KR102115437B1 - Optical measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical measuring device.
The optical measuring device according to the present invention is made of a translucent and elastic material, and a translucent layer whose transparency changes by pressing; A light emitting unit formed on one surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer and emitting light toward the translucent layer; And it is formed on one side of both sides of the translucent layer, the light receiving unit for sensing the light transmitted through the translucent layer; characterized in that comprises a.
Accordingly, the pressure can be measured with a simple configuration, and it can also be used as a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

Description

Optical measuring apparatus

The present invention relates to an optical measuring device, and more particularly, to a pressure measuring device with a simple configuration, and in some cases, to an optical measuring device that can also be used as a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

Light is generally used as a lighting or heat source, but it can also be used for various sensors by using features such as Hall effect, speed, and reflection of light.

Light can also be used to measure pressure, and as one of the prior arts for measuring pressure using light, the optical waveguide-based flexible pressure sensor of Publication No. 10-2016-0071568 as shown in FIG. There is.

The flexible pressure sensor according to the prior art includes an optical waveguide having an optical inlet on one side and an optical outlet on the other side, and a reflective layer and a reflective material of a flexible material surrounding the optical waveguide except for the optical inlet and the optical outlet. Including a grating layer of a flexible material formed on one surface, pressure is measured by detecting a change in light incident from the light inlet and exiting the light outlet according to the changed pressure on the grating layer.

One of the other prior arts for measuring pressure by utilizing light is the 'optical pressure sensor using directional light coupling and its manufacturing method' of Patent No. 10-1018198 as shown in FIG.

The optical pressure sensor according to the prior art includes a lower substrate, a channel optical waveguide having a core formed on one surface of the cladding material on the lower substrate, a spacer spaced apart from the core and formed higher than the height of the core on the cladding material. And a planar optical waveguide attached to a plane attached to a lower surface of the upper substrate formed on the upper side and spaced apart from the channel optical waveguide, and when a predetermined pressure is applied from the outside on the upper substrate, the channel optical waveguide is the plane The pressure is measured by sensing the change in the intensity of optical input / output of the optical waveguide generated by optical coupling with the optical waveguide.

However, in the above-described prior arts, it is not easy to manufacture because an optical waveguide having a specific shape is required and components other than the optical waveguide are required to have a specific shape.

On the other hand, a general sensor can measure one type of physical quantity, and separate sensors are required to measure several types of physical quantity. However, it is necessary to develop a sensor capable of measuring multiple physical quantities through a single sensor, since having a separate sensor is not advantageous in terms of economical efficiency or ease of storage.

KR 10-2016-0071567 A KR 10-0846305 B1 KR 10-1018198 B1

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, it is made of a simple configuration to provide an optical measuring device that is advantageous in terms of economical efficiency or manufacturing.

In addition, another object is to provide an optical measuring device capable of measuring a physical quantity other than pressure.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

The object, according to the present invention, is made of a translucent and elastic material, the translucent layer whose transparency changes by pressing; A light emitting unit formed on one of both surfaces of the translucent layer and emitting light toward the translucent layer; And it is formed on one side of both sides of the translucent layer, the light receiving unit for sensing the light transmitted through the translucent layer; is achieved by an optical measuring device comprising a.

The optical measuring device according to the present invention may further include a reflective layer formed on the other surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer.

The reflective layer may be formed detachably with respect to the translucent layer.

The reflective layer may be formed to partially reflect light and transmit the rest.

Each of the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion may be provided, and the reflective layer may be formed only on a portion of the other surface of the translucent layer.

The optical measuring apparatus according to the present invention includes a reflective layer formed on the other surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer; A second translucent layer formed on opposite sides of the translucent layer based on the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion, made of a translucent and elastic material, and having transparency changed by pressing; A second light emitting unit formed between the translucent layer and the second translucent layer and emitting light toward the second translucent layer; And a second light-receiving unit that is formed to be spaced apart from the second light-emitting unit between the semi-transparent layer and the second semi-transparent layer, and detects light transmitted through the second semi-transparent layer.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the translucent layer is made of a translucent and elastic material, and the transparency is changed by pressing; A light emitting unit formed on one of both surfaces of the translucent layer and emitting light toward the translucent layer; And it is formed on the other surface of the both sides of the translucent layer, the light receiving unit for sensing the light transmitted through the translucent layer; is provided with an optical measuring device comprising a.

