Wearable device, and sensor device

A wearable device includes a sensor device and a clothes to which the sensor device is attached. The clothes includes a clothes body and an insertion and extraction portion that has an opening formed in the clothes body and enables the sensor device to be inserted into or extracted from the clothes body. The sensor device includes a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity in the clothes body and a housing having a first region exposed to an inside of the clothes body and a second region exposed to an outside of the clothes body, while the sensor device is inserted from the insertion and extraction portion into the clothes body. The humidity sensor is accommodated in the first region of the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2019/028598, filed on Jul. 22, 2019, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wearable device and a sensor device, and particularly to a structure of a wearable device that monitors a thermal load on a human body.

BACKGROUND

In the related art, it is known that measuring the amount of solar radiation that a human body receives from the sun, and the temperature and humidity in clothes is effective in recognizing the comfort of clothes and preventing heatstroke.

A heat index (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)) is used as one of indices for measuring and evaluating such a hot environment. The heat index (WBGT) is an index focusing on the exchange of heat between the human body and the outside air, and incorporates three elements: humidity having a large effect on the heat balance of the human body, the thermal environment around a person such as solar radiation and radiation, and the temperature.

A WBGT meter in the related art that measures the heat index includes, for example, a black bulb temperature sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. These sensors measure a black bulb temperature, a wet bulb temperature, and a dry bulb temperature for calculating the heat index (WBGT) (see NPL 1).

The WBGT meter in the related art has a relatively large size. Thus, the heat index at a location where the WBGT meter is installed is measured. However, the heat balance of each user is largely influenced by the local environment in practice. For example, the amount of the solar radiation received by the user differs greatly depending on whether the user is outdoors, indoors, in the sun, or in the shade. Further, the temperature and the humidity in clothes also vary greatly depending on the clothes worn by the user, the movement state of the user, the perspiration state of the user, and the like. This influences the heat balance for each user.

Thus, it is important to accurately measure the amount of the solar radiation and the temperature and humidity in clothes for each user. For example, as illustrated inFIGS.9and10, a small-sized sensor device500that measures the solar radiation and the temperature and the humidity in clothes for each user is developed. The sensor device500in the related art is attached to clothes200and used as a wearable device.

As illustrated inFIG.9(a), a radiant heat sensor520is provided on a front surface500aof the housing of the sensor device500. As illustrated inFIG.9(b), a temperature and humidity sensor530is provided on a rear surface500bof the housing of the sensor device500. A plurality of snap buttons510are arranged on the rear surface500bsuch that the sensor device500can be attached to and detached from the clothes200.

FIG.9(c)illustrates the inside of the housing of the sensor device500. A control board540configured to perform conversion into a signal indicating the amount of the solar radiation, and the temperature and the humidity inside the clothes, which are measured by the radiant heat sensor520and the temperature and humidity sensor530is provided. In a wearable device in the related art, as illustrated inFIG.10, the sensor device500is attached to the outside of the clothes200with the two or more snap buttons510, and the temperature and humidity sensor530measures the temperature and the humidity in the clothes200from a hole H formed in the clothes200.

CITATION LIST

NPL 1: JuYoun Kwon, Ken Parsons, “Evaluation of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index for Digital Fashion Application in Outdoor Environments”, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 2017, Vol. 36, Issue 1, p. 23-36 (14 pages)

SUMMARY

Technical Problem

However, in the wearable device in the related art, when the fabric of the clothes200to which the sensor device500is attached gets wet due to the sweat of a user or the like, it may not be able to accurately measure the humidity in the clothes due to the influence of water vapor generated from the fabric.

Specifically, in the wearable device in the related art, since the region of the clothes200to which the sensor device500is attached is covered by the housing, the air passage is blocked. Once the fabric is wetted, the region of the clothes200to which the sensor device500in the related art is attached do not dry easily. Thus, it takes a relatively long time for the temperature and humidity sensor530to be able to accurately measure the humidity in the clothes.

The embodiments of the present invention have been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wearable device and a sensor device capable of accurately measuring the humidity in clothes.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to solve the problems described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, a wearable device includes a sensor device, and clothes to which the sensor device is attached. The clothes includes a clothes body, and an insertion and extraction portion having an opening formed in the clothes body, the insertion and extraction portion enabling the sensor device to be inserted into or extracted from the clothes body. The sensor device includes a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity inside the clothes body, and a housing having a first region exposed to an inside of the clothes body and a second region exposed to an outside of the clothes body, while the sensor device is inserted from the insertion and extraction portion into the clothes body. The humidity sensor is accommodated in the first region of the housing.

