Detection device and timepiece

Abstract

To provide a detection device that can secure the detectability of a sensor, and a timepiece equipped with the same.SOLUTION: The detection device includes: a wristwatch case 1 which is a body case in which at least a part of a main surface facing the skin of a user opens when used by the user; a sensor substrate 7 provided in the wristwatch case 1; a pulse sensor 10 which is a first detection unit provided below the sensor substrate 7 in the wristwatch case 1 and detects biological information; a window part 9 provided below the pulse sensor 10 and corresponding to the opening of the wristwatch case 1; and a body-mounted sensor 11 as a second detection unit provided between the sensor substrate 7 and the window part 9 and detecting whether or not the wristwatch is in contact with or in proximity to the skin of the user through the window part 9. Therefore, corrosion and wear can be prevented, and the detectability of the body-mounted sensor 11 can be ensured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a detection device used in a body-worn device such as a wristwatch that is worn on the body, such as the arm, and to a timepiece equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the case of a wristwatch-type body-worn device that is worn on the arm, as described in Patent Document 1, there is known a device that prevents unnecessary power consumption by detecting the pulse rate only when the device is worn on the arm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-129526 A

[0004] Such a body-worn device includes a pulse sensor that detects the pulse of the wearer, and a body-worn sensor that detects whether the body-worn device is worn on the arm. In this case, the body-worn sensor has a number of metal pins protruding from the bottom of the body-worn device, and is configured to detect a change in capacitance generated on the body when the metal pins come into contact with the arm, thereby determining whether the body-worn device is worn on the arm. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in such body worn devices, the multiple metal pins of the body worn sensor that come into contact with the arm are arranged to protrude outward from the bottom of the body worn device, and as a result, the multiple metal pins of the body worn sensor can corrode or wear out due to overuse, resulting in a problem in that the detection sensitivity for detecting changes in capacitance occurring in the body can decrease.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a detection device that can ensure the detection sensitivity of a sensor, and a timepiece equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This invention is a detection device comprising: a main body case having at least a portion of a main surface facing the user's skin that is open when used by the user; a substrate provided within the main body case; a first detection unit provided within the main body case below the substrate and configured to detect biometric information; a window provided below the first detection unit and corresponding to the opening of the main body case; and a second detection unit provided between the substrate and the window and configured to detect whether the device is in contact with or in proximity to the user's skin through the window. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the detection sensitivity of the sensor can be ensured. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wristwatch. [Diagram 2] 2 is a side view of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 1, seen from the 3 o'clock side. [Diagram 3] 3 is a bottom view of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged plan view of the back cover of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the inside of the wristwatch case. [Diagram 5] 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the back cover shown in FIG. 4 taken along the line AA. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B show the sensor substrate shown in FIG. 4, where (a) is an enlarged top view and (b) is an enlarged bottom view. [Figure 7]5A shows the state in which the sensor board has been removed from the back cover shown in FIG. 4, where (a) is an enlarged plan view showing the state in which a spacer member is arranged on the inner surface of the back cover, and (b) is an enlarged plan view showing the back cover in a state in which the spacer member has been further removed from that state. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the back cover as seen from the inside of the watch case in a second embodiment in which the invention is applied to a watch. [Figure 9] 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the back cover shown in FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrow BB. [Figure 10] 9A and 9B show the sensor substrate shown in FIG. 8, with (a) being an enlarged top view and (b) being an enlarged bottom view. [Figure 11] 9A and 9B show the state in which the sensor board has been removed from the back cover shown in FIG. 8, where FIG. 9A is an enlarged plan view showing the state in which a spacer member is arranged on the inner surface of the back cover, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged plan view showing the back cover in the state in which the spacer member has been further removed from that state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment) A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wristwatch will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, this wristwatch has a wristwatch case 1. Band attachment sections 1a, to which a watch band 2 is attached, are provided on the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides of this wristwatch case 1. For example, switch sections 3 are provided on the 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 8 o'clock, and 10 o'clock sides of this wristwatch case 1. However, some of the parts corresponding to the switch sections 3 may be replaced with charging terminals.

[0011] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1, a watch (windshield) crystal 4 is provided at the upper opening of the watch case 1 via a glass packing (not shown). As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a back cover 5, which is a lower windshield member, is attached to the lower part (back side) of the watch case 1 with multiple screws 5a via a waterproof ring (not shown). This back cover 5 is made of a highly rigid metal such as stainless steel or titanium alloy. Note that the back cover 5 is electrically connected to a circuit board that serves as GND, for example to prevent noise generation, and is thereby maintained at the same potential as GND.

