U.S. patent application number 13/829526 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for automatic coloring system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZONG JING INVESTMENT,INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is ZONG JING INVESTMENT, INC.. Invention is credited to Charlene Hsueh-Ling WONG.
Application Number | 20140161507 13/829526 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49000368 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140161507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WONG; Charlene Hsueh-Ling |
June 12, 2014 |
AUTOMATIC COLORING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
An automatic coloring system and method are used for coloring a
three-dimensional object. An electronic device executes a coloring
design process to obtain a coloring procedure corresponding to the
three-dimensional object. The coloring procedure has multiple
coloring instructions sequenced according to each individual
generation order thereof. A connecting interface electrically
connects the electronic device to an automatic coloring machine in
a separable manner, so as to output the coloring procedure from the
electronic device to the automatic coloring machine. Finally, the
automatic coloring machine directly executes the coloring
instructions in the coloring procedure sequentially.
Inventors: |
WONG; Charlene Hsueh-Ling;
(Taipei, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ZONG JING INVESTMENT, INC. |
Taipei |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
ZONG JING INVESTMENT,INC.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
49000368 |
Appl. No.: |
13/829526 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/195 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/00 20130101;
A45D 33/02 20130101; A45D 34/04 20130101; A45D 44/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/195 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/00 20060101
A45D040/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2012 |
TW |
101146207 |
Claims
1. An automatic coloring system, used for coloring a
three-dimensional object, the automatic coloring system comprising:
an automatic coloring machine, comprising: a first connecting
interface, used for receiving a coloring procedure in a wireless
manner or in a wired manner, wherein the coloring procedure has a
plurality of coloring instructions, and the coloring instructions
are sequenced according to each individual generation order
thereof; a material supply module, having at least one pigment; a
moving module; at least one coloring tool, disposed on the moving
module; and a control unit, connected electrically to the first
connecting interface, the material supply module, and the moving
module, so as to sequentially execute the coloring instructions in
the coloring procedure, and according to the executed coloring
instruction control the material supply module to select at least
one of the at least one pigment and control the moving module to
move one of the at least one coloring tool to apply the selected at
least one pigment to the three-dimensional object.
2. The automatic coloring system according to claim 1, wherein each
of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by two-dimensional coordinates, and the control unit
controls, according to the track information, the moving module to
move.
3. The automatic coloring system according to claim 1, wherein each
of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by three-dimensional coordinates, and the control unit
controls, according to the track information, the moving module to
move.
4. The automatic coloring system according to claim 1, further
comprising: an electronic device, comprising: a processing unit,
used for receiving an appearance image of the three-dimensional
object, and generating an outline image through feature analysis of
the appearance image; a user interface, connected electrically to
the processing unit, so as to display the outline image and
sequentially output at least one edit instruction corresponding to
the outline image, so that the processing unit obtains the coloring
procedure in response to the at least one edit instruction; and a
second connecting interface, connected electrically to the
processing unit, so as to output the coloring procedure to the
first connecting interface in a wireless manner or in a wired
manner.
5. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, further
comprising: an image capturing module, used for capturing the
appearance image of the three-dimensional object; wherein the
electronic device further comprises: a third connecting interface,
connected electrically to the second connecting interface, wherein
the image capturing module is connected to the second connecting
interface in a wireless manner or in a wired manner, so that the
processing unit receives the appearance image from the image
capturing module through the second connecting interface and the
third connecting interface.
6. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, wherein the
automatic coloring machine further comprises: an image capturing
module, connected electrically to the first connecting interface,
so as to capture the appearance image of the three-dimensional
object, and transmit the appearance image to the processing unit
through the first connecting interface and the second connecting
interface.
7. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, wherein the
electronic device further comprises: an image capturing module,
connected electrically to the processing unit, so as to capture the
appearance image of the three-dimensional object.
8. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, wherein the
processing unit further executes coordinate system conversion by
using camera parameters of a image capturing module and display
specifications of the outline image in the user interface, so as to
correspondingly convert coordinates of the outline image into
coordinates for moving the moving module, and therefore obtain
track information in each of the coloring instructions.
9. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, wherein the
outline image is a three-dimensional simulated image.
10. The automatic coloring system according to claim 4, wherein the
number of the at least one edit instruction is multiple, and the
edit instructions correspond to the coloring instructions
respectively.
11. An automatic coloring method, comprising: receiving an
appearance image of a three-dimensional object; generating an
outline image through feature analysis on the appearance image;
displaying the outline image on a user interface; using the user
interface to sequentially output at least one edit instruction
corresponding to the outline image; in response to the at least one
edit instruction, obtaining a coloring procedure, wherein the
coloring procedure has a plurality of coloring instructions, and
the coloring instructions are sequenced according to each
individual generation order thereof; and outputting the obtained
coloring procedure in a wireless manner or in a wired manner.
12. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, wherein
each of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by two-dimensional coordinates.
13. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, wherein
each of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by three-dimensional coordinates.
14. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, further
comprising: executing coordinate system conversion by using camera
parameters used when capturing the outline image and display
specifications of the outline image in the user interface, so as to
correspondingly convert coordinates of the outline image into
coordinates for moving a moving module of an automatic coloring
machine, and therefore obtain a track information in each of the
coloring instructions.
15. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, further
comprising: an automatic coloring machine receiving the coloring
procedure and sequentially executing the coloring instructions in
the coloring procedure, which comprises: according to the executed
coloring instruction, controlling a material supply module of the
automatic coloring machine to select at least one pigment; and
according to the executed coloring instruction, controlling a
moving module of the automatic coloring machine to move a coloring
tool, so as to apply the selected pigment to the three-dimensional
object.
16. The automatic coloring method according to claim 15, wherein
each of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by two-dimensional coordinates, and a control step of
the moving module comprises: controlling, according to the track
information, the moving module to move.
17. The automatic coloring method according to claim 15, wherein
each of the coloring instructions comprises track information
represented by three-dimensional coordinates, and a control step of
the moving module comprises: controlling, according to the track
information, the moving module to move.
18. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, further
comprising: capturing the appearance image of the three-dimensional
object.
19. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, wherein
the outline image is a three-dimensional simulated image.
20. The automatic coloring method according to claim 11, wherein
the number of the at least one edit instruction is multiple, and
the edit instructions correspond to the coloring instructions
respectively.
21. A computer program product, capable of implementing the
automatic coloring method according to claim 11 after a computer is
loaded with and executes the program.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No. 101146207 filed in
Taiwan, R.O.C. on 2012 Dec. 7, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a coloring technology, and
more particularly to an automatic coloring system and method for
coloring a three-dimensional object.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Wanting to be beautiful is a natural human desire, so
various major manufacturers provide the market with a wide variety
of care products and cosmetics for consumers to purchase. However,
in order to compose makeup a person likes and is suitable to the
person, makeup techniques must be practiced repeatedly, and various
cosmetics and makeup tools purchased, so as to draw various eyebrow
shapes, various eye lines, eyelashes, eye contours, face makeup,
labial makeup, appearance modifications, and various color changes.
However the difference in proficiency in the makeup techniques and
the wide range of cosmetics usually results in a difference between
the effect of the makeup and the effect expected by the
consumer.
[0006] As the information technology continues to evolve, a
simulation device for trying color makeup or a care product is
provided by some research. Through the simulation device for tying
color makeup or a care product, a user may simulate an effect of
makeup on a screen before purchase instead of trying a color makeup
product in person; for example, US Patent Publication No.
2005/0135675A1. However, simulating the effect of the color makeup
on the screen still depends on manual makeup skills that apply the
color makeup on the human face. However, the real effect of manual
makeup performed by the user is not necessarily equal to the effect
presented by the simulation on the screen.
SUMMARY
[0007] In an embodiment, an automatic coloring system is used for
coloring a three-dimensional object. The automatic coloring system
includes an automatic coloring machine, and the automatic coloring
machine includes a first connecting interface, a material supply
module, a moving module, at least one coloring tool, and a control
unit. The material supply module has at least one pigment. The
coloring tool is disposed on the moving module. The control unit is
connected electrically to the first connecting interface, the
material supply module, and the moving module.
[0008] The first connecting interface is used for receiving a
coloring procedure in a wireless manner or in a wired manner. The
coloring procedure has multiple coloring instructions sequenced
according to each individual generation order thereof. The control
unit sequentially executes the coloring instructions in the
coloring procedure, and according to the executed coloring
instruction controls the material supply module to select at least
one pigment and controls the moving module to move one coloring
tool to apply the selected pigment to the three-dimensional
object.
[0009] In some embodiments, the automatic coloring system may
further include an electronic device, and the electronic device
includes a processing unit, a user interface, and a second
connecting interface. The processing unit is connected electrically
to the user interface and the second connecting interface. The
processing unit is used for receiving an appearance image of the
three-dimensional object, and generating an outline image through
feature analysis of the appearance image. The user interface is
used for displaying the outline image, and sequentially outputting
at least one edit instruction corresponding to the outline image,
so that the processing unit obtains the coloring procedure in
response to the edit instruction. The second connecting interface
then outputs the coloring procedure to the first connecting
interface in a wireless manner or in a wired manner.
[0010] In some embodiments, the automatic coloring system may
further include an image capturing module, and the image capturing
module is used for capturing the appearance image of the
three-dimensional object. The electronic device, the automatic
coloring machine, and the image capturing module may be devices
capable of being separated from each other. Alternatively, the
image capturing module is built in the electronic device or in the
automatic coloring machine.
