JP7653735B2 - Respiratory air purification equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a management system for managing the wearing status of a mask and the contact status with others. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized by recording the model of the "respiratory air purifying device", the shielding rate of fine particles, droplets, viruses, etc., and the wearing status such as whether or not the device is worn, together with time and location information, etc., in a recording device. Here, a "respiratory air purifying device" is a device that purifies the air to be breathed, such as a mask. In more detail, it is a device that has the function of purifying the inhaled air (air taken into the body) through a filter, a virus killing device, etc. and then introducing it into the device, and/or the function of purifying the exhaled air (air exhaled from the body) through a filter, a virus killing device, etc. and then discharging it outside the device. Examples of "respiratory air purifying devices" include "general masks using nonwoven fabric filters", "medical masks", "masks with pump air supply function", "distancing-free masks", "face shields", and "protective clothing". Examples include "masks with pump air supply function". A detailed explanation of the "Distancing-Free Mask," which is a type of "mask with pump air supply function" and has the feature of controlling pressure and flow rate, is given below. The term "supply and exhaust" is used to collectively express "air supply" and "exhaust." In addition, in the explanation below, "respiratory air purifying devices," which include "distant-free masks," may be referred to simply as "masks" for simplicity.

The inventors have proposed a "Distancing-Free Mask," a mask that can almost completely block the entry and leakage of the virus and can be manufactured using existing technology (Patent Document 1, Reference 1). If this mask is developed and distributed to the entire population, lockdowns will become unnecessary. "Distancing-Free Mask Wearers," like antibody carriers, will not become infected with the virus and will not transmit the virus to others. Even if initial predictions prove incorrect and the spread of infection becomes uncontrollable, the infection can be contained quickly, easily, and reliably by having all citizens wear "Distancing-Free Masks" at once. In other words, "having every citizen carry a Distancing-Free Mask" means having "a means to quickly and reliably control the spread and containment of infection" without a lockdown.

Patent Application 2020-113097 [References] Yusaku Fujii, Hirohiro Takita, Seiji Hashimoto, “Development of a mask that can almost completely block viruses and a proposal for a social infrastructure that makes lockdowns unnecessary”, Social Safety and Privacy, Vol.4, No.1, pp.6-10, 2020.

Currently, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the entire world is taking measures that combine "new lifestyles" and "lockdowns (= behavioral and economic restrictions, including refraining from going out and refraining from business)." However, with no prospect of rapid development and widespread use of a vaccine or treatment for the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2), which continues to mutate, there is no sign of an end to the intermittent lockdown state.

Distributing one "free-going mask" to each citizen means having a "decisive factor" to easily and surely bring the infection under control at any time. Furthermore, even in the worst case scenario of infection spread, people will be able to go out freely as long as they wear a "free-going mask." Therefore, if businesses in all industries assume that "depending on the situation, wearing masks when going out freely may be mandatory" and prepare countermeasures, there will be no need to suspend operations.

We propose the "Free Going Out Mask" as a mask that almost completely blocks the intrusion and leakage of viruses. The "Free Going Out Mask" can take various forms, but we propose the easiest form to realize is one that consists of an airtight helmet section and a waist pack section that houses the mechanical section that supplies and exhausts purified air. The "Free Going Out Mask" has the following three basic specifications.

[1] By maintaining a slight positive pressure inside the airtight helmet, it is possible to completely block outside air from entering through the neck seal, and completely block the entry of viruses. The leakage of viruses to the outside depends on the level of airtightness of the neck seal, but can be prevented to a high degree.

[2] A constant flow of air is regulated to create a constant flow of fresh air inside the helmet. This allows you to breathe fresh air without putting extra strain on your lungs.

[3] A high-performance filter with extremely high flow resistance can be inserted by forcing air in and out using a pump installed in the waist pack. This makes it possible to create an environment where the breathlessness that occurs when wearing a normal nonwoven mask is not felt. Furthermore, if a higher level of blocking of virus intrusion and leakage is desired, approaching 100%, it is preferable to insert a virus killing device (ultraviolet irradiator, plasma cluster generator, etc.). It is also possible to insert a temperature and humidity adjustment device and an air composition adjustment device (oxygen concentrator, carbon dioxide adsorption device, etc.) to improve comfort.

By making the mechanical part smaller and lighter, the waist pack part can be integrated with the helmet part. The helmet part is preferably made from a soft film material. With current scientific technology, it would be easy to develop and mass-produce a "freedom of movement mask" with the above functions.

As mentioned above, even in the case of a fairly virulent virus, it is almost impossible to have a situation in which a "respiratory air purifying device" with a 100% shielding rate must be worn at all times (100%). In many cases, in order to contain the infection as a whole society, if each citizen wears the "respiratory air purifying device" at a certain wearing rate, there is no need to wear the "respiratory air purifying device" in other situations. In order to know whether each citizen has achieved the required wearing rate of the "respiratory air purifying device" to contain the infection, it is necessary to measure and record the wearing rate. Similarly, in order for each citizen to achieve the required wearing rate of the "respiratory air purifying device" to contain the infection and then gain the freedom to act without wearing it, it is necessary to measure and record the wearing rate. In this way, in order to contain the infection as a whole society while at the same time guaranteeing maximum freedom to each citizen, it is necessary to measure and record the wearing rate of each person. The objective of the present invention is to provide a device that records the wearing status of the "respiratory air purifying device" for oneself and/or others around oneself.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device may be provided, which is characterized by recording the wearing status, such as the blocking rate of the "respiratory air purifying device" against fine particles, droplets, viruses, etc., and whether or not it is being worn, together with the time, in a recording device.
The system for recording and managing the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device as described in claim 1 may be characterized in that the "respiratory air purifying device" is a "mask with a pump air supply function."

It may also be a recording and management system for the wearing status of a breathing air purifying device, characterized in that the "breathing air purifying device" communicates with a "smartphone" and the "smartphone" software records the wearing status of the "breathing air purifying device" together with the time.

It may also be a system for recording and managing the wearing status of a breathing air purifying device, characterized by estimating the wearing status, such as the leakage rate of the "breathing air purifying device," from the internal pressure in the helmet and/or the pump output.

The system may also be a record-keeping and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices, characterized by detecting and recording the presence of nearby people and/or the distance between nearby people and/or the wearing status of "respiratory air purifying devices" worn by nearby people using wireless communication means such as Bluetooth. Although Bluetooth is a registered trademark, it is widely used and should be mentioned as one of the preferred communication means in the explanation of this invention.

It may also be a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices, characterized by detecting and recording the presence of nearby others and/or the distance between nearby others and/or the wearing status of "respiratory air purifying devices" by nearby others through image analysis of camera images taken with a normal camera or an infrared camera.

It may also be a system for recording and managing the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized by handling the virus blocking rate separately as the blocking rate against intrusion from the outside to the inside of the "respiratory air purifying device" and the blocking rate against leakage from the inside to the outside of the "respiratory air purifying device."

The invention related to claim 1 is a respiratory air purifying device that is characterized by a mask with a pump air supply function that reduces the target inflow volume and/or the target internal pressure during exhalation, and increases the target inflow volume and/or the target internal pressure during inhalation, in accordance with the breathing pattern when the mask is worn.

The invention related to claim 2 is a respiratory air purifying device with a pump air supply function, characterized by satisfying set conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration through control using one air supply pump and a helmet-mounted flow sensor, pressure sensor, and CO2 sensor.

The invention related to claim 3 is a respiratory air purifying device with pump air supply function as described in claim 2, characterized in that it utilizes the fact that the pump flow rate Q is a function Q(V, P) of the applied voltage V and the external/internal pressure difference P, and satisfies the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration using estimated values without using a flow sensor.

The invention related to claim 4 is a respiratory air purifying device that increases the flow rate setting and issues an alarm (sound, light, etc.) when the CO2 concentration exceeds a set value.

The invention related to claim 5 is a respiratory air purifying device described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in an emergency, the opening for breathing is opened by pulling the knob on the surface of the device.

The invention related to claim 6 is a respiratory air purifying device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in an emergency, the opening for breathing is opened by pulling the knob of the exhaust filter near the mouth.

The invention related to claim 7 is a breathing air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it automatically opens an opening for breathing in the event of an emergency.

It may also be a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purification equipment, characterized by communicating with a recording and management system for the wearing status of infection protection equipment worn by other people in the vicinity, and displaying the mask wearing status and infection prevention index of people in the vicinity.

It can also be used as a record and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purification devices, characterized by querying a server about the movement routes of infected people and displaying the risk of infection in a color-coded manner on a map in the display device or in the wearer's field of vision.

It can also be used as a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purification equipment, featuring the function of using the camera of the infection protection equipment to record video and audio of the surroundings and later play them back, with the right to playback being held solely by the wearer, and the ability to temporarily transfer the right to playback in response to a request for investigation by the police, etc.

It may also be a recording and management system for the wearing of respiratory air purifying equipment, characterized by having a function to determine the type of infection protection equipment being worn through image analysis by taking a photograph of the equipment being worn using a smartphone app, and a function to determine whether the equipment is being worn correctly based on photographs taken from multiple angles and provide instructions on the correct way to wear it.

The invention related to claim 8 is a breathing air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a microphone and/or speaker inside and a microphone and/or speaker outside, making it easier for the wearer to hear sounds outside the breathing air purifying device and/or amplifying and transmitting the wearer's voice to the outside.

