Detection system

Abstract

A detection system 1 comprises: a detection device 100 having a ring-shaped first housing that can be attached to a finger and that has an optical sensor, a light source, a first battery, and a power receiving coil; and a charger 500 having a ring-shaped second housing that can be attached to a finger together with the detection device 100 and that has a second battery, a power supply coil, and a power supply coil drive circuit. A power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 is provided in the second housing of the charger 500 so as to face the power receiving coil of the first housing of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to a finger.

Description

Detection System

[0001] The present invention relates to a detection system.

[0002] There are known devices for detecting biological information from a human body. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an authentication device, which is a ring-shaped detection device, that includes an antenna and is powered by radio waves transmitted from an access target.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-93368

[0004] Ring-type detection devices are used for health management, etc., because they can continuously measure information about the living body of the person wearing them. However, ring-type detection devices cannot perform measurements while they are removed from the person being measured for charging, which presents a problem in that they cannot obtain continuous information about the living body.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a detection system that enables continuous detection of information by a ring-shaped detection device without removing it from an object to be measured.

[0006] A detection system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a detection device that can be attached to a finger and has a ring-shaped first housing having an optical sensor, a light source, a first battery, and a power receiving coil; and a charger that can be attached to the finger together with the detection device and has a ring-shaped second housing that has a second battery, a power supply coil, and a power supply coil drive circuit, wherein the power supply coil of the charger is provided in the second housing of the charger so as to directly face the power receiving coil of the first housing of the detection device when the detection device and the charger are attached to the finger.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a detection system according to embodiment 1 when worn on a finger. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the detection device of FIG. 1 when not worn. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line A-A' in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a control circuit. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the charger of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line B-B' in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of a charger. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection system according to embodiment 1 when worn on a finger. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line C-C' in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 2. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line D-D' in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection system according to embodiment 2 when worn on a finger. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection device according to embodiment 3. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line E-E' in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 3. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line F-F' in FIG. 17. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection device according to embodiment 4. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line G-G' in FIG. 19. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 4. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line H-H' in FIG. 21. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection device according to embodiment 5. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line I-I' in FIG. 23. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 5. Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line J-J' in Fig. 25. Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a detection device according to embodiment 6. Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line K-K' in Fig. 27. Fig. 29 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 6. Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line L-L' in Fig. 29. Fig. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 7.FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line M-M' in FIG. 31. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 8. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line N-N' in FIG. 33. FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to embodiment 9. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line O-O' in FIG. 35. FIG. 37 is a configuration diagram showing an example circuit configuration of a charger according to embodiment 9. FIG. 38 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger according to a modified example of embodiment 9. FIG. 39 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line P-P' in FIG. 38.

[0008] Modes for carrying out the invention (embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components described below include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art and those that are substantially identical. Furthermore, the components described below can be combined as appropriate. The disclosure is merely an example, and appropriate modifications that a person skilled in the art can easily conceive while maintaining the gist of the invention are naturally included within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, for clarity of explanation, the drawings may show the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part schematically compared to the actual embodiment. However, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present invention. Furthermore, in this specification and each figure, elements similar to those described above with reference to the previous figures may be designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions may be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] In this specification and claims, when expressing an aspect of placing another structure on top of a certain structure, the term "on top" is used, unless otherwise specified, to include both a case in which another structure is placed directly on top of a certain structure so as to be in contact with the certain structure, and a case in which another structure is placed above a certain structure via yet another structure.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) [Detection System] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a detection system according to embodiment 1 worn on a finger. The detection system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a detection device 100 and a charger 500. The detection device 100 is a ring-shaped device that can be attached to and detached from the human body and is configured to be worn on a finger Fg of the human body. The finger Fg includes the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger, etc. The finger Fg is an example of a measurement target on which the detection device 100 and charger 500 are attached and on which the detection device 100 measures information about a living body. The measurement target is a living body or a part of a living body. The detection device 100 and charger 500 are configured as a ring or a wristband, making them easy for the user to carry. In the following description, it is assumed that the detection device 100 is used as a ring.

[0011] The charger 500 is a ring-shaped charger that can be attached to and detached from the human body, and is configured to be attachable to a finger Fg of the human body on which the detection device 100 is attached, together with the detection device 100. The charger 500 supplies charging power to the detection device 100 while attached to the finger Fg. The charger 500 is a ring-shaped device that makes it unnecessary to remove the detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging.

[0012] In the present embodiment, the detection system 1 is attached to the finger Fg such that the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are arranged in this order in a direction 1F in which the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg. The detection system 1 is designed so that a total width 1W, which is the sum of the width of the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg and the width of the charger 500 in the longitudinal direction of the finger Fg, is shorter than the length of the proximal joint of the finger Fg. Note that in the present embodiment, the detection system 1 is described as being arranged such that the detection device 100 and the charger 500 attached to the finger Fg are in contact with each other, but a configuration in which a gap exists between the detection device 100 and the charger 500 may also be used. In the present embodiment, the case in which the housing shapes of the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are the same is described, but the housing shapes may be different in width, size, etc., for example.

[0013] [Detection Device] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the detection device 100 in Fig. 1 when not attached. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line AA' in Fig. 3.

[0014] 2 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200. The housing 200 is an example of a first housing. The housing 200 has an inner surface 201, an outer surface 202, and a side surface 203. The inner surface 201 is a portion that comes into contact with the finger Fg worn thereon. The inside of the inner surface 201 is a hollow portion 210 through which the finger Fg can be inserted. The outer surface 202 is a surface of the detection device 100 opposite the inner surface 201. The side surface 203 is a portion that the charger 500 approaches or comes into contact with.

[0015] If a line passing through the center of the hollow portion 210 is defined as a center line J, the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202 are part of a cylindrical member with the center line J as its central axis. The side surface portion 203 is a plate-like member along a plane intersecting (e.g., perpendicular to) the center line J, and is an annular member centered on the center line J. Two side surfaces 203 are provided facing each other across the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202, and are joined to the inner surface portion 201 on the inner circumferential side and to the outer surface portion 202 on the outer circumferential side. The inner surface portion 201, the outer surface portion 202, and the two side surfaces 203 joined in this manner give the outer shape of the detection device 100 a ring-like shape. In other words, the inner surface portion 201, the outer surface portion 202, and the two side surfaces 203 constitute the ring-shaped housing 200 of the detection device 100.

[0016] Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the term "diameter" refers to the diameter of a circle centered on the center line J. The term "radial direction" refers to the direction along the diameter of a circle centered on the center line J.

[0017] 3 , the detection device 100 includes an LED driver 105, an optical sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180 inside a housing 200. These components are provided outside an inner surface portion 201 and inside an outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on a flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0018] In this embodiment, the plurality of optical sensors 106 includes four optical sensors, namely, a first optical sensor 61, a second optical sensor 62, a third optical sensor 63, and a fourth optical sensor 64, but is not limited to this configuration. The light source 150 includes a red LED (Light Emitting Diode) 151, a near-infrared LED 152, and a green LED 153, but is not limited to this configuration.

[0019] Hereinafter, the term "light source 150" encompasses the red LED 151, the near-infrared LED 152, and the green LED 153. The term "optical sensor 106" encompasses the first optical sensor 61, the second optical sensor 62, the third optical sensor 63, and the fourth optical sensor 64.

