Sensor device

Abstract

To provide a sensor device having high detection sensitivity.SOLUTION: A sensor device 1 includes: a ring-shaped base 10 attachable to a finger of a subject; at least one sensor element 16 disposed on the base 10 to acquire a biological signal from the subject; a control device 20 disposed on the base to control the at least one sensor element 16; a power generation element 13 disposed on the base 10 to generate electric power and supply the generated electric power to the at least one sensor element 16 and the control device 20; an energy storage element 15 disposed on the base 10 to store the electric power generated by the power generation element 13; an inner protective material 12 formed of an insulating material and disposed on the inner side in the radial direction of the base 10 relative to the at least one sensor element 16, the control device 20, the power generation element 13, and the energy storage element 15; and an outer protective material 11 disposed on the outer side in the radial direction relative to the at least one sensor element 16, the control device 20, the power generation element 13, and the energy storage element 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor device. [Background technology]

[0002] A ring-shaped sensor device that can be worn on a subject's finger is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sensor device described in Patent Document 1 is made of a flexible material and has an insulating unit that is fitted in a state where it protrudes toward the inner periphery of the sensor device, thereby enabling electrodes arranged on the inner periphery to be in contact with the skin of the subject's finger with high accuracy. By ensuring that the electrodes are in contact with the skin of the subject's finger with high accuracy, the sensor device described in Patent Document 1 can minimize noise superimposed on biosignals acquired from the subject and improve the reliability of the biosignals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7242099 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the sensor device described in Patent Document 1 is removed from the subject's finger when charging the power storage element that supplies power, and therefore does not acquire a biological signal from the subject while the power storage element is being charged.

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a sensor device that can acquire a biological signal from a subject even while charging a storage element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sensor device of the present invention includes a ring-shaped base that can be worn on a subject's finger, at least one sensor element that is arranged on the base and acquires a biosignal from the subject, a control device that is arranged on the base and controls the at least one sensor element, a power generation element that is arranged on the base and generates power and supplies the generated power to the at least one sensor element and the control device, a storage element that is arranged on the base and stores the power generated by the power generation element, an inner protective member that is made of an insulating material and is arranged radially inward of the at least one sensor element, the control device, the power generation element, and the storage element from the base, and an outer protective member that is arranged radially outward of the at least one sensor element, the control device, the power generation element, and the storage element.

[0007] Furthermore, in the sensor device of the present invention, the power generating element is a flexible solar cell that is positioned radially outward of the sensor element and the control device and generates electricity in response to irradiation with light, and the outer protective material is preferably formed from a light-transmitting material.

[0008] Furthermore, in the sensor device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the at least one sensor element includes a pulse wave sensor element that detects a pulse wave of the subject and outputs a pulse wave signal indicating the detected pulse wave to the control device.

[0009] Furthermore, in the sensor device according to the present invention, the pulse wave sensor element preferably includes a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements having near-infrared light-emitting elements that emit near-infrared light, and a second pulse wave sensor element having a green light-emitting element that emits green light and disposed between the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements.

[0010] Furthermore, in the sensor device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the at least one sensor element further includes an acceleration sensor element that detects acceleration and outputs an acceleration signal indicating the detected acceleration to the control device.

[0011] Furthermore, in the sensor device according to the present invention, at least one of the acceleration sensor element and the control device is preferably disposed between the pair of first and second pulse wave sensor elements.

[0012] Furthermore, in the sensor device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the acceleration sensor element is disposed between one of the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements and the second pulse wave sensor element, and the control device is disposed between the other of the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements and the second pulse wave sensor element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The sensor device according to the present invention can acquire a biological signal from the subject even while the power storage element is being charged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2A is a front view of a sensor device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the sensor device shown in FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the sensor device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1(a) is a perspective view of the base shown in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(b) is a front cross-sectional view of the sensor device shown in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 5] 1(a) is a perspective view of the outer protective material shown in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the inner protective material shown in FIG. 1(a). [Figure 6] 4 is a diagram showing the relative positions of the solar cell, power management device, power storage element, pair of first pulse wave sensor elements, second pulse wave sensor element, acceleration sensor element, and control device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 7] 1(a) is a flowchart showing the flow of pulse wave detection processing executed by the sensor device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The sensor device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but extends to the inventions set forth in the claims and their equivalents.

