Breath sensor, breath detection system, breath detection method, and program

Abstract

To provide a breath detection system capable of measuring the carbon dioxide concentration in exhaled breath. [Solution] The exhalation detection system is an exhalation sensor for detecting exhaled air generated by breathing, and comprises: a light-emitting unit that emits light toward a path through which the exhaled air passes; a light-receiving unit that receives at least a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and outputs a light-receiving signal according to the light-receiving result; a breathing information calculation unit that calculates breathing information related to the breathing based on the light-receiving signal; a reliability calculation unit that calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of the breathing information based on the light-receiving signal; an output unit that outputs the breathing information and the reliability level information; a receiving unit that receives the breathing information and the reliability level information from the output unit; a movable unit on which the exhalation sensor is provided and whose position relative to the path is variable; and a notification unit that notifies the receiving unit of information regarding the movable unit according to the reliability level information received by the receiving unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhalation sensor, an exhalation detection system, an exhalation detection method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an "exhalation inspection system capable of measuring the carbon dioxide concentration contained in exhalation." [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-187365 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent No. 5351583 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-003321 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent No. 3627243 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-010292

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exhalation sensor that detects exhalation generated by breathing, the exhalation sensor including a light emitting unit that emits light toward a path through which the exhalation passes, and a light receiving unit that receives at least a part of the light emitted by the light emitting unit and outputs a light reception signal corresponding to a light reception result; a respiration information calculation unit that calculates respiration information regarding the respiration based on the light reception signal; a reliability calculation unit that calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiration information based on the light reception signal; an output unit that outputs the respiration information and the reliability level information; a reception unit that receives the respiration information and the reliability level information from the output unit; a movable unit provided with the exhalation sensor and having a variable position with respect to the path; and a notification unit that notifies information regarding the movable unit according to the reliability level information received by the reception unit.

[0004] In the above exhalation detection system, the reliability calculation unit may calculate the reliability level information based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the light reception signal.

[0005] In any of the above-described exhalation detection systems, the reliability calculation unit may calculate the reliability level information based on the respiratory information.

[0006] In any of the above-described exhalation detection systems, the reliability calculation unit may calculate that the reliability is at a first level if the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a predetermined first range, and may calculate that the reliability is at a second level if the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a second range that is more reliable than the first range.

[0007] Any of the above-described breath detection systems may include a drive control unit that controls the operation of the light-emitting unit based on the confidence level information.

[0008] In any of the above breath detection systems, the confidence level information may include the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal. The drive control unit may control the amount of drive current that drives the light-emitting unit based on the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0009] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the drive control unit may increase the amount of the drive current when the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a predetermined reference value.

[0010] In any of the above-described exhalation detection systems, the respiratory information calculation unit may calculate at least one of the respiratory cycle or length.

[0011] In any of the above-described exhalation detection systems, the output unit may output the confidence level information at a time interval longer than the time interval at which the respiratory information is output.

[0012] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the breath sensor may have a transmitting unit that transmits information via a wired connection.

[0013] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the breath sensor may have a transmitting unit that transmits information wirelessly.

[0014] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the notification unit may notify an instruction to move the movable part according to the confidence level information.

[0015] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the notification unit may visually notify the confidence level information.

[0016] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the notification unit may notify the confidence level information using at least one of sound or vibration.

[0017] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the path through which the exhaled air passes may be a path in an open space.

[0018] In any of the above-described breath detection systems, the breath sensor may be of a variable position within the open space.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides an exhalation detection method for detecting exhaled air generated by respiration, comprising the steps of: emitting light directed toward a path through which the exhaled air passes; receiving at least a portion of the emitted light and outputting a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result; calculating respiration information relating to the respiration based on the light-receiving signal; calculating reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiration information based on the light-receiving signal; and outputting the respiration information and the reliability level information.

[0020] In a third aspect of the present invention, a program is provided which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to control a light-emitting unit to emit light toward a path through which exhaled air passes, to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit, to control a light-receiving unit to output a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result, to calculate respiratory information related to respiration based on the light-receiving signal, to calculate reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the light-receiving signal, and to output the respiratory information and the reliability level information.

[0021] Note that the above summary of the invention does not list all the features of the present invention. Also, sub - combinations of these feature groups can also be inventions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] Shows an overview of the configuration of the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 2A] Shows an example of signal processing. [Figure 2B] Shows an example of a determination signal calculated from the light - receiving signal ratio and the baseline shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] Shows an example of the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 3B] Shows a modified example of the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 4] Shows an example of the light - emitting unit 110. [Figure 5] Shows an overview of the configuration of the exhalation detection system 10. [Figure 6A] Shows an example of the operation of the exhalation detection system 10. [Figure 6B] Shows an example of the operation of the exhalation detection system 10. [Figure 6C] Shows an example of the operation of the exhalation detection system 10. [Figure 7A] Shows an example of the usage state of the headset 500 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 7B] Shows an example of the usage state of the headset 500 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 7C] Shows an example of the usage state of the headset 500 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 8] Shows an example of the head - mounted display 600 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 9A] Shows an example of the clip - type device 800 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 9B] Shows an example of the usage state of the clip - type device 800 equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. [Figure 9C]An example of the usage state of a clip-type device 800 equipped with a breath sensor 100 is shown. [Figure 10] The following shows an overview of the configuration of the breath sensor 100 and the calculation device 700. [Figure 11] An example of a computer 1000 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0024] Figure 1 shows an overview of the configuration of the breath sensor 100. The breath sensor 100 comprises a light-emitting unit 110, a light-receiving unit 120, a respiratory information calculation unit 130, a reliability calculation unit 140, and an output unit 150. The breath sensor 100 may also include a drive control unit 160. Note that the illustrated blocks are functionally separated functional blocks and do not necessarily correspond to the actual device configuration. That is, a block shown as one in this figure does not necessarily have to be composed of one device. Also, blocks shown as separate blocks in this figure do not necessarily have to be composed of separate devices. The same applies to the blocks in other figures.

[0025] The breath sensor 100 detects exhaled air generated by breathing. The breath sensor 100 may detect exhaled air generated by the breathing of a person or a living organism such as a dog or cat. For example, the breath sensor 100 is an NDIR (non-dispersive infrared) sensor that utilizes the unique absorption wavelength of carbon dioxide contained in exhaled air. However, the type of breath sensor 100 is not limited to this.

[0026] The light-emitting unit 110 emits light directed towards the path through which exhaled air passes. As an example, the light-emitting unit 110 includes an IR-LED. The light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may be infrared light and may include at least the absorption wavelength of carbon dioxide. A portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may pass through the path through which exhaled air passes, while other portions of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may not pass through the path through which exhaled air passes. That is, a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may be directed towards the path through which exhaled air passes, while other portions of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may not be directed towards the path through which exhaled air passes. The light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 may be directed directly towards the path through which exhaled air passes, or it may be directed towards the path through which exhaled air passes via a light guide such as a mirror.

[0027] The light-receiving unit 120 receives at least a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 and outputs a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result. For example, the light-receiving unit 120 includes a photodiode. The light-receiving unit 120 may receive the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 that has passed through the path through which exhaled air passes. The light-receiving unit 120 may receive both the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 that has passed through the path through which exhaled air passes and the light that has not passed through the path through which exhaled air passes. The light-receiving unit 120 may supply a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result to the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140.

[0028] The light receiving unit 120 may supply the processed light-receiving signal according to the light-receiving result to the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140. For example, the light receiving unit 120 may include a processing circuit, and the signal processed by the processing circuit may be supplied to the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140. As another example, the exhalation sensor 100 may include a signal processing unit that processes the light-receiving signal, and the light receiving unit 120 may supply the light-receiving signal according to the light-receiving result to the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140 via the signal processing unit. As yet another example, the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140, which have been supplied with a light-receiving signal according to the light-receiving result, may each perform signal processing.

[0029] As described above, the configuration for processing the received light signal is not particularly limited. However, the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140 may use the received light signal without processing.

