The present invention relates to methods and devices for applying a composition on keratinous material, and more particularly but not exclusively on the skin.

Background

It is known to mask the blemishes that may be present on the skin by applying makeup compositions, where such blemishes may be situated for example on the face, the hands, the bust, the neck, or the entire body.

By way of example, these blemishes may be differences in color or non-uniformities in relief such as recesses, dilated pores, or small scars. Non- uniformities of relief may be accompanied by non- uniformities of color, because of shadow effects.

Although some of these non-uniformities are well accepted, many people are not at ease with some or all of the non-uniformities presented by their skin. This is particularly true of non-uniformities on skin that is easily seen, e.g. the face, the hands, the bust, or the scalp .

In order to mask these non-uniformities, a conventional approach consists in depositing a layer of covering composition that masks the non-uniformity by going beyond it in all directions. The technique is quite simple since it does not require great accuracy. Its drawback is that the result is not very natural.

Another approach consists in covering the non- uniformity in a masking composition in highly accurate manner. That approach in which only the blemish itself is covered requires a great deal of attention and rapidly becomes time-consuming when the skin presents several non-uniformities, as often happens on the face, the hands, or the neck.

Furthermore, the non-uniformities that are located in zones that are difficult or impossible to see, e.g. the top of the scalp or certain zones of the arms or the neck, it is necessary to have the help of another person in order to apply the composition.

Consequently, there exists a need to camouflage blemishes of keratinous material in a manner that is accurate and not too constricting for the user.

Publication WO 2007/022095 Al discloses a method of applying makeup in which an agent that modifies the reflectance of the skin is applied to the skin by using ink jet printer technology. In one embodiment, the device includes a scanner and an ink jet printer, and in a single pass over the skin it analyses the skin, identifies unattractive characteristics, calculates the improvements to be made, and applies the agent that modifies reflectance so as to obtain those improvements. For example, the device can give a softer appearance to the skin by identifying pale and dark points and by applying the reflectance-modifying agent so as to darken pale points using a predefined averaging technique. The device may include means for recognizing the treated zone, e.g. the cheek bone or the cheek so that the improvements made are specific to the zone being treated, e.g. making cheeks look rosy so as to give the appearance of a person in better health, or darkening zones under the cheek bones so as to make them less prominent. A colorant may be deposited on certain portions of the skin to make it more uniform and markers that fluoresce under ultraviolet illumination may be used to make it easier to recognize certain regions during treatment. In an example seeking to simulate tanning, an agent that modifies the spectral characteristics of the skin is applied so as to reduce contrast between pale and dark zones, darkening zones of the skin in selective manner, while causing certain details of the skin to disappear. In another element, pale zones around wrinkles are darkened but the hollow zones within wrinkles are not modified. Publication WO 2004/090629 A2 discloses a method of printing on the skin.

US patent No. 6 543 893 describes an ink jet printer suitable for being moved manually over the skin. The printer may have a screen for displaying images that are to be printed and a device that enables the image to be personalized, e.g. by adding text or other information.

US patent No. 6 622 723 describes an applicator having an ink jet printer head. Application US 2006/0098076 discloses a system for ink jet printing on the skin that includes means for positioning the face. The printer system is suitable for printing hairs on the eyebrows or for printing color on the cheeks for blending in with a brush. Application WO 02/01499 A2 describes a method of applying makeup by means of a movable applicator head supported by an arm that is articulated so as to follow the three-dimensional shape of the zone being made up. The three-dimensional shape is acquired with the help of one or more cameras. A design selected by the user can be printed using an ink jet. The printing may serve to cover a pigment mark with the same color as the surrounding skin, after performing colorimetric analysis thereon . Application DE 10153249 Al describes a method of applying compositions on the skin by means of an ink jet printing technique. Printing may be performed using a handpiece held by the user. In a variant, the print head may move relative to the skin by moving a belt or a carriage on a rail that is itself movable on two slideways at its ends.

Publication JP 2006-297691 discloses a printer system for printing an image on the skin, the system being fitted with means that enable the color of the skin to be measured. The printer system takes account of the color of the skin in the image that is to be reproduced, the print head being provided with a photodetector . For example, for a dark skin, the quantity of ink is increased. In a variant, not only is the lightness of the skin taken into consideration but also its color when calculating the image for printing. Publication GB 2 343 657 describes a portable ink jet printer suitable for printing a mark authorizing entry to a concert or a discotheque on the forearm or the hand of a person. The ink that is deposited may be visible, fluorescent, magnetic, phosphorescent, or photochromic .

Application WO 02/00189 Al describes a method of applying a colored composition on the skin in which it is possible to select a blemish on an image of the zone for treatment, which image is obtained by means of a camera that also measures color. Image modification software makes it possible to correct a blemish in the zone for treatment, e.g. a depigmented zone, by outlining the zone with the help of a computer mouse and then printing on the corrected zone the color of the surrounding zone. Publication WO 03/032370 discloses an ink jet printer that can be positioned manually on the skin in order to print a tattoo.

Publication US 2007/0114306 describes an electrostatic spray device for making up the skin. US patent No. 7 190 550 discloses an installation capable of printing on the skin, in particular on the skin of the face.

Numerous appliances are also known for printing on the nails, e.g. from US patent Nos. 5 931 166 and 6 035 860.

