JP5638234B2 - Transparency measuring device and transparency measuring method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transparency measurement device and a transparency measurement method.

  One element representing the state of human skin is “transparency”. Although the definition of “transparency” has not been established, in the present specification, the description will be made based on the concept of “the degree that the skin takes light into the interior and makes it appear bright”.

  Methods for measuring such transparency are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 and the like. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of using two types of measurement wavelengths in the reflected light from the skin and using the ratio as an evaluation number.

  In Patent Document 2, P-polarized light (horizontal polarized light) is incident on the skin surface to receive reflected light of the S-polarized light (vertically polarized light) component, and S-polarized light is incident to receive reflected light of the P-polarized component. A method of using the total value of the reflectances of the two reflected lights as an evaluation number is disclosed.

  Also, in Patent Document 3, a polarizing filter is attached to the light source unit and the lens unit, and image calculation processing is performed on an image picked up with the filter angles parallel and an image picked up at right angles, and diffuse reflected light of the skin image A method is disclosed in which the luminance value is used as an index of transparency.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a method including internal diffused light receiving means that receives light diffused inside the skin and does not substantially receive direct light and reflected light on the skin surface.

JP 7-294423 A Japanese Patent No. 4105554 JP 2008-212189 A JP-A-8-182654

  The methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 described above have the following problems.

  For example, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is no disclosure of a method of blocking the light reflected on the surface of the skin or the light on the light projecting side. According to this, it is difficult to capture the scattered light purely inside the skin.

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, the light source is limited to white light in the “Embodiment of the Invention”. For this reason, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, only a white LED can be used when the light source is converted into an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 is performed. As is well known, white LEDs are inevitably expensive due to their complicated structure, such as combining three red, green, and blue LEDs, and power consumption is larger than other colors of LEDs. Tend. Further, the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 does not disclose the point of removing the influence of disturbance light.

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, a filter is inserted between the strobe and the camera lens, but this is close-up photography of a general digital camera. For this reason, fixation of a test subject's face, fixation of a camera, and other apparatus configurations become large, and it is not possible to cope with downsizing.

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 4, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like is cited as a light source, but there is no disclosure about wavelength dependency. In addition, if a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like is used as the light source, the apparatus becomes large, and it is not possible to cope with downsizing.

  The present invention is carried out under such a background, and it is possible to measure the transparency of the skin with a miniaturized apparatus configuration without being affected by the light reflected on the surface of the skin or the disturbance light. An object of the present invention is to provide a translucency measuring device and a translucency measuring method.

  One aspect of the present invention is a viewpoint as a transparency measuring apparatus. That is, the transparency measurement device of the present invention is a transparency measurement device used by being brought into contact with the skin surface. Light means and imaging means for imaging the skin surface in a place different from the skin surface where the light is projected and where the projected light is diffused internally, The light-projecting-side opening that contacts the skin surface has the light-projecting-side opening in contact with the skin surface, so that direct light from the light source is blocked.

  For example, the imaging means has an imaging side opening that is different from the light projecting side opening through which light from the skin surface is incident, and the light projecting side opening and the imaging side opening are provided with the casing of the transparency measuring device. It is provided side by side in the plane part which comprises.

  For example, the light source has an emission wavelength of 610 nm to 630 nm.

  Further, the light projecting means is provided with a first polarizing plate that transmits light from the light source, and the imaging means has a polarization direction different from that of the first polarizing plate that transmits light incident from the imaging side opening. It is possible to provide a second polarizing plate having different values.

  Furthermore, it can have a display part which displays the image obtained as a result of the imaging by an imaging means.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a viewpoint as a transparency measurement method. That is, the transparency measurement method of the present invention is a transparency measurement method performed by a transparency measurement device used in contact with the skin surface. The light projecting means of the transparency measurement device emits light of a predetermined wavelength from a light source. The light projecting step of projecting the light from the light source onto the skin surface is executed, and the imaging means of the transparency measuring device is a place different from the skin surface where the light from the light projecting means is projected, The imaging step of imaging the skin surface where the emitted light is diffusing inside is executed, and when executing the light projecting step, the light projecting side opening that contacts the skin surface of the light projecting means contacts the skin surface By doing so, direct light from the light source is shielded.

