Fashion previewing system

A fashion previewing system having improved optical and color characteristics for allowing the previewing of various hair styles and colors, and other fashion items. The previewing system utilizes a slide projector for projecting a hair style in realistic color onto a rear projection screen. Forward of the screen is a lens, coated on the projector side of the lens with an anti-reflective coating, and coated on the opposite side thereof with a partially reflective coating. The outer surface of the lens with the partially reflective coating thereon is convex so as to reflect the facial image of the viewer back to the viewer. The inner surface of the lens is flat or curved in cooperation with the outer surface to make the hair style projected by the projector visible to the viewer in proper proportion to the reflected facial image. The slides containing the hair style and color to be projected are preferably characterized by a blackened face and neck region and an appropriate background color. Each slide has associated therewith an indicia indicative of the color. Colored (synthetic) hair samples are also provided for comparison with the present actual hair color having an indicia of color associated therewith. By entering the two indicia into the system, a display and/or a print out of the preparations, mixes and procedures required to change hair color from the present color to the selected color is presented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to the field of hair coloring and previewing 
apparatus, and more particularly to fashion previewing apparatus for 
providing a composite image comprising the combination of the image of the 
viewer combined with a preselected image, such as a hair style and color. 
2. Prior Art 
Various types of previewing systems are well known in the prior art. Of 
particular interest to the present invention is the prior art relating to 
previewing systems for providing an optical illusion comprising the 
superimposition of a hair style, preferably in color, over an image of the 
viewer's face so that the viewer may obtain an advanced look at a proposed 
hair style and/or hair color change. Such equipment has direct application 
in beauty salons, and could be used as an aid in the presentation and sale 
of hair coloring compounds provided it was accompanied by appropriate 
coloring information and the color reproduction of the previewing system 
was sufficiently accurate. Obviously however, such equipment also has 
potential uses with respect to previewing hats, clothing, etc. as a 
substitute for or an extension of substantial inventories of such items in 
a retail outlet. In any event such equipment is known in the prior art, 
though prior to the present invention the quality of the illusion, the 
quality of the color reproduction and the versatility of the equipment 
were substantially limited, thereby limiting the usefulness and 
reliability of such equipment, particularly as a basis for making 
determinations with respect to hair coloring. 
The inventor of the present previewing system is also the inventor or one 
of the inventors of prior art previewing devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
Nos. 2,545,675; 2,808,757; and 2,899,860. In the '675 patent, light from 
the viewer's face is reflected off a pair of mirrors in the apparatus to 
be presented on a backlighted screen facing the viewer, the light being 
focused to present the viewer's facial image by a lens in the apparatus. A 
plurality of transparent plates each having thereon an artistic 
reproduction of a coiffure are disposable just forward of the viewing 
screen so that the image on the plate is viewable in conjunction with the 
image of the viewer's face. In such apparatus the light intensity of the 
image is low because of the limited light from the viewers face and the 
diffusion thereof by the screen. 
In the '757 patent, the light from the viewer's face is reflected off a 
pair of mirrors in the apparatus, with a lens focusing the facial image at 
a plane within the apparatus. Disposable within that plane are the 
transparent plates containing the hair style, with the facial image and 
the hair style image being refocused for viewing by a second lens. Facial 
image intensity is improved in this apparatus, though the balance between 
images and the quality of the images are limited. 
In the '860 patent, an individual slide on a turret-like slide holder is 
illuminated by a lamp, with the light passing therethrough then passing 
through an appropriately colored segment of a turret-like color wheel. 
That image then proceeds through a series of lenses, being focused thereby 
for viewing by the viewer through a partially reflecting mirror, which 
mirror also presents the viewer's facial image to present a composite 
image of a viewer's face with the coiffure superimposed thereon. In an 
alternate embodiment, the light passing through the slide holder and color 
wheel is focused on a diffusion screen so that the image thereon is 
viewable through the partially reflecting mirror. 
In the foregoing systems color of the hair style could not be reproduced 
with any degree of accuracy, particularly with an accuracy required to 
provide a basis for the viewer's actual selection of the desired color. In 
addition, in the '675 and '757 systems, each slide had to be manually 
placed in position generally requiring an operator of the equipment to 
obtain the desired effect and to take the required care with the 
relatively delicate slides. Similarly in the '860 system, operation was 
most convenient with a machine operator, as the color wheel and slide 
holder are too remote for the convenient manipulation of a viewer. In that 
regard the systems of the '675 and '860 patents are specifically set up so 
that an operator may also view the image from behind or above the 
apparatus as an aid in the operation thereof. Finally, even in the '860 
system a number of coiffures and colors which could be presented were 
highly limited, as the number of slides disposable on the slide holder and 
colors on the color wheels are necessarily limited. 
