Abstract: A technique may be provided to determine, as a target breathing rhythm used to change a mental and physical state of a target person to a target mental and physical state, not only an exhalation period for exhaling and an inhalation period for inhaling, but also a grace period between the exhalation period and the inhalation period. The grace period is a switching period between the exhalation period and the inhalation period. The grace period is a period in which exhalation, or inhalation, or both exhalation and inhalation are enabled to be performed.

Abstract: A technique may be provided to determine, as a target breathing rhythm used to change a mental and physical state of a target person to a target mental and physical state, not only an exhalation period for exhaling and an inhalation period for inhaling, but also a grace period between the exhalation period and the inhalation period. The grace period is a switching period between the exhalation period and the inhalation period. The grace period is a period in which exhalation, or inhalation, or both exhalation and inhalation are enabled to be performed.

Abstract: A biological information display apparatus includes a pulse wave acquisition part, an index derivation part, a determination part, and a display control part. The pulse wave acquisition part acquires a pulse wave signal obtained by measuring a pulse wave of a subject person along a time axis. The index derivation part derives breathing function indexes which are indexes showing states of breathing function of the subject person. The determination part determines whether at least one of the derived multiple breathing function indexes is in a predetermined range as a range of a threshold showing that the subject person gets worse. When at least one of breathing function indexes is in the predetermined range, the display control part displays progress information showing the progress of multiple breathing function indexes since becoming in the predetermined range by the at least one of breathing function indexes.

Abstract: A main body portion is shaped in a cylinder and formed with an intake port which is a hole through which air from an outside flows into the cylinder. The main body portion has one end, which is provided with one-way valve to impede inflow of air from the outside, and the other end, which is not provided with the one-way valve and through which the subject breathes. The resistance setting unit variably sets a magnitude of an inflow resistance to air flowing into the main body portion. The pressure measurement unit measures a pressure of air moving in the cylinder of the main body portion as the intraoral pressure.

Abstract: An intraoral pressure signal is associated with a pulse wave signal along a time axis. As a calibration coefficient, a ratio of a variation in an amount of change in an amplitude of the pulse wave signal from a preset second reference value to a variation in an amount of change in the intraoral pressure represented by the intraoral pressure signal from a preset first reference value is calculated based on the acquired pulse wave signal and the acquired intraoral pressure signal. An absolute value of an intrathoracic pressure of the subject is calculated by multiplying an estimated intrathoracic pressure, which is a relative value of the intrathoracic pressure estimated based on the pulse wave signal, by the calibration coefficient.

Abstract: An auxiliary testing device assists a testing device for testing a respiratory function of a subject. The auxiliary testing device has a tubular member and a restraining member. The tubular member has a tubular shape and is connected to the testing device. The restraining member restrains a movement of a cheek of the subject.

Abstract: In an apparatus for assisting respirations of a subject in accordance with a predetermined reference respiration pattern defined as a sequence of reference respirations each having a reference respiratory volume for the subject, a respiration obtaining unit obtains, at a sampling time, an actual respiratory volume of the subject based on an actual respiration of the subject in accordance with the predetermined reference respiration pattern. A storing unit stores variation of the reference respiratory volumes for the subject. An assisting unit generates, based on the actual respiratory volume and the reference respiratory volumes, visual assist information indicative of a respiratory state of the subject relative to the predetermined reference respiration pattern, and provides the visual assist information to the subject.

Abstract: A respiratory function testing apparatus capable of testing a respiratory function of a subject more accurately. In the apparatus, a respiratory state detection unit acquires a first signal representative of different inspiratory volumes corresponding to a plurality of breaths of the subject and a second signal representative of intrapleural pressures corresponding to the respective different inspiratory volumes, and detects a plurality of respiratory states corresponding to the different inspiratory volumes and their corresponding intrapleural pressures. A respiratory state determination unit captures a state of the respiratory function of the subject on the basis of the plurality of respiratory states corresponding to the different inspiratory volumes and their corresponding-respective intrapleural pressures.

Abstract: A device for measuring concentration of a constituent in blood includes: an irradiation unit for irradiating light toward a living body, the light having a wavelength disposed in a light absorption band of the constituent in the blood; a light receiving unit for receiving light, which is reflected in the living body or transmitted through the living body; and a concentration measurement unit for measuring the concentration of the constituent in the blood based on variation of light intensity of light received by the light receiving unit, the variation attributed to a pulse wave of the living body.

Abstract: When a driver of a vehicle brings his/her detection part close to a case, a sensor detects a pulse of the driver at the detection part with an optical method, and takes an image of the detection part. An individual certification means determines whether the driver of the vehicle is an authorized person or not based on the image of the detection part taken by the sensor. An alcohol concentration determiner calculates an index value of a blood alcohol concentration of the driver based on the pulse detected at the detection part by the sensor, and determines whether the index value exceeds a criterial value of a drinking assessment. When it is determined that the driver of the vehicle is an authorized person and the index value does not exceed the criterial value of the drinking assessment, a permission means permits the driver to start an engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: A blood constituent concentration detector includes: a detection portion having an optical window for measuring a blood constituent concentration of a part of a living body in an optical manner when the part of the living body is pressed on the detection portion; a load determination element for determining whether a load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and smaller than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold; and a measurement element for measuring the blood constituent concentration when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold.

