WO2016067942A1

WO2016067942A1 - Subject information processing device, information processing method, information processing program, and computer readable recording medium with same program recorded thereon

Info

Publication number: WO2016067942A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/079404
Authority: WO
Inventors: 博司小川; 淳納本
Original assignee: 株式会社三菱ケミカルホールディングス; サルーステック株式会社
Priority date: 2014-10-28
Filing date: 2015-10-19
Publication date: 2016-05-06

Abstract

The invention is provided with: a subject information detection unit A101 that detects a pulsation signal based on vascular pulse wave information from a subject; and a signal processing section A16 that normalizes the pulsation signal.

Description

SAMPLE INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM CONTAINING THE PROGRAM

The present invention relates to a specimen information processing apparatus for normalizing a pulsating signal, an information processing method for normalizing a pulsating signal, an information processing program for normalizing a pulsating signal, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program About.

Detecting pulse wave from specimen using photoelectric or piezoelectric pulse wave meter. In particular, an attempt has been made to detect a pulse wave with a microphone on an arm through which a relatively thick blood vessel passes, or a fingertip with a capillary vessel stretched like a net. In addition, an attempt has been made to detect a pulse wave from a blood vessel existing in the ear canal by arranging a sensor in the ear of the specimen.

In Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-115431), a casing having a cavity is attached to the skin surface by an attachment member, an opening in a part of the attachment surface is sealed by the skin, and vibration of the skin surface due to body sounds A body sound acquisition device is disclosed that is directly transmitted to air in a cavity and can be acquired by a microphone.

In Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-22572), when the ear canal insertion part is inserted into the ear canal, the ear canal is closed to form a closed space between the eardrum and sound that is biological vibration is transmitted through the closed space. A biological information detection device for detection is disclosed. Further, it is disclosed that only a low-frequency band signal component containing a large amount of biological information is extracted by a low-pass filter.

JP 2010-115431 A JP 2010-22572

As described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2, an attempt is made to detect pressure signals in a sample by receiving pressure information resulting from a pulsation signal of a blood vessel of the sample, and to perform signal processing of the detected sample information. Yes. In the case of such a detection method, since the intensity of the detected signal is low, there is a problem that it is easily affected by external sound.

Furthermore, even if a pulsating signal is detected, it is difficult to observe the pulse wave when the specimen is speaking. FIG. 16 shows the waveform of the pulsating signal detected from the external auditory canal of the specimen. From 3 seconds to around 12 seconds, the waveform of the pulse wave is obtained when the specimen is in a normal state. On the other hand, from around 13 seconds to around 43 seconds, the waveform of the pulse wave fluctuates due to the addition of a disturbance to the waveform of the pulse wave detected from the ear canal due to the utterance of Aiweo. FIG. 17 also shows the waveform of the pulsating signal detected from the external auditory canal of the specimen. By the occurrence of an outau from the second to the vicinity of 17 seconds, a disturbance appears in the waveform of the pulse wave. The pulse wave waveform is hidden. These changes in the waveform are considered to be due to the fact that the muscles of the ear canal move when the specimen utters, resulting in a pressure fluctuation that is greater than the vibration of the skin due to the pulsation of the blood vessels caused by the heartbeat. Moreover, sudden and bursty disturbance is added to the pulsating signal due to the movement of the specimen or noise from the signal line of the detector. When the pulsation signal fluctuates due to such a disturbance, it is difficult to observe the pulse wave.

In addition to this, as the fluctuation of the pulsating signal, the periodic pulse wave pattern is disturbed due to irregularity of the living body itself including so-called arrhythmia. A change in the pulse rate itself can also be cited as a fluctuation of the pulsation signal.
When the pulsation signal fluctuates due to the above-mentioned factors, since the respective time axes change between waveforms in different pulse rates, it is not possible to handle them equally and perform signal processing.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that improves signal handling when a fluctuation occurs in a pulsation signal.

(1) A sample information processing apparatus disclosed herein includes a sample information detection unit that detects a pulsation signal based on blood vessel pulse wave information in a sample, and a signal processing unit that normalizes the pulsation signal.
(2) The signal processing unit includes a PLL circuit to which the pulsation signal is input. The PLL circuit compares the phases of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal, and a phase difference signal corresponding to the phase difference. A phase comparator that outputs a voltage control signal from which the phase difference signal is input and a frequency component higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency is removed, and an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the voltage control signal A voltage-controlled oscillator that outputs a clock signal having a frequency divider, and a frequency divider that receives the clock signal and outputs a divided signal obtained by dividing the clock signal by a predetermined frequency division ratio. A frequency signal is input to the phase comparator as the feedback signal, and the oscillation frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is controlled so that the phases of the pulsating signal and the feedback signal are synchronized, and the pulsating signal is controlled by the clock signal. Normalize It is preferable.

(3) The signal processing unit includes a signal recording unit including an AD converter that acquires the signal strength of the pulsating signal as digital data, and a memory that stores the data obtained by the AD converter, A counter that receives the frequency-divided signal from the frequency divider, counts the frequency-divided signal, and outputs a waveform number indicating the order of pulse waves; and feedback that reads and filters the signal intensity recorded in the memory And a comb filter, wherein the AD converter acquires the signal strength at a timing when the clock signal is input from the voltage controlled oscillator and outputs the signal strength to the memory, and the memory is input from the counter. Upon receipt of the waveform number, the pulsation signal is recorded as a signal strength associated with the waveform number and a clock number corresponding to the input timing of the clock signal, and the feedback code is recorded. Filter, from the voltage controlled oscillator is the clock signal is input, it is preferable to pass the total number of clocks integral multiple frequency components per cycle of the pulsation of the signal.

(4) The signal processing unit reads out the signal intensities of a plurality of waveform numbers recorded in the memory, adds the signal intensities of the same clock numbers, and outputs an average value for each waveform number. It is preferable to provide.
(5) The signal processing unit determines whether or not the phase of the pulsation signal input to the PLL circuit and the feedback signal are synchronized, and detects whether or not the PLL circuit is locked. It is preferable to provide a lock detection unit.
(6) It is preferable that the signal processing unit includes a signal counting unit that receives the divided signal and counts pulses per unit time of the divided signal.

(7) It further includes a display for presenting information related to the pulsation signal, the lock detection unit displays on the display whether or not it is locked, and the signal counting unit It is preferable to display the count value of the divided signal on the display.
(8) The signal processing unit receives the signal processed by the averaging processing unit, generates a waveform representing the relationship between the clock number and the average value of the signal intensity, and generates a waveform for each waveform number. It is preferable to provide a waveform display unit that displays a waveform of one cycle obtained by averaging a plurality of pulse waves on the display.
(9) It is preferable that the signal processing unit includes a differentiation processing unit that reads the signal strength recorded in the memory and numerically differentiates it.
(10) The signal processing unit preferably includes an integration processing unit that reads the signal intensity recorded in the memory and numerically integrates it.

(11) The information processing method disclosed here acquires a pulsation signal detected based on blood vessel pulse wave information in a specimen, and normalizes the pulsation signal.
(12) The information processing program disclosed herein causes a computer to execute processing for acquiring a pulsation signal detected based on blood vessel pulse wave information in a specimen and normalizing the pulsation signal.
(13) The computer-readable recording medium disclosed herein records the information processing program described above.

According to the present invention, by normalizing the pulsating signal, it is possible to handle the signal regardless of the time axis even between waveforms having different pulse rates.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a PLL circuit and an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a waveform in a normal state, FIG. 2A illustrates a waveform of a pulsation signal input to the binarization processing unit, and FIG. 2B illustrates a binarization processing unit. FIG. 2C shows the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCO. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a waveform in a normal state or during walking. FIG. 3A illustrates a waveform of a pulsation signal input to the binarization processing unit, and FIG. The waveform of the pulsating signal binarized by the binarization processing unit is shown, and FIG. 3C shows the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCO. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the waveform of a long-term pulsation signal in normal or walking, and the upper part of FIG. 4A shows the waveform of the pulsation signal input to the binarization processing unit. 4 (b) shows the waveform of the voltage control signal output from the LPF, and the upper part of FIG. 4 (c) shows the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCO. The lower part of FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C shows the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCO. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the classification of pulse wave waveform patterns as pulses. FIG. 5A shows a pattern when there is no temporal variation, and FIG. (C) shows a pattern with a group unit period, (d) shows a pattern when it is almost completely random, and (e) shows an example with arrhythmia (F) shows the pattern of another example in the case where there is an arrhythmia. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the PLL circuit and the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the memory and the memory bank. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the waveform of the pulse wave, the clock number, and the waveform number. FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the frequency characteristics of the feedback comb filter. FIG. 10 is a graph for explaining the frequency characteristics of the feedback comb filter. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frequency spectrum of a volume pulse wave in a normal state. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of display on the display device according to the second embodiment when there is a variation in the pulse wave. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example of display on the display according to the second embodiment when the pulse rate has increased. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of display of the pulse wave and the pulse rate when the pulse wave varies. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of display of a pulse wave and a pulse rate when the pulse rate increases. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a waveform of a pulsating signal detected from the external auditory canal when a normal state and eyeway are uttered. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a waveform of a pulsating signal detected from the external auditory canal when a normal state and an out-of-out voice are produced. FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the sample information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 24 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a relationship with the outer ear when the sample information detection unit according to the first embodiment of the second invention is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone. FIG. 25 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a relationship with the outer ear when the sample information detection unit according to the first embodiment of the second invention is an on-ear type headphone. FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a relationship with the outer ear when the sample information detection unit according to the first embodiment of the second invention is an around-ear type headphone. FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the relationship between the structure of the auricle and the mounting position of an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone. FIG. 28 is an external view showing an example of an on-ear type headphone. FIG. 29 is an external view showing an example of an around-ear type headphone. FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the jack according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 30 (a) is a view seen from the side of the jack, and FIG. 30 (b) is another diagram. FIG. 30C is a diagram seen from another direction, and FIG. 30C is a diagram seen from another direction. FIG. 31 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a jack and a plug according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 31 (a) is a diagram seen from the side of the jack, and FIG. 31 (b) is a diagram. FIG. 31C is a view seen from another direction, and FIG. 31C is a view seen from another direction. FIG. 32 is a block diagram for explaining an example of functional configurations of the gain switching unit and the frequency characteristic compensation unit. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a frequency characteristic compensation pattern according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electric circuit that performs frequency characteristic compensation according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of a Bode diagram of an electric circuit that performs frequency characteristic compensation according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram for explaining clocks and sampling points in frequency characteristic compensation processing. FIG. 37 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a functional configuration of the frequency correction processing unit. FIG. 38A is a diagram illustrating the frequency characteristics of the driver unit, and FIG. 38B is a diagram illustrating an example of the frequency response of the compensation circuit. FIG. 39A is a diagram showing the frequency characteristics of a pulsating signal when the ear canal cannot be completely closed, and FIG. 39B is a frequency characteristic of phase compensation that raises the low frequency region of the pulse wave detection band. FIG. FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a pulse wave obtained when a pulsation signal of a blood vessel is detected in a state where a closed cavity is formed at a fingertip or an arm, and FIG. FIG. 40B is a diagram showing a waveform of a detected signal, and FIG. 40C is a diagram showing a waveform obtained by differentiating the detected signal. It is. FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a canal-type inner-ear type headphone sample information detection unit. FIG. 41A illustrates a waveform obtained by integrating the detected signal. FIG. 41B is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a detected signal, and FIG. 41C is a diagram illustrating a waveform obtained by differentiating the detected signal. Fig.42 (a) is a figure showing the frequency characteristic of the pulsation signal when the site | part containing an external ear cannot be closed completely when using overhead type headphones, FIG.42 (b) uses overhead type headphones It is a figure showing the frequency characteristic of the phase compensation which raises the low frequency area | region of a pulse wave detection zone | band when doing. FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a specimen information detection unit that is an on-ear type headphone, and FIG. 43 (a) is a diagram illustrating a waveform of the detected signal. 43 (b) shows a waveform obtained by further integrating the detected signal. FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a specimen information detection unit that is an around-ear type headphone, and FIG. 44 (a) is a diagram illustrating a waveform of the detected signal, FIG. 44B shows a waveform obtained by further integrating the detected signal. FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a specimen information detection unit whose ear pad is an on-ear type headphone made of synthetic leather, and FIG. 45 (a) illustrates a waveform of the detected signal. FIG. 45B shows a waveform obtained by further integrating the detected signal. FIG. 46 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a specimen information detection unit that is an around-ear type headphone equipped with a DSP, and FIG. 46A illustrates a waveform of the detected signal. FIG. 46B is a diagram showing a waveform obtained by further integrating the detected signal. FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a signal detected using a sample information detection unit whose ear pad is a fabric around-ear type headphone, and FIG. 47A illustrates a waveform of the detected signal. FIG. 47B shows a waveform obtained by further integrating the detected signal. FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when the external auditory canal is opened when a sample information detection unit that is an on-ear type headphone is used. FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when the external auditory canal is closed when a sample information detection unit that is an on-ear type headphone is used. FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when the external auditory canal is opened when a specimen information detection unit that is an around-ear type headphone is used. FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when the ear canal is closed when a sample information detection unit that is an around-ear type headphone is used. FIG. 52 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when a specimen information detection unit that is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone is pressed against a tragus. FIG. 53 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform detected when a specimen information detection unit that is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone is pressed against the earlobe. FIG. 54 is a diagram for explaining an example of a frequency correction process of pulsation signal output. FIG. 55 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing of the sample information detecting apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 56 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a sample information detecting apparatus and a sample information processing apparatus according to a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 57 is a view schematically showing the structure of a jack according to a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 57 (a) is a view seen from the side of the jack, and FIG. b) is a view from another direction, and FIG. 57 (c) is a view from another direction. FIG. 58 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a jack and a plug according to a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention, and FIG. 58 (a) is a diagram seen from the lateral direction of the jack. 58 (b) is a view from another direction, and FIG. 58 (c) is a view from another direction. FIG. 59 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the connecting portion, FIG. 59 (a) is a diagram in the case where an FET is provided, FIG. 59 (b) is a diagram in the case where a capacitor is provided, and FIG. c) is a diagram in the case of direct connection. FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform displayed by superimposing the waveform of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit and the waveform of the signal obtained by the L headphone unit. FIG. 61 is an enlarged view of an example of a waveform obtained by superimposing the waveform of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit and the waveform of the signal obtained by the L headphone unit. FIG. 62 is a diagram illustrating an example of signal processing of a signal waveform obtained by the R headphone unit and a signal waveform obtained by the L headphone unit, and FIG. 62 (a) is obtained by the R headphone unit. FIG. 62 (b) is a diagram showing the waveform of a signal obtained by the L headphone unit, and FIG. 62 (c) is a diagram showing the signal obtained by the R headphone unit and the L headphone unit. It is a figure showing the waveform which added the obtained signal. FIG. 63 is a diagram illustrating an example of signal processing of a signal waveform obtained by the R headphone unit and a signal waveform obtained by the L headphone unit, and FIG. 63A is obtained by the R headphone unit. FIG. 63B is a diagram illustrating the waveform of a signal obtained from the L headphone unit, and FIG. 63C is a diagram illustrating the signal obtained from the R headphone unit and the L headphone unit. It is a figure showing the waveform which integrated the obtained signal. FIG. 64 schematically shows a configuration of a sample information processing apparatus that adds a signal obtained by an R headphone unit and a signal obtained by an L headphone unit according to a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention. It is a figure. FIG. 65 schematically shows a configuration of a sample information processing apparatus that adds and divides a signal obtained by the R headphone unit and a signal obtained by the L headphone unit according to a modification of the first embodiment of the second invention. FIG. 66A and 66B are diagrams for explaining an example of waveform disturbance detection. FIG. 66A is a diagram showing a waveform when a pulse-like disturbance is added to a pulse waveform, and FIG. 66B is a diagram for detecting the waveform disturbance. It is a figure showing the accompanying detection output.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the first invention and the second invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment, and can be selected or combined as necessary.

[I. Specimen information processing device that normalizes pulsatile signals]
Embodiments of a specimen information processing apparatus that normalizes a pulsation signal, an information processing program, and a computer-readable recording medium that records the program according to the first invention will be described. Hereinafter, in the description of the first invention, the first invention is referred to as the present invention.

Specimen information processing devices A6, A7, and A8 disclosed herein include a sample information detection unit A101 and information processing devices A2, A3, and A4 as shown in FIGS. The specimen information detection unit A101 detects a pulsation signal based on blood vessel pulse wave information in the specimen. The information processing devices A2, A3, and A4 include signal processing units A15, A16, and A17 that normalize the pulsating signal. The signal processing units A15, A16, A17 include a PLL circuit A12 (see FIG. 6), or a pulse frequency detection unit A301, A302, and a clock generator A303 (see FIGS. 19, 21). First, the information processing apparatus A1 and the sample information processing apparatus A5 according to the first embodiment including the PLL circuit A11 that locks to the input pulsation signal will be described. Next, the information processing apparatus A2 and the sample information processing apparatus A6 according to the second embodiment, in which the pulsation signal is normalized by the PLL circuit A12, will be described. Further, the information processing device A3 and the sample information processing device A7 according to the third embodiment, and the information processing according to the fourth embodiment, in which the pulsation signal is normalized by the pulse frequency detection units A301 and A302 and the clock generator A303. The apparatus A4 and the sample information processing apparatus A8 will be described.

[I-1. First embodiment]
A PLL (phase locked loop) circuit A11, an information processing apparatus A1 including a PLL circuit A11, and a sample information processing apparatus A5 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, in the description of the first embodiment, the first embodiment is also simply referred to as this embodiment.

[I-1-1. Configuration of PLL circuit]
As shown in FIG. 1, the PLL circuit A11 according to the present embodiment includes a phase comparator A21, an LPF (low pass filter) A22, and a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) A23a.

<Phase comparator>
The phase comparator A21 compares the phases of the input pulsation signal and the feedback signal, and outputs a pulse signal having a width corresponding to the phase difference to the LPFA 22 as a phase difference signal. The phase comparator A21 according to the present embodiment is configured by an XOR (exclusive OR) circuit. Further, the phase comparator A21 outputs the pulsation signal and the feedback signal to the lock detection unit A41.

<LPF>
The LPF A22 receives the phase difference signal and outputs it to the VCOA 23a as a voltage control signal from which a frequency component higher than a predetermined cutoff frequency has been removed. As a result, a voltage corresponding to the phase difference between the pulsation signal and the feedback signal is generated and input to the voltage controlled oscillator. Since the LPFA 22 is a first-order or higher-order low-pass filter having a cutoff frequency, the PLL circuit A11 becomes a higher-order loop of a second-order or higher system. The following description will be made on the premise of a second-order PLL, which is characterized by locking with a phase difference of zero within a certain time against a sudden shift of the phase of an input pulse wave.

<VCO>
The VCO A 23a outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the input voltage control signal. In the PLL circuit A11 according to the present embodiment, the clock signal is input to the phase comparator A21 as the feedback signal described above. In this embodiment, the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23a is designed to vary around 1 Hz, which is about the same as the frequency of the pulse wave. In addition, the VCOA 23a outputs a clock signal to the signal counting unit A42.

<PLL circuit>
The PLL circuit A11 is configured as described above, and the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23a is controlled so that the phases of the pulsating signal input to the PLL circuit A11 and the clock signal as a feedback signal are synchronized. As a result, the PLL circuit A11 locks (synchronizes) with the input pulsation signal. The PLL circuit A11 according to the present embodiment is a secondary PLL having a natural frequency ω _n of 0.5, a damping factor ζ of 0.8, a pull-in time of 10 seconds and a 5% error. That is, the PLL circuit A11 is a PLL circuit for locking to a pulsation signal.

The pulsating signal input to the PLL circuit A11 may be fluctuated due to sudden burst burst disturbance or pulse wave pattern disturbance due to the occurrence of an irregular pulse in addition to the frequency change of the signal itself. . It is preferable to design such that the order of the PLL and the type of the loop gain are matched on the premise of the factors of fluctuation of these pulsation signals.

In the design of the PLL, even in the same secondary system, the loop gain types can be divided into three types, Type 1 to Type 3, depending on the shape of the filter. For each, the loop gains G ₁ to G ₃ can be obtained by the following formulas (1) to (3).

Type 1:
G ₁ = k / s (s + a) (1)
Type 2:
G ₂ = k (s + a) / s ² (2)
Type 3:
G ₃ = k (s + a) (s + b) / s ³ (3)

In the above formulas (1) to (3), k is a constant representing the gain of the filter. a is a constant representing a pole or zero indicating the characteristics of the filter. b is a constant representing a zero point or pole indicating the characteristics of the filter. s is a complex number representing the angular frequency in polar coordinates, and is used to describe the characteristics of the filter.

It is necessary to select one of the types so as to follow the fluctuation of the pulsation signal input to the PLL circuit A11 according to the nature of the above-described fluctuation factor of the pulsation signal. There is the following relationship (a) to (c) between the change in the phase of the pulse wave and the type of the loop gain of the PLL, and these are indicators for selecting the type.

(A) All types 1 to 3 follow the step change in the phase of the pulse wave in the design time.
(A) Regarding the speed change of the phase of the pulse wave, type 2 and type 3 follow in design time.
(C) Regarding the acceleration change in the phase of the pulse wave, only type 3 follows in the design time.

The loop gain G of the PLL can be obtained by the following equation (4) from the natural frequency ω _n of the PLL circuit and the damping factor ζ.
G = 2 × ζ × ω _n (4)
From the equation (4), the PLL circuit A11 of the present embodiment calculates the loop gain G = 0.8.

Further, the PLL circuit A11 of the present embodiment is a secondary PLL in order to take a wide range in which the locked state can be maintained after being locked once. Considering only the phase step change, the above type 2 PLL is used.

[I-1-2. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
A configuration of the information processing apparatus A1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The information processing apparatus A1 is a portable information terminal (smart phone) as a mobile terminal for processing a detected signal. The smartphone as the information processing apparatus A1 includes an input / output device (not shown), a storage device (memory such as ROM, RAM, and nonvolatile RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), a timer counter, a wireless transmission unit, and the like. The

The information processing apparatus A1 includes a gain switching unit A51, a frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, a frequency correction processing unit A71, a binarization processing unit A31, a PLL circuit A11, a lock detection unit A41, and a signal counting unit A42. The above components of the information processing apparatus A1 are collectively referred to as a signal processing unit A14. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A1 includes a display A81. The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit A101 is output to the information processing apparatus A1, and the PLL circuit is passed through the gain switching unit A51, the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, the frequency correction processing unit A71, and the binarization processing unit A31. Input to A11. First, the sample information detection unit A101 will be described, and then the information processing apparatus A1 will be described.

<Sample information detection unit>
The specimen information detection unit A101 is a measuring apparatus having a sensor that can detect a pulsating signal based on blood vessel pulse wave information in a specimen. The sample information detection unit A101 of this embodiment uses a headphone dynamic type driver unit as a sensor, and is attached to the outer ear of the sample so as to form a cavity having a spatial structure in which the external ear canal of the sample is closed or substantially closed. Detect pulsatile signals from the ear canal. The specimen information detection unit A101, the sensor, and the measurement site are not limited to this. For example, a light emitting diode is used as the light emitting unit, and a photodiode or phototransistor is used as the light receiving unit. A photoelectric measuring device that detects the sex signal can be used. Alternatively, a piezoelectric measuring device that detects a pulsating signal by pressing a piezoelectric element on the artery of the arm can be used. Or, using a microphone that can detect the vibration of the air caused by the vibration of the skin or tympanic membrane part due to the pulsation of the blood vessel, the measuring device that detects the pulsation signal with the microphone and the vibration source closed is used. Good. The above-mentioned “blood vessel pulse wave information” is pulse wave information transmitted through the blood vessel, and is information (signal) indicating vibration transmitted through the blood vessel caused by the heartbeat of the specimen. is there. The specimen information detection unit A101 outputs the detected pulsation signal to the information processing apparatus A1.

<Gain switching part>
The pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus A1 is input to the gain switching unit A51.
The gain switching unit A51 is an electric circuit that adjusts the gain of an input signal to amplify or attenuate the signal and adjust the signal level. In particular, the gain switching unit A51 detects the saturation of the signal detected by the specimen information detection unit A101, and performs a process of reducing the signal level when the saturation is detected. The gain switching unit A51 outputs the processed signal to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61.

<Frequency characteristics compensator>
The frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 is an electric circuit that performs phase compensation on an input signal and corrects the frequency characteristic. The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit A101 and input to the information processing apparatus A1 includes sensor characteristics, signal detection status, and a digital signal processor (DSP) included in the specimen information detection unit A101 or the information processing apparatus A1. ) May be affected by the signal characteristics. The frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 performs phase compensation at least in a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, compensates for a frequency response indicated by the pulsation signal, and obtains a pulsation signal indicating the original pulse wave waveform. Perform equalization processing. A pulsating volume signal, a pulsating velocity signal, or a pulsating acceleration signal is obtained by phase compensation by the frequency characteristic compensator A61. The frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 outputs the processed signal to the frequency correction processing unit A71.

In general, the frequency of the pulse wave may vary from around 0.8Hz during normal times to around 3Hz during intense exercise. When the frequency component of the pulsating signal is such a lower limit or upper limit frequency, the frequency characteristic compensator A61 does not operate the waveform equalization process correctly in relation to the cutoff frequency of the compensation circuit that performs phase compensation. There is a case. However, since the signal output from the frequency characteristic compensator A61 is not for monitoring the waveform but is supplied to the PLL circuit A11 to generate a clock signal, these upper and lower frequencies are set. It can be used if the design is taken into consideration.

<Frequency correction processing unit>
The frequency correction processing unit A71 performs at least one of an amplification operation, an integration operation, and a differentiation operation on the input signal at the frequency of the pulsating signal, thereby causing a pulsating volume signal and a pulsating velocity. It is an electric circuit for extracting one of the signal and the pulsating acceleration signal. Processing for extracting one of the pulsating volume signal, the pulsating velocity signal, and the pulsating acceleration signal by the frequency correction processing unit A71 is also referred to as frequency correction processing. The waveforms indicated by the pulsating volume signal, the pulsating velocity signal, and the pulsating acceleration signal are also referred to as volume pulsation wave, velocity pulsation wave, and acceleration pulsation wave, respectively. The frequency correction processing unit A71 according to the present embodiment outputs a velocity pulse wave signal to the binarization processing unit A31.

Similarly to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, the frequency correction processing unit A71 is a compensation circuit that performs an integration operation or a differentiation operation when the frequency component of the pulsation signal has a lower limit of about 0.8 Hz or an upper limit of about 3 Hz. The frequency correction process may not operate correctly due to the relationship with the cutoff frequency. However, the signal output from the frequency correction processing unit A71 is also supplied to the PLL circuit A11 to generate a clock signal, so if the design is performed in consideration of these upper and lower frequencies. Can be used.

<Binarization processing unit>
The binarization processing unit A31 is an electric circuit that converts an input pulsation signal into an on / off binary signal. In the binarization processing unit A31, the pulses are shaped so that the duty ratio in the ON section is approximately 50% with reference to the rise or fall of the input pulse wave signal. Further, conversion is performed so as to turn off from the on section to the next rising edge. In the binarization processing unit A31 according to the present embodiment, since the phase comparator A21 is an XOR circuit, binarization is performed by the above-described method. However, the binarization processing is performed by using the converted pulsation signal. Is not limited as long as processing is performed so that the phase comparator A21 can detect the signal. The binarization processing unit A31 outputs the processed signal to the PLL circuit A11.

Note that when the frequency of the input pulse wave signal changes, it may not be possible to ensure a duty ratio of 50%, but this leads to fluctuations in the lock phase. In this case, if a phase comparator using an edge trigger type or a sawtooth wave is used as the phase comparator A21 and the DC gain is designed to be infinite, such a design that the fluctuation of the lock phase can be ignored. PLL.

<Lock detection unit>
The lock detector A41 determines whether or not the phase of the pulsating signal input to the PLL circuit A11 and the feedback signal are synchronized, and detects whether the PLL circuit A11 is locked to the pulsating signal. Circuit. In the present embodiment, the lock detector A41 receives the pulsation signal and the feedback signal from the phase comparator A21 and compares the phases of the two signals. Since the characteristic of the phase comparator A21 uses XOR logic, when the phase of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal is shifted by 90 degrees, it is determined that the phases of both signals are synchronized. Specifically, if the input of the pulsating signal is I and the feedback signal is R, when locked, I is 0 (off) and R is 1 (on), I is 1 and R is 1 The relationship that I becomes 1 and R becomes 0, and I becomes 0 and R becomes 0 is repeated. The lock detection unit A41 detects such a relationship and determines whether the phases are synchronized.

The lock detection unit A41 determines that the phase of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal are synchronized, and outputs a lock detection signal to the display A81 when detecting the lock of the PLL circuit A11. On the other hand, the lock detection unit A41 outputs an unlock detection signal to the display unit A81 when determining that the phase is not synchronized, and thus detecting the lock of the PLL circuit A11.

When monitoring the locked state as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 described later, it is preferable to confirm whether or not the lock is performed in consideration of the flywheel time composed of the loop gain of the PLL. In the locked state, if an unlock signal is detected within the flywheel time, the unlock signal is ignored and it is determined that the PLL circuit A11 remains locked. On the other hand, it is determined that the PLL circuit A11 is unlocked only when the unlocked state continues for longer than the flywheel time. Similarly, even when the PLL does not lock to the pulse wave input from the beginning as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, it is preferable to check the locked state for a certain period of time.

<Signal counting unit>
The signal counter A42 receives the clock signal from the VCO A 23a and counts pulses per unit time of the clock signal. The signal counting unit A42 is realized by a microcomputer that counts the number of pulses of the input clock signal with an internal high frequency clock. In the present embodiment, the signal counting unit A42 counts the number of pulses of the clock signal per minute. The signal counting unit A42 outputs the signal count value to the display A81.

<Display>
The display device A81 is a display device that presents information related to the pulsation signal. The display A81 receives a lock detection signal or an unlock detection signal from the lock detection unit A41 and displays whether or not the PLL circuit A11 is locked. The display A 81 receives the count value from the signal counting unit A 42 and displays the count value of the clock signal per unit time. In the present embodiment, the display screen of the display provided in the information processing apparatus A1 (smart phone) functions as the display A81. When the lock detection signal is input, the display A81 lights a green icon indicating that the PLL circuit A11 is locked. In addition, when the unlock detection signal is input, the display A81 lights a red icon indicating that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked. Further, the display A81 displays the numerical value of the count value of the clock signal on the display screen.

<Sample information processing device>
The sample information processing apparatus A5 is configured as described above, and a pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit A101 and input to the information processing apparatus A1 is converted into a gain switching unit A51, a frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, a frequency The data is input to the PLL circuit A11 through the correction processing unit A71 and the binarization processing unit A31. The PLL circuit A11 outputs a clock signal from the VCOA 23a. The information processing apparatus A1 displays the outputs from the lock detection unit A41 and the signal counting unit A42 on the display A81.

[I-1-3. Operation of PLL circuit]
An example of the lock operation to the input pulsation signal by the PLL circuit A11 will be described.
The binarization processing unit A31 binarizes the pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus A1 and inputs the binarized signal to the PLL circuit A11 (step SA11).
The phase comparator A21 compares the phase of the binarized pulsation signal and the feedback signal, and outputs a phase difference signal corresponding to the phase difference (step SA12).
The LPF A22 outputs a voltage control signal obtained by removing a frequency component greater than a predetermined cutoff frequency from the phase difference signal (step SA13).
The VCO A 23a outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the voltage control signal (step SA14). At this time, in step SA14, the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23a is controlled so that the phases of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal are synchronized. The VCO A 23a inputs the clock signal as a feedback signal to the phase comparator A21 and outputs it to the signal counting unit A42.

[I-1-4. Operation of PLL circuit and information processing apparatus]
<PLL circuit and disturbance>
The action of the PLL circuit A11 against disturbance will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 showing examples of waveforms input to the PLL circuit A11 and waveforms processed by the PLL circuit A11.

