Electronic device for measuring skin condition of user and method for operating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11580639-B2
Application number	US-202017120594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 13, 2019
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A first electronic device according to various embodiments may include: a display; a communication module comprising communication circuitry; a camera module including at least one camera; and a processor. The processor may be configured to: identify a request for measuring a skin condition of a user in a state in which the first electronic device is cradled on a second electronic device; acquire, based on information of the camera module and information regarding at least one light-emitting element included in the second electronic device, control information for controlling output of the at least one light-emitting element; control output of light from the at least one light-emitting element of the second electronic device based on the control information; acquire at least one image including at least a part of a body of the user through the camera module while light is output through the at least one light-emitting element controlled based on the control information; and provide information regarding the skin condition of the user using the at least one image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A first electronic device comprising:
a display;
a communication module comprising communication circuitry;
a camera module including at least one camera; and
a processor, wherein
the processor is configured to:
identify a request for measuring a skin condition of a user in a state in which the first electronic device is cradled on a second electronic device;
acquire information regarding the at least one light-emitting element from the second electronic device;
generate, based on information of the camera module and the information regarding at least one light-emitting element included in the second electronic device, control information for controlling output of the at least one light-emitting element;
control output of the at least one light-emitting element of the second electronic device based on the control information;
control the camera module to successively capture a plurality of images while changing kind and/or level of brightness of light output through the at least one light-emitting element controlled based on the control information;
acquire the plurality of images comprising at least a part of a body of the user through the camera module, wherein the plurality of images are acquired in a state in which different kinds of light and/or light at different levels of brightness is output; and
provide information regarding the skin condition of the user using at least one image of the plurality of images,
wherein the control information includes at least one parameter value of output intensity of the light, an output timepoint or an output time, and
wherein the processor is configured to, when controlling the output of the at least one light-emitting element:
identify the at least one parameter value of the at least one light-emitting element based on the information of the camera module and the information regarding at least one light-emitting element,
set a control command for changing the output of the light of the at least one light-emitting element based the at least one parameter value, and
control the communication module to transmit the control information including the control command to the second electronic device.

2. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
control the communication module to transmit the at least one image to a server; and
acquire information regarding the skin condition from the server through the communication module.

3. The first electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to control the communication module to transmit information regarding the first electronic device to the server together with the at least one image.

4. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the at least one light-emitting element comprises information regarding at least one of a type, position, output intensity, size, and number of the at least one light-emitting element.

5. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the camera module comprises information regarding at least one of pixels, size, number, position, aperture value, shutter speed, and sensitivity of image sensors included in the camera module.

6. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute an application for measuring the skin condition in response to receiving a request for measuring the skin condition of the user.

7. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the display to display a guide screen for capturing an image of the user's face before acquiring the at least one image.

8. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
identify filter control information for controlling at least one polarizing filter included in the second electronic device; and
control the at least one polarizing filter based on the filter control information.

9. The first electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to change a polarizing direction of the at least one polarizing filter based on each of the at least one image being acquired.

10. The first electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the second electronic device is implemented as a smart mirror.

11. A method of operating a first electronic device, the method comprising:
identifying a request for measuring a skin condition of a user in a state in which the first electronic device is cradled on a second electronic device;
acquiring information regarding the at least one light-emitting element from the second electronic device;
generating, based on information of a camera included in the first electronic device and the information regarding at least one light-emitting element included in the second electronic device, control information for controlling output of the at least one light-emitting element;
controlling output of the at least one light-emitting element of the second electronic device based on the control information;
controlling a camera module, comprising at least one camera, to successively capture a plurality of images while changing kind and/or level of brightness of light output through the at least one light-emitting element controlled based on the control information;
acquiring the plurality of images comprising at least a part of a body of the user through the camera, wherein the plurality of images are acquired in a state in which different kinds of light and/or light at different levels of brightness is output; and
providing information regarding the skin condition of the user using at least one image of the plurality of images,
wherein the control information includes at least one parameter value of output intensity of the light, an output timepoint or an output time, and
wherein the controlling the output of the at least one light-emitting element of the second electronic device based on the control information comprises:
identifying the at least one parameter value of the at least one light-emitting element based on the information of the camera module and the information regarding at least one light-emitting element;
setting a control command for changing the output of the light of the at least one light-emitting element based the at least one parameter value; and
transmitting the control information including the control command to the second electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the providing information regarding the skin condition comprises:
transmitting the at least one image to a server; and
acquiring information regarding the skin condition from the server.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the transmitting the at least one image to the server comprises transmitting information regarding the first electronic device to the server together with the at least one image.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying filter control information for controlling at least one polarizing filter included in the second electronic device; and
controlling the at least one polarizing filter based on the filter control information.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the controlling the at least one polarizing filter comprises changing a polarizing direction of the at least one polarizing filter based on each of the at least one image being acquired.

16. A second electronic device comprising:
at least one light-emitting element; and
a processor, wherein
the processor is configured to:
control the at least one light-emitting element to enter a standby state for based on a first electron

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oh Youngjae
• Choi Yoonhee
• Min Jinhong
• Choi Hyoungseon
• Kim Joonho
• Lee Sangkyung
• Son Changwon
• Song Younjoo
• Yoon Seoyoung
• Jeon Taehan
• Jung Hyunjoo
• Jung Jiwoon

Classifications

• A61B5/0079

  using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• A61B2560/0456

  Apparatus provided with a docking unit · CPC title

• A61B5/0077

  Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens · CPC title

• G06V40/171

  Local features and components; Facial parts (eye characteristics G06V40/18); Occluding parts, e.g. glasses; Geometrical relationships · CPC title