Heat stroke alarm device

Abstract

To provide a heat stroke alarm device that can notify an operator himself or herself when the operator is brought into a state that he or she can suffer from heat stroke in spite of its simple structure.SOLUTION: A body part of a heat stroke alarm device includes at least a top face, a bottom face, a right side face, and a left side face. The bottom face is provided with a body surface temperature sensor that comes in contact with the surface of the wrist for measuring the body surface temperature of the wrist. At least one of the top face, the right side face, and the left side face is provided with an ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature. A control device specifies the deep temperature on the basis of the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor, and when the specified deep temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the control device causes a notification device to issue an alarm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat stroke warning device that notifies an operator when the operator is in a state where he or she may develop heat stroke.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the temperature in summer has tended to be extremely high. For example, a person working outdoors may develop heat stroke. Heat stroke may occur suddenly without the operator being aware of any symptoms. Heat stroke is caused by an increase in the deep body temperature. Patent Document 1 discloses an in-body thermometer that measures the deep body temperature of the body. Hereinafter, the deep body temperature of the body will simply be referred to as the "deep temperature". The in-body thermometer disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a wristwatch-type shape and has a main body portion having an upper surface, a bottom surface, a right side surface, and a left side surface. On the bottom surface of the main body portion that comes into contact with the skin, four temperature sensors are provided. The temperature of the skin surface is measured from the four temperature sensors, and the four measured temperatures are substituted into a calculation formula to calculate the deep temperature that is correlated with heat stroke.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The in-body thermometer disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses four temperature sensors and has a complicated structure. Further, if the contact with the skin of even one of the four temperature sensors is weak, it becomes difficult to correctly calculate the deep temperature. The present invention provides a heat stroke warning device that notifies an operator when the operator is in a state where heat stroke may occur, with a small number of components and a simple structure.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] As a result of repeated research by the present inventor to solve the above problems, it was found that there is a correlation between the body surface temperature, the ambient temperature, and the core temperature. Therefore, it was found that by utilizing these correlations, it is possible to specify the core body temperature of the operator and the state in which the operator may be at risk of heat stroke by simply measuring the body surface temperature and the ambient temperature. It was also found that when the ranges of the ambient temperature and the body surface temperature are within a certain range of environment, the core body temperature of the operator becomes high, and the state in which the operator may be at risk of heat stroke can be specified.

[0006] An embodiment completed based on the above findings is a heat stroke warning device including a main body portion worn on the wrist, a body surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a control device, and a notification device, The main body portion has at least an upper surface, a bottom surface, a right side surface, and a left side surface, A body surface temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the body surface of the wrist in contact with the surface of the wrist is provided on the bottom surface, An ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature is provided on at least one of the upper surface, the right side surface, and the left side surface, The control device specifies the core temperature based on the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor, It is a heat stroke warning device that generates an alarm with the notification device when the specified core temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. According to the above embodiment, while having a simple structure, it is possible to specify the core temperature and notify the operator himself / herself when the operator is in a state where heat stroke may occur, thereby preventing the onset of heat stroke.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a heat stroke warning device including a main body portion to be worn on the wrist, a body surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a control device, and a notification device, wherein the main body portion has at least an upper surface, a bottom surface, a right side surface, and a left side surface, a body surface temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the body surface of the wrist in contact with the surface of the wrist is provided on the bottom surface, an ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature is provided at least at one location on the upper surface, the right side surface, and the left side surface, the control device is a heat stroke warning device that causes the notification device to generate an alarm when the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. According to the above aspect, when the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the notification device generates an alarm, and the onset of heat stroke can be prevented.

[0008] A preferred aspect further includes a power button for activating the main body portion, wherein the power button is disposed on the front side of the right side surface and the ambient temperature sensor is disposed on the front side of the left side surface, or the power button is disposed on the front side of the left side surface and the ambient temperature sensor is disposed on the front side of the right side surface. According to the above aspect, the ambient temperature sensor is provided on the front side of the side surface of the main body portion. Therefore, when working outdoors, sunlight is less likely to directly irradiate the ambient temperature sensor, and the outside air temperature can be measured without being affected by direct sunlight. Also, the power button is easy to press with the index finger and thumb.

[0009] A more preferred aspect is that the notification device is disposed on the upper surface of the main body portion. According to the above aspect, since the notification device is on the upper surface of the main body portion, it is easy for the operator to perceive.

[0010] A more preferred aspect is that the notification device generates at least one of sound, light, and vibration. According to the above aspect, since the notification device generates at least one of sound, light, and vibration, it is easy for the operator to perceive.

[0011] A more preferable aspect is a heatstroke warning device whose bottom surface is curved so that the body surface temperature sensor contacts the surface of the wrist. According to the above aspect, since the bottom surface of the main body portion is curved, it is easy for the body surface temperature sensor to contact the surface of the wrist.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The heatstroke warning device of the present invention has a simple structure, and when the operator is in a state where heatstroke may occur, it can notify the operator himself / herself, and the onset of heatstroke can be prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the heat stroke warning device 1 in Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heat stroke warning device 1 in Embodiment 1 when worn on the left wrist, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat stroke warning device 1 in Embodiment 1 when worn on the right wrist. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body 2 of the heat stroke warning device 1 in Embodiment 1 observed from the upper surface side, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main body 2 of the heat stroke warning device 1 in Embodiment 1 observed from the bottom surface side.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the central axis 50 is a line passing through the center of gravity of the main body 2 and is a longitudinal line extending from the front side to the back side of the body. The right side with respect to the central axis 50 is defined as the right side, the left side with respect to the central axis 50 is defined as the left side, the side farther from the body with respect to the center of gravity is defined as the front side, and the side closer to the body is defined as the back side.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the heat stroke warning device 1 of the present Embodiment 1 has a wristwatch shape and is composed of a main body 2 incorporating an electronic device, a front belt 3, and a rear belt 5. The front belt 3 and the rear belt 5 are known watch belts. The front belt 3 is provided with a fitting 6 at one end, and the rear belt 5 is provided with a plurality of holes 7.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting 6 of the front belt 3 and the hole 7 of the rear belt 5 are fitted together, and the main body 2 is worn on the left wrist 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 2 has at least an upper surface 10, a bottom surface 11, a right side surface 12, and a left side surface 13. The main body 2 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the upper surface 10, and the thickness of the main body 2 is thin. The outer shell of the main body 2 is made of resin. The upper surface 10 has a rear inclined surface 16, a flat surface 14 (central part), and a front inclined surface 15 in the direction of the central axis 50, and in this order, the rear inclined surface 16, the flat surface 14, and the front inclined surface 15 are arranged.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface 11 of the main body 2 is curved with respect to the direction of the central axis 50, and when worn on the left wrist 100, the body surface temperature sensor 25 and the surface of the left wrist 100 are in close contact with each other.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, a body surface temperature sensor 25 is provided at the central portion of the bottom surface 11 of the main body 2, and the metal temperature detecting portion of the body surface temperature sensor 25 protrudes slightly from the bottom surface 11. A known temperature sensor such as a thermocouple or a resistance temperature detector is in contact with the metal temperature detecting portion. In the first embodiment, a thermocouple is adopted as the body surface temperature sensor 25.

[0020] The ambient temperature sensor 26 for measuring the ambient temperature is provided on at least one of the upper surface 10, the right side surface 12, and the left side surface 13. The ambient temperature sensor 26 measures the ambient temperature (outside air temperature) outside the body and is located at a position separated from the body surface temperature sensor 25. As shown in FIG. 4, in the first embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor 26 is disposed on the front side of the left side surface 13. Here, the front side means the front side of half of the length of the main body 2 in the direction of the central axis 50. Preferably, the ambient temperature sensor 26 is disposed on the front side of one-third of the length of the main body 2. The metal temperature detecting portion of the ambient temperature sensor 26 protrudes slightly from the left side surface 13 so as to easily measure the ambient temperature. A known temperature sensor such as a thermocouple or a resistance temperature detector is in contact with the metal temperature detecting portion. In the first embodiment, a thermocouple is adopted as the ambient temperature sensor 26.

[0021] A power button 24 is disposed on the front side of the right side surface 12. Here, the front side means the front side of half of the length of the main body 2 in the direction of the central axis 50. Preferably, the power button 24 is disposed on the front side of one-third of the length of the main body 2. In order to prevent malfunction, a force is required to push the power button 24 into the main body 2.

[0022] The power button 24 is disposed on the front side of the right side surface 12, and the ambient temperature sensor 26 is disposed on the front side of the left side surface 13. However, the power button may be disposed on the front side of the left side surface 13, and the ambient temperature sensor 26 may be disposed on the front side of the right side surface 12.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat stroke warning device 1 according to the first embodiment when worn on the right wrist 101. Even when the heat stroke warning device 1 is worn on the right wrist 101, the positional relationship between the right wrist 101 and the configuration of the heat stroke warning device 1 is the same as when the main body 2 is worn on the left wrist 100, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0024] As described above, the power button 24 is disposed on the front side of the right side surface 12 and the ambient temperature sensor 26 is disposed on the front side of the left side surface 13, or the power button 24 is disposed on the front side of the left side surface 13 and the ambient temperature sensor 26 is disposed on the front side of the right side surface 12. By doing so, the power button 24 can be easily pressed because the index finger of the right hand can press the power button 24, the thumb of the right hand can press the portion on the rear side of the left side surface 13, and force can be applied to the index finger of the right hand. In this case, since the thumb of the right hand or the left hand does not contact the ambient temperature sensor 26, the ambient temperature can be accurately measured.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, a speaker (notification device) 21 and a light emitting means (notification device) 22 are provided on the flat surface 14 of the upper surface 10 of the main body 2. The light emitting means 22 is an LED.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, charging terminals 42 and 43 for charging a storage battery (not shown) disposed inside the main body 2 are exposed on the bottom surface 11 of the main body 2. The charging terminals 42 and 43 are in contact with two terminals (not shown) of a USB cable, and the USB power is repeatedly charged to the storage battery. As a result, the operator can repeatedly use the heat stroke warning device 1.

[0027] Inside the main body 2, a vibration generating device (notification device) and a control device 30 (not shown) are incorporated. As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a storage device 32 such as a memory, and an output device 33. Temperature information from the body surface temperature sensor 25 and temperature information from the ambient temperature sensor 26 are input to the control device 30. On the output side of the control device 30, a speaker (notification device) 21, a light emitting means (notification device) 22, and a vibration generating device (notification device) 23 are connected.

[0028] The storage device 32 has a temperature table in which the correlation between the body surface temperature (T1), the ambient temperature (T2), and the deep body temperature (Ti) is stored. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the temperature table. As shown in FIG. 7, in the first row, the body surface temperatures (T1) are arranged such as 33°C to 42°C. In the first column, the ambient temperatures (T2) are arranged such as 33°C to 42°C. The area other than the above (the lightly shaded area within the thick frame) is area A, which represents the deep body temperature (Ti) °C.

[0029] When the body surface temperature (T1) of the wrist is measured by the body surface temperature sensor 25 and the ambient temperature (T2) is measured by the ambient temperature sensor 26, and these temperature information are input, the control device 30 can specify the deep body temperature (Ti) using the temperature table. For example, when the body surface temperature (T1) is 33°C and the ambient temperature (T2) is 33°C, the deep body temperature (Ti) is 33°C.

[0030] Even if the body surface temperature (T1) is high (for example, 36°C or higher) and the ambient temperature (T2) is low (for example, 36°C or lower), the deep body temperature (Ti) does not become high (for example, 36°C or lower). Also, even if the ambient temperature (T2) is high (for example, 37°C or higher) and the body surface temperature (T1) is low (for example, 35°C or lower), the deep body temperature (Ti) does not become high (for example, 36°C or lower).

[0031] On the one hand, when the deep body temperature (Ti) reaches a predetermined temperature or higher (for example, 37°C or higher), the operator is highly likely to develop heat stroke. Here, the predetermined temperature of the deep body temperature (Ti) is also referred to as the dangerous temperature. In FIG. 7, the region where the deep body temperature is at a predetermined temperature or higher (for example, 37°C or higher) is region B (the region with a thick black border) in FIG. 7. Therefore, when the deep body temperature (°C) reaches region B, an alarm is generated by at least one of the notification devices, namely the sound of the speaker 21, the light of the light-emitting device 22, and the vibration of the vibration generating device 23. In addition, a plurality of combinations of any of sound, light, and vibration may be used to generate an alarm. In particular, in order to alert the operator, it is preferable to generate an alarm with all the notification devices of sound, light, and vibration. As an example, the predetermined temperature of the deep body temperature is set to 37°C, but it may also be set to 37.8°C.

[0032] According to the above aspect, the control device 30 identifies the deep body temperature based on the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor 25 and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor 26. When the identified deep body temperature reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, an alarm can be generated by the notification devices (21, 22, 23).

[0033] Next, the usage method of the heat stroke warning device 1 of the first embodiment will be described. The heat stroke warning device 1 of the first embodiment is wrapped around the left wrist 100 by the front belt 3 and the rear belt 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and is used with the bottom surface 11 of the main body 2 in close contact with the surface of the left wrist 100. For example, when the operator uses it outdoors, it will be worn on the left wrist 100 of the operator. In the heat stroke warning device 1 of the first embodiment, since the measurement part of the body surface temperature sensor 25 is exposed on the bottom surface 11 of the main body 2, the surface temperature of the left wrist 100 of the operator during use is measured by the body surface temperature sensor 25, and the body surface temperature is monitored.

[0034] In addition, in the heat stroke warning device 1 of the first embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor 26 measures the ambient temperature (outside air temperature). In the first embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor 26 is provided, for example, on the left side surface 13 of the main body 2. Therefore, direct sunlight is less likely to hit the ambient temperature sensor 26, and an accurate ambient temperature can be measured. In the first embodiment, the ambient temperature during use is measured by the ambient temperature sensor 26, and the ambient temperature is monitored.

[0035] Then, this temperature information is input to the control device 30 to identify the deep body temperature. When the identified deep body temperature becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, any one of the notification devices (21, 22, 23) is driven to notify the user of the danger. That is, a warning sound or a voice prompting a break flows from the speaker (notification device) 21. In addition, the light emitting device (notification device) 22 may be caused to emit a conspicuous color (for example, red). In addition, the vibration generating device (notification device) 23 may be vibrated to give vibration to the operator. As a result, the operator can be aware that danger is approaching, move to a cool place, and prevent the onset of heat stroke by replenishing moisture, etc.

[0036] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the control device 30 identifies the deep body temperature based on the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor 25 and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor 26, and when the identified deep body temperature becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, an alarm is generated by any one of the notification devices (21, 22, 23).

[0037] On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the control device 30 generates an alarm by any one of the notification devices (21, 22, 23) when the body surface temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 7, when the body surface temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 36°C or higher) and the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (for example, 37°C or higher), the deep body temperature rises (for example, 37°C or higher), and in area B, the operator is highly likely to suffer from heat stroke. That is, according to the above temperature table, when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a certain level and the body surface temperature is equal to or higher than a certain level, the deep body temperature becomes a temperature (dangerous temperature) at which the operator is highly likely to suffer from heat stroke.

[0039] When these temperature information are input into the control device 30 and the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a certain level and the body surface temperature is equal to or higher than a certain level, any one of the notification devices (21, 22, 23) is driven to notify the user of the danger. For example, a warning sound and a voice prompting a break flow from the speaker (notification device) 21. Also, the light emitting device (notification device) 22 may be caused to emit light in a conspicuous color (for example, red). Also, the vibration generating device (notification device) 23 may be vibrated to give vibration to the operator. As a result, the operator can be aware that danger is approaching, move to a cool place, and prevent the onset of heat stroke by replenishing moisture and the like.

[0040] (Embodiment 3) Embodiment 3 is a mode in which the heat stroke warning device 1 notifies the above-mentioned dangerous temperature to a receiving device such as a personal computer or a smartphone located at the headquarters. The heat stroke warning device 1 is provided with a transmitting device (not shown) for transmitting the dangerous temperature. The wireless transmission (communication) method of the transmitting device is, for example, Wi-Fi (Internet connection using wireless LAN), BLUETOOTH (registered trademark) (one of the inexpensive short-range wireless standards for digital devices), 3G, 4G LTE, 5G (mobile phone standards), etc. Note that the wireless transmission (communication) method is not limited to the above transmission (communication) as long as it can communicate wirelessly. When the receiving device at the headquarters receives a dangerous temperature, it generates at least one of sound, light, and vibration, and notifies the people at the headquarters that the operator wearing the heatstroke warning device 1 is in a dangerous state. According to the above aspect, even when the operator does not notice that they are in a dangerous state, other people can notice that the operator is in a dangerous state.

[0041] In addition, the inventions according to Embodiments 1 to 3 can be replaced or combined as long as there is no contradiction.

[0042] In addition, the operation of the heatstroke warning device 1 may be realized by a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium, or may be realized by an arbitrary combination of a system, a device, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 1 Heatstroke warning device 2 Main body 3 Front belt 5 Rear belt 10 Upper surface 11 Bottom surface 12 Right side surface 13 Left side surface 21 Speaker (notification device) 22 Light-emitting device (notification device) 23 Vibration generating device (notification device) 24 Power button 25 Body surface temperature sensor 26 Ambient temperature sensor 30 Control device

Claims

1. A heat stroke warning device comprising a main body part to be worn on the wrist, a body surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a control device, and a notification device, The main body part has at least an upper surface, a bottom surface, a right side surface, and a left side surface, A body surface temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the body surface of the wrist in contact with the surface of the wrist is provided on the bottom surface, An ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature is provided on at least one of the upper surface, the right side surface, and the left side surface, The control device identifies the core temperature based on the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor, A heat stroke warning device that generates an alarm with the notification device when the identified core temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

2. A heat stroke warning device comprising a main body part to be worn on the wrist, a body surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a control device, and a notification device, The main body part has at least an upper surface, a bottom surface, a right side surface, and a left side surface, A body surface temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the body surface of the wrist in contact with the surface of the wrist is provided on the bottom surface, An ambient temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature is provided at at least one location on the upper surface, the right side surface, and the left side surface, The control device generates an alarm with the notification device when the body surface temperature of the wrist measured by the body surface temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature measured by the ambient temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

3. Furthermore, it is equipped with a power button for activating the main body part, The heat stroke warning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power button is arranged on the front side of the right side surface and the ambient temperature sensor is arranged on the front side of the left side surface, or the power button is arranged on the front side of the left side surface and the ambient temperature sensor is arranged on the front side of the right side surface.

4. The heat stroke warning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification device is arranged on the upper surface of the main body part.

5. The heat stroke warning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification device generates at least one of sound, light, and vibration.

6. The heat stroke warning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom surface is curved so that the body surface temperature sensor is in contact with the surface of the wrist.

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