JP2008000199A - Motion sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motion sensor which is suitable for miniaturization and which detects inertia and vibration frequency due to contacting by simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The motion sensor is provided with: a magnetic field occurrence member and a magnetic induction element; a case 7 to which the magnetic induction element is integrally fixed at a standstill; a flexible supporting part 9 which supports the magnetic field occurrence member while its position can be changed with respect to the magnetic induction element; and a transmission pin 27 which penetrates the case and transmits vibration to the flexible supporting part selectively. A cushion member 35 is made to contact with the transmission pin. The cushion member applies reaction force to the transmission pin so as to permit contact of the flexible supporting part 9 and the transmission pin with each other when detecting vibration and to separate the flexible supporting part 9 and the transmission pin from each other when detecting no vibration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a motion sensor that detects a change in the operating state of an object.

  In recent years, awareness of health management has increased, and opportunities for using pedometers during exercise and daily life have increased. At that time, a pulsometer may be used to maintain a predetermined pulse state in order to suitably acquire the exercise effect.

  The main sensor part indispensable for the construction of the pedometer is classified as an inertial sensor. To date, there are uniaxial inertial sensors with a simpler configuration and triaxial inertial sensors that can handle complex operations (see Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, there exist pulse sensors using optical information (see Patent Document 2) and those using a piezoelectric method (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-304833 JP-A-9-108191 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-155827

  As described above, in the past, when a pedometer and a pulse meter were to be used together, the pedometer and the pulse meter had to be carried separately. In addition, in a configuration in which a pedometer and a pulse meter having an existing structure are simply combined, an increase in size unsuitable for carrying and an increase in cost associated with a complicated structure cannot be avoided. Therefore, if the inertial state and the vibration frequency due to contact can be measured with one sensor, it is possible to realize a downsized measuring means suitable for carrying at low cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a motion sensor that can detect an inertial state and a vibration frequency due to contact with a simple configuration that is suitable for downsizing. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a motion sensor according to the present invention stores a magnetic field generating member and a magnetic sensitive element provided so as to be sensitive to a magnetic field, and stores at least the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic sensitive element, and one of them is integrated. A case that is stationary and fixed, a flexible support that supports the other of the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic sensing element so that the position of the member can be changed relative to the one that is stationary and fixed, and the case penetrating and selecting And a transmission pin for transmitting vibration to the flexible support portion.

  Preferably, a cushion member is brought into contact with the transmission pin, and the cushion member allows contact between the flexible support portion or an integral part thereof and the transmission pin when vibration is detected. When the vibration is not detected, a reaction force is applied to the transmission pin so as to separate the flexible support portion or a part integral with the flexible support portion and the transmission pin.

  Preferably, the case is provided with a stopper member that guides sliding of the transmission pin and regulates the sliding amount to a predetermined amount, and the stopper member is a detection target of the transmission pin. A contact state adjusting surface that is oriented in the same direction as the contact surface is provided.

  According to the present invention described above, since a common magnetic field generating member and a magnetic sensitive element are used for inertial measurement and vibration measurement, and it is not necessary to add a dedicated configuration for vibration measurement such as optical processing and piezoelectric processing, the size can be reduced. The inertial state and the frequency of contact can be detected with a suitable and simple configuration.

  The other features of the present invention and the operational effects thereof will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a motion sensor according to the present invention is implemented as a sensor that functions as a pedometer and a pulse meter will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of the motion sensor according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. The motion sensor 1 includes a magnetic field generating member 3 and a magnetic sensitive element 5 provided so as to be sensitive to a magnetic field, a case 7, and a flexible support portion 9.

  The magnetic field generating member 3 and the magnetic sensitive element 5 are arranged to face each other. As a specific example, a permanent magnet is used for the magnetic field generating member 3, and the magnetic sensitive element 5 is a GMR element or a TMR element. A magnetoresistive effect element is used.