The invention related to claim 9 is a respiratory air purifying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a microphone and speaker, has the function of communicating with other infection protection devices by sending and receiving voice data via wireless communication, can set the call recipient and range, and has the function of visually displaying the call status.

The invention related to claim 10 is a respiratory air purifying device as described in claim 9, characterized in that it measures the position using GPS and the direction using a magnetic sensor, and automatically sets the range of voice transmission according to the position, the caller's direction, and the volume of the voice.

The invention related to claim 11 is a respiratory air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it uses sensors (a microphone, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and an electroencephalogram sensor) to monitor the health condition of the wearer.

The invention related to claim 12 is a respiratory air purifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it uses sensors (microphone, pressure sensor, flow sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, and brainwave sensor) inside the infection protection device to monitor the wearer's health condition, and uses an aroma diffuser and speaker to generate scents and environmental sounds appropriate to the situation.

The invention related to claim 13 is a respiratory air purifying device described in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it has an ozone generator and sterilizes and deodorizes the inside of the device.

Below, we explain how to achieve "pseudo" herd immunity through "respiratory air purifying devices" such as "free-going masks."

The basic reproduction number R0 is defined as the average number of people that an infected person directly infects during the infectious period when they join a group (society) where no one is immune. By definition, in a state where there are "almost no infected people around," if R0=1 for that group (society) it is in a steady state, if R0<1 it is converging, and if R0>1 it is spreading. R0 depends not only on the nature of the virus, but also on the nature of the group (racial makeup, state, state of public health, health state of each individual, etc.). By improving public health, R0 can be reduced for any virus.

The basic reproduction number R0 can be expressed diagrammatically as follows:
R0 = β × k × D
β: Probability of infection per contact
k: The average number of times a person comes into contact with other people (= uninfected people) in a group per unit time
D: Mean infection period

In other words, the following are effective in reducing the basic reproduction number R0:
Reducing β: Improving personal immunity, wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and maintaining social distance.
Reduction of k: Introduction of working and learning from home, business restrictions, and restrictions on going out.
The "new lifestyle" can be said to be a state in which β and k are reduced, while "lockdown" is a state in which k is reduced to an extreme degree.

The basic reproduction number R0 is modified by the proportion Wr of people wearing "respiratory air purifying devices," resulting in the modified basic reproduction number R0m.

When uninfected people wear "respiratory air purifying devices" at a rate of Wr, the rate of uninfected people who become less susceptible to infection is Wr, and the rate of uninfected people who remain susceptible to infection is (1-Wr). If the virus blocking rate of the "respiratory air purifying device" is Sr, the probability of infection for a mask wearer is thought to be (1-Sr) times that of a non-mask wearer. From the above, the following approximate relationship can be derived.
R0m = [(1-Wr)+Wr(1-Sr)]R0
=(1-WrSr)R0
Wr = [1-R0m/R0] /Sr
Example: When R0=5, the proportion of people wearing "air purifying respiratory devices (Sr=1)" required to make R0m=1 is Wr =1-1/5=0.8 (80%). This will stop the spread of infection and settle into a steady state. Note that the above formula is somewhat unreasonable in that it assumes that the movement and contact patterns of individuals will not change even if the proportion of people wearing masks and the situation of the spread of infection change, so it should be considered as only a reference.

In addition to the above, if infected people also wear "respiratory air purifying devices" at a rate of Wr, the rate of infected people who become less likely to spread the infection will be Wr, and the rate of infected people who remain susceptible to spreading the infection will be (1-Wr). If the virus blocking rate of the "respiratory air purifying device" is Sr, the infectiousness of an infected person wearing a mask is thought to be (1-Sr) times that of an infected person not wearing a mask. From the above, the following approximate relationship can be derived.
R0m = (1- WrSr) ² R0
Wr = [1 &#8211; (R0m/R0) ^0.5 ]/ Sr

Figure 1 shows the required proportion of people wearing "respiratory air purifying devices (Sr=1)" Wr_target in order to revise the basic reproduction number R0 to the modified basic reproduction number R0m = 0.5 or 1.0. This is shown for both the case where only uninfected people wear them, and the case where both uninfected and infected people wear them. The example shown in Figure 1 is when all citizens, or all members of the group in question, use respiratory air purifying devices with the same shielding rate (Sr=1).

For example, when the basic reproduction number R0 for the virus in society is 5, the proportion Wr of people wearing "respiratory air purifying devices (Sr=1)" required to stabilize the infection with a corrected reproduction number of 1 is Wr_target = 0.8 (80%) if only uninfected people wear them, and Wr_target = 0.55 (55%) if infected people as well as uninfected people wear masks. In other words, in each case, if more than 80% or more than 55% of the entire population of people they come into contact with wear "respiratory air purifying devices (Sr=1)," the infection will converge. Note that the values reported so far as the basic reproduction number R0 for COVID-19 are generally below 5, so the above discussion is realistic.

When the virus shielding rate Sr of a "respiratory air purifying device" is not 1 (100%), the required mask wearing rate Wr_target can be calculated by dividing "Wr_target, which can be read in Figure 1 with Sr = 1," by Sr. Note that "respiratory air purifying devices" with high Sr values, generally Sr ≧ 0.8, such as the aforementioned masks for going out freely, will be referred to as "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)."

In order to manufacture, distribute, and popularize masks at low cost, it is also important to determine the minimum performance required. By estimating the virus shielding rate Sr for each "respiratory air purifying device," it becomes possible to apply the above discussion to various types of masks. It has been shown that when a commercially available nonwoven mask is worn normally, most of the air does not pass through the filter part (nonwoven fabric) but flows through the gaps around it. This suggests that for "masks that are prone to gaps," such as commercially available nonwoven masks, it will be important to estimate the shielding rate including the effect of gaps when worn, rather than the shielding rate of the filter part itself.

In the above discussion, if we consider the virus shielding rate as Sr, the shielding rate against intrusion from the outside of the helmet to the inside as Sr_in, and the shielding rate against leakage from the inside of the helmet to the outside as Sr_out, the following approximate relationship can be derived.
R0m = (1- Wr Sr_in) (1- Wr Sr_out) R0
By solving the above as a quadratic equation in Wr with R0m, R0, Sr_in, and Sr_out as constants and Wr as an unknown, we can determine the proportion of people who need to wear a mask when going out freely, Wr_target. Since 0≦Sr_in≦1, 0≦Sr_out≦1, the solution is as follows.
Wr_target = Wr = [[(Sr_in+Sr_out)-[(Sr_in+Sr_out) ² -4(Sr_in)(Sr_out)(1-R0m/R0)] ^0.5 ] /[2(Sr_in)(Sr_out)]

In general, when a "respiratory air purifying device" is actually worn, Sr_in and Sr_out can differ significantly, so treating Sr_in and Sr_out separately, as described above, is effective in determining the "required proportion of respiratory air purifying device worn Wr_target" more precisely.

Here, the shielding efficiency Sr is defined as the rate at which 0.1 μm particles are filtered. Alternatively, it can be defined as the collection efficiency of "aerosolized sodium chloride" based on the respiratory protection standard (NIOSH). Various definitions can be used. It is preferable to explore and determine a definition that is more suited to the actual situation depending on the infection route and mode of the virus in question.

The important point to note here is that "everyone in the country has respiratory air purifying equipment (high Sr)" means that "the government will have the means to control the spread and containment of infection without having to impose a lockdown." This means that there will no longer be any need to be overly fearful of the spread of infection, as is the case now.

As shown in Figure 2, in the "current situation," when concerns about the spread of infection increase, the response is to increase the intensity of the lockdown. However, in the "future," when concerns about the spread of infection increase, it is expected that it will be sufficient to simply increase the proportion of people required to wear respiratory air purifying devices such as masks when going out freely, and that lockdowns will become completely unnecessary.

We expect that the state of society in the COVID-19 era will be as described below in three points, due to the emergence of a new social infrastructure resulting from the widespread use of respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr) such as masks for free travel.

[1] Every citizen will have one "breathing air purifying device (high Sr)."

[2] If there is a risk of the infection spreading, the government will declare a state of emergency and make it mandatory to wear "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)" at the required ratio Wr_target or higher when going out.

[3] Once it is confirmed that the virus infection has been contained, the government will lift the state of emergency and the obligation to wear "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)" when going out will be lifted.

Below are some examples of how to set numerical targets when making it mandatory to wear "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)" as described above in [2]. In the following discussion, unless otherwise specified, the shielding rate of respiratory air purifying devices is assumed to be Sr = Sr_in = Sr_out = 1, and target setting etc. will be discussed on a daily basis. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, Sr is defined as Sr_in. When equal importance is placed on both the virus shielding rate Sr_in for air introduced into the mask from the outside, and the virus shielding rate Sr_out for air expelled from inside the mask to the outside, Sr may be defined as the average value of Sr_in and Sr_out.

[1] An example of setting the required proportion of respiratory air purifying equipment (high Sr), Wr_target, as a numerical target for the wearing time.
Only the presence or absence of wear is detected, and the time Tout_mask (seconds) that the respiratory air purifying device is worn outdoors and the time Tout_nomask (seconds) that the respiratory air purifying device is not worn outdoors are counted for each day, and the actual proportion of people wearing the respiratory air purifying device Wr_avd (seconds) is calculated using the following formula.
Wr_avd = (Tout_mask)/(Tout_mask + Tout_nomask)
As an example of how this could be implemented, a system could be conceived in which each and every citizen is obligated to make an effort to ensure that their own actual rate of wearing respiratory air purifying devices, Wr_avd, is equal to or exceeds the rate of wearing respiratory air purifying devices set by the government. A system could also be conceived in which, depending on the rate achieved (Wr_avd - Wr_target), a reward would be given if the rate achieved, Wr_avd - Wr_target, is positive, and if the rate achieved, Wr_avd - Wr_target, is negative, a fine or other penalty would be imposed depending on the magnitude of the negative figure.

