ELECTRIC WAVE TYPE BIOSENSOR
20170360324 · 2017-12-21
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
A61B5/7221
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/05
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/6887
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A61B5/7278
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61B5/05
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
An electric wave type biosensor includes: an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit; and a reflected wave receiving unit which receives a reflected wave and obtains an I signal and a Q signal. The electric wave type biosensor further includes: an I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit which calculates an angular velocity and an IQ norm of the I signal and the Q signal, based on the I signal and the Q signal; a bio-information extract unit which extracts bio-information of the living body, based on the calculated angular velocity; and an output determination unit which determines whether the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit is to be output based on whether a size of the calculated angular velocity is within a first threshold value.
Claims
1. An electric wave type biosensor comprising: an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit which irradiates a body surface of a living body with an electromagnetic wave; a reflected wave receiving unit which receives a reflected wave obtained as the electromagnetic wave irradiated by the electromagnetic wave irradiation unit and then reflected on the body surface, and obtains an I signal obtained by multiplying the irradiated electromagnetic wave signal and the received reflected signal, and a Q signal obtained by delaying the I signal by a predetermined phase; an I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit which calculates an angular velocity and an IQ norm of the I signal and the Q signal, based on the I signal and the Q signal which are obtained by the reflected wave receiving unit; a bio-information extract unit which extracts bio-information of the living body, based on the angular velocity calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit; and an output determination unit which determines whether or not the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit is to be output based on whether or not a size of the angular velocity calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit is within a first threshold value.
2. The electric wave type biosensor according to claim 1, wherein after determining that the bio-information is not to be output, the output determination unit determines that the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit is to be output in a case where the IQ norm calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit is within a second threshold value, and the size of the angular velocity calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit is within the first threshold value.
3. The electric wave type biosensor according to claim 1, further comprising: an estimating unit which estimates the size of the angular velocity based on data of the angular velocity of a time series which is calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit, wherein the output determination unit determines whether or not the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit is to be output, based on the size of the angular velocity estimated by the estimating unit and based on whether or not a size of the estimated angular velocity is within the first threshold value.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention.
[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An electric wave type biosensor according to the embodiment of the invention irradiates a human body surface with an electromagnetic wave by using a Doppler sensor, determines a case where a large fluctuation is generated on a body surface of a living body as the human body moves according to whether or not the size of an angular velocity of an I signal/Q signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value in a case of obtaining bio-information that is accompanied with fine movement included in the reflected wave, and can output accurate bio-information by stopping an output of the bio-information in the case.
[0028] An electric wave type biosensor 100 in the embodiment will be described with reference to
[0029] A surface which is in contact with a part of the human body is referred to as a seat surface or a backrest surface in a chair or the like, and a mattress upper surface in a bed. The surface may be directly or indirectly in contact with a part of the human body, or may indirectly come into contact with the human body as a human wears clothes. A part of the body is a buttock or a thigh on a seat surface of a chair or the like, and is generally referred to as the back in the backrest of a chair or the like or in a bed or the like. In the body inspection equipment, a part of the body may be any of arms and legs of a human.
[0030] In the specification, the bio-information of the user is referred to as the size of the heart rate (pulse rate) or a pulse wave, or respiratory frequency or the size of respiration, and does not include cough or sneeze which generates movement of skin or muscle which does not come from the heart rate or respiration. The heart rate or the respiration generates fine movement on the body surface of the living body, and the electric wave type biosensor 100 detects the bio-information that is accompanied with the fine movement.
[0031] In the embodiment, a case where the electric wave type biosensor 100 is installed in an interior of a vehicle as illustrated in
[0032] As illustrated in
[0033]
[0034] The electromagnetic wave of the frequency f.sub.0 is reflected abutting against the measurement target TG having a movement, the frequency changes to frequency f.sub.r, and a receiving antenna 21 receives the reflected wave that becomes the frequency f.sub.r. In addition, the measurement target TG moves at a relative velocity v in a direction having an intersecting angle α with respect to directions of the transmission antenna 11 and the receiving antenna 21. Then, reflected wave frequency f.sub.r is acquired by the equation (1).
f.sub.r=f.sub.0±f.sub.d (1)
[0035] A transmission wave frequency is f.sub.0, a Doppler frequency is f.sub.d=(2f.sub.0|v|/c.sub.0).Math.cos α, a light velocity is c.sub.0, a relative movement velocity of the measurement target is v, and an intersecting angle in the moving direction of the measurement target with respect to the transmission wave is α.