[0020] The flexible substrate 120 has an annular shape centered on a center line J. The flexible substrate 120 is provided so as to fit along the inner circumferential surface of the outer surface portion 202. The radial positional relationship between the inner surface portion 201, the flexible substrate 120, and the outer surface portion 202 is as follows, from the center toward the outside, with the center line J as the center: inner surface portion 201, flexible substrate 120, outer surface portion 202. Furthermore, the configuration mounted on the flexible substrate 120 is located radially outward from the inner surface portion 201 and radially inward from the flexible substrate 120. The inner side of the flexible substrate 120 is the surface side facing the inner surface portion 201 of the housing 200. The outer side of the flexible substrate 120 is the surface side facing the outer surface portion 202 of the housing 200.

[0021] Red LED 151 outputs red light. Near-infrared LED 152 outputs near-infrared light. Green LED 153 outputs green light. That is, detection device 100 has light source 150 provided outside inner surface portion 201 and inside outer surface portion 202 (between inner surface portion 201 and outer surface portion 202). LED driver 105 drives red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 to emit light.

[0022] The red LED 151 is a light source that emits red light. The near-infrared LED 152 is a light source that emits near-infrared light. The green LED 153 is a light source that emits green light. The optical axes of the light emitted from the red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 are directed toward the center line J. The inner surface 201 is a translucent member, and the light emitted from the red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 can pass through the inner surface 201. Therefore, when a finger Fg is present in the hollow portion 210, the light emitted from the red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 is reflected and scattered by the finger Fg. The light reflected and scattered in this manner can be detected by the optical sensor 106. In other words, the optical sensor 106 is positioned so as to detect the light emitted from the red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 and reflected and scattered. The outer surface portion 202 and the side surface portion 203 are members that block light.

[0023] As a specific example, the inner surface portion 201 in embodiment 1 is made of a translucent resin. The outer surface portion 202 and the side surface portion 203 are made of a non-translucent metal, a non-translucent alloy, a non-translucent metal compound, or a non-translucent resin. The compositions of the inner surface portion 201, the outer surface portion 202, and the side surface portion 203 are not limited to these, and other materials that can be used in terms of translucency and strength as the housing 200 may be used.

[0024] The optical sensor 106 receives as input light output from the red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, and green LED 153 that has passed through the finger Fg inserted in the hollow portion 210. The optical sensor 106 detects changes in the intensity of the input light. The optical sensor 106 is, for example, an organic photodiode (OPD) that outputs an electrical signal in response to the irradiated light. That is, in this embodiment, the first optical sensor 161, the second optical sensor 162, the third optical sensor 163, and the fourth optical sensor 164 are each an OPD. Of course, the optical sensor 106 may be an optical sensor using a method other than an OPD.

[0025] Regarding the positional relationship between the light source 150 and the optical sensors 106 in the circumferential direction along the inner circumferential surface of the flexible substrate 120, two of the first optical sensor 61, second optical sensor 62, third optical sensor 63, and fourth optical sensor 64 are located on one side of the light source 50 in the circumferential direction, and the other two are located on the other side of the light source 50 in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3 , the first optical sensor 61, second optical sensor 62, green LED 153, red LED 151, near-infrared LED 152, third optical sensor 63, and fourth optical sensor 64 are arranged in this order from one side to the other in the circumferential direction. The direction from one side to the other in the circumferential direction here refers to the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3 , which is the direction starting from the first optical sensor 61.

[0026] In this embodiment, when one of the red LED 151, the near-infrared LED 152, and the green LED 153 is lit, the other two are not lit. In the detection device 100, when the red LED 151 is lit and the near-infrared LED 152 and the green LED 153 are not lit, red light that has passed through the finger is input to the optical sensor 106. In the detection device 100, when the near-infrared LED 152 is lit and the red LED 151 and the green LED 153 are not lit, near-infrared light that has passed through the finger Fg is input to the optical sensor 106. In the detection device 100, when the green LED 153 is lit and the red LED 151 and the near-infrared LED 152 are not lit, green light that has passed through the finger Fg is input to the optical sensor 106.

[0027] The communication driver 107 is, for example, a short-range wireless communication driver and has an antenna (not shown). The communication driver 107 transmits and receives signals between the detection device 100 and other devices. The communication driver 107 can transmit data measured by each part of the detection device 100 to other devices. The communication driver 107 can also receive data transmitted by other devices.

[0028] The battery 108 is a first battery that supplies power to each component of the detection device 100. The battery 108 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery of a lithium polymer type. The battery driver 180 is electrically connected to the battery 108 and the coil 109.

[0029] The coil 109 is a charging coil for charging the battery 108, and has a winding wound along the inner surface 201 of the housing 200. As shown in FIG. 4 , the housing 200 accommodates the coil 109 near its inner circumferential surface, and is configured so that a magnetic field passes through the housing 200. The coil 109 is electrically connected to a rectifier circuit (not shown), and when the coil 109 approaches a power transmission coil of a charger 500 or the like, it becomes magnetically coupled, receives an electromagnetic field from the power transmission coil, and converts it into current. In the first embodiment, the coil 109 is provided on a mounting surface of the flexible substrate 120 that faces the inner surface 201 of the housing 200.

[0030] 3 charges the battery 108 with the current converted by the coil 109. That is, the battery driver 180 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 by magnetic coupling between the coil 109 and the charger 500.

[0031] The control circuit 110 controls each part of the detection device 100. The control circuit 110 is, for example, an integrated circuit (IC) such as a microcontroller. The control circuit 110 may also be, for example, a programmable logic device (PLD) such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0032] 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the control circuit 110. As shown in Fig. 5, the control circuit 110 of this embodiment includes an optical pulse wave measurement circuit 14, a memory 15, a communication circuit 16, a power supply circuit 17, and a CPU (Central Processor Unit) 18. These are connected by a bus B, and can exchange data with each other via the bus B.

[0033] The optical pulse wave measuring circuit 14 is connected to an LED driver 105 and an optical sensor 106. The optical pulse wave measuring circuit 14 amplifies and digitizes the analog output of the optical sensor 106 and stores the digitized output in a memory 15.

[0034] The memory 15 is a storage unit that stores various types of data. The memory 15 may include, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), etc.

[0035] The communication circuit 16 is electrically connected to the communication driver 107. The communication circuit 16 transmits measurement results and the like to an external device. The external device is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet held by a user of the detection device 100. Mobile terminals such as smartphones and tablets have a display screen. By displaying data from the detection device 100 on the screen, the user of the detection device 100 can check the data received from the detection device 100.

[0036] The power supply circuit 17 is electrically connected to the battery driver 180. The power supply circuit 17 controls charging of the battery 108 and supplies power from the battery 108 to each component.

[0037] CPU 18 is a control unit that controls each unit within control circuit 110. CPU 18 measures or calculates biological information such as pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, and pulse frequency by executing a predetermined program. CPU 18 controls LED driver 105 to turn on light source 150 not only when operating on battery 108 but also when battery 108 is being charged by charger 500, and detects biological information such as pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, pulse frequency, and blood oxygen concentration based on detection data from optical sensor 106.

[0038] 3 are electrically connected to the control circuit 110 via the flexible substrate 120. The temperature sensor 111 detects the temperature of the finger Fg when the finger Fg is inserted into the hollow portion 210. The temperature sensor 111 detects the temperature of the ambient environment of the housing 200 when the finger Fg is not inserted into the hollow portion 210. The temperature sensor 111 supplies information indicating the detected temperature to the control circuit 110.

[0039] The acceleration sensor 112 detects acceleration applied to the detection device 100. The acceleration sensor 112 supplies information indicating the detected acceleration to the control circuit 110. The detected acceleration value can be used to remove the influence of body movements of the person wearing the detection device 100.

