CH711684B1 - Measurement of the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event, on a portable device or on a watch. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring energy expenditure, for a watch (2), comprising: control means (10) associated with storage means (4) storing parameters, during initial events and final, the physical parameter values measured by a sensor (5) or stored in an interface memory, an altitude evaluation means (7) and / or an altitude algebraic difference evaluation means (8). Said storage means (4) stores a value of the user's mass, measured or entered into memory at said interface, and said control means (10) calculates and displays on display means (20): the algebraic altimetric difference between said initial and final events, a first energetic estimate of the potential energy supplied or received by the user during a race between said initial and final events.

Description

Description

Field of the invention The invention relates to a device for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event, for a watch, comprising:

- control means associated with a parameter storage means storing, during initial and final events, the values of physical parameters measured by a sensor or entered in memory at an interface,

- an altitude evaluation means and / or an altitude algebraic difference evaluation means.

The invention also includes a watch comprising at least one such device.

The invention relates to the field of timepieces with altimetric functions, and in particular capable of calculating and displaying absolute or relative altitudes relative to reference points.

Background of the invention [0004] TISSOT "T-TOUCH" watches include altimetric functions, and are capable of calculating and displaying absolute or relative altitudes relative to reference points. These watches also have a chronograph function. The user thus has information on his position at altitude, and / or on a path between an initial point and an end point, between an initial instant and a final instant.

Summary of the invention [0005] The invention proposes to use certain altimetric functions available on watches, for calculating and displaying energy expenditure values.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event, for a portable device or for a watch, according to claim 1.

The invention also includes a watch comprising at least one such device.

Brief description of the drawings [0008] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

fig. 1 is a block diagram representing a watch comprising a clock, a chronograph, and a device for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event, according to the invention , which comprises control means, storage means, at least one sensor, a user interface, an altitude evaluation means, an altitude algebraic difference evaluation means, a force sensor, a sensor inertial, a mode selection means, an actuator, a control means, and display means, all shown, without limitation, as circuits connected together by a link bus;

fig. 2 to 6 show, diagrammatically, and in front view, such a watch in different examples of display states, which are not limiting, which display values of:

in fig. 2, power, work, and a first energy estimate of the potential energy supplied or received by the user;

in fig. 3, power, work, initial instant, final instant, time difference, initial altitude, final altitude, elevation;

in fig. 4, power, work, user mass value entered, in fig. 5, aviation barometric values QNH and QFE, in fig. 6, acceleration thresholds for automatic triggering.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments [0009] The invention relates to a device 1 for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event, for a portable device or for a watch 2. The concept of portable device has a broad meaning: for example the device 1, even if it is designed essentially for use by humans, and in particular to be worn during physical activity, can be used on a mobile, such as vehicle, aircraft,

CH 711 684 B1 or other. This device 1 comprises control means 10, which are associated with at least one parameter storage means 4 which is arranged to store, at least during an initial event and a final event, values of physical parameters. These values are measured by at least one sensor 5, and / or entered in memory at the level of a user interface 6.

The device 1 comprises at least one altitude evaluation means 7 for evaluating the altitude of the device 1 at least during the initial event and the final event, and / or a means of evaluating algebraic altitude difference 8 for the evaluation of the algebraic altitude difference of the device 1 between the initial event and the final event.

According to the invention, the storage means 4 is also arranged to store at least one MO value of the mass of the user (or of the mobile if necessary), measured by at least one force sensor 9 or input stored in memory at the user interface 6. In a particular non-limiting application, this value MO is measured or entered in memory at least one instant between the initial event and the final event. In another application, this mass MO is entered into memory once by the user in a memory, and remains there by default in the absence of a new measurement action or entry into memory by the user.

And the control means 10 are arranged to calculate:

- on the one hand, the algebraic height difference ΔΖ between the initial event and the final event,

- and on the other hand a first energy estimate E1 of the potential energy supplied or received by the user during a race between the initial event and the final event, according to the formula:

E1 = ΔΖ * MO * g.

The device 1 further comprises display means 20 for displaying values calculated by the control means 10, arranged to display the first estimate E1 of the potential energy, for each stroke made by the user between such an initial event and such a final event.

According to a particular characteristic, the device 1 comprises a clock 3, or constitutes a device for measuring energy expenditure for a watch 2 comprising at least one such clock 3. The control means 10 are then associated with at least one such storage means 4 of parameters, which is arranged to store, at least at an initial time T1 and at a final time T2, the values of physical parameters measured by at least one such sensor 5, and / or entered in memory at level d such a user interface 6, at the initial instant T1 and at the final instant T2.

