Patent · US12201797B2 · B2 · US

Robotic tattooing systems and related technologies

(11) Publication number

US12201797B2

(21) Application number

18/385,360

(22) Filing date

2023-10-30

(30) Priority date

2019-07-25

(43) Publication date

2025-01-21

(45) Date of grant

2025-01-21

(51) IPC

A61B 34/30; A61M 37/00; B25J 15/00; B25J 9/16; G05B 19/4155; G06Q 20/12; G06Q 20/38; G06Q 20/40; G06V 10/22; G06V 10/24; G06V 10/56; H04L 67/12

(52) CPC

A61M Devices for introducing media into, or onto, the body; devices for transducing body media or for taking media from the body; devices for producing or ending sleep or stupor {}: 37/0076, 2205/3306, 2205/6063, 2210/04, 37/0084
A61B Diagnosis; surgery; identification: 2034/2068, 2090/365, 2090/372, 2090/3937, 34/25, 34/30
B25J Manipulators; chambers provided with manipulation devices: 15/0019, 9/1679, 9/1697
G05B Control or regulating systems in general; functional elements of such systems; monitoring or testing arrangements for such systems or elements: 19/4155, 2219/50391
G06N Computing arrangements based on specific computational models: 3/0464, 3/09
G06Q Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not otherwise provided for: 20/1235, 20/3825, 20/40
G06V Image or video recognition or understanding: 10/225, 10/245, 10/56
H04L Transmission of digital information, e.g. telegraphic communication: 67/12

(73) Assignee

BLACKDOT INC

(72) Inventors

AZDOUD YAN; PENNINGTON JOEL RICHARD; WATTS ERIC NELSON; OZTURK DENIZ; SCOTT ANNA AILENE; KELLEY CHRISTOPHER DANIEL

(54) Title

Robotic tattooing systems and related technologies

(57) Abstract

An automatic tattoo apparatus can be used to robotically apply tattoos. A customer can shop on an online tattoo marketplace to select designs created by various artists located anywhere. The online tattoo marketplace can process and manage payments, artist and/or customer profiles, bookings, tattoo design uploads, browsing and design selection, design changes, and/or perform other actions. The automatic tattoo device can apply tattoos precisely, quickly, and may with reduced pain. The tattoo apparatus can apply a wide range of different types of tattoos, including but not limited to micro tattoos, dotwork, blackwork tattoos, realism tattoos, fine-line tattoos, etc.

Full text

View on Google Patents

Claims (23)

A method for applying a tattoo, comprising: receiving data associated with a tattoo design selected by a subject; generating a tattoo protocol based on a tattoo design; analyzing an area of the subject using an automatic tattooing apparatus; modifying the tattoo protocol based on the analysis of the area; and robotically executing the tattoo protocol to the area using the automatic tattooing apparatus.
The method of claim 1, further comprising generating tattooing instructions for the automatic tattooing apparatus based on the selected tattoo design and the analysis of the area.
The method of claim 1, further comprising providing payment to an artist who created the selected tattoo design, wherein the payment is a commission or royalty-based payment.
The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting needle extension, number of needle punctures, needle tip configuration, and/or number of needles to affect tattoo dot size, aesthetic quality, color saturation, color gradient, and/or color tone.
The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a digital representation of the tattoo design; and wherein the tattooing protocol is generated for applying the ink according to the digital representation of the tattoo design.
The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the tattoo design is via an online tattoo marketplace that allows browsing of tattoo designs and selecting of the tattoo design via a mobile application or a web browser.
The method of claim 6, wherein the tattoo designs available on the online tattoo marketplace are contributed by at least one of an artist, another user, company, or the subject.
The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the tattoo design into dot position settings and puncture settings.
The method of claim 8, further comprising generating actuator commands using a tattoo protocol executable by the automatic tattooing apparatus based on the dot position and puncture settings.
The method of claim 8, wherein the dot position settings are configured for injecting pigment at determining injection sites.
A method, comprising: receiving a user's selection of a tattoo design; and sending authorization data for the user's selection, wherein an automatic tattooing apparatus uses the authorization data to determine whether to robotically apply a tattoo.
The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization data is sent to the user's computing device, the automatic tattooing apparatus, or both.
The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization data includes a token for applying the selected tattoo design.
The method of claim 11, further comprising managing an online tattoo marketplace that allows browsing of tattoo designs and selecting of the tattoo design.
A method for pre-visualization of a tattoo design on a subject's body part, the method comprising: receiving one or more of images of a target site along the subject's body; analyzing the received one or more of the images; overlaying one or more images of the tattoo design on one or more images of the target site to produce at least one simulated image; and displaying the at least one simulated of the target site on a display device.
The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more images are collected via at least one of a machine vision device, a still-image camera, a video camera, or an augmented reality system.
The method of claim 15, further comprising using a machine vision system to identify the target site on the received one or more images.
The method of claim 15, wherein the display device is at least one of a display screen, an interactive display device, a touchscreen, or augmented reality goggles.
The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating simulated images of the tattoo design; overlaying simulated images of the tattoo design on the identified target site in the one or more received images; and generating simulated images of the target site showing the tattoo design on the subject's body part.
The method of claim 15, further comprising a display mechanism to display the simulated images of the target site.
The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a user input via a user interface; generating operations to modify a tattoo design based on the received user input; and modifying the appearance of the tattoo design on the simulated images of the target site.
The method of claim 21, wherein the user interface is at least one of an interactive display, a touchpad, a touch screen, a keyboard, or a mouse.
The method of claim 21, wherein the modification of the tattoo design includes translating, resizing, rotating, and/or stretching.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for tattooing and applying substances to skin.

