Patent Description:
There has been a known sensor including a crystal oscillator that specifically adsorbs an odor substance in air to measure the odor of the air (see Patent Document <NUM>).

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT>
<CIT> discloses systems and methods for a mobile electronic system that gathers and analyses odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds. The system includes a sample delivery component that can gather airborne substances and/or gaseous substances. A detection component can detect the presences of chemicals, substances, and/or visual gases in a sample. Analysed samples can be compared with known substances and/or odor analysis. In addition, the source of the sample can be determined.

However, merely by measuring an odor of the air using a sensor and saving a measurement result thereof, it is impossible to grasp the attribute information of the odor such as which odor has been measured (a measurement target of the odor), where the odor has been measured (measurement location), and in which environment the odor has been measured (measurement environment). In addition, to collect these pieces of attribute information, measurers need to measure and record the measurement target, the measurement location, the measurement environment, etc. of the odor each time the odor is measured.

The invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an illustrative object of the invention is to provide an odor measurement apparatus and an odor management apparatus that manages a measurement result thereof, the odor measurement apparatus detecting an odor substance contained in air using a sensor when an odor is measured and measuring attribute information such as measurement target of the odor,.

To solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention has the following configurations.

Since the imaging direction by the imaging device and the air introduction direction are substantially the same direction, it is possible to detect an odor dispersed in air from a measurement target of the odor using the odor sensor, and to capture the measurement target of the odor using the imaging device without moving the odor measurement apparatus. In addition, measurement and imaging of the odor can be performed at the same time or through a sequence of operations.

In the invention, the "odor" can be acquired by a human or living things including the human as olfactory information and corresponds to a concept including a molecular simple substance or a group of molecules made of different molecules gathered with respective concentrations.

In the invention, the molecular simple substance or the group of molecules made of different molecules gathered with respective concentrations included in the odor is referred to as an "odor substance". However, in a broad sense, the odor substance may broadly mean a substance which can be adsorbed on a substance adsorption membrane, which will be described below. That is, since the "odor" contains a plurality of odor substances responsible for the odor in many cases, and a substance not recognized as the odor substance or an unknown odor substance may be present, a substance generally not regarded as an odor causing substance may be contained.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor sensor includes a plurality of sensor elements, each of which having a substance adsorption membrane which adsorbs odor substances in the air, and a detector which detects an adsorption state of the odor substances to the substance adsorption membrane, and an adsorption characteristic of the odor substances to the substance adsorption membrane is different for each of the plurality of sensor elements.

Since the odor sensor includes the plurality of sensor elements, each of which having the substance adsorption membrane and the detector, and the adsorption characteristic of the odor substance to the substance adsorption membrane is different for each of the sensor elements, it is possible to obtain a measurement result of the odor by the odor sensor as measurement data of an adsorption amount of the odor substance different for each substance adsorption membrane. In this way, it is possible to evaluate the odor as a set (pattern) of measurement data.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor measurement apparatus further includes a housing including the odor sensor and the imaging device therein, in which the lens portion of the imaging device and the introduction port are disposed on a predetermined surface corresponding to a surface on the same side in the housing.

When the lens portion and the introduction port of the imaging device are disposed on the predetermined surface corresponding to the surface on the same side in the housing, it is possible to detect an odor dispersed in the air from a measurement target of the odor using the odor sensor, and to capture the measurement target of the odor using the imaging device without moving the odor measurement apparatus. In addition, measurement and imaging of the odor can be performed at the same time or through a sequence of operations.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that a ventilation opening is formed on another surface different from the predetermined surface in the housing in the odor measurement apparatus.

When the ventilation opening is formed on another surface different from the predetermined surface in the odor measurement apparatus, it is possible to ventilate air located in the vicinity of the sensor surface of the odor sensor. As a result, it is possible to accelerate desorption of the odor substance adsorbed on the substance adsorption membrane. In this way, by ventilating the air located in the vicinity of the sensor surface with air in an atmosphere, it is possible to reset the odor sensor to an initial state or to adjust a baseline (standard) to an odor level of the air in the atmosphere in preparation for subsequent measurement.

The opening/closing device makes it possible to more prominently measure the odor of the measurement target. In more detail, the odor measurement apparatus can be moved to the vicinity of the measurement target in a state in which the opening/closing device is closed, and the odor is measured by opening the opening/closing device in a state in which measurement is ready, a difference in odor (a difference in composition of odor substances) becomes large between before and after opening and closing, and a characteristic of the measurement target becomes more prominent in measurement data (odor data) of the odor of the measurement target.

In addition, when the air located in the vicinity of the sensor surface is ventilated using the ventilation opening in the state in which the opening/closing device is closed, it is possible to prevent entry of the odor substance from the introduction port, and to more favorably adjust the baseline (standard).

