JP2009072438A - Method and apparatus for reporting appropriate pressurization state of fingertip - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for reporting appropriate pressurization state of fingertip, for reporting an appropriate pressurization state when pressurizing a fingertip to a pressurizing surface to a subject so as to stably and highly accurately sample detection data even under an environment wherein external light changes in the detection of pulse waves or the like for instance utilizing a coated camera. <P>SOLUTION: A table wherein a pulse wave threshold for sectioning pulse wave amplitudes that change as small (instable) → large (stable) → small (instable) according to weak (inappropriate) → middle (appropriate) → strong (inappropriate) of a finger pressure therapy level into five stages of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in accordance with respective luminance averages of a plurality of prescribed frames of the photographed image of the fingertip during finger pressure therapy is prepared. During measurement, the luminance average of the plurality of prescribed frames and the amplitudes of pulse wave waveforms are acquired, and what stage the finger pressure therapy level is in is reported to an apparatus user from the amplitude threshold in the table corresponding to them. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fingertip proper pressing state notifying method and apparatus for notifying an apparatus user of an appropriate pressing state when a fingertip is pressed against a pressing surface.

  In recent years, the number of people who are interested in health care devices is increasing, and those that can be owned by individuals such as body fat scales, pulse wave meters, and simple electrocardiographs are also increasing. In the case of a sphygmomanometer, by analyzing the detected pulse wave, it is possible to estimate the mental state (normal / abnormal) of an individual, for example, by estimating the mental state from the pulse of the driver of the car. It is considered to be useful for operation.

Not only is it used for estimating the mental state, but of course, the pulse wave (pulse) data is an important indicator of physical condition judgment in health management, along with data such as blood pressure and cardiac radio waves.
As a device for collecting a pulse wave, for example, there is a clip type sensor that sandwiches a finger or an earlobe, etc., but it is small enough to be portable at all times and easily used at any time without using such a dedicated instrument. There is a need for a pulse detection device.

As a response to such a demand, for example, in a wristwatch, an LED and a phototransistor are incorporated to detect a pulse and display the detected pulse rate.
The pulse wave can also be collected by a camera with a coating glass mounted on a camera, a mobile phone or the like. When a pulse wave is collected with a camera with a coating glass, a fingertip is brought into contact (pressed) with the coating portion, and the touched fingertip portion is photographed. However, with a current camera with a glass film, the pressing state of the fingertip is likely to fluctuate, and it is difficult to stably collect a pulse wave.

  In any of the above measurement methods, the pulse wave data obtained by the measurement is often mixed with a noise signal due to external light or, on the contrary, fails to detect a normal signal. Nevertheless, when the measurement is executed and the pulse wave data based on the erroneous measurement is displayed on the display device, there is a problem that the accuracy is lowered.

On the other hand, as a detection of an appropriate pressing state when the fingertip is pressed against a coating part such as coating glass, the cover of the CCD camera is used as a pressing surface, the pressing surface is made movable, and the finger is brought into contact with the pressing surface, There has been proposed a fingerprint detection device that performs fingerprint detection with a CCD camera when the pressing force of the fingertip is a predetermined magnitude in a state where the pressing surface is pressed with the fingertip (a state where pressure is applied) (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP-A-11-225998 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  By the way, in Patent Document 1, the purpose is to collect fingerprints, and the fingerprint collection time may be a momentary time. Therefore, the fingerprint is detected when a desired pressing state is obtained while applying pressure. .

  However, in order to collect a pulse wave, it is necessary to collect at least several pulse wave cycles (a plurality of pulsation intervals). When measuring for a certain period of time, such as this pulse wave measurement, that is, not only the pulse wave measurement, but also that the pressure applied by the fingertip is maintained for a certain period of time for data collection. In the case of aiming at measurement that satisfies the conditions, the purpose of the configuration is different, so the apparatus of Patent Document 1 is not suitable.

    In view of the above-described conventional situation, it is an object of the present invention to be able to collect detection data stably and with high accuracy even in an environment where external light changes in detection of, for example, a pulse wave using a camera with a film. Furthermore, it is to provide a fingertip proper pressing state notification method and apparatus for notifying the subject of an appropriate pressing state when the fingertip is pressed against the coating surface.

  The fingertip proper pressing state notification method disclosed in the present invention includes a fingertip image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of frames of a fingertip image taken by a camera and in contact with a transparent plate-like member at predetermined time intervals, and the fingertip image acquisition A frame luminance calculating step for calculating average luminance for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired in the step, an amplitude acquiring step for acquiring amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the average luminance calculating step, and the amplitude acquiring step An amplitude threshold value storing step for grouping and storing a plurality of threshold values of amplitude acquired by the step, and an average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip from the threshold value group stored in the amplitude threshold value storing step A threshold selection step for selecting one threshold group based on the threshold value, and the amplitude adjustment based on each threshold of the threshold group selected by the threshold selection step. Amplitude obtained by the process determines whether or not exceed the predetermined threshold value, configured to include a judgment result output step of outputting the determination result to the notification device.

