Measurement device and measurement method

• US 10,231,631 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hirano, Asao
• Primary Examiner(s): Weare, Meredith
• Application Number:
  US15/311,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/16 Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors A61B2560/0462 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 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H

Abstract

A measurement device includes an ear canal connection configured to be inserted into an ear canal, a shaft extending from the ear canal connection along an insertion direction, a biological sensor configured to be turnable about the shaft relative to the ear canal connection and a controller configured to measure the biological information based on a biometric output obtained from the biological sensor.

Claims

1. A measurement device, comprising:

an ear canal connection configured to be inserted into an ear canal;

a shaft extending from the ear canal connection along an insertion direction;

a biological sensor configured to be turnable about the shaft relative to the ear canal connection; and

a controller configured to measure biological information based on a biometric output obtained from the biological sensor.

2. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor disposing part configured to be turnable about the shaft relative to the ear canal connection, wherein

the biological sensor is disposed on an outer periphery of the sensor disposing part.

3. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sound generator; and

a sensor disposing part that is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the shaft and has the biological sensor disposed on the outer periphery, wherein

the shaft transmits sound generated by the sound generator; and

the sensor disposing part is turnable about the shaft relative to the ear canal connection.

4. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein,

when the biometric output is not within an allowable range that can be used for measurement of the biological information, the controller allows a notification unit to notify that the biological sensor is needed to be turned.

5. The measurement device according to claim 4, wherein,

when the biometric output is within the allowable range, the controller adjusts a measured intensity of the biometric output in the biological sensor.

6. A measurement method by a measurement device comprising a biological sensor configured to be turnable about a shaft extending from an ear canal connection along an insertion direction relative to the ear canal connection,

the method comprising a notification step in which, when a biometric output obtained from the biological sensor is not within an allowable range that can be used for measurement of biological information, a notification indicating that the biological sensor is needed to be turned is provided.