JP2013022253A - Skin observation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and slim skin observation device in which proximity illumination is enabled and the irradiation angle for every light emitting elements is facilitated.SOLUTION: The skin observation device includes LEDs 5 located at equal intervals in the peripheries of a base part 4 made of resin as a plurality of light emitting elements for emitting light to the center of the base part 4, a mirror 12 for reflecting light from LEDs 5 to a skin observation port 10c of housing 10, an imaging lens 7 incorporated in an opening 4a through which light reflected from the skin S passes at the center of base part 4, and an imaging element 8 fixed to the base part 4 on the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7. At the bottom face 4b of the base part 4, eight recessed parts 11 are formed extending in the radial direction around the opening 4a. Within each recessed part 11, the mirror 12 is placed, and LEDs 5 are placed in the outer end in the radial direction of each recessed part 11. The mirrors 12 located on an optical axis between the LEDs 5 and the polarizing filter 2 have a one-to-one relationship in the recessed parts 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a skin observation apparatus used for enlarging and imaging a skin surface.

  Conventionally, there is JP, 2004-187248, A as technology in such a field. In the skin observation apparatus described in this publication, light emitted from the light emitting element array on the side close to the optical axis passes through the first polarizing plate and is irradiated to the subject as polarized light having a horizontal vibration direction. Although the light reflected from the surface is polarized, it passes through the first polarizing plate in the same vibration direction, and then forms an image on the imaging device through the lens. On the other hand, light emitted from the light emitting element array on the side away from the optical axis passes through the second polarizing plate and is irradiated to the subject as polarized light having a vertical vibration direction. Since the light reflected from the surface maintains the polarization in the vertical vibration direction, it is blocked by the first polarizing plate in the horizontal direction and does not reach the image sensor. The light reflected after entering the skin passes through the first polarizing plate and reaches the image sensor. Therefore, when the light emitting element array on the side close to the optical axis emits light, a texture mode that is an illumination mode utilizing surface reflected light, and when the light emitting element array on the side far from the optical axis is lit, a stain mode that removes surface reflected light. It becomes.

JP 2004-187248 A

  However, in the above-described conventional skin observation apparatus, the light from the light emitting element is directly applied to the subject through the polarizing plate, so that the closer the illumination is to the subject, the more uneven the illumination occurs. There is a problem that it is easy and proximity illumination is difficult. In addition, when observing the skin, it is necessary to change the illumination angle when observing skin texture and spots. In the past, when changing the direction of light emission from the light emitting element, the light emitting element array is placed outside. It is necessary to multiplex toward. These make it difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a skin observation apparatus that enables proximity illumination, easily changes an irradiation angle for each light emitting element, and facilitates downsizing and thinning.

The present invention relates to a skin observation apparatus for observing the skin condition by illumination.
A plurality of light emitting elements that illuminate the skin;
A polarizing filter disposed on the optical axis between the light emitting element and the skin and transmitting light from the light emitting element;
An image sensor that receives reflected light from the skin illuminated by the light emitting element and images the skin;
An imaging optical unit for condensing reflected light from the skin onto the image sensor;
And a plurality of mirrors arranged on the optical axis between the light emitting element and the polarizing filter and having a one-to-one relationship with the light emitting element.

  In this skin observation apparatus, the light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the mirror and then applied to the skin, so that uneven illumination is unlikely to occur and close proximity illumination that allows the illumination to approach the skin becomes possible. Furthermore, when observing skin texture and spots, it is necessary to change the illumination angle. In the present invention, since the light emitting element and the mirror have a one-to-one relationship, the light reflection angle of the mirror It is possible to easily create different illumination angles for observing skin texture and spots simply by changing the. In this case, it is not necessary to multiplex the arrangement of the light emitting elements when changing the illumination angle, which contributes to the downsizing and thinning of the apparatus.

