Systems, methods and apparatuses for decorating nails
Decorating a human nail including: (i) using a positioning aid to place a user's finger beneath a camera; (ii) capturing an image of the user's fingernail; (iii) based on the captured image, determining at least one measurement of the fingernail or finger; (iv) calculating a print area based on the at least one measurement; (v) communicating the print area to the ink jet printer assembly; (vi) placing the user's finger in contact with a touchscreen of the portable electronic device; (vii) detecting that the user's finger is within the print area; and (viii) applying a nail-coating material to the print area.
1. An apparatus to decorate a nail, comprising:
an imaging unit to capture an image of a nail to be decorated;
an applicator unit to apply a material for decorating the nail;
an aiding unit operably coupled to the imaging unit, the aiding unit being removable from the apparatus;
wherein in operation, the aiding unit facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the imaging unit;
a receiving unit;
wherein the receiving unit includes a receptor forming a cutout to hold the external device;
wherein, the imaging unit is internal to the external device;
wherein, the aiding unit is located below the external device when the external device is held by the receiving unit;
wherein, the external device further comprises:
a processing unit:
a memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
perform image processing techniques on the image of the nail;
wherein, the image processing techniques uses: a nail width of the nail and a nail length of the nail;
provide audio or visual cues in relation to operating the apparatus.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aiding unit is configured to position the nail at a predetermined location relative to the imaging unit.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a communications unit able to communicate wirelessly with the external device;
wherein, in operation, one or more of, the imaging unit and the applicator unit receives instructions wirelessly for decorating the nail.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein,
the memory unit having further stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
communicate with the imaging unit.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein,
the applicator unit includes an an ink jet printer assembly communicatively coupled to the external device via a controller;
wherein, in operation, the ink jet printer assembly receives instructions wirelessly from the controller.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, the external device includes a portable electronic device.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein,
the imaging unit is comprised of a camera of the portable electronic device.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein, the portable electronic device includes a mobile phone.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein, the portable electronic device includes a mobile phone; further wherein the camera includes a back-facing camera of the mobile phone.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the audio and visual cues further specify placement of the material to coat the nail.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising, a motor mechanically coupled to the applicator unit.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving unit is disposed on a side of the applicator unit opposite to the aiding unit.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the applicator unit of the material to decorate the comprises ink.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the applicator unit comprises a micro-electrical mechanical assembly.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 ,
wherein, in operation, the motor controls movement of the applicator unit to apply the material to decorate the nail.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit comprises a camera having a photographic lens.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit comprises a camera having multiple photographic lens arranged along a common axis.
18. A system to color a nail, comprising:
an imaging module, wherein, when in operation the imaging module to capture an image of the nail to be colored;
an applicator module coupled to the imaging module, wherein, when in operation, the application module applies a material to color the nail;
an aiding module coupled to the imaging module;
wherein, in operation, the aiding module facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the imaging module;
a receiving module which holds an external device;
wherein, the receiving module includes a receptor forming a cutout in the system;
wherein, the imaging module is internal to the external device;
wherein, the aiding module is located below external device when the external device is held by the receiving module.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the receiving unit is disposed on a side of the applicator module opposite to the aiding module.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein, the applicator module includes an an ink jet printer assembly communicatively coupled to the external device via a controller;
wherein, in operation, the ink jet printer assembly receives instructions wirelessly from the controller.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the external device comprises:
a processing unit;
a memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the external device to:
provide audio or visual cues in relation to operating the system or approving placement of the material to color the nail.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein,
the external device includes a portable electronic device;
wherein, the imaging module is comprised of a camera of the portable electronic device.
23. An apparatus to decorate a nail, comprising:
an imaging unit to capture an image of a nail to be decorated;
an applicator unit to apply a material to decorate the nail;
an aiding unit operably coupled to the imaging unit;
wherein, in operation, the aiding unit facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the imaging unit;
a receiving unit which holds an external device;
wherein, the receiving unit includes a receptor forming a cutout in the apparatus;
wherein, the receiving unit is disposed on a side of the applicator unit opposite to the aiding unit;
wherein, the imaging unit is internal to the external device;
wherein, the aiding module is located below the external device when the external device is held by the receiving unit;
wherein, the external device further comprises:
a processing unit;
a memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
perform image processing techniques on the image of the nail;
wherein, the image processing techniques uses one or more of: a nail width of the nail and a nail length of the nail;
provide audio or visual video cues in relation to operating the apparatus.
24. An apparatus to decorate a nail, comprising:
an imaging unit to capture an image of a nail to be decorated;
an applicator unit to apply a material to decorate the nail;
an aiding unit operably coupled to the imaging unit;
wherein, in operation, the aiding unit facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the imaging unit;
a receiving unit which holds an external device;
wherein, the aiding module is located below external device when the external device is held by the receiving unit;
wherein, the external device further comprises:
a processing unit;
a memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
perform image processing techniques on the image of the nail;
provide audio or visual cues in relation to operating the apparatus or guiding placement of the material to decorate the nail.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein, the image processing techniques determines one or more of: a figure width of a finger on which the nail is formed, and a nail width of the nail and a nail length of the nail.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein, the receiving unit comprises a cradle.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein, the receiving unit includes a receptor forming a cutout in the apparatus.
28. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the receiving unit is disposed on a side of the applicator unit opposite to the aiding unit.
29. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein, the imaging unit is physically embedded in the apparatus.