Electronic device, determination method, and recording medium

Abstract

The electronic device (100) is an electronic device (100) worn on the wrist of a user, comprising: a first pulse sensor (pulse sensor (A17)); a second pulse sensor (pulse sensor (B18)) which is arranged at a different position from the first pulse sensor in the direction from the arm to the fingertips when worn; and a judgment unit (CPU11) which judges whether the electronic device (100) is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist based on the difference between the timing of the first pulse sensor detecting a prescribed pulse and the timing of the second pulse sensor detecting a prescribed pulse.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application filed on August 31, 2021, with application number 202180065517.7 and invention name “Electronic device and recording medium”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to electronic equipment, a determination method and a recording medium. Background Art

[0003] In the past, for wrist-worn devices such as watches and wearable devices, since most people are right-handed, the operating system was often determined based on the premise that they would be operated by wearing them on the left wrist. Therefore, when a device designed to be worn on the left wrist is worn on the right wrist, it is difficult to operate.

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, there is a method of operating a button or a menu to switch the mode of the right wrist and the mode of the left wrist.

[0005] In contrast, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for switching the functions assigned to each button by allowing the user to select a right wrist wearing mode or a left wrist wearing mode.

[0006] Patent Document 2 describes a technique for allowing a user to select a right-wrist wearing mode and a left-wrist wearing mode to switch the left and right sides of a screen.

[0007] Prior art literature

[0008] Patent Literature

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-155391

[0010] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-148375 Summary of the invention

[0011] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0012] In such a method in which the user operates buttons and menus to switch the right wrist mode and the left wrist mode, there are problems such as forgetting the operation due to the troublesome operation, or not being able to remember the operation if the menu operation is complicated.

[0013] In addition, as a method for automatically determining whether the device is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist, the method of mounting an angle sensor on the device and using the angle for determination has a problem of difficulty in determination because the hand is always moving. In addition, in the method of determining by face recognition using a camera mounted on the device, there is a problem of being unable to determine if the face is not reflected in the camera.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a program that can easily determine whether a wristband is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist.

[0015] Means for solving problems

[0016] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device worn on a user's wrist, and is characterized by having:

[0017] First pulse sensor;

[0018] a second pulse sensor disposed at a position different from that of the first pulse sensor in a direction from the arm to the fingertips when worn; and

[0019] The determination unit determines whether the electronic device is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist based on a difference between a timing when the first pulse sensor detects a predetermined pulsation and a timing when the second pulse sensor detects a predetermined pulsation.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine whether the watch is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the position of a pulse sensor in an appearance diagram showing the front side of an electronic device.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a block diagram showing the overall structure of an electronic device.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the principle of a pulse sensor.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing an example of detecting pulsation using two pulse sensors.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing an example of detecting pulsation using a pulse sensor when the electronic device is worn on the left wrist.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of detecting pulsation using a pulse sensor when the electronic device is worn on the right wrist.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing the flow of determination processing performed by the electronic device.

[0029] Figure 8 This figure shows an example of vertical display when the electronic device is worn on the left wrist.

[0030] Fig. 9 This figure shows an example of vertical display when the electronic device is worn on the right wrist. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and the contents described in the drawings.

[0032] <Structure of electronic equipment>

[0033] First, an overview of electronic device 100 as an electronic device according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the positions of the pulse sensor A17 and the pulse sensor B18 in the front appearance diagram of the electronic device 100 of the present invention.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the electronic device 100 is a watch type, and includes a main body 1 and a band 2 .

[0036] The main body 1 has a display unit 15 (described later) on the upper surface. In addition, the main body 1 has an operation button 141 on its left side and an operation button 142 on the right side. In the present embodiment, the operation buttons 141 and 142 are provided in three numbers, but are not limited to this number as long as they are provided in one or more numbers respectively. In addition, inside the main body 1, when the direction in which the belt 2 described later extends is regarded as the 12 o'clock side in the analog clock, a pulse sensor A17 is provided at a position biased toward the 9 o'clock side, and a pulse sensor B18 is provided at a position biased toward the 3 o'clock side. That is, the pulse sensor A17 and the pulse sensor B18 are configured to be separated from each other in the arm-fingertip direction when the electronic device 100 is worn on the user's wrist. In addition, the pulse sensor A17 is configured to be configured to be biased toward the arm side in the arm-fingertip direction compared to the pulse sensor B18 when the electronic device 100 is worn on the user's left wrist.