[0012] A clock module (not shown) is provided inside this wristwatch case 1. Although not shown, this clock module is equipped with various parts necessary for the clock function, such as a clock movement that moves hands to indicate and display the time, a flat display device that electro-optically displays various information such as the time, date, and day of the week, and a circuit board that drives and controls the clock movement and display device.

[0013] Incidentally, back cover 5, which is the lower windshield member of wristwatch case 1, is provided with a detection device 6 that detects vital signs such as pulse rate when wristwatch case 1 is worn on the wrist, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This detection device 6 is provided in correspondence with window 9 in back cover 5. In this case, protrusion 5b that protrudes downward in a substantially circular shape is provided in approximately the center of back cover 5, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.

[0014] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a substantially circular mounting recess 5c is provided on the inner surface (top surface) of the protruding portion 5b of the protruding back cover 5, in which the sensor board 7 is disposed together with a spacer member 8. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a circular window 9 that transmits light is provided in the center of the mounting recess 5c of the back cover 5. In this case, a through hole 15 is provided vertically through the center of the mounting recess 5c of the back cover 5, i.e., the center of the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5. This through hole 15 has a large diameter hole 15a on the lower side and a small diameter hole 15b on the upper side.

[0015] 5, the window 9 at the center of the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5 has a structure in which a window glass 9a is fitted, via a waterproof packing 9b, into a large diameter hole 15a of a through hole 15 provided in the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5. As a result, the waterproof packing 9b ensures that the window 9 is waterproof and airtight between the outer peripheral surface of the window glass 9a and the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter hole 15a of the through hole 15 of the back cover 5, making it waterproof to high pressures.

[0016] On the other hand, the detection device 6 includes a sensor substrate 7, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The sensor substrate 7 is formed in a substantially disk shape. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7(a), the sensor substrate 7 is attached in a mounting recess 5c provided on the inner surface (the upper surface) of the back cover 5 via a spacer member 8 having insulating properties such as resin. As a result, the sensor substrate 7 is attached to the inner surface of the mounting recess 5c of the back cover 5 in a non-contact state with the back cover 5 by the spacer member 8. It is preferable that the spacer member 8 has an adhesive layer on both main surfaces. This allows the sensor substrate 7 to be fixed in a simple configuration and in a space-saving manner.

[0017] 6(b), a pulse sensor 10, which is a first detection unit that measures the pulse, which is biological information, and a body-worn sensor 11, which is a second detection unit that determines whether or not the watch case 1 is worn on the arm, are provided on the underside of the sensor board 7. The pulse sensor 10 includes a light-emitting element 10a and a light-receiving element 10b, which are provided in approximately the center of the underside of the sensor board 7. The pulse sensor 10 is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular plate that is long in the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock directions, and is disposed in correspondence with the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 at a location that corresponds to the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 provided in the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5.

[0018] In this case, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the light-emitting element 10a of the pulse sensor 10 is an LED (Light-Emitting Diode) that emits light with a green wavelength (G) of about 550 nm, and is provided in about 1 / 4 of the area on the upper side of the substantially rectangular pulse sensor 10. The light-receiving element 10b is a photodiode or phototransistor that receives reflected light of the green wavelength light emitted by the light-emitting element 10a and irradiated onto the skin of the arm, and is provided in about 3 / 4 of the area on the lower side of the substantially rectangular pulse sensor 10.

[0019] 5 and 6(b), the light emitting element 10a and the light receiving element 10b of this pulse sensor 10 are disposed in correspondence with approximately the center of the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 at a location corresponding to the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 provided in the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5. As a result, the pulse sensor 10 is configured such that the light emitting element 10a emits light of a green wavelength, and the emitted light of the green wavelength is irradiated onto the skin of the arm through the window glass 9a of the window portion 9.

[0020] As shown in Figures 5 and 6(b), the pulse sensor 10 is configured such that, of the green wavelength light irradiated onto the skin of the arm, a portion of the light is absorbed by the capillaries in the skin of the arm, but the remaining light that is not absorbed by the capillaries is reflected and received by the light receiving element 10b through the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 of the back cover 5, and the pulse is measured based on the change in the amount of received light.

