Sensor Device

Abstract

To provide a sensor device which can perform appropriate sensing and reduces a skin disorder or the like.SOLUTION: A sensor device 10 includes: a housing part 20 which houses at least a motion sensor part 512 and has a contact surface 21 contactable with a skin 110 of a user 100 and a connection object part 27 that is different from the contact surface 21; an attachment part 30 which is attached to an edge part 121 of a garment 120 holding the sensor device 10 with the contact surface 21 of the housing part 20 contacting the skin 110; and a connecting mechanism 40 which is connected to the connection object part 27 and the attachment part 30, prevents a relative movement of the housing 20 and the attachment part 30 in a contact direction perpendicular to the contact surface 21, but when external force of magnitude capable of relatively moving the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21 acts on the housing part and the attachment part, allows, limited within a certain range, a relative movement of the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 in the in-plane direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there have been provided sensor devices that can be attached to clothing such as training pants or a waist belt to measure and analyze exercise form and exercise pace. For example, the sensor device shown in Patent Document 1 has a clip attached to the acceleration sensor, and can be attached to the back using a waist belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-99413 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A sensor device can detect body movements more reliably by wearing a housing equipped with a sensor element such as an acceleration sensor close to the body. Therefore, in conventional sensor devices, the housing is sometimes worn in close contact with the skin. In this case, when the clothing clipped to the device moves relative to the skin during exercise, the housing also moves relative to the skin, causing friction between the housing and the skin, which can lead to skin irritation.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device that can perform appropriate sensing and reduce skin roughness and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A sensor device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing portion that houses at least a sensor element and has a contact surface that can come into contact with a user's skin and a connecting portion that is different from the contact surface; an attachment portion that is attached to a holding member that holds the sensor device with the contact surface of the housing portion in contact with the user's skin; and a connecting mechanism that is connected to the connecting portion and the attachment portion and that prevents relative movement between the housing portion and the attachment portion in a contact direction that is approximately perpendicular to the contact surface, and that allows relative movement between the housing portion and the attachment portion within a certain range in an in-plane direction that is approximately parallel to the contact surface when an external force of a certain magnitude is applied that causes the housing portion and the attachment portion to move relative to each other in the in-plane direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sensor device that can perform appropriate sensing and reduce skin roughness and the like. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1A] 1 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from a second clip portion side. [Figure 1B] 1 is a perspective view of a sensor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the side on the lock component side. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a user wears a sensor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a control block diagram of a sensor device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4A] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor device according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, illustrating a state in which no external force is applied to the connecting mechanism in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface. FIG. [Figure 4B] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor device according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, showing a state in which an external force is applied to the connecting mechanism in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface, causing the mounting portion and the housing portion to move relative to each other. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a connection mechanism of the sensor device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6A] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2, showing a state in which no external force is applied to the connecting mechanism in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface. [Figure 6B] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sensor device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the cross section IV-IV in FIG. 2, showing a state in which an external force is applied to the connecting mechanism in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface, causing the mounting part and the housing part to move relative to each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. A sensor device 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes a housing 20, an attachment 30, and a connecting mechanism 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor device 10 can be attached to the body of a user 100 by clipping an edge 121 (a waist elastic portion or a holding member) of clothing 120 (training pants in FIG. 2) worn by the user 100 with the clip-shaped attachment 30, and by bringing a contact surface 21 (see FIG. 1B) of the sensor device 10 into contact with skin 110 in the waist region of the user 100. When the user 100 performs an exercise such as running, the sensor device 10 derives index data (described below) that represents the exercise state of the user 100 during the exercise using a motion sensor 512 (described below) included in the sensor device 10, and the derived index data is transmitted to an external device (not shown). In the following description, when the sensor device 10 is worn on the body of the user 100, the head side is the top and the leg side is the bottom, and the left and right sides are the left and right directions. As shown in Figure 4, the ventral side is the front and the back side is the back, and the front-to-back direction is the front and the back. In the following description, rotation in both directions is referred to as rotation.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the sensor device 10 has a box-like shape that is a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the vertical direction. The mounting portion 30 has a clip-like shape. The mounting portion 30 has a first clip portion 31 on the front side (housing portion 20 side) and a second clip portion 32 on the rear side. The first clip portion 31 and the second clip portion 32 both have a substantially flat plate shape with their planes facing in the front-to-rear direction and are connected by a hinge portion 35 provided on the upper side of the mounting portion 30. The hinge portion 35 has a rotation shaft 35a. The rotation shaft 35a is inserted through an axial hole of a first bearing 31a protruding from the upper rear surface of the first clip portion 31 and an axial hole of a second bearing 32a protruding from the upper front surface of the second clip portion 32, thereby rotatably connecting the first clip portion 31 and the second clip portion 32. A torsion coil spring 35b (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) is wound around the pivot shaft 35a in approximately the center in the left-right direction. The torsion coil spring 35b biases the first clip portion 31 and the second clip portion 32 in a direction in which the portions below the pivot shaft 35a approach each other, and by clamping an edge portion 121 of clothing 120, the sensor device 10 can be fixed to the body of the user 100 via the clothing 120. In addition, a rear surface of the first clip portion 31 and a front surface of the second clip portion 32 are provided with a plurality of protrusions 31b, 32b, respectively, and when the clothing 120 is clamped, the protrusions 31b, 32b can bite into and clamp the clothing 120.