Another fashion previewing apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,061,378. 
That system is similar to the system of the '675 patent with respect to 
the presentation of the facial image on a back lighted screen, though 
includes a film projector therebehind projecting through a mask to present 
the coiffure on the back of the viewing screen also, the mask masking the 
face and neck regions though freely lighting the regions surrounding the 
coiffure. Other examples of related viewing apparatus include those 
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,232,110; 2,297,844; 2,711,667; 2,729,141; 
2,796,801 and 3,507,570. These devices however are substantially different 
in purpose and function and accordingly not described in detail herein. 
As previously mentioned, prior art fashion previewing apparatus has not 
generally allowed the accurate reproduction of color to form the basis of 
a person's selection of a new hair color. For this purpose the 
manufacturers of hair coloring products generally provide various aids 
which more accurately allow the selection of a new color and the 
determination of the formulas and procedures required to change from a 
given hair color to a selected new color. By way of example, Clairol 
Incorporated puts out what they refer to as color rings which comprise 
swatches of hair-like synthetic fiber colored and appropriately identified 
to correspond with the various colors obtainable through the use of 
Clairol products. The various swatches on the color rings may be compared 
with a person's existing hair color to obtain an identification of the 
"before" parameters. Clairol also puts out a hair color formula dial 
having the various colors attainable by a given series of their coloring 
products and an inner rotatable member which when aligned with the 
person's present hair color will reveal the formulations and procedures 
required to change hair color to each of the other colors. While perfect 
uniformity and predictability of color change is not achieved reasonable 
accuracy results from the use of the color rings and hair color formula 
dial. Of course the selection of a new hair color based on the use of the 
color rings does not allow one the advantage of viewing oneself with the 
illusion of a coiffeur of the selected color. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A fashion previewing system having improved optical and color 
characteristics for allowing the previewing of various hair styles and 
colors, and other fashion items, by a viewer. The previewing system 
utilizes a slide projector for projecting a hair style in realistic color 
onto a rear projection screen. Forward of the screen is a lens, coated on 
the projector side of the lens with an anti-reflective coating, and coated 
on the opposite side thereof with a partially reflective coating. The 
outer surface of the lens with the partially reflective coating thereon is 
convex so as to reflect the facial image of the viewer back to the viewer 
in reduced size. The inner surface of the lens is flat or curved in 
cooperation with the outer surface and other parameters to make the hair 
style projected by the projector visible to the viewer in proper 
proportion to the reflected facial image so as to superimpose the 
projected hair style onto the head of the viewer. The slides containing 
the hair style and color to be projected are preferably characterized by a 
blackened face and neck region and an appropriate background color. Each 
slide has associated therewith an indicia indicative of the color. Colored 
(synthetic) hair samples are also provided for comparison with the present 
actual hair color having an indicia of color associated therewith. By 
entering the two indicia into the system, a display and/or a print out of 
the preparations, mixes and procedures required to change hair color from 
the present color to the selected color is presented. Other features and 
various embodiments are disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a fashion previewing apparatus particularly suited 
for the previewing of personal fashion items through the illusion of 
superimposition of the image of the fashion items over or around the image 
of the viewer, thereby allowing the viewer to make a judgement regarding 
his personal tastes in appearance without requiring the "trying on" of the 
particular fashion item. This is particularly desirable in instances where 
economic interests limit inventories of the actual item which might be 
used by a prospective customer such as, by way of example, eyeglass 
frames, and in instances where the "trying on" of the fashion item by its 
nature comprises the actual purchase or use of the product or service 
being previewed. Examples of this latter category include the previewing 
of hair styles and color which otherwise are not susceptible to the more 
usual "trying on", though it is to be understood that the present 
invention is also directly applicable to the previewing of a wide range of 
products and services ranging from various forms of wearing apparel such 
as hats and the like to the previewing of cosmetic and corrective surgery, 
orthodontics and the like. Since the preferred embodiment of the present 
invention is used for the previewing of hair styles and color, and such 
embodiment is an ideal exemplary embodiment because of the need for 
accurate overlying of a hair style and color on a facial image and the 
highly discriminating tastes of purchasers of hair coloring products and 
hair dressing services, such embodiment will be used as one of the 
exemplary embodiments herein. 
