Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a sensor device comprising a first main body portion and a second main body portion which are configured to be detachably attached to a holding member worn by a user, wherein the first main body portion is disposed on a side of the holding member which lies opposite to a side facing a body of the user and includes therein an antenna for receiving or transmitting a radio wave, and
wherein the second main body portion is disposed on the side of the holding member which lies to face the body of the user, and includes therein a measuring unit configured to measure information of the user. <CIT> discloses a sensor device in a clip form having a measuring unit configured to measure information of the user. Further, conventionally, there have been provided sensor devices which are configured to be attached to a holding member (an edge portion of training pants, a belt, or the like) to measure and analyze a movement form or a movement pace of a moving person. For example, a sensor device described in <CIT> is made up of an acceleration sensor with a clip provided thereon and is designed to be mounted on a back side of a human body by making use of a waist belt. This sensor device can wirelessly communicate with a terminal device such as a smartphone or the like using a predetermined system.

This sensor device is mounted as close to the human body as possible so as to detect a motion of the human body in a more secured fashion. As a result, the conventional sensor device is mounted on an inner side of the holding member which is a side facing a certain part of the human body so that a casing portion, in which a sensor element is provided, can contact closely the human body. This may result in a case in which an antenna for communication with the terminal device is positioned inside clothing. Then, in the case that the clothing becomes wet due to sweat exuded during exercise or rain, the casing including the antenna is positioned between the human body which is wet due to exuded sweat and the wet clothing. This causes the human body which is wet due to the exuded sweat and the wet clothing to constitute a dielectric, whereby the antenna is disposed between the dielectrics. The transmission and reception status of a radio communication differs between when the clothing is wet and when the clothing is dry. To deal with this problem, when the sensitivity of the antenna is controlled so that the antenna exhibits its optimum performance in an intermediate status between when the clothing is wet and when the clothing is dry, there is caused a problem in that the performance (sensitivity) of the antenna is reduced when the clothing is wet and dry.

Above problem is overcome by a sensor device having the features of claim <NUM>. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided electronic equipment comprising:.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to accompanying drawings).

Referring to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A sensor device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG> includes a main body portion <NUM>, which is provided into a clip-like configuration by rotatably coupling a first main body portion <NUM> and a second main body portion <NUM> together. The main body portion <NUM> includes the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>. The sensor device <NUM> is mounted on a body of a user <NUM> by holding an edge portion <NUM> (a rubber portion at the waist, a holding member) of clothing <NUM> (training pants in <FIG>) worn by the user <NUM> using the clip-like main body portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Here, the edge portion <NUM>, which constitutes the holding member, is such as to be worn by the user <NUM> at a certain part of the body of the user <NUM>, and in the present embodiment, the edge portion <NUM> is worn by the user <NUM> at a waist part of the user <NUM>. Then, the first main body portion <NUM> is disposed on an outer side of the clothing <NUM> (an outer side of the holding member which is an opposite side to a side facing the certain part of the body or an opposite side to a side facing the body of the user <NUM>), and the second main body portion <NUM> is disposed on an inner side of the closing <NUM> (an inner side which is the side of the holding member which faces the certain part of the body or the side which faces the body of the user <NUM>). A contact surface <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) is provided on the second main body portion <NUM>. The contact surface <NUM> is provided on a surface of the second main body portion <NUM>.

The sensor device <NUM> can be used by bringing the contact surface <NUM> into contact with a skin <NUM> on a back side of the user <NUM>. When the user <NUM> takes exercise such as running, a movement of the body of the user <NUM>, who is running, is detected and transmitted by a measuring unit <NUM> and a communication unit <NUM>, respectively, which are possessed by the sensor device <NUM>, so that the movement so detected and transmitted is analyzed at a terminal device such as a smartphone. The measuring unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM> will be described in detail later on.