[0011] In an embodiment, an automatic coloring method includes
receiving an appearance image of a three-dimensional object;
generating an outline image through feature analysis on the
appearance image; displaying the outline image on a user interface;
using the user interface to sequentially output at least one edit
instruction corresponding to the outline image; in response to the
at least one edit instruction, obtaining a coloring procedure; and
outputting the obtained coloring procedure to an automatic coloring
machine in a wireless manner or in a wired manner. The coloring
procedure has multiple coloring instructions sequenced according to
each individual generation order thereof.
[0012] In some embodiments, the automatic coloring method may
further include sequentially executing the coloring instructions in
the coloring procedure. An execution step of each coloring
instruction includes: according to the executed coloring
instruction, controlling the material supply module of the
automatic coloring machine to select at least one pigment; and
according to the executed coloring instruction, controlling the
moving module of the automatic coloring machine to move a coloring
tool, so as to apply the selected pigment to the three-dimensional
object.
[0013] In some embodiments, each coloring instruction includes
track information represented by two-dimensional coordinates or
represented by three-dimensional coordinates.
[0014] In some embodiments, the outline image may be a
three-dimensional simulated image.
[0015] In view of the above, the automatic coloring system and
method according to the present invention are used for coloring a
three-dimensional object. Herein, the electronic device executes a
coloring design process to obtain a coloring procedure
corresponding to the three-dimensional object. The coloring
procedure has multiple coloring instructions sequenced according to
each individual generation order thereof. Through separable
electrical connection of the connecting interface, the coloring
procedure is output from the electronic device to the automatic
coloring machine. Then, the automatic coloring machine directly
executes the coloring instructions in the coloring procedure
sequentially. In other words, the automatic coloring system and
method according to the present invention have the coloring design
process (executed by the electronic device), and the actual
coloring process (executed by the automatic coloring machine), that
are separable, so that the user can design and exchange a colored
pattern anytime anywhere. Further, the automatic coloring system
and method according to the present invention enable an external
device to provide a coloring procedure to be directly executed by
the automatic coloring machine, thereby facilitating simplification
of the structure of the automatic coloring machine. In some
embodiments, by directly providing track information represented by
three-dimensional coordinates, the automatic coloring machine can
execute the actual coloring process more precisely. In some
embodiments, by directly presenting a three-dimensional simulated
image, the coloring action in the coloring design process is closer
to that in the actual coloring process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below for illustration only,
and thus not limitative of the present invention, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an automatic coloring
system according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an automatic coloring
machine according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an automatic coloring system
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an automatic coloring system
according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an automatic coloring method
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a user interface according to
an embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a tool option according to an
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 10A is a schematic view of a color palette option
according to a first embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 10B is a schematic view of a color palette option
according to a second embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an automatic coloring system
according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a template option according
to an embodiment; and
[0030] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of an automatic coloring method
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Terms such as "first", "second", and "third" in the
following description are used for distinguishing elements, not
used for sequencing or limiting differences between the elements,
and not used for limiting the scope of the present invention.
[0032] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, an automatic coloring
system 10 includes an electronic device 11 and an automatic
coloring machine 12. The electronic device 11 may output a coloring
procedure corresponding to a colored pattern of a three-dimensional
object 14 to the automatic coloring machine 12, and the automatic
coloring machine 12 colors the three-dimensional object 14 by
executing the coloring procedure. Herein, the electronic device 11
may be a device capable of executing an application or an
equivalent device thereof, such as a portable electronic device or
a personal computer. The portable electronic device may be a smart
phone, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or other equivalent
device. The three-dimensional object 14 may be a human body, a
specific part of a human body (such as the face, an eye, and a
nail), or an article (such as a mask and a cup).
[0033] The automatic coloring system 10 further includes an image
capturing module 13: The image capturing module 13 is used for
capturing an appearance image Pf of the three-dimensional object
14. In some embodiments, the electronic device 11, the automatic
coloring machine 12, and the image capturing module 13 (such as a.
digital camera or a webcam) may be devices capable of being
separated from each other. The separable image capturing module 13
is, for example, a digital camera or a webcam. Preferably, the
image capturing module 13 is an image pickup device capable of
color photographing. In some embodiments, the image capturing
module 13 may be built in the electronic device 11 (as shown in
FIG. 2) or in the automatic coloring machine 12 (as shown in FIG.
4).
[0034] Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in which the electronic
device 11 includes a processing unit 110, a user interface 120, a
connecting interface 130, and a storage unit 140.
[0035] Please refer to FIG. 4, in which the automatic coloring
machine 12 includes a control unit 210, a connecting interface 230,
a material supply module 240, a moving module 250, and at least one
coloring tool 260 and 262.