[0021] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6(b), the body-worn sensor 11 is a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value that occurs due to contact with or proximity to the body. This body-worn sensor 11 is, for example, a copper foil provided in a ring shape surrounding the periphery of the pulse sensor 10 on the underside of the sensor board 7. This body-worn sensor 11 is also disposed in correspondence with the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 at a location corresponding to the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 provided in the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5. The material of the body-worn sensor 11 is not limited to copper foil, and may be various metal materials or alloy materials.

[0022] 5, window glass 9a of window portion 9 is fitted via waterproof packing 9b into large diameter hole 15a of through hole 15 provided in protruding portion 5b of back cover 5, so that the outer periphery of window glass 9a is formed larger than the outer periphery of body worn sensor 11. As a result, when watch case 1 is worn on the arm and back cover 5, which is a component mounting member, is placed on the arm, body worn sensor 11 detects a change in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value caused by contact with or proximity to the body through window glass 9a of window portion 9 at a location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15, and detects whether watch case 1 is worn on the arm.

[0023] 6(a), a plurality of chip components 12 and a connector 13 are provided on the upper surface of the sensor substrate 7. The plurality of chip components 12 are electrically connected to the pulse sensor 10 via through holes (not shown) provided in the sensor substrate 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the sensor substrate 7. As a result, the plurality of chip components 12 drive the light-emitting element 10a of the pulse sensor 10, and also capture the change in the amount of light received by the light-receiving element 10b as pulse information, and perform arithmetic processing based on the captured pulse information to calculate the pulse.

[0024] 6(a), the plurality of chip components 12 are electrically connected to a connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the sensor board 7. As a result, the pulse sensor 10 is electrically connected to the connector 13 via the plurality of chip components 12. As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), the body-worn sensor 11 is electrically connected to the connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the sensor board 7 and through a through hole (not shown) provided in the sensor board 7.

[0025] This connector 13 is electrically connected by a flexible wiring board (not shown) to a circuit board for a watch module (neither is shown) provided inside wristwatch case 1. As a result, the watch module is configured so that a flat display device (not shown) is electrically connected to the circuit board for the watch module, and thus pulse information detected by pulse sensor 10 is electro-optically displayed as a pulse rate on the flat display device.

[0026] In this case, as shown in Figures 5 and 7(a), a spacer member 8 is disposed between the sensor board 7 and the back cover 5. This spacer member 8 is formed, for example, from an insulating synthetic resin in the shape of a disk having approximately the same size as the sensor board 7. This spacer member 8 is provided with a sensor insertion hole 8a into which a portion of the pulse sensor 10 and the body-worn sensor 11 is inserted so that the portions of the pulse sensor 10 and the body-worn sensor 11 face the window portion 9 of the back cover 5. This sensor insertion hole 8a has approximately the same rectangular shape as the pulse sensor 10 including a portion of the body-worn sensor 11, and is formed penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of the spacer member 8.

[0027] 5, when the pulse sensor 10 is placed in the sensor insertion hole 8a of the spacer member 8, the pulse sensor 10 is inserted into the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 provided in the protruding portion 5b of the back cover 5, and the bottom surface of the pulse sensor 10 is placed in contact with or close to the inner surface (top surface) of the window glass 9a of the window portion 9. When the pulse sensor 10 is placed in the sensor insertion hole 8a of the spacer member 8, a part of the body-worn sensor 11, excluding the part of the body-worn sensor 11 inserted in the sensor insertion hole 8a, is pressed against the top surface of the spacer member 8.

[0028] 5, body-worn sensor 11 does not come into contact with window glass 9a due to insulating spacer member 8, and is further arranged in a non-contact state with back cover 5 and without its main surface facing the back cover 5 (the electric field is not blocked by back cover 5), corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15 in window portion 9 of back cover 5. This makes it possible for body-worn sensor 11 to detect changes in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value that occur due to contact with or proximity to the body, even if back cover 5 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium alloy.

[0029] Next, how to use the wristwatch according to the first embodiment will be described. The wristwatch of this first embodiment is usually worn with wristwatch case 1 attached to the wrist. In this state, information such as the time, day of the week, and date can be seen through watch crystal 4 on a clock module (not shown) inside wristwatch case 1. When detecting biological information such as pulse rate with detection device 6 in this state, first, one of the multiple switch sections 3 is selected and operated to set the wristwatch to detection mode.

[0030] In this state, when detection device 6 starts detection, first, body-worn sensor 11 of detection device 6 detects a change in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold caused by contact with or proximity to the body through window 9 of back cover 5 to determine whether or not watch case 1 is worn on the arm. At this time, if body-worn sensor 11 determines that watch case 1 is not worn on the arm, pulse sensor 10 does not measure the pulse, preventing unnecessary power consumption. Also, if body-worn sensor 11 determines that watch case 1 is worn on the arm, pulse sensor 10 of detection device 6 starts measuring the pulse.

