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`US 20030181817Al
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication
`Mori
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0181817 Al
`Sep. 25, 2003
`( 43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) VITAL SIGN DETECTION SENSOR AND
`SENSOR CONTROLLING DEVICE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Yasuhiro Mori, Izumi-shi (JP)
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. CI.7 ....................................................... A61B 5/02
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 600/500
`
`Correspondence Address:
`WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
`2033 K STREET N. W.
`SUITE 800
`WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1021 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/394,065
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 24, 2003
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 25, 2002
`
`(JP) ...................................... 2002-083073
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A sensor device lOAis comprised of a power generating unit
`111A that takes in energy externally (a power carrier radio
`wave) and generates direct current power from such energy,
`a vital sign detecting unit 112A that detects a vital sign of a
`user while being supplied with the direct current power from
`the power generating unit 111A, and a vital sign transmitting
`unit 116A that transmits the detected vital sign cordlessly
`while being supplied with the direct current power from the
`power generating unit lllA.
`
`803
`
`Pulse wave sensor
`
`801
`
`805
`
`Cable interface
`
`LED
`
`804
`;
`
`PD
`
`Wrist watch
`(Host)
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 1 of 32
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 1
`
`702
`
`Pulse driver
`LED IE------, circuit
`
`Pulse wave
`sensor
`
`717
`
`701
`
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`705
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`
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`converter circuit
`
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`
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`720
`/
`
`Host
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 2 of 32
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 2
`
`803
`
`Pulse wave sensor
`
`801
`
`805
`
`Cable interface
`
`LED
`
`804
`
`;
`
`PD
`
`806
`807
`
`Wrist watch
`(Host)
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 3 of 32
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 3 of 15
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 4 of 32
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 4 of 15
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`Page 5 of 32
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 6 of 32
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 7 of 32
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 7 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 7
`
`Vital sign detection
`processing start
`
`-------'--------....,,,----/ S 11
`Vital sign detection time? No
`
`S12
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`S13
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`
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`
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`
`S14
`
`S15
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`specified time amount? No
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`
`S17
`
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`
`(
`
`End
`
`)
`
`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 8 of 32
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 8 of 15
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 9 of 32
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 9 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 9
`
`Sensor controlling device
`
`Vital sign detection sensor
`
`Vital sign stored
`
`S24
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 10 of 32
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 10 of 15
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`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 11 of 32
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 12 of 32
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 12
`
`Sensor controlling device
`
`Vital sign detection sensor
`
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`
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`
`S47
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`S46
`
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`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 13 of 32
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`

`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Fig. 13
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`Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2003 Sheet 14 of 15
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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 15 of 32
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`

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`IPR2020-00910
`Philips North America LLC EX2021
`Page 16 of 32
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`

`US 2003/0181817 Al
`
`Sep.25,2003
`
`1
`
`VITAL SIGN DETECTION SENSOR AND SENSOR
`CONTROLLING DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001]
`(1) Field of the Invention
`[0002] The present invention relates to a portable vital
`sign detection sensor that is used attached to a human body,
`and to a sensor controlling device that receives a vital sign
`transmitted from such vital sign detection sensor and con(cid:173)
`trols operations of the vital sign detection sensor detecting a
`vital sign.
`
`[0003]
`
`(2) Description of the Related Art
`
`[0004]
`In response to a demand for using a vital sign
`detection sensor for such purposes as health check, recent
`years has witnessed the development of vital sign detection
`sensors for detecting vital signs which are used attached to
`a detection position of a user. Moreover, against the back(cid:173)
`drop where the size of electronic devices is increasingly
`reduced, there is an ongoing trend toward the downsizing of
`vital sign detection sensors.
`
`[0005] A pulse wave sensor illustrated in FIG. 1 is an
`example of such a downsized vital sign detection sensor.
`This pulse wave sensor is disclosed in the technical research
`report MBE2000-73 of the Institute of Electronics, Infor(cid:173)
`mation and Communication Engineers.
`
`[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration
`of a system which includes the prior pulse wave sensor
`disclosed in the above report.