In the following description, when referring to an up-down direction, a left-right direction, and a front-rear direction of the sensor device <NUM>, those directions are so referred to in such a state that the sensor device <NUM> is mounted on the body of the user <NUM> as described before. In the case of the up-down direction, an end of the sensor device <NUM> directed towards the head of the user <NUM> is referred to up, while an end of the sensor device <NUM> directed towards the legs of the user <NUM> is referred to as down. In the case of the left-right direction, a lateral side of the sensor device <NUM> directed to the left arm of the user <NUM> is referred to as left, while a lateral side of the sensor device <NUM> directed towards the right arm of the user <NUM> is referred to as right. In the case of the front-rear direction, a side of the sensor device <NUM> which is to be in contact with the skin <NUM> of the user <NUM> is referred to as front, while a side of the sensor device <NUM> which is opposite to the front side is referred to as rear, as shown in <FIG>. In addition, in the following description, clockwise and counterclockwise rotations are referred to simply as rotation.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the sensor device <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape which is long in the up-down direction. In the main body portion <NUM>, the first main body portion <NUM> is provided on a rear side, while the second main body portion <NUM> is provided on a front side. The first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM> each have a substantially flat plate-like shape with flat surfaces oriented in the front-rear direction and are coupled together at a hinge portion <NUM>, which is provided at an upper side of the main body portion <NUM>.

The hinge portion <NUM> has a rotational shaft 35a. The rotational shaft 35a is passed through a bearing hole of a first bearing 21a, which projects from an upper portion on a front surface of the first main body portion <NUM>, and a bearing hole of a second bearing 22a, which projects from an upper portion on a rear surface of the second main body portion <NUM>, so as to couple the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM> together in a rotatable fashion.

A torsion coil spring35b (refer to <FIG>) is wound around a substantially central portion, in the left-right direction, of the rotational shaft 35a. As a result, the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>, which are detachably attached to the edge portion <NUM>, are biased so that portions which lie lower than the rotational shaft 35a move towards each other, whereby the sensor device <NUM> can be fixedly held to the user <NUM> via the clothing <NUM> by holding the edge portion <NUM> of the clothing <NUM> with the relevant lower portions of the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>.

Multiple projections 21b, 22b are provided on the front surface of the first main body portion <NUM> and the rear surface of the second main body portion <NUM>, respectively, so that the projections 21b, 22b can bite into the closing <NUM> so as to hold the closing <NUM> therebetween when the clothing <NUM> is held by the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>.

A lock component <NUM> is provided at an upper end portion of the first main body portion <NUM>. The lock component <NUM> includes a projecting portion 36b, which is provided on a front surface of a flat plate-like main body portion 36a thereof. An engagement hole 36c (refer to <FIG>), which has an elongated hole-like shape, is provided in each of left- and right-hand sides of the projecting portion 36b. The rotational shaft 35a is passed through the engagement hole 36c for engagement therewith.

On the other hand, a push-up projecting portion 22c is provided at an upper end portion on the rear surface of the second main body portion <NUM> which lies opposite to the lock component <NUM> on the first main body portion <NUM>. The lock component <NUM> is provided on the first main body portion <NUM> in such a manner as to move in the engagement hole 36c, which is formed into the elongated hole, in a longitudinal direction (substantially in the up-down direction) of the engagement hole 36c. When the user <NUM> operates the lock component <NUM> in such a manner as to move downwards, the projecting portion 36b is brought into abutment with the push-up portion 22c and then rides on the push-up portion 22c. As a result, even though the first main body portion <NUM> is caused to move towards the second main body portion <NUM> at an upper side than the rotational shaft 35a (that is, the first main body portion <NUM> is caused to move away or open from the second main body portion <NUM> at a lower side than the rotational shaft 35a), since the projecting portion 36b is in abutment with the push-up portion 22c, the first main body portion <NUM> is restricted from moving towards the second main body portion <NUM>. In this way, the rotation of the second main body portion <NUM> about the rotational shaft 35a relative to the first main body portion is locked. To release the locked rotation of the second main body <NUM>, the lock component <NUM> is moved upwards to release the state in which the projecting portion 36b rides on the push-up portion 22c. When the second main body portion <NUM> is released from the rotation-locked state, the first main body portion <NUM> can rotate about the rotational shaft 35a.

