JP2010005127A - Biological information measuring system and biological information receiving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption when starting reception, in a biological information measuring system for receiving biological information detected by a biological information transmitting apparatus by a biological information receiving apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When detecting a walking signal from an acceleration sensor 101 and determining that a person to be measured has started walking, a CPU 105 controls a power management part 108 and starts the receiving operation of a reception part 107. A heart rate signal from the biological information transmitting apparatus is inputted through an antenna 106 and the reception part 107 to the CPU and a heart rate is displayed at a display part 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biological information measuring system for measuring biological information such as a heartbeat and a pulse and a biological information receiving apparatus suitable for constructing the biological information measuring system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a biological information transmitting device that is mounted on a body of a subject and detects a biological signal such as a heartbeat of the subject and transmits a corresponding biological information signal, and a living body that receives the biological information signal and corresponds to the biological information signal A biological information measuring system including a biological information receiving device that outputs information has been developed. In the biological information measuring system, since a battery is used as a power source, power saving measures are taken.
For example, in a biological information measurement system in which a heartbeat signal during exercise such as running is detected by a biological information transmitting device worn on the chest and the information is transmitted to a portable biological information receiving device such as a wristwatch, the receiving side transmits Until the side transmits a signal, it is necessary to continue the reception operation, and there is a problem that the current consumption of the reception operation is large.

Considering a general usage pattern, for example, even when the user instructs the reception device to start reception and receives (establish communication), the user often wears a heart rate meter after receiving the instruction, In addition, since the heart rate monitor also takes a method of starting transmission for the first time after being worn for low consumption, it is necessary for the receiving side to keep waiting for reception for a maximum of about 1 minute.
In particular, when the 2.4 GHz band is used for communication, since the current at the time of reception is very large (for example, 19 mA), the current consumption at the start of reception becomes very large, and the power source such as the primary battery (for example, coin lithium battery) There is a problem that the voltage drop due to the internal resistance becomes large, and the usable time of the user becomes extremely short. In particular, the receiver side often has various functions other than data reception, and power saving on the receiver side is more important than the transmitter side.

  Apart from the heart rate monitor, there is a small portable device that counts the number of steps (STEP number) during running and walking. In this method, the impact of landing caused by walking or running of the measurement subject is detected by an acceleration sensor, and the number of steps is counted. In order to prevent malfunction, it is determined that the user is walking and running only when the output of the acceleration sensor satisfies a predetermined condition (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is merely related to a pedometer.

JP 63-262784 A

An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption at the start of reception in a biological information measurement system in which biological information detected by a biological information transmitting device is received by a biological information receiving device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a biological information receiving apparatus suitable for the biological information measuring system.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a biological information transmitting apparatus having a biological signal detecting means for detecting a biological signal and a transmitting means for transmitting a biological information signal based on the biological signal at a predetermined transmission cycle, and the biological information transmitting apparatus. Receiving means for receiving the biological information signal, display means for displaying the biological information corresponding to the biological information signal received by the receiving means, walking detection means for detecting walking and outputting a corresponding walking signal, There is provided a biological information measuring system comprising: a biological information receiving device having a control means for performing a receiving operation of the receiving means when it is determined that walking is performed based on a walking signal.

On the biological information transmitting apparatus side, the biological signal detecting unit detects the biological signal, and the transmitting unit transmits a biological information signal based on the biological signal at a predetermined transmission cycle.
On the side of the biological information receiving device, the receiving means receives the biological information signal from the biological information transmitting device, and the display means displays the biological information corresponding to the biological information signal. The walking detecting means detects walking and outputs a corresponding walking signal. When the control means determines that walking has been performed based on the walking signal, the receiving means performs the receiving operation.

  According to the present invention, the receiving means for receiving the biological information signal based on the biological signal, the display means for displaying the biological information corresponding to the biological information signal received by the receiving means, and detecting and responding to walking. A biological information receiving apparatus comprising: walking detection means for outputting a walking signal; and control means for performing a receiving operation of the receiving means when it is determined that walking has been performed based on the walking signal. Provided.

