JP2010071779A - Pedometer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct a measuring error in the number of steps by analysis of the acceleration measured by an acceleration sensor, when vibration in a frequency band of the vibration due to walking, which is not caused by the walking, is detected. <P>SOLUTION: A step number measuring part performs a Fourier transform of the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor and computes a spectrum (step S21b). When a vibrator is in operation ("in operation" at a step S21c), the measuring part subtracts from the computed spectrum a spectrum computed by performing the Fourier transform of the acceleration which is measured by the acceleration sensor when the device stands still and when the vibrator is in operation (step S21d), and counts up the measured number of steps by using the subtracted spectrum (step S21f). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedometer device built in a mobile device such as a mobile phone, and more particularly to a correction process for a step count measurement error.

  Analyzing the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, for example, sampling the acceleration and converting it into a spectrum, for example, a frequency distribution and the intensity of each frequency component, analyzing the obtained spectrum, 2. Description of the Related Art Pedometer devices that measure the number of steps of a possessed person are known. A pedometer device incorporated in a mobile communication device is also known. Here, the mobile communication device has a built-in vibrator, and operates, that is, vibrates, the vibrator for incoming call notification or the like.

  Since the period of vibration of the device due to walking is long, in order to detect vibration due to walking (change in acceleration), it corresponds to the number of steps per predetermined time, or identification of vibration due to walking from similar vibrations, etc. However, the measured acceleration may be sampled at a low sampling frequency (about several tens of Hz). Here, as is well known, in order to restore vibration, it is necessary to sample at a sampling frequency that is twice or more of the vibration frequency, and in many cases, sampling is performed at a sampling frequency that is twice the maximum frequency. .

  On the other hand, the vibration frequency of the vibrator is about 100 to 200 Hz. Therefore, if acceleration is sampled at the low sampling frequency while the vibrator is operating, aliasing may occur, resulting in a step count measurement error.

  In order to prevent the occurrence of aliasing, it is only necessary to sample the measured acceleration at a high sampling frequency (about several hundred Hz) that can restore the vibration caused by the vibrator. However, if sampling is always performed at a high sampling frequency, an increase in power consumption used for step count measurement is inevitable. Since the pedometer device is naturally a portable device that operates with the amount of power stored in the battery, an increase in power consumption is not preferable.

Therefore, a method for measuring the number of steps with a small error by sampling at a low sampling frequency is known. That is, a method in which measured acceleration is passed through a low-pass filter before sampling to prevent aliasing due to vibration of the vibrator, and a method of selecting a vibrator that vibrates at a vibration frequency where the alias does not coincide with the vibration frequency due to walking Furthermore, it is a method of sampling at a plurality of low sampling frequencies and measuring the number of steps when vibration due to walking is detected by any sampling (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-153795 (4, 9, 17, 19 pages, FIG. 2)

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, if vibration in the frequency band of vibration caused by walking that is not caused by walking is detected by analysis of acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, the measurement error of the step count is generated. There was a problem that could not be corrected.

  The vibration not caused by walking occurs, for example, when the casing of the device resonates due to vibration of a vibrator. Since the vibration frequency of the vibrator is not one ideal frequency, and because the housing of the device cannot be prioritized to have a structure that prevents resonance as a result of constraints such as downsizing of the device, this Resonance is difficult to avoid completely.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. When the vibration of the frequency band of the vibration caused by walking is detected by the analysis of the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, the number of steps is measured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pedometer device that corrects errors.

  In order to achieve the above object, a pedometer device according to the present invention includes an acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration, a step count measuring means for measuring the number of steps, and an acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor when the device is stationary. , And the step count measuring unit measures the number of steps by analyzing an acceleration obtained by subtracting the acceleration stored in the acceleration storage unit from the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor. And

  According to the present invention, when vibration in the frequency band of vibration caused by walking that is not caused by walking is detected by analysis of acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, the measurement error of the number of steps can be corrected.

