JP2003169787A - Skin water content measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a skin water content measuring instrument capable of performing highly stable measurement. <P>SOLUTION: This skin water content measuring instrument is provided with pushing pressure notification means 31 notifying a pushing pressure pushing a sensor 2 towards the skin, so that a user can obtain the pushing pressure of the sensor 2. This constitution can provide the skin water content measuring instrument capable of performing the highly stable measurement and suppressing the dispersion in the measuring values. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a skin moisture measuring device for measuring the skin moisture content based on a physical quantity that changes depending on the skin moisture content.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional skin moisture measuring device of this type is generally shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-33453. FIG. 7 shows an external view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device. The conventional skin moisture measuring device is provided with a sensor 2 for measuring the skin moisture amount at the tip of the device body 1, and a liquid crystal display 3 as an informing means for informing the measured skin moisture amount and other information. There is.

FIG. 8 shows an explanatory view when the person to be measured 10 measures the skin moisture content. As shown in FIG. 8, the person to be measured 10 holds the device main body 1 and applies the sensor 2 located at the tip thereof to the skin to be measured. In this case, we are trying to measure the water content of the cheeks. The operation at this time will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the sensor 2 and a cross-sectional view of the sensor 2 applied to the skin. In the sensor 2, the electrode pair 11 is fixed to the substrate 14, and the surface thereof is coated with glass 15 which is an insulator. When the sensor 2 is applied to the skin, the electrode pair 11 does not directly contact the skin as shown in the figure, but contacts the glass 15 which is an insulator. On the other hand, the skin of the person 10 to be measured is from the surface to the sebum layer 16,
The stratum corneum 17 and the epidermis 18 are layered in this order. Sensor 2
Is applied to the skin, a capacitor having the stratum corneum 17 as a dielectric is formed as shown by C in the figure. The capacitance C of this capacitor is determined by the dielectric constant of the skin, which is a dielectric, and this dielectric constant greatly changes depending on the amount of moisture in the skin.
This is because the relative permittivity of water is about 80, which is higher than the permittivity of other substances forming the stratum corneum 17, such as proteins, of about 1.5. Therefore, the electrostatic capacitance C remarkably reflects the water content of the skin, and C changes when the water content of the skin changes.
The value of changes greatly.

Next, the details of the electrostatic capacitance detecting means for detecting the change in the electrostatic capacitance C will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, a specific circuit configuration example is shown particularly for the portion for detecting the electrostatic capacitance. In the figure, C is the capacitance between the electrode pair 11, and it is described as a variable capacitor because it changes depending on the amount of moisture in the skin. This circuit is a multivibrator composed of a generally known C-MOS NOR gate. This circuit can generate a rectangular wave at a frequency determined by C and R. As a result, the circuit is configured so that the change in the capacitance C is recognized as the change in the oscillation frequency. This rectangular wave signal is input to the microcomputer 9 as the skin moisture content calculating means, and the microcomputer 9 converts this frequency into the skin moisture content and displays it on the liquid crystal display 3 which is the notifying means. In this way, the conventional skin moisture measuring device can measure the moisture content of the skin.

As described above, the skin moisture measuring device measures by bringing the sensor 2 provided in the device body 1 into contact with the skin. Therefore, the degree of adhesion of the sensor 2 to the skin is a very important factor for the stability of measurement. In particular, in the electrostatic capacitance type sensor as in this conventional example, the contacting electrode area directly affects the measurement value of the electrostatic capacitance C of the skin, and this is a particularly important point. Therefore, the conventional skin moisture measuring device has been devised as described below.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the vicinity of the sensor 2. The sensor 2 is attached to the sensor holding portion 21, and the sensor holding portion 21 is held by a case 23 constituting an outer shell via a spring 22 which is an elastic body. Reference numeral 24 is an electric wire for electrically connecting the sensor 2 and the circuit. With such a configuration, when the sensor 2 portion is pressed against the skin, the elastic force of the spring 22 causes the sensor holding portion 21 to slide toward the inside of the case 23.

That is, normally, the sensor holding portion 21 is pushed to the sensor side by the spring, but the collar 25 has the case 2
Since it hits No. 3, it is in a non-flying state, and sensor 2
12 against the skin, the sensor holding portion 21 is dented inside the case by the pressing force as shown in FIG. 12, and the skin 26 is pressed by the spring pressure.
The pressure on is kept constant. If this spring pressure is adjusted appropriately, the sensor 2 comes into contact with the skin 26 with a constant pressure, and the stability of measurement is improved.

[0009]

However, since the conventional skin moisture measuring device tries to obtain an appropriate pressure by the spring pressure, it has the following problems.