2 (a) to 2 (c) show waveforms when a pulsating signal is detected and the sample is input to the PLL circuit A11 while the specimen is in a normal state. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents time (seconds), and the vertical axis represents signal intensity (V) (the same applies to the following waveforms showing pulse wave waveforms).

As shown in FIG. 2A, in a normal state, pulse waves are detected at a uniform interval with a substantially constant intensity. In response to this, as shown in FIG. 2B, the waveform obtained by binarizing the pulsation signal is also at a constant interval. Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a is also at a constant interval. Thus, when there is no fluctuation, as shown in FIG. 2C, the PLL circuit A11 locks to the pulsation signal, and a clock signal synchronized with the waveform of the pulse wave is obtained.

Next, FIG. 3 (a) to FIG. 3 (c) show that the specimen is in a normal state from 0 second to 2 seconds, the specimen is walking from 2 seconds to 7 seconds, and from 7 seconds to 10 seconds. The interval represents a waveform when a pulsating signal is detected in a normal state of the specimen. As shown in FIG. 3A, for 2 to 7 seconds, the pulse wave is affected by the influence of walking, and the peak intensity and the peak interval are disturbed. In such a state, it is difficult to observe the original pulse wave due to noise in the waveform of FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, the waveform in which the pulsation signal is binarized also becomes long or short in the binarized waveform between 2 and 7 seconds, and the interval between the waveforms. Is narrowing. Thus, even in the binarized signal waveform, the original waveform of the pulse wave is hidden by the influence of disturbance, and it is difficult to observe the original pulse wave. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a is substantially constant without any significant change even if there is a disturbance. This is because the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a does not move greatly even when the signal input to the PLL circuit A11 fluctuates due to a certain inertia acting due to the flywheel effect by the PLL.

Further, FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c) show the state in which the specimen walks for 13 seconds to 17 seconds, 25 seconds to 28 seconds, 35 seconds to 41 seconds, and 1 minute 30 seconds to 33 seconds, Other than that, it shows a waveform when a pulsation signal is detected in a normal state of the specimen. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 4A, a disturbance is added to the pulse wave according to the movement of the specimen. Further, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 4B, similarly to the case of FIG. 3B, the binarized signal also changes its waveform under the influence of disturbance. Further, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 4C, since the phase difference signal output from the phase comparator A21 changes, the voltage control signal output from the LPFA 22 in a region where the pulsation signal is disturbed. Also, the change of the waveform interval is widened or narrowed. On the other hand, as shown in the lower part of FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c), the waveform of the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a is assumed to have a disturbance in the input signal, as in FIG. 3 (c). However, no significant changes appear and appear at almost constant intervals.

As described above, the PLL circuit A11 according to this embodiment is a secondary PLL having a natural frequency ω _n of 0.5. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c) and FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c), a disturbance is generated in the detected pulsation signal and is input to the PLL circuit A11. Even when the signal fluctuates, the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a does not change suddenly due to the flywheel effect, and a stable waveform indicating the original pulse wave interval can be output.

<PLL circuit and pulse rate change>
When the pulse rate changes because the specimen is in an exercise state or an excitement state, the pulsation signal input to the PLL circuit A11 continues to change. In this case, the PLL circuit A11 is configured such that the voltage control signal changes in accordance with fluctuations in the input signal and the clock signal follows accordingly, so that the clock signal gradually becomes a heart beat. Will synchronize with.

<Regulation of PLL circuit and pulse wave pattern>
The operation of the PLL circuit A11 will be further described with reference to FIG. 5 (a) to 5 (f) show the positions of the pulses in the plurality of pulse wave patterns 1 to 6 represented by the heartbeat, and the positions of the pulses when the pulses are generated at regular intervals are indicated by vertical broken lines. ing. These patterns are cited from Ken Grauer, Daniel Cavallaro, Nobuhiro Takao, “Arrhythmia Interpretation Training”, Medical School, 2001, pages 33-34.

FIG. 5A shows pattern 1. Pattern 1 is a pulse of a heartbeat when there is no time variation at all, and pulses are generated at regular intervals. Normally, the sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve clash causes fluctuations in the pulse wave signal, so that pattern 1 is a pattern that is seen by people close to the end. Normally, such a pattern is not seen in healthy people.

FIG. 5B shows pattern 2. The pattern 2 is a pulse of a heartbeat having a slight temporal fluctuation in time, and the pulses are generated at almost regular intervals. Pattern 2 is a pattern that is found in most healthy individuals.

FIG. 5C shows the pattern 3. Pattern 3 is a pattern having a period in units of groups, and is generated by regularly repeating a generation pattern of pulses indicated by a group of every third or fourth pulse in units of groups. However, the pattern 3 is an irregular pulse when viewed as a whole. In pattern 3, the level fluctuation of the amplitude component of the pulse wave may be repeated for each group. In practice, pattern 3 often occurs in combination with pattern 2.

FIG. 5D shows the pattern 4. Pattern 4 shows a pattern in the case of being almost completely random, and regularity is not seen when the interval between pulses is shortened to about half of the normal interval or increased to about one cycle.
Clinically, most heart rhythms are considered to apply to any of the above patterns 1 to 4.

FIG. 5 (e) shows pattern 5. This shows a pattern when the arrhythmia A is present in the pattern 2. In pattern 5, an arrhythmia is generated by the fourth pulse, and the fourth pulse is generated before the normal interval. From the fifth pulse, pulses are generated at regular intervals in the same manner as in pattern 2. It is considered that pattern 5 is caused by three places, atria (PAC), atrioventricular node (PJC), and ventricle (PVC), in which premature beats (extrasystole) appear.

FIG. 5 (f) shows pattern 6. This shows a pattern when the arrhythmia B is present in the pattern 2. In pattern 6, an arrhythmia occurs in the 4th pulse, the phase of the 4th pulse shifts, and it is sent about 0.7 beats than usual, and the phase is different from that up to the 3rd pulse. There is a pulse. Further, from the fifth pulse, pulses are generated at substantially regular intervals while being shifted from the phase before the arrhythmia as in the fourth pulse. This is called escape beat (replenishment contraction) and prevents extreme bradycardia. When the pulse is restored after the arrhythmia as in the pattern 6, it cannot be predicted from what phase the pulse wave starts before the arrhythmia occurs. At this time, it can be said that a change on the phase step occurs.

When a pulsation signal indicating pattern 1 or pattern 2 is input to the PLL circuit A11, a signal in which pulses are generated at a regular interval is input, so the PLL circuit A11 Can be locked. In this case, the lock detection unit A41 detects that the PLL circuit A11 is locked, and the display A81 lights a green icon indicating that the PLL circuit A11 is locked. The signal counting unit A42 counts the pulses of the clock signal synchronized with the input pulsation signal, and the display A81 displays the count value as the pulse rate of the specimen.

When a pulsating signal indicating the

pattern

5 or 6 is input to the PLL circuit A11, the PLL circuit A11 and the information processing apparatus A1 operate in the same manner as the

pattern

1 or 2 described above until an arrhythmia occurs. When an arrhythmia occurs, the phase of the input pulsation signal and the feedback signal are not synchronized, so it is detected that the pulse has been unlocked. If this state continues for a set time of the PLL or longer, the lock detection unit A41 detects that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked, and the display A81 displays a red icon indicating that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked. Lights up. After the occurrence of arrhythmia, a pulsation signal in which pulses are generated at a regular interval is input again, so that the feedback signal follows the input pulsation signal, so that the PLL circuit A11 pulsates. Lock to sex signal again. Also in this case, the signal counting unit A42 counts the pulses of the clock signal, and the display A81 displays the count value as the pulse rate. At this time, since the clock signal does not change abruptly due to the flywheel effect, even when the arrhythmia occurs, the same pulse rate as when there is no arrhythmia is displayed.

When the pulsation signal indicating the pattern 3 or the pattern 4 is input to the PLL circuit A11, the PLL circuit A11 cannot be locked to the input pulsation signal. In this case, the lock detection unit A41 detects that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked for a certain period of time, and the display A81 lights a red icon indicating that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked. The signal counting unit A42 counts the pulses of the clock signal, and the display A81 displays the count value as the pulse rate.

As described above, the PLL circuit A11 can lock to the input pulsation signal if the pulse wave is considered to be approximately periodic. As a result, even when the arrhythmia occurs and the pulse wave pattern is disturbed, the PLL circuit A11 and the information processing apparatus A1 are locked to the pulsation signal again over time, and the pulse rate Can be displayed. Further, even when the PLL circuit A11 cannot be locked even if the PLL circuit A11 cannot be locked, the information processing apparatus A1 displays that the PLL circuit A11 that bears the flywheel effect does not lock, and the clock signal The count value can be displayed.

[I-1-5. Effects of PLL circuit and information processing apparatus]
The PLL circuit A11 according to the first embodiment is a secondary PLL because the LPF A22 is primary, and the phase of the input pulsation signal and the clock signal as the feedback signal is synchronized. The oscillation frequency of the clock signal output from the VCOA 23a is controlled. As a result, the PLL circuit A11 can lock the input pulsation signal and output a clock signal synchronized with the pulsation of the heart. Furthermore, even when the PLL brings about the flywheel effect, the input pulsation signal is fluctuated due to a sudden burst burst disturbance or a periodic pulse wave pattern disturbance due to arrhythmia. The output clock signal does not immediately change greatly, and a signal indicating the same interval as the original pulse wave can be output. When the pulse rate itself gradually changes in a state where it is exercising, the clock signal is gradually synchronized with the heart beat. Thus, the PLL circuit A11 has robustness against fluctuations. That is, according to the PLL circuit A11, it is possible to stably observe the pulse wave regardless of fluctuations.

Moreover, the information processing apparatus A1 according to the first embodiment can detect whether or not the PLL circuit A11 is locked by including the lock detection unit A41. As a result, the information processing apparatus A1 determines that the clock signal output from the PLL circuit A11 represents a pulsation in a locked state and is not disturbed by fluctuations in the pulsation signal. Can do. Further, when a random signal is input, it can be determined that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked.

In addition, the information processing apparatus A1 can count pulses per unit time of the clock signal by including the signal counting unit A42. As a result, the information processing apparatus A1 can measure the pulse rate synchronized with the pulsation of the heart using the clock signal even if the pulsation signal varies.

Further, the information processing apparatus A1 includes the display A81, thereby displaying whether or not the PLL circuit A11 is locked and displaying the count value of the clock signal per unit time. As a result, the information processing apparatus A1 can display the synchronization state of the PLL circuit A11 and the pulse rate. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus A1, the sample can confirm the display result and can adjust the intensity of the exercise by himself / herself in real time. Furthermore, when a random signal is input among the pulsating signals to be input, the pulse rate can be displayed after displaying that the PLL circuit A11 is not locked.

[I-2. Second embodiment]
The PLL circuit A12, the information processing apparatus A2 including the PLL circuit A12, and the sample information processing apparatus A6 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, in the description of the second embodiment, the second embodiment is also referred to as this embodiment. The PLL circuit A12 and the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment are configured in the same manner as the PLL circuit A11 and the information processing apparatus A1 according to the first embodiment described above except for a part of the configuration. A description of the same components as the information processing device A1 will be omitted, and description will be made using the same reference numerals.

[I-2-1. Configuration of PLL circuit]
As shown in FIG. 6, the PLL circuit A12 according to the present embodiment includes a phase comparator A21, an LPFA 22, a VCO A 23b, and a frequency divider A24.
The phase comparator A21 and the LPF A22 are configured similarly to the PLL circuit A11 according to the first embodiment.

<VCO>
The VCO A 23b outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the input voltage control signal. In the PLL circuit A12 according to this embodiment, a clock signal is input to the frequency divider A24. In this embodiment, the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23b is designed to vary around 128 Hz.

<Divisor>
The frequency divider A24 divides the frequency of the clock signal by a predetermined frequency division ratio N and outputs the divided frequency as a divided signal. The frequency-divided signal is input to the phase comparator A21 as a feedback signal. In the frequency divider A24 according to this embodiment, the frequency division ratio N is 128.

<PLL circuit>
The PLL circuit A12 is configured as described above, and the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23b is controlled so that the phases of the pulsation signal and the divided signal as the feedback signal are synchronized. As a result, the PLL circuit A12 locks to the input pulsation signal. When the PLL circuit A12 is locked to the pulsation signal, the VCOA 23b generates a clock signal having 128 clock numbers in one pulse wave waveform. Thereby, the PLL circuit A12 normalizes the pulsating signal with the clock signal. That is, the PLL circuit A12 is a PLL circuit for normalizing the pulsation signal.

[I-2-2. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
The configuration of the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the information processing apparatus A1, the information processing apparatus A2 includes a gain switching unit A51, a frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, a frequency correction processing unit A71, a binarization processing unit A31, a PLL circuit A12, a lock detection unit A41, and a signal count. Unit A42, counter A25, AD converter A32, first memory A33, feedback comb filter A34, second memory A35, averaging processing unit A36, differentiation processing unit A37, integration processing unit A38, and waveform display unit A43 is provided. The above components of the information processing apparatus A2 are collectively referred to as a signal processing unit A15. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A2 includes a display A81.

The gain switching unit A51, the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, the frequency correction processing unit A71, the binarization processing unit A31, and the lock detection unit A41 are configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus A1 according to the first embodiment. In the information processing device A2, the pulsation signal output from the gain switching unit A51 is output to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 and the AD converter A32. The AD converter A32 and the first memory A33 are also collectively referred to as a signal recording unit 13. In the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment, a case where a velocity pulse wave is input to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 and the AD converter A32 will be described.

<Signal counting unit>
The signal counting unit A42 receives the frequency division signal from the frequency divider A24 instead of the signal input from the VCO A 23a, counts the pulses per unit time of the frequency division signal, and divides the frequency per unit time. Other than displaying the count value of the signal on the display A81, the configuration is the same as in the case of the first embodiment.

<Counter>
The counter A25 receives the frequency-divided signal from the frequency divider A24, counts it, and outputs a waveform number indicating the order of the pulse waves according to the number of the frequency-divided signal. The waveform number is counted by an integer value that increases by 1 in order from 0, 1, 2,... The counter A25 resets the waveform number as appropriate according to the storage capacity of the first memory A33 and the second memory A35, and starts counting from 0 again. A circuit obtained by adding a counter A25 to the PLL circuit A12 is also referred to as a clock address generation unit.

<AD converter>
The AD converter A32 receives a pulsation signal as analog data, converts the signal intensity value of the pulsation signal into digital data, and acquires the digital data. The AD converter A32 receives the clock signal from the VCOA 23b, and acquires the signal strength at the timing when the clock signal is input. The AD converter A32 outputs the acquired digital data of the signal strength to the first memory A33.

<First memory>
The first memory A33 receives the digital data of the signal strength obtained by the AD converter A32 and records this data. The first memory A33 is also simply referred to as a memory. The first memory A33 is a memory bank obtained by dividing the storage area into a plurality of banks. The first memory A33 according to the present embodiment has 64 banks. The first memory A33 is a ring buffer in which data is sequentially written to the bank and old memory is erased according to capacity limitations. The first memory A33 records the signal strength data for each clock number corresponding to the input timing of the clock signal. Further, the first memory A33 receives the waveform number input from the counter A25 and records the signal strength data in each bank divided for each waveform number. That is, the first memory A33 records the pulsation signal as the signal intensity associated with the waveform number and the clock number for each period of the pulse wave.

7 and 8, the relationship between the configuration of the first memory A33 and the clock number and waveform number will be described. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the banks corresponding to the

waveform numbers

0, 1, 2, 9, and 10 among the 64 banks included in the first memory A33.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first memory A33 has a plurality of banks A211, A212, A213, A214, A215 corresponding to the

waveform numbers

0, 1, 2,. Data of signal strength corresponding to clock numbers 0 to 127 is recorded in each bank. In this way, in the first memory A33, it is specified in which form the data of the acquired signal strength indicates where in one cycle of the pulse wave waveform, such as which clock number of which waveform number. Data is stored.

As shown in FIG. 8, VCO A 23b takes one period from the rise of one waveform to the rise of the next waveform as one period in the pulse wave, and one period of the pulse wave is counted by a total of 128 clocks from 0 to 127. Divide equally. The clock numbers are assigned in order of 0, 1, 2,..., 125, 126, and 127 for each waveform in order from the waveform having the waveform number defining the number of clocks to 0. At this time, the rising edge clock number of the pulse wave waveform is set to 0, and the signal intensity a1 is sampled at this timing. The signal strength of clock number 0 of the sampled waveform of waveform number 0 is recorded at the beginning of memory bank A211 of first memory A33 as shown in FIG. Next, the signal strength a2 is sampled at the timing of the clock number 1, and is recorded next to the signal of the clock number 0 in the memory bank A211. In this way, the signal strength a128 at the timing of the clock number 127 is sampled and recorded in the memory bank A211 from the clock number 0 to 127 in order. Subsequently, in the same manner, the signal is sampled sequentially from the signal strength b1 at the timing of the clock number 0 of the waveform of the waveform number 1, and stored in the memory bank A212.

The signal strength is read from the first memory A33 in the order of the clock number in one waveform number, and after reading up to the clock number 127, the signal strength is read in order from the clock number 0 of the next waveform number. Data can be read out in the original time-series order. At this time, the pulsation signal is obtained as a signal normalized by a clock signal having 128 clocks.

<Feedback comb filter>
The feedback comb filter A34 is configured by a digital signal processor (DSP) that reads out the signal intensity recorded in the first memory A33 and performs a filter process that passes a specific frequency component. The feedback comb filter A34 outputs the filtered signal to the second memory A35. The feedback comb filter A34 is executed by an operation between the DSP and the first memory A33 and the second memory A35.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 9, the feedback comb filter A34 is a feedback type comb filter having a delay A201 that delays a signal by a predetermined delay time K, a multiplier A202, and an adder A203. A part of the signal input to the feedback comb filter A34 is delayed by the delay A201, the delayed signal is amplified by the multiplier A202, further input to the adder A203, and fed back to the input signal. The frequency characteristic of the feedback comb filter A34 is determined by the delay time K of the delay A201 and the feedback gain α of the multiplier A202.

10 shows the frequency characteristics of the feedback comb filter A34. In FIG. 10, the horizontal axis indicates the frequency, and the vertical axis indicates the gain. As shown in FIG. 10, the feedback comb filter A34 is a filter that allows an input signal to pass a frequency component that is an integral multiple of a predetermined frequency that is the reciprocal 1 / K of the delay time K in a comb shape. Function. Further, as the feedback gain α increases to 0.5, 0.75, and 0.9, a filter having a steep characteristic can be obtained. The feedback comb filter A34 receives the clock signal from the VCOA 23b and counts the total number of clocks per cycle (one waveform) of the pulsation signal. The feedback comb filter A34 uses the total clock number as an inverse 1 / K of the delay time K, and passes a frequency component that is an integral multiple of the total clock number. When the PLL circuit A12 locks to the pulsation signal and the total number of clocks per cycle becomes 128, the feedback comb filter A34 passes the frequency components 128, 256, 384, 512. . The steepness of the feedback comb filter A34 is about 20 dB.

When performing the filtering process by the feedback comb filter A34, first, the signal strength is sequentially read from the first memory A33 from the clock number 0 to 127 at the waveform number 0, and then the signal strength from the clock number 0 to 127 at the waveform number 1. Is read. Similarly, signal intensities after waveform number 2 are read sequentially. In this way, the pulsating signal can be obtained as discrete data of signal strength normalized by the clock signal in the original time series order. The discrete data is filtered by the feedback comb filter A34, and the filtered signal is output to the second memory A35.

<Second memory>
The second memory A35 receives the signal strength of the signal filtered by the feedback comb filter A34 and records data of this signal strength. The second memory A35 is configured in the same manner as the first memory A33 described with reference to FIG. 7, and stores the signal intensity of the filtered signal in association with the waveform number and the clock number.

<Average processing section>
The averaging processing unit A36 reads out the signal intensity data of a plurality of continuous waveform numbers recorded in the second memory A35, adds them, and divides them by the number of added data, thereby obtaining each clock number for each waveform number. An averaging process is performed to output an average value of the signal intensity. The averaging processing unit A36 outputs the result of the averaging process to the waveform display unit A43. In the present embodiment, an average of 10 consecutive signal intensity values is taken. Specifically, in 10 consecutive waveform numbers from the desired waveform number of the second memory A35, the clock signals of the same timing, that is, the signal strengths of the same clock numbers are read from the respective banks, and these are added to obtain 10 The average value of the data for the number of waveforms is output. Next, the clock number is shifted backward by one, and the average value is calculated in order in the same manner. When the processing is completed up to the last clock number of one waveform number, the average value is calculated sequentially from the first clock number of the next 10 consecutive waveform numbers. In this way, an average of 10 signal strength values is obtained corresponding to each clock number for each waveform number. Here, the average value of the signal intensity in a certain waveform number means the average value corresponding to the last waveform number when the average value corresponding to a plurality of continuous waveform numbers is calculated.

With reference to FIG. 7, the averaging process by the averaging processing unit A36 will be described. First, in waveform numbers 0 to 9, 10 data of a1 to j1 of clock number 0 are read and an average value is output. Next, the clock number is shifted by one, and the average value of 10 data a2 to j2 of clock number 1 of waveform numbers 0 to 9 is output. In this way, an average value of 10 data items a128 to j128 from the clock numbers 127 of the waveform numbers 0 to 9 is output. The average values at this time are the average values for waveform number 9 respectively. Thereafter, the waveform numbers are shifted by one, and in the waveform numbers 1 to 10, 10 data from b1 to k1 of the clock number 0 are read and the average value is output. The average value at this time is the average value in waveform number 10 respectively. Thereafter, the average value is sequentially output in the same manner.

<Differential processing part>
The differentiation processing unit A37 reads the signal strength data recorded in the first memory A33 and performs numerical differentiation. The differentiation processing unit A37 outputs the result of the numerical differentiation to the waveform display unit A43. Since the numerical differentiation only yields the slope of discrete data sampled with 128 clocks, a known calculation method can be used as appropriate. As an example, if the forward difference is taken as the simplest method, if the sample values of the point of interest and the subsequent point are f (x _i ) and f (x _{i + 1} ), the following (f (x _{i +1} ) -f (x _i )) / Δx
In this example, it is sufficient to calculate between adjacent sample values with 1/128 as Δx.
<Integration processing unit>
The integration processing unit A38 reads the signal strength data recorded in the first memory A33 and performs numerical integration. The integration processing unit A38 outputs the result of numerical integration to the waveform display unit A43. Since numerical integration only calculates the slope area of discrete data sampled with 128 clocks, a known calculation method such as trapezoidal rule or Simpson rule can be used as appropriate. According to the Simpson rule, if this is Δx in steps of 1/128, the sample values of points before and after the point of interest are f (x _i-1 ), f (x _i ), f (x _{i + 1} ). Then, the following Δx {f (x _i-1 ) + 4f (x _i ) + f (x _{i + 1} )} / 3
It can be calculated by the following formula.

<Waveform display>
The waveform display unit A43 reads the signal intensity recorded in the second memory A35, generates waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the signal intensity, and outputs the waveform data to the display A81. Alternatively, the waveform display unit A43 receives the result processed by the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, or the integration processing unit A38, and generates waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the signal strength. Output to the display A81. The waveform display unit A43 can perform the same processing in any case, but in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the result of the averaging process performed by the averaging processing unit A36 is input to the waveform display unit A43.

The waveform display unit A43 receives the average values of the signal intensities from the clock number 0 to the clock number 127 in order from the clock number 0 in the desired waveform number from the averaging processing unit A36, so that 10 waveform numbers of each clock number are input. The average value of the signal intensity for the waveform is acquired in the original time-series order. Further, the waveform display unit A43 takes a total of 128 clock numbers with the time axis in one pulse wave on the horizontal axis, and takes the average value of the input signal intensity on the vertical axis, thereby generating 10 pulse waves. Data that displays the averaged waveform for one period in two dimensions is generated. In this way, the waveform display unit A43 generates waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the average value of the signal strength in the desired waveform number. Further, the waveform display unit A43 receives the average value of the signal intensity at the next waveform number, similarly generates waveform data, and sequentially outputs them.

<Display>
The display unit A81 is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment, except that the waveform data is input from the waveform display unit A43 and the pulsation signal is displayed as a waveform of one cycle of the pulse wave for each waveform number. ing. Note that the display A81 according to the second embodiment displays the count value of the divided signal per unit time by inputting the count value from the signal counting unit A42. The display A81 displays a signal from the second memory A35, the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, or the integration processing unit A38 via the waveform display unit A43. The display device A81 displays an image of a waveform of one pulse wave with the horizontal axis indicating the clock number of 128 and the vertical axis indicating the signal intensity in the waveform display area of the display screen. The display device A81 displays the waveform of the pulse wave in the original time-series order by sequentially inputting the waveform data in the order of the waveform numbers. In this embodiment, the display device A81 receives waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the average value of the signal intensity from the waveform display unit A43, and averages 10 pulse waves for each waveform number. Displays the waveform for each cycle.

<Sample information processing device>
The sample information processing device A6 is configured as described above, and the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit A101 and input to the information processing device A2 is connected to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 through the gain switching unit A51. Input to AD converter A32. The pulsation signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 is input to the PLL circuit A12 through the frequency correction processing unit A71 and the binarization processing unit A31. The PLL circuit A12 outputs a clock signal from the VCOA 23b to the AD converter A32 and the feedback comb filter A34. Further, a frequency division signal is output from the frequency divider A24 to the counter A25. The pulsating signal input to the AD converter A32 is recorded as signal strength in the first memory A33, and the signal filtered by the feedback comb filter A34 is recorded in the second memory A35. The signal recorded in the second memory A35 is read out by the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, or the integration processing unit A38, and each is processed to output a processing result. The information processing device A2 displays the outputs from the lock detection unit A41, the signal counting unit A42, and the waveform display unit A43 on the display A81.

[I-2-3. Operation of PLL circuit and information processing apparatus]
An example of the normalization operation of the pulsation signal by the PLL circuit A12 and the normalization processing and output operation of the normalized pulsation signal by the information processing device A2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. .

The sample information processing device A6 detects the pulsation signal by the sample information detection unit 101, and acquires the pulsation signal by inputting the pulsation signal to the information processing device A2 (step SA20).
The binarization processing unit A31 binarizes the pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus A2, and inputs the binarized signal to the PLL circuit A12 (step SA21).
The phase comparator A21 compares the phase of the binarized pulsation signal and the feedback signal, and outputs a phase difference signal corresponding to the phase difference (step SA22).
The LPF A22 outputs a voltage control signal obtained by removing a frequency component greater than a predetermined cutoff frequency from the phase difference signal (step SA23).
The VCO A 23b outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the voltage control signal (step SA24). At this time, in step SA24, the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23b is controlled so that the phases of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal are synchronized. The VCO A 23b outputs the clock signal to the frequency divider A24, the AD converter A32, and the feedback comb filter A34.
The frequency divider A24 divides the frequency of the clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio and outputs a frequency divided signal (step SA25). The frequency divider A24 inputs the frequency-divided signal as a feedback signal to the phase comparator A21 and outputs it to the counter A25 and the signal counting unit A42.

The counter A25 counts the frequency-divided signal and outputs a waveform number (Step SA26).
The AD converter A32 acquires the signal intensity of the pulsation signal as digital data at the timing of receiving the clock signal, and outputs it to the first memory A33 (step SA27).
The first memory A33 records the signal strength of each clock number in the bank for each waveform number (step SA28).
The feedback comb filter A34 performs a filter process that allows a frequency component that is an integral multiple of the total number of clocks to pass (step SA29).
The second memory A35 records the filtered signal (step SA30).
The averaging processing unit A36 reads the signal intensity data recorded in the second memory A35, calculates the average value, and outputs it to the waveform display unit A43 (step SA31).
The waveform display unit A43 generates waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the average value of the signal intensity, and outputs the waveform data to the display A81 (step SA32).
The display A81 displays a waveform of one cycle obtained by averaging a plurality of pulse waves for each waveform number (step SA33).

[I-2-4. Operation of PLL circuit and information processing apparatus]
<About PLL circuit>
As with the PLL circuit A11, the PLL circuit A12 is stable when the signal input to the PLL circuit A12 fluctuates without the sudden change of the clock signal output from the VCOA 23b due to the flywheel effect. A waveform indicating a pulse wave can be output. The operation of the PLL circuit A12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. In the PLL circuit A12, the VCOA 23b outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency that fluctuates around 128 Hz, and the frequency divider A24 outputs this clock signal. The signal is divided by a dividing ratio of 128 and output as a divided signal. In the PLL circuit A12, the input signal has a disturbance as shown in the waveforms shown in the lower part of FIGS. 2 (c), 3 (c), 4 (a) to 4 (c). Even if it does, a big change does not appear and it is output at almost constant intervals.

Further, when the pulse rate changes and the fluctuation of the input pulsation signal continues, the PLL circuit A12 changes the voltage control signal according to the fluctuation, and accordingly, the clock signal and the frequency dividing signal are changed. The frequency-divided signal is gradually synchronized with the heart beat.

In addition, the PLL circuit A12 and the information processing apparatus A2 are locked to the pulsating signal even when the arrhythmia occurs and the pulse wave pattern is disturbed, similarly to the PLL circuit A11 and the information processing apparatus A1. The pulse rate can be displayed.

Furthermore, when the pulsation signal is locked, the VCO A 23b generates a clock signal of 128 clocks in one cycle of the pulse wave.

<About normalization>
FIG. 11 shows the frequency spectrum of the pulse wave when the specimen is normal, with the horizontal axis representing frequency and the vertical axis representing signal intensity. As shown in FIG. 11, the pulse wave normally has a signal in the vicinity of 1 Hz where the fundamental frequency T is about 1 Hz and its reciprocal 1 / T, such as 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 3 Hz,. .., 2 / T, 3 / T, 4 / T,...

In the information processing apparatus A2, by locking to the pulsation signal input by the PLL circuit A12, the clock signal is generated so that there are 128 pulse signals in one pulse wave, that is, one cycle of the pulse wave. The signal normalizes the pulsating signal. At this time, the 1 / T frequency at which the pulse wave signal appears can be defined by converting it with 128 clock signals. In other words, by normalization, there is one pulse wave waveform for every 128 clock signals, and the pulsation signal is defined on the clock axis. In the first place, the pulse wave varies in order to supply the necessary amount of oxygen according to the case of stationary, active, intense exercise, etc., and it is difficult to handle these on the time axis. there were. In the information processing apparatus A2, the handling of the pulse wave is improved by normalizing the pulsation signal.

<About feedback comb filter>
When the pulsation signal is in a normalized state, the feedback comb filter A34 allows frequency components that are an integral multiple of the total number of clocks per cycle, such as 128, 256, 384. The component derived from the pulse wave can be passed. At this time, components derived from disturbance can be removed from the signal input to the feedback comb filter A34.

Conventionally, since the time axis of a pulsating signal may fluctuate, it has been difficult to apply a feedback comb filter having a sharp frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with a changing fundamental frequency component. In the information processing apparatus A2, the pulsation signal is defined on the clock axis by locking the pulsation signal with the PLL circuit A12 and normalizing the pulsation signal with the clock signal. Here, as described with reference to FIG. 11, the frequency spectrum obtained by Fourier transforming the waveform of the pulse wave is 2 times, 3 times, 4 times, and so on, centered on the fundamental wave of about 1 Hz. It is made up. Further, the frequency of the fundamental wave and the harmonic wave changes according to the motion state of the specimen. Since FIG. 11 is an example of measurement of an actual person's pulse wave, noise is further added toward the low frequency range. Even for such a pulsating signal indicating a pulse wave, the clock axis is constant even if the pulse rate changes. Therefore, as long as the PLL circuit A12 is locked, the feedback comb filter A34 can be used even if the time axis fluctuates. Can be applied. The information processing apparatus A2 passes all the comb-shaped harmonics of FIG. 11 through the feedback comb filter A34 having a steep pass characteristic as shown in FIG. 10 and a frequency at which the energy of the original pulsating signal does not exist. Suppresses the component.

