JP2008204083A - Pedometer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy-to-operate pedometer capable of automatically setting the length of stride and the like by estimating the kinds such as ordinary walking, exercise walking, and running. <P>SOLUTION: A variable amplification means 106 amplifies a detection signal from a walking sensor 101 and outputs it. A binarization means 107 binarizes the output signal of the variable amplification means 106 with a certain threshold value. A CPU 108 performs variable control of the amplification rate in a plurality of steps. In the detection period when the amplification rate is controlled to the maximum amplification rate, a binary signal corresponding to the detection signal is outputted from the binarization means 107, and in the determination period when the amplification rate is controlled to the other amplification rates, control is performed such that a binary signal is outputted or not outputted from the binarization means 107 depending on the level of the output signal. The output state of the binarization means 107 when the amplification is variably-controlled is detected, and according to the detection result, the kind of the user's movement behavior is estimated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedometer that measures the number of steps by detecting the movement of a user. In particular, the present invention relates to a pedometer that measures the number of steps in accordance with a plurality of types of moving operations.

  Conventionally, it is known that a stride is calculated in accordance with walking, exercise walking, running, and the like, and the stride is used for calculating a running distance, calorie consumption, and the like.

The pedometer described in Patent Document 1 measures a walking time and the number of steps when a user sets a specific distance, walks the specific distance, and calculates a step count from the walking time and the number of steps. .
However, according to the above prior art, the type of exercise must be input by the external input means every time it is used. Therefore, when different types of exercise are continued, the operation of the external input means is required during the exercise, which is convenient. Was bad.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-118410 (paragraphs 0015 to 0016, FIG. 3)

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pedometer that can estimate the type of movement of a user, is easy to operate, and is easy to use.

  The present invention relates to a pedometer including a sensor that outputs a detection signal whose level changes according to the type of movement operation of a user, and estimates the type of the movement operation based on the level of the detection signal from the sensor. And calculating means for calculating the walking related information of the user related to the moving action based on the set parameter, the setting value of the parameter being changed according to the estimation result by the estimating means There is provided a pedometer characterized by comprising calculation means for calculating the information.

  In the pedometer according to the present invention, the estimation means estimates the type of the movement operation based on the level of the detection signal output from the sensor with the level changing according to the type of the movement operation of the user, In calculating the walking related information of the user related to the movement operation based on the set parameter, the calculating means changes the setting value of the parameter according to the estimation result by the estimating means and changes the walking related information. calculate.

  Here, the estimating means is an amplifying means for amplifying and outputting the detection signal from the sensor, and a binarizing the output signal of the amplifying means with a constant threshold value. In the detection period in which the binarization means and the gain are variably controlled in a plurality of stages and controlled to the maximum gain, a binary signal corresponding to the detection signal is output from the binarization means, and the other gains A control period for controlling the output signal so as to output or not output a binary signal from the binarization means according to the level of the output signal, and the binarization when the amplification factor is variably controlled. And specifying means for detecting the output state of the means and specifying the type of the moving motion estimated according to the detection result.

  Here, the control means may variably control the gain in a plurality of stages periodically at a constant cycle composed of the detection period and the determination period.

  Here, it further comprises means for measuring time and means for counting the binary signal at the output of the binarizing means to count the number of steps, and the calculating means includes a time measured before the detection period, A pitch may be obtained from the counted number of steps, and a corrected number of steps in the determination period may be calculated from the pitch and a known time length of the determination period, and used for calculation of the walking related information.

  And a means for counting time and a means for counting the binary signal at the output of the binarizing means to count the number of steps, and the calculating means counts the time measured after the detection period. A pitch may be obtained from the number of steps, and the corrected number of steps in the determination period may be calculated from the pitch and a known time length of the determination period, and used for calculation of the walking related information.

  Further, the amplification factor may be variably controlled in three stages such that the output state of the binarization means is different corresponding to walking, exercise walking, and running as the moving operation.

  The parameter may be a step length of the user in the movement operation, and the walking related information includes at least one of a movement distance, a movement speed, and calorie consumption of the user in the movement operation. Good.

