Body temperature estimation device and body temperature estimation method

Abstract

This body temperature estimation device comprises: a visible-light transmissive member; an wearing member; a sensor; and a processing unit. The visible-light transmissive member transmits visible light but reflects infrared light. The wearing member is worn by a wearer. The wearing member holds the visible-light transmissive member in position so that the visible-light transmissive member is in front of the wearer's eyes. The sensor detects infrared light which is emitted from the wearer wearing the wearing member and which is reflected by the visible-light transmissive member. The processing unit estimates the body temperature of the wearer on the basis of the infrared light detected by the sensor.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a body temperature estimation device and a body temperature estimation method. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a body temperature estimation device that uses infrared thermography to capture a thermal image and estimates body temperature from the obtained thermal image. Body temperature estimation devices that use thermal images can measure body temperature instantly and without contact. Such body temperature estimation devices are installed at the entrances of commercial facilities and are used for pandemic countermeasures (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] When measuring body temperature using infrared thermography in a situation where people's movements are not fixed, such as installing the above-mentioned body temperature estimation device at the entrance of a commercial facility, there is a risk that some people will not be detected as having a rise in body temperature due to the limited measurement range. On the other hand, there are glasses-type wearable devices (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Jiro Ohta, Eri Hamada, "Introduction of a case study of body surface temperature measurement using infrared thermography from the viewpoint of preventing the spread of influenza," NEC Technical Report, Vol. 62 No. 3, 2009, pp. 87-91 [Non-Patent Document 2] "Use of glasses-type wearable device "bg" for remote training", [online], March 26, 2020, Visionary Holdings Co., Ltd., Internet <URL:https: / / www.visionaryholdings.co.jp / wp / wp-content / uploads / 2020 / 03 / wearable_inflection20200326_2.pdf> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] By attaching a body temperature sensor to a glasses-type wearable device, it is possible to measure the body temperature of the wearer. However, when the sensor is placed on the front side of the glasses-type wearable device, there is a problem that it blocks part of the wearer's field of vision.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a wearable body temperature estimation device and a body temperature estimation method that estimate body temperature while minimizing obstruction of vision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A body temperature estimation device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a visible light transmitting member that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light, a wearing member that is worn by a wearer and holds the visible light transmitting member so that it is positioned in front of the wearer's eyes, a sensor that detects infrared light emitted from the wearer and reflected by the visible light transmitting member, and a processing unit that estimates the body temperature of the wearer based on the infrared light detected by the sensor.

[0008] A body temperature estimation method of one embodiment of the present invention includes an estimation step of detecting infrared rays emitted from a wearer wearing a wearing member that holds a visible light transmitting member that transmits visible light so that the visible light transmitting member is positioned in front of the wearer's eyes and reflected by the visible light transmitting member, and estimating the body temperature of the wearer based on the detected infrared rays. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The present invention makes it possible to estimate body temperature using a wearable body temperature estimation device so as to obstruct vision as little as possible. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a glasses-type wearable device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]1 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the eyes of a wearer of a glasses-type wearable device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a frame unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a processing unit according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of a processing unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a frame unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a body temperature estimation device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the body temperature estimation device according to the embodiment is worn. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] [First embodiment] The body temperature estimation device of the first embodiment is a glasses-type body temperature estimation device. The glasses-type body temperature estimation device reflects the optical path of infrared rays emitted from the face surface of the wearer of the device by glasses lenses. The glasses-type body temperature estimation device has an infrared sensor arranged so as not to obstruct the wearer's field of vision as much as possible. The infrared sensor receives the infrared rays reflected by the glasses lenses. The glasses-type body temperature estimation device estimates the body temperature of the wearer based on the detection value of the infrared sensor.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a glasses-type wearable device 10 according to the present embodiment. The glasses-type wearable device 10 is an example of a body temperature estimation device. The glasses-type wearable device 10 includes glasses lenses 11 and a glasses frame 12.

[0014] The eyeglass lens 11 is a lens that reflects infrared rays. For example, the eyeglass lens 11 is a lens that is generally used for eyeglasses and is coated with a dielectric multilayer film. An example of a dielectric multilayer film coating is a method using a dichroic filter. The eyeglass lens 11 may be a lens for general eyeglasses to which a transparent material that reflects infrared rays is applied or attached. Examples of such materials include paint, film, and extremely thin metal films. Here, the eyeglass lens 11 is a lens for eyeglasses on which an infrared reflective mirror is vapor-deposited. The infrared reflective mirror reflects infrared rays and transmits visible light.

