Patent Application
20160198966
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2015-003905, filed Jan. 13, 2015, and No. 2015-045582, filed Mar. 9, 2015, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a biological information measuring module, and a biological information measuring apparatus, a light detecting apparatus, a light detecting module, and an electronic apparatus which include the biological information measuring module.
2. Related Art
Hitherto, there have been known measuring modules that are worn around body parts, such as a wrist, by a band or the like and measure biological information such as a wearer's pulse waves, and wristwatch type wrist devices having a function of measuring the biological information. For example, Pamphlet of International Publication No. 2014/091424A2 discloses a biological information measuring apparatus which is worn around the arm (wrist) of a wearer (test subject) and is mounted with a biological information measuring module that measures biological information, such as pulse waves, using an optical detection sensor.
Such a biological information measuring module using an optical detecting sensor (optical sensor) and the biological information measuring apparatus using the biological information measuring module optically measure the flow of blood under a skin surface which is a measurement object and convert the measured blood flow into a signal to thereby obtain biological information such as pulse waves, and thus it is important to reduce noise components included in light received by the optical detecting sensor in order to increase measurement accuracy. On the other hand, Pamphlet of International Publication No. 2014/091424A2 proposes that a gap is not provided between a light receiving element and a skin surface which is a measurement object of a wearer (test subject).
In addition, measurement using a light detecting apparatus (optical sensor) is adopted in various fields, and, for example, a spectroscopic sensor is used in order to diagnose and inspect an object. In the light detecting apparatus, there is a concern for a problem caused by a measurement environment such as the erosion of the apparatus which is caused by moisture existing in the measurement environment. In addition, in a type of light detecting apparatus worn on a body, there is also a concern for erosion caused by sweat, and the like. For this reason, it is also considered that the wiring of the light detecting apparatus has to be protected by a silicon nitride film. In this case, light transmittance may deteriorate, and the oxide film (insulating film) is maintained as it is.
Regarding problems of the environmental resistance (or moisture resistance) and light transmittance, in the invention disclosed in JP-A-2014-165191, such problems are solved by using a thin silicon nitride film and silicon oxynitride film. In addition, in the invention disclosed in JP-A-6-21470, a plurality of thin silicon nitride films and silicon oxide films are alternately laminated on each other, thereby solving such problems.
However, in a biological information measuring module and a biological information measuring apparatus using the biological information measuring module disclosed in Pamphlet of International Publication No. 2014/091424A2, a wearing state varies due to on exercise or body motion of a wearer (test subject) who is a user, and thus a gap may be generated between a light receiving element and a skin surface, which results in a difficulty in reducing noise components. Therefore, there have been demands for a biological information measuring module capable of reducing noise components and accurately measuring biological information even in a state where a wearing state varies due to on exercise or body motion of a wearer (test subject) who is a user, and a biological information measuring apparatus using the biological information measuring module.
In addition, in the inventions disclosed in JP-A-2014-165191 and JP-A-6-21470, it is necessary to additionally laminate a particular film such as a silicon oxynitride film, and thus there is a problem in that the throughput and cost of a manufacturing process may deteriorate.
An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.
A biological information measuring module according to this application example includes alight emitting unit that emits light; a light receiving unit that receives the light via an object; and a multilayered film optical filter that is provided on the light receiving unit on a side where the light is incident. The multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of five or more layers and 120 or less layers.
According to this application example, since the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of five or more layers and 120 or less layers, it is possible to cut optical components (noise components) which are unnecessary for the measurement of biological information such as, for example, pulse waves and to accurately measure biological information. On the other hand, as the number of layers laminated of the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter increases, the number of formation processes increases, which results in a deterioration in productivity. In addition, when the number of layers laminated exceeds 120, effects (characteristics) as the multilayered film optical filter have few changes. In other words, the effects (characteristics) in a case where the number of layers laminated is 120 are not different from those in a case where the number of layers laminated is equal to or greater than 121, and thus the lamination of 121 or more layers in which the number of formation processes increases is not necessary. Therefore, the number of layers laminated of the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter is set to be equal to or greater than five and equal to or less than 120, and thus it is possible to efficiently cut optical components (noise components) which are unnecessary for the measurement of biological information without degrading productivity, and to provide the biological information measuring module capable of accurately measuring biological information.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of ten or more layers and 120 or less layers.
According to this application example, the number of layers laminated of the multilayered film optical filter is set to be ten or more, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 2%.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of twenty or more layers and sixty or less layers.
According to this application example, the number of layers laminated of the multilayered film optical filter is set to be twenty or more, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 0.1%. In addition, the number of layers laminated of the multilayered film optical filter is set to be sixty or less, and thus it is possible to further improve the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of twenty three or more layers and sixty or less layers.
According to this application example, the number of layers laminated of the multilayered film optical filter is set to be twenty three or more, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 0.05%. Therefore, it is possible to drastically reduce the transmittance of unnecessary optical components (noise components) while improving the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter with sixty or less layers laminated.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of forty or more layers and sixty or less layers.
According to this application example, the number of layers laminated of the multilayered film optical filter is set to be forty or more, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to rigorously cut light, having a wavelength of 300 nm to 500 nm and having a wavelength of 600 nm to 1000 nm, which serves as a noise component during the measurement of pulse waves. Therefore, it is possible to drastically reduce light having a wavelength of 300 nm to 500 nm and having a wavelength of 600 nm to 1000 nm, which serves as a noise component during the measurement of pulse waves while improving the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter with sixty or less layers laminated.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body of twenty three or more layers and forty or less layers.
According to this application example, it is possible to efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components) and to further improve the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a reflective functional layer is provided in at least a portion of a vicinity of the light emitting unit.
According to this application example, light emitted from a peripheral direction of the light emitting unit can be made to be reflected by a reflective functional layer and to be directed to an object. Thereby, it is possible to increase the intensity (light emission intensity) of light directed to the object and to stabilize the measurement accuracy of biological information.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a frame is provided between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.
According to this application example, it is possible to prevent light emitted from the light emitting unit from directly reaching (being incident on) the light receiving unit by the frame disposed between the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit. Thereby, it is possible to allow light having less noise components to be incident on the light receiving unit and to further improve the measurement accuracy of the biological information measuring module.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the frame is formed of a resin or a metal.
According to this application example, the resin or the metal is a material which is easily obtained and processed, and thus it is possible to easily form the frame.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the biological information measuring module further includes a supporting unit and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are supported by a supporting surface of the supporting unit.
According to this application example, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are supported by the supporting surface of the supporting unit, and thus it is possible to achieve space saving and to realize the compact biological information measuring module.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a light condensing member is provided on the light emitting unit on a side where the light is emitted.
According to this application example, light emitted from the light emitting unit is condensed by the light condensing member and is directed to an object, and thus it is possible to increase the intensity of the light. Consequently, light incident on the light receiving unit can be intensified, and thus it is possible to accurately perform measurement.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a plurality of the light emitting units are provided.
According to this application example, the plurality of light emitting units are provided, and thus it is possible to secure more sufficient light emission intensity. In addition, biological information is detected by detecting light beams from the plurality of light emitting units, and thus it is possible to configure the biological information measuring module having further improved measurement accuracy.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a plurality of the light receiving units are provided.
According to this application example, the plurality of light receiving units are provided, and thus it is possible to receive a greater amount of light (light with high intensity) and to configure the biological information measuring module with improved measurement accuracy.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the laminated body is configured such that an oxide film and a nitride film are alternately laminated on each other.
According to this application example, the oxide film and the nitride film are alternately laminated on each other, and thus some of incident light changes to transmitted light and reflected light at the boundary between the oxide film and the nitride film. Further, a portion of the reflected light is reflected from the boundary again and is combined with transmitted light. At this time, light having a wavelength that conforms to the length of a light path of the reflected light strengthen due to conformity between phases of the reflected light and the transmitted light, and light having a wavelength that does not conform to the length of a light path of the reflected light weakens due to unconformity between phases of the reflected light and the transmitted light. Thereby, only light having a necessary wavelength can reach the light receiving unit. Therefore, it is possible to configure the biological information measuring module capable of performing measurement more accurately.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the lowermost layer of the laminated body on the light receiving unit side is an oxide film.
According to this application example, the oxide film has high adhesiveness with respect to a substrate (for example, a silicon substrate) which is generally used as a base material of the light receiving unit, and thus it is possible to suppress risk such as peeling.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that the lowermost layer of the laminated body on the light receiving unit side is a nitride film.
According to this application example, since the nitride film has a higher refractive index than that of an oxide film, the lowermost layer located to be close to the light receiving unit is configured as a nitride film, and thus it is possible to more effectively reflect unnecessary light.
In the biological information measuring module according to the application example, it is preferable that a resin film is provided on the multilayered film optical filter.
According to this application example, it is possible to increase a waterproofing property and an antifouling property of the multilayered film optical filter by the resin film.
A biological information measuring apparatus according to this application example includes the biological information measuring module according to any one of the above-mentioned application examples.
According to this application example, detection (measurement) can be performed more accurately, and the biological information measuring module having a small size and excellent portability is provided, and thus it is possible to stably detect biological information during exercise or the like and to provide the biological information measuring apparatus having a small size and excellent portability (wearability).