EP 1 310 212 Al discloses a method in which a drop of composition is applied to a zone of the skin, and then the extent of the surface of the skin that has come into contact with the composition is evaluated by means of an optical sensor such as a camera, or, in a variant, by a non-optical sensor. Processing may be carried out as a function of the result of the evaluation. FR 2 603 183 describes an appliance for measuring characteristics of the skin and for indicating to the user whether or not a measured parameter is within a normal range, for example, by turning on a light-emitting diode (LED) .

Summary

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a device for applying a composition on human keratinous material, the device comprising:

^• a handpiece manually movable by the user;

^• an applicator member secured to the handpiece, movable between a composition application position in contact with the keratinous material and a position spaced apart from said keratinous material;

^• a detection system secured to the handpiece, and responsive to at least one characteristic of said keratinous material, e.g. capable of measuring said characteristic; and • a processor unit for directly or indirectly controlling the bringing of the applicator member into contact with the keratinous material as a function of the characteristic detected by the detection system, e.g. comparing a measurement of the characteristic with a tolerance zone.

The term "directly" controlling should be understood as meaning that the processor unit automatically causes the applicator member to come into contact with the keratinous material, independently of any action on the part of the user.

The term "indirectly" controlling should be understood as meaning that it is necessary for the user to perform an action in order to bring the applicator member into contact with the keratinous material. The device may include an actuator secured to the handpiece to move the applicator member between said positions, and the processor unit may control the actuator to bring the applicator member automatically into engagement with the keratinous material.

In a variant or in addition, the processor unit may issue an audible and/or visible and/or vibration signal to warn the user that action may be taken to bring the applicator member into contact with the keratinous material. The handpiece may be arranged to allow the user as warned in this way to bring the applicator member selectively into contact with the skin. For example, the handpiece may include a button on which the user may press to control the actuator. In a variant, it is the user who moves the applicator member manually in order to bring it into contact with the keratinous material. Under such circumstances, the handpiece may include a slidable element that retracts when the user presses on the handpiece, said slidable element being returned towards an initial position by one or more springs, for example .

The invention may make it possible to provide devices with an application system that is not complex, thereby enabling its operation to be particularly reliable .

The device may easily be used as an "intelligent" applicator by the person seeking to apply makeup and/or a care product, without the help of another person. Nevertheless, the device may also be used by a professional in a beauty parlor, for example. The device may be fabricated at a cost that is compatible with large-scale distribution. The invention enables non-uniformities of keratinous material to be treated accurately without it being necessary to pay particular attention to the way the handpiece is handled. The invention thus makes it possible to treat zones that are difficult or impossible to see.

Detection and application may be performed in a single pass of the device over the keratinous material. The detection system may be optical, including one or more photodetectors .

The applicator member may be selected from any device capable of transferring a composition by contact, for example: endpieces, in particular flocked endpieces or foam endpieces; brushes; applicators that retain composition by capillarity; felts; membranes; porous bodies; beads; rollers; transfer films; and flexible media . When present, the actuator may be selected from actuators that are: electromagnetic; electrostatic- pneumatic; hydraulic: motor-driven; thermal; and piezoelectric; and those that incorporate electrochemical polymers . The processor unit is advantageously provided with memory or makes use of memory, with any storage system being possible, e.g.: a universal serial bus (USB) key; an electrically-programmable read-only memory (EPROM) ; a memory card; a hard disk; or optical storage. Data storage may take place in the handpiece and/or on a storage system external to the handpiece. The content of the memory may be conserved after the device is switched off. It is possible to use the memory to perform smoothing calculations between a plurality of averages of measurements of said characteristic of the keratinous material, for example calculations in which earlier averages are involved in addition to current captures, e.g. so as to limit any risk of a comparison operation coming too quickly to the conclusion to perform an application operation. By way of example, these measurements may be used to moderate the behavior of the apparatus and prevent an application from being made as soon as a point is detected beyond the tolerance threshold. The weights of the earlier averages relative to the current captures may be varied. For example, it is possible to select a weight greater than 1, e.g. a weight of 2, for the preceding average and a weight equal to 1 for the current capture. This can moderate the reaction of the device so long as the device does not perform two detections one immediately after the other on points beyond the tolerance threshold. The memory may also serve to retain minimum or maximum values that are used for the comparisons and to contain possible patterns to be implemented. The device may select these minimum and maximum values or other application data, e.g. for the purpose of retaining data specific to each user. This can be of use when the apparatus is used within a family, for example.

The memory may also serve to store correspondence tables and conversion tables, if any.

When data is input, such as data describing the tolerance threshold, the conversion tables may serve to convert from one unit to another. Thus, if the device performs calculations and/or measurements with a given unit, it is possible to compare the measurements and/or calculations with tolerance threshold data expressed in some other unit.

When data is input, such as data describing the tolerance zone, such correspondence tables may serve to pass from an expression that is not numerical to a value expressed in some unit. Thus, it is possible to express a tolerance threshold by a phrase, an image in words, diagrams, colors. The correspondence table enables such expressions to be transformed into numerical values, which values may be compared with the results of measurements, for example. The characteristic of keratinous material that is detected by the detection system may be an optical characteristic, e.g.: color; gloss; color uniformity; infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) reflectance; or fluorescence. The characteristic may also be a non- optical characteristic, e.g.: three-dimensional shape; temperature; conductance; capacitance; response to ultrasound vibration; moisture; adiposity; pH; and skin elasticity. A plurality of said characteristics may be detected simultaneously and the above-mentioned action may depend on a plurality of detected characteristics. The device may include a system for acquiring at least one tolerance threshold for the characteristic, beyond which application is triggered and/or beyond which the user is warned that application may take place. By way of example, the device may include an interface enabling the user to adjust a tolerance threshold. As a function of a predefined tolerance zone, e.g. stored in the handpiece or adjusted by the user, composition may be applied only on certain blemishes of keratinous material and not on others, e.g. because they are not so visible. Although it is not essential, for operation of the device, that the user be able to adjust a tolerance zone, since the tolerance zone can be predefined, embodiments of the invention make provision for this possibility.