[0036] To make the description clear, in the following, the
connecting interface 230 of the automatic coloring machine 12 is
referred to as the first connecting interface 230, and the
connecting interface 130 of the electronic device 11 is referred to
as the second connecting interface 130.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in which the processing
unit 110 is connected electrically to the user interface 120, the
second connecting interface 130, and the storage unit 140. The
second connecting interface 130 is used for being connected
electrically to the first connecting interface 230 of the automatic
coloring machine 12 in a wireless manner or in a wired manner. The
electrical connection in the wired manner may be direct connection
(for example, the first connecting interface 230 and the second
connecting interface 130 are a male connector and a female
connector, which are physical connectors, respectively), or
indirect connection (for example, through a connecting cable 15 or
an equivalent device thereof).
[0038] In some embodiments, please refer to FIG. 2, in which the
electronic device 11 may have the built-in image capturing module
13, and the image capturing module 13 is connected electrically to
the processing unit 110, as shown in FIG. 2. The appearance image
Pf captured by the image capturing module 13 may be transmitted to
the processing unit 110, or may be stored in the storage unit 140
in advance.
[0039] In some embodiments, please refer to FIG. 3, in which the
electronic device 11 may further include another connecting
interface 132. To make the description clear, in the following, the
connecting interface 132 is referred to as the third connecting
interface 132.
[0040] The third connecting interface 132 is connected electrically
to the processing unit 110. The image capturing module 13 outside
the electronic device 11 is connected to the third connecting
interface 132 in a wireless manner, in a directly connected manner,
or through a connecting cable, so that the image capturing module
13 is connected electrically to the processing unit 110 through the
third connecting interface 132, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case,
the appearance image Pf captured by the image capturing module 13
may be transmitted to the processing unit 110 through the third
connecting interface 132. Herein, the image capturing module 13 may
be a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) element, a Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) element, or other equivalent element.
Preferably, the image capturing module 13 is an image pickup device
capable of color photographing.
[0041] In some embodiments, the user interface 120 may be a touch
screen, a combination of a touch screen and at least one physical
button, a combination of a screen and an input assembly (for
example, a keyboard, a mouse, a handwriting pad, or a combination
thereof), or an equivalent device.
[0042] In the automatic coloring machine 12, please refer to FIG.
4, in which the control unit 210 is connected electrically to the
first connecting interface 230, the material supply module 240, and
the moving module 250. The coloring tool 260 and 262 are disposed
on the moving module 250. The material supply module 240 has at
least one pigment.
[0043] An example of makeup of a human face is taken in the
following to exemplarily illustrate the structure of the automatic
coloring machine 12 in detail. In other words, in this example, the
three-dimensional object 14 is the face of a user.
[0044] Please refer to FIG. 5, in which the automatic coloring
machine 12 may further include a table 202 and a face positioning
module 220. The control unit 210, the face positioning module 220,
and the moving module 250 are disposed on the table 202.
[0045] The face positioning module 220 is disposed to be
corresponding to the moving module 250. The face positioning module
220 is provided, so that the head of the user is disposed on the
face positioning module 220, so as to ensure the position of the
face.
[0046] The face positioning module 220 includes a lower-jaw support
221 and an overhead positioning member 222. The lower-jaw support
221 is used by the user to place the lower jaw thereof, so as to
support the head (face), of the user. The overhead positioning
member 222 is disposed above the lower-jaw support 221. Herein, the
overhead positioning member 222 is slightly inverted U-shaped, and
an arc-shaped holding portion 223 is formed in an upper middle
position corresponding to the forehead. During use, the user may
urge the forehead thereof against the holding portion 223 of the
overhead positioning member 222, and urge the chin against the
lower-jaw support 221, so as to ensure the face of the user to be
opposite to the position of the moving module 250.
[0047] The moving module 250 includes a moving block 251, a lifter
252, a horizontal rail 253, and a telescopic platform 254. The
horizontal rail 253 spans and is above the lifter 252, and by
adjusting the lifter 252, the horizontal rail 253 is enabled to
move vertically along a first direction (for example, the Y-axis
direction). The telescopic platform 254 is slidably disposed on the
horizontal rail 253, and the telescopic platform 254 can move left
and right on the horizontal rail 253 along a second direction (for
example, the X-axis direction in the drawing). The moving block 251
is disposed on the telescopic platform 254, and the moving block
251 can move back and forth on the telescopic platform 254 along a
third direction (for example, the Z-axis direction in the drawing).
Further, a motor controlled by the control unit 210 drives the
moving block 251, the lifter 252, and the telescopic platform 254,
so that the moving block 251 can move in a three-dimensional manner
accordingly to be precisely positioned.
[0048] In this embodiment, the material supply module 240 controls
output and makeup operations thereof through the control unit 210.
The material supply module 240 is disposed on the moving block 251
of the moving module 250. The material supply module 240 stores
various coloring materials. An output port of the material supply
module 240 is appropriately connected to each coloring tool 260 and
262, and supplies a corresponding pigment to the coloring tool 260
and 262. The coloring tool 260 and 262 may be a spray head, a
nozzle, or a coating pen.
