JP7515792B2 - Biometric information acquisition device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a biometric information acquisition device, and in particular to a biometric information acquisition device for toilets.

In the home, toilet spaces are private spaces, and even when installed in public facilities such as commercial establishments, they are private spaces divided into individual booths, so in either case they are generally recognized as spaces where privacy is ensured and people can relax. On the other hand, because toilet spaces are places where the main purpose is to perform excretory acts, it is conceivable that similar toilet spaces will be used every day at home, in the workplace, at school, etc.

For this reason, toilet spaces are ideal places to collect biometric information about users for the purpose of understanding and managing their health conditions.

Here, it is known that blood pressure is measured while sitting on a toilet seat in a toilet space in order to grasp the health condition. Patent Document 1 discloses that a finger cuff for measuring blood pressure is provided on the upper surface of a toilet paper holder, and the blood pressure of the index finger inserted into the finger cuff is measured by a pressure sensor. Patent Document 2 discloses that a toilet accessory unit is provided with a blood pressure monitor (pressure sensor) in a position where blood pressure can be measured while seated, and blood pressure is measured by having the user engage the index finger with the finger cuff provided on the toilet accessory unit.

However, in the above-mentioned method of measuring blood pressure using a pressure sensor while applying pressure to the finger, the use of a finger cuff makes the configuration of the biometric information acquisition device complicated and the device becomes large, making it unsuitable for commercial use. In addition, because the finger is squeezed, it places a burden on the user while seated on the toilet seat.

Patent Document 3 discloses that blood pressure can be measured accurately using a pulse wave sensor that irradiates light onto the surface of the fingertip with a light-emitting element and receives the reflected light with a light-receiving element. As described in Patent Document 3, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are housed in a measurement button provided on a measurement table having a measurement surface for placing the palm of the human body, and the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element can detect the pulse waveform of the blood vessels in the fingertip simply by placing the fingertip on the measurement button, allowing measurements to be performed with a simple configuration and without imposing a burden on the user.

JP 8-66335 A JP 9-13467 A Patent No. 6339178

When an optical sensor is used as a pulse wave sensor, biometric information can be easily detected by simply placing a fingertip over the detection area. As mentioned above, Patent Document 3 discloses that a compact device configuration can be achieved by setting a detection area that is large enough to be covered by the fingertip. By miniaturizing the detection area (sensing area) in this way, it is possible to improve the design of the biometric information acquisition device including the sensor, and reduce the cost of the product by reducing material costs.

On the other hand, however, if the detection area is small, it becomes difficult for the user to locate the detection area, and as a result, the opportunity to obtain biometric information is lost. In particular, if the control switches for the warm water washing toilet seat are located around the detection area, it becomes even more difficult to find the detection area.

In addition, if the detection area against which the finger is pressed for detection is narrow, there is no room for the position to press the finger, and so the user is forced into an awkward posture when acquiring biometric information. In particular, setting a specified period for acquiring biometric information imposes a burden on the user, making the device difficult to use for elderly people who are highly interested in knowing their own health conditions.

The present invention aims to solve at least one of the problems described above, and provides a biometric information acquisition device that is more convenient for the user.

One aspect of the invention disclosed in this specification is a biometric information acquisition device installed in a toilet space equipped with a toilet bowl, the biometric information acquisition device having a housing, a biometric information acquisition area provided on the outer surface of the housing where a user places part of his/her finger, a light-emitting element that irradiates light onto part of the user's finger through the biometric information acquisition area, a light-receiving element that receives light reflected by the part of the user's finger through the biometric information acquisition area, and a number of operation switches provided on the outer surface of the housing for performing the functions of a toilet seat device having a toilet seat placed on the toilet bowl, the biometric information acquisition area being larger in area than any one of the number of operation switches.

When an optical sensor is used as a pulse wave sensor, biometric information can be easily detected by simply placing a fingertip over the detection area. By setting the detection area so that it is covered by the fingertip, a compact device configuration can be achieved for the biometric information acquisition device. By miniaturizing the detection area (sensing area) in this way, the design of the biometric information acquisition device including the sensor can be improved, and material costs can be reduced, resulting in lower product costs.

On the other hand, however, if the area of the detection area is made small, it becomes difficult for the user to locate the detection area, and as a result, the opportunity to obtain biometric information is lost. In particular, if multiple operating switches for the toilet seat device are arranged around the detection area, the detection area becomes even more difficult to find as it blends in with these multiple operating switches.

In addition, if the detection area against which the finger is pressed for detection is narrow, there is no room for the position to press the finger, and so the user is forced into an awkward posture when acquiring biometric information. In particular, setting a specified period for acquiring biometric information imposes a burden on the user, making the device difficult to use for elderly people who are highly interested in knowing their own health conditions.

In response to this, in one aspect of the present invention, the area of the biometric information acquisition area in the biometric information acquisition device is arranged to be larger than the area of the buttons that perform the various functions of the toilet seat device. This improves the design visibility. In addition, by increasing the area where the user places their finger, the user is given more freedom in their posture when acquiring biometric information, reducing the burden of forcing the user into an unnatural posture.

In this specification, the term "toilet space" refers to a space equipped with at least a toilet bowl, and may be a space in an ordinary house, or a space in a public facility such as an office, a service area, or a commercial facility such as an amusement park. Furthermore, toilet space in a public facility does not refer to a shared space equipped with a vanity or hand washing basin, but refers to an individual booth equipped with a toilet bowl. On the other hand, in ordinary houses and hotels, it also includes bathrooms equipped with a bathtub in addition to a toilet bowl. In this specification, the term "toilet bowl" is primarily described as a toilet bowl, but it may be replaced with a urinal as long as it is in line with the purpose of this invention.