In order to solve the problems described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, a sensor device includes a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity inside the clothes body, and a housing having a first region exposed to an inside of the clothes body and a second region exposed to an outside of the clothes body, while the sensor device is inserted into the clothes body. The humidity sensor is accommodated in the first region of the housing.

Effects of Embodiments of the Invention

According to embodiments of the present invention, a wearable device includes clothes having an insertion and extraction portion that enables a sensor device to be inserted into or extracted from the inside of a clothes body, and the sensor device includes a housing having a first region exposed to an inside of the clothes body and a second region exposed to an outside of the clothes body, while the sensor device is inserted into the clothes body from the insertion and extraction portion formed in the clothes body, in which a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity inside the clothes body is accommodated in the first region of the housing. Thus, it is possible to accurately measure the humidity inside the clothes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated inFIG.1, a wearable device1A according to the embodiment includes clothes2worn by a user and a sensor device1attached to the clothes2. The sensor device1has a structure capable of being attached to the clothes2, and measures radiant heat received by the user from the environment inside the clothes2and solar radiation.

The clothes2is, for example, a shirt including a clothes body20having a front body and a rear body, sleeves, and a collar, as illustrated inFIGS.1and2. Further, examples of the clothes2also includes clothes such as a vest, compression shirts, jerseys, a tanktop, and an outerwear, in addition to the shirts. The clothes body20that is in contact with the user's torso may be formed of a stretchable fabric so as to appropriately fit to the user's body.

The outside of the clothes2and the clothes body20is a surface that is in contact with the outside air, and is hereinafter referred to as a “front surface2a”. The inner side of the clothes2and the clothes body20is a surface on a B side of the body of the user wearing the clothes2, and is hereinafter referred to below as a “rear surface2b”.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the clothes2has an opening formed in the clothes body20and has an insertion and extraction portion2henabling the sensor device1to be inserted into or extracted from the clothes body20. The insertion and extraction portion2hmay be, for example, a cut having a length corresponding to the width of the sensor device1orthogonal to a direction in which the sensor device1is inserted and extracted. For the fabric surrounding the cut, a material that is stronger and more stretchable than the fabric of the clothes body20may be used. Alternatively, the insertion and extraction portion2hmay have strength by stitching the edge of a hole like a button hole with the thread.

The sensor device1is inserted from the insertion and extraction portion2hinto the clothes body20downward or upward along the rear surface2bof the clothes body20. “Upward” and “downward” are based on the ground. In the embodiment, an example in which the sensor device1is inserted downward from the insertion and extraction portion2hinto the clothes2and attached to the clothes body20will be described.

For example, a socket and a stud (e.g., female member) of a snap button14are provided on the clothes body20as a fixing member (e.g., second fixing member) at a position around the insertion and extraction portion2h. The stud (e.g., male member) (e.g., first fixing member) of the snap button14is provided on a rear surface (e.g., outer surface)10dof a housing10(described below) of the sensor device1. The sensor device1is detachably attached to the clothes2by the snap button14.

By detachably attaching the sensor device1to the clothes2, after the wearable device1A is used by the user, the sensor device1can be detached from the clothes2to wash only the clothes2. Further, it is possible to prevent the sensor device1from being damaged due to getting set.

The sensor device1is attached to the clothes body20such that the sensor device1is disposed, for example, from the center portion of the back of the user to the height of the scapula. When the sensor device1is attached at such a position, as illustrated inFIG.3, an appropriate space s (hereinafter referred to as an “internal space S”) is formed between the surface of the B side of the body of the user and a temperature and humidity sensor11described below. This is suitable for measurement of the temperature and humidity environment inside the clothes. The back is a portion of the body in which the amount of perspiration is relatively high. Thus, the back is suitable for measuring humidity in the clothes that sufficiently reflect the influence of the perspiration of the user.

Configuration of Sensor Device

The sensor device1includes the housing10, a humidity sensor11athat measures the humidity in the clothes body20, a temperature sensor11bthat measures a temperature, and a radiant heat sensor12that measures a radiant heat from the outside of the clothes body20. The humidity sensor11a, the temperature sensor11b, and the radiant heat sensor12are accommodated in the housing10. Further, a control board15and a battery16that supplies power to the control board15are accommodated in the housing10. In the embodiment, the temperature and humidity sensor11including the humidity sensor11aand a temperature sensor11bis used.