A light detecting apparatus according to this application example includes a semiconductor substrate; a light detecting element that is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a wiring that is formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a multilayered film optical filter that is formed on the light detecting element and the wiring. The multilayered film optical filter is formed in such a way that the wiring is positioned inside a region in which the multilayered film optical filter is formed, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.
According to this application example, the multilayered film optical filter is formed in such a way that the wiring is positioned inside the region in which the multilayered film optical filter is formed, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate, thereby preventing the wiring from getting wet by water. Accordingly, it is possible to improve moisture resistance and light transmittance while suppressing a manufacturing cost.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the light detecting apparatus may include a pad for external connection of the light detecting apparatus, and the multilayered film optical filter may be formed so as to have an opening at a position of the pad, when seen in the plan view.
According to this application example, it is possible to prevent the multilayered film optical filter from closing the pad.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the pad may be a pad for connecting an end of the light detecting element to the outside.
According to this application example, it is possible to electrically connect an end of the light detecting element to the outside.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the light detecting apparatus may further include a light shielding layer that is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the multilayered film optical filter may be formed in such a way that the light shielding layer is positioned inside a region in which the multilayered film optical filter is formed, when seen in the plan view.
According to this application example, it is possible to shield light in a region in which the light detecting element is not formed.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the multilayered film optical filter may be formed in such a way that one side of the multilayered film optical filter is positioned between one side of the light detecting apparatus and one side of the light shielding layer which faces the one side of the light detecting apparatus, when seen in the plan view.
According to this application example, the multilayered film optical filter can be formed so as to cover the light shielding layer.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the wiring is a wiring for electrically connecting the pad and an end of the light detecting element.
According to this application example, it is possible to electrically connect an external device and the light detecting element.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the light detecting apparatus may further include an insulating layer. When a direction when seen in the plan view is set to be a first direction and a direction perpendicular to the first direction is set to be a second direction, the multilayered film optical filter may be formed on the second direction side of the insulating layer in an end of the insulating layer.
According to this application example, it is possible to prevent water from entering the inside of the light detecting apparatus from the side surface of the apparatus.
In the light detecting apparatus according to the application example, the multilayered film optical filter is formed so as to cover the wiring and the light detecting element when seen in the plan view.
According to this application example, the multilayered film optical filter can be formed in such a way that the wiring is positioned inside a region in which the multilayered film optical filter is formed, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.
A light detecting apparatus according to this application example includes a semiconductor substrate; a light detecting element that is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; alight shielding layer that is formed on the semiconductor substrate; and a multilayered film optical filter that is formed on the light detecting element and the light shielding layer. The multilayered film optical filter is formed in such a way that one side of the multilayered film optical filter is positioned between one side of the light detecting apparatus and one side of the light shielding layer which faces the one side of the light detecting apparatus, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.
According to this application example, the multilayered film optical filter can be formed so as to cover the light shielding layer. When the light shielding layer is a metal layer, it is possible to prevent corrosion caused by water.
A light detecting module according to this application example includes the light detecting apparatus according to any one of the above-mentioned application examples.
An electronic apparatus according to this application example includes the light detecting apparatus according to any one of the above-mentioned application examples.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.
Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described. Meanwhile, this embodiment described below does not improperly limit the contents of the invention which are described in the appended claims. In addition, all of the components described in this embodiment are not necessarily essential components of the invention.
As illustrated in
The sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module includes a substrate 160, a light emitting unit 150, a light receiving unit 140, a wall portion 70 as a frame, and other members, as described later with reference to
Referring back to
The case portion 30 is equivalent to a main body portion of the biological information measuring apparatus. Various components of the biological information measuring apparatus such as the sensor unit 40 and the processing unit 200 (see
The case portion 30 is provided with a light emitting window portion 32. The light emitting window portion 32 is formed of a light transmitting member. In addition, the case portion 30 is provided with a light emitting unit (LED, alight emitting unit for a notice which is different from the light emitting unit 150 of the light detection unit) which is mounted on a flexible substrate, and light from the light emitting unit is emitted to the outside of the case portion 30 through the light emitting window portion 32.
As illustrated in
The sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module detects biological information such as pulse waves of a test subject. For example, the sensor unit 40 includes a light receiving unit 140 and a light emitting unit 150 as illustrated in
The biological information measuring apparatus 400 and the terminal device 420 are connected to each other for communication, and thus data can be exchanged therebetween. The terminal device 420 is a portable communication terminal such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a feature phone. Alternatively, the terminal device 420 may be an information processing terminal such as a tablet computer. Proximity wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be adopted as a communication connection between the biological information measuring apparatus 400 and the terminal device 420. In this manner, the biological information measuring apparatus 400 and the terminal device 420 are connected to each other for communication connection, and thus various pieces of information such as a pulse rate and consumed calories can be displayed on a display unit 430 (LCD or the like) of the terminal device 420. That is, various pieces of information obtained on the basis of the detection signal of the sensor unit 40 can be displayed. Meanwhile, the arithmetic processing of information such as a pulse rate or consumed calories may be performed by the biological information measuring apparatus 400, or at least a portion thereof may be performed by the terminal device 420.
The biological information measuring apparatus 400 is provided with the light emitting window portion 32, so that a user is notified of various pieces of information by light emission (lighting, blinking) of a light emitting body for a notice (not shown). For example, in the case of entering a fat combustion zone in information such as consumed calories or in the case of leaving the fat combustion zone, this is given notice of by the light emission of the light emitting body through the light emitting window portion 32. In addition, when an e-mail is received in the terminal device 420, the biological information measuring apparatus 400 is notified of the received e-mail from the terminal device 420. The light emitting body of the biological information measuring apparatus 400 emits light, and thus a user is notified of the reception of an e-mail or the like.
In this manner, in the example illustrated in
The sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module detects biological information such as pulse waves, and includes the light receiving unit 140 and the light emitting unit 150. A pulse wave sensor (photoelectric sensor) is realized by the light receiving unit 140, the light emitting unit 150, and the like. The sensor unit 40 outputs a signal detected by the pulse wave sensor as a pulse wave detection signal.
The body motion sensor unit 170 outputs a body motion detection signal which is a signal varying in response to body motion, on the basis of pieces of sensor information of various sensors. The body motion sensor unit 170 includes, for example, an acceleration sensor 172 as a body motion sensor. Meanwhile, the body motion sensor unit 170 may include a pressure sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like as the body motion sensor.
The processing unit 200 performs various types of signal processes and control processes, for example, with the storage unit 240 as a work area, and can be realized by, for example, a processor such as a CPU or a logic circuit such as an ASIC. The processing unit 200 includes a signal processing unit 210, a pulsation information arithmetic unit 220, and a notification control unit 230.
The signal processing unit 210 performs various types of signal processes (filtering and the like), and performs signal processing on, for example, a pulse wave detection signal from the sensor unit 40, a body motion detection signal from the body motion sensor unit 170, or the like. For example, the signal processing unit 210 includes a body motion noise reducing unit 212. The body motion noise reducing unit 212 performs processing for reducing (removing) body motion noise which is noise caused by body motion, from the pulse wave detection signal, on the basis of the body motion detection signal from the body motion sensor unit 170. Specifically, the body motion noise reducing unit performs a noise reduction process using, for example, an adaptive filter.
The pulsation information arithmetic unit 220 performs arithmetic processing of pulsation information on the basis of a signal from the signal processing unit 210, and the like. The pulsation information is information such as a pulse rate. Specifically, the pulsation information arithmetic unit 220 obtains a spectrum by performing frequency analysis processing such as FFT on the pulse wave detection signal having been subjected to the noise reduction process by the body motion noise reducing unit 212, and performs a process of setting a representative frequency in the obtained spectrum as a frequency of a heartbeat. A value obtained by increasing the obtained frequency by 60 times is set to be a pulse rate (heart rate) which is generally used. Meanwhile, the pulsation information is not limited to the pulse rate itself, and may be various other pieces of information (for example, the frequency or cycle of a heartbeat) which indicate, for example, a pulse rate. In addition, the pulsation information may be information indicating the state of pulsation, or a value indicating, for example, the amount of blood itself may be set as pulsation information.
The notification control unit 230 controls the notification unit 260. The notification unit 260 (notification device) notifies a user of various pieces of information under the control of the notification control unit 230. For example, a light emitting body for a notice can be used as the notification unit 260. In this case, the notification control unit 230 controls a current flowing to an LED to thereby control the lighting, blinking, or the like of the light emitting body. Meanwhile, the notification unit 260 may be a display unit, such as an LCD, a buzzer, or the like.
In addition, the notification control unit 230 controls the vibration generating unit 180. The vibration generating unit 180 notifies a user of various pieces of information by vibration. The vibration generating unit 180 can be realized by, for example, a vibration motor (vibrator). The vibration motor generates vibration, for example, by rotating an eccentric weight. Specifically, the eccentric weight is attached to both ends of a driving shaft (rotor shaft) so that the motor itself shakes. The vibration of the vibration generating unit 180 is controlled by the notification control unit 230. Meanwhile, the vibration generating unit 180 is not limited to such a vibration motor, and various modifications can be made. The vibration generating unit 180 may be realized by, for example, a piezo element.
