JP2001029323A - Pedometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exhibit the target calorie expenditure per day meeting a user. SOLUTION: A vibration sensor 1 detects vertical dynamic impact acceleration. An impedance measuring circuit 3 measures the user's internal impedance in accordance with the signals obtained with electrodes 2a and 2b. A CPU 4 calculates the number of steps and calorie expenditure in accordance with the number of times and pitch of the vertical dynamic impact acceleration and body weight and displays the same. The CPU also calculates the user's body fat rate and body fat quantity in accordance with the internal impedance and displays the same. The CPU 4 decides the user's obesity degree in accordance with the body fat rate, the age and the distinction of sex, calculates the target calorie expenditure per day by taking the user's age into consideration and displays the same. The CPU 4 calculates a target achievement rate from the calorie expenditure and the target calorie expenditure per day and displays the same.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pedometer, and more particularly, to a pedometer having a body fat percentage measuring function in addition to a step measuring function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, it has been recommended to perform some kind of physical exercise to maintain and improve physical strength, and a pedometer is used to evaluate the amount of exercise. A pedometer is usually an instrument that is worn near the waist of a person and records the waist frequency, that is, the number of steps. Some pedometers have a function of calculating and displaying calories consumed by walking.

[0003]

As described above, the conventional pedometer has the function of displaying the number of steps and the calorie consumption. However, there is a problem that the user of the pedometer can know the calorie consumption to date, but cannot know how much calorie per day is appropriate. The appropriate calorie consumption, that is, the target calorie consumption, varies depending on the user's conditions such as height, weight, age, gender, and obesity degree, so that the user cannot easily know his / her target calorie consumption. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide a pedometer capable of presenting a target calorie consumption per day according to a user.

[0004]

The pedometer according to the present invention measures the number of steps of a user, calculates the calorie consumption based on the number of steps, the pitch of walking (time per step), and the weight, and calculates the number of steps and calorie consumption. And a function of measuring the body fat percentage and the body fat mass of the user and displaying the body fat percentage and the body fat mass. In addition, one configuration example of the pedometer described above determines the degree of obesity of the user based on the measured body fat percentage, the age of the user, and gender, and considers the age of the user based on the determination of the degree of obesity. The target calorie consumption per day is calculated and displayed. In one configuration example of the pedometer described above, a target achievement rate is calculated and displayed from calorie consumption by walking and target calorie consumption per day.

[0005] One configuration example of the pedometer described above includes a vibration sensor (1) for detecting a vertical shock acceleration, electrodes (2a, 2b) for measuring a body fat percentage, and a signal obtained by the electrodes. Impedance measuring means (3) for measuring the body impedance of the user based on the height, weight,
Input means (5-9) for inputting gender and age, display means (10) for displaying information, user based on the number and pitch (cycle) of detected vertical motion impact acceleration and weight The number of steps and calories consumed are calculated, the calculated number of steps and calories consumed are displayed on the display means, and the body fat percentage and the body fat mass of the user are calculated based on the body impedance, height, weight and gender, and the calculated body is calculated. Control means for displaying the fat percentage and the body fat mass on the display means (4)
And

[0006]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pedometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the pedometer of FIG. 1. The pedometer of the present embodiment measures the body impedance of the user using the vibration sensor 1 for detecting the vertical motion impact acceleration, the electrodes 2a and 2b for measuring the body fat percentage, and the electrodes 2a and 2b. Impedance measuring circuit 3, a CPU 4 as control means for controlling the whole pedometer, a mode changeover switch 5 as input means, buttons 6, 7, 8, 9 also as input means, and a liquid crystal as display means Panel (hereafter,
LCD 10). Note that FIG.
Although the electrodes 2a and 2b are not shown in FIG.
b is arranged on the side surface or the back surface of the pedometer.

Next, the operation of such a pedometer will be described. First, the user of the pedometer presses the measurement button 6 and the setting button 7 simultaneously for 2 seconds or more. In response, C
The PU 4 turns on the power of the pedometer, and resets the number of steps N and the calorie consumption C to be described later to zero.

Subsequently, the user operates the mode changeover switch 5
To the body fat meter mode. When the height H of the user has already been set in the body fat meter mode, the CPU 4
Is the height H of the LCD, for example "170cm".
10 and if the height H is not set,
The initial value “160 cm” is displayed on the LCD 10.

