JP2006181339A - Stature meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a measurement value easy to read by suppressing the consumption of a secondary power supply such as a battery to the utmost, and displaying the measurement value in the same position whether the stature is high or low without relay cable, and to measure a stature while quickly correcting a counting mistake without missing regardless of the moving speed of a cursor. <P>SOLUTION: In order to reduce the power consumption of a power supply, the cursor 1 is made to a touch type so that the light emitting diodes 4, 4', 4" in an optical reading section are energized only at the time of operating the cursor. In order to eliminate a cable for transmitting a signal, optical communication having control arithmetic circuit boards 5, 8 is used for both of a cursor part and a display part. On top of that, the control for the cursor side and the control for the display side are separated from each other, whereby a counting mistake due to signal processing delay can be prevented. By any chance a counting mistake is made, the mistake is corrected by separately fetching a stripe scale 3 with intervals of 10mm or 20mm in the stature meter having a resolution of 1mm by the optical reading element 4". <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an optical reading digital height meter, and more particularly to a height meter that can display the height on a display by sliding and holding the cursor portion.

Conventionally, the cursor case has both an optical reading unit and a height value display unit, or the optical reading unit in the cursor case and the height value display unit of another case are connected by an electric cable. If the cursor is moved rapidly, the processing of the optical reading signal counting device cannot follow, and a count error of one to several may occur. Further, after the power switch is turned on, the light emitting diode of the optical reading unit is always energized.
Patent Publication No. 8-163664 “Wireless Telemeter System”

The light emitting diode of the optical reading section needs to pass a larger amount of current than other circuit elements. When a secondary power source such as a battery is used, its consumption becomes a problem. Since the present invention performs measurement and display without an electric cable, it is necessary to have a control device and a battery power source in both the cursor part and the display part. In particular, it is desired to suppress the battery consumption as much as possible and reduce the number of battery replacements. In the case of a two-body structure in which the optical reading unit in the cursor case and the height value display unit in another case are connected by an electric cable, it is preferable that the cable is not seen from the viewpoint of operation and design. In the case of an integrated type with a display on the cursor, it is difficult to see the value of tall people, and count errors due to signal processing delays are sometimes lost. If a count error occurs, the origin is corrected by passing through the reference point, but if the measurement is continued without the origin correction, all subsequent measurement values of the measurement subject will be inaccurate.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and one of the purposes is to suppress the consumption of a secondary power source such as a battery as much as possible, reduce running costs, and Reduce the number of battery replacements. In addition, it is to make it easy to see the measurement value by displaying the same position without a relay cable in both cases of a tall person and a short person. Furthermore, it is possible to perform a measurement that can be corrected quickly without missing a count error regardless of the moving speed of the cursor.

In order to achieve the above object, the height meter according to the present invention uses light emitting diodes in the optical reading unit only when the cursor is operated by using a touch switch of the cursor in order to reduce power consumption of the power source. Further, in order to eliminate a cable for transmitting a signal, this is solved by optical communication having a control device in both the cursor part and the display part. Along with this, the control on the cursor side and the display side are separated, and this has led to prevention of counting errors due to signal processing delay. In the unlikely event of a counting error, for example, a streak scale of 10 mm or 20 mm is separately captured and processed by an optical reading element in a 1 mm resolution height meter.

A long member extending in the height direction of the measurement subject, a cursor slidable on the long member, a casing of a cursor having at least a part of conductivity, and provided in the cursor, the conductivity of the casing is increased. A touch circuit that is electrically connected to a portion of the touch panel and senses contact with a human body, a cursor position reading unit that is activated by a signal from the touch circuit, and that reads a cursor position on a long member; A height meter having a height measurement value calculation means for calculating an output to obtain a measurement value of the height of the person being measured. In the process of measuring by moving the cursor with respect to the person to be measured, the cursor itself is used as a touch switch in order to easily output a switch signal for measurement start and measurement value transmission command.

In order to reduce battery consumption as much as possible, the control device is set to sleep during non-measurement, and the scale reading element is turned off. The output level when the scale reading element is energized at the stop position is separately stored in the storage device, and at the same time, the output of the storage device is added as an input of the scale reading device so that there is no input change.

When the cursor is held for measurement again, the touch switch is turned on, the control device cancels the sleep state, and the scale reading element returns to the energized state, so that the scale reading equal to the output level stored in the storage device can be obtained. The scale reading element output as the device input is restored. In the same manner as described above, both outputs are added as inputs of the scale reader so that there is no change in input. Thereafter, the storage of the storage device is canceled.