<About the averaging process>
Conventionally, for example, when exercise is performed and the pulse rate is fluctuating, the time-axis length of one waveform is changed, so that it is not possible to directly average a plurality of waveforms. On the other hand, in the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment, since the pulsation signal is in a normalized state, the averaging processing unit A36 continuously takes the average value of the signal strength of the same clock number. A waveform obtained by averaging a plurality of pulsating signals can be output.

<About differential processing>
In the conventional processing by passing through a differentiating circuit or differentiating circuit having a frequency characteristic having a specific cut-off frequency, there is a case where the operation of differentiation or integration cannot be performed in relation to the fundamental frequency of the pulsating signal. For example, when the cutoff frequency is 2 Hz, differentiation or integration can be performed if the fundamental frequency of the pulsating signal is 1 Hz (60 times / min). On the other hand, when the basic frequency becomes 3 Hz, for example, when riding a racing car, the cutoff frequency of the (incomplete) differentiation circuit cannot be changed. Since the pulsating signal component exists in the band, neither differentiation nor integration is performed. As described above, when differentiation or integration is performed with the same time constant on the conventional time axis, there is a case where differentiation or integration processing cannot be performed when the fundamental frequency greatly fluctuates with respect to the cutoff frequency. On the other hand, according to the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment, the PLL circuit A12 locks to the pulsation signal, so that there is always a fixed number of clocks in one pulse wave cycle, so that the cutoff frequency A stable differential or integral result can be obtained while maintaining the relationship between the fundamental frequency of the pulse wave and the pulse wave.

<Operation and display of information processing device>
Conventionally, when displaying a pulse wave and a pulse rate detected from a specimen, displays as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are performed. These figures show examples of display when the pulsation signal has fluctuations such as disturbance and arrhythmia. As shown in FIG. 14, the waveform indicating the velocity pulse wave is displayed in a state where a component derived from a disturbance is added to the original velocity pulse wave. In addition, it is not clear whether the display of 78 indicating the pulse rate indicates the original pulse rate because the pulsation signal is disturbed due to fluctuation. Furthermore, FIG. 15 shows an example of display when the pulse rate has increased from the state of FIG. At this time, when the number of pulses displayed in a certain time within the display area increases, the waveform indicating the velocity pulse wave is compressed on the time axis, and it is difficult to observe. Also, it was not clear whether the display of 150 indicating the pulse rate indicates the original pulse rate, as in FIG.

On the other hand, the display A81 of the information processing apparatus A2 according to the present embodiment displays the velocity pulse wave, the locked state, and the pulse rate as shown in FIGS. FIG. 12 shows a display when a pulsation signal that has been conventionally displayed as shown in FIG. 14 is input to the information processing apparatus A2. In the information processing apparatus A2, since the pulsation signal is normalized by the clock signal having the number of clocks of 128, as shown in FIG. 12, the display A81 displays the waveform indicating the velocity pulse wave on the clock axis composed of 128 clock numbers. A pulse wave is displayed in a certain area defined by. Further, the information processing apparatus A2 displays the waveform in a state in which the fluctuation of the waveform added to the pulsation signal by the flywheel effect is suppressed while the waveform disturbance is removed by the feedback comb filter A34. The display A81 turns on the green (G) icon indicating that the PLL circuit A12 is locked and turns off the red (R) icon indicating that the PLL circuit A12 is not locked. To do. In addition, it is estimated that the display of 75 indicating the pulse rate on the display A81 indicates a substantially correct value due to the lock of the PLL circuit A12.

FIG. 13 shows an example of display when the pulse rate is increased from the state of FIG. 12, that is, what is conventionally displayed as shown in FIG. Since the information processing apparatus A2 normalizes the pulsation signal with the clock signal, as shown in FIG. 13, the display device A81 displays the velocity pulse even when the pulse rate increases, as in FIG. A waveform indicating a wave is displayed as a single pulse wave in a certain region. Further, as in the case of FIG. 12, the information processing apparatus A2 displays the waveform in a state in which the fluctuation of the waveform is suppressed and the fluctuation added to the pulsation signal is suppressed. Further, the display A 81 displays the locked state as in the case of FIG. In addition, it is presumed that the display of 130 indicating the pulse rate on the display A81 also represents a substantially correct value, as in the case of FIG.

[I-2-5. Effects of PLL circuit, information processing apparatus, and sample information processing apparatus]
Similarly to the PLL circuit A11 according to the first embodiment, the PLL circuit A12 according to the second embodiment can lock the input pulsation signal and output a frequency-divided signal synchronized with the heartbeat. it can. Furthermore, the PLL circuit A12 has robustness against fluctuations, and can stably observe a pulse wave regardless of fluctuations.

Further, according to the PLL circuit A12, the pulsation signal can be normalized by the clock signal. That is, when the pulsation signal is locked, the same number of clocks can be assigned to each waveform of the pulse wave, and the signal can be handled regardless of the time axis. This makes it possible to compare signal strengths at the same clock signal timing even between waveforms having different pulse rates.

Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A2 according to the second embodiment includes the AD converter A32, the first memory A33, and the counter A25, so that the pulsation signal is signal strength data associated with the waveform number and the clock number. By recording, the pulse wave normalized by the clock signal can be defined in a certain space composed of 128 clocks.

Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A2 allows the signal derived from the pulsating signal to pass through using the feedback comb filter A34 because the pulsating signal is normalized by a predetermined number of clock signals. Disturbances caused by body movements and utterances can be effectively removed. As a result, the information processing apparatus A2 can improve the S / N ratio (signal to noise ratio) of the detection signal.

Also, the information processing apparatus A2 averages the signal strength data by the averaging processing unit A36. Since the averaged pulse wave waveform does not change greatly and shows a response that gradually changes with respect to fluctuations, the information processing apparatus A2 can obtain a pulsation signal that indicates a more stable display of pulse waves. Can do. For this reason, the waveform of the pulse wave similar to the normal time can be obtained by averaging even at the timing when a dropout such as an arrhythmia occurs in one pulse wave of the input pulsating signal. In addition, a stable pulse wave waveform can be obtained even in a situation where sudden disturbance occurs in the input pulsatile signal due to, for example, the movement of the specimen.

In addition, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the lock detection unit A41, so that it can detect whether or not the PLL circuit A12 is locked. As a result, the information processing apparatus A2 determines that the clock signal output from the PLL circuit A12 represents a pulsation in a locked state and is not disturbed by fluctuations in the pulsation signal. Can do.

Further, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the signal counting unit A42, so that it can count pulses per unit time of the divided signal. As a result, the information processing apparatus A2 can measure the pulse rate synchronized with the pulsation of the heart using the frequency-divided signal even if the pulsation signal varies.

Further, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the display A81, thereby displaying whether or not the PLL circuit A12 is locked and displaying the count value of the divided signal per unit time. Thereby, information processing apparatus A2 can display the pulse rate while displaying the synchronous state of PLL circuit A12. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus A2, the sample can confirm the display result and can adjust the intensity of the exercise by himself / herself in real time.

Further, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the waveform display unit A43, so that the waveform of one cycle normalized by the clock signal and averaged by the averaging processing unit A36 can be displayed on the display A81. it can. Thereby, a waveform unrelated to the original pulse wave due to body movement or the like is displayed as a slight state change of the waveform. Further, for example, there are cases where the pulse rate is small or large depending on the specimen or depending on the exercise state, but even when the pulse width (time length) of such a pulse wave is different, the normalized constant One waveform can be displayed in the plane. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus A2, the specimen observes a waveform that is always displayed for one period and shows the same waveform as the original pulse wave, even when fluctuations are added to the pulsation signal. be able to. In addition, the specimen can confirm the pulse wave waveform displayed in a unified manner together with the lock state and the pulse rate, and can adjust the intensity of exercise in real time.

In addition, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the differentiation processing unit A37, so that the pulsation signal can be differentiated by numerical differentiation with respect to the waveform defined on the clock axis instead of the time axis. Differential operation is possible without being affected by the frequency. Thereby, the information processing apparatus A2 can correctly convert the volume pulse wave, velocity pulse wave, and acceleration pulse wave.

In addition, the information processing apparatus A2 includes the integration processing unit A38, so that the pulsation signal can be integrated by numerical integration of the waveform defined on the clock axis instead of the time axis. Integration can be performed without being affected by the frequency. Thereby, the information processing apparatus A2 can correctly convert the volume pulse wave, velocity pulse wave, and acceleration pulse wave.

[I-3. Third embodiment]
An information processing device A3 including a pulse frequency detection unit A301, a clock generator A303, and a sample information processing device A7 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, in the description of the third embodiment, the third embodiment is also referred to as this embodiment. In addition, in order to distinguish from the pulse frequency detection part A302 with which information processing apparatus A3 mentioned later is provided, the pulse frequency detection part A301 which concerns on 3rd embodiment is also called 1st pulse frequency detection part A301. The pulse frequency detection unit A302 according to the fourth embodiment is also referred to as a second pulse frequency detection unit A302. The information processing apparatus A3 according to the present embodiment is configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus A2 according to the second embodiment described above except for a part of the configuration. The description is omitted using the same reference numerals.

[I-3-1. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 19, the signal processing unit A16 of the information processing device A3 is replaced with a binarization processing unit A31, a phase comparator A21, an LPFA 22, a VCO A23b, and a lock detection unit A41 included in the information processing device A2. An AD converter A305, a first pulse frequency detector A301, and a clock generator A303 are provided. The first pulse frequency detection unit A301 includes an LPFA 311, a differentiation processing unit A312, a timing detection unit A313, an interval acquisition unit A314, a frequency calculation unit A315, and a moving average processing unit A316.

<AD converter>
The AD converter A305 converts the signal intensity value of the pulsation signal input from the frequency correction processing unit A71 into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the LPFA 311 of the first pulse frequency detection unit A301.

<LPF>
The LPF A 311 performs LPF processing on the pulsating signal input to the LPFA 311. The LPF A 311 performs processing for passing the fundamental frequency component of the frequency band including the fundamental wave of the pulse wave information of the blood vessel and attenuating the harmonic number component of the frequency band including the harmonic of the fundamental frequency. With the LPFA 311, a pulsation signal composed of the fundamental frequency portion of the pulse wave information is obtained. Further, the LPFA 311 reduces noise components derived from other than the pulse wave information included in the pulsation signal.

The cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter by the LPF A311 can be set as appropriate so as to exhibit the above-mentioned effect, but the lower limit of the cut-off frequency is usually 1.5 Hz or more, preferably 2 Hz or more, more preferably 2.5 Hz or more. . The upper limit of the cutoff frequency is usually 5 Hz or less, preferably 4 Hz or less, more preferably 3.5 Hz or less. Since the cut-off frequency of the low-pass filter is larger than the lower limit, for example, even when the sample moves and the pulse rate increases, the fundamental frequency component can be passed. Further, the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter is smaller than the above upper limit, so that the harmonic component can be attenuated and the noise component can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the cutoff frequency of the low-pass filter by the LPFA 311 is 3 Hz.

<Differential processing part>
The differentiation processing unit A312 performs numerical differentiation on the pulsation signal subjected to low-pass filter processing by the LPF A311. The differential processing unit A312 obtains the gradient of the numerical change accompanying the time change in the change over time of the intensity of the pulsating signal.

<Timing detector>
The timing detection unit A313 detects the timing when the signal obtained by the differentiation processing unit A312 becomes zero. The timing detection unit A313 obtains the timing of the peak position in the time change of the intensity of the pulsation signal. The timing detection unit A313 sequentially detects the timing when the signal becomes 0 in accordance with the temporal change of the pulsation signal.

<Interval acquisition unit>
The interval acquisition unit A314 acquires a time interval between adjacent timings among the timings detected by the timing detection unit A313. The interval acquisition unit A314 obtains the interval between adjacent timings as the length of one cycle of the pulse wave sandwiched between adjacent peaks of the pulsating signal.

<Frequency calculator>
The frequency calculation unit A315 calculates the pulse frequency by taking the interval of the timing acquired by the interval acquisition unit A314, that is, the reciprocal of the length of one cycle of the pulse wave. The frequency calculation unit A315 sequentially detects the pulse frequency in accordance with the change with time of the pulsation signal.

<Moving average processing section>
The moving average processor A316 performs a moving average process on the plurality of pulse frequencies calculated by the frequency calculator A315. In the present embodiment, an average is taken with respect to the values of the last 10 consecutive pulse frequencies. The moving average processing unit A316 obtains a frequency in which changes occurring between a plurality of continuous pulse frequencies are smoothed.

<First pulse frequency detector>
The first pulse frequency detection unit A301 is configured as a DSP including the above-described functional units. The first pulse frequency detector A301 outputs the averaged pulse frequency of the input pulsation signal to the clock generator A303.

<Clock generator>
The clock generator A303 receives a signal having a frequency obtained by the moving average processing by the moving average processing unit A316, and oscillates a clock signal having a frequency synchronized with this signal. The clock generator A303 according to the present embodiment oscillates a clock signal having a frequency obtained by multiplying the value of the pulse frequency input from the first pulse frequency detector A301 by 128. As a result, the clock generator A303 generates 128 clock signals in the waveform of one pulse wave. The information processing apparatus A3 normalizes the pulsation signal with this clock signal.

<Divisor>
The frequency divider A304 divides the frequency of the clock signal oscillated from the clock generator A303 by a predetermined frequency division ratio N, and outputs the divided frequency as a frequency division signal. In the frequency divider A304 according to the present embodiment, the frequency division ratio N is set to 128, similarly to the frequency divider A24 according to the second embodiment.

<Sample information processing device>
The sample information processing device A7 is configured as described above, and the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit A101 and input to the information processing device A3 is connected to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 through the gain switching unit A51. Input to AD converter A32. The pulsation signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 is input to the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 through the frequency correction processing unit A71 and the AD converter A305. The first pulse frequency detector A301 outputs the pulse frequency subjected to the moving average processing by the moving average processor A316 to the clock generator A303. The clock generator A303 outputs the clock signal to the AD converter A32, the feedback comb filter A34, and the frequency divider A304. The frequency divider A304 outputs the frequency-divided signal to the counter A25 and the signal coefficient unit A42.

[I-3-2. Operation of first pulse frequency detection unit and information processing apparatus]
An example of the pulse frequency detection operation by the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 and the normalization processing operation by the information processing apparatus A3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The sample information processing device A7 detects the pulsation signal by the sample information detection unit A101, and inputs the pulsation signal to the information processing device A3. The AD converter A305 converts the pulsation signal input to the signal processing unit A16 into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the first pulse wave frequency detection unit A301. In this way, the sample information processing apparatus A7 acquires a pulsation signal for performing the normalization process (step SA40).
The LPF A 311 performs a low-pass filter process on the pulsating signal input to the information processing apparatus A3, and outputs a signal composed of the fundamental frequency portion of the pulse wave information (step SA41).
The differentiation processor A 312 differentiates the low-pass filtered signal to obtain the slope of the change in the pulsation signal (step SA42).
The timing detector A313 detects the timing at which the differentiated signal value becomes 0 (step SA43).
The interval acquisition unit A314 acquires an interval between adjacent timings among the detected plurality of timings (step SA44).
The frequency calculation unit A315 calculates a pulse frequency from the acquired timing interval (step SA45).
The moving average processor A316 performs a moving average process on the pulse frequency (step SA46).

The clock generator A303 receives the signal of the frequency subjected to the moving average process, and oscillates the clock signal of this frequency (step SA47). The clock generator A303 outputs the clock signal to the frequency divider A304, the AD converter A32, and the feedback comb filter A34.
The frequency divider A304 divides the frequency of the clock signal by a predetermined frequency division ratio and outputs a frequency divided signal (step SA48). The frequency divider A304 outputs the frequency-divided signal to the counter A25 and the signal counting unit A42.

Through steps SA41 to SA46 described above, the pulse frequency of the pulsation signal acquired by the information processing apparatus A3 is output. In step SA47, a clock signal synchronized with the pulse wave frequency is output.
Subsequent processing using the frequency-divided signal and the clock signal by the information processing device A3 can be performed in the same manner as the processing by Step SA26 to Step SA33 of the information processing device A2.

[I-3-3. Action and effect of information processing apparatus and sample information processing apparatus]
According to the information processing device A3 and the sample information processing device A7 according to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The information processing apparatus A3 according to the present embodiment includes the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 to detect the pulse frequency of the input pulsation signal. At this time, since the pulse frequency has been subjected to moving average processing, a stable pulse wave frequency can be obtained even in a situation in which fluctuation occurs in the input pulsation signal. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A3 includes a clock generator A303, so that a clock signal corresponding to the pulse frequency is output. As a result, a clock signal synchronized with the heart beat can be output. Furthermore, by normalizing the pulsating signal with the clock signal, the same number of clocks can be assigned to each waveform of the pulse wave, and the signal can be handled regardless of the time axis.

[I-4. Fourth embodiment]
An information processing device A4 including a pulse frequency detection unit A302, a clock generator A303, and a sample information processing device A8 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the fourth embodiment is also referred to as this embodiment. The information processing apparatus A4 according to the present embodiment is configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus A2 according to the second embodiment described above except for a part of the configuration. The description is omitted using the same reference numerals.

[I-4-1. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 21, the signal processing unit A17 of the information processing device A4 is replaced with a binarization processing unit A31, a phase comparator A21, an LPFA 22, a VCO A23b, and a lock detection unit A41 included in the information processing device A2. An AD converter A305, a second pulse frequency detector A302, and a clock generator A303 are provided. The second pulse frequency detection unit A302 includes an LPFA 321, a frequency analysis unit A322, a peak detection unit A323, a frequency acquisition unit A324, and a moving average processing unit A325.

<AD converter>
The AD converter A305 converts the signal intensity value of the pulsation signal input from the frequency correction processing unit A71 into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the LPFA 321 of the second pulse frequency detection unit A302.

<LPF>
The LPF A 321 performs LPF processing on the input pulsation signal, similarly to the LPFA 321 according to the third embodiment, and obtains a signal composed of the fundamental frequency portion of the pulse wave information.

<Frequency analysis unit>
The frequency analysis unit A322 performs frequency analysis on the pulsating signal subjected to the low-pass filter processing by the LPF A321. The frequency analysis unit A322 converts the pulsation signal into a spectrum of pulse waves in the frequency domain. As frequency analysis, for example, FFT (Fast Fourier Transform), MEM (Maximum Entropy Method), or autocorrelation analysis, especially AR (Auto-regressive) can be used. . Alternatively, the Wavelet method can be used in a broad sense. The frequency analysis is performed by shifting a time corresponding to a predetermined interval with respect to a pulsating signal having a predetermined length of time.

The length and interval for performing the frequency analysis by the frequency analysis unit A322 can be set as appropriate, but the length of the frequency analysis is usually from 8 seconds to 30 seconds, preferably from the relationship between securing the number of samplings and the load of signal processing, preferably It is 12 seconds or more and 24 seconds or less, more preferably 14 seconds or more and 18 seconds or less. The frequency analysis interval corresponds to the interval at which the pulse frequency is obtained by the second pulse frequency detection unit A302, and is normally 3 seconds or less, preferably 2 seconds or less, more preferably from the viewpoint of following the fluctuation of the pulse frequency. 1 second or less. In this embodiment, a frequency analysis is performed on a pulsating signal having a length of 16 seconds, and then a frequency analysis having a length of 16 seconds after an interval of 1 second is performed. Thereafter, similarly, frequency analysis is performed by shifting the time by 1 second intervals. The frequency analysis unit A322 obtains a power spectrum (pulse wave spectrum) every other second of a pulse wave signal having a length of 16 seconds.

<Peak detection unit>
The peak detector A323 detects the peak having the maximum spectrum intensity from the pulse wave spectrum obtained by the frequency analyzer A322. Since the pulsating signal is a signal composed of the fundamental frequency portion of the pulse wave information by the LPFA 321 described above, the peak frequency detected by the peak detecting unit A323 represents the pulsating frequency of the pulsating signal. The peak detector A323 sequentially detects the maximum peak for each one-second pulse wave spectrum obtained by the frequency analyzer A322.

<Frequency acquisition unit>
The frequency acquisition unit A324 acquires the pulse frequency by reading the frequency at the maximum peak position detected by the peak detection unit A323. The acquisition of the pulse frequency by the frequency acquisition unit A324 is also performed for each peak detected from the pulse wave spectrum at intervals of 1 second.

<Moving average processing section>
The moving average processing unit A325 performs a moving average process on the plurality of pulse frequencies acquired by the frequency acquisition unit A324. In the present embodiment, an average is taken with respect to the values of the last 10 consecutive pulse frequencies. The moving average processing unit A325 obtains a frequency in which changes in a plurality of continuous pulse frequencies are smoothed at intervals of 1 second.

<Second pulse frequency detector>
The second pulse frequency detection unit A302 is configured as a DSP including the above-described functional units. The second pulse frequency detector A302 outputs an averaged pulse frequency of the input pulsation signal to the clock generator A303.

<Clock generator>
The clock generator A303 receives a signal having a frequency obtained by the moving average processing by the moving average processing unit A325, and oscillates a clock signal having a frequency synchronized with this signal, similarly to the clock generator A303 according to the third embodiment. To do. The information processing apparatus A4 normalizes the pulsation signal based on this clock signal.

<Sample information processing device>
The sample information processing device A8 is configured as described above, and the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit A101 and input to the information processing device A4 is connected to the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 through the gain switching unit A51. Input to AD converter A32. The pulsation signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61 is input to the second pulse frequency detection unit A302 through the frequency correction processing unit A71 and the AD converter A305. The second pulse frequency detection unit A302 outputs the pulse frequency subjected to the moving average processing by the moving average processing unit A325 to the clock generator A303. The clock generator A303 outputs the clock signal to the AD converter A32, the feedback comb filter A34, and the frequency divider A304. The frequency divider A304 outputs the frequency-divided signal to the counter A25 and the signal coefficient unit A42.

[I-4-2. Operation of second pulse frequency detection unit and information processing apparatus]
An example of the pulse frequency detection operation by the second pulse frequency detection unit A302 and the normalization processing operation by the information processing apparatus A4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The sample information processing device A8 detects the pulsation signal by the sample information detection unit A101, and inputs the pulsation signal to the information processing device A4. The AD converter A305 converts the pulsation signal input to the signal processing unit A17 into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the second pulse wave frequency detection unit A302. In this way, the sample information processing apparatus A8 acquires a pulsation signal for performing the normalization process (step SA60).
The LPF A321 performs a low-pass filter process on the pulsating signal input to the information processing apparatus A4, and outputs a signal composed of the fundamental frequency portion of the pulse wave information (step SA61).
The frequency analysis unit A322 performs frequency analysis on the low-pass filtered signal to obtain a pulse wave power spectrum (step SA62).
The peak detector A323 detects the peak having the maximum spectrum intensity from the power spectrum of the pulse wave (step SA63).
The frequency acquisition unit A324 acquires the pulse frequency from the detected maximum peak (step SA64).
The moving average processing unit A325 performs moving average processing on the pulse frequency (step SA65).

The clock generator A303 receives the signal of the frequency subjected to the moving average process and oscillates the clock signal (step SA66). The clock generator A303 outputs the clock signal to the frequency divider A304, the AD converter A32, and the feedback comb filter A34.
The frequency divider A304 divides the frequency of the clock signal by a predetermined frequency dividing ratio and outputs a frequency divided signal (step SA67). The frequency divider A304 outputs the frequency-divided signal to the counter A25 and the signal counting unit A42.

In steps SA61 to SA65 described above, the pulse frequency of the pulsation signal acquired by the information processing apparatus A4 is output. In step SA66, a clock signal synchronized with the pulse wave frequency is output.
Subsequent processing using the frequency-divided signal and the clock signal by the information processing device A4 can be performed in the same manner as the processing by Step SA26 to Step SA33 of the information processing device A2.

[I-4-3. Action and effect of information processing apparatus and sample information processing apparatus]
According to the information processing device A4 and the sample information processing device A8 according to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
The information processing apparatus A4 according to the present embodiment includes the second pulse frequency detection unit A302 to detect the pulse frequency of the input pulsation signal. At this time, since the pulse frequency has been subjected to moving average processing, a stable pulse wave frequency can be obtained even in a situation in which fluctuation occurs in the input pulsation signal. Furthermore, the information processing apparatus A4 includes a clock generator A303, so that a clock signal corresponding to the pulse frequency is output. As a result, a clock signal synchronized with the heart beat can be output. Furthermore, by normalizing the pulsating signal with the clock signal, the same number of clocks can be assigned to each waveform of the pulse wave, and the signal can be handled regardless of the time axis.

[I-5. Others]
[I-5-1. About device configuration]
<About information processing equipment>
In the above embodiment, smartphones are exemplified as the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4. However, the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4 are not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can be applied to a tablet-type terminal (tablet PC), a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, or other measuring equipment or display equipment.

<Signal output>
In the above embodiment, the lock detection unit A41, the signal counting unit A42, and the waveform display unit A43 for the outputs from the VCO A 23a, the phase comparator A21, the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, and the integration processing unit A38. The case where display is performed on the display A 81 has been described. The output of signals from the VCOA 23a, the phase comparator A21, the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, and the integration processing unit A38 is not limited to this, and is used for signal processing inside the information processing devices A1 to A4. Alternatively, the information may be sent to an external information processing apparatus for signal processing by being stored in a recording medium or using wireless or wired communication.

<About the display>
In the above embodiment, the case where the display screen of the display provided in the information processing devices A1 to A4 functions as the display A81 has been described. The configuration of the display A81 is not limited to this. For example, green and red LED lamps provided in the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4, which indicate the locked state of the PLL circuits A11 and A12 by lighting them. Also good. Alternatively, the display A81 may be composed of a plurality of 7-segment displays provided in the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4, and display the count value of the clock signal by lighting them. The waveform may be displayed by inputting the output from the waveform display unit A43 to an external waveform display device such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT, a printer, an oscilloscope, or a pen recorder.

[I-5-2. About signal processing]
<Configuration of signal processing unit>
In the above-described embodiment, the processing by the gain switching unit A51, the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, the frequency correction processing unit A71, and the PLL circuits A11 and A12 has been described as the processing by the analog circuit, but the digital circuit, for example, a circuit including a DSP A combination of an analog circuit or an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) or a DSP may be used to process a signal by a circuit including this digital circuit. Alternatively, the signal processing application software is developed on the memory included in the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4 and executed by the CPU, so that it functions as a gain switching unit, a frequency characteristic compensation unit, a frequency correction processing unit, and a PLL. It may be.

In the above embodiment, the case where the DSP performs the processing of the feedback comb filter A34 has been described. However, the feedback comb filter A34 is executed by an operation between the microcomputer and the first memory A33 and the second memory A35. May be.

In the above embodiment, the case where the pulsation signal is normalized by the PLL circuit A12 or the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 or the second pulse frequency detection unit A302 which is a DSP and the clock generator A303 has been described. The processing by each means (normalizing means) for normalizing these pulsating signals is performed by developing application software for signal processing on the memory provided in the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4 and executing it by the CPU. It may be made to function as a conversion means. The information processing apparatuses A1 to A4 convert the pulsating signal into digital data using an AD converter, acquire the digital data of the pulsating signal, and execute processing for normalizing the pulsating signal.

In this case, the storage devices in the information processing devices A1 to A4 function as the PLL circuit A12, the first pulse frequency detection unit A301, the second pulse frequency detection unit A302, and the clock generator A303, respectively, by causing the CPU to execute them. Save the program to be executed. The CPUs of the information processing devices A1 to A4 realize various functions by reading out and executing programs stored in the storage device. The CPU functions as normalizing means of the signal processing units A15 to A17 by executing these programs. In this way, the program causes the computers A2 to A4 to execute processing for acquiring the pulsating signal and normalizing the pulsating signal.

At this time, the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 is a functional part that is arithmetically processed by the CPU inside the information processing apparatus A3, and each function is configured as an individual program. That is, the first pulse frequency detection unit A301 functions as LPF means, differentiation processing means, timing detection means, interval acquisition means, frequency calculation means, and moving average processing means.

The second pulse frequency detection unit A302 is a functional part that is arithmetically processed by the CPU inside the information processing apparatus A4, and each function is configured as an individual program. That is, the second pulse frequency detection unit A302 functions as LPF means, frequency analysis means, peak detection means, frequency acquisition means, and moving average processing means.

The programs for realizing the functions as these functional means are, for example, a flexible disk, CD (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, etc.), DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-). R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, HD DVD, etc.), Blu-ray disc, magnetic disc, optical disc, magneto-optical disc, and the like. The information processing devices A1 to A4 read the program from the recording medium, transfer it to the internal storage device or the external storage device, and use it. The program is recorded in a storage device (recording medium) (not shown) such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk, and is provided to the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4 via the communication path. It may be.

In the above embodiment, the information processing apparatuses A3 and A4 convert the input pulsation signal into a digital signal using the AD converter A305 and the pulse frequency detection units A301 and A302 configured as a DSP. The case of processing is described. The processing of the pulsation signal is not limited to this, and the information processing devices A3 and A4 may not include the AD converter A305, and each functional part of the pulse frequency detection units A301 and A302 may be configured by an analog circuit. At this time, the information processing apparatuses A3 and A4 process the input pulsation signal in the form of an analog signal.

<About PLL>
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the PLL circuits A11 and A12 are secondary system PLLs has been described. However, the PLL circuits A11 and A12 are not limited thereto, and may be any higher-order loop than the secondary system. Good. Thus, the PLL circuits A11 and A12 can lock with a phase difference of zero within a certain time even when the phase of the pulse wave of the input pulsating signal is suddenly shifted.

<About VCO>
In the above embodiment, the case where the oscillation frequency of the VCO A 23b is designed to vary around 128 Hz and the frequency division ratio N of the frequency divider A24 is 128 has been described. The number of clocks and the frequency division ratio are not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate. For example, the number of clocks and the frequency division ratio may be 256, 512, or 1024. The frequency divider A24 may be a programmable frequency divider that can change the frequency division ratio N in accordance with the oscillation frequency of the VCOA 23b. At this time, as the number of clocks increases, the loop gain that determines the characteristics of the PLL decreases accordingly, so that the so-called lock range tends to decrease. However, this is preferable from the viewpoint of increasing the accuracy of waveform determination. Further, as the clock is smaller, control tends to be required to stably oscillate the VCO at a low frequency, but this is preferable from the viewpoint of no decrease in loop gain.

<Signals input to PLL circuit and AD converter>
In the above embodiment, the case where the velocity pulse wave signal is output to the binarization processing unit A31, the AD converter A32, or the AD converter A305 has been described. However, the binarization processing unit A31 and the AD converter A32 are output. Alternatively, the signal input to the AD converter A305 may be a pulse wave signal of a volume pulse wave, a velocity pulse wave, or an acceleration pulse wave.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the signal binarized by the binarization processing unit A31 is input to the PLL circuits A11 and A12 has been described. A signal may be input.

<About the averaging processor>
In the above embodiment, the case has been described in which the averaging processing unit A36 outputs the average value of the signal intensity of 10 waveforms. However, the number of average values to be calculated is not limited to this, and may be changed as appropriate. It's okay. When the number of signals to be averaged is large, it is possible to obtain a signal having a characteristic that responds slowly to changes in the signal. This is suitable when there is a large variation with respect to the signal, such as when the specimen is moving. When the number of signals to be averaged is small, it is possible to obtain a signal that exhibits characteristics that easily follow changes in the signal. This is suitable when it is desired to observe changes in the pulse wave, such as when the specimen is at rest. Alternatively, a signal corresponding to one waveform may be output without performing averaging by the averaging processing unit A36.

<Signal processing sequence and contents>
In the above embodiment, the feedback comb filter A34 reads out the signal intensity of the pulsating signal recorded in the first memory A33, performs the filter process, and records the signal intensity data after the filter process in the second memory A35. Explained when to do. Further, a case has been described in which the signal strength recorded in the second memory A35 is read and processed by the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, and the integration processing unit A38. The order and contents of the processing of the pulsation signal are not limited to this, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, without performing the filtering process by the feedback comb filter A34, the averaging processing unit A36, the differentiation processing unit A37, and the integration processing unit A38 read the signal intensity of the pulsating signal recorded in the first memory A33, respectively. It may be processed. Further, the differential processing unit A37 and the integration processing unit A38 may process the average signal intensity calculated by the averaging processing unit A36.