  The case 7 houses the magnetic field generating member 3 and the magnetic sensitive element 5, and one of them (the magnetic sensitive element 5 in the present embodiment) is integrally fixed stationary. The case 7 includes a base 11 and a cap 13 having a magnetic shielding effect. The base 11 has a connection terminal 15 for supplying a sensing current to the magnetic sensing element 5 at one end side thereof. Further, a flexible support portion 9 is supported on the other end side of the base 11. The magnetic sensitive element 5 attached to the lead frame 17 is connected to the central portion on the other end side of the base 11 by wire bonding. On the other hand, the cap 13 is a container-like member whose outer shape is substantially a rectangular parallelepiped and whose one surface is open. The cap 13 is put on the base 11 and covers the magnetic field generating member 3, the magnetic sensitive element 5, the flexible support portion 9, and the like.

  In this embodiment, the flexible support portion 9 includes an elastic beam 19 and a weight 21, and the elastic beam 19 is a substantially U-shaped elastic member supported in a cantilever shape on the base 11. It is composed of More specifically, the elastic beam 19 has a first portion 19a extending substantially in the Y direction, a second portion 19b extending substantially in the X direction, and a third portion 19c extending substantially in the Y direction. . The third portion 19 c is supported by the base 11 on the base end side. One end side of the second portion 19b is connected to the distal end side of the third portion 19c, and the other end side of the second portion 19b is connected to the proximal end side of the first portion 19a. With such a configuration, the distal end side of the first portion 19a can move within a three-dimensional range that can be defined by three axes in the XYZ directions.

  A weight 21 is attached to the distal end side of the first portion 19a. In the weight 21, a storage chamber is formed at a portion facing the magnetic sensing element 5, and the magnetic field generating member 3 is stored therein.

  Then, the structure of the outer side of case 7 is demonstrated based on FIGS. A stopper member 23 is attached to the outside of the case 7 where the cap 13 is placed on the base 11. The stopper member 23 is a plate-like member bent in a U-shape when viewed from the front, and more specifically, the upper wall portion 23a and a pair of left and right side wall portions 23b and 23c extending downward from the left and right side edges. And have. The stopper member 23 is attached to the cap 13 at a pair of left and right side wall portions 23b and 23c.

  A through hole 25 is formed in the upper wall portion 23 a of the stopper member 23. A transmission pin 27 is inserted into the through hole 25. This will be described in more detail with particular reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transmission pin. FIG. 6 shows a state where the transmission pin is incorporated, and the right half (the side opposite to the side where the connection terminal 15 is illustrated) is in the standby position. Yes, the left half shows the state where the transmission pin is in the operated position.

  The transmission pin 27 includes a circular upper wall portion 27a in plan view, a cylindrical side wall portion 27b extending downward from an annular side edge thereof, and a columnar pin extending downward from the lower surface of the circular central portion of the upper wall portion 27a. Part 27c. The upper surface of the upper wall portion 27a functions as a contact surface 29 with which a wrist portion of a person comes into contact when used as a detection target, specifically, a pulse meter. Further, an annular locking portion 31 that is expanded in a flange shape is formed at the lower end portion of the side wall portion 27b. When the transmission pin 27 is inserted into the stopper member 23, the locking portion 31 selectively engages with the lower surface 23 d of the upper wall portion 23 a of the stopper member 23 to prevent the transmission pin 27 from coming off from the stopper member 23. Function as.

  An annular recess 33 is formed between the side wall portion 27 b and the pin portion 27 c in the transmission pin 27. When the stopper member 23 into which the transmission pin 27 is inserted is attached to the case 7, the cushion member 35 is accommodated in the recess 33.

  The cushion member 35 is formed of a cylindrical elastic member that is larger than the outer diameter of the pin portion 27c and smaller than the inner diameter of the side wall portion 27b. In the stored state, the upper end portion of the cushion member 35 is in contact with the lower surface of the upper wall portion 27 a of the transmission pin 27, and the lower end portion of the cushion member 35 is in contact with the upper surface of the cap 13.

  A circular through hole 37 is formed in the upper surface of the cap 13 so that the pin portion 27c of the transmission pin 27 inserted through the stopper member 23 can come into contact with the weight 21 through the through hole 37. It has become.