The term "housing" in this specification refers to a box that forms the exterior of the biometric information acquisition device of the present invention and that houses functional components inside. The housing does not have to be made of a single component, but may be made up of a combination of multiple components, as long as it functions to house or house each functional component. In addition, it does not have to form a closed internal space, and may have openings or gaps.

In this specification, the term "light-emitting element" refers to a functional component that has the function of emitting light with predetermined characteristics such as wavelength and intensity, and for example, an LED (light-emitting diode) can be used. Furthermore, the wavelength, intensity, etc. of the emitted light can be appropriately selected as needed.

In this specification, the term "light receiving element" refers to a functional component that has the function of receiving light with predetermined characteristics such as wavelength and intensity, and a photodiode can be used, for example. The wavelength range of the light to be received can be appropriately selected to suit the characteristics of the light emitting element used and the environment in which the bioinformation acquisition device is used.

In this specification, "biometric information" refers, in a narrow sense, to optical information optically acquired from the user's fingertip by a biometric information acquisition device, and, in a broad sense, to information related to the user's health condition obtained by analyzing the optical information. The information is also calculated and transferred via a computer, and is data that is processed at any time, such as by adding other information.

In this specification, "exercising the functions of the toilet seat device" includes, for example, a private part washing function that washes the private parts with water discharged from a nozzle, a private part drying function that dries the private parts with warm air, a sound producing function that produces sound during excretion, and also includes changing various settings such as the water temperature for private part washing, the temperature of the toilet seat, and the position of the nozzle when washing private parts.

In this specification, an "operation switch" refers to a switch that is attached to the exterior of the housing of an electronic device, such as a remote control device, and that is operated by the user with his or her hand to perform a specified function. Therefore, an operation switch is large enough for the user to handle with his or her hand, and has a specified area. However, an operation switch is not limited to a planar shape, and may have a three-dimensional structure.

It is also preferable that the biometric information acquisition area be larger in area than any of the multiple operation switches.

This allows the user to easily identify the biometric information acquisition area.

In addition, it is preferable that the biometric information acquisition area is located closer to the user than the multiple operation switches when the user is seated on the toilet seat.

In this embodiment, the biometric acquisition area against which the finger is pressed to acquire biometric information is located closest to the user on the biometric information acquisition device, thereby reducing the burden on the user when using the device.

The biometric information acquisition device of the present invention can improve the convenience of use for the user.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biological information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a toilet seat device. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a biometric information acquiring unit in the biometric information acquiring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where a measurement is performed by pressing a finger against a biological information acquiring unit in a biological information device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a biometric information acquisition unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a cross-sectional view of a biometric information acquisition unit in the biometric information acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a cross-sectional view and FIG. 1B is a plan view seen from above of a biometric information acquisition unit in a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a cross-sectional view and FIG. 1B is a plan view seen from above of a biometric information acquisition unit in a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view of a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from below. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a case where a measurement is performed by pressing a finger against a biometric information acquisition area of a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where a measurement is performed by pressing a finger against a biological information acquisition region in a biological information device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a block diagram of a remote control device and a toilet seat device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for processing biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for processing biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited to the following description, and those skilled in the art will easily understand that the form and details can be modified in various ways. Furthermore, the invention disclosed in this specification is not to be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiment shown below. In addition, in order to make the description easier to understand, the same components in each drawing are assigned the same reference numerals as much as possible, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, a biological information acquisition device installed in a toilet space will be described with reference to FIGS.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a remote control device 108 equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a toilet seat device 101. The toilet seat device 101 illustrated in this specification is placed on the rim 105 of a toilet bowl 103, and includes a main body 106, a toilet seat 111, and a toilet lid 107. The main body 106 incorporates electrical components, a water supply mechanism, and the like, and has a nozzle 104 that advances into the bowl portion 102 of the toilet bowl 103 and can spray cleaning water toward the user's private parts. The toilet seat 111, on which the user sits when defecates, is pivotally supported relative to the main body 106. When the toilet seat 111 is not in use, it is covered from above by a toilet lid 107 that is also pivotally supported relative to the main body 106.

The remote control device 108, which has a number of buttons for remotely controlling the toilet seat device 101, is fixed to the wall of the toilet booth in which the toilet bowl 103 and the toilet seat device 101 are installed. The remote control device 108 exemplified in this specification is provided with its panel 109 facing the toilet seat device 101, and the user selects an operation to be performed by the toilet seat device 101 on the panel 109 to remotely control the toilet seat device 101. Specifically, a communication device (not shown) provided in the remote control device 108 generates a high-frequency signal based on the content selected by the user on the panel 109 and transmits it wirelessly to the toilet seat device 101. The toilet seat device 101 receives this high-frequency signal with a communication device (not shown) built into the main body 106, and can start or stop water from the nozzle 104, adjust the water pressure of the water, change the position of the nozzle 104, etc., based on the content of the signal.

Here, the biometric information acquisition device according to this embodiment is mounted on the remote control device 108 in the form shown in FIG. 1. The biometric information acquisition device 110 shown in FIG. 1 is provided on the upper right side of the remote control device 108 when viewed from the front. By mounting the biometric information acquisition device 110 in such a position, when the user sits on the toilet seat 111, the user can easily touch the biometric information acquisition device 110 with the fingertips of the right hand without any strain. In FIG. 1, the remote control device 108 is located on the right side when the user sits, so the biometric information acquisition device 110 in the remote control device 108 is mounted in the above-mentioned position. However, if the remote control device 108 is located on the left side when the user sits, the biometric information acquisition device 110 in the remote control device 108 may be mounted in a position that is comfortable for the user when seated, such as the upper left side.