  Embodiments of the pedometer device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication device such as a PDA or a small PC having a communication function with a mobile phone or a mobile phone network in which a pedometer device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. This mobile communication device includes an antenna 12a that transmits and receives radio signals between a control unit 11 and a base station (not shown) of a mobile phone network, a communication unit 12b, a transmission and reception unit 13, a speaker 14a, Microphone 14b, call unit 14c, display unit 15, input unit 16, pedometer device including step count measuring unit 21, acceleration sensor 22 and vibrator vibration storage unit 23 including memory 21a, vibrator 24, and music playback Unit 25 and a music content storage unit 26.

  Here, the function of each part of the mobile communication apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

  The control unit 11 controls the entire mobile communication device. For example, when the input unit 16 is operated in advance to set the vibrator 24 to vibrate when an incoming call is received, when the incoming signal is received, the vibrator 24 is An intermittent period, for example, an operation time T1 and a stationary time T2 are repeatedly operated to notify an incoming call.

  The communication unit 12b outputs the high frequency signal received via the antenna 12a to the transmission / reception unit 13, and transmits the high frequency signal output from the transmission / reception unit 13 via the antenna 12a.

  The transmitter / receiver 13 amplifies, converts and demodulates the high-frequency signal from the communication unit 12b, when the signal is a digital audio signal, to the call unit 14c, and when the signal is a control signal including an incoming signal Each is sent to the control unit 11. On the other hand, a high frequency signal obtained by modulating, frequency converting, and amplifying the digital audio signal output from the call unit 14c and the control signal output from the control unit 11 is sent to the communication unit 12b.

  The calling unit 14c converts the digital audio signal output from the transmission / reception unit 13 into an analog audio signal, amplifies the analog signal, and sends the analog signal to the speaker 14a. In addition, the analog audio signal output from the microphone 14 b is amplified, converted to a digital audio signal, and transmitted to the transmission / reception unit 13.

  The display unit 15 uses, for example, an LCD or an organic EL, and characters and numbers input by operating the input unit 16, a message indicating mail reception, an incoming call, an indicator such as a radio wave state, etc. Is displayed.

  In addition, when the display unit 15 is configured by an LCD, a backlight is provided, and this backlight is controlled when there is no input from the input unit 16, no incoming mail, or no incoming call for a predetermined time. The unit 11 is turned off or turned on with reduced brightness.

  The input unit 16 includes a plurality of number keys for inputting numbers and characters, a plurality of function keys, a power key, and the like.

  The step count measurement unit 21 samples the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 at a predetermined sampling frequency, and calculates a spectrum indicating the frequency distribution of the acceleration change and the intensity for each frequency component. And whenever it determines with the calculated spectrum being the spectrum by walking, the step count memorize | stored in the memory 21a in the step count measurement part 21 is counted up.

  Here, the sampling frequency is a low frequency (about several tens of Hz. Hereinafter, simply referred to as a low frequency or a low sampling frequency) for detecting an acceleration change due to walking. In order to detect an acceleration change due to vibration, the frequency may be set to a high frequency (about several hundred Hz. Hereinafter, simply referred to as a high frequency or a high sampling frequency).

  Then, the step counting unit 21 displays the number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the step counting unit 21 on the display unit 15 according to an instruction from the control unit 11 based on a predetermined key operation of the input unit 16, and Reset the stored number of steps to zero.

  The acceleration sensor 22 measures axial accelerations in three axial directions orthogonal to each other. Then, each of the three axial accelerations is squared and added, the acceleration is calculated by obtaining the square root of the addition result, and the calculated acceleration is sent to the step counting unit 21.

  In the above description, the step count measurement unit 21 measures the number of steps based on the acceleration calculated by the acceleration sensor 22. Because the mobile communication device is small and the owner of the device measures the number of steps, for example, the mobile communication device is placed in the owner's pocket and easily changes direction, so the measured axial acceleration is This is because it is meaningless to measure the number of steps accurately.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the step count measuring unit 21 receives the axial accelerations in the three axial directions measured by the acceleration sensor 22, and analyzes the three axial accelerations to measure the number of steps. Also good.