For example, a notice of start-up at the time of power-on, a notice of the first success in detecting pulse waves, a warning when a pulse-wave undetectable state is continued for a fixed period of time, a notice at the time of the movement of a fat combustion zone, a warning at the time of a battery voltage drop, a notice of a wake-up alarm, or a notice of an e-mail or a call from a terminal device such as a smartphone can be performed by the vibration of the vibration generating unit 180. Meanwhile, the pieces of information may be given notice of by a light emitting unit for a notice, or may be given notice of by both the vibration generating unit 180 and the light emitting unit.
The communication unit 250 performs communication with the external terminal device 420 as described in
A detailed configuration example of the sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module will be described with reference to
First, Configuration Example 1 of the sensor unit 40 will be described with reference to
Meanwhile, a dome-type lens 151 (condensing lens in a broad sense) as a light condensing member which is provided in the light emitting unit 150 is a lens for condensing light from an LED chip (light emitting element chip in a broad sense) which is resin-sealed (sealed with a light transmitting resin) in the light emitting unit 150. That is, in the light emitting unit 150 which is a surface-mounted type, the LED chip is disposed below the dome-type lens 151, and light from the LED chip is condensed by the dome-type lens 151 and is emitted to an object. Thereby, the intensity of light with which an object is irradiated can be increased, and thus it is possible to improve the optical efficiency of the light detection unit (sensor unit 40) and to perform measurement more accurately.
In addition, as illustrated in
The photodiode element 135 is formed on the semiconductor substrate 141. The photodiode element 135 is formed by an impurity region formed therein by ion implantation or the like. For example, the photodiode element 135 is realized by a PN junction between a P-substrate and an N-type impurity region formed on the P-substrate. Alternatively, the photodiode element 135 is realized by a PN junction between a deep N-well and a P-type impurity region formed on the deep N-well (N-type impurity region).
The angle limiting filter 142 is formed of a light shielding material (light absorbing material or a light reflecting material) having a light shielding property with respect to a wavelength detected by the photodiode element 135. Specifically, the angle limiting filter 142 is formed by a wiring forming step of a semiconductor process, and is constituted by, for example, a conductive layer such as an aluminum (light reflecting material) wiring layer and a conductive plug such as a tungsten (light absorbing material) plug. An aspect ratio of the length of the base (for example, the longest diagonal line of the bottom face, or a major axis) of the angle limiting filter 142 to the height thereof is set in accordance with a transmission wavelength band of the multilayered film optical filter 148. An opening portion (hollow portion) of the angle limiting filter 142 is formed of a transparent material with respect to a wavelength detected by the photodiode element 135, and is formed (filled) of an insulating layer such as SiO2 (silicon oxide film).
The angle limiting filter 142 can be formed by a wiring layer forming step of another circuit (not shown) formed on the semiconductor substrate 141. Specifically, the angle limiting filter 142 is formed simultaneously with the formation of a wiring layer of the circuit, and is formed by the entirety or a portion of the wiring layer forming step. For example, the angle limiting filter 142 is formed by forming an aluminum (in a broad sense, a light reflecting material) wiring layer through aluminum sputtering, forming an insulating film through SiO2 deposition, or forming a contact through tungsten (in a broad sense, a light absorbing material) deposition. Meanwhile, the angle limiting filter 142 is not limited to the aluminum (light reflecting material) wiring layer and the tungsten (light absorbing material) contact, and may be formed of a wiring layer including a light absorbing material, such as tungsten, or a contact including a light reflecting material such as aluminum. Here, as the angle limiting filter is formed of a light absorbing material, a light shielding property increases.
The protection layer 136 is formed on the angle limiting filter 142. The protection layer 136 may be flat as illustrated in
The multilayered film optical filter 148 is also referred to as an optical bandpass filter, and is formed by a laminated body (multi-layered thin film), including the protection layer 136, which is laminated on the upper side of the semiconductor substrate 141. A transmission wavelength band of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is determined by the thickness of the laminated body, the inclination angle θ1 of the protection layer 136, an incident light limiting angle (aspect ratio) of the angle limiting filter 142, and the like. The multilayered film optical filter 148 is configured such that the transmission wavelength thereof varies depending on an inclination angle, and thus is laminated by the same multi-layered film forming step instead of being laminated separate steps for individual transmission wavelengths.
The multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed by a laminated body constituted by a plurality of sets of multi-layered thin films having different transmission wavelengths. For example, as illustrated in
For example, as illustrated in
The laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 which is constituted by multi-layered thin films is configured such that a silicon oxide (SiO2) film 143 as a first oxide film is provided as a first layer, a silicon nitride (Si3N4) film 144 as a first nitride film is provided as a second layer, a silicon oxide (SiO2) film 145 as a second oxide film is provided as a third layer, a silicon nitride (Si3N4) film 146 as a second nitride film is provided as a fourth layer, and a silicon oxide (SiO2) film 147 as a third oxide film is provided as a fifth layer from the protection layer 136 side, and subsequently, the films are alternately laminated on each other in this order. In this manner, the oxide film (silicon oxide (SiO2) film) and the nitride film (silicon nitride (Si3N4) film) are alternately laminated on each other, and thus some of incident light changes to transmitted light and reflected light at the boundary between the oxide film and the nitride film. Further, a portion of the reflected light is reflected from the boundary and is combined with transmitted light. At this time, light having a wavelength that conforms to the length of a light path of the reflected light strengthens due to conformity between phases of the reflected light and the transmitted light, and light having a wavelength that does not conform to the length of a light path of the reflected light weakens due to unconformity between phases of the reflected light and the transmitted light. Thereby, only light having a necessary wavelength can reach the photodiode element 135 that receives light. Therefore, measurement can be performed more accurately.
Meanwhile, in the drawing, a five-layered laminated body is shown as an example, but the invention is not limited thereto. It is preferable that the laminated body is constituted by a multi-layered thin film of five or more layers and 120 or less layers. When the laminated body is constituted by five or more layers, the laminated body can gradually improve a function as a wavelength limiting filter. On the other hand, as the number of layers laminated increases, the number of formation processes increases, which results in a deterioration in productivity. Here, even when the number of layers laminated exceeds 120, effects (characteristics) as the wavelength limiting filter have few changes. In other words, the effects (characteristics) in a case where the number of layers laminated is 120 are not different from those in a case where the number of layers laminated is equal to or greater than 121, and thus it may be said that the lamination of 121 or more layers in which the number of formation processes increases is not necessary. Therefore, the number of layers laminated of the laminated body which constitutes the multilayered film optical filter 148 is set to be equal to or greater than five and equal to or less than 120, and thus it is possible to efficiently cut optical components (noise components) which are unnecessary for the measurement of biological information without extremely degrading productivity.
Here, reference will be made to graphs illustrated in
Referring back to
Meanwhile, in the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 which is constituted by a multi-layered thin film, a first layer on the protection layer 136 side, that is, the lowermost layer of the laminated body can also be constituted by a nitride film such as silicon nitride (Si3N4). The nitride film has a higher refractive index than that of an oxide film. For this reason, the first layer as the lowermost layer which is located to be close to the photodiode element 135 is configured as a nitride film, and thus it is possible to more effectively reflect unnecessary light.
In addition, it is more preferable that the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a multi-layered thin film of ten or more layers and 120 or less layers.
In this manner, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is constituted by ten or more layers, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 2%.
In addition, it is more preferable that the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a multi-layered thin film of twenty or more layers and sixty or less layers.
In this manner, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is constituted by twenty or more layers, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 0.1%. In addition, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is constituted by sixty or less layers, and thus it is possible to further improve the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter 148.
In addition, it is more preferable that the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a multi-layered thin film of twenty three or more layers and sixty or less layers.
In this manner, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is constituted by twenty three or more layers, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 0.05%. Therefore, it is possible to drastically reduce the transmittance of unnecessary optical components (noise components) while improving the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter with sixty or less layers laminated.
In addition, it is more preferable that the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a multi-layered thin film of forty or more layers and sixty or less layers.
In this manner, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is constituted by forty or more layers, and thus it is possible to further efficiently cut unnecessary optical components (noise components). Specifically, it is possible to rigorously cut light, having a wavelength of 300 nm to 500 nm and having a wavelength of 600 nm to 1000 nm, which serves as a noise component during the measurement of pulse waves. Therefore, it is possible to drastically reduce light having a wavelength of 300 nm to 500 nm and having a wavelength of 600 nm to 1000 nm, which serves as a noise component during the measurement of pulse waves while improving the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter 148 with sixty or less layers laminated.
More preferably, the laminated body constituting the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a multi-layered thin film of twenty three or more layers and forty or less layers.
In this manner, the laminated body of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is configured, and thus it is possible to reduce the transmittance of light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component to approximately 0.05%, to efficiently cut light, having an unnecessary wavelength, which serves as a noise component, and to further improve the productivity of the multilayered film optical filter, thereby allowing production to be efficiently performed.
When a pulsimeter is taken as an example of the biological information measuring apparatus, light emitted from the light emitting unit 150 travels within a test subject which is an object, and is diffused or scattered to epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and the like. Thereafter, the light reaches a blood vessel (part to be detected) and is reflected. At this time, a portion of the light is absorbed into the blood vessel. Since the absorption of the light at the blood vessel varies by the influence of pulses and the amount of reflected light also varies, the light receiving unit 140 receives the reflected light and detects variations in the amount of light, and thus it is possible to detect a pulse rate which is biological information, and the like.