[0040] 4 , the detection device 100 is formed by accommodating the flexible substrate 120, on which the above-described components are mounted, inside a housing 200 having a generally U-shaped cross section, and filling the surrounding area with a filling material, thereby forming the housing 200. As a result, the detection device 100 has the optical sensor 106 disposed inside the housing 200 so that the optical sensor 106 can receive light from the finger Fg, and the coil 109 disposed along the vicinity of the inner surface 201 of the housing 200.

[0041] The above describes an example of the configuration of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 1. Note that the configuration described above using Figures 2 to 5 is merely an example, and the configuration of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 1 is not limited to this example. The configuration of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 1 can be flexibly modified depending on the specifications and operation.

[0042] [Charger] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the charger 500 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB' in Fig. 6.

[0043] 6 and 7 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. The housing 510 is an example of a second housing. The housing 510 has an inner surface 511, an outer surface 512, and a side surface 513. The inner surface 511 is a portion that comes into contact with the finger Fg worn thereon. The inside of the inner surface 511 is a hollow portion 510M through which the finger Fg can be inserted. The outer surface 512 is the surface of the charger 500 opposite the inner surface 511. The side surface 513 is a portion that the detection device 100 approaches or comes into contact with.

[0044] The inner surface portion 511 and the outer surface portion 512 of the hollow portion 510M are part of a cylindrical member with the center line J as the central axis. The side surface portion 513 is a plate-like member along a plane intersecting (e.g., perpendicular to) the center line J and is an annular member centered on the center line J. Two side surfaces 513 are provided facing each other across the inner surface portion 511 and the outer surface portion 512, and are joined to the inner surface portion 511 on the inner circumferential side and to the outer surface portion 512 on the outer circumferential side. The inner surface portion 511, the outer surface portion 512, and the two side surfaces 513 joined in this manner give the charger 500 a ring-shaped outer shape. In other words, the inner surface portion 511, the outer surface portion 512, and the two side surfaces 513 constitute the ring-shaped housing 510 of the charger 500.

[0045] 6 , charger 500 has battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550. These components are provided outside inner surface portion 511 and inside outer surface portion 512, i.e., between inner surface portion 511 and outer surface portion 512. Battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected and can exchange signals with one another.

[0046] Battery 520 is an example of a second battery serving as a power source for supplying power, and is a secondary battery that supplies power for charging detection device 100. Battery 520 is formed in a strip shape and is provided inside housing 510 so as to fit along the inner circumferential surface of inner surface portion 511 of housing 510. Battery 520 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery of a lithium polymer type.

[0047] The power supply coil 530 is a coil capable of supplying power to the coil 109 of the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 is a resonance-type coil and operates using a drive voltage from the battery 520. The power supply coil 530 is provided on a protrusion 560 that protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510 along the center line J. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560 that protrudes from the housing 510. The protrusion 560 is formed as part of the housing 510 in a flat plate shape that can be inserted between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg wearing the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along a contact surface 561 of the protrusion 560 that comes into contact with the finger Fg. The protrusion 560 is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so as to face directly opposite the coil 109 (receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn side by side on the finger Fg.

[0048] 7 , charger 500 has connecting portion 570 that connects protrusion 560 and housing 510, and power supply coil 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside connecting portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with connecting portion 570, and may instead have the insides of protrusion 560 and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0049] The coil drive circuit 540 is an example of a power supply coil drive circuit, and charges the battery 520 with power generated in the power receiving coil 550. The coil drive circuit 540 supplies power from the battery 520 to the power supply coil 530 when the battery 520 is not being charged. For example, in the detection system 1, the charger 500 is charged in advance by a charging device or the like for the detection device 100, and when charging the detection device 100, the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg so as to be close to the detection device 100, thereby enabling the detection device 100 to be charged without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg and placing it on the charging device. Note that the coil drive circuit 540 may be configured to charge the battery 520 and supply power to the power supply coil 530 simultaneously.

[0050] Power receiving coil 550 is an example of a second power receiving coil for charging battery 520 of charger 500, and has a winding wound along inner surface 511 of housing 510. Power receiving coil 550 generates power by approaching and magnetically coupling with a power supply coil of a second charger (not shown), and supplies the generated power to coil drive circuit 540. The second charger includes, for example, a charging device compatible with Qi (an international standard for wireless power supply), a charging device for detection device 100, or the like.

[0051] FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an example circuit configuration of the charger 500. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550. The coil drive circuit 540 includes a rectifier circuit 541, a voltage regulator 542, and an oscillator 543. The coil drive circuit 540 rectifies the current received by the power receiving coil 550 using the rectifier circuit 541, and charges the battery 520 via the voltage regulator 542. The coil drive circuit 540 supplies power from the battery 520 to the oscillator 543, thereby driving the power supply coil 530. As a result, the power supply coil 530 operates using the drive voltage from the battery 520 and magnetically couples with the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the nearby detection device 100, thereby wirelessly supplying power to the detection device 100. That is, the charger 500 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 by magnetic coupling between the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power receiving coil 550 .

[0052] The above describes an example of the configuration of the charger 500 according to the first embodiment. Note that the above configuration described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 is merely an example, and the configuration of the charger 500 according to the first embodiment is not limited to this example. The configuration of the charger 500 according to the first embodiment can be flexibly modified according to specifications and operation.

[0053] In the first embodiment, the charger 500 is described as having the protruding portion 560 protruding from the housing 510, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the charger 500 is a second housing that covers or overlaps the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the charger 500 may be configured such that the power supply coil 530 is provided inside the second housing along the inner circumferential surface of the second housing without providing the protruding portion 560.

[0054] [Operation Example of the Detection System According to the First Embodiment] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection system 1 according to the first embodiment when worn on a finger Fg. As shown in Fig. 9, when charging the detection device 100 in the detection system 1, the charger 500 is worn on the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 worn on the finger Fg. In this case, the user inserts the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg, and faces the coil 109 of the detection device 100 while the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are in contact or close proximity to each other. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 is magnetically coupled to the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, whereby the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0055] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and thus allows the detection device 100 to continuously detect information.

[0056] In the detection system 1, the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 is provided on a protrusion 560 that protrudes from the housing 510 (second housing) in a direction along the central axis of the housing 510. In particular, in the detection system 1, the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the detection device 100 is disposed on the inner periphery of the housing 200, and the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 is provided so as to position the coil 109 on the inner periphery of the housing 200 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg. This allows the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 to be directly opposed to each other simply by aligning the charger 500 with the detection device 100 and attaching it to the finger Fg, thereby improving the wearability of the charger 500. Furthermore, the detection system 1 can reduce the thickness of the overlapping portion between the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the housing 200 of the detection device 100, thereby reducing the impact of the charger 500 attached to the finger Fg coming into contact with other fingers.

[0057] In this embodiment, the detection system 1 may have a marking portion such as a groove or mark on the housing 200 of the detection device 100 to indicate the position of the coil 109 and to position the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 .

[0058] (Embodiment 2) [Detection System] A detection system 1 according to embodiment 2 differs from the detection system 1 according to embodiment 1 in the arrangement of the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. The detection system 1 according to embodiment 2 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0059] [Detection Device] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 2. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line CC' in Fig. 10 .

[0060] 10 and 11 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200, similar to the first embodiment. The detection device 100 includes an LED driver 105, a light sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180 inside the housing 200. These components are provided outside the inner surface portion 201 and inside the outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on a flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0061] The coil 109 is a charging coil for charging the battery 108, and has a winding wound along the outer surface 202 of the housing 200. The coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the detection device 100 is disposed on the outer periphery of the housing 200 (first housing). As shown in FIG. 11 , the housing 200 accommodates the coil 109 near the outer periphery of the outer surface 202, and is configured so that a magnetic field passes through the housing 200. The coil 109 magnetically couples with a power transmitting coil approaching from outside the housing 200, receives the electromagnetic field from the power transmitting coil, and converts it into current. The battery driver 180 charges the battery 108 with the current converted by the coil 109. That is, the battery driver 180 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 by magnetically coupling the coil 109 with the charger 500.

