阅读说明：本技术 心率计算设备和方法 (Heart rate calculation device and method ) 是由 佐藤里江子 松浦伸昭 桑原启 小笠原隆行 于 2019-03-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：在本发明中,第一计算单元(102)通过使用第一系数的IIR滤波器对多个瞬时心率(心跳速率)进行平均处理来确定被检者的心率。所述第一系数是小于1的数值,并且是固定值。第二计算单元(103)通过使用第二系数的IIR滤波器对多个瞬时心率进行平均处理来确定被检者的心率。所述第二系数是小于1的数值,并且是可变值。切换单元(104)基于先前确定的心率与最新的瞬时心率之差在第一计算单元(102)与第二计算单元(103)之间进行切换。(In the present invention, a first calculation unit (102) determines the heart rate of a subject by averaging a plurality of instantaneous heart rates (heart rates) using an IIR filter of a first coefficient. The first coefficient is a numerical value smaller than 1, and is a fixed value. A second calculation unit (103) determines the heart rate of the subject by averaging the plurality of instantaneous heart rates using an IIR filter of a second coefficient. The second coefficient is a numerical value smaller than 1 and is a variable value. The switching unit (104) switches between the first calculation unit (102) and the second calculation unit (103) based on a difference between a previously determined heart rate and a latest instantaneous heart rate.)

1. A heartbeat counting device, comprising:

an extraction unit configured to extract a plurality of instantaneous heart beat numbers from the biological information, the plurality of instantaneous heart beat numbers being related to heart beat numbers of the heart in time series;

a first calculation unit configured to calculate the heart rate from the plurality of instantaneous heart rates by performing an averaging process using an IIR filter using a first coefficient having a fixed value smaller than 1;

a second calculation unit configured to calculate the heart rate from the plurality of instantaneous heart rates by performing an averaging process using an IIR filter using a second coefficient having a variable value smaller than 1; and

a switching unit configured to switch between the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit based on a difference between the heartbeat count calculated by one of the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit and the latest instantaneous heartbeat count extracted by the extraction unit.

2. The heart rate calculation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second calculation unit includes a coefficient processing unit configured to start the second coefficient from a value larger than the first coefficient, and to bring the second coefficient closer to the first coefficient with each beat.

3. The heart rate calculation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

in a first state in which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit is not less than a set first constant continues during a set first heart rate, the switching unit switches from the first calculation unit to the second calculation unit, and

the switching unit switches from the second calculation unit to the first calculation unit in one of a second state in which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the second calculation unit is not more than a set second constant continues during a set second heart rate and a third state in which the second coefficient is equal to the first coefficient.

4. The heart rate calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an update stop unit configured to stop the update of the heart rate when a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit exceeds a set reference value, and to limit an updated value of the heart rate when a difference between the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit at a previous time and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit at a current time exceeds the set reference value.

5. The heart rate calculation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an output control unit configured to determine, as an abnormal period, one of a period during which the second calculation unit calculates the heart rate, a period during which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit exceeds the set reference value, and a period during which the calculated heart rate falls within a set abnormal range, and stop output of the heart rate during the abnormal period.

6. The heartbeat calculation device according to claim 5, wherein the output control unit outputs the heartbeat number if the heartbeat number obtained during the abnormal period falls within an allowable range, the allowable range being set for the heartbeat number obtained during a period different from the abnormal period.

7. The heart beat count calculation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the biological information is an electrocardiogram waveform of a living body, and the heart beat count is a heart rate.

8. The heartbeat calculation device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein the biological information is information about a pulse and the heartbeat rate is a pulse rate.

9. A heartbeat count calculation method, comprising:

a first step of extracting a plurality of instantaneous heart rate in time series from an electrocardiographic waveform of a living body;

a second step of obtaining a heart rate from the plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a first coefficient having a fixed value smaller than 1;

a third step of obtaining a heart rate from the plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a second coefficient having a variable value smaller than 1; and

a fourth step of switching between the second step and the third step based on a difference between the extracted latest instantaneous heart rate and a heart rate previously obtained in one of the second step and the third step.

