PORTABLE TERMINAL AND SKIN PROPERTY MEASURING INSTRUMENT

• US 20150156298A1
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Published: 06/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikemoto, Koichi, Kitamura, Hirokazu, Konno, Fumiyasu, Takeda, Katsu, Hibino, Yasuhiro, Miyatake, Takahiro, Kajimoto, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/443 Evaluating skin constituents, e.g. elastin, melanin, water
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

A portable terminal includes a case, a display unit having a display screen exposed from a front surface of the case, and a skin-condition measurement sensor accommodated in the case. The skin-condition measurement sensor includes a measurement unit provided on the front surface of the case. The portable terminal can be carried and operate easily.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

a case having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface;

a display unit accommodated in the case, the display unit having a display screen exposed through the front surface of the case; and

a skin-condition measurement sensor accommodated in the case,

wherein the skin-condition measurement sensor includes a measurement unit provided on the front surface of the case, and a detection circuit connected to the measurement unit.

2. The portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein a cross section of the case parallel to the display screen has a shape which has a long axis and a short axis and which is elongate along the long axis, and

wherein the measurement unit is disposed between the display screen and one of both ends of the case which are located in a direction along the long axis of the case.

3. The portable terminal according to claim 2, further comprising

a camera module accommodated in the case,

wherein the camera module includes an imaging lens exposed through the front surface of the case.

4. The portable terminal according to claim 3, wherein the imaging lens is disposed between the display screen and one of the both ends of the case.

5. The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein the imaging lens is disposed between the one end of the case and the display screen.

6. The portable terminal according to claim 1,

wherein the case is configured to accommodate therein a battery that drives the portable terminal, and

wherein the battery is disposed closer to the one end of the case in the direction of the long axis of the case than to another end of the case in the direction of the long axis of the case.

7. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a movable auxiliary cover that covers a portion of the measurement unit exposed from the front surface of the case.

8. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the measurement unit is movable and can be accommodated in the case.

9. A portable terminal comprising:

a case including a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side-circumferential surface connected to and surrounding the front surface and the rear surface;

a display unit accommodated in the case, the display unit having a display screen exposed from the front surface of the case; and

a skin-condition measurement sensor accommodated in the case,

wherein the skin-condition measurement sensor includes a measurement unit and a detection circuit connected to the measurement unit, the measurement unit being provided on the side-circumferential surface of the case at a corner of the case.

10. The portable terminal according to claim 9,

wherein the side-circumferential surface includes a first side surface, a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, a third side surface connecting one end of the first side surface to one end of the second side surface, and a fourth surface opposite to the third side surface and connecting another end of the first side surface to another end of the second side surface,

wherein the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement sensor is disposed at a corner of the case where the one end of the first side surface and the third side surface are connected, and

wherein the corner has a curved surface which protrudes outward and which extends from the first side surface to the third side surface such as to protrude outward, or has an inclining surface extending from the first side surface to the third side surface and inclining inward.

11. The portable terminal according to claim 9,

wherein the case is configured to accommodate therein a battery that drives the portable terminal,

wherein the case has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end of the case,

wherein the skin-condition measurement sensor is located closer to the first end of the case than to the second end of the case, and

wherein the battery is disposed closer to the second end of the case than to the first end of the case.

12. The portable terminal according to claim 9, further comprising an auxiliary cover provided on a surface of the measurement unit and movable with respect to the case.

13. The portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the measurement unit is movable with respect to the case and can be accommodated in the case.

14. The portable terminal according to claim 9,

wherein the case includes a first housing and a second housing, and

wherein the corner where the measurement unit is disposed is a corner of one of the first housing and the second housing.

15. A skin-condition measurement device configures to be used with a portable terminal having an earphone jack configured to receive an earphone connected to the earphone jack, the skin-condition measurement device comprising:

a measurement unit that measures a skin condition;

a detection circuit connected to the measurement unit; and

a plug configured to be connected to the earphone jack, the plug being connected to the detection circuit.

16. The skin-condition measurement device according to claim 15, wherein the plug includes a plurality of contacts connected to the detection circuit, the plurality of contacts functioning as a voltage supply, a ground point, and a data line, respectively.