  Furthermore, the process of the light projecting step includes a step of transmitting the light from the light source through the first polarizing plate, and the process of the imaging step is the first step of the light incident on the imaging means when imaging the skin surface. The polarizing plate can be transmitted through a second polarizing plate having a polarization direction different from that of the polarizing plate.

  Further, the display unit of the transparency measuring apparatus can execute a display step for displaying an image obtained as a result of imaging by the imaging step process.

  According to the present invention, the skin transparency can be measured with a miniaturized apparatus configuration without being affected by the reflected light on the surface of the skin or disturbance light.

It is a conceptual diagram of the transparency measuring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the actual structure of the light projection part and light-shielding plate of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the actual structure of the imaging part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the transparency measurement module which arrange | positions the light projection part and imaging part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the actual structural example (the 1) of the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the actual structural example (the 2) of the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the actual structural example (the 3) of the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the color of LED of FIG. 1, and is the figure which looked at the observation structure of the scattered light from the upper surface. It is the figure which looked at the observation structure of the scattered light of FIG. 8 from the side. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the color of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light at the time of using green LED trial. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the color of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light at the time of using yellow LED trial. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the color of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light at the time of using orange LED as a trial. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the color of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light at the time of trying red LED. It is a figure which shows collectively the observation result of the scattered light in LED from which the color of FIGS. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the drive current value of LED of FIG. 1, and is the figure which looked at the observation structure of the scattered light from the upper surface. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the drive current value of LED of FIG. 1, and is the figure which looked at the observation structure of the scattered light from the side. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the drive current value of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light in the case of the drive current value of 18.0 mA. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the drive current value of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light in the case of the drive current value of 16.6 mA. It is a figure for demonstrating the circumstances which select the drive current value of LED of FIG. 1, and is a figure explaining the observation result of the scattered light in the case of a 15.1 mA drive current value. It is a figure which shows collectively the observation result of the scattered light in LED from which the drive current value of FIGS. 17-19 differs. It is a figure which shows the example which measures the transparency of the skin of female # 1 in the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which measures the transparency of the skin of woman # 2 in the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which measures the transparency of the skin of woman # 3 in the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example which measures the transparency of the skin of male # 1 in the transparency measuring apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows collectively the measurement result of the transparency of the skin of FIGS. It is a figure which shows the transparency confirmation image which combined the skin surface image and the LED irradiation image.

(About the structure of the transparency measuring apparatus 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention)
The structure of the transparency measuring apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the transparency measuring apparatus 1.

  The transparency measurement apparatus 1 mainly includes a light projecting unit 2, an imaging unit 3, a light shielding plate 4, and a display unit 5. The transparency measuring apparatus 1 has a shape that can be easily grasped with one hand, for example, by a customer as a subject or a store clerk as a counselor. For example, when the user holds the transparency measuring device 1 and puts the transparency measuring device 1 on the part of the customer who is the subject who wants to measure the transparency of the face, and performs a predetermined operation, the transparency of the subject's skin is measured. can do.

  The light projecting unit 2 includes an LED 20 (light source in the claims), a battery 21, a light emission intensity adjusting unit 22, and a horizontal polarizing plate 23 (first polarizing plate in the claims). The imaging unit 3 includes an imaging element 30, a lens 31, and a vertical polarizing plate 32 (second polarizing plate in the claims).

  The LED 20 of the light projecting unit 2 is an orange or red (wavelength of about 610 nm to 630 nm) LED. The reason why the LED 20 is orange or red will be described later. Further, the drive current value of the LED 20 is, for example, about 16.0 mA. The reason why the drive current value of the LED 20 is about 16.0 mA will be described later.

  The battery 21 is a power source for the LED 20. Since the drive voltage value of the LED 20 is about 2.2 V, the battery 21 is also of a standard that conforms to this.

  The light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 is a variable resistor for changing the current value flowing through the LED 20 in order to adjust the light emission intensity of the LED 20. If the driving current of the LED 20 is about 16.0 mA and the driving voltage is about 2.2 V, the resistance value of the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 at that time is about 137.5Ω. Moreover, there is a possibility that the drive current value of the LED 20 increases with the aging of the LED 20. Therefore, the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 can change the resistance value to a resistance value of about 137.5Ω or less with a maximum value of about 137.5Ω.

