Wearable sensors and wearable sensor systems

Abstract

To facilitate the reconfiguration of wearable sensor configurations. [Solution] A wearable sensor to be attached to the human body, comprising a layered body that surrounds the body between the wrist and fingertips, forming at least two layers that overlap at least in part, and at least one sensor provided on at least one of the at least two layers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable sensor having a sensor for measuring operations related to fingers such as finger movements, and a wearable system for collecting and processing information measured by the wearable sensor.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, in the world, there are many countries where the declining birthrate and aging population are progressing or are expected to progress in the future. In Japan, due to the effects of population decline and aging, for example, in the industrial field, the number of skilled workers is decreasing. Therefore, the transfer of technology from skilled workers to novice workers has become an urgent issue. Many of the skills possessed by skilled workers require a long time to acquire. Therefore, it is required to measure the movements of workers, digitize them, and utilize the digitized data to understand the know-how in work. In addition, it is required to shorten the period required for technology transfer. Also, in fields other than the industrial field, it is possible to measure the actions performed by people and utilize them for technology transfer.

[0003] There are various means for measuring the movements of workers, and one effective means is a method in which workers wear sensors and perform work. Regarding the method of performing work while wearing sensors, the utilization of a sensor glove that can visualize the movements of the hands and fingertips where the proficiency level of the worker is particularly likely to appear by a sensor can be mentioned.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a data glove including a glove body, a first strain sensor and a second strain sensor disposed in a region corresponding to the vicinity of the middle finger interphalangeal joint on the dorsal side of at least one finger from the first finger to the fifth finger of the glove body, wherein the first strain sensor is configured to detect the expansion and contraction in the proximal-distal direction of the region, and the second strain sensor is configured to detect the expansion and contraction in the left-right direction of the region.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-125931 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The method described in Patent Document 1 is thought to be able to capture the bending and straightening of fingers in three dimensions and accurately. However, in manufacturing, for example, there are various types of movements that workers perform. The items to be measured and the types of sensors to be used differ depending on the type of movement. Items to be measured include, for example, the bending and straightening of fingers, the pressure on the hand, the acceleration when moving the hand, and the sound generated when performing the work. Sensors to be used include, for example, strain sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, and microphones. With gloves specialized for using specific sensors, such as the data glove disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to freely change the sensors used in order to change the items to be measured according to the various movements of the worker.

[0007] The objective is to provide wearable sensors and wearable sensor systems that allow for easy reconfiguration of sensor configurations, enabling the measurement of numerous hand movements in various fields, including industrial sectors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A typical example of a means for solving the problems of the present invention is as follows: a wearable sensor to be attached to the human body, characterized by comprising a layered body that surrounds the body between the wrist and fingertips and forms at least two layers that overlap at least in part, and at least one sensor provided on at least one of the at least two layers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wearable sensor according to the present invention allows the use of two or more layers in an appropriate combination depending on the application, from among the multiple layers on which the sensor is provided. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] An example of an overall configuration diagram for a wearable sensor system. [Figure 2] A diagram showing combinations of gloves as multiple layers. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example configuration of the sensor data acquisition unit. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of an operation screen for selecting a glove combination in a wearable sensor system. [Figure 5] This diagram shows an example of the screen configuration for displaying measurement data from a wearable sensor in a wearable sensor system. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating an example of combining wearable sensors as multiple layers. [Figure 7] This diagram shows an example of storing sensors in the pocket portion of a wearable sensor as a layer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as examples. Note that the examples described below are not intended to limit the invention as defined in the claims, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the examples are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0012] [Example 1] By using wearable sensors to measure and quantify workers' movements, and utilizing this quantified data, it becomes easier to understand the nuances of the work. Furthermore, this can shorten the time required for knowledge transfer.

[0013] Figure 1 shows an example of an overall configuration diagram of a wearable sensor system. The wearable sensor system 1 may include a wearable sensor 11, a transmitting unit 2, a receiving unit 3, and a sensor data acquisition unit 4.

[0014] The wearable sensor according to Example 1 has a layered body that surrounds the body between the wrist and fingertips, and the layered body has at least two layers that overlap at least in part, and at least one of the at least two layers may have at least one sensor.

[0015] Figure 2 shows an example configuration of the wearable sensor 11 according to Example 1. Example 1 is a wearable sensor having the shape of a glove. This glove-shaped wearable sensor is sometimes simply called a sensor glove or just a glove. Furthermore, the use of the wearable sensor according to Example 1, mainly in industrial work, will be described.

