Information processing device and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing device and a program, capable of detecting biogas with high accuracy.SOLUTION: An information processing device is provided with a processor which acquires an output value of a gas sensor at a second time point after a first time point determined according to a first output value of a first sensor being a sensor for contactlessly measuring the position of a microphone or an object as a second output value, corrects a third output value being an output value of the gas sensor after the first time point on the basis of the second output value, and detects gas on the basis of the third output value after the correction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present embodiment relates to an information processing device and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Gases emitted by humans, such as exhaled gas and skin gas, are called biogas. Since biogas is a by-product of metabolism in the body, monitoring biogas makes it possible to manage physical condition and predict illness. Technology for measuring biogas using odor sensors is known. Literature 1 describes how the data acquisition period of an odor sensor installed in a processing device is determined based on the detection timing of a specific operation signal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7231006 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When measuring biological gases with an odor sensor, there is a problem in that the timing for starting the measurement is not properly determined, resulting in insufficient detection accuracy.

[0005] An object of one embodiment is to provide an information processing device and a program capable of detecting a biological gas with high accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one embodiment, the system includes a processor that acquires, as a second output value, an output value of a gas sensor at a second point in time after a first point in time determined according to a first output value of a first sensor, which is a sensor that non-contactly measures the position of a microphone or an object, corrects a third output value, which is the output value of the gas sensor after the first point in time, based on the second output value, and detects gas based on the corrected third output value. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device and a program capable of detecting a biological gas with high accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a smartphone according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a smartphone. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the gas sensor module. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the timing of acquiring the reference resistance value and the measured resistance value. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a processor based on a biogas detection program according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a processor based on a biogas detection program according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a smartphone according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a processor based on a biogas detection program according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a processor based on a biogas detection program according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An information processing device and a program according to an embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, a smartphone will be described as an example of the information processing device.

[0010] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a smartphone 1 according to the first embodiment. The smartphone 1 includes, in its housing, a speaker 14, a microphone 15, a touch panel display 11, and a gas sensor module 16. The smartphone 1 includes a circuit board (not shown) inside the housing, and each component is electrically connected to and controlled by the circuit board.

[0011] A speaker 14 and a microphone 15 are provided inside the housing. The speaker 14 can output audio information to the user through a speaker hole 12 provided in the housing. The microphone 15 can acquire audio information including a voice uttered by the user through a microphone hole 13 provided in the housing and convert the acquired audio information into an electrical signal. The touch panel display 11 can display image information to the user and accept touch input from the user.

[0012] A gas sensor module 16 is provided inside the housing. When a user speaks into the microphone 15, the breath released from the user's mouth reaches the gas sensor module 16 through the microphone hole 13. The gas sensor module 16 outputs an electrical signal having a value according to the concentration of the breath gas that has reached the gas sensor module 16.

[0013] The type of gas that can be detected by the gas sensor module 16 is determined by the type of gas sensor element included in the gas sensor module 16. The designer selects the type of gas to be detected, and incorporates into the smartphone 1 the gas sensor module 16 that includes a gas sensor element capable of detecting the selected type of gas.

[0014] For example, gases closely related to physical condition or disease may be detected. Specific examples of gases closely related to physical condition or disease include ammonia, which may be a disease marker for liver disease, acetone, which may be a disease marker for diabetes, ethanol, which is related to alcohol consumption, methane, which is related to the intestinal environment, and volatile sulfur compounds, which are related to periodontal disease. A gas sensor module 16 capable of detecting one or all of these may be incorporated into the smartphone 1.

[0015] The gas sensor module 16 may be externally attached to the smartphone 1 and connected to the smartphone 1 via a wired or wireless communication path.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the smartphone 1. As shown in FIG.

[0017] The smartphone 1 further includes a processor 17, a memory 18, a network interface 19, and a bus 20. The touch panel display 11, the speaker 14, the microphone 15, the gas sensor module 16, the processor 17, the memory 18, and the network interface 19 are electrically connected to the bus 20.