  According to the present invention, when the average luminance of the fingertip image is high, paying attention to the fact that the pulse wave amplitude of the measurement result increases, the amplitude as the threshold value is also changed depending on the average luminance of the fingertip image. Therefore, even under circumstances where the external light changes, it is always possible to identify the same fingertip pressing state, thereby notifying the device user of the appropriate pressing state when the fingertip is pressed against the coating surface. It is possible to provide a pressing state notification method and apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detection device for detecting an appropriate pressing state of a fingertip in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection device 1 includes a device housing 2 and an imaging unit 3 disposed in the device housing 2.

  The imaging unit 3 includes a CCD imaging device 4 at the bottom, a lens 6 held by a lens frame 5 above the imaging unit 3, and a glass plate 7 that is a transparent plate member for protecting the lens above the lens 6. I have. The glass plate 7 is not limited to glass and plate, but is a member that transmits light even if it is transparent or colored, and is a member that does not deform due to the pressing of the fingertip 8. Anything can be used. Further, the glass plate 7 may not be installed, and the finger may be brought into direct contact with the lens 6.

  When the user puts the fingertip 8 on the upper surface of the glass plate 7 and instructs to measure, for example, a pulse wave from an input operation unit (not shown), the pulse wave is controlled under the control of the control unit described later. Measurement starts.

In the measurement of the pulse wave, the blood flow amount flowing through the blood vessel of the fingertip changes in accordance with the pulse, so that the transmitted light amount of the fingertip due to the external light 9 entering from around the fingertip 8 changes.
The image of the fingertip is picked up by the CCD image pickup device 4 at a predetermined time interval (7.5, 10, 15, 30 frames / second is often used in a mobile phone camera (CCD image pickup device)), and the luminance for each frame Calculate the average.

Since the average luminance of the frame imaged by the CCD image sensor 4 changes depending on the blood flow of the fingertip, the amplitude and period of the pulse wave can be detected by tracking the change in the average luminance.

  In order to detect a pulse wave, it is necessary to detect a repetition of amplitude in a state of maximum (= low blood flow) / minimum (= high blood flow) average luminance for each frame. Since the S / N ratio improves as the amplitude increases, it becomes easier to detect accurately. The amplitude of the measured pulse wave tends to decrease as the contact pressure of the fingertip 8 on the glass plate 7 departs from a predetermined range. That is, the amplitude of the pulse wave to be measured is changed from small to large to small as the strength of the finger pressure is changed from weak to medium to strong.

  Therefore, in order to accurately detect the pulse wave, the subject (user of the device) is in a predetermined range of finger pressure (the strength of the above-mentioned finger pressure is medium) during the time required for detection (for example, about 5 seconds or more). It is desirable to keep pressing the finger against the glass plate 7.

  In order to keep the subject pressing the finger against the glass plate 7 with a predetermined range of finger pressure, it is necessary to inform the subject whether or not the operation state of the device (pressing state by the finger) is in a state suitable for pulse wave detection. There is. For this purpose, a mechanism for appropriately notifying the subject of the finger pressing state (hereinafter referred to as finger pressure) is required.

  On the other hand, as an event independent of amplitude change due to finger pressure, as described later, the amplitude of the average luminance of the frame is measured in a state where the average luminance of the image is bright (= the external light amount is large or the finger is small / thin, etc.) There is also a tendency to become larger. Therefore, even when the same subject measures a pulse wave with the same finger pressure, a larger amplitude is obtained as the average brightness of the image becomes brighter, that is, when the external light quantity is larger.

  Even if the finger pressure is the same, if the subject is notified that the suitability for detection differs according to changes in the amount of external light (for example, changes in the ambient light state by measuring while walking) Therefore, regardless of the change in the amount of external light, if the finger pressure is the same, it is desirable to notify the subject that the suitability for detection is also the same.

  Furthermore, in order to maintain simplicity, not the dedicated pulse wave detection device, but the addition of a device other than mounting a CCD camera to the portable terminal, the above-mentioned acupressure state for pulse wave detection It is desirable to realize notification to the subject of suitability.

  Thus, the purpose of the present invention is not to detect the pulse wave, but to maintain the proper pressing state of the fingertip for a certain period of time, the pressing currently being performed on the pressing state that should be appropriate This is to notify the user of the device which pressure level the state is.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a relationship between a change in finger pressure from weak to strong when the brightness of external light is constant, and the luminance and waveform of the detected pulse wave at that time. FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged view of the portion of the waveform 11 or 13 in FIG. 2 (a), and FIG. 2 (c) is an enlarged view of the portion of the waveform 12 in FIG. 2 (a).

  In FIG. 2 (a), the horizontal axis indicates the strength of the finger pressure, and the vertical axis indicates the luminance of the detected pulse wave. In addition, external light is incident somewhat from the side of the fingertip, and external light incident from the side of the fingertip becomes an image noise signal, but the brightness of the fingertip image depends on the strength of blood pulsation at the fingertip. Since the up and down peaks and the top and bottom peaks of the pulse wave are determined by the top and bottom of the luminance, it is only necessary that the finger pressure be constant with a strength that does not interfere with normal pulsating flow.

In FIG. 2A, as shown by the waveform 11, it can be seen that when the finger pressure is low, the brightness of the fingertip image is lowered and the waveform of the pulse wave is also unstable.
As shown in the waveform 12, when the finger pressure is increased to some extent, the brightness of the fingertip image is increased and the pulse wave waveform is stabilized, which is an ideal state for pulse wave measurement.