In this embodiment, the biometric information acquisition device 110 is mounted on the remote control device 108, but is not limited to this. The biometric information acquisition device 110 may be any device within the toilet space, and is preferably placed in a location within reach of the user while sitting on the toilet seat. For example, in addition to the remote control device, the device may be mounted on a toilet paper dispenser, handrail, towel rack, towel shelf, mirror, hand basin faucet, vanity, storage shelf (storage cabinet), etc. Also, instead of being a device within the toilet space, the biometric information acquisition device 110 may be attached directly to the wall or door of the toilet room.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a remote control device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the remote control device 108 can be provided with a plurality of operation switches 120. The plurality of operation switches 120 include, for example, operation switches 120a to 120g. When an operation switch 120 is operated (pressed in this example), the remote control device 108 transmits a control signal corresponding to the operated switch. When the main body 106 of the toilet seat device 101 receives the control signal, the main body 106 operates or changes the function settings based on the control signal.

The remote control device 108 has a mode for the user of the toilet bowl 103 to operate the functions of the toilet seat device 101. In this mode, the remote control device 108 operates the settings and operations of the toilet seat device 101 displayed on each operation switch 120. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the main body 106 stops the local cleansing function, sound generation function, and warm air drying function when the operation switch 120a is pressed, starts the buttocks cleansing function when the operation switch 120b is pressed, starts the bidet cleansing function when the operation switch 120c is pressed, starts sound generation when the operation switch 120d is pressed, starts air blowing when the operation switch 120e is pressed, changes the volume of the sound generation function when the operation switch 120f is pressed, and changes the water pressure of the local cleansing function when the operation switch 120g is pressed.

The remote control device 108 can also enter the setting mode from the normal use mode described above by a special operation. The special operation is an operation of pressing multiple operation switches 12 in combination or pressing an operation switch 12 multiple times. The special operation may include pressing the operation switches simultaneously or pressing them for a long time.

In the setting mode, each operation switch 120 is assigned a different function than in the normal use mode. That is, in the setting mode, the remote control device 108 controls the operation of the main body 106 and changes the function settings different from those in the normal mode based on the pressing of the operation switch 120. For example, in the setting mode, the temperature of the cleaning water sprayed from the nozzle 104 and the temperature of the toilet seat 111 can be set.

The main body 106 can also perform "nozzle cleaning" by using a special operation of the remote control device 108 in the setting mode. "Nozzle cleaning" is an operation that keeps the nozzle 128 advanced into the bowl of the toilet 111 for a certain period of time without spraying cleaning water. This allows the manager to wipe the outside of the nozzle 104 with a cloth or the like, or clean the nozzle 104's water outlet.

The remote control device 108 is also equipped with a biometric information acquisition device 110. The biometric information acquisition device 110 has a functional unit for acquiring biometric information inside a housing 122, as described below. The outer surface of the housing 122 of the biometric information acquisition device 110 is provided with a biometric information acquisition area for acquiring biometric information by pressing part of the user's finger against it. In particular, in the biometric information acquisition device 110 illustrated in FIG. 2, the biometric information acquisition area roughly coincides with the surface on which the cover member 121 is provided. That is, in the biometric information acquisition device 110 illustrated in FIG. 2, the user presses part of his/her finger against the cover member 121, and a pulse wave is detected from the part of the finger pressed by the user, thereby acquiring biometric information.

The front of the remote control device 108 is provided with an operation switch 120h for starting the acquisition of biometric information among the above-mentioned multiple operation switches 120. The user can acquire biometric information such as pulse waves by pressing this operation switch 120h at a predetermined timing or at any timing. In FIG. 2, the operation switch 120h is arranged on the remote control device 108, but it may be provided on the outer surface of the housing 122 of the biometric information acquisition device 110. In this case, the function of the remote control device 108 and the biometric information acquisition device 110 can be integrated, so that the functions of the remote control device 108 and the biometric information acquisition device 110 can be separated, and the internal structure can be simplified. In addition, the operation switch 120h for starting the acquisition of biometric information can be omitted. In other words, by executing control to start the acquisition of biometric information when the user's fingertip is detected in the biometric information acquisition area, the operation by the user to start the acquisition of biometric information can be omitted, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

The remote control device 108 and the biometric information acquisition device 110 may share a housing, or may be a combination of different components each having a different housing. In the latter case, if either the remote control device 108 or the biometric information acquisition device 110 is damaged or malfunctions, the device can be easily restored by performing maintenance or replacing one of them.

Figure 16 is a block diagram of a remote control device and a toilet seat device equipped with a biometric information acquisition device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The remote control device 108 equipped with the biometric information acquisition device 110 and the toilet seat device 101 are connected via a specified network N so that they can wirelessly send and receive information from each other. For example, they are connected by a specified wireless communication function such as ZigBee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (Wireless Fidelity).

The configuration of the remote control device 108 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 16, the remote control device 108 has a biometric information acquisition unit 135, a plurality of operation switches 120, a communication unit 152, a first storage device 153, a second storage device 154, an alarm unit 155, and a control unit 156. Here, the description of the plurality of operation switches 120 will be omitted since it overlaps with the description in FIG. 2. The biometric information acquisition unit 135 will be described later in the description in FIG. 3 to FIG. 8.

The communication device 152 is realized, for example, by a communication circuit. The communication device 152 is wirelessly connected to a predetermined communication network (network N) (not shown) and transmits and receives information to and from the toilet seat device 101.

The first storage device 153 is realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk (magnetic disk) or an optical disk. The first storage device 153 stores, for example, a program that generates a signal for a user of the toilet 103 to operate the settings and operation of the toilet seat device 101. The first storage device 153 stores the biometric information of the user acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 110, and the user's operation information for the multiple operation switches 120.