Further, it is preferable that the mirror has a reflecting surface having a V-shaped cross section where a position where the optical axis passes is a peak or a valley.
Even when uneven illumination is eliminated by a mirror, high brightness may appear in the center of the illumination. In particular, the closer the illumination is to the skin, the more prominent it is. By adopting, the brightness of the central part of the illumination is lowered, and thereby more uniform illumination can be achieved. This is extremely effective in achieving proximity illumination.

Further, the mirror and the light emitting element are arranged around the optical axis of the imaging optical unit, the light emitting element is arranged radially outside the mirror, and each light emitting element has its optical axis aligned with the light of the imaging optical unit. It is preferable that they are arranged in parallel to a plane orthogonal to the axis.
When such a configuration is adopted, the mirror and the light emitting element can be arranged on the same plane, and thereby the height of the installation space for the mirror and the light emitting element can be reduced without shortening the irradiation distance from the light emitting element to the skin. Can be minimized.

In addition, the polarizing filter is disposed on the inner side with the optical axis of the imaging optical unit as the center, and is disposed on the outer side of the first polarizing filter unit, with respect to the first polarizing filter unit. And a second polarizing filter section having an optical phase difference of 90 degrees, and the light emitting element includes a first light source section and a second light source section, The light passes through the first polarizing filter part, is reflected by the skin, and is incident again on the first polarizing filter part. The light from the second light source part passes through the second polarizing filter part. It is preferably reflected later on the skin and made incident on the first polarizing filter section. The first light source section is preferably a light bulb-colored light emitting element and the second light source section is a daylight colored light emitting element. .
With such a configuration, it is possible to observe the texture of the skin with the first light source unit, and it is possible to observe the skin spots with the second light source unit. Then, by using a light bulb-colored light emitting element for skin texture observation and a daylight-colored light emitting element for skin spot observation, the skin condition can be observed more effectively.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform close-up illumination, to easily change the irradiation angle for each light emitting element, and to facilitate downsizing and thinning.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the imaging illumination unit applied to the skin observation apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. It is a perspective view of an imaging illumination unit. It is a bottom view of an imaging illumination unit.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a skin observation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The skin observation apparatus includes a handy type or a stationary type, and any type is provided with an imaging illumination unit U as shown in FIGS. The imaging illumination unit U includes an imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS image sensor and illumination, and the state of the imaged skin S is displayed on a monitor (not shown) as an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the imaging illumination unit U stored in the housing 10 includes a unit main body 1, a polarizing filter 2 that is fixed to the unit main body 1 and enables polarization of illumination, And a mask 3 for restricting excessive light. The housing 10 includes a cylindrical body portion 10a for fixing the imaging illumination unit U inside, and a light-shielding portion 10b having a truncated cone shape for crimping the tip to the skin S. A circular skin observation port 10c is formed at the tip of the light shielding portion 10b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the unit body 1 is disposed at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the base 4 made of resin, which is a thin, flat, substantially octagonal plate. LEDs 5 as a plurality of (eight) light emitting elements that emit light toward the center of the base portion 4, a mirror 12 for reflecting the light from the LEDs 5 toward the skin observation port 10c of the housing 10, and a base portion An imaging lens 7 as an imaging optical unit incorporated in an opening 4a through which reflected light from the skin S passes at the center of 4 and fixed to the base unit 4 on the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7 A CCD or CMOS image sensor 8 as an image sensor.

  On the bottom surface 4 b of the base portion 4, eight concave portions 11 extending in the radial direction with the opening 4 a as the center are formed. A mirror 12 is disposed in each recess 11, and an LED 5 is disposed at the outer end in the radial direction of each recess 11. And the light radiate | emitted from each LED5 reflects with the mirror 12, and illuminates the skin S. FIG.

  The mirrors 12 arranged on the optical axis between the LED 5 and the skin S, specifically between the LED 5 and the polarizing filter 2, have a one-to-one relationship within the recess 11, and each LED 5 is a substrate 5 a. The substrate 5 a is set in a substrate housing recess 4 c formed on the peripheral surface of the base portion 4 and fixed by screws 13. Each mirror 12 is affixed to the bottom surface of the concave portion 11 of the base portion 4 so that the reflection surface faces the skin S side, and has a reflection surface 12b having a V-shaped cross section. The mirror 12 has a V-shape in which a crest 12a is disposed in the recess 11 at a position where the optical axis of the LED 5 passes and protrudes toward the polarizing filter 2 side. The mountain portion 12 a is included on a plane formed by the optical axis of the LED 5 and the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7. Note that valleys may be arranged instead of the peaks 12a.

