Biological potential input interface system, sensor device, and method

1. A biological potential input interface system comprising:

a sensor device configured to measure biological potential of a user;

a determination circuit configured to determine a motion of the user from the biological potential of the user against a determination criterion which is prepared in advance, and generate a control signal corresponding to the motion; and

a control circuit configured to control operation of an internal circuit of an appliance based on the control signal,

wherein the sensor device includes a plurality of electrode chambers, a measurement chamber, and an accommodation chamber which are proximately connected to each other in annular relationship permitting expansion and contraction, wherein the annular relationship has an ordering of elements of: the measurement chamber, next a first group of electrode chambers, next the accommodation chamber, next a second group of electrode chambers, and back to the measurement chamber,

each of the plurality of electrode chambers having a measurement electrode,

the measurement chamber having a biological potential measurement circuit which is connected with each measurement electrode via electrically conductive wiring for measuring biological potential of the user by using the measurement electrode, and

the accommodation chamber having an internal protrusion, such that the wiring which connects at least one measurement electrode and the biological potential measurement circuit is provided around the protrusion, the wiring having a length which enables longitudinal feeding in accordance with an amount of elongation when the sensor device is elongated, wherein

a maximum clearance S between the accommodation chamber and an adjacent one of the electrode chambers is greater than a maximum clearance R between any two adjacent electrode chambers among the plurality of electrode chambers.

2. A sensor device for measuring biological potential of a user, for use in a biological potential input interface system including: a determination circuit configured to determine a motion of the user from the biological potential of the user against a determination criterion which is prepared in advance, and generate a control signal corresponding to the motion; and a control circuit configured to control operation of an internal circuit of an appliance based on the control signal, wherein,

the sensor device includes a plurality of electrode chambers, a measurement chamber, and an accommodation chamber which are proximately connected to each other in annular relationship permitting expansion and contraction, wherein the annular relationship has an ordering of elements of: the measurement chamber, next a first group of electrode chambers, next the accommodation chamber, next a second group of electrode chambers, and back to the measurement chamber,

each of the plurality of electrode chambers having a measurement electrode,

the measurement chamber having a biological potential measurement circuit which is connected with each measurement electrode via electrically conductive wiring for measuring biological potential of the user by using the measurement electrode, and

the accommodation chamber having an internal protrusion, such that the wiring which connects at least one measurement electrode and the biological potential measurement circuit is provided around the protrusion, the wiring having a length which enables longitudinal feeding in accordance with an amount of elongation when the sensor device is elongated, wherein

a maximum clearance S between the accommodation chamber and an adjacent one of the electrode chambers is greater than a maximum clearance R between any two adjacent electrode chambers among the plurality of electrode chambers.

3. The sensor device of claim 2 ,

wherein the biological potential measurement circuit is able to detect the biological potential of the user which occurs in accordance with the motion of the user.

4. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein

the determination circuit includes:

a detection circuit configured to detect, when the biological potential measured by using the measurement electrodes satisfies a prestored detection criterion, that the user has made an intentional motion; and

a motion determination circuit configured to, when the intentional motion is detected, determine the intentional motion of the user from the biological potential measured by using each measurement electrode against a determination criterion which is prepared in advance, and generate a control signal corresponding to the motion.

5. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein

the determination circuit includes:

a detection circuit configured to detect, when the biological potential measured by using the measurement electrodes satisfies a prestored detection criterion, a point in time at which the biological potential is measured; and

a motion determination circuit configured to detect an intentional motion of the user against a determination criterion which is prepared in advance, from the biological potential in a time range after a predetermined time since the detected point in time.

6. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein each measurement electrode is provided in a respective one of the plurality of electrode chambers so as to be located on an inner peripheral surface of the sensor device being connected in annular relationship.

7. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein in the sensor device being connected in annular relationship, the measurement chamber and the accommodation chamber are placed in opposite positions from each other.

8. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein, in the sensor device being connected in annular relationship, the accommodation chamber is located in an asymmetric position from the measurement chamber with respect to a center of a circle.

9. The sensor device of claim 3 , wherein the determination circuit refers to a prestored manipulation reference in generating a control signal corresponding to a motion of the user from the biological potential measured by using each measurement electrode.

10. A method to be performed in a biological potential input interface system, comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor device with which to measure biological potential of a user; and

determining a motion of the user from the biological potential of the user against a determination criterion which is prepared in advance, and generating a control signal corresponding to the motion; and

controlling operation of an internal circuit of an appliance based on the control signal,

the sensor device including a plurality of electrode chambers, a measurement chamber, and an accommodation chamber which are proximately connected to each other in annular relationship permitting expansion and contraction, wherein the annular relationship has an ordering of elements of: the measurement chamber, next a first group of electrode chambers, next the accommodation chamber, next a second group of electrode chambers, and back to the measurement chamber,

each of the plurality of electrode chambers having a measurement electrode,

the measurement chamber having a biological potential measurement circuit which is connected with each measurement electrode via electrically conductive wiring for measuring biological potential of the user by using the measurement electrode, and

the accommodation chamber having an internal protrusion, such that the wiring which connects at least one measurement electrode and the biological potential measurement circuit is provided around the protrusion, the wiring having a length which enables longitudinal feeding in accordance with an amount of elongation when the sensor device is elongated, wherein

a maximum clearance S between the accommodation chamber and an adjacent one of the electrode chambers is greater than a maximum clearance R between any two adjacent electrode chambers among the plurality of electrode chambers.