FIG. 12 shows a state where proper pressure is applied to the sensor 2 by the spring pressure. In this state, the skin 2 of the person to be measured is in contact with the sensor 2 as shown in FIG.
7 is flat and can effectively contact the entire area of the sensor 2. If this state can be maintained after each measurement, it is possible to perform highly stable measurement.

However, in a state where the spring 22 is not contracted to obtain a sufficient pressing force, as in the case where the force pressing against the skin is too weak as shown in FIG. 13, the sensor 2 is in contact with the sensor 2 like 28. The skin is not sufficiently flat, and the contact area with the sensor 2 is different from that in the case of FIG. In this case, the capacitance is smaller than that in the case of FIG. 12, and as a result, the water content is measured rather low. On the other hand, if it is pushed too hard as shown in FIG. 14, the spring 2
2 contracts completely, and the case 23 and the sensor holding portion 21 come into contact with each other, which makes it impossible to control the appropriate pressing by the spring pressure.

That is, the force itself applied by the user is transmitted to the sensor 2. Also in this case,
Similar to the case where the force is small like 29, the state of the contact surface with the sensor 2 tends to be unstable, and as a result, the stability of the measured value may be impaired.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a skin moisture measuring device capable of measuring the skin moisture content with high stability.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the skin moisture measuring apparatus of the present invention has a force for pressing a sensor for detecting a physical quantity which changes according to the moisture content of the skin of a person to be measured. Is provided with a press notification means. As a result, the user can be notified of the pressure with which the sensor is pressed against the skin, and the user can keep the pressure constant by knowing the pressure, and thus a stable measured value can be obtained.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention of claim 1 is a sensor for detecting a physical quantity that changes depending on the amount of water in the skin of the person to be measured,
Since the skin water content calculating means for calculating the skin water content from the physical quantity from the sensor, the notifying means for notifying the skin water content and the press notifying means for notifying the force of pressing the sensor against the skin are used, the sensor pressing is used. It is possible to inform the person, the judgment of pressing becomes easy, and the stability of measurement can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the pressing notification means notifies the pressing when the pressing on the sensor reaches an appropriate level, it becomes easier for the user to know the appropriate pressing. Fewer measurements can be made.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pressure notification means notifies the sensor when the pressure applied to the sensor is excessive, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the user has applied too much force. It is possible to suppress the instability of the measurement value due to excessive force.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sensor or the holding means for holding the sensor is movably provided in the skin moisture measuring device main body through an elastic body, and the press notification means is provided when a certain pressure is applied to the sensor. Since it is a click method that produces a mechanical click feeling, the user can feel the pressure sensation without seeing it with the eyes, especially when measuring the skin moisture of the user's own face. Since it is possible to know the pressing force when the user cannot visually recognize the device body, it is possible to secure an appropriate pressing force and improve the stability of the measured value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a sensor or holding means for holding the sensor is movably provided in the skin moisture measuring apparatus main body via an elastic body, and the press notification means is the sensor or the holding means and the apparatus main body. Since it is a scale that indicates the relative position with, it is possible to show the proper pressure with a simple configuration, and the user can visually recognize the proper pressure and intuitively judge it, so the pressure to press the sensor against the skin Can be optimized and the stability of measured values can be improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the press annunciating means is informed by light when a certain pressure is applied to the sensor, it can be clearly informed by a light emitting announcing means. Even when the body of the skin moisture meter cannot be directly visually recognized by the user, such as when measuring the skin moisture of the person's own face, the pressure can be known if the reflected light from the light emitting means can be visually recognized, and the proper pressure can be applied. It can be ensured, and the dispersion of measured values can be suppressed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the pressure notification means notifies the sensor with a sound when a constant pressure is applied to the sensor, the skin moisture content is measured particularly when the skin moisture content of the user's face is measured. Even when the user himself cannot directly see the meter body, since the pressing can be known if the sound from the notification means is heard, an appropriate pressing can be ensured, so an appropriate pressing can be secured, It is possible to suppress variations in measured values.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the trigger means operated by the measurer is provided to start the calculation in the skin moisture content calculating means, the user himself / herself when the pressing informing means determines that the pressing is appropriate. Since the trigger means can start the calculation in the skin water content calculating means, it is possible to measure the skin water content with an appropriate pressure, and it is possible to suppress variations in the measured values.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the conventional example in that a claw portion 32 in which a thin portion 32a is provided in a part of the case 23 and a thick portion 32b is provided at the tip thereof.
And a click means 31 as an informing means composed of the convex portion 33 provided on the sensor holding portion 21.