The term "tolerance zone" should be understood as a limit value or one or more ranges of values with which it is possible to compare the result of detection with the data delivered by the detection system being processed.

By way of example, a first approach for defining the tolerance zone consists in informing the device about the tolerance zone by means of numbers, or by a curve or a function in colorimetry space, for example, said function defining limits of the tolerance zone.

It is also possible to inform the device of low and high limits by exemplifying them by means of characteristics that are tolerated and characteristics that are not tolerated, e.g. colors that are tolerated and those that are not. The device may be configured to interpret this information and to deduce therefrom low and/or high limit values for the detected characteristic (s) . The adjustment data may be input manually or it may be downloaded. The device may inform the user that it is capturing data without difficulty. Conversely, the apparatus may inform the user that it is not managing to capture data. The term "capture" should be understood as data acquisitions or measurements carried out by the detection system.

Several actions are possible depending on the result of the comparison. In particular, application may be triggered automatically. Where appropriate, the user may be warned about the result of the comparison without application being triggered. For example the result of the comparison may be signaled by means of a light signal, a sound signal, or a vibration. The processor unit may then wait for action on the part of the user. For example the user may act on the user interface, e.g. by pressing on an application control button, or may issue a voice command. The user may also take action on the handpiece, e.g. so as to bring the print head into contact with the zone that is to be made up. The applied composition may be pigmented and may be a cosmetic composition or a dermatological composition.

The device may seek to mask the detected blemish and to print a predefined color or to print a color that is selected from a palette or to print a color obtained by mixing or juxtaposing different inks.

The applied color may be a color measured at the beginning of utilization of the apparatus, or it may be the last-measured color that gave a negative result for the comparison operation. It may also be an average of a plurality of random measurements lying within the tolerance zone and giving rise to a comparison operation with a negative result. The color that is applied may be varied randomly, where appropriate, so as to appear more natural. The term "negative result of a comparison operation" should be understood as meaning that the measured color is not suitable for giving rise to application . The applied color may also be an average color or a color that is intermediate between the measurements that have triggered an application and one or more prior color measurements corresponding to comparison operations giving negative results.

Tha applied composition may have a color matching the current color of the skin.

The device may be used to treat: pigment marks; age marks; blackheads; acne; scars; stretchmarks; beauty spots; visible veins; wrinkles; red spots; and nonuniform tanning or makeup, e.g. associated with the use of a self-tanning agent: this list not being exhaustive. Men can use the apparatus, e.g. for treating irregularities of hue or of hair distribution. Users may perform the operation on themselves or on other people.

The user may place the handpiece on the skin in the zone that is to be treated or may move the handpiece as treatment takes place, causing it to slide on the skin. It is also possible to use a plurality of handpieces, e.g. for use on different parts of the body. The handpiece may be used on the hair or the fingernails and it may also be used, where appropriate, for treating surfaces such as fabric, wood, plastics, ... .

The area of contact between the skin and the applicator member in the application position may lie in the range 1 square millimeter (mm ² ) to 2500 mm ² , for example .

The device may include a source of vibration for subjecting the applicator member to vibration when it is in contact with the skin. This may make the outline of the deposit less visible and/or may facilitate transferring the composition.

Composition may be transferred onto keratinous material by capillarity. The composition may possibly be deposited as a result of the speed of impact of the applicator member against the keratinous material and/or the force with which the applicator member is pressed against the keratinous material.

The applicator member may be secured to a movable portion carrying a tank containing the composition for application and the applicator member may communicate with the tank via a capillary wick or via a channel, with the channel being made for example through the movable portion. The movable portion may be magnetic so as to be capable of being set into motion by a magnetic field created by an exciter coil. The applicator member may also be connected via one or more flexible ducts to one or more tanks that are stationary relative to the handpiece .

Where appropriate, the movement of the applicator member may be used to enhance impregnation of the applicator member with the composition. As it moves, the applicator member may release a duct, possibly under pressure, so as to enable one or more components to be injected. In a variant, as it moves, the applicator member may create a suction effect for entraining a liquid.

The applicator member may be moved against the action of a resilient return member that may serve to brake the applicator member and avoid it making contact too violently with the keratinous material.

The device may be configured to put application on standby until data captures have stabilized or so long as the result of the comparison operations is uncertain, aberrant, or unstable. The device may repeat capturing data about the characteristic of the keratinous material that is being observed by the detection system, e.g. color, for as long as the values continue to vary. It is only once the values have stabilized that application is launched. If the value measured by a sensor does not stabilize, the data capture corresponding to said sensor may be ignored. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method of treating human keratinous material, in particular a method of cosmetic treatment, in which the composition is applied by means of a device as defined above. By way of example, the composition is a makeup composition, e.g. one or more cosmetically acceptable inks. The composition may also be a care product, a self-tanning agent, or an agent for whitening the skin. In an implementation of the method, the device is placed on the skin. The detection system measures the color of the skin. If the processor unit determines that the color of the skin lies within a tolerance zone, then the processor unit does not trigger application. Otherwise, the processor unit determines that the color of the skin lies outside the tolerance zone and actuates application .