Now referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of one embodiment of the 
present invention may be seen. The fashion previewing apparatus, generally 
indicated by the numeral 20, is characterized by an enclosure 22 having a 
front panel surface 24 on which a projected image 26 of the hair color and 
style to be previewed is superimposed over a reflected facial image 28 of 
the viewer, generally indicated by the numeral 30. Other characteristics 
and features of this embodiment which may be seen in FIG. 1 include a 
circular magazine 32 in the upper rear portion of the previewing apparatus 
for holding a plurality of film slides, and various manual controls 34 for 
controlling certain viewer functions. In addition, a remote control unit 
36 is coupled to the apparatus 20 through a cable 38 so that the viewer 
using the apparatus may control the selection of hair styles and color 
being presented from the viewing position without an operator being 
required. While the controls may be varied depending upon the nature of 
the subject matter being viewed, in the case of hair styles and color, 
four basic hair styles will allow a viewer to select one of the styles of 
the viewer's preference and then cycle through the various colors within 
that style sequence for color selection. Accordingly, appropriate controls 
for a device of this type may include an advance control 40 for presenting 
the slides in sequence, a reverse control 42 for allowing the viewer to 
"back-up" within a group of slides, and a field control 44 for advancing 
between fields, i.e. from any position within the group of slides for a 
particular hair style to the next hair style. This in effect allows a 
rapid advance through the various hair styles to locate the one for which 
the viewer desires to review the specific color variations. In that 
regard, major slide group headings may be placed on the carousel magazine 
or tray 32 in a manner readily visible to the viewer as the magazine 
rotates with the indexing, so as to also be useful in identification of at 
least gross location. Fine location, i.e. specific identification of 
individual slides being used, and more specifically the identification of 
the color, coloring product identification and/or other characterization 
of the slide being viewed may also be on the carousel or may be on the 
slide itself so as to be visible by the viewer such as, by way of example, 
in region 46. 
Now referring to FIG. 2, a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the 
forward portion thereof cut away to show that region in cross-section may 
be seen. Forward of the screen 48 of the projector is a lens 50 supported 
from a forward frame 52 by clamps 54 attached to the forward frame by 
screws 56. 
The lens 50 in the preferred embodiment has a convex outer surface and a 
concave inner surface. In addition, the outer surface is coated with a 
partially reflective coating 60 (see FIG. 4) and the inner surface is 
coated with an anti-reflective coating 62. When the viewer 30 is 
positioned in front of the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 2, light from 
the viewer's face is partially reflected off the coating 60 so that the 
viewer will see the reflected image. The image will be smaller than life 
size because of the convex curvature of the reflective surface. Of course, 
the viewer's hair as well as the background, etc. are also reflected back 
so as to theoretically be visible to the viewer, though as shall 
subsequently be seen, the viewer's perception of these reflected images is 
minimized. A thin transparent protective coating 24 may be placed over the 
partially reflective coating 60, or as an alternative a transparent plate 
(glass or plaster) may be placed in front of the lens, though care must be 
taken to avoid creating ghost images as a result of reflections from the 
plate. 
As previously mentioned, the projector projects a color image of the 
desired hair style onto the rear projection screen 48 at the front of the 
projector, which image is viewable through lens 50 and the partially 
reflecting surface 60 thereof. In essence, the projected colored hair 
style is superimposed over the facial image of the viewer so that the 
illusion of the viewer wearing the hair style and color projected is 
created. 
