Systems and methods to initiate and perform the painting of an area of interest on a finger

Abstract

Systems and methods to initiate and perform the painting of an area of interest on a finger are herein disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of capturing an image of the finger in response to receiving a request to paint the area of interest on the finger and using the image of the finger to ascertain an area of interest of the fingernail to be painted. One embodiment includes, in response to determining that the user is satisfied with the area of interest that has been determined, initiating the painting of the area of interest and/or depicting, in real time, the painting of the area of interest to the user.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A system to decorate a nail, the system, comprising:
 an applicator unit;   wherein, when in operation, the applicator unit applies a material to decorate the nail;   a finger positioning unit operably coupled to the applicator unit;   wherein, in operation, the finger positioning unit facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the applicator unit;   a processing unit operably coupled to the applicator;   a memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:   operate the applicator unit to initiate the decoration of the nail.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
 wirelessly receive firmware updates over the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a reservoir head coupled to the applicator unit;   wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:   move the reservoir head to initiate the decoration of the nail.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
 depict, in real time, the decoration of the nail to the user.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform one or more of:
 continuously receive an image stream of the finger in real time, at least a portion of the image stream of the finger being stored for image processing;   perform one or more of an edge detection algorithm and a contour detection algorithm to determine an area of interest of the nail for decoration.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 an imaging system coupled to the processor;   wherein, the imaging system is able to capture an image of the nail.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a cradle;   a base unit to which the cradle is attached;   wherein the applicator unit is coupled to the base unit.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a cradle;   wherein, the cradle is adapted to receive or hold an external device.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein, the external device includes a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 ,
 wherein, the external device includes an imaging unit;   wherein, when in operation the imaging unit is operable to capture an image of the nail to be colored and to perform image processing techniques on the nail to be colored.   
     
     
         30 . A system to paint a target, the system, comprising:
 an applicator unit;   wherein, when in operation, the applicator unit applies a material to paint the target;   a positioning unit operably coupled to the applicator unit;   wherein, in operation, the positioning unit facilitates positioning of the target relative to the applicator unit;   a processing unit operably coupled to the applicator;   a wireless communication interface;   a memory unit coupled to the processing unit, the memory unit having stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:   wirelessly receive firmware updates over the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising, a drying mechanism;
 wherein the applicator unit comprises one or more motors or a micro-electrical mechanical assembly.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
 operate the applicator unit to paint the target.   
     
     
         33 . A system to color a nail, the system, comprising:
 an applicator unit;   wherein, when in operation, the applicator unit applies a material to color the nail;   a finger positioning unit operably coupled to the applicator unit;   wherein, in operation, the finger positioning unit facilitates positioning of the nail relative to the applicator unit;   a processing unit operably coupled to the applicator;   a memory unit coupled to the processing unit.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a reservoir head coupled to the applicator unit;   wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:   activate the reservoir head via an application signal;   move the applicator unit and the reservoir head to initiate the coloring of the nail.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to, perform one or more of:
 operate the applicator unit to initiate the painting of the target;   wirelessly receive firmware updates over the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a wireless communication interface;   wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:   wirelessly receive firmware updates over the wireless communication interface.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a cradle;   a portable electronic device held in the cradle, the portable electronic device having a touch sensitive screen;   wherein, the portable electronic device is operable to detect contact with a touch sensitive screen of the portable electronic device and communicate commands generated from the contact with the touch sensitive screen to the applicator unit to color the nail.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a cradle;   a portable electronic device held in the cradle, the portable electronic device having an internal camera;   wherein, the internal camera of the portable electronic device is an imaging unit of the system; and   wherein, when in operation, the imaging unit captures an image of the nail to be colored.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein, the memory unit has stored thereon further instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to:
 perform image processing techniques to ascertain an area of interest of the nail to be colored;   receive, from the portable electronic device, indications of the area of the nail to be colored;   determine that the user is satisfied with the area of interest that has been determined;   paint the nail, based on the indications of the area of the nail.