[0037] The strap 2 is used to fix the main body 1 to the wrist of the user.

[0038] Next, refer to Figure 2 The functional structure of the electronic device 100 will be described.

[0039] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the electronic device 100 .

[0040] like Figure 2As shown, the main body 1 of the electronic device 100 is configured to include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, a display unit 15, a communication unit 16, a pulse sensor A 17, a pulse sensor B 18, etc., and each unit is connected via a bus 19.

[0041] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls each unit of the main body 1. The CPU 11 reads a program stored in the storage unit 13, expands it in the RAM 12, and executes the program to perform various calculation processes.

[0042] In addition, CPU 11 determines whether electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist based on the difference between the timing of the first pulse sensor (pulse sensor A17) detecting the predetermined pulse and the timing of the second pulse sensor (pulse sensor B18) detecting the predetermined pulse. Here, CPU 11 functions as a determination unit.

[0043] In addition, the CPU 11 switches the functions assigned to the operation button 141 and the operation button 142 according to the determination result of the determination unit. Here, the CPU 11 functions as a switching control unit.

[0044] Furthermore, the CPU 11 replaces the arrangement of the menu displayed on the display unit 15 or changes the orientation of the screen displayed on the display unit 15 according to the determination result of the determination unit. Here, the CPU 11 functions as a display control unit.

[0045] The RAM 12 provides a memory space for work to the CPU 11 and temporarily stores data. The RAM 12 may also include a nonvolatile memory.

[0046] The storage unit 13 stores various data such as programs (including determination processing described later) and setting data executed by the CPU 11. The programs are stored in the storage unit 13 in the form of computer-readable program codes. As the storage unit 13, a storage device that does not require power supply to store data, such as a flash memory, is used.

[0047] The operation unit 14 is configured to include an operation button 141 provided on the left side of the main body 1 , an operation button 142 provided on the right side, a touch sensor (not shown) provided on the display unit 15 , etc., and receives user input operations and converts the operation contents into electrical signals and outputs them to the CPU 11 .

[0048] The display unit 15 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and performs screen display according to a display control signal from the CPU 11. The display screen of the display unit 15 is provided with the above-mentioned touch sensor, and functions as a touch panel type operation display unit.

[0049] The communication unit 16 is a communication module including an antenna, a modulation and demodulation circuit, a signal processing circuit, etc., and performs wireless data communication with an external terminal device in accordance with a communication standard of short-range wireless communication based on, for example, BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy).

[0050] The pulse sensor A17 and the pulse sensor B18 each include a light receiving element and a light emitting element. Figure 3 A diagram showing the principle of a pulse sensor is shown. The light emitting element is a light emitting diode that emits green light, such as light with a wavelength of 520nm to 530nm, which is easily absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood within the range of light irradiated by the light emitting element. The light receiving element is a photodiode that receives light and outputs it as an electrical signal. It receives reflected light from the light irradiated to the wrist by the light emitting element and outputs the amount of electric power corresponding to the amount of light received as an electrical signal.

[0051] The pulse sensors A17 and B18 measure the blood flow rate that changes with the pulsation of the heart, that is, the change in the volume of the arterial blood vessels, that is, the change in the amount of light absorption, thereby measuring the state of the pulsation in a time series. Figure 3 The figure below shows an example of the measurement results.

[0052] In addition, the pulse sensor A17 and the pulse sensor B18 output the measurement results to the CPU 11 .

[0053] Figure 4 This shows an example of detecting pulsation by pulse sensor A17 and pulse sensor B18. If the blood flows from left to right, that is, from the pulse sensor A17 side to the pulse sensor B18 side, then Figure 4 As shown in the figure below, it is possible to measure waveforms of substantially similar pulsations with a predetermined time difference.