  The receiving means receives a biological information signal based on the biological signal. The display means displays biological information corresponding to the biological information signal received by the receiving means. The walking detection means detects walking and outputs a corresponding walking signal. The control means causes the receiving means to perform a receiving operation when it is determined that walking has been performed based on the walking signal.

According to the biological information measuring system of the present invention, it is possible to reduce power consumption at the start of reception.
Further, according to the biological information receiving apparatus according to the present invention, the biological information measuring system can be constructed.

Hereinafter, a living body information measuring system and a living body information receiving device concerning an embodiment of the invention are explained using a drawing.
1 and 2 are block diagrams of a biological information receiving device 100 and a biological information transmitting device 200 used in the biological information measuring system according to the embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
A biological information measuring system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a biological information transmitting apparatus 200 that detects a biological signal such as a heartbeat and transmits a biological information signal based on the biological signal at a predetermined transmission period, and a biological information transmitting apparatus. 200 is a system including a biological information receiving apparatus 100 that receives a biological information signal from 200 and displays corresponding biological information.

Examples of the biological signal detected by the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 include a heartbeat signal, a walking signal generated during walking or running, a pulse signal, a blood pressure signal, and the like. The biological information transmitting apparatus 200 measures the biological signal, It is configured to wirelessly output a biological information signal based on this.
Note that the biological information measuring system can be configured to include a plurality of biological information transmitting devices 100. The biological information signal transmitted between the biological information transmitting device and the biological information receiving device includes an identification number unique to each biological information transmitting device so as not to be affected by interference with other biological information transmitting devices or noise. Can be configured.

  In FIG. 1, a biological information receiving apparatus 100 is a wristwatch-type biological information receiving apparatus that is used by being worn on the arm of a measurement subject. The biological information receiving apparatus 100 detects the walking of the measurement subject (including travel unless otherwise specified) and outputs a corresponding walking signal, and noise other than the walking signal in the signal from the acceleration sensor 101 A filter unit 102 that removes components, an amplification unit 103 that amplifies the walking signal from the filter unit 102, and a binarization unit 104 that binarizes the walking signal from the amplification unit 103 and outputs a walking signal in the form of a digital signal. ing.

The biological information receiving apparatus 100 includes a receiving antenna 106 that receives a biological information signal from the biological information transmitting apparatus 200, and a receiving unit 107 that converts the biological information signal received by the receiving antenna 106 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. Yes.
In addition, the biological information receiving apparatus 100 controls the central processing unit (CPU) 105, the oscillating unit 112 that generates a signal having a predetermined frequency, and the driving power supply to the receiving unit 107 based on a control signal from the CPU 105 in a predetermined cycle. The power management unit 108 that causes the reception unit 107 to perform a reception operation at the reception timing synchronized with the transmission timing of the biological information transmission device 200, the input unit 109 configured by a key switch, the program executed by the CPU 105, the heart rate, etc. A storage unit 113 that stores data related to biological information, a display unit 110 that displays biological information, the number of steps, time, etc. in response to a display control signal from the CPU 105, and a report that issues an alarm with a sound when a measurement error occurs. A sound unit 111 is provided.

  Here, the acceleration sensor 101, the filter unit 102, the amplification unit 103, and the binarization unit 104 constitute a walking detection means. The reception antenna 106 and the reception unit 107 constitute reception means. The power management unit 108 and the CPU 105 constitute a control unit, and the display unit 110 constitutes a display unit. The CPU 105 constitutes counting means. The CPU 105 and the oscillating unit 112 constitute time measuring means. The input unit 109 constitutes input means, and the storage unit 113 constitutes storage means.

  In addition, the biological information receiving apparatus 100 includes a primary battery or a secondary battery (not shown) as a power source that supplies driving power to at least the receiving unit 107. In response to a control signal from the CPU 105, the power management unit 108 performs control so that driving power is supplied from the battery to the receiving unit 107 in the same cycle as the transmission cycle of the biological information transmitting device 200. 107 is controlled to operate at the same reception cycle as the transmission cycle of the biological information transmitting apparatus 200. Reception timing synchronization is performed as described later. Note that the display unit 110 may be configured to control the driving power supply simultaneously with the driving power control of the receiving unit 107.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 includes a sensor (heart rate sensor 201 in the present embodiment) that detects a measurement subject's biological signal (heart rate signal in the present embodiment). A filter unit 202 that removes noise components other than the heartbeat signal, and an amplification unit 203 that amplifies the heartbeat signal from the filter unit 202.