  The vibrator vibration storage unit 23 stores vibrator vibration information that is a spectrum calculated by the step count measurement unit 21 based on the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 when the vibrator 24 is operated in a stationary state. In this calculation, the sampling frequency is a low frequency.

  The vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 is calculated when the device is in a stationary state, but when the step count measuring unit 21 performs an operation of measuring the number of steps, the device It is desirable that the spectrum be calculated in the state in which it is placed, for example, when the device is in the holder's pocket, or when the device is in the bag. This is because a spectrum calculated in a state where resonance similar to the resonance of the housing of the apparatus when the step count measuring unit 21 measures the number of steps is desirable.

  Here, since the vibrator vibration information is calculated using a low sampling frequency, the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24 is not included, and the casing of the apparatus resonates due to the vibration of the vibrator 24. Shows the vibration generated by. In addition, the vibration frequency alias of the vibrator 24 is included. Here, the alias is a nonexistent spectrum generated by sampling acceleration having a frequency exceeding the sampling frequency.

  The vibrator vibration information may be stored when the device is shipped, or may be newly stored or updated based on a predetermined key operation of the input unit 16. By being stored based on the predetermined key operation of the input unit 16, it depends on the owner of the device, for example, it depends on the position of the pocket where the owner puts the device and the attribute of the cloth in the pocket. The spectrum calculated from the acceleration is stored, and the number of steps can be measured more accurately.

  The vibrator 24 is a component in which an eccentric weight is fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor, and vibrates as the motor rotates. Further, the vibrator 24 vibrates by causing the mover to reciprocate at a predetermined period by a magnetic force.

  The music reproduction unit 25 decodes the encoded audio signal included in the music content stored in the music content storage unit 26, and generates the obtained audio signal from the speaker 14a.

  In addition, the music playback unit 25 requests the control unit 11 to operate the vibrator 24 in response to a control signal for operating the vibrator 24 in the music content stored in the music content storage unit 26.

  The music content stored in the music content storage unit 26 includes a signal obtained by encoding an audio signal and a control signal for operating the vibrator 24. Here, the control signal includes time information having the same configuration as the time information for controlling the time of sound generation in order to operate the vibrator 24 in synchronization with the sound generation.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23. The vibrator vibration information includes information in which the frequency 23a, which is a spectrum of acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 when the vibrator 24 vibrates, and the strength 23b are associated with each other. One spectrum, that is, the frequency component and the strength of the frequency component. In this example, a spectrum having a frequency of f1 Hz and an intensity of P1 and a spectrum having a frequency of f2 and an intensity of P2 are measured and stored.

  The vibrator vibration information is a spectrum calculated by sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 at a low sampling frequency for detecting an acceleration change due to walking. The frequency f1 and the frequency f2 are either Is also the frequency of the vibration frequency band of walking. As will be described later, the spectrum of the frequency f1 is a spectrum due to the resonance of the casing, and the spectrum of the frequency f2 is an example of a spectrum due to the alias of the vibration frequency of the vibrator 24.

  Hereinafter, an operation in which the step count is measured by the step count measuring unit 21 of the mobile communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(First operation in which the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps)
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a first operation in which the step count measuring unit 21 measures the number of steps. The first operation is an operation in which the step count measurement unit 21 measures the number of steps by sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 only at a low sampling frequency.

  First, the step counting unit 21 starts an operation of measuring the number of steps by a predetermined key operation of the input unit 16, and resets the number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the step counting unit 21 to 0 (step S21a).

  The step counting unit 21 samples the acceleration measured over a predetermined time by the acceleration sensor 22 at a low sampling frequency, performs Fourier transform, and calculates the spectrum of the acceleration (step S21b).

  The step counting unit 21 requests the control unit 11 to determine whether or not the vibrator 24 is operating (step S21c). If it is in operation, the vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 is subtracted from the spectrum calculated in step S21b (step S21d), and it is determined whether or not the subtracted spectrum is a walking spectrum. (Step S21e). On the other hand, when not operating in step S21c, this subtraction is not performed, and it is determined whether or not the spectrum calculated in step S21b is a walking spectrum (step S21e).

  When it is determined that the spectrum is a walking spectrum, the step counting unit 21 counts up the measured number of steps to the number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the step counting unit 21 (step S21f), and calculates the acceleration spectrum of step S21b. Move on to the operation to calculate. On the other hand, if it is determined that the spectrum is not a walking spectrum, the operation proceeds to the operation of calculating the acceleration spectrum in step S21b without counting up the number of steps.

  When there is an end instruction by a predetermined key operation of the input unit 16, the step count measuring unit 21 ends the first operation for measuring the number of steps according to the control from the control unit 11 based on the instruction, and the step count measurement The number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the unit 21 is displayed on the display unit 15 (not shown).

  Here, an example of the spectrum calculated or referred to by the operation of the step count measuring unit 21 during the first operation of the step count measuring unit 21 described above will be described. 4A is the spectrum calculated in step S21b, FIG. 4B is the vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4C is the step S21d. Each spectrum after subtraction is shown.

  In step S21b, the step counting unit 21 calculates the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 at a low sampling frequency for detecting the acceleration change due to walking, as shown in FIG. 4A. The spectrum is limited to a low frequency band, which is a vibration frequency band for walking, and does not include a high frequency included in the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24. The calculated spectrum includes a spectrum having a frequency P1 and a strength Px, and a spectrum having a frequency f2 and a strength P2.

  FIG. 4B shows that the vibrator vibration information includes a spectrum having a frequency P1 and a strength P1, and a frequency f2 having a strength P2 and a spectrum. FIG. 4C shows a difference spectrum obtained by subtracting the spectrum shown in FIG. 4B from the spectrum shown in FIG. 4A, and the intensity of the spectrum at the frequency f1 subtracts P1 from Px. In this example, the intensity of the spectrum at the frequency f2 becomes 0 by subtracting P2 from P2.

  In the above description, the step counting unit 21 determines whether or not the vibrator 24 is operating in step S21c after calculating the acceleration spectrum over a predetermined time in step S21b. According to this process, the spectrum of step S21b may be calculated from the acceleration during the operation time T1 and the acceleration during the stationary time T2 when the vibrator 24 is operating in an intermittent cycle. There is a possibility that errors will increase in the measurement of the number of steps.

  Therefore, in order to accurately measure the number of steps, the step count measurement unit 21 enters the operation time T1 from the control unit 11 to determine whether the vibrator 24 is in operation, and the vibrator 24 starts operation. A notification that the vibrator 24 has finished its operation may be received by an interruption after entering the stationary time T2.

  The acceleration at which the spectrum is calculated at a time in step S21b is either the acceleration when the vibrator 24 is operating for the operation time T1 or the acceleration when the vibrator 24 is not operating for the rest time T2. On the other hand, the spectrum is calculated by dividing the measured acceleration by time. As a result, the step count measuring unit 21 measures the number of steps when the operation of the vibrator 24 starts and when the operation ends.

  According to the method of calculating the spectrum by dividing the measured acceleration according to the time, the step counting unit 21 increases the number of processes for receiving notification that the vibrator 24 has started operating and the operation has ended. The number of steps can be measured more accurately.

(Second operation in which the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps)
The second operation in which the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps is similar to the first operation described above. Therefore, in the second operation in which the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps, the same operation steps as those in the first operation already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The difference between the second operation in which the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps and the first operation described above is in the process of sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22. That is, in the first operation, the step count measurement unit 21 performs sampling at a low sampling frequency, but in this second operation, sampling at a low sampling frequency and sampling at a high sampling frequency are used separately. Therefore, in the second operation, although the operation of the step counting unit 21 is complicated, there is a tendency that the number of steps can be measured more accurately.