The housing10is, for example, a container formed entirely in a flat and substantially-rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing10has a front surface10cand a rear surface10dprovided so as to face each other. As illustrated inFIGS.4to6, the front surface10cand the rear surface10dof the housing10are formed, for example, in a rounded square shape when the housing10is viewed in plan view.

The housing10has a first region10aexposed to the inside of the clothes body20and a second region10bexposed to the outside of the clothes body20. The first region10aand the second region10bare exposed while the housing10is inserted into the clothes body20from the insertion and extraction portion2hformed on the clothes body20. In the embodiment, the first region10aincluded in the housing10is a region on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing10, which is along a direction in which the sensor device1is inserted into and extracted from the inside of the clothes body20from the insertion and extraction portion2h. The second region10bincluded in the housing10is a region on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing10in the direction in which the sensor device1is inserted into or extracted from the clothes body20from the insertion and extraction portion2h.

The temperature and humidity sensor11is accommodated in the first region10aof the housing10. The radiant heat sensor12is accommodated in the second region10bof the housing10. As described above, the temperature and humidity sensor11and the radiant heat sensor12are accommodated in the housing10to be spaced from each other as illustrated inFIGS.3,4, and5.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.5, the snap button14is provided on the rear surface10dof the second region10bof the housing10.

A ventilation opening13is provided in the first region10aof the housing10. The ventilation opening13is provided adjacent to the temperature and humidity sensor11, for example, as a grid-like cover. The ventilation opening13prevents the temperature and humidity sensor11from coming into direct contact with the surface of the body B of the user when the sensor device1is inserted into the clothes body20. The ventilation opening13can ensure ventilation in the internal space S around the temperature and humidity sensor11.

The housing10is formed of, for example, a polymer material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, rubber, or silicone resin. The housing10has a size of, for example, approximately 5 cm×3 cm×1 cm, and is formed such that the housing10can be attached to the user's clothes.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the temperature and humidity sensor11is disposed in the first region10aof the housing10via a heat insulating material17. More specifically, the heat insulating material17is disposed between the temperature and humidity sensor11and a temperature and humidity sensor board11cthat detects a temperature and a humidity. The temperature and humidity sensor board11cis electrically connected to the control board15. The heat insulating material17may thermally separate the housing10from the temperature and humidity sensor11.

The temperature and humidity sensor11is, for example, a sensor in which the electrostatic capacitive humidity sensor11aand the temperature sensor11bsuch as a semiconductor temperature sensor are integrally provided in one IC chip. Alternatively, for example, a thermistor or the like can be used as the temperature sensor11b. The temperature and the humidity of the internal space S of the clothes2, which are measured by the temperature and humidity sensor11are converted into a signal indicating the temperature and humidity inside the clothes by a processor102included in the control board15described below.

The radiant heat sensor12includes a black plate12ahaving a black surface and a thermistor12bas the temperature sensor. As illustrated inFIG.6, the thermistor12bis disposed so as to come into contact with the rear surface of the black plate12aof the radiant heat sensor12. The thickness of the black plate12aof the radiant heat sensor12may take into consideration the time response and noise due to heat capacity. The surface area of the black plate12ais a preset area.

As illustrated inFIGS.3and4, the black plate12aincluded in the radiant heat sensor12is exposed to the outside from the front surface10cof the housing to in the second region10bof the housing10and comes into contact with the outside air. The surface of the black plate12acan be blackened with, for example, iron oxide so as to absorb radiant heat (thermal radiation) from sunlight or the like as much as possible. For example, a matte blackened surface is formed.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the black plate12ais formed in a disc shape in plan view, for example, and fits into a hole provided in the front surface10cof the housing10. The black plate12amay be a spherical plate as illustrated inFIG.3, instead of a flat plate. By having the black plate12ahaving a spherical plate that protrudes to the outside, it is possible to absorb more radiant heat such as solar radiation than when a flat plate is used.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the thermistor12bis provided on the rear surface of the black plate12aof the radiant heat sensor12. The thermistor12bis used as a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the black plate12a. The resistance value detected by the thermistor12bis converted into a signal indicating the temperature of the black plate12aby the processor102mounted on the control board15, and then is output.

As described above, when electromagnetic waves emitted from the sun or the like reach the surface of the black plate12aof the radiant heat sensor12, the electromagnetic waves are converted to internal energy, and the temperature of the black plate12achanges. The temperature of the black plate12aincreases in response to solar radiation and radiation received and absorbed by the black plate12a. The thermistor12bcan measure radiant heat from the outside of the clothes2by measuring the temperature of the black plate12a.