[0031] When pulse sensor 10 starts measuring the pulse, light emitting element 10a of pulse sensor 10 emits green wavelength light, and this emitted green wavelength light is irradiated onto the skin of the arm through window glass 9a of window portion 9 provided in back cover 5. Some of this irradiated green wavelength light is absorbed by capillaries in the skin of the arm, but the remaining light that is not absorbed by the capillaries is reflected.

[0032] This reflected light is received by light receiving element 10b of pulse sensor 10 through window glass 9a of window portion 9 of back cover 5. Based on the change in the amount of light received by light receiving element 10b, pulse sensor 10 and a control unit (not shown) on the circuit board for the watch module perform arithmetic processing to calculate the pulse. The pulse information calculated in this manner is taken into the circuit board for the watch module (neither shown) provided inside wristwatch case 1 by connector 13 and flexible wiring board (not shown), and is displayed as the pulse rate on the display device (not shown) of the watch module.

[0033] In this way, according to the wristwatch detection device 6 of this first embodiment, when used by a user, the device is equipped with wristwatch case 1, which is the main case with at least a portion of the main surface facing the user's skin being open, a sensor board 7 provided within this wristwatch case 1, a pulse sensor 10 which is a first detection unit that is provided below the sensor board 7 within the wristwatch case 1 and detects biometric information, a window 9 provided below this pulse sensor 10 and corresponding to the opening of the wristwatch case 1, and a body-worn sensor 11 which is a second detection unit that is provided between the sensor board 7 and the window 9 and detects whether the device is in contact with or close to the user's skin through the window 9, thereby ensuring the detection sensitivity of the body-worn sensor 11 which is the second detection unit.

[0034] That is, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, body-worn sensor 11 is arranged without being exposed to the outside of back cover 5, which prevents corrosion and wear of body-worn sensor 11 while ensuring the detection sensitivity of body-worn sensor 11, and also ensures waterproofing with a simple waterproof structure without complicating the waterproof structure. Because body-worn sensor 11 detects whether back cover 5 is worn on the body through window 9 in back cover 5, body-worn sensor 11 can be arranged in a non-contact manner with back cover 5, corresponding to window 9 in back cover 5.

[0035] For this reason, with detection device 6 of this wristwatch, even if back cover 5 is made of metal, body-worn sensor 11 corresponding to window 9 can reliably and accurately detect whether or not back cover 5 is attached to the body, and as a result, pulse sensor 10 can measure the pulse only when back cover 5 is attached to the body, preventing unnecessary power consumption.

[0036] In this case, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, window portion 9 in back cover 5 has a structure in which window glass 9a is fitted together with waterproof gasket 9b into through hole 15 provided in back cover 5, so the waterproof structure is simple and waterproofness can be ensured. That is, this window portion 9 has a structure in which through hole 15 in back cover 5 has a large diameter hole 15a on the lower side and a small diameter hole 15b on the upper side, and window glass 9a is fitted into large diameter hole 15a on the lower side via waterproof gasket 9b, so that waterproofness of window portion 9 can be ensured by waterproof gasket 9b.

[0037] Furthermore, in the detection device 6 of this wristwatch, because the body-worn sensor 11 is a capacitance sensor that detects changes in capacitance that occur on the body, even if the back cover 5 is made of metal, the body-worn sensor 11 is provided in correspondence with the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 of the back cover 5, that is, the window glass 9a at a location corresponding to the small diameter hole 15b of the through-hole 15, and can reliably detect changes in capacitance above a predetermined threshold that occur due to contact with or proximity to the body through the window portion 9 of the back cover 5. This allows the body-worn sensor 11 to accurately and satisfactorily determine whether or not the back cover 5 of the watch case 1 is being worn on the arm.

[0038] Furthermore, in this wristwatch detection device 6, the back cover 5, which is the component mounting member, is made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium alloy, which ensures the rigidity of the back cover 5 and thereby increases the strength of the entire wristwatch case 1, ensuring impact resistance and waterproofing. Even though the back cover 5 is made of metal, the body-worn sensor 11, which is positioned in correspondence with the window glass 9a at a location corresponding to the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 in the window portion 9 of the back cover 5, can reliably and accurately determine whether or not the back cover 5 of the wristwatch case 1 is worn on the body.

[0039] Furthermore, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, because body-worn sensor 11 is provided on sensor board 7, body-worn sensor 11 can be positioned in correspondence with window 9 of back cover 5 in a non-contact state, even if back cover 5 is made of metal. This allows for good detection of changes in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value caused by body-worn sensor 11 contacting or approaching the body, and therefore allows body-worn sensor 11 to reliably and accurately determine whether back cover 5 of wristwatch case 1 is worn on the body.

[0040] In this case, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, because body-worn sensor 11 surrounds pulse sensor 10, it can reliably and effectively detect changes in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value caused by body-worn sensor 11 contacting or approaching the body, without affecting the measurement of the body's pulse by pulse sensor 10. This allows pulse sensor 10 to accurately detect the body's pulse, and also reliably detects through window 9 in back cover 5 whether or not back cover 5 is being worn on the body.

[0041] Furthermore, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, an insulating spacer member 8 is placed between back cover 5, which is the component mounting member, and sensor board 7, and this spacer member 8 is provided with a sensor insertion hole 8a into which pulse sensor 10 is inserted to match up pulse sensor 10 with window portion 9. Therefore, spacer member 8 reliably prevents body-worn sensor 11 from coming into contact with back cover 5, and allows body-worn sensor 11 to match up well with window glass 9a at a location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15 in window portion 9 of back cover 5, thereby enabling changes in capacitance caused on the body by body-worn sensor 11 to be detected accurately and well.

[0042] In this case, with detection device 6 of this wristwatch, pulse sensor 10 can be inserted into sensor insertion hole 8a of spacer member 8, and the light-emitting element 10a and light-receiving element 10b of pulse sensor 10 can be inserted into small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15 in window portion 9 of back cover 5 so as to correspond reliably and satisfactorily to the window glass 9a at the location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b, thereby allowing the pulse to be measured accurately and satisfactorily by light-emitting element 10a and light-receiving element 10b of pulse sensor 10.

[0043] Furthermore, in the detection device 6 of this wristwatch, the body-worn sensor 11 is electrically connected to the connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) provided on the sensor board 7, thereby enabling a reliable and good electrical connection between the body-worn sensor 11 provided on the underside of the sensor board 7 and the connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7.

[0044] In this case, in the detection device 6 of this wristwatch, the pulse sensor 10 is connected to a plurality of chip components 12 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) provided on the sensor board 7, and these plurality of chip components 12 are electrically connected to the connector 13, thereby enabling a reliable and good electrical connection to be established between the pulse sensor 10 provided on the underside of the sensor board 7 and the connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7.

[0045] For this reason, in detection device 6 of this wristwatch, connector 13 of sensor board 7 to which body-worn sensor 11 and pulse sensor 10 are electrically connected can be reliably electrically connected to a watch module circuit board (neither shown) in wristwatch case 1 by a flexible wiring board (not shown). This allows body-worn sensor 11 to instruct pulse sensor 10 to measure a pulse, and pulse information (pulse rate) measured by pulse sensor 10 can be clearly displayed on the display device (not shown) of the watch module.

[0046] In the above-described first embodiment, the body-worn sensor 11 is provided on the underside of the sensor board 7, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the body-worn sensor 11 may be provided on the upper side of the sensor board 7. In this case, too, the body-worn sensor 11 may be provided on the upper side of the sensor board 7 so as to correspond to the window portion 9 while surrounding the periphery of the pulse sensor 10.

[0047] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wristwatch will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 11. Note that the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Figs. 9 and 11(b), this wristwatch has a structure in which a body-worn sensor 21 of a detection device 20 is provided in a window 9 in a back cover 5, and other than this, the structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0048] That is, the body-worn sensor 21 is a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance occurring on the body, similar to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 11(b), the body-worn sensor 21 is a copper foil provided in a ring shape on the inner surface (upper surface) of the window glass 9a at a location corresponding to the small diameter hole 15b of the through hole 15 in the window portion 9 so as to surround the periphery of the pulse sensor 10. Note that the material of the body-worn sensor 21 is not limited to copper foil, and may be various metal materials or alloy materials.

[0049] 9 and 11(b), window glass 9a is made of insulating glass and is formed into a disk shape of a size that allows it to be fitted into large diameter hole 15a of through hole 15 via waterproof packing 9b. Thus, body-worn sensor 21 is provided in a ring shape along the periphery of the upper surface of window glass 9a at a location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15, with a size that surrounds the periphery of pulse sensor 10.