[0049] When the coloring tool 260 is a nozzle, the material supply
module 240 may have a supply cup and an air pressure pipe. The
supply cup stores a pigment. The air pressure pipe is connected to
an air compressor, provides air flowing to the output port, and can
absorb the pigment in the supply cup and spray the pigment out
through the output port.
[0050] When the coloring tool 262 is a coating pen, the material
supply module 240 may be designed to have a rotary wheel, various
output ports are disposed in the rotary wheel, so as to output the
pigment to the outside. The output ports are disposed on the
circumference of the rotary wheel. Rotating of the rotary wheel
results in different pigments.
[0051] The diversified material supply module 240 facilitates
automatic coating using different coloring tools 260 and 262 or
pigments.
[0052] A control module 204 may be disposed on the table 202. The
control module 204 has the control unit 210 and the first
connecting interface 230.
[0053] The first connecting interface 230 receives a coloring
procedure from the electronic device 11 in a wireless manner or in
a wired manner, and transmits the received coloring procedure to
the control unit 210 to sequentially execute each coloring
instruction in the coloring procedure. In other words, the coloring
procedure has multiple coloring instructions sequenced according to
each individual generation order thereof. Each coloring instruction
may include track information represented by two-dimensional
coordinates or track information represented by three-dimensional
coordinates.
[0054] In some embodiments, when each coloring instruction includes
track information represented by three-dimensional coordinates, the
control unit 210 controls, based on track information in a
currently executed coloring instruction, movement of the moving
module 250, to make the moving block 251 move to be positioned.
[0055] In some embodiments, when each coloring instruction includes
track information represented by two-dimensional coordinates, the
automatic coloring machine 12 may further include a range finding
device 270. The range finding device 270 is mounted on the moving
block 251 of the moving module 250. The range finding device 270
can measure a position in the third direction to provide a position
signal and a calibration signal, so as to convert a two-dimensional
image into a three-dimensional image for operation, thereby
ensuring that the coloring tool 260 and 262 contacts the face of
the user safely or keeps a safe distance from the face of the
user.
[0056] The control unit 210 controls movement of the moving module
250 based on track information in a currently executed coloring
instruction, so as to make the moving block 251 drive the coloring
tool to apply a selected pigment to the face of the user. Further,
according to the type of the selected coloring tool and the
position signal obtained by the range finding device 270, the
control unit 210 controls a distance of movement of the moving
module 250 relative to the face, so that the moving block 251 moves
the coloring tool to the position for contacting the face of the
user safely or a position for keeping a safe distance from the face
of the user.
[0057] In some embodiments, the range finding device 270 may be a
laser range finder, a tellurometer, an infrared range finder, an
image capturing module, or other equivalent range finding
devices.
[0058] In some embodiments, the three-dimensional object 14 may be
an eye of the user.
[0059] Please refer to FIG. 6, in which for the automatic coloring
machine 12 dedicated to the eye, the aforementioned face
positioning module 220 may be an eye mask to enable the eye of the
user to correspond to the moving module 250 of the automatic
coloring machine 12.
[0060] In some embodiments, the second connecting interface 130 may
be a wireless transceiver module, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), or
an External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (e-SATA)
connector. The third connecting interface may be a wireless
transceiver module, a USB, or an e-SATA connector.
[0061] The wireless transceiver module may adopt various wireless
communications technologies in the prior art, such as the Bluetooth
technology, the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) technology, and the Near
Field Communication (NFC) technology.
[0062] In some embodiments, the pigment may be powdery, foamy,
gelatinous, in a liquid state, and in any one of the three phases
or a combination thereof, for example, shining pieces, mist or
other special state. The pigment is, for example, a makeup base
material, a concealing material, an eyebrow color material, a cheek
color material, a labial makeup material, a decorative color makeup
material, basic care material, various colors of inks, or various
colors of dyeing materials, which may be mixed arbitrarily.
[0063] The operation of the automatic coloring system 10 is
illustrated below in detail for demonstration. Please refer to FIG.
1 to FIG. 8, in which the storage unit 140 stores a coloring
application.
[0064] The processing unit 110 executes the coloring application,
so as to display a coloring editing window 121 on the user
interface 120 (Step S21). The coloring editing window 121 includes
an image preview box 122 and a design function bar 124. The design
function bar 124 has an edit option 125, a return option 126, a
clear option 127, a complete option 128, and a file option 129. The
edit option 125 has a tool option 1251 and a color palette option
1252, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0065] In some embodiments, the tool option 1251 and the color
palette option 1252 may be located on the same level of menu, as
shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10A. In some embodiments, the tool option
1251 and the color palette option 1252 may be located on different
levels of menu, as shown in FIG. 10B. For example, please refer to
FIG. 10B, in which the tool option 1251 has multiple tool pictures
A1 and A2, and each tool picture A1 and A2 is connected to a color
palette option 1252. When a tool picture A1 is selected, the
coloring application provides the color palette option 1252
connected to the tool picture A1, for selection by the user. The
color palette option 1252 has multiple color pictures C1 and C2 to
be selected by the user.