[0030] The respiratory information calculation unit 130 calculates respiratory information related to respiration based on the received light signal. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may calculate at least one of the respiratory period or length. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may calculate respiratory information including the duration of exhalation, the duration of inhalation, or the depth of respiration. As carbon dioxide absorbs light, the amount of light received at the absorption wavelength of carbon dioxide decreases. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may calculate respiratory information related to respiration based on the change in the intensity of the received light signal caused by the absorption of light by carbon dioxide. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may supply the calculated respiratory information to the reliability calculation unit 140 and the output unit 150.

[0031] The reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the received light signal. For example, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information based on the signal or signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate reliability level information based on the respiratory information. The reliability calculation unit 140 may supply the calculated reliability level information to the output unit 150.

[0032] The received light signal may contain constant noise. This noise may be environmental noise caused by the temperature or wind in the environment where the breath sensor 100 is installed, or it may be noise caused by the operation of the light-emitting unit 110 or measurement by the light-receiving unit 120. The reliability of the breath information may be higher when the signal strength is greater than the noise intensity, and lower when the signal strength is less than the noise intensity.

[0033] The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate the reliability level information at two or more levels of abstraction. For example, if the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a predetermined first range, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates that the reliability is at the first level. If the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a second range that is more reliable than the first range, the reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate that the reliability is at the second level. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate the reliability level information at two levels of abstraction, three levels of abstraction, or four levels of abstraction. The number of levels of abstraction for the reliability level information calculated by the reliability calculation unit 140 is not particularly limited.

[0034] For example, if the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information at two levels of abstraction, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates that the reliability is at the first level when the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is lower than a predetermined reference value. The reliability calculation unit 140 may also calculate that the reliability is at the second level when the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is equal to or greater than the reference value.

[0035] For example, if the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information using three levels of abstraction, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates the reliability as level 1 if the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is lower than a predetermined first reference value. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate the reliability as level 2 if the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is greater than or equal to the first reference value but less than a predetermined second reference value. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate the reliability as level 3 if the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is greater than or equal to the second reference value. The same applies when the number of levels of abstraction is different.

[0036] The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate confidence level information based on at least one of the respiratory period or length included in the respiratory information. For example, the reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate confidence level information by comparing the variance of the respiratory period or length obtained from multiple measurements with a predetermined reference value. For example, if the variance of the respiratory information is large and the variation is large, the reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate that the reliability of the respiratory information is low as the confidence level information.

[0037] The output unit 150 outputs respiratory information and confidence level information. The output unit 150 may output respiratory information and confidence level information to other elements constituting the exhalation detection system 10, which will be described later. The output unit 150 may output respiratory information and confidence level information to a headset equipped with the exhalation sensor 100, to a head-mounted display equipped with the exhalation sensor 100, or to a clip-type device equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. The output unit 150 may be provided in the headset equipped with the exhalation sensor 100, the head-mounted display equipped with the exhalation sensor 100, or the clip-type device equipped with the exhalation sensor 100. In this case, the output unit 150 may output respiratory information and confidence level information to an external computer to which each device equipped with the exhalation sensor 100 is connected by wire and / or wirelessly. The headset, head-mounted display, and clip-type device may constitute at least a part of the exhalation detection system 10.

[0038] The output unit 150 is an example of a transmitter that transmits information via a wired connection. The output unit 150 is also an example of a transmitter that transmits information wirelessly. However, the breath sensor 100 may also have a transmitter separate from the output unit 150.

[0039] The output unit 150 may output confidence level information at a time interval longer than the time interval at which it outputs respiratory information. For example, the output unit 150 may output respiratory information at a time interval of several hundred milliseconds. The time interval at which the output unit 150 outputs respiratory information may be periodic or aperiodic. The output unit 150 may output confidence level information at a time interval of several seconds. The time interval at which the output unit 150 outputs confidence level information may be periodic or aperiodic.

[0040] The output unit 150 may have multiple output terminals. The output unit 150 may output respiratory information and confidence level information from different output terminals. For example, the output unit 150 may output confidence level information from a first output terminal and respiratory information from a second output terminal different from the first output terminal.

[0041] When a breath sensor is incorporated into an existing system or device to constitute a breath detection system, the existing system or device may need to determine the reliability of the breath information in order to position the breath sensor in a suitable location for breath detection. In other words, when a breath sensor is incorporated into an existing system or device, the existing system or device may need to be reconfigured to determine the reliability of the breath information. Alternatively, if a breath sensor is simply incorporated into an existing system or device, the reliability of the breath information may not be determined, and the breath sensor may remain installed in a location where the reliability of the breath information is low.

[0042] The breath sensor 100 in this example includes a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates confidence level information and an output unit 150 that outputs confidence level information. This makes it easy to install the breath sensor 100 in a suitable location for breath detection, even when the breath sensor 100 is mounted on an existing system or device to constitute a breath detection system 10. The operation of the breath detection system 10 for installing the breath sensor 100 in an appropriate location will be described later.

[0043] Furthermore, in the breath sensor 100 of this example, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information at two or more levels of abstraction, and the output unit 150 outputs the reliability level information. This makes it possible to transmit reliability level information with a smaller amount of information than when raw data is output. For example, even when the breath sensor 100 is installed in an existing system or device to constitute a breath detection system 10, the need for information processing on the existing system or device side can be reduced, so the breath sensor 100 can be easily installed in an existing system or device.

[0044] The drive control unit 160 may control the driving of the light-emitting unit 110 based on confidence level information. For example, the confidence level information includes the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal. In this case, the drive control unit 160 may control the amount of drive current that drives the light-emitting unit 110 based on the signal-to-noise ratio. As an example, the drive control unit 160 increases the amount of drive current when the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a predetermined reference value.

[0045] For example, if the signal-to-noise ratio is lower than a predetermined reference value, the noise is too high to accurately calculate the respiration information, resulting in low reliability of the respiration information. In this case, the drive control unit 160 increases the amount of drive current, which strengthens the signal intensity of the received light signal and improves the signal-to-noise ratio. This improves the reliability of the respiration information. The drive control unit 160 may also increase the drive speed that drives the light-emitting unit 110.

[0046] As another example, the drive control unit 160 may reduce the amount of drive current when the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds a predetermined reference value. When the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds a predetermined reference value, the reliability of the respiratory information is high. In this case, the drive control unit 160 can reduce power consumption by reducing the amount of drive current. The drive control unit 160 may also reduce the drive speed that drives the light-emitting unit 110.

[0047] Figure 2A shows an example of signal processing. As described above, signal processing may be performed by the processing circuit included in the light receiving unit 120, by the signal processing unit provided in the breath sensor 100, or by the respiratory information calculation unit 130 and the reliability calculation unit 140, respectively.

[0048] In this specification, the signal received by the light receiving unit 120 from the light-emitting unit 110 that has passed through the path through which exhaled air passes is referred to as the first received signal IR1, and the signal received by the light receiving unit 120 from the light-emitting unit 110 that has not passed through the path through which exhaled air passes is referred to as the second received signal IR2. In Figure 2A, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the ratio of the intensity of the first received signal to the second received signal. In this specification, the ratio of the intensity of the first received signal to the second received signal is referred to as the received signal ratio. In addition, the intensity of the first received signal may simply be referred to as the first received signal, and the intensity of the second received signal may simply be referred to as the second received signal. By taking the ratio of the first received signal to the second received signal, it is possible to correct for changes in the light output of the light-emitting unit 110 or output fluctuations due to temperature.

[0049] In this example, we will explain the case where the ratio of the received signals of the first and second received signals is used, but the second received signal is not required. Instead of the ratio of received signals, the signal value of the first received signal may be used. In this case, the term "ratio of received signals" may be read as "first received signal." That is, when the first received signal is used instead of the ratio of received signals, the same processing described in this specification for the ratio of received signals may be performed on the first received signal.