[0036] The reflected wave of the frequency f.sub.r received by the receiving antenna 21 is computed to be multiplied with the other electromagnetic wave (frequency f.sub.0) distributed by the distributor 12 in a mixer 22, and is output from an I signal output port IP which is a part of the reflected wave receiving unit 20 as the I signal including a base band component that is close to a DC region and a modulation component. In addition, the reflected wave which is a reflected wave of the frequency f.sub.r received by the receiving antenna 21 and of which a phase is shifted by π/2, is similarly computed to be multiplied with the other electromagnetic wave (frequency f.sub.0) distributed by the distributor 12 in the mixer 22, and is output from a Q signal output port QP which is a part of the reflected wave receiving unit 20 as the Q signal including the base band component that is close to the DC region and the modulation component.
[0037] The electric wave type biosensor 100 further includes a low pass filter 101 and a band pass filter 102 into which the I signal output from the I signal output port IP and the Q signal output from the Q signal output port QP by the reflected wave receiving unit 20 are input; and a signal obtaining unit 30 which obtains a signal which will be described later from each of the low pass filter 101 and the band pass filter 102. The low pass filter 101 is an arbitrary filter which removes noise of a high-frequency component and allows only the base band component to pass through in the I signal and the Q signal output by the I signal output port IP and the Q signal output port QP, and outputs signals (I and Q) that are the smoothed I signal and Q signal. In addition, since the purpose of the electric wave type biosensor 100 is to obtain the bio-information, such as heart rate or respiration, the low pass filter 101 is a filter which allows a heart rate of approximately 1 Hz or respiration of approximately 0.3 Hz to pass, and for example, is a filter which removes the heart rate or respiration which is equal to or greater than 10 Hz.
[0038] The band pass filter 102 is a selective filter which removes the DC component from the I signal and the Q signal which are output by the I signal output port IP and the Q signal output port QP, and outputs differential values (ΔI and ΔQ) of each signal.
[0039] The signal obtaining unit 30 receives the I signal and the Q signal of which the high-frequency component is removed by the low pass filter 101, and an I signal differential value ΔI which is a differential value of the I signal from the band pass filter 102 and a Q signal differential value ΔQ which is a differential value of the Q signal. In addition, the signal obtaining unit 30 may be an AD port including an AD converter that converts an analog signal into a digital signal and is mounted in a microcomputer. In addition, configuration elements, such as the control unit 60 or an I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 which will be described later, may be mounted in the microcomputer.
[0040] The electric wave type biosensor 100 further includes the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 which calculates the angular velocity of the I signal and the Q signal based on the I signal and the Q signal which are obtained by the reflected wave receiving unit 20 and the I signal differential value ΔI and the Q signal differential value ΔQ which are calculated by the band pass filter 102 based on the I signal and the Q signal. As will be described later, the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 acquires an angular velocity ω and an IQ norm NRM of the I signal and the Q signal based on the I signal, the Q signal, the I signal differential value ΔI, and the Q signal differential value ΔQ.
[0041] A transmission wave 240 of the frequency f.sub.0 in accordance with time t, which is transmitted by the transmission antenna 11 of the Doppler sensor DS, is expressed by the equation (2).
x.sub.s(t)=A.sub.s cos(ω.sub.st) (2)
[0042] A transmission wave amplitude is A.sub.s, and a transmission wave angular velocity is ω.sub.s=2πf.sub.0.
[0043] In addition, a reflected wave x.sub.r(t) of the frequency f.sub.r in accordance with time t, which is received by the receiving antenna 21 of the Doppler sensor DS, is expressed by the equation (3).
x.sub.r(t)=A.sub.r cos([ω.sub.s±ω.sub.d]t+φ) (3)
[0044] A receiving wave amplitude is A.sub.r, a Doppler angular velocity is ω.sub.d=2πf.sub.d, and a phase which depends on a distance to the measurement target is φ.
[0045] In addition, a signal which is computed to be multiplied by inputting the transmission wave and the reflected wave into the mixer 22, is expressed by the equation (4).
[0046] In a case where the high-frequency component is removed by the low pass filter 101, the modulation component of a second member in the equation (4) is removed. Then, I(t) which is the I signal after extracting the Doppler frequency component by the low pass filter 101 is expressed by the equation (5).
I(t)=(A.sub.sA.sub.r/2)cos(ω.sub.dt+φ) (5)
[0047] In addition, Q(t) which is the Q signal obtained by delaying the phase by π/2 from the I signal is expressed by the equation (6).
Q(t)=(A.sub.sA.sub.r/2)cos(ω.sub.dt+φ−π/2) (6)
[0048] The I signal represented by the equation (5) and the Q signal represented by the equation (6) are input into the signal obtaining unit 30.