[0066] The processing unit 110 may receive an appearance image Pf
of a three-dimensional object 14 from the image capturing module
13, read a stored appearance image Pf from the storage unit 140, or
receive an appearance image Pf from an external electronic device
or storage device (Step S23). In some embodiments, the appearance
image Pf may be a plane simulated image, i.e. there is 2D image of
the three-dimensional object 14 in the appearance image. In some
embodiments, the appearance image Pf may be a three-dimensional
simulated image, i.e. there is 3D model of the three-dimensional
object 14 in the appearance image.
[0067] Then, the processing unit 110 performs feature analysis on
the received appearance image Pf, so as to generate an outline
image Pp (Step S25). In some embodiments, the processing unit 110
may directly read a stored outline image Pp from the storage unit
140, or receive an outline image Pp from an external electronic
device or storage device. For example, the user may use the file
option 129 to select an outline image Pp to be displayed in the
image preview box 122.
[0068] The processing unit 110 then displays the outline image Pp
in the image preview box 122 on the user interface 120 (Step
S27).
[0069] At the moment, the user may use the edit option 125 to
perform coloring design of the outline image Pp.
[0070] In the process of coloring design, the user may use the tool
option 1251 to select a coloring tool (that is, click a tool
picture A1/A2 in the tool option). to be used, use the color
palette option 1252 to select a color to be used (that is, click a
color picture C1/C2 in the color palette option), and use the
selected coloring tool and color to perform a coloring action on
the outline image Pp in the image preview box 122 (that is, move
the mouse to perform simulated coloring on the outline image Pp),
to apply the selected color to the outline image Pp.
[0071] For each coloring action performed by the user, the user
interface 120 outputs an edit instruction in response to the
coloring action of the user (Step S29), so that the coloring
application (that is, the processing unit 110) generates a coloring
instruction in response to the edit instruction. The coloring
instruction includes tool information indicating the coloring tool
selected by the user, color information indicating the color
selected by the user, and track information indicating a movement
track of the coloring action.
[0072] In some embodiments, the track information is formed of
multiple consecutive positioning points. Herein, the start of the
coloring action corresponds to a first positioning point, the end
of the coloring action corresponds to a last positioning point, and
a movement process of the coloring action corresponds to a second
positioning point to a penultimate positioning point sequentially.
Each positioning point may be coordinate data.
[0073] After the user performs multiple coloring actions, the user
may click the complete option 128 to make the user interface 120
output a confirm instruction. At the moment, the coloring
application (that is, the processing unit 110), in response to the
confirm instruction, sequences the multiple coloring instructions
corresponding to the multiple coloring actions according to a
generation order, so as to generate a coloring procedure (Step
S31), and output the generated coloring procedure to the outside or
store the generated coloring procedure in the storage unit 140
(Step S33). In other words, the coloring procedure has multiple
coloring instructions, and the coloring instructions are sequenced
according to each individual generation order thereof (that is, an
order in which the user performs the multiple coloring
actions).
[0074] Further, the coloring application (that is, the processing
unit 110), may obtain a colored pattern Pc through the outline
image Pp in the image preview box 122 in response to the confirm
instruction. In some embodiments, the processing unit 110 may store
the colored pattern Pc and the coloring procedure corresponding to
the colored pattern Pc in the storage unit 140, so as to form a
pattern database. In other words, the coloring application may have
a pattern database. The pattern database is stored in the storage
unit 140. The pattern database has one or more colored patterns Pc
that are edited and stored in advance, and each colored pattern Pc
has a corresponding coloring procedure Sp. Therefore, during next
time of use, the user may directly use the file option 129 to
select a colored pattern Pc to be used from the pattern database,
and display the colored pattern Pc in the image preview box 122,
which is for confirmation by the user.
[0075] Herein, the example that the user edits and designs the
colored pattern Pc is provided, by the present invention is not
limited thereto. That is to say, please refer to FIG. 11, in which
after the user captures the appearance image Pf of the
three-dimensional object 14 (such as the face, an eye, or other
objects), to be colored, the appearance image Pf or the outline
image Pp may be transmitted to another electronic device 11'
through the second connecting interface 130 in a wireless manner,
in a wired manner or in other far-end transmission manner. Herein,
the second connecting interface 130 may be a telecommunication
module, so as to transmit the appearance image Pf acting as a
multimedia messaging (MMS) (short message).
[0076] A designer may perform coloring design on the outline image
Pp through the electronic device 11', that is, Step S25 to Step S31
or Step S27 to Step S31. Herein, after the design is completed, the
colored pattern Pc and the corresponding coloring procedure Sp are
transmitted back. to the electronic device 11 of the user through
the second connecting interface 130 in a wireless manner or in a
wired manner (Step S33).