[0016] According to Example 1, by making it easy to change the configuration of the wearable sensor, it is possible to easily change the functions that the wearable sensor has. In Example 1, multiple gloves can be prepared, each having at least one sensor selected from multiple sensors. By using the glove that is suitable for the task to be measured from among these multiple gloves, the configuration of the wearable sensor can be easily changed. In addition, gloves without sensors can be used together with gloves that have sensors.

[0017] In other words, by combining multiple gloves with different functions to configure a wearable sensor, the function of the wearable sensor can be changed by changing the combination of gloves. The wearable sensor 11 in Example 1 may have an inner glove 12 and an outer glove 13 as at least two layers that overlap at least in part, and which are part of a layered body surrounding the body between the wrist and fingertips.

[0018] The inner glove 12 has a sensor 21, a wiring 22, and a printed circuit board 23. The number of sensors included in the inner glove 12 is at least one or more, and multiple types of sensors may be used simultaneously. In FIG. 2, only some of the sensors 21 are labeled, but the large black circles may indicate the sensors 21. Regarding the wiring 22 as well, only some of the wirings are labeled, but it is understood that the line connecting the sensor 21 and the printed circuit board 23 is the wiring 22. In FIG. 2, for the wearable sensor 11, the sensor 21, the wiring 22, the printed circuit board 23, and the button 14 to be described later, which are included in the inner glove 12, are located inside the outer glove, but are drawn with solid lines for the sake of clarity in the figure. The material of the inner glove 12 may be various materials such as a film, cloth, or leather material made of natural or synthetic materials. Also, the inner glove 12 may be made by sewing or adhering cloth, or may be formed using a mold from a material.

[0019] Depending on the motion of the measurement subject who wears the wearable sensor and performs the work, the items to be measured and the types of sensors to be used are different. Therefore, it is desirable to select a glove having an appropriate sensor according to the way the measurement subject moves. The items to be measured are, for example, finger bending and stretching, the pressure applied to the hand, the acceleration when moving the hand, and the working sound, etc. The sensors to be used are, for example, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a microphone, etc.

[0020] Here, to summarize, the sensor may specifically be a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, a distance measuring sensor, a contact sensor, a temperature sensor, a Hall element, and a microphone. Regarding the sensor and the notification unit, arrangement examples are shown in Table 1 for the inner layer and the outer layer of at least two layers of the wearable sensor.

[0021]

Table 1

[0022] Furthermore, we will now provide an example of a task and explain the types of sensors necessary to measure the worker's movements during that task.

[0023] One example of a task is painting. In painting, the worker holds a spray gun and moves it left and right, and up and down, while spraying paint. The speed of movement of the spray gun is changed as needed. During this time, the amount of paint sprayed is adjusted with the trigger. In training for painting work, it is necessary to convey the techniques and skills of experienced workers to learners, but these techniques are difficult to convey verbally. When applying the wearable sensor according to the present invention to painting work, if a glove-shaped layered body is used as shown in the wearable sensor 11, the pressure sensor should be attached to the fingertip of the glove worn by the worker on the hand that operates the spray gun, in most cases to the fingertip of the index finger. In addition, the microphone, which acts as a sensor, should be attached, for example, to the back of the hand of the glove corresponding to the hand that operates the spray gun. Furthermore, the inertial sensor should be attached to the back of the hand of the glove corresponding to the hand that operates the spray gun. By arranging the sensors in this way, the relationship between the timing and force of pulling the trigger can be measured by the pressure sensor. The amount of paint sprayed can be measured from the perspective of sound by the microphone. Furthermore, the inertial sensor can measure the timing and speed of swinging the spray gun from side to side, etc. By using the measurement results obtained when a skilled worker performs painting work with the wearable sensor according to the present invention, learners can compare the results with those of their own work to learn how to operate the spray gun effectively.

[0024] Another example of a task is the installation of connectors in network construction work. In maintenance work in the information technology field, errors such as misinserting or misconnecting connectors can have a significant impact, including data loss. There are situations where reducing such errors is a challenge. In connector installation work, the worker connects a male connector to a female connector. An example of applying the wearable sensor according to the present invention to connector installation work will be described. As shown in wearable sensor 11, when a glove-shaped layered body is used, the sensors can be attached as follows. That is, the pressure sensor is attached to the fingertips of the glove worn on the hand that the worker holds the connector, often corresponding to the index finger and thumb. The microphone, as a sensor, is attached, for example, to the back of the hand of the glove corresponding to the hand that holds the connector. In addition, the inertial sensor is attached to the back of the hand of the glove corresponding to the hand that holds the connector. By attaching the sensors in this way, when installing a connector, the force applied to the connector can be measured by the pressure sensor, the sound when the connector is mated can be measured by the microphone, and the movement of the hand can be measured by the inertial sensor. By using the measurement results obtained when a skilled worker performs connector attachment work with the wearable sensor according to the present invention, learners can learn how to properly attach connectors by comparing the results with those measured for their own work.