Abstract: A particulate concentration detector including a detection mechanism having a light emission unit and light reception unit. The particulate concentration detector detects the concentration of particulates suspended in a liquid from the light amount detected by the detection mechanism. The detection mechanism includes a first light guide, a second light guide, a liquid chamber, and a third light guide. The first light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light emission surface of the light emission unit. The second light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light reception surface of the light reception unit. The liquid chamber is formed between the first light guide and second light guide and allows the liquid to flow therein. The third light guide is arranged in an oscillatable manner in the liquid chamber so as to face toward the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection apparatus that excels in durability and reliability and is capable of accurately detecting the biofuel concentration in a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and biofuel with a compact and simple configuration. A fuel property sensor 22 includes a light-emitting device 28 and a light-receiving device 32, which detect the optical transmittance of a fuel in a fuel path 26; and a light-emitting device 36 and a position sensitive device 38, which detect the refractive index of the fuel. As the optical transmittance correlates with the RME concentration of the fuel, the RME concentration can be calculated from the detected optical transmittance. As the refractive index correlates with the cetane number of the fuel, the cetane number can be calculated from the detected refractive index. The optical transmittance is detected through the use of light within a wavelength range of 640 nm to 680 nm.

Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine which uses, as the fuel, a heavy fuel, a light fuel, an alcohol fuel and a mixture thereof, comprising a heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector 39 capable of detecting the ratio of the heavy fuel and the light fuel, and an air-fuel ratio detector 41 for detecting the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, wherein the amount of fuel injection is calculated based on the heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector so that the air-fuel ratio becomes a target air-fuel ratio. The heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector is diagnosed if it is in an abnormal condition based on a difference between the target air-fuel ratio and the air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio detector while the engine temperature is in a particular temperature region. The heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector can be correctly diagnosed if it is in an abnormal condition even when an alcohol-mixed fuel is used.

Abstract: A particulate concentration detector including a detection mechanism having a light emission unit and light reception unit. The particulate concentration detector detects the concentration of particulates suspended in a liquid from the light amount detected by the detection mechanism. The detection mechanism includes a first light guide, a second light guide, a liquid chamber, and a third light guide. The first light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light emission surface of the light emission unit. The second light guide is arranged at a location facing toward a light reception surface of the light reception unit. The liquid chamber is formed between the first light guide and second light guide and allows the liquid to flow therein. The third light guide is arranged in an oscillatable manner in the liquid chamber so as to face toward the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: A fuel property sensor is provided with three bypass passages and a measure passage. The measure passage is located inside of a closed loop which is comprised of common tangential lines of adjacent bypass passages and a part of profile line of each bypass passage in a cross section perpendicular to the measure passage. Even if the fuel property sensor is rotated around the axis of a fuel pipe in assembling the fuel property sensor to the fuel pipe, at least one of two bypass passages is always located above the measure passage in a vertical direction. Hence, bubbles included in the fuel are restricted from flowing into the measure passage. The fuel property sensor can detect the concentration of ethanol contained in the fuel with high accuracy.

Abstract: A blood constituent concentration detector includes: a detection portion having an optical window for measuring a blood constituent concentration of a part, of a living body in an optical manner when the part of the living body is pressed on the detection portion; a load determination element for determining whether a load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than a first threshold, and smaller than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is larger than the first threshold; and a measurement element for measuring the blood constituent concentration when the load determination element determines that the load to the detection portion is equal to or larger than the first threshold, and smaller than the second threshold.

Abstract: A device for controlling an internal combustion engine which uses, as the fuel, a heavy fuel, a light fuel, an alcohol fuel and a mixture thereof, comprising a heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector 39 capable of detecting the ratio of the heavy fuel and the light fuel, and an air-fuel ratio detector 41 for detecting the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas, wherein the amount of fuel injection is calculated based on the heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector so that the air-fuel ratio becomes a target air-fuel ratio. The heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector is diagnosed if it is in an abnormal condition based on a difference between the target air-fuel ratio and the air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio detector while the engine temperature is in a particular temperature region. The heavy fuel/light fuel ratio detector can be correctly diagnosed if it is in an abnormal condition even when an alcohol-mixed fuel is used.

Abstract: When a driver of a vehicle brings his/her detection part close to a case, a sensor detects a pulse of the driver at the detection part with an optical method, and takes an image of the detection part. An individual certification means determines whether the driver of the vehicle is an authorized person or not based on the image of the detection part taken by the sensor. An alcohol concentration determiner calculates an index value of a blood alcohol concentration of the driver based on the pulse detected at the detection part by the sensor, and determines whether the index value exceeds a criterial value of a drinking assessment. When it is determined that the driver of the vehicle is an authorized person and the index value does not exceed the criterial value of the drinking assessment, a permission means permits the driver to start an engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection apparatus that excels in durability and reliability and is capable of accurately detecting the biofuel concentration in a mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and biofuel with a compact and simple configuration. A fuel property sensor 22 includes a light-emitting device 28 and a light-receiving device 32, which detect the optical transmittance of a fuel in a fuel path 26; and a light-emitting device 36 and a position sensitive device 38, which detect the refractive index of the fuel. As the optical transmittance correlates with the RME concentration of the fuel, the RME concentration can be calculated from the detected optical transmittance. As the refractive index correlates with the cetane number of the fuel, the cetane number can be calculated from the detected refractive index. The optical transmittance is detected through the use of light within a wavelength range of 640 nm to 680 nm.