In prior art equipment wherein a second image is to be superimposed over a 
reflected image, the second image is commonly presented on a transparent 
plate, with the background region either being black or transparent 
(though masking of the face and neck regions was known). In the present 
invention, however, the image on the slides and thus the projected image 
viewable through the front of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 is 
characterized by the desired color hair style 64, a blackened face and 
neck region 66 and a complimentary colored background region 68. (The word 
colored as used herein with respect to the background on the slides is 
used in the general sense and includes the colors white and grey, as 
opposed to clear and black.) The colored background is believed to be 
highly beneficial not only for providing a pleasing image but also for 
maximizing the quality of the image and minimizing certain undesirable 
characteristics. In particular, if the background region of the slides 
were clear, this would create bright white regions on the rear projection 
screen 48 surrounding the projected hair image which would also be seen by 
the observer. The high intensity in these areas would act as a veiling 
glare basically causing the viewer's eyes to close down substantially so 
that the reflected facial image would be perceived very dimly. Further, 
the high intensity in the background region coupled with the partial 
internal reflections of that light from the various surfaces of the lens 
would cause some illumination of the center or facial region thereby 
further veiling the facial image and diluting the color values. On the 
other hand, with a blackened background region the foregoing effects are 
eliminated, though ghosting may appear for other reasons. Accordingly, by 
making the background region of the slides colored to present a soft 
complimentary background for the projected hair style, a pleasing 
background may be readily created having sufficient light to subdue the 
external reflections, but insufficient to significantly effect the 
apparent intensity of the reflected facial image and the projected hair 
style. Of course the face and neck region is blackened for the reason that 
the only desired light in this region is that of the reflected facial 
image. 
The quality of the illusion created is dependent upon a number of 
parameters including the appropriate sizing of the projected hair image 
for the reflected facial image, the realism of the color, the balance of 
light intensity between the reflected and projected images, etc. Balancing 
of the intensity of the two images may be achieved by the appropriate 
selection of the partial reflectivity of the lens coating and extent of 
illumination of the viewer's face. In that regard, in the preferred 
embodiment fluorescent bulbs 70 are provided at each side of the apparatus 
to provide predetermined illumination of the viewer's face. Separation of 
this lighting away from the viewing region a substantial amount is 
desirable to again avoid veiling of the images, and accordingly separate 
lighting to the sides of the apparatus may also be used. 
Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention 
may be seen. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 
through 4 in many respects, being simpler in certain design aspects, and 
incorporating a number of mechanical and electronic features making it 
ideal for use in retail outlets for hair coloring products as well as in 
beauty salons. In particular, the advantages of being able to accurately 
preview a new hair color by creating the illusion of the customer or 
prospective customer actually wearing a hairstyle of that color have 
already been described. This embodiment, however, goes further by allowing 
a customer or prospective customer to also identify the present hair color 
and to receive specific instructions regarding formulas and procedures for 
changing from the existing hair color to the selected hair color. In the 
specific embodiment disclosed the formulas and procedures are printed out 
on tape so that the prospective customer is given a printed record of the 
products and procedures required to achieve the desired hairstyle. 
Obviously by identifying the formulas by way of a specific manufacturer's 
trademark, this embodiment will greatly promote the sale of that 
manufacturer's products when placed on a retail store counter. Also, as 
shall subsequently be seen, because of the operational simplicity of this 
embodiment, prospective hair coloring product customers may readily use 
the device without the attention or instruction of the clerk. In fact, 
this embodiment will provide the previewing hereinbefore unattainable and 
automatically specify products and procedures normally well beyond the 
capabilities of the average retail clerk, all of course without the 
attention of the retail clerk. 
The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is generally characterized by a base 72 
supporting a main housing 74 within which the main functional apparatus is 
housed. At the front of housing 74 is a screen 76 generally corresponding 
to the front panel 24 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. To each side of the 
screen or front panel 76 are a plurality of openings 78 behind which are 
mounted appropriate lights for illuminating the user's face in a 
controlled manner to obtain proper contrast between the facial image and 
the projected hairstyle and color image. At the side of the screen 76 is a 
small keyboard-like device 80 and a printer generally indicated by the 
numeral 82. Also, under the forward portion of the housing 74 and fastened 
to the base 72 are a plurality of colored synthetic hair swatches 84 
corresponding to the hair coloring product manufacturer's colors. In the 
specific embodiment each color also has associated therewith a 
manufacturer's color identification (frequently trademarks) and specific 
two digit number, which color identification and two digit number 
associated with each haircolor are presented in region 86 so as to each be 
associated with the corresponding color swatch. 