  Even when the unevenness of illumination by the LED 5 is eliminated by the mirror 12, high brightness may appear in the central portion of the illumination. In particular, the closer the illumination is to the skin S, the more prominent it is. By adopting the mirror 12 having such a configuration, the luminance of the central portion of the illumination is lowered, and thereby more uniform illumination can be achieved. Such a shape of the mirror 12 is extremely effective in achieving proximity illumination.

  The mirrors 12 and the LEDs 5 that are annularly arranged in a one-to-one relationship on the base portion 4 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, the LEDs 5 are arranged outside the mirror 12 in the radial direction, and each LED 5 Are arranged on the same plane orthogonal to the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7 so that the optical axis of the imaging lens 7 is parallel to the plane orthogonal to the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7. By adopting such a configuration, the mirror 12 and the LED 5 can be arranged on the same plane, thereby minimizing the height of the installation space of the mirror 12 and the LED 5, that is, the depth of the recess 11. And the thickness of the base portion 4 can be reduced.

  The imaging illumination unit U enables observation of texture and spots on the skin S. In order to observe the texture of the skin S more effectively, four LEDs 5A having a light bulb color (color temperature of about 3000K) are used. By irradiating a color close to the skin surface, the reflected light can be felt strongly. In order to more effectively observe the stain on the skin S, four LEDs 5B of daylight color (color temperature of about 6500 K) are used. In particular, the daylight color is highly effective because it has a complementary color relationship to the stain color (brown). The LED 5 includes a texture observation LED 5A as a first light source unit and a spot observation LED 5B as a second light source unit. The texture observation LED 5A and the spot observation LED 5B Alternatingly arranged in the direction. Similarly, the texture observation mirror 12A and the spot observation mirror 12B are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

  Further, when light is applied to the skin S, the incident angle of the light with respect to the optical axis L is different for texture observation and spot observation. The texture observation mirror 12A is adhered to the bottom surface 4b of the base portion 4 so that the incident angle α with respect to the optical axis L is 16.5 ± 5 °, and the spot observation mirror 12B is also incident on the optical axis L. The base 4 is bonded to the bottom surface 4b so that β is 27 ± 3 °. The incident angles α and β are determined on the assumption that light is reflected by the peak portion 12 a of the mirror 12.

  In the unit main body 1 having such a configuration, the polarizing filter 2 is bonded to the bottom surface 4 b of the base portion 4 so as to close the recess 11. The polarizing filter 2 extends along the bottom surface 4 b of the base portion 4.

  The polarizing filter 2 is disposed inside the imaging lens 7 with the optical axis L as the center, and is disposed outside the first polarizing filter unit 2A for polarizing the P wave and the first polarizing filter unit 2A. In order to polarize the S wave, the second polarizing filter unit 2B having an optical phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to the first polarizing filter unit 2A. The first polarizing filter unit 2A and the second polarizing filter unit 2B are arranged on the same plane orthogonal to the optical axis L of the imaging lens 7.

  The light from the mirror 12A for texture observation has a light bulb color, is reflected by the skin S after passing through the first polarizing filter portion 2A, is incident again on the first polarizing filter portion 2A, and the opening 4a. The image is taken by the CMOS image sensor 8 through the image forming lens 7. Further, the light from the spot observation mirror 12B is daylight color, reflected by the skin S after passing through the second polarizing filter unit 2B, and incident on the first polarizing filter unit 2A, and the opening 4a. The image is taken by the CMOS image sensor 8 through the image forming lens 7.