The control board15includes the processor102and controls the operation of the temperature and humidity sensor11and the radiant heat sensor12. More specifically, the processor102calculates the humidity and the temperature inside the clothes which are measured by the temperature and humidity sensor11, and the radiant heat temperature measured by the radiant heat sensor12and outputs the calculated values to the outside.

As the battery16, for example, various batteries such as button-type lithium batteries and lithium air batteries can be used. The battery16supplies power to the control board15.

Configuration Example of Control Board

Next, a configuration example of the control board15will be described with reference to the block diagram ofFIG.7.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the control board15may be realized by, for example, a computer including the processor102such as a microprocessing unit (MPU), a memory103, a communication interface104, and an input/output (I/O)105, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. The processor102, the memory103, the communication interface104, and the I/O105are connected to each other via a bus101. The control board15includes an amplifier circuit, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, and the like, which are not illustrated. The control board15is connected to the temperature and humidity sensor11and the radiant heat sensor12via the bus101.

A program for causing the processor102to perform various controls or calculations is stored in the memory103in advance. The memory103has a region for recording calibration data of the temperature and humidity sensor11and the radiant heat sensor12.

The communication interface104is a communication control circuit for performing communication with various external electronic devices via a communication network NW. The temperature inside the clothes, the humidity inside the clothes, and the radiant heat from the outside, which are converted by the processor102, are transmitted from the communication interface104to an external communication terminal device, an external server, or the like via the communication network NW.

For example, a communication control circuit and an antenna compatible with a wireless data communication standard such as LTE, 3G, 5G, wireless LAN, Bluetooth (trade name), or Low Energy are used as the communication interface104.

The I/O105includes an I/O terminal that receive an input of a signal from an external device or outputs a signal to the external device.

Mounting Example of Sensor Device

Here, a mounting example of the sensor device1having the above-described configuration onto the clothes body20will be described with reference toFIG.3. For example, the sensor device1is inserted into the clothes2from the insertion and extraction portion2hformed in the clothes2and having a cut-out shape. In this case, the rear surface10dof the housing10is on the B side of the body of the user, and the front surface10cof the housing10is on the outside air side.

More specifically, the lower half of the rear surface10dof the housing10on the ground side, that is, the first region10ain which the temperature and humidity sensor11is accommodated, comes into contact with the internal space S of the clothes2. A portion of the ventilation opening13provided in the first region10aof the housing10covering the temperature and humidity sensor11comes into contact with the rear surface2bof the clothes2. In this manner, the temperature and humidity sensor11directly comes into contact with the internal space S of the clothes2.

On the other hand, the upper half of the rear surface10dof the housing10on the opposite side of the ground including the second region10bcomes into contact with the front surface2aof the clothes2via the snap button14.

The lower half of the front surface10cof the housing10including the first region10ais in contact with the rear surface2bin the clothes2. On the other hand, the upper half of the front surface10cof the housing10including the second region10bis in contact with the outside air. That is, the radiant heat sensor12is exposed to the outside air.

In this manner, the sensor device1is detachably fixed to the clothes2by the snap button14, and the front surface10cof the lower half of the housing10inserted into the clothes2comes into contact with the rear surface2bof the clothes2to support the weight of the sensor device1. When the sensor device1is mounted on the clothes2, the temperature and humidity sensor11come into direct contact with the internal space S of the clothes2to measure the temperature and the humidity inside the clothes2. At the same time, the radiant heat sensor12exposed to the outside of the clothes2can measure radiant heat received from the outside by the user wearing the clothes2.

In the present embodiment, for example, the sensor device1is inserted into the clothes2from the insertion and extraction portion2hformed in the clothes2and having a cut-out shape. At this time, because the clothes2functions like a pocket to support the weight of the sensor device1, it is possible to reduce the number of the snap buttons14, and the sensor device1and the clothes2can be easily attached and detached. As described above, when the fabric around the cut-out is stronger and more stretchable than the fabric of the clothes body20, the cut-out becomes like a band and can support the weight of the sensor device1.

As described above, in the sensor device500in the example in the related art, as illustrated inFIG.10, the entirety of the sensor device500is provided outside the clothes200. In the sensor device500in the example in the related art, for example, in a case where the user has a backpack or the like, there is a possibility that the sensor device500is caught by the backpack itself or a strap, such as a shoulder harness, attached to the backpack, and thus is detached from the clothes200.

However, in the sensor device1according to the embodiment, because the lower half of the housing10is covered by the clothes2as illustrated inFIGS.1and3, it is possible to prevent, when the user wears the wearable device1A, the sensor device1from being detached from the clothes2due to an external impact such as a backpack.