[0049] In addition, since the I signal differential value ΔI is ΔI≈dI/dt, and the Q signal differential value ΔQ is ΔQ≈dQ/dt, when each of the equation (5) and the equation (6) is differentiated by the time t, the I signal differential value ΔI and the Q signal differential value ΔQ can be calculated.
[0050] In addition, the angular velocity ω on the I-Q coordinate plane as illustrated in
[0051] In addition, since θ=arctan(I−I.sub.offset)/(Q−Q.sub.offset) when I.sub.offset can be expressed by a constant defined by an installation condition of the electric wave type biosensor, and Q.sub.offset can be expressed by a constant defined by an installation condition of the electric wave type biosensor, the angular velocity ω can be expressed by Expression 1 as follows:
[0052] In addition, the IQ norm NRM can be expressed by the equation (7).
NRM=√((I−I.sub.offset).sup.2+(Q−Q.sub.offset).sup.2) (7)
[0053] In addition, in a case where the band pass filter 102 is not provided, the angular velocity is acquired, for example, by performing time subtraction of the I signal with respect to ΔI and time subtraction of the Q signal with respect to ΔQ.
[0054] In addition, the electric wave type biosensor 100 further includes a bio-information extract unit 50 which extracts the bio-information of the living body based on the angular velocity ω calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40. The bio-information extract unit 50 extracts the bio-information based on the characteristics of the bio-information to be extracted. For example, in the bio-information extract unit 50, in a case where the frequency component passed through the band pass filter 102 in a previous stage includes the frequency component of both of the heart rate component and respiration, the angular velocity w output by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 is obtained by synthesizing two of the periodical component of respiration and the periodical component of heart rate.
[0055] In this manner, in a case where the angular velocity w obtained by synthesizing two of the periodical component of respiration and the periodical component of heart rate is input to the bio-information extract unit 50, the bio-information extract unit 50 can extract the heart rate or the respiratory frequency or the strengths from the heights of each of the peaks by comparing the period of general respiration or heart rate. In this manner, by irradiating the human body surface with the electromagnetic wave, by obtaining a plural pieces of bio-information based on the angular velocity on the coordinate plane of the I signal and the Q signal of the reflected wave, and by extracting a specific bio-information based on the frequency component, such as general heart rate or respiratory frequency, it is possible to obtain various pieces of bio-information at the same time.
[0056] In addition, the electric wave type biosensor 100 further includes an output determination unit 80 which determines whether or not the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 is to be output, based on whether or not the size of the angular velocity ω is within a predetermined threshold value; and an external output unit 70 for outputting the bio-information to an external mechanism that uses the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50, based on the determination of the output determination unit 80. The output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 is to be output in a case where the size of the angular velocity ω calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 or the size of the angular velocity ω estimated by an estimating unit 90 which will be described later, is within the predetermined threshold value. On the contrary, the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 is not to be output in a case where the size or the like of the angular velocity ω calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
[0057] Here, the predetermined threshold value will be described with reference to
Δd=λ.Math.Δθ4π (8)
[0058] λ is a wavelength (for example, 12.5 mm in a case where the frequency is 24 GHz) of the transmission wave.
[0059] In a case where a large fluctuation is generated on the body surface of the living body as the human body moves, the displacement amount Δd of the distance d between the Doppler sensor DS and the surface of the living body increases, and as a result, Δθ also largely fluctuates. Since the Δθ is an angle, it is not possible to determine how much fluctuation is practically performed, for example, when the angle is equal to or greater than 360 degrees. Therefore, the predetermined threshold value (first threshold value) depends on dt which is a sampling interval, but the predetermined threshold value is referred to as the angular velocity ω to the extent that the Δθ does not exceed 360 degrees (+180 degrees and −180 degrees).
[0060] In a case where the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information is to be output, the external output unit 70 outputs the bio-information to the external mechanism that uses the bio-information, and in a case where the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information is not to be output, the external output unit 70 does not output the bio-information to the external mechanism that uses the bio-information. In this manner, in a case of obtaining the bio-information which is accompanied with fine movement included in the reflected wave by irradiating the human body surface with the electromagnetic wave using the Doppler sensor DS, the electric wave type biosensor 100 can stop the output of the bio-information in a case where a large fluctuation that exceeds the predetermined threshold value is generated on the body surface of the living body by determining the case as the size of the angular velocity ω of the I signal/Q signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value. Accordingly, the electric wave type biosensor 100 can output accurate bio-information.