  Next, the operation of the motion sensor having the above-described configuration will be described. First, as shown in the right half of FIG. 6, the transmission pin 27 is separated from the case 7 by the repulsive force of the cushion member 35 in a state where no pressing force is applied to the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27. Is biased in the direction. Thereby, the tip of the pin portion 27 c of the transmission pin 27 is separated without contacting the weight 21. At this time, the upper surface of the locking portion 31 of the transmission pin 27 is locked to the lower surface 23d of the upper wall portion 23a of the stopper member 23, thereby preventing the transmission pin 27 from coming off.

  In the state as described above, the magnetic field generating member 3 and the flexible support portion 9 are in a free state where they do not receive interference from the transmission pin 27, and the motion sensor 1 functions exclusively as an inertia sensor, that is, a pedometer. . When a person carrying the motion sensor 1 performs a walking exercise, an inertial force acts on the weight 21 accordingly. As described above, the magnetic field generating member 3 is supported by the flexible support portion 9 so that the position of the magnetic field generating member 3 can be changed. Therefore, due to the inertial force that efficiently acts on the weight 21, The position of the magnetic field generating member 3 with respect to the magnetic sensitive element 5 changes according to the walking motion. In the magnetic sensitive element 5, such a magnetic change according to the movement of the magnetic field generating member 3 can be detected as a current change. Therefore, it is possible to capture an exerciser's periodic motion from the current change, that is, the number of walks can be detected.

  On the other hand, with the recent improvement in health management awareness, there is a tendency to increase the exercise effect by exercising while maintaining a predetermined pulse state, rather than a random exercise. Accordingly, the motion sensor 1 according to the present embodiment can measure the pulse during the walking motion.

  First, as shown in the left half of FIG. 6, the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27 is pressed against the skin surface 41 of the wrist portion of the user. Of course, you may press the skin surface 41 with respect to the contact surface 29 with a use aspect. As a result, the transmission pin 27 gradually moves toward the case 7 while compressing the cushion member 35, and finally the tip of the pin portion 27 c of the transmission pin 27 comes into contact with the weight 21. And the minute amplitude by the pulsation of the skin surface 41 is transmitted to the magnetic field generating member 3 through the transmission pin 27 and the weight 21, and the magnetic field generating member 3 moves finely. The magnetic sensitive element 5 can detect the fine movement of the magnetic field generating member 3 and detect the frequency from the current change. The motion sensor 1 functions exclusively as a vibration sensor, that is, a pulse meter.

  The operation of the cushion member 35 will be described. The cushion member 35 allows the transmission pin 27 to come into contact with the weight 21 due to the elasticity of the skin surface 41 when vibration (pulse) is detected, and the contact surface when vibration (pulse) is not detected. A reaction force is applied to the transmission pin 27 so that the transmission pin 27 is separated from the weight 21 when no pressing force is applied to the contact 29. Further, the cushion member 35 has such a softness that when compressed, the cushion member 35 is compressed and does not hinder the transmission pin 27 from bending the elastic beam 19 of the flexible support portion 9. Accordingly, the pulse meter (vibration sensor) and the pedometer (inertia sensor) are selectively functioned using the common magnetic field generating member 3 and the magnetic sensitive element 5, and fine vibration such as a pulse is caused to occur in the magnetic field generating member 3. Can be communicated to.

  Further, when the skin surface 41 is pressed against the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27, the stopper member 23 guides the sliding of the transmission pin 27 and exerts an effect of regulating the sliding amount to a predetermined amount. . That is, the transmission pin 27 is brought into contact with the weight 21 accurately, and the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27 is prevented from being pushed into the upper wall portion 23a of the stopper member 23. Avoid pressing force.

