2. Related prior art The skin care apparatus is capable of obtaining beautification by using the ultrasonic vibrator and ion-transmission function concurrently. Although the products, which are used previously, had a combined ultrasonic vibrator and ion- transmission function, this function was separated and there was no the skin care apparatus that has simultaneously ultrasonic vibrator function and ion-transmission function since this function does not have a vibrator element that is satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to function an ion-transmission and an ultrasonic vibrator concurrently, the present invention is provided with an ultrasonic vibrator having ion- transmission function.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a skin care apparatus having a sensor detecting skin contact with the probe of the galvanic operating unit.

In order to achieve the above objectives of the present invention, an ultrasonic vibrator plate according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided comprising an ultrasonic vibration ceramic (a1) for the ultrasonic vibration, an ion- transmission head (d1) having a vibration plate (d2) transmitting the ultrasonic vibration, and a flexible PCB (FPCB) having a brass pates (b1, b2) transmitting vibration between a vibration ceramic (a1) and a vibrating probe (d1).

In order to achieve the above objectives of the present invention, an ion penetration skin-care device according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided comprising a DC-DC converting unit (120) for boosting the supply of power, a galvanic operating unit (151) for activating a galvanic probe by a micro-controller (102), ultrasonic vibration-generating unit (150) for activating an ultrasonic vibration by a micro-controller (102), a switching unit (130) for switching the operation mode of the galvanic operating unit and the ultrasonic vibration- generating unit, a controlling unit (102) for controlling the DC-DC converting unit, the galvanic operating unit, the ultrasonic vibration-generating unit and the switching unit, and a sensor (160) for detecting skin contact with the probe of the galvanic operating unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an overall block diagram of the ultrasonic laser-operated ion penetration skin-care device according to the present invention.

Fig 2 is a circuitry diagram of the power supply and the switch unit according to the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a detailed circuitry diagram of a display device according to the skin- care device of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a detailed circuitry diagram for operating the laser beam and ultrasonic device according to the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a circuitry diagram for operating the galvanic driver according to the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an outer feature of the operation panel according to the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 7a is a pulse wave for controlling the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig 7b is a voltage wave for controlling the galvanic driver according to the skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart for maintaining a stable supply of power according to the

skin-care device of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a vibrating element having dual functions of a vibrating plate and an ion penetrating probe according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail, along with the accompanying drawings.

As seen in Figs. 1 through 7b and Fig. 9, an ultrasonic laser-operated ion penetration skin-care device of the present invention is disclosed in an overall block diagram (Fig. 1), and a circuitry of the power supply and the switch unit in the skin-care device (Fig. 2), a detailed circuitry diagram of the display device (Fig.

3), a circuitry diagram for operating the laser beam and ultrasonic device (Fig. 4), a circuitry diagram for operating the galvanic driver (Fig. 5), an outer feature of the operation panel (Fig. 6), a pulse wave for controlling the skin-care device (Fig. 7a), a voltage wave for controlling the galvanic driver (Fig. 7b) and a vibrating element having dual functions of a vibrating plate and an ion penetrating probe (Fig. 9) are also presented.

As seen in Fig. 1 and 2, an adaptor method is used in the ultrasonic laser- operated ion penetration skin-care device of the present invention; however, an electric battery charging method also can be used. When the main switch (SW1) is turned on, the voltage inputted though a connection port (J1, J3) is inputted to a DC-DC converting unit (120). The voltage (for example, 3.6V) from the DC adaptor (101) is boosted the voltage (for example, 10-39V) by the DC-DC converting unit (120).

The present ultrasonic laser-operated ion penetration skin-care device comprises a DC-DC converting unit (12) for boosting the supplied power from a battery or adaptor power to an operating voltage and supplying it to the CPU (102), an ultrasonic operating unit (150) for operating an ultrasonic element depends on the change of the pulse width, a galvanic operating unit (151) for stimulating the patient's skin, thereby assisting the galvanic ionic substances in penetrating

underneath the skin, a sensing unit (160) for detecting skin contact with the probe of the sensor, a laser-emitting unit (153) for irradiating a laser beam on the patient's skin, a switch unit (130) for operating the main switch, a display unit (140) for displaying each operating status, an auxiliary circuit (190), and a battery voltage measuring unit (110) for minimizing energy consumption.

Referring to Fig. 2, a DC adaptor (101), a switch unit (130), a DC-DC converting unit (120) and an auxiliary circuit for resetting unit (190) are described in detail.

When the main switch (SW1) is turned on, the switching element of the FET (D9) accesses the battery power supplied to the DC-DC converting unit (120) through an adapter. A detecting means formed with a split resistor (R2) and a diode (D8) measures the battery voltage and transmits a signal to an analogue input terminal (AN1) of the CPU.

Since the conventional portable skin-care device uses a 3.6V battery as a unique power source, it is necessary to boost the battery power to a high operating voltage of 20-30V. In order to boost the battery power to the higher voltage, an expensive microchip is used in the conventional method. In contrast, the present method, as seen in Fig. 2, adopts a switching element (D6) and a PMW control program in the CPU for boosting the battery power to the operating voltage by adjusting the frequency duty rate.