Then, as shown in the waveform 13, when the finger pressure is further increased, the luminance is further increased, but it is found that the waveform of the pulse wave becomes unstable again.
In these states, when the finger pressure is low, the fingertips become thick, the external light transmittance deteriorates and the brightness decreases, and the intensity of the blood pulsation is not clearly reflected in the brightness of the image, and the waveform of the pulse wave is Presumed to be unstable.

  In addition, if the finger pressure is extremely strong, the fingertips become thinner, and the brightness of external light is improved and the brightness is increased, but the blood pressure is increased by strong finger pressure, so the pulsating flow is disturbed and the strength of the pulsating flow is weakened. Is not clearly reflected in the brightness of the image, and it is presumed that the waveform of the pulse wave also becomes unstable in this case.

Therefore, in order to detect a correct pulse wave, it is important to keep the finger pressure constant so that the waveform 12 is maintained for a certain period of time, for example, about 10 seconds.
Therefore, the state (level) of the acupressure is divided into, for example, five levels, and the state of the waveform 12 in FIG. 2 (a) is set to the level 5, and the left side (the acupressure becomes weaker) around the waveform 12 (the acupressure is reduced) If the level is lowered to levels 4, 3, 2, 1 and the level is notified to the device user, the device user is notified of that level. It is considered that an effort can be made to maintain the acupressure at the optimum acupressure level 5 by visually recognizing

FIG. 3 shows changes in the brightness of the external light 9 and the pulse wave amplitude when the brightness of the external light 9 is changed from dark to bright while the pressing state of the fingertip 8 of FIG. 1 on the glass plate 7 is constant. It is a figure which shows a relationship.
In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the brightness of the fingertip image, and the vertical axis indicates the amplitude. The influence of the change in the brightness of the external light 9 can be confirmed, for example, by gradually bringing the light source of the external light 9 closer to the back of the fingertip 8 from a far place.

  As shown in FIG. 3, if the fingertip is in a constant pressing state, the external light 9 becomes bright, that is, the image of the fingertip becomes brighter. In other words, the amplitude of the pulse wave increases as the brightness of the fingertip image increases. It turns out that it is detected greatly.

FIG. 4 (a) is a diagram showing a specific example of a fingertip detection device, and FIG. 4 (b) is a specific case of notifying the device user of the acupressure level indicating the strength of the fingertip pressing state. It is a figure which shows the alerting | reporting example.
FIG. 4A shows an example in which the imaging unit of the mobile phone 15 is used as the detection device. FIG. 4 (a) shows that the device user holds the mobile phone 15 in the right hand and the fingertip of the index finger 16 of the left hand is not visible because it is covered with the coating glass of the imaging unit of the mobile phone 15 (in the figure, hidden under the fingertip). ) Is being pressed.

A display unit 17 is provided above the imaging unit of the mobile phone 15. The display unit 17 displays “70” indicating the pulse rate and a heart mark indicating the acupressure level of the index finger 16.
There are various display methods for the heart mark of the acupressure level, which is information for notifying the apparatus user of the acupressure level. The example shown in FIG. 5B is a table showing the relationship between the acupressure level stored in the internal storage device and the notified mark.

  In FIG. 5 (b), acupressure levels 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 are set from left to right in the uppermost stage, and below that, acupressure levels 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 are respectively set. Corresponding notification mark groups are set.

In the first notification group 21, the size of the heart mark changes sequentially according to the acupressure level. For example, when the finger pressure level is 5, the maximum size is displayed, and when the finger pressure level is 1, the minimum size is displayed.

  In the second notification group 22, the darkness of the heart mark changes sequentially according to the acupressure level. For example, when the finger pressure level is 5, the highest density is displayed. When the finger pressure level is 1, the lowest density is displayed.

  Moreover, the 3rd alerting | reporting group 23 changes the color of a heart mark sequentially according to acupressure level. Then, for example, “green” indicating “good” when the acupressure level is 5, “yellowish green” indicating “nearly good but out” when the acupressure level is 4, and “necessary” when the acupressure level is 3. “Yellow” indicating “attention”, “orange” indicating “bad” when the finger pressure level is 2, and “red” indicating “danger” when the finger pressure level is 1.

  Moreover, the 4th alerting | reporting group 24 is not a heart mark, but the number of stacked blocks changes sequentially according to the acupressure level. For example, when the acupressure level is 5, the maximum number of blocks is five, and when the acupressure level is 1, the minimum number of blocks is one.

  In the fifth notification group 25 as well, the display number of the arrow “>” such as an inequality sign instead of a heart mark is sequentially increased or decreased according to the acupressure level. For example, when the finger pressure level is 5, five arrows are displayed as “>>>>”, and when the finger pressure level is 1, one arrow is displayed as “>>”. Note that the information to be output for notifying the acupressure level is not limited to the above five types, but is information that changes in content depending on the acupressure level and can be any information as long as the device user can visually recognize it. It doesn't matter.