[0011] A locking component 36 is provided above the second clip portion 32. The locking component 36 has a flat main body 36a with a protrusion 36b provided on the front surface thereof. Furthermore, elongated engagement holes 36c (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) are provided on both the left and right sides of the protrusion 36b. The rotation shaft 35a is inserted into and engages with the engagement holes 36c. Meanwhile, a push-up protrusion 31c is provided on the upper rear surface of the first clip portion 31 facing the locking component 36. The locking component 36 is provided on the second clip portion 32 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction (approximately the vertical direction) of the elongated engagement hole 36c. When the user 100 operates the locking component 36 to move downward, the protrusion 36b comes into contact with and rides up on the push-up protrusion 31c. Even if the first clip portion 31 attempts to approach the second clip portion 32 above the pivot shaft 35a (i.e., even if the first clip portion 31 and the second clip portion 32 attempt to open), the protrusion 36b abuts on the push-up protrusion 31c, preventing the first clip portion 31 from approaching the second clip portion 32. In this way, the second clip portion 32 is locked from rotating about the pivot shaft 35a relative to the first clip portion 31. The locking component 36 can be unlocked by moving the locking component 36 upward to release the protrusion 36b from riding up on the push-up protrusion 31c. Once unlocked, the second clip portion 32 becomes rotatable about the pivot shaft 35a.

[0012] The housing 20 has a generally rectangular box-like shape that is long in the vertical direction and thick in the front-to-rear direction, and serves as a case for housing the circuit board 50 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), a battery (not shown) that serves as a power source, and the like. The front surface of the housing 20 is a contact surface 21 that can come into contact with the skin 110 of the user 100, and the rear surface of the housing 20 faces the front surface of the first clip portion 31 with a small gap between them. The contact surface 21 is flat, but may also be curved. In this specification and the claims, "substantially perpendicular" includes not only intersecting at 90 degrees but also intersecting within a certain error range from 90 degrees. The top surface of the housing 20 is provided with a button switch 24 as an operation unit 518 and two LEDs 251 and 252. By pressing the button switch 24, the user 100 can perform operations such as turning on the power to the sensor device 10 and starting detection by the motion sensor unit 512, and the status of the sensor device 10, such as the operating mode, is displayed by the light emission state of the LEDs 251 and 252. A lid 26 that covers a USB terminal (not shown) is provided on the underside of the housing 20.

[0013] Next, a control circuit of the sensor device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The housing 20 of the sensor device 10 is provided with a first processing unit 510 and a motion sensor unit 512 (see also FIGS. 4A and 4B) mounted on the substrate 50, as well as a display unit 516 and an operation unit 518, and a memory unit 514, an environmental information detection unit 522, and a communication unit 524 disposed inside the substrate 50 and the housing 20. The motion sensor unit 512, the memory unit 514, the display unit 516, the operation unit 518, the environmental information detection unit 522, and the communication unit 524 are each connected to the first processing unit 510 via a bus BS. The attachment unit 30 of the sensor device 10 is also provided with a second processing unit 520 and an antenna 530. In this embodiment, the second processing unit 520 and the antenna 530 are mounted on the second clip unit 32 of the attachment unit 30 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

[0014] The antenna 530 is connected to the first processing unit 510 via a signal line 51 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), a communication unit 524, and a bus BS, and is also connected to the second processing unit 520 via the signal line 51. The antenna 530 can output a signal received from an external device to the first processing unit 510 and the second processing unit 520 via the signal line 51 and the communication unit 524. The antenna 530 is also configured to be able to output a transmission signal to the external device via the communication unit 524 controlled by the first processing unit 510. In this way, the antenna 530 can communicate with the external device. Examples of such external devices include terminal devices such as smartphones and positioning satellites related to the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System).