`
`[0007] A pulse wave sensor 701 illustrated in FIG. 1,
`which is used attached to a human body ( a finger), comprises
`a pulse wave detection circuit 717, a communication circuit
`713, an antenna 716, a button battery 721 that supplies
`power to each unit of the pulse wave detection circuit 717
`and the communication circuit 713. The pulse wave detec(cid:173)
`tion circuit 717 includes a light emitting diode (LED) 703,
`a pulse driver circuit 704, a photo diode (PD) 705, a
`current-voltage converter circuit 706, a sample and hold
`circuit 707, an alternating current (AC) amplifier circuit 708,
`a lowpass filter 709, and an AID converter 710. The com(cid:173)
`munication circuit 713 is made up of a modulation circuit
`714 and a transmitter circuit 715. The pulse wave sensor 701
`is configured to wirelessly transmit a vital sign to a host by
`radio waves.
`
`[0008] The LED 703 of the pulse wave sensor 701 with the
`above configuration is pulse-driven by the pulse driver
`circuit 704 and emits a flashing light. A part of the light
`emitted from the LED 703 is reflected on the skin surface of
`a finger 702 and a part of the light which goes into the
`internal skin is reflected at a capillary artery. The PD 705
`receives both of such reflected lights and outputs a photo(cid:173)
`electric current. The current-voltage converter circuit 706
`converts such photoelectric current into a voltage. Since this
`voltage is a pulse wave, the sample and hold circuit 707
`converts the pulse wave into a continuous wave. Then, the
`AC amplifier circuit 708 cuts off the reflection on the skin
`surface (mostly a DC component) so as to extract only a
`pulse wave (an AC component). Next, the lowpass filter 709
`shapes the pulse wave, and the AID converter 710 converts
`the pulse wave, which is analog data, into digital data. The
`modulation circuit 714 in the communication circuit 713
`
`modulates a radio wave by digitalized pulse wave data 711,
`and the transmitter circuit 715 converts a high-frequency
`electric signal upon which the pulse wave data is superim(cid:173)
`posed into a radio wave, which is then transmitted via the
`antenna 716.
`
`[0009] A host 720 receives the radio wave, demodulates
`the pulse wave data superimposed upon such radio wave and
`shows-the pulse wave on a display not illustrated in the
`figure. The host 720 includes a CPU and a storage device
`inside. It is possible for such CPU to perform a variety of
`processing which includes the determination of heart rate on
`the basis of the received pulse wave data so as to show the
`determined heart rate onto a display. For instance, by accu(cid:173)
`mulating the heart rate for a long period of time and
`performing statistical processing for such heart rate, it is
`possible to measure a cyclical variation of the heart rate over
`a long span of time. If a clearer heart wave can be obtained,
`it becomes possible to utilize the host 720 as an unsophis(cid:173)
`ticated unit for finding a heart disease and to give a notice
`to a patient with a heart disease at an earlier stage. In other
`words, it is possible to perform a wide range of processing
`on the basis of pulse wave data, using a necessary applica(cid:173)
`tion program.
`
`[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates another prior pulse wave sensor,
`which is connected to a host. Such host-connected pulse
`wave sensor is comprised roughly with a pulse wave sensor
`801 that measures a pulse wave, a wrist watch (host) 807
`having a data processing unit that processes the measured
`data and a cable 806 that connects the pulse wave sensor 801
`and the wrist watch 807. The cable 806 is responsible for
`supplying power from the wrist watch 807 to the pulse wave
`sensor 801, transmitting a control signal used by the wrist
`watch 807 to control the pulse wave sensor 801, transmitting
`data from the pulse wave sensor 801 to the wrist watch 807
`and others.
`
`[0011] Main constituent elements of the pulse wave sensor
`801 are a light emitting diode (LED) 803, a photo diode (PD)
`804 and a cable interface 805, all of which are driven by
`direct current power supplied from the wrist watch 807 via
`the cable 806. Data received by the photo diode (PD) 804 is
`transmitted to the wrist watch 807 via the cable interface 805
`and the cable 806, and then processed by the wrist watch
`807.