Next, the effects of the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.8.FIG.8illustrates the humidity inside the clothes that is measured when a test subject wears the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment, and the humidity in the clothes that is measured when the test subject wears a wearable device including the sensor device500in the related art. InFIG.8, the horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time, and the vertical axis indicates the measured value of the humidity.

The wearable device including the sensor device500in the related art is mounted on the outside of the clothes200by a plurality of snap buttons510, as illustrated inFIGS.9and10. In the wearable device in the related art, as illustrated inFIG.10, a temperature and humidity sensor530accommodated in a housing of the sensor device500measures the humidity inside the clothes200in the internal space S from a hole H provided with the clothes200.

In the measurement example, the test subject wore each of the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment and the wearable device in the related art, and then ran on a treadmill. The running speed of the treadmill was set to gradually increase from a static state at time t1. Specifically, the running speed was 6 [km/h] at time t2, 8 [km/h] at time t3, and 10 [km/h] at time t4. Then, the treadmill was stopped at time t5, and the running speed was set to be a static state for a predetermined period until time t6. Then, the test subject was exposed to the wind of an electric fan with the clothes2wet with sweat, for a period of time from the time t6to time t7.

As illustrated inFIG.8, in the wearable device in the related art, the measured humidity value is higher than the value of the humidity measured by the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment throughout the measurement period. In addition, since the test subject began to sweat as the running speed of the treadmill was increased from the time t1to the time t5, both of the value of the humidity measured in the related art and the value of the humidity measured in the present embodiment were increased.

When the treadmill was stopped at the time t5, the test subject sweated at once, and the entire clothes2got wet with sweat. At this time, the values of the humidity measured in the example in the related art and in the present embodiment were the highest values. When the test subject was exposed to the wind of an electric fan at the time t6, the sweat of the test subject was pulled and the clothes2were also dried. Thus, in the present embodiment, the measured humidity value dropped at once. However, in the example in the related art, the humidity value was still high, and it took a time to lower the humidity value.

That is, in the sensor device500in the related art, the rear surface500bof the housing is shaped like a wall, and the area around the temperature and humidity sensor530accommodated in the housing is not well ventilated, such that the measured humidity is higher than the actual value. On the other hand, in the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment, the first region10aof the housing to in which the temperature and humidity sensor11is accommodated is inserted into the clothes2, and the first region10acomes into direct contact with the internal space S. Thus, the ventilation around the temperature and humidity sensor11is ensured. Thus, the wearable device1A can measure the humidity inside the clothes more accurately as compared with the example in the related art.

As described above, in the wearable device1A according to the embodiment, in the sensor device1, the first region10aof the housing10in which the temperature and humidity sensor11is accommodated is inserted into the clothes body20from the insertion and extraction portion2hhaving an opening formed in the clothes body20. Thus, in the wearable device1A, it is possible to suppress mixing of water vapor components contained in the fabric of the clothes2and more accurately measure the humidity in the clothes.

In the wearable device1A according to the embodiment, in the sensor device1, the second region10bof the housing10in which the radiant heat sensor12is accommodated is exposed to the outside of the clothes body20. Thus, in the wearable device1A, it is possible to measure radiant heat, such as solar radiation, which the user receives from the outside, in addition to the further accurate measurement of the humidity and the temperature in the clothes. Thus, in the wearable device1A, it is possible to more accurately measure a different hot environments for each user, and to take individual measures against heat stroke based on the heat index of each user.

Further, in the wearable device1A according to the present embodiment, the lower half of the sensor device1including the first region10aof the housing10is inserted into the clothes2, and the clothes2functions as a pocket to support the weight of the sensor device1. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the number of the snap buttons14. Thus, in the wearable device1A, the sensor device1can be easily attached to and detached from the clothes2, and also the sensor device1and the clothes2are stably fixed.

In the above-described embodiment, a case where the snap button14is used as a fixing member that detachably fixes the sensor device1and the clothes2has been described. However, the fixing member is not limited to the snap button14as long as the sensor device1and the clothes2can be detachably fixed to each other. For example, a surface fastener may be used instead of the snap button14.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the snap button14is provided has been described, but the snap button14may be used as necessary. For example, the snap button14can be omitted when the periphery of a cut-out of the insertion and extraction portion2his formed of a band-like and stretchable fabric or material such that the insertion and extraction portion2hsupports the weight of the sensor device1.

Hitherto, although the wearable device and the sensor device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified into various forms that can be conceived by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention described in the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST