JP2009123034A - Body motion detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an error margin between the actual number of body motions and the counted number of body motions. <P>SOLUTION: Body motions are detected in body motion detection periods set at predetermined intervals, and the body motions are counted upon continuous detection of the body motions. On this occasion, even when no body motion is detected in one arbitrary body motion detection period, the body motions are counted if a body motion is detected in the next body motion detection period. When no body motions are detected in either of at least two consecutive body motion detection periods, continuous detection of body motions is negated. When continuous detection of body motions does not last for a predetermined determination period, walking is negated and the body motion count value is reset to the initial value or preceding count value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a body motion detection device.

  One of the body motion detection devices is a pedometer. The pedometer detects the acceleration of the pedestrian in the vertical direction using an acceleration sensor, and counts the number of steps (body movement) based on the change in the detected value. In the case of such a pedometer, a change in acceleration caused by vibrations when operating the pedometer or vibrations when attaching or detaching the pedometer is erroneously determined as a change in acceleration due to walking, There may be an error in the counted step count. In order to avoid this, walking is detected when a change in acceleration that is regarded as walking continuously is detected for a predetermined determination period, or when a change in acceleration that is regarded as walking is detected for a predetermined number of times. Pedometers that are determined to be present are known.

  For example, when a predetermined number of signals from the walking sensor do not continue, it is determined that walking is stopped, and within a predetermined time immediately after it is determined that walking is stopped, the presence or absence of the start of walking is determined using the first reference value, and the predetermined time After the lapse, a pedometer is known that uses the second reference value to determine the presence or absence of walking (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, each signal determined to be within the first reference cycle range among the walking signals is counted as one step, and among the signals outside the first reference cycle range, the signals within the second reference cycle range A pedometer is known in which a predetermined number of signals are counted as a predetermined number of steps when it is determined that a predetermined number of signals has continued (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-283340 A JP 2005-309692 A

  However, in the conventional pedometer described above, the change in acceleration is not sufficient even though walking is actually continued in the middle of the determination period until it is determined that the user is in a walking state. , One step detection may be leaked. Conventional pedometers normally determine that walking is continuing while changes in acceleration due to walking occur continuously at intervals of less than one second. In this case, if the detection of one step is missed, the interval from the previous detection of acceleration change to the current detection of acceleration change will exceed 1 second. Is determined to have been interrupted. If a conventional pedometer determines that walking is interrupted during the determination period, it discards the number of steps counted so far and detects the next change in acceleration. There is a problem that the error between the numerical value and the displayed step value is large.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a body motion detection device capable of reducing an error between the actual number of body motions and the counted number of body motions in order to eliminate the above-described problems caused by the prior art. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the body motion detection device according to the invention of claim 1 detects body motion for each body motion detection period set at a predetermined interval, and the body motion continues. In a body motion detection device that counts body motion based on detection, even when body motion is not detected in any one body motion detection period, when body motion is detected in the next body motion detection period, The body movement is counted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body movement detecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the body movement is continued when no body movement is detected in any of at least two consecutive body movement detection periods. It is characterized in that it is not detected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the body movement detecting device determines that the person is not walking when the continuous body movement detection is not continued for a predetermined determination period.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a body movement detecting device according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the body movement is detected during the next body movement detection period when no body movement is detected in any one body movement detection period. The above-described determination period is newly started at the time when is detected.

  In addition, the body movement detecting device according to the invention of claim 5 resets the body movement count value to the initial value or the previous count value when it is determined that the vehicle is not walking in the invention of claim 3 or 4. Features.

  According to the present invention, even when body motion is not detected in any one body motion detection period, body motion is counted when body motion is detected in the next body motion detection period. Therefore, even if body movement actually occurs continuously, even if a body motion detection failure occurs for some reason, counting continues, so the deviation of the count value is only the amount of the detection failure. Become.

  According to the body motion detection device of the present invention, there is an effect that an error between the actual number of body motions and the counted number of body motions can be reduced.

  Exemplary embodiments of a body motion detection device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Hardware configuration of body motion detection device)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a body motion detection device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the body motion detection device 11 includes a three-axis acceleration sensor that can detect accelerations in three different directions (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction). Here, the three-axis acceleration sensor includes an X-axis acceleration sensor 12 that detects acceleration in the X-axis direction, a Y-axis acceleration sensor 13 that detects acceleration in the Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in the Z-axis direction. It is shown as 14. A well-known sensor can be used as the acceleration sensor. The X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are directions specific to the body motion detection device 11 and change with changes in the posture (direction and inclination) of the body motion detection device 11.

  Further, the body motion detection device 11 determines whether or not the subject motion is the body motion of the subject carrying the body motion detection device 11 based on the output signal of the three-axis acceleration sensor, and the processing device 15 that counts the body motion is provided. I have. The detailed configuration of the processing device 15 will be described later. The body motion detection device 11 includes a display device 16 that displays the body motion counted by the processing device 15. The display device 16 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel and a liquid crystal driving circuit.

(Functional configuration of processing equipment)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the processing device of the body movement detection device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the processing device 15 includes an X-axis analog / digital conversion unit 21, a Y-axis analog / digital conversion unit 22, a Z-axis analog / digital conversion unit 23, an acceleration acquisition unit 24, and a cosine peak value detection unit 25. , A lower chord peak value detection unit 26, a peak difference detection unit 27, a threshold determination unit 28, a flag control unit 29, a display counting unit 30, a switching unit 41, an internal counting unit 42, a count updating unit 43, and an interruption detection unit 44. Yes. These functional units may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by executing a program with a CPU or the like.

  The X-axis analog / digital conversion unit 21, the Y-axis analog / digital conversion unit 22, and the Z-axis analog / digital conversion unit 23 are respectively connected to the X-axis acceleration sensor 12 and the Y-axis acceleration sensor via input terminals 31, 32, and 33. 13 and the Z-axis acceleration sensor 14, and analog voltage signals output from these sensors are sampled at a predetermined cycle and converted into digital data. It is desirable that the X-axis analog / digital conversion unit 21, the Y-axis analog / digital conversion unit 22, and the Z-axis analog / digital conversion unit 23 sample each sensor output signal at the same timing.

  The acceleration acquisition unit 24 acquires the magnitude of acceleration excluding the influence of gravitational acceleration based on the output values of the analog / digital conversion units 21, 22, and 23 for each axis. The magnitude of the acceleration is repeatedly increased and decreased as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing changes in acceleration acquired by the acceleration acquisition unit. In FIG. 3, acceleration data obtained by synthesizing the acceleration in the X-axis direction, the acceleration in the Y-axis direction, and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction is shown as a waveform. Instead, it is discrete data sampled at a predetermined period.

  The upper string peak value detection unit 25 detects a peak value (referred to as an upper string peak value) when the magnitude of the acceleration acquired by the acceleration acquisition unit 24 switches from an increasing tendency to a decreasing tendency. In the acceleration waveform shown in FIG. 3, peaks indicated by reference numerals 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74 are first-crest peak values. In order to detect the upper string peak value, the upper string peak value detection unit 25 performs, for example, the following processing. The crest peak value detection unit 25 stores the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24 in a buffer, compares the stored value of the buffer with the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24, and Update the stored value of the buffer with the larger value. When the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24 becomes smaller than the stored value of the buffer, the upper chord peak value detecting unit 25 sets the stored value of the buffer at that time as the upper chord peak value.

  The lower chord peak value detection unit 26 detects a peak value (referred to as a lower chord peak value) when the magnitude of the acceleration acquired by the acceleration acquisition unit 24 switches from a decreasing tendency to an increasing tendency. In the acceleration waveform shown in FIG. 3, the peaks indicated by reference numerals 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71 and 73 are the lower chord peak values. In order to detect the lower chord peak value, the lower chord peak value detecting unit 26 performs, for example, the following processing. The lower chord peak value detection unit 26 stores the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24 in a buffer, compares the stored value of the buffer with the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24, and Update the stored value of the buffer with the smaller value. When the acceleration value output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24 becomes larger than the stored value of the buffer, the lower chord peak value detecting unit 26 sets the stored value of the buffer at that time as the lower chord peak value.

  The peak difference detection unit 27 calculates the difference between the lower chord peak value detected by the lower chord peak value detection unit 26 and the upper chord peak value detected by the upper chord peak value detection unit 25. At that time, the peak difference detection unit 27 may calculate the difference between the lower chord peak value and the immediately following upper chord peak value, or may calculate the difference between the upper chord peak value and the immediately following lower chord peak value. . FIG. 3 shows an example in which the difference between the lower chord peak value and the immediately upper chord peak value is calculated. The threshold value determination unit 28 compares the difference between the lower chord peak value and the upper chord peak value calculated by the peak difference detection unit 27 with a preset threshold value, and determines whether body motion is detected based on the result. Determine. For example, the threshold determination unit 28 determines that body movement has been detected when the difference between the lower chord peak value and the upper chord peak value is greater than the threshold.

  When it is determined that the body motion is detected by the threshold determination unit 28, the flag control unit 29, for example, when the value of the acceleration data output from the acceleration acquisition unit 24 becomes zero for the first time, the body motion detection flag Turn on. This is because the vicinity of the upper chord peak value and the lower chord peak value is easily affected by noise or the like, so that the body motion detection flag is turned on while avoiding this. In FIG. 3, the triangle mark indicates the timing when the body motion detection flag is turned on, and the numbers below (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) indicate the number counted as body motion.

  Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the difference between the first lower chord peak 61 and the first upper chord peak 62, the difference between the third lower chord peak 65 and the third upper chord peak 66, and the fourth lower chord peak 67. And the fourth upper chord peak 68, the sixth lower chord peak 71 and the sixth upper chord peak 72, and the seventh lower chord peak 73 and the seventh upper chord peak 74 are larger than the threshold. Therefore, when the acceleration data value becomes zero for the first time after the first cosine peak 62, the third cosine peak 66, the fourth cosine peak 68, the sixth cosine peak 72, and the seventh cosine peak 74. Thus, the body motion detection flag is turned on. On the other hand, since the difference between the second lower chord peak 63 and the second upper chord peak 64 and the difference between the fifth lower chord peak 69 and the fifth upper chord peak 70 are smaller than the threshold value, the body motion detection flag remains off. . In addition, the flag control unit 29 switches the body motion detection flag off when a predetermined period has elapsed after turning on the body motion detection flag.

  The display counting unit 30 includes a counter, and increments the count value every time a signal (assumed to be an on signal) indicating that the body motion detection flag is turned on is input from the switching unit 41. Data of the count value of the display counting unit 30 (referred to as display count value) is sent to the display device 16 via the output terminal 34.

  The internal counting unit 42 includes a counter, and increments the count value every time an ON signal is input from the switching unit 41. The internal counting unit 42 sends count value data to the counting update unit 43 in response to a count update instruction from the interruption detection unit 44. The internal counting unit 42 is reset to the initial value immediately after the body motion counting process is started or by an internal counting reset instruction from the interruption detecting unit 44.

  The switching unit 41 switches whether or not the display counting unit 30 counts the number of times the body motion detection flag is turned on in response to a switching instruction from the interruption detection unit 44. The switching unit 41 is on the side where the display counting unit 30 does not count immediately after the body motion counting process of the body motion detecting device 11 is started, that is, in the initial state. While the switching unit 41 is on the side where the display counting unit 30 does not count, the display counting unit 30 is stopped. Therefore, in the following description, the state where the switching unit 41 is on the side not counting (switched) in the display counting unit 30 is expressed as being on the display count stop side (switched), and is on the display count stop side. Is expressed as a display counting stop state.

  The count updating unit 43 adds the count value data sent from the internal counting unit 42 to the display count value data. As a result, the number of body movements detected by the internal counting unit 42 while the switching unit 41 is on the display counting stop side but not counted by the display counting unit 30 is displayed as the display count value. Reflected.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the interruption detection unit. As shown in FIG. 4, the interruption detector 44 includes a first timer 51, a first period determiner 52, a second timer 53, a second period determiner 54, and an interrupt determiner 55. The first timer 51 is connected to the flag controller 29 via the input terminal 56. The first time measuring unit 51 is constituted by a timer, and when the body motion detection flag is turned on, the timer value at that time (the first time measuring timer value) is output, reset to the initial value, and timed again. Start. Therefore, the first time counting unit 51 measures the period from when the body motion detection flag is previously turned on to when it is turned on this time (referred to as the on period).

  The first period determination unit 52 determines whether or not the first timer value output from the first timer 51 is equal to or less than a value corresponding to a preset first period (referred to as a first period value). The determination result is passed to the interruption determination unit 55. Moreover, the 1st time period determination part 52 instruct | indicates reset to the 2nd time measuring part 53 by a time measurement reset instruction | indication, when a 1st time measuring timer value is larger than a 1st period value. Here, when the walking is assumed, the first period is a period of about a period of body movement caused by slow foot movement, for example, 1 second. Therefore, the case where the first clock timer value is equal to or less than the first period value corresponds to the case where walking is continued without interruption. On the other hand, in the first step when the walking is resumed after the walking is interrupted, the on-period becomes longer due to the interruption of the walking, and therefore the first timer value becomes larger than the first period value.