[0050] 9 and 10(b), a connection member 22 is provided on the underside of the sensor board 7 on which the pulse sensor 10 is mounted, in correspondence with the body-worn sensor 21 provided in the window 9 of the back cover 5. This connection member 22 is a spring member such as a leaf spring, and is provided on the upper side of the pulse sensor 10. As a result, when the sensor board 7 is placed on the inner surface (upper surface) of the mounting recess 5c of the back cover 5, the connection member 22 elastically comes into contact with the body-worn sensor 21 and is electrically connected to the body-worn sensor 21.

[0051] 9 and 10, this connection member 22 is electrically connected to a connector 13 provided on the upper surface of the sensor board 7 via a through hole (not shown) provided in the sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) formed on the sensor board 7. As in the first embodiment, this connector 13 is electrically connected to a watch module circuit board (neither shown) in the wristwatch case 1 by a flexible wiring board (not shown).

[0052] 9 and 11(a), a spacer member 8 is disposed between the sensor board 7 and the back cover 5. As in the first embodiment, this spacer member 8 is formed in a disk shape of approximately the same size as the sensor board 7, for example, from an insulating synthetic resin. This spacer member 8 is provided with a component insertion hole 8b into which the pulse sensor 10 and the connecting member 22 are inserted, corresponding to the window 9 of the back cover 5. This component insertion hole 8b has approximately the same rectangular shape as the shape including both the pulse sensor 10 and the connecting member 22, and is formed penetrating the top and bottom surfaces of the spacer member 8.

[0053] 9, when pulse sensor 10 and connecting member 22 are placed in component insertion hole 8b of spacer member 8, connecting member 22 is elastically pressed against and electrically connected to body-worn sensor 21, and in this state body-worn sensor 21 is placed in a non-contact state with back cover 5 without coming into contact with back cover 5. This makes it possible for body-worn sensor 11 to detect changes in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value that occur due to contact with or proximity to the body, without being affected by back cover 5, even if back cover 5 is made of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium alloy.

[0054] Next, how to use the wristwatch according to the second embodiment will be described. As with the first embodiment, the wristwatch of this second embodiment is normally worn with wristwatch case 1 attached to the wrist. Even in this case, information such as the time, day of the week, and date can be seen through watch crystal 4 on a clock module (not shown) inside wristwatch case 1. When detecting biological information such as pulse rate with detection device 20 in this state, first, one of the multiple switch sections 3 is selected and operated to set the wristwatch to detection mode.

[0055] In this state, when detection device 20 starts detection, first, body-worn sensor 21 of detection device 20 detects a change in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value caused by contact with or proximity to the body through window 9 of back cover 5 to determine whether or not watch case 1 is worn on the arm. At this time, if body-worn sensor 21 determines that watch case 1 is not worn on the arm, pulse sensor 10 does not measure the pulse, preventing unnecessary power consumption. Also, if body-worn sensor 21 determines that watch case 1 is worn on the arm, pulse sensor 10 of detection device 20 starts measuring the pulse.

[0056] Then, when the pulse sensor 10 starts measuring the pulse, similarly to the first embodiment, the light emitting element 10a of the pulse sensor 10 emits green wavelength light, and this emitted green wavelength light is irradiated onto the skin of the arm through the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 provided in the back cover 5. Some of this irradiated green wavelength light is absorbed by the capillaries in the skin of the arm, but the remaining light that is not absorbed by the capillaries is reflected.

[0057] As in the first embodiment, this reflected light is received by the light receiving element 10b of the pulse sensor 10 through the window glass 9a of the window portion 9 of the back cover 5. The pulse is calculated by a control unit (not shown) on the circuit board for the watch module based on changes in the amount of light received by this light receiving element 10b. The pulse information calculated in this manner is taken into the circuit board for the watch module (neither of which are shown) provided inside the wristwatch case 1 by the connector 13 and the flexible wiring board (not shown), and is displayed as the pulse rate on the display device (not shown) of the watch module.

[0058] In this way, according to the wristwatch detection device 20 of the second embodiment, when used by a user, the device is equipped with a wristwatch case 1 which is the main case and has at least a portion of the main surface facing the user's skin which is open, a sensor board 7 provided within this wristwatch case 1, a pulse sensor 10 which is a first detection unit which is provided below the sensor board 7 within the wristwatch case 1 and detects biometric information, a window 9 provided below this pulse sensor 10 and corresponding to the opening of the wristwatch case 1, and a body-worn sensor 21 which is a second detection unit which is provided in this window 9 and detects whether the device is in contact with or close to the user's skin through the window 9, thereby ensuring the detection sensitivity of the body-worn sensor 21 which is the second detection unit, as in the first embodiment.