[0015] The eyeglass frame 12 is a typical eyeglass frame equipped with a frame unit 20 shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later. The eyeglass frame 12 holds eyeglass lenses 11. An infrared sensor 13 is disposed on the eyeglass frame 12. The infrared sensor 13 is disposed, for example, on the temples of the eyeglass frame 12. The temples are also called temples, and are the parts where the eyeglasses are placed on the wearer's ears. The infrared sensor 13 is a sensor that detects infrared rays. Infrared rays 50 reflected by the eyeglass lenses 11 are incident on the infrared sensor 13.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the vicinity of the left eye 51 of a wearer of the eyeglass-type wearable device 10. The eyeglass lens 11 transmits visible light 52 and reflects infrared light 50. The infrared light 50 reflected by the eyeglass lens 11 is incident on the infrared sensor 13 arranged on the temple of the eyeglass frame 12. By arranging the infrared sensor 13 on the temple, it is possible to sense the infrared light 50 emitted from the face surface of the wearer while not obstructing the wearer's field of vision. In addition, by arranging the infrared sensor 13 on the temple of the eyeglass frame 12, the infrared sensor 13 can obtain the infrared light 50 of the caruncle part of the wearer from the reflection by the eyeglass lens 11. Since the temperature of the caruncle part is a high value among the surface temperatures of the face, it is possible to estimate the body temperature by obtaining the caruncle temperature. As a result, it is possible to estimate the body temperature of the wearer while wearing the eyeglass-type wearable device 10, without obstructing the wearer's field of vision as much as possible.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the frame unit 20. The frame unit 20 is provided in the eyeglass frame 12 shown in Fig. 1. The frame unit 20 includes a sensing unit 21, a processing unit 22, a transmitting / receiving unit 23, and a power supply unit 24.

[0018] The sensing unit 21 is, for example, the infrared sensor 13 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The sensing unit 21 is a sensor that measures infrared rays from the inner corners of the eyes of the wearer, reflected by the infrared reflection mirror of the eyeglass lens 11. The sensing unit 21 adds a sensor ID to data obtained by measurement and outputs the data to the processing unit 22. The sensor ID is information that identifies the sensor used as the sensing unit 21.

[0019] The processing unit 22 performs signal processing on the data received from the sensing unit 21. The transmitting / receiving unit 23 transmits and receives data to and from an external device wirelessly. Note that the transmitting / receiving unit 23 may transmit and receive data via a wired connection. The transmitting / receiving unit 23 transmits the data processed by the processing unit 22 to the external device. The power supply unit 24 controls the on / off of each part of the frame unit 20.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing unit 22 shown in Fig. 3. The processing unit 22 includes a detection processing unit 31, a control unit 32, and a notification unit 33. The detection processing unit 31 performs signal processing on the data acquired by the sensing unit 21, and detects temperature, time, a sensor ID, and the like. The detection processing unit 31 includes a differential amplifier unit 311, a sub-filter unit 312, a rectifier unit 313, a main amplifier unit 314, a caruncle temperature estimation unit 315, and a body temperature estimation unit 316.

[0021] The differential amplifier unit 311 amplifies the signal. The sub-filter unit 312 removes noise from the signal amplified by the differential amplifier unit 311. The rectifier unit 313 shapes the waveform of the signal from which the noise has been removed by the sub-filter unit 312. The main amplifier unit 314 amplifies the signal from which the waveform has been shaped by the rectifier unit 313. The caruncle temperature estimation unit 315 acquires caruncle temperature data from the signal. The body temperature estimation unit 316 estimates body temperature from the caruncle temperature acquired by the caruncle temperature estimation unit 315.

[0022] The control unit 32 refers to the on / off state of the processing unit 22 by the power supply unit 24 and the sensor ID detected by the detection processing unit 31, and controls the detection processing unit 31 based on the results. The notification unit 33 transmits data detected by the detection processing unit 31 and data indicating the success or failure of detection by the detection processing unit 31 from the transmission / reception unit 23. The notification unit 33 also feeds back information indicating the success or failure of detection by the detection processing unit 31 to the user. For example, the feedback can be, but is not limited to, sound output, lighting of a lamp, display on a display, etc.