  The horizontal polarizing plate 23 gives polarized light to the light emitted from the LED 20.

  The image sensor 30 is, for example, a C-MOS (Complementary Metal Oxide) image sensor.

  The lens 31 is an optical component for forming an image of a subject on the imaging surface of the imaging element 30. In the example of FIG. 1, a two-lens lens group is illustrated, but the lens 31 may have any configuration such as one lens or two or more lens groups.

  The vertical polarizing plate 32 gives polarization to the imaged image light from the subject. At this time, the phases of the light emitted from the light projecting unit 2 and the light incident on the imaging unit 3 are orthogonal to each other.

  The light shielding plate 4 blocks light from the light projecting unit 2 so as not to enter the imaging unit 3 and its imaging region.

  The display unit 5 is a display device for displaying the imaging result of the imaging element 30. The method of the display unit 5 may be an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an OEL (Organic Electro Luminescence), or any other method.

(About the transparency measurement operation of the transparency measurement device 1)
Next, the measurement operation of the skin surface transparency of the transparency measuring apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Step 1: The user presses the transparency measuring device 1 so that the light shielding plate 4 is in close contact with the skin surface 50. Then, the user operates an operation unit (not shown) of the transparency measuring device 1 to instruct the start of transparency measurement.

  Step 2: When the measurement of transparency is instructed, the LED 20 of the light projecting unit 2 has a predetermined emission intensity (about 16.0 mA) and a wavelength (a predetermined wavelength in the range of about 610 nm (orange) to 630 nm (red)). Light is emitted. Specifically, the irradiation light of the LED 20 is irradiated on the skin surface 50 after being polarized by the horizontal polarizing plate 23. A part of the light transmitted through the horizontal polarizing plate 23 and applied to the skin surface 50 is reflected on the surface of the skin surface 50 and partly transmitted to the skin surface 50. The light transmitted through the skin surface 50 is scattered inside, and propagates in a spread from the position where the light is irradiated as internal scattered light. The skin is divided into keratin, epidermis, and dermis from the surface, and internally scattered light propagates through the epidermis or dermis.

  Step 3: The imaging unit 3 images the skin surface 50 on which the internally scattered light has propagated. Specifically, the vertical polarizing plate 32 imparts polarized light to the light irradiated from the skin surface 50 to the outside through the inside of the skin surface 50. The lens 31 forms an image of light emitted from the skin surface 50 through the inside of the skin surface 50 transmitted through the vertical polarizing plate 32 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 30. Then, an image formed on the imaging surface of the imaging element 30 is displayed on the display unit 5.

  Step 4: The user visually observes the image displayed on the display unit 5, and the area of the skin surface 50 having the same luminance as the luminance of the light emitted from the skin surface 50 through the inside of the skin surface 50 to the outside. Check etc. Thus, the user measures the degree of transparency of the skin surface 50 of the subject.

(Concerning specific configurations of the light projecting unit 2 and the light shielding plate 4)
Next, specific configuration examples of the light projecting unit 2 and the light shielding plate 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the light projecting unit 2 and the light shielding plate 4.

  In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 2, the light projecting unit 2 has a cylindrical housing 60. The horizontal polarizing plate 23 is disposed inside the housing 60, and the LED 20 is disposed at the bottom. An opening (light emitting side opening in the claims) 24 for light emitted from the LED 20 is provided. In this example, the outer wall of the housing 60 is the light shielding plate 4. In this example, it is assumed that the wavelength of the LED 20 is fixed, and the battery 21 and the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 are provided outside the figure. It should be noted that the battery 21 and the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 may be disposed at any positions inside the casings 71, 80, 80A, and 80B described later. Therefore, in the following description, illustration of the battery 21 and the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration example of the imaging unit 3. In the case of this example, the imaging unit 3 includes a housing 61 as shown in FIG. 3, and the imaging device 30, the lens 31, and the vertical polarizing plate 32 are disposed inside the housing 61. In the example of FIG. 3, the housing 61 is a cube. Since the image displayed on the display unit 5 is a quadrilateral, the imaging range of the imaging unit 3 may be a quadrilateral. For this reason, the shape of the housing 61 is also a cube having a quadrilateral opening (imaging side opening in the claims) 33. However, the shape of the housing 61 may be other shapes such as a cylindrical shape.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the transparency measurement module 70 in which the light projecting unit 2 in FIG. 2 and the imaging unit 3 in FIG. 3 are incorporated. In the transparency measurement module 70, the light projecting unit 2 in FIG. 2 and the imaging unit 3 in FIG. 3 are arranged in a casing 71. At this time, the opening 24 and the opening 33 of the housing 60 and the housing 61 are arranged side by side on one surface of a cube constituting the housing 71.