When the user changes the displayed numerical value and inputs his / her own height, the user presses a plus button 8 for increasing the numerical value or a minus button 9 for decreasing the numerical value, sets his / her own height, and then presses the setting button. 7 is pressed. When the setting button 7 is pressed, the CPU 4 stores the input height H.

Subsequently, when the weight W of the user has already been set, the CPU 4 displays the weight W on the LCD 10, for example, "70 kg", and when the weight W is not set, LC of initial value "60kg"
Display on D10. When changing the displayed numerical value and inputting his / her own weight, the user presses the plus button 8 or the minus button 9 to set his / her weight, and then presses the setting button 7. When the setting button 7 is pressed, the CPU 4 stores the input weight W.

Next, when the sex S of the user is already set, the CPU 4 displays the gender S on the LCD 10 such as "male", and when the sex S is not set, The initial value "woman" is displayed on the LCD 10. When the user sets his / her gender, the user presses the plus button 8 or the minus button 9 to select the gender, and then presses the setting button 7. When the setting button 7 is pressed, the CPU 4 stores the input sex S.

When the user's age A has already been set, the CPU 4 displays the age A on the LCD 10, for example, "25 years old." LCD1 is the initial value "30 years old"
0 is displayed. When changing the displayed numerical value and inputting his / her own age, the user presses the plus button 8 or the minus button 9 to set his / her own age, and then presses the setting button 7. When the setting button 7 is pressed,
The CPU 4 stores the input age A.

Next, the CPU 4 generates a body mass index (Body Mass Index).
Index, hereinafter referred to as BMI) is calculated as follows. BMI = W / H ² (1) Then, the CPU 4 causes the LCD 10 to display the calculated BMI.

Next, the user presses the measurement button 7 to take a body fat percentage measurement posture. In other words, the user raises the wrist and elbows in a state where the wrists and the elbows are extended, so that the arms are leveled forward, and firmly grasps the pedometer with both hands. At this time, the user makes sure that the finger or palm of the left hand firmly touches the electrode 2a, and the finger or palm of the right hand firmly touches the electrode 2b. Be careful not to do this.

When the measurement button 7 is pressed, the CPU 4
Is the impedance Z in the impedance measurement circuit 3.
Instruct the measurement of. FIG. 3 shows the impedance measurement circuit 3
FIG. In the present embodiment, a well-known BIA method is used as a method for measuring the body fat percentage. The measurement of the body fat percentage by the BIA method applies a high-frequency small current to the human body,
This is performed by measuring a potential difference between the electrodes 2a and 2b due to a human body.

In the impedance measuring circuit 3, a high-frequency generator 31 generates an alternating current having a constant frequency, a constant current value of the alternating current is applied to a constant current circuit 32, and a high-frequency minute current is applied to the electrode 2a. Then, the rectifying and integrating circuit 33 integrates the signal obtained at the electrode 2b, and the amplifying circuit 34 amplifies and outputs the output of the rectifying and integrating circuit 33.

The frequency of the current applied from the electrode 2a to the human body is between 50 kHz and 500 kHz.
It is set to an appropriate value depending on the shape and size of. Also,
The applied current value is generally in the range of 200 μA to 500 μA. After calculating the internal impedance Z based on the current value and the output of the impedance measuring circuit 3, the CPU 4 calculates the internal impedance Z, height H, weight W, and sex S.
The body fat percentage F and the body fat amount L of the user are calculated based on the following equation. The body fat mass has a close relationship with the impedance value of the human body, and when the body fat mass is large, the impedance value increases.

[0018]

(Equation 1)

L = F × W (3) In equation (2), K 0, K 1, and K 2 are constants determined from the circuit constants of the impedance measurement circuit 3, and X is determined by the ambient temperature and the power supply voltage. The variable, Y, is a parameter determined by gender S.

The measurement accuracy of the body fat percentage largely depends on the size and shape of the electrodes 2a and 2b and the parameter elements of the equation (2). Care must be taken. For this reason, in the present embodiment, while securing the required area for the electrodes 2a and 2b,
A constant current circuit 32 is used as a current supply circuit to ensure reliability.

Then, the CPU 4 displays the body fat percentage F on the LCD 10 such as "20%", and displays the body fat amount L on the LCD 10 such as "13 kg".
Display on D10. At the same time, the CPU 4 calculates the body fat percentage F
And an obesity degree judgment (judgment criterion of the Japan Society for Obesity) as shown in Table 1 based on the sex S.