To apply a tattoo, a tattooing device is held by a tattoo artist while the tattooing device vibrates a needle to inject pigment into the skin. If the injection is too deep, it may have a different hue due to scattering or may look blurred due to subdermal diffusion. If it is too superficial, it may not be held in proper position and may migrate to produce a blurred image or be gradually removed to produce a faded image as the dermis is recycled. Unfortunately, artistic ability varies between tattoo artists, and a particular tattoo artist may be unable to apply visually appealing tattoos. Tattoo artists may develop an expertise applying particular types of tattoos, such as micro tattoos, dotwork, blackwork tattoos, realism tattoos, or fine-line tattoos. An individual may want a tattoo that cannot be produced by a local tattoo artist, so the individual may travel to visit tattoo artists at other locations. In-demand tattoo artists often have exceptional skill that cannot be adequately replicated by other tattoo artists, so they may require booking weeks, months, or years in advance and the tattoos can be expensive. Accordingly, conventional tattooing equipment and techniques have numerous drawbacks.

In some embodiments, an automatic tattoo apparatus can be used to robotically apply tattoos. A customer can shop on an online tattoo marketplace to select designs created by various artists located anywhere.

Citations (119)

US10052469B2
US10130260B2
US10198821B2
US10229322B2
US10455808B1
US10692220B2
US10799129B2
US11058857B2
US11376407B2
US11547841B2
US11839734B2
US11890441B2
US2002110672A1
US2003095582A1
US2004146290A1
US2004267121A1
US2005172852A1
US2005234751A1
US2007004972A1
US2007006497A1
US2007032846A1
US2007060867A1
US2008027279A1
US2008033356A1
US2008039827A1
US2008078271A1
US2008195043A1
US2008208236A1
US2008214987A1
US2008247637A1
US2008273748A1
US2008300615A1
US2009000513A1
US2009183602A1
US2009227994A1
US2010030111A1
US2010245823A1
US2011148132A1
US2011230833A1
US2011242132A1
US2011246878A1
US2011272976A1
US2011288575A1
US2012040314A1
US2012192681A1
US2012300050A1
US2013046324A1
US2013098265A1
US2013278716A1
US2014324089A1
US2016030134A1
US2016067739A1
US2016127334A1
US2016324586A1
US2016328644A1
US2017259599A1
US2018000419A1
US2018147400A1
US2018177992A1
US2018361589A1
US2019294924A1
US2020311945A1
US2020376855A1
US2020398036A1
US2021060325A1
US2021386987A1
US2022152371A1
US2022323736A1
US2022370778A1
US2735780A
US3640889A
US3873687A
US4155886A
US4204438A
US4610806A
US4894547A
US5401242A
US6013122A
US6207874B1
US6208749B1
US6299307B1
US6341831B1
US6470891B2
US6550356B1
US6800122B2
US6890319B1
US7024033B2
US7207242B1
US7249712B2
US7344587B2
US7510603B2
US7634142B1
US7738032B2
US7922688B2
US7945302B2
US8036448B2
US8083422B1
US8090224B2
US8189905B2
US8452778B1
US8679096B2
US8811680B2
US8819024B1
US9022949B2
US9087297B1
US9364171B2
US9371957B2
US9445087B2
US9452281B2
US9486290B2
US9505134B2
US9589190B2
US9772270B2
WO2008085758A2
WO2015193513A1
WO2016109746A2
WO2018073439A1
WO2020178818A1
WO2021016590A1

Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US12201797B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Robotic tattooing systems and related technologies",
  "abstract": "An automatic tattoo apparatus can be used to robotically apply tattoos. A customer can shop on an online tattoo marketplace to select designs created by various artists located anywhere. The online tattoo marketplace can process and manage payments, artist and/or customer profiles, bookings, tattoo design uploads, browsing and design selection, design changes, and/or perform other actions. The automatic tattoo device can apply tattoos precisely, quickly, and may with reduced pain. The tattoo apparatus can apply a wide range of different types of tattoos, including but not limited to micro tattoos, dotwork, blackwork tattoos, realism tattoos, fine-line tattoos, etc.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for applying a tattoo, comprising: receiving data associated with a tattoo design selected by a subject; generating a tattoo protocol based on a tattoo design; analyzing an area of the subject using an automatic tattooing apparatus; modifying the tattoo protocol based on the analysis of the area; and robotically executing the tattoo protocol to the area using the automatic tattooing apparatus.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating tattooing instructions for the automatic tattooing apparatus based on the selected tattoo design and the analysis of the area.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing payment to an artist who created the selected tattoo design, wherein the payment is a commission or royalty-based payment.",
    "4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting needle extension, number of needle punctures, needle tip configuration, and/or number of needles to affect tattoo dot size, aesthetic quality, color saturation, color gradient, and/or color tone.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a digital representation of the tattoo design; and wherein the tattooing protocol is generated for applying the ink according to the digital representation of the tattoo design.",
    "6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the tattoo design is via an online tattoo marketplace that allows browsing of tattoo designs and selecting of the tattoo design via a mobile application or a web browser.",
    "7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tattoo designs available on the online tattoo marketplace are contributed by at least one of an artist, another user, company, or the subject.",
    "8. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the tattoo design into dot position settings and puncture settings.",
    "9. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating actuator commands using a tattoo protocol executable by the automatic tattooing apparatus based on the dot position and puncture settings.",
    "10. The method of claim 8, wherein the dot position settings are configured for injecting pigment at determining injection sites.",
    "11. A method, comprising: receiving a user's selection of a tattoo design; and sending authorization data for the user's selection, wherein an automatic tattooing apparatus uses the authorization data to determine whether to robotically apply a tattoo.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization data is sent to the user's computing device, the automatic tattooing apparatus, or both.",
    "13. The method of claim 11, wherein the authorization data includes a token for applying the selected tattoo design.",
    "14. The method of claim 11, further comprising managing an online tattoo marketplace that allows browsing of tattoo designs and selecting of the tattoo design.",
    "15. A method for pre-visualization of a tattoo design on a subject's body part, the method comprising: receiving one or more of images of a target site along the subject's body; analyzing the received one or more of the images; overlaying one or more images of the tattoo design on one or more images of the target site to produce at least one simulated image; and displaying the at least one simulated of the target site on a display device.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more images are collected via at least one of a machine vision device, a still-image camera, a video camera, or an augmented reality system.",
    "17. The method of claim 15, further comprising using a machine vision system to identify the target site on the received one or more images.",
    "18. The method of claim 15, wherein the display device is at least one of a display screen, an interactive display device, a touchscreen, or augmented reality goggles.",
    "19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating simulated images of the tattoo design; overlaying simulated images of the tattoo design on the identified target site in the one or more received images; and generating simulated images of the target site showing the tattoo design on the subject's body part.",
    "20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a display mechanism to display the simulated images of the target site.",
    "21. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a user input via a user interface; generating operations to modify a tattoo design based on the received user input; and modifying the appearance of the tattoo design on the simulated images of the target site.",
    "22. The method of claim 21, wherein the user interface is at least one of an interactive display, a touchpad, a touch screen, a keyboard, or a mouse.",
