JP2020156559A - Cosmetic device and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cosmetic device and a control method of the cosmetic device which are capable of varying a frequency while keeping voltage or the like constant, in order to adjust the degree of somesthesis.SOLUTION: A cosmetic device 1 for impressing AC current to the skin surface of a user comprises: an electrode part 31 provided with two or more electrodes and impresses AC current between the electrodes; and an AC current generation unit 35 for outputting AC current of a frequency ranging from 100 kHz to 200 kHz. Then, the cosmetic device 1 simultaneously applies electric stimulation and thermal stimulation to the skin surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a beauty device that applies an alternating current to stimulate the skin surface of the user and at the same time gives a thermal effect, and particularly relates to a control method thereof.

Conventionally, a beauty device that applies a current having a predetermined frequency has been known. There are provided a beauty device called EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) that gives electrical muscle stimulation, and an RF beauty device that gives a thermal effect by using a higher frequency band to enhance the firmness and elasticity of the skin.

In EMS, by applying an electrical stimulus to the skin at a frequency of several Hz to several kHz, muscle contraction can be caused to cause muscle exercise, and sagging can be improved.
Further, in RF, for example, a high frequency of about 1 Mhz can be used to warm the inside of the skin, promote the production of collagen and elastin, and improve wrinkles, firmness and sagging.
Efficient care is recommended for all methods to improve sagging.

Patent Document 1 proposes a technique capable of preventing the skin from locally having heat in a high-frequency beauty treatment apparatus. In the present document, the high-frequency beauty treatment apparatus includes a portable housing and a parallel electrode having a treatment surface in contact with the skin of the person to be treated, which is arranged at a predetermined distance from each other at the tip of the housing. A configuration is disclosed that includes a first power supply unit that is built in the housing and supplies a high-frequency current to the pair of parallel electrodes.

Patent Document 2 proposes a muscle training device capable of carrying a large electric current into a user's body without causing the user to feel excessive pain. In this device, the control unit receives an instruction to increase the electrical stimulation signal by inputting the electrical stimulation signal from the user, that is, the magnitude of the current value, via the operation unit, and accesses the storage unit to obtain current-frequency correlation data. With reference to this, a frequency corresponding to the magnitude of the electrical stimulation signal specified by the user is obtained, and the magnitude and frequency of the electrical stimulation signal are output to the electrical stimulation output unit. The configuration is disclosed in which the electrical stimulation output unit inputs data from the control unit, generates an electrical stimulation signal, and outputs the data to each conductor.

Patent Document 3 proposes an interference low-frequency treatment device capable of performing satisfactory energization treatment by adjusting the depth of the position where an interference wave is generated in a human body affected area. In this interference low frequency treatment device, the control unit has a frequency setting function, and the depth of the interference wave generation position in the human body local part can be changed by arbitrarily changing the frequencies of the two medium frequency currents.

It is known that the frequency can be changed even in the prior art, but the purpose is to switch between a relatively low frequency band that gives an electrical stimulus and a relatively high frequency band that gives a thermal effect, so that different beauty effects can be obtained. It was to realize.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that the frequency is directly proportional to the electrical stimulation signal, but the frequency used is in the range of several Hz to several kHz, and technically it cannot correspond to a high frequency. The magnitude of the electrical stimulation signal is a current value, and it is not only adjusted by the frequency, but it is also necessary to adjust the current value.

Patent Document 3 includes a strength setting knob together with a frequency setting knob in order to arbitrarily set two medium frequency currents to change the depth of the interference wave generation position, and the strength is the magnitude of the interference wave carrier current. It is a configuration to be adjusted by. Therefore, the strength is not adjusted according to the frequency, and a complicated configuration is required.

In other conventional techniques, is it provided separately from the beauty device that gives electrical muscle stimulation by EMS and the RF beauty device that gives a thermal effect using a high frequency band and enhances the firmness and elasticity of the skin? Alternatively, it was provided as a switchable device that gives the beauty effect of either one.

