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EP-4389198-B1 - TASTE PRESENTATION DEVICE

EP4389198B1EP 4389198 B1EP4389198 B1EP 4389198B1EP-4389198-B1

Inventors

  • SATO, AI
  • MIYASHITA, Homei

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220819

Claims (8)

  1. A taste presentation device (10) comprising: a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12) that are provided to allow an electric circuit to be formed between a food or drink (2) to be taken by a user (1) and a body of the user; and an electric stimulus generation unit (13) that supplies a current for generating an electric stimulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, characterized in that the electric stimulus generation unit includes a noise reduction unit (17A, 17B) that reduces a noise component in the current, and, when starting to supply the current, gradually increases a current value in such a manner that a rate of change in the current value is restricted to 0.1 mA/ms or lower.
  2. The taste presentation device according to claim 1, wherein, after starting to supply the current, the electric stimulus generation unit changes a direction of the current such that a polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode is reversed.
  3. The taste presentation device according to claim 2, wherein the electric stimulus generation unit starts to supply the current in a state of a cathodal stimulation in which the second electrode serves as a cathode, and thereafter changes the direction of the current such that the state switches to a state of an anodal stimulation in which the second electrode serves as an anode.
  4. The taste presentation device according to claim 3, wherein the electric stimulus generation unit changes the direction of the current such that the cathodal stimulation in which a predetermined current set value (Is1) is held is implemented for a holding time (Ty1) of 0.1 seconds or longer, and that the anodal stimulation is implemented after the holding time.
  5. The taste presentation device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the electric stimulus generation unit changes the direction of the current such that a reversal of the polarity is completed within a reversal time (Tx2) of 0.5 seconds or shorter.
  6. The taste presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first electrode is provided in contact with the body of the user, and the second electrode is provided in contact with the food or drink.
  7. The taste presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the noise reduction unit (17A) is provided to reduce a noise component originating from a power source.
  8. The taste presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electric stimulus generation unit includes a booster circuit (14), and the noise reduction unit (17B) is provided to reduce a noise component corresponding to an internal oscillation frequency in the booster circuit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a taste presentation device etc. for producing a change in a taste sensed by a user by means of electric stimulation. BACKGROUND ART Techniques of presenting a taste of a food or drink after altering it to suit a user's preference etc. by means of electric stimulation have been proposed as techniques for enhancing saltiness etc., thereby increasing a feeling of satisfaction for a user who is compelled to follow a bland taste with limited amounts of salt and sugar for the sake of healthcare etc. For example, a taste presentation device has been proposed that produces an enhancing effect on a user's sense of taste by supplying a rectangular wave current of a constant frequency between an anode in contact with a body part of the user, such as the back of the neck, and a cathode in contact with a food or drink (see Patent Literature 1). Another device has been proposed that electrically stimulates a nerve branch that carries a taste sensation to the brain by supplying a two-phase current to an electrode disposed in contact with the tongue etc. of the user (see Patent Literature 2). CITATION LIST Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: JP2018-42991APatent Literature 2: Japanese Translation of PCT International Application Publication No. 2010-517675Patent Literature 3 : JP 2021 045399 APatent Literature 4 : WO 2020/121274 A1 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem An attempt at alteration, such as enhancing saltiness, by means of electric stimulation sometimes leads to a user feeling some kind of unpleasant sensation, like the user feeling an excessive irritating feeling or an unnatural metallic taste. When a current value is lowered to avoid such an inconvenience, with that a saltiness enhancing effect may also be impaired. Thus, there is a possibility that a sufficient alteration effect may fail to be achieved. Thus, the present invention aims to provide a taste presentation device etc. that can enhance a taste alteration effect while mitigating unpleasant sensations of a user. Solution to Problem A taste presentation device according to one aspect of the present invention is a device which comprises a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided to allow an electric circuit to be formed between a food or drink to be taken by a user and a body of the user, and an electric stimulus generation unit that supplies a current for generating an electric stimulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electric stimulus generation unit includes a noise reduction unit that reduces a noise component in the current, and, when starting to supply the current, gradually increases a current value in such a manner that a rate of change in the current value is restricted to 0.1 mA/ms or lower A taste presentation method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method which includes a step of providing a first electrode and a second electrode to allow an electric circuit to be formed between a food or drink to be taken by a user and a body of the user, and a step of supplying a current for generating an electric stimulation between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein, in the step of supplying the current, a noise component in the current is reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing one example of a taste presentation device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 is a view showing another example of the taste presentation device.FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electric stimulus generation part.FIG. 4 is a graph showing one example of a waveform of a current supplied from the electric stimulus generation part.FIG. 5 is a graph showing another example of the waveform of the current supplied from the electric stimulus generation part. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows one example of a taste presentation device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. A taste presentation device 10 of FIG. 1 includes a first electrode 11 provided in contact with a user 1, a second electrode 12 provided in contact with a food or drink 2 to be taken by the user 1, and an electric stimulus generation part 13 as one example of an electric stimulus generation unit that supplies a current for generating an electric stimulation between the electrodes 11 and 12. As one example, the first electrode 11 is put on a hand or an arm of the user 1. A gel-like electrode may be used as the first electrode 11 and this electrode may be attached to the user, or the first electrode 11 may be provided to be held in the user's hand. As one example, the second electrode 12 is put on a piece of conductive tableware 3 that the user uses to eat or drink. The tableware 3 itself may be used as the second electrode 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the second electrode 12 may be put on a muddler 3a immersed in a drink as one example of the food or drink 2, or th