In the above embodiment, the case where the waveform is displayed on the display device A81 from the averaging processing unit A36 via the waveform display unit A43 has been described. However, the signal recorded in the first memory A33 or the second memory A35. May be output to the waveform display part A43 and the display A81 to display the waveform. For example, when displaying a signal recorded in the second memory A35, the waveform display unit A43 first increases the signal intensity from the second memory A35 to the clock number 127 in order from the clock number 0 to the desired waveform number. read out. Next, the waveform display unit A43 generates one waveform data representing the relationship between the clock number and the signal strength, and outputs it to the display A81. The display A81 receives the data from the waveform display unit A43 and displays the pulsation signal as a waveform for each cycle of one pulse wave.

<About waveform display>
In the above embodiment, the waveform display unit A43 generates data for displaying a waveform for one cycle, and the display A81 displays a pulsating signal as a waveform for one cycle. You may comprise so that not only a wave but the waveform of a desired number of pulse waves may be displayed. In this case, the waveform display unit A43 displays the waveform for a plurality of periods in a two-dimensional manner by taking a clock number that is an integer multiple of 128 corresponding to the number of waveforms on the horizontal axis for the signal intensity at a plurality of waveform numbers. Data can be generated.

<About lock detection unit>
In the above embodiment, the lock detection unit A41 has been described with respect to the case where the pulsation signal and the feedback signal are input from the phase comparator A21 and the phases of the two signals are compared. The determination of phase synchronization and the detection of the lock of the PLL circuits A11 and A12 are not limited to this. The lock detector A41 receives the phase difference signal from the phase comparator A21, compares the magnitude of the input phase difference signal with a predetermined set value, and the PLL circuits A11 and A12 lock the pulsation signal. It may be determined whether or not. At this time, the magnitude of the input phase difference signal is compared with a predetermined set value, and when the magnitude of the input phase difference signal is smaller than the predetermined set value, it is determined that the lock is established. Further, when the magnitude of the input phase difference signal is equal to or larger than a predetermined set value, it is determined that the lock is not established. In addition, the display of the lock state is displayed on the display A 81 as detecting that a change in the lock state is detected when the locked state or the unlocked state continues for a certain period of time. May be.

[I-5-3. About the display of pulsatile signal far from the average value]
The information processing apparatus A2 may have means for displaying a pulsation signal that deviates more than the average value. A disturbance that is meaningful as a biological signal, such as a rare arrhythmia, may be required to display only that portion. By comparing the pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus A2 with the average value of the signal intensity obtained by the averaging processing unit A36, the pulsation signal having a waveform that is more than a certain distance from the average value is It is preferable to display on the display A81 separately from the waveform of the pulse wave.

[I-5-4. Acquisition of pulsation signal]
In the above embodiment, the specimen information detection unit A101 detects a pulsation signal, and the pulsation signal is input to the information processing devices A1 to A4, whereby the information processing devices A1 to A4 acquire the pulsation signal. Explained when to do. The pulsation signal may be acquired by reading out the pulsation signal data stored in the storage means inside or outside the information processing apparatuses A1 to A4.

Further, the acquisition of the pulsation signal may use the sample information detecting device and the sample information processing device according to the second invention described later. In this case, the sample information detection unit A101 according to the first invention corresponds to the sample information detection units B32 and B33 according to the second invention. The gain switching unit A51, the frequency characteristic compensation unit A61, the frequency correction processing unit A71, and the AD converter A305 according to the first invention are the same as the gain switching unit B95, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, This corresponds to the frequency correction processing unit B90 and the AD conversion unit B89, respectively. For this reason, both can combine each structure suitably. For example, the pulsation signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 according to the second invention is input to the frequency correction processing unit A71 or the AD converter A305 according to the first invention. It may be. Alternatively, the signals processed by the input processing unit, gain switching unit B95, and frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 according to the second invention are input to the frequency correction processing unit A71 or AD converter A305 according to the first invention. You may make it do.

[II. Sample Information Detection Device, Sample Information Processing Device, Information Processing Device, and Interface Device]
Embodiments of a specimen information detection apparatus for detecting specimen information, an information processing apparatus for processing the specimen information, a specimen information processing apparatus, and an interface apparatus according to a second invention will be described. Hereinafter, in the description of the second invention, the second invention is referred to as the present invention.

As described in

Patent Documents

1 and 2, in a state where the surface of the specimen and the sensor are closed, the pressure information resulting from the pulsation signal of the blood vessel of the specimen is received, and the pulsation signal in the specimen is obtained. Attempts have been made to detect and perform signal processing of the detected sample information.

In the conventional detection of specimen information, the characteristics of the sensor used for detection are not mentioned. Further, even if the external auditory canal is physically closed, it is difficult to completely close the external auditory canal due to the presence of body hair or the like present in the external auditory canal, and the improvement in detection sensitivity due to the closure of the external auditory canal is limited. In Patent Document 2, an attempt is made to extract a specific frequency region for signal processing of detected specimen information. However, in the conventional processing method, signal processing focused on the fact that the ear canal is not completely closed is It was not done.

Also, in order to monitor the health condition by routinely detecting the pulsation signal of the specimen, a mechanism that can easily perform the measurement is required.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of obtaining a pulsating signal suitable for observation regardless of a unit used for measurement. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect a pulsation signal of a blood vessel and input an appropriate signal whose signal level is adjusted to the information processing apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present embodiment, and can be selected or combined as necessary.

[II-1. First embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 23, the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a sample information detection apparatus B13 and an information processing apparatus B23. Hereinafter, in the description of the first embodiment, the first embodiment is also simply referred to as this embodiment.

[II-1-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
The configurations of the sample information processing device B3, the sample information detection device B13, and the information processing device B23 according to the present embodiment, and the elements constituting each unit will be described. FIG. 23 schematically illustrates the configuration of the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the present embodiment.

[II-1-1-1. Configuration of specimen information detection apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 23, the sample information detection apparatus B13 includes a sample information detection unit B32 and a connection unit B53.
<Sample information detection unit>
The sample information detection unit B32 is a headphone provided with a right-ear headphone unit B35 (R headphone unit) and a left-ear headphone unit B37 (L headphone unit). The R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 are formed in a symmetrical shape in accordance with the structure of the left and right ears, but the configuration and function are the same. For this reason, in this embodiment, the R headphone unit B35 will be mainly described as an example.

23, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the switch circuit B68 of the connection portion B53. The signal line B38 of the L headphone unit B37 is connected to an L headphone terminal B66 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion B53. In addition, the ground line B41 obtained by joining the ground line B41a of the R headphone unit B35 and the ground line B41b of the L headphone unit B37 is connected to the ground terminal B64 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion B53.

The specimen information detection unit B32 is provided with a headphone driver unit that detects a pulsation signal of a blood vessel and a housing portion that includes the sensor inside. The sample information detection unit B32 is attached toward a part constituting the outer ear of the sample. When the casing is mounted facing the specimen or including the specimen, the housing is surrounded by the casing and the specimen and communicates with the sensor, and the casing is located outside the internal space. An external space that is blocked by the body part is formed. At this time, the housing part forms a cavity having a closed or substantially closed space structure while isolating a part constituting the outer ear from the external space while being attached to the specimen.

When the housing part isolates the part constituting the outer ear from the external space, a mode in which a cavity having a closed or almost closed space structure is formed is a method of mounting the specimen information detection unit B32 on the specimen, It changes depending on the shape of the housing part and the relationship between the housing part and the parts constituting the outer ear. As one aspect, the housing portion forms a cavity that is a closed or substantially closed space structure together with a portion constituting the outer ear. As another aspect, the housing portion forms a cavity that includes a portion constituting the outer ear and forms a closed or substantially closed space structure. Further, the casing portion may form a cavity that is a closed or substantially closed space structure including a part of the part constituting the outer ear together with a part of the part constituting the outer ear.

As the specimen information detection unit B32 that forms such a cavity, for example, canal type inner ear type headphones, on-ear type headphones, or around ear type headphones can be used.

As an example of the sample information detection unit B32, as shown in FIG. 24, the sample information detection unit is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone that is used in a state where the housing portion B211 is inserted into the external opening B105 of the ear canal B104. B32a can be used. The canal-type earbud headphones are sometimes called canal-type earbud earphones.

As shown in FIG. 24, the specimen information detection unit B32a includes a housing part B211 that forms a cavity B109a that forms a closed or almost closed space structure together with the external auditory canal B104 that is a part constituting the external ear B107. That is, the specimen information detection unit B32a is configured such that the cavity B109a formed when the specimen B101 is attached to the specimen B101 forms a closed or almost closed space structure, and the volume in the cavity B109a is kept constant. Prepare.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 27, sample information that is an on-ear type headphone that is used in a state in which a housing portion B612 is attached to a position B601 on the auricle B108 that is a part constituting the outer ear B107. The detection unit B32b can be used (see FIG. 28).

As shown in FIG. 25, the specimen information detection unit B32b includes a housing portion B612 that forms a cavity B109b having a closed or almost closed space structure together with the external auditory canal B104 and the pinna B108. That is, the specimen information detection unit B32b has a configuration in which the cavity B109b formed when the specimen information detection unit B32 is mounted on the specimen B101 forms a closed or almost closed space structure, and the volume in the cavity B109b is kept constant. Prepare. At this time, the casing B612 covers a part of the outer ear B107 to form a cavity B109b that includes a part of the auricle B108 and has a closed or almost closed space structure.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27, a sample that is an around-ear type headphone that is used in a state in which a housing portion B622 is attached to a position B602 on the head B110 that covers the periphery of the auricle B108. An information detection unit B32c can be used (see FIG. 29). Around-ear headphones are sometimes referred to as over-ear headphones.

As shown in FIG. 26, the specimen information detection unit B32c includes a housing portion B622 that includes a pinna B108 and forms a cavity B109c that has a closed or almost closed space structure. At this time, the housing portion B622 forms a cavity B109c having a closed or substantially closed space structure together with the external auditory canal B104 and the pinna B108. That is, the sample information detection unit B32c is configured such that the cavity B109c formed when the sample B101c is attached to the sample B101 forms a closed or almost closed space structure, and the volume in the cavity B109c is kept constant. Prepare.

The above on-ear type headphones and around-ear type headphones may be collectively referred to as overhead type headphones.
Hereinafter, the structure of each headphone and the configuration of the sample information detection unit B32 corresponding to each headphone will be described in detail. In the case where the sample information detection units B32a, B32b, and B32c are not particularly distinguished from each other, the description will be given with the same reference numeral as the “sample information detection unit B32”, and the same reference numerals will be given to portions common to the respective sample information detection units. May be explained. Also, the cavities B109a, B109b, and B109c will be described with the same reference numerals as “cavity B109” unless otherwise distinguished.

24, 25, and 26 are diagrams schematically illustrating an example of the relationship between the sample information detection unit B32 and the outer ear B107 of the sample information detection apparatus B13 according to the first embodiment. 24, 25, and 26 schematically show the structure of an ear in a human head B110 as a specimen B101, which has a cochlea and a semicircular canal and is connected to the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve, the inner ear, the ossicle, and the ear. An outer ear B107 having a heel and having a middle ear, an ear canal B104, and an auricle B108, which is a part from the eardrum B106, is illustrated.

FIG. 27 schematically shows the structure of an auricle B108 which is a part of the outer ear B107. As shown in FIG. 27, each part of the auricle B108 is located at a position covering the external auditory canal B104. These are referred to as the upper opposite leg B118, the triangular fossa B119, the lower opposite leg B120, and the concha B121.

<Structure of canal-type earbud headphones>
As shown in FIG. 24, the sample information detection unit B32a, which is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone, has a housing part B211 in which a sensor B212 is built, and includes a pair of right and left. These correspond to the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37, respectively.

The R headphone unit B35 includes a housing part B211 and the housing part B211 is provided with a sensor B212. The sensor B212 functions as a speaker that generates air vibration according to the input signal, and also functions as a microphone that detects pressure information of the air vibration and inputs a signal. Hereinafter, the configuration of the sample information detection unit B32a will be described with reference to FIG. 24 taking the R headphone unit B35 as an example.

(Case)
As shown in FIG. 24, the casing B211 closes the external opening B105 in the external auditory canal B104 of the specimen B101, and can be formed as a cavity B109a having a spatial structure in which the external auditory canal B104 is closed or substantially closed. It can be attached to B107. The casing B211 includes a sensor B212 inside, a housing B218 that houses the sensor B212, and an earpiece B213 that is attached to the housing B218. The housing B218 is made of a hard material such as synthetic resin, metal, or wood, and has a space inside. Inside the housing B218, a sensor B212 is provided as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 24, the earpiece B213 has a cylindrical shape, a dome shape, a bullet shape, and the like so as to form a cavity B109a that closes the outer opening B105 and closes or substantially closes the outer ear canal B104. Or it is preferable to have a bell-shaped outer shape. By having the outer shape of the earpiece B213, it is possible to insert the top portion B216 side of the cylindrical, dome-shaped, shell-shaped, or bell-shaped housing portion B211 toward the depth direction of the ear canal B104. Thereby, according to the expansion of the outer diameter from the top part B216 of the earpiece B213 to the end part B217, the external opening B105 can be suitably closed.

The earpiece B213 preferably has a size that prevents the outer opening B105 when the top B216 side is inserted into the ear canal B104. The diameter of the earpiece B213 in the circumferential direction is equal to the inner diameter of the outer opening B105 of the ear canal B104. It is preferable that the sizes are substantially the same or larger. With this configuration, the casing B211 can suitably close the external opening B105.

Further, the earpiece B213 is preferably made of an elastic material, for example, rubber or silicon rubber is used. The earpiece B213 is preferably configured to be elastically deformed in accordance with the internal shape of the external opening B105 of the external auditory canal B104 and to close the external opening B105. With this material, the earpiece B213 can block the external opening B105 in accordance with the shape of the ear canal B104.

As the earpiece B213 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 24, for example, an earpiece used for a canal-type inner earphone (sometimes referred to as an eartip or an earbud) can be used.

As shown in FIG. 24, the earpiece B213 is formed with a concave portion B214 having a concave cylindrical space from the center of the top portion B216 toward the inside of the earpiece B213. The recessed portion B214 is provided with an opening B215 that communicates the top B216 side and the end B217 side of the earpiece B213. Furthermore, by providing the sensor B212 toward the opening B215 of the earpiece B213, the sensor B212 closes the end B217 side of the opening B215. Thus, when the housing part B211 closes the external opening B105, the sensor B212 is configured to detect a pulsation signal of the blood vessel through the opening B215.

(Sensor)
A driver unit is housed in the space inside the housing B218. When listening to music using the sample information detection unit B32a as headphones, the driver unit functions as a speaker unit for headphones. The sample information detection unit B32a uses this driver unit as the sensor B212. As the driver unit, a dynamic type, balanced armature type, or capacitor type driver unit can be used.

Sensor B212 is not limited to the above driver unit as long as it detects a pulsation signal of a blood vessel. Of a microphone or a piezoelectric element that electrically detects air vibration (sound pressure information) caused by vibration of the skin or tympanic membrane B106 part in the site constituting the outer ear B107, which is caused by blood vessel pulsation in the site constituting the outer ear B107 Such a pressure sensitive element can be suitably used. Among the microphones, a condenser microphone (condenser microphone) is preferable in terms of directivity, S / N ratio, and sensitivity, and an ECM (electret condenser condenser microphone; hereinafter, also simply referred to as “ECM”) is preferably used. it can. In addition, a MEMS type ECM (hereinafter also referred to as “MEMS-ECM”), which is an ECM manufactured using a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technique, can be preferably used. As the piezoelectric element, a PZT piezoelectric element using lead zirconate titanate (also referred to as PZT) can be suitably used as a ceramic exhibiting high piezoelectricity.

It should be noted that the blood vessel in the part constituting the outer ear B107 means a blood vessel existing in the ear canal B104, the tympanic membrane B106, or the pinna B108.

The sensor B212 is connected to the signal line B36 and the ground line B41a. The signal line B36 is connected to the gain switching unit B95 via the switch circuit B68 of the connection unit B53 (FIG. 23).

(cavity)
The sample B101 attaches the sample information detection unit B32a to the outer ear B107 so that the earpiece B213 is inserted into the external opening B105. As shown in FIG. 24, when the specimen B101 is mounted with the specimen information detection unit B32a, the earpiece B213 of the casing B211 and the external opening B105 come into contact with each other in an airtight manner, so that the external auditory canal of the specimen B101 is obtained. The external opening B105 in B104 is closed. Accordingly, the outer ear canal B104, the tympanic membrane B106, and the housing portion B211 form a cavity B109a so as to have a spatial structure in which the outer ear canal B104 is closed or substantially closed. The closed space structure formed by the cavity B109a is also referred to as “Closed Cavity”. When the sensor B212 is provided in the opening B215 of the earpiece B213, the external opening B105 is blocked by the casing B211 and the sensor B212, so that the ear canal B104, the eardrum B106, the casing B211, A cavity B109a is formed by the sensor B212.

Although the external opening B105 is closed by the casing B211, a space structure in which the external auditory canal B104 is closed can be achieved, but actually, for example, the casing B211 and the external auditory canal are caused by body hairs present in the external auditory canal B104. There may be a case where a gap is formed between B104 and cannot be completely closed. For this reason, when the external auditory canal B104 is formed as a hollow space structure that is completely closed by closing the external opening B105 with the housing part B211, it is said that the external auditory canal B104 has a closed space structure. On the other hand, when the external opening B105 is closed by the housing part B211, for example, due to the influence of body hair as described above, the external opening B105 is closed, but the external auditory canal B104 is completely closed. When it is formed as a hollow that should not be called, it is called a substantially closed space structure.

Since there is an element that cannot completely close the ear canal B104 as described above, when the ear canal B104 is closed by the housing portion B211, the ear canal B104 is formed as a cavity B109a that has a closed or almost closed space structure. Will do.

At this time, the vibration of the air generated by the vibration of the skin of the ear canal B104 or the tympanic membrane B106 accompanying the pulsation of the blood vessel in the ear canal B104 propagates in the cavity B109a and is transmitted to the sensor B212 through the opening B215. The sensor B212 detects this vibration of air. That is, the sensor B212 detects the pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the ear canal B104 as pressure information propagating in the cavity B109a due to the pulsation signal. Thereby, the sensor B212 can detect the pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the specimen B101 by receiving the pressure information resulting from the pulsation signal of the blood vessel existing inside the ear canal B104 or in the eardrum B106. In other words, the specimen information detection unit B32a can detect the pulsating signal of the specimen B101 as pressure information that propagates through the cavity B109a due to the pulsating signal. The sensor B212 outputs the detected signal to the signal line B36 as a pulsation signal. This signal is input to the gain switching unit B95 of the connection unit B53 connected to the sample information detection unit B32.

<Structure of on-ear type headphones>
As shown in FIG. 28, the specimen information detection unit B32b, which is an on-ear type headphone, includes a pair of left and right housing parts B612 that incorporate a sensor B212, which are respectively provided to the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. Correspond. Furthermore, the sample information detection unit B32b includes an attachment member B615 that is connected to the case B612 and attaches the case B612 to the sample B101. Hereinafter, the configuration of the sample information detection unit B32b will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 28, taking the R headphone unit B35 as an example. The sample information detection unit B32b is partially configured in the same manner as the above-described sample information detection unit B32a, and the description of the same components as the above-described sample information detection unit B32a is omitted.

The housing portion B612 includes a sensor B212 therein, and includes a housing B613 that houses the sensor B212, and an ear pad B614 that is attached to the housing B613.

The housing B613 is made of a hard material such as synthetic resin, metal, or wood, and is formed into a short cylindrical or dome shape having a space inside. The housing B613 is formed in an oval shape or an elliptical shape having the same size as the position B601 on the auricle B108 in accordance with the shape and size of the ear pad B614.

The driver unit is housed in the space inside the housing B613. When listening to music using the sample information detection unit B32b as headphones, the driver unit functions as a speaker unit for headphones. The sample information detection unit B32b uses this driver unit as the sensor B212. As the driver unit, a dynamic type, balanced armature type, or capacitor type driver unit can be used as in the case of the above-mentioned canal type inner ear type headphones.

The housing B613 has an opening B616 on the surface facing the sample B101 when the sample B101 is mounted with the sample information detection unit B32b, and the opening B616 is provided so that the earpad B614 closes the opening B616. Yes. External driver vibration is transmitted to the driver unit in the housing B613 through the opening B616 and the ear pad B614.

The housing B613 includes a sealed type (closed type) in which a portion other than the opening B616 described above is sealed, an open type (open air type) in which a portion other than the opening B616 is opened, and a sealed type and an open type. There is a semi-open type (semi-open type) which is closed in between the mold. In the case of the sealed type, the closed level of the closed cavity can be increased when the sample B101 is mounted with the sample information detection unit B32b, which is preferable for detecting a pulsating signal. Even in the case of the semi-open type, the closed level of the closed cavity is lower than in the case of the closed type, but the pulsation signal can be detected. In the present embodiment, a case where the housing B613 is a sealed type will be described.

The ear pad B 614 includes a cushioned inner member B 617 formed in a substantially disc shape, and an outer member B 618 that covers the inner member B 617 and contacts the specimen B 101. The inner member B617 is made of a synthetic resin or rubber as a raw material and is a porous material that is elastically deformed. The inner member B617 is formed in a substantially disk shape with a slightly depressed central portion. The material of the inner member B617 is mainly urethane. The external material B618 is a flexible thin sheet-like member made of synthetic leather, artificial leather, cloth, or synthetic resin. The ear pad B614 covers the above-described opening B616 of the housing B613 so that the sample B101 is attached to a portion that comes into contact with the sample B101 when the sample information detection unit B32b is mounted.

The mounting member B615 connects the pair of left and right housing parts B612. The mounting member B615 is formed in a substantially C shape, and a housing portion B612 is attached to both end portions thereof so that the ear pad B614 portion faces inward. The mounting member B615 is formed so as to urge the tension with the substantially C-shaped end portions directed toward the inner portion. The mounting member B615 is made to be extendable or foldable. Thereby, the length between the housing | casing part B612 can be positioned so that it may become predetermined length. Therefore, by extending or shortening the length of the mounting member B615 in accordance with the size of the head B110 of the sample B101 or the position of the auricle B108, when the sample B101 mounts the sample information detection unit B32b, The body part B612 can be worn so that it comes to the position of the right ear and the left ear, respectively. Further, when the mounting member B615 can be folded, the folding portion is extended during use, and folded during storage or transportation, so that space-saving storage and easy transportation are possible.

The specimen B101 attaches the specimen information detection unit B32b to the head so that the ear pad B614 is applied to the position B601 above the pinna B108 and the mounting member B615 is placed on the head. The ear pad B 614 is pressed so as to be pressed against the head B 110 by the tension of the mounting member B 615, and deforms according to the shape of the head B 110 and the auricle B 108. Thus, the sample B101 can be mounted with the sample information detection unit B32b so as to prevent a gap from being generated between the ear pad B614 and the head B110 and the pinna B108. At this time, the ear pad B614 is interposed between the eardrum B106 and the sensor B212, and can transmit air vibrations.

As described above, by isolating the part constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space by the housing part B612, it is possible to obtain a space structure in which the cavity B109b is closed. However, in reality, there may be a gap in the porous portion of the inner member B617 of the ear pad B614, the gap of the material itself of the outer member B618, or the housing B613 when the housing B613 is not a sealed type. Alternatively, between the ear pad B614 and the head B110 or the pinna B108 of the specimen B101, the deformation of the earpad B614 according to the shape of the head B110 or the pinna B108 is insufficient, or hair or body hair is caught. In some cases, voids may occur. Due to the presence of such elements, the cavity B109b may not be completely closed. Therefore, when the part constituting the outer ear B107 is isolated from the external space by the housing portion B612, the space structure including the part constituting the outer ear B107 and part of the auricle B108 is closed or substantially closed. The cavity B109b is formed.

When the sample B101 mounts the sample information detection unit B32b, the ear pad B614 of the housing B612 and the auricle B108 come into contact with each other so as to be airtight, so that a part constituting the outer ear B107 is blocked from the external space. Can be removed. Accordingly, the external ear canal B104, the tympanic membrane B106, the auricle B108, and the housing portion B612 form a cavity B109b that has a spatial structure that is closed or substantially closed together with a portion that forms the outer ear B107. That is, a space B109b including a space inside the ear canal B104, a space between the ear canal B104 and the auricle B108 and the ear pad B614, and a space inside the housing portion B612 is formed and includes a part of the auricle B108. Is done. Thereby, the sensor B212 can detect the pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the specimen B101 in response to the pressure information resulting from the pulsation signal of the blood vessel existing inside the ear canal B104, the tympanic membrane B106, or the pinna B108.

<Structure of around-ear headphones>
As shown in FIG. 29, the specimen information detection unit B32c, which is an around-ear type headphone, includes a pair of left and right housing parts B622 that incorporate a sensor B212, which are provided in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. Each corresponds. Furthermore, the sample information detection unit B32b includes an attachment member B625 that is connected to the case B622 and attaches the case B622 to the sample B101. Hereinafter, the configuration of the sample information detection unit B32c will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 29, taking the R headphone unit B35 as an example. The sample information detection unit B32c is partially configured in the same manner as the above-described sample information detection unit B32b, and the description of the same components as the above-described sample information detection unit B32b is omitted.

The housing portion B622 includes a sensor B212 therein, and includes a housing B623 that houses the sensor B212 and an ear pad B624 that is attached to the housing B623. In FIG. 29, one ear pad B624 faces the front side in the figure and the other ear pad B624 faces the back side in the figure, but in use, the pair of housing parts B622 has the ear pad B624 part inward. Wear them so that they face each other.

The housing B623 is configured in the same manner as the housing B613, but is slightly larger than the position B601 on the auricle B108 and about the same as the position B602 covering the auricle B108 in accordance with the shape and size of the earpad B624. It is formed in the shape of an ellipse or ellipse.

The ear pad B624 is configured in the same manner as the ear pad B614, but has an annular part B629 formed in a substantially annular shape having an inner member B627 having a size similar to that of the position B602 covering the auricle B108. External material B628 covers. In addition, the annular portion B629 is formed with such a thickness that the inner portion B630 of the annular portion B629 does not press the auricle B108 when the sample B101 mounts the sample information detection unit B32c. Further, the ear pad B624 is attached so as to cover the opening 626 of the housing B623 in the inner portion B630 of the annular portion B629.

The mounting member B625 is configured in the same manner as the mounting member B615.

The specimen B101 attaches the specimen information detection unit B32c to the head so that the ear pad B624 is applied to a position B602 on the head B110 that covers the pinna B108 and the mounting member B625 is placed on the head. At this time, the ear pad B624 is mounted so that the auricle B108 fits into the inner portion B630 of the annular portion B629 of the earpad B624. The ear pad B624 receives pressure so as to be pressed against the head B110 by the tension of the mounting member B625, and deforms in accordance with the shape of the head B110. Thus, the sample B101 can be mounted with the sample information detection unit B32c so as to prevent a gap from being generated between the ear pad B624 and the head B110. At this time, in the ear pad B624, the inner portion B630 of the annular portion B629 is interposed between the eardrum B106 and the sensor B212, and can transmit air vibrations.

As described above, by isolating the portion constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space by the housing portion B622, the space B109c can be closed. However, as in the case of the housing part B612, in reality, there is a case where a gap is generated and the cavity B109c cannot be completely closed. Therefore, when the part constituting the outer ear B107 is isolated from the external space by the housing portion B622, the cavity B109c including the auricle B108 and the closed or almost closed space structure is formed together with the part constituting the outer ear B107. Will form.

When the sample B101 mounts the sample information detection unit B32c, the ear pad B624 of the housing unit B622 and the head B110 come into contact with each other so as to be airtight, so that the part constituting the outer ear B107 is blocked from the external space. Can be removed. As a result, the external ear canal B104, the eardrum B106, the housing part B622, and the head part B110 form a cavity B109c so as to have a spatial structure that is closed or substantially closed together with the parts constituting the outer ear B107. That is, a cavity B109c including the auricle B108 is formed, which includes a space inside the ear canal B104, a space surrounded by the ear canal B104, the head B110, and the ear pad B624, and a space inside the housing portion B622. The Thereby, the sensor B212 can detect the pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the specimen B101 in response to the pressure information resulting from the pulsation signal of the blood vessel existing inside the ear canal B104, the tympanic membrane B106, or the pinna B108.

<Connection part>
As shown in FIG. 23, the connection unit B53 according to the present embodiment includes a switch circuit B68, a switch B69, a gain switching unit B95, a waveform equalization processing unit B271, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 having a waveform determination unit B272, and a power supply B71. , FET B72, and first plug B62. Hereinafter, the configuration of the connecting portion B53 will be described with reference to FIG.

The connection unit B53 inserts the first plug B62 into the first jack B81 of the information processing device B23, thereby allowing the sample information detection device B13, the information processing device B23, and the like to pass through the first plug B62 and the first jack B81. Is connected. The connection portion B53 constitutes a plug portion of the sample information detection unit B32 as a headphone that is inserted into the jack B (first jack B81) of the smartphone B23.

(Switch circuit and switch)
The switch circuit B68 is switch means for switching whether the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the gain switching unit B95 or to the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62. In other words, the switch circuit B68 includes a connection from the sensor B212 to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and a connection from the sensor B212 to the R headphone terminal B65. Is to switch.

The switch B69 is a switch provided so that the switch circuit B68 can be operated from the outside of the connection portion B53. For example, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, or the like is used. The connection of the switch circuit B68 can be switched by operating the switch B69.

(Gain switching part)
The gain switching unit B95 performs level adjustment processing that adjusts the gain of an input signal to perform amplification or attenuation and adjust the level of the signal. In particular, the gain switching unit B95 detects the saturation of the signal detected by the sensor B212, and performs a process of reducing the signal level when the saturation is detected. The signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 is input to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96.

(Frequency characteristics compensator)
The frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 includes a waveform equalization processing unit B271 and a waveform determination unit B272, and corrects the frequency characteristics of the input signal. Specifically, a low frequency region including a pulse wave information detection band that is a frequency band in which the waveform equalization processing unit B271 detects a pulse wave information of a blood vessel with respect to a signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. By performing the phase compensation, waveform equalization processing for compensating the frequency response in the low frequency region is performed. In addition, the waveform determination unit B272 calculates a signal pattern indicated by the pulse wave and a signal pattern indicated by the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave with respect to the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the waveform equalization processing unit B271. A waveform comparison process for comparison is performed. The signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is input to the gate terminal of the FET B72.

(First plug)
As shown in FIG. 23, the first plug B62 includes a microphone terminal B63, a ground terminal B64, a right-ear headphone terminal B65 (R headphone terminal), and a left-ear headphone terminal B66 (from the root of the plug to the tip. L headphone terminal) in order. The microphone terminal B63, the ground terminal B64, the R headphone terminal B65, and the L headphone terminal B66 are formed by processing a conductive metal plate into a substantially cylindrical shape.

Insulating members B67a, B67b, and B67c are provided between the microphone terminal B63 and the ground terminal B64, between the ground terminal B64 and the R headphone terminal B65, and between the R headphone terminal B65 and the L headphone terminal B66, respectively. Yes. The insulating members B67a, B67b, and B67c are made of an insulating resin or rubber material, and the terminals are insulated from each other by being interposed between the conductive terminals.

[II-1-1-2. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
The configuration of the information processing apparatus B23 will be described with reference to FIG.
Information processing apparatus B23 which concerns on this embodiment is a portable information terminal (smart phone) as a mobile terminal for processing the detected signal.

The smartphone as the information processing device B23 includes an input / output device (not shown), a storage device (memory such as ROM, RAM, and nonvolatile RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), a timer counter, a wireless transmission unit, and the like. The

As shown in FIG. 23, the information processing apparatus B23 includes a first jack B81, an AD conversion unit B89 that converts an analog signal into a digital signal, a frequency correction processing unit B90, a DA conversion unit B91 that converts a digital signal into an analog signal, And a sound source B92.

(First Jack)
The first jack B81 includes an insertion hole B82 into which the first plug B62 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 23, inside the insertion hole B82 of the first jack B81, a microphone terminal B83, a ground terminal B84, an R headphone terminal B85, and an L headphone terminal B86 are provided in this order from the front to the back of the insertion hole B82. . The microphone terminal B83, the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, and the L headphone terminal B86 are formed by processing a conductive metal plate into a plate shape and providing it on the wall surface of the insertion hole B82 of the first jack B81. ing. The plate-like terminal is bent toward the center direction of the insertion hole B82 to form a convex portion having bending elasticity, and the convex portion of this terminal is provided so as to protrude in the center direction of the insertion hole B82. ing.

The structure of the first jack B81 will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 (a) to 30 (c). In FIGS. 30A to 30C, the contour shape of the first jack B81 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 30A is a view of the first jack B81 as viewed from the side, and shows the arrangement of the microphone terminal B83. FIG. 30B is a view showing the end surface of the first jack B81 as viewed from the direction of arrow A-A ′, and shows the arrangement of the microphone terminal B83, the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, and the L headphone terminal B86. FIG. 30C is a diagram showing the end surface of the first jack B81 as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow B-B ', and shows the arrangement of the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, and the L headphone terminal B86.

When the first plug B62 is inserted into the insertion hole B82 of the first jack B81, as shown in FIG. 23, the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 and the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81 come into contact with each other. The ground terminal B64 of one plug B62 contacts the ground terminal B84 of the first jack B81, the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62 contacts the R headphone terminal B85 of the first jack B81, and the first plug B62 The first plug B62 and the first jack B81 are formed so that the L headphone terminal B66 and the L headphone terminal B86 of the first jack B81 are in contact with each other.

The structure when the first plug B62 is inserted into the first jack B81 will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 (a) to 31 (c). 31A to 31C, the outline shape of the first jack B81 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 31A is a diagram of the first jack B81 viewed from the side, and shows the arrangement of the first plug B62 and the microphone terminal B83. FIG. 31 (b) is a view showing the end surface of the first jack B81 taken along the line CC ′, and the arrangement of the first plug B62, the microphone terminal B83, the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, and the L headphone terminal B86. Is shown. FIG. 31 (c) is a view showing the end surface of the first jack B81 taken along the line DD ', and shows the arrangement of the first plug B62, the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, and the L headphone terminal B86. .

When the first plug B62 is inserted into the insertion hole B82 of the first jack B81, as shown in FIGS. 31 (a) to 31 (c), the microphone terminal B83, the ground terminal B84, the R headphone terminal B85, The L headphone terminal B86 is in contact with each terminal of the opposed first plug B62 and elastically deforms in accordance with the shape of each terminal. At this time, a contact state is maintained by the bending elasticity in the convex part of each terminal. Thereby, the microphone terminal B63 and the microphone terminal B83 are connected, the ground terminal B64 and the ground terminal B84 are connected, the R headphone terminal B65 and the R headphone terminal B85 are connected, and the L headphone terminal B66 and the L headphone terminal B86. And are connected.

As shown in FIG. 23, the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81 is connected to the AD conversion unit B89, and the signal input to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 passes through the first jack B81. The data is input to the conversion unit B89. The ground terminal B84 of the first jack B81 is grounded, and the ground line B41 connected to the ground terminal B84 of the first plug B62 is grounded via the first jack B81. The R headphone terminal B85 of the first jack B81 is connected to the DA converter B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the right ear, and the signal connected to the R headphone terminal B65 and the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62. A signal from the DA conversion unit B91 corresponding to the right ear sound source B92 is input to the line B36. The L headphone terminal B86 of the first jack B81 is connected to the DA converter B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the left ear, and the signal connected to the L headphone terminal B66 and the L headphone terminal B66 of the first plug B62. A signal from the DA conversion unit B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the left ear is input to the line B38.

(Frequency correction processing section)
The frequency correction processing unit B90 performs at least one of an amplification operation, an integration operation, and a differentiation operation on the input signal at a frequency of the pulsation signal, thereby at least pulsating volume signal, pulsation property. A frequency correction process for extracting one of the speed signal and the pulsation acceleration signal is performed. Processing for extracting one of the pulsating volume signal, the pulsating velocity signal, and the pulsating acceleration signal by the frequency correction processing unit B90 is also referred to as correction processing.

[II-1-1-3. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
<Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus>
As shown in FIG. 23, the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the present embodiment includes a sample information detection apparatus B13 and an information processing apparatus B23.

<Sample>
The sample B101 to which the sample information detection device B13 and the sample information processing device B3 are applied is a space that is closed or substantially closed by isolating a part constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space by the casing parts B211, B612, and B622. In order to form the cavity B109 to be a structure, it is preferable to wear so as to face a part constituting the outer ear B107 or to cover a part constituting the outer ear B107.

The part constituting the external ear B107 means at least one or more of the external auditory canal B104, any part of the auricle B108 shown in FIG. 27, and the back side part of the auricle B108 shown in FIG. The specimen B101 may be mounted on the specimen B101 so that the specimen information detection unit B32 isolates at least a part of the outer ear B107 from the external space to form the cavity B109. If the cavity B109 can be formed by isolating a part of the part constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space, the casing parts B211, B612, and B622 also include peripheral parts other than the part constituting the outer ear B107. The specimen information detection unit B32 may be mounted so as to form the cavity B109. For example, the cavity B109 may be formed together with the portion around the auricle B108 of the head B110 to isolate the auricle B108 from the external space.

Among the parts constituting the outer ear B107, the intensity of the detected pulsatile signal is large and a sharp peak is obtained, so that the external ear canal B104, tragus B111, or ear lobe B113 is isolated from the external space, and the cavity B109 is formed. It is preferable to attach to the specimen B101 so as to form. From the magnitude of the detected signal amount, among the parts constituting the outer ear B107, the external auditory canal B104 or the tragus B111 is more preferable, and the tragus B111 is particularly preferable.

Further, when a plurality of parts constituting the outer ear B107 are isolated from the external space, a signal having a high intensity can be obtained by combining signals derived from a plurality of vibration sources in the cavity B109. Therefore, a plurality of vibration sources may be isolated from the external space to form the cavity B109, or the outer ear B107 or the auricle B108 may be entirely isolated from the external space to form the cavity B109. Among them, the external auditory canal B104 and the tragus B111 may be isolated from the external space to form the cavity B109. Alternatively, the external ear canal B104, tragus B111, and ear lobe B113 may be isolated from the external space to form the cavity B109.

<About specimen information detection apparatus and specimen information processing apparatus>
The sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the present embodiment are configured as described above, and the parts constituting the outer ear B107 are configured by the casing portions B211, B612, and B622 of the sample information detection unit B32. A cavity B109 that forms a closed or almost closed space structure isolated from the external space is formed. In this state, pressure information resulting from the pulsation signal of the blood vessel existing inside the ear canal B104, the eardrum B106, or the pinna B108 in the specimen B101 is received, and the pulsation signal based on the pulsation information of the blood vessel in the specimen B101 It is to detect. The “blood vessel pulse wave information” mentioned above is pulse wave information transmitted through the blood vessel, and information (signal) indicating vibrations transmitted through the blood vessel caused by the heartbeat of the specimen B101. It is. Hereinafter, this is also simply referred to as “blood vessel pulse wave information”.

[II-1-2. Functional configuration of sample information processing apparatus]
When functionally representing the sample information processing device B3, the sample information processing device B3 includes a sample information detection device B13 and an information processing device B23 as shown in FIG. The sample information detection apparatus B13 includes a sample information detection unit B32, and a connection unit B53 including a gain switching unit B95 and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. The information processing apparatus B23 includes an AD conversion unit B89, a frequency correction processing unit B90, a DA conversion unit B91, and a sound source B92.

The application software for signal processing is downloaded to the smartphone B23 as the information processing apparatus B23 according to the present embodiment, and the smartphone B23 can perform signal processing by starting the application software.

In the information processing apparatus B23 according to the present embodiment, the frequency correction processing unit B90 functions as a frequency correction processing unit when the above-described application software is expanded on the memory and executed by the CPU. The gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 are processed by an analog circuit built in the connection unit B53.

<Gain switching part>
When the gain switching unit B95 is functionally represented, as shown in FIG. 32, the gain switching unit B95 includes an AGC (automatic gain control) B261, a saturation detection unit B262, and a PLL (phase-locked loop). Circuit) B263 and a lock detector B264.

When the pulsation signal output detected by the sensor B212 is input to the gain switching unit B95, this signal is first input to the AGCB 261. The AGC B 261 performs automatic gain control for automatically adjusting the amplification factor (gain) of the input signal, and amplifies or attenuates the input signal. The AGCB 261 outputs the processed pulsation signal to the saturation detection unit B262.

The saturation detection unit B262 detects signal saturation by determining whether or not the input pulsation signal is saturated. In particular, saturation is detected in a low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz, which is a pulse wave information detection band (also referred to as a pulse wave detection band), which is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected. Whether the signal is saturated is determined by comparing the absolute value of the level of the input signal with a predetermined threshold, and when the absolute value of the level of the input signal is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold And determining that the signal is saturated. Further, when the absolute value of the level of the input signal is lower than a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the signal is not saturated. The predetermined threshold is the level at which the signal at the peak top portion above a certain level is cut when the waveform, especially the peak position level, increases in the pulse waveform of the input pulsation signal. Value. When saturation is detected by the saturation detection unit B262, the saturation detection unit B262 outputs a saturation detection signal to the AGCB 261. When the saturation detection signal is sent, the AGC B 261 again performs automatic gain control of the signal. On the other hand, when saturation is not detected by the saturation detection unit B262, the saturation detection unit B262 outputs a pulsation signal to the PLLB 263. This operation is not always performed, but is a kind of calibration work.

For example, the PLL B 263 detects the rising of the waveform of the input pulsating signal, and further detects the period from the rising of the pulsating signal to the rising of the next pulsating signal as one cycle, and locks the signal. At this time, the PLLB 263 divides this one period by, for example, 128 clocks, and sends a total of 128 lock phases (also referred to as timing or clock) from 0 to 127 to the waveform determination unit B272 of the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. Output. Further, the PLLB 263 outputs a phase difference signal between the input signal and the output signal to the lock detection unit B 264.

The lock detection unit B264 compares the magnitude of the input phase difference signal with a predetermined set value and detects whether the PLLB 263 has locked the pulsation signal. The magnitude of the input phase difference signal is compared with a predetermined set value, and when the magnitude of the input phase difference signal is smaller than the predetermined set value, it is determined that the lock is established. Further, when the magnitude of the input phase difference signal is equal to or larger than a predetermined set value, it is determined that the lock is not established. When the lock is detected by the lock detection unit B264, a lock detection signal is output to the AGCB 261. When the lock is not detected by the lock detection unit B264, an unlock detection signal is output to the AGCB 261.

When the lock detection signal is input, the AGC B 261 stops the adjustment of the amplification factor by the automatic gain control, and the frequency characteristic guarantees the pulsating signal amplified or attenuated in a state in which the gain is not moved. To the waveform equalization processing unit B271 of the unit 96. On the other hand, when an unlock detection signal is input, the AGCB 261 performs control to increase the gain by increasing the gain by automatic gain control and to enter the locked state.

According to the gain switching unit B95, with the above-described configuration, the pulsating signal to which AGC B261 is input is amplified or attenuated, and a pulsating signal whose signal level is adjusted by a constant amplification factor or attenuation factor is output. . As a result, a pulsation signal having a peak and gain that can be locked by the PLLB 263 is output. At this time, when the signal detected by the sensor B212 is saturated, the gain switching unit B95 decreases the signal level and outputs a signal from which the saturation is eliminated.

<Frequency characteristics compensator>
When functionally expressing the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 includes a waveform equalization processing unit B271, a waveform determination unit B272, and an AGCB 273, as shown in FIG. The pulsation signal processed by the AGC B261 of the gain switching unit B95 is input to the waveform equalization processing unit B271.

(Waveform equalization processing unit)
The waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs waveform equalization processing for compensating the frequency response in the low frequency region by performing phase compensation in the low frequency region on the signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The waveform equalization processing by the waveform equalization processing unit B271 is caused by the electromagnetic conversion system of the sensor B212, the air leakage of the cavity B109, or the DSP included in the specimen information detection unit B32 by integral or differential phase compensation. This is a process of compensating for either the differential response or the integral response, or the frequency response generated by these. In the present embodiment, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs integral-type phase compensation, compensates for the differential response added to the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32, and outputs it as a velocity pulse wave. The case will be described.

The integral type phase compensation by the waveform equalization processing unit B271 is such that the input pulsation signal has a frequency characteristic that raises the low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz, which is the pulse wave detection band, as shown in FIG. It is processing performed by putting in an electric circuit having Here, the low frequency region refers to a frequency region including a pulse wave information detection band that is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected. The waveform equalization processing unit B271 may process the pulsating signal by putting it in one stage in such an electric circuit, or may process it by putting it in two stages. In the present embodiment, integration is performed approximately once by performing processing with one stage.

In FIG. 33, as an example, there are three ways of passing a flat curve at −20 dB / dec from 0.1 Hz to 0.68 Hz, from 0.1 Hz to 7 Hz, from 0.1 Hz to 10.6 Hz, and thereafter. The frequency characteristic compensation pattern is shown. These show phase compensation patterns with different boost amounts of integral type phase compensation, each raising the low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz. That is, FIG. 33 shows that the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band is passed, and the gain of the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band is gradually increased as the frequency decreases, and the gain of the frequency component lower than the pulse wave information detection band is increased. An example of integral type phase compensation for amplifying the signal is shown.

As an electric circuit that can realize such compensation of frequency characteristics, for example, a circuit as shown in FIG. Electrical circuit of Figure 34 includes an operational amplifier (hereinafter, referred to as an operational amplifier) B 221, capacitor B222 capacitance C _1, the resistance value of the resistor R ₁ B 223, the resistance of the resistance value R ₂ B 224, a resistor B225 of the resistance value R _3.
The transfer function of the electric circuit of FIG. 34 can be expressed as the following formula (1).

As shown in the circuit configuration of FIG. 34, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 is an incomplete integration circuit with a finite DC gain, and outputs an input signal as a signal in which attenuation in the low frequency region is amplified. It is.
Further, when the electric circuit of FIG. 34 is represented by a Bode diagram, it can be represented as shown in FIG.

By changing the values of R ₁ to R ₃ and / or C ₁ in FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, “1 / (R ₂ + R ₃ ) C on the horizontal axis (frequency) of the frequency characteristic of the phase compensation shown in FIG. “ ₁ ” or “1 / R ₃ C ₁ ”, the value of “− (R ₂ / R ₁ ) · R ₃ / (R ₂ + R ₃ )” or “R ₂ / R ₁ ” on the vertical axis (gain) changes To do. Thus, in the frequency characteristics of the phase compensation shown in FIG. 35, the degree of increase of the gain (slope), the magnitude of gain amplification, the frequency band for gradually increasing the gain (corner frequency, rising frequency), and the frequency band for amplifying the gain. The frequency characteristics of the phase compensation can be adjusted by setting the frequency band through which the signal passes to a predetermined value. As a result, three types of frequency characteristic compensation patterns as shown in FIG. 33 can be realized. In particular, by changing R ₃ , the frequency characteristics of the phase compensation pattern can be changed as in the three patterns shown in FIG. For an analog circuit that may be varied the R ₃ continuously is difficult, by selecting the best one by switching them to prepare a value of some number of R _3, the value of R ₃ Can be changed.

In the waveform equalization process, it is preferable to perform phase compensation of an appropriate frequency characteristic in order to compensate the frequency response indicated by the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The waveform equalization processing unit B271 outputs the phase-compensated signal to the waveform determination unit B272. The waveform determination unit B272 determines whether phase compensation (conditions for waveform equalization processing) in the waveform equalization processing is appropriate for the input signal.

(Waveform judgment part)
The waveform determination unit B272, when the pulse wave of the signal that has been phase compensated by the waveform equalization processing unit B271, equally divides one cycle of the pulse wave by a predetermined number of clocks, the intensity of the signal in the clock at a specific timing And a pulse wave comparison process for comparing the pattern indicated by the signal strength of the clock at the same timing when the pulse wave when the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave is equally divided by the same number of clocks.

First, the waveform determination unit B272 equally divides the pulsation signal input from the waveform equalization processing unit B271 by a clock of one cycle based on the clock input from the PLL B 263, and a plurality of clocks at a specific timing. Take a sampling point. The number of clocks at this time is determined by the number of clocks of the PLLB 263. Here, a case where five sampling points a to e are taken will be described as an example.

It is known that the velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave has a characteristic shape (peak). In addition, when the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs phase compensation, if the processed waveform is obtained as a velocity pulse wave, the waveform naturally exhibits a shape characteristic of the velocity pulse wave. Become. Therefore, when the pulse wave indicates a velocity pulse wave or an acceleration pulse wave, the pulse wave is equally divided by a clock input from the PLLB 263, and a sampling point is set at a clock at a specific timing indicating a characteristic shape of the waveform. To obtain the signal strength (sample value) at that clock. In this way, the signal intensity is obtained at a plurality of points where the waveform has a characteristic shape, and by performing the sampling operation, a unique pattern indicating the intensity of the velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave signal during one cycle Can be obtained.

Sampling will be described with reference to FIG. The waveform shown in FIG. 36 shows a velocity pulse wave. One cycle of the pulse wave is equally divided by a total of 128 clocks from 0 to 127 obtained by the PLLB 263. Then, the Peak value at which the pulse wave waveform has a peak is set as the PLL synchronization phase 0, and the sampling point b is arranged at this timing. Sampling point a and sampling point c are arranged at specific clocks at timings before and after the time axis of sampling point b. Then, the sampling point e is arranged at a clock at a specific timing which becomes a point where the pulse wave polarity is negative, that is, a deflection point of the volume pulse wave. Then, the sampling point d is arranged in a clock at a specific timing between the sampling point c and the sampling point e. In this way, sampling points are arranged in a clock at a specific timing, which is a characteristic point of the velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave waveform. Further, the signal intensity at each sampling point a to e is obtained as a sample value, and a specific pattern indicated by the intensity of the velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave signal is acquired.

The waveform determination unit B272 is set so that the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the waveform equalization processing unit B271 has the same number of clocks as that in the case of sampling the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave as described above. One cycle of the pulse wave is equally divided by the clock obtained by the PLLB 263. Then, the waveform determination unit B272 obtains, as sample values A to E, signal intensities at specific timing clocks corresponding to the sampling points a to e in the case of the above-described velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave, respectively. Thus, the waveform determination unit B272, for the input signal, sample values A to E of signal intensity corresponding to a clock at a specific timing at which the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave has a characteristic shape, and these signals. Waveform patterns indicated by the sample values A to E of the intensity can be acquired.

Further, the waveform determination unit B272 compares the pattern of the sample values A to E indicated by the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the waveform equalization processing unit B271 with the pattern indicated by the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave. If they match or approximate, it can be determined that a desired velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave has been obtained. At this time, it can be said that the waveform equalization processing in which the frequency response of the input signal is compensated can be performed by phase compensation with an appropriate frequency characteristic.

For example, when waveform equalization processing is performed by appropriate phase compensation so that the boost amount of phase compensation is almost optimal, the sample value E at the sampling point e becomes a negative value, and the sample value at the sampling point d D shows a pattern in which D is close to 0, and sample values A and C at sampling points a and c are about ½ of sample value B (peak value) at sampling point b.

On the other hand, when a differential element or an integral element remains in the velocity pulse wave, the waveform changes accordingly. For example, when the boost amount due to phase compensation is insufficient, the differential element remains, and the sample value D at the sampling point d tends to be a negative value. In addition, the sample value B at the sampling point b is large, the sample values A and C at the sampling points a and c are small, and the waveform has a pattern in which the peak is slim (steep) than the original waveform. .

In addition, when the boost amount by phase compensation becomes excessive, an integration element remains, and a pattern in which the sample value B at the sampling point b becomes lower than when other phase compensation is performed is shown.

As described above, when the boost amount is changed due to different frequency characteristics of the phase compensation, the waveform obtained after the phase compensation is changed, and the sample values A to E at the sampling points a to e are changed. When the sample value at each sampling point is sufficiently close to this pattern by comparing the sample value at each sampling point with the pattern appearing in the waveform of the reference velocity pulse wave or acceleration pulse wave in the waveform determination unit B272 In this case, a waveform equalization suitability signal is output to the waveform equalization processing unit B271. On the other hand, when each sample value becomes a value away from the pattern that appears when the phase compensation boost amount is optimum, a waveform equalization inappropriate signal is output to the waveform equalization processing unit B271.

The waveform equalization processing unit B271 outputs a phase compensated signal to the AGCB 273 when the waveform equalization suitability signal is input. On the other hand, when a waveform equalization inappropriate signal is input, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs phase compensation by changing the frequency characteristics, and outputs the phase compensated signal to the waveform determination unit B272. In this manner, by performing phase compensation and its determination repeatedly until compensation by phase compensation is sufficient, phase compensation can be performed with appropriate frequency characteristics, and a signal with a compensated frequency response can be obtained. Thereby, according to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the differential response in the low frequency region including the pulse wave detection band can be compensated for the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 to obtain a velocity pulse wave. it can.

(AGC)
The AGC B273 amplifies or attenuates the input signal and outputs the processed signal to the outside of the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. This is because the peak level of the signal may change as a result of the waveform equalization processing by the waveform equalization processing unit B271, and this is readjusted.

<Functional configuration of connection part>
The circuit configuration of the connection part B53 is shown in FIG.
The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the switch circuit B68. The connection of the signal line B36 to the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62 or the gain switching unit B95 is switched by the switch circuit B68.

The gain switching unit B95 is connected to the power source B71. The gain switching unit B95 is connected to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. Since the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is connected to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72, the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is input to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72. The drain terminal (D) of the FET B72 is connected to the microphone terminal B63 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion B53. The source terminal (S) of the FET B72 merges with the ground line B41 and is connected to the ground terminal B64 provided in the first plug B62.

With the circuit configuration described above, when the signal line B36 is connected to the gain switching unit B95 by the switch circuit B68, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is input to the gain switching unit B95. Further, the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is input to the microphone terminal B63 and input to the AD conversion unit B89 of the information processing apparatus B23 via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. . In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a microphone. When the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 by the switch circuit B68, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a speaker.
In this way, the specimen information detection device B13 outputs the signal detected by the sensor B212 and processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 to the information processing device B23.

<Frequency correction processing unit>
As described above, the frequency correction processing unit B90 performs frequency correction processing on the input signal to extract at least one of the pulsating volume signal, the pulsating velocity signal, and the pulsating acceleration signal. It is.
When functionally representing the frequency correction processing unit B90, the frequency correction processing unit B90 includes an amplifier B131, an integral correction unit B132, and a differential correction unit B133, as shown in FIG.

When the pulsation signal output obtained by the sensor B212 is input to the amplifier B131 of the frequency correction processing unit B90, amplification processing is performed. When the pulsation signal is processed in one stage by the waveform equalization processing unit B271, a velocity pulse wave is obtained as the output signal of the specimen information detection apparatus B13. When such a signal from the specimen information detection device B13 is input, the frequency correction processing unit B90 can obtain a velocity pulse wave without performing frequency correction processing other than amplification processing. Further, the volume pulse wave can be obtained by inputting the output signal of the amplifier B131 to the integration correction unit B132 and performing compensation by the integration circuit. Further, an acceleration pulse wave can be obtained by inputting the output signal of the amplifier B131 to the differential correction unit B133 and performing compensation by the differential circuit.

<Sound source>
The sound source B92 outputs a digital sound signal for outputting sound from the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37.

[II-1-3. Signal characteristics and signal processing]
In the present embodiment, the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is a state in which a part constituting the outer ear B107 is isolated from the external space so as to form a closed cavity that is closed or substantially closed. This is detected by the sensor B212. Here, when detecting a change in the volume of a blood vessel due to the pulsation of the blood vessel accompanying the contraction of the heart, it is considered that it is originally detected as a volume pulse wave. Actually, when detected by an optical method, the pulsation signal is obtained as a volume pulse wave. However, the signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is affected by the signal level or the frequency characteristics due to the frequency characteristics of the sensor B212. The signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is affected by the signal level or frequency characteristics due to the closed level of the closed cavity, that is, the air leakage of the cavity B109. Furthermore, when the sample information detection unit B32 includes a DSP and this DSP applies processing to the signal detected by the sensor B212, this also affects the level or frequency characteristics of the signal. The detected waveform or signal level is also affected by the vibration source detected by the specimen information detection unit B32.

For this reason, the signal processing in the sample information processing apparatus B3 is preferably performed so as to reduce the influence of the characteristics of the sensor B212, the closed level of the closed cavity, and the processing by the DSP as described above. That is, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 compensates the frequency response indicated by the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 due to these influences by the waveform equalization process. Further, the gain switching unit B95 adjusts the level of the signal according to the change in the level of the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 due to these effects by the level adjustment process. Hereinafter, the relationship between the influence of the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 and the signal processing will be described with an example of a pulse wave waveform detected by the specimen information detection unit B32.

[II-1-3-1. Sensor frequency characteristics and frequency response]
The frequency characteristic of the low frequency region of 100 Hz or less of the driver unit used as the sensor B212 is obtained by taking the frequency (Hz) scale as Log (logarithmic) on the horizontal axis and Gain (dB) on the vertical axis. It is represented as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 38A, the driver unit shows a response in which the sensitivity decreases by 20 dB / dec toward the low frequency region. For example, in the case of a dynamic driver unit, this is considered to be caused by the fact that the electromagnetic conversion system for converting the vibration of the diaphragm into a current has a differential response.

Since the sensor B212 shows the frequency characteristics due to the electromagnetic conversion system as described above, the pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is also detected as a signal showing the frequency characteristics to which a similar differential response is added. In order to compensate for the differential response caused by the electromagnetic conversion system, integral type phase compensation that passes through an electric circuit (compensation circuit) having frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. 38B may be applied. That is, as shown in FIG. 38 (b), phase compensation for passing through a flat curve at −20 dB / dec from the very low frequency region to around 100 Hz may be performed on the output of the sensor B212.

[II-1-3-3. Closed cavity closure level and frequency response]
<Closed cavity closing level>
Even when the specimen B101 is mounted with the specimen information detection unit B32, the case portions B211, B612, and B622 form the cavity B109 by isolating the part constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space as described above. There is an element that cannot completely close B109. For this reason, when the cavity B109 is formed by the housing parts B211, B612, and B622, the cavity B109 is formed as a closed or almost closed space structure. At this time, since the cavity B109 does not have a completely closed space structure, air leakage occurs, thereby affecting the frequency characteristics of the pulsating signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32. Thus, when the cavity B109 is formed without a completely closed spatial structure, that is, when a complete closed cavity cannot be formed, the closed level of the closed cavity is said to be “substantially closed”.

Here, the “closed level of the closed cavity” represents the degree of closing of the cavity B109, and is also simply referred to as the “closed level”. The closed level of the closed cavity varies depending on whether the specimen information detection unit B32 is a canal-type inner ear type, on-ear type, or around-ear type headphone. The closing level also changes depending on the type, shape, and material of the earpiece B213, the ear pads B614, B624, and the housing parts B211, B612, B622. Furthermore, the closing level changes depending on the shape of the head B110 and the pinna B108 of the sample B101, the presence or absence of head hair or body hair, or how the sample B101 wears the sample information detection unit B32. The closed level of the closed cavity affects the frequency characteristics indicated by the pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32.

It should be noted that when the on-ear type headphones or the around ear type headphones are attached, it is estimated that the closed cavity closing level is lower than when the canal type inner ear type headphones are attached. For this reason, when the specimen information detection units B32b and B32c are used, it is presumed that the air leakage of the cavity B109 is larger and the degree of the differential response due to the air leakage is larger than when the specimen information detection unit B32a is used. The

<Changes in closed cavity closure level and frequency response in case of canal type inner ear type>
When the sample information detection unit B32a is used, that is, when the sample information detection unit B32 is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone, the frequency characteristic of a signal detected is expressed as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 39A, a flat frequency characteristic is obtained from the high frequency region to around 10 Hz. However, since the cavity B109a cannot be completely closed, the corner frequency has a low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz that is the pulse wave information detection band, and the corner frequency varies depending on the closed level of the closed cavity. Accordingly, a differential response in which the degree of attenuation changes and Gain falls is shown. Thereby, the waveform of the detected pulse wave is disturbed.

For this reason, when the closed level of the closed cavity is almost closed, as shown in FIG. 39 (b), in accordance with the attenuation of the gain having the corner frequency in the low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz which is the pulse wave detection band. Thus, it is necessary to perform phase compensation that increases the gain of the signal. The corner frequency of the differential response changes depending on the closed cavity closing level, and the attenuation in the low frequency region as shown in FIG. 39A changes. Therefore, the boost amount to be compensated according to the change It is necessary to perform phase compensation by changing.

For reference, FIG. 40B shows an example of a waveform of a pulse wave obtained when a pulsation signal of a blood vessel is detected in a state where a closed cavity is formed in a fingertip or an arm, that is, completely closed. The waveform shown in FIG. 40B can be said to be a velocity pulse wave from the shape of the waveform. By integrating the pulsation signal of the velocity pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 40 (b), the volume pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 40 (a) is obtained. Moreover, the acceleration pulse wave shown in FIG. 40 (c) is obtained by differentiating the pulsation signal of the velocity pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 40 (b).
In FIGS. 40 (a) to 40 (c), the unit [s] on the horizontal axis in the figure represents the second (hereinafter, the same applies to the unit [s] in the figure).

On the other hand, as the specimen information detection unit B32a, a canal-type inner-ear type headphone was used to detect the pulsatile signal of the blood vessel by forming the external ear canal B104 as a cavity B109a having a closed or almost closed space structure. An example of the waveform obtained at this time is shown in FIG. By integrating the pulsating signal showing the waveform of FIG. 41 (b), the pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 41 (a) is obtained. Also, the pulsation signal shown in FIG. 41 (b) is obtained by differentiating the pulsating signal showing the waveform of FIG. 41 (b).

At this time, when the waveforms of FIGS. 40A to 40C are compared with the waveforms of FIGS. 41A to 41C, the waveforms of FIG. ), The waveform of FIG. 41 (b) is close to the acceleration pulse wave of FIG. 40 (c), and the waveform of FIG. 41 (c) is a double differential of the velocity pulse wave of FIG. 40 (b). It can be seen that the waveform is close to the differential waveform of the acceleration pulse wave of FIG. This is because the waveforms shown in FIGS. 41 (a) to 41 (c) when a pulsating signal is detected using a canal-type inner-ear type headphone form a completely closed closed cavity. Compared with the waveforms shown in FIGS. 40 (a) to 40 (c) when the pulsation signal is detected, it is shown that a new differential element is added at the frequency of these pulse wave components.

As described above, the pulsation signal detected using the canal type inner ear type headphones as the specimen information detection unit B32 is detected as a signal indicating the frequency characteristics with the addition of the differential element. In order to compensate for the differential response due to the air leakage of the cavity B109a, an integral type or semi-integral type phase compensation is made to pass through an electric circuit (compensation circuit) having a frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. Should be applied.

<Change in closed cavity closing level and frequency response for on-ear type>
When the sample information detection unit B32b is used, that is, when the sample information detection unit B32 is an on-ear type headphone, the frequency characteristic of the signal detected is expressed as shown in FIG. Since the cavity B109b cannot be completely closed, a region including a low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz, which is a pulse wave information detection band, corresponds to the closed cavity closing level, although the frequency characteristic is flat in the high frequency region. When the gain is attenuated and the gain falls, the waveform of the detected pulse wave is affected.

When the specimen information detection unit B32b is used, as shown in FIG. 42 (b), in accordance with the attenuation of the gain of the region including the low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz which is the pulse wave detection band, Perform phase compensation to increase the gain. That is, the phase compensation may be performed so as to amplify the gain in the low frequency region by compensating for the decrease in the gain in the low frequency region including the pulse wave detection band.

