GB2148513A

GB2148513A - Device for measuring moisture contained in the skin or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2148513A
Application number: GB08423540A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takehiko Abe; Hiroshi Toida; Masahiko Mizukami
Original assignee: KISHOHIN KAGAKU KAIHO KENKYU
Current assignee: KISHOHIN KAGAKU KAIHO KENKYU
Priority date: 1983-09-19
Filing date: 1984-09-18
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: KR850002387A; CH665029A5; GB2148513B; IT1199411B; DE3433192A1; IT8403571A0; FR2552229A1; GB8423540D0; IT8403571A1; JPS6063039A; JPH0157579B2; FR2552229B1; KR870000639B1

Abstract

A device which accurately measures moisture quantity of epidermal layer, dermal layer, and horny layer of the human skin by applying microwave to the skin and measuring wave reflected from the skin comprises a microwave oscillator (A) of small oscillation output which is coupled via circulator (4) and a probe (8) to the skin. Reflected waves attenuated by moisture quantity within the skin are received by probe (8) and moisture quantity is measured by detecting variation of the stationary wave due to reflection with a reflected wave receiver (B). The oscillator (A) and receiver (B) are coupled to a waveguide at one of which is attached probe (8), the latter being in the form of a hemispherical glass probe provided with coaxial probes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for measuring moisture contained in the skin or the like The present invention relates to a device for accurately measuring the quantity of moisture in epidermis, dermis, and horny layer of the human skin or the like by applying microwaves to the skin, and measuring the reflected wave.

Moisture in the skin, as it is generally understood, means the quantity of moisture in the horny layer, and for indicating characteristics of the skin, it is usually classified into dry skin, neutral skin, and oily skin. This classification usually relates to the quantity of sebum in the skin, but it also relates to the difference in quantity of moisture in the horny layer. The quantity of moisture in the horny layer decreases as the quantity of sebum decreases. It is very useful to know one's own skin characteristics in selecting cosmetics which are suitable to it and giving it proper treatment to maintain it in healthy condition.

For the above purpose, there have conventionally been employed such means as measuring the quantity of moisture in the horny layer based on the quantity of moisture evaporating from the surface of the layer, measuring the quantity of moisture in the surface of the horny layer, utilizing electric resistance, and regarding the horny layer as a thin piece of suitable thickness and measuring the quantity of evaporated moisture as decrease in the weight of the horny layer.

However, all of these means have disadvantages that measuring is complicated, measuring precision is low, and the measuring operation is not easy. It is, therefore, a need for a device for measuring moisture quantity with which measured values are accurate and the measuring operation is easy.

In view of the disadvantages of the conventional arts, the present invention aims to provide a moisture quantity measuring device of easy operation and high measuring precision.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring moisture in the skin or the like which comprises a detecting unit consisting of a microwave oscillator of small output and a reflected wave receiver which alters the stationary wave by the reflected microwaves to a direct current signal; a measuring device consisting of an electric power supply circuit which supplies electric power to the microwave oscillator, a voltage amplification circuit which converts the signal detected by the reflected wave receiver to the quantity of moisture, and an AD converter which digital converts the voltage put out by the voltage amplification circuit, and which shows it on an indicator; a reflector type hemispherical glass probe having a waveguide connected to the microwave oscillator and the reflected wave receiver and a co-axial probe attached at the end of the waveguide.

Thus, the invention utilises the characteristics of microwaves that it is strongly absorbed when it passes through an object to be measured which contains water molecules and at the same time is reflected by the molecules. Variation in amplitude of the reflected wave of the oscillated microwave is detected by the reflector type receiver, and the quantity of moisture is measured by comparison with previously measured data. Accordingly, with the device of the present invention, the quantity of moisture is electrically measured in accurate manner by simply applying the reflector type glass probe to the skin.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic view of the device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram of the circuit of the detecting unit; Figure 3 is a partial cross-section of the wave guide; and Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the connection of the circuits of the measuring device.

Now, the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the embodiment shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, a detecting unit 1 comprises a microwave oscillator A consisting of a Gunn diode 2 with oscillation output of 10mew, oscillation frequency of 10.5GHz, and tuning scope of 10.3-10.6GHz, a resistance attenuator 3 for conversion, and a circulator 4, a reflected wave receiver B consisting of the circulator 4 and a Shottky diode 5, and a waveguide 7 for 1 0.5GHz connected to the circulator 4 and provided at its end with a reflector type hemispherical glass probe 8.