Such a biological information measuring apparatus optically measures the blood flow under a skin surface and converts the blood flow into a signal to thereby obtain biological information such as pulse waves and pulses. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of measurement and portability, it is important to reduce a noise component such as disturbance light in a light path between the light emitting unit 150 and the light receiving unit 140 and to reduce light (direct light or the like) which is directly incident on the light receiving unit 140 from the light emitting unit 150. From such a viewpoint, the inventors have found that it is effective to provide a frame (wall portion 70) as a light shielding unit to be described below.
The wall portion 70 as a frame is mounted on a supporting surface 160a of the substrate 160 between the light receiving unit 140 and the light emitting unit 150. The wall portion 70 is provided in the form of a plate wall so as to extend in a Y-axis direction along the outer circumferential sides of the light receiving unit 140 and the light emitting unit 150 facing each other. The wall portion 70 abuts on a test subject which is an object, for example, the skin of the test subject on the top face (upper surface) thereof, and a desired space is formed on the upper surfaces of the light receiving unit 140 and the light emitting unit 150. In addition, the wall portion 70 shields, for example, light such as direct light which is directly incident on the light receiving unit 140 from the light emitting unit 150 or light such as disturbance light, serving as a noise component, which is incident on the light receiving unit 140. In this manner, the wall portion 70 is provided, and thus it is possible to prevent light emitted from the light emitting unit 150 from directly reaching (being incident on) the light receiving unit 140. Thereby, it is possible to allow light having less noise components to be incident on the light receiving unit 140 and to further improve the measurement accuracy of the biological information measuring module.
The wall portion 70 can be formed by, for example, sheet metal working of a metal plate. In this manner, when the wall portion 70 is formed by sheet metalworking of a metal plate, the wall portion 70 having excellent strength can be easily formed of an inexpensive material, and light can be reflected by the metallic wall portion 70, and thus it is possible to allow a test subject which is an object to be efficiently irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting unit 150 or to allow reflected light from the test subject to be efficiently incident on the light receiving unit 140. Meanwhile, an example of a material of the wall portion 70 includes a resin such as rubber (including a natural resin and a synthetic resin) as a material other than a metal material. These materials can be easily obtained at a low cost, and allows the wall portion 70 to be easily formed.
Meanwhile, in this Configuration Example 1, a description has been given of a configuration in which the wall portion 70 as a frame is provided between the light receiving unit 140 and the light emitting unit 150 and has a wall shape extending in a Y-axis direction, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, as in a second embodiment to be described later, it is also possible to configure a ring-shaped frame (wall portion) which surrounds the outer circumference of the light receiving unit 140 or the light emitting unit 150. Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those described above are exhibited.
Connection terminals 274 electrically connected to a control unit, not shown in the drawing, are provided on the supporting surface 160a of the substrate 160 (sensor substrate) as a supporting unit. The connection terminal 274 is a terminal for electrical connection, and can be formed by applying gold (Au) plating to a metal layer, for example, a copper (Cu) layer. The connection terminal 274 is electrically connected to a connection terminal (not shown) provided on a rear surface 160b through a through-hole electrode (not shown) or the like. The connection terminals 274 and the connection terminal, not shown in the drawing, on the rear surface 160b side are provided on the substrate 160, and thus it is possible to compactly connect a supporting unit (substrate 160) and, for example, a control unit not shown in the drawing, or the like.
According to the configurations of the biological information measuring apparatus of the first embodiment described above and the sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module, the multilayered film optical filter 148 provided in the light receiving unit 140 is constituted by a laminated body having a predetermined number or more of layers laminated, and thus it is possible to cut optical components (noise components) which are unnecessary for the measurement of biological information such as pulse waves and to accurately measure biological information. In addition, the multilayered film optical filter is constituted by a laminated body having a predetermined number or less of layers laminated, it is possible to prevent a deterioration in productivity during the manufacture of the multilayered film optical filter 148. In this manner, it is possible to provide the biological information measuring apparatus capable of efficiently cutting optical components (noise components) which are unnecessary for the measurement of biological information and accurately measuring biological information, and the sensor unit 40 as a biological information measuring module.
Meanwhile, in the above-described configuration, a description has been given of an example in which the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a laminated body (multi-layered thin film) which is laminated on the upper side of the semiconductor substrate 141 through the protection layer 136, but the invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, it is also possible to apply a configuration in which the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed of a laminated body (multi-layered thin film) in which a thin film is laminated on the upper side of the semiconductor substrate 141 through the angle limiting filter 142, which is a configuration in which the protection layer 136 is not provided.
As described above, the above-mentioned light receiving unit 140 in the sensor unit 40 can be configured as a light detecting apparatus capable of contributing to the realization of highly-accurate measurement of biological information in a biological information measuring apparatus. Hereinafter, an example of a light detecting apparatus will be described. Meanwhile, the example to be described below does not wrongly limit the contents of the invention described in the appended claims. In addition, the entire configuration described in this example is not necessarily an essential element of the invention.
The light detecting apparatus has a problem that the securing of moisture resistance and the securing of light transmittance are contrary to each other. For example, when moisture resistance is secured by simply protecting the light detecting apparatus by a silicon nitride film, light transmittance deteriorates.
Consequently, in this example, the entirety of a semiconductor substrate is covered with a multilayered film optical filter. In other words, the multilayered film optical filter is provided not only with a function of controlling light transmittance but also with a moisture-resisting function. As disclosed in the above-described invention of JP-A-6-21470, alternate layers of titanium oxide (TiO2) and silicon oxide (SiO2) have high moisture resistance. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the maintenance of both moisture resistance and light transmittance without needing to add a new layer.
Specifically, a configuration of the light detecting apparatus of Example 1 is illustrated in
As illustrated in
The photodiode element 135 is constituted by an impurity region (for example, a diffusion layer) which is formed on the semiconductor substrate 141 (for example, a silicon substrate). When the impurity region is an N-type impurity region and the silicon substrate is a P type, a PN junction portion corresponds to the photodiode element 135.
Originally, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is a filter provided in order to limit a frequency band of light incident on the photodiode element 135. For example, not only reflected light of light emitted to an object from a light source but also external light or the like is incident on the light detecting apparatus, but such external light becomes noise when an electronic apparatus including the light detecting apparatus performs a measurement process. Consequently, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed on the upper surface of the photodiode element 135, and incident light is incident on the photodiode element 135 through the multilayered film optical filter 148. Thereby, it is possible to perform control so that only reflected light components of light emitted from a light source is incident on the photodiode element 135 by cutting external light components from incident light. Further, in a case where the light detecting apparatus is used for the purpose of measuring the inside of a human body, or the like, it is possible to limit a frequency band of incident light so that, for example, only light with a wavelength having a tendency to be absorbed into blood is transmitted.
In this example, the multilayered film optical filter 148 which is originally formed for the purpose of controlling light transmission is also provided with a role as a film improving moisture resistance.
Specifically, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed in such a way that the wiring 130 is positioned inside a region in which the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141. In other words, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is provided so as to cover the wiring 130 and the photodiode element 135 when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141. Meanwhile, the wording “direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141” as used herein refers to a direction perpendicular to a surface on which a circuit is formed. In addition, the wording “a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141” as used herein refers to a plan view when the semiconductor substrate 141 is seen from a predetermined point positioned in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141.
As illustrated in an enlarged view of
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the wiring 130 and the photodiode element 135 from being eroded by moisture. In addition, as described above, the multilayered film optical filter 148 can also maintain light transmittance. Further, in such a configuration, a new additional layer is not necessary, and thus a manufacturing cost does not increases compared to a configuration illustrated in
In addition, the light detecting apparatus of this example includes a pad 155 for external connection of the light detecting apparatus. The pad 155 has a structure for connecting an end of the photodiode element 135 to the outside (or a bonding wire).
Specifically, first, an end of the photodiode element 135 is electrically connected to the pad. The wording “an end of the photodiode element 135” as used herein refers to one terminal out of two terminals of a photodiode. More specifically, an end of the photodiode element 135 is an electrode (for example, a conductive plug 190) which is connected to an impurity region in which a photodiode is formed.
At this time, for example, the angle limiting filter 142 may be formed of the conductive plug 190. In this case, as illustrated in
Alternatively, an end of the photodiode element 135 may be an electrode that applies a potential to the silicon substrate. Meanwhile, another circuit element (resistor or the like) may be interposed between the photodiode element 135 and the pad 155.
A bonding wire, not shown in the drawing, is electrically connected to the pad 155, and the bonding wire is electrically connected to a terminal, not shown in the drawing, of a chip of the light detecting apparatus. Further, the terminal is electrically connected to a wiring of an external circuit board not shown in the drawing.
Thereby, it is possible to electrically connect an end of the photodiode element 135 to the outside.
The multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed so as to have an opening at the position of the pad 155, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141. In other words, the multilayered film optical filter 148 of this example does not necessarily have to be formed on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate 141, and may have an opening or the like in a portion thereof.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the multilayered film optical filter 148 from closing the pad 155. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to electrically connect a bonding wire to the pad 155.