Independently or in combination with the above, other exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a device for applying a composition on human keratinous material, the device comprising:

^• a handpiece that is manually movable by a user;

^• an application system secured to the handpiece;

^• a detection system secured to the handpiece and responsive to at least one characteristic of said keratinous material, e.g. color;

^• means enabling one or more thresholds to be adjusted, e.g. an interface; and

• a processor unit for triggering application as a function of the detected characteristic and of the threshold (s) adjusted by the user.

In these exemplary embodiments, the application system may include an applicator member as defined above, however it may also have some other applicator member, in particular it may include a minispray or ink jet print head so as to apply the composition without contact. The threshold (s) may be adjusted with the help of a user interface that may be configured, e.g. to enable the user to select a degree of skin lightness, to define at least one threshold for one or more components of its color, e.g. the red component. A threshold relating to the red component, from which application is triggered, may be of use, e.g. for treating red spots of the skin, e.g. acne or sunburn.

The user interface may comprise a slider or one or more adjustment buttons, together with one or more displays or a screen that may be touch screen, where appropriate. The user interface may also be a voice interface. The threshold (s) may optionally be adjusted in semi-automatic manner, e.g. from a color measured by the handpiece at a location selected by the user. For example, the user may bring the handpiece into register with a region of the skin that is found to be acceptable or otherwise and then inform the device about its acceptability. The device determines the tolerance zone on the basis of the color of the skin that is indicated as being acceptable or unacceptable.

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

^• Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a device made in accordance with the invention;

^• Figure 2 shows a variant step in an implementation of a method of the invention; • Figure 3 shows an example of the boundary, in colorimetry space, enabling the processor unit to decide whether or not to apply composition;

^• Figure 4 is a view analogous to Figure 3 with a plurality of boundaries corresponding to different modes of application;

^• Figures 5 to 7 show examples of patterns that can be applied; ^• Figure 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example of an applicator device made in accordance with the invention;

^• Figure 9 is a view analogous to Figure 8 showing a variant device;

^• Figure 10 is a diagram showing one way of arranging the detection system relative to the application system;

^• Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary and diagrammatic axial section views of examples of application systems;

^• Figure 13 shows an example of how light sources and photodetectors are positioned; and

^• Figure 14 is an electrical schematic of an example device . According to one of its aspects, the invention may be implemented with the help of an application device 10 that comprises, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1: a detection system 11, an application system 12, a user interface 13, and a processor unit 14 that serves to receive data from both the detection system 11 and the user interface 13, and to control the application system 12.

The processor unit 14 is made with the help of any computer or electronic means, e.g. a microcomputer, a minicomputer, a microcontroller, a programmable logic array, or by any analog and/or digital means suitable for performing comparisons and other calculations.

The device 10 may be used to implement the method comprising steps shown in Figure 2. The method has a step 20 of detecting a characteristic of human keratinous material, e.g. the color or the gloss of the skin or the hair, a step 20 of analyzing data delivered by the detection, e.g. for the purpose of determining whether the data lies within a tolerance zone, so application is not triggered, or on the contrary lies outside a tolerance zone, so application takes place in step 24. Application may be controlled as a function of at least one decision threshold, also referred to as a tolerance threshold, that may be adjusted by the user in a step 26. The method may be implemented iteratively, i.e. once the application has been performed, the device returns to the detection step 20.

Figure 3 shows a zone Z in colorimetry space. In a first implementation of the invention, application is triggered when the color measured by the detection system lies within the zone Z. In a variant, in a second implementation, application is not triggered so long as the measured color is situated within the zone Z. By way of illustration, it is possible to use the first implementation when looking for skin blemishes that are to be marked or treated. The second implementation may be used when seeking to treat a zone constituting a region of skin as a whole, except where blemishes are located. In Figure 4, there can be seen a plurality of tolerance zones Zl to Z3 that may be caused to correspond, in a correspondence table, with a plurality of different modes of application, e.g. application with greater or lesser covering power and/or with different colors and/or with respective different patterns Pl to P3.

The printed pattern may depend on the shape of the applicator member.

Amongst the patterns that the apparatus is capable of printing, it is preferred to use patterns that represent skin grain or a mark, for example a beauty spot or a freckle. The pattern may present a particular predefined shape or it may be random. The pattern may be shaded off going from its center towards its edges, for example, as shown in Figure 5. In the example of

Figure 6, the pattern is annular and the center of the pattern does not receive any composition. This may serve to reduce the visibility of a mark without causing it to disappear. In another variant, and as shown in Figure 7, application may be performed with an outline that is crenellated, and/or irregular, for reasons of appearance.

Detection system

The detection system is advantageously used to measure the color of the skin. Nevertheless, it may also be applied to other human keratinous surfaces, such as the hair, for example.

The detection system may include one or more sensors and one or more sources of light, as mentioned above. Lighting may be performed using white light and three selective detectors may be provided to detect red, green, and blue color components. In a variant, a nonselective photodetector is provided and lighting is performed using light in three colors. Under such circumstances, it is preferable to use red, green, and blue LEDs that light the skin sequentially, and the light reflected by the skin in the three colors is sensed.

It is also possible to use a linear or matrix sensor based on charge-coupled device (CCD) , complementary metal oxide on silicon (CMOS), focal plane array (FPA), or electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) technology. A particular configuration involves using UV illumination and/or a plurality of UV sensors. This may enable defects to be shown up more easily, e.g. defects such as zones that have been aged by the sun or zones that have not been treated sufficiently with sunscreen. Another particular circumstance lies in using one or more IR sensors. The presence of a source of illumination is then not always necessary. This configuration serves to look for a zone of the skin that is a little hotter or a little cooler, e.g. for treatment with a calming or a stimulating composition. The spacing between the light sources and the or each sensor may be fixed or it may be adjustable, e.g. lying in the range 1 millimeter (mm) to 30 mm.