The translucent layer may be formed to be translucent with a plurality of pores therein.

The translucent layer may be formed to be translucent by having a plurality of fine particles therein.

The optical measuring device according to the present invention may include a plurality of light emitting units and the light receiving units, respectively.

It is preferable that a support layer is formed on at least one side of the translucent layer.

The optical measuring device according to the present invention can measure pressure despite having a very simple configuration.

When the optical measuring device according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of light-emitting and light-receiving units, respectively, the distribution of pressure can also be measured.

And when the reflective layer of the optical measuring device according to the present invention is formed detachably or has a characteristic of reflecting light, or when the reflective layer is formed only on a part of the translucent layer, the optical measuring device according to the present invention is a biological pulse, etc. It is also possible to perform a role as a sebum to measure.

In addition, when the optical measuring device according to the present invention further includes a second translucent layer, a second light emitting portion, and a second light receiving portion, it is possible to simultaneously measure pressure, pulse, and the like.

1 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional optical waveguide-based flexible pressure sensor,
2 is another explanatory diagram of a prior art optical pressure sensor using directional light coupling and a manufacturing method therefor,
3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical pressure sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
4 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention,
5 is an explanatory diagram of an optical pressure sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention,
6 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,
7 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention,
8 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention,
9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention,
10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical pressure sensor according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Specific details of the embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified by referring to embodiments described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

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

3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The optical measuring device 1 according to the present invention comprises a semi-transparent layer 10, a light emitting portion 30 and a light receiving portion 40.

The translucent layer 10 is made of an elastomer material and has elastic properties, and is formed to be translucent. When pressure is applied to the semi-transparent layer 10, the thickness of the semi-transparent layer 10 becomes thin, and accordingly, transparency increases in a portion where the thickness becomes thin.

The light emitting unit 30 is formed on one surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer 10 and emits light toward the translucent layer 10. The light emitting unit 30 may be formed of, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD).

The light receiving unit 40 is formed on one surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer 10, but is disposed at a position spaced apart from the light emitting unit 30. The light receiving unit 40 detects light transmitted through the translucent layer 10, that is, light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 and reflected and returned. The light receiving unit 40 may be formed of, for example, a PD (Photo Diode).

The optical measuring device 1 of the present invention can function as a pressure sensor and a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

As described above, when pressure is applied to the semi-transparent layer 10, the transparency of the semi-transparent layer 10 increases, and the transmittance of light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 varies according to the transparency of the semi-transparent layer 10. do. In addition, as long as the object pressing the translucent layer 10 is not a black body, part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 and passing through the translucent layer 10 is reflected from the object pressing the translucent layer 10, and the translucent layer 10 ), And can be detected by the light receiving unit 40. That is, since the amount of light reflected from the object that presses the translucent layer 10 varies depending on the amount of pressure applied to the translucent layer 10 and is incident on the light receiving unit 40, the amount of light sensed by the light receiving unit 40 Through it, it is possible to calculate the magnitude of the pressure applied to the translucent layer 10.

In addition, when the translucent layer 10 is pressed to a part of the body such as a finger, the amount of light reflected from the blood vessels varies according to changes in blood flow, and pulses or the like can be measured by measuring the change in amount of light over time.

Thus, although the optical measuring device 1 according to the present invention is formed with a very simple configuration, it is possible to function as a pressure sensor and a light volume pulse wave measuring sensor.

The translucent layer 10 may be formed to be translucent by forming a plurality of pores 11 inside a member made of a transparent elastomer material. The pores 11 are flattened when pressure is applied to the translucent layer 10, thereby increasing the transparency of the translucent layer 10.

The pores 11 may be formed by foaming and curing a transparent elastomer during the production of the translucent layer 10, and mixing fine crystals such as sugar and salt into the elastomer and dispersing them evenly to harden the elastomer and then fine crystals to the solvent. It may be formed by a method of melting and removing. Alternatively, a foreign material such as a solvent that does not mix with the elastomer may be uniformly mixed with the elastomer and hardened to the elastomer, followed by evaporation of the foreign material.