  Here, the arrangement positional relationship between the light projecting unit 2 and the openings 24 and 33 of the imaging unit 3 will be described. Light emitted from the LED 20 of the light projecting unit 2 is emitted from the opening 24 of the light projecting unit 2. When the opening 24 is pressed against the skin surface 60, a part of the light irradiated to the skin surface 50 from the opening of the housing 60 is scattered inside the skin surface 50, and a part of the scattered light. Propagates around the opening 24 of the housing 60. On the other hand, the opening 33 of the imaging unit 3 corresponds to the imaging range of the imaging unit 3. Therefore, the opening 33 of the imaging unit 3 needs to be disposed so that the scattered light that has propagated around the opening 24 of the light projecting unit 2 reaches the opening 33 of the imaging unit 3. That is, the opening 24 of the light projecting unit 2 and the opening 33 of the imaging unit 3 are arranged at a distance closer than a predetermined distance.

(Specific configuration example of the transparency measuring apparatus 1)
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the transparency measurement apparatus 1. The transparency measurement apparatus 1 includes a casing 80, and the casing 71 of the transparency measurement module 70 and the display unit 5 are disposed in the casing 80. Moreover, the housing | casing 80 has the probe part 80-1 by which the transparency measurement module 70 and the display part 5 are arrange | positioned, and the holding part 80-2 for a user to hold the housing | casing 80 with a hand.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the transparency measuring apparatus 1. The transparency measurement apparatus 1A includes a housing 80A, and the transparency measurement module 70 and the display unit 5 (on the back surface of the housing 80A) are disposed in the housing 80A. In addition to the transparency measurement module 70, the probe unit 80A-1 of the housing 80A includes a moisture sensor 90 for the skin surface 50, a sensor 91 for measuring the surface elasticity and internal hardness of the skin surface 50, Various sensors such as a skin temperature sensor 92, a sebum sensor 93, and a sweat sensor 94 are disposed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of the transparency measuring apparatus 1. The transparency measurement apparatus 1B has a housing 80B, and the transparency measurement module 70 is disposed in the housing 80B. In the transparency measuring apparatus 1B, the display unit 5 is a separate type.

(About the selection of the color of the LED 20 of the transparency measuring device 1)
Next, the reason why the applicant changed the color of the LED 20 to orange or red (wavelength of about 610 nm to 630 nm) will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the applicant presses the opening 24 of the light projecting unit 2 shown in FIG. 2 against the skin surface 50 of the subject, green (wavelength of about 560 nm), yellow (wavelength of about 590 nm). , Orange (wavelength of about 610 nm), red (wavelength of about 630 nm) LED 20 is turned on with a light emission intensity (illuminance) of 800 Lx (lux), and the scattered light is positioned as shown in FIGS. It observed using the imaging part 3 of FIG. The imaging area of the imaging unit 3 is rectangular when viewed from the upper surface of the skin surface 50 as shown in FIG. In addition, the center position of the outer wall of the housing 60 included in the imaging region is defined as A point, and the intersection point between the perpendicular line and the opposite side that extends downward from the opposite side of the rectangular shape in the imaging region is defined as B point.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of scattered light inside the skin on the skin surface 50 when the green LED 20 is used as a trial. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of scattered light inside the skin on the skin surface 50 when the yellow LED 20 is used as a trial. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the state of scattered light inside the skin on the skin surface 50 when the orange LED 20 is used as a trial. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state of scattered light inside the skin on the skin surface 50 when the red LED 20 is used as a trial.