[0077] In some embodiments, please refer to FIG. 12, in which the
edit option 125 may further have a template option 1253. The
template option 1253 has multiple template patterns E1 and E2.
Herein, each of the template patterns E1 and E2 is a colored
pattern Pc that is edited and stored in the pattern database in
advance. That is to say, each of the template patterns E1 and E2
has a respective corresponding coloring procedure Sp, and the
coloring procedure Sp is already stored in the pattern database
correspondingly in advance.
[0078] In other words, each edited colored pattern Pc and the
corresponding coloring procedure thereof may be optionally stored
as a template, so as to become an option in the template option
1253. When the edited colored pattern Pc and the corresponding
coloring procedure thereof are stored as a template, the colored
pattern. Pc may act as a template pattern. In some embodiments,
each of the template patterns E1 and E2 is a colored pattern Pc,
but is not limited to be represented (shown), as the outline image
Pp of the three-dimensional object 14. In other words, each of the
template patterns E1 and E2 presents a result of coloring
design.
[0079] When the user clicks a template pattern E1 in the template
option 1253, the a result of coloring design represented by the
template pattern E1 is applied to the outline image Pp of the
three-dimensional object 14 (that is, the image displayed in the
image preview box 122), so as to obtain a final colored pattern Pc.
At the moment, the user interface 120 may output an edit
instruction corresponding to the template pattern E1 in response to
a select operation of the user, so that the coloring application
reads the coloring procedure Sp corresponding to the template
pattern E1 from the pattern database in response to the edit
instruction (Step S31), and outputs the read coloring procedure Sp
when the user clicks the complete option 128 (Step S33).
[0080] In some embodiments, the coloring procedure is generated in
a script form. The coloring procedure in the script form is, for
example, as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 <coloring interface = skin> (that is, the type
of the three-dimensional object 14 to be colored) <coloring
pigment = No. 1 spray material> (that is, the type of the
coloring pigment) <color spray fineness = A> (that is, the
type of the coloring tool) <color spray color = red> (that
is, the color of the coloring pigment) <system positioning
points X, Y scale X> <draw point X.Y> <draw line X0.Y0
X1,Y1> <draw plane X0.Y0 X1,Y1> <draw picture picture
name> <draw character character name>
[0081] In some embodiments, the outline image Pp displayed in the
image preview box 122 may be a plane simulated image. In other
words, there is 2D image of the three-dimensional object 14 in the
appearance image.
[0082] In some embodiments, the outline image Pp displayed in the
image preview box 122 may be a three-dimensional simulated imaged.
In other words, there is 3D model of the three-dimensional object
14 in the outline image Pp. Implementation of the three-dimensional
simulated image is well known by persons skilled in the art, and is
not repeated herein.
[0083] Therefore, when the user performs a coloring action on the
three-dimensional simulated image, each coloring action
correspondingly generates track information represented by
three-dimensional coordinates. In other words, each positioning
point in the track information is three-dimensional coordinate
data.
[0084] Please refer to FIG. 13, in which when the user actually
performs makeup on the face, the user may connect the electronic
device 11 to the automatic coloring machine 12, that is,
electrically connect the first connecting interface 230 of the
automatic coloring machine 12 to the second connecting interface
130 of the electronic device 11 (Step S41).
[0085] After the connection, the user may operate the electronic
device 11, so that the processing unit 110 outputs a coloring
procedure to the automatic coloring machine 12. In other words, the
automatic coloring machine 12 receives through the first connecting
interface 230 the coloring procedure transmitted in a wireless
manner or in a wired manner (for example, through the connecting
cable 15 or a physical connector) (Step S43).
[0086] Then, the automatic coloring machine 12 performs makeup on
the face of the user based on the coloring procedure. Herein, the
control unit 210 of the automatic coloring machine 12 sequentially
executes each coloring instruction in the coloring procedure.
[0087] The control unit 210 controls, according to the executed
coloring instruction, the material supply module 240 to select a
pigment corresponding to color information in the coloring
instruction (Step S45), and controls, according to the executed
coloring instruction, the moving module 250 to select a coloring
tool corresponding to tool information in the coloring instruction
(Step S47). The execution order of Step S45 and Step S47 is not
limited by the present invention. That is to say, besides
sequential execution of Step S45 and Step S47, Step S45 and Step
S47 may be executed at the same time, or Step S47 is executed
before Step S45.
[0088] In Step S45, the color indicated by the color information
may be one of multiple pigments included by the material supply
module 240. Further, the color indicated by the color information
may not be among the multiple pigments included by the material
supply module 240. In this case, the material supply module 240 may
select, according to the color indicated by the color information,
two or more pigments from the multiple pigments to obtain the
needed pigment (that is, the color indicated by the color
information), by mixing. In other words, the automatic coloring
machine 12 may have a storage unit, and a color database is
established in the storage unit. The color database has multiple
colors and corresponding mixing methods (for example, pigments and
proportions thereof required for mixing).