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor measurement apparatus further includes a fan controlling introduction of air from the introduction port to the sensor surface.

When the odor measurement apparatus includes a fan controlling introduction of air from the introduction port, it is possible to more actively introduce the odor substance dispersed from the measurement target to the sensor surface of the odor sensor.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor measurement apparatus further includes an attribute data acquisition device including at least one of a global positioning system (GPS) device, a thermo-hygrometer, a barometer, and an illuminometer.

When the odor measurement apparatus further includes the attribute data acquisition device such as the GPS device, the thermo-hygrometer, the barometer, or the illuminometer in addition to the imaging device, it is possible to acquire attribute data such as location information, air temperature/humidity information, air pressure information, or illuminance information stored in the storage device in association with each other together with the odor data and the image data. In this way, the attribute information of the odor data is enriched, and the odor data can be classified, organized, and managed in more detail.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor measurement apparatus further includes a communication device transmitting odor data measured by the odor sensor and image data generated by the imaging device.

When the odor measurement apparatus further includes the communication device, it is possible to transmit the odor data and the image data from the odor measurement apparatus to a server, or the like. Naturally, it is possible to transmit the attribute data such as the location information, the air temperature/humidity information, the air pressure information, or the illuminance information to the server, or the like. In this way, it is possible to manage the odor data, the image data and other attribute information in the server, or the like in addition to the odor measurement apparatus.

(<NUM>) An odor data management apparatus including receiving means receiving the odor data and the image data transmitted from the odor measurement apparatus, and storing means storing the received odor data and image data in association with each other.

The odor data management apparatus can receive, store, and manage the odor data and the image data transmitted from the odor measurement apparatus by including the receiving means receiving the odor data and the image data, and the storing means storing the received odor data and image data in association with each other. Naturally, it is possible to receive, store, and manage the attribute data as mentioned above such as the location information, the air temperature/humidity information, the air pressure information, or the illuminance information.

(<NUM>) It is preferable that the odor data management apparatus further includes extracting means extracting odor data approximate to specific odor data from a plurality of sets of odor data stored in the storing means, and returning means returning image data associated with odor data extracted by the extracting means as a search result.

Since the odor data management apparatus includes the extracting means extracting odor data approximate to specific odor data from a plurality of sets of odor data stored in the storing means, and the returning means returning image data associated with the extracted odor data as a search result, it is possible to obtain image data with regard to an odor approximate to an odor assigning a specific odor data by searching for the specific odor data. That is, when a specific odor is searched for, it is possible to obtain image data related to an odor approximate to the specific odor as a search result. In this way, it is possible to obtain image data of a measurement target at the time of measuring an odor approximate to a searched specific odor.

Further objects and other features of the invention will become apparent by preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide an odor measurement apparatus and an odor data management apparatus that manages a measurement result thereof, the odor measurement apparatus detecting an odor substance contained in air using a sensor when an odor is measured and measuring attribute information such as measurement target of the odor.

Hereinafter, an odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. <FIG> is a plan view schematically illustrating the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the A-A' cross section of <FIG>.

The odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes a housing <NUM> having a predetermined surface <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes an odor sensor <NUM> therein and an imaging device <NUM> therein. As illustrated in <FIG>, the housing <NUM> has a plate-like shape in which areas of the predetermined surface <NUM> and the surface on its opposite side are larger. Here, the predetermined surface <NUM> corresponds to a surface on the same side in the housing <NUM>. The predetermined surface <NUM> may be a surface positioned on the same side of the housing <NUM> and may have unevenness or steps. In addition, the predetermined surface <NUM> may not correspond to a single plane and may be formed of a plurality of surfaces. In <FIG>, the predetermined surface <NUM> is a single plane. Further, the surface faces upward in the perspective view of <FIG> and faces a nearer side of the plane of the paper in the plan view of <FIG>.

The odor measurement apparatus <NUM> includes an arithmetic processing device <NUM> (CPU) and a storage device <NUM> (memory) therein. The odor sensor <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM> described above are connected to the arithmetic processing device <NUM>, and various sensors described below are also connected thereto. The arithmetic processing device <NUM> controls the odor sensor <NUM>, the imaging device <NUM>, and optionally the other various sensors. Incidentally, in the figure, wirings connecting between the arithmetic processing device <NUM> and various devices or sensors are not illustrated.

The odor measurement apparatus <NUM> may share a housing <NUM> of a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal as the housing <NUM>. That is, the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> can be incorporated in the portable information terminal such as the smartphone or the tablet terminal. In such case, the predetermined surface <NUM> can be the surface on an opposite side from a surface on which a display unit of the smartphone or the tablet terminal is arranged. Incidentally, devices, sensors, and the like originally included in the portable information terminal such as arithmetic processing device <NUM>, storage device <NUM>, imaging device <NUM>, or GPS device <NUM> can be shared between the portable information terminal and the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>.

