Patent ID: 12213769

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present disclosure, an “electronic device” may be a device driven by power. In the present disclosure, a “user” may be a subject (human or animal) that uses an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Improvement in the accuracy of measuring biological information of a user of an electronic device is useful, for example, for better detection of the sleep state of the user. It could be helpful to provide an electronic device, a control method, and a control program that can improve the accuracy of measuring biological information. According to an embodiment, an electronic device, a control method, and a control program that can improve the accuracy of measuring biological information can be provided. An electronic device according to an embodiment will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a state in which an electronic device according to an embodiment is worn by a user. In detail,FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a state in which an electronic device according to an embodiment is worn on or inserted in an ear of a user.

As illustrated inFIG.1, an electronic device1A according to an embodiment may be shaped like an earphone or an earplug. As illustrated inFIG.1, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may be configured to be usable in a state of being worn on or inserted in an ear of a user. In this case, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may have an earplug function of preventing sound from entering the ear of the user. The electronic device1A according to the embodiment may detect a signal relating to the organism of the user at the ear of the user in a state of being worn on or inserted in the ear of the user. The electronic device1A according to the embodiment can perform various predetermined processes based on the signal detected in this way. For example, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may measure the blood flow amount of the user based on the detected signal relating to the organism of the user. For example, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may output sound that wakes the user from sleep at a timing determined based on the measured blood flow amount of the user.

FIG.1illustrates the electronic device1A worn on or inserted in the left ear of the user. As illustrated inFIG.1, the electronic device1A may be worn on or inserted in the left ear of the user. Alternatively, the electronic device1A may be worn on or inserted in the right ear of the user. Thus, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may be configured to be worn on or inserted in only one ear of the user.

Alternatively, two electronic devices1A according to the embodiment may be worn on or inserted in one user. In this case, the respective two electronic devices1A may be worn on or inserted in the right and left ears of the user.

An electronic device having a structure bilaterally symmetrical to the electronic device1A as viewed from the user illustrated inFIG.1may be provided as an electronic device1B according to the embodiment. In this case, for example, the electronic device1A may be configured to be worn on or inserted in the left ear of the user, and the electronic device1B may be configured to be worn on or inserted in the right ear of the user. Hereafter, the electronic device1A is also referred to as “left ear electronic device1A”, and the electronic device1B is also referred to as “right ear electronic device1B”. In the following description, “A” in the reference signs may be replaced with “B” as appropriate to take the description about the left ear electronic device1A to be about the right ear electronic device1B. In the case where the electronic device1A and the electronic device1B are not distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as “electronic device1”. The right ear electronic device1B may have an appearance bilaterally symmetrical to the left ear electronic device1A from the user's viewpoint. The right ear electronic device1B may have the same functions as the left ear electronic device1A. The right ear electronic device1B is omitted in the drawings.

The electronic device1A illustrated inFIG.1has a shape that is elongated in a direction parallel to the X-axis in the drawing. The electronic device1A according to the embodiment is, however, not limited to the shape illustrated inFIG.1. The electronic device1A according to the embodiment may have, for example, a rectangular shape, a square shape, an elliptical shape, or a circular shape. The electronic device1A according to the embodiment may have any shape based on design and the like. The appearance shape of the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may be suitable for being worn on or inserted in the ear of the user.

FIG.2is an appearance diagram of the electronic device1A according to the embodiment.FIG.2is a diagram illustrating a state in which the electronic device1illustrated inFIG.1is removed from the ear of the user.

As illustrated inFIG.2, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment includes a main body3A, an insertion portion10A, and a sensor20A. The electronic device1B according to the embodiment may include a main body3B, an insertion portion10B, and a sensor20B. Hereafter, the main body3A is also referred to as “left ear main body3A”, and the main body3B is also referred to as “right ear main body3B”. In the case where the main body3A and the main body3B are not distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as “main body3”. The insertion portion10A is also referred to as “left ear insertion portion10A”, and the insertion portion10B is also referred to as “right ear insertion portion10B”. In the case where the insertion portion10A and the insertion portion10B are not distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as “insertion portion10”. The sensor20A is also referred to as “left ear sensor20A”, and the sensor20B is also referred to as “right ear sensor20B”. In the case where the sensor20A and the sensor20B are not distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as “sensor20”.