[0062] [Charger] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 2. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line DD' in Fig. 12.

[0063] 12 and 13 , charger 500 includes ring-shaped housing 510. Housing 510 has an inner surface 511, an outer surface 512, and a side surface 513. As in the first embodiment, charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside housing 510. Battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected and can exchange signals with one another.

[0064] The power supply coil 530 is provided on a protrusion 560A that is stepped with the outer surface 512 of the housing 510 along the center line J and protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560A protruding from the housing 510. The protrusion 560A is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so that the power supply coil 530 is positioned on the outer periphery of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn on the finger Fg. In detail, as shown in FIG. 13 , the protrusion 560A is formed as part of the housing 510 in a flat plate shape that protrudes from an end of the outer surface 512 of the housing 510. The power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along a surface 562 of the protrusion 560A that is exposed at the housing 510. The protrusion 560A is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so as to face directly opposite the coil 109 (receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn side by side on the finger Fg.

[0065] 13 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560A and housing 510, and power supply coil 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560A and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0066] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to the Second Embodiment] Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection system 1 according to the second embodiment when worn on a finger Fg. As shown in Fig. 14 , when charging the detection device 100, the detection system 1 has the charger 500 worn on the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 worn on the finger Fg. In this case, the user brings the protrusion 560A of the charger 500 close to the outer surface 202 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 so as to overlap it, and with the detection device 100 and the charger 500 in contact or close proximity, the user faces the coil 109 of the detection device 100 while checking the protrusion 560A. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 is magnetically coupled to the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, whereby the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0067] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided outside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the outer periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and therefore can continuously detect information using the detection device 100.

[0068] In the detection system 1, the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 is provided on a protrusion 560 that protrudes from the housing 510 (second housing) in a direction along the central axis of the housing 510. In particular, in the detection system 1, the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the detection device 100 is disposed on the outer periphery of the housing 200, and the protrusion 560A of the charger 500 is provided so as to position the coil 109 on the outer periphery of the housing 200 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg. This allows the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 to be directly opposed to each other simply by aligning the charger 500 with the detection device 100 and attaching it to the finger Fg, thereby improving the wearability of the charger 500. Furthermore, the detection system 1 can reduce the thickness of the overlapping portion between the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the housing 200 of the detection device 100, thereby reducing the impact of the charger 500 attached to the finger Fg coming into contact with other fingers.

[0069] (Embodiment 3) [Detection System] A detection system 1 according to embodiment 3 differs from the detection systems 1 according to embodiments 1 and 2 in the shapes of a housing 200 of a detection device 100 and a housing 510 of a charger 500. The detection system 1 according to embodiment 3 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0070] [Detection Device] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 3. Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line EE' in Fig. 15 .

[0071] 15 and 16 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200A. As in the first embodiment, the housing 200A contains an LED driver 105, a light sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180. These components are provided outside the inner surface portion 201 and inside the outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on a flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0072] The housing 200A is an example of a first housing. The housing 200A has an inner surface 201, an outer surface 202, and a side surface 203. The housing 200A has a protrusion 205 formed in a circumferential direction such that the portion where the coil 109 is provided is thicker than other portions. The protrusion 205 allows the user to recognize the position of the coil 109 on the housing 200A by its shape. The housing 200A accommodates the coil 109 near its inner surface, and is configured so that a magnetic field passes through the housing 200A. The coil 109 magnetically couples with a power transmission coil such as a charger 500 when it approaches the coil 109, receives the electromagnetic field from the power transmission coil, and converts it into current. The battery driver 180 charges the battery 108 with the current converted by the coil 109. That is, the battery driver 180 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 through magnetic coupling between the coil 109 and the charger 500.

[0073] [Charger] Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 3. Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line FF' in Fig. 17 .

[0074] 17 and 18 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510A. The housing 510A is an example of a second housing, and has the same shape as the housing 200A of the detection device 100. The housing 510A has an inner surface 511, an outer surface 512, and a side surface 513. As in the first embodiment, the charger 500A includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside the housing 510A. The battery 520, the power supply coil 530, the coil drive circuit 540, and the power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected to each other and can transmit and receive signals between them.

[0075] Housing 510A has protrusion 515 formed so that the portion where power supply coil 530 is provided is thicker than other portions. Housing 510A has protrusion 515, which can be used as a guide for aligning protrusion 515 with protrusion 205 of housing 200A of detection device 100 when wearing the device on finger Fg, etc.

[0076] Charger 500 has protruding portion 560 that protrudes from convex portion 515 of housing 510A in mounting direction 1F. Protruding portion 560 is formed as part of housing 510A in a flat plate shape that can be inserted between inner surface 201 of housing 200 of detection device 100 and finger Fg wearing detection device 100. Power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along contact surface 561 of protruding portion 560 that comes into contact with finger Fg.

[0077] The housing 510A further includes a second protrusion 580 that covers at least a portion of the outer periphery of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 is worn on the finger Fg. In this embodiment, the second protrusion 580 is provided along the edge of the outer surface 512 of the housing 510A so as to cover the space between the detection device 100 worn on the finger Fg and the charger 500. The second protrusion 580 is formed as a plate-shaped guide using a member such as synthetic resin or metal. A portion of the second protrusion 580 faces the protrusion 560, and the coil 109 of the worn detection device 100 is positioned between the protrusion 560 and the second protrusion 580. In this embodiment, the second protrusion 580 surrounds the edge of the outer surface 512 of the housing 510A, but is not limited to this. For example, the second protrusion 580 may be formed only on a portion of the outer periphery of the housing 510A that faces the protrusion 560.

[0078] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to Embodiment 3] When charging the detection device 100 in the detection system 1, the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user aligns the convex portion 205 of the detection device 100 with the convex portion 515 of the charger 500, inserts the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg, and overlaps the second protrusion 580 with a part of the outer surface 202 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100. As a result, the detection system 1 brings the detection device 100 and the charger 500 into close proximity, and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 face each other. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, and the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biometric information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0079] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, allowing the detection device 100 to continuously detect information.

[0080] In the detection system 1, the user can easily align the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 directly, simply by aligning the positions of the convex portion 205 of the detection device 100 and the convex portion 515 of the charger 500. This allows the detection system 1 to improve the ease of wearing the charger 500 and suppress a decrease in charging efficiency.

[0081] (Embodiment 4) [Detection System] Similar to Embodiment 3, the detection system 1 according to Embodiment 4 differs from the detection systems 1 according to Embodiments 1 and 2 in the shapes of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the housing 510 of the charger 500. The detection system 1 also differs from the detection system 1 according to Embodiment 3 in the arrangement of the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. The detection system 1 according to Embodiment 4 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0082] [Detection Device] Fig. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 4. Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line GG' in Fig. 19 .

[0083] 19 and 20 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200A having a convex portion 205, similar to the third embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the detection device 100 includes an LED driver 105, a light sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180 inside the housing 200A. These components are provided outside the inner surface portion 201 and inside the outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on a flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0084] The housing 200A has an inner surface 201, an outer surface 202, and a side surface 203. The housing 200A has a protrusion 205 formed so that the portion where the coil 109 is provided is thicker than other portions. The protrusion 205 allows the user to recognize the position of the coil 109 on the housing 200A. The housing 200A accommodates the coil 109 near the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion 205, and is configured so that a magnetic field passes through the housing 200A. The coil 109 magnetically couples with a power transmission coil such as a charger 500 when it approaches, receives the electromagnetic field from the power transmission coil, and converts it into current. The battery driver 180 charges the battery 108 with the current converted by the coil 109. That is, the battery driver 180 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 through magnetic coupling between the coil 109 and the charger 500.