[2] An example of setting a numerical target for the upper limit of the time Tout_nomask during which a respiratory air purifying device (high Sr) is not worn outdoors.
One possible system would be to detect only whether or not the device is worn, count the time Tout_nomask spent not wearing the device outside the home, and obligate people to make efforts to ensure that this does not exceed the upper limit Tout_nomask_target set by the government.The approximate method for determining the upper limit Tout_nomask_target for the time not wearing the device outside the home is calculated using the following formula, which is thought to be an appropriate value.
Tout_nomask_target = (1- Wr) Tout_mean
It is also possible to have a system where a reward is given if the achievement rate (Tout_nomask_target - Tout_nomask) is positive, and a penalty is imposed if the achievement rate (Tout_nomask_target - Tout_nomask) is negative.

[3] An example of setting a numerical target for the upper limit of the number of people Nc who are in close contact with another person without wearing a respiratory air purification device (high Sr).
One possible system would be to count the number of people Nc who come into close contact with others without wearing respiratory air purification equipment, and require people to make efforts to ensure that this number does not exceed the upper limit Nc_target set by the government.
The number of close contacts could be counted as "close contact 1" when the other person is not also wearing a respiratory air purifying device and there is "2-3 conversations within 1 meter," or "contact within 1 meter for 15 minutes or more," or "a situation that is considered to be similar or even closer contact." If the other person is wearing a mask with a high shielding rate, such as a mask for going out freely, it will not be counted as close contact.
It is necessary to reliably detect the presence of others nearby and whether they are wearing a mask. Possible methods include detection using image processing of camera images, as described below, or notification via communication with the masks or smart fans held by others.
As a method for setting Nc_target, it is considered approximately appropriate to use the estimated average number of people that a citizen comes into contact with outdoors, Nc_mean, and calculate it using the following formula.
Nc_target = (1- Wr) Nc_mean
A system could also be considered in which a reward is given if the achievement rate (Nc_target - Nc) is positive, and a penalty is imposed if the achievement rate (Nc_target - Nc) is negative.

[4] An example of setting a numerical target as an upper limit for the total amount of contact with a contaminated environment, Ec.
One possible system would be to count the total amount of contact with a contaminated environment, Ec, and require people to make efforts to ensure that it does not exceed an upper limit, Ec_target, set by the government.
The total amount of contact with the contaminated environment, Ec, is calculated for each location and time using the following formula or is set appropriately.
Ec = ∫E(L, t)dt
Here, E(L, t) represents the environmental pollution coefficient, L represents the location, and t represents the time.
The higher the expected virus concentration, the larger the environmental pollution coefficient E(L, t) will be.
The environmental pollution coefficient E(L, t) is calculated based on the history of people's presence in a location (whether they wore a mask or not, the performance of the mask, their activities, etc.), the state of ventilation and air purification in that location, etc. Alternatively, the environmental pollution coefficient E(L, t) is given as a function set based on appropriate assumptions.

As a method for setting Ec_target, it is considered approximately appropriate to use the estimated average value Ec_mean of the total amount of contact with contaminated environments experienced by citizens and calculate it using the following formula.
Ec_target = (1- Wr) Ec_mean
It is also possible to consider a system in which a reward is given if the achievement rate (Ec_target - Ec) is positive, and a penalty is imposed if the achievement rate (Ec_target - Ec) is negative.

In the above discussion, unless otherwise specified, the shielding rate of the respiratory air purifying device is assumed to be Sr = Sr_in = Sr_out = 1, and target setting etc. is discussed on a daily basis.

Unlike primitive people, modern people drink "purified water" instead of "water from rivers or puddles." On the other hand, "air" contains various pollutants such as viruses, PM2.5, pollen, and dust, but modern people, like primitive people, breathe the "natural air" that is around them. With the advent of "respiratory air purification devices (high Sr)" such as "free going out masks," it is expected that a strong demand will emerge to breathe "purified air" rather than "natural air." In other words, regardless of the spread of the virus and regardless of whether the government requests people to wear them, it is expected that many people will wear "respiratory air purification devices (high Sr)" when going out. Such a society will have a basic reproduction number R0 close to zero for all infectious diseases, and will be extremely resilient against all infectious diseases.

When people go out, they wear "shoes" (to protect their feet from getting dirty and from injury). In the same way, it is possible that they will start wearing "free-going masks" when they go out (to protect their lungs from getting dirty and from viral infections). If this happens, just as many people own various types of "shoes," they will own various types of "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)." We expect that a "respiratory air purifying device (high Sr)" with the minimum functionality will be available at a retail price of around 2,000 yen. On the other hand, models with various additional functions will also be developed and produced, and we expect that "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)" with retail prices of 10,000 yen, 100,000 yen, or 1 million yen will also appear.

We believe that "respiratory air purification devices (high Sr)" and their related systems (provision of service intake and exhaust ports in vehicles and facilities, home disinfection airlock systems, etc.) will become essential social infrastructure in the COVID-19 era. We expect that comfort, convenience, functionality, and design will be rapidly and significantly improved and enhanced through the concentrated efforts of many companies around the world.

Figure 3 shows a design example of a "Free Going Out Mask" as an example of a "Respiratory Air Purifying Device (High Sr)". Figure 4 shows a photograph of the prototype's exterior. The size of the prototype shown in Figure 4 is approximately 38 cm (width) x 26 cm (depth) x 29 cm (height), the total weight including the battery (approximately 180 g) is approximately 664 g (approximately 0.7 kg), and the continuous operating time with the on-board battery is approximately 8 hours. The prototype has the following three features:

[1] Forced air supply using a pump makes it possible to insert high-performance filters with very high flow resistance. It is also possible to insert virus killing devices (ultraviolet irradiators, plasma cluster generators, etc.) and temperature and humidity control devices on the air intake and exhaust sides.
Nonwoven fabric filters (HEPA H13 standard, absorbs 99.97% of particles up to 0.3μm) are used on both the intake and exhaust sides. The mask has the same performance as the highest rank (N100/R100/P100) of the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standard for particulate masks, which is capable of removing 99.97% or more of particles between 0.1 and 0.3μm.

[2] By maintaining a slight positive pressure inside the helmet, it is possible to completely block outside air from entering through the neck seal, and almost completely block the entry of viruses. The degree to which viruses leak to the outside depends on the airtightness of the neck seal, but a high level of airtightness can be maintained by using a high-performance airtight neck seal, such as an airtight neck seal for dry suits.

[3] A constant flow of air is controlled to create a constant flow of fresh air inside the hood. This allows the wearer to breathe fresh air without putting extra strain on the lungs. There is no shortness of breath, as there is when wearing a "standard mask."

Figure 1 is a graph showing the relationship between the required proportion Wr (%) of people wearing respiratory air purifying devices (Sr = 1.0) to achieve R0m = 0.5 and 1.0, and the current basic reproduction number R0. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the current coronavirus countermeasures in which lockdown is an option, and a coronavirus countermeasure in which a social infrastructure based on this invention is built and lockdown becomes unnecessary. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a breathing air purifying device (high Sr, integrated into a helmet). Figure 4 is a photograph of the appearance of the respiratory air purifying device (high Sr, prototype). Example 1 shown in FIG. 5 is an example of a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device based on the present invention, which is based on a normal type mask. Example 2 shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a system for recording and managing the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, in which the "respiratory air purifying device" is a "mask with a pump air supply function." FIG. 7 is a photograph of the appearance of Example 2.

Example 3 shown in Figure 8 is an example of a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized in that the "respiratory air purifying device" communicates with a "smartphone" and the "smartphone" software records the wearing status of the "respiratory air purifying device" together with time, location information, etc. 9 is a diagram showing the changes in Qin(ΔP, V) and Qout(ΔP) in Example 4. Qin is shown for three levels of drive voltage V=12, 11, and 10 (V). Example 5 shown in Figure 10 is an example of an embodiment of a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, which is characterized by detecting and recording the presence and/or distance of other people in the vicinity and/or the wearing status of the "respiratory air purifying device" using wireless communication means such as Bluetooth. Example 6 shown in Figure 11 is an example of an embodiment of a system for recording and managing the status of wearing a respiratory air purifying device, which is characterized by detecting and recording the presence and/or distance of other people in the vicinity and/or the status of wearing the "respiratory air purifying device" using camera images.