The apparatus user selects the notification mark as described above in advance, and then presses the coating glass of the imaging unit of the mobile phone 15 with the fingertip, and the notification mark corresponding to the optimum acupressure level 5 while observing the change of the notification mark. The acupressure level is adjusted so as to appear, and when the notification mark corresponding to the acupressure level 5 appears, the acupressure level may be maintained.
Incidentally, as described above, the pulse wave waveform acquired from the average luminance of the fingertip image captured by the CCD 4 shown in FIG. 1 has different amplitudes depending on the brightness of the external light.

  FIG. 5 shows that when the pressure state of the fingertip is changed in strength, the amplitude of the detected pulse wave is large when the external light is bright, and the amplitude of the pulse wave is small when the external light is dark. FIG. In the figure, the state suitable for pulse wave measurement is set to level 5, and the level is divided so that the number of the level decreases as the distance from the appropriate state increases. As a threshold for distinguishing each level, the pulse wave The width of the amplitude, that is, the difference between the luminance values of the maximum value and the minimum value of each amplitude formed by the change in the average luminance of the frame of the fingertip image captured by the CCD 4 is used.

  Here, as shown in the lower part of the figure, the acupressure level is centered on the basis of the amplitude of the pulse wave when the outside light is dark (difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of each amplitude of the frame average luminance). Suppose that 5 is set and acupressure levels 4, 3, 2, and 1 that gradually decrease to the left and right are set.

  Since the setting of the acupressure level when the outside light shown in the lower part of the figure is dark is set at a substantially equal interval, the acupressure level that changes according to the intensity of the acupressure to the eyes of the user of the device The time interval at which the notification mark changes is relatively gradual.

On the other hand, when setting the acupressure level when the external light is bright as shown in the upper part of the figure, the acupressure level is set based on the same standard as when the external light is dark. Since the amplitude of the pulse wave when the light is bright is increased as a whole, the acupressure levels 4, 3, 2, 1 which are sequentially set to be smaller corresponding to the decrease in the amplitude are farther away from the center and left and right ends. It will harden.

  Therefore, the notification mark of the acupressure level, which changes according to the intensity of the acupressure, is displayed on the eyes of the user of the device. When it is too weak or too strong, the acupressure level notification mark appears to change rapidly.

  In this case, even if the user of the device tries to adjust the acupressure level to a good central part in a place where the outside light is bright, the adjustment of the fingertip cannot follow the display of the notice mark that changes rapidly. It becomes difficult to adjust.

  Therefore, in this example, as described above, it is known that the amplitude of the pulse wave increases overall when the external light is bright. Therefore, the measured pulse wave amplitude (the frame average) increases as the captured fingertip image becomes brighter. The amplitude threshold value that is the boundary value of the level to be set with respect to the difference in luminance value between the maximum value and the minimum value of each luminance amplitude is set large.

  FIG. 6 is a characteristic curve (straight line in the figure) for setting the amplitude threshold value for each level used to classify the amplitude of the measured pulse wave into five levels according to the brightness of the fingertip image. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the brightness of the fingertip image, and the vertical axis represents the measured pulse wave amplitude.

  In addition, the brightness of the fingertip image shown on the horizontal axis in the figure is obtained by the average luminance of N frames. In this example, the number of frames taken per second is 15. However, the number of frames is not limited to 20 frames, and may be 20 frames or more. In short, the luminance in the measurement environment at that time may be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, as the image becomes brighter, the set value (threshold value) of each level with respect to the amplitude of the measured pulse wave (difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of each amplitude of the frame average luminance). However, this setting is an empirical value obtained as a result of repeating the experiment.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing that the amplitude of the measured pulse wave can be classified into the same five levels regardless of the brightness of the fingertip image by using the characteristic curve for setting the amplitude threshold for each level. The figure shows acupressure on the horizontal axis. The brightness change and amplitude change of the fingertip image when the outside light is bright are shown above the vertical axis, and the brightness change and amplitude change of the fingertip image when the outside light is dark are shown below.

  If the threshold value for each level according to the brightness is set using the characteristic curve for setting the amplitude threshold value for each level shown in FIG. 6, whether the outside light is bright or dark, as shown in FIG. For the same acupressure level of the device user, the area division of the acupressure level in the same range is set between the upper limit and the lower limit of the luminance.

  Therefore, the notification mark of the acupressure level changes in the same way for the same acupressure level of the user of the apparatus, whether the ambient light is bright or dark. Thereby, the user of the apparatus can cope with the adjustment of the pressure until the finger pressure is brought to an optimum state, even when the outside light is bright or dark.

In FIG. 6, an amplitude threshold setting characteristic curve is used for setting the amplitude threshold for each level. However, “N” obtained from the “amplitude range” having a predetermined tolerance and the luminance of several frames is used. A table for setting an amplitude threshold value for each level in which “amplitude threshold value” is associated with “frame luminance average” may be used.

  FIG. 8 shows an amplitude threshold value setting table (also referred to as a level evaluation table) for each level used for classifying the amplitude of the luminance value of the frame measured according to the brightness of the fingertip image into five levels. FIG.

  In FIG. 8, in the upper row, the average luminance of N frames indicating the brightness of the measurement environment is 19 or less (“˜19”), 20 to 39 (“20 to 39”), 40 to 59 (“40 ˜59 ”), 60 to 79 (“ 60 to 79 ”), and 80 or more (“ 80 ”). The change of the luminance average divided into these five steps corresponds to the change of the value on the horizontal axis in FIG.