[0018] The network interface 19 is an adapter for wireless communication with external devices, for example, for transferring voice and data during a call.

[0019] The processor 17 is a circuit capable of executing various calculations based on a computer program, and is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0020] The memory 18 stores an operating system program 101 and a biogas detection program 102. The memory 18 includes a non-volatile memory in which the operating system program 101 and the biogas detection program 102 are pre-stored. In addition to the non-volatile memory, the memory 18 may include a volatile memory into which the programs and data are loaded, buffered, or cached.

[0021] The processor 17 executes the operating system program 101 to perform basic control of the smartphone 1. The basic control of the smartphone 1 includes control of input / output via the touch panel display 11, control of telephone calls, control of data transfer, management of hardware resources, and control of voice recognition.

[0022] The processor 17 executes the biogas detection program 102 to detect exhaled gas using the gas sensor module 16. The detection of exhaled gas based on the biogas detection program 102 will be described in detail later.

[0023] The gas sensor module 16 is a package.

[0024] The gas sensor module 16 includes a housing portion 161 having a recess, and a lid portion 162 that covers the recess. The lid portion 162 is made of a material that prevents water from entering while allowing gas to pass through, such as a waterproof membrane or an ultrafine pore structure. Thus, water is unlikely to enter a hollow portion 166 formed by the housing portion 161 and the lid portion 162, but exhaled gas can enter the hollow portion.

[0025] The hollow portion 166 accommodates a temperature and humidity sensor element 163, a gas sensor element 164, and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 165. The gas sensor module 16 is an LGA package, and the MCU 165 is electrically connected to the bus 20.

[0026] The temperature and humidity sensor element 163 measures the temperature and humidity within the hollow portion 166 .

[0027] The gas sensor element 164 is a semiconductor gas sensor element configured as a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) chip. The gas sensor element 164 includes an oxide semiconductor, an electrode, and a heater therein. The oxide semiconductor is zinc oxide, tungsten oxide, tin oxide, indium oxide, or a composite of these. The oxide semiconductor may support a catalyst such as platinum, gold, or palladium. The type of oxide semiconductor determines the type of gas that can be detected. When the oxide semiconductor is heated by a heater, oxygen adsorbed on the surface of the oxide semiconductor reacts with the gas to be detected and is adsorbed and desorbed, causing a change in the resistance value of the oxide semiconductor. Hereinafter, the resistance value of the oxide semiconductor will be simply referred to as resistance value.

[0028] The type of the gas sensor element 164 is not limited to a semiconductor gas sensor element. The gas sensor module 16 may include a plurality of gas sensor modules 16 each capable of detecting a different gas.

[0029] The MCU 165 executes operations such as starting up the gas sensor module 16, stopping the operation of the gas sensor module 16, acquiring a resistance value from the gas sensor element 164, and outputting the acquired resistance value to the outside in response to an external instruction. The MCU 165 executes these operations in response to an instruction from the processor 17. The MCU 165 also outputs the acquired resistance value to the processor 17.

[0030] In addition, in the semiconductor gas sensor element, the resistance value of the oxide semiconductor may change depending on the temperature and humidity of the gas. The MCU 165 may correct the resistance value obtained from the gas sensor element 164 based on the temperature and humidity in the hollow portion 166 obtained by the temperature and humidity sensor element 163.

[0031] In addition, in the semiconductor gas sensor element, the resistance value of the oxide semiconductor may drift immediately after startup. The MCU 165 may compensate the resistance value acquired from the gas sensor element 164 for the drift immediately after startup.

[0032] If the gas sensor module 16 is operated constantly, the amount of power consumed by the smartphone 1 increases. If the gas sensor module 16 is equipped with a heater as in the first embodiment, the power consumption becomes even larger. It is known that power consumption can be reduced by performing intermittent operation of turning the heater on and off during operation of the gas sensor module 16, but this is insufficient.