`
`[0012] As is obvious, the pulse wave sensor 801, which
`includes the cable interface 805, the light emitting diode
`(LED) 803 and the photo diode (PD) 804 as its main
`constituent elements, has a smaller number of elements as
`well as a simpler configuration than the wireless pulse wave
`sensor presented as the first prior art. What should be noted
`is that such pulse wave sensor 801 does not include any
`battery, which is a significant advantage contributing greatly
`to the downsizing of pulse wave sensors.
`
`[0013] As another prior art (the third prior art), FIG. 3
`shows a circuit configuration of a system including a health
`measuring instrument connected to a communication circuit.
`Such prior system is disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open
`Patent No. 2000-196510.
`
`[0014] This system is comprised of a health measuring
`instrument 902 that measures a person's physical condition,
`a communication circuit 901 that is connected to the health
`measuring instrument 902 by a wire cable 909 and a host
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`910 that communicates with the communication circuit 901
`by radio so as to exchange data.
`
`[0015] The communication circuit 901, which is inserted
`into the health measuring equipment 902 connected by the
`wire cable 909, is a circuit for relaying and transferring
`health data measured by the health measuring equipment
`902 to the host 910. Such communication circuit 901
`includes a radio wave transmitting/receiving unit 903, a
`power converting unit 904, a controlling unit 905, a modu(cid:173)
`lating unit 906, an information holding unit 907 and an
`interface 908.
`
`[0016] The radio wave transmitting/receiving unit 903
`receives a power carrier radio wave transmitted from the
`host 910 in compliance with the electromagnetic induction
`method, and generates induced electric power. Then, the
`power converting unit 904 converts the induced electric
`power generated by the radio wave transmitting/receiving
`unit 903 into direct current power. The modulating unit 906
`and the controlling unit 905 are driven by direct current
`power supplied from the power converting unit 904. Mean(cid:173)
`while, the information holding unit 907 and the interface 908
`are configured to be driven by direct current power supplied
`from the health measuring instrument 902 via the wire cable
`909.
`
`[0017] When obtaining data, the health measuring instru(cid:173)
`ment 902 supplies power to the interface 908 and the
`information holding unit 907 of the communication circuit
`901 so as to drive them, and writes the obtained data to the
`information holding unit 907 via the interface 908. This
`indicates that, whenever the health measuring instrument
`902 obtains data and such data needs to be written to the
`communication circuit 901, it is possible for the data to be
`written regardless of whether the controlling unit 905 and
`the modulating unit 906 are being driven or not.
`
`[0018] When transmitting the data to the host 910, the
`health measuring instrument 902 inserted with the commu(cid:173)
`nication circuit 901 is brought into an area within which the
`power carrier radio wave transmitted by the host 910 is
`receivable. Subsequently, the radio wave transmitting/re(cid:173)
`ceiving unit 903 of the communication circuit 901 receives
`the radio wave and outputs an electromotive force included
`in such received radio wave to the power converting unit
`904, which then converts the electromotive force into direct
`current power. The controlling unit 905 and the modulating
`unit 906 are driven by power generated by the power
`converting unit 904 so that the controlling unit 905 reads the
`data from the information holding unit 907 driven by direct
`current power supplied from the health measuring instru(cid:173)
`ment 902, and the modulating unit 906 modulates a high(cid:173)
`frequency signal by the data. Then, the radio wave trans(cid:173)
`mitting/receiving unit 903 transmits the data to the host 910
`by emitting the radio wave superimposed with the data. As
`a result, since a wireless data communication is realized
`between the health measuring instrument 902 inserted with
`the communication circuit 901 and the host 910, and electric
`power is generated on the part of the communication circuit
`901 in accordance with the electromagnetic induction
`method, the communication circuit 901 does not require any
`power source including a battery. This consequently leads to
`a significant reduction in the size of the communication
`circuit 901.
`
`[0019] However, the configurations of the wireless pulse
`wave sensor ( the first prior art) and the cable-type pulse
`wave sensor (the second prior art) have problems described
`below.
`
`[0020] A pulse wave sensor is attached to a human finger
`and therefore needs to be so small as not to be obtrusive
`when the user waves his/her hand, for example.
`
`[0021] However, regarding the wireless pulse wave sen(cid:173)
`sor, i.e. the first prior art, since it employs a battery as a
`power source, the size of the battery hinders the sensor
`device from being reduced in size to a desirable level.