For purposes of specificity in the disclosure of an exemplary embodiment, 
the embodiment will be described with respect to Miss Clairol products 
manufactured by Clairol Incorporated (Miss Clairol and certain other marks 
mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Clairol Incorporated). The 
Miss Clairol line (at least as identified on a hair color formula dial put 
out by Clairol) has twenty-eight distinct colors, each of which is 
identified by a general description, a two-digit number and a Clairol 
color designation or trademark. By way of example, the color generally 
identified as True Ash Blond is identified as number 32 Moon Haze, Moon 
Haze being a registered mark of Clairol. (The twenty-eight colors are not 
numbered in sequence, but all contain two digits with the first digit 
always being non-zero). When one places the center arrow of the rotatable 
panel on the Clairol hair color formula dial on any one of the 
twenty-eight colors corresponding to the closest current hair color, 
twenty-seven small window-like openings in the other twenty-seven segments 
of the rotatable panel expose twenty-seven separate printed formulations 
and other directions. Each of these twenty-seven printed instructions and 
formulations are associated with a respective one of the other 
twenty-seven colors, so that to change from the color on which the arrow 
is centered to one of the other twenty-seven colors, the formulations and 
directions are visible through the respective window associated with the 
new color. By way of specific examples, to change from Light Ash Brown to 
a True Ash Blond, the formulation is one ounce of Number 32 (True Ash 
Blond), one ounce of Number 28 (Light Ash Blond) and two ounces of 
developer. To change from Light Ash Brown to a lighter color such as a 
Honey Blond, the hair is first pre-lightened and then a formulation of two 
ounces of Number 41 (Honey Blond) and two ounces of developer are used. 
Now referring to FIG. 6 a portion of the front of housing 74 showing the 
keyboard 80 and the printer 82 may be seen. On the keyboard 80 is a button 
84 labeled CLR (clear). The keyboard itself comprises twelve switches, ten 
of which are 0 through 9, and anyone of which may be selected at any time. 
The printer 82 is of the self-feed type, supplied by a roll of paper 
behind the panel and advanced automatically as appropriate so that a user 
of the device may readily tear-off the printed instructions, once they 
have been printed by the printer and advanced to an appropriate tear-off 
position. Once the user of the device identifies the current hair color by 
number (two-digit number) and similarly identifies the selected new color 
by number, the user depresses the clear button 84, then enters the 
two-digits of the present color followed by the two digits of the newly 
selected color. This causes circuitry, to be described herein, to 
print-out the specific procedure and formulation required (generally using 
the trademarks of the specific company to identify the products) and to 
advance the paper tape 86 dispensed therefrom during and after printing so 
that the user may readily tear-off the printed instructions for use as a 
shopping memo and for the mixing of the products purchased. 
In order to provide the conversion between the data entered through the 
keyboard to the formulations and instructions for obtaining the desired 
hair color, a microprocessor based processing and control system is 
provided in the exemplary embodiment. Certain details of this exemplary 
embodiment will be given herein, though it is to be understood that such 
information is given by way of example only, and not as by way of 
limitation, or even as being the best possible manner of achieving the 
desired result, though at the present time it represents the best 
contemplated approach. Specifically, the microprocessor which is used is 
an 8 bit microprocessor system which includes read only memory (ROM) for 
program and other information storage, and some random access memory (RAM) 
for temporary data storage. Before providing a detailed description of the 
circuitry, however, a description will be given of the manner of 
organizing the input, processing and output data so as to take advantage 
of the capabilities of such a processor. 
The twenty-eight colors on the hair color formula dial under consideration 
are numbered with various numbers ranging from a low of 12 to a high of 
68. In addition, the various formulations used to change from any of the 
twenty-eight colors to any of the other twenty-eight colors include two 
colors beyond the twenty-eight, giving thirty total colors. If each of the 
two digit numbers entered by the keyboard is converted to a unique binary 
number utilizing a look-up table for the conversion, each of the thirty 
colors may be represented by a unique five bit binary number. In addition, 
an examination of the 756 combinations (28 times 27 combinations) 
indicates certain patterns which may be used to formulate relatively 
simple algorithms for converting or translating two five bit binary 
numbers representing the old and the new hair colors to the specific 
preparations and procedures for achieving the new hair color. In 
particular, 234 of the combinations call for a standard prelightening 
step, which prelightening step is always followed by a mixture of 2 ounces 
of the new hair color and 2 ounces of developer. Consequently, for these 
234 combinations, the mere recognition that prelightening is required 
(coupled with the fact that the desired hair color has already been 
identified) provides all the information required for the products to be 
used to achieve the desired result. 