An introduction port <NUM> for introducing air to a sensor surface <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> is formed on the predetermined surface <NUM>. A guide portion <NUM> protruding outward from the housing <NUM> is provided on the introduction port <NUM> to surround a periphery thereof. The odor sensor <NUM> is arranged inside the housing <NUM> and is indicated by a dotted line in <FIG>. A specific configuration of the odor sensor <NUM> will be described later.

A lens portion <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM> is arranged on the predetermined surface <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> is indicated by a dotted line in <FIG>. A specific configuration of the imaging device <NUM> will be described later.

A direction (introduction direction) in which air is introduced through the introduction port <NUM> and an imaging direction of the imaging device <NUM> are substantially in the same direction. That the air introduction direction and the imaging direction are substantially in the same direction means that the introduction port <NUM> is formed so that the air introduction direction is substantially in the same direction as the imaging direction. In addition, that the air introduction direction and the imaging direction are substantially in the same direction means that an incident direction in which light arriving at the imaging device <NUM> through the lens portion <NUM> enters the lens portion <NUM> is substantially in the same direction as the air introduction direction. Incidentally, the incident direction in which light arriving at the imaging device <NUM> enters the lens portion <NUM> has a certain angular range within an imaging range, and the imaging direction includes the angular range of the incident direction. For this reason, a case in which the air introduction direction and the imaging direction are not strictly in the same direction can be included, and thus an expression "substantially in the same direction" is used.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a shutter <NUM> as an opening/closing device capable of opening and closing the introduction port <NUM> is disposed in the housing <NUM>. Incidentally, in <FIG>, illustration of the shutter <NUM> is omitted. The shutter <NUM> has two flat plates disposed to face each other and is configured to seal the introduction port <NUM> by sliding and moving the two flat plates close to each other and making contact. The shutter <NUM> may be a single flat plate having a size capable of sealing the introduction port <NUM> configured to slide and move. The configuration of the shutter <NUM> is not limited thereto, and any known configuration can be appropriately employed.

A ventilation opening <NUM> for ventilating air in the vicinity of the sensor surface <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> is formed in the housing <NUM> on a surface different from the predetermined surface <NUM>. In the perspective view of <FIG>, one ventilation opening <NUM> is formed on each of right and left surfaces.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> includes a fan capable of controlling introduction of air from the introduction port <NUM> to the sensor surface <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> inside the housing <NUM>. By rotating this fan, it is possible to more forcibly introduce air containing an odor substance of a measurement target from the introduction port <NUM> to the sensor surface <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM>. Incidentally, when the fan is rotated in a reverse direction, air located in the vicinity of the sensor surface <NUM> can be caused to flow out from the introduction port <NUM> or the ventilation opening <NUM>.

In the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>, a GPS device <NUM>, a thermo-hygrometer <NUM>, a barometer <NUM>, an illuminometer <NUM>, and a communication device <NUM> are arranged inside the housing <NUM>. In the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>, various devices other than these devices may be arranged.

The GPS device <NUM> is a device for specifying a position of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> using a global positioning system (GPS), and can output latitude data and longitude data of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> at the time of odor measurement. The GPS device <NUM> need not be exposed to the outside on the surface of the housing <NUM> of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> as long as the GPS device <NUM> can receive radio waves from a GPS satellite.

The thermo-hygrometer <NUM> is a device for measuring an air temperature and humidity of air in the vicinity of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> at the time of odor measurement, and can output air temperature data and humidity data thereof. It is preferable that at least the measuring portion of the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> is exposed to the outside on the surface of the housing <NUM> of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>. When the air temperature and humidity at the time of odor measurement are measured by the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> and stored in the storage device <NUM> in association with odor data, it is possible to make the odor data more useful. For example, in a case in which an adsorption characteristic of an odor substance with respect to a substance adsorption membrane <NUM> changes due to an influence of the air temperature or humidity, it is possible to more appropriately evaluate the odor data by grasping the condition of the air temperature and humidity at the time of odor measurement.

The barometer <NUM> is a device for measuring an air pressure in the vicinity of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> at the time of odor measurement, and can output air pressure data thereof. When the air pressure at the time of odor measurement is measured by the barometer <NUM> and stored in the storage device <NUM> in association with the odor data, it is possible to make the odor data more useful. For example, in a case in which an adsorption characteristic of the odor substance with respect to the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> changes due to an influence of the air pressure, it is possible to more appropriately evaluate the odor data by grasping the condition of the air pressure at the time of odor measurement.