Figure 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the required proportion Wr (%) of people wearing respiratory air purifying devices (Sr,in=1.0, Sr,out=0.9) to achieve R0m=0.5, 1.0 and the current basic reproduction number R0. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the basic control system in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 14 is an image diagram of the pump control method in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 15 shows the pressure-flow rate characteristics with respect to the applied voltage for the pump used alone in Example 10. FIG. 16 shows the voltage-slope characteristics in the tenth embodiment. FIG. 17 shows the voltage-intercept characteristic in Example 10. FIG. 18 shows a control block diagram of a mask with a pump air supply function using the flow rate estimation value Q in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows an eleventh embodiment of a control method for quickly increasing the flow rate setting when the detected CO2 concentration exceeds the setting value. Figure 20 shows a different configuration from Figure 19 of Example 11, in which, in a separate control system for flow rate and pressure using two pumps, if the detected CO2 concentration exceeds a threshold, the CO2 concentration controller increases the flow rate setting value Q* and issues an alarm to the wearer, as described above. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a mask with pump air supply function and rubber plug type emergency ventilation port in Example 12 when worn and an enlarged side view of the rubber plug part. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of the mask with emergency filter removal and pump air supply function in Example 13 when worn and an enlarged side view of the filter portion. FIG. 23 is a side view of the double filter of Example 13 in its normal and released states.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the emergency automatic release mechanism of the fourteenth embodiment in normal and released states. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of a mask with pump air supply function having a sound amplification and hearing aid function in Example 19 when worn. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the sender and the receiver in the twenty-first embodiment. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of a mask with a pump air supply function and a health monitoring function in Example 22 when worn. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of a mask with a pump air supply function having a QOL improving function in Example 23 when worn. FIG. 29 is an external view of a mask with a pump air supply function and a mask sterilization and deodorization function in Example 24.

Example 1 shown in Figure 5 is an example related to the present invention. Example 1 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized in that the "respiratory air purifying device"'s shielding rate against fine particles, droplets, viruses, etc., and the wearing status such as whether or not the device is worn, together with the time, are recorded in a recording device. In Example 1, the "respiratory air purifying device" is a normal mask that uses nonwoven fabric as a filter, and a recording device is attached to it. The recording device is composed of a microprocessor, a pressure sensor (differential pressure sensor, measurement range: ±200 Pa, measurement error: 1 Pa), a memory card slot, a battery, etc., and is housed in a curved resin case that fits the chin. A plate for snap-fitting the recording device is attached to the mask fabric, and the recording device and mask fabric are simply constructed without tools. The pressure sensor measures the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the mask. The time period when pressure fluctuations similar to those caused by breathing are detected is determined to be when the mask is being worn, and is recorded along with location information from the GPS sensor. The recorded contents are stored on a memory card, and can be transferred to an external device by removing the memory card.

An LED and speaker can be added to the recording device to provide the following wearing condition confirmation and warning functions. That is, if the amplitude of the pressure fluctuation is smaller than the standard, it is determined that the gap between the mask and the face surface is large, and the LED will flash red and an alarm will sound. If the pressure fluctuation is within the standard range, it is determined that the gap between the mask and the face surface is sufficiently small and airtightness is maintained, and the LED will light up blue.
Adding communication functions such as Bluetooth to recording devices so that recorded contents can be transferred to smartphones or analysis devices is useful for increasing convenience.

Adding a GPS unit to the recording device to obtain location information and record the wearing status, time, and location as a set is particularly effective in identifying close contacts and tracing the route of infection.

The shielding rate Sr of "respiratory air purifying devices" against fine particles, droplets, viruses, etc. is calibrated for each model. The shielding rate differs significantly between when the mask is worn properly, the airtightness between the mask and the face is adequately ensured, and the rate of air leakage from the gap between the mask and the face is sufficiently small, and when the mask is worn improperly and the leakage rate is large. The shielding rate is corrected using an estimated value for the leakage rate when the mask is worn.

By measuring and calibrating the shielding factor for each range of particle sizes, it will be possible to set and implement numerical targets more precisely when making it mandatory to wear "respiratory air purifying devices (high Sr)." For example, the following classifications could be considered:
Droplet: Particle diameter 5μm or more Droplet nucleus: Particle diameter 1μm-5μm
Fine aerosol: Particle diameter: 0.1 μm-1 μm
Extremely small aerosol: Particle diameter: 0.01 μm-0.1 μm
The size of the particle determines the manner in which it moves through the air (how far it moves along the air current, how fast it falls due to gravity, etc.), the distance it travels, and the length of time it stays there, so measuring the shielding rate according to the size of the particle is effective for more precise operation.

Instead of a pressure sensor, a contact sensor that detects contact with the skin could be built into the recording device or into the mask fabric, and the determination of whether the mask is being worn or not could be based on the output of the contact sensor rather than the output of the pressure sensor. A "bioelectrode that can be attached and detached from the mask fabric" would also be suitable as a contact sensor.

Example 2 shown in Figure 6 is an example related to the present invention. Example 2 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized in that the "respiratory air purifying device" is a "mask with a pump air supply function." Figure 7 is a photograph of the appearance of Example 2. Arduino Uno is used as the controller.

The "breathing air purifying device" (this mask) consists of a helmet section and a backpack section. Figure 6 shows how purified air is supplied and exhausted from this mask. This mask has the following three features:

[1] By controlling a slight positive pressure inside the helmet, it is possible to completely block outside air from entering through the neck seal. Furthermore, by keeping the internal pressure relatively high, the helmet dome can be made from a lightweight transparent resin material. This blocks 100% of viruses from entering. Leakage of viruses to the outside depends on the airtightness of the neck seal, but can be prevented to a high degree.

[2] Constant flow control of the intake and exhaust creates a constant flow of fresh air inside the helmet. This allows you to breathe fresh air without putting extra strain on your lungs.

[3] Forced air supply and exhaust using a pump, pressure buffer, and electromagnetic control valve housed in a backpack allows the insertion of a high-performance filter with extremely high flow resistance. This creates an environment that is completely free of the breathlessness that occurs when wearing a mask. Equipping the air supply and exhaust sides with virus killing devices (ultraviolet irradiators, plasma cluster generators, etc.) is effective in more completely eliminating viruses in environments where the virus is highly concentrated in the air, such as hospitals where infected people are gathered in high density.

In Example 2, a temperature and humidity adjustment device is installed on the air supply side. Clean air with adjusted temperature and humidity is supplied to the helmet. This allows for comfortable breathing even in hot and humid summers and cold and low-humid winters.

All of the sensors, pumps, and other devices shown in Figure 6 are connected to a controller, and the entire device is controlled to operate according to set parameters. The controller records the entire measurement and control process. The controller runs a series of measurement and control loops at a speed of 10 times per second, and records all parameters used in chronological order.

The controller's operating status can also be monitored and settings can be changed using a smartphone connected via wireless communication (Bluetooth).

Example 3 shown in Figure 8 is an example related to the present invention. Example 3 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized in that the "respiratory air purifying device" communicates wirelessly with a "smartphone" and the "smartphone" software records the wearing status of the "respiratory air purifying device" together with the time. The "respiratory air purifying device" of Example 3 is composed of a helmet part and a waist pack part. The "respiratory air purifying device" of Example 3 has the following three features.

[1] By controlling a slight positive pressure inside the helmet, it is possible to completely block outside air from entering through the neck seal. Furthermore, by keeping the internal pressure relatively high, the helmet dome can be made from a lightweight transparent resin material. This blocks 100% of viruses from entering. Leakage of viruses to the outside depends on the airtightness of the neck seal, but can be prevented to a high degree.

[2] Constant flow control of the intake and exhaust creates a constant flow of fresh air inside the helmet. This allows you to breathe fresh air without putting extra strain on your lungs.
[3] The forced air supply and exhaust using the pump, pressure buffer, and electromagnetic control valve housed in the waist pack makes it possible to insert high-performance filters with extremely high flow resistance. (This creates an environment that is completely free of the breathlessness that occurs when wearing a mask.) It is also possible to freely insert virus killing devices (ultraviolet irradiators, plasma cluster generators, etc.) and temperature and humidity control devices on the air supply and exhaust sides.

All of the sensors, pumps, and other devices shown in Figure 8 are connected to a controller, and the entire device is controlled to operate according to set parameters. The controller records data from the entire measurement and control process, which is then transmitted to a smartphone via wireless communication (Bluetooth) and recorded on the smart fan. The recorded data is analyzed and displayed using a smartphone application. In addition, various settings of the "breathing air purifying device" can be adjusted from the smartphone application.

In Example 3, the specifications assume a system in which only the presence or absence of wear is detected, the time Tout_nomask when the respiratory air purifying device is not worn outside the home is counted, and people are obligated to make efforts to ensure that this does not exceed the upper limit Tout_nomask_target set by the government. The smartphone determines whether the current location is at home or outside the home based on its own GPS location information. The method for determining the upper limit Tout_nomask_target for the time when the respiratory air purifying device is not worn outside the home is approximately appropriate to calculate it using the following formula using an estimated value Tout_mean of the average time citizens spend outside the home.
Tout_nomask_target = (1- Wr) Tout_mean
It is also possible to have a system where a reward is given if the achievement rate (Tout_nomask_target - Tout_nomask) is positive, and a penalty is imposed if the achievement rate (Tout_nomask_target - Tout_nomask) is negative.

The recording device can also transmit the measured and recorded data to external devices other than smartphones via memory cards (such as microSD cards) or wireless communication (such as Bluetooth).

Example 4 is an example related to the present invention. In Example 4, the wearing state of the "breathing air purifying device" is estimated from the internal pressure in the helmet and the pump output. When pressure and flow rate are properly controlled, the pump output fluctuates in accordance with the timing of breathing. From this fluctuation, the wearing status and air leakage rate are detected and estimated. The method of estimating the leakage rate, etc., implemented in the helmet-type breathing air purifying device shown in Figure 3 is described below.

The air supply volume Qin (L/min) of the two pumps is approximately calibrated using the differential pressure ΔP (Pa) between the inside and outside of the helmet and the pump applied voltage V (V) using the following equation.
Qin(ΔP,V) = (-0.21V+1.15)ΔP+ 46.8V-299.0

In addition, the exhaust Qout (L/min) from the natural exhaust filter is approximately calibrated using the following formula.
Qout(ΔP) = 1.1ΔP
When exhaust is by pump, like intake Qin(ΔP, V) (L/min), exhaust Qout(ΔP, V) (L/min) can be approximately expressed as a function of the pressure difference ΔP between the inside and outside of the helmet and the voltage applied to the pump.