[0050] Signal processing for the light-receiving signal ratio may include noise reduction using a low-pass filter and may include baseline calculation. The baseline is the signal waveform due to factors other than carbon dioxide (disturbances) contained in the exhaled breath. The baseline is the waveform obtained by reducing or excluding the component due to carbon dioxide concentration from the waveform shown by the solid line in Figure 2A. The baseline may include the component of the intensity of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 and the fluctuating component due to factors other than changes in carbon dioxide concentration. When the exhaled breath sensor 100 detects exhaled breath, the temperature of the light-emitting unit 110 and the light-receiving unit 120 changes depending on the temperature of the exhaled breath, and the characteristics of the light-emitting unit 110 and the light-receiving unit 120 may change. The baseline may be a signal waveform that includes the effects of such characteristic changes but does not include the effects of carbon dioxide. The baseline due to disturbances whose frequency is outside the respiratory cycle may also include the effects of humidity or degradation of the elements.

[0051] For example, the baseline may be calculated by filtering represented by an infinite impulse response (IIR). Other examples include the use of a moving average filter (MA), a weighted moving average filter (WMA), a finite impulse response filter (FIR), or a Butterworth filter. If signal variability is small, the baseline may also be calculated based on signal values ​​from data during periods when breathing is not occurring.

[0052] In Figure 2A, the solid line represents the light-receiving signal ratio, and the dotted line represents the baseline. Because the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit 120 decreases due to carbon dioxide absorption, the light-receiving signal ratio decreases when the exhalation sensor 100 detects exhalation. Since exhaled air quickly diffuses into the air, the light-receiving signal ratio increases (recovers) immediately after decreasing. In Figure 2A, the fluctuation in the light-receiving signal ratio between 12 and 25 seconds corresponds to breathing. Each dip in the light-receiving signal ratio corresponds to one breath. In the example in Figure 2A, five dips appear in the waveform of the light-receiving signal ratio, indicating the light-receiving signal ratio over five breaths.

[0053] Figure 2B shows an example of a decision signal calculated from the received signal ratio and baseline shown in Figure 2A. Signal processing for the received signal ratio may include signal processing to remove the baseline from the received signal ratio. Removing the baseline may mean subtracting the baseline value at each time from the signal value at that time. By removing the baseline, changes in the signal value due to factors other than carbon dioxide in exhaled breath can be corrected, and more accurate measurements can be performed. In this specification, the signal after removing the baseline from the received signal ratio may be referred to as the decision signal.

[0054] Since the judgment signal represents the signal component due to exhalation, the judgment signal when exhalation is absent ideally coincides with the reference point (IR1 / IR2=0). Conversely, when exhalation is present, the judgment signal is ideally smaller than the reference point.

[0055] In Figure 2B, the solid line represents the judgment signal obtained by removing the baseline from the received signal ratio, and the dashed line represents a predetermined judgment threshold. For example, the breath sensor 100 determines that breath has been detected when the signal value is lower than the predetermined judgment threshold.

[0056] The respiratory information calculation unit 130 calculates respiratory information based on the received light signal. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may calculate respiratory information based on the determination signal. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may calculate at least one of the respiratory period or length. For example, the respiratory information calculation unit 130 calculates at least one of the respiratory period or length based on the determination signal.

[0057] The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may define the respiratory length as a single continuous period during which the value of the judgment signal is lower than the judgment threshold. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may define the respiratory cycle as the sum of a single continuous period during which the value of the judgment signal is higher than the judgment threshold and a single continuous period during which the value of the judgment signal is lower than the judgment threshold. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may define the respiratory cycle or length as the average value within a predetermined period. By calculating the respiratory cycle or length, it is possible to understand psychological information such as whether the breathing person or pet is excited or relaxed. When measuring the respiratory cycle or length, it is sufficient to compare the value of the judgment signal with the judgment threshold; the amplitude of the judgment signal does not need to be calculated, and the measurement accuracy of the judgment signal value does not need to be high.

[0058] The reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the received light signal. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the judgment signal. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate reliability level information based on the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate reliability level information based on the signal-to-noise ratio of the judgment signal.

[0059] The signal intensity of the received light signal may be the signal intensity of the received light signal relative to the baseline. For example, the signal intensity of the received light signal is the maximum value of the signal intensity of the received light signal relative to the baseline. Alternatively, the signal intensity of the received light signal may be the average value of the peak intensity of the received light signal relative to the baseline. The noise intensity of the received light signal may be the noise intensity relative to the baseline. For example, the noise intensity of the received light signal is the maximum value of the noise intensity relative to the baseline. Alternatively, the noise intensity of the received light signal may be the average value of the peak noise intensity relative to the baseline. The signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal may be the ratio of the signal intensity to the noise intensity. However, the method for calculating the signal-to-noise ratio is not particularly limited. Note that since the judgment signal is obtained by subtracting the baseline value from the received light signal, it is understood that the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal and the signal-to-noise ratio of the judgment signal are substantially the same.

[0060] Figure 3A shows an example of a breath sensor 100. The breath sensor 100 in this example comprises a support member 102 and a calculation unit 104. The light-emitting unit 110, the light-receiving unit 120, and the calculation unit 104 may be attached to the support member 102. In this example, the light-emitting unit 110 is attached to one of the two opposing support members 102, and the calculation unit 104 is attached to the other. In this example, the plane parallel to the main surface of the support member 102 is described as the XY plane, and the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the support member 102 is described as the Z axis direction.

[0061] The light-emitting unit 110 emits light 50 directed toward the path 20 through which exhaled air passes. The light-receiving unit 120 receives at least a portion of the light 50 emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 and outputs a light-receiving signal according to the light-receiving result. In this example, the light-receiving unit 120 may receive both the light 50 emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 that has passed through the path 20 through which exhaled air passes and the light 50 that has not passed through the path 20 through which exhaled air passes.

[0062] The light-receiving unit 120 may include a first light-receiving element 122 attached to a support member 102 to which the calculation unit 104 is attached, and a second light-receiving element 124 attached to the support member 102 to which the light-emitting unit 110 is attached. The first light-receiving element 122 may receive the light 50 emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 that has passed through the path 20 through which exhaled air passes. That is, the first light-receiving element 122 may output a first light-receiving signal IR1. The second light-receiving element 124 may receive the light 50 emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 that has not passed through the path 20 through which exhaled air passes. That is, the second light-receiving element 124 may output a second light-receiving signal IR2.

[0063] Furthermore, the light-receiving unit 120 does not necessarily have a second light-receiving element 124. For example, if a first received signal is used instead of a received signal ratio, the light-receiving unit 120 does not need to have a second light-receiving element 124.

[0064] The breath sensor 100 may include an optical filter 126. The optical filter 126 may be placed in the optical path of the light 50 between the light-emitting unit 110 and the first photo-receiving element 122. In this example, the optical filter 126 is provided on the surface of the first photo-receiving element 122. The optical filter 126 limits the wavelength of the light 50 incident on the first photo-receiving element 122. The optical filter 126 is, as an example, a bandpass filter.

[0065] The sensitivity of the first photodetector 122 may change due to temperature. In a sensitivity curve where the horizontal axis represents the wavelength of light and the vertical axis represents the sensitivity of the first photodetector 122, the effect of temperature appears as a shift in the horizontal axis direction of the sensitivity curve. The sensitivity curve has a wavelength range where the sensitivity value is almost flat. By using the optical filter 126 to allow only light of wavelengths in this range to be incident on the first photodetector 122, the effect on sensitivity can be suppressed even when the temperature of the first photodetector 122 changes.

[0066] The calculation unit 104 performs various calculations on the received light signal. The calculation unit 104 is an IC, for example. The calculation unit 104 may calculate the received light signal ratio, calculate the baseline, and calculate the judgment signal. The calculation unit 104 may function as a respiratory information calculation unit 130 that calculates respiratory information based on the received light signal. The calculation unit 104 may function as a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of respiratory information based on the received light signal. The calculation unit 104 may function as an output unit 150 that outputs respiratory information and reliability level information.