The second main body portion <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like shape which is long in the up-down direction and thick in the front-rear direction. The second main body portion <NUM> is formed as a case for accommodating a circuit board <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) including a part of a circuit unit <NUM> (refer to <FIG>), a battery (not shown) which constitutes a power supply, and the like. The front surface of the second main body portion <NUM> constitutes the contact surface <NUM> which can be brought into contact with the skin <NUM> of the user <NUM>, while a rear surface of the second main body portion <NUM> faces a front surface of the first main body portion <NUM> with a slight gap defined therebetween. The contact surface <NUM> is described as being a flat surface but may be a curved surface.

A button switch <NUM>, which functions as an operation unit <NUM>, and two LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>, which function as a display unit <NUM>, are provided on an upper surface of the second main body portion <NUM>. When the user <NUM> operates and pushes down the button switch <NUM>, operations can be performed such as supplying power to the sensor device <NUM>, causing a measuring unit <NUM> to start detection, and the like, and a status of the sensor device <NUM> such as an operation mode or the like is indicated by illumination states of the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>. A lid portion <NUM> is provided on a lower surface of the second main body portion <NUM> so as to cover a USB terminal (not shown).

Next, referring to <FIG>, a control circuit of the sensor device <NUM> will be described. The circuit unit <NUM>, which is provided in the second main body portion <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM> of the sensor device <NUM>, includes a processor <NUM>, the measuring unit <NUM>, the display unit <NUM>, the operation unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a positional information detection unit <NUM>, an environmental information detection unit <NUM>, and the communication unit <NUM>. These units are connected to the processor <NUM> by way of buses BS.

On the other hand, an antenna <NUM>, which is configured to receive and transmit radio waves, is provided in the first main body portion <NUM> of the sensor device <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The antenna <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM>, which includes the part of the circuit unit <NUM>, by way of signal lines <NUM>. Specifically, the antenna <NUM> is connected to the processor <NUM> by way of the communication unit <NUM> and is connected to the positional information detection unit <NUM> by way of the signal line <NUM>, so that the antenna <NUM> can output a reception signal received from an outside device to the processor <NUM> by way of the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM>. In addition, the antenna <NUM> can output a transmission signal to the outside device by way of the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM>, which are controlled by the processor <NUM>. In this way, the antenna <NUM> can communicate with the outside device. The outside device includes a terminal device such as a smartphone and a positioning satellite adopting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

The processor <NUM> is made up of a Central Processing unit (CPU), which functions as at least one processor, a microcomputer, or the like and executes various types of processing by reading out programs stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The storage unit <NUM> is made up of a flash memory, which functions as at least one memory, an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), and the like.

The storage unit <NUM> stores system programs and application programs that the processor <NUM> executes, as well as data necessary for the processor <NUM> to execute these programs. The measuring unit <NUM> measures information on the user <NUM>. The measuring unit <NUM> has a motion sensor unit 512a and a vital information sensor unit 512b. The motion sensor unit 512a includes sensor elements such as a three-axis acceleration sensor, a gyro-sensor, a terrestrial magnetic sensor, and the like and can detect a movement of the subject unit (the sensor device <NUM>) as a movement of a waist part of the user <NUM> who wears the sensor device <NUM>, so that the motion sensor unit 512a outputs a detection signal so detected to the processor <NUM>. The vital information sensor unit 512b includes various types of sensors for obtaining pulses of the user <NUM> and outputs a detection signal to the processor <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> includes the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>, which are provided in, for example, the main body portion <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> includes, for example, the button switch <NUM> and outputs an operation signal, which indicates an operation state of the button switch <NUM> by the user <NUM>, to the processor <NUM>. Illumination states of the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> are controlled by the processor <NUM> in accordance with the operation signal indicating the operation state of the button switch <NUM> by the user <NUM>.

The positional information detection unit <NUM> includes a Large Scale Integration (LSI) circuit having CPU, a memory, a filter, a modulator/demodulator, and the like and can derive positional information data of the sensor device <NUM> based on a reception signal from the positioning satellite received by way of the antenna <NUM>, so that the positional information data so derived is output to the processor <NUM>.

