JP3727803B2 - Biological information detection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a biological information detection apparatus that detects a heartbeat of an operator who operates a steering handle such as a vehicle or a ship.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the aging of operators who operate vehicles, ships and the like is progressing. In such an aging society, in order to prevent accidents due to arrhythmia or heartbeat stop of the operator during traveling, an electrode is provided on the steering handle of a vehicle or a ship, and the operator touches the electrode so that the heartbeat of the operator Various biological information detection devices that generate an alarm when the number is detected and an abnormal heart rate is indicated have been proposed. The present applicant has proposed a biological information detecting apparatus shown in FIG. 9 in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-052813.
[0003]
When the operator touches the electrodes 1a, 1b provided on the left and right of the steering handle 8, the biological information detection apparatus amplifies the heartbeat waveform of the operator detected by the electrodes 1a, 1b by the amplifier 2, and LPF (low pass) The signal is supplied to the A / D converter 5 through the filter 3 and the amplifier 4, converted into digital data by the A / D converter 5, and supplied to the CPU 6. The CPU 6 calculates heart rate data and compares it with the normal heart rate data of the operator stored in advance in a ROM (not shown). If the obtained heart rate data differs from the normal heart rate data of the operator, A warning of abnormal occurrence is generated.
[0004]
The electrodes 1a and 1b of the steering handle 8 are simply formed by wrapping a metal film or conductive cloth film around the steering handle 8 and detect various noises generated inside and outside the vehicle. And heartbeat data are supplied to the CPU 6 as mixed data.
[0005]
Therefore, the biological information detection apparatus of the present application analyzes the supplied heartbeat data according to a waveform analysis program stored in advance in a ROM or the like in order to distinguish between the supplied heartbeat data and noise. Are distinguished.
[0006]
In addition, the biological information detection device includes an infrared light receiving element 12 on the hub 10 that supports the spoke 9 of the steering handle 8 and detects infrared light on the steering column 11 in order to detect the rotation of the steering handle 8. An infrared light emitting element 13 is disposed at a position facing the element 12, and the output of the infrared light receiving element 12 is supplied to the CPU 6 via the drive circuit 7. When the vehicle is traveling in a straight line, the infrared light receiving element 12 and the infrared light emitting element 13 are in positions opposite to each other. Therefore, the infrared light receiving element 12 receives the infrared light from the infrared light emitting element 13 and uses this as the steering handle 8. When the steering handle 8 is rotated as the non-rotation signal is sent to the CPU 6, the hub 10 is rotated as the steering handle 8 is rotated, so that the infrared light receiving element 12 receives the infrared light from the infrared light emitting element 13. By not receiving light and supplying this to the CPU 6 as a rotation signal of the steering handle 8, it is possible to detect whether or not the operator is rotating the steering handle 8.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the biological information detection device previously filed by the applicant is based on the waveform analysis program in order to distinguish between the noise picked up by the electrodes 1a and 1b provided on the steering handle 8 and the heartbeat data of the operator. Although analysis is made, noise generated in a pulse form is difficult to distinguish from heartbeat data, and there is a problem in that malfunction may occur and analysis takes time.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a biological information detection device capable of reducing the influence of noise, measuring an accurate heartbeat waveform, and detecting rotation of a steering wheel. There is.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A biological information detection apparatus according to the present invention includes a steering handle, biological information detection means for detecting biological information attached to a predetermined part of the steering handle, and both hands of an operator are in contact with the biological information detection means. A contact detection means for detecting whether or not there is provided.
[0010]
The biological information detection apparatus according to the present invention is the biological information detection apparatus described above , wherein the biological information detection means includes at least a pair of electrodes attached to left and right predetermined portions of the steering handle, and the contact detection means includes It is configured to detect whether or not the operator's hands are in contact with the pair of biological information detection means.
[0011]
The biological information detection apparatus according to the present invention is the biological information detection apparatus described above , wherein the non-contact state is indicated to the operator when both hands of the operator are not in contact with the biological information detection means by the contact detection means. A notification means for notifying is provided.
[0012]
[Action]
The biological information detection apparatus of the present invention includes biological information detection means for detecting biological information at a predetermined part of the steering handle, contact detection means for detecting whether or not both hands of the operator are in contact with the biological information detection means, Since the notification means is provided, when the operator's hands are not in contact with the biological information electrode, the notification means can notify the operator that it is in a non-contact state.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a biological information detection apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration and operation of the biological information detection apparatus 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
In the biological information detection apparatus of the present invention, a pair of reference electrodes 21a and 21b and detection electrodes 22a and 22b are attached to predetermined portions on the left and right of the steering handle 20, and a reference potential is applied to the reference electrodes 21a and 21b. The detection electrodes 22a and 22b and the reference electrode 21a or 21b are connected to a biological information detection circuit including the arithmetic circuit 14. That is, the detection electrode 22a is connected to the non-inverting input of the arithmetic circuit 14, the detection electrode 22b is connected to the inverting input, and the reference electrode 21a or 21b is connected to the common input (common input).