10. The heart rate calculation method according to claim 9, wherein in the third step, the second coefficient starts from a value larger than the first coefficient, and each beat brings the second coefficient closer to the first coefficient.

11. The heart rate calculation method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, in the fourth step,

in a first state in which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate obtained in the second step is not less than a set first constant continues during a set first heart rate, and

the third step switches to the second step in one of a second state in which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate obtained in the third step is not more than a set second constant continues during a set second heart rate and a third state in which the second coefficient is equal to the first coefficient.

12. The heart rate calculation method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising a fifth step of: stopping the updating of the heart rate when the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate obtained in the second step exceeds a set reference value, and limiting the updated value of the heart rate when the difference between the heart rate calculated at the previous time in the second step and the heart rate calculated at the current time in the second step exceeds the set reference value.

13. The heart rate calculation method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising a sixth step of: determining one of a period during which the heart rate is obtained in the second step, a period during which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate obtained in the first step exceeds the set reference value, and a period during which the obtained heart rate falls within a set abnormality range as an abnormality period, and stopping output of the heart rate during the abnormality period.

14. The heart rate calculation method according to claim 13, further comprising a seventh step of: outputting the heart rate when the heart rate obtained during the abnormal period falls within an allowable range, the allowable range being set for the heart rate obtained during a period different from the abnormal period.

15. The heart beat count method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the biological information is an electrocardiogram waveform of the living body, and the heart beat count is a heart rate.

16. The heart beat count method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the biological information is information about a pulse, and the heart beat count is a pulse rate.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heart rate calculation apparatus and method for calculating a heart rate such as a heart rate or a pulse rate, and particularly to a heart rate calculation apparatus and method capable of stably calculating a heart rate even if an instantaneous heart rate includes an abnormal value.

Background

Measurement of heart rate fluctuations is useful for controlling the intensity of the load of cardiopulmonary function. In recent years, wearable devices have been developed that can measure electrocardiograms by incorporating electrodes in clothing such as a shirt. Thus, in various scenarios, heart rate fluctuations are monitored and observed.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, since noise is easily added to the measurement result (electrocardiogram waveform), the wearable heart rate measurement device may cause heart rate detection errors. As a result, the instantaneous heart rate of each beat obtained from the measured electrocardiogram waveform in time series includes an abnormal value. To prevent such abnormal values from being calculated, it is important to properly average the instantaneous heart rate obtained from the measured electrocardiogram waveform.

As an averaging technique, for example, non-patent document 1 describes a technique in which, when a heart rate is calculated from an instantaneous heart rate obtained from an electrocardiogram waveform, a moving average of input data points is obtained until a predetermined data point is input as a moving average target. However, processing when the time series data of the instantaneous heart rate includes an abnormal value is not mentioned.

The instantaneous heart rate includes an abnormal value because noise is easily added to an electrocardiogram waveform obtained using a wearable device to cause a heart rate detection error. Therefore, in order to monitor the variation of the heart rate, it is important to obtain a properly averaged heart rate (instantaneous heart rate).

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to: even if an instantaneous heart rate (such as an instantaneous heart rate) regarding the heart rate of the heart includes an abnormal value, the heart rate can be appropriately calculated.

Means for solving the problems

According to the present invention, there is provided a heartbeat number calculation apparatus including: an extraction unit configured to extract a plurality of instantaneous heart beat numbers related to the heart beat number of the heart in time series from the biological information; a first calculation unit configured to obtain a heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a first coefficient having a fixed value smaller than 1; a second calculation unit configured to obtain a heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a second coefficient having a variable value smaller than 1; and a switching unit configured to switch between the first and second calculation units based on a difference between the heart rate obtained by one of the first and second calculation units and the latest instantaneous heart rate extracted by the extraction unit.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a heartbeat number calculation method, including: a first step of extracting a plurality of instantaneous heart rate in time series from an electrocardiographic waveform of a living body; a second step of obtaining a heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a first coefficient having a fixed value smaller than 1; a third step of obtaining a heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by an averaging process using an IIR filter using a second coefficient having a variable value smaller than 1; a fourth step of switching between the second step and the third step based on a difference between the extracted latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate previously obtained in one of the second step and the third step.