[0085] [Charger] Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 4. Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line HH' in Fig. 21.

[0086] 21 and 22 , charger 500 includes ring-shaped housing 510A having protrusion 515, similar to embodiment 3. Housing 510A has an inner surface 511, an outer surface 512, and a side surface 513. Similar to embodiment 1, charger 500 includes battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550. Battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected and can transmit and receive signals among them.

[0087] Housing 510A has protrusion 515 formed so that the portion where power supply coil 530 is provided is thicker than other portions. Housing 510A has the same shape as housing 200A of detection device 100. Housing 510A accommodates power receiving coil 550 near the outer circumferential surface of protrusion 515 so that it is in the same position as protrusion 205 where coil 109 is arranged in housing 200A of detection device 100. This allows charger 500 to charge detection device 100 using a charging device or the like via power receiving coil 550.

[0088] The power supply coil 530 is provided on a protrusion 560B that forms a step with the outer surface 512 of the housing 510 along the center line J and protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560B protruding from the housing 510A. The protrusion 560B is provided on the housing 510A of the charger 500 so that the power supply coil 530 is positioned on the outer periphery of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn on the finger Fg. In detail, as shown in FIG. 22 , the protrusion 560B is provided along the edge of the outer surface 512 of the housing 510A so as to be able to cover the space between the detection device 100 worn on the finger Fg and the charger 500. The protrusion 560B is formed as an annular guide using a member such as a synthetic resin or a metal. Power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along surface 562 of protruding portion 560B. Note that, in this embodiment, protruding portion 560B surrounds the end of outer surface portion 512 of housing 510A, but this is not limiting. For example, protruding portion 560B may be configured to be formed only on a portion of the outer periphery of housing 510A near protruding portion 560B.

[0089] 22 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560B and housing 510, and power supply coil 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560B and housing 510A communicate with each other.

[0090] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to the Fourth Embodiment] When charging the detection device 100 in the detection system 1, the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user aligns the convex portion 205 of the detection device 100 with the convex portion 515 of the charger 500 and places the protrusion 560B of the charger 500 on a part of the outer surface 202 of the housing 200A of the detection device 100. As a result, the detection system 1 brings the detection device 100 and the charger 500 into a close proximity state, and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the protrusion 560B of the charger 500 face each other. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, so that the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0091] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Even if the coil 109 is provided outside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the outer periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, allowing the detection device 100 to continuously detect information.

[0092] In the detection system 1, the user can easily position the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 directly opposite each other simply by aligning the positions of the convex portion 205 of the detection device 100 and the convex portion 515 of the charger 500. This allows the detection system 1 to improve the wearability of the charger 500 and suppress a decrease in charging efficiency. Furthermore, in the detection system 1, the charger 500 is provided with the annular protrusion 560B, which allows the protrusion 560B to improve the stability of the detection device 100 and the charger 500 when worn on the finger Fg.

[0093] Fifth Embodiment [Detection System] In a detection system 1 according to a fifth embodiment, the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the housing 510 of the charger 500 have the same shapes as those of the detection system 1 according to the first embodiment, and a structure for attracting the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 to each other is added. The detection system 1 according to the fifth embodiment includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0094] [Detection Device] Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 5. Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line II' in Fig. 23 .

[0095] 23 and 24 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200. As in the first embodiment, the housing 200 includes an LED driver 105, a light sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180. The detection device 100 further includes a magnetic body 190 inside the housing 200. These components are provided outside the inner surface portion 201 and inside the outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on the inner surface portion 201 side of the flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0096] The magnetic body 190 is provided on the housing 200 on the outer surface 202 side of the coil 109 (power receiving coil), and is a member for attracting the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. The magnetic body 190 is formed in a plate shape from a ferromagnetic material such as iron. In this embodiment, the magnetic body 190 is provided overlapping the coil 109 so as to follow the coil 109, but this is not limiting. For example, the magnetic body 190 may be disposed near the coil 109, or may be disposed offset from the coil 109 in the circumferential direction of the housing 200.

[0097] [Charger] Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 5. Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line JJ' in Fig. 25 .

[0098] 25 and 26 , charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. Housing 510 has the same shape as housing 200 of detection device 100. As in the first embodiment, charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside housing 510. Charger 500 also includes a magnet 590 inside housing 510. Battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected and can transmit and receive signals among them.

[0099] Magnet 590 is disposed in the center of power supply coil 530 in protrusion 560 of housing 510, and is a member for attracting coil 109 of detection device 100 and power supply coil 530 of charger 500. When magnet 590 approaches magnetic body 190 of detection device 100, an attractive force acts between magnet 590 and magnetic body 190, thereby attracting coil 109 of detection device 100 and power supply coil 530 of charger 500 to positions where they face each other.

[0100] In the present embodiment, the detection system 1 will be described as including a magnetic body 190 in the detection device 100 and a magnet 590 in the charger 500, but is not limited to this. The detection system 1 may appropriately change the combination as long as it is possible to attract the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. For example, the detection system 1 may be configured such that magnets of opposite polarities are provided near the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, respectively.

[0101] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to the Fifth Embodiment] When charging the detection device 100, the detection system 1 has the charger 500 attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user inserts the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg, and faces the coil 109 of the detection device 100 while the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are in contact or close proximity to each other. In this case, an attractive force acts between the magnetic body 190 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the magnet 590 of the protrusion 560 of the charger 500, making it easier for the detection system 1 to face each other directly. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, and the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0102] In this way, by including the magnetic body 190 of the detection device 100 and the magnet 590 of the charger 500, the detection system 1 can easily align the coil 109 of the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg with the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of charging the battery 108 of the detection device 100 using power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 does not need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and the detection device 100 can continuously detect information.

[0103] In the detection system 1, the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are provided with magnets that attract the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the housing 510 of the charger 500 so that, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg, the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the detection device 100 face each other. This makes it easier for the detection system 1 to bring the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 face each other when the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg alongside the detection device 100, thereby improving the wearability of the charger 500.

[0104] Sixth Embodiment [Detection System] In a detection system 1 according to a sixth embodiment, the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the housing 510 of the charger 500 have the same shapes as those of the detection system 1 according to the second embodiment, and a structure for attracting the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 is added. The detection system 1 according to the sixth embodiment includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0105] [Detection Device] Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the detection device 100 according to embodiment 6. Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line KK' in Fig. 27 .

[0106] 27 and 28 , the detection device 100 includes a ring-shaped housing 200. As in the first embodiment, the housing 200 includes an LED driver 105, a light sensor 106, a communication driver 107, a battery 108, a coil 109, a control circuit 110, a temperature sensor 111, an acceleration sensor 112, a light source 150, and a battery driver 180. The detection device 100 further includes a magnetic body 190 inside the housing 200. These components are provided outside the inner surface portion 201 and inside the outer surface portion 202, i.e., between the inner surface portion 201 and the outer surface portion 202. These components are mounted on the outer surface portion 202 side of the flexible substrate 120. These components can exchange signals with each other via the flexible substrate 120.