The translucent layer 10 may be formed to be translucent by providing a plurality of fine particles 12 inside a member made of a transparent elastomer material. When the pressure of the plurality of fine particles 12 is applied to the semi-transparent layer 10, the distance between each other increases in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal direction of the semi-transparent layer 10, so that the probability of collision between the fine particles 12 and light decreases, thereby making the semi-transparent layer The transparency of (10) is increased or decreased.

The fine particles 12 may be introduced and distributed evenly in the semi-transparent layer 10 when the transparent elastomer is fluidized when the semi-transparent layer 10 is manufactured.

4, the optical measuring device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may further include a reflective layer 20 in addition to the translucent layer 10, the light emitting unit 30, and the light receiving unit 40, as shown in FIG. Can be.

The reflective layer 20 is formed on the other surface of both surfaces of the translucent layer 10, and is made of a metal thin film or the like and has a property of reflecting light.

When the reflective layer 20 is formed as described above, since light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 and passed through the translucent layer 10 is reflected by the reflective layer 20 and detected by the light receiving unit 40, the light receiving unit 40 detects The amount of light is not affected by the material such as an object that presses the translucent layer 10, and only the transparency of the translucent layer 10, that is, the pressure applied to the translucent layer 10 is affected. Therefore, it is possible to more accurately measure the pressure applied to the translucent layer 10.

In the optical measuring device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the reflective layer 20 is formed detachably with respect to the translucent layer 10.

When the reflective layer 20 is attached to the semi-transparent layer 10 as shown in (a) of Figure 5, it is possible to accurately measure the pressure applied to the semi-transparent layer 10, Figure 5 (b) As shown in the figure, when the reflective layer 20 is not attached to the translucent layer 10, it is possible to measure pulses and the like. In other words, when the reflective layer 20 is formed detachably with respect to the semi-transparent layer 10, it is possible to accurately measure both pressure and pulse.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the reflective layer 20 is formed to partially reflect light. 6 is a sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

When the reflective layer 20 partially reflects light, a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 passes through the reflective layer 20 and goes out of the semi-transparent layer 10, and part of it is reflected by the reflective layer 20 to make the semi-transparent layer 10 Comes back.

Accordingly, even if the reflective layer 20 is not attached or detached to the translucent layer 10, both changes in blood flow and pressure can be accurately measured. That is, a pulse or the like can be measured through light transmitted through the reflective layer 20, and pressure can be measured through light reflected from the reflective layer 20.

According to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting units 30 and a light receiving unit 40 are respectively provided, and the reflective layer 20 is formed only on a portion of one surface of the translucent layer 10. 7 is a sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

When the reflective layer 20 is formed only on a portion of the other surface of the semi-transparent layer 10, when the pressure is applied to the semi-transparent layer 10 in the portion where the reflective layer 20 is located, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 is reflected, so the pressure is applied. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 30 when the finger or the like is placed on the translucent layer 10 in a portion where the reflective layer 20 is not positioned can be accurately measured, and the translucent layer ( 10) Since it is reflected and returned from a finger or the like that presses it, a pulse or the like can be measured.

In the optical measuring device 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting units 30 and light receiving units 40 are provided, respectively. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Since the plurality of light emitting units 30 and the light receiving units 40 each emit or sense light, pressure can be measured at various locations of the translucent layer 10. Accordingly, it is possible to measure the distribution of pressure applied to the translucent layer 10.

The optical measuring device according to the present invention may further include a reflective layer 20, a second translucent layer 50, a second light emitting unit 60 and a second light receiving unit 70. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The reflective layer 20 is formed on the other surface, which is the opposite side of the surface on which the light-emitting unit 30 and the light-receiving unit 40 are located, on both sides of the semi-transparent layer 10 to re-transmit the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 30 to the semi-transparent layer 10 With reflection.

The second translucent layer 50 is formed on the opposite side of the translucent layer 10 based on the light emitting portion 30 and the light receiving portion 40, and is made of a translucent and elastic material like the translucent layer 10.

The second light emitting unit 60 is formed between the semi-transparent layer 10 and the second semi-transparent layer 50, and emits light toward the second semi-transparent layer 50. And the second light receiving unit 70 is formed spaced apart from the second light emitting unit 60 between the semi-transparent layer 10 and the second semi-transparent layer 50, the light transmitted through the second semi-transparent layer 50 Detect.