The main body3may be a housing of the electronic device1. The main body3may be made of any material having strength to function as the housing of the electronic device1, such as synthetic resin, aluminum, or rubber. The electronic device1according to the embodiment may include various components inside the main body3. The main body3may have any shape and size and is not limited to the shape illustrated inFIG.2as an example, as mentioned above. In an embodiment, the main body3may have a shape and size suitable for being worn on or inserted in the ear of the user.

The insertion portion10is a portion inserted in the ear of the user. The ear of the user in which the insertion portion10is inserted may be, for example, the external ear canal of the user. In this case, at least part of the insertion portion10may be inserted in the external ear canal of the user. Hence, the insertion portion10may be made of, for example, a silicon-based material, or a low-resilience material such as an urethane material. The insertion portion10may include a removable earpiece that can be changed in size as appropriate so as to be in close contact with the external ear canal of the user. That is, the insertion portion10may include a replaceable earpiece. In this case, the earpiece may prevent sound from entering the external ear canal of the user in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user. In other words, the electronic device1may prevent external sound from entering the external ear canal of the user, as a result of at least part of the insertion portion10being inserted in the external ear canal of the user. In such a case, the electronic device1including the insertion portion10has an effect of an earplug.

Thus, the insertion portion10may be at least partly inserted in the external ear canal of the user. That is, at least part of the insertion portion10may be inserted in the external ear canal of the user. The insertion portion10may include the left ear insertion portion10A (first insertion portion) that is at least partly inserted in the external ear canal of the left ear of the user, and the right ear insertion portion10B (second insertion portion) that is at least partly inserted in the external ear canal of the right ear of the user. The insertion portion10may further include an earpiece that prevents sound from entering the external ear canal of the user in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user.

The sensor20detects a signal relating to the organism of the user at the ear of the user. In an embodiment, the sensor20may detect the signal relating to the organism of the user in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user as described above. In an embodiment, the sensor20may be a laser sensor as described later. The sensor20is, however, not limited to a laser sensor, and may be an LED sensor or the like.

Thus, the sensor20detects the signal relating to the organism of the user at the ear of the user, in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user. In an embodiment, the sensor20may include the left ear sensor20A (first sensor). In this case, the left ear sensor20A may measure the information relating to the organism of the user at the left ear of the user in a state in which at least part of the left ear insertion portion10A is inserted in the external ear canal of the left ear of the user. In an embodiment, the sensor20may include the right ear sensor20B (second sensor). In this case, the right ear sensor20B may measure the information relating to the organism of the user at the right ear of the user in a state in which at least part of the right ear insertion portion10B is inserted in the external ear canal of the right ear of the user.

FIG.3is a sectional diagram of the electronic device according to the embodiment.FIG.3is a sectional diagram along line A-A′ of the electronic device1A illustrated inFIG.2.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment includes the main body3A, the insertion portion10A, and the sensor20A.FIG.3illustrates an example in which the insertion portion10A includes a removable earpiece.

As illustrated inFIG.3, in the electronic device1A according to the embodiment, the sensor20A may include an optical emitter22and an optical detector24. In an embodiment, the sensor20A may include, for example, a laser Doppler velocimeter. The laser Doppler velocimeter itself is known, and accordingly its detailed description is omitted. The sensor20A including the laser Doppler velocimeter in the electronic device1A according to the embodiment can measure, for example, the blood flow amount at the ear of the user.

The sensor20A illustrated inFIGS.2and3is located at a position where the signal relating to the organism of the user can be detected at around the cavity of the ear concha of the left ear of the user. The position of the sensor20A illustrated inFIGS.2and3is an example. In the electronic device1A according to the embodiment, the sensor20A may be located at any of various positions where the signal relating to the organism of the user can be detected at the ear of the user in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the electronic device1A according to the embodiment may include a driver unit30inside the main body3. The driver unit30may be a device capable of outputting sound, such as a device used in a typical earphone or the like. As illustrated inFIG.3, the driver unit30can output sound from the insertion portion10toward the external ear canal of the user by causing air vibration. The driver unit itself is known, and accordingly its detailed description is omitted.