  In the case of the green LED 20 in FIG. 10, the scattered light inside the skin is observed up to a region slightly separated from the outer edge of the opening 24 of the light projecting unit 2 acting as the light shielding plate 4 (that is, the outer wall of the housing 60). it can. In the case of the yellow LED 20 in FIG. 11, scattered light inside the skin can be observed in a wider area than the green in FIG. 10 from the outer edge of the opening 24. In the case of the orange LED 20 in FIG. 12, scattered light can be observed inside the skin in a wider area than the yellow in FIG. 11 from the outer edge of the opening 24. In the case of the red LED 20 in FIG. 13, scattered light inside the skin can be observed in a wider area than the orange in FIG. 12 from the outer edge of the opening 24.

  FIG. 14 shows the relationship between the luminance and the relative luminance level at the distance (between A and B) from the outer edge of the opening 24 for the results observed in FIGS. In FIG. 14, the horizontal axis indicates the luminance between A and B, and the vertical axis indicates the relative luminance level (%). According to FIG. 14, it can be seen that there is a large difference in relative luminance level between the case of the green LED 20 and the case of the LED 20 of other colors (red, orange, yellow). That is, in the case of the green LED 20, the change in the relative luminance level between A and B is smaller than the others. This is due to absorption by hemoglobin in blood in the vicinity of the green wavelength region (near 560 nm). Therefore, it turns out that green LED20 is not suitable as the light source of the light projection part 2 among LED20 tested this time. Further, according to FIG. 14, it is understood that the red LED 20 has the highest relative luminance level among the red, orange, and yellow LEDs 20 and is most suitable as the light source of the light projecting unit 2. Moreover, according to FIG. 14, it turns out that orange LED20 is suitable as a light source of the light projection part 2 next to red LED20.

(About the emission intensity of the LED 20 of the transparency measuring device 1)
Next, the reason why the applicant determined the light emission intensity of the LED 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the transparency measurement module 70 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed against the skin surface 50 of the subject, and the red LED 20 (wavelength of about 630 nm) of the light projecting unit 2 is turned on with three levels of emission intensity. I tried it. At this time, the drive current value of the LED 20 was 18.0 mA for “strong”, 16.6 mA for “medium”, and 15.1 mA for “weak”. Then, scattered light was observed outside the outer edge of the opening 24 that acts as the light shielding plate 4 (that is, the outer wall of the housing 60) by the imaging unit 3. The center position of the imaging region on the opening 33 side (that is, the outer wall of the housing 61) side is defined as C point, and the intersection point between the perpendicular line and the opposite side that extends downward from the opposite side of the imaging region is defined as D point.

  17 to 19 show observation results of scattered light inside the skin when the transparency of the subject's skin is actually measured using the transparency measurement module 70 shown in FIG. 4 using the red LEDs 20 having different emission intensities. FIG.

  In FIG. 17, a drive current of 18.0 mA is applied to the LED 20. In FIG. 18, a driving current of 16.6 mA is applied to the LED 20. In FIG. 19, a driving current of 15.1 mA is applied to the LED 20. In addition, the semicircle broken line in FIGS. 17-19 has shown the area | region which can scatter light inside the skin.

  A summary of the observation results of FIGS. 17 to 19 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 20, the horizontal axis represents the luminance between C and D in FIGS. 17 to 19, and the vertical axis represents the relative luminance level (%). From the results of verification tests conducted in the past, the applicant, if male skin is imaged using a current value of LED 20 such that the relative luminance level is about 50% at C point, relative to C point. It has been found that the luminance level is between 50% and 80%.

  On the other hand, if the light emission intensity of the LED 20 is strong, the color skip state (saturated state) occurs, and it is difficult for the user to explain the sense of transparency based on the image displayed on the display unit 5. On the other hand, if the emission intensity is weak, the image becomes dark, and it is difficult for the user to explain the sense of transparency based on the image displayed on the display unit 5. Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate image, the resistance value of the variable resistor of the light emission intensity adjusting unit 22 was changed to capture a male skin image.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, it was found that the relative luminance level becomes about 50% at the point C by applying a driving current of 16.6 mA to the LED 20. As a result, the drive current value that flows through the LED 20 is set to 16.0 mA when the LED 20 is new, and can be adjusted (leveled up) when the emission intensity decreases due to deterioration over time.