[0107] The magnetic body 190 is provided on the housing 200 on the outer surface 202 side of the coil 109 (power receiving coil), and is a member for attracting the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. The magnetic body 190 is formed in a plate shape from a ferromagnetic material such as iron. In this embodiment, the magnetic body 190 is provided overlapping the coil 109 so as to follow the coil 109, but this is not limiting. For example, the magnetic body 190 may be disposed near the coil 109, or may be disposed offset from the coil 109 in the circumferential direction of the housing 200.

[0108] [Charger] Fig. 29 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 6. Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line LL' in Fig. 29 .

[0109] 29 and 30 , charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. Housing 510 has the same shape as housing 200 of detection device 100. Similar to embodiment 2, charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside housing 510. Charger 500 also includes a magnet 590 inside housing 510. Battery 520, power supply coil 530, coil drive circuit 540, and power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected and can transmit and receive signals among them.

[0110] Magnet 590 is disposed in the center of power supply coil 530 in protrusion 560A of housing 510, and is a member for attracting coil 109 of detection device 100 and power supply coil 530 of charger 500. When magnet 590 approaches magnetic body 190 of detection device 100, an attractive force acts between magnet 590 and magnetic body 190, thereby attracting coil 109 of detection device 100 and power supply coil 530 of charger 500 to positions where they face each other.

[0111] In this embodiment, the detection system 1 will be described as including the magnetic body 190 in the detection device 100 and the magnet 590 in the charger 500, but is not limited to this. The detection system 1 may appropriately change the combination as long as it is possible to attract the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 to each other.

[0112] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to the Sixth Embodiment] When charging the detection device 100, the detection system 1 has the charger 500 attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user brings the protrusion 560A of the charger 500 close to the outer surface 202 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 so as to overlap it, and with the detection device 100 and the charger 500 in contact or close to each other, the user faces the coil 109 of the detection device 100 while checking the position of the protrusion 560A. In this case, an attractive force acts between the magnetic body 190 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the magnet 590 of the protrusion 560 of the charger 500, making it easier for the detection system 1 to face each other directly. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, and the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biometric information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0113] In this way, by including the magnetic body 190 of the detection device 100 and the magnet 590 of the charger 500, the detection system 1 makes it easier for the coil 109 of the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg to face the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, and the detection device 100 can suppress a decrease in the efficiency of charging the battery 108 using power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided outside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the outer periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 does not need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and the detection device 100 can continuously detect information.

[0114] In the detection system 1, the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are provided with magnets that attract the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the housing 510 of the charger 500 so that, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg, the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the detection device 100 face each other. This makes it easier for the detection system 1 to bring the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 and the coil 109 of the detection device 100 face each other when the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg alongside the detection device 100, thereby improving the wearability of the charger 500.

[0115] (Embodiment 7) [Detection System] In a detection system 1 according to embodiment 7, the detection device 100 is the same as the detection device 100 according to embodiment 1, but the configuration of the charger 500 is different from that of the charger 500 according to embodiment 1. The detection system 1 according to embodiment 7 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0116] [Charger] Fig. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 7. Fig. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line MM' in Fig. 31.

[0117] 31 and 32 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510, similar to the first embodiment. The housing 510 has the same shape as the housing 200 of the detection device 100. The charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside the housing 510. The charger 500 according to the seventh embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a plurality of power supply coils 530. The battery 520, the plurality of power supply coils 530, the coil drive circuit 540, and the power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected to each other and can transmit and receive signals between them.

[0118] The plurality of power supply coils 530 are coils capable of supplying power to the coil 109 of the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 is a resonant coil and operates using a drive voltage from the battery 520. The power supply coil 530 is provided on a ring-shaped protrusion 560C that protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510 along the center line J and covers the inner periphery of the housing 200 of the detection device 100. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560C that protrudes from the housing 510. The protrusion 560C is formed as part of the housing 510 with a thickness that allows it to be inserted between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg wearing the detection device 100. Each of the plurality of power supply coils 530 has a winding wound along a contact surface 561 of the protrusion 560 that comes into contact with the finger Fg. The multiple power supply coils 530 are arranged inside the protruding portion 560C along the circumferential direction of the housing 510. As a result, when the charger 500 is worn alongside the detection device 100 on the finger Fg, any one of the multiple power supply coils 530 can be made to face the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100. In this embodiment, the multiple power supply coils 530 are described as being arranged over the entire circumferential direction of the housing 510; however, for example, the multiple power supply coils 530 may be arranged over a portion of the circumferential direction of the housing 510.

[0119] 32 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560C and housing 510, and multiple power supply coils 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560C and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0120] The coil driving circuit 540 supplies power from the battery 520 to each of the multiple power supply coils 530. For example, the coil driving circuit 540 may determine that, among the multiple power supply coils 530 to which power has been supplied, a power supply coil 530 through which current has become difficult to flow is the power supply coil 530 directly facing the coil 109 of the detection device 100, and may stop the supply of power to the other power supply coils 530. Note that the coil driving circuit 540 may be configured to charge the battery 520 and supply power to the power supply coils 530 simultaneously.

[0121] [Example of Operation of Detection System According to Embodiment 7] In the detection system 1, when charging the detection device 100, the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user inserts the protrusion 560C of the charger 500 between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg, and brings the detection device 100 and the charger 500 into contact with or close to each other, thereby aligning the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power feeding coil 530 of the charger 500 directly opposite each other. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power feeding coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, and the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, if charging of the detection device 100 does not start, the user rotates the charger 500 in a circumferential direction to align the coil 109 of the detection device 100 with the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biometric information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0122] In this way, by providing multiple power supply coils 530 on the protrusion 560C of the charger 500, the detection system 1 makes it easier for the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 to face each other, thereby suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of charging the battery 108 using power from the charger 500. By forming the protrusion 560C of the charger 500 in a ring shape, the detection system 1 allows flexibility in the orientation of the charger 500 when attached to the finger Fg. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 does not need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and the detection device 100 can continuously detect information.

[0123] In detection system 1, charger 500 is provided with a plurality of power supply coils 530 throughout housing 510 (second housing), and the plurality of power supply coils 530 are driven collectively by coil drive circuit 540. This makes it easier for detection system 1 to align power supply coil 530 of charger 500 with coil 109 of detection device 100 when charger 500 is placed next to detection device 100 and attached to finger Fg, thereby further suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency of detection device 100. Furthermore, detection system 1 forms protrusion 560C on charger 500, which can be used as a guide when attaching charger 500, thereby improving wearability.

[0124] (Embodiment 8) [Detection System] In a detection system 1 according to embodiment 8, the detection device 100 is the same as the detection device 100 according to embodiment 2, but the configuration of the charger 500 is different from that of the charger 500 according to embodiment 2. The detection system 1 according to embodiment 8 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0125] [Charger] Fig. 33 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 8. Fig. 34 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line NN' in Fig. 33 .

[0126] 33 and 34 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. The housing 510 has the same shape as the housing 200 of the detection device 100. As in the second embodiment, the charger 500 includes a battery 520, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a power receiving coil 550 inside the housing 510. The charger 500 according to the eighth embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that it includes a plurality of power supply coils 530. The battery 520, the plurality of power supply coils 530, the coil drive circuit 540, and the power receiving coil 550 are electrically connected to each other and can transmit and receive signals between them.

[0127] The multiple power supply coils 530 are coils that can supply power to the coil 109 of the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 is a resonant coil that operates using a drive voltage from the battery 520. The power supply coil 530 is provided on a ring-shaped protrusion 560D that protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510 along the center line J and covers the outer periphery of the housing 200 of the detection device 100. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560D that protrudes from the housing 510. The multiple power supply coils 530 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the housing 510 and disposed inside the protrusion 560D. This allows the charger 500, when worn next to the detection device 100 on the finger Fg, to have any of the multiple power supply coils 530 directly face the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100. In this embodiment, the case where the plurality of power supply coils 530 are arranged over the entire circumference of the housing 510 will be described. However, for example, the configuration may be such that the power supply coils 530 are arranged over a portion of the circumference of the housing 510.