The second storage device 154 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk (magnetic disk) or an optical disk. The second storage device 154 stores, for example, programs for controlling the operation of the toilet flushing function 157, the local cleaning function 158, and the warm air drying function 159. The second storage device 154 also stores the user's biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 110, the toilet flushing operation signal output with the execution of the toilet flushing function 157, the local cleaning operation signal output with the execution of the local cleaning function 158, the warm air drying operation signal output with the execution of the warm air drying function 159, and the seating detection signal output from the seating detection device 160. Therefore, it is preferable that the second storage device 154 has a larger storage capacity than the first storage device 153.

In addition, since the first memory device 153 and the second memory device 154 are both provided in the remote control device 108, it is possible to execute processing independently within the remote control device 108 without using a memory device provided in, for example, another device in the toilet, such as the toilet seat device 101.

The notification device 155 is realized, for example, by a speaker that outputs sound and a display screen that outputs images. The notification device 155 notifies, for example, the biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 135 and stored in the first storage device 153 or the second storage device 154, or instructions to the user for improving the accuracy of the biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 135.

The control device 156 is a device that executes arithmetic processing based on the programs stored in the first storage device 153 and the second storage device 154 using the functions of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control device 156 can also be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

Next, the configuration of the toilet seat device 101 will be described. As shown in FIG. 16, the toilet seat device 101 has a communication device 152, a control device 156, a toilet bowl cleaning function 157, a personal cleaning function 158, a warm air drying function 158, and a seating detection device 160. Here, the communication device 152 and the control device 156 have the same configuration as the remote control device 108, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The toilet flushing function 157 is a function that supplies flushing water to the bowl portion 102 of the toilet bowl 103. To realize this function, the toilet flushing function 157 is equipped with a water supply line and a water supply valve (not shown). The water supply line is a passage that leads to the bowl portion 102 to supply flushing water such as tap water to the bowl portion 102. The water supply valve is composed of an electromagnetic valve or the like and is provided at a predetermined location in the water supply line. Based on a control signal transmitted from the remote control device 108, the toilet flushing function 157 opens the water supply line to start supplying flushing water to the bowl portion 102, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, it closes the water supply line to stop supplying flushing water to the bowl portion 102. The toilet flushing function 157 supplies flushing water to the bowl portion 102 and discharges feces and urine in the bowl portion 102 into the drainage channel together with the flushing water that has accumulated in the bowl portion 102. Additionally, the toilet flushing function 157 outputs a toilet flushing operation signal to the control device 156 while the water supply valve is open.

The private parts cleaning function 158 is a function for spraying cleaning water toward the private parts of the user while the nozzle 104 is advanced into the bowl portion 102. In order to realize this function, the private parts cleaning function 158 is equipped with a nozzle hole and a nozzle drive motor (not shown). The nozzle hole is formed on the upper surface of the nozzle 104, and multiple nozzle holes are provided at different positions for, for example, buttock cleaning and bidet cleaning. The nozzle drive motor drives the nozzle 104 to move forward and backward through an opening formed in the main body portion 106 based on a control signal from the remote control device 108. The private parts cleaning function 158 outputs a private parts cleaning operation signal to the control device 156 while cleaning water is being sprayed from the nozzle.

The warm air drying function 159 is a function that blows air into the bowl portion 102 of the toilet 103. Based on a control signal from the remote control device 108, the warm air drying function 159, for example, heats the outside air that has been sucked in with a heater and blows the warm air from the air outlet into the bowl portion 102. The warm air drying function 159 outputs a warm air drying operation signal to the control device 156 while it is blowing warm air from the air outlet.

The seating detection device 160 detects when a user is seated on the toilet seat 111. The seating detection device 160 may be realized, for example, by a load sensor or an infrared light emitting/receiving distance measuring sensor, and may detect a human body present near the toilet seat 111 immediately before the user sits on the toilet seat 111. The seating detection device 160 outputs a seating detection signal to the control device 156.

Next, the biometric information acquisition device 110 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the biometric information acquisition unit 135 in the biometric information acquisition device 110 of one embodiment of the present invention.

The biometric information acquisition unit 135 in the biometric information acquisition device 110 shown in FIG. 3 is configured by arranging a light-emitting element 130 and a light-receiving element 131 inside a recess provided in a part of the housing 122 of the biometric information acquisition device 110.

The light-emitting element 130 functions as a light source, and may be, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). LEDs are particularly preferred because they are lightweight, shock-resistant, and have a long lifespan. The light-receiving element 131 functions as a light detector, and may be, for example, a photodiode, a photoresistor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), a photomultiplier tube, or the like. Photodiodes are particularly preferred because they provide high accuracy in measuring light intensity.

The light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 are provided on a base 133, which is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess in the housing 122.

The base 133 functions as a substrate for fixing the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131. Furthermore, if the base 133 is a circuit board (printed board) and electrical wiring is performed inside the base 133, the biometric information acquisition unit 135 can be made smaller.

In FIG. 3, the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 are provided on the upper part of the base 133, but this is not limiting, and both or one of the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 may be embedded in the base 133, or may be provided so as to penetrate the base 133. In this case, the thickness in the height direction can be made thin, so that the bioinformation acquisition device 110 can be made thinner.

In addition, the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 may be placed directly on the bottom surface of the recess in the housing 122 without using the base 133. By omitting the base 133, the thickness in the height direction can be made thin, and therefore the biometric information acquisition device 110 can be made thinner.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 are described as separate components, but if they are both formed on a single semiconductor substrate in a so-called one-chip configuration, the biometric information acquisition area 134 can be further miniaturized.