The thick portion 32b shown in FIG.
In the state where no pressure is applied to the thin-walled portion 32 b, the thick-walled portion 32 b comes into contact with the convex portion 33 provided on the sensor holding portion 21.
It is in a state of being pressed against the convex portion 33 by the spring property of 2a. Next, FIG. 1B shows a state in which the sensor 2 is in contact with the skin 26 of the subject, but the spring 2 is still sufficiently in contact.
No. 2 is not contracted, and the contact pressure is insufficient. In this state, the thick portion 32b still remains on the convex portion 33. The force is further applied to the sensor 2, and the force applied to the sensor 2 becomes appropriate, and the state shown in FIG. 1C is not achieved until the contact area between the subject's skin 26 and the sensor 2 becomes flat, and the thick portion 32b is convex. It deviates from 33. At this time, the thin portion 32a is returned straight due to the elasticity of the thin portion 32a. By this operation, a click feeling can be obtained. By feeling this click feeling, the user can know that the sensor 2 is in contact with the skin with the optimum pressure.

As described above, the user can know the optimum pressure applied to the skin by the sensor 2 by the click feeling just by applying the force to the skin by applying the sensor portion to the skin, so that the stability of the measured value is improved. Contribute to letting. Furthermore, since the user can know the optimum pressure by the click feeling, it is optimal even when the user cannot directly see the skin moisture measuring device, for example, when measuring the user's own cheek. You can know the pressure.

In this embodiment, the click means is constructed by the spring property of the thin portion provided in the case, but if the click feeling is obtained with a constant pressure, for example, it is pressed by a spring. It may be a method of using a bearing or a method of attaching a leaf spring separately.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is an external view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the conventional example in that a case 34 is provided with a window 34 in a part thereof, a scale 35 is provided on the upper portion thereof, and a portion of the sensor holding portion 21 visible from the window 34 has an instruction mark. That is 36 points. The cross-sectional view of the skin moisture measuring apparatus is the same as the conventional one, and the sensor holding portion 21 is slidable with respect to the case 23. That is, the scale 35 and the instruction mark 36 are means for indicating the relative positions of the sensor holding portion 21 and the case 23.

Here, in the state of FIG. 2A, the force is not yet applied, and the indicator mark 36 indicates the "weak" scale of the scale 35, and the force on the sensor 2 is insufficient. Is shown. Applying force to the sensor 2 Fig. 2
If the indicator mark 36 indicates "appropriate" of the scale 35 as shown in (b), an appropriate pressure is applied to the sensor 2.

As described above, since the user can judge the pressure applied to the sensor 2 by visually observing the scale 35, the sensor 2 can be brought into contact with the skin with an appropriate pressure,
The part where the sensor 2 touches the skin is stable, and as a result, stable measured values can be obtained. In particular, it is effective in the state where the skin moisture measuring device can be directly visually recognized, as in the case where the person to be measured and the person to be measured are different.

Although the window, the scale 35 and the indicator mark 36 opened in the case 23 are used as means for indicating the relative position of the case 23 and the main body, any method of indicating the relative position may be used, for example, a numeral or the like is displayed. Alternatively, characters such as "appropriate" may be displayed directly on the window. Further, a sensor for detecting the relative position may be provided separately, the relative position may be converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal may be displayed at a place different from the body of the skin moisture measuring apparatus. In this case, even if the skin moisture measuring device cannot be visually recognized directly, the same effect can be obtained if the relative position display provided at another site can be visually recognized, which is convenient.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows an external view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the conventional example in that the apparatus main body 1 is provided with light emitting diodes 37 and 38 as press notification means, and is further provided with a push button switch 39 as trigger means. The light-emitting diode 37 is a notification means indicating that the pressure is appropriate, and is green, and "OK" is displayed in the vicinity thereof, and the light-emitting diode 38 is a notification means indicating that the pressure is excessive. It has a red color, and "NG" is displayed near it.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of this embodiment, and a partial circuit diagram is also shown to explain the circuit operation. Case 23 differs from the conventional example in this sectional view.
There are holes 40, 41 in the hole, and sliders 42, 43 slidable with respect to the holes 40, 41 are provided. When these are pushed by the convex portion 33 provided in the sensor holding means 21, Closing contacts 44, 45 are provided, which are the power source 4
6 is LED 37, 38 and buzzer 4 with different tone colors
It is a means to decide whether to supply to 7, 48.