Since the control device starts counting the current position of the cursor again by moving while holding the cursor, the cursor is released according to the height of the person to be measured. When the cursor is released, the touch switch is turned off and enters the non-measurement state. Then, the control device starts transmission of the counted current position information with the light emitting diode for optical communication. When the light receiving element of the display receives the light signal of the light emitting diode, the signal is converted and calculated and displayed as a height value. A transmission means for converting the output from the height measurement value calculation means into an optical signal; a light receiving device for receiving the optical signal from the transmission section; and a receiving means for converting the output from the light reception device into a height measurement value. The height meter according to claim 1, wherein the height meter is included.

When the cursor casing is gripped by hand, the height measurement value calculating means is activated, and the calculation result is transmitted from the in-cursor transmitting means to the light receiving device at every elapse of a fixed time or by releasing the cursor casing. The height meter according to claim 1 or claim 2.

A conductive platform on which the measurement subject rides, a long member having conductivity extending in the height direction of the measurement subject, a cursor slidable on the long member, and at least part of which has conductivity. The cursor has a casing, and the person to be measured is placed on the platform, and the contact with the person to be measured is transmitted to the touch circuit in the cursor via the long member and the cursor casing, and activated by a signal from the touch circuit. The cursor position reading means in the cursor and the height measurement value calculation means are activated, and the height measurement value calculation result is sent from the cursor transmission means at every elapse of a certain time after the measurement person gets on or at the measurement object's platform. A height meter that transmits to an external light receiving device.

In this way, with the height meter provided separately from the cursor without a connection cable, the height value at the same position without being disturbed by the cable regardless of the height of the person being measured Read.

A length measuring scale having a plurality of lines having a constant width provided at fixed intervals and having light and dark stripes, and an element for converting a change in optical brightness of the stripes of the length measurement scale into an electric signal The length measurement scale is provided at intervals of an integer multiple of 2 or more of the width of the line. A scale that corrects a counting error having a line that is thinner than the thickness of the line, or a line that is thinner than each pair of the length measurement scale and one line, and that has a plurality of lines that are thicker than the line or the distance. And a means for correcting a counting error composed of a photoelectric element that converts a change in optical brightness of the fringes of the counting correction scale into an electric signal. Alternatively, a length measurement scale consisting of a plurality of lines with a constant width provided at regular intervals, and a change in optical brightness of the stripes on the length measurement scale is converted into an electrical signal. And a means for optically measuring a length constituted by an element to be operated, and the length and the line of the length measurement scale are provided at intervals of an integer multiple of 2 or more of the width of the line. A scale for correcting counting errors having fringes composed of lines that are thinner than one pair of the length measuring scale line and the interval of the measuring scale, and an electrical signal indicating a change in optical brightness of the fringes of the counting correction scale. And a means for correcting a counting error composed of a photoelectric element for converting to a height sensor. By controlling the cursor side and the display side separately, it was also possible to prevent counting errors due to signal processing delay, but if the cursor movement speed was greatly increased and an unexpected counting error occurred, reading the correction scale signal, Regardless of the movement speed of the cursor, it is possible to make a measurement that can be corrected quickly without missing a count error.

By the means as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

While suppressing battery consumption as much as possible, even a tall person can display it in an easy-to-view position without a relay cable, and more accurate measurement is possible regardless of the movement speed of the cursor. In addition, in recent years in the IT era, it is possible to provide products that can serve as height meters in integrated health management systems because they are equipped with communication devices.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the cursor (1) has a black and white stripe on the left side of the scale (3) affixed to the shaft (2) as a photoelectric element for converting it to a voltage level and a photo as a cursor position reading means. Reflectors (scale reading elements) (4) and (4 ') are attached. Since the photoreflectors (4) and (4 ′) are mounted so that the optical reading phase difference is 90 °, reading can be performed every 1 mm, and the vertical movement direction of the cursor (1) can also be determined. The shaft (2) is a long member with a scale, and may be made of a soft material such as cloth or vinyl that does not have rigidity as long as it has the same function.

A control arithmetic circuit board (5) and a power source battery (20) are built in the cursor (1). The control arithmetic circuit board (5) includes a photo reflector (4), (4 ′), (4 ″), an arithmetic element CPU (5 ′), a touch switch circuit (12), a constant current driver (13), Light emitting diodes (transmitting means for optical communication) mounted on the control arithmetic circuit board (5) are mounted with components such as a storage device (14), an optical communication driver (15), and a light emitting diode (6). 6) transmits the measurement value calculated by the control arithmetic circuit board (5) as an optical signal to the height measurement value display (7).