[0016] (Configuration and Function of Sensor Device According to the Embodiment) FIG. 1(a) is a front view showing a sensor device according to an embodiment, FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view of the sensor device shown in FIG. 1(a), FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor device shown in FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the sensor device shown in FIG. 1(a).

[0017] The sensor device 1 includes a base 10, an outer protective member 11, an inner protective member 12, a solar cell 13, a power management device 14, a storage element 15, a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, a second pulse wave sensor element 17, an acceleration sensor element 18, and a control device 20. The sensor device 1 is a ring-shaped device that can be worn on the finger of a subject (not shown), and detects the pulse wave of the subject wearing the sensor device 1 on their finger and outputs a pulse wave signal indicating the detected pulse wave to an external device (not shown) such as a smartphone.

[0018] Fig. 4(a) is a perspective view of the base 10 shown in Fig. 1(a), and Fig. 4(b) is a front cross-sectional view of the sensor device 1. In Fig. 4(b), the outer protective material 11 and the inner protective material 12 are omitted.

[0019] The base 10 is made of a hard material such as metal, ceramic, or synthetic resin, and includes a base 10a, a first flange 10b, and a second flange 10c. The base 10a is ring-shaped, and a solar cell 13 is disposed on the radially outer side of the base 10a, as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1(a). Also, a power management device 14, a power storage element 15, a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, a second pulse wave sensor element 17, an acceleration sensor element 18, and a control device 20 are disposed on the radially inner side of the base 10a.

[0020] The power management unit 14, the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control unit 20 are mounted on first to sixth circuit boards 101 to 106, which are arranged on the inner surface of the base 10a. The power management unit 14 is mounted on the first circuit board 101, the first pulse wave sensor element 16a is mounted on the second circuit board 102, and the first pulse wave sensor element 16b is mounted on the third circuit board 103. The second pulse wave sensor element 17 is mounted on the fourth circuit board 104, the acceleration sensor element 18 is mounted on the fifth circuit board 105, and the control unit 20 is mounted on the sixth circuit board 106.

[0021] The first flange 10b and the second flange 10c have a circular planar shape and are disposed at both ends of the base 10a. The first flange 10b and the second flange 10c sandwich the solar cell 13 on the radially outer side of the base 10a. The first flange 10b and the second flange 10c also sandwich the power management device 14, the power storage element 15, the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control device 20 on the radially inner side of the base 10a.

[0022] FIG. 5( a ) is a perspective view of the outer protective material 11 , and FIG. 5( b ) is a perspective view of the inner protective material 12 .

[0023] The outer protective material 11 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin such as polycarbonate, and is adhered to the first flange 10b and the second flange 10c with an adhesive (not shown), and is fixed to the radially outer side of the base 10. The outer protective material 11 seals the solar cells 13.

[0024] The inner protective member 12 is formed from a light-transmitting synthetic resin such as polycarbonate and includes a sealing portion 12a, a first lens 12b, a second lens 12c, and a third lens 12d. The inner protective member 12 is adhered to the first flange 10b and the second flange 10c with an adhesive (not shown) and fixed to the radially inner side of the base 10. The sealing portion 12a is fixed to the first flange 10b and the second flange 10c to seal the power management device 14, the power storage element 15, the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control device 20. The first lens 12b is positioned to cover the first pulse wave sensor element 16a, the second lens 12c is positioned to cover the first pulse wave sensor element 16b, and the third lens 12d is positioned over the second pulse wave sensor element 17.

[0025] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relative positions of the solar cell 13, power management device 14, power storage element 15, a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, second pulse wave sensor element 17, acceleration sensor element 18, and control device 20. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of sensor device 1 in which the first flange 10b and second flange 10c of base 10, outer protective member 11, and inner protective member 12 are omitted.