[0033] Furthermore, in order to accurately detect the exhaled gas using the gas sensor module 16, it is necessary to set the reference value at a time when the gas sensor module 16 is hardly exposed to the exhaled gas.

[0034] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the smartphone 1 operates the gas sensor module 16 using voice recognition as a trigger to detect exhaled gas.

[0035] When detecting the exhaled gas, the smartphone 1 obtains a reference resistance value at a timing when the gas sensor module 16 is hardly exposed to the exhaled gas. By using the obtained reference resistance value, the smartphone 1 aims to improve the detection accuracy of the exhaled gas.

[0036] Hereinafter, the reference resistance value is referred to as the reference resistance value. The reference resistance value is also referred to as the reference resistance value R0. In addition, the measured resistance value according to the concentration of the exhaled gas obtained in a state where the gas sensor module 16 is exposed to the exhaled gas is referred to as the measured resistance value or the measured resistance value Rs.

[0037] 4 is a diagram for explaining the timing of acquiring the reference resistance value and the measured resistance value, which shows the transition over time of the concentration of the exhaled gas near the gas sensor module 16 when the user causes the smartphone 1 to perform voice recognition.

[0038] When causing the smartphone 1 to execute voice recognition, the user speaks a voice command, such as “Hello,” into the microphone 15 .

[0039] When the processor 17 detects a voice command (timing t1), it starts preparation for voice recognition. At the same time as starting preparation for voice recognition, the processor 17 starts up the gas sensor module 16. When the gas sensor module 16 starts up, power is supplied to the heater.

[0040] When the voice recognition is ready, the processor 17 starts the voice recognition (timing t2). At this time, the processor 17 may output voice information to inform the user that the voice recognition has started.

[0041] When a voice command is spoken into the microphone 15, the concentration of the exhaled gas around the gas sensor module 16 increases from time t1 and then decreases. Then, at time t2 when the voice recognition starts, the concentration of the exhaled gas becomes sufficiently low. Therefore, the processor 17 obtains the resistance value at time t2 as the reference resistance value R0.

[0042] When the voice recognition starts, the user speaks for a desired period of time into the microphone 15. Then, when the user stops speaking, the processor 17 ends the voice recognition (timing t3).

[0043] During the period from timing t2 to timing t3, the user speaks into the microphone 15, so the concentration of exhaled gas around the gas sensor module 16 remains high. During this period, the processor 17 continuously acquires the measured resistance value Rs at a predetermined sampling period. The processor 17 temporarily stores the successively acquired measured resistance value Rs in the memory 18 or the like.

[0044] At timing t3 when the voice recognition ends, the processor 17 stops the operation of the gas sensor module 16. This also stops the supply of electricity to the heater.

[0045] In this way, the processor 17 autonomously obtains the reference resistance value R0 and the measured resistance value Rs based on a series of actions performed by the user for voice recognition.

[0046] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of processor 17 based on biogas detection program 102. In Fig. 5 and the following description, when describing the operation of processor 17 based on operating system program 101, the operating system is described as the subject of operation. Also, when describing the operation of processor 17 based on biogas detection program 102, processor 17 is described as the subject of operation.

[0047] When the processor 17 detects an input of a voice command for starting voice recognition (S101), the processor 17 starts up the gas sensor module 16 (S102).

[0048] For example, the identification of a voice command for initiating voice recognition is performed by the operating system, and the processor 17 detects the input of the voice command by receiving a notification from the operating system or by inquiring of the operating system.

[0049] Following the process of S102, the processor 17 determines whether or not voice recognition has started (S103).

[0050] The start and end of voice recognition is executed by the operating system. The processor 17 detects the start and end of voice recognition by receiving a notification from the operating system or by making an inquiry to the operating system.

[0051] If the voice recognition has not started (S103: No), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S103 again.

[0052] When the voice recognition is started (S103: Yes), the processor 17 acquires the reference resistance value R0 from the gas sensor module 16, and further starts acquiring the measured resistance value Rs from the gas sensor module 16 (S104).