[0015] The first processing unit 510 is configured with at least one processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer, and executes various processes by reading out programs stored in the storage unit 514. The storage unit 514 is configured with at least one memory such as a flash memory or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). The storage unit 514 stores system programs and application programs executed by the first processing unit 510, data required for executing these programs, and the like.

[0016] The motion sensor unit 512 includes sensor elements such as a three-axis acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor, and is capable of detecting the movement of the sensor device 10 as the movement of the waist of the user 100 wearing the sensor device 10, and the detected detection signal is output to the first processing unit 510. The sensor element may be not only a sensor element that detects user motion information such as the movement of a certain part of the user's body, such as the waist, but also a sensor element that detects biological information such as the user's pulse wave, blood oxygen concentration, blood glucose level, etc. In other words, it is sufficient if it is a sensor element that detects user information.

[0017] The display unit 516 includes, for example, LEDs 251 and 252 provided on the housing 20. The operation unit 518 includes, for example, the button switch 24, and an operation signal representing the operation state of the button switch 24 by the user 100 is output to the first processing unit 510. The light emission states of the LEDs 251 and 252 are controlled by the first processing unit 510 in accordance with the operation signal representing the operation state of the button switch 24 by the user 100.

[0018] The second processing unit 520 includes a large scale integration (LSI) having a CPU, memory, a filter, a modem, etc., and is connected to the first processing unit 510 via a signal line 51. The second processing unit 520 is also capable of deriving location information data of the sensor device 10 based on a signal received from a positioning satellite via the above-mentioned antenna 530, and outputs the derived location information data to the first processing unit 510 via the signal line 51. The environmental information detection unit 522 includes, for example, a barometric pressure sensor that measures the barometric pressure at the location where the sensor device 10 is located, and outputs a detection signal by the environmental information detection unit 522 to the first processing unit 510.

[0019] The communication unit 524 includes a circuit that transmits and receives signals to and from an external device (terminal device) via the antenna 530 using a predetermined wireless communication method, and this circuit has a filter, an amplifier, and a modulator / demodulator. The predetermined wireless communication method is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) according to version 4 or later of Bluetooth (registered trademark). The communication unit 524 performs signal processing on a transmission signal input from the first processing unit 510, amplifies and modulates the signal, and transmits the signal to the external device (terminal device) via the antenna 530. The communication unit 524 also performs demodulation, amplification and signal processing on a received signal received from the external device via the antenna 530, and outputs the signal to the first processing unit 510.

[0020] The first processing unit 510 executes various processes based on the detection signal from the motion sensor unit 512, the position information data from the second processing unit 520, and the detection signal from the environmental information detection unit 522, thereby deriving index data representing the motion state of the user 100, such as the speed, pitch, stride, and up-and-down movement of the hips of the user 100 while running or walking, and transmits the derived index data as a transmission signal to an external device (terminal device) via the communication unit 524. The external device performs a motion analysis of the user 100 based on the transmitted index data.

[0021] 4A and 4B, the connectable portion 27 of the housing 20 and the first clip portion 31 of the attachment portion 30 are connected to each other by a connecting mechanism 40. The connectable portion 27 is provided on the rear side of the upper end of the housing 20, which is a surface different from the contact surface 21, and has a housing portion 27a that partially houses the connecting mechanism 40. The housing portion 27a has a concave shape that opens rearward, and one flange portion 42 (described later) of the connecting mechanism 40 is fixed to a wall portion 27a1 of the connectable portion 27 that defines the bottom of the front end of the housing portion 27a. The wall portion 27a1 is provided with a through-hole 27a2 that penetrates in the front-to-rear direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting mechanism 40 has a generally bobbin-like shape and is provided with a through-hole 41. The connecting mechanism 40 has a generally cylindrical external force absorbing portion 45 integrally provided between two annular plate-shaped flange portions 42. The external force absorbing portion 45 includes a plurality of plate-shaped rubber materials 45a stacked on top of each other in the axial direction of the axis CL. Specifically, the external force absorbing portion 45 has annular plate-shaped rubber materials 45a and annular plate-shaped resin materials 45b alternately stacked on top of each other. The outer circumferential ends of the plurality of rubber materials 45a and the plurality of resin materials 45b are connected to a tubular portion 45c made of the same rubber material as the rubber material 45a, and the plurality of rubber materials 45a and the plurality of resin materials 45b are integral with the tubular portion 45c.