When the earpiece B213 used for the canal-type inner earphone is used as the casing, as shown in FIG. 39A, it attenuates with a corner frequency of the differential response in the vicinity of the pulse wave detection band. As a result, Gain falls. On the other hand, in the case of using the ear pads B614 and B624 of the on-ear type and the around-ear type, it is attenuated from a region higher than the vicinity of the pulse wave detection band, and compared with the case of the earpiece B213 used for the canal type inner earphone. Gain greatly falls. At this time, since the corner frequency at which the attenuation begins to drop is far away from the pulse wave frequency, the gain reduction near the pulse wave detection band is stable. For this reason, in the specimen information detection unit B32a, when the earpiece B213 is inserted into the ear canal B104 without a gap, the corner frequency of the differential response due to air leakage may be close to or less than the pulse wave frequency. . At this time, under the influence of the differential response of the electromagnetic conversion system described above, the signal waveform is detected as a waveform close to the speed response. On the other hand, in the specimen information detection units B32b and B32c, the corner frequency of the differential response due to air leakage is usually sufficiently higher than the pulse wave frequency. For this reason, the signal waveform is detected as a stable acceleration response under the influence of the differential response of the electromagnetic conversion system described above and the differential response due to air leakage.

For example, when an on-ear type headphone or an around-ear type headphone is used, the frequency characteristic is increased by a compensation pattern that gradually increases the gain of the frequency component in the frequency region including the pulse wave information detection band at 20 dB / dec as the frequency decreases. If compensation is performed, it is considered that the differential response due to air leakage can be compensated. On the other hand, when using canal-type inner-ear headphones, air leakage is smaller than with on-ear headphones or around-ear headphones, so the amount of phase compensation boost compensates for at least the differential response due to air leakage. It is considered possible.

However, even when using on-ear type headphones or around-ear type headphones, the closed level of the closed cavity may be affected. At this time, the degree of attenuation of the frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. 42A changes according to the change of the corner frequency due to the influence of the air gap according to the closed level of the closed cavity. In such a case, the closing level becomes higher than usual due to how the sample information detection unit B32b is attached, how the ear pad B614 fits into the auricle B108, the degree of sealing of the housing portions B612, B622, and the like. Is mentioned. As described above, when the corner frequency of the differential response due to air leakage approaches the frequency of the pulse wave, it is necessary to perform phase compensation by changing the boost amount for compensation according to this change.

As the sample information detection unit B32b, an example of a waveform obtained when a pulsation signal of a blood vessel is detected using an on-ear type headphone so as to form a cavity B109b having a closed or almost closed space structure is shown. This is shown in FIG. 43 (a). Further, by integrating the pulsation signal showing the waveform of FIG. 43 (a), the pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 43 (b) is obtained.

At this time, when the waveforms of FIGS. 43A and 43B are compared with the waveforms of FIGS. 40A to 40C, the waveform of FIG. 43A is the same as that of FIG. It can be seen that the waveform of FIG. 43 (b) is the same waveform as the velocity pulse wave of FIG. 40 (b). Compared with the waveforms in FIGS. 41 (a) to 41 (c), the waveform in FIG. 43 (a) has a clearer peak than the waveform in FIG. 41 (b) close to the acceleration pulse wave. I understand. It can also be seen that the waveform in FIG. 43 (b) has a clearer peak than the waveform in FIG. 41 (a) which is close to the velocity pulse wave.

Therefore, when on-ear type headphones are used as the specimen information detection unit B32b, a pulsation signal with a clear peak and an excellent S / N ratio can be detected compared to when a canal type inner ear earphone is used. I understand that I can do it.

When a pulsation signal is detected in a state where a closed cavity is formed using a canal type inner earphone, a velocity pulse wave waveform is observed due to the differential response of a dynamic type electromagnetic conversion system. However, normally, when a canal type earbud is used, the closed level of the closed cavity is closed or almost closed, so the differential response of the dynamic electromagnetic conversion system and the corner frequency are the pulse wave frequency. Affected by being close to As a result, compared to the case of forming a completely closed closed cavity and detecting the pulsation signal, a new differential element is added at the frequency of the pulse wave component, so that the acceleration pulse wave is slightly higher than the velocity pulse wave. A waveform with this tendency added will be observed. On the other hand, when using on-ear type headphones, compared with the case where a pulsation signal is detected by forming a closed cavity that is completely closed, It can be seen that a pulsation signal was detected as a simple acceleration pulse wave.

As shown in FIG. 42 (a), when on-ear type headphones are used as the specimen information detection unit B32b, this is a frequency characteristic in which Gain is attenuated by attenuation from a region higher than the vicinity of the pulse wave detection band. It is thought that there is an influence. In the case of the on-ear type, since the closed level of the closed cavity is lower than in the case of the canal type inner ear earphone, the differential element due to air leakage becomes stronger, resulting in a stable acceleration response and a pulsating signal. Presumed to have been detected.

As described above, a pulsation signal detected using an on-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32 is detected as a signal indicating frequency characteristics obtained by adding a differentiation to the speed response once. In order to compensate for the differential response due to the air leakage of the cavity B109b, an integral type phase compensation that passes an electric circuit (compensation circuit) having a frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. Good.

<Change in closed cavity closing level and frequency response for around ear type>
When the sample information detection unit B32c is used, that is, when the sample information detection unit B32 is an around-ear type headphone, the frequency characteristic of the signal detected is the same as that of the sample information detection unit B32b. It is expressed as

When the specimen information detection unit B32c is used, as shown in FIG. 42 (b), in accordance with the attenuation of the gain in the region including the low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz which is the pulse wave detection band, Perform phase compensation to increase the gain. That is, the phase compensation may be performed so as to amplify the gain in the low frequency region by compensating for the decrease in the gain in the low frequency region including the pulse wave detection band.

¡The closed cavity closure level when using around-ear headphones is estimated to be the same as when using on-ear headphones.

An example of a waveform obtained when a pulsation signal of a blood vessel is detected by using an around-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32c so as to form a cavity B109c having a closed or almost closed space structure. This is shown in FIG. 44 (a). Furthermore, by integrating the pulsation signal having the waveform of FIG. 44A, a pulse wave having the waveform of FIG. 44B is obtained.

At this time, the waveforms in FIGS. 44 (a) and 44 (b) are obtained as waveforms similar to the waveforms in FIGS. 43 (a) and 43 (b). Therefore, when the around-ear type headphones are used as the sample information detection unit B32c, the peak is clearer than when the canal type inner-ear earphones are used, as in the case of using the on-ear type headphones. It can be seen that a pulsating signal having an excellent S / N ratio can be detected. In addition, when using around-ear headphones, stable acceleration is achieved with a derivative applied almost once compared to the case of forming a completely closed closed cavity and detecting a pulsation signal. It turns out that a pulsating signal was detected in response.

As described above, a pulsation signal detected using an around-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32 is detected as a signal indicating a frequency characteristic obtained by adding a differentiation to the speed response once. In order to compensate for the differential response due to the air leakage of the cavity B109c, as in the case of using an on-ear type headphone, an integral type electric circuit having a frequency characteristic as shown in FIG. Compensation circuit) may be applied for phase compensation.

[II-1-3-3. Change in frequency response due to DSP]
Here, FIG. 45A shows another example of a waveform obtained when a pulsation signal is detected using an on-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32. Furthermore, by integrating the pulsation signal showing the waveform of FIG. 45A, a pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 45B is obtained. In the on-ear type headphones used here, the outer member B618 of the ear pad B614 is formed of synthetic leather. In this case, the waveform of FIG. 45 (a) is detected as an acceleration pulse wave as in FIGS. 42 (a) and 43 (a). In addition, the waveform of FIG. 45 (b) is detected as a velocity pulse wave as in FIGS. 42 (b) and 43 (b).

On the other hand, FIG. 46A shows another example of a waveform obtained when a pulsating signal is detected using the second around-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32. Further, by integrating the pulsation signal showing the waveform of FIG. 46A, a pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 46B is obtained. Note that the second around-ear type headphone used here has an outer member B628 of the ear pad B614 similar to the on-ear type headphone described with reference to FIGS. 45 (a) and 45 (b). It is made of synthetic leather. Furthermore, the second around-ear type headphone has a DSP inside, and processes the signal detected by the DSP.

In this case, in FIG. 46A, not the acceleration pulse wave, but a waveform closer to the differential response, that is, a waveform closer to the velocity pulse wave than the acceleration pulse wave is observed. In FIG. 46B obtained after integration, a waveform close to the volume pulse wave is observed instead of the velocity pulse wave. This is because the DSP included in the second around-ear type headphones corrects the frequency component including the pulse wave detection band so as to be boosted, so that an integral element is included in the pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32. This is thought to be due to the participation.

As described above, a pulsation signal detected using a headphone equipped with a DSP as the specimen information detection unit B32 may be detected as an integral element or a signal indicating frequency characteristics to which the integral element is added. In order to compensate for the differential response due to the DSP, the frequency characteristics of the DSP are not necessarily clear. Therefore, in an electric circuit having frequency characteristics as shown in FIG. Integral or semi-integral phase compensation may be applied.

[II-1-3-4. Frequency response and waveform equalization processing]
The frequency characteristics of the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 change due to the characteristics of the sensor B212, the closed level of the closed cavity, the processing by the DSP, and the like as described above. According to the sample information detection apparatus B13, the frequency characteristic compensation processing is performed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 (waveform equalization processing unit B271), thereby compensating the frequency response of the pulsation signal output from the sample information detection unit B32. And output as a signal equalized to a desired waveform.

In the above description of the change in frequency response, the case where phase compensation is performed for each frequency response has been described. However, in actuality, a pulsating signal in which a plurality of frequency responses are combined is a specimen information detection unit. Output from B32.

In the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the waveform phase-compensated by the waveform equalization processing unit B271 is compared with the waveform serving as a determination reference by the waveform determination unit B272, and the phase compensation is repeatedly performed until the frequency characteristic of the phase compensation becomes appropriate. And make a decision. In addition, the phase compensation conditions are as follows: the degree of gradual increase in gain of the frequency characteristics, the magnitude of gain amplification, the frequency band in which gain is gradually increased, the frequency band in which gain is amplified, the frequency band in which signals are passed, and the like. Change as appropriate. At this time, a waveform having a desired characteristic in which the frequency response is compensated can be obtained by setting the waveform serving as a reference for determination to a waveform having a desired characteristic. Accordingly, a desired waveform can be obtained by compensating the frequency response of a pulsating signal in which a plurality of frequency responses are combined.

For example, the differential response resulting from the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212 and the differential response due to air leakage from the on-ear type headphones are combined, so that the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is a pulse wave (acceleration) of the acceleration response. Pulse wave). For such a pulsating signal, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 performs integral type phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 using the waveform serving as a reference for determination as a velocity pulsating wave. Thus, it can be obtained as a velocity pulse wave in which the differential response for one time is compensated.

Further, for example, the differential response caused by the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212 and the differential element due to air leakage of the canal type in-ear type headphones are combined, so that the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 has a speed response. It is output as a pulse wave with a differential element added to the pulse wave (velocity pulse wave). For such a pulsating signal, the frequency characteristic compensator B96 performs a semi-integral type phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 with the waveform serving as a reference as a velocity pulsating wave. By performing, it can be obtained as a velocity pulse wave in which a differential element due to air leakage is compensated.

In addition, for example, the differential information resulting from the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212, the differential response due to air leakage of the on-ear type headphones, and the boost (integral element) by the DSP of the sample information detection unit B32 are combined, so that the sample information The pulsation signal output from the detection unit B32 is output as a pulse wave obtained by adding an integral element to a pulse wave of acceleration response (acceleration pulse wave). For such a pulsating signal, the frequency characteristic compensator B96 performs a semi-integral type phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 with the waveform serving as a reference as a velocity pulsating wave. By performing, it can be obtained as a velocity pulse wave in which the differential response and integral element for one time are compensated.

In this way, according to the specimen information detection apparatus B13, by performing phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32, it is possible to obtain a waveform having a desired characteristic with a compensated frequency response. it can. In addition, also when the required boost amount changes according to the closing level or when the required boost amount changes depending on the characteristics of the DSP, the same determination as that of the reference waveform can be made by performing the determination by the waveform determination unit B272. A waveform having desired characteristics can be obtained.

[II-1-3-5. Signal level and gain switching]
<Air leakage and signal level change>
FIG. 47A shows an example of a waveform obtained when a pulsating signal is detected using a third around-ear type headphone as the sample information detection unit B32. Further, by integrating the pulsation signal showing the waveform of FIG. 47 (a), the pulse wave showing the waveform of FIG. 47 (b) is obtained. In the third around-ear type headphone used here, the outer member B628 of the ear pad B614 is formed of cloth.

In this case, in FIG. 47 (b) obtained after integration, the waveform rises and falls in a DC manner. This is probably because in the third around-ear type headphone, the ear pad B614 is made of cloth, so that air leakage in the cavity B109 fluctuates during measurement. Thereby, it is understood that the level of the pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 changes due to air leakage. It is preferable that such a dynamic change in the signal level is automatically corrected to an appropriate gain by the gain switching unit B95.

According to the sample information detection apparatus B13, the gain switching unit B95 automatically adjusts the signal level according to the signal input from the sample information detection unit B32. In particular, since the signal saturation can be eliminated by the gain switching unit B95, it is possible to automatically switch the gain and obtain a signal with an appropriate gain regardless of the type of headphones used. Further, in the case of the inner ear type headphones, the intensity of the detected signal is lower than in the case of the on-ear type or around ear type headphones. For this reason, the signal input to the information processing apparatus B23 may not be suitable for signal processing, such as being unable to lock by the PLL. According to the sample information detection apparatus B13, a signal amplified to an appropriate gain by the gain switching unit B95 can be obtained. Further, the gain switching unit B95 can automatically correct to an appropriate gain even when the signal level changes dynamically.

<Sample information detection unit, vibration source, and signal level change>
As the sample information detection unit B32, a headphone of a canal type inner ear type, on-ear type, or around ear type headphone can be used. Usually, in the case of an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone, the detected signal is larger than in the case of an inner-ear type headphone, and the signal input to the information processing apparatus B23 may be saturated. For example, in the case of a capacitor type driver unit, it is considered that the diameter of the diaphragm is large in the case of an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone. In addition, it is considered that the signal level obtained by the sensor B212 is influenced by the characteristics of the driver unit used as the sensor B212.

In general, the diameter of the diaphragm of the headphone is 8.8 mmφ to 12.5 mmφ in the case of a canal type inner earphone. On the other hand, in the case of an on-ear type or an around-ear type, it is set to 30 mmφ to 53 mmφ. These values are external shapes including fringes around the diaphragm, and the effective diameter of the diaphragm contributing to vibration is smaller than the above value. If the area is obtained as it is by using the diaphragm diameter on the above data, there is a difference of about 33 times in area ratio between 8 mmφ and 53 mmφ.

Also, the volume of the cavity B109 formed when the canal-type inner earphone is inserted into the external ear canal B104 is 2 cc. On the other hand, in the case of the on-ear type or around-ear type, the volume of the headphones is about 6 cc. From these numerical values, it is predicted that the signal detected by the on-ear type or around-ear type headphones will be larger by about one digit in calculation.

Here, when a speaker is provided in the external ear canal B104 of the dummy head and a signal of 0.1 Hz to 20 Hz is generated, the signal is received by the on-ear type headphones, the around ear type headphones, and the canal type inner ear type headphones, respectively. Attempted to detect. At this time, by using an on-ear type and an around-ear type, measurement was performed with a closed cavity formed by covering the external opening B105 of the ear canal B104. Further, the measurement was performed by using a canal-type inner-ear type headphone to close the external opening B105 of the ear canal B104 to form a closed cavity. As a result, the amount of signal obtained from on-ear type headphones or around-ear type headphones is about a fraction of the signal obtained from canal-type inner-ear headphones for the same strength of signal input. became.

As a result, when only the ear canal B104 is used as a vibration source, the amount of signal obtained when using an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone is the signal obtained when using a canal type inner ear type headphone. It shows that it is reduced to about a fraction of that. This is because when the on-ear type or around-ear type headphones are used, the volume of the cavity B109 formed is larger than that of the canal type inner ear type headphones, and the closed level of the closed cavity is low. It is presumed that air leaks from the cavity B109 and that the distance from the sensor B212 and the ear canal B104 that is the vibration source is long. As a result, when on-ear or around-ear headphones are used, the detection of air vibrations caused by blood vessel pulsation is weakened, resulting in a signal that can be obtained regardless of the effective diameter of the diaphragm. It is thought that the amount of

Next, when detecting the pulsation signal by attaching on-ear type headphones and around-ear type headphones to the specimen B101, the external opening B105 of the ear canal B104 is covered with a putty and closed. An attempt was made to detect when the external auditory canal B104 was opened without being covered. FIG. 48 shows an example of a waveform obtained when the external ear canal B104 is opened using an on-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32. FIG. 48 shows an example of a waveform obtained when the external ear canal B104 is closed. 49. Further, FIG. 50 shows an example of a waveform obtained when the external ear canal B104 is opened using an around-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32, and an example of a waveform obtained when the external ear canal B104 is closed. This is shown in FIG.

Comparing FIG. 48 with FIG. 49, it can be seen that when on-ear headphones are used, the detected signal waveform does not change greatly due to the closure of the external ear canal B104, but the signal strength decreases. . In addition, when FIG. 50 is compared with FIG. 51, similarly, when the around-ear type headphones are used, the waveform of the detected signal does not change greatly due to the closure of the ear canal B104, but the signal strength decreases. I understand that 48 and FIG. 50, and FIG. 49 and FIG. 51, when the ear canal B104 is opened and when the ear canal B104 is closed, signals detected by the around ear type headphones are detected by the on ear type headphones. It can be seen that it is larger than the signal to be transmitted.

More specifically, in each detected signal waveform, the difference in the intensity of the top peak and bottom peak signals of the five pulses of the acceleration pulse wave was obtained, and the average value for the five pulses was calculated. As a result, of the pulsating signals detected by the on-ear type headphones, the average value of the signal intensity when the ear canal B104 is closed is about 70% when the ear canal B104 is opened. Further, among the pulsating signals detected by the around-ear type headphones, the average value of the signal intensity when the ear canal B104 is closed is about 80% when the ear canal B104 is opened.

The difference between the signal intensity when the ear canal B104 is opened and the signal intensity when the ear canal B104 is closed is considered to correspond to the intensity of the signal derived from the ear canal B104. That is, from this result, it is shown that about 30% of the pulsating signals detected by the on-ear type headphones are signals derived from the external ear canal B104, and about 70% are signals derived from other than the external ear canal B104. Yes. In addition, about 20% of the pulsating signals detected by the around-ear type headphones are signals derived from the external ear canal B104, and about 80% are signals derived from other than the external ear canal B104.

Considering the measurement result using the above-described dummy head and the measurement result when the external auditory canal B104 is closed with the putty, it is possible to detect pulsating signals derived from a plurality of vibration sources using vibration sources other than the external ear canal B104. It is presumed that this is the main factor of the magnitude of the signal intensity detected when using the on-ear type or around-ear type headphones.

That is, when an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone is used as the specimen information detection unit B32, the cavity B109 including the external ear canal B104, the tragus B111, and the ear lobe B113 can be formed. At this time, compared with the case where the canal-type inner-ear headphones are inserted into the external opening B105 of the external ear canal B104, in addition to the external ear canal B104, the pulsation signals of the blood vessels derived from the tragus B111 and the earlobe B113 are obtained. Can be detected. Among them, the signal detected from the tragus B111 has a high intensity and a sharp peak. As a result, when on-ear or around-ear headphones are used, it is possible to detect a pulsating signal having a higher signal intensity and sharper waveform peaks than in the case of canal-type inner-ear headphones. It is considered a thing. Furthermore, while the on-ear type covers a part of the auricle B108, the around-ear type headphones cover the entire auricle B108, so that a larger signal than that of the on-ear type is obtained. .

It is preferable that the difference in the level of the signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is automatically corrected to an appropriate gain by the gain switching unit B95.

In addition, using a canal-type inner-ear type headphone as the specimen information detection unit B32, the opening B215 is directed to the tragus B111, and the earpiece B213 is pressed and brought into contact therewith to detect a pulsating signal. An example of the waveform obtained at this time is shown in FIG. When a canal-type inner-ear type headphone is used as the specimen information detection unit B32, the opening B215 is directed to the earlobe B113, the earpiece B213 is pressed and brought into contact, and a pulsation signal is detected. FIG. 53 shows an example of the waveform obtained. These represent the waveforms of signals detected using only the tragus B111 or only the earlobe B113 as a vibration source.

From a comparison between FIG. 52 and FIG. 53, the intensity of the signal obtained from the tragus B111 is greater than the signal obtained from the earlobe B113 when compared with the same surface area as the size of the opening B215 of the canal-type inner-ear type headphones. Can be seen to be large. When the signal amount obtained from the external auditory canal B104 is 1, the signal amount obtained from the tragus B111 is approximately 2.3, and the signal amount obtained from other parts of the auricle B108 such as the tragus B111 is approximately 0.2. 5 is estimated.

[II-1-3-6. Frequency correction processing]
The frequency correction process can be described as a process of passing an electric circuit (compensation circuit) having a frequency response as shown in FIG. Alternatively, such processing may be realized by a hardware circuit or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

In order to obtain a volume pulse wave, velocity pulse wave, or acceleration pulse wave when the pulsation signal output from the output of the specimen information detection unit B32 is a velocity pulse wave by waveform equalization processing, FIG. What is necessary is just to apply the frequency correction process which passes the electric circuit which makes the frequency response shown.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 54, with respect to the pulsating signal after the waveform equalization processing, the integration is made to pass through an electric circuit having a frequency characteristic of a flat curve at -20 dB / dec from an extremely low frequency range to 100 Hz. By operation, a (volume) pulse wave is obtained. The volume pulse wave has a gain change of 0 dB / dec accompanying a change in frequency, and has a flat frequency characteristic in the vicinity of the frequency of the pulse wave.

Also, as shown in FIG. 54, by the differential operation of passing the electric circuit having the frequency characteristic of the flat curve after increasing at 20 dB / dec from the ultra low frequency to 100 Hz with respect to the pulsating signal after the waveform equalization processing. Thus, an acceleration pulse wave is obtained. The acceleration pulse wave has a gain of 40 dB / dec as the frequency increases, and has a frequency characteristic indicating a speed response in the vicinity of the frequency of the pulse wave.

Further, as shown in FIG. 54, when the pulsation signal after the waveform equalization processing is passed without performing an integration operation or a differentiation operation, a velocity pulsation wave is obtained. The velocity pulse wave increases in gain at 20 dB / dec as the frequency increases, and has a frequency characteristic indicating an acceleration response near the frequency of the pulse wave.

In other words, the frequency correction processing refers to the acceleration of the velocity pulse wave obtained by the waveform equalization processing by performing an integration operation on the pulse wave frequency of 1 Hz to obtain a volume pulse wave and performing a differentiation operation. It can also be said that the processing is to obtain a velocity pulse wave by obtaining a pulse wave and performing an amplification operation.

[II-1-4. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
The operation of the sample information processing apparatus B3 will be described for an input process in which a signal detected from the sensor B212 is input to the information processing apparatus B23 and an output process in which a signal from the sound source B92 is output to the sample information detection apparatus B13. To do.
When the switch circuit B68 connects the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 and the gain switching unit B95, input processing is performed. On the other hand, when the switch circuit B68 connects the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 and the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62, output processing is performed.

(Input processing)
The operation of the sample information processing apparatus B3 when the signal detected from the sensor B212 is input to the information processing apparatus B23 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the sample information processing apparatus B3, as shown in FIG. 55, the sample information detection unit B32 first detects a pulsation signal by the sensor B212 in the R headphone unit B35 (step SB11). The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is input to the connection part B53. At this time, the signal input to the connection part B54 shows the frequency characteristics resulting from the electromagnetic conversion system of the sensor B212, air leakage, or the specimen information detection unit B32 provided with a DSP. .

The pulsation signal input to the connection unit B53 is input to the gain switching unit B95 via the switch circuit B68. The gain switching unit B95 performs level adjustment processing on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 to adjust the signal level (step SB12). The signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 is input to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96.

The frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 performs waveform equalization processing on the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 (step SB13). At this time, the signal is a velocity pulse wave by compensating the frequency response of the pulse wave detection band by waveform equalization processing. The signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensator B96 is input to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the FET B72, and input to the information processing apparatus B23 via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81 (step). SB14).

The signal input to the information processing apparatus B23 is input to the AD conversion unit B89 and converted into a digital signal by the AD conversion unit B89 (step SB15). The signal converted into the digital signal is input to the frequency correction processing unit B90.

The frequency correction processing unit B90 performs frequency correction processing on the signal converted by the AD conversion unit B89, and extracts one of the pulsating volume signal, the pulsating velocity signal, and the pulsating acceleration signal ( Step SB16). Since the signal input to the frequency correction processing unit B90 is a velocity pulse wave, a volume pulse wave is obtained by performing an integral operation, an acceleration pulse wave is obtained by performing a differential operation, and an amplification operation is performed. Get velocity pulse wave.

(Output processing)
The digital sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the DA converter B91 as a left ear sound signal and a right ear sound signal, respectively. The DA converter B91 converts the left ear sound signal and the right ear sound signal into analog sound signals, respectively.

The sound signal for the right ear processed by the DA conversion unit B91 is input to the R headphone terminal B85 of the first jack B81, and is output to the specimen information detection apparatus B13 via the first plug B62. The sound signal for the left ear processed by the DA conversion unit B91 is input to the L headphone terminal B73 of the first jack B81, and is output to the sample information detection apparatus B13 via the first plug B62.

The right ear sound signal output to the sample information detection apparatus B13 is input to the R headphone unit B35 via the switch circuit B68, and the sound corresponding to the sound signal for the right ear of the sound source B92 is output to the R headphone unit. Output from B35 headphones (speakers). The sound signal for the left ear output to the sample information detection apparatus B13 is input to the L headphone unit B37, and the sound corresponding to the sound signal for the left ear of the sound source B92 is used as the headphone (speaker) of the L headphone unit B37. Output from the sensor B212.

(Pulse wave detection)
The sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. When measuring a pulse wave, the switch B69 is operated to connect the sensor B212 and the gain switching unit B95 by the switch circuit B68. To do. Thereby, the pulse wave can be detected by the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35 attached to the specimen B101.

According to the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the embodiment, since the headphone is used as the microphone as the sensor B212, the pulse wave can be detected by the mounted R headphone unit B35 while the R headphone unit B35 is mounted. It is. In this case, the specimen B101 is suitable for measuring a pulse wave for a long time by switching from a state in which music is being listened to when measuring a pulse wave, for example.

[II-1-5. Effects of specimen information detection apparatus and specimen information processing apparatus according to first embodiment]
According to the sample information detecting apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the parts constituting the outer ear B107 of the sample B101 are closed or substantially closed by the casing parts B211, B612, B622 from the external space. A cavity B109 that forms a closed space structure is formed. In this state, the sensor B212 detects the pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the part constituting the outer ear B107 as pressure information propagating in the cavity B109 due to the pulsation signal, thereby existing in the part constituting the outer ear B107. A pulsating signal of the specimen B101 can be detected by using blood vessels, particularly blood vessels present in the ear canal B104, tragus B111, ear lobe B113, or tympanic membrane B106.

In addition, according to the sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the spatial structure in which the part constituting the outer ear B107, the housing parts B211, B612, B622, and the sensor B212 are closed. Measured to form (closed cavity). Thus, in the relationship between the sensor B 212 and the vibration source, the frequency response in the low frequency region where the pulse wave is detected can be improved by performing measurement in the closed state. Therefore, the S / N ratio and sensitivity of the pulsating signal in the low frequency region are improved as compared with the conventional case of detecting the pulsating signal with the sensor open.

According to the sample information detection device B13 and the sample information processing device B3 according to the first embodiment, the gain switching unit B95 attenuates the signal when the signal output from the sample information detection unit B32 is saturated. Thereby, even if the level of the signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 changes, it is possible to automatically switch the gain and output an appropriate signal with the signal level adjusted.

As a result, the canal-type inner-ear type can be attached to the outer ear B107 of the specimen B101 so as to form a cavity B109 having a closed or substantially closed space structure while isolating a portion constituting the outer ear B107 from the external space. In the case of an on-ear type or around-ear type headphone, it is possible to detect a pulsating signal regardless of the type. Further, by using such headphones as the sample information detection unit B32, daily measurement can be easily performed.

Furthermore, according to the sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs the waveform equalization process, thereby detecting the sample information by the sensor B212 and the sample information detection unit B32. The frequency response of the pulse wave information detection band indicated by the signal output from can be compensated. Thereby, either the differential response or the integral response due to the electromagnetic conversion system of the sensor B212, the air leakage of the cavity B109, or the DSP provided in the specimen information detection unit B32, or the frequency response generated by these can be compensated. it can. Further, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 can obtain the pulsation signal as a velocity pulse wave signal or an acceleration pulse wave signal to which a differential element or an integral element is not added.

In the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs waveform equalization processing, and the waveform determination unit B272 performs waveform comparison processing. Thereby, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 can obtain a pulsation signal in which the frequency response is compensated so as to show the same pattern as the reference waveform for the signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The waveform determination unit B272 compares the input pulse wave with the reference waveform divided by the same number of clocks at the time normalized by dividing the pulse wave by the clock. Thereby, even when the time axis of the waveform of the signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 fluctuates, the patterns indicated by the intensity of the pulse wave signal can be compared at the same timing.

Furthermore, according to the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the frequency correction processing unit B90 can obtain the velocity pulse wave, the volume pulse wave by the integration operation, or the acceleration pulse wave by the differential operation.

In addition, according to the sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the connection unit B53 includes the gain switching unit B95 and the waveform equalization processing unit B271. For this reason, the pulsatile signal which performed level adjustment processing and waveform equalization processing to smart phone B23 by using sample information detection device B13 concerning this embodiment as headphones connected to information processor B23 (smart phone B23). Can be entered. That is, the level adjustment process and the waveform equalization process can be performed on the pulsation signal input to the smartphone B23 without changing the smartphone B23.

In addition, according to the sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the connection unit B54 has the first plug B62, and the information processing apparatus B23 has the first plug B62 connected thereto. A pulsation signal having a jack B81 and processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the waveform equalization processing unit B271 is input to the information processing apparatus B23 via the first jack B81. For this reason, when inputting information other than the pulsation signal, for example, an audio signal, to the information processing apparatus B23, the sample information detection apparatus B13 connected to the first jack B81 is removed, and the gain switching unit B95 and the waveform equalization process are removed. What is necessary is just to connect the normal headphone microphone which does not have the part B271.

[II-2. Modification of First Embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment of the present invention is partially configured in the same manner as the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment described above, and the first embodiment described above. The description of the same components as the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the embodiment will be omitted and will be described using the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, in the description of the modification of the first embodiment, the modification of the first embodiment is also simply referred to as this modification.

The sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the present modification includes a sample information detection apparatus B14 and an information processing apparatus B23, as shown in FIG. Here, in the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the sample information detection unit B32 is directly connected to the connection unit B53, whereas in the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the present modification, the sample information detection is performed. The unit B33 is different in that the unit B33 is connected to the connection portion B54 via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73.

[II-2-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
The configurations of the sample information processing device B4, the sample information detection device B14, and the information processing device B23 according to the present modification and elements constituting each unit will be described. FIG. 56 schematically shows the configuration of the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to this modification.

[II-2-1-1. Configuration of specimen information detection apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 56, the sample information detection apparatus B14 includes a sample information detection unit B33 and a connection portion B54. The connecting portion B54 is also referred to as an interface device B54.

<Sample information detection unit>
The sample information detection unit B33 is a headphone that includes a headphone unit B35 for right ear (R headphone unit), a headphone unit B37 for left ear (L headphone unit), and a second plug B42. The sample information detection unit B33 is configured in the same manner as the sample information detection unit B32 except that it is connected to the connection portion B54 via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73. Similar to the sample information detection unit B32, for example, the sample information detection unit B33 can use any of canal type inner ear type headphones, on-ear type headphones, or around-ear type headphones.

