Apparatus and methods for styling hair

Abstract

An apparatus for styling hair includes a heater for heating hair, and at least one sensor on a casing of the apparatus for determining hair temperature while performing a styling process. A controller is configured to control the apparatus to take at least one action for controlling the styling process based on an output of the at least one sensor. The apparatus may include: a heater element for heating hair; a sensing portion having one or more temperature sensor(s); and a region between the heater element and the sensing portion arranged to restrict propagation of heat from the heater element towards the sensing portion.

1 . Apparatus for styling hair, the apparatus comprising:
 a handle portion for holding the apparatus;   a styling portion for styling the hair;   heating means for heating hair that is being styled by the styling portion;   at least one sensor on a casing of the apparatus for determining a temperature or a position associated with the hair whilst performing a styling process; and   a controller configured to control the apparatus to take at least one action in relation to an output of the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one action comprises one or more actions selected from the group consisting of: adjusting a power supplied to the heating means; determining a type of styling process; determining an amount of hair to be heated; determining a type of hair being heated; determining an angle or a curvature at which the hair is removed from the casing whilst performing the styling process; determining whether a specific style has been achieved by the styling process; predicting user satisfaction with the styling process; storing the output from the at least one sensor for subsequent processing; storing the output to adjust future performance; storing the output to calculate competence of the user; sending the output from the at least one sensor to a remote device; and/or outputting feedback relating to the styling process to a user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the styling process, based on an output of the at least one sensor, to attain a curl compression level of the hair within a threshold range of a target curl compression level. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is located on an edge of a surface heated by the heating means. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating means are mounted within the styling portion and wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the styling portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating means are mounted within the styling portion, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged on the handle portion of the apparatus and wherein the at least one action includes determining a grip or an orientation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for styling hair, the apparatus comprising:
 a handle portion for holding the apparatus;   a styling portion for styling the hair;   at least one sensor mounted on the handle portion for determining information on how the a user is holding the apparatus during a hair styling operation; and   a controller configured to control the apparatus to take at least one action based on the determined information.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a continuous sensor arranged along a width or length of the handle portion and/or the styling portion or comprises a plurality of sensors arrayed over the styling portion and/or over the handle portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a thermistor, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor, a thermocouple, a resistive track or wire, an infrared radiation sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a proximity sensor, an optical sensor, a light sensor, a humidity sensor, an integrated ohmmeter, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and an anemometer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus comprises a memory that is configured to store a plurality of operating parameters of the apparatus for controlling the styling process; and   the apparatus is configured to identify, based on an output of the sensor, an operating parameter to use from the stored plurality of operating parameters.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the operating parameters include at least one of an operating temperature or power, or a heat output. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises means for generating an indication to the user, based on the output of the at least one sensor, whether a desired hair styling result has been achieved. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the indication comprises at least one of a visual indication, an audible indication, and a haptic indication. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is mounted on a circuit board inside the casing. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is deformable and wherein the sensor is a force sensor that is configured to sense deformation of the casing. 
     
     
         16 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a hair straightener, a hair curler, a hair dryer, a hot paddle brush, a hot round brush, a heater roller, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a point sensor or a continuous sensor that extends along a length of the sensing portion. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method of styling hair comprising using the apparatus of according to  claim 1 .