  In the left vertical column of FIG. 8, the amplitude range (difference in luminance value between the maximum value and the minimum value of each amplitude of the frame average luminance) is set to an amplitude 6 in ascending order from 0.25 or less to 0.25. The above is shown. These changes in the amplitude range correspond to changes in the value on the vertical axis in FIG.

  In the amplitude range shown in this column, for example, the numerical value “0.25” shown as “0.25 to 0.5” does not include “0.25” but exceeds “0.25”. The same applies to the numerical values on the left side indicating other ranges shown below.

  In each table of the table corresponding to “N-frame luminance average” in the horizontal column and “Amplitude range” in the vertical column in FIG. In the following description, the numerical value indicating this level is referred to as “evaluation value”.

Among these evaluation values, the evaluation values displayed with a dark background are simply marks on the evaluation values at the boundaries where the evaluation values change in order to make it easier to see FIG.
In FIG. 8, the evaluation value for the “amplitude range” when “brightness average of N frames” is “˜19” at the leftmost end is an amplitude range of 0.5 or less (“˜0.25”, “0.25”). 0.5 ”) is the evaluation value“ 1 ”, the amplitude range is 0.5 and below (“ 0.5 to 0.75 ”,“ 0.75 to 1 ”) is the evaluation value“ 2 ”, ....

As “N-frame luminance average” increases to the right of the table, the value of the amplitude range at the boundary where the evaluation value for “amplitude range” changes moves to the larger value.
Thus, even when this amplitude threshold setting table is used, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper and lower limits of the luminance are the same for the same acupressure level of the device user regardless of whether the external light is bright or dark. In the meantime, it is possible to set the region division of the same range of acupressure levels.

Note that the amplitude range value in the left end column corresponding to the evaluation value at the boundary where the evaluation value changes in FIG. 8 corresponds to the amplitude threshold value for each acupressure level shown in FIG.
Note that the values in the table shown in FIG. 8 are merely examples, and the table mounted on the measurement device is not set to the values in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a control circuit block diagram for informing the fingertip proper pressing state in the detection device 1 of the present example. As shown in the figure, the control circuit of the detection apparatus includes a read only memory (ROM) 33, a random access memory (RAM) 34, and a storage unit 35 connected to a central processing unit (CPU) 31 via a bus 32. , A communication unit 36, an input / output unit 37, and a display unit 38.

If the detection device 1 is, for example, a portable terminal, the ROM 33 stores a program for notifying a fingertip proper pressing state in addition to a program for controlling general operations of the portable terminal.

  The RAM 34 is divided into a program area and a data area. In the program area, a program read from the ROM 33 as needed by the CPU 31 is temporarily stored, and the CPU 33 controls each unit according to the program.

On the other hand, in the data area of the RAM 34, intermediate data being calculated by the CPU 33 and data of calculation results are temporarily stored.
The storage unit 35 is provided with a built-in or external hard disk, a flash memory, or the like so as to be detachable. In these recording apparatuses, for example, a preset table for setting an amplitude threshold value for each level shown in FIG. (Level evaluation table) and the like are stored.

  If the detection device 1 is, for example, a portable terminal, the communication unit 36 has functions such as telephone communication with a base station via a telephone network and Internet communication via an Internet network. In addition, a USB standard wired communication with a personal computer and a wireless communication function using infrared rays or Bluetooth are provided.

For example, captured image data of a fingertip output from the CCD 4 is input to the input / output unit 37, and various calculation results are output to the display unit 38.
The display unit 38 is a liquid crystal display device. If the detection device 1 is a portable terminal, for example, a large main screen for telephone or Internet communication, an image at the time of self-photographing, and an acupressure level at the time of fingertip pressing are displayed. A small sub-screen for displaying and notifying is provided.

  FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a process for notifying the fingertip proper pressing state by the control circuit. As shown in FIG. 10, the processing for notifying the fingertip proper pressing state is a function including an input unit 37 a, a luminance average calculation unit 38, a data storage unit 39, a level evaluation unit 40, a pulse detection unit 41, and an output unit 37 b. Based on.

The pulse detection unit 41 includes functions of a peak interval detection unit 42 and a pulse calculation unit 43. The detailed functions of the level evaluation unit 40 are shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining the function of the level evaluation unit 40 in the functional block of FIG. 10 in more detail. As shown in FIG. 11, the level evaluation unit 40 includes functions of a timing control unit 45, an amplitude calculation unit 46, an N frame luminance average calculation unit 47, an amplitude evaluation unit 48, and a determination table 49.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a data table of average luminance values for each frame stored in the data storage unit 39 and captured by the camera and input to the input unit 37a in the functional block configured as described above. In the same figure, the frame number of the photographed image of the fingertip is shown. 1 to No. 64, and the average luminance values calculated by the average luminance calculation unit 38 from these frames, for example, “34.887”, “34.007”, “33.652”, etc. are included in the frame number. It is associated.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph obtained by plotting the luminance average value of the data table of FIG. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates the measurement time, and the vertical axis indicates the luminance average for each frame. The waveform shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to the waveform of the pulse wave shown in FIGS. 2 (a), 5 and 7. FIG. Then, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of each wave becomes the amplitude to be compared with the amplitude threshold value.