Effects of the invention

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the instantaneous heart rate includes an abnormal value, a good effect of calculating the heart rate can be obtained appropriately.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a heart rate calculation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a heartbeat number calculation method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for illustrating in more detail the method of heartbeat count calculation according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 4 is a timing chart showing changes in the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 in the heart rate calculation mode (first mode) by setting the average coefficient a (first coefficient) to 0.1;

fig. 5 is a timing chart showing changes in the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 in the heart rate calculation mode (first mode) by setting the average coefficient a (first coefficient) to 0.1, and changes in the heart rate calculated by the second calculation unit 103 in the heart rate calculation mode (second mode) by setting the average coefficient a (second coefficient) to a ═ 0.5-0.4 × N/20;

FIG. 6 is a timing diagram showing the change in the number of human heartbeats when a motion, such as full-power pedaling, is suddenly performed from a rest state;

fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of another heart rate calculation apparatus 100a according to the embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8A is an explanatory timing chart showing an example of determining an abnormal period;

fig. 8B is an explanatory timing chart showing an example of determining an abnormal period;

fig. 8C is an explanatory timing chart showing an example of determining an abnormal period;

fig. 8D is an explanatory timing chart showing an example of determining an abnormal period;

fig. 8E is an explanatory timing chart showing an example of determining an abnormal period; and fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware arrangement of the heart rate calculation apparatus according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

A heartbeat counting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1. The heartbeat count calculation apparatus 100 includes an extraction unit 101, a first calculation unit 102, a second calculation unit 103, and a switching unit 104.

The extraction unit 101 extracts a plurality of instantaneous heart beat numbers related to the heart beat number of the heart in time series from biological information obtained from a target living body (subject). The biological information is, for example, an electrocardiogram waveform of the subject obtained by measurement using the electrocardiograph 121, and the heart rate is a heart rate. It is known to obtain an instantaneous heart rate based on the R-R interval of an electrocardiogram waveform. If the R-R interval is 2 seconds, then by calculation 60 seconds/2, the instantaneous heart rate is 30 beats/minute. Heart rate will be exemplified by the number of heartbeats.

The first calculation unit 102 obtains the heart rate (number of heartbeats) of the subject from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates (instantaneous number of heartbeats) by performing averaging processing using an IIR (infinite impulse response) filter using a first coefficient. Note that the first coefficient is a numerical value smaller than 1, and is a fixed value. The first calculation unit 102 updates the heart rate by obtaining the heart rate in time series as follows: for example, the instantaneous heart rate at a given time is multiplied by a first coefficient, and the value thus obtained is added to a value obtained by multiplying the instantaneous heart rate at the previous time by a value obtained by subtracting the first coefficient from 1, thereby obtaining heart rates in time series, that is, the heart rate at the current time ═ (instantaneous heart rate × first coefficient) + { heart rate at the previous time × (1 — first coefficient) }.

The second calculation unit 103 obtains the heart rate of the subject from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by performing averaging processing using an IIR filter using a second coefficient. The second coefficient is a numerical value smaller than 1 and is a variable value. The second calculation unit 103 updates the heart rate by obtaining the heart rate in time series as follows: for example, a value obtained by multiplying the instantaneous heart rate by the second coefficient is added to a value obtained by multiplying the heart rate at the previous time by a value obtained by subtracting the second coefficient from 1, thereby obtaining the heart rate in time series. The second calculation unit 103 comprises a processing unit 103a, which processing unit 103a starts the second coefficient from a value larger than the first coefficient and for each run-out brings the second coefficient closer to the first coefficient. The calculation unit 103 uses the second coefficient that has been subjected to coefficient processing by the processing unit 103 a.