[0025] Let's continue the explanation of the wearable sensor 11.

[0026] Wiring 22 may also be the wiring connecting sensor 21 and printed circuit board 23. Wiring 22 may be a cable, part of printed circuit board 23, or a separate printed circuit board from printed circuit board 23. In Figure 2, each wiring is represented by a single line for simplification of the diagram, but this is for convenience only and does not limit the actual number of wires. Wiring 22 may also transmit the output of sensor 21 to the printed circuit board. In addition, wiring 22 may supply the power necessary for the operation of the sensor from battery 25.

[0027] The printed circuit board 23 is a printed circuit board electrically connected to the wiring 22, and sensor data may be aggregated on the printed circuit board 23. The printed circuit board 23 may also be made of a flexible circuit board, or any device that integrates sensor outputs, not limited to a printed circuit board. A battery 25 may be placed on a part of the printed circuit board 23. The printed circuit board 23 may also have functions implemented to process sensor data through calculations, and functions to determine whether or not a task has been performed and whether or not it has been performed based on the sensor data. Here, what is simply called sensor data may mean data output or output by a sensor provided on a wearable sensor. This is the same in the following explanation unless otherwise specified.

[0028] The power for the sensor 21 and the transmitter 2 may be supplied from a battery 25 provided on the printed circuit board 23, or from outside the glove. Alternatively, the power may be supplied from batteries that are located within the sensor 21 and the transmitter 2 themselves.

[0029] The wearable sensor according to Embodiment 1 may have at least one notification unit in at least one of its two layers. The notification unit may notify the worker wearing the wearable sensor or those around them. For example, it may have an LED display, a vibration motor, and a speaker or other sound-producing unit to convey awareness to the worker based on the data collected by the wearable sensor 11. Here, the LED display, vibration motor, and sound-producing unit constitute the notification unit. The LED display, vibration motor, and sound-producing unit may inform the worker when the work motion measured by the sensor attached to the wearable sensor 11 exceeds the allowable error compared to reference data while the worker is training or learning about work using the wearable sensor 11. Alternatively, they may notify the worker when the work motion measured by the sensor attached to the wearable sensor 11 is within the allowable error compared to reference data. By having a notification unit in this way, it is possible to convey awareness that can lead to work improvement to the worker using this wearable sensor.

[0030] In the wearable sensor according to Example 1, at least two layers may have different functions. For example, the inner glove 12 may have electrical functions such as sensing by the sensor and notification by the notification unit, as well as functions inherent to the material of the layered body. For example, the inner glove 12 as a layered body may be formed using a rubber material. Since rubber material is waterproof, it can have a waterproof function to prevent the sensor from being damaged by the worker's sweat.

[0031] The outer glove 13 may be a glove worn over the inner glove 12. The outer glove 13 may have at least one function different from that of the inner glove 12. Functions of the outer glove may include electrical functions such as sensing by a sensor and notification by a notification unit, as well as, for example, cut resistance, waterproofing, and flame retardancy. Furthermore, the function of protecting the inner glove 12 when the hand wearing the wearable sensor 11 comes into contact with an obstacle may be one of the functions that only the outer glove 13 has and that the inner glove 12 does not. The material of the outer glove 13 can be various, such as a film or cloth made from natural or synthetic materials, or leather. The outer glove 13 may also be made by sewing or bonding cloth, or by molding a material using a mold.

[0032] The wearable sensor according to Example 1 may have at least two layered bodies connected to each other by a fastening member.

[0033] For example, the two layers, the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13, can be fastened together and detached by passing a button 14 through a buttonhole 15. The button 14 may be a fastening member on the inner layer, the inner glove 12. The buttonhole 15 may be a fastening member on the outer layer, the outer glove 13. The button 14 and buttonhole 15 allow the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13 to be easily fastened together and detached.

[0034] Other methods for fastening the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13 may include using hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners, sewing, and adhesives. Furthermore, the position of the fastening member is not limited to the positions of the button 14 and buttonhole 15 shown in Figure 2, i.e., the back of the wrist of the glove. That is, for example, the fingertips of the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13 may be fastened together, or the wrist portions may be fastened together.