[0054] Figure 5 The example of detection by pulse sensor A17 and pulse sensor B18 when the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist is shown. When the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, the blood flows from left to right, that is, from the pulse sensor A17 side to the pulse sensor B18 side. The pulse sensor A17 is on the upstream side of the blood flow, so the pulse sensor A17 first detects the change in pulsation, and after a short time, the pulse sensor B18 detects the change in pulsation.

[0055] The peak time of the first pulsation detected by the pulse sensor A17 is set as TA1, the peak time of the second pulsation is set as TA2, and the peak time of the first pulsation detected by the pulse sensor B18 after TA1 is set as TB1. Figure 5 , TA1, TA2, and TB1 satisfy the following formula (1). That is, when the first time (TB1-TA1) from when the pulse sensor A17 detects the first pulsation to when the pulse sensor B18 detects the first pulsation is shorter than the second time (TA2-TB1) from when the pulse sensor B18 detects the first pulsation to when the pulse sensor A17 detects the second pulsation, the CPU 11 determines that the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist.

[0056] (1)TB1-TA1<TA2-TB1

[0057] Figure 6 The example of detecting by pulse sensor A17 and pulse sensor B18 when the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist is shown. When the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist, the blood flows from right to left, that is, from the pulse sensor B18 side to the pulse sensor A17 side. The pulse sensor B18 is on the upstream side of the blood flow, so the pulse sensor B18 detects the change in pulsation first, and after a short time, the pulse sensor A17 detects the change in pulsation.

[0058] The peak time of the first pulsation detected by the pulse sensor A17 is set as TA1, the peak time of the second pulsation is set as TA2, and the peak time of the first pulsation detected by the pulse sensor B18 after TA1 is set as TB1. Figure 6 TA1, TA2, and TB1 satisfy the following formula (2). That is, when the first time (TB1-TA1) from when the pulse sensor A17 detects the first pulsation to when the pulse sensor B18 detects the first pulsation is longer than the second time (TA2-TB1) from when the pulse sensor B18 detects the first pulsation to when the pulse sensor A17 detects the second pulsation, the CPU 11 determines that the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist.

[0059] (2)TB1-TA1>TA2-TB1

[0060] <Overview of electronic device operation>

[0061] Next, the operation of the electronic device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0062] The CPU 11 starts the operation when the user wears the electronic device 100 on his arm. Figure 7 The determination process is performed by a program stored in the storage unit 13.

[0063] As a method of sensing that the electronic device 100 is worn on the arm, a sensor for this purpose may be provided, or a predetermined button may be pressed after the user wears the electronic device 100 on the wrist.

[0064] First, the CPU 11 controls the pulse sensor A 17 to detect TA1 which is the peak time of the first pulsation (step S1 ).

[0065] Next, the CPU 11 controls the pulse sensor B18 to detect TB1 which is the peak time of the first pulsation (step S2 ).

[0066] Next, the CPU 11 controls the pulse sensor A 17 to detect TA2 which is the peak time of the second pulsation (step S3 ).

[0067] Next, the CPU 11 compares "TB1-TA1" and "TA2-TB1" using TA1, TA2, and TB1 acquired in steps S1 to S3, and determines whether "TB1-TA1>TA2-TB1" is satisfied (step S4).

[0068] If “TB1 - TA1 > TA2 - TB1 ” (step S4 ; Yes), CPU 11 determines that the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist (step S5 ), and ends the process.

[0069] In addition, if it is not "TB1-TA1>TA2-TB1" (step S4; No), CPU 11 determines whether it is "TB1-TA1<TA2-TB1" (step S6). If it is "TB1-TA1<TA2-TB1" (step S6; Yes), CPU 11 determines that the left wrist is wearing the electronic device 100 (step S7), and ends the processing.

[0070] If it is not "TB1-TA1<TA2-TB1" (step S6; No), the CPU 11 returns to step S1.

[0071] When CPU 11 determines whether electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist through determination processing, it switches the functions of operation buttons 141 and 142 and the arrangement of menus displayed on display unit 15 according to the determination result.