The switching unit 104 switches between the first calculation unit 102 and the second calculation unit 103 based on the difference between the previously obtained heart rate and the latest instantaneous heart rate. The switching unit 104 switches from one of the first calculating unit 102 and the second calculating unit 103 to the other, and the processing unit acquires the heart rate output from the heart rate calculating device. The switching unit 104 determines whether to leave one of the calculation units that has calculated the heart rate last as a processing unit to perform processing for calculating the heart rate using the latest instantaneous heart rate or to switch from one calculation unit to another based on the difference between the previously calculated heart rate and the latest instantaneous heart rate, and the switching unit 104 switches the processing units when it has been determined that the processing units are to be switched. The heart rate calculation device outputs the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 or the second calculation unit 103 switched by the switching unit 104.

The switching unit 104 switches from the first calculation unit 102 to the second calculation unit 103, for example, in a first state in which a state in which the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 is equal to or greater than a set first constant continues during a set first heart rate.

Further, the switching unit 104 switches from the second calculation unit 103 to the first calculation unit 102, for example, in a second state in which a difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the second calculation unit 103 is equal to or smaller than a set second constant continues during a set second heart rate or in a third state in which a second coefficient is equal to the first coefficient.

For example, if the first calculation unit 102 has calculated the heart rate of the last time and the difference between the heart rate and the instantaneous heart rate extracted this time by the extraction unit 101 is in the first state, the switching unit 104 performs the switching process. In this case, the second calculation unit 103 calculates the heart rate this time. Alternatively, for example, if the second calculation unit 103 calculates the heart rate of the last time, and the difference between the heart rate and the instantaneous heart rate extracted this time by the extraction unit 101 is in the second state or the third state, the switching unit 104 performs the switching process. In this case, the first calculation unit 102 calculates the heart rate this time.

The heartbeat number calculation device 100 according to the embodiment includes an update stop unit 105 in addition to the above components. The update stopping unit 105 stops the update of the heart rate when the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 exceeds the set reference value, and limits the update value of the heart rate when the difference between the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 at the current time and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 at the previous time exceeds the set reference value.

Next, an example of the operation of the heartbeat calculation apparatus 100 (heartbeat calculation method) according to the embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 2.

In step S101, the extraction unit 101 extracts a plurality of instantaneous heart rates in time series from biological information obtained from a subject. The biological information is, for example, an electrocardiogram waveform of the subject obtained by measurement using the electrocardiograph 121. In step S102, it is determined whether or not to perform the switching process based on the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate extracted in step S101 and the heart rate obtained last time (fourth step). If it is determined that the switching process is not to be performed (no in step S102), in step S103, the heart rate is obtained by performing the same calculation process as the previous time. On the other hand, if it is determined that the switching process is performed (yes in step S102), in step S104, the switching unit 104 switches the calculation process and calculates the heart rate by the calculation process switched in step S105. In step S106, the heartbeat calculation device 100 determines whether an end instruction has been input. If the end instruction has not been input (no in step S106), the processing returns to step S101 to continue the processing.

For example, if the first calculation unit 102 has calculated the last heart rate (second step), and the difference between the heart rate and the latest instantaneous heart rate is in the first state, the switching unit 104 determines to perform the switching process in step S102, switches from the first calculation unit 102 to the second calculation unit 103 in step S104, and calculates the heart rate from the latest instantaneous heart rate by the second calculation unit 103 in step S105 (third step).

Alternatively, for example, if the second calculation unit 103 calculates the last heart rate (third step) and the difference between the heart rate and the latest instantaneous heart rate is in the second state or the third state, the switching unit 104 determines to perform the switching process in step S102, switches from the second calculation unit 103 to the first calculation unit 102 in step S104, and calculates the heart rate from the latest instantaneous heart rate by the first calculation unit 102 in step S105 (second step).

Note that in the heart rate calculation process by the second calculation unit 103, the second coefficient starts from a value larger than the first coefficient, and is made closer to the first coefficient for each beat. The second coefficient processing is performed by the processing unit 103 a. Although not shown in fig. 2, when the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 exceeds the set reference value, the update of the heart rate may be stopped, and when the difference between the heart rate calculated at the present time and the heart rate calculated at the present time exceeds the set reference value, the update value of the heart rate may be limited (fifth step).

