JP2010243252A - Ultraviolet dose detection method, ultraviolet sensor, and mobile electronic apparatus with ultraviolet sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for checking ultraviolet rays and measuring an ultraviolet dose by a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: A photochromic lens 3 which discolors upon receiving ultraviolet rays and changes its discoloration density in accordance with the received ultraviolet dose is placed so that its surface is exposed to an outer surface from an opening provided in a casing 1-1, thereby determining whether the ultraviolet rays are strong or weak from the discoloration of the photochromic lens 3 caused by the ultraviolet rays received from the surface. A light source 4 and an optical sensor 5 are placed with the photochromic lens 3 interposed therebetween. A certain amount of light emitted by the light source 4 is received by the optical sensor 5 through the photochromic lens 3. The amount of light received by the optical sensor 5 changes in accordance with the discoloration density of the photochromic lens 3, thereby accurate data on ultraviolet intensity is acquired by measuring the amount of light received by the optical sensor 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultraviolet sensor and a portable electronic device equipped with the ultraviolet sensor.

  Since ultraviolet rays are harmful to human skin, it is required to protect them from ultraviolet rays by avoiding skin exposure as much as possible when ultraviolet rays are strong by knowing the intensity of ultraviolet rays in a timely manner when going out. Therefore, there is a demand as a product for detecting the amount of ultraviolet rays. For example, a bracelet or the like that can know the amount of ultraviolet rays by using a material whose color changes according to the intensity of ultraviolet rays (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 2 and the like have proposed a product, a hat, a key holder, or the like to which an ultraviolet sensor film whose color changes depending on the intensity of ultraviolet rays is attached.

  In addition, a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone that is always carried by the device receives an ultraviolet ray and generates an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the ultraviolet ray, and a display signal connected to the ultraviolet sensor and corresponding to the electric signal. The technology that informs the user of the amount of ultraviolet rays by inputting the electrical signal output from the ultraviolet sensor and displaying the intensity information of the ultraviolet rays on the display device provided in the portable electronic device. It is proposed in Patent Documents 3 to 4 and the like.

Japanese Patent No. 2635196 JP 2007-278904 A JP 2001-336977 A JP 2004-226409 A

  In the conventional ultraviolet intensity detection method using an ultraviolet sensor whose color (concentration) changes according to the intensity of ultraviolet light described in Patent Document 2, it is roughly determined whether the ultraviolet ray is strong or weak just by looking at the color (density) of the ultraviolet sensor. However, it is difficult to accurately determine what value the intensity of ultraviolet rays shows specifically.

  On the other hand, according to the method of measuring the amount of ultraviolet rays by measuring the current output from the ultraviolet sensor that generates an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the ultraviolet rays described in Patent Documents 3 to 4, it is displayed on the display unit. Although it is possible to know the actual amount of ultraviolet rays accurately by checking the data, it is necessary to use a relatively expensive ultraviolet sensor that generates an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the ultraviolet rays.

  In addition to the ultraviolet information, various image information is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, setting the ultraviolet information to be displayed on the display unit at all times may be an obstacle when other image information is displayed. If the display operation is performed when confirming the intensity of the ultraviolet rays, there is a possibility that the ultraviolet ray confirmation will be forgotten or the display setting switching operation will be troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for confirming ultraviolet rays and measuring the amount of ultraviolet rays, which can solve the above-described problems with a relatively simple configuration.

  The method for detecting an amount of ultraviolet rays according to the present invention includes the step of receiving the ultraviolet rays on the surface of the light control lens that changes color when receiving ultraviolet light and the color change density changes according to the amount of received ultraviolet light, and a constant amount of light on the side surface of the light control lens. Irradiating the light, receiving the light from the light source that has passed through the light control lens, and calculating the intensity of the ultraviolet light from the amount of received light.

  The ultraviolet sensor of the present invention is arranged so as to receive ultraviolet rays on the surface thereof, and changes its color when receiving ultraviolet rays, and the color changing density changes according to the amount of received ultraviolet rays, and from the side surface of the light adjusting lens A light source that irradiates the light control lens with a certain amount of light, a light sensor that detects the light amount from the light source that has passed through the light control lens, and the amount of ultraviolet light is calculated from the light amount detected by the light sensor. And an ultraviolet ray amount calculating means.

  The portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor according to the present invention is arranged so as to be visible by exposing the surface from an opening provided in the portable electronic device casing, and changes its color when receiving ultraviolet rays and depends on the received ultraviolet ray amount. A dimming lens that changes its color density, a light source that is disposed inside the portable electronic device casing and that irradiates the dimming lens with a certain amount of light from a side surface of the dimming lens, and is transmitted through the dimming lens An optical sensor for detecting the amount of light from the light source, an ultraviolet ray amount calculating means for calculating the ultraviolet ray amount from the light amount detected by the optical sensor, and information indicating the intensity of the ultraviolet ray based on the calculated ultraviolet ray amount. And ultraviolet information display means for displaying using a display unit provided in the portable electronic device.