Patent No. 6212608 Patent No. 4057558 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-112362

The present invention has been created in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is a beauty that realizes a beauty effect such as improvement of skin sagging by giving a combination of a thermal effect by high frequency and an electrical stimulation by EMS. The purpose is to provide a vessel and its control method.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following beauty devices.
That is, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is a beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of the user, and is an electrode provided with two or more electrodes and applying an alternating current between the electrodes. Provided is a beauty device comprising a unit and an alternating current generating unit that outputs an alternating current having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz, and simultaneously applying an electrical stimulus and a warming effect to the skin surface.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned beauty device, a sensitivity adjusting unit for adjusting the degree of the user's experience and a frequency for setting the frequency of the alternating current in three or more steps or steplessly. It is also possible to adjust the sensitivity by setting the frequency by the frequency setting unit based on the adjustment of the setting unit and the sensitivity adjustment unit.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the sensitivity adjusting unit may also include an adjusting means that can be arbitrarily adjusted by the user.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned beauty device includes a resistance value measuring unit for measuring the resistance value of the user's skin surface, and the frequency setting unit adjusts the sensitivity adjusting unit and the resistance. The configuration is such that the frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule according to the resistance value, or the frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule according to the resistance value without providing the sensitivity adjusting unit. You can also do it.

According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned beauty device, when the distance between a set of electrodes to which an alternating current is applied is 1 mm to 30 mm and the resistance value of the electrodes is 10 Ω or less. Especially suitable.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for controlling a beauty device.
That is, it is a control method of a beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of the user, and applies an alternating current having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz from the electrode portion while keeping the voltage or current substantially constant. This makes it possible to provide a control method for a beauty device, which is characterized by simultaneously imparting an electrical stimulation and a warming effect to the skin surface.

The present invention has found a frequency that enables EMS muscle movement while feeling a warm feeling equivalent to RF of about 1 MHz. This makes it possible to provide a beauty device capable of simultaneously giving a beauty effect by high frequency and EMS, and makes a feeling of warmth while performing effective muscle exercise, and contributes to improvement of sagging.

The perspective view of the beauty device which concerns on this invention. Front view of the beauty device according to the present invention. The explanatory view of the control method of the beauty device which concerns on this invention. The block diagram of the beauty device which concerns on this invention. The block diagram of the beauty device which concerns on another Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the electrode which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the examples shown in the drawings. The embodiment is not limited to the following.
1 and 2 are a perspective view and a front view of the beauty device (1) according to the present invention. The beauty device (1) is composed of a main body portion (10) that the user grips by hand and a head portion (11) provided with electrodes. The main body (10) is provided with a level switch (12) for adjusting the degree of experience, a power switch (13) for turning on / off the power and switching modes, an indicator (14) for indicating the state of the main body, and the like. ..

The main body (10) is provided with a rechargeable battery and can be charged by power supply from a power supply terminal provided on the bottom surface, or can be used by power supply, but the presence or absence of a charging function and the power supply method do not matter.

The head portion (11) is provided with two annular electrode portions (20) and (21), and the user brings the head portion (11) into contact with the skin surface, and the central electrode portion (20) and the outer shell are provided. By applying an alternating current between the electrode portion (21) and the electrode portion (21), a beauty effect such as electrical stimulation can be achieved.
Further, although not essential in the present invention, it is possible to exert a thermal effect on the skin surface by applying an alternating current in a relatively high frequency band.

Since electrical muscle stimulation called EMS and the warming effect using RF (radio frequency) are well known, the explanation of the principle is omitted.
In addition, the configuration of the above beauty device can be freely changed. Not only the shape of the main body, but also the mode and shape of the electrode portion are not limited at all. The configuration of the electrodes will be described later.

In the present invention, the level switch (12) does not have to be provided because the degree of sensation does not necessarily have to be adjusted.

In the conventional beauty device, when adjusting the degree of stimulation of EMS, it is realized by changing the voltage while keeping the frequency of the alternating current constant. FIG. 3A shows an image of a conventional alternating current waveform, and increasing the amplitude (voltage) increases the stimulation.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, according to this embodiment, the strength of the stimulus can be adjusted by changing the frequency while keeping the voltage constant.