[0015]
The arithmetic circuit 14 outputs a heartbeat waveform signal as biological information by calculating a difference between signals obtained from the detection electrodes 22a and 22b.
[0016]
The detection electrode 22a and the reference electrode 21a are connected to the right-hand contact detection circuit 15, the detection electrode 22b and the reference electrode 21b are connected to the left-hand contact detection circuit 16, and the output (H or L output) of each detection circuit is a logic circuit. 17 is input. The output V0 of the logic circuit 17 controls on / off of a switch 18 connected between the arithmetic circuit 14 and the A / D converter 19.
[0017]
The heartbeat waveform output from the arithmetic circuit 14 is A / D converted by the A / D converter 19, and this digital data is input as heartbeat data to the CPU 23 that controls the entire biological information detecting apparatus. The ROM 24 stores in advance the normal heart rate of the operator, and is compared with the heart rate data input to the CPU 23, and the notification device 25 that generates a warning sound or the like is driven according to the comparison result.
[0018]
The pair of detection electrodes 22a and 22b and the reference electrodes 21a and 21b are formed of a thin metal plate or the like and arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval. That is, the reference electrode 21a on the right side of the steering handle 20 and the detection electrode 22a make a pair, and the reference electrode 21b on the left side of the steering handle 20 and the detection electrode 22b make a pair. FIG. 1 is a view as seen from the handle side of the vehicle. The electrodes 21a, 22a, 21b, and 22b detect whether or not the operator touches the steering handle 20 with both hands, and measure the potential between the two hands of the operator as a myocardial action potential, thereby detecting the heart rate of the operator. Is detected. The reference electrodes 21a and 21b are connected to the reference potential (ground potential) side, and the detection electrodes 22a and 22b are connected to the arithmetic circuit 14 for detecting biological information as described above.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows a specific embodiment of the right-hand contact detection circuit 15 in FIG. The left hand contact detection circuit 16 has the same configuration. In the figure, the detection electrode 22a is connected to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 27 through the resistor R, the voltage E is applied to the non-inverting input, and feedback is applied from the output to the inverting input by the resistor R. The output of the operational amplifier 27 is input to a window comparator 28 comprising operational amplifiers 28a and 28b. That is, the output of the operational amplifier 27 is connected to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 28a and the inverting input of the operational amplifier 28b. The inverting input of the operational amplifier 28a and the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier 28b are respectively E + ΔV and E−Δ. V is applied. The outputs of the operational amplifiers 28 a and 28 b are input to the logic circuit 29, and the output from the logic circuit 29 is input to the logic circuit 17 as the output of the right-hand contact detection circuit 15.
[0020]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. Hereinafter, the right hand contact detection circuit 15 will be described, but the same applies to the left hand contact detection circuit 16. First, when the steering handle 20 is not gripped with the right hand, the right hand is not in contact with the detection electrode 22a and the reference electrode 21a, so that the electrodes 21a and 22a are open. As a result, since no current flows from the output of the operational amplifier 27 to the inverting input side, the output voltage V1 of the operational amplifier 27 becomes V1 = E.
[0021]
Next, when the steering handle 20 is gripped with the right hand, since the right hand is in contact with the detection electrode 22a and the reference electrode 21a, the electrodes 21a and 22a are electrically connected with a predetermined impedance. As a result, the current i flows from the output of the operational amplifier 27 to the inverting input side through the resistor R, and the output voltage V1 of the operational amplifier 27 becomes V1 = E + iR.
[0022]
The output voltage V1 of the operational amplifier 27 is applied to the non-inverting input and the inverting input of the operational amplifiers 28a and 28b constituting the window comparator 28. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the right hand is not in contact, V1 (= E) is applied, so that the inverting input voltage (E + ΔV) of the operational amplifier 28a> the non-inverting input voltage (E), and the output is L Output. Further, the inverting input voltage (E) of the operational amplifier 28b> the non-inverting input voltage (E−ΔV), and the output becomes the L output. That is, when the right hand is not in contact, the outputs of the operational amplifiers 28a and 28b are both L outputs.
[0023]
On the other hand, when the right hand is in contact, V1 = E + iR is added, so the above magnitude relationship is reversed, and the outputs of the operational amplifiers 28a and 28b are both H outputs.