If the flow resistance between the pump and the helmet changes, for example when switching between a temperature and humidity control device or a carbon dioxide adsorption device, the effect of this must be taken into account when calibrating intake Qin(ΔP, V) (L/min) and intake Qout(ΔP, V) (L/min).

Figure 9 shows the changes in Qin(ΔP, V) and Qout(ΔP). Three levels of voltage applied to the intake pump are shown: V=12, 11, and 10 (V).

The leakage flow rate Qleakage (L/min) can be approximately calculated using the following formula:
Qleakage - Qbreeth - Qv = Qin-Qout
= (-0.21V+1.15)ΔP+ 46.8V-299.0 - 1.1ΔP
= (-0.21V+0.05)ΔP+ 46.8V-299.0
Here, Qbreeth (L/min) is the flow rate due to breathing, which is positive during expiration and negative during inspiration, and Qv (L/min) is the rate of volume change of the helmet casing, which is positive during contraction and negative during inflation.

Here, the flow rate due to breathing Qbreeth (L/min) and the rate of volume change of the helmet housing Qv (L/min) become sufficiently small values that they can be ignored if averaged over a long period of time.

In this embodiment, Q1 = Qin - Qout (L/min) is calculated as the time average value for 60 seconds, and the following judgment is made taking into account the error of the calibration formula.
Q1 < 0.1 Qin: Installed (no leakage)
0.1Qin ≦ Q1 ＜ 0.5Qin ： Installed condition (with leakage)
0.5Qin ≦ Q1: Not installed

By improving the accuracy of the calibration of Qin and Qout, more precise judgments will be possible.

Generally, flow meters (such as mass flow meters) often have a large flow resistance. On the other hand, a relatively small setting of around 0.1-0.5 kPa is appropriate as the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the "breathing air purifying device." For this reason, when using a "flow meter" to measure the flow rate of air entering and leaving the "breathing air purifying device," care must be taken to avoid pressure loss due to the flow meter and the resulting load on the pump. Since the air pressure inside the helmet does not change much compared to atmospheric pressure (the difference with atmospheric pressure is around 0.1-0.5 kPa), it is considered more efficient to use a method of estimating Qin and Qout with high accuracy from the pressure difference ΔP and the voltage applied to the pump V, as described above.

When controlling a pump with PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), DUTY (%) is used instead of the above applied voltage V. For example, when using a pump with a rated voltage of DC 12V, the above calibration formula can be used with PWM control by investigating the relationship with the applied voltage V during DC voltage control, which is roughly equivalent to DUTY (%) for PWM control. Naturally, when using PWM control, a more accurate calibration formula is obtained by performing calibration based on the differential pressure ΔP (Pa) and DUTY (%), such as Qin(ΔP, Duty), Qin(ΔP, Duty). In other words, when using a constant voltage on/off ratio (also called PWM Duty) for the pump, identify a model from the on/off ratio to the flow rate Qin (PWM Duty) and prepare a calibration formula. The model can be a simple first-order lag transfer function.

In the embodiment, the leakage flow rate Qleakage (L/min) is approximately proportional to the pressure difference ΔP and is expressed as follows:

Qleakage = aΔP
Here, a is a proportionality constant. Meanwhile, as mentioned above, the following holds:
Qleakage (ΔP, V) - Qbreeth - Qv = Qin -Qout
therefore,
aΔP= [Qin + Qbreeth + Qv] - Qout
By integrating both sides with respect to time,
∫(aΔP)dt= ∫{[Qin + Qbreeth + Qv] - Qout}dt
If we integrate over a long enough time,
∫Qbreeth + Qv)dt=0
Because
a∫(ΔP)dt= ∫(Qin &#8211; Qout)dt
Therefore, the proportionality constant can be calculated using the following equation.
a = [∫(Qin-Qout)dt]/[∫(ΔP)]

From the above, the following relational equation can be obtained.
Qleakage- Qbreeth - Qv = Qin -Qout
aΔP - Qbreeth - Qv = Qin - Qout
If the volume change rate Qv (L/min) inside the helmet can be ignored, then
aΔP - Qbreeth = Qin - Qout
Qbreeth = Qout-Qin + aΔP (L/min)
= Qout(ΔP) - Qin(ΔP, V) + aΔP (L/min)
From the above, the respiratory flow rate can be calculated as a function of ΔP and V, Qbreeth(ΔP, V).

In this way, the amount of air entering and leaving the helmet due to the wearer's breathing, Qbreeth(ΔP, V) (L/min), can also be expressed as a function of the pressure difference ΔP and the pump applied voltage V.

The recording device measures, calculates, and records whether the device is worn, the leakage flow rate, the air flow caused by breathing (Qbreeth), etc. at a rate of about 10 times per second.

It communicates with nearby "respiratory air purifying devices" via wireless communication (Bluetooth), and records the model of the "respiratory air purifying device" of the user and those around him/her, the shielding rate Sr for particles, droplets, viruses, etc., and the wearing status, including whether or not the device is being worn, along with the time and location information, in a recording device.

Example 5 shown in Figure 10 is an example related to the present invention. Example 5 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized in that the presence and/or distance of other people in the vicinity and/or the wearing status of the "respiratory air purifying device" are detected and recorded by wireless communication means such as Bluetooth, WiFi connection, infrared communication, and ultrasonic communication.
Although the Bluetooth function built into a smartphone can be used, by using the Bluetooth function built into the "respiratory air purifying device," it is possible to detect not only the distance to other "respiratory air purifying devices" in the vicinity, but also both the distance and location (direction).
This embodiment assumes implementation in a near-future society in which the "breathing air purifying device" based on the present invention has become established as a social infrastructure, and in the event of an emergency, it will be mandatory for all citizens to "wear the breathing air purifying device."
It is also anticipated that an additional function will be added to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's contact tracing app "COCOA" that will allow users to notify each other of whether or not others in their vicinity are wearing respiratory air purification devices.

Example 6 shown in Figure 11 is an example related to the present invention. Example 6 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices, characterized by detecting and recording the presence and/or distance and/or wearing status of "respiratory air purifying devices" of other people in the vicinity using camera images. Image processing is used to determine the type of "respiratory air purifying devices" worn by people in the vicinity and whether or not they are wearing them, and the results are recorded.
In Example 6, a camera unit containing three cameras with 120° angle-of-view lenses is installed on the top of the helmet, constantly capturing images of the entire surroundings (360°) of the wearer, and processing the images in real time. The controller is attached to the helmet and serves as an integrated "breathing air purifying device." It is also possible to connect to a smartphone (e.g., via Bluetooth) and have the smartphone handle some or all of the image processing.
It is also effective to install visible light LEDs or LEDs that emit infrared light with wavelengths that can be detected by a camera in multiple places on the helmet and use the light emitted (lighting or blinking patterns) to match the other party in Bluetooth communication.

Example 7 is an example related to the present invention. Example 7 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, characterized by handling the virus shielding rate separately as the shielding rate against intrusion from the outside to the inside of the "respiratory air purifying device" and the shielding rate against leakage from the inside to the outside of the "respiratory air purifying device". In general, when a "respiratory air purifying device" is actually worn, Sr_in and Sr_out can differ significantly, so handling Sr_in and Sr_out separately as described above is effective in determining the "required wearing rate Wr_target of the respiratory air purifying device" more precisely.

As mentioned above, the virus shielding rate is treated as Sr, the shielding rate against intrusion from the outside of the helmet to the inside as Sr_in, and the shielding rate against leakage from the inside of the helmet to the outside as Sr_out. The following approximate relationship can be derived.
R0m = (1- Wr Sr_in) (1- Wr Sr_out) R0
By solving the above as a quadratic equation in Wr, where R0m, R0, Sr_in, and Sr_out are constants and Wr is the unknown, the required proportion Wr of each mask (respiratory air purifying device) to be worn can be calculated. Since 0≦Sr_in≦1, 0≦Sr_out≦1, the solution is as follows.
Wr = [[(Sr_in+Sr_out)-[(Sr_in+Sr_out) ² -4(Sr_in)(Sr_out)(1-R0m/R0)] ^0.5 ] /[2(Sr_in)(Sr_out)]
Using the above formula, we can calculate the required wearing rate of the mask (respiratory air purifying device), Wr_target, based on the R0 and R0m announced by the government.

Figure 12 shows the required proportion of people wearing "respiratory air purifying devices (Sr,in=1.0, Sr,out=0.9)" Wr_target, which is necessary to revise the basic reproduction number R0 to the corrected basic reproduction number R0m = 0.5 or 1.0. This is shown for both the case where only uninfected people wear them, and the case where both uninfected and infected people wear them. The example shown in Figure 12 is when all citizens, or all members of the group in question, use respiratory air purifying devices with the same shielding rate (Sr,in=1.0, Sr,out=0.9).

From Figure 12, for example, when the basic reproduction number R0=5, the required proportion Wr_target of people wearing "respiratory air purifying devices (Sr,in=1.0, Sr,out=0.9)" required to correct the corrected basic reproduction number R0m to 0.5 or 1.0 can be seen to be 0.58 (58%) when only uninfected people wear masks, and 0.72 (72%) when both uninfected and infected people wear them.