  Specifically, the polarizing filter 2 is formed by punching the first and second polarizing filter portions 2A and 2B from a single base material having a filter function. The portion of the second polarizing filter portion 2B punched out in the shape of a cross forms the first polarizing filter portion 2A, and this cross-shaped portion 2A is rotated 90 degrees to punch out the second polarizing filter portion 2B. By returning to the inside of the hole 2a, the 2nd polarizing filter part 2B will be arrange | positioned around the cross-shaped part 2A.

  By adopting such a configuration, the polarizing filter 2 can be easily produced from a single substrate. Since the first polarizing filter section 2A is formed in a cross shape, the two polarizing filter sections 2A and 2B having an optical phase difference of 90 degrees can be surely rotated by 90 degrees, and are approximately They can be arranged on the same plane.

  Further, a mask 3 for preventing excess light from leaking from the polarizing filter 2 is attached to the polarizing filter 2. The mask 3 has an opening 3 a formed so as to open a part of the recess 11. Therefore, by adopting the mask 3, it is possible to cut light that is not reflected by the mirror 12 and is incident on the skin S as much as possible. It is appropriately avoided that the light is incident on the inside, and even a close-up illumination does not result in a bright and blurred image.

  In such a skin observation device, the light emitted from the LED 5 is reflected by the mirror 12 and then radiated to the skin S. Therefore, uneven illumination is unlikely to occur, and proximity illumination that brings the illumination closer to the skin S is possible. become. Further, when observing the texture and stain of the skin S, it is necessary to set the illumination angle to, for example, an incident angle α (16.5 ± 5 °) and an incident angle β (27 ± 3 °). 12 has a one-to-one relationship, it is possible to easily create different illumination angles when observing the texture and spots of the skin S by simply changing the light reflection angle of the mirror 12. In this case, it is not necessary to multiplex the arrangement of the LEDs 5 when changing the illumination angle, which contributes to the reduction in size and thickness of the device.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the peak portion may be curved. Further, the reflection surface of the mirror may be curved. You may provide the 3rd light source part from which an incident angle differs.

  U ... Imaging illumination unit, S ... Skin, 2 ... Polarizing filter, 2A ... First polarizing filter part (cross-shaped part), 2B ... Second polarizing filter part, 4 ... Base part, 4a ... Opening part of base part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... LED (light emitting element), 5A ... 1st light source part, 5B ... 2nd light source part, 7 ... Imaging optical part (imaging lens), 8 ... Imaging element, 11 ... Recessed part, 12 ... Mirror.

Claims (4)

In the skin observation device for observing the skin condition by lighting,
A plurality of light emitting elements for illuminating the skin;
A polarizing filter disposed on the optical axis between the light emitting element and the skin and transmitting light from the light emitting element;
An imaging element that receives reflected light from the skin illuminated by the light emitting element and images the skin;
An imaging optical unit for condensing the reflected light from the skin onto the image sensor;
A skin observation apparatus comprising: a plurality of mirrors disposed on an optical axis between the light emitting element and the polarizing filter and having a one-to-one relationship with the light emitting element.   The skin observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mirror has a reflection surface having a V-shaped cross section where a position where the optical axis passes is a peak or a valley.   The mirror and the light emitting element are disposed around the optical axis of the imaging optical unit, the light emitting element is disposed radially outward of the mirror, and the light axis of each light emitting element is connected to the optical axis. The skin observation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skin observation apparatus is arranged in parallel to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the image optical unit. The polarizing filter is disposed on the inner side with the optical axis of the imaging optical unit as a center, and is disposed on the outer side of the first polarizing filter unit. The first polarizing filter A second polarizing filter unit having an optical phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to the unit,
The light-emitting element includes a first light source unit and a second light source unit,
The light from the first light source unit is reflected by the skin after passing through the first polarizing filter unit, and is incident again on the first polarizing filter unit,
The light from the second light source unit is reflected by the skin after passing through the second polarizing filter unit, and is incident on the first polarizing filter unit,
The skin observation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first light source unit is a light emitting element having a light bulb color, and the second light source unit is a daylight color light emitting element. apparatus.

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