Hair styling appliance

Abstract

A hair styling appliance is described that includes an airflow unit for generating an airflow, a heating unit for heating the airflow, and a control unit for controlling the airflow unit and the heating unit. The control unit controls the airflow unit and the heating unit in a predefined sequence of modes that includes a first mode, a second mode and a third mode. The airflow unit has a different flow rate and/or the heating unit has a different heat setting in each of the modes, and the control unit determines when to transition between modes of the predefined sequence.

1 : A hair styling appliance comprising:
 an airflow unit for generating an airflow;   a heating unit for heating the airflow; and   a control unit for controlling the airflow unit and the heating unit,   wherein:   the control unit controls the airflow unit and the heating unit in a predefined sequence of modes comprising a first mode, a second mode and a third mode, the airflow unit having a different flow rate and/or the heating unit having a different heat setting in each of the modes, and   the control unit determines when to transition between modes of the predefined sequence.   
     
     
         2 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines when to transition based on at least one of a time spent in a mode, a presence of hair, and a characteristic of hair. 
     
     
         3 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines when to transition in the event that the time spent in a mode and/or a value relating to the characteristic of hair reaches a threshold. 
     
     
         4 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control unit determines when to transition in response to a change in the presence of hair. 
     
     
         5 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the characteristic comprises a temperature and/or a moisture content of the hair, and the appliance comprises one or more sensors for sensing the characteristic of the hair. 
     
     
         6 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the appliance comprises a capacitive sensor for sensing the presence of hair. 
     
     
         7 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the appliance determines a presence of hair based on changes in the airflow or changes in the speed of the airflow unit. 
     
     
         8 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit automatically transitions between modes in response to determining when to transition. 
     
     
         9 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit generates a user alert in response to determining when to transition, and the control unit transitions between modes in response to a user input. 
     
     
         10 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat setting in the third mode is lower than the heat settings in the first and second modes. 
     
     
         11 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate in the third mode is lower than the flow rates in the first and second modes. 
     
     
         12 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow rate and/or the heat setting in the second mode is lower than that in the first mode. 
     
     
         13 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of modes comprises a fourth mode, and the heat setting in the fourth mode is lower than that in the third mode. 
     
     
         14 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of modes comprises a mode in which the airflow unit and/or the heating unit are powered off. 
     
     
         15 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit receives user data, and the control unit uses the user data to determine when to transition. 
     
     
         16 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the user data comprises any of: hair thickness, hair length, natural hair style, hair condition, presence of hair product, and presence of hair dye. 
     
     
         17 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the appliance comprises a wireless interface for receiving the user data wirelessly from a remote device. 
     
     
         18 : The hair styling appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit initiates the sequence of modes in response to a user input.