reflected from the portion of the skin of the user using a sensor coupled to the handheld device, the reflected light having a property value;
determine a ratio between the property value of the emitted polarized light and the property value of the measured reflected light using a processor of the handheld device;
determine the glossiness value of the portion of the skin of the user based on the determined ratio, and
output or trigger an output of the determined glossiness value.

Assignees

• Henkel Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Bock Andreas
• Welss Thomas

Classifications

• G01N2201/0221

  Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held · CPC title

• G01N21/57 Primary

  Measuring gloss · CPC title

• G01N21/474

  Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres · CPC title

• G01N21/21

  Polarisation-affecting properties (G01N21/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A45D2044/007

  Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment · CPC title