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the height measuring system. As explained so far, while moving with the cursor (1), energize the photo reflectors (4), (4 '), (4' '), and count and correct the current point. Yes. When the cursor (1) is placed on the head of the person to be measured and released, the input of the cursor (1) as an input plate of the touch switch is lost, so that the touch switch circuit (12) which is a touch circuit is turned off. The computing element CPU (5 ′) as the height measurement value computing means receives this OFF output and simultaneously turns off the constant current driver (13) for driving the photo reflectors (4), (4 ′), (4 ″). , (4) to (4 ″) before OFF are stored in the storage device (14). Next, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) uses the optical communication driver (15) to drive the stored result as a light emitting diode (6) for optical communication, which is a transmission means, and outputs it as an optical signal to the display side. Send.

  The table (21) and the shaft (2) in FIG. 1 are also made of a conductive material, so that the cursor casing is touched via the table (21) and the shaft (2) when the person to be measured gets on the table. As described above, the photo reflectors (4), (4 ′), (4 ″) are energized, and after the cursor is moved, if the person to be measured gets off the table (21), the photo reflector (4 ), (4 ′) and (4 ″) are turned off, and at the same time, (4) to (4 ″) before being turned off are stored in the storage device (14). Next, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) uses the optical communication driver (15) to drive the stored result as a light emitting diode (6) for optical communication, which is a transmission means, and outputs it as an optical signal to the display side. Send.

  In the case of a height meter in which the base (21) and the display unit are integrated, only the base (21) is made of a conductive material, used as an input plate for a touch switch provided in the display unit, and an on / off signal of the touch switch is sent from the display unit. It is also possible to use a method in which the light is transmitted by the light emitting diode, received by the light receiving element on the cursor side, and the photoreflectors (4), (4 ′) and (4 ″) are energized and measured as described above.

FIG. 8 shows a driving waveform of the light emitting diode (6) in the optical communication described above. The signal waveform H level on the upper side of FIG. 8 is modulated into an intermittent optical signal with the carrier waveform on the lower side of FIG. 8 and sent to the light receiving element (16) as receiving means. The light receiving element (16) demodulates it, returns it to the same signal waveform as that in the upper side of FIG. 8, and converts it into a measured value by the arithmetic element CPU (8 ′). This measured value is displayed on the display (7) via the arithmetic element CPU (8 ′).

In the above explanation, the communication between the cursor part and the display part is a combination of a light emitting diode and a light receiving element. However, measurement data used in the “wireless telemeter system” of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-163664 is transmitted by radio waves. This method is also possible. It is also effective when transmitting height data and related data to an apparatus that performs integrated management and aggregation of various health data such as weight and blood pressure instead of the display unit. In addition, the battery (20) voltage at the cursor is measured by the arithmetic element CPU (5 ') via an A / D converter, and the remaining battery level is observed. If the remaining amount is displayed by transmitting to the device for counting, the battery on the cursor side (20) can be managed.

Although the battery remaining amount has been described above, the photoreflectors (4) and (4 ′), the photoreflector (4 ″) and the light emitting diode (6) described later consume a large amount of current of the battery (20). In order to extend the life of the battery (20), it is important to reduce this current value as much as possible. To do this, we want to energize the photo reflectors (4), (4 ') and (4 ") only when actually measuring. Since the cursor (1) is moved up and down during measurement, the casing of the cursor (1) is used as an input plate for the touch switch. That is, only when the cursor (1) is held, the photo reflectors (4), (4 ′), and (4 ″) are energized. The driving of the light emitting diode (6) for optical communication, which is the transmitting means, is limited to the necessary time when the cursor is released to suppress the battery consumption.

The arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) of the control arithmetic circuit board (5) is put into a sleep state other than the time required for the arithmetic operation, so that the current value of the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) is suppressed to several tenths. On the display (7) side, if a liquid crystal display is used, an element that consumes a large amount of battery (20 ') current is not used. Therefore, only the arithmetic element CPU (8') of the control arithmetic circuit board (8) is described above. The same power saving measures as those of the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) are taken.