[0089] Then, the control unit 210 moves the moving module 250
according to track information in the executed coloring
instruction, and applies the selected pigment to the face of the
user (the three-dimensional object 14), through the selected
coloring tool (Step S49).
[0090] In some embodiments, when the track information is
represented by two-dimensional coordinates, the control unit 210
moves the moving module 250 in the first direction and in the
second direction according to each positioning point in the track
information, so as to move the moving module 250 to a corresponding
designated position. Further, during movement to each positioning
point or upon arriving at the designated position, the control unit
210 receives a position signal from the range finding device 270 to
control movement of the moving module 250 relative to the face
(that is, the movement in the third direction), so that the
coloring tool is positioned in a position capable of applying the
pigment to the face of the user safely. Herein, the first
direction, the second direction, and the third direction are the
Y-axis, the X-axis, and the Z-axis of a movement coordinate system
of the moving module 250 respectively.
[0091] After a coloring instruction is executed (that is, after a
coloring action is completed), the control unit 210 continues to
execute a next coloring instruction, until all coloring
instructions are executed (Step S51).
[0092] In some embodiments, the coloring application has a
coordinate system conversion step, so that an image coordinate
system of the outline image Pp corresponds to the movement
coordinate system of the moving module 250.
[0093] In some embodiments, the coordinate system conversion step
may use features or edges obtained in the feature analysis step
(Step S25) as corresponding points, so that the image coordinate
system of the outline image Pp corresponds to the movement
coordinate system of the moving module 250. That is to say, the
outline image Pp is mapped to the actual position of the
three-dimensional object 14 in the movement coordinate system of
the moving module 250.
[0094] In some embodiments, the coordinate system conversion step
may be implemented by using a scaling object with known actual
size.
[0095] When the user uses the image capturing module 13 to capture
the appearance image Pf of the three-dimensional object 14, the
scaling object is in the coverage of the capture at the same time.
In other words, the image capturing module 13 is used to capture
the appearance image Pf including the image of the
three-dimensional object 14 and including the image of the scaling
object. According to the known actual size and the image size of
the scaling object in the appearance image Pf, the scale between
the image coordinate system of the outline image Pp and the
movement coordinate system of the moving module 250 is calculated.
Then, by using the features or edges obtained in the feature
analysis step (Step S25) as the corresponding points and by using
the calculated scale, the outline image Pp is mapped to the actual
position of the three-dimensional object 14 in the movement
coordinate system of the moving module 250.
[0096] In some embodiments, the coordinate system conversion step
may be implemented by using camera parameters (such as a focal
length of the lens and an image format). of the image capturing
module 13 and specifications of the screen in the user interface
120. The coloring application may calculate a scale between image
size of the outline image Pp and the actual size of the
three-dimensional object 14 according to the camera. parameters of
the image capturing module 13 and the specifications of the screen
in the user interface 120. Then, by using the features or edges
obtained in the feature analysis step (Step S25) as the
corresponding points and by using the calculated scale, the outline
image Pp is mapped to the actual position of the three-dimensional
object 14 in the movement coordinate system of the moving module
250.
[0097] After the coordinate system conversion step is completed,
the coloring action applied to the outline image Pp on the user
interface 120 can enable the coloring application to generate
corresponding track information based on the movement coordinate
system of the moving module 250.
[0098] In some embodiments, the coloring application may be
implemented by a computer program product, so that after a computer
(that is, the electronic device), is loaded with the coloring
application and executes the coloring application, the automatic
coloring method according to any embodiment of the present
invention may be performed. In some embodiments, the computer
program product may be a readable recording medium, and the
coloring application is stored in the readable recording medium to
be loaded into a computer. In some embodiments, the coloring
application may be a computer program product, and transmitted to
the computer in a wired manner or wireless manner.
[0099] In view of the above, the automatic coloring system and
method according to the present invention have the coloring design
process (executed by the electronic device), and the actual
coloring process (executed by the automatic coloring machine), that
are separable, so that the user can design and exchange a colored
pattern anytime anywhere. Further, the automatic coloring system
and method according to the present invention enable an external
device to provide a coloring procedure to be directly executed by
the automatic coloring machine, thereby facilitating simplification
of the structure of the automatic coloring machine. For example,
the control unit of the automatic coloring machine does not need to
have a powerful processing function, and may be implemented by, for
example, a. microcontroller, or the automatic coloring machine does
not need to be provided with the image capturing module. In some
embodiments, by directly providing track information represented by
three-dimensional coordinates, the automatic coloring machine can
execute the actual coloring process more precisely. In some
embodiments, by directly presenting a three-dimensional simulated
image, the coloring action in the coloring design process is closer
to that in the actual coloring process.
[0100] While the present invention has been described by the way of
example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed
embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various
modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit
and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be
accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *