Biological information detection device equipped with light source projecting at least one dot onto living body

• US 9,940,710 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2015
• 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: Watanabe, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): MIKESKA, NEIL R
• Application Number:
  US15/169,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20160358332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0033 Features or image-related aspects of imaging apparatus classified in A61B5/00, e.g. for MRI, optical tomography or impedance tomography apparatus; arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room image data processing or generation G06T
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02116 of pulse wave amplitude A61B5/02225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0261 using optical means, e.g. infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30104 Vascular flow; Blood flow; Perfusion
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14678 Contact-type imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/047 using multispectral pick-up elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3176 wherein the projection device is incorporated in a camera details of cameras adapted for combination with a projector not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B17/54

Abstract

A biological information detection device includes first and second light sources, an image capturing system, and an arithmetic circuit. The first and second light sources project, onto a living body, at least one first dot formed by first light and at least one second dot formed by second light, respectively. The image capturing system includes first photodetector cells and second photodetector cells. The image capturing system generates and outputs a first image signal and a second image signal. The arithmetic circuit generates information concerning the living body, by using the first and second image signals. The first light includes fifth light. The second light includes sixth light. Each of the fifth light and the sixth light has a wavelength in a range from 650 nm to 950 nm. The wavelength of the sixth light is longer than that of the fifth light by 50 nm or more.

Claims

1. A biological information detection device comprising:

a first light source that, in operation, projects, onto a living body, at least one first dot formed by first light;

a second light source that, in operation, projects, onto the living body, at least one second dot formed by second light;

an image capturing system including

first photodetector cells that, in operation, detect third light from the living body on which the at least one first dot is projected, and

second photodetector cells that, in operation, detect fourth light from the living body on which the at least one second dot is projected,

the image capturing system, in operation, generating and outputting a first image signal and a second image signal, the first image signal denoting a first image of the living body on which the at least one first dot is projected, the second image signal denoting a second image of the living body on which the at least one second dot is projected; and

an arithmetic circuit that, in operation, generates information concerning the living body by using the first image signal and the second image signal output from the image capturing system and outputs the generated information, wherein;

the first light includes fifth light having a wavelength longer than or equal to 650 nm and shorter than or equal to 950 nm;

the second light includes sixth light having a wavelength longer than or equal to 650 nm and shorter than or equal to 950 nm; and

the wavelength of the sixth light is longer than the wavelength of the fifth light by 50 nm or more.

2. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing system further includes

an image sensor having an imaging surface divided into a first region in which the first photodetector cells are disposed and a second region in which the second photodetector cells are disposed,

a first optical system that, in operation, forms the first image at the first region, and

a second optical system that, in operation, forms the second image at the second region.

3. The biological information detection device according to claim 2, wherein the image capturing system further includes

a first bandpass filter that is disposed on a path of the third light entering the first region and that, in operation, passes the third light, and

a second bandpass filter that is disposed on a path of the fourth light entering the second region and that, in operation, passes the fourth light.

4. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing system further includes

an image sensor

having an imaging surface at which the first photodetector cells and the second photodetector cells are disposed, and

including first bandpass filters that face the first photodetector cells and, in operation, pass the third light and second bandpass filters that face the second photodetector cells and, in operation, pass the fourth light, and

an optical system that, in operation, forms the first image and the second image on the imaging surface.

5. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing system further includes

an image sensor

having an imaging surface at which the first photodetector cells, the second photodetector cells, and third photodetector cells are disposed, and

including first bandpass filters that face the first photodetector cells and, in operation, pass the third light, second bandpass filters that face the second photodetector cells and, in operation, pass the fourth light, and third bandpass filters that face the third photodetector cells and, in operation, pass visible light, and

an optical system that, in operation, forms the first image and the second image on the imaging surface, wherein:

the third bandpass filters include color filters having different transmission wavelength ranges; and

the image sensor, in operation, generates and outputs a color image signal by using the third photodetector cells.

6. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic circuit, in operation, generates information indicating a blood oxygen saturation of the living body by using the first image signal and the second image signal and outputs the generated information.

7. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic circuit, in operation,

calculates, based on the first image signal and the second image signal, a blood flow and a blood oxygen saturation of the living body,

generates, based on the blood flow and the blood oxygen saturation, information indicating at least one item selected from the group consisting of a physical condition, an emotion, and a concentration degree of the living body, and

outputs the generated information.

8. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein when the first image and the second image include at least one portion selected from the group consisting of a forehead portion and a nose portion of the living body,

the arithmetic circuit, in operation,

calculates, based on the first image signal and the second image signal, a blood flow and a blood oxygen saturation at the at least one portion selected from the group consisting of the forehead portion and the nose portion,

generates, based on a change in the blood flow over time and a change in the blood oxygen saturation over time, information indicating at least one item selected from the group consisting of a physical condition, an emotion, and a concentration degree of the living body, and

outputs the generated information.

9. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein when the first image and the second image include a forehead portion and a nose portion of the living body,

the arithmetic circuit, in operation,

calculates, based on the first image signal and the second image signal, a blood flow and a blood oxygen saturation at the forehead portion and a blood flow and a blood oxygen saturation at the nose portion,

generates, based on comparison of a change in the blood flow over time and a change in the blood oxygen saturation over time at the forehead portion with a change in the blood flow over time and a change in the blood oxygen saturation over time at the nose portion, information indicating at least one item selected from the group consisting of a physical condition, an emotion, and a concentration degree of the living body, and

outputs the generated information.

10. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first light source and the second light source is a laser light source.

11. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing system further includes

an image sensor having an imaging surface at which the first photodetector cells and the second photodetector cells are disposed,

an optical system that, in operation, forms the first image and the second image on the imaging surface, and

an adjusting mechanism that, in operation, adjusts focus of the optical system, and

wherein the adjusting mechanism adjusts the focus to maximize contrast of the first image and the second image.

12. The biological information detection method according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic circuit, in operation,

performs a face recognition process by using the first image signal and the second image signal, and

generates the information concerning the living body in a case where the first image and the second image include at least one portion selected from the group consisting of a forehead, a nose, a mouth, an eyebrow, and hair of the living body.

13. The biological information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the information concerning the living body is information concerning at least one item selected from the group consisting of a melanin concentration, presence or absence of a spot, and presence or absence of a bruise.