The angles and the positioning of each of the elements of the detection system are preferably adjustable in order to optimize capturing color or some other characteristic of keratinous material, and also so as to optimize the accuracy of application relative to non-uniformities . The detection system may include a sensor that is responsive to a non-optical characteristic, e.g. portions in relief.

Applicator member The application system includes an applicator member that may comprise: a sponge; a felt; a brush; a hollow tube; or a syringe impregnated with the composition for application .

The duration of contact with the keratinous material may be adjustable and lie in the range 1/lOOth of a second (s) to a few seconds.

In one particular configuration, the applicator member is not movable relative to a handle surface of the handpiece. It is the spacing between it and the skin that can be shortened. Thus, when the user receives the information that the device lies in a zone that is out of tolerance, the user can press on the handpiece to move the applicator member towards the skin and transfer composition. The movement of the applicator member towards the skin may be detected, e.g. for automatically triggering vibration thereof and/or the delivery of composition for application thereto.

The application system may print a solid color or a pattern that is more complex, or even an image that is more or less detailed. The color of the resulting deposit is not necessarily a color close to that of the skin . Composition

The applied composition (s) is/are preferably fluid, and may be based on water or on solvents and may contain natural or artificial colorants that may optionally be fluorescent, optionally phosphorescent, organic and/or inorganic pigments, mixtures of these compounds, or indeed materials that are not colored but that produce optical effects. The compounds contained in the composition in dispersion, in dissolution, or in an emulsion. They may thus constitute a mixture that is relatively unstable, which may be made uniform at the moment of use.

The composition (s) may be contained in tanks that are easy to fill or to remove and replace.

The composition (s) may contain photoprotectors, such as UV filters or pigments, or a mixture of colored ingredients and of photodetectors .

In a particular use, the composition is not colored. This use is particularly advantageous for people having zones for protecting against the sun, e.g. beauty spots, or zones that are not pigmented.

The composition (s) may include adjuvants and in particular holding agents and/or cosmetic agents, e.g. selected from: polymers; wetting agents; oils; waxes; silicones; fragrances; adhesives; glues; photosensitive or thermosensitive materials; gelifiers or thickeners; antibacterial agents; ... .

The composition (s) may contain active ingredients selected for example from: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ; sunscreens; depilatory compositions; bleaching agents; depigmenting agents; peeling compositions.

Application of a composition having a color matching a skin color

The application system may apply a composition having a color that has been selected to match a skin color, even where the composition is obtained by mixing of components of different colors outside the device.

For example, the handpiece may send data related to the color of the skin to a mixing unit. The mixing unit may mix two or more components to obtain a mixture having a color that matches the color of the skin. In some embodiments, the user may use an independent mixing unit, that is configured to analyse the skin and to mix at least two components to produce a mixture having a color which matches the analyzed skin. The mixing unit may be used at, e.g., home, a point of sale, or at any suitable location .

In other embodiments, the handpiece may send data relating to the color of the skin to a decision unit. The decision unit may be located remotely and may be configured to identify, e.g., from a library of products, a product having a color that matches the color of the skin .

In other embodiments, the user uses a decision unit. The decision unit is capable of analyzing the skin, to identify, e.g., in a library, a product having a color that matches the color of the skin. The mixing unit may be used, e.g., at home, at a point of sale, or at any suitable location. The user may load a composition in the handpiece. The user may load a product at a plurality of times throughout a particularly time frame (e.g., monthly, weekly, daily, (many times a year) , to adapt the color of the composition to natural variations of skin color at various times during the time period, and to the ambient light at different times (e.g., of the year) among other things .

The user may load one or more compositions in the handpiece. The latter may, analyse the color of the skin, either at each use of the device and/or on a regular basis (e.g., not each time the device is used) . The device may automatically select the product to be used or alert the user that the user may load a specific product into the device. The device may store (e.g., in a memory) data that will allow identification of a product that matches at least one color of skin or may have access to a memory that will allow such an identification.

In some embodiments, a color of the skin is measured at a time t and products are made having colors corresponding to the colors that are expected during a time Δt (e.g., during the year) for an individual. The products may be made by mixing components of various colors (e.g., by the user himself by identifying the products in a library of products) or by other suitable methods. The range of products and corresponding colors may be determined by software that computes the evolution of skin color according to personal data and/or general data. For example, if the skin color is measured in winter, one may make a plurality of products, for example four products, one product corresponding to the skin color as measured, and the other products corresponding to expected colors at spring, summer, and autumn.

Notably, any suitable time period may be used, and use of the seasons is intended as exemplary only.

The software may utilize, for example, statistical rules of evolution of the color of different categories of skin during the year for making such determinations related to colors.

The software may also take into account personal factors such as for example, the user's surroundings, a user's life style a habits, the places and dates of holidays/vacations and other suitable factor.

In some embodiments, the software may take into account weather data such as sun exposure.

The device may, by analyzing the color of the skin, either at each use or on a regular basis but not necessarily at each use, select a product and use this product, or it may alert the user that he may load a specific product. The device may store in a memory or have access to a memory that will allow identification of the product that matches or is a closest match to the color of the skin. The device may comprise a timer that provides information relating to particular time periods (e.g., calendar dates) and may facilitate selection of the product to use.