[0067] Figure 3B shows a modified example of the breath sensor 100. This example of the breath sensor 100 differs from the embodiment in Figure 3A in that the light-emitting unit 110, the light-receiving unit 120, and the calculation unit 104 are attached to a common support member 102. In this example, the differences from the embodiment in Figure 3A will be explained in detail, and other aspects may be the same as those of the embodiment in Figure 3A.

[0068] The breath sensor 100 in this example includes a mirror 106. The space between the support member 102 and the mirror 106 may be the path 20 through which the exhaled air passes. In the breath sensor 100 in this example, a portion of the light 50 emitted by the light-emitting unit 110 is reflected by the mirror 106, and the first light-receiving element 122 receives the reflected light 50. With the configuration in this example, the breath sensor 100 can be miniaturized.

[0069] Figure 4 shows an example of the light-emitting unit 110. In this example, a second photodetector 124 is shown together with the light-emitting unit 110. The light-emitting unit 110 may have a light-emitting element 112 and a substrate 114. The substrate 114 may be transparent to light 50. The substrate 114 is, as an example, a GaAs substrate.

[0070] The substrate 114 may have a first main surface 116 and a second main surface 118. The first main surface 116 and the second main surface 118 are two main surfaces that constitute the substrate 114. In this example, the first main surface 116 is the main surface on the positive side in the Z-axis direction, and the second main surface 118 is the main surface on the negative side in the Z-axis direction. The first main surface 116 faces the path 20 through which exhaled air passes.

[0071] The light-emitting element 112 and the second photodetector 124 may be provided on the same substrate. In this example, the light-emitting element 112 and the second photodetector 124 are provided on the second main surface 118 of the substrate 114. The light-emitting element 112 may have a laminated structure of PN junction or PIN junction. By supplying power to the laminated structure, the light-emitting element 112 operates as an LED and emits light 50 with a wavelength corresponding to the band gap of the material of the laminated structure. As an example, the light-emitting element 112 has an InAlSb laminated structure that can output near the absorption wavelength of carbon dioxide.

[0072] A portion of the light 50 travels through the substrate 114, passes through the first main surface 116, and is emitted into the path 20. Meanwhile, another portion of the light 50 travels through the substrate 114, is reflected by the first main surface 116, and enters the second photodetector 124.

[0073] The second light-receiving element 124 receives light 50 that has traveled through the substrate 114. The second light-receiving element 124 receives light 50 that has not passed through the path 20 through which exhaled air passes. This makes it possible to correct changes in the light intensity of the light-emitting element 112 or output fluctuations due to temperature.

[0074] The second photodetector 124 may have a laminated structure. The laminated structure of the second photodetector 124 may be a diode structure with a PN junction or a PIN junction. The laminated structure and materials of the second photodetector 124 may be the same as those of the laminated structure and materials of the light-emitting element 112. This makes it possible to match the temperature characteristics of the second photodetector 124 and the light-emitting element 112.

[0075] Figure 5 shows an overview of the configuration of the breath detection system 10. The breath detection system 10 in this example comprises a breath sensor 100, a receiving unit 200, and a notification unit 300. The breath detection system 10 may include a movable part 400. The breath sensor 100 is the breath sensor 100 described in relation to Figures 1 to 4.

[0076] The breath detection system 10 is a system that detects the user's breath using a breath sensor 100 while application software is running on a computer inside or outside the breath detection system 10. The application software may be a game application or a meeting application. As an example, the breath detection system 10 can investigate the relationship between the user's psychological information and the user's respiratory information by acquiring respiratory information while the application software is running.

[0077] The receiving unit 200 receives respiratory information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100. For example, the receiving unit 200 may receive respiratory information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 using short- and medium-range wireless communication technologies such as infrared communication, Bluetooth®, or Wi-Fi®. The receiving unit 200 may receive respiratory information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 via a communication network such as LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), 5G (5th Generation), 4G (4th Generation), LTE (Long Term Evolution), or WiMAX®. The receiving unit 200 may receive respiratory information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 via a wired connection. The receiving unit 200 may supply the received confidence level information to the notification unit 300.

[0078] The notification unit 300 notifies confidence level information. The notification unit 300 may notify confidence level information visually. The notification unit 300 may notify confidence level information using at least one of sound or vibration. However, the method of notifying confidence level information by the notification unit 300 is not limited to these. The notification unit 300 may notify confidence level information by any method. The method of notifying confidence level information by the notification unit 300 will be described later.

[0079] The movable part 400 may have a variable position relative to the path. For example, the position of the movable part 400 relative to the path can be changed by the user of the breath detection system 10 moving the movable part 400. Alternatively, the breath detection system 10 may include a control unit that can control the movable part 400, and the position of the movable part 400 relative to the path may be changed by the control unit. The breath sensor 100 may be provided on the movable part 400.

[0080] For example, the movable part 400 may be a movable part that connects the sound generating part of the headset to the breath sensor 100. As another example, the movable part 400 may be a clip-type device that can be attached to clothing or the like, like a lapel microphone, to the breath sensor 100. In this case, the position of the movable part 400 relative to the path can be changed by changing the position to which the movable part 400 is attached.

[0081] The notification unit 300 may notify information regarding the movable part 400 according to the confidence level information. The information regarding the movable part 400 may be an instruction to move the movable part 400, or an instruction not to move the movable part 400.

[0082] The notification unit 300 may notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 according to the confidence level information. For example, the notification unit 300 notifies the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 when the reliability of the exhaled information indicated by the confidence level information is lower than a predetermined standard level. The notification unit 300 does not need to notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 when the reliability of the exhaled information indicated by the confidence level information is at or above the standard level.

[0083] For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 is notified by the notification unit 300 to move the movable part 400. The user may move the movable part 400 in response to the notification. The user may move the movable part 400 until the notification unit 300 stops notifying the user to move the movable part 400. In other words, the user may move the movable part 400 until the reliability of the breath information indicated by the reliability level information reaches or exceeds the standard level. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to install the breath sensor 100 in a position suitable for breath detection.

[0084] The notification unit 300 may notify the user not to move the movable part 400, depending on the reliability level information. Even if the reliability of the exhaled breath information indicated by the reliability level information is lower than a predetermined standard level, it may be possible to improve the reliability of the exhaled breath information without moving the movable part 400. For example, the reliability of the exhaled breath information can be improved by increasing the light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit 110 to increase the sensitivity of the exhaled breath sensor 100, or by increasing the measurement frequency of the light-receiving unit 120, etc., through configurations other than the movable part 400. If the reliability of the exhaled breath information can be adjusted by configurations other than the movable part 400, the notification unit 300 may notify the user not to move the movable part 400.

[0085] As another example, the notification unit 300 may, depending on the confidence level information, notify the user to keep the movable part 400 at the position where the reliability of the exhaled breath information indicated by the confidence level information is maximized. If the reliability of the exhaled breath information at that position is higher than a predetermined standard level, the exhaled breath detection system 10 does not need to adjust the reliability of the exhaled breath information. On the other hand, if the reliability of the exhaled breath information at that position is lower than a predetermined standard level, the exhaled breath detection system 10 may improve the reliability of the exhaled breath information by increasing the light emission intensity of the light emission unit 110 to increase the sensitivity of the exhaled breath sensor 100, or by increasing the measurement frequency of the light receiving unit 120, or by other configurations other than the movable part 400.

[0086] As described above, the breath sensor 100 in this example includes a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates reliability level information and an output unit 150 that outputs reliability level information. The breath detection system 10 in this example includes the breath sensor 100, a receiving unit 200 that receives reliability level information, and a notification unit 300 that notifies the user of the reliability level information. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to install the breath sensor 100 in a location suitable for breath detection. In other words, even when a user configures the breath detection system 10 by mounting the breath sensor 100 on an existing system or device, the user of the breath detection system 10 can install the breath sensor 100 in a location suitable for breath detection.