[0053] After the process of S104, the processor 17 determines whether or not the voice recognition has ended (S105). If the voice recognition has not ended (S105: No), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S105 again.

[0054] When the voice recognition is completed (S105: Yes), the processor 17 stops the operation of the gas sensor module 16 (S106).

[0055] The processor 17 calculates a time average of the measured resistance values ​​Rs continuously obtained during the period from the process of S104 to the process of S106 (S107). The value obtained by the time average is represented as the measured resistance value Rs'.

[0056] The processor 17 calculates the corrected resistance value Rc based on the reference resistance value R0 and the measured resistance value Rs' (S108).

[0057] The corrected resistance value Rc is a resistance value corrected by taking into account the influence of the resistance value when the gas sensor module 16 is not exposed to the exhaled gas, and corresponds to the net concentration of the exhaled gas. As described above, in the first embodiment, the reference resistance value R0 is set to the resistance value when the gas sensor module 16 is not exposed to the exhaled gas. Therefore, the processor 17 corrects the measured resistance value Rs' using the reference resistance value R0. More specifically, the processor 17 obtains the corrected resistance value Rc by dividing the measured resistance value Rs' by the reference resistance value R0.

[0058] The processor 17 calculates the concentration of the exhaled gas based on the corrected resistance value Rc (S109). The relationship between the corrected resistance value Rc and the concentration of the gas to be detected is previously acquired and stored in the memory 18 or the like. The relationship between the corrected resistance value Rc and the concentration of the gas to be detected is defined, for example, by a function or a look-up table. The processor 17 acquires the concentration of the exhaled gas corresponding to the corrected resistance value Rc obtained by the processing of S108 as a calculated value of the concentration of the exhaled gas based on the previously defined relationship between the corrected resistance value Rc and the concentration of the gas to be detected. The processor 17 executes an output according to the calculated value of the concentration of the exhaled gas (S110) and ends the operation based on the biological gas detection program 102.

[0059] The method of outputting the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration is not limited to a specific method. The processor 17 may output the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration as image information to the touch panel display 11, or may output the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration as audio information from the speaker 14. The processor 17 may output the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration as it is, or may process the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration before outputting it. Processing the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration means, for example, converting the calculated value of the exhaled gas concentration into a level of physical condition or a risk of disease.

[0060] As described above, according to the first embodiment, when a voice command for starting voice recognition is input to the microphone 15, the processor 17 starts voice recognition in response to the voice command. The processor 17 acquires, as a reference resistance value, a resistance value at a time when voice recognition is started in response to a voice command after a time when input of the voice command for starting voice recognition is detected. The processor 17 calculates a corrected resistance value by correcting the measured resistance value acquired from the time when voice recognition is started using the reference resistance value. Then, the processor 17 detects exhaled gas based on the corrected resistance value.

[0061] Therefore, since the detection of the exhaled gas is performed taking into consideration the reference resistance value, it is possible to detect the exhaled gas with high accuracy.

[0062] The timing of obtaining the reference resistance value is not limited to the time when voice recognition is started in response to a voice command, so long as it is a time when the gas sensor module 16 is in a state in which it can be considered that it is not exposed to exhaled gas.

[0063] In one example, the processor 17 may obtain the reference resistance value between the time when the input of a voice command to start voice recognition is detected and the time when voice recognition is started in response to the voice command, and at a time when a set time has elapsed since the time when the input of the voice command to start voice recognition is detected. The time required for the concentration of exhaled gas emitted by the utterance of the voice command to be sufficiently reduced is preset as the set time.

[0064] In another example, the processor 17 may sequentially acquire the amount of change in the resistance value per unit time, and acquire the reference resistance value when the amount of change becomes equal to or less than the set value. The concentration of the exhaled gas around the gas sensor module 16 increases in response to the utterance of a voice command. Thereafter, the concentration of the exhaled gas around the gas sensor module 16 gradually decreases, and eventually the concentration reaches a level that can be regarded as a minimum. As the concentration of the exhaled gas approaches the level that can be regarded as a minimum, the amount of change in the resistance value per unit time decreases. By presetting a value that can detect that the amount of change in the resistance value per unit time has become sufficiently small as the set value, it is possible to identify the timing when the concentration of the exhaled gas has sufficiently decreased.