And, more particularly, the storage means 4 is further arranged to store at least one value MO of the mass of the user, measured by at least one force sensor 9 or entered into memory at the interface user 6, at least one instant between the initial instant T1 and the final instant T2.

The control means 10 are then arranged to calculate:

- the algebraic height difference ΔΖ between the initial instant T1 and the final instant T2,

- the period of time ΔΤ elapsed between the initial instant T1 and the final instant T2,

- and a first estimate P1 of the algebraic power supplied or received by the user between the initial instant T1 and the final instant T2, according to the formula:

P1 = ΔΖ * MO * g / ΔΤ.

The display means 20 are arranged to display at least the first estimate P1 of the algebraic power, for each run made by the user between such an initial event and such a final event. More particularly, they also display the results of the various calculations, for example ΔΖ and ΔΤ.

In a particular variant embodiment, the device 1 comprises at least one inertial sensor 11, of accelerometer or gyrometer type, arranged to detect a change in gait of the user between an acceleration less than a first threshold G1 and a acceleration greater than a second threshold G2, and the control means 10 are arranged to interpret a passage between the first threshold G1 and the second threshold G2 as such an initial event or such a final event, and to automatically trigger the taking of information initial and final altitude, in the absence of user intervention on the user interface 6 to force the triggering of the initial event and / or the final event.

More particularly, the control means 10 are then arranged to interpret a passage between the first threshold G1 and the second threshold G2 as such an initial time T1 or such a final time T2, and to automatically trigger the taking of information initial and final altitude in relation to the initial time T1 and the final time T2, in the absence of intervention by the user on the user interface 6 to force the triggering of the initial time T1 and / or from the final moment T2.

More particularly still, the control means 10 are arranged to integrate the acceleration measurements made by the inertial sensor 11 between the initial event and the final event, and transform them into an average acceleration value GO, and the display means 20 are arranged to display the average acceleration value GO, for each run made by the user between such an initial event and such a final event, and / or to translate it into a graphic display and / or digital effort.

In a particular variant, the control means 10 are arranged to split an overall race into a plurality of elementary races during each of which the variation in altitude is in the same direction, and for consi

CH 711 684 B1 derive as a final event of a first elementary race and as an initial event of a second elementary race any change in direction of the variation in altitude. More particularly, the control means 10 are arranged to calculate, over the whole of the overall race, the sum of the positive altitude variations, and / or the sum of the negative altitude variations, and / or the algebraic sum of all variations in altitude. More particularly still, the control means 10 are still arranged to calculate, over the whole of the overall race, and / or over each elementary race, the algebraic ascent speed. Naturally, the display means 20 are arranged to display any type of result calculated by the control means 10.

In a particular embodiment, the control means 10 are arranged to receive at least one instruction given by the user at the user interface 6, by a mode selection means 12, which is arranged for allow the user to select an active or inactive mode of energy estimation, and to select one of these two active or inactive modes by default. More particularly, in the active mode of the energy estimation, the control means 10 are arranged to perform, according to an instruction thus given by the user, a cumulative of the values measured and / or calculated on each such elementary stroke making up the stroke global, which cumulation being either either algebraic in a first sub-mode, or else in absolute value in a second sub-mode, and the mode selection means 12 is arranged to allow the user to select the first sub- mode or the second default sub-mode.

In a particular alternative embodiment, the altitude evaluation means 7 is of the barometric type, and measures a pressure that the control means 10 transform into an altitude.

In a particular embodiment, the control means 10 are arranged to receive, by an external signal or by an introduction at the user interface 6, a reference pressure for a point of known altitude, so as to carry out a barometric correction to calculate the absolute altitude with respect to sea level. The functionalities of the device 1 make it usable for other uses than for the sole measurement of the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event. For example, in a particular variant embodiment, more particularly for aeronautical use, the control means 10 and display 20 are arranged to receive or calculate, and display, the QNH and the QFE: display of the geographical altitude when device 1 is calibrated on the QNH (barometric pressure corrected for instrumental, temperature and gravity errors and brought back to mean sea level), or display of the relative height in relation to an altitude and pressure reference point instantaneous known when the device 1 is calibrated on the QFE which is the atmospheric pressure measured at the reference point.

In a particular variant, the altitude evaluation means 7 is of the GPS type and directly measures an altitude coordinate.

In a particular embodiment, the control means 10 are arranged to calculate, between two times determined by the user at the user interface 6, or determined by a clock 3 that includes the device 1, or that includes a watch 2 in which the device 1 is integrated, either the curvilinear distance traveled by the user, or the theoretical distance as the crow flies and independently of the relief, between the two positions occupied by the user at these two moments.

More particularly, the control means 10 are arranged to calculate the overall stroke, or the overall curvilinear distance traveled by the user, or a minimum estimate of distance traveled consisting of the sum of the elementary distances calculated by the means piloting 6 for elementary races, the total of which constitutes the overall race.

In a particular embodiment, the memory means 4 is arranged to store at least one race profile entered in memory at the user interface 6, for example with a memory card or a connection with a transmitting device data, or whatever. And the control means 10 are then arranged to process the race profile, and to decompose the overall race into a plurality of theoretical elementary races during each of which the variation in altitude is theoretically in the same direction, and to consider as an event final of a first elementary race and as an initial event of a second elementary race any change in direction of the theoretical variation in altitude.

In a particular embodiment, the device 1 comprises at least one force sensor 9 arranged to estimate the mass MO of the user, in absolute terms, or by comparison with a standard mass.

For example, more particularly, the device 1 includes such a force sensor 9 under each shoe of the user. In a particular application, wired or wireless transmission means are arranged to transmit the values measured by the force sensor 9. In another application, this force sensor 9 includes a data output to a memory medium, such as a key USB, SIM card, or the like, this memory medium being integrated in a reader connected to the control means 10 for the transmission of the measured and stored values. And the control means 10 are arranged to add the values of the ground support force taken at the same instant by each of these force sensors 9, and to calculate the mass MO as a function of a measured acceleration value of gravity or stored in the storage means 4.

CH 711 684 B1 In a particular variant, the user interface 6 includes at least one actuator 13 dedicated to validating a start and / or end event for the energy estimate.

More particularly, at least one such actuator 13 is tactile and is arranged to transmit to the control means 10 the information of a support made by the user on a screen or structure surface that comprises the device 1 , or that includes a watch 2 in which the device 1 is integrated.

In a particular embodiment, the user interface 6 is arranged to use at least one control means 14 that includes the device 1, or that includes a watch 2 in which is integrated the device 1. This means 14 is arranged to control a particular function, which is different from the basic energy estimation function. More particularly, the control means 10 are arranged to identify a particular energy estimation mode selected by the user at the user interface 6; and, in this particular energy estimation mode, this control means 14 is used for validation by the user of a start and / or end event for the particular energy estimation.

In a particular mode of use, when the energy estimation mode is selected, the control means 14 is dedicated to validation of a start and / or end event for the energy estimation, and is unusable for controlling the particular function.

In another particular mode of use, in the energy estimation mode, the control means 14 is used both for validation of a start and / or end event for the energy estimation, and for a command of the particular function.

More particularly, at least one such control means 14 is tactile, and is arranged to transmit to the control means 10 the information of a support made by the user on a screen or structure surface that comprises the device 1, or that includes a watch 2 in which the device 1 is integrated.

In a particular embodiment, the display means 20 are arranged to permanently display the energy balance of a running race and / or at least one previous race, and / or, when the device 1 includes a clock 3 or constitutes a device for measuring energy expenditure for a watch 2 comprising at least one such clock 3, for permanently displaying the energy balance of an elementary run carried out over a predetermined time interval or chosen by the user at the user interface level 6.

More particularly, hands, or a date display, which includes watch 2, can be used as particular display means to display this energy balance.

In a particular application, the device 1 is designed for equipping a vehicle, and can process cumulative mass information: unladen mass of the vehicle, mass of the vehicle crew and of its payload, and mass of fuel. Force sensors 9 are arranged to transmit to the control means this mass information which is variable as a function of time, at least due to the fuel consumption. The device 1 is then arranged, not only for the calculation and display of the energy expenditure, but also for the calculation and display of a forecast of energy need for fuel, for the completion of a race according to a given profile entered in memory at the storage means, or in extrapolation of a part of the race already performed, on a particular slope profile, towards a point of known altitude and / or distance. The device 1 then makes it possible to store typical consumption of the vehicle as a function of its payload and the slope taken.

The invention also includes a watch 2 comprising at least one such device 1.