[0087] The breath detection system 10 does not necessarily have to include a movable part 400. In this case, the user of the breath detection system 10 may instruct the drive control unit 160 of the breath sensor 100 based on the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 may instruct the drive control unit 160 to increase the amount of drive current if the reliability of the breath information indicated by the confidence level information is low. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100, even when the user configures the breath detection system 10 by installing the breath sensor 100 in an existing system or device.

[0088] Figure 6A shows an example of the operation of the breath detection system 10. The output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100 outputs breathing information and confidence level information. The receiving unit 200 receives breathing information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100. The receiving unit 200 may receive breathing information and confidence level information using communication technology. The notification unit 300 notifies the confidence level information.

[0089] The notification unit 300 in this example visually notifies the confidence level information. The notification unit 300 may display the confidence level information on a display device as text or an illustration. The notification unit 300 in this example notifies the confidence level information as an illustration. The notification unit 300 may notify the confidence level information by changing the display color of the UI. For example, the notification unit 300 may change the display color of the UI to red when the confidence level information is the first level, change the display color of the UI to yellow when the confidence level information is the second level which is more reliable than the first level, and change the display color of the UI to blue when the confidence level information is the third level which is more reliable than the second level.

[0090] The display device may be an internal component of the breath detection system 10 or an external component of the breath detection system 10. That is, the notification unit 300 visually notifying confidence level information may include the notification unit 300 controlling a display device within the breath detection system 10 to display confidence level information, or the notification unit 300 transmitting a display control signal to a display device outside the breath detection system 10 to display confidence level information.

[0091] In this example, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates reliability level information using four levels of abstraction. The notification unit 300 may notify the user which of the four levels of abstraction the reliability is at as reliability level information. In this example, the notification unit 300 displays an illustration on the display device indicating that the reliability is at level 2.

[0092] The user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 according to the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 until the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300 reaches the third or fourth level. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0093] The notification unit 300 may visually notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400. The notification unit 300 may display the instruction to move the movable part 400 on the display device using text or illustrations. In this example, the notification unit 300 displays the instruction to move the movable part 400 on the display device using the text "Reliability is not high. Please move the movable part 400." The notification unit 300 may also notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 by changing the display color of the UI. For example, the notification unit 300 may change the display color of the UI to red when the reliability of the respiratory information is low and the movable part 400 should be moved, and may change the display color of the UI to blue when the reliability of the respiratory information is high and the movable part 400 does not need to be moved.

[0094] The user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 in response to the instruction to move the movable part 400 notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 moves the movable part 400 until the instruction to move the movable part 400 is no longer notified by the notification unit 300. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0095] Figure 6B shows an example of the operation of the breath detection system 10. The output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100 outputs breathing information and confidence level information. The receiving unit 200 receives breathing information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100. The receiving unit 200 may receive breathing information and confidence level information using communication technology. The notification unit 300 notifies the confidence level information.

[0096] In this example, the notification unit 300 notifies the user of confidence level information using vibration. For example, the notification unit 300 may generate vibration when the reliability of the respiratory information indicated by the confidence level information is lower than a predetermined reference level, and may not generate vibration when the reliability of the respiratory information indicated by the confidence level information is at or above the reference level. The notification unit 300 may notify the user of confidence level information by changing the intensity or period of the generated vibration.

[0097] The vibration may be generated by the notification unit 300 itself vibrating, or by the notification unit 300 vibrating a vibration device inside or outside the breath detection system 10. In other words, the notification unit 300 notifying confidence level information using vibration may include the notification unit 300 vibrating, the notification unit 300 controlling a vibration device inside the breath detection system 10 to vibrate, or the notification unit 300 transmitting a control signal to vibrate a vibration device outside the breath detection system 10.

[0098] The notification unit 300 may use vibration to notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400. For example, the notification unit 300 may generate vibration when the reliability of the respiratory information is low and the movable part 400 should be moved, and may not generate vibration when the reliability is high and the movable part 400 does not need to be moved.

[0099] The user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 in response to vibrations generated by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 until the vibrations generated by the notification unit 300 disappear. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0100] Figure 6C shows an example of the operation of the breath detection system 10. The output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100 outputs breathing information and confidence level information. The receiving unit 200 receives breathing information and confidence level information from the output unit 150 of the breath sensor 100. The receiving unit 200 may receive breathing information and confidence level information using communication technology. The notification unit 300 notifies the confidence level information.

[0101] In this example, the notification unit 300 notifies the confidence level information using sound. The notification unit 300 may notify the confidence level information using a beep sound or using voice. For example, the notification unit 300 may generate a beep sound when the reliability of the respiratory information indicated by the confidence level information is lower than a predetermined standard level, and does not need to generate a beep sound when the reliability of the respiratory information indicated by the confidence level information is at or above the standard level. The notification unit 300 may notify the confidence level information by changing the intensity or period of the beep sound it generates. As another example, the notification unit 300 may notify the confidence level information using voice, such as "The reliability of the respiratory information is level 2."

[0102] The sound may be generated by the notification unit 300 itself, or it may be generated by the notification unit 300 in an acoustic device inside or outside the breath detection system 10. In other words, the notification unit 300 notifying confidence level information using sound may include the notification unit 300 generating sound, the notification unit 300 controlling an acoustic device inside the breath detection system 10 to generate sound, or the notification unit 300 transmitting a control signal to an acoustic device outside the breath detection system 10 to generate sound.

[0103] The user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 according to the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 until the beeping sound generated by the notification unit 300 stops, or until the notification unit 300 notifies the user by voice that the reliability of the respiratory information has reached level 3 or level 4. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0104] The notification unit 300 may notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 using sound. The notification unit 300 may notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 using a beep sound, or it may notify the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 using voice. In this example, the notification unit 300 notifies the user of an instruction to move the movable part 400 using the voice message, "The reliability is not high. Please move the movable part 400." As another example, the notification unit 300 may generate a beep sound when the reliability of the respiratory information is low and the movable part 400 should be moved, but may not generate a beep sound when the reliability is high and the movable part 400 does not need to be moved.

[0105] The user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 in response to the instruction to move the movable part 400 notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the breath detection system 10 may move the movable part 400 until the voice instruction to move the movable part 400 from the notification unit 300 stops, or until the beep sound generated by the notification unit 300 stops. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0106] In the explanations relating to Figures 6A to 6C, the notification unit 300 was described as providing notification visually or using sound or vibration; however, the notification unit 300 may provide notification by other means. Similarly, when the notification unit 300 provides notification by other means, the notification unit 300 itself may implement the method, the notification unit 300 may control the internal configuration of the breath detection system 10 to implement the method, or the notification unit 300 may transmit control signals to the external configuration of the breath detection system 10 to implement the method. Furthermore, the notification unit 300 may provide notification by any two or more combinations of visual notification, sound notification, vibration notification, or notification by other means.

[0107] As described above, by installing the breath sensor 100 in an existing system or device equipped with a receiving unit 200 and a notification unit 300, it is easy to encourage the installation of the breath sensor 100 in a location suitable for breath detection. In other words, since the breath sensor 100 in this example is equipped with a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates reliability level information and an output unit 150 that outputs reliability level information, when the breath sensor 100 is installed in an existing system or device equipped with a receiving unit 200 and a notification unit 300, the output unit 150 and the receiving unit 200 are configured to communicate, thereby easily encouraging the installation of the breath sensor 100 in a location suitable for breath detection.

[0108] Figure 7A shows an example of the usage state of the headset 500 equipped with the breath sensor 100. The headset 500 equipped with the breath sensor 100 may constitute part or all of the breath detection system 10.