The illuminometer <NUM> is a device for measuring illuminance (light amount) in the vicinity of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> at the time of odor measurement, and can output illuminance (light amount) data thereof. It is preferable that at least a measuring portion of the illuminometer <NUM> is exposed to the outside on the surface of the housing <NUM> of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>. In particular, it is preferable that the measuring portion of the illuminometer <NUM> is exposed to the outside on the predetermined surface <NUM>. When the illuminance (light amount) at the time of odor measurement is measured by the illuminometer <NUM> and stored in the storage device <NUM> in association with the odor data, it is possible to make the odor data more useful. By grasping the condition of the illuminance (light amount), image data can be corrected so that an imaging object is more easily recognized.

The communication device <NUM> is a device capable of transmitting various data generated by various sensors or devices provided in the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>. For example, various data can be transmitted to a server terminal, and these various data can be stored and managed in a storage device <NUM> of the server terminal.

Examples of the various data include the odor data generated by the odor sensor <NUM>, the latitude data and the longitude data generated by the GPS device <NUM>, the air temperature data and the humidity data generated by the thermo-hygrometer <NUM>, the air pressure data generated by the barometer <NUM>, and the illuminance (light amount) data generated by the illuminometer <NUM>. As the various data, it is possible to include date and time data in which the date and the time at which the odoris measured are recorded. The date and time data can be generated by arbitrary means capable of recording the date and time, such as a date and time recording device mounted on the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view schematically illustrating the odor sensor <NUM> in the first embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the B-B' cross section of <FIG>. The odor sensor <NUM> includes a plurality of sensor elements <NUM>. Each of the sensor elements <NUM> includes the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> that adsorbs the odor substance and a detector <NUM> that detects an adsorption state of the odor substance with respect to the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the sensor element <NUM> includes the detector <NUM> and the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> provided on the surface of the detector <NUM>. It is preferable that the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> covers the entire surface of the detector <NUM>. That is, the size of the detector <NUM> is preferably the same as the formation range of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>, or smaller than the formation range of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>. Incidentally, a plurality of detectors <NUM> may be provided within the formation range of one substance adsorption membrane <NUM>.

The plurality of sensor elements <NUM> is arranged on a sensor substrate <NUM> and aligned in a lattice pattern of three rows and three columns as illustrated in <FIG>. In this instance, substance adsorption membranes <NUM> of adjacent sensor elements <NUM> are not in contact with each other or are insulated. It should be noted that the sensor elements <NUM> may not be aligned on the sensor substrate <NUM> and may be randomly arranged or aligned in a form other than three rows and three columns.

In the plurality of sensor elements <NUM> arranged on the sensor substrate <NUM>, properties of the respective substance adsorption membranes <NUM> are different from each other. Specifically, it is preferable that all the plurality of sensor elements <NUM> have the substance adsorption membranes <NUM> of different compositions, and that substance adsorption membranes <NUM> of the same property do not exist. Here, the property of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> can be referred to as the adsorption characteristic of the odor substance with respect to the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>. That is, one same odor substance (or an aggregate thereof) can exhibit different adsorption characteristics if the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> has different property. In <FIG> and <FIG>, for the sake of convenience, all the substance adsorption membranes <NUM> are illustrated in the same manner. However, in practice, properties thereof are different from each other.

As a material of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>, it is possible to use a thin film formed of a π electron conjugated polymer. This thin film can contain at least one of an inorganic acid, an organic acid, or an ionic liquid as a dopant. By changing the type or content of the dopant, it is possible to change the property of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>.

Examples of the π electron conjugated polymer preferably include, but are not limited to, a polymer having the π electron conjugated polymer as a skeleton such as polypyrrole and a derivative thereof, polyaniline and a derivative thereof, polythiophene and a derivative thereof, polyacetylene and a derivative thereof, or polyazulene and a derivative thereof.

In a case in which the π electron conjugated polymer is in an oxidized state and the skeleton polymer itself is a cation, conductivity can be developed by containing an anion as a dopant. Incidentally, in the invention, a neutral π electron conjugated polymer not containing a dopant can be adopted as the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>.

Specific examples of the dopant can include inorganic ions such as chlorine ion, chlorine oxide ion, bromine ion, sulfate ion, nitrate ion, and borate ion, organic acid anions such as alkylsulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, and carboxylic acid, and polymer acid anions such as polyacrylic acid and polystyrene sulfonic acid.

In addition, it is possible to use a method of performing chemical equilibrium doping by allowing salt such as table salt or an ionic compound containing both a cation and an anion such as an ionic liquid to coexist with the neutral π electron conjugated polymer.

In a case in which a state in which one dopant unit (ion) enters per two repeating units included in the π electron conjugated polymer is set to <NUM>, the content of the dopant in the π electron conjugated polymer may be adjusted in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>. When the content of the dopant is set to be greater than or equal to the minimum value of this range, it is possible to inhibit disappearance of the characteristic of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>. In addition, when the content of the dopant is set to be less than or equal to the maximum value of this range, it is possible to inhibit a decrease in effect of the adsorption characteristic of the π electron conjugated polymer itself, which makes it difficult to produce the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> having a desirable adsorption characteristic. In addition, it is possible to inhibit a significant decrease in durability of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> due to the dopant, which is a low molecular weight substance, when predominant in the membrane. Therefore, by setting the content of the dopant in the above-mentioned range, it is possible to suitably maintain detection sensitivity of the odor substance.