[0022]

[Table 1]

For example, the sex S is male and the body fat percentage F is 20
If it is ２５25%, the obesity degree judgment is mild obesity, and L
"Light Himan" is displayed on CD10. Similarly, if the body fat percentage F is 30% or more, the LCD 10 displays "Heavy bun". If the body fat percentage F is 25 to 30%, the LCD 10 displays "Medium bun". If the body fat percentage F is 10 to 20%, the LCD 10 displays "normal".
Is displayed, and if the body fat percentage F is 10% or less, the LCD
10 is displayed as "thin". The same applies when the sex S is female. In addition, as shown in Table 1, the criterion differs depending on gender.

Next, the pedometer is usually worn near the waist of a person. When the power of the pedometer is turned on, the vibration sensor 1 always detects the vertical shock acceleration applied to the pedometer. When a vertical motion impact acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold is detected, the CPU 4 counts this as one step and increases the number of steps N by one. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram illustrating an example of the vertical motion impact acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 1. In the example of FIG. 4, 10 steps are counted as the number of steps N.

Then, the CPU 4 constantly calculates the calorie consumption C due to the walking of the user. It has been confirmed that there is a very high correlation between the pitch (period) per hour of the waist vertical motion shock acceleration during exercise and the calorie consumption per kg of body weight (Reference: Toshiaki Kato et al., "Exercise A Consideration on New Indices of Exercise Intensity and Amount from the Viewpoint of Prescription-Examination of Impact Acceleration of Waist Up and Down during Exercise-", Tokyo Physical Education 8: 87-92, 1981).
Therefore, the calorie consumption Ckc with respect to the vertical motion impact acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 1 based on such a correlation.
al can be calculated.

The final calorie consumption C is calculated by adding the calorie consumption of the body weight W to the calorie consumption Cg. That is, the CPU 4 determines that the number of steps N10 for 10 seconds is 16
If it is less than a step, the calorie consumption C is calculated as in the following equation. C = Ckcal + W × (N10 × 0.0005) (4) If the number of steps N10 for 10 seconds is 16 or more, the CPU 4 calculates the calorie consumption C as in the following equation. C = Ckcal + W × (N10 × 0.0013−0.0126) (5)

When the user switches the mode changeover switch 5 to the walking mode, the CPU 4 sets the number of steps N counted up to the present time to, for example, "1000 steps".
At the same time, the calculated calorie consumption C is displayed on the LCD 10 such as "100 kcal". The display of the number of steps and the display of calorie consumption are sequentially and cumulatively updated according to the number of steps and calorie consumption calculated by the vertical motion impact acceleration detected by the vibration sensor 1. When the measurement button 6 is pressed for two seconds or more, the CPU 4 resets the number of steps N and the calorie consumption C to zero.

Next, when the user switches the mode changeover switch 5 to the target mode, the CPU 4 calculates the target calorie consumption Cta per day in consideration of the age A of the user based on the above-mentioned determination of the obesity degree, The target achievement rate R is calculated from the calorie consumption C and the target calorie consumption per day Cta, and these are displayed on the LCD 10.

That is, the CPU 4 sets the theoretical value Cth of the target calorie consumption per day as the theoretical value of calorie consumption when the user walks 10,000 steps with a load of less than 96 steps / minute when the obesity degree judgment is too lean. It is calculated as in the formula. Cth = 0.0005 × W × 10000 (6) Further, when the obesity degree determination is normal, 1
The theoretical target calorie consumption per day Cth is 100 steps /
The theoretical value of calorie consumption when walking 10,000 steps with a load of minute is calculated as the following equation. Cth = (100/6 × 0.0013−0.0126) × W × 10000 × 6/100 (7)

The CPU 4 sets the theoretical value Cth of the target calorie consumption per day as the theoretical value of the calorie consumption when the user walks 10,000 steps at a load of 105 steps / minute when the degree of obesity judgment is mild obesity. It is calculated as in the formula. Cth = (105/6 × 0.0013−0.0126) × W × 10000 × 6/105 (8) In addition, when the obesity degree determination is moderate obesity, the CPU 4 Target calorie consumption theoretical value Cth is 11
It is calculated as the following equation, as a theoretical value of calorie consumption when walking 10,000 steps with a load of 0 steps / minute. Cth = (110/6 × 0.0013−0.0126) × W × 10000 × 6/110 (9)