More particularly, this watch 2 includes a clock 3, which is arranged to cooperate with the control means 10, to communicate time information to them and to deliver signals to them at a preset frequency or selected by the user interface 6.

More particularly, this watch 2 includes a chronograph system 30, which is used for the acquisition of the initial event and the final event, during the completion of a race by the user.

In summary, the invention allows a display of correct energy values during a journey comprising a drop in altitude on a portable device, in particular a watch. This display concerns both work and power. The invention provides an increase in precision for the evaluation of the ascent or descent phases, which it makes it possible to differentiate by taking into account the algebraic value of the work.

The device according to the invention can also be arranged as an additional module, usable on a watch preferably already having a chronograph function and / or an altimetry function.

The present description is described above for land or air examples, relating to altitudes above sea level. However, the invention can also be used for applications relating to diving; of course, it is no longer a question of taking into account the mass factor, but, by reasoning in terms of forces, of reasoning on the resultant between the attraction of gravity and the Archimedes thrust: it is then enter a parameter relating to the component of the result of these efforts according to the vertical of the place, to evaluate the work provided or received by a diver, and the corresponding power, as the case may be, during the descent or ascent phase.

Claims (23)

1. Device (1) for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between an initial event and a final event for a portable device or for a watch (2), said device (1) comprising control means (10) associated with at least one parameter storage means (4) arranged to store, at least during the initial event and the final event, the values of physical parameters measured by at least one sensor (5) or entries in memory at a user interface (6), said device (1) comprising at least one altitude evaluation means (7) for evaluating the altitude of said device (1) at least during said initial event and said final event, and / or an algebraic altitude difference evaluation means (8) for the evaluation of the algebraic altitude difference of said device (1) between said initial event and said final event, it characterized in that said memory means (4) is further arranged to store at least one value (MO) of the mass of the user, measured by at least one force sensor (9) or entered into memory at said level user interface (6), and in that said control means (10) are arranged to calculate on the one hand the algebraic elevation difference (ΔΖ) between said initial event and said final event, and on the other hand a first energy estimate (E1) of the potential energy supplied or received by the user during the race between said initial event and said final event, according to the formula: E1 = (ΔΖ * MO * g), g being the acceleration of gravity , said device (1) further comprising display means (20) for displaying values calculated by said control means (10), arranged to display said first estimate (E1) of potential energy, for each stroke fact e by the user between a said initial event and a said final event. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (1) comprises a clock (3) or constitutes a device for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by a user during a race between a initial event and a final event for a watch (2) comprising at least one said clock (3), said control means (10) being associated with at least one said parameter storage means (4) arranged to store, at least at the initial instant (T1) of the initial event and at the final instant (T2) of the final event, the values of physical parameters measured by at least one said sensor (5) or entered in memory at level d a said user interface (6) at said initial instant (T1) and at said final instant (T2), and characterized in that said memorizing means (4) is further arranged to store at least one value (MO) of the mass of the user, measured by at least one force sensor (9) or entered into memory at the level of said user interface (6), at at least one instant between said initial instant (T1) and said final instant (T2), and in that said control means (10) are arranged to calculate said algebraic height difference (ΔΖ) between said initial instant (T1) and said final instant (T2), the time lapse (ΔΤ) elapsed between said initial instant (T1) and said final instant (T2), and a first estimate (P1) of the algebraic power supplied or received by the user between said initial instant (T1) and said final instant (T2), according to the formula: P1 = (ΔΖ * MO * g) / AT, and in this that said display means (20) are arranged to display said first estimate (P1) of the algebraic power, for each run made by the user between a said initial event and a said final event. 3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said device (1) comprises at least one inertial sensor (11) of accelerometer or gyrometer type arranged to detect a change in pace of the user between a acceleration below a first threshold (G1) and an acceleration above a second threshold (G2), and in that said control means (10) are arranged to interpret a passage between said first threshold (G1) and said second threshold ( G2) as a said initial event or a said final event, and to automatically trigger the taking of initial and final altitude information, in the absence of intervention by the user on said user interface (6) to force the triggering of said initial event and / or of said final event. 4. Device (1) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to interpret a passage between said first threshold (G1) and said second threshold (G2) as a said initial instant ( T1) or a said final instant (T2), and to automatically trigger the taking of initial and final altitude information in relation to said initial instant (T1) and said final instant (T2), in the absence of intervention of the user on said user interface (6) to force the triggering of said initial instant (T1) and / or of said final instant (T2). 