  According to the present invention, the type of the user's moving motion is estimated based on the level of the detection signal from the sensor, and the setting value of the parameter is changed according to the estimation result, and the user's walking related to the moving motion is related. Since the information is calculated, it is not necessary to manually set parameters one by one, and it is possible to provide a pedometer that can perform highly accurate measurement and is easy to use.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pedometer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a pedometer is a walking sensor (piezo element which is an acceleration sensor in the present embodiment) 101 that outputs a corresponding charge detection signal each time a user's movement is detected, and a detection signal from the walking sensor 101. Is converted into a corresponding voltage detection signal and output, charge-voltage conversion means 102, variable amplification means 106 that amplifies and outputs the detection signal from charge-voltage conversion means 102, and analog signal format from variable amplification means 106 Is provided with binarization means 107 for converting the detection signal into a detection signal in a digital signal format and outputting the detection signal. The walking sensor 101 is not limited to a piezo element, but is limited to one in which the output level of the detection signal changes in an analog manner according to the type of movement operation of the user.

  The pedometer includes a central processing unit (CPU) 108 that performs a step count and other calculation processing based on a detection signal from the binarization means 107, an operation switch, and the like, and performs various operations such as a step count start operation. Input means 109, display means 110 for displaying the measured number of steps, pitch, etc., sounding means 111 for sounding alarms, etc., generating a reference clock signal for CPU 108 and a signal that is a source of time signal when performing timekeeping operation Oscillating means 112 and storage means 113 are provided.

The storage unit 113 includes a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU 108 and a RAM that is used as a work area when the CPU 108 executes the program. The RAM stores data such as the measured number of steps, and parameters described later. Is stored.
In accordance with the operation of the input unit 109, the CPU 108 can measure time such as walking time based on the oscillation signal of the oscillation unit 112.

  The variable amplification means 106 has its amplification factor controlled in three stages according to a control signal from the CPU 108. In the present embodiment, the binarizing means 107 is constituted by a comparator, and the threshold value is fixed. The maximum amplification factor, the intermediate amplification factor, the minimum amplification factor (maximum amplification factor> intermediate amplification factor> minimum amplification factor), and the comparator threshold, which are the three-stage amplification factors of the variable amplifying means 106, are detected by the walking sensor 101. The output of the binarizing means 107 is set to change as follows according to the type of movement.

  If the walking sensor 101 detects a walk with a small amplitude of the detection signal when the variable amplification means 106 has the maximum amplification factor, the signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal from the walking sensor 101 by the variable amplification means 106 is binarized means. The binarization means 107 outputs a binary signal that is larger than the threshold value 107. If the walking sensor 101 detects exercise walking (walking or the like) and running with a large detection signal amplitude, the binarization means 107 naturally outputs a binary signal.

  On the other hand, when the variable amplification means 106 has the minimum amplification factor, if the walking sensor 101 detects traveling with a large detection signal amplitude, the signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal from the walking sensor 101 by the variable amplification means 106 is binary. The binarization unit 107 outputs a binary signal that is larger than the threshold value of the binarization unit 107. If the walking sensor 101 detects walking and exercise walking, the signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal from the walking sensor 101 by the variable amplifying means 106 becomes smaller than the threshold value of the binarizing means 107, and the binarizing means 107 A binary signal is not output.

  If the walking sensor 101 detects an exercise walk when the variable amplification means 106 has an intermediate gain, the signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal from the walking sensor 101 by the variable amplification means 106 is the threshold value of the binarization means 107. And the binarization means 107 outputs a binary signal. If the walking sensor 101 detects the running, the binarization means 107 naturally outputs a binary signal. If the walking sensor 101 detects walking, the signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal from the walking sensor 101 by the variable amplification means 106 becomes smaller than the threshold value of the binarization means 107 and the binarization means 107 outputs a binary signal. Is not output.