  The program according to the present invention causes a computer to change color when receiving ultraviolet rays on the surface thereof, and from the light source disposed on the side of the dimming lens in which the color change density changes according to the amount of received ultraviolet rays, to the side of the dimming lens. Means for irradiating a light amount of light, means for receiving light from the light source via the light control lens by a light sensor, means for calculating the amount of ultraviolet light from the amount of light received by the light sensor, and the amount of ultraviolet light calculated It is characterized by functioning as a means for displaying information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to immediately determine the rough intensity of ultraviolet rays by watching the color (density) of the dimming lens that can be visually observed, and to emit a certain amount of light emitted from the side surface of the dimming lens. Is received through the light control lens, and the intensity of the ultraviolet rays is measured by calculating the intensity of the ultraviolet rays from the amount of the received light. A function for obtaining information can be realized with a relatively simple configuration.

It is a perspective view of a portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor of this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement in the case of performing the automatic notification of the amount of ultraviolet rays in this embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet sensor function of the present invention is added to a foldable mobile phone.

  The mobile phone 1 includes a first casing in which a key operation unit, a transmitter, a battery, and the like are accommodated, and a second casing in which a display unit, a receiver, and the like are accommodated. A state where the first casing and the second casing are folded is shown. And in this embodiment, when the 2nd housing | casing is folded, the surface which becomes the outer side WHEREIN: The light control which a color change density changes according to the back display part 2 and the color change received according to the received ultraviolet-ray amount. An opening for exposing the lens 3 is provided.

  The light control lens 3 is made of a material that is colored (discolored) by ultraviolet rays, and has a property that the color becomes darker when the amount of ultraviolet rays is large, and the color becomes light under an environment where the amount of ultraviolet rays is small. That is, in an environment where the amount of ultraviolet rays is large, the lens has a dark color and the light transmittance is low, and in an environment where the amount of ultraviolet rays is small, the lens is light and the light transmittance is high.

  The light control lens 3 can be made of a transparent resin mixed with a material whose color (density) changes according to the intensity of ultraviolet light, glass, or the like. Accordingly, the user can roughly determine the ultraviolet intensity by looking at the color change state of the light control lens 3 exposed from the back surface of the second housing.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part around the position where the light control lens 3 is arranged in the portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor of the present embodiment.

  The light control lens 3 is mounted on the substrate 6 inside the second casing, and the outer surface thereof is disposed so as to be exposed to the outer surface from the opening provided on the back side of the second casing 1-1. Therefore, the light control lens 3 is discolored by the ultraviolet rays from the surroundings received on the outer surface. The color change state of the light control lens 3 can be visually observed by the user from the outer surface of the light control lens 3, and the user can determine whether the ultraviolet light is strong or weak from the color change state of the light control lens 3. .

  A light source 4 and an optical sensor 5 are mounted on the substrate 6 so as to face each other with the dimming lens 3 therebetween, and a fixed amount of light emitted from the light source 4 is passed through the dimming lens 3. The light sensor 5 receives light. That is, the light source 4 emits light with a constant brightness, but the color density of the light control lens 3 changes depending on the amount of ultraviolet rays as described above, and thus the transmittance of light from the light source 4 also changes.

  Therefore, the amount of light received from the light source 4 received by the light sensor 5 changes according to the discoloration density of the light control lens 3, and the ultraviolet light received by the light control lens 3 by measuring the amount of light received by the light sensor 5. Can be detected.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of the portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor according to the present embodiment, which includes a light source 4, a light control lens 3, a light sensor 5, a rear display unit 2, and a CPU 7. The light source 4 emits light in response to an instruction from the CPU 7, the optical sensor 5 receives light from the light source 4 that has passed through the light control lens 3, and sends the received light amount to the CPU 7, and the rear display unit 2 displays ultraviolet data. The CPU 7 has a light emission instruction to the light source 4, a display instruction to the rear display unit 2, and a function of taking received light amount data from the optical sensor 5 and calculating an ultraviolet ray amount.

  The CPU 7 is a central processing unit that controls execution of various function programs provided in the portable electronic device, and various function programs whose execution of the ultraviolet intensity measurement in the present embodiment is also controlled by the CPU 7. Is one of the The rear display unit 2 also displays various information instructed to be displayed by the CPU 7, and the display of ultraviolet data in this embodiment is one of them.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  For example, when the user uses the portable electronic device 1 while going out, the rough intensity of ultraviolet rays is determined by observing the discoloration density of the light control lens 3 disposed on the back surface of the portable electronic device casing. I can do it. When the intensity of ultraviolet rays is concerned from the discoloration density of the light control lens 3, an instruction to detect the amount of ultraviolet rays is issued by a user operation from the key operation unit of the portable electronic device.