(Second plug)
As shown in FIG. 56, the second plug B42 has a ground terminal B43, an R headphone terminal B44, and an L headphone terminal B45 in this order from the root of the plug to the tip. The ground terminal B43, the R headphone terminal B44, and the L headphone terminal B45 are formed by processing a conductive metal plate into a substantially cylindrical shape.

Insulating members B46a and B46b are provided between the ground terminal B43 and the R headphone terminal B44 and between the R headphone terminal B44 and the L headphone terminal B45, respectively. The insulating members B46a and B46b are made of an insulating resin or rubber material, and are interposed between the conductive terminals so that the terminals are insulated from each other.

As shown in FIG. 56, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B44 provided in the second plug B42. A signal line B38 of the L headphone unit B37 is connected to an L headphone terminal B45 provided on the second plug B42. In addition, a ground line B41 obtained by joining the ground line B41a of the R headphone unit B35 and the ground line B41b of the L headphone unit B37 is connected to a ground terminal B43 provided in the second plug B42.

<Connection part>
The connection unit B54 according to the present modification includes a second jack B73, a switch circuit B68, a switch B69, a gain switching unit B95, a waveform equalization processing unit B271, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 having a waveform determination unit B272, a power supply B71, and an FET B72. And a first plug B62. Hereinafter, the configuration of the connecting portion B54 will be described with reference to FIG.

The connection portion B54 is connected to the sample information detection unit B33 and the connection portion B54 via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73 by inserting the second plug B42 of the sample information detection unit B33 into the second jack B73. And connected. Further, the connecting portion B54 inserts the first plug B62 into the first jack B81 of the information processing device B23, whereby the sample information detection device B14 and the information processing device are connected via the first plug B62 and the first jack B81. B23 is connected. The connection unit B54 is inserted into the jack (first jack B81) of the smartphone B23, and the sample information detection unit B33 as headphones is inserted into the second jack B73 of the connection unit B54, whereby the sample information detection unit B33. And an adapter inserted between the smartphone B23.

(Second jack)
The second jack B73 includes an insertion hole B74 into which the second plug B42 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 56, in the insertion hole B74 of the second jack B73, a ground terminal B75, an R headphone terminal B76, and an L headphone terminal B77 are provided in this order from the front to the back of the insertion hole B74. The ground terminal B75, the R headphone terminal B76, and the L headphone terminal B77 are formed by processing a conductive metal plate into a plate shape and providing it on the wall surface of the insertion hole B74 of the second jack B73. The plate-like terminal B is bent toward the center of the insertion hole B74 to form a convex part having bending elasticity, and is provided so that the convex part of this terminal projects toward the center of the insertion hole B74. It has been.

The structure of the second jack B73 will be described with reference to FIGS. 57 (a) to 57 (c). 57 (a) to 57 (c), the outline shape of the second jack B73 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 57 (a) is a view of the second jack B73 as viewed from the side, and shows the arrangement of the R headphone terminal B76 and the L headphone terminal B77. FIG. 57B is a diagram showing the end surface of the second jack B73 as viewed from the direction of the arrow E-E ', and shows the arrangement of the ground terminal B75, the R headphone terminal B76, and the L headphone terminal B77. FIG. 57 (c) is a diagram showing the end surface of the second jack B73 as viewed from the direction of the arrow F-F ', and shows the arrangement of the ground terminal B75 and the L headphone terminal B77.

When the second plug B42 is inserted into the insertion hole B74 of the second jack B73, as shown in FIG. 56, the ground terminal B43 of the second plug B42 and the ground terminal B75 of the second jack B73 come into contact with each other. The R headphone terminal B44 of the second plug B42 and the R headphone terminal B76 of the second jack B73 are in contact with each other, and the L headphone terminal B45 of the second plug B42 and the L headphone terminal B77 of the second jack B73 are in contact with each other. The two plugs B42 and the second jack B73 are formed.

The structure when the second plug B42 is inserted into the second jack B73 will be described with reference to FIGS. 58 (a) to 58 (c). 58 (a) to 58 (c), the outline shape of the second jack B73 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. FIG. 58A is a diagram of the second jack B73 as viewed from the side, and shows the arrangement of the second plug B42, the R headphone terminal B76, and the L headphone terminal B77. FIG. 58B is a diagram showing the end face of the second jack B73 as viewed from the arrow GG ′, and shows the arrangement of the second plug B42, the ground terminal B75, the R headphone terminal B76, and the L headphone terminal B77. . FIG. 58C is a diagram showing the end surface of the second jack B73 as viewed from the direction of the arrow H-H ′, and shows the arrangement of the second plug B42, the ground terminal B75, and the L headphone terminal B77.

When the second plug B42 is inserted into the insertion hole B74 of the second jack B73, the ground terminal B75, the R headphone terminal B76, and the L headphone terminal B77 are in contact with the respective terminals of the opposing second plug B42. Elastically deforms according to the shape of each terminal. At this time, a contact state is maintained by the bending elasticity in the convex part of each terminal. Thereby, the ground terminal B43 and the ground terminal B75 are connected, the R headphone terminal B44 and the R headphone terminal B76 are connected, and the L headphone terminal B45 and the L headphone terminal B77 are connected.

As shown in FIG. 56, the ground terminal B84 of the first jack B81 is grounded, and the ground line B41 connected to the ground terminal B43 of the second plug B42 is connected to the second jack B73, the first plug B62, and the first plug B62. It is grounded through one jack B81. The R headphone terminal B85 of the first jack B81 is connected to the DA converter B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the right ear, and the signal connected to the R headphone terminal B44 and the R headphone terminal B44 of the second plug B42. A signal from the DA conversion unit B91 corresponding to the right ear sound source B92 is input to the line B36. The L headphone terminal B86 of the first jack B81 is connected to the DA converter B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the left ear, and the signal connected to the L headphone terminal B45 and the L headphone terminal B45 of the first plug B62. A signal from the DA conversion unit B91 corresponding to the sound source B92 for the left ear is input to the line B38.

(Switch circuit and switch)
The switch circuit B68 is switch means for switching whether the R headphone terminal B76 of the second jack B73 is connected to the gain switching unit B95 or the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62. In other words, the switch circuit B68 includes a connection from the sensor B212 to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and a connection from the sensor B212 to the R headphone terminal B65. Is to switch.

(Gain switching part)
The gain switching unit B95 according to this modification is the gain switching according to the first embodiment except that the detection signal detected by the sample information detection unit B33 is input via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73. The configuration is the same as that of the part B95.

(Frequency characteristics compensator)
The frequency characteristic compensator B96 according to this modification is the frequency according to the first embodiment except that the detection signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B33 is input via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73. The configuration is the same as that of the characteristic compensation unit B96.

[II-2-1-2. Configuration of information processing apparatus]
The information processing apparatus B23 (smart phone B23) according to this modification is configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus B23 according to the first embodiment.

[II-2-2. Functional configuration of sample information processing apparatus]
When functionally representing the sample information processing device B4, the sample information processing device B4 includes a sample information detection device B14 and an information processing device B23 as shown in FIG. The sample information detection apparatus B14 includes a sample information detection unit B33, and a connection unit B54 having a gain switching unit B95 and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. The information processing apparatus B23 according to the present embodiment is configured similarly to the information processing apparatus B23 according to the first embodiment.

In the information processing apparatus B23 according to the present modification, the frequency correction processing unit B90 functions as a frequency correction processing unit when the above-described application software is expanded on the memory and executed by the CPU. The gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 are processed by an analog circuit built in the connection unit B54.

(Functional structure of connection part)
The circuit configuration of the connecting portion B54 is shown in FIG.
The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B44 of the second plug B42. The R headphone terminal B44 is connected to the R headphone terminal B76 of the second jack B73. The R headphone terminal B76 is connected to the switch circuit B68. The switch circuit B68 switches the connection between the signal line B36 and the gain switching unit B95 or the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62.

The gain switching unit B95 is connected to the power source B71. The gain switching unit B95 is connected to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96. Since the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is connected to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72, the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is input to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72. The drain terminal (D) of the FET B72 is connected to the microphone terminal B63 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion B54. The source terminal (S) of the FET B72 merges with the ground line B41 and is connected to the ground terminal B64 provided in the first plug B62.

With the circuit configuration described above, when the signal line B36 is connected to the gain switching unit B95 by the switch circuit B68, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is input to the gain switching unit B95. Further, the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is input to the microphone terminal B63 and input to the AD conversion unit B89 of the information processing apparatus B23 via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. . In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a microphone. When the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 by the switch circuit B68, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a speaker.
In this way, the specimen information detection device B14 outputs the signal detected by the sensor B212 and processed by the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 to the information processing device B23.

[II-2-3. Signal characteristics and signal processing]
In the sample information detection apparatus B14 and the sample information processing apparatus B4 of this modification, the relationship between the influence of the pulsation signal output from the sample information detection unit B33 on the signal characteristics and the signal processing is the same as that in the first embodiment described above. This is the same as the sample information detection apparatus B13 and the sample information processing apparatus B3.

[II-2-4. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
The operation of the sample information processing apparatus B4 will be described with respect to an input process in which a signal detected from the sensor B212 is input to the information processing apparatus B23 and an output process in which a signal from the sound source B92 is output to the sample information detection apparatus B14. To do.

Note that when the switch circuit B68 connects the R headphone terminal B76 of the second jack B73 and the gain switching unit B95, an input process is performed. On the other hand, when the switch circuit B68 connects the R headphone terminal B76 of the second jack B73 and the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62, output processing is performed.

(Input processing)
In the input processing in the sample information processing apparatus B4, in the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit B32 is input to the gain switching unit B95 via the switch circuit B68. On the other hand, in the sample information processing apparatus B4, the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit B33 is input to the gain switching unit B95 via the R headphone terminal B44, the R headphone terminal B76, and the switch circuit B68. Except for this, it is the same as the input process in the sample information processing apparatus B3.

(Output processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the right ear sound signal output to the sample information detection apparatus B13 is the switch circuit B68. In contrast, in the sample information processing apparatus B4, the right ear sound signal output to the sample information detection apparatus B14 is input to the R headphone unit B35 via the switch circuit B68 and the R headphone terminal B76. The input processing is the same as the input processing in the sample information processing apparatus B3 except that the signal is input to the R headphone unit B35 via the R headphone terminal B44.

In addition, in the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, the left ear sound signal output to the sample information detection apparatus B13 is L in the sample information processing apparatus B4. In contrast to the input to the headphone unit B37, in the sample information processing apparatus B4, the sound signal for the left ear output to the sample information detection apparatus B14 is transmitted via the L headphone terminal B77 and the L headphone terminal B45 to the L level. Except for being input to the headphone unit B37, the input processing is the same as in the sample information processing apparatus B3.

(Pulse wave detection)
The sample information processing apparatus B4 according to this modification is configured as described above. When measuring a pulse wave, the switch B69 is operated to connect the sensor B212 and the gain switching unit B95 by the switch circuit B68. To do. Thereby, the pulse wave can be detected by the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35 attached to the specimen B101.

According to the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the present modification, the sample B101 is switched from a state in which music is being listened to when measuring pulse waves, for example, as in the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment. Suitable for measuring time pulse wave.

[II-2-5. Effects of sample information detection apparatus and sample information processing apparatus according to modification of first embodiment]
According to the sample information detection apparatus B14 and the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.

According to the sample information detection device B14 and the sample information processing device B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment, the sample information detection unit B33 and the information processing device B23 can be connected by the connection unit B54 (interface device B54). it can. Thereby, even in the specimen information detection unit B33 that does not include the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the level adjustment process and the waveform equalization process are performed by connecting to the information processing apparatus B23 using the connection unit B54. The pulse wave according to the first embodiment can be output.

Further, according to the information processing device B14 and the sample information processing device B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment, the interface device B54 includes the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and the sample information is obtained by the interface device B54. The detection unit B33 and the information processing device B23 (smart phone B23) can be connected. For this reason, the sample information detection unit B33 connected to the interface device according to this modification is not particularly limited, and is connected to the second jack B73 if the headphone has the second plug B42 and can input the detected signal. Can be used. At this time, a signal subjected to level adjustment processing and waveform equalization processing can be input to the smartphone B23 via the interface device B54. Moreover, a level adjustment process and a waveform equalization process can be performed to the signal input into smart phone B23, without changing smart phone B23.

[II-3. Second embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is partially configured in the same manner as the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment described above, and the sample according to the first embodiment described above. A description of the same components as the information processing device B3 will be omitted, and description will be made using the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, in the description of the second embodiment, the second embodiment is also simply referred to as this embodiment.

[II-3-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment, a gain switching unit B95, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 having a waveform equalization processing unit B271 and a waveform determination unit B272 are provided in the connection unit B53. On the other hand, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 are provided in the information processing apparatus instead of the connection unit.

That is, the connection unit according to this embodiment includes a switch circuit B68, a switch B69, an FET B72, and a first plug B62. The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is switched to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72 or the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62 by the switch circuit B68.

The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first jack B81, a gain switching unit B95, a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, an AD conversion unit B89, a frequency correction processing unit B90, a DA conversion unit B91, and a sound source B92. ing.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the signal line B36 is connected to the FET B72 by the switch circuit B68, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is input to the FET B72. Further, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is input to the microphone terminal B63, and is input to the gain switching unit B95 of the information processing apparatus via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a microphone, and the sample information processing apparatus performs input processing. When the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 by the switch circuit B68, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a speaker, and the sample information processing apparatus performs output processing.

[II-3-2. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
The output process for outputting the signal from the sound source B92 to the sample information detection apparatus is the same as the output process in the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment.

(Input processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, the sample information detection unit B32 detects a pulsation signal by the sensor B212. The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is input to the connection unit.

The pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is input to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the switch circuit B68 and the FET B72, and further to the information via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. Input to the processing unit.

The pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus is input to the gain switching unit B95. The gain switching unit B95 performs level adjustment processing on the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 to adjust the signal level. The signal processed by the gain switching unit B95 is input to the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96.

The frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 performs waveform equalization processing on the signal processed by the gain switching unit B95. The signal processed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is sequentially input to the AD conversion unit B89 and the frequency correction processing unit B90 for processing, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[II-3-3. Effect of specimen information processing apparatus according to second embodiment]
According to the information processing apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 including the gain switching unit B95 and the waveform equalization processing unit B271 and the waveform determination unit B272 provided in the information processing device. Thus, the same effect as that obtained in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[II-4. Modification of Second Embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the modified example of the second embodiment of the present invention is partially configured in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment described above or the sample information processing apparatus according to the modified example of the first embodiment. Description is omitted for the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment described above or the same as the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment. Will be described. Hereinafter, in the description of the modification of the second embodiment, the modification of the second embodiment is also simply referred to as this modification.

[II-4-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the sample information detection unit B32 is directly connected to the connection unit. On the other hand, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the sample information detection unit B33 is connected to the connection unit (interface device) via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73.

That is, the connection unit according to this embodiment includes a second jack B73, a switch circuit B68, a switch B69, an FET B72, and a first plug B62. The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is switched to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72 or the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62 by the switch circuit B68.

The information processing apparatus according to this modification is configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, when the signal line B36 is connected to the FET B72 by the switch circuit B68, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is Input to the gain switching unit B95 of the information processing apparatus. When the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 by the switch circuit B68, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212.

[II-4-2. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
(Input processing)
In the input processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit B33 is input to the FET B72 via the R headphone terminal B44, the R headphone terminal B76, and the switch circuit B68. Except for this, the input processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same.

(Output processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the right ear sound signal is output from the switch circuit B68, the R headphone terminal B76, and the R headphone terminal. Except for being input to the R headphone unit B35 via B44, the output processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same.

Further, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the left ear sound signal is output through the L headphone terminal B77 and the L headphone terminal B45. Except for the input to the L headphone unit B37, the output processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same.

[II-4-3. Effect of specimen information processing apparatus according to modification of second embodiment]
According to the information processing apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In the information processing apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the second embodiment, the information processing apparatus (smartphone) includes the gain switching unit 95 and the waveform equalization processing unit 271, and the sample is connected by the connection unit (interface device). An information detection unit and a smart phone can be connected. For this reason, the sample information detection unit connected to the connection portion is not particularly limited, and any headphone that has the second plug 42 and can input the detected signal can be connected to the second jack 73 and used. .

[II-5. Third embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is partially configured in the same manner as the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment described above, and the sample according to the first embodiment described above. A description of the same components as the information processing device B3 will be omitted, and description will be made using the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, in the description of the third embodiment, the third embodiment is also simply referred to as this embodiment.
[II-5-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the connection unit further includes an input processing unit, and the information processing apparatus further includes an output processing unit.

The connection unit according to the present embodiment includes an input processing unit, a gain switching unit B95, a frequency equalization processing unit B271, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 having a waveform determination unit B272, a power supply B71, an FET B72, and a first plug B62. Yes. The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion, and is connected to the microphone terminal B63 provided in the first plug B62 via the FET B72. Also connected to the input processing unit.

The input processing unit attenuates a frequency component higher than a pulse wave information detection band, which is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, with respect to the detection signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 to thereby obtain pulse wave information. LPF (low pass filter) processing (also simply referred to as LPF) for passing the frequency component of the detection band is performed. The signal processed by the input processing unit is input to the gain switching unit B95.

The frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected is a low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz. The corner frequency of the low-pass filter by the input processing unit is not particularly limited as long as it is higher than the pulse wave information detection band, but is preferably set to about 10 Hz in order to improve the S / N ratio. However, when looking at the fluctuation of the waveform, it may be extended from 10 Hz to 100 Hz.

The information processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a first jack B81, an AD conversion unit B89, a frequency correction processing unit B90, a DA conversion unit B91, a sound source B92, and an output processing unit.

The output processing unit attenuates the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band, which is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, with respect to the right ear sound signal output from the sound source B92 to the specimen information detection apparatus. Thus, HPF (High Pass Filter) processing (also simply referred to as HPF) for passing a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band is performed. This HPF process by the output processing unit is also referred to as an output process.

The frequency band in which the pulse wave information of the blood vessel is detected is a low frequency region of 0.1 to 10 Hz. However, when detecting the pulse wave, the influence of the sound generated according to the signal input to the sensor B 212 is affected. In order to reduce, it is preferable to reduce frequency components in a wider frequency band. However, if the frequency component of an excessively wide frequency band is reduced, the quality of the sound emitted from the sensor B 212 may be impaired. For this reason, the output processing unit according to the present embodiment attenuates frequency components of 100 Hz or less and allows frequency components higher than 100 Hz to pass.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35. At the same time, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is input to the input processing unit, gain switching unit B95, and frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and further input to the information processing apparatus. That is, the sensor B 212 functions as both a speaker and a microphone at the same time, and the sample information processing apparatus performs input processing and output processing simultaneously.

[II-5-2. Frequency characteristics and signal processing]

Since the sound signal output from the sound source B92 includes the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band, when the sound signal output from the sound source B92 is directly input to the sensor B212, the sound output from the sound source B92 is The signal makes it difficult to detect the pulse wave. Further, the sound output from the sensor B212 as a speaker is fed back to the sensor B212 as a microphone. Further, the sound signal output from the sound source B92 to the sample information detection apparatus is fed back to the information processing apparatus.

In order to solve the above problem, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band output to the sensor B 212 is attenuated by the HPF in the output processing unit. Further, the LPF in the input processing unit attenuates a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band with respect to the detection signal detected by the sensor B212.

Thereby, according to the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the sound signal that suppresses the influence on the detection of the pulse wave is reduced so that the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band of the sound emitted from the sensor B212 is reduced. It is possible to output to the specimen information detection apparatus. Moreover, only the frequency component required for the detection of a pulse wave can be input into the information processing apparatus from the detection signal detected by the sensor B212.

[II-5-3. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
The operation of the sample information processing apparatus will be described for an input process in which a signal detected from the sensor B212 is input to the information processing apparatus and an output process in which a signal from the sound source B92 is output to the sample information detection apparatus.

(Input processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, the sample information detection unit B32 detects a pulsating signal by the sensor B212 in the R headphone unit B35. The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is input to the connection unit.

The pulsation signal input to the connection unit is input to the input processing unit. The input processing unit applies LPF that attenuates the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band and passes the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band to the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The signal at this time is composed of the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band by the LPF. The signal processed by the input processing unit is sequentially input to the gain switching unit B95, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the AD conversion unit B89, and the frequency correction processing unit B90, as in the sample information processing apparatus 3 according to the first embodiment. Then, processing is performed. In addition, all the signals obtained by the frequency correction processing unit B90 are composed of frequency components in the pulse wave information detection band.

(Output processing)
The sound signal for the right ear in the digital format is input from the sound source B92 to the output processing unit. The output processing unit performs output processing (HPF) that attenuates the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band and passes the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band. The right ear sound signal processed by the output processing unit is input to the DA conversion unit B91. The DA converter B91 converts the right ear sound signal processed by the output processor into an analog sound signal.

The sound signal for the right ear processed by the output processing unit and the DA conversion unit B91 is input to the R headphone terminal B85 of the first jack B81, and is output to the sample information detection apparatus via the first plug 62. The right ear sound signal output to the sample information detection apparatus is input to the R headphone unit B35. At this time, a sound having a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band of the sound signal for the right ear of the sound source B92 is output from the sensor B212 as a headphone (speaker) of the R headphone unit B35.

[II-5-4. Effects of the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment has the following effects in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.

According to the sample information detection apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the input processing unit attenuates a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band with respect to the detection signal detected by the sensor B212, and the pulse signal is detected. LPF processing for passing the frequency component of the wave information detection band is performed. Further, the output processing unit performs output processing for attenuating the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band and passing the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band with respect to the signal output to the specimen information detection apparatus. As a result, the sample information processing apparatus can detect the pulse wave while the sensor B212 is listening to music, for example, while the sensor B212 emits sound as a speaker and can simultaneously detect the pulse wave as a microphone. .

In addition, according to the sample information detection apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the connection unit has the first plug B62, and the information processing apparatus has the first jack B81 to which the first plug B62 is connected. Then, the signals processed by the input processing unit, gain switching unit B95, and waveform equalization processing unit B271 are input to the information processing apparatus via the first jack B81. For this reason, when inputting information other than the pulsation signal, for example, an audio signal, to the information processing apparatus, the sample information detection apparatus connected to the first jack B81 is removed, and the input processing unit, the gain switching unit B95, and the waveform are removed. What is necessary is just to connect the normal headphone microphone which does not have the equalization process part B271.

[II-6. Modified example of the third embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention has a partial configuration, the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment described above, or the sample information processing apparatus according to the modified example of the first embodiment. Description is omitted for the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment described above or the same as the sample information processing apparatus B4 according to the modification of the first embodiment. Will be described. Hereinafter, in the description of the modification of the third embodiment, the modification of the third embodiment is also simply referred to as this modification.

[II-6-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the sample information detection unit B32 is directly connected to the connection unit. On the other hand, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the sample information detection unit B33 is connected to the connection unit (interface device) via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73.

The connection unit according to this modification includes a second jack B73, an input processing unit, a gain switching unit B95, a frequency equalization processing unit B271, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 having a waveform determination unit B272, a power supply B71, an FET B72, and a first A plug B62 is provided. By connecting the R headphone terminal B76 to the R headphone terminal B65 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion and the input processing portion, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65, Connected to the input processing unit.

The information processing apparatus according to this modification is configured in the same manner as the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212, and at the same time, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is Input to the information processing apparatus.

[II-6-2. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]

(Input processing)
The input processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification is performed except that the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit B33 is input to the input processing unit via the R headphone terminal B44 and the R headphone terminal B76. This is the same as the input process in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

(Output processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, the right ear sound signal is output through the R headphone terminal B76 and the R headphone terminal B44. Except for being input to the R headphone unit B35, the output processing is the same as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Further, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the left ear sound signal is output through the L headphone terminal B77 and the L headphone terminal B45. Except for the input to the L headphone unit B37, the output processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment is the same.

[II-6-3. Effect of specimen information processing apparatus according to modification of third embodiment]
According to the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the third embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the sample information detection apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the third embodiment, the connection unit (interface device) includes the input processing unit, the gain switching unit B95, and the waveform equalization processing unit B271, and the interface. The apparatus can connect the sample information detection unit B33 and the information processing apparatus (smartphone). For this reason, the sample information detection unit B33 connected to the interface device according to this modification is not particularly limited, and is connected to the second jack B73 if the headphone has the second plug B42 and can input the detected signal. Can be used. At this time, a signal subjected to LPF, level adjustment processing, and waveform equalization processing can be input via the interface device.

[II-7. Fourth embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is configured in part in the same manner as the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment described above or the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Thus, the description of the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment described above or the same as the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be omitted, and will be described using the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the fourth embodiment is also simply referred to as this embodiment.

[II-7-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment, an input processing unit, a gain switching unit B95, and a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 including a waveform equalization processing unit B271 and a waveform determination unit B272 are provided in the connection unit. In contrast, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the input processing unit, the gain switching unit B95, and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 are provided in the information processing apparatus instead of the connection unit.

That is, the connection unit according to the present embodiment includes the FET B72 and the first plug B62. The signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion, and the gate of the FET B72 connected to the microphone terminal B63 provided in the first plug B62. Connected to terminal (G).

The information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first jack B81, an input processing unit, a gain switching unit B95, a frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, an AD conversion unit B89, a frequency correction processing unit B90, a DA conversion unit B91, a sound source B92, and An output processing unit is provided.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212 and the signal detected by the sensor B212 is information. Input to the processing unit.

[II-7-2. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
The output process in which the signal from the sound source B92 is output to the sample information detection apparatus is the same process as the output process in the sample information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

(Input processing)

In the sample information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, the sample information detection unit B32 detects a pulsation signal by the sensor B212 in the R headphone unit B35. The pulsation signal detected by the specimen information detection unit B32 is input to the connection unit.

The pulsation signal input to the connection portion is input to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the FET B72, and further input to the information processing device via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. .

The pulsation signal input to the information processing apparatus is input to the input processing unit. The input processing unit applies LPF that attenuates the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band and passes the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band to the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The signal at this time is composed of the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band by the LPF. The signal processed by the input processing unit is sequentially input to the gain switching unit B95, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, the AD conversion unit B89, and the frequency correction processing unit B90, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. The process is performed. In addition, all the signals obtained by the frequency correction processing unit B90 are composed of frequency components in the pulse wave information detection band.

[II-7-5. Effect of specimen information processing apparatus according to fourth embodiment]
According to the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the input processing unit, the output processing unit, the gain switching unit B95, and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 provided in the information processing device are obtained in the third embodiment. The same effect as that obtained can be obtained.

[II-8. Modification of Fourth Embodiment]
The sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a partial configuration, the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment described above, or the sample information processing apparatus according to a modification of the second embodiment. The same components as those of the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment described above or the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the second embodiment are not described, and the same reference numerals are used. I will explain. Hereinafter, in the description of the modification of the fourth embodiment, the modification of the fourth embodiment is also simply referred to as this modification.

[II-8-1. Configuration of specimen information processing apparatus]
In the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the sample information detection unit B32 is directly connected to the connection unit. On the other hand, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the sample information detection unit B33 is connected to the connection unit (interface device) via the second plug B42 and the second jack B73.

The connection unit according to this modification includes a second jack B73, an FET B72, and a first plug B62. The R headphone terminal B76 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 provided in the first plug B62 of the connection portion and the FET B72, so that the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65, the FET B72, and the FET B72. Connected to.

In the sample information processing apparatus according to this embodiment, as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, the sound signal from the sound source B92 is input to the sensor B212, and at the same time, the signal detected by the sensor B212 is the information Input to the processing unit.

[II-8-2. Operation of specimen information processing apparatus]
(Input processing)
The input process in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification is the fourth except that the pulsation signal detected by the sample information detection unit B33 is input to the FET B72 via the R headphone terminal B44 and the R headphone terminal B76. This is the same as the input process in the sample information processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

(Output processing)
In the sample information processing apparatus according to this modification, the right ear sound signal is output through the R headphone terminal B76 and the R headphone terminal B44. Except for the input to the R headphone unit B35, the output processing is the same as in the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

Further, in the sample information processing apparatus according to the present modification, the left ear sound signal is output through the L headphone terminal B77 and the L headphone terminal B45. Except for the input to the L headphone unit B37, the input processing in the sample information processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is the same.

[II-8-3. Effect of specimen information processing apparatus according to modification of fourth embodiment]
According to the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the fourth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the information processing apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus according to the modification of the fourth embodiment, the sample information detection unit B33 and the information processing apparatus (smartphone) can be connected by the connection unit (interface device). For this reason, the sample information detection unit B33 connected to the interface device according to this modification is not particularly limited, and is connected to the second jack B73 if the headphone has the second plug B42 and can input the detected signal. Can be used.

[II-9. Others]
[II-9-1. About device configuration]

In the above embodiment, the case where the blood vessel pulsation signal is detected by the sensor B212 provided in the R headphone unit B35 has been described, but the blood vessel pulsation signal is provided by the sensor B212 provided in the L headphone unit B37. May be detected.

In the above embodiment, the first plug B62 having the microphone terminal B63, the ground terminal B64, the R headphone terminal B65, and the L headphone terminal B66 in this order from the root of the plug to the tip, and the ground terminal from the root of the plug to the tip. The second plug B42 having the B43, the R headphone terminal B44, and the L headphone terminal B45 in this order has been described as an example. However, the configuration of the plug is not limited to these, and the first plug B62 and the second plug B42 are connected to the terminals. The order is arbitrary. Further, the first jack B81 and the second jack B73 are arbitrary as long as they match the order of the terminals of the first plug B62 and the second plug B42.

In the above embodiment, the configuration including the sample information detection units B31 and B32 including the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 has been described. However, either one of the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 is used. B may be detected by the sensor B212 of any one of the headphone units B.

In the above embodiment, the case where the sound source B92 corresponding to the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 is stereo has been described, but the sound source B92 outputs the same sound signal to the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. It may be monaural.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the sound signal is output from the sound source B92 has been described. However, the sound source B92 may be, for example, music data stored in a smartphone, or the received sound from a call may be the sound source B92. It is good.

In the above embodiment, the connection parts B53 and B55 are provided with the first plug B62, and the sample information detection devices B13 and B14 and the information processing device B23 are connected by a plug and a jack to input and output signals. Although described, the input / output of signals from the sensor B212 to the information processing apparatus B2 is not limited to these. For example, the sensor B212 and the information processing apparatus B23 may be connected via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard connector and cable. Alternatively, signals may be input / output from the sensor B212 to the information processing apparatus B23 by wireless communication using WiFi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

In the above embodiment, a smartphone is exemplified as the information processing apparatus B23, but the information processing apparatus is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a tablet-type terminal (tablet PC), a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, or other measuring equipment or display equipment.

[II-9-2. About signal processing]
In the above embodiment and modification, the processing by the input processing unit, the gain switching unit B95, and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 has been described with respect to the processing by the analog circuit, but a digital circuit, for example, a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as “DSP”). A circuit including the digital circuit may be processed by combining a circuit including the digital circuit and an analog circuit, or combining an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) or a DSP. Alternatively, the signal processing application software may be deployed on the memory included in the information processing apparatus B23 and executed by the CPU, thereby functioning as input processing means, gain switching means, and frequency characteristic compensation means. .

In the first embodiment, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 is connected to the gate terminal (G) of the FET B72 as shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. Although the configuration has been described, as shown in FIG. 59B, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 may be connected to the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 via the capacitor B79. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 59 (c), if direct current coupling is possible, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 may be directly connected to the microphone terminal B63.