A cover member 121 is provided above the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131. The cover member is translucent because it is necessary to pass the light irradiated from the light-emitting element 130 to the outside of the cover member (the outside of the biometric information acquisition device 110) and to pass the light incident from the outside of the cover member 121 to reach the light-receiving element 131. For this reason, the cover member 121 functions as a window that allows light to pass through as described above. As shown in FIG. 4, the user can press part of his finger against the outer surface of the cover member 121 to optically detect biometric information through the window, and the portion of the cover member through which light can pass becomes the biometric information acquisition area 134.

In FIG. 3, the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 are arranged on the bottom surface of the housing via the base 133, but this is not limited thereto, and they may be arranged, for example, on the back side of the cover member 121. By using the cover member 121 as a glass substrate and forming the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 on the glass substrate using a known semiconductor manufacturing process, the biometric information acquisition unit can be configured to be thin.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the biometric information acquisition unit 135 as viewed from above. In the biometric information acquisition device 110 illustrated in Figure 5, a rectangular recess is formed in the housing 122 as viewed from above, and a light-emitting element 130 and a light-receiving element 131 are arranged side by side inside the recess. In addition, a rectangular cover member 121 is provided to cover the recess.

By providing the biometric information acquisition unit 135 as described above, it is possible to optically acquire biometric information of the user from the fingertip of the user. Acquisition of biometric information by the biometric information acquisition unit 135 in the biometric information acquisition device 110 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Figure 4 (a) illustrates a case where the finger pad of the user's finger from the DIP joint (first joint) to the fingertip is pressed against the biometric information acquisition area 134 of the biometric information acquisition device 110 for measurement. When biometric information is acquired from the finger pad from the DIP joint (first joint) to the fingertip, the measurement can be performed by pressing the fingertip in accordance with the user's pointing action, so the user is less burdened by pressing the fingertip against the cover member 121. In this case, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 130 passes through the cover member 121 and reaches the user's finger pad pressed against the cover member 121. For example, when an LED is used as the light-emitting element 130, the near-infrared light emitted from the LED is absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, and the reflected light reflects the change in the absorbance of the blood. The light-receiving element 131 detects this reflected light through the cover member 121, and the user's biometric information can be acquired.

Acquisition of biometric information from the user's fingers is not limited to the above-mentioned method. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the finger pad portion between the PIP joint (second joint) and MP joint (third joint) of the finger may be pressed against the cover member 121 to acquire biometric information of the user. When acquiring information from the finger pad portion between the PIP joint (second joint) and MP joint (third joint) of the finger in this manner, a wide measurement area can be secured within the finger, and the wide contact area allows for stable measurement.

Here, if the biometric information acquisition unit 135 is structured as shown in FIG. 3, it is necessary for the user to press the fingers against the cover member 121, which causes sweat, sebum, or dirt on the fingers to adhere to the surface of the cover member 121. In that case, the translucency of the cover member 121 decreases, preventing the emission of light from the light-emitting element 130 and the reception of light by the light-receiving element 131, which may reduce the accuracy of detection of the biometric information.

Therefore, by making the cover member 121 removable, it is possible to easily prevent a decrease in the detection accuracy of biometric information by cleaning the removed cover member 121 or by replacing it with another clean cover member 121.

On the other hand, if the cover member 121 is designed to be replaceable, a small gap may occur between the cover member 121 and the housing 122 depending on the design. This may cause moisture to enter the inside of the recess when wiping with water during cleaning. For this reason, the cover member 121 is configured to be non-removable, and a sealing member may be used to create an airtight structure to prevent moisture from entering and adhering to the components used to acquire biometric information, such as the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a seal 132 may be placed around the base 133 on which the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 are provided. For example, a rubber material such as an O-ring that achieves sealing by squeezing can be used as the sealing material. The seal 132 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged in a ring shape so as to completely surround the periphery of the base 133 equipped with the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131, with its lower end in contact with the bottom surface of the recess of the housing 122 and its upper end in contact with the cover member 121. That is, the cover member 121, the housing 122, and the seal 132 completely seal the space including the base 133, thereby suppressing the intrusion of moisture, contaminants, etc. into the space, and preventing deterioration and damage of the light emitting element 130, the light receiving element 131, and their electrical connections.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, a structure in which an opening is provided in the biometric information acquisition region 134 so that the user's fingertip does not directly touch the cover member even when the user presses the fingertip against the cover member in the biometric information device 110 described in the embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Note that other aspects may be the same as those in the embodiment 1, and can be freely combined with the technology described in the embodiment 1.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the biometric information acquisition unit 135 of the biometric information acquisition device 110 may be provided on the outer surface of the housing 122 with an opening 142 having an area smaller than the contact surface when the user presses a part of the fingertip against the opening, and the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 may be disposed below the opening. This allows the opening area 142 itself to become a light passage (window) for acquiring the user's biometric information, thereby preventing the detection accuracy from decreasing due to dirt. Furthermore, the above-mentioned cover member 121 may be provided below the opening 142 and above the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131. With this configuration, the user's fingertip does not directly touch the cover member 121, so dirt such as sweat and sebum on the fingertip can be prevented from adhering to the cover member 121, and the light-emitting element 130, the light-receiving element 131, etc. can be protected from dust, water entering through the opening 142 due to cleaning, etc.

In FIG. 6, a configuration is shown in which the user's fingers do not directly touch the cover member 121, but this is not limiting. For example, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which an opening 141 is provided above each of the light-emitting element 130 and the light-receiving element 131 that are arranged side by side in a top view (i.e., there are two openings) (FIG. 7(a) shows a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 7(b) shows a plan view viewed from above).