  In addition, the biological information transmission device 200 generates a biological information signal (for example, a heart rate per unit time when the biological signal is a heartbeat signal) based on the biological signal from the heartbeat sensor 201 ( CPU) 204, an oscillation unit 208 that generates a signal of a predetermined frequency, an input unit 207 configured by a key switch or the like, a storage unit 209 that stores programs executed by the CPU 204, data related to biological signals, and the like, biological information based on biological signals A transmission unit 206 that receives a signal from the CPU 204, converts the signal into a signal suitable for wireless transmission and outputs the signal, and a transmission antenna 205 that wirelessly outputs a biological information signal from the transmission unit 206 are provided.

When the biological signal is a heartbeat signal or a pulse signal, the biological information signal is a heart rate and a pulse rate per predetermined time. When the biological signal is a blood pressure signal, the biological information signal is a blood pressure value.
The biological information signal transmission cycle in which the biological information transmitting device 200 transmits the biological information signal is set to be the same as the receiving cycle of the biological information receiving device 100.
The heart rate sensor 201, the filter unit 202, and the amplification unit 203 constitute a biological signal detection unit, and the transmission antenna 205 and the transmission unit 206 constitute a transmission unit. The input unit 207 constitutes input means, and the storage unit 209 constitutes storage means. The CPU 204 constitutes a control means.

  The biological information measuring system measures a heart rate by the biological information transmitting device 200 worn on the chest while the subject walks, and wirelessly receives the heart rate information by the biological information receiving device 100 worn on the arm, It is used so that the heart rate is displayed. Hereinafter, the operation of the biological information measurement system will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the biological information transmitting apparatus 200.
In FIG. 3, when the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 is worn on the body of the person to be measured, the heartbeat sensor 201 detects a heartbeat and outputs a heartbeat signal. A heartbeat signal from the heartbeat sensor 201 is amplified by the amplification unit 203 via the filter unit 202 and then input to the CPU 204. The CPU 204 detects the heartbeat signal to determine that the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 is worn by the person to be measured (step S301), starts measuring the heartbeat signal, and based on the heartbeat signal every predetermined time. A heart rate is calculated (step S302). Next, the CPU 204 wirelessly transmits the calculated heart rate as a biological information signal at a predetermined transmission cycle via the transmission unit 206 and the transmission antenna 205 (step S303).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the biological information receiving apparatus 100.
In FIG. 4, when the acceleration sensor 101 detects a walk and outputs a corresponding walk signal on the biological information receiving device 100 side, the walk signal is passed through the filter unit 102, the amplification unit 103, and the binarization unit 104. It is input to the CPU 105 as a walking signal in a digital signal format.
When the CPU 105 determines that the signal from the acceleration sensor 101 is input (step S401), the CPU 105 confirms the continuity of the walking signal output from the acceleration sensor 101, that is, whether the walking signal is continuously input at a predetermined interval. It is confirmed whether or not (step S402).

When the CPU 105 determines that the walking signal is continuously input at a predetermined interval, the signal from the acceleration sensor 101 is not a signal due to body movement but a walking signal generated by walking. Is determined to be walking (step S403), a control signal is output to the power management unit 108, and driving power from the power source is continuously supplied to the reception unit 107 to start the reception operation of the reception unit 107. Control is performed as follows (step S404).
In this way, the CPU 105 detects that the measurement subject has started walking, continuously supplies driving power to the receiving unit 107, and starts a heartbeat signal receiving operation from the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 (step). S405).