  The second period determination unit 54 determines whether or not the first clock timer value is equal to or less than a value corresponding to a preset second period (referred to as a second period value), and determines the determination result as interruption. Pass to part 55. Here, the second period is longer than the first period. When walking is assumed, the second period is sufficiently long, for example, 1.5 seconds, so that it is difficult to advance one step without overdoing it. Therefore, when walking is assumed, the case where the first timekeeping timer value is larger than the second period value is a case where walking may be regarded as being interrupted. If the first timekeeping timer value is larger than the first period value and less than or equal to the second period value, it is suspected that walking is continuing. Here, the suspicious situation that walking is continued is because the body movement flag is not turned on for some reason, even though walking is actually continued, and the detection of one step is leaked. This is because it can be considered that the time required for one step becomes longer than 1 second due to variations in the time required for one step during a very slow walking of about 1 second.

  The second timer 53 includes a timer, is reset to an initial value by a timer reset instruction from the first period determination unit 52, and starts timing. That is, the second time counting unit 53 starts counting the determination period for determining that the walking is continuous when the situation in which the walking is doubtful (including the situation where the walking is considered to be interrupted) is entered. The second time measurement unit 53 notifies the interruption determination unit 55 of time-up when a predetermined determination period, for example, 6 seconds elapses, after starting the time measurement.

  When the interruption determination unit 55 obtains a determination result from the first period determination unit 52 that the first timekeeping timer value is larger than the first period value, the interruption determination unit 55 passes the output terminal 57 to the switching unit 41 to the display count stop side. A switching instruction for switching is issued. When the interruption determination unit 55 obtains a determination result from the second period determination unit 54 that the first timekeeping timer value is larger than the second period value, the interruption determination unit 55 resets the count value to the internal counting unit 42 via the output terminal 58. An internal count reset instruction is issued to

  When the second timer unit 53 is notified of the time-up in the state where the instruction to switch to the display counting stop side is issued, the interruption determination unit 55 sends the count value to the internal counting unit 42 via the output terminal 59. A count update instruction for outputting is issued. On the other hand, the interruption determination unit 55 does not issue the count update instruction when the second timer unit 53 is notified of the time-up while the switching instruction to perform the counting in the display counting unit 30 is issued. . That is, the count update unit 43 updates the display count value with the count value of the internal count unit 42 (referred to as the internal count value) only when the determination period elapses while the internal count unit 42 is counting only. To do.

  Further, when the time-out is notified from the second timing unit 53, the interruption determination unit 55 issues a switching instruction for causing the display counting unit 30 to perform counting to the switching unit 41 via the output terminal 57. In the following description, it is expressed that the switching unit 41 is on the side that causes the display counting unit 30 to perform counting (switching) is on the display counting operation side (switching), and the state on the display counting operation side is It is expressed as a display counting operation state.

(Body motion counting procedure)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a body motion counting process procedure of the body motion detection device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, when the body motion detection device 11 detects a change in acceleration, the body motion counting process is started. Next, when body motion is detected based on the change in acceleration acquired by the acceleration acquisition unit 24, the body motion detection flag is turned on by the flag control unit 29 (step S1: Yes). If the body motion cannot be detected in step S1, the body motion detection flag remains off, and the detection that the body motion detection flag is on is sampled and monitored at a predetermined period (step S1: No). When the body motion detection flag is turned on, the first timer 51 outputs the timer value at that time (first timer value), is reset to the initial value, and starts timing. On the other hand, when one body motion is detected, the acceleration sensor will swing twice, the body motion detection flag will turn on twice, and the body motion flag will turn on to prevent counting two body motions. After that, a count prohibition period during which the body motion detection flag is not counted for a certain period of time is provided.

  Next, the first period determination unit 52 determines whether or not the on period of the body motion detection flag is equal to or shorter than the first period (step S2). Here, since the body motion detection flag is turned on for the first time after the body motion counting process is started, the first timer value is an initial value. In this case, since the ON period is indefinite, the first period determination unit 52 considers that the ON period is longer than the first period (step S2: No), and issues a timing reset instruction to the second timing unit 53. Thereby, the second time measuring unit 53 starts measuring the determination period (step S3). Further, the interruption determination unit 55 issues a switching instruction on the display count stop side to the switching unit 41. As a result, the counting operation in the display counting unit 30 is stopped, and only the internal counting unit 42 performs counting.