Next, the operation will be described. In the state of FIG. 4A where no pressure is applied to the sensor 2, the sensor holding means 2
The first convex portion 33 is in a state not in contact with any of the sliders 42 and 43. In this state, the contacts 44 and 45 are not closed, the LEDs 37 and 38 do not light,
The buzzers 47 and 48 do not ring. When the sensor 2 is pressed against the skin 26 of the subject and proper pressure is applied, the state shown in FIG. 4B is obtained. In this state, the slider 4
2 is pushed by the convex portion 33, and the contact point 44 is the slider 4
Pressed by 2 and closed. Therefore, the LED 37
Lights up and the buzzer 47 sounds. Figure 4 (c) shows the state where excessive pressure is applied to the sensor 2 by further applying force.
Shown in. In this state, since the slider 43 is pushed by the convex portion 33, the contact 45 is closed. Therefore, the LED 38 lights up and the buzzer 48 sounds.

Thus, when no force is applied, L
The LED 37 lights up when the ED 37, 38 does not light up and the buzzer 47, 48 does not ring, and the LED 37 lights up when the condition becomes proper, and when further force is applied, the LED 38 lights up and the buzzer 48 rings. Since the state is different from the state of turning on, the user can know the force applied to the sensor 2 by looking at the LEDs 37, 38 or by checking whether the buzzers 47, 48 ring.

A block diagram is shown in FIG. The difference from the conventional one is the push button switch 39 shown in the external view.
Is connected to the microcomputer 9.
With this push button switch 39, the microcomputer 9 determines whether or not to start the calculation of the skin moisture content.
A flowchart at that time is shown in FIG. That is, L
After the ED 37 lights up and the buzzer 47 sounds, it is determined whether or not the push button switch 39 is pressed (S101).
If it is pressed, the skin moisture is calculated (S1
02) Therefore, the skin moisture content can be calculated while the sensor 2 is applied with an appropriate pressure, and stable measurement can be performed.

In this embodiment, the LED is used as the means for notifying the pressing by the light, but any method can be used as long as it can be visually recognized by using the light, and the method of displaying in the liquid crystal display is adopted. Good.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the user is able to know the pressure of the sensor by providing the pressure notification means for notifying the force of pressing the sensor against the skin, the sensor can be kept in a stable state. It is possible to provide a skin moisture content measuring device that can perform measurement and can suppress variations in measured values.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a non-pressurized state. (B) shows a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention with an insufficient pressure. Sectional view (c) Sectional view of the skin moisture measuring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a state where the pressure is sufficient

FIG. 2A is an external view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an external view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a sufficient pressure.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a skin moisture measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a non-pressurized state; and (b) shows a skin moisture measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention with an insufficient pressure. Sectional view (c) Sectional view of the skin moisture measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention in an appropriate pressure state

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a skin moisture measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the skin moisture measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when using a conventional skin moisture measuring device.

FIG. 9: Principle of operation of a conventional skin moisture measuring device

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a conventional skin moisture measuring device.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device in a state where no pressure is applied.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device in an appropriate pressure state.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device in a state where the pressure is insufficient.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional skin moisture measuring device in an excessive pressure state.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 sensors 9 Microcomputer (skin water content calculation means) 22 Spring (elastic body) 31 Click means (Press notification means) 35 scale 37 Light emitting diode (press notification means) 38 Light emitting diode (press notification means) 39 Push button switch (trigger means) 47 buzzer (press notification means) 48 buzzer (press notification means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for detecting a physical quantity that changes depending on the moisture content of the skin of the person to be measured, a skin moisture content calculation means for calculating the skin moisture content from the physical quantity from the sensor, and a notification for notifying the skin moisture content. A device for measuring skin moisture content, which comprises: means and a press informing means for informing a press of pressing the sensor against the skin. 2. The skin moisture content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the press notification means gives notification when the pressure applied to the sensor reaches an appropriate level. 3. The skin moisture content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure notification means notifies when the pressure on the sensor becomes excessive. 4. A sensor or holding means for holding the sensor is movably provided in the body of the skin moisture measuring device through an elastic body, and the press notification means is mechanical when a constant press is applied to the sensor. The skin water content measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a click unit that generates a click feeling. 5. A sensor or holding means for holding the sensor is movably provided on the skin moisture measuring apparatus main body through an elastic body, and the press notification means is a relative position between the sensor or the holding means and the apparatus main body. The skin moisture content measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a scale indicating. 6. The skin moisture content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure informing means informs by light when a constant pressure is applied to the sensor. 7. The skin moisture content measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure informing means informs by sound when a constant pressure is applied to the sensor. 8. A trigger means operated by a measurer to start calculation in the skin moisture content calculating means.
The skin water content measuring device according to any one of 1 to 7.