  Next, the CPU 105 determines whether or not communication with the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 has been established, that is, whether or not a biological information signal has been received from the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 (step S406), and the biological information transmitting apparatus 200. When it is determined that communication with the biological information transmission apparatus 200 has been received, that is, the biological information corresponding to the biological information signal (heart rate in the present embodiment) is displayed on the display unit 110. The biometric information is displayed on the display unit 110 every time a biometric information signal is received in a reception cycle synchronized with the transmission cycle of the biometric information transmitting device 200 (step S410).

On the other hand, if the CPU 105 determines in step S406 that a biological information signal has not been received from the biological information transmitting apparatus 200, the number of times that the biological information signal cannot be received (the number of errors) in the reception operation performed in a predetermined cycle is the predetermined number. If it is determined (N times) or more (step S407), a control signal is output to the power management unit 108, the drive power supply to the reception unit 107 is immediately stopped, and the reception operation of the reception unit 107 is stopped ( Step S411). As a result, when the biological information signal cannot be normally received, such as when the measurement of the heartbeat is stopped, it is possible to automatically stop the drive power supply and save power.
In addition, after stopping reception operation | movement by process step S411, CPU105 can perform the count process of the step count based on the walk signal from the acceleration sensor 101, and can function as a pedometer.

  If the number of errors is not the predetermined number in processing step S407, the CPU 105 temporarily stops supplying driving power to the receiving unit 107 (step S408), and returns to processing step S404 after a predetermined time and repeats the above processing. (Step S409). Thereby, even when a temporary detection error occurs, it becomes possible to perform the measurement operation again normally.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another process when the CPU 105 stops the reception operation of the reception unit 107 after determining that the walking is stopped.
In FIG. 5, the CPU 105 confirms the continuity of the walking signal output from the acceleration sensor 101 while measuring the biological information as described above, that is, the walking signal is continuously input at a predetermined interval. It is confirmed whether or not there is (step S501).
When the CPU 105 determines that the walking signal is not continuously input at a predetermined interval, the signal from the acceleration sensor 101 is simply a signal due to body movement, not a walking signal generated by walking. Is determined not to walk, and the process returns to step S501 (step S502).

In processing step S502, when the CPU 105 determines that the person to be measured has stopped walking, when a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed (step S503), the CPU 105 outputs a control signal to the power management unit 108 and receives the receiving unit. Control is performed so that the drive power supply from the power supply to the power supply 107 is stopped and the reception operation of the reception unit 107 is stopped (step S504).
In this way, by stopping the operation of the receiving unit 107 after a predetermined time elapses, a change in heart rate and the like are confirmed while the measured person stops running and cools down, and then the operation is automatically stopped. It becomes possible to do.

  In addition, in processing step S408, S411, S504, when stopping the receiving operation of the receiving part 107, you may comprise so that the drive power supply with respect to the display part 110 may be stopped simultaneously, and the display of the display part 110 may be stopped. In addition, power may be supplied to the display unit 110 to display that biometric information is not currently measured (not being measured).

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the biological information measurement system that functions as a heart rate monitor with a step count detection function includes a walking detection function on the biological information receiving apparatus 100 side that is the receiving side, and is determined to be walking. In this case, reception of heart rate information from the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 that functions as a heart rate monitor is started. Accordingly, generally speaking, it is unlikely that there is a person who wears the biological information transmission device 200 on the body while running, and the measurement subject wears the biological information transmission device 200 when the reception operation is always started. Therefore, the reception operation on the receiving side requires a minimum time necessary for establishing communication, and power consumption at the start of reception can be minimized. Also, by incorporating this function, it is not necessary for the measurement subject to start receiving, so the number of buttons on the input unit 109 on the receiving side is reduced and a simple, easy-to-use product (UI (User Interface)) is realized. Simplification) is possible.

  In addition, when it is determined that the vehicle is running and reception is not started immediately (when communication is not established), it is received for a certain period (for example, about 2 minutes) at a certain period (for example, only 1 second in 10 seconds). If reception is not possible within a certain period of time, the reception operation is stopped. Accordingly, even when there is a problem in the environment (for example, there is a noise source nearby), even when the biological information transmitting apparatus 200 is not worn, the current consumption at the start of reception is optimally suppressed with respect to the biological information receiving apparatus 100. It becomes possible.