In the plurality of sensor elements <NUM>, different types of π electron conjugated polymers can be used to vary the respective adsorption characteristics of the substance adsorption membranes <NUM>. In addition, respective adsorption characteristics may be developed by changing the type or the content of the dopant while using the same kind of π electron conjugated polymer. For example, hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> can be changed by changing the type of the π electron conjugated polymer, the type and the content of the dopant, etc..

A thickness of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> can be appropriately selected according to the characteristic of the odor substance to be adsorbed. For example, the thickness of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> can be in a range of <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. When the thickness of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> is less than <NUM>, sufficient sensitivity may not be obtained in some cases. In addition, when the thickness of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> exceeds <NUM>, an upper limit of the weight detectable by the detector <NUM> may be exceeded.

The detector <NUM> has a function as a signal converter (transducer) which measures a change in physical, chemical, or electrical characteristic of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> due to the odor substance adsorbed on the surface of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> and outputs measurement data thereof as, for example, an electric signal. That is, the detector <NUM> detects an adsorption state of the odor substance on the surface of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>. Examples of the signal output as the measurement data by the detector <NUM> include physical information such as an electric signal, light emission, a change in electric resistance, or a change in vibration frequency.

The detector <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as the detector <NUM> is a sensor which measures the change in physical, chemical, or electrical characteristic of the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>, and various sensors can be appropriately used. Specific examples of the detector <NUM> include a crystal oscillator sensor (QCM), a surface elastic wave sensor, a field effect transistor (FET) sensor, a charge coupled device sensor, an MOS field effect transistor sensor, a metal oxide semiconductor sensor, an organic conductive polymer sensor, an electrochemical sensor.

Incidentally, in the case of using the crystal oscillator sensor as the detector <NUM>, although not illustrated, as an excitation electrode, electrodes may be provided on both sides of the crystal oscillator or a separated electrode may be provided on one side to detect a high Q value. In addition, the excitation electrode may be provided on the sensor substrate <NUM> side of the crystal oscillator with the sensor substrate <NUM> interposed therebetween. The excitation electrode can be formed of an arbitrary conductive material. Specific examples of the material of the excitation electrode include inorganic materials such as gold, silver, platinum, chromium, titanium, aluminum, nickel, nickel alloy, silicon, carbon, and carbon nanotube, and organic materials such as conductive polymers such as polypyrrole and polyaniline.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the detector <NUM> can have a flat-plate shape. As illustrated in <FIG>, a shape of the flat plate of the flat-plate shape can be quadrilateral or square. However, the shape can be of various shapes such as a circle or an ellipse. Further, the shape of the detector <NUM> is not limited to the flat plate shape. A thickness thereof may be altered, and a concave portion or a convex portion may be formed.

In a case in which the detector <NUM> uses an oscillator as the crystal oscillator sensor described above, it is possible to reduce the influence (crosstalk) received from another oscillator coexisting on the same sensor substrate <NUM> by changing resonance frequencies of respective oscillators in the plurality of sensor elements <NUM>. It is possible to arbitrarily design the resonance frequencies so that the respective oscillators on the same sensor substrate <NUM> exhibit different sensitivities with respect to a certain frequency. The resonance frequency can be changed, for example, by adjusting the thickness of the oscillator or the substance adsorption membrane <NUM>.

As the sensor substrate <NUM>, it is possible to use a silicon substrate, a substrate made of quartz crystal, a printed wiring substrate, a ceramic substrate, a resin substrate, etc. In addition, the substrate is a multilayer wiring substrate such as an interposer substrate, and an excitation electrode for oscillating the quartz substrate, mounting wirings, and an electrode for energizing are disposed at arbitrary positions.

By adopting the configuration as described above, it is possible to obtain the odor sensor <NUM> including the plurality of sensor elements <NUM> having the substance adsorption membranes <NUM> whose adsorption characteristics of the odor substance are different from each other. As a result, in a case in which an odor of air containing a certain odor substance or a composition thereof is measured by the odor sensor <NUM>, the odor substance or the composition thereof comes into contact with the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> of each sensor element <NUM> in the same manner. However, the odor substance is adsorbed to the respective substance adsorption membranes <NUM> in different modes. That is, an adsorption amount of the odor substance is different between the respective substance adsorption membranes <NUM>. For this reason, a detection result of the detector <NUM> is different between the respective sensor elements <NUM>. Therefore, pieces of measurement data by the detector <NUM> corresponding to the number of sensor elements <NUM> (substance adsorption membranes <NUM>) included in the odor sensor <NUM> are generated for the certain odor substance or the composition thereof.