[0035] In the embodiments described so far, examples have been shown using two gloves, an inner glove 12 and an outer glove 13, but a configuration in which three or more gloves are layered together is also possible.

[0036] Furthermore, the layered body and the layers of the layered body according to Example 1 do not necessarily have to cover the entire hand from the wrist down like a glove. That is, for example, it may be glove-shaped, but the fingertips may be open, exposing the fingers when worn. Furthermore, it may surround the wrist like a bracelet, surround the fingers like a ring, or surround the fingertips like a finger cot. Moreover, in the wearable sensor according to the present invention, for the layered body surrounding the body, with at least two layers that overlap in at least a part, the side in contact with the body, i.e., the inner layer, and the side outside the body, i.e., the outer layer, the upper and lower layers do not necessarily have to completely overlap. That is, for example, the lower layer may be glove-shaped and the upper layer may be finger cot-shaped, and the relationship between the upper and lower layers may be the opposite.

[0037] Furthermore, in Example 1, the inner glove 12 has a sensor and the outer glove 13 does not have a sensor. However, the opposite may also be true, where the outer glove 13 has a sensor and the inner glove 12 does not, and the essence of the invention remains unchanged even in that case.

[0038] In the wearable sensor according to Embodiment 1, at least two layers on which the sensor is provided may be connected to a transmitting unit that transmits sensor output data, or to a data transmission cable. In Embodiment 1, the wearable sensor 11 may have a transmitting unit 2 on at least one of the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13, and the transmitting unit 2 may transmit the output data of the sensor on at least one of the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13. Also, in Embodiment 1, the wearable sensor 11 may be connected to a data transmission cable that transmits the output data of the sensor on at least one of the inner glove 12 and the outer glove 13. By configuring it in this way, the data measured by the sensor can be sent outside the wearable sensor 11. As a result, the data measured by the sensor may be used in various ways.

[0039] The wearable sensor system according to Example 1 comprises a wearable sensor according to the present invention and a sensor data acquisition unit, wherein the wearable sensor has a transmitting unit and the sensor data acquisition unit has a receiving unit, and it is preferable that the transmitting unit and the receiving unit be able to communicate with each other.

[0040] Figure 1 shows an example of a wearable sensor system according to Embodiment 1. In the figure, the transmitter 2 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 23 and transmits sensor data received from the printed circuit board 23, or data obtained by processing the sensor data, to the receiver 3. The transmitter 2 may correspond to the glove on which a sensor is provided among a plurality of gloves. Each glove on which a sensor is provided may have its own transmitter 2. Alternatively, as will be described later, there may be a single transmitter 2 that transmits the combined output of the sensors on multiple gloves on which sensors are provided. Furthermore, each sensor on each glove may also have its own transmitter 2.

[0041] The method for transmitting data from the transmitting unit 2 to the receiving unit 3 may be a wireless connection, such as a connection via Bluetooth® or WiFi®, or a wired connection using a cable. The transmitting unit 2 may also have a function to process the data sent from the sensor through calculations, and a function to determine whether or not a task has been performed and whether or not it has been performed based on the sensor data. Furthermore, the transmitting unit 2 may be integrated with the printed circuit board 23 and may have a function on the printed circuit board 23 for transmitting sensor data to the receiving unit 3.

[0042] The receiving unit 3 receives data transmitted from the transmitting unit 2 and passes it on to the sensor data acquisition unit 4. The receiving unit 3 may also have a transmitting function as well as a receiving function, and the transmitting unit 2 may also have a receiving function as well as a transmitting function. In other words, the transmitting unit 2 and the receiving unit 3 may each be communication units with communication functions that enable them to send and receive data, and communication may be possible between the two communication units. As a result, for example, they may have a function to light up an LED provided on the printed circuit board 23 of the wearable sensor 11, and a function to send a signal to operate a vibration motor.

[0043] The sensor data acquisition unit 4 may perform various processing on the received sensor output data. The sensor data acquisition unit 4 may, for example, be a PC (Personal Computer) with a processor, memory resources, etc., a general-purpose computer, a cloud server, etc.

[0044] Figure 3 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor data acquisition unit 4. The sensor data acquisition unit 4 may mainly consist of an input unit 31, a receiving unit 32, a storage unit 33, a calculation unit 34, an output unit 35, and a transmission unit 36.