The driver unit30illustrated inFIG.3is located near the insertion portion10A that is inserted in the external ear canal of the user, in the main body3A of the electronic device1A. The position of the driver unit30illustrated inFIG.3is an example. The driver unit30may be located at any position where sound can be output from the insertion portion10to the inside of the external ear canal of the user, in the main body3A of the electronic device1A according to the embodiment.

In the present disclosure, the position of the sensor20is not limited to the example illustrated inFIGS.2and3, and may be any appropriate position. For example, at least one of the left ear sensor20A and the right ear sensor20B may be located at a center part of the main body3, as illustrated inFIG.4. The sensor20may then acquire the biological information from the ear concha of the user. In this case, the sensor20A including the optical emitter22and the optical detector24is directed toward the ear concha of the user, as illustrated inFIG.5.

FIG.6is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating a structure of the electronic device1according to the embodiment.FIG.6illustrates elements constituting the electronic device1according to the embodiment. The electronic device1according to the embodiment may not necessarily include all of the functional parts illustrated inFIG.6. The electronic device1according to the embodiment may include one or more functional parts other than those illustrated inFIG.6.

The electronic device1illustrated inFIG.6includes the sensor20, the driver unit30, a controller40, a communication interface50, a microphone60, and a battery70.

The sensor20may include, for example, the optical emitter22and the optical detector24, as illustrated inFIG.3. The sensor20detects the signal relating to the organism of the user at the ear of the user, in a state in which at least part of the insertion portion10is inserted in the external ear canal of the user. The sensor20may include, for example, a laser Doppler velocimeter or the like, as mentioned above. The sensor20A including the laser Doppler velocimeter can measure, for example, the blood flow amount at the ear of the user. The sensor20may detect the signal relating to the organism of the user based on control by the controller40. For example, the signal detected by the sensor20may be supplied to the controller40. In more detail, the controller40may control the light emission of the optical emitter22in the sensor20. The signal based on the light received by the optical detector24in the sensor20may be supplied to the controller40.

The driver unit30can make various notifications to the user by outputting various types of sound. For example, the driver unit30may output sound by supplying an electric signal to a diaphragm or the like to cause air vibration. The driver unit30may include any speaker. The driver unit30may output a signal supplied from the controller40, as sound.

In the electronic device1A according to the embodiment, for example, the driver unit30may output predetermined environmental sound or the like based on control by the controller40, in order to promote the sleep of the user. In the electronic device1A according to the embodiment, for example, the driver unit30may output predetermined sound or the like (e.g. alarm sound that gradually increases in volume) based on control by the controller40, in order to wake the user from sleep. In this case, the controller40may control the driver unit30to output predetermined sound or the like at a timing set by the user, for example.

In an embodiment, information of the sound output from the driver unit30may be stored in memory included in the controller40or other memory. The information of the sound stored in the memory may be an audio file in any format such as an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) file or a WAV file.

Thus, in the electronic device1A according to the embodiment, the controller40may control the driver unit30to output predetermined sound at a predetermined timing set beforehand.

The controller40controls and/or manages the whole electronic device1, such as the functional parts included in the electronic device1. The controller40may include at least one processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), to provide control and processing capacity for achieving various functions. The controller40may be implemented by one processor, by several processors, or by respective separate processors. Each processor may be implemented as a single integrated circuit (IC). Each processor may be implemented as a plurality of integrated circuits and/or discrete circuits communicably connected to one another. Each processor may be implemented based on any of other various known techniques.

In an embodiment, the controller40may be implemented, for example, by a CPU and a program executed by the CPU. The program executed by the controller40, results of processes performed by the controller40, and the like may be, for example, stored in memory. The controller40may include memory necessary for the operation of the controller40as appropriate. The operation of the controller40in the electronic device1according to the embodiment will be described in detail later.

The memory may store the program executed by the controller40, the results of the processes performed by the controller40, and the like. The memory may function as work memory of the controller40. For example, the memory may be semiconductor memory. The memory is, however, not limited to such, and may be any storage device. For example, the memory may be a storage medium such as a memory card inserted in the electronic device1according to the embodiment. The memory may be internal memory of the CPU used as the controller40as mentioned above, or may be connected to the controller40as a separate unit.