Hereinafter, the process of notifying the fingertip proper pressing state by the control circuit will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, image data obtained by photographing the fingertip 8 is input from the camera (CCD 4 shown in FIG. 1) to the input unit 37a at a rate of 15 frames per second, for example. The captured image data is transferred to the luminance average calculation unit 38.

  The average brightness calculation unit 38 calculates the average brightness of the image data for each frame. The luminance average is obtained by averaging the luminance for each pixel of one frame. In this way, as a numerical value representing the luminance of one frame, the luminance average for each pixel of one frame may be adopted instead of the luminance average as described above.

  Alternatively, the R component of the RGB element of the image data may be used instead of the luminance, or when the image data is in the YUV format or YIQ format generally used in the recording format of television broadcasting or digital video, A Y component can also be used. Note that the image format and components used are not limited to these, and any image format or component may be used as long as a pulse wave can be collected.

  In any case, this process generates a table of luminance data for each frame as shown in FIG. 12 (or data corresponding to the luminance data), and the luminance data for each frame is stored in the level evaluation unit 40 and the data storage. Is transmitted to the unit 39 and the pulse detection unit 41.

When the data storage unit 39 receives the information on the luminance of the frame (luminance average or luminance sum for each frame), the luminance data is stored in time series in the order received.
The number of stored luminance data is, for example, 64 pieces of luminance data corresponding to 64 frames as shown in FIG. 12. When the 65th and subsequent pieces of luminance data are received, the oldest data in the table is overwritten. Update. As a result, the latest 64 frames of luminance data are always held in the data storage unit 39. The data storage number is not limited to 64.

In addition, when the data storage unit 39 detects that the pulse wave detection application has ended (regardless of the detection method), the data storage unit 39 clears the luminance data in the table.
The pulse wave detector 41 first detects the peak interval by the peak interval detector 42 from the luminance data input at a rate of 15 frames per second, for example. The peak value of the luminance data for detecting this peak interval may be the highest value or the lowest value. In any case, the time interval between the highest or lowest peak value and the next peak value is detected from the luminance waveform shown in FIG.

  The pulse calculation unit 43 receives the above-mentioned data of the appearance time interval of the highest or lowest peak value from the peak interval detection unit 42, calculates the period of the waveform, uses the calculated waveform period as the pulse rate, and outputs the output unit 37b. Output to.

  The output unit 37b outputs the pulse rate to the display unit 38, and the display unit 38 displays the pulse rate above the acupressure level display notification area of the display device, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the pulse rate is displayed as “70”.

  On the other hand, in the level evaluation unit 40, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the timing control unit 45 notifies the amplitude calculation unit 46 of the timing for starting the measurement of the finger pressure level. For example, if the timing control unit 45 notifies the timing for starting the measurement of the acupressure level every second, for example, the subsequent processing is started every second accordingly. Accordingly, the value of the acupressure level output to the display unit 38 is also updated every second. Note that the timing control unit 45 is not an essential configuration, and each time the amplitude calculation unit 46 calculates a waveform or a peak of the waveform, a subsequent process may be performed.

The amplitude calculation unit 46 reads out the luminance data as shown in FIG. 12 from the data storage unit 39, calculates the amplitude from the waveform data generated as shown in FIG. 13 from this luminance data, and uses the calculated amplitude value as the amplitude. It transmits to the evaluation part 48.

  In parallel with this, on the other hand, the N-frame luminance average calculation unit 47 reads luminance data as shown in FIG. 12 from the data storage unit 39, and for N frames set in advance from the timing of starting the acupressure level measurement. The luminance average is calculated from the luminance data and the calculated luminance average value is transmitted to the amplitude evaluation unit 48.

  The amplitude evaluation unit 48 refers to, for example, a level evaluation table as shown in FIG. 8 stored in advance in the determination table 49, and the amplitude value notified from the amplitude calculation unit 46 indicates the left end column of the level evaluation table. The N-frame luminance average value transmitted from the N-frame luminance average calculation unit 47 corresponds to which luminance average value range in the upper N-frame luminance average column of the level evaluation table. Recognize whether it corresponds to

  Based on this recognition, the evaluation value of the central cell corresponding to the recognized luminance average value range and amplitude range is read from the level evaluation table, and the read evaluation value is output to the output unit 37b.

  For example, in FIG. 13, taking a wave detected from 0 to 15 as the measurement time, for example, the minimum value is 33.652 (frame No. 3 in FIG. 12) and the maximum value is 35.216 (FIG. 12). Therefore, the difference between the amplitude, that is, the maximum value and the minimum value is 1.564. The N-frame luminance average value is the frame number. 3 to frame No. The average value up to 10 is 34.598. Then, referring to the level evaluation table shown in FIG. 8 based on the value of 1.564 and 34.598, the evaluation value is required to be “3”. The output unit 37b outputs the evaluation value to the display unit 38, and the display unit 38 shows a display corresponding to the evaluation value in the acupressure level display notification area of the display device, for example, as shown in FIG. Display using either display method.

  As described above, according to the present invention, focusing on the fact that the pulse wave amplitude increases when the average luminance of the fingertip image is high, the threshold amplitude changes depending on the average luminance of the fingertip image. Therefore, even in a situation where the external light changes brightly or darkly, the same pressing state of the fingertip can always be identified, and accordingly, an appropriate pressing state when the fingertip is pressed against the pressing surface is given to the device user. It is possible to provide a fingertip proper pressing state notification method and device for notification.