[0061] In addition, the electric wave type biosensor 100 can selectively include the estimating unit 90 which estimates the size of the angular velocity based on the data of the angular velocity of a time series, which is calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40. In a case where the electric wave type biosensor 100 includes the estimating unit 90, the output determination unit 80 determines whether or not the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 is to be output, based on whether or not the size of the angular velocity ω estimated by the estimating unit 90 is within the predetermined threshold value (first threshold value).
[0062] The estimating unit 90 estimates the angular velocity, for example, as illustrated in
[0063] In addition, after the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information is not to be output, the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 is output in a case where the IQ norm NRM calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 is within the predetermined threshold value (second threshold value) and in a case where the size of the angular velocity calculated by the I-Q norm angular velocity calculation unit 40 is within the predetermined threshold value (first threshold value). The predetermined threshold value (second threshold value) related to the IQ norm NRM is determined, for example, by the method illustrated in
[0064] The surface of the living body largely fluctuates, and the angular velocity ω itself also largely exceeds the first threshold value in an unstable period during which the angular velocity ω illustrated in the drawing exceeds the second threshold value (the upper limit threshold value or the lower limit threshold value), and thus, the output determination unit 80 is in a state where it is already determined that the bio-information is not to be output. In addition, when the fluctuation of the IQ norm NRM is converged and the IQ norm NRM is within the second threshold value (the upper limit threshold value or the lower limit threshold value), the unstable period is finished, and the output determination unit 80 determines that the output of the bio-information is to be restarted. In this manner, in a case where deviation from the stable period is determined by the angular velocity ω, and return to the stable period is determined by the IQ norm NRM, a case of determination by the angular velocity w is excellent for determining the stability, but since the angular velocity is not acquired when deviating the range once, the angular velocity is distinguished by using the IQ norm NRM. Accordingly, by restarting the output in a case where the IQ norm NRM is within the predetermined threshold value, it is possible to output accurate bio-information.
[0065]
[0066] In S104, the output determination unit 80 inspects an abnormal flag which will be described later, and inspects whether or not the bio-information was output in the previous determination (a state where the output is possible, or not). In a case where the output was performed in the previous determination, in S106, the output determination unit 80 is in a state (a state where the output is not possible) where the bio-information is not output in a case where the estimating unit 90 estimates that the angular velocity ω exceeds the predetermined threshold value (first threshold value) by making a decision from the time-series data of the angular velocity ω, that is, in a case where it is assumed that a large fluctuation in which the angular velocity ω exceeds the predetermined threshold value is generated on the surface of the living body.
[0067] In S108, the output determination unit 80 inspects whether or not the bio-information is to be output (a state where the output is possible, or not). In a case where the output determination unit 80 determines that the bio-information can be output, that is, in a case where the estimation result of the estimating unit 90 does not exceed the first threshold value in S106, the estimating unit 90 estimates the angular velocity ω again in S110. In addition, in S112, the external output unit 70 outputs the bio-information extracted by the bio-information extract unit 50 to the external mechanism. In a case where the output determination unit 80 determines that the output of the bio-information is not possible in S108, the output determination unit 80 turns on the abnormal flag, and finishes the process after this, and the output of the bio-information is not performed, in S116. The abnormal flag is inspected in S104.
[0068] In S104, in a case where the abnormal flag is ON, that is, in a case where the output is not performed in the previous determination, in S114, the output determination unit 80 inspects whether or not the fluctuation range of the IQ norm NRM is within the predetermined threshold value (second threshold value). In a case where the fluctuation range is within the predetermined threshold value, returning to S106, the angular velocity ω is estimated in the estimating unit 90. In addition, in a case where the IQ norm NRM exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the process is finished, and the bio-information is not output.
[0069] In this manner, the electric wave type biosensor 100 determines that the surface of the living body largely fluctuates as the angular velocity ω exceeds the predetermined threshold value, and in this case, as the bio-information, such as heart rate, is not output, it is possible to output only accurate bio-information. In addition, as the estimating unit 90 estimates the angular velocity ω, it is possible to rapidly determine whether or not the output is possible. In addition, in a case where the output of the bio-information is stopped once, by determining the restart of the output by the IQ norm NRM, it is possible to output only accurate bio-information.
[0070] In addition, the invention is not limited to the exemplified embodiment, and can be realized according to a configuration within a range that does not depart from the contents described in each of the claims. In other words, the invention is illustrated in the drawings mainly particularly regarding the specific embodiment, and is described, but without departing from the technical idea and the range of object, those skilled in the art can add various deformations in the number of components and other specific configurations, with respect to the above-described embodiment.
[0071] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.