(Verification of transparency measurement)
Next, the applicant verified the transparency measurement using the transparency measurement module 70 shown in FIG. The positional relationship with respect to the skin surface 50 of the transparency measurement module 70 at this time is the same as that shown in FIGS. The verification result will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a verification result of the female # 1. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a verification result of the female # 2. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a verification result of the female # 3. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the verification result of male # 1. 21 to 24, a semicircular broken line indicates a region where scattered light is imaged inside the skin.

  FIG. 25 shows the relationship between the C-D luminance and the relative luminance level of the observation results of FIGS. In FIG. 25, the horizontal axis represents the luminance between CD and the vertical axis represents the relative luminance level (%). As can be seen from FIG. 25, it can be seen that the difference in the transparency of the skin can be observed depending on the relative luminance level and the extent (attenuation / tilt). As described above, when the relative luminance level is about 45% at point C in male skin, the relative luminance level is 50% to 60% at point C in female skin. Thus, it can be seen that the correct transparency is measured in the light of past verification data.

(Effects according to embodiments of the present invention)
As described above, the translucency measuring device 1 irradiates a human skin with light of a predetermined wavelength, images the light irradiated inside the skin and scattered inside the skin, and scatters inside the captured skin. By displaying the obtained light, it is possible to measure the transparency of the subject's skin in a form that the subject can visually confirm.

  According to this, when the transparency measuring apparatus 1 is used for demonstration at a cosmetics department, for example, it measures the transparency of the customer's skin while viewing the imaging result with the customer's own eyes for the customer as the subject. And very useful.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, by configuring the transparency measurement module 70 in which the light projecting unit 2 and the imaging unit 3 are integrated, the transparency measurement device 1 can be made extremely small and light. This also makes the transparency measuring device 1 suitable for use in demonstrations, for example, at cosmetics departments.

  Further, by setting the LED 20 to orange or red, the light source can be made inexpensive and have low power consumption as compared with the case where a white LED is used.

  Moreover, according to the transparency measuring apparatus 1, the degree of transparency of the subject's skin surface 50 can be measured by the user visually confirming the image displayed on the display unit 5 directly. This is extremely useful because, for example, when the transparency measuring apparatus 1 is used in a demonstration at a cosmetics department or the like, a customer as a subject can directly visually check the degree of transparency of his / her skin surface 50. .

  Further, as shown by a broken line arrow in FIG. 1, a case is assumed in which “surface leakage light leaked” from the light shielding plate 4 to the imaging unit 3 from the light projecting unit 2 exists. Even in such a case, the “leaked surface reflected light” is polarized by the horizontal polarizing plate 23 having a polarization that is 90 degrees out of phase with the polarization direction of the vertical polarizing plate 32. For this reason, “the leaked surface reflected light” cannot pass through the vertical polarizing plate 32. Therefore, “leaked surface reflected light” is not imaged on the imaging surface of the imaging element 30. Thereby, the imaging part 3 can image only the light irradiated through the inside of the skin surface 50 from the skin surface 50 to the outside. Therefore, on the screen of the display unit 5, only an image of the light irradiated from the skin surface 50 to the outside through the inside of the skin surface 50 used for measuring the transparency of the skin surface 50 is displayed. Thus, the user can accurately measure the transparency without being affected by the surface reflected light unnecessary for measuring the transparency of the skin surface 50 of the subject.

(Other embodiments)
The embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, as shown in FIG. 26, a skin image of a subject (here, female # 1) is captured in advance, and then an image obtained by irradiating the skin surface 50 of the subject with light from the LED 20 of the light projecting unit 2 is obtained. By capturing and combining the two images, the subject's transparency may be confirmed by an image in which the LED irradiation image is combined with the skin image of the subject. According to this, the subject can confirm the transparency in a form close to that seen with the naked eye by looking at the skin image in addition to confirming the transparency while simply looking at the LED irradiation image. Can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the imaging unit 3 is disposed close to the light projecting unit 2. However, the configuration is such that the periphery of the outer wall of the housing 60 acting as the light shielding plate 4 is imaged from the rear of the light projecting unit 2. It is good. Alternatively, the imaging unit 3 may be disposed so as to cover the light projecting unit 2 and the periphery of the outer wall of the housing 60 acting as the light shielding plate 4 may be imaged.