A set of measurement data (hereinafter referred to as odor data) generated by the odor sensor <NUM> by measuring the certain odor substance or the composition thereof is usually specific (unique) to a specific odor substance or a composition of the odor substance. For this reason, by measuring the odor data using the odor sensor <NUM>, it is possible to identify the odor as an odor substance alone or as a composition (mixture) of odor substances.

Next, a configuration of an odor data acquiring means for acquiring odor data using the odor sensor <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. Odor acquiring means M1 is stored in the storage device <NUM> as a program, and the odor sensor <NUM> can be caused to function as the odor acquiring means M1 by causing the arithmetic processing device <NUM> to execute the program. In an example which is not part of the claimed invention, acquisition of odor data may be executed by other configuration without aid of the arithmetic processing device <NUM>.

The arithmetic processing device <NUM> is connected to each detector <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> to acquire measurement data measured by each detector <NUM> wherein an odor substance is adsorbed to each substance adsorption membrane <NUM>. At this time, each piece of measurement data is stored in the storage device <NUM> in association with a position of each detector <NUM> on the odor sensor <NUM>, that is, arrangement information of the detector <NUM>. In other words, in a case in which the respective detectors <NUM> in the odor sensor <NUM> have the same configuration, each piece of measurement data is stored in association with each substance adsorption membrane <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> on a one-to-one basis. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, measurement data is measured for each of detectors i to ix. Further, for example, respective pieces of the measurement data can be expressed as a radar chart illustrated in <FIG>. In the radar chart of <FIG>, each piece of the measurement data is plotted as a point on an axis extending from a center to the nine apexes of a nonagon having nine apexes corresponding to the respective detectors <NUM>, and the adjacent points are connected by straight lines. As described above, in a case in which the respective detectors <NUM> in the odor sensor <NUM> have the same configuration, the odor data can be referred to as a set of measurement data obtained by measuring adsorption characteristics of a certain odor substance (or a composition thereof) with respect to the substance adsorption membranes <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the odor sensor <NUM> is a card-like odor sensor chip that can be attached to and detached from the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>. For example, the sensor substrate <NUM> of the odor sensor <NUM> may be embedded in a card-like base material such that at least the substance adsorption membrane <NUM> is exposed to the outside of the base material. That is, in the perspective view of <FIG>, a hole is formed in a surface of the odor sensor <NUM> facing the rear of the plane of the paper, and the odor sensor chip can be inserted into the hole. It is preferable that the sensor substrate <NUM> and the sensor surface <NUM> are disposed at positions which can be reached by the air introduced from the introduction port <NUM> in a state in which the odor sensor chip is inserted. By adopting such an odor sensor chip, the odor sensor <NUM> can be replaced. For example, the odor sensor <NUM> can be replaced with an odor sensor <NUM> having different substance adsorption membranes <NUM> or with an odor sensor <NUM> having the same set of substance adsorption membranes <NUM> but in a different arrangement.

The imaging device <NUM> is a device which generates image data based on light emitted or reflected from an imaging target through the lens portion <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> is not particularly limited as long as the imaging device <NUM> can generate image data, and various types of cameras can be adopted. As illustrated in <FIG>, the main body of the imaging device <NUM> is arranged inside the housing <NUM> of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>, and the lens portion <NUM> is exposed to the outside on the surface of the housing <NUM>.

The lens portion <NUM> constitutes at least a part of an optical mechanism of the imaging device <NUM> and includes a lens. The lens portion <NUM> may include a lens barrel, protective glass, etc. in addition to the lens. The lens portion <NUM> on which light emitted or reflected from the imaging target is disposed on the predetermined surface <NUM> which is a surface of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> on the side of the measurement target (imaging target).

Behavior of the above-described various sensors included in the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> can be controlled by an arithmetic processing device <NUM> executing a control program P1 stored in a storage device <NUM>. Hereinafter, control of the behavior of the various sensors will be described with reference to <FIG> is a timing chart for description of behavior control of the various sensors.

Here, a description will be given of the case of an odor measurement apparatus <NUM> in which the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> is incorporated in a portable information terminal such as the smartphone or the tablet terminal. The control program P1 may be executed as an application executed by the arithmetic processing device <NUM> in the portable information terminal. It is presumed that the odor sensor <NUM>, the imaging device <NUM>, the GPS device <NUM>, and the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> are included as the various sensors. Configurations of the respective devices, the sensors, etc. can be approximately set to the same configurations as those of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment except that a display unit is arranged on a surface opposite to the predetermined surface <NUM> of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment illustrated in <FIG>.