5. Device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to integrate the acceleration measurements made by said inertial sensor (11) between said initial event and said final event, and transform them into an average acceleration value (GO), and in that said display means (20) are arranged to display said average acceleration value (GO), for each stroke made by the user between a said initial event and said final event, and / or to translate it into a graphical and / or digital visualization of effort. 6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to split an overall race into a plurality of elementary races during each of which the variation in altitude has the same meaning, and to consider as a final event of a first elementary race and as an initial event of a second elementary race any change in direction of the variation in altitude. 7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to receive at least one instruction given by the user at said user interface (6) by a way CH 711 684 B1 mode selection (12), which is arranged to allow the user to select an active or inactive mode of the energy estimate, and to select one of these two modes active or inactive by default. 8. Device (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that, in said active mode of energy estimation, said control means (10) are arranged to perform, according to an instruction given by the user at the level of said user interface (6) by a mode selection means (12), a cumulative of the values measured and / or calculated on each said elementary race composing said global race, which cumulative being, or algebraic in a first sub-mode , or in absolute value in a second sub-mode, and said mode selection means (12) is arranged to allow the user to select said first sub-mode or said second sub-mode by default. 9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said altitude evaluation means (7) is of barometric type and measures a pressure which said control means (10) transform into a altitude. 10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to receive, by an external signal or by an introduction at said user interface (6), a reference pressure for a point of known altitude, so as to perform a barometric correction to calculate the absolute altitude above sea level. 11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said altitude evaluation means (7) is of the GPS type and directly measures an altitude coordinate. 12. Device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to calculate, between two instants determined by the user at said user interface (6), or determined by a clock (3) that comprises said device (1) or a watch (2) in which said device (1) is integrated, either the curvilinear distance traveled by the user, or the theoretical distance as the crow flies and independently of the relief, between the two positions occupied by the user at said two instants. 13. Device (1) according to claims 6 and 11, characterized in that said control means (10) are arranged to calculate, for said overall stroke, either the overall curvilinear distance traveled by the user, or else an estimate minimum distance traveled consisting of the sum of the elementary distances calculated by said control means (6) for elementary races the sum of which constitutes said overall race. 14. Device (1) according to claim 6 and one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that said memory means (4) is arranged to store at least one race profile entered in memory at said user interface (6), and in that said piloting means (10) are arranged to process said race profile and decompose said overall race into a plurality of theoretical elementary races during each of which the variation in altitude is theoretically in the same direction , and to consider as a final event of a first elementary race and as an initial event of a second elementary race any change in direction of the theoretical variation in altitude. 15. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said device (1) comprises at least one said force sensor (9) arranged to estimate said mass (MO) of the user, in absolute, or by comparison to a standard mass. 16. Device (1) according to claim, 15, characterized in that said device (1) comprises a said force sensor (9) intended to be placed under each shoe of the user, and in that said control means (10) are arranged to add the values of the ground support force measured at the same time by each of said force sensors (9), and to calculate said mass (MO) as a function of a measured gravity acceleration value or stored in said storage means (4). 17. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said user interface (6) comprises at least one actuator (13) dedicated to validation of a start and / or end event for determining said initial event and / or said final event. 18. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that said user interface (6) is arranged to use at least one control means (14) that comprises said device (1) or a watch ( 2) in which said device (1) is integrated, and in that said at least one remote-controlled means (14) can be used for validation by the user of a start and / or end event. 19. Device (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one said control means (14) is tactile and is arranged to transmit to said control means (10) the information of a support carried out by the user on a screen or structural surface that comprises said device (1) or a watch (2) in which said device (1) is integrated. 20. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that said display means (20) are arranged to permanently display the energy balance of a running race and / or at least a previous race, and / or, when said device (1) includes a clock (3) or constitutes a device for measuring the potential energy supplied or received by the user during a race between said initial event and said event final for a CH 711 684 B1 shows (2) comprising at least one said clock (3), of an elementary race carried out over a predetermined time interval or chosen by the user at the level of said user interface (6). 21. Watch (2) comprising at least one device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 20. 22. Watch (2) according to claim 21, and comprising a clock (3), characterized in that said clock (3) is arranged to cooperate with said control means (10) to communicate time information to them and to deliver signals to them at a frequency preset or selected by the user at said user interface (6). 23. Watch (2) according to claim 21 or 22, and comprising a chronograph system (30), characterized in that said chronograph system (30) is used for the acquisition of said initial event and said final event, during the completion of a race by the user.