JP2002248080A - Apparatus for measuring transparency of skin - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure a sense of transparency of a skin without error under substantially the same conditions even by measuring by anyone. SOLUTION: This apparatus for measuring the transparency of the skin comprises a light emitting recess (6L) and a photodetecting recess (6D) light- shielded by the skin when a probe (2) is precessed against the skin where the both recesses are formed adjacently, and a light emitting unit (7L) for irradiating the light to the skin in a state in which the probe (2) is pressed against the skin and a photodetector (7D) for detecting a reflecting light intensity in the skin, respectively disposed in the recess (6L) and the recess (6D).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a skin clarity measuring apparatus for objectively measuring skin clarity, which is a subjective sensation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Skin clarity, along with skin color, texture (texture), smoothness, and the like, represents the skin quality of the scalp, and is important in determining cosmetics such as skin lotions, foundations, and whitening powders. Factor.

For example, when a whitening powder is applied to make the skin whiter, a transparent skin having a relatively high hiding power is suitable because transparent skin looks natural even if the makeup is slightly thicker. On the other hand, skin with little transparency tends to look thick even with thin makeup. Therefore, a skin with low concealing power and irregular reflection of light to give transparency is suitable.

[0004] As described above, the properties of cosmetics adapted to the skin quality differ depending on the presence or absence of transparency, but it is difficult to objectively know one's skin quality. It is common to purchase cosmetics after receiving counseling.

[0005] However, the beauty staff who sells cosmetics cannot objectively know the clarity of the skin, and subjectively evaluates the clarity and other skin qualities of the customer by relying on their own experience and intuition. The fact is that they are aware of cosmetics and how to care for the skin that will be suitable for the skin quality of the customer.

[0006] For this reason, there has been proposed an apparatus for measuring the degree of transparency by irradiating the skin with light and measuring the intensity of the light reflected from the inside of the skin to measure the degree of transparency (Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 6 (1988)).
See 3-14616). FIG. 4 shows such a conventional transparency measuring device 21 in which an annular light emitting surface 25 pressed against the surface of the skin 24 is formed around a light receiving element 23 arranged at the center of the measuring surface of the tip of the probe 22. Have been. The light emitting surface 25 is formed by flattening a light emitting surface of a light guide 26 in which a large number of optical fiber wires are bundled in an annular shape. Is arranged.

According to the transparency measuring device 21, the light emitting surface 25 is pressed against the skin 24 to turn on the halogen lamp 27.
Then, the light is applied to the skin 24 via the light guide 26, and the intensity of the light reflected inside the skin 24 is detected by the light receiving element 23, so that the transparency of the skin can be known based on this.

[0008]

However, according to this device, it has been found that there is a difference in the reflected light intensity between the case where the light emitting surface 25 is pressed strongly against the skin 24 and the case where the light emitting surface 25 is pressed weakly. That is, the strength of pressing against the skin 24 varies depending on the measurer. If the pressing force is strong, the degree of adhesion between the light emitting surface 25 and the surface of the skin 24 increases, the light intensity irradiated into the skin 24 increases, and the pressing force is weak. If the degree of adhesion is reduced and the light intensity applied to the inside of the skin 24 is reduced, the reflected light intensity varies depending on the measurement person even in the same part of the skin 24 of the same person.

In addition, since the light exit surface of the light guide 26 is exposed and directly pressed against the skin, dirt on the skin easily adheres to the light exit surface of the light guide 26, especially when the skin is put on. In addition, there were problems that the end face was damaged by fine particles contained in the cosmetics, and that the pigment adhered to the end face and easily stained.

Further, since the light quantity of the halogen lamp 27 and other light sources is not always constant and the sensitivities of the light receiving elements 23 are not all the same, the transparency of the skin 24 is simply measured based on the intensity of the reflected light. However, the measurement error is large.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a technique for measuring the clarity of the skin without error under almost the same conditions regardless of who performs the measurement so that more accurate advice can be given to the customer. It is an issue.

[0012]

In order to solve this problem, a skin transparency measuring device according to the present invention comprises a light emitting recess and a light receiving recess which are shielded from light by the skin when a probe is pressed against the skin. Are formed adjacent to each other, and the light-emitting recess and the light-receiving recess are provided with a light-emitting unit that irradiates the skin with light while the probe is pressed against the skin and a light-receiving unit that detects the intensity of reflected light in the skin. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, when the probe is pressed against the skin to irradiate light from the light emitting portion arranged in the light emitting recess, the light is irradiated toward the skin, and the reflected light in the skin is received by the light receiving recess. And the light intensity is detected by the light receiving unit.

At this time, since the light-emitting concave portion and the light-receiving concave portion are shielded from light by the skin, the amount of light can be kept constant without external light being mixed with light incident on the skin from the light-emitting concave portion. Since light other than the reflected light in the skin does not enter the concave portion for use, the intensity of the reflected light in the skin can be accurately measured.