[0065] When the voice recognition is started, the concentration of the exhaled gas starts to increase around the gas sensor module 16. Therefore, according to the above example, the time point at which the reference resistance value is acquired is determined within the range from after the input of the voice command to start the voice recognition is detected to the time point at which the voice recognition is started.

[0066] In the first embodiment, the time when the input of the voice command to start the voice recognition is detected is an example of a first time point, and the time when the reference resistance value is to be obtained is an example of a second time point.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the processor 17 starts the gas sensor module 16 when input of a voice command to start voice recognition is detected, and stops operation of the gas sensor module 16 when the voice recognition is completed.

[0068] Therefore, the time point at which the reference resistance value is acquired can be automatically determined, improving the accuracy of gas detection. It is possible to detect exhaled gas without the user having to perform manual operations such as pressing a button on the smartphone to control the gas sensor module 16. As a result, the power consumption of the smartphone 1 can be reduced.

[0069] Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the processor acquires the reference resistance value and the measured resistance value based on a series of actions performed by the user for voice recognition. The processor may determine the timing of acquiring the reference resistance value and the measured resistance value based on the output value of the microphone, i.e., the volume of the voice acquired by the microphone.

[0070] In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the processor specifies the timing for acquiring the reference resistance value and the measured resistance value based on the volume of the sound acquired by the microphone.

[0071] The hardware configuration of the smartphone of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are used. In addition, in the second embodiment, the matters different from the first embodiment are described, and the description of the matters the same as those of the first embodiment is omitted or is briefly described.

[0072] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the processor 17 based on the biogas detection program 102 according to the second embodiment.

[0073] The processor 17 determines whether or not the volume of the sound captured by the microphone 15 exceeds a predetermined threshold value Thv (S201). If the volume of the sound captured by the microphone 15 does not exceed the threshold value Thv (S201: No), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S201 again.

[0074] If the volume of the sound picked up by the microphone 15 exceeds the threshold value Thv (S201: Yes), the processor 17 activates the gas sensor module 16 (S202).

[0075] In the process of S201 to S202, the gas sensor module 16 is started in response to a voice command for starting voice recognition. When the volume of the voice indicated by the output value of the microphone 15 by the utterance of the voice command exceeds the threshold value Thv, the gas sensor module 16 is started. In other words, a value large enough to detect the user's voice is preset as the threshold value Thv. This allows the gas sensor module 16 to be started in response to the detection of a voice command, as in the first embodiment.

[0076] Next, the processor 17 determines whether the volume of the sound acquired by the microphone 15 exceeds a predetermined threshold value Thv (S203). If the volume of the sound acquired by the microphone 15 exceeds the threshold value Thv (S203: Yes), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S203 again. If the volume of the sound acquired by the microphone 15 does not exceed the threshold value Thv (S203: No), the processor 17 stops the operation of the gas sensor module 16 (S204).

[0077] The period from when the determination process of S203 is judged as Yes to when the determination process of S203 is judged as No corresponds to the period from when the voice recognition is started to when it is ended. In other words, the processes of S203 to S204 correspond to specifying the period from when the voice recognition is started to when it is ended. This period is referred to as a voice recognition period. When the voice recognition period ends, the operation of the gas sensor module 16 is stopped by the process of S204.

[0078] During the voice recognition period, the processor 17 continuously acquires the resistance value. The processor 17 determines the reference resistance value R0 and the measured resistance value Rs from among the resistance values ​​continuously acquired during the voice recognition period, based on the volume of the voice acquired by the microphone 15 during the voice recognition period (S205).