The communication interface50is an interface for performing wired or wireless communication. The communication interface50in the embodiment supports a wireless communication standard. The wireless communication standard is, for example, a communication standard relating to cellular phones such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G. Examples of the communication standard of cellular phones include Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), CDMA 2000, Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM® (GSM is a registered trademark in Japan, other countries, or both)), and Personal Handy-phone System (PHS). Examples of the wireless communication standards further include Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® (Bluetooth is a registered trademark in Japan, other countries, or both), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), and Near Field Communication (NFC). The communication interface50can support one or more of these communication standards.

Various information transmitted and received by the communication interface50may be stored, for example, in the memory included in the controller40. For example, the communication interface50may include an antenna for transmitting and receiving electric waves, an appropriate RF portion, and the like. The communication interface50can be implemented by a known technique for performing wireless communication, and accordingly detailed description of its hardware structure is omitted.

The communication interface50may transmit, for example, the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20to an external device (another electronic device) such as a smartphone or a server by wireless communication, based on control by the controller40. For example, the information transmitted from the communication interface50to the external device may be supplied from the controller40. The communication interface50may receive information transmitted from an external device (another electronic device) such as a smartphone or a server by wireless communication. For example, the information received by the communication interface50from the external device may be supplied to the controller40.

In the case where the electronic device1according to the embodiment includes the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B, the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B may each include the communication interface50. In this case, the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B may communicate with each other. In the case where the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B are wiredly connected by a cable or the like in the electronic device1according to the embodiment, the communication interface50in each of the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B may be, for example, an interface or a connector connecting the cable.

Thus, the electronic device1according to the embodiment may include the communication interface50that transmits, to another electronic device, the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20. In an embodiment, in the case where the electronic device1is used stand-alone without cooperation with another electronic device and the like, the electronic device1need not include the communication interface50that provides wireless communication function.

The microphone60detects sound around the electronic device1(e.g. sound entering the external ear canal of the user), including human voice. The microphone60may convert sound detected by a diaphragm or the like as air vibration, into an electric signal. Although the microphone60is not illustrated inFIGS.1to3, the electronic device1according to the embodiment may include the microphone60at any position where sound around the electronic device1or sound entering the external ear canal of the user is detectable.

In an embodiment, the controller40may generate sound opposite in phase to sound detected by the microphone60and output the generated sound from the driver unit30(active noise canceling). Thus, in the electronic device1according to the embodiment, the controller40may control the driver unit30to output sound opposite in phase to sound entering the external ear canal of the user. The electronic device1according to the embodiment prevents external noise and the like from entering the ear of the user. Therefore, for example by inserting the electronic device1in both ears, the user can be put in a quiet environment. Such an environment allows the user to sleep comfortably.

In an embodiment, in the case where the electronic device1does not have active noise canceling function, the electronic device1need not include the microphone60.

The battery70may supply power to each component of the electronic device1. The battery70may include a rechargeable secondary battery. Examples of the secondary battery include a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, and a nickel-hydrogen battery. The battery70is not limited to a secondary battery, and may include an unrechargeable primary battery. Examples of the primary battery include an alkaline battery and a manganese battery. In an embodiment, in the case where the electronic device1is supplied with power from outside, the electronic device1need not include the battery70.

In the case where the electronic device1according to the embodiment includes the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B, both the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B may not necessarily include all of the functional parts illustrated inFIG.6. For example, in the case where the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B are wiredly connected to each other, the controller40, the communication interface50, and/or the battery70may be included in at least one of the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B.

Of the functional parts illustrated inFIG.6, the controller40, the communication interface50, the microphone60, and the battery70are not illustrated inFIG.3. These functional parts may be located, for example, at any positions in the main body3A illustrated inFIG.3.

The operation of the electronic device1according to the embodiment will be described below.

As described above, the electronic device1according to the embodiment can prevent external sound such as environmental sound from entering the external ear canal of the user, as a result of being worn on or inserted in the ear of the user. Hence, by wearing or inserting the electronic device1according to the embodiment on or in the ear, the user can be put in a quiet environment suitable for sleep. The electronic device1according to the embodiment can thus detect, by the sensor20, the signal relating to the organism of the user during sleep of the user.