  The CPU 108 has an input terminal, and performs step count calculation processing based on the binary signal input from the binarization means 107 to this input terminal. The CPU 108 further includes a signal output control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106. By this control signal, the variable amplification means 106 is controlled to the maximum amplification factor in a certain detection period, and is controlled to the above-described minimum amplification factor in the determination period following the detection period, or changes from the above-mentioned minimum amplification factor to the intermediate amplification factor. Are controlled in the same way. The detection period and the determination period are controlled to be alternately repeated at a constant period. This control will be further described later with reference to FIG.

  In the detection period, as described above, if the walking sensor 101 detects the movement of the user, the binarization means 107 always outputs a binary signal. In the determination period, as described above, a binary signal is output or not output depending on the type of movement of the user, so that the CPU 108 monitors the output of the binarization means 107 in the determination period, and thus the movement of the user is monitored. The type can be estimated.

  The variable amplifying means 106, the binarizing means 107, and the CPU 108 constitute an estimating means, and the type of the movement operation of the user can be estimated based on the level of the detection signal from the sensor. The CPU 108 configures the specifying means and the calculating means, specifies the type of the movement operation of the user estimated according to the detection result of detecting the output state of the binarizing means when the gain is variably controlled, and The user's walking related information can be calculated by changing the parameter setting value according to the estimation result by the estimation means.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the pedometer according to the present embodiment. This processing is performed mainly by the CPU 108 loading a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 113 into the RAM of the storage unit 113 and executing it. FIG. 3 is an operation waveform diagram showing an operation of estimating the type of movement by the process of FIG. 2 when the user is continuously walking and the type of movement does not change. Hereinafter, the movement estimation operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to both drawings.

  Before starting the processing of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user sets the stride during his / her own walk, exercise walk and travel by the input means 109 and stores it in the storage means 113 as a table. When the user who wears the pedometer on his / her arm or the like starts the process by performing a start operation using the input unit 109, the CPU 108 first starts measuring time and turns on the power of the detection circuit (step S200). ). The initial value of the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 is set to the maximum amplification factor (indicated by A in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the amplitude of the output waveform from the amplifier that amplifies the sensor output is binarization means. It becomes larger than the threshold of 107. Accordingly, a binary signal is output from the output of the binarizing means 107 to the input of the CPU 108, and the CPU 108 counts the binary signal, thereby detecting the number of steps (step S201).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed for the timing determination to shift from the detection period to the determination period. If not, it is determined whether there is an end command. If there is an end command, the detection circuit is turned off and this process is performed. The process ends (steps S202, 240, 245). If there is no end command in step S240, the process returns to step S202 and is repeated until a predetermined time elapses.

  If it is determined in step S202 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 108 sets the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 to the minimum amplification factor (indicated by C in FIG. 3), shifts to the determination period, and a binary signal is input to the CPU 108. It is determined whether there is a certain time (T1) (steps S203 and 205). If there is a binary signal in step S205, it is determined that the vehicle is running, the running stride is read from the table and switched to the running stride, and then the gain of the variable amplifying means 106 is set to the maximum gain (A). Then, the detection of the number of steps based on the binary signal detected in the detection period and the determination period is ended (steps S206, 207, 220, 230). The time T1 is preferably 3 to 10 seconds.

  On the other hand, if there is no binary signal in step S205 (the example of FIG. 3 corresponds), the CPU 108 sets the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 to an intermediate amplification factor (indicated by B in FIG. 3). It is determined whether there is a value signal for a certain time (T2) (steps S214 and S215). If there is a binary signal in step S215, it is determined that the exercise walk is performed, and the step length for exercise walk is read from the table and switched to the step length for exercise walk. The step count detection based on the binary signal detected during the detection period and the determination period is completed (steps S206, 207, 220, 230). The time T2 is preferably 3 to 10 seconds.

  On the other hand, if there is no binary signal in step S215 (the example of FIG. 3 applies), the CPU 108 sets the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 to the maximum amplification factor (A), determines that it is walking, and sets the walking stride. After reading from the table and switching to the walking stride, the step count detection based on the binary signal detected in the detection period and the determination period is terminated (steps S224, 226, 227, 230).

  As described above, after estimating the type of movement and resetting the stride according to the result and detecting the number of steps, it is determined whether there is an end command, otherwise it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and If so, the process proceeds to the next determination period (steps S240 and 202).