  Furthermore, the upper surface of the upper wall portion 23 a of the stopper member 23 is around the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27 and functions as a contact state adjusting surface 23 e that is directed in the same direction as the contact surface 29. That is, in the contact mode in which the transmission pin 27 sinks excessively on the skin surface 41 and the skin surface 41 wraps around the side wall portion 27b of the transmission pin 27, the elasticity of the skin surface 41 is transmitted to the transmission pin 27 as a repulsive force. It may not be difficult to pick up fine vibration such as pulsation. In the present embodiment, the upper wall portion 23a of the stopper member 23 functions as the contact state adjustment surface 23e, receives most of the elasticity of the skin surface 41 by the contact state adjustment surface 23e, and is surrounded by the contact state adjustment surface 23e. Fine contact vibration can be picked up by the inner contact surface 29, and the pulse can be measured more accurately.

  Further, as shown in the right half of FIG. 6, the distance between the upper surface of the case 7 and the lower surface 31 d of the annular locking portion 31 in a state where no pressing force is applied to the transmission pin 27. B is set larger than the height difference H between the contact surface 29 of the transmission pin 27 and the contact state adjusting surface 23e of the stopper member 23. Accordingly, the pin portion 27c of the transmission pin 27 abuts on the weight 21 while being configured to obtain the above-described retaining action of the transmission pin 27 and the contact state adjusting action by the contact surface 29 and the contact state adjusting surface 23e. Before, it is considered that the sliding operation of the transmission pin 27 is not hindered by the locking portion 31 colliding with the case 7 or the like.

  As described above, according to the motion sensor according to the present embodiment, a configuration dedicated to vibration measurement, such as optical processing and piezoelectric processing, using a magnetic field generating member and a magnetic sensitive element common to inertial measurement and vibration measurement. Since it is not necessary to add, inertia and the frequency of contact can be detected with a simple configuration that is suitable for downsizing.

  Although the contents of the present invention have been specifically described above with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on the basic technical idea and teachings of the present invention. That is obvious.

  In the above embodiment, the transmission pin is configured to contact the weight that is a part of the flexible support portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the flexible pin other than the weight is flexible. The transmission pin may be disposed so as to abut on a component (for example, an elastic beam) of the support portion or another member provided integrally with the flexible support portion.

  Further, the attachment mode of the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic sensitive element is not particularly limited. It is also possible to provide without a weight, and a magnetic sensitive element may be attached to the flexible support part side, and a magnetic field generating member may be attached to the case side.

  Further, the configuration of the flexible support portion is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified such as the presence or absence of a weight and the shape of an elastic beam. For example, the function as a triaxial inertial sensor is not necessarily required, and the elastic beam may be further simplified.

  The field of application of the present invention is not limited to the field of health promotion. Therefore, for example, it should be applied to the electrical / electronic equipment field where it is necessary to detect the fall, vibration, and count of products containing electronic parts, and the logistics field that targets articles that require consideration for impact and pressure. Is also possible.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the motion sensor which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the motion sensor which concerns on this Embodiment. Regarding the stopper member of the motion sensor, (a) shows the plane, and (b) shows the front. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the transmission pin of a motion sensor. It is a figure which shows the vicinity of the transmission pin in a motion sensor.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Motion sensor 3 Magnetic field generating member 5 Magnetic sensing element 7 Case 9 Flexible support part 23 Stopper member 27 Transmission pin

Claims (3)

A magnetic field generating member and a magnetic sensitive element provided so as to be sensitive to a magnetic field;
A case in which at least the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic sensitive element are stored, and one of them is integrally fixed and fixed;
A flexible support that supports the other of the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic sensing element so that the position of the other of the magnetically generating member and the magnetically sensitive element can be changed.
A motion sensor comprising a transmission pin that passes through the case and selectively transmits vibration to the flexible support portion. A cushion member is in contact with the transmission pin,
The cushion member allows contact with the flexible support part or an integral part thereof when the vibration is detected, and the transmission pin, and the flexible support part or an integral part thereof when no vibration is detected, A reaction force is applied to the transmission pin so as to separate the transmission pin.
The motion sensor according to claim 1. A stopper member that guides the sliding of the transmission pin and regulates the sliding amount to a predetermined amount is attached to the case.
The stopper member includes a contact state adjustment surface that is oriented in the same direction as the contact surface to be detected in the transmission pin.
The motion sensor according to claim 1.

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