Touch detecting device, touch notifying device, information inputting device, touch replicating device, touch transmission system, pulse diagnostic device, pulse diagnosis training device, and pulse diagnostic information transmission device

• US 6,162,185 A
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Amano, Kazuhiko, Ishiyama, Hitoshi, Uebaba, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/194,698
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 600/557, 600/500, 600/504, 600/502, 600/501
• US Class Current: 600/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4854 Diagnosis based on concepts of traditional oriental medicine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips

Abstract

The test subject attaches pulse wave detectors 1 to his fingertips, and presses down on pressure sensor 110. As a result, CPU 4 determines the DC component of the received light signal LS, and stores this in calibration table 50 in association with the pressure level. Subsequently, CPU 4 calculates threshold values, which can be used for grading the touch sensation, based on maximum value Pmax of the pressure level and calibration table 50, and stores this result in threshold table 51. When the subject grips an object with his fingers, the blood flow volume is detected by pulse wave detector 1 as received light signal LS. CPU 4 calculates the DC component of received light signal LS, compares this result to the threshold values stored in threshold value table 51, generates touch information SJ, and displays this on LCD 108. Accordingly, in this case, pulse diagnosis can be easily performed by expressing the degree of pressure in the pulse diagnosis as touch information SJ.

Claims

1. A touch detecting device comprising:

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

4. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein:

the threshold value calculating means calculates the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the DC level of the received light signal; and

the touch information generating means compares the DC level of the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generates touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

5. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein:

the threshold value calculating means calculates threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the amplitude level of the received light signal; and

the touch information generating means compares the amplitude level of the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generates touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

6. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein:

the threshold value calculating means calculates threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the ratio of the DC level and amplitude level of the received light signal; and

the touch information generating means compares the threshold values with the ratio of the DC level and the amplitude level of the received light signal, and generates touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site is quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

7. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the detecting means irradiates the detection site on the body with light having a wavelength in the range of 300 to 700 nm, receives the reflected light, and detects the received light signal.

8. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the detecting means comprises:

a light generating member for generating light;

a first light polarizing member for polarizing light generated by the light generating member;

a second light polarizing member for incidenting reflected light from the polarized light, and permitting passage of light components polarized in a specific direction; and

a light receiving member for receiving the light which has passed through the second polarizing member and outputting a received light signal in response to the amount of received light.

9. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the detecting means comprises:

a light generating member for generating light;

a first light polarizing member for polarizing light generated by the light generating member;

a second light polarizing member for incidenting reflected light from the polarized light, and permitting passage of light components polarized in a specific direction; and

a light receiving member for incidenting the light which has passed through, the second polarizing member;

wherein the light receiving member comprises a light resonating member for resonating incidented light and an outputting member for outputting a received light signal in response to the light resonated by the light resonating member.

10. A touch detecting device according to one of claims 1 3, wherein the detecting means is provided to the fingertip area.

2. A touch detecting device comprising:

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and based on the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

3. A touch detecting device comprising:

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

calibration table for storing in advance the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

threshold value calculating means for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signals and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal.

11. A touch notifying device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for notifying the user of touch information generated by the touch information generating means.

12. An information inputting device comprising:

a plurality of touch detecting means, each of said plurality of touch detecting means comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

wherein the touch information is employed as input information.

13. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another.

14. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

comparing means for comparing the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means; and

pressure means for applying pressure at the detection site based on the results of the comparison by the comparing means, so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means coincide.

15. A touch transmission system comprising:

a transmitting side comprising;

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

transmitting means which carries out communication between networks, and transmits touch information detected by the touch detecting device to the network; and

a receiving side comprising;

a touch replicating device comprising;

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another; and

receiving means which carries out communication between the networks, and outputs touch information supplied from the transmitting side as touch information supplied from the outside.

16. A pulse diagnostic device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

pulse diagnosing means for performing pulse diagnosis based on touch information generated by the touch information generating means.

17. A pulse diagnostic device comprising:

a touch detecting device, comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

recording means for storing in advance standard touch information showing the degree of pressure during the pulse diagnosis; and

pulse diagnosing means for carrying out a pulse diagnosis based on the touch information generated by the touch information generating means and the standard touch information.

18. A pulse diagnosis training device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

recording means for storing in advance standard touch information showing the degree of pressure during the pulse diagnosis;

pulse diagnostic information generating means for generating pulse diagnostic information after grading the touch information based on the standard touch information; and

notifying means for notifying the user of the pulse diagnostic information.

19. A pulse diagnosis training device according to claim 18, wherein the notifying means notifies the user so that the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approaches the standard touch information.