In this embodiment, only whether or not the mask is worn is detected, and the time Tout_mask during which the mask (respiratory air purifying device) is worn outdoors and the time Tout_nomask during which the mask (respiratory air purifying device) is not worn outdoors are counted each day, and the actual wearing ratio Wr_avd of the mask (respiratory air purifying device) is calculated using the following formula.
Wr_avd = (Tout_mask)/Tout_mask + Tout_nomask)
As an example of how this could be implemented, a system could be considered in which each citizen is obligated to make efforts to ensure that their actual mask (respiratory air purifying device) wearing rate Wr_avd is equal to or greater than the mask (respiratory air purifying device) wearing rate Wr set by the government.

Example 8 is an example of claim 1. Example 8 is an example of a respiratory air purifying device characterized in that, in a mask with a pump air supply function, the inflow target value/set value and/or the internal pressure target value are reduced during exhalation, and the inflow target value and/or the internal pressure target value are increased during inhalation, in accordance with the breathing pattern when the mask is worn.
Example 8 was implemented by modifying the software of the helmet-integrated breathing air purifying device shown in Figure 3. In Example 8, control is performed to reduce the inflow volume and pressure during exhalation (exhalation) and increase the inflow volume and pressure during inhalation (inhalation) in accordance with breathing. This allows the carbon dioxide contained in the exhaled air inside the helmet to be efficiently discharged and reduces the accumulation of carbon dioxide in Example 8, which allows the following two types of control methods to be selected.

[Control method 1]
Based on the ever-changing value of Qbreeth calculated by the above method, the flow rate setting value Qin,set is set as follows:
Qbreeth (L/min) ≧ 2 (L/min) : Flow rate setting value Qin, set ≧ 50 (L/min)
Qbreeth (L/min) ≦ -2 (L/min) : Flow rate setting value Qin, set ≧ 150 (L/min)
-2 (L/min) ＜ Qbreeth (L/min) ＜ 2 (L/min) : Flow rate setting value Qin, set ≧ 100 (L/min)
The pressure set value ΔPset≧50 (Pa) and the CO2 concentration set value Cco2≦2000 (ppm) are fixed values.
The pump is controlled to operate at the minimum output within the range that satisfies the conditions of the flow rate setting value Qin, set, pressure setting value ΔP set, and CO2 concentration setting value Cco2. If any of the conditions of the flow rate setting value Qin, set, pressure setting value ΔP set, or CO2 concentration setting value Cco2 are not satisfied, the pump output setting is increased.

[Control method 2]
Based on the ever-changing value of Qbreeth calculated using the method described above, the pressure setting ΔPset is set as follows:
Qbreeth (L/min) ≧ 2 (L/min): Flow rate setting ΔP set ≧ 50 (Pa)
Qbreeth (L/min) ≦ -2 (L/min): Flow rate setting ΔP set ≧ 150 (Pa)
-2 (L/min) <Qbreeth (L/min) <2 (L/min): Flow rate setting ΔP set = 100 (Pa)
The flow rate setting value Qin,set ≧ 100 (L/min) and the CO2 concentration setting value Cco2 ≦ 2000 (ppm) are fixed values.
The pump is controlled to operate at the minimum output within the range that satisfies the conditions of the flow rate setting value Qin, set, pressure setting value ΔP set, and CO2 concentration setting value Cco2. If any of the conditions of the flow rate setting value Qin, set, pressure setting value ΔP set, or CO2 concentration setting value Cco2 are not satisfied, the pump output setting is increased.

In the above discussion, we have assumed that the volume change rate Qv (L/min) inside the helmet can be ignored. If it cannot be ignored, and if we can assume, as a first approximation, that the volume change in the helmet/hood section is due to elastic deformation caused by the pressure difference ΔP between the inside and outside of the helmet, it is effective to calibrate it with the following formula.
Qv = a ΔP (L/min)
Here, a (L/min/Pa) is a constant.

In addition to forcing air in through a pump, if the exhaust is also forcibly exhausted through a pump, the total air supply volume Qin (L/min) of the intake pump can be approximately calibrated using the differential pressure ΔP (Pa) between the inside and outside of the helmet and the voltage V (V) applied to the intake pump, using the following formula:
Qin(ΔP, V) = aΔP+ bV + c
Similarly, the total exhaust volume Qout (L/min) of the exhaust pump can be approximately calibrated using the differential pressure ΔP (Pa) between the inside and outside of the helmet and the exhaust pump applied voltage V (V) using the following equation.
Qout(ΔP, V) = aΔP+ bV + c
Here, a, b, and c are constants. If a more precise calibration formula is required, a polynomial approximation is recommended.

When simple constant internal pressure control, simple constant inflow flow rate control, or constant outflow flow rate control is performed, the pump output changes in accordance with breathing. The control of Example 8 is more effective in aiding breathing and reducing the CO2 concentration inside the helmet. To reduce the CO2 concentration, the position and shape of the outlet for purified air into the helmet, the internal structure of the helmet, and the position and shape of the outlet into the helmet are important factors in determining the airflow inside the helmet so that exhaled air is quickly expelled outside the helmet without stagnation. In Example 8, the position and shape of the outlet for purified air into the helmet is designed so that the flow of purified air from outside is directed toward the wearer's mouth.

Example 9 is an example of claim 2. Example 9 is an example of a respiratory air purifying device with a pump air supply function, characterized by satisfying set conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration through control using one air supply pump and a helmet-mounted flow sensor, pressure sensor, and CO2 sensor.

Figure 13 is a block diagram of the basic control system according to this embodiment. The control system according to this embodiment is composed of a helmet with an air supply pump, one flow sensor, one pressure sensor, one CO2 concentration sensor, and a feedback controller. The input signal to the controlled object is the input to the pump, and is, for example, a constant voltage on-off ratio (also called PWM Duty) signal. The output signals of the controlled object are the flow rate Q, pressure P, and CO2 concentration, which are the outputs of various sensors. Air is naturally exhausted from the helmet via a filter.

Figure 14 shows an image of the pump control method. Threshold values Q*, P*, and CO2* are set for the flow rate Q, pressure P, and CO2, respectively. Q* is set to a value large enough for a person's breathing (10 L/min), P* is set to a value that creates a slight positive pressure inside the helmet, and CO2* is set to a value low enough so that the CO2 concentration inside the helmet does not affect the human body. In feedback control, if the three conditions below are met simultaneously with respect to this threshold, the input duty to the pump is reduced, and if any one of them is not met, the input duty is increased.
Q>Q*, P>P*, CO2<CO2*
This control method makes it possible to satisfy all threshold conditions for pressure, flow rate, and CO2 concentration with a single air supply pump while minimizing energy consumption caused by overdriving the pump.

Example 10 is an example of claim 3. Example 10 is a respiratory air purifying device with a pump air supply function, characterized in that it utilizes the fact that the pump flow rate Q is a function Q(V, P) of the applied voltage V and the external/internal pressure difference P, and satisfies the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration by its estimated value without using a flow sensor. Similarly, this is an example of a respiratory air purifying device with a pump air supply function, characterized in that it utilizes the fact that the pump pressure P is a function P(V, Q) of the applied voltage V and the flow rate Q, and satisfies the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration by its estimated value without using a pressure sensor.

The mask with pump air supply function according to claim 9 utilizes the fact that the pump flow rate Q is a function Q(V, P) of the applied voltage V and pressure P, and satisfies the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration by estimating the flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration without using a flow rate sensor. Similarly, the mask with pump air supply function utilizes the fact that the pump pressure P is a function P(V, Q) of the applied voltage V and flow rate Q, and satisfies the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration by estimating the flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration without using a pressure sensor.

Figure 15 shows the pressure-flow characteristics for the applied voltage for the pump alone. By obtaining such characteristics in advance, the flow rate when the pump is installed on the mask can be estimated from the applied voltage and pressure of the pump.

An example of derivation is shown below, using Figure 15 as an example. The slope of the approximation curve when the applied voltage is V1 is -Q1/P1, and the intercept is Q1. Similarly, the slopes for V2 and V3 are -Q2/P2 and -Q3/P3, respectively, and the intercepts are Q2 and Q3. The voltage-slope characteristics in Figure 16 are derived from the derived voltage slope coordinates (V1, -Q1/P1), (V2, -Q2/P2), and (V3, -Q3/P3), and the approximate straight line is y1=aV+b. Similarly, the voltage-intercept characteristics in Figure 17 are derived from the derived voltage intercept coordinates (V1, Q1), (V2, Q2), and (V3, Q3), and the approximate straight line is y2=cV+d. The approximate straight line can be derived using the least squares method, etc. The approximate straight line can also be an approximation using a curve.

Using the approximate straight lines y1 and y2 for the derived slope and intercept, the flow rate Q can be approximately estimated from the measured values of P and V using the following formula.
Qest(P,V) = y1 P+y2 = (aV+b) P + (cV+d)
Figure 18 shows a control block diagram of a mask with a pump air supply function using the estimated flow rate Qest. The voltage is calculated from the input PWM Duty value to the pump, and pressure is estimated together with the pressure sensor value. By feeding back the estimated value Qest instead of the measured value, control that satisfies all threshold conditions is possible.

Similarly, it is possible to derive the characteristics of Pest(Q,V) from the characteristics in Figure 15, which were measured in advance, and perform similar control using the estimated position without using a pressure sensor rather than a flow sensor.

This control method makes it possible to achieve control that satisfies the threshold conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration using only one air supply pump, pressure sensor (or flow sensor), and CO2 sensor, without the need to install a flow sensor (or pressure sensor) on the mask with pump air supply function.