If the posture of the user changes as a result of, for example, the user turning over in bed while the electronic device1according to the embodiment is detecting the signal relating to the organism of the user during sleep of the user, appropriate detection by the sensor20may be unable to be continued.

For example, suppose the user having the electronic device1A inserted in the left ear as illustrated inFIG.1lies down and starts sleeping. If the user turns over in sleep and the left side of the head of the user is placed on the floor side, the left side of the head is compressed by the pillow, the bedclothes, or the like. In this case, the electronic device1A worn on or inserted in the left ear of the user is pressed to, for example, the ear concha of the left ear of the user. This can cause a change in the intensity of light emitted from the optical emitter22and/or light received by the optical detector24. Therefore, even though the sensor20has hitherto appropriately detected the signal relating to the organism of the user, such appropriate detection is likely to be no longer maintained.

The same applies to the case where the user having the electronic device1B inserted in the right ear lies down and starts sleeping. If the user turns over in sleep and the right side of the head of the user is placed on the floor side, the right side of the head is compressed by the pillow, the bedclothes, or the like, and the electronic device1B worn on or inserted in the right ear of the user is pressed to, for example, the ear concha of the right ear of the user. In this case, too, even though the sensor20has hitherto appropriately detected the signal relating to the organism of the user, such appropriate detection is likely to be no longer maintained.

Accordingly, for example, the controller40in the electronic device1may perform a process based on the signal detected by the sensor20only in the case where the controller40determines that the signal is appropriately detected by the sensor20. That is, the controller40may subject only the signal appropriately detected by the sensor20to a predetermined process. In the case where the controller40determines that the signal is not appropriately detected by the sensor20, the controller40may not perform the process based on the signal detected by the sensor20. That is, the controller40may not subject the signal not appropriately detected by the sensor20to the predetermined process.

In the case where the electronic device1according to the embodiment includes the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B, there is a possibility that, even when appropriate detection by the sensor20in one electronic device1cannot be continued, appropriate detection by the sensor20in the other electronic device1can be maintained. For example, if the user turns over in sleep and the left side of the head is placed on the floor side, the left ear electronic device1A is pressed to, for example, the ear concha of the left ear of the user, which may make it impossible to appropriately detect the signal relating to the organism of the user. Even in such a case, since the right ear electronic device1B is not pressed to, for example, the ear concha of the right ear of the user, the signal relating to the organism of the user can be appropriately detected.

In this case, a process based on the signal detected by the right ear sensor20B in the right ear electronic device1B with which the signal relating to the organism of the user is appropriately detected may be performed. That is, the controller40may subject, to the predetermined process, only the signal detected by the right ear sensor20B in the right ear electronic device1B with which the signal relating to the organism of the user is appropriately detected, from among the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B. Meanwhile, a process based on the signal detected by the left ear sensor20A in the left ear electronic device1A with which the signal relating to the organism of the user is not appropriately detected may not be performed. That is, the controller40may not subject, to the predetermined process, the signal detected by the left ear sensor20A in the left ear electronic device1A with which the signal relating to the organism of the user is not appropriately detected, from among the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B.

The predetermined process herein may be, for example, a process of measuring the blood flow amount of the user based on the signal relating to the organism of the user. The predetermined process is not limited to a process of measuring the blood flow amount of the user, and may be any process based on the signal relating to the organism of the user.

FIG.7is a flowchart illustrating operation of the electronic device1according to the embodiment.

The operation illustrated inFIG.7may start, for example, when the detection of the signal relating to the organism of the user starts in a state in which the user has the electronic device1worn on or inserted in the ear.FIG.7illustrates an example in which the electronic device1according to the embodiment includes the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B. In the case where the electronic device1according to the embodiment includes only one of the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B, too, operation may be performed in accordance with the procedure inFIG.7.

When the operation illustrated inFIG.7starts, the controller40controls both the left ear sensor20A and the right ear sensor20B to detect the signal relating to the organism of the user (step S1).

Once the left ear sensor20A and the right ear sensor20B have started the detection of the signal relating to the organism of the user in step S1, the controller40determines whether the detected signal satisfies a predetermined condition (step S2).