[0128] 34 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560D and housing 510, and electrically connects multiple power supply coils 530 and coil drive circuit 540 via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560D and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0129] The coil driving circuit 540 supplies power from the battery 520 to each of the multiple power supply coils 530. For example, the coil driving circuit 540 may determine that, among the multiple power supply coils 530 to which power has been supplied, a power supply coil 530 through which current has become difficult to flow is the power supply coil 530 directly facing the coil 109 of the detection device 100, and may stop the supply of power to the other power supply coils 530. Note that the coil driving circuit 540 may be configured to charge the battery 520 and supply power to the power supply coils 530 simultaneously.

[0130] [Example of Operation of Detection System According to Embodiment 8] In the detection system 1, when charging the detection device 100, the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg so as to be brought close to the detection device 100 attached to the finger Fg. In this case, the user covers the protrusion 560D of the charger 500 with the outer surface 202 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and brings the detection device 100 and the charger 500 into contact with or close to each other, thereby aligning the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power feeding coil 530 of the charger 500 directly opposite each other. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power feeding coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, whereby the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, if charging of the detection device 100 does not start, the user rotates the charger 500 in a circumferential direction to align the coil 109 of the detection device 100 with the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biometric information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged. Then, when charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is completed, the detection system 1 notifies the user of the completion of charging via the communication driver 107. When charging of the detection device 100 is completed, the user removes the charger 500 from the finger Fg by moving the charger 500 away from the detection device 100.

[0131] In this way, by providing multiple power supply coils 530 on the protrusion 560D of the charger 500, the detection system 1 makes it easier for the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 to face each other, thereby suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of charging the battery 108 using power from the charger 500. By forming the protrusion 560D of the charger 500 in a ring shape, the detection system 1 allows flexibility in the orientation of the charger 500 when attached to the finger Fg. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided outside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the outer periphery of the housing 200, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, and thus allows continuous detection of information by the detection device 100. Furthermore, by forming the protrusion 560D on the charger 500, the detection system 1 can be used as a guide when wearing the charger 500, thereby improving wearability.

[0132] (Embodiment 9) [Detection System] In a detection system 1 according to embodiment 9, the detection device 100 is the same as the detection device 100 according to embodiment 1, and the configuration of the charger 500 is different from that of the charger 500 according to embodiment 1. The detection system 1 according to embodiment 9 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0133] [Charger] Fig. 35 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to embodiment 9. Fig. 36 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line OO' in Fig. 35 .

[0134] 35 and 36 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. The housing 510 has the same shape as the housing 200 of the detection device 100 of the first embodiment. The charger 500 according to the ninth embodiment is a charger in which the ring-shaped housing 510 (second housing) including a capacitor 520C serving as a second battery, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a generator 600 can be attached to the finger Fg together with the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 is provided in the housing 510 (second housing) of the charger 500 so as to directly face the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the housing 200 (first housing) of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg. That is, the charger 500 according to the ninth embodiment realizes the second battery with the capacitor 520C and includes the generator 600 instead of the power receiving coil 550 of the first embodiment. The capacitor 520C, the power supply coil 530, the coil drive circuit 540, and the generator 600 are electrically connected and can exchange signals with one another.

[0135] Capacitor 520C is an example of a second battery, and functions as a secondary battery that supplies power to charge detection device 100. Capacitor 520C is provided inside housing 510 so as to fit along the outer circumferential surface of outer surface portion 512 of housing 510. In this embodiment, capacitor 520C is disposed inside housing 510 in place of a LiPo battery, but may be replaced with a battery such as a LiPo battery.

[0136] The generator 600 includes a torus-shaped hollow non-metallic pipe 610, a power-generating coil 620 wound around the pipe 610, and a permanent magnet 630 that can move freely within the pipe 610 and has an S / N polarity in the direction of movement. When the permanent magnet 630 moves due to body movement, a current proportional to the speed of the movement flows through the generator 600, generating electricity. In this embodiment, the generator 600 is disposed throughout the entire circumferential direction inside the housing 510, but it may also be disposed in a partial configuration.

[0137] The power supply coil 530 operates using a drive voltage from the capacitor 520C. The power supply coil 530 is provided on a protrusion 560 that protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510 along the center line J. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560 that protrudes from the housing 510. The protrusion 560 is formed as part of the housing 510 in a flat plate shape that can be inserted between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg wearing the detection device 100. The power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along a contact surface 561 of the protrusion 560 that comes into contact with the finger Fg. The protrusion 560 is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so as to directly face the coil 109 (power receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn side by side on the finger Fg.

[0138] 36 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560C and housing 510, and power supply coil 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560C and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0139] The coil drive circuit 540 stores the power generated by the generator 600 in the capacitor 520C. The coil drive circuit 540 supplies power from the capacitor 520C to the power supply coil 530.

[0140] Fig. 37 is a configuration diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of a charger 500 according to the ninth embodiment. In the example shown in Fig. 37 , the charger 500 includes a capacitor 520C, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a generator 600. The coil drive circuit 540 includes a rectifier circuit 541, a voltage regulator 542, and an oscillator 543. The coil drive circuit 540 rectifies a current generated by the generator 600 using the rectifier circuit 541, and stores the current in the capacitor 520C via the voltage regulator 542. The coil drive circuit 540 supplies power from the capacitor 520C to the oscillator 543, thereby driving the power supply coil 530. As a result, the power supply coil 530 operates using the drive voltage from the capacitor 520C and is magnetically coupled to the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the nearby detection device 100, thereby wirelessly supplying power to the detection device 100. That is, the charger 500 performs contactless charging of the battery 108 of the detection device 100 by magnetic coupling between the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power receiving coil 550 .

[0141] [Example of Operation of the Detection System According to the Ninth Embodiment] In the detection system 1, the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn on the finger Fg so that the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are close to each other. In this case, the user inserts the protrusion 560 of the charger 500 between the inner surface 201 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 and the finger Fg, and brings the detection device 100 and the charger 500 into contact with or close to each other, thereby aligning the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 directly opposite each other. In the detection system 1, the generator 600 generates electricity when the permanent magnet 630 moves due to body movement, and the generated power charges the capacitor 520C. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 are magnetically coupled, so that the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged.

[0142] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the capacitor 520C of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, allowing the detection device 100 to continuously detect information.

[0143] In the detection system 1, the charger 500 is provided with the generator 600, so that charging can be performed by body movement while the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg. This eliminates the need to charge the charger 500 and remove it from the finger Fg for charging, improving convenience. In the detection system 1, the capacitor 520C is provided instead of the LiPo battery, eliminating the need for a LiPo battery and increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the housing 510.

[0144] (Variation of Embodiment 9) [Detection System] A detection system 1 according to a variation of Embodiment 9 has the same detection device 100 as the detection device 100 according to Embodiment 1, and differs from Embodiment 9 in that the charger 500 includes the protrusion 560A of Embodiment 2. The detection system 1 according to the variation of Embodiment 9 includes the detection device 100 and the charger 500.

[0145] [Charger] Fig. 38 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a charger 500 according to a modification of embodiment 9. Fig. 39 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section taken along line PP' in Fig. 38.

