Abstract: An optical blade and a hair cutting device is configured to cut a hair near skin of a human body part or animal body part. The optical blade maybe used in a hair cutting device and includes a blade body configured to guide optical radiation, and a tapered end configured to allow the optical radiation to exit the optical blade. The tapered end includes a reflector configured to redirect the optical radiation before it exits the optical blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The hair removal system comprises a hair detection device and a hair removal device (20; S3) operatively coupled to the hair detection device, wherein the hair detection device comprises an imaging device comprising a first image sensor (12; S1) which is constructed and arranged to detect an image of a part of a skin (30) to be treated, and a control unit (18) adapted to discern, in the image, a hair (32) on the part of the skin (30), and operatively coupled to the hair removal device (20; S3) so as to control its operation, characterized by preventing means coupled to the control unit (18) and being adapted to disable the hair detection device or the hair removal device during a preventing period after the control unit has discerned the respective hair for the first time.

Abstract: A detector for detecting a birefringent object near a skin surface of a human body part or an animal body part includes a source for emitting optical radiation having first and second wavelengths and an incident polarization state. An imaging unit is configured to image the birefringent object near the surface includes a detection unit for detecting optical radiation scattered and/or reflected by the birefringent object and/or the surface at the first and second wavelengths. A control unit is configured to process a signal from the detection unit for discrimination between the birefringent object and the surface. The detection unit is configured to detect scattered and/or reflected optical radiation coming from the birefringent object and/or the surface, having a first polarization state corresponding to the incident polarization state and a second polarization state being different from the first polarization state.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical blade and a hair cutting device, adapted for cutting a hair near skin of a human body part or animal body part. The optical blade (1), especially for use in a hair cutting device, comprises a blade body (3) adapted for guiding optical radiation, and a tapered end (2) adapted for allowing the optical radiation to exit the optical blade (1), wherein the tapered end (2) comprises a reflector adapted for redirecting the optical radiation before it exits the optical blade. In this way the balance of closeness vs. irritation is improved beyond the capabilities of conventional shaving systems and an optical blade is provided which is insensitive to the type of shaving additive used, while the manufacturing of the optical blade is made easier and costs are reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector and a method, adapted for detecting a birefringent object near a surface, and to a shaving device adapted for detecting and for cutting a hair near a skin surface of a human body part or an animal body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The hair removal system comprises a hair detection device and a hair removal device (20; S3) operatively coupled to the hair detection device, wherein the hair detection device comprises an imaging device comprising a first image sensor (12; S1) which is constructed and arranged to detect an image of a part of a skin (30) to be treated, and a control unit (18) adapted to discern, in the image, a hair (32) on the part of the skin (30), and operatively coupled to the hair removal device (20; S3) so as to control its operation, characterized by preventing means coupled to the control unit (18) and being adapted to disable the hair detection device or the hair removal device during a preventing period after the control unit has discerned the respective hair for the first time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser device, comprising a laser material (1) brought into a simmer mode. A controllable source (7, 17) of additional energy (16, 20) supplies energy to the laser material (1), such that in only a desired part of the laser material (1) a lasing threshold is exceeded, and a laser beam (10) is emitted from only a desired part of the laser surface. This device makes possible to provide a laser beam in just the desired part of the laser, which allows a flexible and localized output. The invention further relates to a hair-removing device comprising a laser device according to the invention and further comprising an optical system (6) for focusing the laser beam pulses on a focal spot (12) and for positioning the focal spot in a target position, wherein the optical system (6) comprises a movable lens or a plurality of individually addressable lenses.

Abstract: There is provided a device for imaging a skin object (7) near a skin surface of a body part, comprising a light source (1) and a detector (8) for detecting radiation returning from said object (7), wherein the device further comprises an elliptical, preferably circular, polarizer (4, 19) between the source (1) and said skin (6) surface, the device comprising a 5 ratio increaser means (3, 4, 19) for increasing the ratio of radiation from said object (7) to radiation from said skin (6) surface. The ratio increaser may be an additional or the same elliptical polarizer. Using elliptically or even circularly polarized light makes hair detection independent of the orientation of hair (7) with respect to light or polarization, which renders 10 the detection more reliable. The invention also provides an imaging method and a hair-shortening device and method.