Of the remaining 522 combinations, 364 of them call for the use of a 
mixture of one color and developer. Of the 364 combinations, 362 of them 
call for the use of 2 ounces of the desired color and 2 ounces of the 
developer, with one calling for 2 ounces of the new color and 3 ounces of 
developer, and the remaining one calling for 2 ounces of a different 
(known) color and 2 ounces of developer. Consequently, for these 598 
combinations (364 plus 234) a look-up table may be constructed in read 
only memory using two eight bit bytes for each color combination. In 
particular, numbering the eight bits of each byte zero through seven, bits 
zero through four of the first byte may be used to identify the old color 
and bits zero through four of the second byte may be used to identify the 
new color. Thus when a user enters the old color number followed by the 
new color number, the microprocessor will scan the look-up table to find a 
two byte word wherein there is a match in the first five bits of the first 
byte for the old color number, and simultaneously a match in the first 
five bits of the second byte for the new color number. This is illustrated 
in FIG. 8, which shows the identification of bits in each of the two bytes 
of the two byte word stored in this look-up table, identified for 
subsequent reference as Table A. It will be noted from this Figure that of 
the remaining six bits, three bits are used for additional 
identifications. In particular, bit seven of byte two is used to indicate 
whether the prelightening step is used (a yes or no indication) which if 
used will initiate an appropriate output routine as subsequently described 
herein. If this bit indicates that the prelightening step is not used, 
then bit six is tested to determine whether the preparation comprises a 
mixture of 2 ounces of the new color and 2 ounces of developer. If it 
does, the appropriate output routine for this combination is initiated. 
Finally, if bits 7 and 6 indicate that no prelightening step is used and 
the mixture is not 2 ounces of the new color and 2 ounces of developer, 
bit 5 is tested to determine whether or not 3 ounces of developer is to be 
used. If it is, this identifies one of the remaining two combinations 
hereinbefore described, whereas if the indication is negative, then the 
other of the remaining two combinations is specified. Accordingly, a 
look-up table (Table A) comprising a series of two bit words may be used 
to store all information required to initiate the appropriate output 
commands for 598 of the 756 combinations. (Thus look-up Table A comprises 
2.times.598=1,196 eight bit bytes.) 
Of the remaining 158 combinations, 156 of them have no prelightening step 
and use two colors, one of which is always the desired new color. 
Consequently, a second look-up table, referred to herein as Table B, may 
be constructed comprising three byte words as shown in FIG. 9. In addition 
to the designation of the old color in five bits of the first byte and the 
new color as five bits of the second byte, the second color is contained 
in five bits of the third byte. Further, an examination of the hair color 
formula dial shows that for these combinations the amounts and proportions 
of colors and developer vary, the number of different amounts of color 
designated being 7 (including the 2 ounce designation). Three different 
designations are given for the developer. Accordingly, the remaining 3 
bits of the second byte is used to specify the amount of new color, the 
remaining 3 bits in the third byte to specify the amount of the second 
color, and two of the remaining 3 bits of the first byte being used to 
designate the amount of developer. 
Finally, for the remaining two combinations there is no prelightening step, 
a mixture of three colors and developer is used, and one of the three 
colors is always the selected new color. In addition, the amounts of color 
and developer fall within a sub-set of the previously described amounts 
for Table B. Accordingly, for these two combinations Table C may be 
created (see FIG. 10) containing four byte words, the first three being 
the same as in Table B, and the fourth merely specifying the third color 
and the amount thereof. Obviously, since there are only two combinations 
which fall into this general classification, Table C is only comprised of 
two four byte words (or eight bytes total). 
In accordance with the foregoing, it may be seen that all the information 
for the 756 combinations allowable on the hair color formula dial may be 
stored in read only memory in 1,672 eight bit bytes for subsequent 
interrogation and use based upon the color combination entered through the 
keyboard by a user of the equipment. The manner of use of the look-up 
table and the general logic flow in the microprocessor based system shall 
be hereinafter given, though first a schematic of the microprocessor 
system will be described. In particular, referring to FIG. 11, a schematic 
representation of a suitable microprocessor based system may be seen. The 
microprocessor 120 shown in this Figure is presumed to be of the type 
having some internal data storage so that separate random access memory is 
not required (though obviously could be used if temporary data storage 
were not provided on the microprocessor itself). A suitable microprocessor 
for such a purpose may include the 8035 manufactured by Intel Corporation 
of Mountain View, California. This processor has no on-chip program 
memory, though includes a 64.times.8 random access memory for temporary 
storage. The device also has, among other things, an eight bit 
bidirectional data bus, two I/O ports and three additional lines giving it 
a total capacity (without expansion) of 27 I/O lines. It also has a reset 
line for initialization purposes. The microprocessor is coupled to the 
keyboard 122, a read only memory 124 and printer 126, only one bus system 
being shown in the figures, though of course functionally the keyboard, 
read only memory and printer must be separated either through the use of 
separate I/O lines and/or through unique addressing (which may require 
some external decoding). The keyboard 122 may be of any conventional 
design, and is most conveniently debounced through the use of conventional 
software debouncing techniques well known in the microprocessor arts. The 
read only memory 124 may be any conventional read only memory specially 
programmed, of course, for this particular application, though a 16k ROM 
organized as a 2k by eight is most convenient. While the entire look-up 
table hereinbefore described may readily be stored on a single read only 
memory chip leaving some program storage space, the read only memory 124 
may require a higher storage capacity (i.e. a second device or a larger 
storage chip) to store both the primary look-up table and the program. 
