JP5652324B2 - Massage equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage apparatus having a mechanism for applying massage to the back of a user.

  Conventionally, in order to enhance the massage effect, electrodes have been provided on the armrest and backrest of the massage device body to detect the pulse from the user's hand and the heartbeat from the potential difference obtained from the user's back and hand, respectively. A device that controls the operation of a massage driving mechanism in accordance with the pulse or heart rate is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, when the pulse or heart rate has increased since the start of the massage, the massage intensity is reduced by switching the speed of movement from high speed to low speed from the kneading operation, and when the pulse or heart rate decreases, the opposite is true. By increasing the massage strength, it is possible to reduce stiffness while reducing the burden on the user's human body.

JP 2001-269377 A

  By the way, when the massage effect increases with the passage of time from the start of the massage, the user may feel sleepy by relaxing and may feel comfortable falling asleep as it is.

In view of this point, the following problems are pointed out in the conventional massage device.
(1) Since the pulse mechanism and heartbeat decrease as the user relaxes, and the drive mechanism is controlled so that the massage strength increases when the pulse and heartbeat decrease, this awakens the user and is comfortable. It could be difficult to lead to sleep.

  (2) When the control is changed to solve the problem (1) above, when the user begins to fall asleep, the user's hand comes off from the electrode on the armrest, and the pulse and heartbeat are detected normally. As a result, the continuity of the control related to the massage may be impaired.

  (3) When the massage strength is high, the vibration due to the operation of the drive mechanism is increased in the backrest portion, so that the influence of noise due to the vibration or the like becomes large, and it may be difficult to detect the heartbeat normally. there were.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a massage apparatus that performs control based on a biological signal that represents a user's heartbeat or pulse, and provides a rational and accurate biological signal while guiding the user to a comfortable sleep. The purpose is to provide a technique for detecting well.

  A massage device, which is an invention made to achieve the above object, is a device comprising a drive mechanism for applying massage to at least a part of a user's back (hereinafter referred to as “target back”), from the target back A first detector for detecting a biological signal representing a heartbeat or a pulse of the user, and a target exposed portion where the user's skin is exposed in a portion of the user's (human body) excluding the target back And a second detector for detecting a biological signal from a part including

  In the present invention, the drowsiness level determination means determines the drowsiness level of the user based on the biological signal detected by the detector selected in advance among the first and second detectors, and is driven. The control means controls the drive mechanism so that the massage intensity is reduced according to the sleepiness level determined by the sleepiness level determination means. Further, the detector selection means uses the determination result by the sleepiness level determination means to select the first detector when the sleepiness level is relatively high, and the second detection when the sleepiness level is relatively low. It was configured to select the vessel.

  In this configuration, (1) the driving mechanism is controlled so as to reduce the massage intensity when the sleepiness level increases as the user relaxes, and (2) the biological signal from the target back of the user by the first detector. (1 ') guides the user to a comfortable sleep, and (2') detects a biological signal normally in a state where the user is receiving a massage even if the user starts to fall asleep. Is possible.

  In addition, if the reason of said (2 ') is supplemented, since a massage intensity will become small if a user's sleepiness degree becomes high, operation | movement of a drive mechanism with respect to the biosignal detected by a 1st detector ( This is because the influence of noise due to vibration or the like is reduced.

  (3) When the user's drowsiness level is lowered (in other words, the awakening level is increased), the second detector detects the biological signal from the target exposed portion (skin) of the user. 3 ′) Even when the massage intensity is high, detection is performed directly from the skin while suppressing the generation of noise due to the operation of the drive mechanism (vibration, etc.) compared to the case where a biological signal is detected from the target back. Thus, the detection accuracy can be improved.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in a massage apparatus that performs control based on a biological signal that represents a user's heartbeat or pulse, the user can sleep comfortably by reducing the massage intensity according to the sleepiness level of the user. However, noise resistance can be improved by selecting the detection source of the biological signal, and thus the biological signal can be detected reasonably and accurately.

  In general, it is known that when the user enters a relaxed state, the heart rate and the pulse decrease, and in the present invention, the arousal level is low in the relaxed state, so that the sleepiness level is considered to be high. ing.

  By the way, in the present invention, the first and second detectors may be always operated regardless of the selection result by the detector selecting means. However, for the purpose of power saving, the operation prohibiting means. However, it is good to prohibit the operation | movement of the detector unselected by the detector selection means among the 1st or 2nd detectors. In this case, power consumption can be suppressed by stopping either one of the detectors compared to the case of always operating.