When a user starts a control application executed based on the control program P1 and presses a measurement start button on an initial screen to start measurement, a standby screen is displayed on the display unit, then the odor sensor <NUM>, the GPS device <NUM>, and the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> are activated. Then, baseline measurement by the odor sensor <NUM>, current position measurement by the GPS device <NUM>, and measurement of air temperature and humidity by the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> are performed. When the baseline measurement, etc. is completed, a measurement button is displayed on the display unit. When the user presses the measurement start button, the imaging device <NUM> captures an image, the shutter <NUM> is opened to introduce air from the introduction port <NUM>, and odor measurement by the odor sensor <NUM> is performed. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the shutter <NUM> is closed to end the odor measurement, and the current position measurement is ended in the GPS device <NUM>. Thereafter, the standby screen is displayed on the display unit, and the odor sensor <NUM> is refreshed for a certain period of time. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the refreshing and the measurement of the air temperature and humidity by the thermo-hygrometer <NUM> are ended, and the initial screen is displayed on the display unit.

In the above-described control, the fan may be rotated at the time of introduction of air, and external air may be introduced toward the sensor surface <NUM>. Further, at the time of baseline measurement and refreshing of the odor sensor <NUM>, the fan may be reversely rotated to replace air near the sensor surface <NUM> with air introduced from the ventilation opening <NUM>. Incidentally, in a case in which the fan is reversely rotated, it is preferable that the shutter <NUM> is kept open.

As a second embodiment, a description will be given of an odor data management apparatus <NUM> which receives, stores, and manages the measurement data measured by the various sensors of the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment described above, with reference to drawings.

<FIG> is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the odor data management apparatus <NUM> according to the second embodiment. The odor data management apparatus <NUM> has the arithmetic processing device <NUM> (CPU) and the storage device <NUM> (memory) therein. An odor data management program P2 and an odor data management database D are stored in the storage device <NUM>. The odor data management program P2 causes the odor data management apparatus <NUM> to function as receiving means, storing means, extracting means M3, and returning means M5.

The receiving means has a function of receiving various data such as the odor data and the image data transmitted from the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. Specific examples of the various data include odor data generated by the odor sensor <NUM>, image data generated by the imaging device <NUM>, latitude and longitude data generated by the GPS device <NUM>, air temperature and humidity data generated by the thermo-hygrometer <NUM>, air pressure data generated by the barometer <NUM>, illuminance (light amount) data generated by the illuminometer <NUM>, and date and time data. Incidentally, the receiving means may receive not only the various data transmitted from the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> but also various data copied to the odor data management apparatus <NUM> via various storage media such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory in which various data generated by the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> is stored.

The storing means has a function of storing various data received by the receiving means in association with each other in the odor data management database D. The odor data management database D is stored in the storage device <NUM> of the odor data management apparatus <NUM>.

<FIG> is a database configuration diagram schematically illustrating the odor management database stored in the storage device <NUM> of the odor data management apparatus <NUM> according to the second embodiment. At least the odor data and the image data are stored in association with each other in the odor data management database D. In addition to the odor data and the image data, latitude and longitude data, air temperature and humidity data, air pressure data, illuminance (light amount) data, date and time data, etc. may be stored in association with each other.

In <FIG>, the odor data, the image data, the date and time data, and the longitude and latitude data are stored in association with each other. Specifically, in <FIG>, nine pieces of measurement data Ai to Aix measured by the respective sensor elements <NUM>, date and time data A1, image data A2, longitude data A3, and latitude data A4 as attribute data of the odor data A are stored in association with each other. Likewise, odor data B and odor data C are stored in the odor data management database D in association with the measurement data and the attribute data.

The extracting means M3 has a function of extracting odor data approximate to specific odor data from a plurality of pieces of odor data stored in the odor data management database D by the storing means. That is, when an odor data of a certain odor (specific odor data) is included, odor data approximate thereto can be extracted from the odor data management database D.

That two sets of odor data are approximate to each other means that pieces of measurement data included in the odor data corresponding in the two sets of odor data are compared with each other, a difference between values of the two compared pieces of measurement data is within a predetermined range. Here, the pieces of measurement data corresponding in the two sets of odor data are the pieces of measurement data by sensor elements <NUM> of the same kind among pieces of measurement data by the respective sensor elements <NUM> included in the odor data. That is, when determining whether two sets of odor data are approximate to each other, it is preferable to compare two sets of measurement data measured by sensor elements <NUM> having substance adsorption membranes <NUM> and detectors <NUM> of the same kind. Incidentally, when the two sets of measurement data to be compared which are measured by the sensor elements <NUM> including the same substance adsorption membranes <NUM> and detectors <NUM> is not be used, two sets of measurement data to be compared which are measured by sensor elements <NUM> including substance adsorption membranes <NUM> having compositions close to each other and detectors <NUM> having the same configuration may be used. In addition, the predetermined range in a case in which the difference between the values of the measurement data is within the predetermined range can be arbitrarily determined for measurement data in each detector <NUM>.