The CPU 4 sets the theoretical value Cth of the target calorie consumption per day as the theoretical value of calorie consumption when walking 10,000 steps with a load of 115 steps / minute when the obesity degree is determined to be severely obese. It is calculated as in the formula. Cth = (115/6 × 0.0013−0.0126) × W × 10000 × 6/115 (10)

Then, the CPU 4 calculates the equations (4) to (8)
Theoretical value C of the target calorie consumption calculated by any of formulas
By multiplying th by a correction coefficient K as shown in Table 2 based on the age A of the user, a target calorie consumption per day Cta in consideration of the age A of the user is calculated. Cta = Cth × K (11)

[0033]

[Table 2]

On the other hand, the CPU 4 calculates the target achievement rate R from the calorie consumption C from the time of reset to the present and the target calorie consumption Cta per day as follows. R = C / Cta × 100 (12) Then, the CPU 4 calculates the target calorie consumption C per day.
When ta is, for example, 300 kcal and the target achievement rate R is 10%, the LCD 10 is displayed as “300 kcal”, “10%”.

[0035]

According to the present invention, the number of steps and the calorie consumption are calculated by measuring the number of steps of the user, the function of displaying the number of steps and the calorie consumption, and the body fat percentage and the amount of body fat of the user are measured. Since the function of displaying the body fat percentage and the amount of body fat was provided, one unit can serve as both a pedometer and a body fat meter,
Information using both functions and measurement data can be presented to the user, which can contribute to improving the health of the user. In addition, obesity of a type having a high body fat percentage even when the body weight is normal can be found, which can contribute to improvement of the body composition of the user.

The measured body fat percentage and the age of the user,
The degree of obesity of the user is determined based on gender, and based on the determination of the degree of obesity, the target calorie consumption per day is calculated and displayed in consideration of the age of the user. The calorie consumption can be presented. As a result, the user can know how much calories should be consumed in a day, and knowing the target calorie consumption per day provides motivation to continue an active life. Can be

Further, since the target achievement rate is calculated and displayed from the calorie consumption by walking and the target calorie consumption per day, the user can know the target achievement rate at the present time and know the target achievement rate. Provides motivation to continue an active life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pedometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the pedometer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an impedance measuring circuit.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing an example of vertical motion impact acceleration detected by a vibration sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vibration sensor, 2a, 2b ... Electrode, 3 ... Impedance measuring circuit, 4 ... CPU, 5 ... Mode changeover switch,
6, 7, 8, 9 ... button, 10 ... liquid crystal panel.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor May Goto 1-5-7 Chuo-cho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo Yamasa Clock Instruments Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ken Aoki 1-2-28 Tsukushino, Machida-shi, Tokyo No. 28 F term (reference) 4C027 AA06 BB05 DD03 GG00 GG16 HH01 HH11 KK00 KK03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A function of measuring the number of steps of a user, calculating the calories consumed based on the number of steps, the pitch of walking, and the weight, displaying the number of steps and the calories consumed, and calculating the percentage of body fat and the amount of body fat of the user. A pedometer having a function of measuring and displaying a body fat percentage and a body fat mass. 2. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the degree of obesity of the user is determined based on the measured body fat percentage and the age and sex of the user, and the age of the user is determined based on the determination of the degree of obesity. A pedometer characterized by calculating and displaying a target calorie consumption per day in consideration of the pedometer. 3. The pedometer according to claim 2, wherein a target achievement rate is calculated and displayed from calories consumed during walking and target calories consumed per day. 4. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the pedometer is a vibration sensor for detecting a vertical shock acceleration, an electrode for measuring a body fat percentage, and a user based on a signal obtained by the electrode. Impedance measuring means for measuring the body impedance of the user, input means for inputting the height, weight, sex, and age of the user; display means for displaying information; and the number of times of the detected vertical motion impact acceleration. Pitch, calculate the number of steps and calorie consumption of the user based on the weight, and display the calculated number of steps and calorie consumption on the display means,
Control means for calculating body fat percentage and body fat mass of the user based on body impedance, height, weight and gender, and displaying the calculated body fat percentage and body fat mass on a display means. Total.