[0109] The headset 500 comprises a fixed part 510 and a movable part 520. For example, the fixed part 510 is attached to the user's head. The fixed part 510 may have a sound generating part 512 that generates sound. The sound generating part 512 may include a pad portion that contacts the user's ears when the headset 500 is worn, and a speaker provided on the pad portion. The fixed part 510 may have two sound generating parts 512 corresponding to both of the user's ears, and an arm portion 514 connecting the two sound generating parts 512. The fixed part 510 may have a connecting part 516 to which the movable part 520 is attached.

[0110] The movable part 520 is provided to be movable relative to the fixed part 510. That is, at least a portion of the movable part 520 may be able to change its relative position to at least a portion of the fixed part 510. In this example, the movable part 520 has a rod-shaped portion extending from the fixed part 510. The rod-shaped portion may be connected to a connecting portion 516 of the fixed part 510. The rod-shaped portion may be rotatable relative to the fixed part 510 with the connecting portion 516 as the axis of rotation. The movable part 520 may have a sound detection unit 522 provided at the end opposite to the connecting portion 516 for detecting sound. The sound detection unit 522 is, for example, a microphone.

[0111] The breath sensor 100 may be provided on the movable part 520. The breath sensor 100 may be able to change its relative position to the fixed part 510 in accordance with the operation of the movable part 520. In this example, the breath sensor 100 is provided in the vicinity of the sound detection unit 522. By placing the breath sensor 100 in the vicinity of the sound detection unit 522, it becomes easier to place the breath sensor 100 near the user's mouth, thereby improving the reliability of the breath information.

[0112] The headset 500 may include a communication unit capable of communicating with the breath sensor 100. The communication unit is an example of a receiving unit 200. The sound generating unit 512 is an example of a notification unit 300. For example, the sound generating unit 512 may notify confidence level information using sound. The fixed unit 510 is also an example of a notification unit 300. For example, the fixed unit 510 may notify confidence level information using vibration. The movable unit 520 is an example of a movable unit 400. The sound generating unit 512 may notify instructions to move the movable unit 520 using sound. The fixed unit 510 may notify instructions to move the movable unit 520 using vibration.

[0113] If the headset 500 has a notification unit 300, that is, if the sound generating unit 512 and / or the fixing unit 510 functions as the notification unit 300, then the headset 500 equipped with the breath sensor 100 constitutes the entire breath detection system 10. As another example, the breath detection system 10 may further include a display device configured to communicate directly or indirectly with the headset 500. In this case, the display device may function as the notification unit 300. However, the display device may be an external component of the breath detection system 10, in which case the notification unit 300 transmits display control signals to control the display device.

[0114] As yet another example, the headset 500 may include a display unit for displaying information. The display unit is, for example, a head-mounted display connected to the fixed unit 510. The display unit may be movably mounted relative to the fixed unit 510. The breath sensor 100 may be provided on the display unit.

[0115] The path 20 through which the exhaled air passes may be a path in an open space. An open space may be a space through which exhaled air can diffuse freely. For example, if an exhaled air sensor is installed inside a case for defining the exhaled air path, and exhaled air is blown into the case, the path through which the exhaled air passes does not qualify as a path in an open space.

[0116] The breath sensor 100 may have a variable position in an open space. In this example, the breath sensor 100 is provided on the movable part 520 of the headset 500, so its position is variable in an open space. When the breath sensor 100 has a variable position in an open space, the reliability of the breath information may be reduced depending on the position of the breath sensor 100. In this example, the breath sensor 100 includes a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates reliability level information and an output unit 150 that outputs reliability level information. The breath detection system 10 in this example includes the breath sensor 100, a receiving unit 200 that receives reliability level information, and a notification unit 300 that notifies the user of the reliability level information. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to install the breath sensor 100 in a position suitable for breath detection.

[0117] In this example, the breath sensor 100 is placed near the path 20 in an open space. The reliability calculation unit 140 calculates, for example, that the reliability of the breath information is at the highest level 4 as reliability level information. The output unit 150 may output the reliability level information, and the receiving unit 200 (for example, the communication unit of the headset 500) may receive the reliability level information. The notification unit 300 (for example, the fixed part 510 of the headset 500, the sound generating unit 512, or a display device configured to communicate with the headset 500) may notify the reliability level information. Because the reliability of the breath information is high, the notification unit 300 does not need to notify the instruction to move the movable part 400 (for example, the movable part 520 of the headset 500).

[0118] Figure 7B shows an example of the usage state of a headset 500 equipped with a breath sensor 100. In this example, the breath sensor 100 is positioned slightly further from the path 20 in the open space than in the embodiment shown in Figure 7A. The reliability calculation unit 140 calculates, for example, that the reliability of the breath information is level 2, which is lower than level 4, as reliability level information. The output unit 150 may output the reliability level information, and the receiving unit 200 (for example, the communication unit of the headset 500) may receive the reliability level information. The notification unit 300 (for example, the fixed part 510 of the headset 500, the sound generating unit 512, or a display device configured to communicate with the headset 500) may notify the reliability level information. Because the reliability of the breath information is low, the notification unit 300 may notify an instruction to move the movable part 400 (for example, the movable part 520 of the headset 500).

[0119] A user of a headset 500 equipped with a breath sensor 100 may move the movable part 400 in response to confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300, or to instructions to move the movable part 400. For example, the user of the headset 500 may move the movable part 400 until the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300 reaches the third or fourth level, or until instructions to move the movable part 400 are no longer notified. This allows the user of the headset 500 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0120] Figure 7C shows an example of the usage state of a headset 500 equipped with an exhalation sensor 100. In this example, the exhalation sensor 100 is positioned away from the path 20 in an open space. The reliability calculation unit 140 may calculate reliability level information based on the breathing information. In this example, the exhalation sensor 100 may not detect exhalation at all, so whether the reliability of the breathing information is high or not may be a matter that precedes whether the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal is high or not. Therefore, for example, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates the reliability level based on the information that no breathing information is calculated. As an example, the reliability calculation unit 140 calculates that the reliability of the breathing information is the lowest level 1.

[0121] The output unit 150 may output confidence level information, and the receiving unit 200 (for example, the communication unit of the headset 500) may receive confidence level information. The notification unit 300 (for example, the fixed unit 510 of the headset 500, the sound generating unit 512, or a display device configured to communicate with the headset 500) may notify the confidence level information. If the reliability of the breath information is low, the notification unit 300 may notify an instruction to move the movable unit 400 (for example, the movable unit 520 of the headset 500).

[0122] A user of a headset 500 equipped with a breath sensor 100 may move the movable part 400 in response to confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300, or to instructions to move the movable part 400. For example, the user of the headset 500 may move the movable part 400 until the confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300 reaches the third or fourth level, or until instructions to move the movable part 400 are no longer notified. This allows the user of the headset 500 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100.

[0123] As described above, by equipping the existing headset 500 with the breath sensor 100, it is easy to encourage the placement of the breath sensor 100 in a position suitable for breath detection. In other words, the breath sensor 100 in this example includes a reliability calculation unit 140 that calculates reliability level information and an output unit 150 that outputs reliability level information. Therefore, when equipping the breath sensor 100 with an existing headset 500 that has a receiving unit 200 and a notification unit 300, the output unit 150 and the receiving unit 200 are configured to communicate, which makes it easy to encourage the placement of the breath sensor 100 in a position suitable for breath detection.

[0124] Figure 8 shows an example of a head-mounted display 600 equipped with a breath sensor 100. The head-mounted display 600 equipped with the breath sensor 100 may constitute part or all of the breath detection system 10.

[0125] The head-mounted display 600 in this example includes a display unit 610. The breath sensor 100 may be provided in the housing 612 of the display unit 610. The breath sensor 100 may be provided on the surface of the housing 612. In this example, the breath sensor 100 is provided on the bottom surface 614 of the housing 612. If the head-mounted display 600 includes a voice acquisition unit that acquires the user's voice, the breath sensor 100 may be located in the voice acquisition unit, or it may be located in close proximity to the voice acquisition unit.