[0072] Among the functions of the electronic device 100, functions that are frequently used (such as the start / stop function of a stopwatch, etc.) are assigned to operation buttons close to the fingertips for easier operation. Therefore, when the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, the CPU 11 assigns functions that are frequently used to the operation buttons 142 close to the fingertips. In addition, the CPU 11 displays menus that are frequently used on the right side of the display unit 15, i.e., the side of the operation buttons 142. In addition, when the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist, the CPU 11 assigns functions that are frequently used to the operation buttons 141 close to the fingertips. In addition, the CPU 11 displays menus that are frequently used on the left side of the display unit 15, i.e., the side of the operation buttons 141, accordingly.

[0073] In addition, if Figure 8 , 9 As shown, when vertical display from left to right or from right to left is performed on the display unit 15 (for example, a vertically written article), the CPU 11 switches the direction of the vertical display according to the determination result of the determination process.

[0074] like Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from left to right on the display unit 15. Fig. 9 As shown, when the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from right to left on the display unit 15 . Figure 8 , 9 The arrows indicate the direction of the display.

[0075] As described above, the electronic device 100 of the above-mentioned embodiment is an electronic device 100 worn on the wrist of the user, and comprises: a first pulse sensor (pulse sensor A17); a second pulse sensor (pulse sensor B18), which is arranged at a position different from the first pulse sensor in the direction from the arm to the fingertips when worn; and a judgment unit (CPU11), which judges whether the electronic device is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist based on the difference between the timing of detecting a prescribed pulsation by the first pulse sensor and the timing of detecting a prescribed pulsation by the second pulse sensor.

[0076] Therefore, it is easy to determine whether it is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist.

[0077] In addition, the judgment unit (CPU11) judges whether the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist based on the first time from the first pulse sensor (pulse sensor A17) detecting the first pulsation to the second pulse sensor (pulse sensor B18) detecting the first pulsation, and the second time from the second pulse sensor detecting the first pulsation to the first pulse sensor detecting the second pulsation.

[0078] Therefore, based on the first time and the second time, it can be easily determined whether the watch is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist.

[0079] In addition, the first pulse sensor (pulse sensor A17) is configured to be more inclined to the arm side in the direction from the arm to the fingertips than the second pulse sensor (pulse sensor B18) when the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, and the judgment unit (CPU11) judges that the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist when the first time is shorter than the second time, and on the other hand, judges that the electronic device 100 is worn on the right wrist when the first time is longer than the second time.

[0080] Therefore, based on the difference between the first time and the second time, it is easy to determine whether the watch is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist.

[0081] In addition, the control unit 140 includes a switching control unit (CPU 11 ) for switching the function assigned to the operation unit (operation buttons 141 , 142 ) according to the determination result of the determination unit (CPU 11 ).

[0082] Therefore, based on the determination result of the determination unit, it is possible to realize the electronic device 100 which is easy for the user to use.

[0083] In addition, the display control unit (CPU 11 ) is provided to replace the arrangement of the menus displayed on the display unit 15 according to the determination result of the determination unit (CPU 11 ).

[0084] Therefore, based on the determination result of the determination unit, it is possible to realize the electronic device 100 which is easy for the user to use.

[0085] In addition, the display control unit (CPU 11 ) is provided to change the orientation of the screen displayed on the display unit 15 according to the determination result of the determination unit (CPU 11 ).

[0086] Therefore, it is possible to realize the electronic device 100 in which the display is easy for the user to see based on the determination result of the determination unit.

[0087] As mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and the like, and it is apparent that appropriate changes can be made within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0088] For example, in the above embodiment, pulse sensor A17 is provided at 9 o'clock of main body 1 and pulse sensor B18 is provided at 3 o'clock of main body 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The interval between pulse sensor A17 and pulse sensor B18 can be any distance that can detect the difference in the peak value of the pulsation waveform.

[0089] In the above embodiment, pulse sensors A17 and B18 each have a light receiving element and a light emitting element, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Only one of them may have a light emitting element, and the two light receiving elements may receive reflected light from the one light emitting element.