[0026] The solar cell 13 is a flexible solar cell, such as a film-type perovskite solar cell, and has a rectangular planar shape with short sides of 7 mm and long sides of 65 mm. The solar cell 13 is arranged over the entire outer surface of the base 10a of the base 10. The solar cell 13 generates power through the photoelectric effect in response to sunlight and illumination light from indoor lighting devices that enters the solar cell 13 through the outer protective member 11, and outputs the generated power to the power management device 14. The power generated by the solar cell 13 is stored in the power storage element 15 via the power management device 14 and supplied to the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control device 20. The output terminal of the solar cell 13 is preferably arranged near the power management device 14 and the power storage element 15. By arranging the output terminal of solar cell 13 near power management device 14 and storage element 15, it is possible to minimize the length of the wiring connecting solar cell 13 to power management device 14 and storage element 15. In addition, it is preferable to arrange the output terminal of solar cell 13 in a location where the amount of light irradiation is small.

[0027] The power management device 14 is a semiconductor device that has a step-up / step-down circuit and is disposed on the inner surface of the base 10a via the first circuit board 101. The power management device 14 is electrically connected to the solar cell 13 via a plurality of through-holes formed in the base 10a and the first circuit board 101. The power management device 14 is electrically connected to the energy storage element 15 and the control device 20 via the first circuit board 101. The power management device 14 boosts or increases the voltage of the power supplied from the solar cell 13 so that it has a predetermined voltage, and outputs the power to the energy storage element 15. The configuration and function of the power management device 14 are well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0028] The power storage element 15 is a flexible secondary battery, such as a film-type lithium-ion battery, and is arranged along the inner surface of the base 10a. The power storage element 15 is electrically connected to the power management device 14 and the control device 20. The power storage element 15 stores power input from the solar cell 13 via the power management device 14. The power storage element 15 supplies the stored power to the control device 20 to drive the control device 20, and also supplies power to a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, a second pulse wave sensor element 17, and an acceleration sensor element 18, which are electrically connected via the control device 20.

[0029] The first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b each have a first light-emitting element that emits infrared light and a first light-receiving element that receives light emitted from the first light-emitting element and reflected by the finger of the subject wearing the sensor device 1. The first pulse wave sensor element 16a is electrically connected to the control device 20 via the second circuit board 102 and the sixth circuit board 106. The first pulse wave sensor element 16b is electrically connected to the control device 20 via the third circuit board 103 and the sixth circuit board 106. The first light-emitting element is, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits infrared light, and the first light-receiving element is, for example, a photodiode. While the control device 20 supplies power sufficient for the first light-emitting element to emit light, the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b output a current corresponding to the reflected light received by the first light-receiving element to the control device 20. The power that the first light-emitting element can emit is a control signal that controls the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, and the current output from the first light-receiving element to the control device 20 is a pulse wave signal, which is an analog signal that indicates the subject's pulse wave.

[0030] First pulse wave sensor element 16a is disposed on the inner surface of base 10a via second circuit board 102, and first pulse wave sensor element 16b is disposed on the inner surface of base 10a via third circuit board 103. First pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b are disposed so as to sandwich second pulse wave sensor element 17, acceleration sensor element 18, and control device 20. First pulse wave sensor element 16a is disposed so that one end is adjacent to power storage element 15 and the other end is adjacent to acceleration sensor element 18. First pulse wave sensor element 16b is disposed so that one end is adjacent to power management device 14 and the other end is adjacent to control device 20.

[0031] The second pulse wave sensor element 17 has a second light-emitting element that emits green light and a second light-receiving element that receives light emitted from the second light-emitting element and reflected by the finger of the subject wearing the sensor device 1. The second pulse wave sensor element 17 is electrically connected to the control device 20 via a fourth circuit board 104 and a sixth circuit board 106. The second light-emitting element is, for example, an LED that emits green light, and the second light-receiving element is, for example, a photodiode. While the control device 20 supplies power sufficient for the second light-emitting element to emit light, the second pulse wave sensor element 17 outputs a current corresponding to the reflected light received by the second light-receiving element to the control device 20. The power sufficient for the second light-emitting element to emit light is a control signal that controls the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and the current output from the second light-receiving element to the control device 20 is a pulse wave signal, which is an analog signal indicating the subject's pulse wave.

[0032] The second pulse wave sensor element 17 is disposed on the inner surface of the base portion 10a via the fourth circuit board 104. The second pulse wave sensor element 17 is disposed between the acceleration sensor element 18 and the control device 20. The second pulse wave sensor element 17 is adjacent to the first pulse wave sensor element 16a via the acceleration sensor element 18, and is adjacent to the first pulse wave sensor element 16a via the control device 20.

[0033] Acceleration sensor element 18 is a known three-dimensional acceleration sensor such as a frequency change acceleration sensor, a piezoresistive acceleration sensor, a piezoelectric acceleration sensor, or a capacitance sensor. Acceleration sensor element 18 is disposed on the inner surface of base 10a between first pulse wave sensor element 16a and second pulse wave sensor element 17 via fifth circuit board 105.

[0034] Acceleration sensor element 18 is electrically connected to control device 20 via fifth circuit board 105 and sixth circuit board 106. While control device 20 supplies power that allows acceleration sensor element 18 to detect acceleration, acceleration sensor element 18 detects acceleration corresponding to the movement of the subject's finger and outputs an acceleration signal, which is an analog signal indicating the detected acceleration, to control device 20. The power that allows acceleration sensor element 18 to detect acceleration is a control signal that controls acceleration sensor element 18.

[0035] The control device 20 has a communication circuit 21, an interface circuit 22, an analog-digital converter (ADC) circuit 23, a memory circuit 24, and an arithmetic circuit 25, and controls the operation of the sensor device 1. While the control device 20 is supplied with sufficient power from the power storage element 15, it acquires pulse waves corresponding to the pulse wave signals input from the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b and the second pulse wave sensor element 17, as well as acceleration corresponding to the acceleration signal input from the acceleration sensor element 18. The control device 20 transmits the acquired pulse wave signals indicating the pulse waves and acceleration signals indicating the acceleration to an external device such as a smartphone owned by the subject.

[0036] The communication circuit 21 has a circuit configuration capable of communication in accordance with a predetermined communication standard that enables short-range communication with low power consumption, such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) and LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). The communication circuit 21 converts a signal input from the arithmetic circuit 25 into a signal that complies with the predetermined communication standard and transmits it to an external device, and also converts a signal received from an external device and outputs it to the arithmetic circuit 25 via the ADC circuit 23.

[0037] The interface circuit 22 is electrically connected to the power management device 14, the power storage element 15, the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, the ADC circuit 23, and the arithmetic circuit 25. In response to instructions from the arithmetic circuit, the interface circuit 22 supplies power from the power storage element 15 to the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and the acceleration sensor element 18. The interface circuit 22 also outputs pulse wave signals input from the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b and the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and the acceleration signal input from the acceleration sensor element 18 to the ADC circuit 23.

[0038] The ADC circuit 23 has a known circuit configuration, and converts the pulse wave signal and acceleration signal, which are analog signals input from the interface circuit 22, into digital signals and outputs them to the arithmetic circuit 25.

[0039] The memory circuitry 24 is configured to store data and programs, and includes, for example, a semiconductor memory. The memory circuitry 24 stores an operating system program, a driver program, an application program, data, etc., which are used in processing by the arithmetic circuitry 25.

[0040] The memory circuitry 24 also stores pulse wave information indicating the pulse waves detected by the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b and the second pulse wave sensor element, as well as acceleration information indicating the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor element 18.

[0041] The arithmetic circuit 25 is configured to comprehensively control the operation of the sensor device 1 and includes one or more processors and their peripheral circuits. The arithmetic circuit 25 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The arithmetic circuit 25 may include a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. The arithmetic circuit 25 executes processing based on a program stored in the memory circuit 24. The arithmetic circuit 25 also controls the operation of each component of the sensor device 1 so that processing is executed appropriately.

[0042] The arithmetic circuit 25 has, as functional blocks, an instruction acquisition unit 26, a power supply control unit 27, a data acquisition unit 28, a timer unit 29, and a data output unit 30. These functional blocks are functional modules realized based on a program executed by the arithmetic circuit 25. These functional blocks may also be firmware implemented in the control device.

[0043] (Pulse wave detection process by the sensor device according to the embodiment) 7 is a flow diagram showing the flow of pulse wave detection processing executed by sensor device 1. The pulse wave detection processing is realized by arithmetic circuit 25 working in cooperation with each component of sensor device 1 based on a program stored in memory circuit 24.

[0044] The instruction acquiring unit 26 acquires a process start instruction indicating the start of pulse wave detection process from an external device (S101). In response to an input from the subject, the external device transmits a process start instruction signal indicating the process start instruction to the sensor device 1. When the process start instruction signal is transmitted to the communication circuit, the instruction acquiring unit 26 acquires the process start instruction corresponding to the process start instruction signal.

[0045] Next, the power supply control unit 27 starts supplying power supply voltage to the first pulse wave sensor element 16a (S102). The power supply control unit 27 controls the interface circuit to supply power supply voltage from the power storage element 15 to the first pulse wave sensor element 16a. In response to the supply of power supply voltage, the first pulse wave sensor element 16a starts detecting the subject's pulse wave. The first pulse wave sensor element 16a outputs a pulse wave signal indicative of the subject's pulse wave to the arithmetic circuit 25.

[0046] Next, the data acquiring unit 28 acquires pulse wave information indicating a pulse wave corresponding to the pulse wave signal input from the first pulse wave sensor element 16a via the interface circuit 22 (S103). The data acquiring unit 28 stores the acquired pulse wave information in the memory circuit 24.

[0047] Next, timing unit 29 starts timing a predetermined pulse wave detection time (S104). Timing unit 29 performs timing operation over the pulse wave detection time. Next, data acquisition unit 28 ends acquisition of pulse wave information in response to the completion of timing operation by timing unit 29 over the pulse wave detection time (S105).

[0048] Next, data output unit 30 outputs the pulse wave information acquired by data acquisition unit 28 to an external device (S106). Data output unit 30 outputs the pulse wave information stored in memory circuitry 24 to communication circuitry 21. Communication circuitry 21 transmits a pulse wave signal corresponding to the pulse wave information input from data output unit 30 to the external device.

[0049] Next, the power supply control unit 27 starts supplying power supply voltage to the first pulse wave sensor element 16b (S107), similar to the process of S102. Next, the data acquiring unit 28 acquires pulse wave information indicating a pulse wave corresponding to the pulse wave signal input from the first pulse wave sensor element 16b via the interface circuit 22 (S108), similar to the process of S103. Next, the timing unit 29 starts timing the pulse wave detection time (S109). Next, the data acquiring unit 28 ends acquisition of the pulse wave information in response to the end of the timing operation of the timing unit 29 over the pulse wave detection time (S110). Next, the data output unit 30 outputs the pulse wave information acquired by the data acquiring unit 28 to an external device (S111), similar to the process of S106.

[0050] Next, the power supply control unit 27 starts supplying power supply voltage to the second pulse wave sensor element 17, similar to the process of S102 (S112). Next, the data acquisition unit 28 acquires pulse wave information indicating a pulse wave corresponding to the pulse wave signal input from the second pulse wave sensor element 17 via the interface circuit 22, similar to the process of S103 (S113). Next, the timing unit 29 starts measuring the pulse wave detection time (S114). Next, the data acquisition unit 28 stops acquiring the pulse wave information in response to the end of the timing operation of the timing unit 29 over the pulse wave detection time (S115). Next, the data output unit 30 outputs the pulse wave information acquired by the data acquisition unit 28 to an external device, similar to the process of S106 (S116).

[0051] Next, power supply control unit 27 starts supplying power supply voltage to acceleration sensor element 18, similar to the process of S102 (S117). Next, data acquisition unit 28 acquires acceleration information indicating acceleration corresponding to the acceleration signal input from acceleration sensor element 18 via interface circuit 22, similar to the process of S103 (S118). Next, timing unit 29 starts measuring the pulse wave detection time (S119). Next, data acquisition unit 28 ends acquisition of acceleration information in response to the end of the timing operation of timing unit 29 over the pulse wave detection time (S120). Next, data output unit 30 outputs the acceleration information acquired by data acquisition unit 28 to an external device, similar to the process of S106 (S121).

[0052] Next, instruction acquiring unit 26 determines whether a process end instruction indicating that the pulse wave detection process should be ended has been acquired from the external device (S122). When a process end instruction signal indicating the process end instruction is transmitted from the external device to the communication circuit in response to the subject's input, instruction acquiring unit 26 determines that the process end instruction has been acquired (S122-YES).

[0053] If it is determined by the instruction acquisition unit 26 that a processing end instruction has not been acquired (S122-NO), the timer unit 29 starts counting a predetermined standby time (S123). The standby time is determined based on the energy conversion efficiency and area of ​​the solar cell 13, and the power consumption of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control device 20. The standby time may be, for example, five minutes.

[0054] Next, when the timer 29 has finished timing the atmospheric time, the power supply control unit 27 starts supplying power supply voltage to the first pulse wave sensor element 16a (S102). Thereafter, steps S102 to S123 are repeated until it is determined that the instruction acquirer 26 has acquired an instruction to end the process (YES in S122). When it is determined that the instruction acquirer 26 has acquired an instruction to end the process, the pulse wave detection process ends.

[0055] (Actions and Effects of the Sensor Device According to the Embodiment) Sensor device 1 has solar cell 13 that can generate power and supply the generated power to power storage element 15, so that it can acquire a biological signal from the subject even while power storage element 15 is being charged.

[0056] Furthermore, in the sensor device 1, the solar cells 13 are flexible and film-type, and are arranged over the entire outer surface of the base 10a of the base 10, so that even a ring-shaped sensor device 1 with a small surface area can generate a large amount of power. Note that the solar cells 13 do not have to be arranged over the entire outer surface of the base 10a of the base 10, and there may be portions of the outer surface of the base 10a where the solar cells 13 are not arranged. The portion of the outer surface of the base 10a where the solar cells 13 are not arranged is preferably 20% or less of the outer surface of the base 10a, more preferably 10% or less, and even more preferably 5% or less.

[0057] The sensor device 1 also has two first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b that use near-infrared light, which is easily affected by exercise. Even if one of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b fails to detect a pulse wave due to the effects of exercise, the other of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b may still be able to detect a pulse wave, thereby reducing the possibility of failing to detect a pulse wave. In addition to the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, the sensor device 1 also has a second pulse wave sensor element 17 that uses green light, further reducing the possibility of failing to detect a pulse wave.

[0058] In addition, the sensor device 1 further includes an acceleration sensor element 18 that detects acceleration, so that the influence of acceleration caused by movement can be removed from the pulse wave detected by the pulse wave sensor element using the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor element 18.

[0059] Furthermore, in the sensor device 1, the second pulse wave sensor element 17 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b, so there is little risk that near-infrared rays emitted from one of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b will be incident on the other of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b. The sensor device 1 can reduce the risk of noise being generated by near-infrared rays emitted from one of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b being incident on the other of the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b.

[0060] Furthermore, in the sensor device 1, the acceleration sensor element 18 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor element 16a and the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and the control device 20 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor element 16a and the second pulse wave sensor element 17. Because the acceleration sensor element 18 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor element 16a and the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the near-infrared rays emitted from the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b are unlikely to be incident on the second pulse wave sensor element 17. Because the sensor device 1 has a low risk of near-infrared rays being incident on the second pulse wave sensor element 17, the risk of noise being generated by near-infrared rays being incident on the second pulse wave sensor element 17 is also low. Furthermore, the green light emitted from the second pulse wave sensor element 17 is unlikely to be incident on the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b. In the sensor device 1, there is a low risk that near-infrared light will be incident on the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and therefore there is a low risk that noise will be generated when green light is incident on the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b.

[0061] (Modification of the sensor device according to the embodiment) Although the sensor device 1 detects a pulse wave, the sensor device according to the embodiment may detect other biological information than a pulse wave, such as vital information including body temperature, pulse rate, respiration, and blood pressure, brain waves, and blood glucose levels, instead of a pulse wave. The sensor device according to the embodiment may also detect information about a subject. For example, the sensor device according to the embodiment may detect the position of the subject, the concentration of a specific compound in the atmosphere surrounding the subject, data related to the subject's sense of taste, or data related to the subject's sense of smell. The sensor device according to the embodiment may be equipped with a sensor element according to the detected data.

[0062] The sensor device according to the embodiment may be equipped with an actuator such as a robot, a piezoelectric element, or a motor in addition to the sensor element. The sensor device according to the embodiment may be equipped with an actuator instead of the sensor element. The sensor device according to the embodiment may be equipped with an active element other than the sensor element and the actuator.

[0063] Furthermore, although the sensor device 1 has the solar cell 13, which is a perovskite solar cell, the sensor device according to the embodiment may have a power generating element other than the solar cell 13 instead of the solar cell 13. The sensor device according to the embodiment may have a power generating element that generates power by vibration or rotation, a rectenna, a temperature difference power generating element, or a biopower generating element instead of the solar cell 13.

[0064] Furthermore, although the sensor device 1 has the power storage element 15 which is a film-type lithium ion battery, the sensor device according to the embodiment may have a power storage element other than the power storage element 15 instead of the power storage element 15. The sensor device according to the embodiment may have a button-type lithium ion battery or an SMD-type all-solid-state battery instead of the power storage element 15.

[0065] Furthermore, although the sensor device 1 has a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b and a second pulse wave sensor element 17, the sensor device according to the embodiment may have at least one pulse wave sensor element. The number of pulse wave sensor elements included in the sensor device according to the embodiment is determined depending on the biological information and biological reaction of the subject estimated from the detected pulse wave.

[0066] Furthermore, although the sensor device 1 includes the acceleration sensor element 18, the sensor device according to the embodiment may not include the acceleration sensor element 18. Furthermore, the sensor device according to the embodiment may include, instead of the acceleration sensor element 18, a sensor element capable of measuring a physical quantity used to correct the detected pulse wave.

[0067] Furthermore, in the sensor device 1, the acceleration sensor element 18 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor element 16a and the second pulse wave sensor element 17, and the control device 20 is disposed between the first pulse wave sensor element 16b and the second pulse wave sensor element 17. However, in the sensor device according to the embodiment, the power management device 14, the acceleration sensor element 18, and the control device 20 may be disposed in other positions.

[0068] For example, in the sensor device according to the embodiment, one of the acceleration sensor element 18 and the control device 20, together with the power management device 14, may be disposed between the first pulse wave sensor elements 16a and 16b and the second pulse wave sensor element 17. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1. Sensor device 10 Foundations 11 Outer protection material 12 Inner protection material 13 Solar cell (power generating element) 14 Power management device 15 Energy storage element 16a, 16b First pulse wave sensor element 17 Second pulse wave sensor element 18 Acceleration sensor element 20 Control device

Claims

1. a ring-shaped base that can be worn on the subject's finger; at least one sensor element disposed on the base and configured to acquire a biological signal from a subject; a control device disposed on the base and controlling the at least one sensor element; a power generating element disposed on the base, generating power and supplying the generated power to the at least one sensor element and the control device; a power storage element disposed on the base and configured to store the power generated by the power generating element; an inner protective member formed of an insulating material and disposed radially inward of the base relative to the at least one sensor element, the control device, the power generation element, and the power storage element; an outer protective member disposed radially outward of the at least one sensor element, the control device, the power generating element, and the power storage element; A sensor device comprising:

2. the power generating element is a flexible solar cell that is disposed radially outward of the sensor element and the control device and generates electric power in response to irradiation with light, The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer protective material is made of a light-transmitting material.

3. 3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element includes a pulse wave sensor element that detects a pulse wave of the subject and outputs a pulse wave signal indicative of the detected pulse wave to the control device.

4. The pulse wave sensor element includes: a pair of first pulse wave sensor elements each having a near-infrared light emitting element that emits near-infrared light; a second pulse wave sensor element having a green light emitting element that emits green light and disposed between the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements; The sensor device of claim 3 , comprising:

5. The sensor device according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one sensor element further includes an acceleration sensor element that detects acceleration and outputs an acceleration signal indicative of the detected acceleration to the control device.

6. The sensor device according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the acceleration sensor element and the control device is disposed between the pair of first pulse wave sensor element and second pulse wave sensor element.

7. the acceleration sensor element is disposed between one of the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements and the second pulse wave sensor element; The sensor device according to claim 6 , wherein the control device is disposed between the other of the pair of first pulse wave sensor elements and the second pulse wave sensor element.

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