The environmental information detection unit <NUM> includes, for example, an atmospheric pressure sensor for measuring an atmospheric pressure at a place where the sensor device <NUM> (the main body portion <NUM>) is located, and a detection signal detected by the environmental information detection unit <NUM> is output to the processor <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> includes a circuit for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the outside device (the terminal device) by way of the antenna <NUM> in a predetermined radio or wireless system, and this circuit has a filter, an amplifier, and a modulator/demodulator. The predetermined radio or wireless system is, for example, Bluetooth (a registered trademark), Bluetooth Law Energy (BLE) from Version <NUM> on of Bluetooth (the registered trademark), or the like. The communication unit <NUM> processes a transmission signal which is input from the processor <NUM>, amplifies the transmission signal so processed, modulates the transmission signal so amplified, and transmits it to the outside device (the terminal device) by way of the antenna <NUM>. In addition, the communication unit <NUM> demodulates a reception signal received by way of the antenna <NUM>, amplifies the reception signal so demodulated, processes the reception signal so amplified, and outputs it to the processor <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> executes various processing based on the detection signal detected by the measuring unit <NUM> (the motion sensor unit 512a, the vital information sensor module 512b), the positional information data obtained by the positional information detection unit <NUM>, the detection signal detected by the environmental information detection unit <NUM> to thereby derive indexed data representing moving states of the user <NUM> such as a speed, a pitch, a stride, a vertical motion of the waist of the user <NUM> who is running or walking, and transmits the indexed data so derived as transmission signals to the outside device (the terminal device) by way of the communication unit <NUM>. The outside device (the terminal device), for example, analyzes the movement of the user <NUM> based on the indexed data so transmitted.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the main body portion <NUM> includes guide passages <NUM>, which are formed of a through hole or a groove portion in the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>, and the signal lines <NUM> are guided through the guide passages <NUM>. The signal lines <NUM> electrically connect the circuit board <NUM>, which includes the part of the circuit unit <NUM>, and the antenna <NUM> together. The antenna <NUM> may include separately an antenna connected with the positional information detection unit <NUM> and an antenna connected with the communication unit <NUM>.

When the sensor device <NUM> is attached to the closing <NUM>, the first main body portion <NUM> is disposed on the outer side of the closing <NUM> (the edge portion <NUM>), while the second main body portion <NUM> is disposed on the inner side of the closing <NUM>. That is, the antenna <NUM> is disposed on the outer side of the closing <NUM>. As a result, even if the closing <NUM> gets wet due to sweat exuded from the skin <NUM> of the user <NUM> as a result of movement or exercise, or rain, the antenna <NUM> is prevented from being held by the body of the user <NUM> which gets wet due to the sweat and the wet clothing <NUM> therebetween or is prevented from being covered with the wet closing <NUM>, whereby the sensitivity of the antenna <NUM> is maintained in a good condition.

Thus, while the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described heretofore, the present disclosure is never limited by the embodiment so described, and hence, the present disclosure can be carried out while being modified variously. For example, while the circuit unit <NUM> is described as being provided in the second main body portion <NUM>, in an example not according to the invention, a configuration may be adopted in which a second circuit unit including the measuring unit <NUM> (the motion sensor unit 512a) and the processor <NUM> is provided in the second main body portion <NUM>, while the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM> (or one part of elements of the positional information detection unit <NUM> and one part of elements of the communication unit <NUM>), as well as the antenna <NUM> are provided in the first main body portion <NUM>. In the case that the one part of the elements of the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the one part of the elements of the communication unit <NUM> are provided in the first main body portion <NUM>, the other parts of the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM> are provided in a first circuit unit.

The holding member is not limited to the edge portion <NUM> of the closing <NUM>, and hence, the holding member can be a belt or the like. In addition, the sensor device <NUM> can be attached to a certain part of the body of the user <NUM> other than the back of the body. A clip-like attaching portion is adopted in the present embodiment.