    "23. The method of claim 21, wherein the modification of the tattoo design includes translating, resizing, rotating, and/or stretching."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for tattooing and applying substances to skin.\n\nTo apply a tattoo, a tattooing device is held by a tattoo artist while the tattooing device vibrates a needle to inject pigment into the skin. If the injection is too deep, it may have a different hue due to scattering or may look blurred due to subdermal diffusion. If it is too superficial, it may not be held in proper position and may migrate to produce a blurred image or be gradually removed to produce a faded image as the dermis is recycled. Unfortunately, artistic ability varies between tattoo artists, and a particular tattoo artist may be unable to apply visually appealing tattoos. Tattoo artists may develop an expertise applying particular types of tattoos, such as micro tattoos, dotwork, blackwork tattoos, realism tattoos, or fine-line tattoos. An individual may want a tattoo that cannot be produced by a local tattoo artist, so the individual may travel to visit tattoo artists at other locations. In-demand tattoo artists often have exceptional skill that cannot be adequately replicated by other tattoo artists, so they may require booking weeks, months, or years in advance and the tattoos can be expensive. Accordingly, conventional tattooing equipment and techniques have numerous drawbacks.\n\nIn some embodiments, an automatic tattoo apparatus can be used to robotically apply tattoos. A customer can shop on an online tattoo marketplace to select designs created by various artists located anywhere.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61M 37/0076",
    "A61B 2034/2068",
    "A61B 2090/365",
    "A61B 2090/372",
    "A61B 2090/3937",
    "A61B 34/25",
    "A61B 34/30",
    "A61M 2205/3306",
    "A61M 2205/6063",
    "A61M 2210/04",
    "A61M 37/0084",
    "B25J 15/0019",
    "B25J 9/1679",
    "B25J 9/1697",
    "G05B 19/4155",
    "G05B 2219/50391",
    "G06N 3/0464",
    "G06N 3/09",
    "G06Q 20/1235",
    "G06Q 20/3825",
    "G06Q 20/40",
    "G06V 10/225",
    "G06V 10/245",
    "G06V 10/56",
    "H04L 67/12"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61B 34/30",
    "A61M 37/00",
    "B25J 15/00",
    "B25J 9/16",
    "G05B 19/4155",
    "G06Q 20/12",
    "G06Q 20/38",
    "G06Q 20/40",
    "G06V 10/22",
    "G06V 10/24",
    "G06V 10/56",
    "H04L 67/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BLACKDOT INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "AZDOUD YAN",
    "PENNINGTON JOEL RICHARD",
    "WATTS ERIC NELSON",
    "OZTURK DENIZ",
    "SCOTT ANNA AILENE",
    "KELLEY CHRISTOPHER DANIEL"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2023-10-30",
  "publication_date": "2025-01-21",
  "grant_date": "2025-01-21",
  "priority_date": "2019-07-25",
  "application_number": "US-202318385360-A",
  "family_id": "74192700",
  "citations": [
    "US10052469B2",
    "US10130260B2",
    "US10198821B2",
    "US10229322B2",
    "US10455808B1",
    "US10692220B2",
    "US10799129B2",
    "US11058857B2",
    "US11376407B2",
    "US11547841B2",
    "US11839734B2",
    "US11890441B2",
    "US2002110672A1",
    "US2003095582A1",
    "US2004146290A1",
    "US2004267121A1",
    "US2005172852A1",
    "US2005234751A1",
    "US2007004972A1",
    "US2007006497A1",
    "US2007032846A1",
    "US2007060867A1",
    "US2008027279A1",
    "US2008033356A1",
    "US2008039827A1",
    "US2008078271A1",
    "US2008195043A1",
    "US2008208236A1",
    "US2008214987A1",
    "US2008247637A1",
    "US2008273748A1",
    "US2008300615A1",
    "US2009000513A1",
    "US2009183602A1",
    "US2009227994A1",
    "US2010030111A1",
    "US2010245823A1",
    "US2011148132A1",
    "US2011230833A1",
    "US2011242132A1",
    "US2011246878A1",
    "US2011272976A1",
    "US2011288575A1",
    "US2012040314A1",
    "US2012192681A1",
    "US2012300050A1",
    "US2013046324A1",
    "US2013098265A1",
    "US2013278716A1",
    "US2014324089A1",
    "US2016030134A1",
    "US2016067739A1",
    "US2016127334A1",
    "US2016324586A1",
    "US2016328644A1",
    "US2017259599A1",
    "US2018000419A1",
    "US2018147400A1",
    "US2018177992A1",
    "US2018361589A1",
    "US2019294924A1",
    "US2020311945A1",
    "US2020376855A1",
    "US2020398036A1",
    "US2021060325A1",
    "US2021386987A1",
    "US2022152371A1",
    "US2022323736A1",
    "US2022370778A1",
    "US2735780A",
    "US3640889A",
    "US3873687A",
    "US4155886A",
    "US4204438A",
    "US4610806A",
    "US4894547A",
    "US5401242A",
    "US6013122A",
    "US6207874B1",
    "US6208749B1",
    "US6299307B1",
    "US6341831B1",
    "US6470891B2",
    "US6550356B1",
    "US6800122B2",
    "US6890319B1",
    "US7024033B2",
    "US7207242B1",
    "US7249712B2",
    "US7344587B2",
    "US7510603B2",
    "US7634142B1",
    "US7738032B2",
    "US7922688B2",
    "US7945302B2",
    "US8036448B2",
    "US8083422B1",
    "US8090224B2",
    "US8189905B2",
    "US8452778B1",
    "US8679096B2",
    "US8811680B2",
    "US8819024B1",
    "US9022949B2",
    "US9087297B1",
    "US9364171B2",
    "US9371957B2",
    "US9445087B2",
    "US9452281B2",
    "US9486290B2",
    "US9505134B2",
    "US9589190B2",
    "US9772270B2",
    "WO2008085758A2",
    "WO2015193513A1",
    "WO2016109746A2",
    "WO2018073439A1",
    "WO2020178818A1",
    "WO2021016590A1"
  ]
}

Record 137 of 5,000 in Patents full text (MLC-0201). Request the full dataset.