When a switching signal is issued from the PWM control device (port No. 10) of the CPU, it turns the switching element (D6) on or off to control the output , voltage for varying the pulse width and eventually controlling power consumption.

When a user turns on the skin-care device, the device idles as it warms up. Then, when the user brings the vibrating plate of the device into contact with the skin, the skin contact sensing unit (160) transmits the detected signal to the CPU for stepping up the voltage by delaying the"switch on time"PWM signal. As shown in Fig. 7 (a), by virtue of a feedback control method, the power is gradually increased to reach the operating voltage, so that shortcomings, such as shutdown due to the sudden power surge, can be avoided.

Similarly, as shown in Fig. 7 (b), the power is also gradually stepped down by

reducing the amplitude of the pulse signal. Eventually, it is possible to supply stable power and therefore to save energy.

The actual output voltage (VDD) of the DC-DC converting unit (120) is 20V- 30V during full operation. At the initial turning on, the skin-care device maintains an idling output voltage of 10V to reduce power consumption when it is not in actual use.

Split resistors (R3, R4) are provided to match the output voltage of the CPU (for example, 3.3V) by sensing the output voltage of the analogue input port (AN2).

Referring to Fig. 8, a flowchart of the power control is described. First, an initial pulse width (S1) is set, and the pulse width check program (PWMCHECK) is initiated. Next, the operating pulse width is detected and the detected value of the PMW is verified to determine whether it is within the set range of pulse width (S2). If the value is within the set range ('PMW OK FLAG'=1), the process returns to step S9; if not, a target value of PWM ('PWM TARGET') is compared with the actual operating value of PWM t'PWM_PUF') (S3). If the comparison of the two values is same, the process returns to step S9; if not, the process returns to an adjusting step-either step S4 or step S8.

Checking whether the compared value of the two values is zero (0) (S4). This process verifies whether the duty rate of pulse amplitude is larger than the target value of PWM. If the detected value of the PWM is smaller than the target value, re-set a new target value (S7), to step up, by adding the difference between the detected value and the target value. If the detected value of the PWM is larger than the target value, re-set a new target value (S8), to step down, by subtracting the difference between the detected value and the target value. Then the process is returned to continue step S2.

Through the above pulse width-checking program, it is possible to adjust the strength of output by operating an analogue input switch (SW3) of the skin care device. When a user want to intentionally adjust the strength from weak to strong, the duty ratio is increased by accessing a PWM pulse width signal from the PWM control terminal (Pin No. 10) to an analogue input terminal (AN7). For example, when a delicate area of the human body, such as the face, is being stimulated, the

output of the vibrating device must be gentle. But, when a muscle area of the human body, such as a hip or a leg, is being stimulated, the output of the vibrating device must be strong.

The second switch (SW2) of the switch unit (130) is a mode switch for adjusting the various levels of the skin care device. The fourth switch (SW4) is a step control switch for controlling the operating step of the device. As shown in Fig.

6, the various functions of the switching units for supplying stable power, for generating ultrasonic, ion of laser vibration are described, as are the functional operating switches for controlling the strength level of the pulse.

To produce a proper signal according to each step, the frequency and amplitude of the input signal of the analogue input port is transformed by the operating units (150,151, 153 in Figs. 4 and 5). Additionally, it is possible to alter the two modes from high mode to low mode to vice versa.

By virtue of the comparable configuration of the switch 2, it is possible for an input port to receive various levels of power voltages. The comparable configuration includes the reset (190), the reactor (L1), the condensers (C2, C3) and the diode (D1-D5).

Referring to Fig 5, a core invention of the galvanic operation unit (50) is described. First, a pulse wave control signal from an output port (RB7) of a micro- controller (102) is amplified by amplifying circuits (U3A, R31, R33, R35, R37). The amplified signal is also integrated by integration circuits (U3B, R32, R38, R39, R29, C9, C10). The signal is then transmitted to each contacting probe of the face (J6) and body or hands (J7, J8) through resistors (R34, R36). The contacting probe of the face is a cover of the ultrasonic vibrator.

At this point, a PWM control signal from an input-output terminal (RB2, RB3) of the micro-controller is transmitted to the PWM controlling transistor (Q5, Q6) through each resistor (R54, R55). Each port of the PWM control transistor (Q5, Q6) is connected to each contacting probe of the face, body and hands for outputting the pulse wave depending on the PWM control signal. When a signal of the port (RB2) is set to"high", the transistor (Q55) is in the"on"status and is connected to the contacting probe of the hand to output between tO and t1, as

seen in Fig. 7b. To the contrary, when a signal of the port (RB3) is set to"high", the transistor (Q5) is in the"on"status and is connected to the contacting probe of the face to output between t1 and t2, as seen in Fig. 7b. Eventually, the current flows to the contacting probe of the hand or face, alternatively, to assist the galvanic active substance in penetrating into the skin.