Thus, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the sensor device <NUM> has the first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM>, which are configured to be detachably attached to the edge portion <NUM> of the closing <NUM> which constitutes the holding member worn on a certain part of the body of the user <NUM>. The first main body portion <NUM> is disposed on the outer side of the edge portion <NUM> which lies opposite to the side facing the waist part constituting the certain part of the body, and the antenna <NUM> for receiving or transmitting a radio wave is provided in the first main body portion <NUM>. The second main body portion <NUM> is disposed on the inner side of the edge portion <NUM> which is the side facing the waist part constituting the certain part of the body, and the circuit unit <NUM> including the measuring unit <NUM> for measuring the information on the user <NUM> is provided in the second main body portion. As a result, the sensitivity of the antenna <NUM> can be improved irrespective of the states of the clothing <NUM> (whether the closing <NUM> is in the wet state due to sweat or in the dry state).

The first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM> constitute the clip-like configuration by being coupled together rotatably. As a result, the sensor device <NUM> can easily be attached to the holding member. In addition, the circuit unit <NUM> further includes the processor <NUM>, the positional information detection unit <NUM>, and the communication unit <NUM>. As a result, the sensor device <NUM> can easily be controlled. The measuring unit <NUM> includes the vital information sensor unit 512b for obtaining pulses and the motion sensor unit 512a for measuring the movement of the subject device. As a result, the motion and the status of the body when the high-degree movement is made can be analyzed. In addition, the second main body portion <NUM> includes the circuit board <NUM> which includes at least the part of the circuit unit <NUM>. As a result, the individual units of the circuit unit <NUM> are accommodated in the second main body portion <NUM>, and the measuring unit <NUM> for measuring the information on the user <NUM> is disposed close to at least the body, thereby making it possible to detect the information of the user with good precision.

In an example not according to the invention, the circuit unit <NUM> has the first circuit unit which is provided in the first main body portion <NUM> and which includes the positional information detection unit <NUM> and the communication unit <NUM> and the second circuit unit which is provided in the second main body portion <NUM> of the main body portion <NUM> which is disposed on the inner side of the clothing <NUM> and which includes the measuring unit <NUM> and the processor <NUM>. As a result, the second main body portion <NUM>, which is disposed close to the body, can be formed thin.

The first main body portion <NUM> and the second main body portion <NUM> have the guide passages <NUM> for guiding the signal lines <NUM> which electrically connect the antenna <NUM> with the circuit board <NUM>. As a result, the signal lines <NUM> can be protected, while allowing the antenna <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> to be connected electrically together in a proper fashion.

The second main body portion <NUM> includes the contact surface <NUM>, which is configured to be in contact with the body of the user <NUM>, on the surface which lies opposite to the surface facing the first main body portion <NUM>. As a result, the second main body portion <NUM> including the measuring unit <NUM> is allowed to be brought into contact with the body on the contact surface <NUM>, thereby making it possible to increase the measuring accuracy of the information on the user <NUM>.

In addition, the circuit unit <NUM> includes the environmental information detection unit <NUM> for detecting an environment around the main body portion <NUM>. As a result, a movement environment at the time of data collection can be recorded.

Claim 1:
A sensor device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first main body portion (<NUM>) and a second main body portion (<NUM>) which are configured to be detachably attached to a holding member worn by a user (<NUM>), wherein the first main body portion (<NUM>) and the second main body portion (<NUM>) are provided into a clip-like configuration by being coupled together rotatably
an antenna (<NUM>) which is configured to receive radio waves,
a circuit unit (<NUM>) including a measuring unit (<NUM>) configured to measure information of the user (<NUM>) and a positional information detection unit which is configured to derive positional information data of the sensor device (<NUM>) based on a reception signal from a positioning satellite received by way of the antenna,
a circuit board (<NUM>) which includes at least a part of the circuit unit (<NUM>),
wherein the first main body portion (<NUM>) is configured to be disposed on a side of the holding member which lies opposite to a side facing a body of the user (<NUM>) and to accommodate therein the antenna (<NUM>), while the second main body portion (<NUM>) is configured to be disposed on the side of the holding member which lies to face the body of the user (<NUM>) and to accommodate therein the circuit board (<NUM>).