[0023] 5 is a flow diagram showing an example of body temperature detection processing by the processing unit 22. The infrared sensor 13 outputs data including a sensor value, a sensor ID, and a detection time of the sensor value. The detection processing unit 31 receives the data output by the infrared sensor 13 (step S1) and performs signal processing on the received data (step S2). Specifically, the differential amplifier unit 311 amplifies the signal, and the sub-filter unit 312 removes noise from the amplified signal. The rectifier unit 313 shapes the waveform of the signal from which the noise has been removed, and the main amplifier unit 314 amplifies the waveform-shaped signal.

[0024] The detection processing unit 31 estimates the body temperature using information obtained from the signal-processed data (step S3). Specifically, the caruncle temperature estimation unit 315 acquires a sensor value from the signal-processed data in step S2, and acquires information on the caruncle temperature based on the acquired sensor value. The body temperature estimation unit 316 estimates the body temperature based on the caruncle temperature acquired by the caruncle temperature estimation unit 315.

[0025] The control unit 32 performs a command output process for outputting the information on the body temperature estimated by the detection processing unit 31 in step S3 to the outside (step S4). As a result, the notification unit 33 transmits the estimated body temperature information to an external device according to the instruction from the control unit 32. The notification unit 33 may transmit the body temperature information together with information on the time acquired by the detection processing unit 31 and the sensor ID. The external device outputs the received information on the body temperature, time, and sensor ID by displaying it on a display, for example. The detection processing unit 31 also provides feedback to the user about the success of the body temperature estimation.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the frame unit 20. The frame unit 20 includes a processor 71, a storage unit 72, a power supply device 73, a communication interface 74, a user interface 75, and a sensor 76. The processor 71 is a central processing unit that performs calculations and control. The processor 71 is, for example, a CPU (central processing unit). The processor 71 reads out and executes a program from the storage unit 72. The storage unit 72 further has a work area and the like when the processor 71 executes various programs. The power supply device 73 supplies power to each unit. The communication interface 74 is for connecting to other devices so as to be able to communicate with them. The user interface 75 is an input device such as a button, or a display device such as a lamp or a display. The sensor 76 is a sensor that detects infrared rays.

[0027] All or part of the functions of the processing unit 22 are realized by the processor 71 reading and executing a program from the storage unit 72. Note that all or part of these functions may be realized using hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0028] When wearing glasses, the glasses lenses prevent infrared rays on the wearer's face surface from being sensed by a thermography camera or the like. Therefore, it is conceivable to sense infrared rays by attaching an infrared sensor to the glasses device. However, it is important for the glasses device to ensure the wearer's field of vision. If an infrared sensor is attached to the front of the glasses device, it will obstruct the wearer's line of sight. Therefore, the glasses-type wearable device 10 of this embodiment reflects infrared rays using the glasses lenses 11 coated with a dielectric multilayer film. Furthermore, the infrared sensor 13 is positioned so that the optical path of the infrared rays is reflected by the glasses lenses 11 and enters the infrared sensor 13. Since humans cannot sense infrared rays, it is possible to sense infrared rays without obstructing visible light, and estimate body temperature based on the detected infrared rays.

[0029] [Second embodiment] The body temperature estimation device of the second embodiment is a face shield type body temperature estimation device. This embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a body temperature estimation device 80. FIG. 7 shows the configuration when viewed from the side worn on the head. The body temperature estimation device 80 includes a shield 81 and a frame 82. The shield 81 covers a part or the whole of the wearer's face. The shield 81 transmits visible light and reflects infrared light. The shield 81 is a commonly used face shield that is coated with a dielectric multilayer film in the same manner as the eyeglass lens 11 of the first embodiment. The shield 81 may also be a commonly used face shield to which a transparent material that reflects infrared light is applied or attached in the same manner as the eyeglass lens 11 of the first embodiment.

[0031] The frame 82 is a member for mounting the body temperature estimation device 80 on the head of the wearer. The frame 82 is a typical face shield frame equipped with the frame unit 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The frame 82 holds the shield 81 so that the shield 81 is positioned in front of the wearer's eyes and face. The infrared sensor 13 of the frame unit 20 is disposed on the frame 82. The infrared sensor 13 is disposed, for example, on a forehead rest 83 of the frame 82. The forehead rest 83 is a cushioning member for bringing the frame 82 into close contact with the wearer's forehead so that the frame 82 does not slip when the wearer wears the frame 82. The infrared sensor 13 receives the infrared rays 50 reflected by the shield 81.