  In the above example, the detection device 1 is a mobile phone, and all processes are executed only by the mobile phone. However, the mobile phone uses only a CCD camera and a display function. The detection of the pulse wave by the pulse wave detection unit 41 and the evaluation process of the acupressure level by the level evaluation unit 40 may be performed on a server connected to the mobile phone through a network.

  In this case, a storage unit (data storage unit 39) for luminance data may be provided on the server. In this case, the image data is transmitted to the server in association with the identification information of the mobile phone, and stored in the server. It is good to store in the part.

  In addition, as a method for setting the acupressure level, the use of the characteristic curve for setting the amplitude threshold value for each level in FIG. 6 and the use of the level evaluation table in FIG. 8 are described, but in order to set the acupressure level. The setting of the amplitude threshold is not limited to this, and may be based on a calculation formula.

  For example, the amplitude threshold of five levels corresponding to the N frame luminance average of less than 20 (˜19) in the level evaluation table shown in FIG. 8 is t1 = 0.25, t2 = 0.75, t3 = 1.25, t4. = 1.75 and t5 = 2.25.

At this time, the amplitude threshold value of the five levels corresponding to the other luminance average Y is Thn = tn × Y ÷ 20 (where 20 ≦ Y ≦ 100, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (evaluation equation) ).
In the above calculation, Y = 20 is calculated when Y ≦ 20, and Y = 100 is calculated when Y ≧ 100.

(Appendix 1)
A fingertip image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of frames of a fingertip image taken by a camera in contact with the transparent plate-like member at predetermined time intervals, and for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquisition step A frame luminance calculation step for calculating average luminance, an amplitude acquisition step for acquiring amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation step, and a plurality of thresholds for the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step An amplitude threshold value storing step for storing separately and a threshold value for selecting one threshold group from the threshold groups stored in the amplitude threshold value storing step based on an average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip A width of the amplitude acquired by the amplitude acquisition step based on the selection step and each threshold value of the threshold group selected by the threshold selection step It determines whether or not exceed the predetermined threshold, the fingertip proper pressing state informing method which comprises a step determination result output for outputting the determination result to the notification device.
(Appendix 2)
The amplitude corresponding to each threshold value of the threshold group is set to be large when the average luminance of the plurality of consecutive frames is high, and is set to be small when the average luminance is low. The fingertip proper pressing state notification method.
(Appendix 3)
The frame luminance calculation step uses, instead of the average luminance, a luminance sum of pixels in the frame, an R component of an RGB element, or a Y component of a YUV format or a YIQ format. The fingertip proper pressing state notification method.
(Appendix 4)
Fingertip image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of frames of a fingertip image taken by a camera in contact with a transparent plate-like member at a predetermined time interval; and for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquisition means A group of frame luminance calculation means for calculating average luminance, amplitude acquisition means for acquiring amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation means, and a plurality of thresholds for the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition means An amplitude threshold value storage means for storing separately and a threshold value for selecting one threshold group based on an average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip from the threshold value groups stored in the amplitude threshold value storage means A width of the amplitude acquired by the amplitude acquisition unit based on the selection unit and each threshold value of the threshold group selected by the threshold selection unit Determines whether or not exceed the predetermined threshold, the fingertip proper pressing state informing apparatus characterized by having a judgment result output means for outputting the determination result to the notification device.
(Appendix 5)
The amplitude corresponding to each threshold value of the threshold group is set to be large when the average luminance of the plurality of consecutive frames is high, and is set to be small when the average luminance is low. Fingertip proper pressing state notification device.
(Appendix 6)
The frame luminance calculation means uses the total luminance of pixels in the frame, the R component of RGB elements, or the Y component of YUV format or YIQ format instead of the average luminance. Fingertip proper pressing state notification device.
(Appendix 7)
A fingertip image for causing a computer to operate as a fingertip proper pressing state notifying device and acquiring a plurality of frames of an image of a fingertip in which the computer is photographed by a camera and in contact with a transparent plate-like member at a predetermined time interval An acquisition step; a frame luminance calculation step for calculating an average luminance for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquisition step; and an amplitude for acquiring an amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation step. Acquisition process;
An amplitude threshold value storage step for storing a plurality of threshold values for the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step in groups, and a continuous image of the fingertip from the threshold value groups stored in the amplitude threshold value storage step A threshold selection step of selecting one threshold group based on the average luminance of a plurality of frames to be performed, and an amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step based on each threshold of the threshold group selected by the threshold selection step The program is operated as a determination result output step of determining whether or not the threshold value exceeds a predetermined threshold and outputting the determination result to the notification device.
(Appendix 8)
The amplitude corresponding to each threshold value of the threshold group is set to be large when the average luminance of the plurality of consecutive frames is high, and is set to be small when the average luminance is low. Program.
(Appendix 9)
Supplementary note 7 wherein the frame luminance calculation step uses one of the luminance sum of pixels in the frame, the R component of RGB elements, or the Y component of YUV format or YIQ format instead of the average luminance. Program.