A detailed pattern example of the scale (3) is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 9, respectively. In the case of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the scale on the right side is a correction scale that is composed of stripes each having a constant line width provided every 1 cm and corrects a counting error. 2 and 3, the left length measurement scale lines (9) each have a thickness of 2 mm and are arranged at intervals of 2 mm. The correction scale line (9 ′) in FIG. 2 is an example in which the thickness is set to be thinner than 2 mm and the difference is easily discernable at the time of reading. The line (9 ″) of the correction scale in FIG. 3 is thinner than 4 mm, which is the sum of the thickness and interval of the line (9) of the length measurement scale, and is thicker than 2 mm of the line (9) or interval, In this example, the difference is set to a thickness that is easy to identify. In addition, one thick line (29) in the correction scale of FIG. 2 is thinner than 4 mm which is the sum of the thickness and the distance of the line (9) of the length measurement scale, and is thicker than the line (9) or the distance of 2 mm. In addition, in this example, a count error is replaced with a correction line (9 ′) for correcting an origin having a thickness that makes it easy to identify the difference at the time of reading. Similarly, one thin line (39) in the correction scale of FIG. 3 is thinner than 2 mm, and a line for correcting a counting error (9 ′) is used for correcting an origin whose thickness is easy to identify the difference during reading. This is an example where only one place is provided instead of '). On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 9, the length measurement scale on the left side is the same as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, but the correction scale on the right side is composed of stripes having a constant width provided every 2 cm. In this example, (9 ′ ″) is set to the same thickness as 2 mm of the line (9) of the length measurement scale. Note that one line (49) in the correction scale of FIG. 9 is at the center of the two lines (9 ′ ″) and has the same thickness of 2 mm as 2 mm of the line (9) of the length measurement scale for origin correction. This is an example in which only one location is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light and dark stripes on the scale (3) are reflected by the light reflected from the light emitting diode (10) incorporated in the photo reflectors (4), (4 ′), and (4 ″). By receiving the light in (11), it is converted into an electric signal.

The output waveform when the scale of FIG. 2 is read by the photo reflectors (4), (4 ′), and (4 ″) is FIG. 5, and the scale of FIG. 3 is converted to the photo reflectors (4) and (4 ′).・ The output waveform when read at (4 ″) is FIG. 6, and the output when the scale of FIG. 9 is read by photoreflectors (4), (4 ′) and (4 ″) The waveform is shown in FIG. These waveforms illustrate the case where the cursor is moved upward.

First, the correction method for counting errors in FIG. 5 will be described. In the conversion point a ′ portion / a ″ portion of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4 ′), the mm unit value becomes 0 such as 110.0 cm · 120.0 cm. Thus, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) counts the output waveforms of the photo reflectors (4) and (4 ′). However, if there is a count error, the measured value becomes an incorrect value such as 110.1 cm or 110.9 cm. In such a case, when the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) detects that the output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ″) is at a high potential (between H level b ′ and b ″), The arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) rounds off the mm unit value at the conversion points a ′ and a ″ of the output waveform of the reflector (4), and corrects it to the correct value.

Next, the counting error correction method in FIG. 6 differs from the above case in the output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ″). That is, when the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) detects that the output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ″) is at a high potential (between the H level c ′ and c ″), the photo reflector (4 ) In the output waveform conversion points a ′ and a ″, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) rounds off the mm unit value. Even if any correction scale (9 ′) / (9 ″) is used, correction in units of cm is possible.

5 and FIG. 6, at the conversion point a ′ of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4), the photoreflector (4 ′) is at the L level, and the conversion point a ″ of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4). Then, the photo reflector (4 ′) is at the H level. It is determined whether to perform even-cm correction or odd-cm correction based on the difference in the photo reflector (4 ′) level. By the way, the high potential (between H level b 'and b ") or the width (between H level c' and c") of the output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ") is output from the photo reflector (4 '). The waveform width does not coincide with the high potential (between H level b) or (between H level c) or the high potential (H level c) of the output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ″) for origin correction. Change the potential level of the photoreflector (4 ') (4 ") output waveform by making the difference between the width between level b' and b" or between H level c 'and c " This is a device that can be used by discriminating by examining the order of.

However, in the case of the correction method for counting errors in FIG. 10, the mm unit value becomes 0 such as 100.0 cm and 120.0 cm at the conversion points a ′ and a ″ of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4). Thus, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) counts the output waveforms of the photo reflectors (4) and (4 ′). However, when there is a count error, the measured value becomes an incorrect value such as 100.1 cm or 119.9 cm. The output waveform of the photo reflector (4 ″) is different from that in the above two examples, and the high potential (between the H level d and between d ′) may be the same as the output width of the photo reflector (4 ′). When the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) detects that the output waveform of the photoreflector (4 ″) is at a high potential (between H level d ′ and d ″), the photoreflector (4) At the conversion points a ′ and a ″ of the output waveform, the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) rounds off the mm unit value. When stripes (9 '' ') are used, correction in units of 2 cm is possible. The reason why the correction is performed every 2 cm is to provide an origin correction fringe so that the photoreflector (4 ″) has a high potential (between the H level d), and a conversion point a of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4). This is because the origin is corrected at the part. This is possible because the potential of the output waveform of the photoreflector (4 ') differs between L level and H level during error correction and origin correction. In this method, although the correction frequency is reduced, it is not necessary to check the order of potential level change of the photoreflector (4 ′) / (4 ″) output waveform as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. ') Leads to a reduction in the computational burden.