Further, since the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are disposed in the light emitting concave portion and the light receiving concave portion, respectively, even when the probe is strongly or weakly pressed against the skin, the probe and the light receiving portion are disposed between the skin and the skin. Since a predetermined clearance is generated, the light intensity applied to the skin is kept constant.

Here, as in claim 2, the probe is:
While being urged in the direction of pressing against the skin, if formed so as to be able to advance and retreat in that direction, when the probe is pressed against the skin, the probe retracts under the pressure from the skin surface, and in the direction of pressing against the skin surface. Because it is biased, no matter who measures it, it is pressed with the same force and the measurement conditions become equal.

Further, when the light-emitting concave portion is formed around the light-receiving concave portion as described in claim 3, it is hard to be affected by the external light incident on the skin from a portion other than the light-emitting concave portion, so that the measurement can be performed more accurately. it can.

If the transparency of the skin is high, light loss when light emitted from the light emitting element passes through the skin,
Since the light loss when the reflected light in the skin passes through the skin while being incident on the light receiving element is small, the intensity of the reflected light in the skin increases.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the probe
Attach a cap with a reference reflection surface that reflects the light from the light-emitting unit and make it incident on the light-receiving unit. The reference reflected light intensity measured by the light-receiving unit by reflecting the light emitted from the light-emitting unit on the reference reflection surface. With the cap removed and the probe pressed against the skin, the light emitting unit is turned on and the transparency is calculated based on the reflected light intensity in the skin measured by the light receiving unit. Even if there is variation, the transparency can be accurately calculated.

The monitor 100 is thus operated.
Since there was a correlation between the reflected light intensity measured on the human skin and the transparency felt by five inspectors on the same monitor, the transparency of the skin was determined based on the reflected light intensity. Thus, the transparency of the skin can be measured objectively.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a measurement procedure, and FIG. 3 is a table showing a correlation between the measured transparency and subjective transparency.

The skin transparency measuring device 1 according to the present invention comprises:
Concentric partition walls 4 and 5 are formed on the distal end surface 3 of the probe 2 pressed against the skin, and a central portion surrounded by the partition wall 4 is formed in the light receiving recess 6D and is adjacent to the periphery thereof. An annular groove portion sandwiched between the partition walls 4 and 5 is formed in the light-emitting concave portion 6L.

The probe 2 has the same height as the partition walls 4 and 5 so that the light-emitting recess 6D and the light-emitting recess 6L are shielded from light by the skin when pressed against the skin. 2 and the partition walls 4, 5 are formed of a light shielding material.

A high-luminance white LED for irradiating the skin with the probe 2 pressed against the skin is provided in the light-emitting recess 6L.
Are arranged in a ring shape.
In the light receiving recess 6D, a light receiving element (light receiving unit) 7D such as a photodiode for detecting the reflected light intensity in the skin is arranged.

The probe 2 attached to the tip of the transparency measuring device 1 is supported so as to be able to advance and retreat in the pressing direction, and is urged in the pressing direction by a spring 8 so that the probe 2 is pressed against the skin. When pushed into the apparatus 1 by the pressure, the elastic surface of the spring 8 pushes the distal end surface 3 of the probe 2 back at a predetermined pressure so as to make close contact with the skin.

The protection cap 9 of the probe 2 is formed reversibly, and a light-shielding part 10 is formed on one side of the protection cap 9 so as to be in close contact with the partition wall 4 surrounding the light-receiving recess 6D to completely shield the light-receiving element 7D. On the surface side, there is formed a reference reflection surface 11 that diffusely reflects light from the light emitting element 7L and enters the light into the light receiving recess 6D from the gap between the partition wall 7 and the protective cap 9.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a measurement procedure. First, the light intensity L ₀ as the zero level is not at all enter the light receiving element 7D, the light-emitting element 7L ... irradiation light intensity of the measured time to time depending on the time and require factory. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the light shielding surface 10 side of the protective cap 9 of the light intensity L ₀ measured by the light receiving element 7D while wearing the probe 2, and then, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a reference reflecting surface 11 side of the protective cap 9 is attached to the probe, measuring a reference reflected light intensity L _M when the light emitted from the light emitting element 7L ... was reflected by the reference reflecting surface 11. The reference reflection surface 11 may use a skin model having a multilayer structure in which thin films are stacked in multiple layers and have optical characteristics equivalent to the skin.

Next, in order to eliminate the influence of external light,
As shown in FIG. 2C, the probe 2 is pressed against an arbitrary part of the skin whose transparency is to be measured, and the light emitting element 7L is pressed.
... for measuring the skin in reflected light intensity L ₁ by the light receiving element 7D without lighting the. The reflected light intensity L measured at this time
_{If 1} is higher than the 0-level light intensity L ₀ measured previously, it means that external light is reflected within the skin and the reflected light intensity is measured.