  Next, the second period determination unit 54 determines whether or not the on period of the body motion detection flag is equal to or shorter than the second period (step S4). Here, since the body motion detection flag is turned on for the first time after the body motion counting process is started, the second period determination unit 54 determines that the on period is indefinite as in the case of step S2. Considering that it is longer than two periods (step S4: No), an internal count reset instruction is issued to the internal counter 42. Thereby, the internal count value is reset (step S5). Thereafter, the internal count value is incremented (step S6).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the determination period has ended (step S7). For a while after the start of the body motion counting process, the second timer 53 does not time up, so the determination period does not end (step S7: No). Therefore, the process returns to step S1 and waits for the body motion detection flag to be turned on next time. When the body motion detection flag is turned on again (step S1: Yes), it is determined whether or not the body motion detection flag is on or shorter than the first period (step S2). Here, it is assumed that the period is equal to or shorter than the first period (step S2: Yes). This state is a state in which the desired body movement continues. When walking is assumed, walking is in a continuous state.

  Again, it is determined whether or not the determination period has ended, that is, whether or not a time-up notification has been issued from the second timer 53 (step S12). Here, it is assumed that the processing has not ended, that is, the time-up notification has not yet been issued (step S12: No). In this case, since the switching unit 41 is on the display count stop side, only the internal count value is incremented (step S6). Then, it is determined whether or not the determination period has ended (step S7). If the determination period has not ended (step S7: No), the process returns to step S1.

  The period in which the operations so far are repeated is a determination period. During this determination period, the determination period ends when the second timer 53 times up in step S7. Up to this point, after the body motion counting process is started, a plurality of body motions detected during this determination period in one determination period are not vibrations due to operation or attachment / detachment of the body motion detection device 11, This is a flow when it can be determined that the desired body movement that is the original detection target is continuing. When walking is assumed, it is a flow in a case where it can be determined that walking is continued in one determination period.

  When the determination period ends (step S7: Yes), the interruption determination unit 55 issues a count update instruction to the internal counting unit 42. Thereby, the count value is output from the internal counter 42 (step S8). And the count update part 43 adds an internal count value to a display count value, and updates a display count value (step S9). Next, the display count value updated in step S9 is output (step S10). The display device 16 displays the updated display count value.

  When the determination period ends in step S7, the interruption determination unit 55 issues a switching instruction for switching to the display counting operation side to the switching unit 41. Thus, thereafter, both the internal counting unit 42 and the display counting unit 30 perform counting until the switching unit 41 is instructed to switch to the display counting stop side. When the body motion counting process is continued (step S11: No), the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, after returning from step S7 to step S1, when the ON period of the body motion detection flag is longer than the first period in the middle of the determination period (step S2: No), the first period determination unit 52 A time reset instruction is issued to the time measuring unit 53. Thereby, the second timer 53 is reset to the initial value again, and the determination period is started (step S3). That is, the determination period is restarted from the beginning.

  Next, the second period determination unit 54 determines whether or not the on period of the body motion detection flag is equal to or shorter than the second period (step S4). Here, it is assumed that the period is equal to or shorter than the second period (step S4: Yes). In this case, without resetting the internal counting unit 42, only the internal count value is incremented (step S6), and it is determined whether or not the determination period has ended (step S7). If the determination period has not ended (step S7: No), the process returns to step S1.

  And if the 2nd time measuring part 53 times up by step S7 in the middle of a determination period, a determination period will be complete | finished. Up to this point, the flow is when the suspicious situation that the desired body movement continues during the determination period and the determination period is repeated again. When walking is assumed, it is a flow in a case where it becomes a suspicious situation that walking is continued in the middle of the determination period. FIG. 6 shows the relationship among the body motion detection flag, the display count value, and the internal count value in this case. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, during the two determination periods, the display count value does not change, but the internal count value is continuously incremented. When the determination period ends, the internal count value is reflected in the display count value. In FIG. 6, the body movement detection flag indicated by the wavy line indicates that one step of detection has been leaked.