The stripes (9 ′), (9 ″), and (9 ′ ″) in FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrated as black stripes on a white background, but a photo reflector (4 The same effect can be obtained when the arithmetic element CPU (5 ′) calculates the output waveform of ″) with negative logic.

It is an external view which shows a cursor part, a display part, a shaft, and a stand. FIG. FIG. It is a figure which shows the stripe reading state of a photo reflector. It is a photo reflector output waveform. It is a photo reflector output waveform. It is a block diagram of a height measuring system. It is a light emitting diode output waveform for optical transmission. FIG. It is a photo reflector output waveform.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cursor 2 Shaft 3 Scale 4 Photo reflector 4 'Photo reflector 4''Photo reflector 5 Cursor part control arithmetic circuit board 5' Cursor part arithmetic element 6 Light-emitting diode 7 for light transmission 7 Measurement value display 8 Display part control arithmetic circuit board 8 'Display unit arithmetic element 9 Height reading line 9' Correction line 9 '' Correction line 9 '''Correction line 10 Photoreflector built-in light emitting diode 11 Photoreflector built-in phototransistor 12 Touch switch circuit 13 Photoreflector constant current driver 14 Cursor unit storage device 15 Light emitting diode driver for optical communication 16 Light receiving element for optical communication 17 Display unit storage device 20, 20 ′ Battery 21 unit 29 Origin correction line 39 Origin correction line 49 Origin correction line

Claims (6)

A long member extending in the height direction of the measurement subject, a cursor slidable on the long member, a casing of a cursor having at least a part of conductivity, and provided in the cursor, the conductivity of the casing is increased. A touch circuit that is electrically connected to a portion of the touch panel and senses contact with a human body, a cursor position reading unit that is activated by a signal from the touch circuit, and that reads a cursor position on a long member; A height meter having a height measurement value calculation means for calculating an output to obtain a measurement value of the height of the person being measured. A transmission means for converting the output from the height measurement value calculation means into an optical signal; a light receiving device for receiving the optical signal from the transmission section; and a receiving means for converting the output from the light reception device into a height measurement value. The height meter according to claim 1, wherein the height meter is included. When the cursor casing is gripped by hand, the height measurement value calculating means is activated, and the calculation result is transmitted from the in-cursor transmitting means to the light receiving device at every elapse of a fixed time or by releasing the cursor casing. The height meter according to claim 1 or claim 2. A conductive platform on which the measurement subject rides, a long member having conductivity extending in the height direction of the measurement subject, a cursor slidable on the long member, and at least part of which has conductivity. The cursor has a casing, and the person to be measured is placed on the platform, and the contact with the person to be measured is transmitted to the touch circuit in the cursor via the long member and the cursor casing, and activated by a signal from the touch circuit. The cursor position reading means in the cursor and the height measurement value calculation means are activated, and the height measurement value calculation result is sent from the cursor transmission means at every elapse of a certain time after the measurement person gets on or at the measurement object's platform. A height meter that transmits to an external light receiving device. A length measuring scale having a plurality of lines having a constant width provided at fixed intervals and having light and dark stripes, and an element for converting a change in optical brightness of the stripes of the length measurement scale into an electric signal The length measurement scale is provided at intervals of an integer multiple of 2 or more of the width of the line. A scale that corrects a counting error having a line that is thinner than the thickness of the line, or a line that is thinner than each pair of the length measurement scale and one line, and that has a plurality of lines that are thicker than the line or the distance. And a means for correcting a counting error composed of a photoelectric element that converts a change in optical brightness of the fringes of the counting correction scale into an electric signal. A length measuring scale having a plurality of lines having a constant width provided at fixed intervals and having light and dark stripes, and an element for converting a change in optical brightness of the stripes of the length measurement scale into an electric signal The length measurement scale is provided at intervals of an integer multiple of 2 or more of the width of the line. The scale for correcting counting errors having fringes composed of lines that are thinner than one set each of the length measurement scale line and the interval, and the change in optical brightness of the fringes on the counting correction scale is converted into an electrical signal. And a means for correcting a counting error composed of a photoelectric element.

Images