Example 11 is an example of claim 4. Example 11 is a respiratory air purifying device that is characterized by increasing the flow rate setting and issuing an alarm (sound, light, etc.) when the CO2 concentration exceeds a set value.

Figure 19 shows an embodiment of a control method that quickly increases the flow rate setting when the detected CO2 concentration exceeds the set value. In this example, in a flow rate and pressure control system using one pump, when the detected CO2 concentration exceeds a threshold, the CO2 concentration controller increases the flow rate setting value Q*. At the same time, the wearer is alerted visually and audibly by LEDs and sound. Figure 20 shows another embodiment. In a separate flow rate and pressure control system using two pumps, when the detected CO2 concentration exceeds a threshold, the CO2 concentration controller increases the flow rate setting value Q* and alerts the wearer in the same way as above. The method of the present invention can be applied additively to various feedback control systems, regardless of the number of pumps. In addition to the CO2 concentration, pressure, and flow rate, sensors for pulse rate, respiratory rate, remaining battery level, etc. can be added, and functions can be constructed so that the information can be displayed on a smartphone and settings can be changed on the smartphone.

By using the method of the present invention to increase the flow rate setting when the CO2 concentration exceeds a threshold, it is possible to quickly control the CO2 concentration inside the helmet to below the set value, while also alerting the wearer to the risk of injury.

Example 12 is an example of claim 5. Example 12 is a breathing air purifying device characterized in that in an emergency, an opening for breathing is opened by pulling a knob on the surface of the device.
Figure 21 shows an embodiment of a helmet-type respiratory air purifying device that has an opening covered with a rubber plug on the front, and can open the opening for breathing in an emergency. This device consists of an opening in the mask window near the mouth and a rubber plug that covers the opening. The opening is normally covered with a rubber plug, preventing air from entering or leaving. In an emergency, the opening can be opened by pulling out the rubber plug, allowing ventilation and allowing fresh air to be breathed. The rubber plug may have a knob attached to make it easier to pull out. The opening may be located in the vinyl hood rather than in the mask window. When creating an opening in the vinyl hood, it may be reinforced with a resin or rubber ring to prevent the vinyl from tearing.
The method of the present invention, which opens the breathing opening by pulling the knob on the surface of the device in an emergency, allows the opening for breathing fresh air to be quickly opened without the need to remove the mask when the required amount of air supply cannot be secured due to pump failure or low battery voltage, preventing the effects on the human body of a drop in oxygen concentration and a rise in CO2 concentration inside the mask in an emergency.

Example 13 is an example of claim 6. Example 13 is a breathing air purifying device characterized in that in an emergency, an opening for breathing is opened by pulling the tab of an exhaust filter near the mouth.
Figure 22 shows an embodiment of a helmet-type respiratory air purifying device that has a removable filter on the front and can open an opening for breathing in an emergency. This device consists of an opening in a window near the wearer's mouth and an exhaust filter that covers the opening. Under normal circumstances, the opening is covered by the exhaust filter, and the air inside is exhausted to the outside by the positive pressure inside the helmet. In an emergency when the pump stops working, the opening can be opened by pulling the knob on the surface of the filter to remove it, and the air inside the mask is ventilated, allowing the wearer to breathe fresh air. The opening may be provided in the vinyl hood instead of the mask window. The opening may be reinforced with a resin or rubber ring to support the filter.
Figure 23 shows an example of a double filter in which the exhaust filter is divided into a thin, highly breathable filter and a thick filter that has poor breathability but a high virus blocking rate. In an emergency, only the thick filter can be removed. The thin, highly breathable filter allows ventilation, and even the thin filter alone can prevent large droplets, greatly reducing the chance of infection. If higher breathability is required, the thin filter may also be removable.

The mechanism of this invention allows the opening for breathing to be opened by pulling the knob on the exhaust filter near the mouth in an emergency. When the required amount of air supply cannot be secured due to pump failure or low battery voltage, the opening for breathing fresh air can be quickly opened without the trouble of removing the mask, preventing the effects on the human body of a drop in oxygen concentration and an increase in CO2 concentration inside the mask in an emergency. In addition, the use of a double filter makes it possible to ventilate inside the mask while reducing the chance of infection.

Example 14 is an example of claim 7. Example 14 is a breathing air purifying device that automatically opens an opening for breathing in an emergency.
This device is composed of an opening in the window near the mouth, a filter that closes the opening, a filter lock/release mechanism consisting of a solenoid and a spring, a battery, and a controller. The operating status of the pump is confirmed by measuring the battery voltage and the back electromotive force of the pump motor in the controller. When the battery voltage drops below a threshold value, or when the back electromotive force of the motor drops below a threshold value, it is determined that the battery is dead or the pump is broken, respectively, and the solenoid of the filter lock mechanism is activated. In order to be able to respond to the case where the battery is suddenly disconnected, the power required to drive the solenoid may be stored in a capacitor inside the controller. When the solenoid operates and the plunger is pulled into the solenoid, the lock is released and the exhaust filter is released by the force of the spring, opening the opening. In this case, the filter part may be made into a double filter structure divided into a thin filter with high breathability and a thick filter with poor breathability but high virus shielding rate, and only the thick filter may be removed in an emergency. Even with only a thin filter, it is possible to prevent large droplets, greatly reducing the probability of infection. Figure 24 shows an example of an automatic release mechanism for a dual filter.
The mechanism of the present invention that automatically opens the breathing opening in an emergency automatically detects when the pump has stopped and automatically allows outside air to be taken in, thereby preventing the effects on the human body of a decrease in oxygen concentration and an increase in CO2 concentration inside the mask in an emergency.

Example 15 is an example related to the present invention. Example 15 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices, characterized by communicating with a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices worn by other people in the vicinity, and displaying the mask wearing status and infection prevention index of the surrounding people.
This system has wireless communication means such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and communicates with surrounding record and management systems to exchange information on the location of the respiratory air purification device, the status of wearing the respiratory air purification device, and the type of respiratory air purification device. The collected information is displayed on the display device of the respiratory air purification device along with a map. If the display device has an augmented reality function, it may be superimposed on people within the field of view to display the status of wearing the respiratory air purification device, the type of respiratory air purification device, and its infection prevention performance. In addition, if there is a person not wearing a respiratory air purification device, the camera of the augmented reality display device may be used to highlight them as a dangerous person.
The present invention has the feature of communicating with a recording and management system that records the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices worn by others in the vicinity and displaying the mask wearing status and infection prevention index of those in the vicinity, making it possible to avoid people who are not wearing respiratory air purifying devices, or to decide whether to invite an acquaintance to a meal based on their wearing status.

Example 16 is an example related to the present invention. Example 16 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purification devices, characterized by querying a server for the movement route of an infected person and displaying the risk of infection in a color-coded manner on a map in a display device or in the field of vision of the wearer.
This system is composed of a function to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data communication, a function to measure the location using GPS and radio wave conditions from Wi-Fi and mobile communication base stations, and a function to display information on the display device of the respiratory air purifying device. In addition, it is assumed that a database of the past movement routes of infected people is installed on the Internet. This system accesses the database of the movement routes of infected people via the Internet and checks whether there were any infected people nearby along the wearer's previous route and around the current location. If the result of the check is that an infected person has been encountered on the wearer's previous route, the location and date and time are displayed on the wearer's respiratory air purifying device, and if an infected person has passed by the surrounding area within a certain period of time, the space nearby is deemed to be a high-risk space, and the risk level is displayed in a color-coded manner on the respiratory air purifying device along with a map. If the display device has an augmented reality function, the risk level may also be displayed in a color-coded manner on the floor within the field of view.
The present invention has the feature of querying a server about the movement routes of infected people and displaying the risk of infection in a color-coded manner on a map within the display device or in the wearer's field of vision, allowing users of the system to intuitively know the level of danger in their surroundings and avoid entering dangerous places.

Example 17 is an example related to the present invention. Example 17 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, which has the following features: a function for recording surrounding video and audio using the camera of the respiratory air purifying device and for later playback; playback rights are held only by the wearer himself/herself; and playback rights can be temporarily transferred in response to a request for investigation by the police or the like.
This system has the functions of encrypting and recording images from the camera attached to the respiratory air purifying device, changing the encryption password over time, authenticating the wearer, and reissuing the encryption password for a specific time. Images or images captured by the camera are encrypted and stored in this system. The encryption password changes over time. If identity authentication is successful, the system reissues the password for the requested time, and the images or videos recorded by this system can be viewed by decrypting them using the reissued password on the respiratory air purifying device or another display device. If a request for cooperation in an investigation is made by the police or other organizations, the system will transfer the encrypted data for the requested time period and the reissued password to a recording medium owned by the police, or to a recording area on the web managed by the police, only with the wearer's authentication and consent.
The present invention has the function of using the camera of the respiratory air purifying device to record video and audio of the surroundings and play them back later, and the feature that the playback rights are held solely by the wearer and can be temporarily transferred in response to an investigation request from the police or other authorities. This allows the wearer to view the video recorded in the system as a daily log, and can also be used to help investigate crimes and accidents while protecting privacy.