[0023] Even when a force is applied to the external force absorbing portion 45 of the connecting mechanism 40 in the axial direction indicated by the axis CL, the laminated rubber material 45a and resin material 45b hardly deform in the thickness direction, and therefore the external force absorbing portion 45 does not deform in the axial direction indicated by the axis CL. On the other hand, when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the flange portions 42, 42 of the external force absorbing portion 45, causing them to move relative to each other in a direction in a plane approximately perpendicular to the axis CL, the laminated rubber material 45a and resin material 45b shift relative to each other, and the external force absorbing portion 45 as a whole undergoes shear deformation within a certain range in the in-plane direction. In this way, the dimensions of the external force absorbing portion 45, the elastic modulus of the rubber material 45a, and the like are preset so that when an external force of a certain magnitude acts in a direction in a plane approximately perpendicular to the axis CL (a direction parallel to this plane), the external force absorbing portion 45 can deform within a certain range in this in-plane direction. The certain magnitude of external force is preset through experiments or the like to, for example, a force smaller (slightly smaller) than the force capable of moving contact surface 21 relative to skin 110 when contacted with skin 110 by edge portion 121 as a holding member. This setting is made taking into consideration individual differences in the pressing force with which edge portion 121 presses contact surface 21 against skin 110. Furthermore, the certain range is preset through experiments or the like to, for example, a range of magnitude within which edge portion 121 may move relative to skin 110 while user 100 is exercising.

[0024] The rubber material 45a and the resin material 45b may be alternately laminated as in the present embodiment, or may be arranged such that a plurality of rubber materials 45a or resin materials 45b are disposed between adjacent ones of the other material. The external force absorbing portion 45 may be made of elastic sponge, elastomer, or the like, instead of the rubber material forming the rubber material 45a and the cylindrical portion 45c. The connecting mechanism 40 may also be configured differently, for example, by using a floating connector.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , the connecting mechanism 40 thus formed has one flange 42 fixed to the wall 27a1 of the connected portion 27, and the other flange 42 fixed to the front surface of the first clip portion 31. The connecting mechanism 40 may omit the flange 42 and directly fix the external force absorbing portion 45 to the wall 27a1 and the first clip portion 31. The connecting mechanism 40 is arranged so that the through hole 41 and the through hole 27a2 of the connecting mechanism 40 are substantially coaxial. That is, the axis CL of the connecting mechanism 40 is arranged to extend in the front-rear direction. The signal line 51 from the substrate 50 is inserted and guided through the guide passage 55, electrically connecting the substrate 50 and the antenna 530. The guide passage 55 is composed of the through hole 27a2 provided in the connected portion 27, the through hole 41 of the connecting mechanism 40 (external force absorbing portion 45), and passages such as holes and grooves formed in the mounting portion 30.

[0026] The sensor device 10 is attached to the body by clamping an edge 121 of clothing 120, which is training pants, between a first clip portion 31 and a second clip portion 32 of the attachment portion 30. At this time, the contact surface 21 comes into contact with skin 110 in the waist region of the user 100. Here, the contact surface 21 is pressed against the skin 110 by the fastening force of a holding member, which is the edge 121 of the clothing 120. Therefore, the attachment portion 30 is attached to the edge 121, which is a holding member that holds the sensor device 10 with the contact surface 21 in contact with (pressing against) the skin 110. The connecting mechanism 40 prevents relative movement between the housing portion 20 and the attachment portion 30 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contact surface 21 (hereinafter referred to as the "contact direction"). This contact direction is the front-to-rear direction, which is also the direction in which the housing portion 20 and the edge 121 are aligned and also the pressing direction in which the edge 121 presses the contact surface 21 against the skin 110. On the other hand, when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the housing part 20 and the mounting part 30 in an in-plane direction approximately parallel to the contact surface 21 (i.e., an in-plane direction approximately perpendicular to the axis CL of the connecting mechanism 40), causing the housing part 20 and the mounting part 30 to move relative to each other, the connecting mechanism 40 allows relative movement between the housing part 20 and the mounting part 30 in this in-plane direction within the above-mentioned certain range.

[0027] In this case, when the user 100 exercises while wearing the sensor device 10 as shown in FIG. 4A , the edge 121 of the clothing 120 is pulled by the body in the up-down direction, the left-right direction, the diagonal direction from left to right along the up-down direction, and the diagonal direction from left to right along the up-down direction, i.e., in a plane substantially parallel to the contact surface 21, causing the attachment portion 30, which sandwiches the edge 121, to move in this in-plane direction. However, when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the attachment portion 30 and the housing portion 20 such that they (the attachment portion 30 and the housing portion 20) move relative to each other in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21, the coupling mechanism 40 allows the attachment portion 30 and the housing portion 20 to move relative to each other within the certain range in this in-plane direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B , only the attachment portion 30 moves, and the housing portion 20 does not move substantially, and the contact surface 21 is unlikely to move from its position in contact with the skin 110 of the user 100. Therefore, friction between the contact surface 21 and the skin 110 is reduced. In this specification and claims, the term "in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21" includes not only a direction parallel to the contact surface 21 but also a direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21 within a margin of error.