  In the present invention, the operation of the drive mechanism may be started (that is, massage is started) by, for example, turning on the power source of the massage apparatus body, but for the purpose of improving convenience, A contact detector for detecting contact of the part is provided in the vicinity of the second detector, and when the operation start means considers that the target exposed part is in contact with the contact detector, the operation of the drive mechanism is started. It is good to comprise so that it may.

  According to this configuration, (1) since the massage is automatically started only by the user touching the contact detector, for example, it is not necessary to worry about the position of the power source of the massage device body, and (2) as it is By bringing the exposed portion into contact with the second detector, a biological signal can be obtained smoothly from the second detector without causing the user to perform unnecessary operations.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the above-described contact detector can be used for another control application. Specifically, when the user's drowsiness level is relatively low, the detector selection means selects the detector only when the target exposed portion is considered to be in contact with the contact detector. It may be configured.

  According to this configuration, when the user intentionally removes the target exposed portion from the second detector, the selection of the detector is prohibited, so that the drowsiness level determination means and the drive control means in the subsequent stage are executed. Can be stopped and the user can be urged to contact the second detector.

  By the way, the massage apparatus of this invention may be provided with a drive mechanism in a bed, for example, and may be provided with a drive mechanism in a backrest part (of the apparatus main body) of a chair. The target back is the rear side of the human body and is a concept that includes the back, neck, arms, waist, thighs, calves, soles of the feet, etc., and the target exposed part is the skin of the human body without clothing. It is a part that is exposed and is a concept that includes the hands, neck, soles of the feet, and the like.

  Here, in the present invention, when the drive mechanism is configured to be incorporated in the back support portion of the massage apparatus body and the target back portion is the user's back, the first detector is the heart portion of the user in the back. It may be configured to detect the user's heartbeat based on a potential difference obtained from two points sandwiching the.

  Further, when the drive mechanism is configured to be incorporated in the back support portion of the massage body and the target exposed portion is the user's hand, the second detector is based on the potential difference obtained from the user's buttocks and the hand. It may be configured to detect a user's heartbeat.

  In both cases, it is possible to detect the heartbeat suitably by passing a weak current through the heart of the user. In the latter case, in particular, a biological signal can be obtained from a part separated from the position of the drive mechanism. If a user's arousal level is high, the certainty of detecting a heartbeat can be improved regardless of massage intensity.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the massage apparatus to which this invention was applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure of the massage apparatus to which this invention was applied. It is a flowchart which shows the massage control process which a control part performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the difference in the detection method of the biomedical signal at the time of a user's awakening and sleep. It is explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure of the massage apparatus in other embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Outline of massage device]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a massage apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the massage device 1 of the present embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 having a plurality of massage balls for massage is incorporated in the back rest 92 of the chair body 90. According to the movement, massage can be performed in a kneading operation mode, a tapping operation mode, and a tapping kneading operation mode. In each operation mode, the massage intensity can be changed by adjusting the operation speed of the kneading balls to high speed, middle side, and low speed, and adjusting the operation range of the kneading balls to wide area, middle area, and low band. The drive mechanism 5 is configured to be movable along the vertical direction of the backrest portion 92.

  In addition, three capacitive coupling sensors 10, 11, and 12 are arranged on the backrest portion 92 of the chair body 90 so as to be separated from the drive mechanism 5 and to face the back of the user. One capacitive coupling sensor 13 is disposed on the surface portion 94 so as to face the user's buttocks, and one resistance is provided on the left and right armrest portions 96 of the chair body 90 so as to contact the user's hand or finger. Sexual coupling sensors 14 are respectively arranged.

The capacitive coupling sensors 10 to 13 include electrodes formed in a sheet shape using a conductive cloth containing a highly conductive metal such as copper, or a thin and flexible metal plate.
Among these, the electrodes (hereinafter referred to as “first measurement electrodes”) 10a and 11a of the pair of capacitive coupling sensors 10 and 11 provided so as to sandwich the drive mechanism 5 in the back-and-forth portion 92 in the vertical direction are A capacitor is formed by capacitive coupling with the back (see FIG. 4B). A capacitor is formed at two points on the back of the user that sandwich the heart, and a weak current flows through a path including the heart of the human body due to the potential difference. That is, the weak current at this time becomes a value corresponding to the potential difference between the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a, and the heartbeat of the user is detected based on the potential difference.