In addition, the wiring 130 is a wiring for electrically connecting the pad 155 and an end of the photodiode element 135. Specifically, the wiring 130 is constituted by a metal layer such as aluminum on an insulating layer 175 (silicon oxide film).
Thereby, it is possible to electrically connect an external device and the photodiode element 135.
In addition, the light detecting apparatus of this example includes a light shielding layer 165 which is formed on the semiconductor substrate 141. The light shielding layer 165 is constituted by, for example, a metal layer. The multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed in such a way that the light shielding layer 165 is positioned inside a region in which the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141. Further, the light shielding layer 165 is formed so as to be positioned outside a region in which the photodiode element 135 is formed. Further, the light shielding layer 165 is disposed between the semiconductor substrate 141 or the insulating layer 175 and the multilayered film optical filter 148 in a cross-sectional view.
Thereby, it is possible to allow incident light to be transmitted in a region in which the photodiode element 135 is formed and to be shielded in a region in which the photodiode element 135 is not formed. In other words, when seen in a plan view of the light detecting apparatus in the example of
In addition, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is provided in such a way that one side of the multilayered film optical filter 148 is positioned between one side of the light detecting apparatus and one side of the light shielding layer 165 which faces one side of the light detecting apparatus, when seen in a plan view in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate 141. For example, in the example of
Thereby, the multilayered film optical filter 148 is formed so as to cover the light shielding layer 165, and thus it is possible to prevent the occurrence of erosion due to moisture when the light shielding layer 165 is a metal layer.
In addition, the angle limiting filter 142 is formed of a light shielding material (light absorbing material or a light reflecting material) which has a light shielding property with respect to a wavelength detected by the photodiode element 135. Specifically, the angle limiting filter 142 is formed by a wiring forming step of a semiconductor process, and is constituted by, for example, a conductive layer such as an aluminum (light reflecting material) wiring layer and a conductive plug such as a tungsten (light absorbing material) plug.
Here, the angle limiting filter 142 may not be necessarily provided in this example. For example, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next,
On the other hand, in Example 2, as illustrated in
Thereby, it is possible to prevent water from entering the inside of the light detecting apparatus from the side surface of the apparatus. Meanwhile, as illustrated in
The light detecting apparatus of the above-mentioned example is included in a light detecting module or an electronic apparatus. For example, the light detecting module includes a light detecting apparatus and a light emitting unit. In addition, the electronic apparatus is, for example, a measuring apparatus or a biological information detecting apparatus.
For example, when the electronic apparatus is a measuring apparatus, the measuring apparatus (biological information detecting apparatus) of
Next, another configuration example of the sensor unit 40 described above will be described with reference to
First, a sensor unit 60 according to Configuration Example 2 will be described with reference to
Specifically, it is preferable that the first light emitting unit 350, the light receiving unit 340, and the second light emitting unit 380 are disposed so that a distance between an outer circumferential side 350b of the first light emitting unit 350 on the light receiving unit 340 side and an outer circumferential side 340a of the light receiving unit 340 on the first light emitting unit 350 side is set to be equal to a distance between an outer circumferential side 380a of the second light emitting unit 380 on the light receiving unit 340 side and an outer circumferential side 340b of the light receiving unit 340 on the second light emitting unit 380 side.
According to the sensor unit 60 of Configuration Example 2, a plurality of light emitting units (in this example, the first light emitting unit 350 and the second light emitting unit 380) are provided, and thus it is possible to secure sufficient light emission intensity by light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units. In addition, biological information is detected by detecting light from the plurality of light emitting units, and thus it is possible to further improve measurement accuracy.
By this arrangement, the length of a light path between the first light emitting unit 350 and the light receiving unit 340 and the length of a light path between the second light emitting unit 380 and the light receiving unit 340 are set to be substantially the same as each other, and light beams emitted from the first light emitting unit 350 and the second light emitting unit 380 are incident on the light receiving unit 340 at substantially the same time, and thus it is possible to improve an S/N ratio. That is, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the biological information measuring apparatus.
Meanwhile, in Configuration Example 2 described above, a description has been given of a configuration in which the wall portion 70 as a frame has a wall shape extending in one direction, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, as in a second embodiment to be described later, it is also possible to configure a ring-shaped frame (wall portion) which surrounds the outer circumference of the light receiving unit 340 or the light emitting unit 350. Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those described above are exhibited.
Next, a sensor unit 80 according to Configuration Example 3 will be described with reference to
According to the sensor unit 80 of Configuration Example 3, a plurality of light receiving units (in this example, the first light receiving unit 840 and the second light receiving unit 870) are provided, and thus it is possible to receive a greater amount of light (light with high intensity) and to improve measurement accuracy.
In addition, similarly to Configuration Example 2 described above, the length of a light path between the light emitting unit 850 and the first light receiving unit 840 and the length of a light path between the light emitting unit 850 and the second light receiving unit 870 are set to be substantially the same as each other, and light beams emitted from the light emitting unit 850 are incident on the first light receiving unit 840 and the second light receiving unit 870 at substantially the same time, and thus it is possible to improve an S/N ratio. That is, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the biological information measuring apparatus.
Next, a sensor unit 90 according to Configuration Example 4 will be described with reference to
Specifically, a distance between an outer circumferential side 950b of the light emitting unit 950 on the first light receiving unit 940 side and an outer circumferential side 940a of the first light receiving unit 940 on the light emitting unit 950 side is different from a distance between an outer circumferential side 950b of the light emitting unit 950 on the second light receiving unit 970 side and an outer circumferential side 970a of the second light receiving unit 970 on the light emitting unit 950 side. In other words, a distance between the first light receiving unit 940 and the light emitting unit 950 is longer than a distance between the second light receiving unit 970 and the light emitting unit 950.
According to the sensor unit 90 of Configuration Example 4, the length of a light path between the light emitting unit 950 and the first light receiving unit 940 and the length of a light path between the light emitting unit 950 and the second light receiving unit 970 are different from each other, and a timing at which light emitted from the light emitting unit 950 is incident on the first light receiving unit 940 and a timing at which light emitted from the light emitting unit is incident on the second light receiving unit 970 are different from each other, and thus it is possible to acquire a larger amount of biological information.
Meanwhile, in Configuration Examples 3 and 4 mentioned above, a description has been given of a configuration in which the wall portion 70 as a frame has a wall shape extending in one direction, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, as in the second embodiment to be described later, it is also possible to configure a ring-shaped frame (wall portion) which surrounds the outer circumference of each of the first light receiving units 840 and 940, the second light receiving units 870 and 970, or the light emitting units 850 and 950. Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those described above are exhibited.
Next, the second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Similarly to the first embodiment described above, the biological information measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment is a heart rate monitoring apparatus which is worn on a living body (for example, a human body) of which biological information is measured, and which measures biological information such as a pulse (heart rate). Meanwhile, in the following drawings, each component has a size to the extent that the component can be recognized in the drawing, and thus a description may be given by appropriately making a dimension and proportion of each component different from those of an actual component. Also in the second to fifth embodiments, for example, the structure of the multilayered film optical filter 148 which is a component of the light receiving unit 140 described in the first embodiment can be similarly applied.
First, before a heart rate monitoring apparatus 1010 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment is described, an example of the art of the heart rate monitoring apparatus as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to
The sensor 1012 is a heart rate monitoring sensor that includes a light emitting element 1121 as a light emitting unit and a light receiving element 1122 as a light receiving unit which are two sensor elements and measures or monitors a heart rate. However, the sensor may be a sensor that measures one or more physiologic parameters (for example, a heart rate, blood pressure, the amount of air inhaled, skin conductivity, skin humidity, and the like). In addition, when the case 1014 includes a band-type housing, the heart rate monitoring apparatus can be used as a wristwatch type monitoring apparatus which is used in, for example, sport. Meanwhile, the case 1014 may have a shape capable of mainly holding the sensor 1012 at a desired position with respect to the user 1000, and may be able to arbitrarily accommodate more elements such as a battery, a processing unit, a display, and a user interface.
The biological information measuring apparatus of the existing example is the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1010 for monitoring a user's heart rate. The sensor 1012 is an optical sensor constituted by the light emitting element 1121 and the light receiving element 1122. An optical heart rate monitor using the optical sensor depends on the light emitting element 1121 (LED is generally used) as a light source that exposes the skin to light. The light emitted from the light emitting element 1121 to the skin is partially absorbed by blood flowing through a blood vessel under the skin, but the rest of the light is reflected and leaves the skin. The reflected light passes through a multilayered film optical filter provided on the light receiving element 1122 (photodiode is generally used) and is captured by the light receiving element 1122. A light reception signal from the light receiving element 1122 is a signal including information equivalent to the amount of blood flowing through the blood vessel. The amount of blood flowing through the blood vessel varies depending on pulse of the heart. In this manner, a signal on the light receiving element 1122 varies in response to the pulsation of the heart. In other words, a variation in the signal of the light receiving element 1122 is equivalent to the pulse of a heart rate. A pulse rate per unit time is counted (for example, per 10 seconds), to thereby obtain the number of beats of the heart for one minute (that is, a heart rate).