In addition, the second light emitting portion 60 in the second translucent layer 50 is compared to the reflective layer 20 positioned in the opposite direction to the place where the light emitting portion 30 and the light receiving portion 40 are disposed in the translucent layer 10. And the second light-receiving part 70 is not disposed in a direction opposite to where the second light-emitting part 60 reflects the light emitted from the second translucent layer 50.

Accordingly, when pressure is applied to the second semi-transparent layer 50 as a part of the body, pulses, etc. may be measured through the second semi-transparent layer 50, the second light emitting unit 60, and the second light receiving unit 70. At the same time, the transparency of the translucent layer 10 is changed by the pressure transmitted to the translucent layer 10 through the second translucent layer 50, so that the translucent layer 10, the reflective layer 20, and the light emitting unit 30 And it is possible to accurately measure the pressure through the light receiving unit 40.

10 is a cross-sectional view of an optical measuring device 1 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Like the optical measuring device 1 according to the first embodiment, the optical measuring device 1 according to the eighth embodiment includes a translucent layer 10, a light emitting unit 30, and a light receiving unit 40, but the light emitting unit ( 30) is formed on one side of both sides of the translucent layer 10, and the light receiving portion 40 is formed on the other side of both sides of the semi-transparent layer 10.

In this case, the number of factors affecting the amount of light incident on the light-receiving unit 40 is reduced to the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 30 and is incident on the light-receiving unit 40 directly through the translucent layer 10 without being reflected or not. It is possible to measure the magnitude of the pressure more accurately.

The optical measuring device 1 according to the present invention may further include a support layer 80 on at least one of both surfaces of the translucent layer 10.

The support layer 80 is formed in a flat plate shape as in FIG. 3 and the like to support the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 40, so that when pressure is applied to the translucent layer 10, the light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 40 The position of the is prevented from being changed, and the translucent layer 10 made of an elastic material can be prevented from being damaged by external force.

The light emitting unit 30 and the light receiving unit 40 may be formed to be recessed on the upper surface of the support layer 80 as shown in FIG. 3, or may be formed to protrude from the upper surface of the support layer 80 as shown in FIG. 4.

The support layer 80 may be, for example, a substrate on which a circuit for operation of the optical measuring device according to the present invention is formed.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be implemented in various forms of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. Any person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims is deemed to be within the scope of the claims of the present invention to a wide range that can be modified.

1: Optical measuring device
10: translucent layer 11: pore
12: fine particles 20: reflective layer
30: light emitting portion 40: light receiving portion
50: second translucent layer 60: second light emitting portion
70: second light receiving unit 80: support layer

Claims (11)

A translucent layer made of a translucent and elastic material and having a transparency change by pressing;
A support layer formed on one surface of the translucent layer;
A light emitting unit formed on the support layer and emitting light toward the translucent layer;
A light receiving unit formed on the support layer and sensing light emitted from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the translucent layer;
A second light emitting part formed on the support layer and emitting light in a direction opposite to the light emitting part; And
It is formed on the support layer, and includes a second light receiving unit for sensing the light emitted from the second light emitting unit,
The magnitude of the pressure applied to the translucent layer is measured through the amount of light sensed by the light-receiving unit, and the second light-receiving unit senses the light emitted from the second light-emitting unit and reflected by the body to detect a biosignal according to a change in blood flow. Optical measuring device characterized in that for measuring.
delete According to claim 1,
An optical measuring device further comprising a reflective layer formed on the other surface of the translucent layer.
According to claim 3,
The reflective layer is an optical measuring device characterized in that it is formed detachably with respect to the translucent layer.
According to claim 3,
The reflective layer is an optical measuring device characterized in that partially reflects the light and transmits the rest.
According to claim 3,
Each of the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion is provided,
The reflective layer is an optical measuring device characterized in that it is formed only on a portion of the other surface of the translucent layer.
According to claim 1,
The translucent layer has a plurality of pores therein to form an optical measuring device, characterized in that it is formed semi-transparent.
According to claim 1,
The semi-transparent layer is an optical measuring device characterized in that it is formed to be semi-transparent with a plurality of fine particles therein.
According to claim 1,
Optical measuring apparatus characterized in that it comprises a plurality of each of the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion.
delete According to claim 1,
It is formed on the opposite side of the surface on which the semi-transparent layer is formed on the support layer, it is made of a semi-transparent and elastic material, the optical measuring device further comprises a second translucent layer that changes the transparency by pressing.

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