JP2009072326A - Portable electronic device having biorhythm evaluating function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for evaluating biorhythm easily and continuously in everyday life. <P>SOLUTION: A portable electronic device includes a screen 1, a display control means 2 for displaying predetermined information on the screen 1, clocking means 3 for measuring the current time, input means 4 for receiving an input from the outside, and storage means 5 for storing time information. The portable electronic device further includes calculating means 8 for acquiring a time index that can be used as an evaluation value of a user's biorhythm in response to an output of time information stored and accumulated in the storage means 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable electronic device having a biological rhythm evaluation function.

  It is known that various biological phenomena (also referred to as “physiological states”) of living organisms exhibit a rhythm that autonomously varies (oscillates). This rhythm is called “biological rhythm”. In particular, the circadian rhythm, which has a cycle of about one day, is thought to dominate biological phenomena such as sleep-wake cycles and circadian fluctuations in body temperature, blood pressure, and hormone secretion. . It has also been clarified that circadian rhythms are involved in circadian fluctuations in drug sensitivity, mental and physical activity, and exercise capacity.

  The biological rhythm is controlled by a group of genes called “clock genes”. The clock gene functions as an “internal clock” by autonomously changing (vibrating) its expression, activity, localization, etc., and by controlling various other gene groups, It governs biological phenomena.

  On the other hand, biological rhythm is not only autonomously controlled by the body clock but also restricted by social life. For example, in the sleep / wake cycle, a shift in rhythm (phase shift) occurs between the “real-life sleep / wake cycle” and the “sleep / wake cycle by the body clock” due to changes in the daily sleep time and wake-up time. There is.

  Such a rhythm shift is thought to cause so-called “jet lag”, sleep disorders, and mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression. Attempts have also been made to treat these diseases by resetting the body clock modulated by the rhythm shift by light irradiation.

  Attempts have also begun to maximize the effects of drug treatment using biological rhythms. Due to the circadian rhythm of the drug target molecule (drug target molecule) and the enzyme that metabolizes the drug (drug metabolizing enzyme), the therapeutic effect of the drug may also fluctuate within the day. Therefore, the concept of “time medicine” has been proposed in which the optimal dosing time is determined for each drug to maximize the therapeutic effect.

  Furthermore, by using the circadian rhythm of mental and physical activity and motor skills, the activity time that maximizes one's ability in learning and training, and the time of eating that is difficult to get fat (or easy to get fat) Has begun to be considered.

  From the above, striving to stably maintain biological rhythm in daily life is prevention of various diseases, improvement of physical condition such as jet lag, realization of chronotherapy, exercise of self ability, diet, etc. It is considered very useful.

  In relation to the present invention, as a technique for qualitatively evaluating biological rhythm, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for estimating body time based on gene expression product amount measurement data of a standard specimen collected from an individual organism. Has been. In this biological clock estimation method, a molecular clock table for estimating a biological clock is created based on the expression level of a gene expression product (that is, mRNA).

  Patent Document 2 describes a biological rhythm curve measuring device for measuring a biological rhythm curve from measured values of human deep body temperature. This biological rhythm curve measuring device is devised so that the true biological rhythm curve can be measured by removing the influence of disturbance (external influence).

International Publication No. 2004/012128 JP-A-6-189914

  As mentioned above, striving to maintain biological rhythm stably is very beneficial from various aspects, and for this purpose, continuous evaluation of biological rhythm in daily life and knowing the state of biological rhythm Is required.

  In this regard, according to the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is possible to qualitatively evaluate the biological rhythm. However, these techniques estimate the body time from gene expression product measurement data and deep body temperature measurements, and require special devices and specialized techniques. It is not supposed to be evaluated.

  In view of this, the main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for simply and continuously evaluating biological rhythms in daily life.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a screen, display control means for displaying predetermined information on the screen, time measuring means for measuring the current time, and input means for receiving external input, and further includes time information. Provided is a portable electronic device provided with a storage means for storing.
In this portable electronic device, the display control means refers to the current time held by the time measuring means, and displays information for prompting the user to input by the input means on the screen in a predetermined time zone. The storage means receives the output from the input means, acquires the current time held by the time measuring means as time information, and holds and accumulates it.
The portable electronic device may include an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration and / or an optical sensor that detects ambient light environment.
In this case, the storage means receives the output of the detection result of the acceleration sensor or / and the optical sensor, acquires the current time held by the time measuring means as time information, and stores it.
Further, the portable electronic device may include a calculation unit that receives an output of time information held and accumulated in the storage unit and obtains a time index based on the time information. The display control means receives the output from the calculation means and displays the time index on the screen.
In the present invention, this time index can be an evaluation value of a user's biological rhythm.