As described with respect to the prior art, the technique of changing the frequency is conventionally known, but the purpose is to switch between EMS and RF. That is, in EMS, an alternating current in a frequency band of several Hz to several kHz is applied, and when switching to RF, the frequency band is changed to several hundred kHz or more. Therefore, the low frequency and the high frequency may be changed in two steps in order to switch the mode of the beauty effect.

Apart from the mode switching, the voltage is varied from, for example, 40V to 80V in order to adjust the strength. Since the sensation of irritation differs depending on the characteristics and sensations of the skin, the user tries electrical stimulation by contacting the skin surface, and when muscle exercise is insufficient, the voltage is increased. This makes it possible to change the sensation level, but there is a problem that when the voltage is increased, not only the muscle movement becomes active but also a tingling discomfort is felt.

Therefore, the present inventor has found that a change in frequency can be used for adjusting the strength, and further researches it to provide a frequency domain required for adjustment.
First, when the frequency is lowered, the muscle movement becomes active and the degree of sensation becomes stronger. On the contrary, when the frequency is increased, the muscular movement gradually subsides and the warming effect is enhanced. In particular, as a result of experiments by a plurality of testers, it was found that electrical stimulation and warmth can be given simultaneously between 100 kHz and 200 kHz.
Table 1 shows the experimental results of warmth and electrical stimulation tested in the present invention.

In Table 1, Δ indicates the upper limit frequency at which electrical stimulation can be felt, and ⊚ indicates the frequency that can be used comfortably. In addition, the subjects answered that the shaded area had a warm feeling.
According to the above results, it was found that many people felt warmth at 100 kHz or higher, and all experienced it at 110 kHz or higher.
Although not shown in this experiment, electrical stimulation may be felt depending on the tester and the condition of the skin even when the frequency is 300 kHz in various experiments, but this is not a suitable range in the present invention. This range is excluded.

According to the above-mentioned characteristics found by the inventor's research, it is shown that in the region of 100 kHz to 200 kHz, electrical stimulation and warmth can be felt, and two cosmetic effects that could not be provided conventionally can be provided at the same time. ing.
In particular, 100 to 150 kHz, which many people answered that they can use it comfortably, is considered to be the most suitable range.

Therefore, in the present invention, in a configuration in which an alternating current is applied between the electrodes, an alternating current generating unit that outputs an alternating current having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz is provided, and electrical stimulation and warmth are simultaneously applied to the skin surface. Provides a configuration to do.

Further, in the present invention, the frequency may be varied so that the degree of electrical stimulation can be adjusted.
That is, it is preferable for those who are hard to feel the sensation to lower the frequency and increase the electrical stimulation, and for those who are easy to feel the sensation, raise the frequency to reduce the electrical stimulus and change the sensation without changing the voltage. You will be able to get a strong experience.

In the present invention, the voltage is preferably in the range of 40V to 80V. According to the experiments of the inventors, it was confirmed that the discomfort was increased by the user when the voltage was 80 V or higher. The voltage for comfortably and appropriately applying electrical stimulation is preferably in the range of 40V to 80V, particularly about 60V.
The frequency range is particularly effective in this voltage range.

A block diagram of the beauty device (1) according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
The beauty device (1) includes a control board (30) composed of an electric circuit and a computer, an electrode unit (31) connected to the control board (30), a sensitivity adjustment unit (32), a battery (33), and the like. Is arranged. The control board includes a frequency setting unit (34) that sets the frequency of the alternating current in three or more stages in multiple stages or steplessly, and an alternating current generation unit (35) that outputs the set frequency.

The electrode portion (31) includes two or more electrodes and applies an alternating current between the electrodes. The sensitivity adjusting unit (32) adjusts the degree of the user's experience by using a button type switch such as the level switch (12) shown in FIG. 1 or a dial type switch. The battery (33) may be replaced with a rechargeable battery, a dry battery, a solar panel, or an external power source.

Conventionally, it has been technically difficult to change the frequency due to the problem of the CPU capacity of the computer that constitutes the control board. For example, in a CPU having a clock number of about 4 MHz, the AC current by software is limited to about 1 kHz, and an oscillation circuit having a fixed constant is provided for frequency switching.