[0029] Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), the light emitting element 7L ... it is lit to measure the skin in reflected light intensity L ₂ by the light receiving element 7D. The light intensity L ₂ measured at this time
, Since the light emitting element 7L ... light and external light is a skin in the intensity of reflected light when it is irradiated to the skin, the reflected light intensity L ₂
Effect of external light by calculating the -L ₁ is reliably eliminated, it is possible to measure the skin in reflected light intensity due to only the light-emitting element 7L ... light.

However, since the reflected light intensity L ₂ -L ₁ in the skin calculated in this way depends on the irradiation light intensity of the light-emitting elements 7L and the characteristics of the light-receiving element 7D, the reference reflection measured earlier is used. the normalized light intensity R normalized by the difference _L M -L ₀ of the light intensity of the light intensity _{L M} and 0 level _{L 0, R} = a _{(L 2 -L 1) / (} L M -L 0), which Is determined on the basis of, for example, C = αR (α is a proportional constant). Accordingly, even if the light emitting elements 7L and the light receiving elements 7D have variations in characteristics, it is possible to accurately measure the intensity of the reflected light in the skin and thus the transparency of the skin. Note that a series of these operations are executed by an arithmetic processing unit (not shown) built in the measuring device 1, and the result is displayed on the liquid crystal display D.

It should be noted, by forming the light emitting recesses 6E around the light-receiving recess 6D as in the present embodiment, since substantially matches the light intensity L ₀ of 0 level internally reflected light intensity L ₁ by external light such distinction There is no need to handle it. In addition, when the transparency C is displayed, it is difficult to understand with a small number, and therefore, for example, it is preferable to perform a 10-level evaluation.

FIG. 3 shows the transparency C of the skin of 100 persons on the monitor measured based on the reflected light intensity in this manner.
0 and out, the five inspectors is a table showing the relationship between the transparency F ₁ to F ₅ was evaluated in five steps with respect to the same monitor. From this table, it can be seen that there is a correlation between the transparency C measured based on the reflected light intensity and the transparency F _{1 to} F ₅ felt by the inspector. That is, since the transparency that is subjectively determined substantially matches the transparency C measured by the present apparatus 1, based on the transparency C, a cosmetic or skin care method suitable for the skin quality of the customer is accurately determined. Can be advised.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the transparency of the skin can be measured objectively based on the intensity of the reflected light in the skin. Without relying on intuition, even inexperienced beauty staff can objectively grasp the transparency of the customer and provide appropriate advice on cosmetics and skin care methods that match the customer's skin quality. By receiving explanations while looking at the data, there is an excellent effect that the user can be convinced to purchase cosmetics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a skin transparency measuring device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a measurement procedure.

FIG. 3 is a table showing a correlation between measured transparency and subjective transparency.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Skin transparency measuring device 2 ... Probe 3 ... Tip surface 6L ... Light emitting recess 6D ... Light receiving recess 7L ... Light emitting element (light emitting section) 7D ... Light receiving element (light receiving section) 9 Protective cap 11 Reference reflective surface

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Misawa 9-21-4 Tajima, Urawa-shi, Saitama F-term in Moritex Urawa Plant (reference) 2G059 AA02 AA05 BB12 CC16 EE02 FF08 GG02 GG03 KK01 LL04 MM01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light-emitting recess (6L) and a light-receiving recess (6D), which are shielded from light when the probe (2) is pressed against the skin, are formed adjacent to each other, and the light-emitting recess (6L) is formed.
A light-emitting unit (7L) for irradiating the skin with light while the probe (2) is pressed against the skin and a light-receiving unit (7D) for detecting the intensity of reflected light in the skin are arranged in the light-receiving recess (6D). An apparatus for measuring skin transparency. 2. The transparency measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the probe is urged in a direction of pressing against the skin and is formed so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction. 3. The skin transparency measuring device according to claim 1, wherein an annular light emitting concave portion (6L) is formed around the light receiving concave portion (6D). 4. The light emitting section (7) is provided on the probe (2).
L) is mounted with a cap (9) having a reference reflection surface (11) for reflecting the light of (L) and entering the light receiving section (7D), and at least the cap (9) is mounted and the light emitting section (7L) is mounted. ) Is reflected by the reference reflecting surface (11), and the reference reflected light intensity (L) measured by the light receiving section (7d).
_M ), the cap (9) is removed, the probe (2) is pressed against the skin, the light emitting unit (7L) is turned on, and the in-skin reflected light intensity (L ₂ ) measured by the light receiving unit (7D). The transparency measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising an arithmetic processing device for calculating the transparency by using the processing device.