It is also equipped with a skin contact sensing unit (160) for sensing skin contact with the vibrator. The sensed signal is transmitted for amplification through amplifying circuits (U3C, U3D, R42, R44, R46, R48, R49, R53, C11, C12) and input to the micro-controller (102) through an analogue input port (AN5, AN6), as seen in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 4, a laser operating unit (153) receives a signal from the first infrared output port (ANO) of the micro controller (102) and transmits the signal to the photodiode (PD) and the laser diode (LD), which are controlled by the output of a second laser output port (PWM1) of a switching transistor (Q1). The others (D10, R7, R8, R9, R1, C5, C1) are additional elements.

When a control signal from an output port (AN3) of the micro-controller (102) is transmitted to a switching transistor (Q4) through a diode (D16) and resistor (R22), the ultrasonic generating unit (ULTRA1) and the resonance transistor (Q3), together, are activated for generating ultrasonic vibration. Two resonance and switching transistors (Q3, Q4) are connected to the electrical elements (R16, R18- R20, R23, L3-L5, C7-C11, D9) in the circuit.

The present invention uses the plate-shaped ultrasonic vibrator to improve in low noise, high vibration and low mechanical trouble, as seen in Fig. 9.

For performing the ion penetration process, it is efficient to simultaneously operate the functions of far infrared irradiation and vibration. The laser penetration process can be independently operated; however, it is preferable to simultaneously operate the galvanic ion penetration process and the laser penetration process.

Referring to Fig. 3, the displaying unit (140) has a configuration as follows.

The first LED is connected in parallel to the second LED (D11, D12), between the first terminal (RDO) and the second terminal (RD1) of the CPU, but in opposite

directions. The third LED is connected in parallel to the fourth LED (D17, D18), between the second terminal (RD1) and the third terminal (RD2) of the CPU, but in opposite directions. The fifth LED is connected in parallel to the sixth LED (D21, D22), between the third terminal (RD2) and the fourth terminal (RC6) of the CPU, but in opposite directions. The seventh LED (D15) of the CPU is connected to the first terminal (RDO) and the fourth terminal (RD5). The eighth LED is connected in parallel to the ninth LED (D25, D26), between the fourth terminal (RC6) and the fifth terminal (RC5) of the CPU, but in opposite directions. However, each LED is operable independently based upon the individual signal form the CPU.

The first to sixth LEDs (D11, D12, D16, D17, D21, D22, D25, D26) display the function of cleansing, massage, nutrition, lifting, whitening and softening, as well as the stage level of the ion functions. The seventh LED (D15) indicates the usage of each functional status. The eighth LED (D25) and the ninth LED (D26) display the level of strength of the far infrared beam operation and galvanic ion penetration.

Further, the LED (D27) for indicating the operation of galvanic ion penetration and the LED (D28) for indicating the operation of the laser beam are connected to the output ports (RC4, RC3).

Table 1 illustrates turning the LED light on and off as discussed in the above example.

(Explanations) - Each port is able to select input of output.

- 1 : the output status of the port with the output value of"1", - 0 : the output status of the port with the output value of"0", and - x : the input status of the port with no value.

Table 1: Port Led A B C D E C 0 1 X X X M 1 0 X X X N X 0 1 X X L X'i 0 X X W X X 0 1 X S X X 1 0 X Low X X X O 1 High X X X 0 Back 1 X x

In order to efficiently and simultaneously perform skin stimulation with galvanic ion penetration, the dual functions of ultrasonic vibration and ion penetration are combined in one device, as presented above. Therefore, a vibrating element is introduced to combine the dual functions of a vibrating plate and an ion penetration probe, as shown in Fig. 9: (a) illustrates the disassembled vibrating layers of the ultrasonic vibrating unit, (b) shows a cover of the vibrating element, and (c) shows the final assembly of the vibrating element.

In order to implement the dual functions as described above, a vibrating probe, configured as shown in Fig. 9, is introduced. To perform the ultrasonic vibrating function, a material of ultrasonic vibration ceramic (a1) having a positive (+) on one side and a negative (-) on the other side, a flexible PCB (FPCB; b1, b2, b3) and a vibrating probe (d1) for ion penetrating as well as ultrasonic vibration are needed.

In the flexible PCB (FPCB), a SUS (c1) is also necessary for insulating the brass plates (b1, b2) being connected to a microchip. Moreover, the vibrating probe (d1) is able not only to transmit ultrasonic vibration, but also to penetrate the ion with positive (+) and negative (-) polarity during the process. Stainless steel is a suitable material for the vibrating probe.

The vibrating probe should theoretically have precise clearance between the two brass plates to simultaneously implement ultrasonic vibration and ionic penetration. However, in practice, it is difficult to provide precise clearance between the two brass plates because the insulation layer formed between the contacting surfaces is in micrometer size. If the insulation layer is not thick enough, an electric current flows through the clearance. Thus, the material selected should be thick enough for good insulation, yet thin enough for performing the dual functions. A suitable material is polyamide film (65nm) of polyethylene (70nm) with heatdurability (120°C).

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

As discussed so far, the vibrator element of the present invention has merit in that beautifying effectiveness is capable of being maximized, because both the ultrasonic function and ion-transmission function are simultaneously operated.

In addition, the apparatus of the present invention has merit in that it is able to discern whether it is in full-load operation mode or idling mode by sensing skin contact with the probe of the vibrator, thereby minimizing energy consumption.