It is a figure which shows the detection apparatus for detecting the appropriate pressing state of the fingertip in this invention. (a), (b), and (c) show the relationship between the change of the fingertip pressing state (finger pressure) from weak to strong and the brightness and waveform of the detected pulse wave when the brightness of the external light is constant. FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the brightness of external light, and the change of a pulse wave amplitude when the brightness of external light is changed from dark to light, with the pressing state of a fingertip fixed. (a) is a figure which shows the specific example of a fingertip detection apparatus, (b) is a figure which shows the specific notification example in case the apparatus user is notified about the strength of a fingertip pressing state. It is a figure which shows that the amplitude of a pulse wave becomes large as a whole when the external light is bright when the pressed state of the fingertip is changed, and the amplitude of the pulse wave becomes small as a whole when the external light is dark. It is a characteristic curve (straight line in the figure) for setting an amplitude threshold value for each level used to classify the amplitude of the measured pulse wave into five levels according to the brightness of the fingertip image. It is a figure which shows that the amplitude of a measurement pulse wave can be divided into the same 5 steps | levels irrespective of the brightness of a fingertip image by using the characteristic curve for setting the amplitude threshold value for every level. It is a figure which shows the setting table of the amplitude threshold value for every level used in order to classify | categorize the amplitude of the luminance value of the flame | frame measured according to the brightness of the fingertip image into the level of five steps. It is a control circuit block diagram which performs a fingertip appropriate press state alerting | reporting in the detection apparatus of this example. It is a functional block diagram of processing which performs fingertip proper press state information by a control circuit. It is a block diagram explaining the function of the level evaluation part in the functional block of FIG. 10 in more detail. It is a figure which shows the example of the data table of the luminance average value for every flame | frame stored in a data storage part. It is a figure which shows the example of the graph obtained by plotting the value of the brightness | luminance average of the data table of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Detection apparatus 2 Apparatus housing 3 Image pick-up part 4 CCD image pick-up element 5 CCD frame 6 Lens 7 Glass plate 8 Finger tip 9 External light 11, 13 Unstable waveform 12 Stable waveform 15 Mobile phone 16 Index finger 17 Display part 21 1st information group 22 2nd information group 23 3rd information group 24 4th information group 25 5th information group 31 CPU (central processing unit)
32 bus 33 ROM (read only memory)
34 RAM (Random Access Memory)
35 Storage Unit 36 Communication Unit 37 Input / Output Unit

Claims (5)

A fingertip image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of frames of a fingertip image taken by a camera in contact with a transparent plate-like member continuously at a predetermined time interval;
A frame luminance calculation step of calculating an average luminance for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquisition step;
An amplitude acquisition step of acquiring the amplitude of the luminance value from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation step;
An amplitude threshold value storage step for storing a plurality of threshold values for the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step in groups;
A threshold selection step of selecting one threshold group from the threshold groups stored in the amplitude threshold storage step based on an average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip;
Based on each threshold value of the threshold group selected by the threshold value selection step, it is determined whether the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the determination result is sent to the notification device. A judgment result output process to output;
The fingertip proper pressing state notification method characterized by including.   The amplitude corresponding to each threshold value of the threshold group is set to be large when the average luminance of the continuous frames is high, and is set to be small when the average luminance is low. The fingertip proper pressing state notification method as described.   2. The fingertip according to claim 1, wherein the frame luminance calculation step uses any one of a luminance sum of pixels in the frame, an R component of an RGB element, or a Y component of a YUV format instead of the average luminance. Appropriate pressing state notification method. Fingertip image acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of frames of a fingertip image taken by a camera and in contact with a transparent plate-like member at predetermined time intervals;
Frame luminance calculating means for calculating an average luminance for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquiring means;
Pulse wave amplitude acquisition means for acquiring amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation means;
Amplitude threshold storage means for storing a plurality of thresholds for the amplitude width acquired by the pulse wave amplitude acquisition means in groups;
Threshold selection means for selecting one threshold group from the threshold groups stored in the amplitude threshold storage means based on the average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip;
Based on each threshold value of the threshold group selected by the threshold value selection unit, it is determined whether the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the determination result is sent to the notification device. Judgment result output means for outputting;
A fingertip proper pressing state notification device characterized by comprising: A program for causing a computer to operate as a fingertip proper pressing state notification device, wherein a fingertip image obtained by capturing a plurality of frames of images of a fingertip in which the computer is photographed by a camera and brought into contact with a transparent plate-like member at predetermined time intervals Acquisition process;
A frame luminance calculation step of calculating an average luminance for each frame of the image of the fingertip acquired by the fingertip image acquisition step;
An amplitude acquisition step of acquiring amplitude from the average luminance calculated by the frame luminance calculation step;
An amplitude threshold value storing step of storing a plurality of threshold values for the amplitude width acquired by the pulse wave amplitude acquiring step in groups;
A threshold selection step of selecting one threshold group from the threshold groups stored in the amplitude threshold storage step based on an average luminance of a plurality of consecutive frames of the image of the fingertip;
Based on each threshold value of the threshold group selected by the threshold value selection step, it is determined whether the amplitude width acquired by the amplitude acquisition step exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and the determination result is sent to the notification device. A judgment result output process to output;
A program characterized by operating as

Images