Suitable read only memories, however, are well known in the art such as by 
way of example, the 2316E manufactured by Intel Corporation. 
Exemplary logic diagrams for the programming of the microprocessor system 
may be seen in FIGS. 12 through 14, FIG. 12 presenting the logic for 
entering data from the keyboard, FIG. 13 presenting the logic for use of 
look-up Table A, and FIG. 14 the logic for the use of look-up Tables B and 
C. While these logical diagrams are exemplary only, it will be seen that 
the program may be particularly simple and readily stored in a read only 
memory of reasonable size. 
It may be seen from FIG. 12 that the program is initiated by a reset signal 
to the microprocessor (see also FIG. 11) caused by the operator's 
depression of the CLEAR button 84 (FIGS. 5 and 7). Thereafter the 
microprocessor repetitively scans the keyboard until one (and only one) 
key is depressed. If that is the first number of a two digit hair color 
designation, the microprocessor then scans the keyboard to determine when 
that key (and all the rest of the keys) is up, after which the keyboard is 
repetatively scanned to look for another key depression. After the 
depression of the second key, the two digit number that was entered is 
converted to a 5 bit number (block 130 of FIG. 12) using a separate 
look-up table for this purpose. If the two digit number cannot be found in 
this look-up table indicating that an improper two digit number was 
entered, this will be detected and the program terminated by the turning 
ON of a light illuminating an error indication as shown by the indicator 
88 of FIG. 11. Assuming that the two digits entered were proper, the 
conversion of those two digits (representing the old hair color) to the 5 
bit binary number will be completed and the answer temporarily stored. 
Thereafter the microprocessor will determine that only the first two 
digits representing the old hair color had been entered, at which time the 
keyboard will be tested for all keys up and the prior sequence repeated 
for the entry of the two digits indicating the new hair color. Thus, on 
entry of both the old color and the new color (four digits total) the 
program proceeds to the logic diagram of FIG. 13. 
In FIG. 13 the microprocessor tests the 2 byte words of look-up Table A to 
find the 2 byte word having the same old color and new color designations 
as entered through the keyboard and temporarily stored. Assuming such a 
two byte word is found, the word is tested to determine whether 
prelightening has been specified (determined by the bit 7 of the second 
byte of the 2 byte word as shown in FIG. 8). If prelightening is 
specified, then a predetermined print routine I is initiated, printing out 
specific instructions such as: 
Prelighten 
2 ounces Clairol No. xx 
2 ounces Clairol Developer 
In this print-out, of course, the xx will be the new hair color number as 
read by the print routine, either from the new color as entered and 
temporarily stored or from the corresponding byte of the 2 byte word in 
the look-up table for which a match in the old and new color was obtained. 
If a prelightening step is not designated, then the second byte of the 2 
byte word from Table A is tested to determine whether 2 ounces of color 
and 2 ounces of developer is specified. If so, print routine II will be 
initiated to print out the following: 
2 ounces Clairol No. xx 
2 ounces Clairol Developer 
Again the xx refers to the new color number. Finally if the information 
stored in that word of the look-up table indicates that 2 ounces of the 
new color and 2 ounces of the developer is not used, the data is further 
tested to determine whether 3 ounces of developer is used. If it is, print 
routine III will be initiated, thereby printing out the following as the 
only combination having no prelightening, using only the new color and 
having 3 ounces of developer. 