17. A portable terminal configured to be used with a skin-condition measurement device which includes a plug, a measurement unit that measures a skin condition of a user, and a detection circuit connected to the measurement unit and the plug, the portable terminal comprising:

an earphone jack configured to receive an earphone connected to the earphone jack and to receive the plug of the skin-condition measurement device connected to the earphone jack;

an audio circuit that supplies an electrical signal to the earphone via the earphone jack;

a skin-condition measurement circuit having an electrical signal input thereto from the plug of the skin-condition measurement device via the earphone jack; and

a circuit switch unit that selects and switches one of the audio circuit and the skin-condition measurement circuit based on an electrical signal input to or output from the earphone jack.

18. The portable terminal according to claim 17, wherein the earphone jack includes a plurality of contacts functioning as a voltage supply, a ground point, and a data line, respectively.

19. The portable terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a case having a plate shape having a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side-circumferential surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface to surround the front surface and the rear surface, the case accommodating therein the earphone jack, the audio circuit, the skin-condition measurement circuit, and the circuit switch unit; and

a display screen exposed from the front surface of the case,

wherein the earphone jack is provided on the side-circumferential surface of the case,

wherein the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device has a measurement surface that faces the user upon measuring a skin condition of the user, and

wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction that is different from a direction in which the display screen faces and that is away from the display screen.

20. The portable terminal according to claim 19, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device is movable with respect to the case.

21. The portable terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a case having a plate shape having a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side-circumferential surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface to surround the front surface and the rear surface, the case accommodating therein the earphone jack, the audio circuit, the skin-condition measurement circuit, and the circuit switch unit; and

a display screen exposed from the front surface of the case,

wherein the earphone jack is provided on the side-circumferential surface of the case,

wherein the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device has a measurement surface that faces the user when measuring a skin condition 0f the user, and

wherein the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction in which the display screen faces, and protrudes from the display screen in a direction from the rear surface toward the front surface.

22. The portable terminal according to claim 21, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device is movable with respect to the case.

23. The portable terminal according to claim 22, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction in which the rear surface faces, and can protrude from the rear surface in a direction from the front surface toward the rear surface.

24. A portable terminal configured to measure a skin condition of a user, comprising:

a skin-condition measurement device including

a measurement unit that measures the skin condition of the user,

a detection circuit connected to the measurement unit, and

a plug connected to the detection circuit; and

a portable terminal body including

an earphone jack configured to receive an earphone connected to the earphone jack and to receive the plug of the skin-condition measurement device connected to the earphone jack,

an audio circuit that supplies electrical signals to the earphone via the earphone jack,

a skin-condition measurement circuit having an electrical signal input thereto from the plug of the skin-condition measurement device via the earphone jack, and

a circuit switch unit that selects and switches one of the audio circuit and the skin-condition measurement circuit based on an electrical signal input to or output from the earphone jack.

25. The portable terminal according to claim 24, wherein the earphone jack includes a plurality of contacts functioning as a voltage supply, a ground point, and a data line, respectively.

26. The portable terminal according to claim 24,

wherein the portable terminal body further includes:

a case having a plate shape having a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side-circumferential surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface to surround the front surface and the rear surface, the case accommodating therein the earphone jack, the audio circuit, the skin-condition measurement circuit, and the circuit switch unit; and

a display screen exposed from the front surface of the case,

wherein the earphone jack is provided on the side-circumferential surface of the case,

wherein the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device has a measurement surface that faces the user upon measuring a skin condition of the user, and

wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction that is different in which the display screen faces and that is away from the display screen.

27. The portable terminal according to claim 26, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device is movable with respect to the case.

28. The portable terminal according to claim 24,

wherein the portable terminal body further includes:

a case having a plate shape having a front surface, a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and a side-circumferential surface connected to the front surface and the rear surface to surround the front surface and the rear surface, the case accommodating therein the earphone jack, the audio circuit, the skin-condition measurement circuit, and the circuit switch unit; and

a display screen exposed from the front surface of the case,

wherein the earphone jack is provided on the side-circumferential surface of the case,

wherein the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device has a measurement surface that faces the user upon measuring a skin condition of the user, and

wherein the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction in which the display screen faces, and protrudes from the display screen in a direction from the rear surface toward the front surface.

29. The portable terminal according to claim 28, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device is movable with respect to the case.

30. The portable terminal according to claim 29, wherein, when the plug of the skin-condition measurement device is connected to the earphone jack, the measurement surface of the measurement unit of the skin-condition measurement device faces in a direction in which the rear surface faces, and can protrude from the rear surface in a direction from the front surface toward the rear surface.