Wireless plethysmogram sensor unit, a processing unit for plethysmogram and a plethysmogram system

Abstract

A wireless plethysmogram sensor unit is capable of obtaining a plethysmogram from a living tissue of a measuring object and of transmitting the plethysmogram to a processing unit outside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a light source to emit measuring light into the living tissue and a light receiving element to receive light emerging from the tissue, which is accompanied by pulsation caused by absorption by arteries in the tissue. A memory stores a plethysmogram obtained in accordance with the light received by the light receiving element. A short range wireless communicator transmits the plethysmogram to the processing unit. A power source provides power to other elements in the sensor unit, and a controller controls the elements of the sensor unit.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A wireless plethysmogram sensor unit capable of obtaining a plethysmogram from a living tissue of a measuring object and of transmitting the obtained plethysmogram to a processing unit outside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit, the processing unit being capable of receiving plethysmogram of a plurality of measuring objects obtained by a plurality of wireless plethsymogram sensor units, respectively, comprising:
 a light source provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to emit measuring light into the living tissue;   a light receiving element provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to receive light emerging from the living tissue which is the measuring light in origin and accompanied by pulsation caused by absorption by arteries in the living tissue;   a memory provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to store a plethysmogram obtained in accordance with the light received by the light receiving element;   a short range wireless communicator provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to transmit the plethysmogram stored in the memory to the processing unit;   a power source provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit to power elements provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit; and   a controller provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit and arranged to control the elements provided inside the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit,   wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to transmit information for identifying the plethysmogram sensor unit to the processing unit to have the processing unit process the plethysmogram with a possibility of variability inherent to the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit calibrated due to the transmitted information, whereby the measurement of living tissue in the same measuring object is processed regardless of what wireless plethysmogram sensor unit actually measures the living tissue.   
     
     
         22 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21  wherein the power source includes a rechargeable battery and a charging arrangement capable of receiving electric power from the outside. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 22  wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the charging arrangement is in a condition for receiving electric power from the outside. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 23  wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the charging has been completed with the charging arrangement in a condition for receiving electric power from the outside. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21  wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to receive an instruction from the processing unit related to one of the measurement and the transmission of a plethysmogram. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21  wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to inform the processing unit of whether or not the wireless plethysmogram sensor unit is attached to the measuring object. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless plethysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21 , wherein the plethysmogram is of a human being and utilized for any one of monitoring a training approach in a gym, confirming safety for a solitary life, and conditioning the progress of an amusement device, to which a human being relates. 
     
     
         28 . A processing unit capable of receiving a plethysmogram obtained by a plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units, respectively, the plethysmogram being a measurement of living tissue in a measuring object, comprising:
 a communicator arranged to receive a plethysmogram from one of the plethysmogram sensor units;   a processor arranged to process the received plethysmogram; and   a receiver arranged to receive information for identifying a plethysmogram sensor unit from which the plethysmogram is actually received,   wherein the processor is arranged to process the plethysmogram with a possibility of variability inherent to the plethysmogram sensor unit calibrated due to the received information, whereby the measurement of living tissue in the same measuring object is processed regardless of what plethysmogram sensor unit actually measures the living tissue.   
     
     
         29 . The processing unit according to  claim 28  further comprising a second receiver arranged to receive information for identifying a measuring object, wherein the processor is arranged to process a plethysmogram from the identified measuring object regardless of the relationship between the plethysmogram sensor unit and the measuring object by calibrating for the variability inherent to the specific measurement of the identified measuring object by the identified plethysmogram sensor unit. 
     
     
         30 . The processing unit according to  claim 28  further comprising a charger commonly used by the plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units. 
     
     
         31 . The processing unit according to  claim 28 , wherein the communicator includes a short range wireless communicator. 
     
     
         32 . The processing unit according to  claim 28 , wherein the receiver includes a short range wireless communicator. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless plesysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21 , wherein the short range wireless communicator if further arranged to transmit information for identifying a measuring object to have the processing unit process a plethysmogram from the identified measuring object regardless of the relationship between plethysmogram sensor unit and measuring object by calibrating for the variability inherent to the specific measurement of the identified measuring object by the identified wireless plethysmogram sensor unit. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless plesysmogram sensor unit according to  claim 21 , wherein the wireless presysmogram sensor unit is arranged to be charged by a charger commonly used by the plurality of wireless plethsymogram sensor units. 
     
     
         35 . A processing unit capable of receiving a plethysmogram obtained by a plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units, respectively, the plethysmogram being a measurement of living tissue in a measuring object, comprising:
 a short range wireless communicator arranged to receive a plethysmogram from one of the plethysmogram sensor units; and   a processor arranged to process the received plethysmogram,   wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to receive information for identifying the outside plethysmogram sensor unit from which the plethysmogram is actually received, and   wherein the short range wireless communicator is arranged to receive information for identifying the measuring object, the information for identifying the outside plethysmogram sensor unit and the information for identifying the measuring object allowing the processor to distinguish a specific combination of the outside plethysmogram sensor unit and the measuring object from other combinations among the plurality of outside plethysmogram sensor units and the plurality of the measuring objects.