  Further, after returning from step S7 to step S1, in the middle of the determination period, when the ON period of the body motion detection flag is longer than the second period (of course, longer than the first period) (step S4: No), Since the interruption determination unit 55 issues an internal count reset instruction to the internal counting unit 42, the internal count value is reset (step S5). Then, the internal count value is incremented (step S6), and it is determined whether or not the determination period has ended (step S7). If the determination period has not ended (step S7: No), the process returns to step S1.

  Thereafter, when the second time measuring unit 53 times up in step S7 in the middle of the determination period, the determination period ends. Up to this point, since the desired body movement is interrupted during the determination period, the determination period is repeated again. When walking is assumed, this is a flow when walking is interrupted during the determination period. The relationship among the body motion detection flag, the display count value, and the internal count value in this case is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the display count value does not change during two determination periods. The internal count value returns to zero at the start of the second determination period due to the interruption of the body movement during the first determination period, and is incremented again from the restart of the body movement after the interruption. When the determination period ends, the internal count value is reflected in the display count value.

  After the determination period is completed and Steps S8 to S11 are performed, the process returns to Step S1 again. When the body motion detection flag is turned on (Step S1: Yes), the body motion detection flag on period is equal to or shorter than the first period. It is determined whether or not there is (step S2). If it is longer than the first period, it becomes the determination period again, and the above-described processing is repeated. Here, it is assumed that the period is equal to or shorter than the first period (step S2: Yes). Since the determination period has already ended (step S12: Yes), both the internal count value and the display count value are incremented (step S13, step S14). Then, the display count value is output (step S10), and the display count value is displayed on the display device 16. When the body motion counting process is continued (step S11: No), the process returns to step S1.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, even if the detection interval of body movement is longer than the first period during the determination period, the internal counting unit 42 is not reset unless the second period is exceeded. Since the counting in the counting unit 42 is continued, even if a body motion detection failure occurs during the determination period, the deviation in the count value is only the amount of the detection failure. Therefore, the error between the actual number of body movements and the counted number of body movements can be reduced. Also, for example, assuming a walk where the first period is 1 second and the second period is 1.5 seconds, the time required for one step is 0 during a very slow walk of about 1 second. Even if it varies for about .9 to 1.1 seconds, the internal count value is not reset if there is no detection omission, so that a count value close to the actual number of steps can be obtained.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, instead of providing the internal counting unit 42 and the display counting unit 30 separately, a single counter may be used. In this case, when the display counting stop state is entered, the count value of the counter until then is saved in the memory, the counter is used as the internal counting unit during the determination period, and is saved in the memory at the end of the determination period. The count value may be updated with the count value of the counter. Moreover, the 1st time measuring part 51 and the 2nd time measuring part 53 may be comprised by the separate timer, and may be comprised by the same timer.

  As described above, the body motion detection device according to the present invention is useful for detecting the body motion of a subject carried by the subject and is particularly suitable for a pedometer.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the body movement detection apparatus concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the processing apparatus of the body movement detection apparatus concerning this invention. It is a wave form diagram which shows the change of acceleration. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the interruption detection part of the body movement detection apparatus concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the body motion counting process procedure of the body motion detection apparatus concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the body movement detection flag by the body movement counting process procedure of the body movement detection apparatus concerning this invention, a display count value, and an internal count value. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the body movement detection flag by the body movement counting process procedure of the body movement detection apparatus concerning this invention, a display count value, and an internal count value.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Body motion detection apparatus 30 Display counting part 42 Internal counting part 43 Count update part 52 1st period determination part 53 2nd time measuring part 54 2nd period determination part

Claims (5)

In a body motion detection device that detects body motion for each body motion detection period set at a predetermined interval and counts body motion based on continuous detection of the body motion,
A body motion detection device that counts body motion when body motion is detected in the next body motion detection period even when body motion is not detected in any one body motion detection period.   The body motion detection device according to claim 1, wherein when no body motion is detected in any of at least two consecutive body motion detection periods, it is determined that body motion is not continuously detected.   The body motion detection device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection of continuous body motion does not continue for a predetermined determination period, it is determined that the vehicle is not walking.   4. The determination period is newly started when body motion is detected in the next body motion detection period when body motion is not detected in any one body motion detection period. 5. Pedometer.   5. The body motion detection device according to claim 3, wherein the body motion count value is reset to an initial value or a previous count value when it is determined that the vehicle is not walking.

Images