[0032] 8 is a diagram showing a wearer wearing a body temperature estimation device 80. A shield 81 reflects infrared rays 50 emitted from the face surface of the wearer. The infrared rays 50 reflected by the shield 81 are incident on an infrared sensor 13 arranged on a forehead rest 83 of a frame 82. As a result, there are cases where the infrared rays 50 from the left eye 51 are incident on the infrared sensor 13 in a straight line, and cases where the infrared rays 50 are reflected by the shield 81 and then incident on the infrared sensor 13. The frame unit 20 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0033] By arranging the infrared sensor 13 on the frame 82 that is attached to the head above the eyes, it is possible to obtain infrared rays 50 radiated from the wearer's face from reflection by the shield 81 while not obstructing the wearer's field of vision. In particular, by arranging the infrared sensor 13 on the forehead protector 83 of the frame 82, it is possible to obtain infrared rays 50 radiated from the wearer's caruncle area directly or from reflection by the shield 81. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the wearer's body temperature while wearing the body temperature estimation device 80, without obstructing the wearer's field of vision as much as possible.

[0034] According to the above-described embodiment, the body temperature estimation device includes a visible light transmitting member, a wearing member, a sensor, and a processing unit. The visible light transmitting member transmits visible light and reflects infrared light. For example, the visible light transmitting member is a transparent member. Here, "transparent" means that at least a part of visible light is transmitted. For example, the visible light transmitting member is coated with a dielectric multilayer film. The wearing member is worn by the wearer. For example, the wearing member is worn on the wearer's head. The wearing member holds the visible light transmitting member so that it is positioned in front of the wearer's eyes. The sensor detects infrared light emitted from the wearer and reflected by the visible light transmitting member. The processing unit estimates the body temperature of the wearer based on the infrared light detected by the sensor.

[0035] The body temperature estimation device is, for example, a glasses-type body temperature estimation device. The glasses-type body temperature estimation device includes glasses lenses, a glasses frame, a sensor, and a processing unit. The glasses frame holds the glasses lenses. The sensor detects infrared rays emitted from a person wearing the glasses frame and reflected by the glasses lenses. The processing unit estimates the body temperature of the wearer based on the infrared rays detected by the sensor. For example, the sensor is disposed on the temples of the glasses frame.

[0036] The body temperature estimation device may be, for example, a face shield type body temperature estimation device. In this case, the visible light transmitting member is a shield that covers at least a part of the wearer's face, and the wearing member is a frame that is worn on the wearer's head above the eyes. The sensor is disposed, for example, in a position on the frame near the forehead.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and designs that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10. Glasses-type wearable devices 11 Eyeglass lenses 12 Eyeglass frames 13 Infrared Sensor 20 Frame Unit 21 Sensing section 22 Processing section 23 Transmitter / receiver 24 Power supply section 31 Detection processing section 32 Control section 33 Notification Department 71 Processor 72 Memory section 73 Power supply 74 Communication Interface 75 User Interface 76 Sensors 80 Body temperature estimation device 81 Shield 82 frames 83 Forehead protector 311 Differential amplifier section 312 Sub-filter section 313 Rectifier section 314 Main amplifier section 315 Lacrimal condyle temperature estimation section 316 Body Temperature Estimation Department

Claims

1. a visible light transmitting member that transmits visible light and reflects infrared light; A wearing member that is worn by a wearer and holds the visible light transmitting member so as to be positioned in front of the wearer's eyes; A sensor that detects infrared rays emitted from the wearer and reflected by the visible light transmitting member; A processing unit that estimates a body temperature of the wearer based on the infrared rays detected by the sensor; A body temperature estimation device comprising:

2. the visible light transmitting member is a spectacle lens, The mounting member is a spectacle frame. The body temperature estimation device according to claim 1 .

3. The sensor is disposed on the temple of the eyeglass frame. The body temperature estimation device according to claim 2 .

4. the visible light transmitting member is a shield that covers at least a part of the face of the wearer, The mounting member is a frame mounted on the head of the wearer. The body temperature estimation device according to claim 1 .

5. The sensor is disposed on the frame. The body temperature estimation device according to claim 4.

6. The visible light transmitting member is coated with a dielectric multilayer film. The body temperature estimation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. an estimation step of detecting infrared rays radiated from a wearer wearing a wearing member that holds a visible light transmitting member that transmits visible light so as to be positioned in front of the wearer's eyes and reflected by the visible light transmitting member, and estimating a body temperature of the wearer based on the detected infrared rays; The body temperature estimation method has the following features.

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