  It should be noted that the electrode (hereinafter referred to as “first reference electrode”) 12a of the capacitive coupling sensor 12 provided at the bottom of the backrest 92 is a reference when measuring the potential difference between the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a. This is for obtaining a potential, and is connected to the ground line via a switch 27 (see FIG. 2) described later. An electrode (hereinafter referred to as “second measurement electrode”) 13a of the capacitive coupling sensor 13 provided on the seating surface portion 94 forms a capacitor by capacitively coupling with the user's buttocks. (See FIG. 4 (a)).

  The resistive coupling sensor 14 provided in the armrest portion 96 includes an electrode 14a for detecting a heartbeat (hereinafter referred to as “second reference electrode”) 14a together with the second measurement electrode 13a. When a contact is made with the second reference electrode 14a, a potential difference is generated between the second measurement electrode 13a and the second reference electrode 14a, and a weak current flows through the path including the heart of the human body due to the potential difference. It is configured. The second reference electrode 14a is connected to the ground line via a switch 27 (see FIG. 2) described later.

  In addition, in the armrest portion 96, the pressure sensor 15 is provided below the resistive coupling sensor 14 via a contact insulating sheet in order to detect pressure caused by the user's hand coming into contact with the second reference electrode 14 a. Is provided. In addition, since the pressure sensor 15 detects contact even in a part other than the user's hand, the detection result indicates that the user's hand may be in contact with the second reference electrode 14a. It will be shown.

[Circuit configuration of massage device]
Next, the circuit configuration of the massage apparatus 1 will be described. In addition, FIG. 2 is explanatory drawing which shows the circuit structure of the massage apparatus to which this invention was applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the electrodes 10a to 14a, the pressure sensor 15, and the drive mechanism 5, the massage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes three buffer amplifiers 20, 21, 23, and one differential amplifier 25. And two switches 27 and 28 and a control unit 30 for controlling the drive mechanism 5 based on input signals from the electrodes 10a to 15a. The sensors 10 to 14 include electrodes 10 a to 14 a, corresponding buffer amplifiers 20, 21 and 23 (including a resistor R described later), and a differential amplifier 25.

  The buffer amplifiers 20, 21 and 23 have measurement electrodes 10a, 11a and 13a connected to their input ends, and a high impedance which short-circuits the measurement electrodes 10a, 11a and 13a and the ground on the line connecting them. A resistor R is further connected to allow DC noise due to static electricity to escape to the grounding portion and stabilize the input signals (voltage signals) from the capacitive coupling sensors 10, 11, and 13.

  Among these, the buffer amplifier (hereinafter referred to as “second amplifier”) 23 connected to the second measurement electrode 13a performs a second potential change due to capacitive coupling between the second measurement electrode 13a and the human body. The potential of the reference electrode 14 a is detected as the reference (potential of the ground line), and the amplified signal is output to the control unit 30.

  That is, the second amplifier is configured to detect the heartbeat of the user based on the potential difference generated between the second measurement electrode 13a and the second reference electrode 14a. At this time, the second measurement electrode 13a is indirectly in contact with the user's buttocks, and the second reference electrode 14a is in direct contact with the user's hand.

  The buffer amplifiers 20 and 21 connected to the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a change the potential of the first reference electrode 12a by changing the potential due to capacitive coupling between the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a and the human body. The potential is detected as a reference (the potential of the ground line), and the amplified signal is output to the differential amplifier 25.

  The differential amplifier 25 calculates a difference between input levels from the buffer amplifier 20 connected to the non-inverting input terminal (+) and the buffer amplifier 21 connected to the inverting input terminal (−), and calculates the difference. The amplified signal is output to the control unit 30.

  That is, the buffer amplifiers 20 and 21 and the differential amplifier 25 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “first amplifier 26”) detect the heartbeat of the user based on the potential difference generated between the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a. It is configured as follows. At this time, it is assumed that the first measurement electrodes 10a and 11a are indirectly in contact with the back so as to sandwich the heart of the user.

  The switch 27 switches the ground line connection destination to either the first reference electrode 12 a or the second reference electrode 14 a in accordance with a command from the control unit 30. The connection destination is switched to either the first amplifier 26 or the second amplifier 23 in accordance with a command from the control unit 30.

The control unit 30 is configured around a microcomputer including a CPU, RAM, ROM, I / O, bus line, and the like, and performs the following massage control process.
[Massage control processing]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating massage control processing executed by the control unit 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the present process determines that the user's hand may be in contact with the second reference electrode 14a based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor 15 (S105; YES). To be started.