  The CPU 7 receives the UV amount detection instruction by the user operation, controls the light source 4 to emit light, takes in the received light amount received by the optical sensor 5 at that time, and calculates the UV amount. Next, the calculated ultraviolet light amount data is displayed on the rear display unit 2 to notify the user of the current ultraviolet light amount. The user can know the accurate ultraviolet intensity from the ultraviolet ray amount data displayed on the rear display unit 2.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the UV amount detection instruction is an operation by the user. However, in this embodiment, even when there is no user operation, when the UV amount is larger than a preset notification amount, an automatic notification of the UV amount is given. Configured to do. Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  Also in the present embodiment, when the user uses the portable electronic device 1, the general intensity of ultraviolet rays is increased by observing the discoloration density of the light control lens 3 disposed on the back surface of the portable electronic device casing. Can be judged.

  When the automatic UV amount notification function is set to ON by a user operation, the CPU 7 emits light to the light source 4 at a preset interval (for example, every 10 minutes, every 30 minutes, etc.) in a standby state. An instruction is given, and the amount of received light received by the optical sensor 5 at that time is taken in to calculate the amount of ultraviolet rays, thereby automatically measuring the amount of ultraviolet rays.

  If the measured ultraviolet ray amount does not exceed the preset amount, the standby state is restored. If the measured amount of ultraviolet rays exceeds a preset amount, the user is notified by preset means (for example, an incoming call lamp, a speaker, a vibrator, etc.), and the amount of ultraviolet rays is displayed on the rear display unit 2. To notify the user of the amount of ultraviolet rays.

  In this way, the amount of ultraviolet rays is measured automatically without any user operation, and if the measured amount of ultraviolet rays exceeds the amount of ultraviolet rays set by the user, the user receives ultraviolet rays by light, sound, and vibration in the same way as for incoming voice calls and incoming mail. By notifying that the amount is large and displaying the amount of ultraviolet rays on the display unit, the actual amount of ultraviolet rays can be notified to the user.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the foldable mobile phone is provided with the ultraviolet sensor of the present invention as the portable electronic device has been described. However, the fact that the foldable mobile phone is not a requirement of the present invention, and the PDA or The present invention can be applied to housings of various portable electronic devices such as game machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile phone 2 Back surface display part 3 Light control lens 4 Light source 5 Optical sensor 6 Board | substrate 7 CPU

Claims (8)

  Receiving the ultraviolet light on the surface of the light control lens that changes color when the ultraviolet light is received and changes in color change density according to the amount of received ultraviolet light, irradiating a side surface of the light control lens with a certain amount of light, An ultraviolet ray amount detecting method comprising: receiving light from the light source that has passed through an optical lens; and calculating intensity of the ultraviolet ray from an amount of received light.   The light control lens is disposed so that the surface is exposed through an opening provided in the portable electronic device casing, and the calculated ultraviolet ray intensity is displayed on the portable electronic device casing. The method for detecting an amount of ultraviolet rays according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying on the screen.   A dimming lens that is arranged to receive ultraviolet rays on its surface, changes color when receiving ultraviolet rays, and changes in discoloration density according to the amount of received ultraviolet rays, and transmits light to the dimming lens from the side of the dimming lens. A light source that irradiates; a light sensor that detects a light amount from the light source that has passed through the light control lens; and an ultraviolet light amount calculation unit that calculates the ultraviolet light amount from the light amount detected by the light sensor. UV sensor characterized by.   A dimming lens that is arranged so as to be visible by exposing its surface from an opening provided in a portable electronic device casing, and changes color when receiving ultraviolet light and changes in color change density according to the amount of received ultraviolet light, A light source that is disposed inside the portable electronic device casing and that irradiates light to the light control lens from a side surface of the light control lens; and a light sensor that detects a light amount from the light source that has passed through the light control lens; An ultraviolet ray amount calculating means for calculating the ultraviolet ray amount from the light amount detected by an optical sensor, and information indicating the intensity of the ultraviolet ray based on the calculated ultraviolet ray amount are displayed using a display unit provided in the portable electronic device. A portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor.   5. The portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor according to claim 4, wherein the ultraviolet ray amount calculating means has a function of instructing the light source to emit light when receiving an ultraviolet ray amount detection instruction.   The ultraviolet ray amount calculating means calculates from a function of instructing light emission at a preset interval to the light source when receiving an instruction to automatically notify the ultraviolet ray amount, and an amount of light received by the optical sensor for each light emission. 5. The portable electronic device with an ultraviolet sensor according to claim 4, wherein the portable electronic device has a function of notifying a user by a preset means when the amount of the ultraviolet ray is larger than a preset value.   The ultraviolet ray according to claim 6, wherein the preset means is configured by means for driving at least one of an incoming lamp, a speaker, and a vibrator provided in the portable electronic device. Portable electronic device with sensor. Means for irradiating light on the side surface of the light control lens from a light source disposed on the side surface of the light control lens that changes color when the computer receives ultraviolet light on the surface and changes color density according to the amount of received ultraviolet light, In order to function as means for receiving light from the light source with a light sensor via a light control lens, means for calculating the amount of ultraviolet light from the amount of light received by the light sensor, and means for displaying the calculated amount of ultraviolet light information Program.

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