[0045] The function of the sensor data acquisition unit 4 for processing sensor data may be a program stored in its memory resources. The sensor data acquisition unit 4 may process the sensor output data and generate and send a signal to activate a function such as lighting up the LED provided on the printed circuit board 23 of the wearable sensor 11, as described above. Here, the sensor data acquisition unit 4 may, for example, determine whether the work operation measured by the sensor attached to the wearable sensor 11 exceeds the allowable error or is within the allowable error when compared with reference data, and then issue a command to light up the LED.

[0046] Figure 4 shows an example of an operation screen for selecting a glove combination in the sensor data acquisition unit 4, and illustrates an example of the information input to the input unit 31. This operation screen may be displayed on a screen. The screen may also function as an output unit 35, which will be described later.

[0047] According to Example 1, the configuration of the wearable sensor can be easily changed by changing the combination of gloves, so that the items to be measured and the type of sensor to be used can be appropriately selected according to the movement of the worker being measured, i.e., the work being done. For this reason, the sensor data acquisition unit 4 also needs to acquire sensor data in accordance with the combination of gloves. The glove selection area 41 is an area where gloves pre-registered in the system are selected by a pull-down menu or the like. At least one glove can be selected, and there can be any number of gloves, not limited to the example of the operation screen in Figure 4. In addition, when registering gloves, individual gloves before combining multiple gloves, for example, a glove that may be used as an inner glove and a glove that may be used as an outer glove, may be registered. Also, if there is a frequently used combination of gloves, the combined gloves may be registered. The glove selection area 41 may have a function for registering a new glove and a new registration button for that purpose. Furthermore, although the present invention relates to a wearable sensor exemplified by a glove shape, the glove selection area 41 may be extended to include an area for selecting a wearable sensor other than the glove sensor, or for selecting a sensor. The glove combination confirmation area 42 is an area that displays the result of determining whether the glove combination selected in the glove selection area 41 is appropriate. Examples of inappropriate glove combinations include combining an outer glove with another outer glove.

[0048] The receiving unit 32 of the sensor data acquisition unit has an interface for receiving data from the receiving unit 3. Depending on the configuration of the wearable sensor system 1, the receiving unit 3 may be integrated with the receiving unit 32 of the sensor data acquisition unit.

[0049] The storage unit 33 may include, for example, semiconductor memory, flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and other storage resources, and may store various information, including data received from the input unit 31 and the receiving unit 32 of the sensor data acquisition unit, as well as programs executed by the calculation unit 34 and information used for sensor data acquisition and analysis.

[0050] The arithmetic unit 34 may include a processor and perform various processes by executing the program in the storage unit 33. For example, the arithmetic unit 34 may perform calculations on information about glove combinations received from the input unit 31, sensor data received from the receiving unit 32 of the sensor data acquisition unit, or data obtained by processing sensor data. The arithmetic unit 34 can perform calculations for displaying sensor data as a graph, calculations for determining whether or not a task has been performed and whether or not it has been performed, and calculations for generating signals to light up LEDs on the printed circuit board 23 of the wearable sensor 11 and drive a vibration motor, etc.

[0051] The output unit 35 may display graphs, judgment results, etc., on the screen based on the calculation results performed by the calculation unit 34. Furthermore, if the sensor data acquisition unit 4 is used in combination with another system, it may also output information to be passed to that system.

[0052] The transmitting unit 36 ​​can, for example, transmit signals to the receiving unit 3 to light up an LED on the printed circuit board 23 of the wearable sensor 11 and to drive a vibration motor, based on calculations performed by the calculation unit 34. In this case, since the receiving unit 3 sends the transmitted signals to the transmitting unit 2, the transmitting unit 2 and the receiving unit 3 may both be transceivers having both transmitting and receiving functions.

[0053] Figure 5 shows an example of the configuration of the screen for displaying sensor data in the sensor data acquisition unit 4. The screen for displaying sensor data may either update and display the sensor data in real time, or it may display saved sensor data. In this context, "real time" means that the time from when the actions of the worker wearing the wearable sensor are converted into sensor data and displayed on the sensor data acquisition unit 4 is short. A short time may be, for example, within 5 seconds, within 1 second, within 1 millisecond, or within 1 microsecond.

[0054] The connection status confirmation area 43 is an area that indicates whether various connections are made correctly and whether sensor data is being received by the sensor data acquisition unit 4. This area displays that the transmitter 2 and receiver 3 are connected via Bluetooth®, WiFi®, etc., and that the glove is properly connected. Here, various connections may also refer to connections from the sensors attached to the glove to the sensor data acquisition unit 4 via the transmitter 2 and receiver 3. Whether various connections are made correctly can be determined by the number of data received or by the characteristics of the sensor data. That is, it can be determined by whether the number of sensor data corresponding to the number of sensors registered in advance has been received, or whether the sensor data corresponding to the characteristics of the sensors registered in advance has been received.