The reflector type hemispherical glass probe 8 has a screw-mounting part 9 towards its bottom, and a hole of about 3.2 mm is provided downward from its apex. A cylindrical probe 10 and a needle-like proble 11 are co-axially mounted in the hole, and a micro-wave nonpermiable material is provided between the two probes 1 0, 11. The reflector type hemispherical glass probe 8 is connected with the waveguide 7 by screwing the screw part 9 into a fitting part provided in the upper surface of the waveguide 7. The co-axial cylindrical probe 10 and needle-like probe 11 are inserted in a hole 6 of the fitting part.A measuring device 1 2 is respectively connected with the microwave oscillator A and the reflected wave receiver B of the detecting unit 1 by a connecting cable 1 3. The measuring device 1 2 comprises of an electric power of 1 OmW to the microwave oscillator A through the connecting cable 13, a voltage amplification circuit 1 5 which changes the voltage connected through the reflected wave receiver B of microwave and the connecting cable 1 3 into moisture quantity, an AD converter 1 6 which converts the output voltage of the voltage amplification circuit 1 5 into digital values, and an indicator 1 7 for indicating the digital values.The voltage amplification circuit 1 5 has a sensibility adjusting handle 18, and can be adjusted to 1 000mV when moisture quantity is 100%. The circuit 1 5 also has the faculty to convert output voltage into moisture quantity by arranging the detecting output at OmV when moisture quantity is 0%, at 1 000V when moisture quantity is 100%. A connector 1 9 is also provided.

With the structure of the device in accordance with the present invention as described above, weak electric power of 1 OmW is supplied to the Gunn diode 2 from an electric source supply circuit when the electric source is switched on, and weak microwave is oscillated from the Gunn diode 2.

The oscillated microwave of 10.5GHz is oscillated from the reflector type hemispherical glass probe 8 through the circulator 4 and the waveguide 7, and is further oscillated radially from the probe 11 towards the probe 10. Since the probes 10 and 11 are co-axial, and the clearance between them is about 1.6 mum, the microwave only reaches the level about 3.2 mm higher from the apex of the probe 11. When the reflector type hemispherical glass probe 8 which oscillates the microwave is applied to the object to be measured, the microwave is attenuated and reflected in compliance with the moisture quantity contained in the object. The reflected microwave is received by the probe, and led into the waveguide 7 where a stationary wave is generated.Variation of the stationary wave due to the reflection is detected as variation of direct current signal by the Shottky diode 5 of the reflector type receiver B. The detected direct current signal is inputted to the voltage amplification circuit 1 5 through the connecting cable 13, and here the voltage is amplified so as to convert it to moisture quantity.

The amplified voltage then is digitalised by the AD converter 16, and the value thereof is shown on the indicator 1 7. As the moisture quantities in the horny layer, the epidermal layer, and the dermal layer, are respectively greatly different from one another, it is needless to say that the device of the present invention may also be utilised inversely as a device for measuring the thickness of the layers at various spots by making the probe to travel up and down by a micrometer or the like and reading the value of the micrometer when the probe reaches a pre-determined moisture quantity.

As described above, the device of the present invention in comparison with the conventional means, enables not only accurate measurement of moisture quantity of the horny layer which can be easily carried out by any person but also measurement of moisture quantity of the epidermal and dermal layers.

Thus, its utilisation is quite high.

Also, as the present device enables easy and accurate measurement of moisture quantity of the human skin, cosmetic treatment suitable to it can be performed, presenting great use in the field of health care of the skin.

Claims

1. A device for measuring moisture quantity of the skin or the like comprising a detecting unit consisting of a microwave oscillator of small output and a reflected wave receiver which converts stational wave caused by reflected wave of microwave into direct current voltage; a measuring device consisting of an electric power supply circuit which supplies electric power to the microwave oscillator, a voltage amplification circuit which converts voltage detected by the reflected wave receiver into moisture quantity, and an AD converter which digitalizes output voltage of the voltage amplification circuit and indicates the digitalized value on an indicator; a waveguide which is connected to the microwave oscillator and the reflected wave receiver; a reflector type hemispherical glass probe having co-axial probes attached at the end of the waveguide.

2. A device for measuring moisture quantity of the skin or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.