[0028] On the other hand, relative movement between the mounting part 30 and the housing part 20 in the contact direction (front-rear direction) is prevented by the connecting mechanism 40, and relative movement in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21 does not occur until an external force of a certain magnitude is applied. Therefore, the mounting part 30 and the housing part 20 are integrally connected by the connecting mechanism 40.

[0029] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B. Sensor device 10A of this embodiment includes a connected portion 27A having two walls 27f, 27g instead of connected portion 27 of sensor device 10 of the first embodiment, and a connecting mechanism 40A having a shaft portion 47 and a flange portion 48 instead of connecting mechanism 40. Therefore, the same members and parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted or simplified.

[0030] The connected portion 27A has two walls 27f, 27g that are aligned inside the housing 20 in a contact direction (front-rear direction) that is approximately perpendicular to the contact surface 21 and extend in an in-plane direction that is approximately parallel to the contact surface 21. The wall 27f is provided inside the housing 20, and the wall 27g is provided on the rear side of the wall 27f with a predetermined distance therebetween. The rear surface of the rear wall 27g is exposed as the rear surface of the housing 20 and faces the front surface of the first clip portion 31 with a slight gap between them. The wall 27g, which is one of the two walls 27f, 27g, is provided with a through-hole 27g1 that penetrates in the contact direction.

[0031] The connecting mechanism 40A has an external force absorbing portion 45A, a shaft portion 47, and a flange portion 48. The external force absorbing portion 45A is fixed to a through-hole 27g1 in the rear wall portion 27g. The external force absorbing portion 45A has elasticity due to a rubber material, sponge, or the like, and has an annular shape with a guide hole 45Aa that penetrates in the contact direction (front-rear direction). The shaft portion 47 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is disposed so that its axis extends in the contact direction. The rear end of the shaft portion 47 is fixed to the front surface of the first clip portion 31 of the mounting portion 30, and the front end is fixed to the rear surface of the flange portion 48. The shaft portion 47 is press-fitted into the guide hole 45Aa of the external force absorbing portion 45A.

[0032] The flange 48 is connected to the shaft 47 and has a generally annular plate shape with a through-hole 48a that penetrates in the contact direction. The flange 48 extends in an in-plane direction generally parallel to the contact surface 21. The shaft hole 47a, which penetrates the cylindrical interior of the shaft 47 in the contact direction, and the through-hole 48a of the flange 48 are coaxially arranged. The front surface of the flange 48 is in sliding contact with the rear surface of the front wall 27f, and the rear surface is in sliding contact with the front surface of the rear wall 27g. Therefore, the flange 48 of the connecting mechanism 40A is clamped between the walls 27f, 27g of the connected part 27A so as to be immovable in the contact direction relative to the housing 20 but movable within the housing 20 in in-plane directions generally parallel to the contact surface 21 (up-down directions, left-right directions, directions diagonal to the left and right of the up-down direction, and directions diagonal to the up-down direction and the left-right direction).

[0033] In addition, a through hole 27g1 may be provided in the front wall portion 27f, the external force absorbing portion 45A may be fixed to this through hole 27g1, and the shaft portion 47, which is provided to extend further forward than the flange portion 48, may be fitted into the guide hole 45Aa of this external force absorbing portion 45A.

[0034] The sensor device 10A has a guide passage 55A for guiding a signal line 51 that electrically connects the substrate 50 and the antenna 530. The guide passage 55A is made up of a through-hole 27f1 that penetrates in the contact direction (front-rear direction) provided in the front wall portion 27f, a through-hole 48a in the flange portion 48, an axial hole 47a that penetrates in the contact direction inside the cylinder of the axial portion 47, and passages such as holes and grooves provided in the attachment portion 30 (first clip portion 31, second clip portion 32).

[0035] 6A , sensor device 10A can also be worn on the body of user 100 by attaching it to edge 121 of clothing 120 via attachment portion 30 with contact surface 21 in contact with and pressed against skin 110 in the waist area. As user 100 exercises while wearing sensor device 10A, edge 121 of clothing 120 moves in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to contact surface 21 (up-down direction, left-right direction, directions diagonal to the left and right in the up-down direction, and directions diagonal to the up-down direction in the left-right direction), and in response, an external force acts on housing unit 20 and attachment portion 30 such that they (attachment portion 30, housing unit 20) move relatively in this in-plane direction. This external force is then transmitted to external force absorbing portion 45A of connecting mechanism 40A via shaft 47. In this case, when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the housing part 20 and the mounting part 30 and is further transmitted to the external force absorbing part 45A, as shown in Fig. 6B, this causes the external force absorbing part 45A to elastically deform in the in-plane direction, allowing relative movement between the two (mounting part 30, housing part 20) within a certain range in the in-plane direction, resulting in the mounting part 30 moving in the in-plane direction relative to the housing part 20. In the case of the second embodiment, the external force of a certain magnitude and the certain range are set in advance as described in the first embodiment, and the dimensions and elastic modulus of the external force absorbing part 45A are set in advance so that it elastically deforms within a certain range when an external force of a certain magnitude acts in the in-plane direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the mounting portion 30, the shaft portion 47, and the flange portion 48 move together, and because the flange portion 48 is clamped between the walls 27f and 27g as described above, the mounting portion 30 is prevented from moving in the contact direction with the housing portion 20, and in the example of FIG. 6B, the lower side of the external force absorbing portion 45A shown in cross section is compressed and the upper side is stretched.

[0036] As a result, as in the first embodiment, the housing part 20 is less likely to move in tandem with the attachment part 30 in an in-plane direction approximately parallel to the contact surface 21, even if the attachment part 30 moves together with the edge part 121, thereby reducing friction between the contact surface 21 and the skin 110.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments (hereinafter referred to as "the present embodiments") and can be implemented with various modifications. For example, in the present embodiments, the sensor device 10 is provided on the back, but it may be provided on other parts of the body, such as the arms or legs. Furthermore, in the present embodiments, the sensor device 10 is attached to the edge 121 of the garment 120, such as training pants, as a holding member. However, other holding members, such as a belt or band, may be used to hold the contact surface 21 in contact with (press against) the skin of other parts of the body, such as the arms or legs, in addition to the waist. In other words, the contact direction is not limited to the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, in the present embodiments, a clip-shaped attachment portion 30 is used, but an attachment portion fixed to the holding member by a fastener such as a snap fastener or button may also be used.

[0038] Furthermore, although the coupled portions 27, 27A are provided on the upper side of the housing 20 in the sensor device 10 of the first embodiment and are provided approximately in the center of the housing 20 in the sensor device 10A of the second embodiment, they may be provided in different positions in each embodiment. It is sufficient that at least the motion sensor unit 512, which is a sensor element, is provided (housed) in the housing 20. For example, the first processing unit 510, the environmental information detection unit 522, and the communication unit 524 may be provided in the attachment unit 30. The antenna 530 and the second processing unit 520 may be provided in the housing 20 or the first clip unit 31. However, by providing the antenna 530 in the second clip unit 32, i.e., on the outside of the clothing 120, as in this embodiment, adverse effects on communication due to the clothing 120 (particularly adverse effects due to sweat or the like adhering to the clothing 120 acting as a conductor) can be suppressed, and the sensitivity of the antenna 530 can be improved. When the second processing unit 520 is provided (housed) in the housing unit 20, the first and second processing units 510, 520 may be combined together to form a single processing unit (processor, circuit).

[0039] According to the above-described embodiment, the sensor device 10, 10A comprises a housing part 20 that houses at least a motion sensor part 512, which is a sensor element, and has a contact surface 21 that can come into contact with the skin 110 of the user 100, and connecting parts 27, 27A that are different from the contact surface 21; an attachment part 30 that is attached to an edge part 121 of clothing 120, which is a holding member that holds the sensor device 10 with the contact surface 21 of the housing part 20 in contact with the skin 110 of the user 100; and a connecting mechanism 40, 40A that is connected to the connecting parts 27, 27A and the attachment part 30, and that prevents relative movement between the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 in a contact direction that is approximately perpendicular to the contact surface 21, and that allows relative movement between the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 in an in-plane direction that is approximately parallel to the contact surface 21 within a certain range when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 such that the housing part 20 and the attachment part 30 move relative to each other in this in-plane direction.

[0040] As a result, in sensor devices 10, 10A, when user 100 is exercising, the external force acts to cause relative in-plane movement between housing unit 20 and attachment unit 30, so that housing unit 20, which contacts skin 110 of user 100 at contact surface 21, hardly moves in the in-plane direction, and only attachment unit 30 moves, following edge 121 of clothing 120, which is the holding member, thereby reducing friction between contact surface 21 and skin 110. As described above, appropriate sensing can be performed by motion sensor unit 512 housed in housing unit 20, and roughness of skin 110 can be reduced.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the connecting mechanism 40 includes a plurality of plate-shaped rubber members 45a stacked on top of each other in the contact direction, and has an external force absorbing section 45 that is connected to the connected section 27 and the attachment section 30 and can deform in an in-plane direction substantially parallel to the contact surface 21 when an external force acts on the in-plane direction. This makes it possible to configure the connecting mechanism 40 with a simple structure and to integrally connect the housing section 20 and the attachment section 30.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the external force absorbing unit 45 has plate-shaped resin material 45b between the multiple rubber materials 45a, which reliably prevents deformation of the external force absorbing unit 45 in the contact direction, and the use of resin material 45b allows the sensor device 10 to be lighter in weight than when a material with a high specific gravity, such as iron, is used.

[0043] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the coupled portion 27 includes a housing portion 27a that houses at least a part of the coupling mechanism 40. This prevents a large distance between the mounting portion 30 and the housing portion 20, allowing the sensor device 10 to be compact and protecting the coupling mechanism 40.

[0044] Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the connected portion 27A has two wall portions 27f, 27g aligned with each other in the contact direction of the contact surface 21, and a through hole 27g1 provided in one of the two wall portions 27f, 27g and penetrating in the contact direction, and the connecting mechanism 40 has a guide hole 45Aa penetrating in the contact direction, an external force absorbing portion 45A fixed to this through hole 27g1 and deformable in an in-plane direction approximately parallel to the contact surface 21 by the action of an external force that moves the housing portion 20 and the mounting portion 30 relatively in this in-plane direction, an axis portion 47 connected to the mounting portion 30 and fitted into the guide hole 45Aa, and a flange portion 48 connected to the axis portion 47 and clamped between the two wall portions 27f, 27g so as to be unable to move in the contact direction but so as to be able to move in this in-plane direction. As a result, the mounting portion 30 is supported in the contact direction by the shaft portion 47 and the flange portion 48, so that movement of the mounting portion 30 in the contact direction can be more reliably restricted.

[0045] According to the present embodiment, the sensor device 10, 10A further includes an antenna 530 connected to the first processing unit 510 via at least a signal line 51, capable of communicating with an external device, and provided on the attachment unit 30. The contact surface 21 of the housing unit 20, 20A comes into contact with the skin of the user 100, and therefore the user 100 may be sweating. If an antenna were provided on the housing unit, as in the present embodiment, the sweat would act as a conductor and adversely affect communication between the external device and the antenna. In contrast, according to the present embodiment, the antenna 530 is provided on the attachment unit 30, which is attached to the edge 121, rather than on the housing unit 20, 20A. Furthermore, the antenna 530 is connected to the first processing unit 510 in the housing unit 20 via at least a signal line 51. This allows appropriate data exchange between the external device and the first processing unit 510 while suppressing adverse effects on communication between the external device and the antenna 530.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the coupled portion 27, the external force absorbing portion 45, and the mounting portion 30, and according to the second embodiment, the other of the two wall portions 27f, 27g, the shaft portion 47, the flange portion 48, and the mounting portion 30, have guide passages 55, 55A, respectively, for guiding the signal line 51. This makes it possible to protect the signal line 51 connecting the processing portion 510 and the like to the antenna 530.

[0047] The above-described embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims.

[0048] The invention described in the first claim of the present application is as follows: [1] A sensor device, a housing portion that houses at least the sensor element and has a contact surface that can come into contact with the user's skin and a connection portion that is different from the contact surface; an attachment portion attached to a holding member that holds the sensor device in a state in which the contact surface of the housing portion is in contact with the skin of the user; a connecting mechanism that is connected to the connected portion and the mounting portion, and that prevents relative movement between the housing portion and the mounting portion in a contact direction that is approximately perpendicular to the contact surface, and that allows relative movement between the housing portion and the mounting portion in an in-plane direction that is approximately parallel to the contact surface within a certain range when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the housing portion and the mounting portion such that the housing portion and the mounting portion move relative to each other in the in-plane direction; A sensor device comprising: [2] The connecting mechanism includes a plurality of plate-shaped rubber materials stacked together in the contact direction, and has an external force absorbing part that is connected to the connected part and the mounting part and is deformable in the direction substantially within the plane due to the action of the external force. The sensor device according to [1] above. [3] The external force absorbing portion has a plate-shaped resin material between the plurality of rubber materials. The sensor device according to [2] above. [4] The connected portion has a housing portion that houses at least a part of the connecting mechanism. The sensor device according to any one of [1] to [3] above. [5] The connected portion has two wall portions arranged side by side in the contact direction, and a through-hole provided in one of the two wall portions and penetrating in the pressing direction, The connecting mechanism includes: an external force absorbing section having a guide hole penetrating in the contact direction, fixed to the through hole, having a guide hole penetrating in the contact direction, and deformable in the direction substantially within the plane due to the action of the external force; a shaft portion connected to the mounting portion and fitted into the guide hole; a flange portion connected to the shaft portion and sandwiched between the two wall portions so as to be immovable in the contact direction and movable in the direction substantially within the plane; The sensor device according to [1] above. [6] The housing accommodates a processing unit connected to the sensor element, The device further includes an antenna that is connected to the processing unit via at least a signal line, is capable of communicating with an external device, and is provided on the mounting portion. The sensor device according to any one of [1] to [5] above. [7] The connected portion, the external force absorbing portion, and the mounting portion each have a guide passage for guiding the signal line. The sensor device according to [6], which cites at least [2]. [8] The other of the two wall portions, the shaft portion, the flange portion, and the mounting portion have a guide passage for guiding the signal line. The sensor device according to [6], which cites [5]. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10,10A sensor device 20,20A housing 21 contact surface 24 button switch 26 Lid 27,27A Connected part 27a Storage section 27a1 Wall section 27a2 Through hole 27f Wall part 27f1 Through hole 27g Wall part 27g1 Through hole 30 Mounting part 31 First clip portion 31a First bearing 31b Protrusion 31c Push-up convex part 32 Second clip portion 32a Second bearing 32b Protrusion 35 Hinge part 35a Rotating shaft 35b Torsion coil spring 36 Locking part 36a Main body 36b Projection 36c Engagement hole 40,40A connection mechanism 41 through hole 42 flange portion 45,45A External force absorption part 45Aa Guide hole 45a Rubber material 45b Resin material 45c Cylindrical part 47 Shaft part 47a Shaft hole 48 Flange 48a Through hole 50 Circuit board 51 Signal line 55,55A Guideway 100 users 110 skin 120 Garments 121 Edges 251,252 LED 510 First processing unit 512 Motion sensor unit 514 Storage section 516 Display section 518 Operation unit 520 Second processing unit 522 Environmental information detection unit 524 Communication unit 530 Antenna BS bus CL shaft center

Claims

1. A sensor device, a housing portion that houses at least the sensor element and has a contact surface that can come into contact with the user's skin and a connection portion that is different from the contact surface; an attachment portion attached to a holding member that holds the sensor device in a state in which the contact surface of the housing portion is in contact with the skin of the user; a connecting mechanism that is connected to the connected portion and the mounting portion, and that prevents relative movement between the housing portion and the mounting portion in a contact direction that is approximately perpendicular to the contact surface, and that allows relative movement between the housing portion and the mounting portion in an in-plane direction that is approximately parallel to the contact surface within a certain range when an external force of a certain magnitude acts on the housing portion and the mounting portion such that the housing portion and the mounting portion move relative to each other in the in-plane direction; A sensor device comprising:

2. The connecting mechanism includes a plurality of plate-shaped rubber members stacked on top of each other in the contact direction, and has an external force absorbing portion that is connected to the connected portion and the mounting portion and is deformable in the in-plane direction by the action of the external force. The sensor device according to claim 1 .

3. The external force absorbing portion has a plate-shaped resin material between the plurality of rubber materials. The sensor device according to claim 2 .

4. The connected portion has a housing portion that houses at least a part of the connecting mechanism. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. the connected portion has two wall portions aligned in the contact direction, and a through-hole provided in one of the two wall portions and penetrating in the contact direction, The connecting mechanism includes: an external force absorbing portion having a guide hole penetrating in the contact direction, fixed to the through hole, and deformable in the in-plane direction by the action of the external force; a shaft portion connected to the mounting portion and fitted into the guide hole; a flange portion connected to the shaft portion and sandwiched between the two wall portions so as to be immovable in the contact direction and movable in the in-plane direction; The sensor device according to claim 1 .

6. The housing accommodates a processing unit connected to the sensor element, The device further includes an antenna that is connected to the processing unit via at least a signal line, is capable of communicating with an external device, and is provided on the mounting portion. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The connected portion, the external force absorbing portion, and the mounting portion each have a guide passage for guiding the signal line.

7. The sensor device according to claim 6, which relies on at least claim 2.

8. The other of the two wall portions, the shaft portion, the flange portion, and the mounting portion have a guide passage for guiding the signal line. The sensor device according to claim 6, which relies on claim 5.

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