`
`[0022] A possible solution to this problem is the use of a
`smaller battery instead of a button battery. However, since a
`small battery has a reduced battery capacity, the operating
`hours of the sensor device is extremely reduced, which
`necessitates frequent battery changes. As a result, the num(cid:173)
`ber of times a battery needs to be changed is increased,
`producing another problem that a battery cost and a sensor
`operating cost are increased.
`
`[0023] Concerning the third prior art, although the com(cid:173)
`munication circuit itself does not include any battery which
`would cause the above problem, the health measuring instru(cid:173)
`ment inserted with such communication circuit has a power
`source for driving the interface and the information holding
`unit of the communication circuit. Therefore, when seeing
`the integration of such communication circuit and such
`health measuring instrument as a single sensor device, it is
`impossible to reduce the size of such sensor device as in the
`case of the first prior art.
`
`[0024] Meanwhile, the configuration of the cable-type
`pulse wave sensor presented as the second prior art does not
`include any battery, and therefore there is a fewer obstacles
`for downsizing. However, the problem with the configura(cid:173)
`tion of this pulse wave sensor is the cable that connects the
`wrist watch with the sensor.
`
`[0025] To be more specific, this pulse wave sensor is
`configured to be attached to a finger, because a finger has a
`thinner skin and therefore serves as a suitable position from
`which a pulse wave is most easily detected. However, since
`hand fingers are frequently moved, there is a possibility that
`a pulse wave fails to be obtained because of the sensor
`attached at a misaligned angle on the finger or detached, if
`the cable is pulled by something while the user is exercising,
`for example. Furthermore, it is troublesome for the user to
`always have to pay attention to the sensor device so that it
`will not be misaligned. Therefore, it is desirable that there is
`no cable, but the fact is that it is indispensable for supplying
`direct current power to each unit of the sensor device.
`
`[0026]
`In other words, due to an embedded battery and the
`usage of a cable, the foregoing first to the third prior arts
`have the first problem that they cannot realize a downsized
`pulse wave sensor capable of reliably detecting a vital sign.
`
`[0027] Another problem the first to the third prior arts
`have in common is that the sensor devices are not disposable
`or that it is difficult to make them disposable. More specifi(cid:173)
`cally, since a sensor device directly contacts a user's skin, it
`is more hygienic if the sensor device is replaced with a new
`one, just like a first-aid tape, when it gets dirty or after an
`appropriate time (about a few days later), considering sweat
`and other dirt. Accordingly, the user is required to purchase
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`disposable sensor devices over a long period of time, indi(cid:173)
`cating that their production cost should be inexpensive
`enough so that purchasing of such sensor devices will not be
`an enormous economic burden to the user. The reduction of
`the production cost which allows a lowered production cost
`of pulse wave sensors requires two-pronged approach which
`is:
`the reduction of manufacturing cost realized by a
`decreased number of constituent elements; and a decrease in
`the number of manufacturing steps at the assembly stage.
`
`[0028] Concerning the wireless pulse wave sensor, a pos(cid:173)
`sible solution is to make it disposable according to its battery
`life. However, if a wireless pulse wave sensor needs to be
`replaced with a new one at a short cycle (about a few days),
`it is not easy to lower its production cost, given that it
`includes a battery. Regarding the cable-type pulse wave
`sensor, it may be possible to reduce its production cost, since
`it includes a smaller number of constituent elements. How(cid:173)
`ever, the production of cable-type pulse wave sensors
`involves complex steps for integrating a cable interface, an
`LED, a PD and others onto a board, indicating that it is
`difficult to reduce the number of such steps. Moreover, it is
`obvious from one's past experience that the contact area of
`a cable gets worn after frequent insertion and removal of
`such cable, which poses a durability issue on the part of a
`wrist watch (host).
`
`[0029] To conclude, the foregoing first to the third prior
`arts have the second problem that they cannot provide a
`disposable vital sign detection sensor.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0030]
`In order to solve the above problems, the first
`object of the present invention is to provide a downsized
`vital sign detection sensor capable of reliably detecting a
`vital sign and a sensor controlling device that controls such
`sensor.