In FIG. 7(a), the area of each opening 141 is smaller than the contact surface when the user presses a part of his/her finger against the opening 141. This prevents the user's finger from entering the internal space in which the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 are provided. Also, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a cover member 121 can be provided below the opening 141 in the internal space of the housing. With this configuration, the user's fingertip does not directly touch the cover member 121, so that dirt such as sweat and sebum on the fingertip can be prevented from adhering to the cover member 121, and the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 can be protected from dust and water entering through the opening 141 due to cleaning, etc.

For example, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a plurality of openings 140 are provided above a light-emitting element 130 and a light-receiving element 131 that are arranged side by side when viewed from above (FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 8(b) is a plan view when viewed from above). That is, the biometric information acquisition region 134 is formed in a mesh-like shape (net-like shape) of the housing 122 when viewed from above.

In FIG. 8(a), the area of each of the multiple openings 140 is smaller than the contact surface when the user presses part of his/her finger against the openings. This prevents the user's fingers from entering the internal space in which the light emitting element 130 and the light receiving element 131 are provided. Since the housing 122 located between the multiple openings 140 is a material through which light passes, it is preferable that the width t2 of the housing 122 is smaller than the width t1 of the openings 140.

Also, as shown in FIG. 8(a), a cover member 121 can be provided in the internal space of the housing 122 below the opening 141. With this configuration, the user's fingertips do not directly touch the cover member 121, so that dirt such as sweat and sebum on the fingertips can be prevented from adhering to the cover member 121, and the light-emitting element 130, light-receiving element 131, etc. can be protected from dust and water that enters through the multiple openings 140 due to cleaning, etc.

In addition, in order to prevent a decrease in the detection accuracy of biometric information caused by dirt on the cover member 121 due to sweat or sebum from the user's fingers or dirt on the user's fingers, as described above, the biometric information acquisition device 110 according to this embodiment can be provided with a dirt detection means for detecting dirt on the cover member 121.

(Embodiment 3)
In this embodiment, a case where a biometric information acquisition area of a biometric information acquisition device installed in a toilet space is arranged facing downward in the toilet space will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 14. Note that, for other configurations, the configurations described in the first and second embodiments can be used as appropriate.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a remote control device 200 equipped with a biometric information acquisition device 210 according to this embodiment. In Figure 9, the biometric information acquisition device 210 is provided at the lower left end of the front of the remote control device 200.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the remote control device 200 of Figure 9, viewed from the bottom side. A cover member 203 is provided on the left side of the housing 202 on the bottom side of the remote control device 200. Although not shown, as described in embodiment 1, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged inside the housing 202 at a position corresponding to the cover member 203, making it possible to obtain biometric information of the user.

As shown in FIG. 11, the user can obtain biometric information by pressing a finger against a cover member 203 (biometric information acquisition area 204) provided on the underside of the remote control device 200 from below the remote control device 200. On the other hand, since the biometric information acquisition area 204 is provided on the underside of the remote control device 200, the light emitted from lighting fixtures provided on the ceiling or above the walls of the toilet space is blocked by the remote control device 200, thereby reducing or preventing the light from directly entering the biometric information acquisition area 204.

In this embodiment, the location of the biometric information acquisition area is not limited to the underside of the remote control device 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a cavity 205 can be provided below the front of the housing 202 of the remote control device 200, and a biometric information acquisition area 206 can be provided on the upper surface of the cavity 205. As shown in FIG. 13, the user places his/her finger on the biometric information acquisition area 206 inside the cavity 205, thereby acquiring the user's biometric information. In this embodiment, the structure of the cavity 205 can block light irradiation from lighting fixtures installed around it, particularly above it.

In the embodiment in which the cavity 205 is provided in the housing 202 of the remote control device 200, the biometric information acquisition area 206 is provided on the top surface of the cavity 205 in FIG. 13, but it can also be provided on the bottom or side surface within the cavity 205. The structure of the cavity 205 can block light irradiation from lighting fixtures installed around it, especially above.

In this embodiment, the biometric information acquisition area is configured to be located in a position where external light is least likely to enter in order to prevent the incidence of external light. However, on the other hand, a problem may arise in that it may be difficult for the user to see the location of the biometric information acquisition area. Therefore, it is advisable to provide a guide on the remote control device or the biometric information acquisition device to show the user the location of the biometric information acquisition area.

For example, in FIG. 14(a), a plate 207 is attached to indicate the location of the biometric information acquisition area, which is located in a position hidden from the user. The plate may be a sticker that is easily removable. Plate 207 may also indicate the location of the biometric information acquisition area in words, or a symbol, picture, or photograph that indicates where to place a finger. Also, as shown in FIG. 14(b), a protruding structure may be provided on part of the housing to clearly indicate that this is the area where a finger is placed for measurement.

(Embodiment 4)
Next, in this embodiment, a biometric information acquisition region in the biometric information acquisition device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating a biometric information acquisition device 300 in which a biometric information acquisition device is incorporated and integrated into a remote control device that operates a toilet seat device in a toilet space. The biometric information device 300 illustrated in Figure 15 has a horizontally long box shape, with multiple operation switches 302 arranged on the front. Meanwhile, a biometric information acquisition area 303 (detection area) is provided on the lower right side against which the user can press their fingertip to acquire biometric information.

Here, the biometric information acquisition area 303 may have a structure in which a cover member is provided on the surface, as described in the first embodiment, or may be configured by the outer surface of a housing having multiple openings, as described in the second embodiment.

In particular, the area of the biometric information acquisition area 303 should be larger than the area of the operation switch 302. By making the area of the biometric information acquisition area 303 larger than the area of the operation switch 302, the identifiability of the detection area is improved, and the user can easily locate its position. In particular, the area of the biometric information acquisition area 303 should be 1.2 to 2 times the area of the operation switch 302. If the area is more than twice as large, the identifiability of the biometric information acquisition area 303 will improve, but problems will arise such as an increase in size of the biometric information acquisition section, a decrease in design, or a decrease in convenience due to a smaller operation switch.