However, in recent years, even a CPU having a clock number of 32 MHz or the like can be used inexpensively, so that it has become possible to generate a high-frequency alternating current of 100 kHz or 1 MHz by software alone.
Due to such a technical background, it has not been conceived in the past to change the frequency in a small device such as a beauty device, but with the progress of the CPU, the present invention can be easily realized. It has become.

Therefore, in the present invention, the AC frequency set by the frequency setting unit (34) of the CPU can be output as an AC current from the AC current generation unit (35) realized by software. In order to output digitally, as shown in FIG. 3B, in this embodiment, a rectangular wave is output.
Since the method of generating the alternating current is not limited in the present invention, an oscillation circuit having a variable frequency may be provided. The waveform may also be a sine wave or a pseudo sine wave.

A specific control method will be described.
The user sets the desired intensity of electrical stimulation by operating the sensitivity adjusting unit (32), which is an adjusting means. For example, it is set to the lowest level when the power is turned on. At this time, the frequency setting unit (34) sets the frequency to 200 kHz, and the AC current generation unit (35) generates an AC current of 200 kHz.

When the feeling is weak, the sensitivity adjustment unit (32) is operated to make it stronger, and the frequency setting unit sequentially sets the frequency lower. For example, in the case of 3 steps, 3 frequencies of 100 kHz, 150 kHz, 200 kHz, and in the case of 8 steps, 100 kHz, 110 kHz, 120 kHz, 130 kHz, 140 kHz, 160 kHz, 180 kHz, 200 kHz, etc. are set step by step. You can also.

In order to further enhance the experience, the frequency band may be changed from several Hz to several kHz.
Further, since the beauty device (1) of this embodiment provides only the thermal effect of RF, it may be changed to a higher frequency band.

In the present invention, the user can not only operate the sensitivity adjusting unit (32) but also automate the frequency setting. There is a resistance value on the skin surface as a cause that affects the user's experience, and as shown in FIG. 4, the control board (30) is provided with a resistance value measuring unit (36), and electricity is supplied between the electrode units (31). The resistance value of the skin is measured by. In addition, another electrode for resistance measurement may be provided.

The frequency setting unit (34) sets the frequency according to the characteristics of the skin according to the resistance measurement value. For example, set as shown in Table 2 below.

In the above table, when the resistance value is relatively low, the current easily flows and the degree of sensation becomes stronger, so the frequency is set high. Further, when the resistance value is relatively high, it is difficult for the current to flow and the degree of sensation is weakened, so the frequency is set low.
Even for the same person, the resistance value of the skin changes depending on the humidity and the degree of wetness of the skin, so even if the same adjustment is made with the level switch, the degree of experience changes depending on the time. Therefore, by automatically adjusting based on the result measured by the resistance value measuring unit (34), it can be used with the same feeling every time.

Further, although the sensitivity adjusting unit (32) is omitted in the configuration of FIG. 5, the sensitivity adjusting unit (32) may be provided to switch between weak, medium, and strong. In this case, the sensitivity adjusting unit (32) can also set the frequency by combining the resistance value and the user's setting as shown in Table 3 below.

As described above, the frequency setting unit (34) sets the optimum frequency according to the measured value of the resistance value measuring unit (36), so that the user can easily use the frequency.
The values in the above table are examples, and the frequency value and switching stage can be changed arbitrarily. Further, the rule for setting the frequency is not based on the table, but may be the result calculated by a predetermined calculation formula.

The beauty device (1) of the present invention may further be provided with a heater (not shown).
An example of a heater is a ceramic Peltier heater that generates far infrared rays, and can heat the deep part of the skin.

Of the 70 kHz to 200 kHz, which is the frequency band of the present invention, the vicinity of the epidermis on the skin surface is heated at a frequency near 200 kHz where the user can easily feel a warm feeling. In addition to this, when a heater is used, the deep dermis is heated, so that it can act on the skin with low irritation and effectively.