  When the step counting unit 21 measures the number of steps by the second operation, the vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 is in a state where the apparatus is stationary as in the case described in the first operation. This is a spectrum calculated by sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 when the vibrator 24 is operating. However, the second operation is different in that the spectrum is sampled at a high sampling frequency.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 when the step count measurement unit 21 measures the number of steps by the second operation. The configuration of the vibrator vibration information is the same as the configuration described with reference to FIG.

  In the vibrator vibration information shown in FIG. 5, f1 and P1, f3 and P3, and f4 and P4 are stored as a spectrum that is a set of the frequency 23a and the strength 23b. Note that the spectrum having the frequency 23a of f3 and the spectrum having the frequency 23a of f4, which are frequencies in the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24, may not be stored as vibrator vibration information, as will be described later.

  In addition, the spectrum including the frequency 23a and the strength 23b having the frequency f2 and P2 included in the vibrator vibration information of FIG. 2 is not stored. However, this spectrum is a sampling with low acceleration due to the operation of the vibrator 24. This is because the alias is included in the spectrum obtained by sampling at the frequency. On the other hand, the spectrum in which the frequency 23a is a set of f1 and the intensity 23b is P1 is based on the acceleration caused by resonance of the casing of the apparatus and is calculated regardless of the sampling frequency. Stored as information.

  FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a second operation in which the step count measuring unit 21 measures the number of steps. The step counting unit 21 requests the control unit 11 to determine whether or not the vibrator 24 may be operating after the operation start step of Step S21a (Step S21m). Here, there is a possibility that the vibrator 24 is operating in the following cases.

  First, there is a case where an incoming signal is received by the control unit 11 and no telephone call is made. Furthermore, it may be limited to the case where the setting for operating the vibrator 24 for incoming call notification is stored in the control unit 11. Moreover, it is a case where the setting for operating the vibrator 24 to notify the incoming call is stored in the control unit 11. Further, it may be limited to a case where a telephone call is not performed.

  Further, this is a case where music content is being played back by the music playback unit 25. In addition, it may be limited to the case where the music content being reproduced is included in the music content as an attribute of the music content to operate the vibrator 24. Further, when the music content includes that the music content being reproduced does not operate the vibrator 24 as an attribute of the music content, there may be no possibility that the vibrator 24 is operating. Furthermore, this is a case where the vibrator 24 is operating.

  If it is determined in step S21m that there is no possibility that the vibrator 24 is operating, the step counting unit 21 performs the processes of steps S21b, S21e, and S21f described with reference to FIG. Then, the number of steps is measured, and the operation moves to an operation of determining whether or not the vibrator 24 in step S21m is in operation.

  On the other hand, if there is a possibility that the vibrator 24 is operating in step S21m, the step counting unit 21 samples the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 over a predetermined time at a high sampling frequency, and The result is Fourier transformed to calculate a spectrum (step S21n).

  Next, the step count measuring unit 21 determines whether or not the vibrator 24 is operating (step S21o). This determination is the same operation as step S21c of the first operation. When the vibrator 24 is in operation, the step counting unit 21 is calculated from the spectrum calculated in step S21n by sampling with a high sampling frequency described with reference to FIG. 5, and is stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23. The spectrum which is the vibrator vibration information is subtracted (step S21p).

  In this subtraction, when the vibrator vibration information does not include the spectrum of the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24, the step count measurement unit 21 calculates the frequency that is the spectrum of the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24 from the spectrum calculated in step S21n. The spectrum in which 23a is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency threshold is excluded. This is because the spectrum in this frequency band tends to be less effective for measuring the number of steps.

  On the other hand, when the vibrator 24 is not operating, the step count measuring unit 21 determines whether or not the spectrum calculated in step S21n is a walking spectrum without performing this subtraction (step S21q). The determination in step S21q is the same as the operation in step S21e of the first operation.