The areas of the biometric information acquisition area 303 and the operation switch 302 are determined by calculating the areas measured on a plane viewed from the front, since the issue is identifiability. Even if the operation switch 302 has a three-dimensional structure, the areas projected onto a plane can be used for comparison.

In particular, to improve the identifiability of the biometric information acquisition area 303, it is preferable to design the area of the biometric information acquisition area 303 to be larger than the area of all the operation switches 302 arranged on the front of the biometric information acquisition device 300.

In addition, in order to improve the identifiability of the biometric information acquisition area 303, instead of increasing the area of the biometric information acquisition area 303, for example, lighting equipment (e.g., LEDs) that irradiates visible light can be placed around the biometric information acquisition area 303 and the lighting equipment can be turned on or flashed.

The biometric information acquisition area 303 should be positioned on the biometric information acquisition device 300 so that it is closest to the user when the user is seated on the toilet seat. In particular, when the user reaches out to touch the biometric information acquisition device 300, the biometric information acquisition area 303 should be positioned at the position that provides the shortest distance. This makes it possible to acquire biometric information without forcing the user into an uncomfortable position.

In addition, when a user sits on the toilet seat, it is advisable to design the toilet so that other operation switches 302 are not located in the path of the user's movement to reach out and touch the biometric information acquisition area 303 on the biometric information acquisition device 300. This makes it possible to prevent malfunctions caused by the user accidentally pressing other operation switches 302.

(Embodiment 5)
Next, in this embodiment, a control method for the biometric information acquiring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for processing biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquiring device 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the example of FIG. 17, the biometric information acquisition device 400 detects the user's fingertip (step S11). For example, the biometric information acquisition device 400 detects the user's fingertip based on the amount of change per unit time of light received by a light receiving element provided in the biometric information acquisition device 400.

When the biometric information acquisition device 400 detects the user's fingertip (step S11: Yes), it acquires biometric information from light reflected by part of the user's finger (step S12) and stores the acquired biometric information in the first storage device 402 (step S13).

As shown in FIG. 17, after detecting the user's fingertip (step S11: Yes), the biometric information acquisition device 400 determines whether the state of detecting the user's fingertip has elapsed for a predetermined time (step S14). In other words, it determines whether the user's fingertip has unintentionally touched the biometric information acquisition area or whether the user is intentionally trying to acquire biometric information. Therefore, the biometric information acquisition device 400 according to this embodiment executes a standby mode in which acquisition of biometric information (step S12) and storage of the acquired biometric information in the first storage device 402 (step S13) are repeated until the state of detecting the user's fingertip has elapsed for a predetermined time (step S14: No). In this way, the predetermined time is set to exclude detection due to the user unintentionally touching the biometric information acquisition area for an instant, and may be set to a period of 1 second or more and less than 5 seconds, for example.

The biometric information acquired in standby mode is not used when subsequently notifying the user of the acquired biometric information. Therefore, it is preferable to sequentially delete or overwrite the biometric information each time new biometric information is stored in the first storage unit 402. This makes it possible to avoid saturation of the storage capacity of the first storage device 402 due to the storage of unnecessary information.

If it is determined that the state in which the user's fingertip is being detected has elapsed for a predetermined time (step S14: Yes), the measurement mode is executed until the user's fingertip is no longer detected (step S18: No).

In the measurement mode, biometric information is obtained from light reflected from a part of the user's finger (step S15), and the obtained biometric information is stored in the second storage device 404 (step S17).
The biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 is not only used for the purpose of notifying the user on the spot, but also for the purpose of performing a composite analysis together with the user's past history and other related information. Therefore, in order to identify the state in which the user's biometric information was obtained, it is preferable to store information on the execution of the toilet seat device 406's functions, such as the toilet bowl flushing function, the local cleaning function, and the warm air drying function (step S16). This makes it possible to estimate the state in which the user's biometric information was obtained, and to determine the reliability of the obtained biometric information.

The user may also be identified (personal authentication) from the acquired biometric information by referencing pre-stored data. This allows information about the user to be associated with the acquired biometric information.

After the user's fingertip is no longer detected (step S18: yes), the biometric information acquisition device 400 determines whether information indicating that the function of the toilet seat device 406 has been executed has been added to the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 (step S19).

Here, if the information that the function of the toilet seat device 406 has been executed is not added to the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 (step S19: Yes), the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 is transmitted to the notification device 408 and notified to the user (step S20). Here, the biometric information notified to the user may be only the biometric information currently acquired by the biometric information acquisition device 400, or may be the result of a composite analysis together with past history and other related information.

Furthermore, if information that the function of the toilet seat device 406 has been executed is added to the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 (step S19: No), there is a risk that the accuracy of the acquired biometric information is low. Therefore, the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 is not notified to the user. Alternatively, the biometric information stored in the second storage device 404 is also notified to the notification device 408 that the information is low in accuracy, and the user is notified (step S21). This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the reliability of the information notified by the notification device 408, or to advise caution in handling the information notified by the notification device 408.

As mentioned above, the measurement mode for acquiring biometric information is executed during the period from step S15 to step S18 during which the fingertip is being detected. However, this is not limiting, and the measurement mode may be terminated, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, an image or sound may be displayed to inform the user that the measurement mode has ended.

During the measurement mode period from step 15 to step 18, it is advisable to output a sound or music that is pleasant to the user from a separately provided sound output device. This makes it easier for the user to be in a psychologically stable state, and promotes the acquisition of stable bioinformation. In order to stabilize the user's psychological state, it is also possible to output not only auditory information but also visual information that is pleasant to the user, either alone or simultaneously with sound, from a separately provided image output device.