[0146] 38 and 39 , the charger 500 includes a ring-shaped housing 510. The housing 510 has the same shape as the housing 200 of the detection device 100. As in the ninth embodiment, the charger 500 includes a capacitor 520C, a power supply coil 530, a coil drive circuit 540, and a generator 600 inside the housing 510. That is, as in the ninth embodiment, the charger 500 according to the modification of the ninth embodiment implements the second battery with the capacitor 520C, and includes the generator 600 instead of the power receiving coil 550 of the first embodiment. The capacitor 520C, the power supply coil 530, the coil drive circuit 540, and the generator 600 are electrically connected to each other and can transmit and receive signals between them.

[0147] The generator 600 includes a torus-shaped, hollow, non-metallic pipe 610A, a power-generating coil 620 wound around the pipe 610A, and a permanent magnet 630 that can move freely within the pipe 610A and has an S / N polarity in the direction of movement. The cross-sectional shape of the pipe 610A in the radial direction is rectangular, unlike the circular shape of the ninth embodiment. When the permanent magnet 630 moves due to body movement, a current proportional to the speed of the movement flows through the generator 600, generating electricity. In this embodiment, the generator 600 is disposed throughout the entire circumferential direction inside the housing 510, but it may also be disposed in a partial configuration.

[0148] The power supply coil 530 operates using a drive voltage from the capacitor 520C. The power supply coil 530 is provided on a protrusion 560A that protrudes outward from one side surface 513 of the housing 510 along the center line J. In this embodiment, the charger 500 has the protrusion 560A that protrudes from the housing 510. The protrusion 560A is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so that the power supply coil 530 is positioned on the outer periphery of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn on the finger Fg. In detail, as shown in FIG. 39 , the protrusion 560A is formed in a flat plate shape that protrudes from an end of the outer surface 512 of the housing 510. The power supply coil 530 has a winding wound along a surface 562 of the protrusion 560A that is exposed at the housing 510. The protrusion 560A is provided on the housing 510 of the charger 500 so as to face directly opposite the coil 109 (receiving coil) of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn side by side on the finger Fg.

[0149] 39 , charger 500 has coupling portion 570 that couples protrusion 560A and housing 510, and power supply coil 530 and coil drive circuit 540 are electrically connected via wiring provided inside coupling portion 570. Note that charger 500 may not be provided with coupling portion 570, and may instead have the interiors of protrusion 560A and housing 510 communicate with each other.

[0150] [Example of Operation of Detection System According to Modification of Embodiment 9] In the detection system 1, the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are worn on the finger Fg so that the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are close to each other. In this case, the user brings the protrusion 560A of the charger 500 close to the outer surface 202 of the housing 200 of the detection device 100 so that it overlaps with the outer surface 202. With the detection device 100 and the charger 500 in contact or close to each other, the user faces the coil 109 of the detection device 100 while checking the protrusion 560A. In the detection system 1, the generator 600 generates electricity when the permanent magnet 630 moves due to body movement, and the generated power charges the capacitor 520C. In the detection system 1, the coil 109 of the housing 200 of the approaching detection device 100 is magnetically coupled to the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, so that the detection device 100 charges the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. In the detection system 1, the optical sensor 106 of the detection device 100 detects biological information even while the battery 108 of the detection device 100 is being charged.

[0151] In this manner, when the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are attached to the finger Fg such that the coil 109 of the detection device 100 and the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500 face each other, the detection device 100 can charge the battery 108 with power from the charger 500. Furthermore, even if the coil 109 is provided inside the flexible substrate 120 in the housing 200 of the detection device 100, the detection system 1 can charge the battery 108 from the inner periphery of the housing 200 using the power supply coil 530 of the charger 500, thereby suppressing a decrease in charging efficiency. As a result, the detection system 1 can charge the capacitor 520C of the detection device 100 simply by attaching the charger 500 to the finger Fg without removing the detection device 100 from the finger Fg. As a result, the detection system 1 eliminates the need to remove the ring-shaped detection device 100 from the finger Fg for charging, allowing the detection device 100 to continuously detect information.

[0152] In the detection system 1, as in the embodiment, the charger 500 includes the generator 600, so that charging can be performed by body movement while the charger 500 is attached to the finger Fg. This eliminates the need to charge the charger 500 and remove the charger 500 from the finger Fg for charging, improving convenience. In the detection system 1, the capacitor 520C is provided instead of the LiPo battery, eliminating the need for a LiPo battery and increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the housing 510.

[0153] Although the detection system 1 according to the ninth embodiment and its modified examples will be described with reference to the case where the detection device 100 and the charger 500 are configured separately, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection system 1 may be configured with the detection device 100 and the charger 500 integrally formed and housed in a single housing.

[0154] The components of each of the above-described embodiments can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, other effects and advantages brought about by the aspects described in the present embodiments that are obvious from the description in this specification or that can be conceived by a person skilled in the art are naturally understood to be brought about by the present invention.

[0155] 1 Detection system 100 Detection device 105 LED driver 106 Light sensor 107 Communication driver 108 Battery 109 Coil 110 Control circuit 111 Temperature sensor 112 Acceleration sensor 150 Light source 180 Battery driver 200 Housing 201 Inner surface portion 202 Outer surface portion 203 Side portion 210 Hollow portion 500 Charger 510 Housing 510M Hollow portion 511 Inner surface portion 512 Outer surface portion 513 Side portion 520 Battery 530 Power supply coil 540 Coil drive circuit 550 Power receiving coil 560 Protrusion Fg Finger

Claims

1. A detection system comprising: a detection device having a ring-shaped first housing that has a light sensor, a light source, a first battery, and a power receiving coil and that can be attached to a finger; and a charger having a ring-shaped second housing that has a second battery, a power supply coil, and a power supply coil drive circuit and that can be attached to the finger together with the detection device; wherein the power supply coil of the charger is provided in the second housing of the charger so as to directly face the power receiving coil of the first housing of the detection device when the detection device and the charger are attached to the finger.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply coil of the charger is provided on a protrusion that protrudes from the second housing in a direction along the central axis of the second housing.

3. The detection system according to claim 2, wherein the charger further comprises a second power receiving coil for charging the second battery of the charger.

4. The detection system according to claim 3, wherein the power receiving coil of the detection device is disposed on the inner periphery of the first housing, and the protrusion of the charger is arranged to position the power supply coil on the inner periphery of the first housing when the detection device and the charger are worn on the finger.

5. The detection system according to claim 3, wherein the power receiving coil of the detection device is disposed on the outer periphery of the first housing, and the protrusion of the charger is arranged to position the power supply coil on the outer periphery of the first housing when the detection device and the charger are worn on the finger.

6. The detection system according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the first housing of the detection device has a portion where the power receiving coil is provided that is thicker than other portions, and the second housing of the charger has a portion where the power supply coil is provided that is thicker than other portions.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein the charger further has a second protrusion on its outer periphery that covers the outer periphery of the detection device when worn on the finger.

8. The detection system according to claim 7, wherein the detection device and the charger are provided with magnets that attract the first housing and the second housing so that the power supply coil of the charger and the power receiving coil of the detection device are directly opposite each other when the detection device and the charger are attached to the finger.

9. The detection system according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion of the charger is formed in a ring shape so as to cover the inner periphery of the first housing of the detection device.

10. The detection system according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion of the charger is formed in a ring shape so as to cover the outer periphery of the first housing of the detection device.

11. The detection system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the charger has a plurality of power supply coils provided throughout the second housing, and the plurality of power supply coils are driven collectively.

12. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the charger has a power generating coil for charging the second battery and a permanent magnet in the second housing that is movable by body movement relative to the power generating coil.

13. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor of the detection device detects biological information even while the first battery is being charged.

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