The software may comprise a learning system that may enable improvements in the predictions.

One may pre-set the color of the composition. One may set, in a precise manner the color later, using the preselect color and adding to such preselect color, additional color components. The first setting may be done at for example, a store and the later setting may be made at, for example, home, either in the device itself or outside the device.

It may be possible to identify a color that matches the color of the skin and to make or select at least two products having colors that are different from the current matching color with for example the current color of the skin between them.

Handpiece

The detection system 11 and the application system 12 may be grouped together within a single handpiece 60, as shown in Figure 8.

The handpiece 60 may also include the user interface 13, comprising for example an on/off button 61 and a slider 62 for adjusting the colorimetric tolerance threshold from which application is triggered. The handpiece 60 may comprise a housing 63 having secured thereto, at least while the device is in use: the detection system 11; the application system 12; and the user interface 13.

The handpiece 60 may house the processor unit 14, or in a variant the processor unit may be remote for example with the handpiece 60 being connected to the processor unit 14 via a link 66 which may be a wired or wireless link, as shown in Figure 9.

As shown, the handpiece 60 may include an end portion 67 for bringing into contact with or close to the skin, via which end portion both detection and composition application take place.

In the example shown in Figure 8, the detection system and the application system are in the same housing and they are close to each other. In a variant, the detection system and the application system may be in the same housing, but spaced apart from each other. Under such circumstances, the device may include means for detecting movement of the handpiece relative to the keratinous material, so that application may be performed in identified manner relative to detection. The movement detection means may comprise, for example: one or more wheels and one or more optical sensors of the kind to be found in a computer mouse, for example. The detection and application systems may be in two separate housings which the user may optionally move together in use.

In the example of Figure 8, the handpiece is elongate in shape, but its shape could naturally be modified without going beyond the ambit of the present invention . The application system 12 may be located for example within the handpiece, as can be seen in Figure 10, on the longitudinal axis X of the handpiece, so as to place the zone of skin P on which application is to take place.

Figure 11 shows an example of how the detection and application systems may be arranged within the handpiece.

The detection system 11 include at least one light source 70 and at least one photodetector 71 that are arranged to measure an optical characteristic of the skin P in the zone situated facing the application system 12. As can be seen in Figure 13, the detection system may include three light sources 70 associated respectively with three photodetectors 71, these light sources being placed at 120° from one another around the axis X. By way of example, the light sources are LEDs. By way of example the photodetectors are diametrically opposite the respective light sources. The application system 12 may include a casing 69 that is stationary relative to the housing 63 of the handpiece, and that itself houses an electromagnet 85 enabling a movable portion 86 to be moved along the axis X against the return action of a resilient return member 87. This member limits the stroke and attenuates the movement so as to avoid a sudden impact against the skin.

The movable portion 86 in the example shown carries the applicator member 90 that is to come into contact with the keratinous material when the electromagnet 85 is electrically excited.

When excitation of the electromagnet 85 ceases, the resilient return member 87 returns the movable portion 86 rearwards .

In order to damp the return movement of the movable portion 86, the application system 12 may include a damper member 95, e.g. formed by a resilient return member that is compressed when the rearward movement of the movable portion 86 exceeds a predefined stroke. The movable portion 86 may carry a tank 100 containing the composition for application on the keratinous material, and in communication with the applicator member 90.

By way of example, the tank 100 may be made of plastics material, having an open end and terminated with a felt tip that constitutes the applicator member 90.

The porous felt is in communication with the tank. Thus, the ink contained therein migrates by capillarity into the felt. Other applicator members 90 could be used. The movable portion 86 may be made to be magnetic by means of an iron ring, e.g. having a length of about 2 centimeters (cm) . The tank 100 may be adhesively bonded to the ring.

The coil 85a of the electromagnet may be contained, for example in a U-shaped piece 85b of soft iron with a hole in its middle. The advantage of a U-shape is to concentrate the magnetic field created by the coil in its center, thereby attracting the movable portion by moving it to the left in Figure 11.

In the device of Figure 11, the acquisition system 12 is stationary relative to the housing 63.

In the variant of Figure 12, the application system 12 is movable relative to the housing 63 of the handpiece, against the return action of a resilient return member 108, and the application system 12 is secured to a skirt 103 for coming into contact with the skin. The skirt 103 serves to form a shield against ambient light during detection. The skirt 103 is preferably made of an elastically deformable material so as to fit closely to the shape of the treated region. The detection system 11 is capable of moving with the application system 12 relative to the housing 103. As described above, the tolerance zone may be adjusted by means of a user interface present on the handpiece and comprising, for example, one or more adjustment members such as one or more buttons or potentiometers. Such an interface on the handpiece need not necessarily be suitable for performing complex adjustments of the tolerance zone.

In a variant, or in addition, the tolerance zone may also be adjusted by means of a computer system of the microcomputer type, e.g. comprising a screen, a keyboard, and a mouse. This enables adjustments to be made that are finer and/or more complex. By way of example, it is possible to adjust the tolerance zone by creating a volume in color space. It is also possible to cause various limiting colors that reproduce the skin to appear on the screen and to allow the user, on sight of these colors, to select triggering thresholds. It is also possible to download or receive, e.g. from the Internet, limits for the tolerance zone.

As shown in Figure 14, it is possible to incorporate a front plate in the handpiece or in a base station, the front plate having six buttons 220 and three liquid crystal displays 200 connected via a link, e.g. a serial link, to a processor unit 205, e.g. comprising a programmable logic array, e.g. available under the reference Cyclone III EPC 3 from the supplier Altera.