[0059] That is, in the detection device 20 of this wristwatch, similarly to the first embodiment, the body-worn sensor 21 is arranged without being exposed to the outside of the back cover 5, so the waterproof structure does not become complicated, and waterproofing can be ensured with a simple waterproof structure, and further, because the body-worn sensor 21 is provided in the window portion 9 of the back cover 5, the body-worn sensor 21 can be arranged in a non-contact state with respect to the back cover 5.

[0060] Therefore, in the detection device 20 of this wristwatch, as in the first embodiment, even if the back cover 5 is made of metal, the body-worn sensor 21 provided in the window 9 of the back cover 5 can reliably detect changes in capacitance above a predetermined threshold caused by contact with or proximity to the body through the window 9 of the back cover 5, making it possible to reliably and satisfactorily detect whether the back cover 5 is worn on the body, and as in the first embodiment, the pulse sensor 10 measures the pulse only when the back cover 5 is worn on the body, preventing unnecessary power consumption. Also, since the distance between the body-worn sensor 21 and the body is closer than in the first embodiment, changes in capacitance can be detected with greater accuracy.

[0061] In this case, too, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, as in the first embodiment, the window portion 9 in the back cover 5 has a structure in which a window glass 9a is fitted together with a waterproof packing 9b into a through hole 15 provided in the back cover 5, so the waterproof structure is simple and waterproofness can be ensured. That is, this window portion 9 has a structure in which through hole 15 in the back cover 5 has a large diameter hole 15a on the lower side and a small diameter hole 15b on the upper side, and the window glass 9a is fitted into the large diameter hole 15a on the lower side via the waterproof packing 9b, so that the waterproofness of the window portion 9 can be ensured by the waterproof packing 9b.

[0062] Furthermore, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, body-worn sensor 21 is provided in correspondence with window glass 9a of window portion 9 of back cover 5 so as to surround pulse sensor 10. Therefore, pulse sensor 10 can be placed in correspondence with window glass 9a at a location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through-hole 15 in window portion 9 of back cover 5, allowing for good pulse measurement. Furthermore, even though back cover 5 is made of metal, it can properly detect changes in capacitance equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value caused by contact or proximity of body-worn sensor 11 with the body, without affecting the measurement of the body pulse by pulse sensor 10.

[0063] Furthermore, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, an insulating spacer member 8 is placed between back cover 5, which is the component mounting member, and sensor board 7, and this spacer member 8 has a component insertion hole 8b that corresponds to window portion 9, into which pulse sensor 10 is inserted together with connecting member 22. This allows pulse sensor 10 to be positioned in correspondence with window portion 9 of back cover 5, and allows body-worn sensor 21 and connecting member 22 to be reliably and satisfactorily connected without the body-worn sensor 21 coming into contact with back cover 5.

[0064] As a result, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, component insertion hole 8b of spacer member 8 allows pulse sensor 10 to be reliably and satisfactorily faced to window glass 9a at a location corresponding to small diameter hole 15b of through hole 15 in window portion 9 of back cover 5, allowing pulse sensor 10 to measure the pulse accurately and also to reliably and satisfactorily detect changes in capacitance above a predetermined threshold value caused by contact or proximity of body-worn sensor 21 to the body.

[0065] Furthermore, in the detection device 20 of this wristwatch, a connection member 22 is provided on the underside, which is one surface of the sensor board 7, which is electrically connected to the body-worn sensor 21. Therefore, even if the body-worn sensor 21 is provided in the window portion 9 of the back cover 5, when the sensor board 7 is placed on the inner surface (upper surface) of the mounting recess 5c of the back cover 5, the connection member 22 can be brought into contact with the body-worn sensor 21, and the body-worn sensor 21 can be electrically connected to the sensor board 7 by this connection member 22.

[0066] Furthermore, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, connecting member 22 is electrically connected to connector 13 provided on the upper surface of sensor board 7 by a wiring pattern (not shown) provided on sensor board 7, so that body-worn sensor 21 provided in window 9 of back cover 5 can be reliably and satisfactorily electrically connected to connector 13 provided on the upper surface of sensor board 7 by connecting member 22. In this case, as in the first embodiment, multiple chip components 12 are connected to connector 13, which are provided on the upper surface of sensor board 7 and to which pulse sensor 10 is electrically connected.