[0079] In one example, the processor 17 acquires the resistance value acquired at the timing when the voice acquired by the microphone 15 at the end of the voice recognition period stops as the reference resistance value R0. The processor 17 also acquires the measured resistance value Rs by calculating the time average of the resistance values ​​acquired continuously during the voice recognition period.

[0080] The processor 17 calculates the corrected resistance value Rc based on the reference resistance value R0 and the measured resistance value Rs (S206). More specifically, the processor 17 obtains the corrected resistance value Rc by dividing the measured resistance value Rs by the reference resistance value R0.

[0081] In steps S207 and S208, the processor 17 executes the same processes as those in steps S109 and S110, and ends the operation based on the biological gas detection program .

[0082] 6 allows the processor 17 to behave as follows. That is, the processor 17 identifies, based on the output value of the microphone 15, the time point at which the reference resistance value is to be acquired after the output value of the microphone 15 exceeds the threshold value Thv in response to the input of a voice command for starting voice recognition and then falls below the threshold value Thv for the first time. Then, the processor 17 acquires the resistance value at the identified time point as the reference resistance value.

[0083] Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the detection of the exhaled gas is performed taking into consideration the reference resistance value, so that the exhaled gas can be detected with high accuracy.

[0084] (Third embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the exhaled gas is detected as an example of the biological gas. The smartphone may be configured to detect skin gas. In the third embodiment, a smartphone capable of detecting skin gas will be described.

[0085] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a smartphone 1a according to the third embodiment.

[0086] The smartphone 1a includes a proximity sensor 21 in addition to a touch panel display 11, a speaker 14, a microphone 15, a gas sensor module 16, a processor 17, a memory 18, a network interface 19, and a bus 20. The touch panel display 11, the speaker 14, the microphone 15, the gas sensor module 16, the processor 17, the memory 18, the network interface 19, and the proximity sensor 21 are electrically connected to the bus 20.

[0087] The proximity sensor 21 is a sensor that measures the position of an object in a non-contact manner. The type of the proximity sensor 21 is not limited to a specific type. For example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor may be adopted as the proximity sensor 21. The proximity sensor 21 is provided to detect the proximity of a user.

[0088] In addition to the operating system program 101, the memory 18 stores a biological gas detection program 102a.

[0089] The processor 17 executes the biogas detection program 102a to detect skin gas using the gas sensor module 16. When detecting skin gas based on the biogas detection program 102a, the processor 17 determines the timing of acquiring the reference resistance value based on the output value of the proximity sensor 21.

[0090] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operation of the processor 17 based on the biological gas detection program 102a according to the third embodiment.

[0091] The processor 17 determines whether the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of a user (S301). If the proximity sensor 21 does not detect the approach of a user (S301: No), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S301 again.

[0092] When the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of a user (S301: Yes), the processor 17 activates the gas sensor module 16 (S302).

[0093] Next, the processor 17 determines whether the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user (S303). If the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user (S303: Yes), the processor 17 executes the determination process of S303 again. If the proximity sensor 21 does not detect the approach of the user (S303: No), the processor 17 stops the operation of the gas sensor module 16 (S304).

[0094] Next, the processor 17 determines the resistance value when the proximity of the user is detected as the measured resistance value Rs (S305).The processor 17 also determines the resistance value at the point in time when the proximity sensor 21 detects the proximity of the user and then stops detecting the proximity of the user as the reference resistance value R0 (S306).

[0095] The processor 17 calculates the corrected resistance value Rc based on the reference resistance value R0 and the measured resistance value Rs (S307). More specifically, the processor 17 obtains the corrected resistance value Rc by dividing the measured resistance value Rs by the reference resistance value R0.

[0096] Then, processor 17 calculates the skin gas concentration based on the corrected resistance value Rc (S308).

[0097] The processor 17 executes an output according to the calculated value of the skin gas concentration (S309), and ends the operation based on the biological gas detection program 102a. As in the first embodiment, the method of output according to the calculated value of the skin gas concentration is not limited to a specific method.