Hereinafter, a heart rate monitoring apparatus 1020 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to
In the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1020 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the second embodiment, light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 as a plurality of (two in this example) light emitting units and a light receiving element 1222 as one light receiving unit are disposed so as to be lined up in a row. Specifically, a sensor 1022 (in this example, two light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 as a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit and the light receiving element 1222 as a light receiving unit are used as three sensor elements) which includes at least two sensor elements is provided. Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, it is preferable that a wall portion 70 (see
The light receiving element 1222 as the light receiving unit is disposed between the two light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 as the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit. In addition, two light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 as the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit are disposed at line symmetrical positions with respect to a virtual line passing through the center of the light receiving element 1222 as the light receiving unit. The light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the light receiving element 1222 are disposed in such a manner, and thus it is possible to reduce dead space and to achieve space saving. In addition, light beams from both the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, which are located at line symmetrical positions, gather in the light receiving unit, and thus detection can be performed more accurately.
The sensor element detects a sensor signal. The sensor 1022 includes an optical sensor constituted by the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 using two LEDs for emitting light to the skin of a user, and a photodiode provided with at least one light receiving element 1222 (multilayered film optical filter) for receiving the light reflected from the skin. Further, the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1020 includes a case or a housing (not shown). The case or the housing may be similar to or the same as the case 1014 illustrated in
The sensor 1022 is carried on one surface of a carrier (substrate) 1026. Here, a configuration including the carrier (substrate) 1026 and the sensor 1022 carried on the carrier (substrate) 1026 corresponds to a biological information measuring module. Meanwhile, the same is true of the third to fifth embodiments. Light emitted from the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 can be reflected without being absorbed into the skin or the like, and can directly reach the light receiving element 1222. In other words, light including a user's biological information directly reaches the multilayered film optical filter functioning as a wavelength limiting filter, passes through the multilayered film optical filter, and is incident on a photodiode. In the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1020, a distance between the carrier 1026 and each of upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 is smaller than a distance between the carrier 1026 and an upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222. That is, a difference between the distance between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the distance between the carrier 1026 and an upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222 is Δh. The light receiving element 1222 receives light from the upper surface 1222a thereof which is the uppermost surface layer. According to these configurations, there is an effect that the most of light emitted from the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 is directed to the skin and reflected light is directly incident on the light receiving element 1222 without going through an air layer or the like. In other words, since a structure in which the light receiving element 1222 comes into close contact with the skin is formed, a structure in which a gap is not likely to be generated between the upper surface (light receiving surface) 1222a of the light receiving element 1222 and the skin can be formed, and thus it is possible to prevent light, such as external light, which serves as a noise source from being incident on the upper surface 1222a. In addition, light from the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 which does not pass through the skin, for example, light being directly incident on the light receiving element 1222 from the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 cannot reach the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222.
Next, a heart rate monitoring apparatus 1030 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1030 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to this third embodiment, the insulating material 1032 using an epoxy resin is provided, as an example which is generally implementable. In
In this manner, the insulating material 1032 is minimally disposed to the extent that a correct function of the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1030 is not hindered, and thus the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1030 can be further improved by protecting the electric connection terminals 1034 of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the light receiving element 1222. Meanwhile, although not shown in the drawing, it is more preferable that a wall portion 70 (see FIG. 16) having the same configuration as that in Configuration Example 3 described above is provided between the light receiving element 1222 and the light emitting element 1221 and between the light receiving element 1222 and the light emitting element 1223.
Meanwhile, it is more preferable to configure a heart rate monitoring apparatus 1040 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment as illustrated in
Next, a heart rate monitoring apparatus 1040 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to
In the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1040 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 created are disposed. The frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 are disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 as light emitting units and the light receiving element 1222 as a light receiving unit, and a space 1036 is formed between each of the frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 and each of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the light receiving element 1222. An insulating material (not shown in
In the example shown in the fourth embodiment, the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the light receiving element 1222 are surrounded by the respective frames 1041, 1042, and 1043. Meanwhile, as another example, all of the frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 may be coupled to each other, or all of the sensor elements may be surrounded by an integrated frame. Meanwhile, the frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 can be used as light shielding walls (wall portions) as examples of light shielding units. The frames 1041, 1042, and 1043 are used as light shielding walls (wall portions), and thus it is possible to prevent light emitted from the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 from being directly incident on the light receiving element 1222.
As an improvement for preventing the function of the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1040 from being affected, it is preferable that upper edges 1041a and 1043a of the frames 1041 and 1043 in the vicinity of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 are lower than the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223. In other words, a distance hFR−LED between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper edges 1041a and 1043a of the respective frames 1041 and 1043 is the same as or smaller than a distance hLED between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 which are surrounded by the respective frames 1041 and 1043 (hFR−LED≦hLED).
It is preferable that a difference between the distance hLED between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the distance hFR−LED between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper edges 1041a and 1043a of the respective frames 1041 and 1043 is set to be in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm. Meanwhile, it is more preferable that a difference between the distance hLED between the carrier 1026 of each of the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 and the distance hFR−LED between the carrier 1026 and each of the upper edges 1041a and 1043a of the respective frames 1041 and 1043 is set to be in a range from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.
In addition, it is preferable that an upper edge 1042a of the frame (receiver frame) 1042 in the vicinity of the light receiving element 1222 is higher than the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222. In other words, a distance hFR−PD between the carrier 1026 and the upper edge 1042a of the frame 1042 is larger than a distance hPD between the carrier 1026 and the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222 surrounded by the frame 1042 (hFR−PD>hPD).
It is preferable that a difference between the distance hPD between the carrier 1026 and the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222 and the distance hFR−PD between the carrier 1026 and the upper edge 1042a of the frame 1042 is set to be in a range from 0 mm to 0.5 mm. Meanwhile, it is more preferable that a difference between the distance hPD between the carrier 1026 and the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222 and the distance hFR−PD between the carrier 1026 and the upper edge 1042a of the frame 1042 is set to be in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm.
Further, the distance hFR−PD between the carrier 1026 and the upper edge 1042a of the frame 1042 is larger than the distance hLED between the carrier 1026 and the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 (hFR−PD>hLED).
Meanwhile, for example, when the light receiving element 1222 and the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 are close to each other, a configuration may be adopted in which only one frame wall is present between the light receiving element 1222 and each of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223. This may occur because of manufacturing easiness. When the one frame wall is a case, frame walls of the frames of both the light receiving element 1222 and each of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 are coincident with each other. This means that the frame walls of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 become relatively high. In detail, the frame wall on the light receiving element 1222 side of the frames 1041 and 1043 surrounding the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 become relatively high, and the other frame wall becomes lower than the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223.
Further, instead of the frames 1041, 1042, and 1043, a configuration may be adopted in which a first wall portion is provided between the light receiving element 1222 and the light emitting element 1221 or the light emitting element 1223 and a second wall portion is provided on the outside of the light emitting elements 1221 and 1223, that is, on the side opposite to the first wall portion with respect to the light receiving element 1222.
In such a configuration, a distance between the carrier 1026 and the upper surface of the first wall portion may be larger than a distance between the carrier 1026 and the upper surface of the second wall portion. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize the function of the frame using a smaller number of members than in a case where a light emitting element and a light receiving element are surrounded as illustrated in
Meanwhile, the frames 1041 and 1043 and the frame 1042 are used as in this fourth embodiment, and thus it is possible to prevent an insulating material to be injected, such as an epoxy resin, from flowing out. In this manner, the partitioning of an insulating material such as an epoxy resin by creating an additional structure is option of allowing high mass productivity to be obtained. Meanwhile, the frames 1041 and 1043 and the frame 1042 may be formed of the same material as that of the carrier 1026. For example, the frames may be formed by injection molding using an epoxy-based resin or a polycarbonate-based resin.
As described above, the insulating material 1032 (see
A heart rate monitoring apparatus 1050 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to
The heart rate monitoring apparatus 1050 as the biological information measuring apparatus according to the fifth embodiment includes the above-mentioned additional electronic apparatuses (for example, a processor 1052 and a driver 1054). An external electric connection terminal (not shown) is not disposed on a carrier 1026 which is the same as that on which sensor elements (light emitting element 1221 as a light emitting unit and a light receiving element 1222 as a light receiving unit) are disposed. In other words, the additional electronic apparatuses are disposed on a carrier different from the carrier on which the sensor elements are disposed, or a substrate. With such a configuration, it is possible to mount necessary additional electronic apparatuses on the heart rate monitoring apparatus 1050 while maintaining a satisfactory contact between the skin and the sensor elements (light emitting element 1221 and the light receiving element 1222). For example, the external electric connection terminal can be disposed on the side surface of the carrier 1026.
As described above, different types of sensors can be used in the biological information measuring apparatus according to the invention. For example, when the light receiving element 1222 mentioned above is an electric sensor, two skin conductance electrodes (for example, sensor elements (the light emitting element 1221 and the light receiving element 1222 which are illustrated in
In the second to fifth embodiments, a flow chart of a method of manufacturing the proposed biological information measuring apparatus that measures a physiologic parameter is illustrated in
In first step S1, the sensor 1022 including at least two sensor elements (the light emitting element 1221 and the light receiving element 1222) for detecting a sensor signal is disposed on the carrier 1026. In second step S2, an electrical contact between the sensor elements is formed in the carrier 1026. In third step S3, one or more frames 1041 and 1042 is formed on the carrier 1026 in the vicinity of the sensor 1022 and/or the individual sensor elements (the light emitting element 1221 and the light receiving element 1222). In fourth step S4, the insulating material 1032 is injected into and filled in regions surrounded by the respective frames 1041 and 1042 so as not to cover the upper surfaces 1221a and 1222a of the sensor elements (the light emitting element 1221 and the light receiving element 1222) which are provided on the carrier 1026.