[0067] For this reason, in detection device 20 of this wristwatch, connector 13 of sensor board 7, to which body-worn sensor 21 and pulse sensor 10 are electrically connected, can be electrically connected to a watch module circuit board (neither shown) in wristwatch case 1 by a flexible wiring board (not shown). This allows body-worn sensor 21 to instruct pulse sensor 10 to measure a pulse, and pulse information (pulse rate) measured by pulse sensor 10 can be clearly displayed on the display device (not shown) of the watch module.

[0068] In the above-described second embodiment, the connection member 22 is a spring member such as a leaf spring, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the connection member 22 may be a spring member such as a coil spring.

[0069] In addition, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the pulse sensor 10 that detects pulse is used as the biosensor, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be, for example, an oxygen saturation sensor that optically detects the oxygen saturation of the body, or in short, any biosensor that optically detects bioinformation will suffice.

[0070] In addition, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the body-worn sensors 11, 21 are described as capacitance sensors that detect changes in the capacitance of the body, but the present invention is not limited to this and may also be sensors such as optical sensors or ultrasonic sensors.

[0071] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments described above are described as being applied to a wristwatch, the present invention does not necessarily have to be applied to a wristwatch, but can be applied to a body-worn device that is worn on the body, such as the arm.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the case has been described where the component mounting member is the back cover 5 of the wristwatch case 1, but in the present invention, it does not necessarily have to be the back cover 5 of the wristwatch case 1, and may also be the case of a body worn device, etc.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the present invention has been described as being applied to a watch, but this is not limited to this and can also be applied to smartwatches, smartphones, smart glasses, belt-type devices, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 watch case 1a Band attachment part 2 Watch Bands 3 Switch section 4. Watch Glass 5 Back cover 5a Bis 5b Protrusion 5c Mounting recess 6, 20 Detection device 7 Sensor board 8 Spacer member 8a Sensor insertion hole 8b Part insertion hole 9 Window 9a Window Glass 9b Waterproof packing 10 Pulse Sensor 10a Light emitting element 10b Light receiving element 11, 21 Body-worn sensors 12 Chip components 13 Connectors 15 Through hole 15a Large diameter hole 15b Small diameter hole 22 Connection member

Claims

1. a main body case having at least a portion of a main surface that faces the skin of a user when the device is used by the user open; A substrate provided in the main body case; a first detection unit that is provided below the board in the main body case and detects biological information; a window portion provided below the first detection portion and corresponding to an opening of the main body case; a second detection unit provided between the substrate and the window and configured to detect whether the device is in contact with or in close proximity to the user's skin through the window; A detection device comprising:

2. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, the main body case includes a lower windshield member having the main surface facing the skin of the user at a lower portion, The lower windshield member is made of metal. Detection device.

3. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, The second detection unit is provided on a lower surface of the substrate. Detection device.

4. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, The second detection unit is provided to the side of the first detection unit. Detection device.

5. 5. The detection device according to claim 4, The second detection unit surrounds the first detection unit. Detection device.

6. 6. The detection device according to claim 5, the first detection unit has an upper portion in contact with the substrate and a lower portion in contact with the window unit, The second detection unit surrounds the first detection unit. Detection device.

7. 3. The detection device according to claim 2, an insulating spacer member is disposed between the lower windshield member and the substrate; The spacer member has an insertion hole for inserting the first detection portion into the window portion. Detection device.

8. 3. The detection device according to claim 2, The second detection portion is provided on an upper surface of the window portion. Detection device.

9. 9. The detection device according to claim 8, In a plan view from below the main body case, the second detection portion surrounds the periphery of the first detection portion. Detection device.

10. 9. The detection device according to claim 8, Further comprising a connection member electrically connecting the one surface of the substrate and the second detection unit. Detection device.

11. 11. The detection device according to claim 10, An insulating spacer member is disposed between the lower windshield member and the substrate. the spacer member has an insertion hole into which the first detection portion and the connection member are inserted so as to correspond to the window portion; Detection device.

12. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, The first detection unit is a pulse sensor that detects a pulse and includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. Detection device.

13. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, The second detection unit is a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance caused by contact with or proximity to the user's skin. Detection device.

14. 14. The detection device according to claim 13, The second detection unit is formed of a metal. Detection device.

15. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, When the user uses the device, the window portion, the first detection portion, and the second detection portion face the skin of the user. Detection device.

16. A timepiece comprising a detection device according to claim 1.

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