[0098] 8 allows the processor 17 to behave as follows. That is, the processor 17 identifies, based on the output value of the proximity sensor, the time point at which the reference resistance value is acquired after the proximity sensor 21 detects the proximity of the user and then the proximity sensor 21 first does not detect the proximity of the user. Then, the processor 17 acquires the resistance value at the identified time point as the reference resistance value. Then, the processor 17 corrects the measured resistance value based on the reference resistance value.

[0099] Therefore, since the detection of skin gas is performed taking into account the reference resistance value, it is possible to detect skin gas with high accuracy.

[0100] (Fourth embodiment) In the fourth embodiment, a smartphone capable of detecting both exhaled gas and skin gas will be described. The hardware configuration of the smartphone in the fourth embodiment is the same as that in the third embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals as in the third embodiment will be used. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, matters different from the other embodiments will be described, and matters the same as the other embodiments will be omitted or briefly described.

[0101] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the processor 17 based on the biological gas detection program 102a according to the fourth embodiment.

[0102] First, the processor 17 determines whether voice recognition has started or whether the volume of the voice picked up by the microphone 15 has exceeded a predetermined threshold value Thv (S401).

[0103] When voice recognition is started or the volume of the voice acquired by the microphone 15 exceeds the threshold value Thv (S401: Yes), the processor 17 determines whether the proximity sensor 21 has detected the approach of the user (S402).

[0104] If the proximity sensor 21 does not detect the approach of the user (S402: No), the processor 17 detects exhaled gas (S403).

[0105] In the process of S403, the processor 17 executes the processes of S102 to S110 shown in FIG. 5 or the processes of S202 to S208 shown in FIG.

[0106] If voice recognition has not started and the volume of the voice captured by the microphone 15 does not exceed the threshold value Thv (S401: No), the processor 17 determines whether the proximity sensor 21 has detected the approach of the user (S404).

[0107] When the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user (S404: Yes), the processor 17 detects skin gas (S405).

[0108] In the process of S405, the processor 17 executes the processes of S302 to S309 shown in FIG.

[0109] If the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user (S402: Yes), after processing of S403, if the proximity sensor 21 does not detect the approach of the user (S404: No), or after processing of S405, the processor 17 executes the determination process of S401 again.

[0110] In this way, when the condition that voice recognition has started or the volume of the voice acquired by microphone 15 has exceeded the predetermined threshold value Thv is satisfied, and the condition that the proximity sensor 21 has detected the approach of the user is not satisfied, the processor 17 detects exhaled gas. When the condition that voice recognition has started or the volume of the voice acquired by microphone 15 has exceeded the predetermined threshold value Thv is not satisfied, and the condition that the proximity sensor 21 has detected the approach of the user is satisfied, the processor 17 detects skin gas.

[0111] This enables the smartphone 1a to detect exhaled gas and skin gas.

[0112] In the first to fourth embodiments, an example has been described in which a semiconductor gas sensor element is used as the gas sensor element 164. The first to fourth embodiments are also applicable to a case in which a sensor element other than a semiconductor gas sensor element, such as a QCM (Quartz Crystal Microbalance) type sensor element or an FBAR (Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator) type sensor element, is used as the gas sensor element 164.

[0113] Even when a sensor element other than a semiconductor gas sensor element is adopted as the gas sensor element 164, the processor 17 acquires, as a reference output value, an output value of the gas sensor module 16 at a second time point after a first time point determined according to an output value of the microphone 15 or the proximity sensor 21. Then, the processor 17 corrects the output value of the gas sensor module 16 after the first time point based on the reference output value. Then, the processor 17 detects a biogas based on the corrected output value.

[0114] Therefore, since the detection of biological gas is performed taking into consideration the reference output value, it is possible to detect biological gas with high accuracy.

[0115] In the first embodiment, the first time point is the time point when the input of a voice command is detected, and the second time point is the time point when voice recognition is started in response to the voice command, when a set time has elapsed since the first time point, or when the rate of change in the output value per unit time becomes equal to or less than a set value, etc.

[0116] In the second embodiment, the first time point is a time point when the volume of the voice captured by the microphone 15 exceeds a threshold value Thv in response to an input of a voice command and then the volume of the voice falls below the threshold value Thv for the first time. The second time point is a time point determined based on the volume of the voice captured by the microphone 15, for example, the time point at the end of the voice recognition period when the voice captured by the microphone 15 stops.

[0117] In the third embodiment, the first time point is a time point when the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user and then first stops detecting the approach of the user by the proximity sensor 21. The second time point is a time point specified based on the output value of the proximity sensor 21, and is, for example, a time point when the proximity sensor 21 detects the approach of the user and then stops detecting the approach of the user by the proximity sensor 21.

[0118] Furthermore, the biogas detection programs 102, 102a, which are computer programs for controlling a series of operations illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 8, or 9, may be provided by being stored in advance in a non-volatile memory. The biogas detection programs 102, 102a may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM (Read Only Memory), a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R (Recordable), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or a SD (Secure Digital) card.

[0119] Furthermore, the biogas detection programs 102, 102a may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the biogas detection programs 102, 102a may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0120] In the first to fourth embodiments, the processor 17 executes the biogas detection programs 102, 102a to control the series of operations illustrated in FIG. 5, 6, 8, or 9. Some or all of the functions described as being realized by the processor 17 may be realized by a logic circuit. Some or all of the functions described as being realized by the processor 17 may be realized by a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.

[0121] Although the information processing device according to the embodiment has been described using a smartphone as an example, it may be applied to other aspects such as a wearable device.

[0122] Although the information processing device according to the embodiment detects a biological gas, the detection target gas is not limited to a biological gas.

[0123] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1,1a smartphone, 11 touch panel display, 12 speaker hole, 13 microphone hole, 14 speaker, 15 microphone, 16 gas sensor module, 17 processor, 18 memory, 19 network interface, 20 bus, 21 proximity sensor, 101 operating system program, 102,102a biogas detection program, 161 storage section, 162 lid section, 163 temperature and humidity sensor element, 164 gas sensor element, 165 MCU, 166 hollow section.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising a processor that acquires, as a second output value, an output value of a gas sensor at a second point in time after a first point in time determined according to a first output value of a first sensor, which is a sensor that non-contactly measures the position of a microphone or an object, corrects a third output value, which is the output value of the gas sensor after the first point in time, based on the second output value, and detects gas based on the corrected third output value.

2. the first sensor is the microphone; When a voice command for starting voice recognition is input to the microphone, the processor starts voice recognition in response to the voice command; the first time point is a time point when input of the voice command is detected; the second time point is a time point between the first time point and when the speech recognition is started; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. the second time point is a time point when the voice recognition is started in response to the voice command; The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The second point in time is a point in time when a set time has elapsed from the first point in time. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

5. The second time point is a time point at which the amount of change in the output value per unit time becomes equal to or less than a set value. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

6. The processor activates the gas sensor at the first time point, and stops the operation of the gas sensor when the voice recognition is completed. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

7. the first sensor is the microphone; When a voice command for starting voice recognition is input to the microphone, the processor starts voice recognition in response to the voice command; the first time point is a time point at which the first output value exceeds a threshold in response to the input of the voice command and then falls below the threshold for the first time; The processor identifies the second time point based on the output value of the microphone. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. the first sensor is a sensor for non-contact measurement of a position of an object; the first time point is a time point at which the first sensor detects the approach of the user and then the first sensor first does not detect the approach of the user, The processor identifies the second time point based on an output value of the sensor that non-contactly measures the position of the object. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

9. On the computer, acquiring an output value of the gas sensor as a second output value at a second time point after the first time point determined according to a first output value of a first sensor, which is a microphone or a sensor that non-contactly measures a position of an object; obtaining an output value of the gas sensor after the first time point as a third output value; correcting the third output value based on the second output value; detecting a gas based on the corrected third output value; A program that executes the following.

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