According to the second to fifth embodiments described above, a method of protecting an electrical contact that does not exert a bad influence on the performance of the biological information measuring apparatus is proposed. The biological information measuring apparatus is formed by such a method as that in which the performance of a sensor is maintained. For example, at least one of the frames 1041 and 1043 prevents the position of the sensor with respect to the skin from being shifted. Further, at least one of the frames 1041 and 1043 can help emitted direct light to be prevented from being incident on the light receiving element 1222. It is preferable that the heights of the frames 1041 and 1043, facing the light receiving element 1222, in the vicinity of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223 have to be smaller than the heights of the upper surfaces 1221a and 1223a of the respective light emitting elements 1221 and 1223. In addition, the frame 1042 in the vicinity of the light receiving element 1222 may be higher than the upper surface 1222a of the light receiving element 1222.
Also in the biological information measuring apparatuses according to the second to fifth embodiments described above, it is possible to apply a configuration of an interval between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit described in the first embodiment. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those in the first embodiment.
The biological information measuring apparatuses of the first to fifth embodiments described above may include various types of sensors such as, a strain gauge, a thermometer, a clinical thermometer, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a pressure sensor, a sphygmomanometer, an electrochemical sensor, a global positioning system (GPS), and a vibrometer. The biological information measuring apparatuses include these sensors, and thus it is possible to derive information regarding a personal physiological state on the basis of data indicating one or one or more physiological parameters, such as heartbeat, pulse, a variation between pulsations, an electrocardiogram (EKG), an electrocardiogram (ECG), a respiration rate, a skin temperature, a body temperature, a body heat flow, a galvanic skin response, a galvanic skin reflex (GSR), an electromyogram (EMG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electrooculography (EOG), blood pressure, body fat, a hydration level, an activity level, a body motion, oxygen consumption, glucose, a blood glucose level, muscle mass, pressure applied to a muscle, pressure applied to a bone, ultraviolet absorption, a sleep state, a physical condition, a stress state, and a posture (for example, lying, standing upright, and sitting). In addition, values obtained by the various types of sensors are transmitted to, for example, a portable communication terminal such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a feature phone, or an information processing terminal such as a computer or a tablet computer, so that the portable communication terminal or the information processing terminal may execute the arithmetic processing of the physiological parameters.
A user inputs his or her own profile to the biological information measuring apparatus, the portable communication terminal, or the information processing terminal before measuring biological information. Thereby, the user can receive user's unique characteristic information and environmental information which are required to be coped with, in order to maximize a possibility of a recommended healthy lifestyle being established and maintained, on the basis of the profile and biological information measurement results. Examples of information to be provided include one or two or more of exercise information such as an exercise type, an exercise strength, and an exercise time, meal information such as a meal time, the amount of meal, recommended intake ingredients and intake menus, and intake ingredients and intake menus that should be avoided, life support information such as a sleep time, the depth of sleep, the quality of sleep, a wake-up time, a landing time, a working time, stress information, consumed calories, intake calories, and calorie balance, physical information such as basal metabolism, the amount of body fat, a body fat percentage, and muscle mass, medication information, supplement intake information, and medical information.
Examples of the user's own profile include one or two or more of the age, the date of birth, the sex, hobbies, an occupation type, a blood type, a past sports history, an activity level, meal, the regularity of sleep, the regularity of bowel habit, situation adaptability, durability, responsiveness, the strength of reaction, user's personality such as a temper, a user's self-independence level, independent formation, self-management, sociability, a memory and an academic attainment ability, a user's awakening level, a perception speed, an ability to avoid attention alienation factors, user's attention including an awakening state and a self-supervision ability, an attention continuance ability, the weight, the height, blood pressure, a user's health state, medical examination results by a doctor, the date of a medical examination by a doctor, the presence or absence of a contact between a doctor and a health care person, medicines and supplements that are currently taken, the presence or absence of an allergy, an allergy history, the current allergy symptoms, an opinion of behavior pertaining to health, a user's disease history, a user's operation history, a family medical history, a social phenomenon, such as a divorce or unemployment, which is required to be adjusted by an individual, conviction pertaining to a user's health priority, a sense of values, an ability to change behavior, a phenomenon considered to be a cause of the stress of life, a stress management method, the degree of user's own consciousness, the degree of user's empathy, the degree of user's authority transfer, user's pride, user's exercise, a sleep state, a relaxed state, the current routine of daily activity, the personality of an important person in user's life (for example, a spouse, a friend, a colleague, or a superior officer), and a user's way to catch whether a conflict that disturbs a healthy lifestyle or contributes to stress is present in a relationship with an important person.
Here, reference will be made to
Although not shown in the drawing, the biological information measuring apparatus according to the sixth embodiment includes, for example, a sensor device which is connected to a microprocessor. In the biological information measuring apparatus according to the sixth embodiment, pieces of data regarding various life activity items which are finally transmitted to a monitor unit and stored, and personal data or living information which is input by a user from a website maintained by the monitor unit are processed by the microprocessor and are provided as biological information. Hereinafter, a specific example will be described.
A user has access to a health manager for the user through a web page, application software, and other communication media.
Analysis state data has features that a certain utility or algorithm is used in order to perform conversion into (1) data indicating various physiological parameters acquired by the sensor device, (2) data derived from various physiological parameters, (3) the degree of health obtained by calculating one or more pieces of data of data indicating various context parameters acquired by the sensor device and data input by the user, (4) the degree of good health and a lifestyle index, and the like. For example, it is possible to calculate the amounts of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and certain vitamin on the basis of data input by the user in relation to food taken. In addition, as another example, it is possible to provide indexes of stress levels over a desired period of time to the user by using a skin temperature, a heart rate, a respiration rate, a heat flow and/or a GSR. As still another example, it is possible to provide indexes of sleep patterns over a desired period of time to the user by using a skin temperature, a heat flow, a variation between pulsations, a heart rate, pulse, a respiration rate, a central body temperature, a galvanic skin response, an EMG, an EEG, an EOG, blood pressure, oxygen consumption, ambient sounds, and body motion detected by a device such as an accelerometer.
In the web page 550 illustrated in
When each member user terminates the above-mentioned initial examination, a profile for providing a user's own characteristics and a summary of a living environment to the user is created, and recommended healthy daily tasks and/or targets are presented. The recommended healthy daily tasks include any combination in specific pieces of advices regarding appropriate nutrition, exercise, mental concentration, and user's daily activity (life). A model schedule or the like may be presented as a guide indicating how to take activity items pertaining to the recommended healthy daily tasks in the user's life. The user is regularly subjected to the examination, and practices the above-mentioned items accordingly on the basis of the results thereof.
The category of “nutrition” is calculated from both data input by a user and data sensed by a sensor device. The data input by the user includes the times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and any snack and the eating and drinking times thereof, and food to be eaten and drunk, supplements such as vitamin, and water or another liquid (drinking water or liquid food) which is drunk during a time which is selected in advance. A central monitoring unit calculates consumed calories or well-known nutritional values such as the contents of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamin, and the like, on the basis of the data and stored data regarding known characteristics of various articles of food.
In the category of “nutrition”, a recommended healthy daily task can be determined on the basis of the bar graph indicating the nutrition of the health index 555. The recommended healthy daily task can be adjusted on the basis of information such as the sex, age, and height/weight of a user. Meanwhile, a user or a representative of the user can set a target of certain nutrition pertaining to the amount of calories consumed every day, the amount of nutriments such as protein, fiber, fat, and carbohydrates, the amount of water, and ratios thereof to the total intake. Parameters used for the calculation of the bar graph include the number of meals for one day, the amount of water consumed, and the type and amount of food eaten every day which are input by a user.
Nutritional information is presented to a user by a nutrition web page 560 as illustrated in
The category of “activity level” in the health index 555 is designed so as to support a user's check regarding when and how the user acted (moved) on that day, and the like, and both data input by the user and data sensed by the sensor device are used. The data input by the user includes details pertaining to the user's daily activity such as, for example, doing work at the desk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and taking an aerobic lesson from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The related data sensed by the sensor device includes a heart rate, an exercise sensed by a device such as an accelerometer, a heat flow, a respiration rate, the amount of calories consumed, a GSR, and a water supply level, and these can be taken out by the sensor device or the central monitoring unit. The amount of calories consumed can be calculated by various methods such as multiplication of the type of exercise which is input by the user and the duration of exercise which is input by the user, multiplication of the sensed exercise, an exercise time, and a filter constant, or multiplication of the sensed heat flow, the time, and a filter constant.
In the category of “activity level”, a recommended healthy daily task can be determined on the basis of the bar graph indicating the activity level of the health index 555. The recommended healthy daily task includes a minimum target calories consumed by the activity, and the like. Meanwhile, the minimum target calories can be set on the basis of information such as the sex, age, height, and weight of a user. Parameters used for the calculation of the bar graph includes a time input by the user and/or a time sensed by the sensor device which are times spent for various types of exercises or an energetic lifestyle activity, and the amount of calories burned over an energy consumption parameter which is calculated in advance.