  When this process is started, it is assumed that the user's hand is in contact with the second reference electrode 14a, and a biological signal representing the heartbeat of the user is acquired from the first amplifier 26 or the second amplifier 23. (S110). In the initial state, since the switch 27 is connected to the second reference electrode 14a and the switch 28 is connected to the second amplifier 23, a biological signal is input from the second amplifier 23.

  Next, if the predetermined period has not elapsed since the start of this process (S111; NO), conventional massage control is performed based on the biological signal acquired in S110 (S115). Specifically, when the heart rate has increased since the start of massage, the massage speed is reduced by reducing the movement speed of the kneading balls, and the massage strength is reduced by reducing the movement range, and conversely, when the heart rate decreases, the massage strength is increased. Thus, the control for relaxing the stiffness is performed while reducing the burden on the human body of the user.

  When a predetermined period of time elapses from the start of this process (ie, the start of massage) (S111; YES), the user's relaxed state is determined based on the biological signal acquired in S110, and the relaxed state is determined. The user's sleepiness level is determined such that the higher the user's sleepiness level is, and the lower the relaxation state, the lower the user's sleepiness level (in other words, the higher the alertness level) (S120). Here, it is considered that the relaxed state is higher as the heart rate decreases from the start of the massage.

  Then, based on the determination result of S120, when the sleepiness level of the user is low (the wakefulness level is high), the massage intensity is increased (S130), and when the sleepiness level (or the wakefulness level) is medium, When the massage intensity is set to the standard level (medium level) (S140) and the drowsiness level is high (the awakening level is low), a command for reducing the massage intensity is output (S150), and the drive mechanism 5 is controlled. To do.

  Further, when the sleepiness level of the user is low / medium, a command for connecting the switch 27 to the second reference electrode 14a and connecting the switch 28 to the second amplifier 23 is output ( S160) When the drowsiness level is high, a command for connecting the switch 27 to the first reference electrode 12a and connecting the switch 28 to the first amplifier 26 is output (S170). 28 is controlled, and the process returns to S110.

  Before returning from S160 to S110, in S165, it is determined whether or not the user's hand may be in contact with the second reference electrode 14a based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor 15 ( S165), wait until an affirmative determination is made here, and then return to S110.

[Operation]
In the massage apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the user sits on the seat surface portion 94 of the chair body 90 and puts his hand on one of the left and right armrest portions 96, the same massage control as before is started, and the user is relaxed. Lead to state. And when sufficient time (predetermined period) has passed until it becomes relaxed, contrary to the conventional massage control, by controlling the massage intensity to decrease as the heart rate decreases, the user can sleep. Lead.

  Here, the sleepiness level of the user is estimated from the degree of decrease in heartbeat, and when the sleepiness level is low, the massage intensity is increased and the heartbeat is calculated based on the potential difference obtained from the user's hand and buttocks. When the drowsiness level is high, the switches 27 and 28 are selected so that the massage intensity is reduced and the heart rate is calculated based on the potential difference obtained from the two points sandwiching the heart on the user's back. The

Further, when the switches 27 and 28 are switched, the operation of the sensor unnecessary for calculating the heartbeat is stopped.
[effect]
As described above, in the massage device 1, when the user awakens, the massage strength is increased, so that the vibration of the drive mechanism 5 is increased. However, a biological signal is obtained from the user's hand and buttocks, which is caused by the vibration. Noise can be made difficult to be superimposed on the biological signal (see FIG. 4A). In addition, when the user sleeps, the massage intensity is reduced, so that the vibration of the drive mechanism 5 is reduced, and even if a biological signal is obtained from the user's back, the vibration is small, so noise superimposed on the biological signal is reduced. It can be ignored (see FIG. 4B).

  Therefore, according to the massage apparatus 1, noise resistance is improved by selecting a detection source of the biological signal while guiding the user to a comfortable sleep by reducing the massage intensity according to the sleepiness level of the user. As a result, the biological signal can be detected reasonably and accurately.

Moreover, according to the massage apparatus 1, since the operation | movement of the sensor unnecessary for the calculation of a heartbeat stops, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed and power saving can be achieved.
Furthermore, according to the massage apparatus 1, the massage control is started only by the user placing his / her hand on the armrest portion 96, so that it is possible to reliably improve the convenience and improve the living body from the user's hand and buttocks in the initial state. A signal can be obtained.

[Correspondence with Invention]
In this embodiment, the capacitive coupling sensors 10, 11, and 12 are the first detector, the capacitive coupling sensor 13 and the resistive coupling sensor 14 are the second detector, and S120 of the massage control process is the sleepiness level determination. , S130 to S150 are drive control means, S160 and S170 are detector selection means, the pressure sensor 15 is a contact detector, the switches 27 and 28 are operation prohibition means, and S105 is an operation start means.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is possible to implement in various aspects.