`
`[0031] The second object of the present invention is to
`provide a disposable vital sign detection sensor and a sensor
`controlling device that controls such sensor.
`
`[0032]
`In order to achieve the first object, a vital sign
`detection sensor that is portable and used attached to a
`human body, may comprise: a power generating unit oper(cid:173)
`able to take in energy externally and generate direct current
`power from the energy; a vital sign detecting unit operable
`detect a vital sign of a user while being supplied with the
`direct current power from the power generating unit; and a
`vital sign transmitting unit operable to transmit the detected
`vital sign cordlessly while being supplied with the direct
`current power from the power generating unit. Accordingly,
`there is no need for a battery or a cable. As a result, it is
`possible for the present invention to provide a downsized
`vital sign detection sensor capable of reliably detecting a
`vital sign.
`
`[0033] To be more specific, the vital sign detection sensor
`may be configured in a manner in which the energy is a
`power carrier radio wave, and the power generating unit is
`equipped with an antenna that receives the power carrier
`radio wave, and in which the energy is light energy, and the
`power generating unit includes a light-electricity converting
`unit operable to convert the light energy into electric energy.
`
`[0034] Furthermore, the vital sign detection sensor may be
`configured in a manner in which the vital sign generating
`
`unit is equipped with an antenna that transmits the vital sign
`by radio, in which the vital sign generating unit includes an
`interface for transmitting the vital sign by using a body of
`the user as a transmission medium, and in which the vital
`sign generating unit includes an electricity-light converting
`unit operable to transmit the vital sign by lightwaves.
`
`[0035]
`In order to achieve the second object, the vital sign
`detection sensor may be configured in a manner in which the
`vital sign detecting unit and at least a part of the power
`generating unit and the vital sign transmitting unit are
`integrated into one or more chips. Accordingly, since the
`manufacturing steps will be simplified and the manufactur(cid:173)
`ing cost will be readily lowered, it is possible for the present
`invention to provide a disposable vital sign detection sensor.
`
`[0036] More specifically, the vital sign detection sensor
`may further comprise a tape that has an adhesive side on
`which said one or more chips are attached and that is elastic,
`wherein said one or more chips are firmly fixed on a
`detection position of the user's body by winding the tape
`around the detection position, with a vital sign detecting side
`of said one or more chips contacting the detection position,
`and may be configured in a manner in which at least one of
`the power generating unit and the vital sign transmitting unit
`includes an antenna used for one of the following purposes:
`receiving the power carrier radio wave and transmitting the
`vital sign, and the antenna is placed in one of the following
`positions: around said one or more chips and on a non(cid:173)
`adhesive side of the tape.
`
`[0037] Furthermore, a sensor controlling device that
`receives a vital sign transmitted from the vital sign detection
`sensor with the above configuration and controls a vital sign
`detection operation of the vital sign detection sensor, may
`comprise: a power carrier radio wave transmitting unit
`operable to transmit a power carrier radio wave when the
`vital sign detection sensor detects the vital sign; a vital sign
`receiving unit operable to cordlessly receive the vital sign
`transmitted from the vital sign detection sensor; a memory
`unit operable to memorize the vital sign received by the vital
`sign receiving unit by an amount of a specified time period;
`and a controlling unit operable to control the power carrier
`radio wave transmitting unit transmitting the power carrier
`radio wave, from when the vital sign detection operation of
`the vital sign detection sensor starts to when the memory
`unit finishes memorizing the vital sign by the amount of the
`specified time period.
`
`[0038] Similarly, the sensor controlling device may com(cid:173)
`prise: a control code transmitting unit operable to transmit
`by lightwaves a control code for making the vital sign
`detection sensor perform the vital sign detection operation;
`a vital sign receiving unit operable to cordlessly receive the
`vital sign transmitted from the vital sign detection sensor; a
`memory unit operable to memorize the vital sign received by
`the vital sign receiving unit by an amount of a specified time
`period; and a controlling unit operable to control the control
`code transmitting unit transmitting the control code, from
`when the vital sign detection operation of the vital sign
`detection sensor starts to when the memory unit finishes
`memorizing the vital sign by the amount of the specified
`time period.
`
`[0039] Note that it is also possible to realize the p