  When it is determined that the spectrum is a walking spectrum, the step count measuring unit 21 counts up the number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the step count measuring unit 21 (step S21r), and the vibrator 24 in step S21m. It moves to the operation | movement which determines whether there exists possibility that operation | movement is in progress. The operation for counting up the number of steps in step S21r is the same as the operation in step S21f of the first operation.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the spectrum is not a walking spectrum, the step count measurement unit 21 proceeds to an operation of determining whether or not the vibrator 24 in step S21m may be operating without counting up the number of steps.

  When there is an end instruction by a predetermined key operation of the input unit 16, the step counting unit 21 ends the second operation of measuring the number of steps according to the control from the control unit 11 based on the instruction, and the step counting The number of steps stored in the memory 21a in the unit 21 is displayed on the display unit 15 (not shown).

  An example of the spectrum calculated or referred to by the operation of the step counting unit 21 during the second operation of the step counting unit 21 described above will be described. 7A is the spectrum calculated in step S21n, FIG. 7B is the vibrator vibration information stored in the vibrator vibration storage unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7C is the step S21p. Each spectrum after subtraction is shown.

  The step counting unit 21 samples the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor 22 at step S21n at a high sampling frequency for detecting the acceleration change due to the vibration of the vibrator 24. Therefore, FIG. 7A is calculated. The spectrum indicates not only the frequency of the vibration band of walking but also the frequency of the vibration band of the vibrator 24. It also indicates that the spectrum of the frequency f2 that is an alias is not included.

  FIG. 7B shows that the vibrator vibration information is composed of spectra of frequency f1, frequency f3, and frequency f4. FIG. 7 (c) shows a difference spectrum obtained by subtracting the spectrum shown in FIG. 7 (b) from the spectrum shown in FIG. 7 (a). As a result of the subtraction, the intensity of the spectrum at the frequency f1 is reduced. In addition, it shows that the intensity of the spectrum of the frequency f3 and the frequency f4 included in the vibration frequency band of the vibrator 24 has become zero.

  The spectrum shown in FIG. 7C is the same as the spectrum shown in FIG. 4C obtained by the first operation. However, according to the second operation of the step count measuring unit 21, as described above, there is a possibility that the number of steps can be measured more accurately than in the first operation.

  If there is an error in determining whether or not the vibrator 24 is operating in step S21o, the acceleration when the vibrator 24 is operating and the acceleration when the vibrator 24 is not operating are calculated. When the spectrum is obtained by conversion at the same time, since the spectrum calculated in step S21n does not include an alias, the second operation of the step counting unit 21 is more accurate than the first operation. You can measure the number of steps.

  In the above description, the factor that causes vibration in the frequency band of vibration caused by walking that is not caused by walking by the analysis of acceleration is the vibration of vibrator 24, but is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a predetermined vibration for notifying that the mobile communication device is in a normal state or a vibration based on a notification sound. Further, it may be a predetermined vibration around the mobile communication device, vibration based on ambient noise, or vehicle vibration.

  If these vibrations are, for example, predetermined vibrations for notifying that the mobile communication device is in a normal state or predetermined vibrations around the mobile communication device, these vibrations are always detected. Therefore, for example, the step counting unit 21 does not need to perform an operation of determining whether or not the vibrator 24 in step S21c of the first operation is in operation, and always performs an operation of subtracting the vibrator vibration information in step S21d. Just do it.

  In the above description, the vibrator 24 operates for notifying incoming calls and accompanying the reproduction of music content. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vibrator 24 may operate according to an instruction from the step count measuring unit 21 in order to support appropriate walking to the owner of the device.

  When the step counting unit 21 operates the vibrator 24, the step counting unit 21 does not request the control unit 11, and determines whether or not the vibrator 24 in step S21m of the second operation may be operating. Is possible. That is, after a request for operating the vibrator 24 is made, it is determined that there is a possibility of being in operation.