20. A pulse diagnosis training device according to claim 18, wherein a test subject carries out pulse diagnosis by attaching the detecting means to his fingertips, and in that the notifying means notifies the test subject.

21. A pulse diagnosis training device according to claim 18, wherein a third party carries out pulse diagnosis by attaching the detecting means to the fingertips, and the notifying means notifies the third party.

22. A pulse diagnostic information transmission system comprises:

a transmitting side comprising;

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

transmitting means that carries out communications between networks and transmits touch information detected by the touch detecting device as pulse diagnostic information to the network; and

a receiving side comprising;

a touch replicating device comprising;

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another; and

receiving means that carries out communications between networks and outputs the pulse diagnostic information from the transmitting side to the touch replicating device as touch information supplied from the outside.

23. A pulse diagnostic information transmission system comprising:

a transmitting side comprising;

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no Pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

transmitting means which generates touch information based on a received light signal obtained as a result of pulse diagnosis performed by a test subject on the transmitting side who attaches a detecting means to his fingertips, and transmits this touch information to a network as pulse diagnostic information; and

a receiving side comprising;

a touch replicating device comprising;

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another; and

receiving means which carries out communications between networks, and outputs pulse diagnostic information from the transmitting side to the touch replicating device as touch information supplied from the outside.

24. A pulse diagnostic information transmission system comprising:

a transmitting side comprising;

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

transmitting means which generates touch information based on the received light signal obtained as a result of pulse diagnosis of a test subject on the transmitting side by a third party who attaches a detecting means to his fingertips, and transmits this touch information to a network as pulse diagnostic information; and

a receiving side comprising;

a touch replicating device comprising;

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another; and

receiving means which carries out communications between networks, and outputs the pulse diagnostic information from the transmitting side to the touch replicating device as touch information supplied from the outside.

25. A touch detecting method for detecting a touch sensation in the body, comprising:

a step for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting a received light signal;

a step for calculating threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site;

a step for storing threshold values in a threshold value table;

a step for comparing the received light signal and the threshold value; and

a step for generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on the results of the comparison.

26. A touch detecting method for detecting a touch sensation in the body, comprising:

a step for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting a received light signal;

a step for calculating threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

a step for storing the threshold values in a threshold value table;

a step for comparing the received light signal and the threshold value readout from the threshold value table; and

a step for generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on the results of the comparison.

27. A touch detecting method for detecting a touch sensation in the body, comprising:

a step for receiving reflected light obtained when a detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting a received light signal;

a step for storing in advance in the calibration table the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

a step for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating the threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

a step for storing the threshold values in the threshold value table;

a step for comparing the received light signal and the threshold values;

a step for comparing the received light signal and the threshold values readout from the threshold value table; and

a step for generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on the results of the comparison.

28. A touch notifying device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and based on the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for notifying the user of touch information generated by the touch information generating means.

29. A touch notifying device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

calibration table for storing in advance the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

threshold value calculating means for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signals and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for notifying the user of touch information generated by the touch information generating means.

30. An information inputting device comprising:

a plurality of touch detecting means, each of said plurality of touch detecting means comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and based on the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

wherein the touch information is employed as input information.

31. An information inputting device comprising:

a plurality of touch detecting means, each of said plurality of touch detecting means comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

calibration table for storing in advance the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

threshold value calculating means for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signals and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

wherein the touch information is employed as input information.

32. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and based on the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another.

33. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

calibration table for storing in advance the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

threshold value calculating means for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signals and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

notifying means for prompting the user so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means approach one another.

34. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold values, which can be used for grading the received light signal, based on the light signal received when there is no pressure being applied at the detection site and based on the light signal received when maximal pressure is being applied at the detection site;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

comparing means for comparing the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means; and

pressure means for applying pressure at the detection site based on the results of the comparison by the comparing means, so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means coincide.

35. A touch replicating device comprising:

a touch detecting device comprising;

detecting means for receiving reflected light obtained when the detection site on the body is irradiated with light, and detecting this received light signal;

calibration table for storing in advance the relationship between the received light signal and the pressure applied at the detection site;

threshold value calculating means for associating the light signal received when no pressure is applied at the detection site and the light signal received when maximal pressure is applied at the detection site, to the relationship stored in the calibration table between the received light signals and the pressure applied at the detection site, thereby calculating threshold values which can be used for grading the received light signal;

threshold value table for storing the threshold values; and

touch information generating means for comparing the received light signal and the respective threshold values, and generating touch information in which the touch sensation at the detection site has been quantified based on grading of the received light signal; and

comparing means for comparing the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means; and

pressure means for applying pressure at the detection site based on the results of the comparison by the comparing means, so that the touch information supplied from the outside and the touch information generated by the touch information generating means coincide.