Example 18 is an example related to the present invention. Example 18 is a recording and management system for the wearing status of a respiratory air purifying device, which has a function of determining the type of respiratory air purifying device being worn through image analysis by taking a photograph of the device being worn using a smartphone app, and further has a function of determining whether the wearing method is correct or incorrect from photographs taken from multiple angles, and instructing the wearer on the correct wearing method.
This system consists of a smartphone app and a respiratory air purifying device. When the wearer puts on the respiratory air purifying device and takes a picture of their head with the smartphone camera, the image is sent to a server either in the smartphone or via the internet, and the type of respiratory air purifying device is identified through image analysis and displayed on the smartphone. In addition, it determines whether the respiratory air purifying device is worn correctly, and if it is not, the correct way to wear it is displayed on the smartphone screen.
By using a smartphone app to take a photograph of the respiratory air purifying device being worn, the present invention has a function to determine the type of respiratory air purifying device being worn through image analysis, and a function to determine whether the device is being worn correctly from photos taken from multiple angles and provide instructions on the correct way to wear it, making it possible to prevent infection from being caused by wearing masks incorrectly, as there are different ways of wearing them for each type of mask.

Example 19 is an example of claim 8. Example 19 is a breathing air purifying device characterized by having an internal microphone and/or speaker and an external microphone and/or speaker, making sounds outside the breathing air purifying device easier for the wearer to hear, and/or amplifying and transmitting the wearer's voice to the outside.
Figure 25 shows an embodiment consisting of a microphone 1 located inside the mask that picks up the wearer's voice, a speaker 1 located outside the mask that amplifies the voice to the outside, a microphone 2 located outside the mask that picks up external sounds, and a speaker 2 located inside the mask that transmits external sounds to the wearer. The wearer's voice picked up by microphone 1 is amplified and radiated by speaker 1. Sound outside the mask picked up by microphone 2 is amplified and transmitted to the wearer by speaker 2. Speaker 1 and microphone 2 on the outside of the mask may be replaced by a smartphone.
The present invention has the feature of making sounds outside the respiratory air purifying device easier for the wearer to hear and amplifying the wearer's voice to the outside, making it possible to talk to people around you even when wearing a respiratory air purifying device with high internal sound insulation.

Example 20 is an example of claim 9. Example 20 is a breathing air purifying device that has a microphone and a speaker, has a function of communicating with other breathing air purifying devices by sending and receiving voice data via wireless communication, is capable of setting the communication target and range, and has a function of visually displaying the communication status.
This device is composed of a microphone that picks up the wearer's voice, a speaker that transmits sound to the wearer, and a wireless communication device. Conversations between wearers are conducted via Bluetooth or wireless LAN. Conversations can be one-to-one or group calls, or a broadcast mode for one-to-many conversations can be provided. In broadcast mode, voice data is sent to all nearby receivers. The receiver's breathing air purifying device determines whether to play or ignore the voice data depending on the distance from the sender estimated from the wireless LAN or Bluetooth signal strength. In this case, the distance at which the sender's voice is played can be automatically changed depending on the volume of the voice. For example, if the user speaks softly in broadcast mode, the voice is only played on the breathing air purifying device that is close by, and if the user speaks loudly, the voice is also played on the breathing air purifying device that is far away. In addition, depending on the volume of the voice, the device can automatically switch from one-to-one or group calls to broadcast mode. For example, if you are talking to a person wearing respiratory air purification equipment in a remote location and notice that someone nearby is in danger, you can quickly say "Danger!" in a loud voice to switch to broadcast mode and alert the people wearing respiratory air purification equipment nearby. A list of speakers and receivers is displayed on the display device of the respiratory air purification equipment. If the display device has an augmented reality function, the speech and reception status may be displayed as icons above the heads of the speaker and receiver within the wearer's field of vision.
The features of the present invention, which has a microphone and speaker, has the ability to communicate with other respiratory air purifying devices by sending and receiving voice data via wireless communication, is able to set the call recipient and range, and has the ability to visually display the call status, make it possible to have voice conversations even in noisy environments such as construction sites, and can also alert other wearers of respiratory air purifying devices who are not the intended recipient of the conversation, thereby increasing the convenience of the respiratory air purifying device and enabling safe operation.

Example 21 is an example of claim 10. Example 21 is a respiratory air purifying device characterized by measuring the position by GPS and the direction by a magnetic sensor, and automatically setting the voice transmission range according to the position, the direction of the caller, and the volume of the voice.
This device is composed of a microphone that picks up the wearer's voice, a speaker that transmits sound to the wearer, a wireless communication device, a GPS, and a geomagnetic sensor. Conversations between wearers are carried out via Bluetooth or wireless LAN. Conversations can be one-to-one or group calls, or a selective broadcast mode for one-to-many conversations can be provided. Figure 26 shows the relative positions of the sender and receiver when using the selective broadcast function. The sender's and receiver's respiratory air purifying devices measure their positions using GPS and their orientations using a geomagnetic sensor, and share information on the sender's and receiver's positions and facing directions with each other. A fan-shaped area is set in front of the sender, and is divided into range boundaries A, B, and C according to the distance from the sender. If the sender's voice is quiet, the sender's voice is only played on the respiratory air purifying device of receiver A who is within range boundary A, and is not played on the respiratory air purifying devices of other receivers. If the sender speaks loudly, the playback range is set to range boundary B, and the sender's voice is played on the respiratory air purifying devices of receiver A and receiver B. Since receiver C is outside the fan-shaped range from the sender, the sender's voice is not played back to receiver C.
The list of speakers and receivers is displayed on the display of the respiratory air purification device. If the display has an augmented reality function, the speaker and receiver status may be displayed as icons above their heads within the wearer's field of view.
The present invention has the feature of measuring the position using GPS and the direction using a magnetic sensor, and automatically setting the voice transmission range according to the position, the caller's direction, and the volume of the voice. This not only makes it possible to intuitively control the range within which the voice can reach in one-to-many wireless calls, but also makes it visually clear who has and has not received the voice, thereby preventing eavesdropping.

Example 22 is an example of claim 11. Example 22 is a respiratory air purifying device characterized by using sensors (a microphone, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and an electroencephalogram sensor) to monitor the health condition of the wearer.
Figure 27 shows an example of a breathing air purifying device that has the function of monitoring the wearer's health condition using the sensors (microphone, pressure sensor, and EEG sensor) contained in the breathing air purifying device. The microphone measures breathing sounds and the volume and frequency of snoring, the pressure sensor measures breathing depth, and the EEG sensor measures brain activity. The values of each sensor are recorded in the device and analyzed.
The present invention's feature of monitoring the wearer's health condition using sensors (microphone, pressure sensor, flow sensor, carbon dioxide sensor and brainwave sensor) makes it possible to detect respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and sleep apnea syndrome and to measure sleep quality.

Example 23 is an example of claim 12. Example 23 is a breathing air purifying device characterized by monitoring the wearer's health condition using sensors (a microphone, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, and an electroencephalogram sensor) inside the breathing air purifying device, and generating fragrances and environmental sounds according to the situation using an aroma diffuser and a speaker.
Figure 28 shows an example of an air purifying device with a microphone, pressure sensor, EEG sensor, speaker, and aroma diffuser. This system monitors the wearer's health condition using the microphone, pressure sensor, and EEG sensor, and emits scents and environmental sounds appropriate to the situation using the aroma diffuser and speaker. For example, a mint scent and rhythmic music to wake you up while working, or a lavender scent and the sound of distant rippling waves to calm you before sleep.
This device uses sensors (microphone, pressure sensor, flow sensor, carbon dioxide sensor, and brainwave sensor) to monitor the wearer's health condition, and uses an aroma diffuser and speaker to generate scents and environmental sounds appropriate to the situation, helping the wearer change their mood depending on the situation and improving their quality of life (QOL).

Example 24 is an example of claim 13. Example 24 is a breathing air purifying device having an ozone generator and performing sterilization and deodorization inside the device.
Figure 29 shows an example of a breathing air purifying device that has an ozone generator and releases ozone into the device to sterilize and deodorize the inside. The ozone generated by the ozone generator is carried by the wind from the pump and diffused into the device. While a person is wearing the device, it generates ozone at a low concentration (0.01 ppm or less) that has no effect on the human body, and after the person takes it off, it generates ozone at a high concentration (1 ppm or more), sterilizing and inactivating bacteria and viruses inside the device and at the same time decomposing the organic matter that causes the odor and deodorizing it.
Respiratory air purifying devices are prone to bacterial growth due to the adhesion of sebum and moisture in the respiratory tract, and are also prone to producing foul odors that are generated during the bacterial decomposition of organic matter. This device has an ozone generator and is capable of sterilizing and deodorizing the inside of the device, making it possible to keep respiratory air purifying devices clean and suppress the generation of unpleasant odors.

We believe there is a huge potential demand for a system that can automatically measure the wearing rate of "masks when going out freely," which we have proposed as a social infrastructure that will make lockdowns unnecessary. We anticipate that a huge new industry will be created for the "recording and management system for the wearing status of respiratory air purifying devices" based on this invention.

Claims (3)

A respiratory air purifying device characterized by a mask with pump air supply function that reduces the target inflow volume and/or the target internal pressure during exhalation, and increases the target inflow volume and/or the target internal pressure during inhalation, in accordance with the breathing pattern when the mask is worn. A respiratory air purifying device with pump air supply function that satisfies set conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration through control using a single air supply pump and a helmet-mounted flow sensor, pressure sensor, and CO2 sensor. The respiratory air purifying device with pump air supply function described in claim 2 is characterized in that the pump flow rate Q is a function Q(V,P) of the applied voltage V and the external/internal pressure difference P, and the setting conditions for flow rate, pressure, and CO2 concentration are met by the estimated value without using a flow sensor.

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