[0055] The wearable sensor system according to Example 1 may also have a function to output sensing information from a sensor provided on the wearable sensor.

[0056] The wearable sensor system according to Example 1, as shown in Figure 5, may have a function to display and output, for example, sensor data, which is the sensing information of the sensor, and graphs of the results of processing the sensor data, in the graph area 44. The displayed graph may, for example, display the elapsed time of measurement on the horizontal axis and the value obtained by converting the sensor data to an appropriate unit system on the vertical axis. It may also show the results of determining whether or not a task was performed and whether or not it was performed, or it may be a summary of the frequency of the task. Furthermore, the graph area 44 may have a mechanism to display the worker's skill level, or the worker's hand movements may be shown by a figure that mimics the wearable sensor. By displaying the results of work measured by the sensor in a graph in this way, the worker wearing the wearable sensor can objectively understand the results of their own work. The three graphs exemplified in the graph area 44 may be displayed with the time axis aligned, and by displaying them with the time axis aligned, it becomes easier to grasp the timing of the work movements corresponding to each graph. Furthermore, the graph displayed in graph area 44 can be used to compare and display data showing the results of a trainee performing a task with data showing the results of a skilled worker performing the same task. In this way, the nuances of a task that are difficult to put into words can be easily understood visually using graphs, which can also help with communication between trainees and skilled workers.

[0057] According to the wearable sensor of this embodiment, two or more layers can be combined in an appropriate combination depending on the application, from among the multiple layers on which the sensor is provided. This combination makes it easy to prepare a wearable sensor suitable for the application and reduces the total number of types of wearable sensors that need to be prepared.

[0058] [Example 2] In the wearable sensor according to Example 2, the sensors in at least two layers, each having a sensor, may be electrically connected to each other between the two layers.

[0059] Using Figure 6, we will describe Example 2, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. Example 2 is the same as Example 1, except for the points described below.

[0060] Figure 6 shows an example configuration of a wearable sensor 111 according to Embodiment 2 of the wearable sensor according to the present invention. In Embodiment 2, in addition to the inner glove 112, the outer glove 113 may also have a sensor. The outer glove 113 may have a sensor 21, wiring 22, and a printed circuit board 23. The outer glove 113 has at least one type of sensor, and multiple types may be used simultaneously. Also, since the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 are electrically connected, they may each have connectors 124 and 24. Connectors 124 and 24 may be a pair, for example, where the connectors of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 are combined. For example, the connector 124 of the inner glove 112 may be a female connector, and the connector of the outer glove 113 may be a male connector corresponding to connector 124. With the connectors configured in this way, even if the inner glove and the outer glove are changed to gloves with different functions, such as having different sensors, the changed inner glove and outer glove can be connected by the connectors. The wearable sensor is not limited to a configuration consisting of two gloves, an inner glove and an outer glove, but may consist of three or more gloves. In such a configuration of three or more gloves, for example, the innermost glove may have a female connector, and the gloves other than the innermost glove may have male connectors corresponding to that female connector. In this case, the male connector may be a connector in which the back side with the connector pins is a female connector, thereby enabling the connection of three or more gloves. Furthermore, the connectors of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 may each be connected to the transmitting unit 2. Note that the sensor 21 on the inner glove 112 and the sensor 21 on the outer glove 113 display different shapes, but this is simply a distinction between the inner glove and the outer glove, and there is no difference in that they are both sensors.

[0061] In Embodiment 2, as in Embodiment 1, at least two layers on which sensors are provided may be connected to a transmitting unit that transmits sensor output data or to a data transmission cable. In Embodiment 2, the wearable sensor 111 may have a transmitting unit 2 in at least one of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113, and the transmitting unit 2 may transmit the sensor output data from at least one of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, at least two gloves that are layers having sensors may each have a transmitting unit 2 and each may be connected to a data transmission cable.

[0062] Furthermore, in the wearable sensor according to Embodiment 2, the sensors in at least two layered bodies on which sensors are provided may be electrically connected to each other between the two layered bodies. In Embodiment 2, the combined signals from the sensors in the inner glove 112 and the combined signals from the sensors in the outer glove 113 may be wirelessly connected between the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113. Moreover, the individual or combined sensors in the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 may be wirelessly connected to other individual or combined sensors.