  For example, in the massage apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the switches 27 and 28 are configured to stop the operation of sensors unnecessary for heart rate calculation, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is shown in FIG. As described above, the switches 27 and 28 are not required, and signals are always input from the first amplifier 26 and the second amplifier 23 to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 selects a detection signal to be used according to the sleepiness level. You may comprise.

  Moreover, in the massage apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although comprised so that the biological signal showing a heartbeat may be detected, not only a heartbeat but a pulse may be sufficient. When measuring a pulse, it has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and among the light emitted from the light emitting element, for example, one of scattered light reflected without being absorbed in blood flowing through the capillary artery of the finger. A well-known pulse wave sensor that outputs a pulse wave signal based on the amount of received light when the light receiving element receives the light may be used.

  Moreover, in the massage apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although a user's hand is made into the object exposure part, the object exposure part should just be a site | part which the user's skin is exposed not only for a hand, for example, utilization. Since it may be the person's neck, arm, or sole of the foot, the resistive coupling sensor 14 may be arranged corresponding to each part.

  Moreover, in the massage apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although the capacitive coupling sensor 13 is provided in the position corresponding to a user's buttocks, it is not restricted to this but seems to be hard to receive the influence from the noise from the drive mechanism 5. The position may be a position spaced apart from each other, for example, a position corresponding to a calf.

Moreover, although the massage apparatus 1 of the said embodiment is the structure by which the drive mechanism 5 was integrated in the backrest part 92 of the chair main body 90, you may apply to a bed or a vehicle seat.
Moreover, in the massage apparatus 1 of the said embodiment, although the pressure sensor 15 is provided in the armrest part 96 of the chair main body 90, it is not an essential structure and is not restricted to the armrest part 96, The backrest part 92 and a seat surface part 94 may be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Massage apparatus, 5 ... Drive mechanism, 10-13 ... Capacitive coupling sensor, 10a, 11a ... 1st measurement electrode, 12a ... 1st reference electrode, 13a ... 2nd measurement electrode, 14 ... Resistive coupling Sensor, 14a ... second reference electrode, 15 ... pressure sensor, 20, 21, 22 ... buffer amplifier, 23 ... second amplifier, 25 ... differential amplifier, 26 ... first amplifier, 27,28 ... switch, 30 ... control unit, 90 ... chair body, 92 ... backrest, 94 ... seat surface, 96 ... armrest.

Claims (5)

A massage device (1) comprising a drive mechanism (5) for applying massage to a target back which is at least a part of a user's back,
A first detector (10, 11, 12) spaced from the drive mechanism and for detecting a biological signal representing the heartbeat or pulse of the user from the back of the target;
The hand a portion excluding the target back of the user is exposed skin of the user's fingers, neck, arms or legs of the back from the second to detect the biological signal detector ( 13, 14)
Drowsiness level determination means (S120) for determining the drowsiness level of the user based on the biological signal detected by a preselected detector of the first and second detectors;
Drive control means (S130 to S150) for controlling the drive mechanism so that the massage intensity is reduced when the sleepiness degree determined by the sleepiness degree determination means is high ;
Using the determination result by the drowsiness determination means, when it is determined that the drowsiness level is not high selects the first detector, wherein when said drowsiness level is determined to have low first Detector selection means (S160, S170) for selecting two detectors;
A massage device comprising: The operation prohibiting means (27, 28) for prohibiting the operation of a detector that is not selected by the detector selecting means among the first or second detectors. Massage device. A contact detector (15) provided proximate to the second detector for detecting contact of the hand, the finger, the neck, the arm or the sole of the foot ;
When the contact detector considers that the hand, the finger, the neck, the arm or the sole of the foot are in contact, an operation start means (S105) for starting the operation of the drive mechanism;
The massage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The drive mechanism is configured by being incorporated in the backrest portion (92) of the massage apparatus body,
The target back is the back of the user;
The first detector is configured to detect a heartbeat of the user based on a potential difference obtained from two points on the back sandwiching the heart of the user. The massage apparatus in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 . The drive mechanism is configured by being incorporated in the backrest portion (92) of the massage apparatus body ,
Before Symbol the second detector based on the potential difference resulting from the buttocks and the hand of the user, according to claim 1 to claim characterized in that it is configured to detect the heart beat of the user 4. The massage apparatus according to any one of 4 .