[ examples ]

A more detailed description will be provided using examples. The heart rate calculation process of the first calculation unit 102 is hereinafter referred to as a first mode, and the heart rate calculation process of the second calculation unit 103 is hereinafter referred to as a second mode.

In both the first mode and the second mode, as an averaging process with an IIR filter that obtains a subject's heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates, the heart rate HR [ n ] is calculated by "HR [ n ] ═ 1-a × HR [ n-1] + a × IHR [ n ]" using an average coefficient a of the instantaneous heart rate IHR [ n ] that is n pieces of time-series data.

The average coefficient a takes the value 0< a < 1. When the value is small, the smoothing effect of suppressing the minute fluctuation of the heart rate HR n is high, and the delay when following the rough change is large.

In the first mode, the average coefficient a is a fixed value (first coefficient). In the second mode, the average coefficient a is a variable value (second coefficient).

A heart rate calculation process according to an example under the above conditions will be described with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows one cycle of the process of calculating the heart rate from the instantaneous heart rate. Note that Δ HRi represents the absolute value of a value obtained by subtracting the latest instantaneous heart rate at the time when the heart rate was obtained from the heart rate. Further, Δ HR denotes a value obtained by subtracting the heart rate calculated at the previous time from the heart rate calculated at the current time.

In step S201, it is determined whether the current mode is the second mode. If the current mode is the second mode, it is determined whether Δ HRi is equal to or less than 20 (second constant) in step S202. If Δ HRi is equal to or less than 20, 1 is added to the count C2 (second heart rate) in step S203. In step S204, it is determined whether the count C2 is equal to 5. If the count C2 is equal to 5, the second mode is switched to the first mode and the count C2 is set to 0 in step S205. On the other hand, if Δ HRi exceeds 20, in step S206, the count C2 is set to 0.

If it is determined in step S201 that the current mode is not the second mode, in step S207, it is determined whether Δ HRi is equal to or greater than 40 (first constant). If Δ HRi is equal to or greater than 40, 1 is added to the count C1 (first heart beat number) in step S208. Then in step S209, it is determined whether the count C1 is equal to 8. If the count C1 is equal to 8, the first mode is switched to the second mode and the count C1 is set to 0 in step S210. On the other hand, if Δ HRi is less than 40, in step S211, the count C1 is set to 0.

In step S212, it is determined whether the current mode is the second mode. If the current mode is the second mode, it is determined whether the count C3 is equal to 20 in step S213. If the count C3 is equal to 20, the second mode is switched to the first mode and the count C3 is set to 0 in step S214. If the current mode is the first mode, then in step S215, it is determined whether Δ HRi is equal to or greater than 40. If Δ HRi is less than 40, then in step S216, a calculation is performed in the first mode, and in step S217, it is determined whether Δ HR is greater than 2 bpm. If Δ HR is greater than 2bpm, HR [ n ] ═ HR [ n-1] +2 is set to the heart rate update limit in step S218. If Δ HR is equal to or less than 2bpm, in step S219, it is determined whether Δ HR is less than-2 bpm. If Δ HR is less than-2 bpm, then HR [ n ] ═ HR [ n-1] -2 is set to the heart rate update limit in step S220.

If it is determined in step S213 that the count C3 is not equal to 20, in step S221, calculation is performed in the second mode and 1 is added to the count C3, thereby ending the process of one cycle.

If it is determined in step S212 that the current mode is not the second mode (the current mode is the first mode), the process shifts to step S215.

In the above-described processing, in the first mode, the average coefficient a is set to, for example, 0.1. In this case, the heart rate HR n is smoothed moderately, while a varying delay may be allowed, as shown in fig. 4.

In the second mode, the average coefficient a is given by, for example, "a ═ 0.5 to 0.4 × N/20 (N: number of hops after transition to the second mode)". That is, in the second mode, the average coefficient a starts at 0.5, decreases by 0.02 for each jump, and returns to a value of 0.1 in the first mode at the 20 th jump. By temporarily increasing the average coefficient a in the second mode, the value of the instantaneous heart rate is strongly reflected, thereby obtaining an effect of accelerating convergence of the heart rate value.