  The present invention provides an apparatus for evaluating biological rhythms easily and continuously in daily life.

  Biological rhythm is controlled by a biological clock composed of clock genes, and is influenced by various social life. For example, in the sleep / wake cycle, sleep and wakefulness are attracted by the body clock, and at the same time, the body clock is also affected by the actual bedtime and wake-up time. It is formed by the biological rhythm and life rhythm affecting each other.

  Therefore, if the life rhythm is irregular, it is considered that the biological rhythm is also modulated. In order to maintain the biological rhythm stably, the life rhythm such as the bedtime, the wake-up time, and the eating time in daily life It is considered effective to promote the expression of the original biological rhythm by the body clock by keeping the constant.

  The portable electronic device according to the present invention evaluates the life rhythm by accumulating time information related to the life rhythm such as the bedtime, the wake-up time, and the feeding time based on the influence of the life rhythm on the biological rhythm. Thus, the biological rhythm is evaluated.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment described below shows an example of typical embodiment of this invention, and, thereby, the range of this invention is not interpreted narrowly.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a portable electronic device A according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a screen, reference numeral 2 is a display control means for displaying predetermined information on the screen 1, reference numeral 3 is a time measuring means for measuring the current time, reference numeral 4 is an input means for receiving external input, reference numeral 5 Indicates storage means for accumulating time information. Reference numeral 6 denotes an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the portable electronic device A, reference numeral 7 denotes an optical sensor that detects the ambient light environment, and reference numeral 7 denotes calculation means that obtains a time index based on the accumulated time information. .

  The current time held by the time measuring means 3 is provided to the display control means 2 (see arrow (a) in FIG. 1). The display control means 2 refers to this current time and “uses” in a predetermined time zone. Information for prompting the user to input using the input means 4 "is displayed on the screen 1 (see arrow (b)). Hereinafter, the screen 1 in a state where “information for prompting the user to input by the input unit 4 is displayed” by the display control unit 2 is referred to as an “input support screen 11”.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input support screen 11.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 111 is “information for prompting the user to input by the input means 4” (hereinafter referred to as “input support information 111”). Information is presented.

  As the input support information 111, in addition to the lunch time, information that prompts the user to input time information related to life rhythm such as bedtime, wake-up time, breakfast time, and dinner time can be considered.

  The input support screen 11 is displayed by the display control means 2 in a predetermined time zone. The display control means 2 refers to the current time held in the time measuring means 3 (see arrows (a) in FIGS. 1 and 2), and displays the input support screen 11 when, for example, it is a lunch time zone. . The lunch time zone may vary depending on each user, but may be between 11:00 and 14:00, for example. During this time, the display control means 2 continues to display the input support screen 11.

  When the input support screen 11 prompts the user to input time information such as a bedtime, a wake-up time, a breakfast time, and a dinner time, the display unit 2 displays the input support screen 11 in an appropriate time zone for each time. Display. Each time zone may vary depending on the user, but for example, the sleeping time zone is from 23:00 to 2 o'clock, the wake-up or breakfast time zone is from 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock, and the dinner time zone is from 18:00 to 21:00 can do.

  The user who visually recognizes the input support screen 11 inputs time information about the lunch time, for example, at any time before lunch, during lunch, or after lunch.

  As a method for inputting time information, for example, a method is possible in which the input means 4 is configured as a numeric keypad provided in a normal electronic device, and the time (for example, lunch time 12:00) is directly input as a numerical value. Is constructed as follows.

  That is, when any input is made from the input means 4 by the user who has visually recognized the input support screen 11, a signal output from the input means 4 (see arrows (c) in FIGS. 1 and 2) is received, and the storage means 5 is configured to automatically acquire the current time (for example, 12:00) held by the time measuring means 3 as time information of the lunch time (see arrow (d)), and hold and store the current time.

  The input means 4 may be the above-described numeric keypad or switches generally used for electronic devices, but it is not necessary to directly input a numerical value for the time (for example, lunch time 12:00). It can be regarded as an input as the input means 4 by a simple operation such as pressing the key once, whereby time information is automatically acquired and accumulated by the storage means 5 as described above.

  As described above, in the portable electronic device A, the display control means 2 automatically and continuously displays the input support screen 11 in a predetermined time zone, thereby alerting the user and living rhythm. Prompt for input of time information. Further, the time information is automatically accumulated by a simple operation by the input means 4. Therefore, the user does not forget to input the time information and no troublesome operation is required, so that it is possible to reliably accumulate the time information related to the life rhythm.