59 (b) and 59 (c) regarding the circuit configuration of the connecting portion B53 described above are the connecting portion B54, the connecting portions according to the second to fourth embodiments, and the first embodiment. You may apply to the connection part which concerns on the modification of 2nd embodiment-4th embodiment. That is, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 and the microphone terminal B63 of the first plug B62 are connected to each other by connecting the gate terminal (G) and drain terminal (D) of the FET B72 as shown in FIG. You may connect via. Or as shown by FIG.59 (b), you may connect via the capacitor | condenser B79. Or as shown by FIG.59 (c), you may connect directly.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the configuration in which part of the signal processing is performed by the information processing apparatus connected to the sample information detection apparatus has been described, but the input signal is converted into a digital signal by the AD conversion unit B89. After the conversion, the signal processing may be performed by another information processing apparatus. For example, the input signal information may be stored in a recording medium, and the signal information may be copied to another information processing apparatus using the recording medium. The input signal information may be transmitted to the other information processing apparatus wirelessly or by wire. May be sent.

In the embodiment and the modification described above, the connection units B53 and B54 or the information processing device B23 include both the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and the configuration in which processing is performed in order has been described. The gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 may be provided with any one of the connection units B53 and B54 and the information processing device B23. For example, level adjustment processing may be performed by the gain switching unit B95 provided in the connection units B53 and B54, and waveform equalization processing and waveform comparison processing may be performed by the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 provided in the information processing device B23. Good. However, in this case, it is preferable that the clock signal from the PLLB 263 is configured to be transmitted to the waveform determination unit B272.

[II-9-3. About waveform equalization processing]
In the waveform equalization processing of the above embodiment and the modification, referring to FIG. 33, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs integral type phase compensation and outputs the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. The case where the differential response added to is compensated and output as a velocity pulse wave has been described. The waveform equalization processing is not limited to this, and even if the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs differential phase compensation and compensation of the integral response added to the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. Good. In this case, a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band is allowed to pass, and the gain of the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band is gradually decreased as the frequency is decreased, so that the gain of the frequency component lower than the pulse wave information detection band is attenuated. Differential phase compensation may be performed.

Alternatively, the waveform equalization processing unit B271 performs phase compensation to the extent that the differential element or the integral element added to the pulsation signal is excluded, and the differential element or the integral element added to the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32. May be compensated. In this case, the boost amount may be suppressed in integral type or differential type phase compensation.

Alternatively, the waveform determination unit B272 determines the waveform serving as a reference for determination as an acceleration pulse wave, compares this with the waveform that has undergone phase compensation by the waveform equalization processing unit B271, and repeats until the frequency characteristics of phase compensation become appropriate. Phase compensation and determination may be performed.

For example, the differential response resulting from the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212 and the differential response due to air leakage from the on-ear type headphones are combined, so that the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 is a pulse wave (acceleration) of the acceleration response. Pulse wave). At this time, if the differential response due to the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212 or the differential response due to air leakage of the on-ear type headphones is not a stable differential response, the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 Is not a complete acceleration pulse wave. For such a pulsation signal, the frequency characteristic compensator B96 removes a differential element or an integral element from the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 using the waveform serving as a reference for determination as an acceleration pulse wave. By performing the degree of phase compensation, an acceleration pulse wave with a compensated frequency response can be obtained.

Further, for example, the differential response caused by the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212 and the differential element due to air leakage of the canal type in-ear type headphones are combined, so that the pulsation signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 has a speed response. It is output as a pulse wave with a differential element added to the pulse wave (velocity pulse wave). For such a pulsating signal, the frequency characteristic compensator B96 performs a semi-differential type phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 with the waveform serving as a reference for determination being an acceleration pulsating wave. By performing, it can be obtained as an acceleration pulse wave in which a differential element due to air leakage is compensated.

In addition, for example, the differential information resulting from the electromagnetic system of the sensor B212, the differential response due to air leakage of the on-ear type headphones, and the boost (integral element) by the DSP of the sample information detection unit B32 are combined, so that the sample information The pulsation signal output from the detection unit B32 is output as a pulse wave obtained by adding an integral element to the pulse wave of acceleration response (acceleration pulse wave). For such a pulsating signal, the frequency characteristic compensator B96 performs a semi-differential type phase compensation on the pulsating signal output from the specimen information detection unit B32 with the waveform serving as a reference for determination being an acceleration pulsating wave. By doing so, it can be obtained as an acceleration pulse wave in which the integral element by the DSP is compensated.

In the above-described embodiment and the modification, the gain switching unit B95 and the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96 have been described with respect to the case where the PLLB 263 outputs 128 clocks, but the clock is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate. For example, the clock may be 256, 512, or 1024. At this time, as the number of clocks increases, the loop gain that determines the characteristics of the PLL decreases accordingly, so that the so-called lock range tends to decrease. However, this is preferable from the viewpoint of increasing the accuracy of waveform determination. Further, as the clock is smaller, control tends to be required to stably oscillate a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator), which is one of the elements constituting the PLL, at a low frequency, but there is no decrease in loop gain. Is preferred.

In the above embodiment and the modification, the case where the lock detection unit B264 detects whether the PLLB 263 has locked the pulsation signal by comparing the magnitude of the input phase difference signal with a predetermined set value has been described. However, the detection of whether or not the lock has occurred is not limited to the above configuration. For example, when the two signal inputs of the phase comparator constituting the PLL are in accordance with a predetermined sequence, it may be determined that the phase is locked. Further, it may be determined that the two signals are not locked when they do not follow a predetermined sequence.

[II-9-4. When detecting pulsatile signals with both ears]
In the above embodiment, the case where the pulsation signal is detected by the sensor B212 in the R headphone unit B35 of the sample information detection units B32 and B33 has been described. The detection of the pulsating signal is not limited to the R headphone unit B35, and signal processing may be performed using both signals detected by the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37.

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating a waveform in which signals detected by the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 are superimposed and displayed when the sample information detection unit B32 is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone. Here, the waveform of the signal detected by the R headphone unit B35 is indicated by a solid line, and the waveform of the signal detected by the R headphone unit B35 is indicated by a broken line. As shown in FIG. 60, it can be seen that the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 show similar waveforms. Among them, the peak portions showing negative values are almost the same.

FIG. 61 is an enlarged view of a part of the peak portion showing a negative value in the waveform shown in FIG. In FIG. 61, similarly to FIG. 60, the waveform of the signal detected by the R headphone unit B35 is indicated by a solid line, and the waveform of the signal detected by the R headphone unit B35 is indicated by a broken line. As shown in FIG. 61, the peak position of the waveform of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the waveform of the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 are shifted by about 4 msec. This is considered to be due to the fact that the distance from the heart to the right and left ears is different.

The signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37, although there is a deviation of about 4 msec, is not considered to be a big deviation when considered as a whole waveform. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a pulse wave waveform that is more useful than a single case by performing signal processing using the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. .

62 (a) to 62 (c) are diagrams for explaining an example of signal processing by addition processing in which the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 are added. It is. 62 (a) shows the waveform of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35, and FIG. 62 (b) shows the waveform of the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. FIG. 62 (c) shows a waveform obtained by adding the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37, which shows such a waveform. As shown in FIG. 62 (c), by adding the signals, noise seen in the waveforms shown in FIGS. 62 (a) and 62 (b) is reduced, and the S / S of the added signals is reduced. It can be seen that the N ratio is improved.

The pulsating signal detected at the site constituting the outer ear B107 includes noise (disturbance) due to various factors. For example, the signal lines B36, B38 until the signals detected by the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 are input to the information processing devices B22, B23, 25, 27, 29 via the signal lines B36, B38. May touch the body, clothes, etc. of the specimen B101 to generate noise in the pulsating signal. In addition, an external sound signal other than a signal based on blood vessel pulse wave information may be detected as noise by the sensor B212. This is effective because the signals obtained from the R headphone unit B35 and the signals obtained from the L headphone unit B37 can be reduced to reduce signals that have entered the left and right headphone units.

63 (a) to 63 (c) are diagrams for explaining an example of signal processing by integration processing that integrates the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. It is. 63A shows the waveform of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35, and FIG. 63B shows the waveform of the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. FIG. 63 (c) shows a waveform obtained by integrating the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37, which shows such a waveform. As shown in FIG. 63 (c), by integrating the signals, a large signal portion becomes large and a small signal portion becomes a small waveform according to the amplitude of the signal included in the pulse wave.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a modified example of the sample information detection apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus that perform the addition process will be described. A configuration of a modified example of the sample information detection apparatus and the sample information processing apparatus that performs addition division processing will also be described.

<Modification of Sample Information Processing Apparatus that Performs Addition Processing>
In the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 23, an addition process for adding the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B <b> 35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B <b> 37 so as to include the addition processing unit B <b> 241 is performed. A modification to be performed will be described. The sample information processing apparatus B3b according to the modification of the first embodiment has a part of the configuration similar to that of the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment described above. The description of the same sample information processing apparatus B3 as that described above will be omitted, and will be described using the same reference numerals.

In the sample information detecting device B13b of the sample information processing device B3b, as shown in FIG. 64, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the switch circuit B68 of the connection unit B53b, and the signal line B38 of the L headphone unit B37 is connected. Are connected to the switch circuit B80 of the connection portion B53b.
The L headphone unit B37 is a headphone unit that is inserted into the ear canal of the left ear, and is configured in the same manner as the R headphone unit B35.

The switch circuit B68 is switch means for switching whether the signal line B36 is connected to the addition processing unit B241 or the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62. The switch circuit B80 is switch means for switching whether the signal line B38 is connected to the addition processing unit B241 or to the L headphone terminal B66 of the first plug B62.

The switch B69 is a switch provided so that the switch circuits B68 and B80 can be operated from the outside of the connection part B53b, and is configured so that the connection of the switch circuits B68 and B80 can be switched simultaneously by the operation of the switch B69.

The addition processing unit B241 performs addition processing for adding the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. The signal processed by the addition processing unit B241 is input to the gain switching unit B95.

With the configuration described above, when the signal lines B36 and B38 are connected to the addition processing unit B241 by the switch circuits B68 and B80, the signals detected by the respective sensors B212 in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 are added. The data is input to the processing unit B241. Further, the signal processed by the addition processing unit B241 is input to the microphone terminal B63 via the gain switching unit B95, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and the FET B72, and the information processing apparatus via the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81. The data is input to the AD conversion unit B89 of B23. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a microphone. On the other hand, when the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 and the signal line B38 is connected to the L headphone terminal B66 by the switch circuits B68 and B80, the sound source B92 is sent to the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. The sound signal from is input. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a speaker.

Thus, the sample information detection apparatus B13b outputs the signals detected by the sensors B212 in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37 and added by the addition processing unit B241 to the information processing apparatus B23. As a result, a signal with reduced noise and an improved S / N ratio can be output.

In the description of the modification for performing the addition processing described above, the modification of the first embodiment has been described with reference to FIG. 64. However, the signals detected by the sample information detection units B32 and B33 are obtained by the R headphone unit B35. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as addition processing for adding the received signal and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 is performed. For example, the second embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the modified examples thereof, and the modified example of the first embodiment can be performed in the same manner even if the addition processing unit B241 is provided.

<Modification of Sample Information Processing Apparatus that Performs Addition Division Processing>
In the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 23, the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit are provided so as to include waveform disturbance detection units B251 and B252, an addition / division processing unit B253, and a selector B254. A modification will be described in which addition / division processing is performed for addition and division on the signal obtained in B37. The sample information processing apparatus B3c according to the modification of the first embodiment has a part of the configuration similar to that of the sample information processing apparatus B3 according to the first embodiment described above. The description of the same sample information processing apparatus B3 as that described above will be omitted, and will be described using the same reference numerals.

In the sample information detecting device B13c of the sample information processing device B3c, as shown in FIG. 65, the signal line B36 of the R headphone unit B35 is connected to the switch circuit B68 of the connecting portion B53b, and the signal line B38 of the L headphone unit B37 is connected. Are connected to the switch circuit B80 of the connection portion B53b.
The L headphone unit B37 is a headphone unit that is inserted into the ear canal of the left ear, and is configured in the same manner as the R headphone unit B35.

The switch circuit B68 is switch means for switching whether the signal line B36 is connected to the waveform disturbance detection unit B251 and the terminal B256 of the selector B254 or to the R headphone terminal B65 of the first plug B62. When the switch circuit B68 is connected to the side connected to the waveform disturbance detection unit B251 and the terminal B256 of the selector B254, the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 is input to the waveform disturbance detection unit B251 and the terminal B256 of the selector B254, respectively. Is done.

The switch circuit B80 is switch means for switching whether the signal line B38 is connected to the waveform disturbance detection unit B252 and the terminal B257 of the selector B254 or to the L headphone terminal B66 of the first plug B62. When the switch circuit B80 is connected to the side connected to the waveform disturbance detection unit B252 and the terminal B257 of the selector B254, the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 is input to the waveform disturbance detection unit B252 and the terminal B257 of the selector B254, respectively. Is done.

The switch B69 is a switch provided so that the switch circuits B68 and B80 can be operated from the outside of the connection portion B53c, and is configured so that the connection of the switch circuits B68 and B80 can be switched simultaneously by the operation of the switch B69.

Waveform disturbance detection units B251 and B252 output “waveform disturbance detection output” indicating the presence or absence of waveform disturbance to the selector B254 according to the level of the input signal. The operations of the waveform disturbance detection units B251 and B252 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 66 (a) is a diagram showing an example of a pulse wave waveform input to the waveform disturbance detectors B251 and B252, and a large disturbance appears in the region of about one fifth on the right side in the figure. For example, when the pulsation signal is detected by increasing the amplitude of the pulse wave to the full power supply voltage, for example, one of the signal lines B36 and B38 as a headphone lead is connected to the sample B101. As a result of touching the body or clothes, it is caused by the addition of pulse-like disturbance to the pulse wave waveform. Here, as shown in FIG. 66B, the waveform disturbance detection units B251 and B252 output a signal 0 when no waveform disturbance is detected as the waveform disturbance detection output. On the other hand, when a level exceeding a certain level is detected such that the waveform of the pulse wave swings to the plus side, a signal 1 indicating that the waveform disturbance has been detected with a setting such as retrigger is output.

At this time, the output from the waveform disturbance detection unit B251 is used as the waveform disturbance detection output A, and the output from the waveform disturbance detection unit B252 is used as the waveform disturbance detection output B, which are input to the terminals B259 and B260 of the selector B254, respectively.

The selector B254 outputs the input signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 from the terminals B256 and B257 of the selector B254 to the addition / division processing unit B253, respectively. Note that the terminal B258 of the selector B254 is grounded.

The addition / division processing unit B253 performs a process of adding the two input signals and then dividing by two. That is, the addition / division processing unit B253 outputs a signal obtained by averaging the input signals. Specifically, the addition / division processing unit B253 receives the signal obtained from the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained from the L headphone unit B37 from the selector B254, and the signal obtained by averaging these signals is input to the selector B254. Output to terminal B255. In the addition / division processing unit B253, for example, the process of dividing by 2 can be performed by one operational amplifier when performed by an analog circuit, and can be performed by 1-bit shift when performing digital processing.

The selector B254 outputs a signal to the gain switching unit B95 according to the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B. When the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B are both signals 0, the average of the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 processed by the addition / division processing unit B253 is calculated. Output the result. When the waveform disturbance detection output A is 0 and the waveform disturbance detection output B is 1, the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 is output. When the waveform disturbance detection output A is 1 and the waveform disturbance detection output B is 0, the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 is output. Further, when the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B are both signals 1, the selector B254 selects and outputs 0V.

With the configuration described above, when the signal lines B36 and B38 are connected to the waveform disturbance detectors B251 and B252 and the secretor 254 by the switch circuits B68 and B80, respectively, the respective sensors B212 in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. As for the signal detected in step 1, the waveform disturbance detection units B251 and B252 detect the waveform disturbance and output the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B to the selector B254. The selector B254 receives signals detected in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37, respectively, and outputs these signals to the addition / division processing unit B253 to perform an average signal processing. From the selector B254, signals corresponding to the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B are input to the microphone terminal B63 via the gain switching unit B95, the frequency characteristic compensation unit B96, and the FET B72, and the microphone terminal B83 of the first jack B81 is input. Via the AD converter B89 of the information processing apparatus B23. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a microphone. On the other hand, when the signal line B36 is connected to the R headphone terminal B65 and the signal line B38 is connected to the L headphone terminal B66 by the switch circuits B68 and B80, the sound source B92 is sent to the sensor B212 of the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. The sound signal from is input. In this case, the sensor B212 functions as a speaker.

As described above, the sample information detection apparatus B13c outputs, to the information processing apparatus B23, signals corresponding to the waveform disturbance detection outputs A and B for the signals detected by the respective sensors B212 in the R headphone unit B35 and the L headphone unit B37. To do. At this time, if there is no disturbance in both the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37, an averaging process is performed by the addition / division processing unit B253. Is reduced and a signal with an improved S / N ratio is output. Further, if there is no disturbance in either the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 or the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37, the detected signal on the side without the disturbance can be output.

According to the sample information processing apparatus B3c according to this modification, the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37 are added and then divided by 2 to obtain an average division process. And a signal with an improved S / N ratio can be obtained. In addition, an appropriate signal can be output in accordance with the waveform disturbance between the signal obtained by the R headphone unit B35 and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37.

In the description of the modified example in which the addition / division process is performed, the modified example of the first embodiment has been described with reference to FIG. 65. However, the signals detected by the sample information detection units B32 and B33 are detected by the R headphone unit B35. The present invention is not limited to this as long as addition / division processing is performed to average the obtained signal and the signal obtained by the L headphone unit B37. For example, the second to fourth embodiments and their modified examples, and the modified example of the first embodiment are provided with waveform disturbance detecting units B251 and B252, an addition / division processing unit B253, and a selector B254. Can be done in the same way.

[II-9-5. About the headphone driver unit]
In the above embodiment, the detection of the pulse wave using the headphone driver unit as the sensor B212 has been described. Here, a headphone in which a plurality of driver units are provided in the headphones and the driver unit is hybrid is known. For example, there is a type that includes two types of driver units, a woofer that mainly outputs low sounds and a tweeter that outputs high sounds. Moreover, what is provided with the driver unit which covers a further intermediate | middle area | region is also known.

As the sensor B212 of the present invention, such a driver unit can detect a pulse wave using hybrid headphones. At this time, from the viewpoint of suitability of the frequency characteristics of the driver unit, it is preferable to detect a pulse wave by using a driver unit (woofer) used for outputting a bass sound.

[II-9-6. Modified example of wearing part of canal type inner ear type headphones]
In the above embodiment, the sample information detection unit B32a, which is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone, has been described as being attached to the external ear B107 by inserting the earpiece B213 into the external opening B105 of the external ear canal B104. The mounting site of the specimen information detection unit B32a is not limited to this, as long as the site constituting the outer ear B107 is isolated from the external space and the cavity B109 having a closed or almost closed space structure can be formed. It may be attached to other parts.

For example, the opening B215 may be opposed to the tragus B111, and the earpiece B213 may be pressed and brought into contact with the tragus B111. Or you may mount | wear by making the opening part B215 oppose to the earlobe B113, and pressing and contacting the earpiece B213. At this time, the vibration of the blood vessel in the tragus B111 or the earlobe B113 propagates in the cavity B109 and is transmitted to the sensor B212 through the opening B215, so that the sensor B212 has a pulsation signal of the blood vessel in the tragus B111 or the earlobe B113. Is detected as pressure information propagating in the cavity B109 due to the pulsation signal.
[II-9-7. Application example of overhead type headphones]
As an application example of the sample information detection units B32b and B32c, which are overhead headphones described above, for example, use for a patient transported by an ambulance can be cited. In the case of the sample information detection unit B32a which is a canal-type inner-ear type headphone, it is necessary to insert the sample information detection unit B32a toward the patient's external auditory canal B104 and push it so as to close the external opening B105 at the time of wearing. there were. Further, in the sample information detection unit B32a, when the patient moves, the housing part B211 may fall off from the ear canal B104 and come off. On the other hand, according to the specimen information detection units B32b and B32c, since the space between the housing portions B612 and B622 can be widened so as to sandwich both ears of the patient, the sample information detection units B32b and B32c can be quickly mounted. . In addition, since the housing parts B612 and B622 are attached to the head B110 or the auricle B108 by the attaching members B615 and B625, the case parts B612 and B622 are attached to the head B110 or the auricle B108. In the state, a pulsating signal can be detected.

[II-9-8. Other variations of headphones]
In the above-described sample information detection units B32b and B32c, the case where the casing portions B612 and B622 are sealed is described, but a pulsating signal can be detected even in the case of a semi-sealed type. At this time, since it is considered that the closed level of the closed cavity is further lowered, the waveform equalization processing may be performed by performing phase compensation in accordance with the reduction of the closed level.

The housing parts B612 and B622 are usually provided with a pair of left and right ears, but may be provided with only one housing part B612 and B622. In this case, the ear pads B614 and B624 of one casing B612 and B622 are mounted by being deformed by being pressed against the head B110 or the auricle B108 of the specimen B101 by the other end of the mounting members B615 and B625. .

The mounting members B615 and B625 may have a loop-like structure that connects the casing portions B612 and B622 and hooks on the auricle B108 together with a neckband having a shape that circulates around the neck when mounted. . A headphone having such a mounting member is called a so-called neckband type. In this case, it is preferable to press the housing portions B612 and B622 against the auricle B108 by the tension of the neckband portion so that the closed level of the closed cavity is sufficient to detect the pulsation signal.

[II-10. Addendum]
Regarding the above embodiment, the following additional notes are disclosed.

(Appendix 1)
A housing part that isolates a part constituting the outer ear of the specimen from the external space and forms a cavity that is a closed or almost closed space structure in a state of being attached to the specimen, and provided in the housing part A specimen information detection unit provided with a sensor that detects a pulsation signal of a blood vessel in a part constituting the outer ear as pressure information that propagates in the cavity due to the pulsation signal;
A specimen information detection apparatus comprising: a gain switching unit that detects saturation of a signal output from the specimen information detection unit and attenuates the signal when saturation is detected.
(Appendix 2)
2. The specimen information detection apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the specimen information detection unit is a canal-type inner ear type, on-ear type, or around-ear type headphone.
(Appendix 3)
The signal output from the specimen information detection unit performs phase compensation in a low frequency region including a pulse wave information detection band that is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, and the frequency in the low frequency region The specimen information detection apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, further comprising a waveform equalization processing unit that compensates a response.
(Appendix 4)
With respect to the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the above waveform equalization processing unit, when the period of the pulse wave is equally divided by a predetermined number of clocks, the pattern indicates the signal intensity in the clock at a specific timing In addition, when the pulse wave when the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave is shown, the pulse wave is equally divided by the same number of clocks, and includes a waveform determination unit that compares the pattern indicated by the signal intensity in the clock at the same timing, The specimen information detection apparatus according to attachment 3.
(Appendix 5)
A sample information processing apparatus comprising the sample information detection apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4 and an information processing apparatus,
The specimen information detection device attenuates a frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band, which is a frequency band in which the pulse wave information of the blood vessel is detected, and passes the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band. An input processing unit to perform,
An output in which the information processing apparatus attenuates the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band and passes the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band with respect to the signal output to the specimen information detection apparatus With a processing unit,
The signal processed by the output processing unit is input to the sensor,
The sample information processing apparatus, wherein the sensor functions as a speaker that generates air vibration according to an input signal.
(Appendix 6)
By applying a frequency correction process for performing at least one of an amplification operation, an integration operation, and a differentiation operation on the signal processed by the waveform equalization processing unit in the frequency band of the pulse wave information, 6. The specimen information processing apparatus according to appendix 5, further comprising a frequency correction processing unit that extracts at least one of a pulsating volume signal, a pulsating velocity signal, and a pulsating acceleration signal.

(Appendix 7)
A housing part that isolates a part constituting the outer ear of the specimen from the external space and forms a cavity that is a closed or almost closed space structure in a state of being attached to the specimen, and provided in the housing part A specimen information detection apparatus comprising a specimen information detection unit provided with a sensor that detects a pulsation signal of a blood vessel in a portion constituting the outer ear as pressure information that propagates in the cavity due to the pulsation signal. An information processing apparatus to which a signal detected by the sensor is input,
An information processing apparatus comprising: a gain switching unit that detects saturation of a signal output from the specimen information detection unit and attenuates the signal when saturation is detected.
(Appendix 8)
The information processing apparatus according to appendix 7, wherein the specimen information detection unit is a canal type inner ear type, on-ear type, or around-ear type headphone.
(Appendix 9)
The signal output from the specimen information detection unit performs phase compensation in a low frequency region including a pulse wave information detection band that is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, and the frequency in the low frequency region The information processing apparatus according to appendix 7 or appendix 8, further comprising a waveform equalization processing unit that compensates a response.
(Appendix 10)
With respect to the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the above waveform equalization processing unit, when the period of the pulse wave is equally divided by a predetermined number of clocks, the pattern indicates the signal intensity in the clock at a specific timing In addition, when the pulse wave when the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave is shown, the pulse wave is equally divided by the same number of clocks, and includes a waveform determination unit that compares the pattern indicated by the signal intensity in the clock at the same timing, The information processing apparatus according to appendix 9.
(Appendix 11)
The information processing apparatus attenuates a frequency component higher than a pulse wave information detection band, which is a frequency band in which the pulse wave information of the blood vessel is detected, with respect to a signal input from the specimen information detection apparatus, An input processing unit that performs processing for passing the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band;
An output processing unit that performs a process of attenuating the frequency component of the pulse wave information detection band and passing the frequency component higher than the pulse wave information detection band with respect to the signal output to the specimen information detection device;
The signal processed by the output processing unit is input to the sensor,
11. The information processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 7 to 10, wherein the sensor functions as a speaker that generates air vibration according to an input signal.
(Appendix 12)
By applying a frequency correction process for performing at least one of an amplification operation, an integration operation, and a differentiation operation on the signal processed by the waveform equalization processing unit in the frequency band of the pulse wave information, The information processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 7 to 11, further comprising a frequency correction processing unit that extracts at least one of a pulsating volume signal, a pulsating velocity signal, and a pulsating acceleration signal. .

(Appendix 13)
A housing part that isolates a part constituting the outer ear of the specimen from the external space and forms a cavity that is a closed or almost closed space structure in a state of being attached to the specimen, and provided in the housing part A specimen information detection unit provided with a sensor for detecting a pulsation signal of a blood vessel in a portion constituting the outer ear as pressure information propagating in the cavity due to the pulsation signal, and detected by the sensor An interface device interposed between the information processing device for processing the received signal,
An interface apparatus comprising: a gain switching unit that detects saturation of a signal output from the specimen information detection unit and attenuates the signal when saturation is detected.
(Appendix 14)
The signal output from the specimen information detection unit performs phase compensation in a low frequency region including a pulse wave information detection band that is a frequency band in which blood vessel pulse wave information is detected, and the frequency in the low frequency region 14. The interface device according to appendix 13, further comprising a waveform equalization processing unit that compensates for a response.
(Appendix 15)
With respect to the pulse wave of the signal phase-compensated by the above waveform equalization processing unit, when the period of the pulse wave is equally divided by a predetermined number of clocks, the pattern indicates the signal intensity in the clock at a specific timing In addition, when the pulse wave when the velocity pulse wave or the acceleration pulse wave is shown, the pulse wave is equally divided by the same number of clocks, and includes a waveform determination unit that compares the pattern indicated by the signal intensity in the clock at the same timing, The interface device according to appendix 14.

A1, A2, A3, A4 Information processing device A5, A6, A7, A8 Sample information processing device A11, A12 PLL circuit A13 Signal recording unit A14, A15 Signal processing unit A21 Phase comparator A22 LPF (low pass filter)
A23a, A23b VCO (voltage controlled oscillator)
A24 frequency divider A25 counter A31 binarization processing unit A32 AD converter A33 first memory A34 feedback comb filter A35 second memory A36 averaging processing unit A37 differentiation processing unit A38 integration processing unit A41 lock detection unit A42 signal counting unit A43 Waveform display unit A81 Display unit A301, A302 Pulse frequency detection unit A303 Clock generator B3, B4 Sample information processing device B13, B14 Sample information detection device B23 Information processing device B32, B33 Sample information detection unit B35 R headphone unit (headphone)
B37 L Headphone Unit (Headphone)
B42 Second plug B43 Second plug ground terminal B44 Second plug R headphone terminal (headphone terminal)
B45 2nd plug L headphone terminal (headphone terminal)
B53, B54 connection part (interface device)
B62 1st plug B63 1st plug microphone terminal (microphone terminal)
B65 First plug R headphone jack (headphone jack)
B66 1st plug L headphone terminal (headphone terminal)
B68 Switch circuit B73 Second jack B81 First jack B90 Frequency correction processing section B95 Gain switching section B96 Frequency characteristic compensation section B97 Input processing section B101 Sample B104 External auditory canal B105 External opening B107 Outer ear B109 Cavity B211, B612, B622 Housing section B212 Sensor B241 Addition processing unit B271 Waveform equalization processing unit B272 Waveform determination unit

Claims

A specimen information detection unit for detecting a pulsation signal based on blood vessel pulse wave information in the specimen;
A sample information processing apparatus comprising: a signal processing unit that normalizes the pulsating signal.
The signal processing unit includes a PLL circuit to which the pulsation signal is input,
The PLL circuit
A phase comparator that compares the phase of the pulsating signal and the feedback signal and outputs a phase difference signal corresponding to the phase difference;
A low-pass filter that receives the phase difference signal and outputs a voltage control signal from which a frequency component greater than a predetermined cutoff frequency has been removed;
A voltage controlled oscillator that outputs a clock signal having an oscillation frequency corresponding to the voltage of the voltage control signal;
A frequency divider that receives the clock signal and outputs a frequency-divided signal obtained by dividing the clock signal by a predetermined frequency division ratio;
The divided signal is input to the phase comparator as the feedback signal,
The oscillation frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is controlled so that the phases of the pulsation signal and the feedback signal are synchronized,
The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulsation signal is normalized by the clock signal.
The signal processing unit
A signal recording unit having an AD converter that acquires the signal intensity of the pulsating signal as digital data, and a memory that stores the data obtained by the AD converter;
A counter that receives the frequency-divided signal from the frequency divider, counts the frequency-divided signal, and outputs a waveform number indicating the order of pulse waves;
A feedback comb filter that reads and filters the signal intensity recorded in the memory,
The AD converter acquires the signal strength at a timing when the clock signal is input from the voltage controlled oscillator and outputs the signal strength to the memory.
The memory receives the waveform number input from the counter, and records the pulsation signal as a signal strength associated with the waveform number and a clock number corresponding to the input timing of the clock signal. ,
3. The feedback comb filter according to claim 2, wherein the clock signal is input from the voltage controlled oscillator and a frequency component that is an integral multiple of the total number of clocks per cycle of the pulsating signal is passed. Specimen information processing equipment.
The signal processing unit includes an averaging processing unit that reads out signal intensities of a plurality of waveform numbers recorded in the memory, adds the signal intensities of the same clock numbers, and outputs an average value for each waveform number. The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
The signal processing unit determines whether or not the phase of the pulsation signal input to the PLL circuit and the feedback signal are synchronized, and detects whether or not the PLL circuit is locked The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:
The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the signal processing unit includes a signal counting unit that receives the divided signal and counts pulses per unit time of the divided signal.
Further comprising a display for presenting information related to the pulsatile signal;
Whether the lock detector is locked or not is displayed on the display,
The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the signal counting unit displays a count value of the divided signal per unit time on the display.
The signal processing unit receives the signal processed by the averaging processing unit, generates a waveform representing the relationship between the clock number and the average value of the signal intensity, and generates a plurality of pulses for each waveform number. The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a waveform display unit configured to display a waveform of one cycle obtained by averaging waves on the display.
The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signal processing unit includes a differentiation processing unit that reads the signal strength recorded in the memory and numerically differentiates the signal intensity.
The sample information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the signal processing unit includes an integration processing unit that reads the signal intensity recorded in the memory and numerically integrates the signal intensity.
Obtain a pulsatile signal detected based on blood vessel pulse wave information in the specimen,
An information processing method characterized by normalizing the pulsation signal.
On the computer,
Obtain a pulsatile signal detected based on blood vessel pulse wave information in the specimen,
An information processing program for executing a process of normalizing the pulsation signal.
A computer-readable recording medium on which the information processing program according to claim 12 is recorded.