  Further, when only the step count measuring unit 21 operates the vibrator 24, the step count measuring unit 21 determines that there is no possibility of being operated after the operation of the vibrator 24 is stopped. Similarly, for example, it is possible to determine whether or not the vibrator 24 in step S21c of the first operation is in operation.

  In the above description, the music playback unit 25 plays back the music content stored in the music content storage unit 26, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, video content may be played, an image may be displayed on the display unit 15, and sound may be generated from a speaker.

  Although the above description has been made using an example in which the pedometer device is mounted on a mobile communication device, the present invention can be applied to any device that measures the number of steps. Further, the step count measuring unit 21 may be mounted by a CPU and a program executed by the CPU, or by a dedicated processor and a program executed by the dedicated processor stored in a dedicated ROM. . The present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the vibrator vibration information which concerns on embodiment of this invention (1st example). The flowchart of the 1st operation | movement of the step count measurement part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the spectrum calculated or referred during the 1st operation | movement of the step counting part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of a structure of the vibrator vibration information which concerns on embodiment of this invention (2nd example). The flowchart of the 2nd operation | movement of the step count measurement part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the spectrum calculated or referred during the 2nd operation | movement of the step counting part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 14a Speaker 15 Display part 16 Input part 21 Step count measurement part 21a Memory 22 Acceleration sensor 23 Vibrator vibration storage part 23a Frequency 23b Strength 24 Vibrator 25 Music reproduction part 26 Music content storage part

Claims (7)

An acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration;
A step counting means for measuring the number of steps;
Acceleration storage means for storing acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor when the device is stationary,
The pedometer device characterized in that the step count measuring means analyzes the acceleration obtained by subtracting the acceleration stored in the acceleration storage means from the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, and measures the number of steps. The acceleration storage means stores an acceleration spectrum measured by the acceleration sensor when the device is stationary.
The step count measuring means analyzes the spectrum obtained by subtracting the acceleration spectrum stored in the acceleration storage means from the acceleration spectrum measured by the acceleration sensor, and measures the number of steps. Pedometer device. An acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration including acceleration generated by the operation of the vibration generator;
A step counting means for measuring the number of steps;
Acceleration storage means for storing acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor when the vibration generating device is operating and the device is stationary;
The pedometer device characterized in that the step count measuring means analyzes the acceleration obtained by subtracting the acceleration stored in the acceleration storage means from the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, and measures the number of steps. The acceleration storage means stores a spectrum of acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor when the vibration generator is operating and the apparatus is stationary.
4. The step count measuring unit measures a step count by analyzing a spectrum obtained by subtracting an acceleration spectrum stored in the acceleration storage unit from an acceleration spectrum measured by the acceleration sensor. Pedometer device. When the vibration generating device is operating, the step count measuring unit analyzes the acceleration obtained by subtracting the acceleration stored in the acceleration storage unit from the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor, and measures the number of steps. 4. The pedometer device according to claim 3, wherein when the generating device is not operating, the step count is measured by analyzing the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor. An acceleration sensor for measuring acceleration including acceleration generated by the operation of the vibration generator;
A step counting means for measuring the number of steps;
Acceleration storage means for storing a spectrum calculated by sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor at a first sampling frequency when the vibration generator is operating and the apparatus is stationary. And
When the vibration generating device is operating, the step count measuring unit is configured to store a spectrum stored in the acceleration storage unit from a spectrum calculated by sampling the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor at the first sampling frequency. When the vibration generator is not operating, the acceleration measured by the acceleration sensor is sampled at a second sampling frequency lower than the first sampling frequency. Analyze the calculated spectrum to measure the number of steps,
The first sampling frequency is a sampling frequency for calculating a spectrum capable of restoring the vibration of the vibration generator,
The pedometer device according to claim 2, wherein the second sampling frequency is a sampling frequency for calculating a spectrum capable of restoring walking vibration. The pedometer device according to claim 3 or 6, wherein the vibration generating device is a vibrator.

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