[0024]
When the outputs of the operational amplifiers 28a and 28b are logically operated by the logic circuit 29, the output of the right hand contact detection circuit 15 generates an L output when the right hand is not touched and is H when the right hand is touched. Output is generated.
[0025]
On the other hand, as for the output of the left hand contact detection circuit 16, L output is generated when the left hand is not touched, and H output is generated when the left hand is touched. Therefore, by taking the logical product of these two outputs by the logic circuit 17, the output V0 becomes L output when at least one of the left and right hands is not grasping the steering handle 20, and when it is grasped with both hands. H output.
[0026]
The switch 18 is turned on when the output of the logic circuit 17 is H. That is, since the operator turns on with both hands in contact with the electrodes 21a, 22a and 21b, 22b, the heartbeat waveform signal output from the arithmetic circuit 14 through the switch 18 is supplied to the A / D converter 19, and the digital data And is supplied to the CPU 23. When the CPU 23 detects that the switch 18 is turned on by the output from the logic circuit 17, the CPU 23 reads the digital data and measures the heart rate of the operator.
[0027]
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment according to the present invention, and the same parts as those in FIG. In FIG. 4, the detection electrodes 22a and 22b are used only for contact detection of the left and right hands, and a pair of electrodes 26a and 26b are newly provided on the outside of the detection electrodes 22a and 22b for detecting biological information. That is, the detection electrodes 22a and 22b and the reference electrodes 21a and 21b are respectively connected to the right hand contact detection circuit 15 and the left hand contact detection circuit 16 as in FIG. 1, and the detection electrodes 26a and 26b and the reference electrode 21a or 21b are connected to the arithmetic circuit 14. Connected to.
[0028]
In this configuration, the detection electrodes 22a and 22b, the reference electrodes 21a and 21b, the right hand contact detection circuit 15 and the left hand contact detection circuit 16 detect the contact state with respect to the left and right hands, and the detection electrodes 26a and 26b, the reference electrode 21b and The arithmetic circuit 14 detects the heartbeat of the operator. Hereinafter, the operation after detection is the same as in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when both hands touch each electrode 22a, 22b and 21a, 21b, the current i flows to the electrode as described above, and therefore, an accurate heartbeat waveform signal cannot be obtained by the current i. However, in the configuration of FIG. 4, since the electrodes for detecting the contact of both hands and the electrode for detecting biological information are provided separately, there is no influence of the current i generated at the time of detecting contact when detecting biological information. A more accurate heartbeat waveform signal can be obtained.
[0029]
Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, at least one of the reference electrode and the contact detection electrode is divided into a plurality of electrodes, and the one shown in FIG. 5 is obtained by disassembling the contact detection electrode into a plurality of electrodes. The case where it comprises is shown.
[0030]
That is, the contact detection electrode is composed of eight detection electrodes 22a to 22h, and on the right side (left side in the figure), four detection electrodes 22a to 22d are arranged at equal intervals at positions facing the reference electrode 21a. On the left side (right side in the figure), four detection electrodes 22e to 22h are arranged at equal intervals at positions facing the reference electrode 21b. In addition, a pair of left and right detection electrodes 26a and 26b are arranged outside the detection electrodes 22a to 22d and 22e to 22h as biological information detection.
[0031]
The detection electrodes 22a to 22h are connected to the right hand contact detection circuits 15a to 15d and the right hand contact detection circuits 16e to 16h together with the reference electrodes 21a and 21b, and the respective outputs are input to the CPU 23. ON / OFF is controlled.
[0032]
In such a configuration, the right-hand contact detection circuits 15a to 15d and the left-hand contact detection circuits 16e to 16h generate the output H as described above when the detection electrodes 22a to 22h are contacted by the operator's hand, and are in contact with each other. Otherwise, an output L is generated. The CPU 23 processes the output of each contact detection circuit as 8-bit digital data, weights (2 ⁰ to 2 ⁷ ) sequentially from the left electrode of the steering handle 20, and outputs the outputs 15a to 15d and 16e to 16h of each contact detection circuit. D0 to D7 in order. If this digital data is expressed as decimal data, it changes as the operator rotates the steering wheel 20 as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state where the vehicle is running straight and the steering handle 20 is not rotating, a state where the steering handle 20 is turned to the right and the steering handle 20 is turned to the right, and a case where the steering handle 20 is turned to the left after turning to the left. An example of the state is shown.
[0033]
Therefore, the CPU 23 determines from the output of each contact detection circuit whether the steering wheel 20 is in a straight traveling state where the steering wheel 20 is not rotating, or whether the steering wheel 20 is rotating along a curve.