If the initial instantaneous heart rate is an abnormal value at the beginning of the calculation of the heart rate, it takes time for the heart rate to approach the correct value in the first mode. However, if the second mode is set to this state, the heart rate quickly converges to the correct value, as shown in fig. 5.

When an instantaneous heart rate deviating greatly from the heart rate continues, for example, when an instantaneous heart rate deviating 40bpm or more from the heart rate is obtained eight times in succession, the instantaneous heart rate at that time is considered to have higher reliability than the heart rate before that time. Therefore, it is desirable to discard heart rates that precede that time, and to calculate the heart rate based on the instantaneous heart rate at that time. For this reason, the mode is switched to the second mode under the above-described conditions.

After the average coefficient a returns to a value of 0.1 in the first mode, it is appropriate to set the first mode in which the average coefficient a is kept 0.1. Furthermore, if the difference between the heart rate and the instantaneous heart rate is considered to have converged, even when, for example, instantaneous heart rates deviating from the heart rate by 20bpm or less are obtained five times in succession, the mode is switched to the first mode, so that smoothness of the heart rate can be improved.

Note that, for example, when a motion such as full-force pedaling is performed suddenly from a rest state, the heart rate of a person increases at a rate of about 2 bpm/hop at most. Fig. 6 shows this state. In contrast, heart rate is hardly considered to increase at a rate of more than 2 bpm/beat. Therefore, if the variation amount of the heart rate has an upper limit of 2 bpm/beat, the obtained heart rate can be prevented from becoming an abnormal value.

As a process each time the instantaneous heart rate deviates significantly from the heart rate, for example, if the difference between the instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate is equal to or greater than 40bpm, it is appropriate to treat the instantaneous heart rate as an abnormal value, and discard the value without updating the heart rate. However, this corresponds to the first mode, and as a period for recovering the state from the abnormal state, the same does not apply to the second mode.

Next, another heart rate calculation apparatus 100a according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 7. The heartbeat count calculation device 100a includes an extraction unit 101, a first calculation unit 102, a second calculation unit 103, and a switching unit 104. These components are the same as those of the above-described heartbeat count calculation device 100.

The heartbeat count calculation device 100a includes an output control unit 106. The output control unit 106 determines, as an abnormal period, a period in which the second calculation unit 103 calculates the heart rate, a period in which the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 exceeds a reference value, or a period in which the calculated heart rate falls within a set abnormal range, and stops the output of the heart rate during the abnormal period. For example, if the difference between the instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate is equal to or greater than 40bpm, the calculated heart rate may include outliers or effects thereof. Alternatively, the calculated heart rate is likely to deviate from the normal value to become an abnormal value such as 0 (falling within the set abnormal range). In this case, an abnormal period is determined to stop outputting the calculated heart rate.

Further, the output control unit 106 may be configured to determine a period set within a determination period after the abnormal period until the abnormal period is determined again as a second abnormal period, and stop the output of the heart rate during the second abnormal period. For example, if the abnormal period is determined again within 30sec after the abnormal period is determined, the period from the last determination of the abnormal period to the present determination of the abnormal period is set as a second abnormal period, and the output of the heart rate is stopped during the second abnormal period.

The output control unit 106 outputs the heart rate (heart rate) if the heart rate obtained during the abnormal period falls within the allowable range set for the heart rate obtained during a period different from the abnormal period. Even if the difference between the obtained heart rate and the heart rate obtained during a period other than the abnormal period during the abnormal period falls within a range of, for example, ± 10bpm, the obtained heart rate is adopted as the output value.

The heartbeat number calculation method of the heartbeat number calculation apparatus 100a may further include the following steps in addition to the steps described with reference to fig. 2. A period during which the second calculation unit 103 calculates the heart rate (second step), a period during which the difference between the latest instantaneous heart rate and the heart rate calculated by the first calculation unit 102 (first step) exceeds a reference value, or a period during which the calculated heart rate falls within a set abnormality range may be set as the abnormality period, and the output of the heart rate is stopped during the abnormality period (sixth step). If the heart rate obtained during the abnormal period falls within the allowable range set for the heart rate obtained during a period different from the abnormal period, the heart rate (heart rate) (seventh step) may be output. Further, a period set within a certain period after the abnormal period until the abnormal period is determined again may be determined as the second abnormal period, and the output of the heart rate may be stopped during the second abnormal period (eighth step).