[0063] In the case of Example 2, the inner glove 112 and outer glove 113 may be selected so that the combination of sensors for the wearable sensor 111 is appropriate. Appropriate means that the items to be measured and the type of sensor to be used will differ depending on the movement of the worker being measured, i.e., the work, so gloves with sensors that match the movement should be selected. Items to be measured may include, for example, bending and straightening of fingers, pressure on the hand, acceleration when moving the hand, and work sounds, and sensors to be used may include, for example, strain sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, and microphones. For example, if the items to be measured are pressure and work sounds, the inner glove 112 may be a glove with a pressure sensor, and the outer glove 113 may be a glove with a microphone. In this way, by using gloves with different sensors in combination, the combination of sensors can be easily changed by combining gloves according to the application, eliminating the need to create a dedicated wearable sensor for each application. In other words, two or more layers can be combined in an appropriate combination according to the application from among the multiple layered bodies on which sensors are provided. Layered bodies suitable for each application can be easily prepared, reducing the number of layered body types, and thus the total number of wearable sensors, required. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, some sensors are better suited to placement in the inner glove, while others are better suited to placement in the outer glove. For example, a pressure sensor used to measure pressure on the fingertips is best placed in the inner glove, closer to the fingers, because its position relative to the fingers is crucial. On the other hand, a microphone used to record work sounds should be placed on the outer edge of the glove to minimize sound obstruction by the glove's fabric and other materials, making placement in the outer glove more effective. Thus, by preparing gloves in advance, the placement of sensors can be considered according to their characteristics, and a wider range of sensor combinations can be achieved with fewer types of gloves, enabling support for a greater variety of applications.Furthermore, in Example 2, the functions of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 are not limited to sensing functions. For example, the inner glove 112 may have a waterproof function to protect the sensor from the worker's sweat, and the outer glove 113 may have functions such as cut resistance, waterproofing, flame resistance, and anti-slip properties.

[0064] The wearable sensor system according to Example 2 may have a function to confirm that all combinations of layered bodies are valid combinations.

[0065] In Embodiment 2, the glove combination confirmation area 42 may also confirm whether the combination of gloves and sensors to be used together is appropriate. For example, if the same sensor is placed in opposing locations on the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113, the user may be notified that there is redundancy and the glove combination is inappropriate. Also, if the connectors of the inner glove 112 and the outer glove 113 cannot be combined with each other, the user may be notified that the combination of the two gloves is inappropriate.

[0066] The wearable sensor system according to Embodiment 2 may have a function to confirm that the sensor-side communication unit, the data acquisition unit-side communication unit, and all of the layered bodies on which the sensor is provided are electrically properly connected.

[0067] In Embodiment 2, the connection status confirmation area 43 may have a function to confirm whether the transmitter 2, receiver 3, and all gloves having sensors are correctly connected. Here, the transmitter 2 and receiver 3 may both be communication units having transmission and reception functions. The gloves may be connected in a way that the inner glove 112 and outer glove 113 are connected by a connector and the outer glove 113 is connected to the transmitter 2, or the connectors of the inner glove 112 and outer glove 113 are each connected to the transmitter 2. The function to confirm whether elements such as gloves are correctly connected may be implemented in the following way. That is, it may be determined from the number of data received, or from the characteristics of the sensor data. That is, it may be determined from whether the number of sensor data corresponding to the number of sensors registered in advance has been received, or whether the sensor data corresponding to the characteristics of the sensors registered in advance has been received.

[0068] Example 2 may be carried out in conjunction with Example 1 described above.

[0069] [Example 3] The wearable sensor according to Example 3 may have a detachable member on at least one of the sensor and the layer for attaching and detaching the sensor and the layer.

[0070] Using Figure 7, we will describe Example 3, which is a third embodiment of the present invention. Example 3 is the same as Example 1 and Example 2, except for the points described below. Example 3 uses a glove as the layer.

[0071] Figure 7 shows Embodiment 3. Embodiment 3 may involve storing the sensor in the pocket of the glove 51. In Embodiment 3, it is shown as a single glove, but this single glove may be used as one of multiple gloves, such as the inner glove and outer glove in Embodiments 1 and 2. In Embodiment 3, at least one of the multiple gloves constituting the glove 51 has a pocket 16 as a detachable member that stores and detachably holds the sensor and wiring. The pocket 16 may have a structure that can be closed with hook-and-loop fasteners or buttons to prevent the sensor and wiring from falling out. In this way, even when the sensor and wiring are stored in the pocket of the glove, a wearable sensor can be constructed that provides the same effects as Embodiments 1 and 2. The sensor stored in the pocket 16 may also be stored in the same housing as the transmitter 2 and battery 25 before being stored in the pocket 16. The sensor and wiring stored in the pocket 16 may also be electrically connected to other sensors and wiring, and the transmitter 2, as needed, by connectors and wiring. The detachable member does not have to be located only on the glove side as a layer. In other words, the sensor may have a detachable member, which can be used to attach and detach the sensor from the glove. This example may be a clip-shaped attachment for the sensor. Furthermore, the sensor and the glove may each have hook-and-loop fasteners, which can be used to attach and detach them. By configuring it as in Example 3, the sensor can be easily attached to and detached from the layer. As a result, by preparing only a small number of gloves, which are the layers, many types of wearable sensors can be constructed. Also, as mentioned above, Example 3 may be implemented together with Examples 1 and 2.

