JP4296115B2 - Electronic pedometer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic pedometer that detects the walking of a human body or the like and counts the number of steps, and more particularly relates to an electronic pedometer that counts the number of steps more reliably in accordance with a user's walking pattern.

  Conventionally, for example, an electronic pedometer has been put into practical use as an electronic device that measures the number of steps of a human and displays it in real time. The electronic pedometer is mounted on, for example, a user's waist or arm, detects a swing caused by the user's walking with a walking sensor such as a vibration sensor, and counts the number of steps by counting the number of times. It is the structure of measuring and displaying it on a display part.

  In this type of electronic pedometer, the walking sensor detects not only swinging due to walking, but also swinging (body motion noise) due to movements due to daily activities such as standing and sitting and weight movement. There is a risk of counting errors due to dynamic noise.

In order to solve this problem, an electronic pedometer has been developed that distinguishes and detects rocking due to walking and rocking (body motion noise) due to movements due to daily activities and weight movement as described above (for example, (See Cited Reference 1.)
The electronic pedometer determines that the swing is caused by walking when the swing continues for a predetermined number of times, and counts the swing as the number of steps.

However, whether or not swinging due to walking can be detected accurately depends on how the electronic pedometer is mounted, the mounting position, or the variation in the walking pattern of the user, such as swinging by an arm swing or swinging by a left leg. Since the condition changes each time depending on the degree of unbalance of swinging by the right leg, etc., the user's walking cannot be accurately detected, resulting in false detection or omission of detection and the accuracy of the electronic pedometer decreases. There is a problem of end up.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-262784, pages 3 and 4 and FIGS.

  This invention makes it a subject to enable it to count a user's step count accurately by performing walk determination appropriately.

  According to the present invention, in an electronic pedometer that detects the user's walking and counts the number of steps, the walking sensor means that detects the user's walking and outputs a signal, and among the signals from the walking sensor means, A walking determination unit that determines a signal that satisfies a predetermined determination criterion as a walking signal corresponding to the user's walking, and a step count that calculates the number of steps of the user based on the signal determined by the walking determination unit as a walking signal. Adjusting the determination criterion of the walking determination means so that a signal determined to be a walking signal by the walking determination means is synchronized with a notification period of the notification means; There is provided an electronic pedometer comprising a walking determination adjusting means.

  The walking sensor means detects the user's walking and outputs a signal. The notification means notifies the user at a predetermined cycle. The walking determination adjustment means adjusts the determination criterion of the walking determination means so that the signal determined as the walking signal by the walking determination means is synchronized with the notification cycle of the notification means. The walking determination means determines a signal satisfying a predetermined determination criterion among the signals from the walking sensor means as a walking signal corresponding to the user's walking. The step counting means calculates the number of steps of the user based on the signal determined by the walking determination means as a walking signal.

  Here, the walking determination adjusting means may be configured to adjust the determination criterion by changing at least one of a detection level and a mask period of the walking determining means.

  The walking determination adjusting means determines that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed when the signal determined as the walking signal by the walking determining means is synchronized with the notification cycle of the notifying means, and the notifying means determines the walking determination. When the adjustment unit determines that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed, a notification indicating completion of the adjustment of the determination criterion may be performed.

  The walking determination adjusting unit may be configured to determine that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed when a signal determined to be a walking signal by the walking determining unit is synchronized with the notification cycle a predetermined number of times.

  The notification means may be configured to notify by light from the light emitting means, sound from the sound reporting means, or display by the display means.

  Moreover, you may comprise so that the external input means for setting the alerting | reporting period of the said alerting | reporting means from the outside may be provided.

  Further, the walking sensor means may be configured to be used by being worn on the user's arm.

  According to the present invention, since the criteria for determining whether or not walking is adjusted, it is possible to detect walking accurately. In addition, since it is possible to detect walking according to the actual walking pattern of the user, it is possible to measure the number of steps with high accuracy.

  Hereinafter, an electronic pedometer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

  In FIG. 1, the electronic pedometer has a walking sensor constituted by an acceleration sensor, detects a user's walking (including running) by the walking sensor, and outputs a signal (walking signal) corresponding to the walking. The walking sensor means 101, the counting means 110 for counting the number of steps of the user based on the walking signal from the walking sensor means 101, and the number of steps counted by the counting means 102 and the contents of notification are configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD). Display means 104, counting start operation of counting means 110, counting end operation, counting data resetting operation, walking determination reference setting operation, etc., external input means 106 that can be operated by the user from the outside, reporting sound that notifies by sound A sound generating means 108 as a means, and a light generating means 109 as a light emitting means for performing notification by light.

  The external input means 106 is constituted by a switch or the like, for example. The display unit 104, the sound generation unit 108, and the light emitting unit 109 together with a notification control unit 107 described later constitute a notification unit.