[0126] The head-mounted display 600 may include a communication unit capable of communicating with the breath sensor 100. The communication unit is an example of a receiving unit 200. The display unit 610 is an example of a notification unit 300. For example, the display unit 610 may visually notify confidence level information. The housing 612 is also an example of a notification unit 300. For example, the housing 612 may notify confidence level information using vibration. In this example as well, the path 20 through which the breath passes may be a path in an open space.

[0127] The head-mounted display 600 in this example does not have any movable parts. That is, the breath detection system 10 does not need to have any movable parts 400. In this case, the drive control unit 160 may control the driving of the light-emitting unit 110 based on confidence level information. Alternatively, the user of the head-mounted display 600 may instruct the drive control unit 160 of the breath sensor 100 based on confidence level information notified by the notification unit 300. For example, the user of the head-mounted display 600 may instruct the drive control unit 160 to increase the amount of drive current if the reliability of the breath information indicated by the confidence level information is low. This allows the user of the breath detection system 10 to improve the reliability of the breath information acquired by the breath sensor 100, even when the user mounts the breath sensor 100 on the head-mounted display 600 to configure the breath detection system 10. However, the head-mounted display 600 may have movable parts, and the breath sensor 100 may be provided on the movable parts.

[0128] Figure 9A shows an example of a clip-type device 800 equipped with a breath sensor 100. The clip-type device 800 equipped with the breath sensor 100 may constitute part or all of the breath detection system 10.

[0129] The clip-type device 800 includes a fastener 810. The clip-type device 800 may be attached to clothing or the like by the fastener 810. The clip-type device 800 is an example of the movable part 400. That is, by changing the position to which the movable part 400 (clip-type device 800) is fastened, the position of the movable part 400 with respect to the path can be changed.

[0130] Figure 9B shows an example of how a clip-type device 800 equipped with a breath sensor 100 is used. The clip-type device 800 may be attached to clothing. In this way, the breath sensor 100 can detect exhaled breath generated by a person's breathing.

[0131] Figure 9C shows an example of the usage state of a clip-type device 800 equipped with a breath sensor 100. The clip-type device 800 may be attached to the collar of a pet such as a dog or cat. In this way, the breath sensor 100 may detect the exhaled breath generated by the breathing of a living organism such as a dog or cat.

[0132] Figure 10 shows an overview of the configuration of the breath sensor 100 and the calculation device 700. In this example, the breath sensor 100 includes a light-emitting unit 110 and a light-receiving unit 120. The breath sensor 100 may also include a drive control unit 160 and a communication unit 170. The calculation device 700 includes a respiratory information calculation unit 730, a reliability calculation unit 740, and an output unit 750. The calculation device 700 may also include a communication unit 710.

[0133] The light-emitting unit 110, the light-receiving unit 120, and the drive control unit 160 may be the same as the light-emitting unit 110, the light-receiving unit 120, and the drive control unit 160 described in relation to Figures 1 to 8. The respiratory information calculation unit 730, the reliability calculation unit 740, and the output unit 750 may be the same as the respiratory information calculation unit 130, the reliability calculation unit 140, and the output unit 150 described in relation to Figures 1 to 8. In other words, the respiratory information calculation unit 130, the reliability calculation unit 140, and the output unit 150 described in relation to Figures 1 to 8 do not necessarily have to be provided as an internal component of the exhalation sensor 100, but may be provided as a component of an external calculation device 700.

[0134] The communication unit 170 may transmit the received light signal output by the light receiving unit 120 to the calculation device 700. For example, the communication unit 170 transmits the received light signal to the communication unit 710 of the calculation device 700. Communication between the communication unit 170 and the communication unit 710 may be communication using short- and medium-range wireless communication technologies such as infrared communication, Bluetooth®, or Wi-Fi®. Communication between the communication unit 170 and the communication unit 710 may be communication via a communication network such as LAN, WAN, 5G, 4G, LTE, or WiMAX®. Communication between the communication unit 170 and the communication unit 710 may be wired communication. The communication unit 170 is an example of a transmitting unit that transmits information via a wire. The communication unit 170 is an example of a transmitting unit that transmits information wirelessly. The light receiving unit 120 may also directly output the received light signal to the calculation device 700. In this case, the light receiving unit 120 is an example of a transmitting unit.

[0135] The communication unit 710 may receive the received light signal. The communication unit 710 may supply the received light signal to the respiratory information calculation unit 730 and the reliability calculation unit 740. The respiratory information calculation unit 730 and the reliability calculation unit 740 may also receive the received light signal directly from the light receiving unit 120 via short-range wireless communication technology, a communication network, or wired communication technology.

[0136] The reliability calculation unit 740 may supply the calculated reliability level information to the communication unit 710. The communication unit 710 may transmit the reliability level information to the communication unit 170. The communication unit 170 may receive the reliability level information. The communication unit 170 may supply the received reliability level information to the drive control unit 160. The drive control unit 160 may control the driving of the light-emitting unit 110 based on the reliability level information.

[0137] As described above, at least some of the components of the breath sensor 100 described in relation to Figures 1 to 8 do not necessarily have to be provided as internal components of the breath sensor 100. The breath sensor 100 may be realized as a composite device that appropriately combines a sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, a control device that controls the driving of the sensor, and a processing device that processes the sensor signal.

[0138] The breath sensor 100 may be provided on the movable part 400. The calculation device 700 may include a receiving unit 200 and a notification unit 300. In other words, the breath detection system 10 may be configured with the breath sensor 100 provided on the movable part 400 and the calculation device 700.

[0139] Other than the breath sensor 100 having a light-emitting unit 110 and a light-receiving unit 120 being provided on the movable unit 400, the configuration is arbitrary. The respiratory information calculation unit 130 may be provided on the breath sensor 100, on the calculation device 700, or on both the breath sensor 100 and the calculation device 700. The same applies to the reliability calculation unit 140, the output unit 150, and the notification unit 300.

[0140] Various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to flowcharts and block diagrams, where a block may represent (1) a stage in a process in which an operation is performed or (2) a section of a device having the role of performing the operation. Specific stages and sections may be implemented by dedicated circuits, programmable circuits supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, and / or processors supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. Dedicated circuits may include digital and / or analog hardware circuits, and may include integrated circuits (ICs) and / or discrete circuits. Programmable circuits may include reconfigurable hardware circuits, including logical AND, logical OR, logical XOR, logical NAND, logical NOR, and other logic operations, flip-flops, registers, memory elements such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), etc.

[0141] Computer-readable media may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions to be executed by a suitable device, and as a result, computer-readable media having instructions stored therein will comprise a product containing instructions that can be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks, diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray (RTM) disk, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0142] Computer-readable instructions may include assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, Java®, C++, and traditional procedural programming languages ​​such as the C programming language or similar programming languages.

[0143] Computer-readable instructions are provided locally or via a wide area network (WAN) such as a local area network (LAN) or the internet to the processor or programmable circuit of a programmable data processing device such as a computer, and may be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Here, the computer may be a PC (personal computer), tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, general-purpose computer, or special-purpose computer, and may also be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system in which multiple computers are connected is also called a distributed computing system and is a computer in a broad sense. In a distributed computing system, multiple computers execute a program collectively by each computer executing a part of the program and passing data during program execution between computers as needed.

[0144] Examples of processors include computer processors, central processing units (CPUs), processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, and microcontrollers. A computer may have one or more processors. In a multiprocessor system with multiple processors, each processor executes a portion of the program, and the processors collectively execute the program by passing program execution data between them as needed. For example, in the execution of multitasking, each of the multiple processors may execute a portion of each task in small chunks by switching tasks at each time slice. In this case, which part of a program each processor executes changes dynamically. Which part of a program each of the multiple processors executes may also be statically determined by multiprocessor-aware programming.