The predetermined condition used for the determination in step S2may be, for example, the intensity of the detected signal. For example, the predetermined condition in step S2may be the ratio of the quantity of light received by the optical detector24to the quantity of light emitted by the optical emitter22in the sensor20. In step S2, for example, the controller40may determine whether the detected signal satisfies the predetermined condition based on the DC value of the intensity of the signal detected by the sensor20(i.e. the intensity of light received by the optical detector24).

The predetermined condition in step S2may be set in any of various forms.

For example, the predetermined condition in step S2may be a threshold set based on the signal detected by the sensor20when the user wears the electronic device1onto the ear or inserts the electronic device1into the ear. To wear the electronic device1onto the ear or insert the electronic device1into the ear, the user pushes the electronic device1into the ear, so that the electronic device1is pressed to the ear of the user harder than in a normal wearing or insertion state in which the electronic device1is already worn on or inserted in the ear. Hence, the threshold as the predetermined condition may be set based on the signal detected by the sensor20when the electronic device1is pressed to the ear of the user harder than in the normal wearing or insertion state. In this case, for example, the threshold as the predetermined condition may be set based on the lower limit (lower limit value) of the DC signal detected by the sensor20when the user wears the electronic device1onto the ear or inserts the electronic device1into the ear. For example, the controller40may determine that the predetermined condition is not satisfied in step S2, in the case where the signal detected by the sensor20is less than the lower limit value of the DC value.

For example, the predetermined condition in step S2may be a threshold set based on the signal detected by the sensor20up to the present and/or the signal detected by the sensor20in the past. In the case where the user routinely detects the signal relating to the organism of the user by the electronic device1, for example, the controller40can obtain the signal relating to the organism of the respective user in normal time. Hence, the predetermined condition in step S2may be a range set based on a record (or history) of the signal relating to the organism of the user in normal time. For example, the controller40may determine that the predetermined condition is satisfied in step S2, in the case where the intensity of the detected signal is within the set range. The controller40may determine that the predetermined condition is not satisfied in step S2, in the case where the intensity of the detected signal is not within the set range. In this case, the predetermined condition in step S2may be a threshold or a range set based on the average DC value obtained from the record (or history) of the signal relating to the organism of the user in normal time. For example, the controller40may determine that the predetermined condition is not satisfied in step S2, in the case where the signal detected by the sensor20is less than 50% of the average DC value.

In the case where the detected signal satisfies the predetermined condition in step S2(step S2: Yes), the controller40performs the predetermined process based on the signal determined to satisfy the predetermined condition (step S3), and then ends the procedure illustrated inFIG.7. The predetermined process in step S3may be any process based on the signal relating to the organism of the user, as mentioned above. In the case where the detected signal does not satisfy the predetermined condition in step S2(step S2: No), the controller40ends the procedure illustrated inFIG.7without performing the process in step S3. That is, in the operation illustrated inFIG.7, only a signal of an appropriate detection value by the sensor20from among the left ear electronic device1A and the right ear electronic device1B is used for the process, and a signal that is not appropriate is not used for the process.

Thus, in the electronic device1according to the embodiment, the controller40may perform the predetermined process based on the signal that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20. In an embodiment, the controller40may perform the predetermined process based on the signal that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the left ear sensor20A and the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the right ear sensor20B. In this case, the controller40may perform the predetermined process based on a signal having at least a predetermined intensity from among the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20. The controller40may perform the predetermined process based on a signal having an intensity within a predetermined range from among the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20.

With the electronic device1according to the embodiment, a signal appropriately detected by the sensor20can be subjected to the process, without subjecting a signal not appropriately detected by the sensor20to the process. The electronic device1according to the embodiment can therefore improve the accuracy of measuring the biological information of the user. With improvement in the accuracy of measuring the biological information of the user, the electronic device1according to the embodiment can be expected to improve, for example, the accuracy of measuring the blood flow amount of the user. Based on the accurately measured blood flow amount of the user, the electronic device1according to the embodiment can detect, for example, the sleep state of the user more favorably.

FIG.8is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the electronic device1according to the embodiment.