[0034]
For example, if the outputs of the detection electrodes for detection that are touched with both hands when the operator goes straight ahead are D1 and D6, the data D0 to D7 input to the CPU 23 continue for a predetermined period and D1 and D6 are H. If it is determined that the other is L (decimal data D1 + D6 = 2 + 64 = 66), it is determined that the steering wheel 20 is in a straight traveling state where the steering wheel 20 is not rotating, and the switch 18 is turned on. The obtained heartbeat waveform data is input to the A / D converter 19. Hereinafter, abnormality determination based on the above-described heart rate is performed.
[0035]
Further, when the data D1 and D6 are outputs other than H within a predetermined period, it is determined that the steering handle 20 is rotating and the switch 18 is turned off even if both hands are in contact. Avoid detecting your heart rate.
[0036]
Further, when only the data D1 or D6 is generated continuously for a predetermined time, it is determined that the operator is traveling straight ahead and the left hand or the right hand is not grasping the steering handle 20, and the notification device 25 calls attention.
[0037]
According to such an embodiment, in general, an operator's heartbeat is obtained when the vehicle is traveling straight, and a normal heartbeat is obtained when the vehicle curves such as a left turn or a right turn. It is possible to detect the optimal heart rate data according to.
[0038]
In each embodiment, an amplifier for amplifying signals from the detection electrodes 22a and 22b may be connected to the preceding stage of the arithmetic circuit 14 for detecting biological information. Further, a low-pass filter for mainly removing high-frequency component noise may be connected to the subsequent stage of the arithmetic circuit 14.
[0039]
As described above, the biological information detection apparatus according to the present invention includes the reference electrodes 21a and 21b and the detection electrodes 22a and 22b in which a pair of electrodes are formed of thin metal plates or the like at predetermined portions on the left and right of the steering handle 20. In the above description, the reference electrodes 21a and 21b are formed in a U-shape, and the reference electrodes 21a and 21b surround the detection electrodes 22a and 22b as shown in FIG. If it comprises, the shielding effect with respect to detection electrode 22a, 22b will increase, and even if an operator does not touch electrode 21a-22b, the noise inside and outside a vehicle will be reduced. Further, when the operator touches the electrodes 21a to 22b, the shielding effect by the operator's hand is further improved.
[0040]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, if a reference electrode 21a, 21b formed of a metal foil or the like and a detection electrode 22a, 22b are stacked on a film, it can be wound on the steering handle 20. It becomes possible, and it is easy to attach and can be made into a form excellent in wearability.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect biometric information without malfunctioning by detecting whether or not the operator is holding the steering handle with the biometric information detecting means with both hands. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram used for detailed explanation of a part of the biological information detecting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram used for explaining a biological information detection apparatus previously filed by the present applicant.
[Explanation of symbols]
14 ... arithmetic circuits 15, 15a-15d ... right hand contact detection circuit 16, 16e-16h ... left hand contact detection circuit 17 ... logic circuit 18 ... switch 19 ... A / D converter 20 ... steering handles 21a, 21b ... reference electrodes 22a, 22b ... detection electrodes 23 ... CPU
24 ... ROM
25 ... Notification devices 26a, 26b ... Detection electrodes 27 ... Operational amplifier 28 ... Window comparator 29 ... Logic circuit

Claims (6)

A steering wheel,
The steering handle is attached to a predetermined site of the living body information detecting means that detect the biological information of the operator who operates the the steering handle,
First detection means for detecting whether one hand of the operator is in contact with the biological information detection means;
Second detection means for detecting whether or not the other hand of the operator is in contact with the biological information detection means;
Equipped with a,
The biological information detection unit detects that the one hand is in contact with the steering handle based on the result detected by the first detection unit and the result detected by the second detection unit. The biological information detection apparatus is characterized in that the biological information of the operator is detected only while it is detected that the other hand is in contact with the steering handle . And a third detecting means for detecting a rotational operation state of the steering handle,
  The biological information detecting means does not detect the biological information of the operator when the steering handle is rotated based on the result detected by the third detecting means. The biological information detection device according to claim 1. The biological information detecting means biological information detecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ing of a pair of electrodes attached to a predetermined portion of the left and right of at least the steering wheel. The biological information detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pair of electrodes are formed in a U shape so that one electrode surrounds the other electrode. The biological information detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pair of electrodes are stacked on a film. Any of claims 1-5, characterized in that it comprises a notifying means allowed to notify the at least one hand of the operator is not in contact with the living body information detection means by the contact detection means to the operator biological information detecting device according to one or.

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