Information regarding the activity (movement) of an individual user is presented to the user by an activity level web page 600 illustrated in
The activity level web page 600 can be viewed in various formats, and can be configured such that a user can select a bar graph, a pie chart, or both the graph and the chart and the selection can be performed by an activity level check box 625. An activity level calendar 630 is provided so that an application period and the like can be selected. Items indicated by the hyperlink 620 can be selected on the basis of information extracted from an individual through examination, and the results measured by the health index.
The category of “mental concentration” in the health index 555 is designed so as to support a user's monitoring of parameters pertaining to a time when the activity for allowing the user's body to reach a deep relaxed state while concentrating his or her mind is performed, and is based on both data input by the user and data sensed by the sensor device. In detail, the user can input a starting time and a termination time of a relaxation activity such as yoga or meditation. The quality of these activity items determined by the depth of mental concentration can be measured by monitoring parameters including a skin temperature, a heart rate, a respiration rate, and a heat flow which are sensed by the sensor device. It is also possible to use a variation in the percentage of a GSR obtained by either of the sensor device or the central monitoring unit.
In the category of “mental concentration”, a recommended healthy daily task can be determined on the basis of the bar graph indicating the activity level of the mental concentration in the health index 555. The recommended healthy daily task is displayed inclusive of daily joining in the activity of deeply relaxing a body while making mind set to be in a highly concentrated state. Parameters used for the calculation of the bar graph include the length of time spent for the mental concentration activity, the depth of the mental concentration activity, or a variation in the percentage of a skin temperature, a heart rate, a respiration rate, a heat flow, or a GSR which is sensed by the sensor device from a base line indicating quality.
Information regarding time spent for an action of deeply looking back oneself (introspection) and for mental concentration activity such as deep relaxation of a body is presented to a user by a mental concentration web page 650 illustrated in
In the comparison portion 665, the contour of a human indicating a target mental concentration state is shown by a solid line, and the contour of a human indicating an actual mental concentration state varies between a blurred state (shown by a dashed line in
The category of “sleep” in the health index 555 is designed so as to be able to support a user's monitoring of a sleep pattern and the quality of sleep. This category is intended to help a user to learn the importance of sleep in a healthy lifestyle and the relation of sleep to a daily cycle which is an ordinary daily variation in the function of the body. The category of “sleep” is based on both data input by the user and data sensed by the sensor device. The data input by the user between related time intervals includes ranks of a sleep-onset time and a wake-up time (sleep time) of the user and the quality of sleep. The related data obtained by the sensor device includes a skin temperature (body temperature), a heat flow, a variation between pulsations, a heart rate, a pulse rate, a respiration rate, a central body temperature, a galvanic skin response, an EMG, an EEG, an EOG, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption. In addition, ambient sounds and body motion which is detected by a device such as an accelerometer also have relevance. Thereafter, a sleep-onset time, a wake-up time, the interruption of sleep, the quality of sleep, the depth of sleep, and the like can be calculated and derived using the data.
The bar graph showing the sleep in the health index 555 displays a healthy daily task including the securing of a preferable nightly minimum sleep time, a predictable bedtime, and a wake-up time. Specific parameters enabling the calculation of the bar graph include a daily sleep time and a wake-up time which are sensed by the sensor device or input by the user, and the quality of sleep which is graded by the user or derived from another data.
Information regarding the sleep is presented to a user by a sleep web page 690 illustrated in
In addition, the sleep graph 715 graphs data from an accelerometer embedded in the sensor device that monitors body motion. In addition, the sleep web page 690 can include a hyperlink 720 that allows a user to be able to directly check a news story pertaining to sleep, advice for improving a daily task pertaining to sleep, and a related advertisement on a network, and a sleep calendar 725 for selecting a related time interval. Items indicated by the hyperlink 720 can be particularly selected on the basis of information learned from an individual in examination, and results measured by the health index.
The category of “daily activity” in the health index 555 is designed so as to be able to support a user's monitoring of a certain activity, pertaining to health or safety, and risk, and is completely based on data input by a user. The category of “daily activity” pertaining to activity in a daily life includes four categories which are subordinate concepts. Specifically, the category is classified into (1) an item pertaining to personal hygiene which enables a user's monitoring of dental care using a toothbrush or floss or activity such as taking a shower, (2) an item pertaining to health maintenance which enables tracing of whether a user is taking medicine or a supplement as prescribed, and enables a user's monitoring of the consumption of cigarettes or alcohol, and the like, (3) an item pertaining to personal time which enables a user's monitoring of time or leisure, which is spent with the user's family or friend, and mental concentration activity, and (4) an item pertaining to responsibility which enables a user's monitoring of work, such as household chores, and household activity.
In the category of “daily activity”, it is preferable that the bar graph indicating the “daily activity” in the health index 555 displays the following recommended healthy daily tasks. As an example of a daily task pertaining to the personal hygiene, it is preferable that a user takes a shower or takes a bath every day, keeps his or her teeth clean by using a toothbrush or floss every day, and has regular bowel movements. In addition, as an example of a daily task pertaining to the health maintenance, it is preferable that a user takes medicine, vitamin pills, and/or supplements, does not smoke, drinks in moderation, and monitors his or her health every day by a health manager. As an example of a daily task pertaining to the personal time, it is preferable that a user makes at least predetermined time every day in order to spend the time with his or her family, and/or spends high-quality time with his or her friend, reduces time for work, takes time for leisure or play, and performs activity using his or her brain. As an example of a daily task pertaining to the responsibility, it is preferable that a user does household chores, is not late for work, and keeps a promise. The bar graph is determined by information input by a user, and/or is calculated on the basis of the degree to which the user completes activity listed up every day.
Pieces of information regarding these activity items are presented to a user by a daily activity web page 730 illustrated in
The category “the degree of vitality” in the health index 555 is designed so as to enable a user's monitoring of recognition of whether being in good spirits on a specific day, and is based on essentially subjective grade information which is directly input by the user. The user performs ranking using scales of, preferably, 1 to 5 with respect to the following nine areas, that is, (1) mental keenness, (2) the degree of mental and psychological happiness, (3) an energy level, (4) a capacity for stresses of life, (5) the degree of being concerned about appearances, (6) the degree of physical happiness, (7) self-control, (8) a motive, and (9) comfort by a relationship with others. These degrees (grades) are averaged to be used for the calculation of the bar graph of the health index 555.
An example of the web page 550 serving as a starting point of the health manager illustrated in
In addition, the web page 550 may also include a hyperlink (not shown) to a news story, comments (not shown) to a user based on a tendency such as malnutrition which is checked by the first examination, and a signal (not shown). The web page may also include a daily task portion 557 that provides information to a user every day. As comments of the daily task portion 557, for example, a water intake required every day, advice for specific means for enabling the intake of water, and the like can be displayed. In addition, the web page 550 may include a problem solution section 558 that actively evaluates a user's results in each category of the health index 555 and presents advice for improvement. For example, when a user's sleep level is “low” by a system and it is suggested that the user has insomnia, the problem solution section 558 can advise a method for improving sleep. In addition, the problem solution section 558 may include the user's question regarding an improvement in results. In addition, the web page 550 may include a daily data section 559 that starts up an input dialogue box. The user can easily input various pieces of data required by the health manager, using the input dialogue box. As known in the art, the input of data can be selectively performed between the input in a list presented in advance and the input in a general free text format. In addition, the web page 550 may include a body condition section 561 that gives information regarding life symptoms such as the height and weight of a user, a body measurement value, a BMI, a heart rate, blood pressure, or any physiological parameter.
Here, a modification example of the light receiving unit 140 according to the first embodiment described above will be described with reference to
With such a configuration, it is possible to increase a waterproofing property and an antifouling property of the multilayered film optical filter (wavelength limiting filter) 148 by the resin film 149, having light transmittance, which is provided on the multilayered film optical filter 148.
Meanwhile, this modification example of the light receiving unit can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments or configuration examples.
Next, a modification example of the light emitting unit 150 according to the first embodiment described above will be described with reference to
With such a configuration, light emitted in a peripheral direction of the light emitting unit 150 can be made to be reflected by a reflective functional layer 152 and to be directed to a measurement object. Thereby, it is possible to increase the intensity (light emission intensity) of light directed to the measurement object, and to improve and stabilize the measurement accuracy of biological information.
Meanwhile, this modification example of the light receiving unit can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments or configuration examples.
Meanwhile, embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail, but those skilled in the art may easily understand that many variations are conceivable to the extent that they do not substantially depart from the novel items and effects of the invention. Therefore, such variations all fall within the scope of the invention. For example, a term described at least once in the specification or the drawings with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning can be replaced with the different term anywhere in the specification or the drawings. Further, the configuration and action of each of the biological information measuring module, the light detection unit, the biological information measuring apparatus, and the like are not limited to those described in this embodiment of the invention, and a variety of changes can be made thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-003905 | Jan 2015 | JP | national |
| 2015-045582 | Mar 2015 | JP | national |