The operation illustrated inFIG.8results from adding more functions to the foregoing operation illustrated inFIG.7. RegardingFIG.8, the same description as inFIG.7is simplified or omitted as appropriate.

When the operation illustrated inFIG.8starts, the controller40performs the processes in steps S1and S2, as inFIG.7.

In the case where the detected signal satisfies the predetermined condition in step S2inFIG.8(step S2: Yes), the controller40performs the processes in steps S11and S12inFIG.8, instead of step S3inFIG.7.

The process in step S11inFIG.8is roughly the same as the process in step S3inFIG.7. In step S11, the controller40measures the blood flow amount of the user as the predetermined process, based on the signal determined to satisfy the predetermined condition (step S11).

After the blood flow amount of the user is measured in step S11, for example, the controller40determines a suitable timing (e.g. a time of day) of waking the user from sleep based on the measured blood flow amount (step S12). Various research papers have been published on the relationship between the blood flow amount and the depth of sleep of humans. With reference to such research, the controller40may determine an appropriate timing so that the sleep of the user will not be excessively deep or excessively light, based on the blood flow amount of the user. After determining the timing of waking the user from sleep in step S12, the controller40performs the process in step S13.

In the case where the detected signal does not satisfy the predetermined condition in step S2(step S2: No), the controller40may perform the process in step S13, without performing the processes in steps S11and S12.

In step S13, the controller40determines whether the determined timing has been reached. In the case where the timing has not been reached in step S13, the controller40returns to step S1and continues the procedure. In the case where the timing has been reached in step S13, the controller40outputs predetermined sound such as alarm sound from the driver unit (step S14). In the case where the timing has been reached in step S13, the controller40may output at least one of sound, vibration, and light to wake the user (step S14).

In the operation illustrated inFIG.8, even after the timing of waking the user from sleep is determined in step S12, the timing can be redetermined (i.e. changed) based on the subsequently measured biological information of the user. Alternatively, the operation illustrated inFIG.8may be modified so that, once the timing of waking the user from sleep has been determined, the timing will not be changed until the timing is reached. In detail, in the case where the timing has not been reached in step S13, the controller40may wait the timing to be reached in step S13, instead of returning to step S1.

Thus, in the electronic device1according to the embodiment, the controller40may measure the blood flow amount of the user based on the signal that satisfies the predetermined condition from among the signal relating to the organism of the user detected by the sensor20. Moreover, in the electronic device1according to the embodiment, the controller40may control the driver unit30to output sound at a timing determined based on the blood flow amount of the user.

The electronic device1according to the embodiment can wake the user from sleep at an appropriate timing, while creating an easy-to-sleep environment for the user. The electronic device1according to the embodiment can thus function as a good-sleep device with an alarm.

Although the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described by way of the drawings and examples, various changes or modifications may be easily made by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the present disclosure. Such various changes or modifications are therefore included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in the components, steps, etc. may be rearranged without logical inconsistency, and a plurality of components, steps, etc. may be combined into one component, step, etc. and a component, step, etc. may be divided into a plurality of components, steps, etc. Although devices have been mainly described in the embodiments according to the present disclosure, the embodiments according to the present disclosure can also be implemented as methods including the steps executed by the components included in the devices. The embodiments according to the present disclosure can also be implemented as methods or programs executed by processors included in the devices or storage media storing such programs, which are also included in the scope of the present disclosure.

The foregoing embodiments are not limited to implementation as the electronic device1. For example, the foregoing embodiments may be implemented as a control method of a device such as the electronic device1. For example, the foregoing embodiments may be implemented as a control program of a device such as the electronic device1. The control program is not limited to be executed on the electronic device1, and may be executed on another electronic device, such as a smartphone, that cooperates with the electronic device1.

The electronic device1according to the foregoing embodiments is described as a device that prevents sound from entering the ear of the user. Alternatively, for example, the insertion portion10may have a through hole to allow external sound to enter the external ear canal of the user.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1electronic device1A left ear electronic device1B right ear electronic device3main body3A left ear main body3B right ear main body10insertion portion10A left ear insertion portion10B right ear insertion portion20sensor20A left ear sensor20B right ear sensor22optical emitter24optical detector30driver unit40controller50communication interface60microphone70battery