Further, in the low frequency region, although it is easy to feel electrical stimulation, it may be difficult to feel warmth, and the user's favorite warmth can be adjusted by using a heater together, and the frequency according to the present invention. It is especially effective in combination with the adjustment technology of.

In the beauty device (1) of the present invention, it was found that the distance between the electrodes is also important. FIG. 6 shows an example of two electrodes. FIG. 6A shows the two annular electrode portions (20) and (21) described above, and the distance L1 between the electrodes is 3 mm.
The material used for the electrode was brass plated with nickel chrome, and a conductive substrate having a resistance value of 10 Ω or less was used.

In a general low-frequency treatment device, a gel pad using a carbon film as an electrode is used, but the electrical resistivity of this gel at 1 kHz is 10 kΩcm or less, which is significantly different from the present invention. Needless to say, such a low frequency treatment device does not cause a feeling of warmth.

In the present invention, it is possible to provide a beauty device (1) that provides both electrical stimulation and warmth by forming electrodes convex in the same direction from a substrate having the same plane and forming electrodes of 10 Ω or less. ,

The shape of the electrode may be composed of an annular electrode in the center and three crescent-shaped electrode portions around the electrode as shown in FIG. 6B, and electrical stimulation and warmth are felt by the potential difference between the electrodes. Causes. In this example, the distance L2 between the electrodes was 3 mm, and it was found that this shape can suitably give electrical stimulation and a feeling of warmth.

According to the experiments of the inventors, when the frequency of the alternating current is in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz, the distance between the electrodes is particularly preferably in the range of 1 mm to 30 mm, particularly 2 mm to 10 mm. It has been confirmed that when it exceeds 30 mm, no feeling of warmth is felt.

In addition to the above-mentioned beauty device, the present invention can also provide a control method for a beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of the user.
That is, the frequency of the alternating current is set in three or more steps or steplessly while keeping the voltage or current substantially constant, and the alternating current of the set frequency is applied from the electrode portion to the degree of the user's experience. To adjust.

A specific method is illustrated in the above-mentioned beauty device (1), and it is clear that the method is particularly implemented by a combination of a control substrate (30), an electrode unit (31), and a sensitivity adjusting unit (32). , Not limited to this. The device that implements this control method is not limited to a portable beauty device, but may be a stationary device.

1 Beauty device 10 Main body 11 Head 12 Level switch 13 Power switch 14 Indicator 20 Electrode 21 Electrode 30 Control board 31 Electrode 32 Sensitivity adjustment 33 Battery 34 Frequency setting 35 AC current generator 36 Resistance value measurement

Claims (6)

A beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of the user.
An electrode portion having two or more electrodes and applying an alternating current between the electrodes,
It is equipped with an AC current generator that outputs an AC current with a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz.
A beauty device characterized by simultaneously applying electrical stimulation and warmth to the skin surface. In the beauty device
Sensitivity adjustment unit that adjusts the degree of user's experience,
A frequency setting unit that sets the frequency of the alternating current in multiple stages or steplessly with three or more stages,
The beauty device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency setting unit adjusts the sensitivity by setting the frequency based on the adjustment of the sensitivity adjusting unit. The beauty device according to claim 2, wherein the sensitivity adjusting unit is provided with an adjusting means that can be arbitrarily adjusted by the user. In the beauty device
Equipped with a resistance value measuring unit that measures the resistance value of the user's skin surface
The frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule according to the adjustment of the sensitivity adjustment unit and the resistance value, or
The beauty device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the frequency setting unit does not include the sensitivity adjusting unit, and the frequency setting unit adjusts according to a predetermined rule according to the resistance value, or at least one of the configurations. In the beauty device, the distance between a set of electrodes to which an alternating current is applied is 1 mm to 30 mm, and the resistance value of the electrodes is 10 Ω or less.
The beauty device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. It is a control method of a beauty device that applies an alternating current to the skin surface of the user.
A beauty device characterized by simultaneously applying electrical stimulation and warming action to the skin surface by applying an alternating current having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 200 kHz from the electrode portion while keeping the voltage or current substantially constant. Control method.