  Next, the acceleration sensor 6 and the optical sensor 7 included in the portable electronic device A will be described with reference to FIG.

  The acceleration sensor 6 detects acceleration applied to itself, that is, movement of the portable electronic device A, and outputs a detection result as a signal. The optical sensor 7 detects ambient light environment, that is, natural (solar) light or illumination light irradiated on the portable electronic device A, and outputs the detection result as a signal. The detection results by the acceleration sensor 6 and the optical sensor 7 are output to the storage means 5 (see arrows (e) and (f) in FIG. 1).

  The storage means 5 receives the output of the detection results of the acceleration sensor 6 and the optical sensor 7 and automatically acquires the current time held by the time measuring means 3 as time information, and holds and accumulates it (arrow (d )reference).

  Among the time information acquired by detecting the movement of the portable electronic device A by the acceleration sensor 6, for example, the time information acquired first in the day is the first time the user has acquired the device after getting up It can be regarded as time. The time information acquired last in the day can be regarded as the time when the user last picked up the device before going to bed.

  The optical sensor 7 detects changes in light and darkness of the surrounding light environment, and the time information acquired by this is, for example, the time when the light environment first changed from the dark environment to the light environment. Can be regarded as the time when the lighting was turned on after waking up. Further, the time at which the light environment last changed from the light environment to the dark environment during the day can be regarded as the time when the user turned off the light before going to bed.

  As described above, in the portable electronic device A, time information that automatically reflects the user's bedtime, wake-up time, and other life rhythm is detected by detecting the acceleration by the acceleration sensor 6 and detecting the light environment by the optical sensor 7. It is possible to get. Therefore, the user does not forget to input the time information and no troublesome operation is required, so that it is possible to reliably accumulate the time information regarding the life rhythm.

  Next, the calculation means 8 provided in the portable electronic device A will be described with reference to FIG.

  The calculation means 8 receives the output of time information accumulated in the storage means 5 (see arrow (g) in FIG. 1), and obtains a time index based on the time information.

  Here, the “time index” is a numerical value calculated using the time information stored in the storage unit 5. Since the time information stored in the storage means 5 is time information related to daily rhythms such as the user's bedtime, wake-up time, breakfast time, dinner time, etc., the time index calculated based on the time index is An index that reflects the lifestyle rhythm of As described above, since the life rhythm affects the original biological rhythm, this index can be an evaluation value indicating the state of the user's biological rhythm.

  The time index calculation method is not particularly limited, and various methods are conceivable. As an example, a method for calculating a time index using time information related to a user's bedtime, wake-up time, and eating time will be described.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the bedtime, the wake-up time, and the feeding time can be time information accumulated by a spontaneous operation by a user who visually recognizes the input support screen 11. The bedtime and the wake-up time are time information automatically accumulated by the acceleration sensor 6 and the optical sensor 7 and may be time information reflecting the bedtime and the wake-up time.

  “Table 1” to “Table 3” show data obtained by accumulating the bedtime, the wake-up time, and the feeding time for 10 days for three survey subjects (A, B, C). In the table, each time is displayed in time units. For example, “6:00” is indicated as “6”, and “7:30” is indicated as “7.5” (see the second day in Table 1). As for bedtime, for example, “1:00 am” is indicated as “25:00” when it is after 0:00 am.

  First, “time index (1 day)” is calculated for each day by the following equation (1).

Here, breakfast standard time, lunch standard time and dinner standard time are 7 o'clock, 12 o'clock and 19 o'clock, respectively (see “base time” in the table).

  For example, the “time index (1 day)” of the first day of survey subject A in “Table 1” is “(25 + 7) / 2 + {(8-7) + (13-12) + ( 21-19)} / 3 = 17.3 ".

  Next, “time index (average)” and “time index (standard deviation)”, which are the average value and standard deviation of “time index (1 day)” obtained for each day, are calculated.

  For example, in the survey subject A in “Table 1”, “Time index (average)” is 16.3, and “Time index (standard deviation)” is 0.96.

  Similarly, “Time index (average)” of survey subject B is 17.7, “Time index (standard deviation)” is 0.90, and “Time index (average)” of survey subject C is 15.0, “Time index (standard)” Deviation) "is 0.52.

  The “time index (standard deviation)” decreases in the order of the survey subjects A, B, and C, and the life rhythm of the survey subject C is evaluated to be the most regular. As shown in “Table 3”, “Time index (1 day)” of the survey subject C is in the range of 14.0 to 15.6 for all of the first day to the tenth day, and 14.9 to 17.7 of the survey subject A. Compared to, it can be seen that there is less blur and it is stable.