[0145] Figure 11 shows an example of a computer 1000 in which multiple aspects of the present invention may be embodied in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 1000 can cause the computer 1000 to function as an operation or one or more sections of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, or to execute such operation or one or more sections, and / or to cause the computer 1000 to execute a process or a stage of such process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1012 to cause the computer 1000 to perform a particular operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0146] The computer 1000 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1012, RAM 1014, a graphics controller 1016, and a display device 1018, which are interconnected by a host controller 1010. The computer 1000 also includes input / output units such as a communication interface 1022, a hard disk drive 1024, a DVD-ROM drive 1026, and an IC card drive, which are connected to the host controller 1010 via an input / output controller 1020. The computer also includes legacy input / output units such as a ROM 1030 and a keyboard 1042, which are connected to the input / output controller 1020 via an input / output chip 1040.

[0147] The CPU 1012 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1030 and RAM 1014, thereby controlling each unit. The graphics controller 1016 acquires image data generated by the CPU 1012 from a frame buffer provided in RAM 1014 or from itself, and displays the image data on the display device 1018.

[0148] The communication interface 1022 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The hard disk drive 1024 stores programs and data used by the CPU 1012 in the computer 1000. The DVD-ROM drive 1026 reads programs or data from the DVD-ROM 1027 and provides them to the hard disk drive 1024 via the RAM 1014. The IC card drive reads programs and data from the IC card and / or writes programs and data to the IC card.

[0149] The ROM 1030 stores boot programs and / or programs that depend on the hardware of the computer 1000, which are executed by the computer 1000 when activated. The input / output chip 1040 may also connect various input / output units to the input / output controller 1020 via parallel ports, serial ports, keyboard ports, mouse ports, etc.

[0150] The program is provided on a computer-readable medium such as a DVD-ROM 1027 or an IC card. The program is read from the computer-readable medium and installed on a hard disk drive 1024, RAM 1014, or ROM 1030, which are also examples of computer-readable medium, and executed by the CPU 1012. The information processing described within these programs is read by the computer 1000, resulting in coordination between the program and the various types of hardware resources described above. The apparatus or method may be configured to realize the manipulation or processing of information in accordance with the use of the computer 1000.

[0151] For example, when communication is performed between computer 1000 and an external device, CPU 1012 may execute a communication program loaded into RAM 1014 and instruct communication interface 1022 to perform communication processing based on the processing described in the communication program. Under the control of CPU 1012, communication interface 1022 reads transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as RAM 1014, hard disk drive 1024, DVD-ROM 1027, or IC card, transmits the read transmission data to the network, or writes received data received from the network to a receive buffer processing area provided on the recording medium.

[0152] Furthermore, the CPU 1012 may read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored on an external storage medium such as a hard disk drive 1024, a DVD-ROM drive 1026 (DVD-ROM 1027), or an IC card into the RAM 1014, and perform various types of processing on the data in the RAM 1014. The CPU 1012 then writes the processed data back to the external storage medium.

[0153] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored on the recording medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 1012 may perform various types of processing on the data read from RAM 1014, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the program instruction sequence, and write the results back to RAM 1014. The CPU 1012 may also retrieve information in files, databases, etc., within the recording medium. For example, if multiple entries are stored in the recording medium, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, the CPU 1012 may search among the multiple entries for an entry that matches the condition where the attribute value of the first attribute is specified, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in that entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0154] The program or software module described above may be stored on or near computer 1000 on a computer-readable medium. Alternatively, a recording medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable medium, thereby providing the program to computer 1000 via the network.

[0155] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0156] It should be noted that the execution order of operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not explicitly stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that these can be implemented in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operation flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using phrases such as "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the operations in that order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 10 Breath detection system, 20 Path, 50 Light, 100 Breath sensor, 102 Support member, 104 Calculation unit, 106 Mirror, 110 Light-emitting unit, 112 Light-emitting element, 114 Substrate, 116 First main surface, 118 Second main surface, 120 Light-receiving unit, 122 First light-receiving element, 124 Second light-receiving element, 126 Optical filter, 130 Respiratory information calculation unit, 140 Reliability calculation unit, 150 Output unit, 160 Drive control unit, 170 Communication unit, 200 Receiving unit, 300 Notification unit, 400 Movable part, 500 Headset, 510 Fixing unit, 512 Sound generation unit, 514 Arm part, 516 Connection unit, 520 Movable part, 522 Sound detection unit, 600 Head-mounted display, 610 Display unit, 612 Enclosure, 614 Bottom, 700 Calculation unit, 710 Communication unit, 730 Respiratory information calculation unit, 740 Reliability calculation unit, 750 Output unit, 800 Clip-type device, 810 Fastener, 1000 Computer, 1010 Host controller, 1012 CPU, 1014 RAM, 1016 Graphics controller, 1018 Display device, 1020 Input / Output controller, 1022 Communication interface, 1024 Hard disk drive, 1026 DVD-ROM drive, 1027 DVD-ROM, 1030 ROM, 1040 Input / Output chip, 1042 Keyboard

Claims

1. A breath sensor that detects exhaled air generated by breathing, A light-emitting unit that emits light toward the path through which the exhaled air passes, A light receiving unit that receives at least a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and outputs a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result, A breath sensor having, A respiratory information calculation unit calculates respiratory information related to the respiration based on the light reception signal, A reliability calculation unit calculates reliability level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the signal or signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal, An output unit that outputs the aforementioned respiratory information and the aforementioned confidence level information, A receiving unit that receives the respiratory information and the confidence level information from the output unit, The exhalation sensor is provided, and the movable part has a variable position relative to the path, A breath detection system comprising: a notification unit that notifies information regarding the movable part in accordance with the confidence level information received by the receiving unit.

2. The reliability calculation unit calculates the reliability level information based on the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

3. The reliability calculation unit calculates the reliability level information based on the respiratory information. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

4. The reliability calculation unit uses the following as the reliability level information: If the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a predetermined first range, the reliability is calculated to be at the first level. If the reliability of the respiratory information falls within a second range that is more reliable than the first range, the reliability is calculated to be at the second level. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

5. The system includes a drive control unit that controls the operation of the light-emitting unit based on the aforementioned confidence level information. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned confidence level information includes the signal-to-noise ratio of the received light signal, The drive control unit controls the amount of drive current that drives the light-emitting unit based on the signal-to-noise ratio. The breath detection system according to claim 5.

7. The drive control unit increases the amount of the drive current when the signal-to-noise ratio falls below a predetermined reference value. The breath detection system according to claim 6.

8. The respiratory information calculation unit calculates at least one of the respiratory cycle or length. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

9. The output unit outputs the confidence level information at a time interval longer than the time interval at which the respiratory information is output. The breath detection system according to claim 1.

10. The breath sensor has a transmitting unit that transmits information via a wire. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The breath sensor has a transmitting unit that transmits information wirelessly. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The notification unit notifies an instruction to move the movable part according to the confidence level information. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

13. The notification unit visually notifies the confidence level information. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

14. The notification unit notifies the confidence level information using at least one of sound or vibration. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

15. The path through which the exhaled air passes is a path in an open space. A breath detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

16. The exhalation sensor has a variable position within the open space. The breath detection system according to claim 15.

17. A method for detecting exhaled air generated by breathing, A step of emitting light toward the path through which the exhaled air passes, The steps include receiving at least a portion of the emitted light and outputting a light reception signal corresponding to the light reception result, A step of calculating respiratory information related to respiration based on the received light signal, A step of calculating confidence level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information based on the received light signal, A step of outputting the respiratory information and the confidence level information, Equipped with Method for detecting exhaled breath.

18. When executed by a computer, the computer The light-emitting part is controlled to emit light directed towards the path through which exhaled air passes. The light receiving unit receives at least a portion of the light emitted by the light-emitting unit and controls the light receiving unit to output a light-receiving signal corresponding to the light-receiving result. Based on the aforementioned light signal, respiratory information related to respiration is calculated. Based on the received light signal, confidence level information indicating the reliability of the respiratory information is calculated. Output the aforementioned respiratory information and the aforementioned confidence level information. program.

Images