(Embodiment 6)
Next, in this embodiment, a control method for the biometric information acquiring device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a flow chart showing an example of a procedure for processing biometric information acquired by the biometric information acquiring device 500 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In the example of FIG. 18, the biometric information acquisition device 500 detects that the user has pressed down an operation switch (e.g., operation switch 120h in FIG. 2) provided on the remote control device 502 or the like to start acquiring biometric information (step S31). After the pressing of the operation switch is detected, the alarm device 504 issues a voice guide or the light source provided in the biometric information acquisition unit 506 starts blinking (step S32) to prompt the user to place a finger against the biometric information acquisition area provided in the biometric information acquisition device 500. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of the user's fingertip unintentionally touching the biometric information acquisition area.

After that, if the biometric information acquisition device 500 does not detect the user's fingertip (step S33: No), it starts a standby mode. If the user's fingertip is not detected for a predetermined period of time after the standby mode is started, an error is notified to the user by the alarm device 504 (step S35). Note that in the standby mode, the information acquired by the biometric information acquisition unit 506 is not stored in the storage device because it is not based on light reflected by part of the user's finger.

In addition, biometric information obtained by touching the user's fingertip to the biometric information acquisition unit 506 during standby mode can be used for analysis as data for identifying the user (personal authentication). Furthermore, based on the results of this analysis, it may be possible to determine whether or not to transition to measurement mode.

On the other hand, if the biometric information acquisition device 500 detects the user's fingertip (step S33: Yes), it stops the audio guidance from the alarm device 504 or stops blinking the light source provided in the biometric information acquisition unit 506 (step S36), and starts a measurement mode in which biometric information is acquired from light reflected by part of the user's finger.

As shown in FIG. 18, the biometric information acquisition device 500 determines whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the measurement mode during which the user's fingertip is being detected (the period during which biometric information can be acquired) (step S40). In other words, it determines whether the state in which the user's fingertip is touching the biometric information acquisition area is a state in which highly reliable biometric information is acquired in a stationary state in which it is possible to acquire highly reliable biometric information. In this way, the predetermined period is set to detect that the user is touching the biometric information acquisition area in a stationary state, and may be set to a period of 5 seconds or more, for example. The control executed in the measurement mode and the control after the end of the measurement mode will not be described because they overlap with the explanation of FIG. 17.

During the standby mode period from step 33 to step 34, or during the measurement mode period from step 37 to step 40, it is advisable to output sounds or music that are pleasant to the user from a separately provided sound output device. This makes it easier for the user to be psychologically stable, and promotes the acquisition of stable bioinformation. In addition, in order to stabilize the user's psychological state, not only auditory information but also visual information that is pleasant to the user may be output from a separately provided image output device, either alone or simultaneously with sound. By implementing these in standby mode in particular, it is possible to stabilize the user's psychological state prior to the measurement of the bioinformation.

This embodiment can be implemented in combination with other embodiments as appropriate.

The above describes the embodiments of the present invention with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible based on the technical concept of the present invention.

100: Toilet space 101: Toilet seat device 102: Bowl portion 103: Toilet bowl 104: Nozzle 105: Rim 106: Main body portion 107: Toilet lid 108: Remote control device 109: Panel 110: Biometric information acquisition device 111: Toilet seat 120: Operation switch 120a: Operation switch 120b: Operation switch 120c: Operation switch 120d: Operation switch 120e: Operation switch 120f: Operation switch 120g: Operation switch 120h: Operation switch 121: Cover member 122: Housing 130: Light-emitting element 131: Light-receiving element 132: Seal 133: Base 134: Biometric information acquisition area 135: Biometric information acquisition unit 140: Opening 141: Opening 142: Opening 152: Communication device 153: First storage device 154: Second storage device 155: Notification device 156: Control device 157: Toilet flushing function 158: Local cleaning function 159: Warm air drying function 160: Sitting detection device 200: Remote control device 201: Biometric information acquisition device 202: Housing 203: Cover member 204: Biometric information acquisition area 205: Cavity 206: Biometric information acquisition area 207: Plate 208: Guide 300: Biometric information acquisition device 302: Operation switch 303: Biometric information acquisition area 400: Biometric information acquisition device 402: First storage device 404: Second storage device 406: Toilet seat device 408: Notification device 500: Biometric information acquisition device 502: Remote control device 504: Notification device 506: Biometric information acquisition unit

Claims (4)

A biometric information acquisition device provided in a toilet space,
A housing and
a biometric information acquisition unit provided in the housing and configured to optically detect biometric information when a fingertip is placed on the biometric information acquisition unit;
a storage unit that stores the biometric information detected by the biometric information acquisition unit;
a control device that controls the biological information acquisition unit and the storage unit ,
the storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit having a larger storage capacity than the first storage unit ;
the control device includes a standby mode in which the biometric information is stored in the first storage unit after the biometric information acquisition unit detects the fingertip, and a measurement mode in which the biometric information is stored in the second storage unit ,
The biometric information acquiring device is characterized in that, when the fingertip is continuously detected for a predetermined period of time during an execution period of the standby mode, the biometric information acquiring device transitions from the standby mode to the measurement mode.
In claim 1,
The biometric information acquiring device according to claim 1, wherein the biometric information stored in the first storage unit is sequentially deleted or overwritten during an execution period of the standby mode.
In claim 1 or 2,
Further, the control device includes an alarm device,
The biometric information acquiring device is characterized in that, when the fingertip is not detected for a predetermined period during the execution period of the standby mode, the notification device issues an error notification.
In claim 3,
The biometric information acquiring device, wherein the first storage unit and the second storage unit are provided within the housing.