  The wavelength of the LED 20 is orange or red (wavelength of about 610 nm to 630 nm), but it may be longer. Even if the wavelength region exceeds the visible light range and becomes an infrared region, it is only necessary that the imaging result can be visualized by the display unit 5.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the skin of the subject is measured while the counselor who is the user is counseling the customer who is the subject while viewing the image displayed on the display unit 5. On the other hand, the image picked up by the image sensor 30 is automatically analyzed by the image analysis device, and the transparency of the subject's skin is numerically displayed, or “transparent feeling” or “transparent feeling” is indicated by text information or voice information. "," Low transparency ", etc. may be displayed.

  Further, although the image pickup device 30 has been described as a C-MOS image sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or other image sensor may be used instead.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the horizontal polarizing plate 23 is provided in the light projecting unit 2 and the vertical polarizing plate 32 is provided in the imaging unit 3 has been described. The plate 32 may be provided in the light projecting unit 2. In any case, the polarization direction of the polarizing plate provided in the light projecting unit 2 and the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate provided in the imaging unit 3 may be shifted by 90 degrees. Furthermore, the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate provided in the light projecting unit 2 and the polarizing direction of the polarizing plate provided in the imaging unit 3 may not be strictly shifted by 90 degrees. That is, the polarization direction of the polarizing plate included in the light projecting unit 2 can be prevented if the light reflected from the light projecting unit 2 on the skin surface 50 can be prevented from being incident on the imaging unit 3. The difference in the polarization direction of the polarizing plate included in the imaging unit 3 may be any angle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transparency measuring apparatus, 2 ... Projection part, 3 ... Imaging part, 4 ... Light-shielding plate, 20 ... LED (light source), 23 ... Horizontal polarizing plate (1st polarizing plate), 24 ... Opening part (light projection) Side opening), 32... Vertical polarizing plate (second polarizing plate), 33... Opening (imaging side opening)

Claims (3)

A transparency measuring device used in contact with the skin surface,
A light projecting means for projecting light from the light source onto the skin surface;
Imaging means for imaging the skin surface in a place different from the skin surface where the light is projected and where the projected light is diffused internally;
Have
The light projecting means has a light projecting side opening that contacts the skin surface, the direct light from the light source is blocked by the light projecting side opening contacting the skin surface,
The light source has an emission wavelength of 610 nm to 630 nm,
The light projecting means is provided with a first polarizing plate that transmits light from the light source,
The aforementioned imaging means, the second polarizing plate different polarization directions is provided between the first polarizing plate light incident is transmitted,
A transparency measurement apparatus, comprising: a display unit that displays an image obtained by synthesizing a skin image of a subject imaged in advance and an image captured in a state where the direct light is blocked . The transparency measuring device according to claim 1,
The imaging means has an imaging side opening different from the light projection side opening on which light from the skin surface is incident,
The light-projecting side opening and the imaging-side opening are provided side by side on a flat surface that constitutes the casing of the transparency measurement device.
A translucency measuring device characterized by that. A transparency measurement method performed by a transparency measurement device used in contact with the skin surface,
Take a skin image of the subject beforehand,
The light projecting means of the transparency measuring device irradiates light having a wavelength of 610 nm to 630 nm from the light source, and executes a light projecting step of projecting light from the light source onto the skin surface,
The imaging means of the transparency measuring device images the skin surface where the light from the light projecting means is different from the surface where the light is projected and where the light is diffused inside. Execute the imaging step,
In performing the light projecting step, the light projecting side opening that contacts the skin surface of the light projecting means is in contact with the skin surface, thereby blocking the direct light from the light source,
The light projecting step includes a step of transmitting light from the light source through the first polarizing plate,
The processing of the imaging step includes a step of transmitting light incident on the imaging means when imaging the skin surface to a second polarizing plate having a polarization direction different from that of the first polarizing plate,
A transparency measurement method comprising: a display step of combining and displaying the skin image of the subject imaged in advance and an image captured in a light-shielded state.

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