  The above process is a case where the user is walking continuously. Hereinafter, the movement estimation operation according to the present embodiment when the user shifts from walking to exercise walking will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. explain. FIG. 4 is an operation waveform diagram showing an operation of estimating the type of movement by the process of FIG. 2 when the user shifts from walking to exercise walking.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the walk shifts to the exercise walk before the detection period, the CPU 108 determines that there is no binary signal in step S205 in the determination period, so the CPU 108 determines the gain of the variable amplification means 106 as the intermediate gain (B). To determine whether there is a binary signal at the input of the CPU 108 (steps S214 and S215). In the example of FIG. 4, since it is detected that there is a binary signal here, the CPU 108 determines that it is exercise walking in step S216, reads the stride for exercise walking from the table, switches to the stride for exercise walking, The amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 is set to the maximum amplification factor (A), and the number of steps is detected based on the binary signal detected in the detection period and the determination period (steps S216, 217, 220, 230). In the case of FIG. 4, the processing of steps S224, 226, 227 is not executed.

  Although illustration is omitted here, when traveling before the detection period (when shifting to traveling), the processing of steps S214, 215, 216, 217 and the processing of steps S224, 226, 227 are not executed.

  According to the pedometer of the present embodiment, it is estimated whether the type of the movement operation of the user is walking, exercise walking, or running based on the level of the detection signal from the sensor, and the step length is determined according to the estimation result. Since the setting value is automatically changed to the optimum value, there is no need for the user to manually set parameters during exercise, and more accurate measurements can be made for other walking related items such as calories burned, distance traveled, and traveling speed. Can be done about information. In addition, these effects can be obtained with a simple configuration of the variable amplification means.

  In the first embodiment, the number of steps is detected based on the binary signal detected in the detection period and the determination period, but in the detection period, the binary signal is variable so that the binary signal is input to the CPU 108 as long as the user is walking. Although an accurate step count can be obtained because the amplification factor of the amplifying means 106 is controlled, an accurate step count cannot be obtained in the determination period because a binary signal is not necessarily input to the CPU 108 depending on the user's exercise state. The present embodiment improves the above-described problems of the first embodiment, and performs a process of correcting the number of steps for a determination period in which a binary signal is not necessarily obtained in addition to the process according to the first embodiment. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the pedometer of the present embodiment. This processing is performed mainly by the CPU 108 loading a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 113 into the RAM of the storage unit 113 and executing it. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with respect to differences from the processing according to the first embodiment of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, in the determination period in which the amplification factor of the variable amplifying unit 106 is varied by the same processing as in the first embodiment in steps S503 to S520, the output of the binarizing unit 107 is not necessarily binary depending on the user's exercise state. Since no signal is obtained, after setting the amplification factor of the variable amplification means 106 to the minimum amplification factor for the determination period, the step detection in step S501 is continued to perform provisional step count, and after setting the stride, the provisional step count is terminated. (Steps S503, 504, and 525).

  In step S535, processing for correcting the number of steps temporarily counted in the determination period is performed. That is, the pre-determination pitch is calculated and stored from the measured time and the detected number of steps, the pre-determination pitch is estimated to have continued during the determination period, and the number of steps in the determination period is calculated to correct the number of steps. . Further, the walking related information can be calculated using the stride before determination. According to the present embodiment, the number of steps can be counted in the determination period based on the pitch before the determination, and there is no missing step count in the determination period. Also, various kinds of walking related information can be calculated for the determination period.

  In the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, a process for correcting the number of steps is performed in addition to the process in the first embodiment for a determination period in which a binary signal is not necessarily obtained. It will improve the problem.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the pedometer of the present embodiment. This processing is performed mainly by the CPU 108 loading a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 113 into the RAM of the storage unit 113 and executing it. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with respect to differences from the processing according to the first embodiment of FIG.