[0090] In addition, in the above embodiment, when the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from left to right on the display unit 15, and when it is worn on the right wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from right to left on the display unit 15, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the electronic device 100 is worn on the left wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from right to left on the display unit 15, and when it is worn on the right wrist, the CPU 11 displays vertically from left to right on the display unit 15.

[0091] Furthermore, if the electronic device 100 of the above embodiment is applied to a blood pressure monitor, information on which wrist the blood pressure was measured can be automatically recorded based on the result of determination whether the device is worn on the right wrist or the left wrist.

[0092] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

[0093] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-159193 filed on September 24, 2020. In this specification, reference is made to the entirety of the specification, claims, and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-159193.

[0094] Industrial Applicability

[0095] The present invention can be utilized in electronic devices and programs for controlling electronic devices.

[0096] Description of Reference Numerals

[0097] 100 Electronic devices

[0098] 1 Main body

[0099] 2 belts

[0100] 11CPU (determination unit, switching control unit, display control unit)

[0101] 12RAM

[0102] 13 Storage

[0103] 14 Operation section

[0104] 141 Operation buttons

[0105] 142 Operation buttons

[0106] 15 Display

[0107] 16 Ministry of Communications

[0108] 17 Pulse Sensor A17

[0109] 18 Pulse Sensor B18

[0110] 19 buses.

Claims

1. An electronic device worn on a user's wrist, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: First pulse sensor; a second pulse sensor, which is arranged at a different position from the first pulse sensor in the direction from the arm to the fingertips when worn; The determination unit determines whether the electronic device is worn on the left or right wrist based on the timing at which the second pulse sensor detects pulsation during a period in which the first pulse sensor detects two consecutive pulsations.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a case where the first pulse sensor is arranged to be more biased toward the arm side in the direction from the arm to the fingertips than the second pulse sensor, when the timing is closer to the first pulsation than the second pulsation of two consecutive pulsations of the first pulse sensor, the judgment unit judges that the electronic device is worn on the left wrist.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that: In a case where the first pulse sensor is arranged to be more biased toward the arm side in the direction from the arm to the fingertips than the second pulse sensor, when the timing is closer to the second pulsation than the first pulsation of two consecutive pulsations of the first pulse sensor, the judgment unit judges that the electronic device is worn on the right wrist.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a case where the second pulse sensor is arranged to be more biased toward the arm side in the direction from the arm to the fingertips than the first pulse sensor, when the timing is closer to the first pulsation than the second pulsation of two consecutive pulsations of the first pulse sensor, the judgment unit judges that the electronic device is worn on the right wrist.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a case where the second pulse sensor is arranged to be more biased toward the arm side in the direction from the arm to the fingertips than the first pulse sensor, when the timing is closer to the second pulsation than the first pulsation of two consecutive pulsations of the first pulse sensor, the judgment unit judges that the electronic device is worn on the left wrist.

6. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: A first operating unit, which is arranged on a fingertip side when the electronic device is worn on a wrist; A second operating unit, which is arranged on the arm side when the electronic device is worn on the wrist; A switching control unit switches the function assigned to the first operating unit and the function assigned to the second operating unit according to the determination result of the determination unit.

7. A determination method performed by an electronic device worn on a user's wrist, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: First pulse sensor; a second pulse sensor, which is arranged at a different position from the first pulse sensor in the direction from the arm to the fingertips when worn, The determination method comprises the following steps: It is determined whether the electronic device is worn on the left or right wrist based on the timing at which the second pulse sensor detects pulsation during a period in which the first pulse sensor detects two consecutive pulsations.

8. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program, characterized in that: The program causes a computer of an electronic device including a first pulse sensor and a second pulse sensor provided at a position different from the first pulse sensor in a direction from the arm to the fingertips when the device is worn on the wrist to function as the following means: The determination unit determines whether the electronic device is worn on the left or right wrist based on the timing at which the second pulse sensor detects pulsation during a period in which the first pulse sensor detects two consecutive pulsations.

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