IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,733,728
Granted Patent B2
US 12,733,728 · App. 18/158,321 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Automatic detection of hair characteristics using a formulation dispensing device

Inventors: Huajing Xing (Parsippany, NJ); Ji Heun Lee (New York, NY)
Assignee: L'Oreal
A45D44/005A45D19/026A45D2044/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,733,728
App. No.
18/158,321
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a formulation delivery device comprising a motor and a formulation dispensing assembly is provided. The formulation dispensing assembly comprises a reciprocating nozzle assembly operated by the motor. The formulation delivery device further comprises circuitry configured to generate signals indicative of application of one or more formulation products dispensed by the formulation dispensing assembly, and circuitry configured to transmit the signals indicative of the application of the formulation products to a usage analysis system. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method of automatically determining at least one hair characteristic for a subject is provided. A computing system receives signals from a formulation delivery device indicative of application of one or more dispensed formulation products, analyzes the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic, and stores the at least one hair characteristic in a usage data store.

Claims (61)

1 . A computer-implemented method of automatically determining at least one hair characteristic for a subject, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system, signals from a formulation delivery device indicative of application of one or more dispensed formulation products, wherein the signals indicate power consumed by a motor of the formulation delivery device while operating a reciprocating nozzle assembly of the formulation delivery device;

analyzing, by the computing system, the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic; and

storing, by the computing system, the at least one hair characteristic in a usage data store.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic includes providing the signals as input to at least one machine learning model.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic includes comparing the signals to one or more ranges associated with hair characteristic values.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computing system, additional information associated with the subject, wherein the additional information includes at least one of a moisture level and a color.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hair characteristic includes at least one of:

a curl type;

a coarseness;

a density;

a thickness;

a length;

a texture;

a scalp condition; and

an amount of damage.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising using at least the hair characteristics stored in the usage data store to train a recommender engine.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the computing system, the at least one hair characteristic as input to a recommender engine to generate a recommendation; and

providing, by the computing system, a notification of the recommendation to the subject.

8 . A system for automatically determining at least one hair characteristic for a subject, the system comprising:

circuitry configured to receive signals from a formulation delivery device indicative of application of one or more dispensed formulation products, wherein the signals indicate power consumed by a motor of the formulation delivery device while operating a reciprocating nozzle assembly of the formulation delivery device;

circuitry configured to analyze the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic; and

circuitry configured to store the at least one hair characteristic in a usage data store.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic includes providing the signals as input to at least one machine learning model.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein analyzing the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic includes comparing the signals to one or more ranges associated with hair characteristic values.

11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising circuitry configured to receive additional information associated with the subject, wherein the additional information includes at least one of a moisture level and a color.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one hair characteristic includes at least one of:

a curl type;

a coarseness;

a density;

a thickness;

a length;

a texture;

a scalp condition; and

an amount of damage.

13 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

circuitry configured to provide the at least one hair characteristic as input to a recommender engine to generate a recommendation; and

circuitry configured to provide a notification of the recommendation to the subject.

14 . A system, comprising:

a formulation delivery device; and

a usage analysis system;

wherein the formulation delivery device includes:

a motor;

a formulation dispensing assembly comprising a reciprocating nozzle assembly operated by the motor;

circuitry configured to generate signals indicative of application of one or more formulation products dispensed by the formulation dispensing assembly; and

circuitry configured to transmit the signals indicative of the application of the formulation products to a usage analysis system; and

wherein the usage analysis system includes:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the usage analysis system to perform actions comprising:

receiving, by the usage analysis system, the signals from the formulation delivery device indicative of the application of one or more formulation products, wherein the signals indicate power consumed by the motor of the formulation delivery device while operating the reciprocating nozzle assembly of the formulation delivery device;

analyzing, by the usage analysis system, the signals to automatically determine the at least one hair characteristic; and

storing, by the usage analysis system, the at least one hair characteristic in a usage data store.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the formulation delivery device further includes a position sensor; and

wherein the signals indicative of the application of the formulation products dispensed by the formulation dispensing assembly include signals indicating a position of the formulation delivery device as detected by the position sensor.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the formulation delivery device further includes:

a cartridge interrogation interface configured to retrieve information from a formulation cartridge inserted into the formulation delivery device; and

circuitry configured to transmit the information retrieved from the formulation cartridge to the usage analysis system.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the formulation delivery device further includes:

circuitry for operating the motor to dispense a formulation product according to a formulation routine;

circuitry configured to receive, from the usage analysis system, a new formulation routine based on a hair characteristic determined using the signals indicative of the application of the formulation products.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: XING, HUAJING; LEE, JI HEUN
To: L'OREAL
Reel/Frame 062974/0081 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 2203627 · Apr 20, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63302443 · Jan 24, 2022
Related Publication 20230232965A1 · Jul 27, 2023
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