Further, after it is determined that traveling (or walking) has stopped, the reception operation is automatically turned OFF after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, about 1 minute). Thereby, unnecessary communication time can be reduced, and further reduction in current consumption is possible.
Therefore, current consumption at the start of reception (communication establishment) can be minimized. In addition, since reception can be started automatically, there is no need to perform a reception start instruction, and there are effects such as a reduction in the number of buttons and an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use product to be measured.

In the above embodiment, the biological information receiving apparatus has been described as an example of a wristwatch type worn on the wrist, but other configurations may be used.
Further, although an example in which an acceleration sensor is used as a walking sensor for detecting walking has been described, a mechanical sensor, a pressure sensor provided on a shoe sole, or the like may be used.

  The present invention can be applied to various biological information measuring systems using the biological information transmitting device and the biological information receiving device and the biological information receiving device used therefor.

It is a block diagram of the biometric information receiver used for the biometric information measurement system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the biometric information transmitter used for the biometric information measurement system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the biometric information measurement stem which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the biometric information measurement stem which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the biometric information measurement stem which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Biological information receiver 101 ... Acceleration sensor 102 ... Filter part 103 ... Amplifying part 104 ... Binarization part 105 ... CPU
106 ... Receiving antenna 107 ... Receiving unit 108 ... Power management unit 109 ... Input unit 110 ... Display unit 111 ... Sound reporting unit 112 ... Oscillating unit 113 ... Storage unit 200: Biological information transmitting device 201: Heart rate sensor 202: Filter unit 203: Amplifying unit 204: CPU
205 ... Transmission antenna 206 ... Transmission unit 207 ... Input unit 208 ... Oscillation unit 209 ... Storage unit

Claims (16)

A biological information transmitting device comprising: a biological signal detecting means for detecting a biological signal; and a transmitting means for transmitting a biological information signal based on the biological signal at a predetermined transmission cycle;
Receiving means for receiving a biological information signal from the biological information transmitting apparatus, display means for displaying biological information corresponding to the biological information signal received by the receiving means, and detecting a walking and outputting a corresponding walking signal A biological information measuring system comprising: a walking detection means; and a biological information receiving apparatus having a control means for performing a receiving operation of the receiving means when it is determined that walking has been performed based on the walking signal. .   2. The biological information measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving device has counting means for counting the number of steps based on a walking signal detected by the walking detecting means, and the display means displays the number of steps. .   The biological information measurement system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means stops the reception operation of the receiving means when the receiving means has not received the biological information signal a predetermined number of times.   The biological information measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the reception operation of the reception unit when it is determined that walking is stopped based on the walking signal.   5. The biological information measuring system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit also stops the display operation of the display unit when the reception operation of the reception unit is stopped. 6.   5. The biological information measuring system according to claim 3, wherein the control means displays that the non-measurement is being performed on the display means when stopping the receiving operation of the receiving means.   The biological information measurement system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit stops driving power supply from a power source to the reception unit when the reception operation of the reception unit is stopped. .   The biological information measuring system according to claim 1, wherein the biological signal is a heartbeat signal or a pulse signal.   Receiving means for receiving a biological information signal based on a biological signal, display means for displaying biological information corresponding to the biological information signal received by the receiving means, and walking detection means for detecting walking and outputting a corresponding walking signal And a biological information receiving apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs a receiving operation of the receiving unit when it is determined that walking has been performed based on the walking signal.   10. The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a counting unit that counts the number of steps based on a walking signal detected by the walking detection unit, wherein the display unit displays the number of steps.   11. The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means stops the receiving operation of the receiving means when the receiving means has not received the biological information signal a predetermined number of times.   The biological information receiving apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the control means stops the receiving operation of the receiving means when it is determined that walking has stopped based on the walking signal.   The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit stops the display operation of the display unit when the reception operation of the reception unit is stopped.   13. The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control means displays that the non-measurement is being performed on the display means when stopping the receiving operation of the receiving means.   The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit stops driving power supply from a power supply to the receiving unit when the receiving operation of the receiving unit is stopped. .   The biological information receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the biological signal is a heartbeat signal or a pulse signal.

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