The base station may thus contain an electronic card carrying the above-mentioned programmable logic array and its memory 206, e.g. of the EPROM type, an analog-to- digital converter 208, an oscillator 209, e.g. clocked at 24 megahertz (MHz), an amplifier module 210, a current supply 213, and a general power supply 215. On being switched on, the program that controls the operation of the processor unit is located from the memory 206.

As shown in Figure 14, the device may also include an on/off button 277 and a visual indicator 278 informing the user that an out-of-tolerance zone has been detected.

The current supply module 213 serves to power the LEDs for lighting the skin.

By way of example, the analog-to-digital converter 208 is a six-input AD7794 converter from the supplier Analog Device, that incorporates a six-input analog multiplexer, of which only three inputs and one output are used.

The handpiece may be connected to the base station by a sheet containing connection wires enabling the three photoreceivers 71 to be connected to the analog-to- digital converter, the cable for controlling application coming from the power stage and connected to the electromagnet, and the power supply cable that feeds current to the three sources 70 from the current feed 213. By way of example, the power amplifier 210 comprises an operational amplifier and a power stage having power transistors capable of handling currents of several amps, so as to impart movement to the movable portion 86 carrying the applicator member 90.

Color capture may be canceled during application. For example, the color sensor is reset to zero and the processor unit is programmed to cancel application when the value reaching it is of this value. The handpiece may be provided, in particular close to the location where the fingers are placed thereon, with a button for inactivating application and/or capture, e.g. by sending a measured value of zero to the processor unit. By way of example, the processor unit 205 is configured to accomplish the following functions:

1) capture from the six adjustment buttons 220. Each button serves to vary an 8-bit register either by incrementing it or by decrementing it, with this applying to three registers R _mav , G _mav , and B _mav in the example described;

2) sending the values of the three registers R _max , G _max , and B _max to the displays 200. By way of example, this may be done over the serial link in the form of ASCII code;

3) controlling the converter 208, which continuously receives analog data via the connections 279 from the three photoreceivers 71, e.g. arranged as shown in Figure 13, and sequentially transform the analog data, e.g. at a rate of 100 hertz (Hz) into numerical values

Measured' Measured' Measured' ^{i n thθ f θ rm θ f} numbers that are encoded on 16 bits, for example;

4) digital capture from the converter 208, received over a connection 230, e.g. of the serial type; 5) where necessary, converting the components

Measured' Measured' ^and Measured ^{f r Om 1 6 b i t S t θ 8 b i t S} ' ^{f θ r} example ; and 6) comparison operations, i.e. for example:

^R _meaSUred ^{i s} compared with R _max , B _measured i s compared with

^B _ma χ' ^and B _measured ^{i s} compared with B _max with the fol lowing consequences : * ⁱ f R _measured < R _max OR ^measured ^< ^max OR B _me asured ^{< B} max ' then printing is triggered and the indicator light 278 is switched on;

^• i f R _measured ^{≥ R} _max ^AND G _measured > G _maχ AND B _measured >

B _max , then the processor unit does not issue any print instruction;

^• if M _easured = 0 AND G _measured = 0 AND B _measured = 0, then the processor unit does not issue any print instruction, regardless of the results of other operations.

In a variant, the user informs the device of two series of numbers, representing low limit values and high limit values for the tolerance zone, i.e. R _min , G _min , and ^B _min ^{for the low} ϋmit and R _max , G _max , and B _max for the high limit .

The processor unit then performs the following operation (R _measured < R _min OR R _measured > R _max ) AND (G _measured <

^R mm ^0R Measured > ^G maχ ) ^AND ( ^B measured < ^B mm ^{0R B} measured > ^B maχ ) ' using the Boolean operators AND and OR. If the result of the operation is positive, then the processor unit instructs printing. If the result of the operation is negative, then the processor unit does not instruct printing.

It is also possible to inform the device using only one series of limit values, e.g. R _min , G _min , B _min . Under such circumstances, the other values are understood implicitly, e.g. R _max = infinity, G _max = infinity, and B _max = infinity.

In another variant, comparison may also be performed with a plurality of series of values, R _minl , R _min2 ' • • • f° ^r the low limits and R _mavl , R _mav9 , ... for the high limits. The processor unit can then perform the following comparison operation (R _measured < R _minl OR R _measured > R _maxl ) OR

( Rmeasured < ^R mxn2 ^0R Measured > ^R max2 ) ^{f θ r the} Purpo se ^O f instructing printing in the event of the result being positive .

In another variant, the limit values of the various color components are mathematically associated with one another in order to define surfaces or volumes as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

In a variant, the color components may be expressed in other forms. The low and high limits need not necessarily be color components. They may be transformations of these components, e.g. L, a., b in the Lab system, or hue, value, and chroma in the HVC system. It is also possible to use a single component, e.g. lightness or a value representative of a single colorimetric component, or other values representative of the visible appearance of the skin, e.g. gloss, where gloss is determined for example by analyzing the difference between reflection under polarized light and under non-polarized light, color dispersion, or roughness, in particular a smooth or non-smooth appearance, with the sensors being adapted accordingly. Thus, for gloss, one or more sensors may use polarized light to evaluate the gloss of the surface.

The comparison operations may be associated with prior operations on color components, for example recalibration or removing outlier values.