[0072] As described above, examples of embodiments of the present invention have been explained using the first, second, and third embodiments. However, these embodiments do not limit the invention to the scope of the claims, and not all of the elements and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, although the object of measurement was described as a task in these embodiments, any action involving hand or finger movement, such as sports or playing a musical instrument, can be the subject of the present invention.

[0073] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such specific configurations and includes various modifications and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the attached claims.

[0074] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the components can be modified and implemented in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0075] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes various modifications and equivalent configurations within the spirit of the attached claims. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all the described configurations. Furthermore, some of the configurations of one embodiment may be replaced with those of another embodiment. Furthermore, configurations of other embodiments may be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, some of the configurations of each embodiment may be added, deleted, or replaced with those of other embodiments.

[0076] Furthermore, each of the aforementioned configurations, functions, processing units, and processing means may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits, or they may be implemented in software by having a processor interpret and execute programs that realize each function.

[0077] Information such as programs, tables, and files that implement each function can be stored in memory, hard disks, SSDs (Solid State Drives), or other storage media such as IC cards, SD cards, and DVDs.

[0078] Furthermore, the control lines and information lines shown are those deemed necessary for explanation purposes and do not necessarily represent all control lines and information lines required for implementation. In reality, it can be assumed that almost all components are interconnected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1… Wearable sensor system 2...Transmitter 3... Receiver 4…Sensor data acquisition unit 11, 111... Wearable Sensors 12, 112... Inner Glove 13, 113... Outer Glove 14... Buttons 15... Buttonhole 16…Pocket 21...Sensor 22...Wiring 23…Printed circuit board 24, 124… connectors 25…Battery 31...Input section 32... Receiver 33...Storage section 34...Arithmetic section 35…Output section 36...Transmitter 41…Glove selection area 42…Glove combination confirmation area 43…Connection status check area 44...Graph area 51…Gloves

Claims

1. A wearable sensor that is attached to the human body, A layered body that surrounds the body between the wrist and fingertips, forming at least two layers that overlap in at least part, The system comprises at least one sensor provided in at least one of the at least two layers, A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

2. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, The wearable sensor, at least two of which have different functions, A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

3. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, The two layers are connected to each other by fastening members. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

4. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, The sensor is provided in each of the at least two layers, A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

5. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, The sensor includes at least one of a pressure sensor, strain sensor, acceleration sensor, gyroscope sensor, geomagnetic sensor, distance sensor, contact sensor, temperature sensor, Hall element, and microphone. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

6. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, At least one of the two layers is provided with at least one notification unit. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

7. A wearable sensor according to claim 4, At least two layers on which the aforementioned sensors are provided are connected in a communicative manner. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

8. A wearable sensor according to claim 4, At least two layers on which the sensors are provided are connected to a first transmitting unit or a transmitting cable that transmits the sensing results from the sensors. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

9. A wearable sensor according to claim 1, The sensor and at least one of the at least two layers are provided with a detachable member that detachably holds the sensor to the layer. A wearable sensor characterized by the following:

10. A wearable sensor system, A wearable sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, It comprises a sensor data acquisition unit that collects observation results from the wearable sensor, The wearable sensor has a second transmitting unit, The sensor data acquisition unit has a receiving unit that can communicate with the second transmission unit. A wearable sensor system characterized by the following.

11. A wearable sensor system according to claim 10, The sensor data acquisition unit has a function to confirm the connection between the second transmission unit and the layer on which at least one of the sensors is provided. A wearable sensor system characterized by the following.

12. A wearable sensor system according to claim 10, The sensor data acquisition unit has a function to determine whether the combination of layers on which the sensors are provided is effective. A wearable sensor system characterized by the following.

13. A wearable sensor system according to claim 10, The sensor data acquisition unit has a function to output the sensing results of the sensors provided in the wearable sensor. A wearable sensor system characterized by the following.

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