Seiko Epson Corporation

Seiko Instruments Inc

Yutaka Kondo

Katsuyuki Honda

Norimitsu Baba

Hiroshi Odagiri

Masayuki Kawata

Tsukasa Kosuda

Hajime Kurihara

Takeshi Ono

A watch-type biometric measuring device having a pulse wave sensor unit for detecting a pulse rate by a reflective optical sensor, a housing storing therein the sensor unit, and a wristband is improved. The wristband has short band pieces and near the housing and long band pieces and far from the housing The band pieces and have high flexibility, and permit movement of a living body. On the other hand, the band pieces and have low flexibility, and secure holding ability against the living body. With this configuration, it is possible to mount the biometric measuring device on a measurement site of the living body with high adhesion while minimizing the sensation of pressure.

Biometric measuring device

When emitted light from LED,is incident on photodiodes,and,with luminance Pa and Pb, currents ia and ib are generated according to luminance Pa and Pb. When outside light is incident through the finger tissues on photodiodes,and,with luminance Pc, current ic is produced. The current i,(&equals;ia&plus;ic) generated by photodiode,and the current i,(&equals;&minus;ib&minus;ic) generated by photodiode,are added at node X, and the current ic corresponding to outside light is thus cancelled. In addition, photodiodes,and,are disposed at different distances from LED,As a result, the current flowing to opamp,is current ia corresponding to luminance Pa because luminance Pb is extremely low. The opamp,then applies a current voltage conversion to generate pulse wave signal Vm.

Reflection photodetector and biological information measuring instrument

An organism information measuring method and an arm wear type pulse-wave measuring method having a sensor unit having a size that does not cause any inconvenience to a user when the user is doing an exercise, such as jogging, so that information about an organism, such as the pulse rate, is measured. The arm wear type pulse-wave measuring apparatus has a wrist band for putting the body of the apparatus on the arm; and a sensor unit that is put on the root of a finger by a sensor securing band. If the finger is irradiated with light by a LED in the foregoing state, light reaches the blood vessel and is reflected. The reflected light is received by a phototransistor in such a manner that the quantity of received light corresponds to change in the quantity of blood occurring due to pulse waves of the blood. The LED is of a type capable of emitting blue light and has a light emission wavelength peak of 450 nm. The phototransistor has a light receiving wavelength region in a range from 300 nm to 600 nm.

Organism information measuring method and arm wear type pulse-wave

A portable apparatus is provided which is easy to use, for measuring enviromental and biological data and is useful for health care during exercise. The apparatus includes a measuring unit for measuring biological data, such as, a pulse rate and is disposed on a portion of a side portion of a wrist watch type apparatus body. The measuring unit is pressed by the user with his finger. At least one operation button is provided to operate an electrical circuit for processing the measured biological data.

Portable apparatus

To achieve a pulse wave measuring apparatus whereby the sensor unit can be easily and consistently worn against the skin surface, a wristwatch type pulse wave measuring apparatus is comprised as follows. Specifically, light transmittance plate 34 is disposed on the outside surface side of LED 31 and phototransistor 32 in sensor unit 30. Outside surface 341 of light transmittance plate 34, which is pressed against the finger, projects above the reference surface, which is outside surface 361 of sensor frame 36 surrounding light transmittance plate 34. Two body ground terminals 38 contacting the finger surface when light transmittance plate 34 is pressed tight to the finger are disposed around light transmittance plate 34; the body ground terminals 38 also project above the reference surface. However, the position of outside surfaces 381 of body ground terminals 38 is lower than the outside surface 341 of light transmittance plate 34. A supporter-like sensor unit holding band is used to hold sensor unit 30 on the finger. A thick material such as that used in diving wet suits is used for the sensor unit holding band, and comprises a middle layer of foam rubber.

Pulse-wave measuring apparatus

A portable apparatus is provided which is easy to use, for measuring environmental and biological data and is useful for health care during exercise. The apparatus includes a measuring unit for measuring biological data, such as, a pulse rate and is disposed on a portion of a side portion of a wrist watch type apparatus body. The measuring unit is pressed by the user with his finger. At least one operation button is provided to operate an electrical circuit for processing the measured biological data.

Growing community of inventors

Suwa, Japan

Yutaka Kondo