  In step S635, processing for correcting the number of steps in the determination period is performed. That is, the pitch after the determination is calculated and stored from the measured time and the detected number of steps, and the number of steps that can be regarded as the number of steps in the determination period is calculated from the pitch after the determination and the known times T1 and T2. Perform step correction. Further, the walking related information can be calculated using the determined stride. According to the present embodiment, the number of steps can be counted also in the determination period based on the pitch after the determination, and there is no missing step count in the determination period. Also, various kinds of walking related information can be calculated for the determination period.

  Furthermore, by calculating and storing the pitch before determination, the number of steps is corrected based on the pitch before determination for the first half of the determination period, and the number of steps is corrected based on the pitch after determination for the second half. It is conceivable that the number of steps is counted more accurately for the determination period by performing.

  In each of the above embodiments, the threshold of the binarizing unit is fixed and the amplification factor of the amplifying unit is variable, so that the output of the binarizing unit based on the detection signal from the sensor varies depending on the type of movement operation. Although configured as described above, the same function can also be achieved by fixing the amplification factor of the amplification means and making the threshold value of the binarization means variable.

  In each of the above embodiments, the example of a wristwatch type pedometer used by wearing on the user's arm has been described. However, the pedometer of the method used by wearing on the waist is stored and held in a bag or the like. The present invention can be applied to various pedometers such as a pedometer of a method used in a state and a pedometer with a built-in clock function.

  A pedometer with a method that is worn on the arm, a pedometer with a method that is worn on the waist, a pedometer that is used while being stored and held in a bag, a pedometer with a built-in clock function, etc. Applicable to various pedometers.

It is a block diagram of the pedometer which concerns on the 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pedometer which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement timing diagram of the pedometer which concerns on the 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement timing diagram of the pedometer which concerns on the 1st thru | or 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pedometer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pedometer which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 ... walk sensor 102 ... charge-voltage conversion means 106 ... variable amplification means 107 ... binarization means 108 ... CPU
109 ... input means 110 ... display means 111 ... reporting means 112 ... oscillation means 113 ... storage means 114 ... detection circuit

Claims (7)

In a pedometer equipped with a sensor that outputs a detection signal whose level changes according to the type of movement operation of the user,
Estimating means for estimating the type of the movement operation based on the level of the detection signal from the sensor;
A calculation means for calculating the user's walking related information related to the moving action based on a set parameter, wherein the information is calculated by changing a setting value of the parameter according to an estimation result by the estimation means. A pedometer comprising a calculating means. The estimation means includes
Amplifying means for amplifying and outputting the detection signal from the sensor, the amplification means having a variable amplification factor,
Binarizing means for binarizing the output signal of the amplifying means with a constant threshold;
In the detection period in which the amplification factor is variably controlled in a plurality of stages and the maximum amplification factor is controlled, a binary signal corresponding to the detection signal is output from the binarizing means, and the determination period in which the other amplification factors are controlled is Control means for controlling so that a binary signal is outputted or not outputted from the binarization means according to the level of the output signal;
A specifying unit for detecting a state of an output of the binarizing unit when the amplification factor is variably controlled, and specifying a type of the movement operation estimated according to the detection result;
The pedometer according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The pedometer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit variably controls the amplification factor in the plurality of stages periodically at a fixed period including the detection period and the determination period. Means for measuring time and means for counting the binary signal at the output of the binarizing means and counting the number of steps;
The calculation means obtains a pitch from the time measured before the detection period and the counted number of steps, and calculates the corrected number of steps in the determination period from the pitch and a known time length of the determination period. The pedometer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pedometer is used for calculating information. Means for measuring time and means for counting the binary signal at the output of the binarizing means and counting the number of steps;
The calculation means obtains a pitch from a time measured after the detection period and the counted number of steps, calculates a corrected number of steps in the determination period from the pitch and a known time length of the determination period, and the walking related information. The pedometer according to claim 2, wherein the pedometer is used for calculating the pedometer. 3. The amplification factor is variably controlled in three stages so that the output state of the binarization means is different corresponding to walking, exercise walking, and running as the moving operation. The pedometer as described in any one of thru | or 5. 2. The parameter according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a step length of the user in the movement operation, and the walking related information includes at least one of a movement distance, a movement speed, and a calorie consumption of the user in the movement operation. The pedometer according to any one of 6 to 6.

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