2 ounces Clairol No. 12 
3 ounces Clairol Developer 
Finally, if 3 ounces of developer is not indicated, print routine IV 
covering this unique combination is initiated to print out: 
2 ounces Clairol No. 48 
2 ounces Clairol Developer 
If the combination of old and new color is not found in Table A (during the 
tests of FIG. 13) Table B will be scanned. (See FIG. 14). If the 
combination of old and new color is found in Table B, print routine V will 
be initiated to print out the following: 
x ounces Clairol No. xx 
x ounces Clairol No. xx 
x ounces Clairol Developer 
In this case, of course, the x's represent coloring and developer amounts 
and coloring designations, with the first color always being the selected 
new color. Finally, if the old and new color combination is not found in 
Table B Table C is scanned, and if found therein, print routine VI is 
initiated printing out the following: 
x ounces Clairol No. xx 
x ounces Clairol No. xx 
x ounces Clairol No. xx 
x ounces Clairol Developer 
Depending upon exactly how the system is programmed, it may be possible for 
a combination of old and new color to be entered which will not be found 
in any of the look-up Tables A, B or C, in which case the error indication 
88 (FIG. 11) should again be turned ON. (One such combination would be the 
entry of identical color numbers for the old and new color). Also, of 
course, upon completion of any of the print routines, or on the receipt of 
the error signal, a halt instruction would be executed to put the system 
at rest prior to the next reset signal. 
The foregoing data reduction technique and the devices used, of course, 
have been specified herein merely as exemplary of that which may be used 
for the present invention. By way of example, since 1672 bytes are used 
for the look-up table in the example hereinbefore given, a 2k byte read 
only memory storage capability would allow the storage of the look-up 
table and still leave 376 bytes of program storage, which may be adequate 
for a well compacted data reduction program. In such event, an Intel 8049 
microprocessor could be used, which would eliminate the need for any 
external read only memory. Obviously other combinations could also be used 
such as on chip program storage and off chip look-up table storage, off 
chip temporary data storage etc., as will be readily apparent to those 
skilled in the art. Also if desired, the output information may simply be 
displayed on a display panel on the device, or displayed and printed out 
if desired. (A printed output has the advantage of operating as a shopping 
list, though the combination of a visual display and print out would 
provide the shopping list though still render the equipment usable in the 
event that it ran out of paper.) Actually, a voice output could also be 
incorporated if desired, as speech synthesizing programs and equipment are 
well known, though such form of output may be of value as much for its 
novelty as for its utility. Also, while the preferred embodiment utilizes 
a color designation right on the image being projected, such color 
designations could also be on the magazine containing the color slides. In 
fact, the color designation could be automatically read off the projector 
based upon the slide holder position, and automatically entered rather 
than entered by the user through the keyboard, though such an 
embellishment unnecessarily adds to the expense of the equipment and 
presents an opportunity for error because of the possible rearrangement of 
the slides all without significant increase in the convenience of use of 
the invention. These of course are only a few of the alternate forms which 
will be immediately obvious from the disclosure given herein. 
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 is a particularly simple 
embodiment in that the housing 74 is configured internally so as to 
receive a carousel projector without modification thereof. For such a 
projector, either the remote control capability may be used, or 
alternatively a simple release button coupled with the operator's manual 
rotation of the magazine may be used. The housing 74 has a section 
extending into a relieved area of the base 72 below the shaft 90 on which 
the knob 92 is mounted. The relieved area of the base is flat, though the 
portion of housing 74 extending down and being supported thereby is 
curved, specifically with the radius having a center approximately at the 
center of gravity of the entire housing assembly 74, so that the 
apparatus, once tilted for convenient use, will tend to remain at that set 
angle. The knob 92, however, provides a locking means for locking the 
housing 74 at the desired angularity with respect to the base 72 as a 
result of the rod 90 on which it is mounted being threaded into an insert 
94 in the opposite wall of the base 72. Thus, by rotation of the knob the 
base walls are locally deflected to tighten against the adjacent walls of 
the lower extension of the housing 74 to provide the desired locking 
action. Obviously, of course, other locking or friction inducing means may 
be disposed between the base 72 and the housing 74 to encourage the 
housing to remain at any set position. 
There has been described herein a new and particularly simple previewing 
apparatus which may be readily controlled by a user to preview any of a 
large number of selections. The apparatus in cooperation with the film 
slides used therewith provide high quality images with a soft background 
substantially free of veiling reflections. For previewing hair colors, one 
embodiment has been disclosed having the capability of translating or 
converting the present hair color and the desired new hair color to the 
specification of products or preparations and procedures for achieving the 
new hair color. Of course while preferred embodiments have been disclosed 
and described in detail herein it will be understood by those skilled in 
the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.