Whatever the processing performed, the processor unit relies on the result of the comparisons to define when application is to be performed. For example, it is possible to cause various out-of-tolerance zones to correspond with various patterns and/or various colors and/or various intensities of application and/or various printed areas. Thus, for example, if the comparison operation defines that the measured color lies in a first range, then the processor unit instructs printing of a particular pattern. If the result lies in a second range, then the processor unit instructs printing of a second pattern, and so on ... . Printing may optionally be modulated by the distance between the measured color and the boundaries of the out- of-tolerance zone. Thus, the intensity of application may be stronger if the measured color is in the middle of an out-of-tolerance zone and weaker if the measured color is close to the boundary of the out-of-tolerance zone.

For a movable applicator element as shown in Figure 11, the intensity of application is determined, for example: by the duration of contact; by the speed of impacts; by the depth of printing, i.e. the distance the movable portion penetrates into the skin; by the quantity of ink on the movable portion; or by the fact that the applicator members rubs against the skin to a greater or lesser extent.

Example 1

By way of example the detection and application system is as shown in Figure 11.

As shown in Figure 13, the detection system may include a support ring having three white-color LEDs fastened thereto and facing them three photodetectors, e.g. of the C30807 type associated respectively with red, green, and blue filters. The LEDs and the photodetectors point at 45°, for example, towards the center of the ring at a depth that is about one-and-a-half centimeters, for example. The LEDs may be provided with lenses for focusing light in the aiming direction. The LEDs may also be provided with small protectors to prevent light irradiating directly towards the photoreceivers . The device also corresponds to the diagram of

Figure 14 and the comparison processing is that described at 6), for example.

The handpiece may be made with a release button serving to interrupt the connection from the photoreceivers to the converter input. The logic array is programmed not to perform application if the values are all at zero, so operating this button prevents any application .

The tank 100 is filled with a dispersion of skin- colored pigments. The base station is switched on. Its EPROM informs the programmable logic array of the limit values R _max , G _max , and B _max present therein. Optionally the values of the out-of-tolerance zone are adjusted manually.

The handpiece is moved up the skin. The user may place it in any desired location, but it is advantageous to place it in a zone that contains blemishes that are to be corrected directly, e.g. the cheeks.

The user may use the handpiece over the skin. Once the device detects an out-of-tolerance zone, the base station issues an instruction to the handpiece to perform an application and a current is delivered to the coil. As a result, the movable portion is moved towards the skin under drive from the magnetic field of the coil. When the processor unit delivers a zero electric signal, the power amplifier is not activated. When its send a print signal, the power amplifier powers the coil, thereby moving the movable portion. Since the signal is very short, e.g. 1/20 s to 1/2 s, the movement induced by the coil is limited in time. Contact is very short and the movable portion returns rearwards. The applicator member, in spite of making contact with the skin for a relatively short length of time, can nevertheless transfer the composition and deliver color.

The user may change the ink, for the purpose either of changing its color, or its covering ability, or else its texture or grain.

Optionally, the user may modify the out-of-tolerance zone, and may do so without it being necessary to restart the device. The user may decide to look for a blemish without applying composition. It suffices that the user press on the print release button to prevent any application. In the example described, during printing, i.e. while the movable portion is advancing towards the skin, color capture is made inactive since the moving portion interrupts the three light beams and as a result the photoreceivers receive zero signals. Thus, during this stage, the processor unit cannot launch another application. It is only once the movable portion has returned to its retracted position that the processor unit again receives data from the photoreceivers and is in a position to launch printing should an out-of- tolerance zone of the skin be detected. In a zone where the skin is out-of-tolerance over a large area, the device may print with a succession of forward and reverse movements of the movable portion.

Example 2

The device may perform the same comparison operations as in Example 1. When the result of the comparison is positive, the device calculates the difference between R ₁ , and R _mav , and so on for the other two colors, and then calculates the absolute value of these differences and sums the three absolute values to obtain a total difference. Thereafter, depending on the result, it selects one of three printing durations as follows :

^• if total difference < threshold 1, it delivers a print pulse of duration dl, e.g. 1/20 s;

^• if total difference > threshold 1 and < threshold 2, it delivers a print pulse of duration d2, e.g. 1/5 s; and

^• if total difference > threshold 2, it delivers a print pulse of duration d3, e.g. 1/2 s.

The longer the duration of contact, the greater the intensity of the application. In use, the device serves to print a more or less covering pattern on the blemishes found. The more a blemish is pigmented, the more the apparatus processes the blemish with covering printing.

Example 3 The tank of the movable portion of Example 1 is filled with a composition containing particles of boron nitride together with glycerin. Particles of boron nitride do not in themselves present color, having a white or glossy appearance. Unlike Example 1, the tolerance zone is adjusted so that the apparatus can detect zones that are red. By way of example, for this purpose the apparatus is instructed to perform comparisons essentially on the red component of measurements relative to the red component of the tolerance threshold. Under such conditions, the apparatus deposits a soothing balm on zones of reddened skin and masks them effectively. This configuration serves to treat zones that are injured, e.g. as a result of exposure to the sun, and enables zones that are relatively inaccessible to be treated such as the top of the back.

The invention is not limited to the examples described above.

For example it may be the pressure felt by the handpiece pressed against the skin that triggers operation of the apparatus.

In a variant, the device includes a multicomposition turret. The device may be configured so that a movable part can move forwards from the rear to deposit a composition and can also turn about the axis of its rearward/forward movement. The movable part may have a plurality of admission holes, each connected to a different composition under pressure. Depending on the angular position of the movable part relative to its axis of rotation, one composition or another is admitted into the movable part when it is moved forwards from the rear. The term "comprising a" should be understood as "comprising at least one".