  As described above, for example, by calculating “time index (1 day)” and “time index (standard deviation)” based on the calculation formula such as the above formula (1), the user's life rhythm is evaluated. This can be used as the evaluation value of the user's biological rhythm.

  In the portable electronic device A, the time index obtained by the calculating means 8 is output to the display control means 2 (see arrow (h) in FIG. 1) and displayed on the screen 1 by the display control means 2 (arrows). (See (i)).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time index display screen.

  In the time index display screen denoted by reference numeral 12 in FIG. 3A, the time index information 121 includes “time index (1 day)” as “today's rhythm” and “time index (standard deviation)” for one week. Is shown as a numerical value as “this week's rhythm”. Note that the numerical value that is constantly displayed on the time index display screen varies depending on the method of calculating the time index, and is not limited to the numerical value calculated by the above equation (1).

  Further, FIG. 3B shows a case in which each is displayed with a symbol mark indicating evaluation based on a numerical value instead of numerical display. Compared with the numerical display as shown in FIG. 3A, the symbol mark display of (B) allows the user to intuitively understand the evaluation result of the life rhythm. The “time index (1 day)” can be evaluated based on, for example, the dissociation value from the “time index (average)” in the past 10 days. In addition, for the evaluation of “time index (standard deviation)”, a certain reference value is set, for example, “Good” if less than 0.5, “Yes” if less than 0.5 and less than 0.8, “Caution” if 0.8 or more, etc. Can be evaluated. The evaluation result can be presented in the form of a symbol, a graphic or a picture.

  As described above, according to the portable electronic device A, the user continuously evaluates the biological rhythm in daily life by presenting the evaluation result of the biological rhythm based on the accumulated time information. It becomes possible to know the state. Accordingly, for example, the user who has obtained a bad evaluation result is conscious of a regular life and can keep the biological rhythm stable.

  Finally, FIG. 4 shows a procedure from acquisition of time information to display of a time index in the portable electronic device A. Up to this point, from the steps for obtaining and storing time information by the input support screen, the acceleration sensor and the optical sensor (see symbols S1 and S2 in FIG. 4), the time index calculation step (see symbol S3) and the display step A case has been described in which all the steps up to (see S4) are performed by the portable electronic device A.

  Among these, the steps S3 and S4 can be performed by an external device provided outside the portable electronic device A. For example, the portable electronic device A is provided with a transmission means for transmitting the time information stored in the storage means 5 to an external device, and this is received by an external device such as a personal computer that is normally used. The time index can be calculated (S3) and displayed (S4) by the above method. As a result, the time information accumulated using the portable electronic device A can be subjected to various processes using a personal computer or stored for a long time.

  The portable electronic device according to the present invention is, for example, a cellular phone, a portable information terminal (computer), a portable music player, a portable video player, a portable game machine, a portable health device (such as a pedometer), or the like. Can do.

  Further, by using the portable electronic device according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and continuously evaluate daily rhythms in daily life and to maintain stable biological rhythms. Can contribute.

4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a portable electronic device A according to the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the input assistance screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of a time index. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure from acquisition of time information to display of a time index in portable electronic device A.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Screen 2 Display control means 3 Timekeeping means 4 Input means 5 Storage means 6 Acceleration sensor 7 Optical sensor 8 Calculation means 11 Input support screen 12 Time index display screen 111 Input support information 121 Time index information

Claims (5)

In a portable electronic device including a screen, display control means for displaying predetermined information on the screen, time keeping means for measuring the current time, and input means for receiving input from the outside,
A storage means for accumulating time information;
The display control means refers to the current time held by the timing means, displays information for prompting the user to input by the input means on the screen in a predetermined time zone,
The portable electronic device characterized in that the storage means receives the output from the input means, acquires the current time held by the timekeeping means as time information, and holds and accumulates it. And an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means receives the output of the detection result of the acceleration sensor, acquires the current time held by the timekeeping means as time information, and holds and accumulates it. machine. Furthermore, a storage means for accumulating time information and an optical sensor for detecting the ambient light environment are provided,
2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit receives the output of the detection result of the optical sensor, acquires the current time held by the time measuring unit as time information, and holds and stores the current time. machine. Further, it comprises a calculation means for receiving an output of time information held and accumulated in the storage means and obtaining a time index based on the time information,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the time index on the screen in response to an output from the calculation unit.   The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the time index is an evaluation value of a user's biological rhythm.