Examples of determining the abnormal period will be described below with reference to fig. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, and 8E. With reference to fig. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E, the heart rate obtained is represented by open circles.

In fig. 8A, the result of determining whether the obtained heart rate is a normal value or an abnormal value is represented by a solid line. If the heart rate is a normal value, it is determined as 0, and if the heart rate is an abnormal value, it is determined as 1. The time determined to be 1 falls within the abnormal period, and thus the heart rate is not output.

In fig. 8B, when the abnormal period is determined again within 30 seconds after the abnormal period is determined, the result of determining the entire period from the last determination of the abnormal period to the present determination of the abnormal period as an abnormal value (value of 1) is represented by a dotted line. As shown in fig. 8C, a period indicated by a dotted line with a determination value of 1 is set as the second abnormal period of the heart rate acquisition period, and the acquired heart rate is not output during this period.

In fig. 8D, the range from each heart rate value ± 10 excluding the heart rate obtained during the above-described second abnormality period is represented by a solid line. As shown in fig. 8E, since not all heart rates during the second abnormality period are abnormal, heart rates within this range may be output.

In the above description, an electrocardiogram waveform of a living body is used as biological information, and a heart rate is used as a heart rate. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Information on the pulse may be used as the biological information, and the pulse rate may be used as the heart rate. For example, a pulse waveform in time series is obtained as biological information by irradiating the skin with light and measuring reflected light. Since the light absorption amount of blood varies depending on the pulse to change the reflected light intensity, the pulse rate can be measured from the variation of the reflected intensity. By forming an arrangement in which, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element is used as a light source and a photodiode measures reflected light, the measurement device can be miniaturized, thereby obtaining a wrist band type sensor. Such miniaturization makes it possible to use the measuring apparatus very easily by mounting it on the subject.

Further, for example, a pulse rate obtained by measuring a color change of a skin surface of a face or the like may be used as the heart rate. Since the amount of light obtained when the skin is irradiated with sunlight or illumination light and the skin reflects the light varies according to the pulse, the pulse rate can be measured using the result of capturing the variation by a camera or the like. In this case, the following advantages can be obtained: the pulse rate can be measured at a position remote from the subject without mounting any article on the subject.

Note that the heart rate calculation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment is a mobile computer apparatus including a CPU (central processing unit) 301, a main storage device 302, an external storage device 303, and a network connection device 304 as shown in fig. 9. Each of the above-described functions is realized when the CPU301 operates by a program loaded into the main storage device 302. Note that the network connection device 304 is connected to the network 305. Individual functions may also be distributed to multiple computer devices.

The heartbeat number calculation apparatus according to the above-described embodiment may be formed by a PLD (programmable logic device) such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array). For example, the storage unit, the extraction unit, the first calculation unit, the second calculation unit, and the switching unit are provided as circuits in logic elements of an FPGA, which can be used as the heart rate calculation means. Each of the storage unit, the extraction unit, the first calculation unit, the second calculation unit, and the switching unit is written into the FPGA by connecting a predetermined writing device.

As described above, according to the present invention, the first calculation unit and the second calculation unit are switched based on the difference between the previously calculated heart rate and the latest instantaneous heart rate, wherein the first calculation unit calculates the heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by performing averaging processing using an IIR filter using a first coefficient having a fixed value smaller than 1, and the second calculation unit calculates the heart rate from a plurality of instantaneous heart rates by performing averaging processing using an IIR filter using a second coefficient having a variable value smaller than 1. As a result, according to the present invention, even if the instantaneous heart rate includes an abnormal value, the heart rate can be appropriately calculated.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is apparent that many modifications and combinations can be made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals

A heartbeat number calculation device, 101.. an extraction unit, 102.. a first calculation unit, 103.. a second calculation unit, 104.. a switching unit, 105.. an update stop unit, 106.. an output control unit, 121.. an electrocardiogram.