  The counting means 110 can be constituted by a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage unit that stores a program executed by the CPU.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram functionally representing the counting unit 110. The counting unit 110 corresponds to a user's walking among signals from the walking sensor unit 101 that satisfy a predetermined criterion. The walking determination means 102 that determines that the walking signal is to be performed, the step counting means 103 that calculates the number of steps of the user based on the signal that the walking determination means 102 determines is the walking signal, and the cycle of the signal that is determined as the walking signal by the walking determination means 102 Is controlled by controlling the walking determination adjusting means 105, the display means 104, the sound generating means 108, and the light generating means 109 for adjusting the determination criterion of the walking determining means 102 so as to be synchronized with the notification period of the notification means. Means 107.

  The counting means 102 can be constituted by a central processing unit (CPU) and a storage unit that stores a program executed by the CPU.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of the counting means 110.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the electronic pedometer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  First, as a preparation for measuring the number of steps, the user wears an electronic pedometer on the body. At this time, at least the walking sensor included in the walking sensor means 101 among the components of the electronic pedometer is used by being worn on the body. For example, the walking sensor is worn on the arm.

  In this state, the user operates the external input unit 106 to select the notification unit and set a notification cycle by the selected notification unit, and also causes the electronic pedometer to start a step count measurement operation. The notification cycle set by the external input unit 106 is stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the walking determination adjustment unit 105.

  The notification control means 107 periodically notifies the selected notification means at a predetermined cycle (notification cycle) set by the external input means. When the selected notification means is the sound generation means 108, a notification sound is output periodically. At the same time, the user performs adjustment walking in accordance with the periodic notification (notification signal).

  The electronic pedometer detects the swing of the user during walking with the walking sensor means 101 configured by an acceleration sensor or the like. That is, the walking sensor means 101 detects the user's walking and outputs a signal.

  The walking determination unit 102 determines a reference (determination criterion) for determining whether or not the signal from the walking sensor unit 101 is a signal corresponding to walking (walking signal), that is, whether or not the user is walking. The detection level and the mask period are used as the determination criteria for this. Here, the detection level is a reference level for determining a signal from the walking sensor means 101 as a walking signal, and the mask period is a period in which the signal immediately after receiving the signal from the walking sensor means 101 is not detected. .

  The walking determination unit 102 filters the output level and output interval of the walking sensor unit 101, that is, outputs a signal satisfying the determination criterion among the signals from the walking sensor unit 101 as a walking signal corresponding to the user's walking. To do. The step counting means 103 counts the output of the walking determination means 102 and outputs the integrated value to the display means 104, for example, an LCD display device. The display unit 104 displays the accumulated number of steps of the user. The walking determination adjustment unit 105 optimally adjusts the determination criterion of the walking determination unit 102 as described later.

  The user sets a desired walking cycle (for example, the number of steps per minute) in other words, using the external input means 106, in other words, a notification cycle. The gait determination adjusting means 105 uses the sound from the sound generating means 108 via the notification control means 107, the light from the light generating means 109, or the display by the display means 104 for each set walking cycle. To inform. The user walks in accordance with the periodic notification (periodic notification signal).

  The walking determination adjustment unit 105 checks whether a signal synchronized with the periodic notification signal is output from the walking determination unit 102. The sensitivity of the walking determination unit 102 is adjusted and the mask interval for removing noise is adjusted according to the check contents. That is, the walking determination adjustment unit 105 automatically adjusts the determination criterion of the walking determination unit 102 so that the swing of the adjusted walking can be detected more reliably.

  The gait determination adjusting unit 105 determines the gait by adjusting the detection level sensitivity of the gait determining unit 102 or shortening the mask period when the gait detection signal synchronized with the periodic notification signal is not output. The determination criterion of the means 102 is adjusted to make it easier to detect the swing due to walking.

  On the other hand, when a signal that is not synchronized with the periodic notification signal is output from the walking determination unit 102, the walking determination adjustment unit 105 performs adjustment such as lowering the detection level sensitivity of the walking determination unit 102 or increasing the mask period. Thus, the determination criterion of the walking determination unit 102 is adjusted so that the swing due to body motion noise other than walking is not detected.

  The walking determination adjustment unit 105 determines that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed when the walking signal synchronized with the periodic notification signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times, and outputs the adjustment completion signal to the notification control unit 107. . The notification control unit 107 notifies the user that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed by displaying a sound from the sound generation unit 108, a light from the light generation unit 109, an icon on the display unit 104, or the like.

  The predetermined number of times may be set to 5 to 10 times, for example, and may be set by the user from the external input means 106 each time. Or you may make it increase / decrease automatically, seeing the condition of a synchronization.

  In FIG. 2, the procedure for adjusting the determination criterion for determining walking will be described in detail. First, the walking determination adjustment mode is entered by operating the external input means 106 (inspection start step 201).

  Next, by operating the external input unit 106, the external input unit 106 selects the notification unit, and at the same time, the notification control unit 107 outputs a cycle notification signal at a desired walking cycle (in other words, the notification cycle). ) Is set (walking cycle setting step 202). The notification control means 107 generates a period notification signal at a period set by the external input means 106 (period notification signal generation step 203). Thereby, periodic notification is performed from the notification means selected by the external input means 106. For example, when the notification means selected by the external input means 106 is the sound generation means 108, periodic notification sounds are performed at the set notification period.

  In this state, the user starts walking (adjusted walking) synchronized with the periodic notification, and accordingly, a signal from the walking sensor means 101 is input to the walking determination means 102 (walking start step 204). The walking determination adjustment means 105 determines whether or not there is a walking signal synchronized with the periodic notification signal (synchronization determination step 205).

  Here, in the case of N (no synchronization signal), the walking determination adjustment means 105 increases the detection sensitivity of the determination criterion and continues the adjustment operation of the determination criterion (step 206). At this time, the walking determination adjustment unit 105 can be configured to change at least one of the detection level of the walking determination unit 102 and the mask period.

  On the other hand, if Y in step 205 (there is a synchronization signal), the walking adjustment determination means 105 further determines whether or not there is a walking signal that is not synchronized with the periodic notification signal (asynchronous signal determination step 207). Here, in the case of Y (there is an asynchronous signal), the walking adjustment determination unit 105 determines that the walking determination unit 102 has detected noise due to body movement other than walking, and lowers the detection sensitivity of the determination criterion. Thus, the determination reference adjustment work is continued (step 208).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the walking signal synchronized with the periodic notification signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times (predetermined number determination step 209). When N (negative), the determination reference adjustment operation is continued. When the answer is Y (positive), an adjustment completion signal is output to notify the user that the adjustment is completed by sound, light, an icon on the display means 104, etc. The measurement mode for performing is entered (step 210). The accumulated number of steps counted by the step counting species group 110 is displayed on the display means 104.

  As described above, while notifying periodically from the notification means, the user walks at a timing synchronized with the notification period, and the walking determination means so that the notification period and the signal from the walk sensor means 101 are synchronized. 102 determination criteria are adjusted. That is, the walking determination adjusting means 105 adjusts the determination criterion so that the walking determination means 102 can detect an appropriate walking signal.

  Therefore, it becomes possible to detect walking accurately. In addition, since it is possible to detect walking according to the actual walking pattern of the user, it is possible to measure the number of steps with high accuracy.

  In the above embodiment, an acceleration sensor is used as a walking sensor, but a pressure sensor or the like provided on a shoe sole may be used.

  An electronic pedometer configured to be used by attaching all the components of the pedometer to the user, and some components (at least sensors) are attached to the user and the other components are configured to be part of the above. The present invention can also be applied to an electronic pedometer or the like that is configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly with an element, and that the other components are provided at a location away from the user. Further, the present invention can be applied to an electronic pedometer in which a walking sensor is attached to a body other than an arm.

It is a block diagram of the electronic pedometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 ... walk sensor means 102 ... walk determination means 103 ... step counting means 104 ... display means 105 constituting notification means ... walk determination adjustment means 106 ... external input means 107 ... Notification control means 108 ... sound generation means 109 ... light generation means 110 ... counting means

Claims (7)

In an electronic pedometer that detects the user's walking and counts the number of steps,
Walking sensor means for detecting a user's walking and outputting a signal;
Of the signals from the walking sensor means, walking determination means for determining a signal that satisfies a predetermined determination criterion as a walking signal corresponding to the user's walking;
A step counting means for calculating the number of steps of the user based on the signal determined by the walking determination means as a walking signal;
An informing means for informing the user at a predetermined period;
A walking determination adjustment unit that adjusts a determination criterion of the walking determination unit so that a signal determined to be a walking signal by the walking determination unit is synchronized with a notification cycle of the notification unit;
An electronic pedometer characterized by comprising.   The electronic pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the walking determination adjusting unit adjusts the determination criterion by changing at least one of a detection level and a mask period of the walking determining unit. The walking determination adjusting means determines that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed when a signal determined to be a walking signal by the walking determining means is synchronized with a notification cycle of the notification means;
3. The electronic pedometer according to claim 1, wherein when the walking determination adjustment unit determines that the adjustment of the determination criterion is completed, the notification unit performs notification indicating completion of the adjustment of the determination criterion. .   The said walk determination adjustment means determines with having completed the adjustment of the said determination standard, when the signal determined to be a walk signal by the said walk determination means synchronizes with the said alerting | reporting period a predetermined number of times. Electronic pedometer.   The electronic pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notifying means notifies by light emitted from a light emitting means, sound by a sound reporting means, or display by a display means.   The electronic pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising external input means for externally setting a notification cycle of the notification means.   The electronic pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the walking sensor means is used by being worn on an arm of the user.

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