For example, in a case in which the odor data A and the odor data B are compared with each other, the measurement data Ai and the measurement data Bi measured by the same detector i can be compared with each other. Similarly, the measurement data Aii to Aix and the measurement data Bii to Bix can be compared with each other, respectively. Further, in measurement data in the respective sensor elements <NUM>, in a case in which a difference between pieces of measurement data is within the predetermined range, it is possible to determine that the odor data A and the odor data B are approximate to each other. In a case in which the odor data A and the odor data C are compared with each other, the measurement data Ai and measurement data Ci measured by the same detector i can be compared with each other. Similarly, the measurement data Aii to Aix and measurement data Cii to Cix can be compared with each other, respectively. Further, in measurement data in the respective sensor elements <NUM>, in a case in which any one difference between pieces of measurement data is out of the predetermined range, it can be determined that the odor data A and the odor data C are not approximate to each other.

The returning means M5 has a function of returning various data (hereinafter referred to as attribute data) other than odor data associated with odor data extracted by the extracting means M3 as a search result. Specific examples of the attribute data can include image data, latitude and longitude data, air temperature and humidity data, air pressure data, illuminance (light amount) data, date and time data, etc..

In a case of having odor data of a certain odor (specific odor data), attribute data associated with odor data approximate thereto is obtained from the odor data management database D as a search result by such extracting means M3 and returning means M5. Specifically, in a case in which the user acquires odor data of a favorite odor and searches for the acquired odor data using the odor data management apparatus <NUM>, attribute data of odor data approximate to the favorite odor of the user is obtained as a search result. For example, in a case in which the user acquires odor data of a favorite perfume and conducts a search, as a search result thereof, attribute data acquired by another user using the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> is obtained as a search result. As such attribute data, it is possible to obtain attribute data such as image data of a measurement target or latitude and longitude data of a measurement location obtained when another user has measured an odor approximate to the user's favorite perfume using the odor measurement apparatus <NUM>. Examples of the image data in the case include a picture of a bottle or a package of the perfume, a store selling the perfume, etc. Therefore, by searching for odor data with regard to an odor of interest to the user, it is possible to obtain information about an odor approximate to the odor of interest to the user from information stored in the odor data management database D.

As a third embodiment, a description will be given of a robot mounting the odor measurement apparatus <NUM> according to the first embodiment. In the description below, the description analogous to that in the description of the above-described embodiments will be omitted.

The robot includes an introduction port <NUM> and an imaging device <NUM> on the predetermined surface <NUM> and measures an odor of air introduced from the introduction port <NUM> using the odor sensor <NUM>. According to such a configuration, the robot can acquire odor data and image data of a measurement target.

The robot can store the measured odor data and image data in the storage device <NUM> in association with each other. The storage device may be mounted on the robot or may be mounted on a remote server communicably connected to the robot. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the measured odor data and image data of the measurement target are previously stored in the storage device. Further, in a case in which the same or similar odor data and image data are stored in the storage device, it is possible to determine that the measurement target has been previously measured. That is, in the case of the measurement target previously stored in the storage device, the robot can identify the measurement target. The robot can identify the measurement target not only by using the image data but also by combining the image data with the odor data.

For example, in a case in which the measurement target is a user (human) of the robot, it is possible to distinguish between the user and other person using image data and odor data measured regarding the user. Even in a case in which the face of the user may not be captured by the imaging device <NUM> of the robot, it is possible to improve identification accuracy of the user by combining with odor data.

Claim 1:
An odor measurement apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
an odor sensor (<NUM>) for detecting an odor, a display unit having a screen; and
an imaging device (<NUM>) having a lens portion (<NUM>),
an arithmetic processing device (<NUM>) configured to control the behavior of the odor sensor (<NUM>) and the imaging device (<NUM>) by executing a control program (P1),
wherein an imaging direction of the imaging device (<NUM>) and an introduction direction of air when the air is guided to a sensor surface of the odor sensor (<NUM>) through an introduction port (<NUM>) are substantially the same direction,
wherein the odor sensor (<NUM>) is in the form of a discrete card-like odor sensor chip that can be attached to and detached from the odor measurement apparatus (<NUM>),
characterised in that an opening/closing device capable of opening and closing the introduction port is arranged in said odor measurement apparatus, and in that the arithmetic processing device is configured in such a way that:
when a measurement start button displayed on said display unit is pressed while the control program (P1) is executed, a baseline measurement by the odor sensor (<NUM>) is performed based on the behavior control provided by the arithmetic processing device (<NUM>), and
wherein, when the measurement start button is pressed after the baseline measurement is completed, image capture by the imaging device (<NUM>) accompanied by opening of the opening/closing device (<NUM>), and odor measurement by the odor sensor (<NUM>), are performed based on the behavior control provided by the arithmetic processing device (<NUM>).