JP2013196442A - Step count measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a step count measuring device capable of reducing errors of step counts and displaying an accurate step count in real time even when slow walking or walking with feet hardly leaving the ground is performed.SOLUTION: The number of times of generation of walking detection signals is counted by a preliminary counter in a period during which a step count measuring device is not in a stationary state and which is before the lapse of a preliminary count period of a prescribed time length after getting out of the stationary state (Q120), and the number of times of generation of walking detection signals is counted by a normal counter in a period during which the step count measuring device is not in the stationary state and which is after the lapse of the preliminary count period after getting out of the stationary state (Q130). When the time during which walking is continuously not detected exceeds the continuity determination period of a prescribed time length, a count value of the preliminary counter is cleared (ST160). When the count value of the preliminary counter reaches a prescribed value, the count value of the preliminary counter is added to the count value of the normal counter and the count value of the preliminary counter is cleared (ST140).

Description

  The present invention relates to a step count measuring apparatus.

  In general, in a step count measuring apparatus, acceleration generated by the body movement of a user carrying the step count measuring apparatus is detected by an acceleration sensor, and the number of steps is counted based on the detected acceleration. However, even when the user is not walking, acceleration occurs due to body movements other than walking. For this reason, if no measures are taken, the number of steps is erroneously counted based on the acceleration generated regardless of the walking, and the number of steps based on the erroneous counting is added to the total number of steps. Therefore, the conventional step counting device counts the number of steps as follows. First, as a counter for counting the number of steps based on the acceleration, a normal counter in which the count value is displayed as the number of steps and a spare counter are provided. Then, during the preliminary counting period of a predetermined time length immediately after the user leaves the stationary state, the walking is counted by the preliminary counter. When the preliminary count period ends without returning to the stationary state, the count value of the preliminary counter is added to the count value of the normal counter and the normal count period is started. In the normal count period, the normal counter is counted.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the program executed by the CPU of the conventional step counting device. First, the CPU of the step count measuring apparatus acquires acceleration from an acceleration sensor provided in the step count measuring apparatus, and calculates combined acceleration data indicating the magnitude of the acceleration (step SD110).

  When step SD110 ends, the CPU executes stillness determination (step SD120) based on the combined acceleration data calculated in step SD110. In this stillness determination (step SD120), it is determined whether or not the state in which the combined acceleration data is continuously less than the threshold exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). When the determination result is “YES”, the user and the step counting device are regarded as being in a stationary state, the preliminary count value is cleared (step SD130), and the process returns to step SD110.

  If the determination result in step SD120 is “NO”, the flow proceeds to a pedometer count process (step SD140). In this pedometer counting process (step SD140), it is analyzed whether or not a peak having a sufficiently large size that can be regarded as an appearance of one-step walking has occurred in a series of synthetic acceleration data acquired up to now. Next, in step SD150, based on the analysis result in the pedometer counting process (step SD140), it is determined whether or not one step has been taken, that is, whether or not there is a need to count the number of steps. If this determination is “NO”, the flow returns to step SD110.

  If the determination result in step SD150 is “YES”, it is determined whether or not the current time belongs within the preliminary count period (SD160). Here, the preliminary count period is a period of a predetermined time length after the determination result of the still determination (step SD120) changes from “YES” to “NO”.

  If the current time is within the preliminary count period and the determination result in step SD160 is “YES”, the preliminary count value is incremented by 1 (step SD170), and the process returns to step SD110.

  On the other hand, if the determination result in step SD160 is “NO”, the current preliminary count value is added to the normal count value, and the preliminary count value is cleared (step SD180). Next, the normal count value is incremented by 1 (step SD190).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the end of step count measurement has been instructed. If the determination result is “YES”, the process ends. If it is “NO”, the process returns to step SD110 to repeat the above-described process. .

  According to this step count measuring device, if the determination result of the stillness determination (step SD120) becomes “YES” within the preliminary count period, the preliminary count value is cleared (step SD130). The preliminary count value generated by the above will not be added to the normal count value. Therefore, when an erroneous count of the number of steps is performed due to body movement other than walking, it is possible to prevent the count value due to the erroneous count from being added to the final count value of the number of steps.

JP 2009-123034 A

  However, in the above-described conventional step counting device, when the user performs an extremely slow walking or a sneaky walking, since the acceleration displacement is small during the preliminary counting period, the preliminary counting state is changed to the stationary state. Easier to transition. When the preliminary count state is changed to the stationary state, the preliminary count value is cleared. For this reason, every time the user repeats an extremely slow walk or a sneaky walk, the preliminary count value generated by walking is discarded without being added to the regular count value, and the error in the number of steps increases. There was a problem. In order to solve this problem, it may be possible to tighten the conditions for stillness determination. However, if the conditions for determining the stillness are strict, when the user performs an operation other than walking, the preliminary count value is easily counted by the operation other than walking, and the preliminary count value is erroneously added to the normal count value. There is a problem that the error of the number of steps at the time becomes large.

  Here, as a technique for reducing an error between the actual step count and the step count counted by the step count measuring apparatus, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. The body movement detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a display counting unit corresponding to the regular counter and an internal counting unit corresponding to the spare counter. Further, in this body motion detection device, the body motion detection flag is turned ON every time a change that can be regarded as an appearance of one step occurs in the output signal of the acceleration sensor. In the body motion detection device, the following processing is performed every time the body motion detection flag is turned on.

(1) When the time interval from when the body motion detection flag is turned on last time to when it is turned on this time is within a first period (for example, 1 second), the display counting unit counts the number of steps.
(2) When the time interval from when the body motion detection flag is turned on last time to when it is turned on this time is longer than the first period (for example, 1 second), the number of steps is counted by the internal counting unit.
(3) When the time interval from when the body motion detection flag is turned on last time to when it is turned on this time is longer than a second period (for example, 1.5 seconds) longer than the first period, the count value of the internal counting unit To clear.
(4) When the time interval from when the body motion detection flag is turned on last time to when it is turned on this time is longer than the first period, the measurement of the determination period (for example, 6 seconds) is started.
(5) When the counting of the determination period ends, the count value of the display counting unit is updated using the count value of the internal counting unit.

  According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the body motion detection flag is turned on at a time interval longer than the first period and shorter than the second period, the number of times the body motion detection flag is turned on is determined. It is counted by the internal counter, and when the determination period ends, the count value of the internal counter is reflected in the count value of the display counter. Therefore, the error between the actual number of steps and the number of steps counted by the body motion detection device can be reduced.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the body motion detection flag is turned ON, and whenever the time interval from the previous body motion detection flag ON timing to the current ON timing exceeds the first period, that time is started. The determination period is started. Therefore, for example, the user continues to walk slowly or sneakyly for a long time, and the time interval when the body motion detection flag is turned on maintains the length between the first period and the second period for a long time. In this case, there arises a problem that the count value of the internal counting unit is not reflected in the count value of the display counting unit for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and can reduce the error between the actual number of steps and the number of steps counted by the number of steps counting device even in a slow walking or a sneaky walking. And it aims at providing the step count measuring apparatus which can display the exact step count in real time.

  The present invention relates to an acceleration detection means for detecting acceleration and a control means for counting the number of steps based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means, and measuring the number of steps based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means. Stillness determination means for determining whether or not the apparatus is in a stationary state, and walking detection means for generating a walking detection signal in response to a change that satisfies a predetermined criterion in the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means. And having a preliminary counter and a regular counter whose count value is used for displaying the number of steps, and the step counting device is not in a stationary state, and a preliminary counting period of a predetermined length of time elapses after the stationary state is released. The preliminary counter is used to count the number of occurrences of the walking detection signal in the period before the step count is not stationary. , A time during which the walking detection signal is continuously generated during the preliminary counting period by counting the number of occurrences of the walking detection signal in the period after the preliminary counting period elapses after leaving the stationary state. Is cleared when the continuity determination period of a predetermined time length is exceeded, and when the possibility of walking is detected based on the generation state of the walking detection signal, There is provided a step counting device comprising control means for adding the count value of the counter to the count value of the regular counter.

  According to the present invention, when walking is performed at a time interval shorter than the continuity determination period while alternately repeating a stationary state and a non-stationary state, the number of occurrences of the walking detection signal is counted by the preliminary counter. In addition, when the possibility of walking is detected based on the generation mode of the walking detection signal, the count value of the spare counter is added to the count value of the normal counter, and the count value of the spare counter is cleared. For this reason, if the walking is slow or sneaky, if the walking is shorter than the continuity determination period, the number of steps can be counted by the spare counter, and the count of the spare counter The value can be reflected in the count value of the regular counter without delay.

It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the step count measuring apparatus 1 which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the program which the control part 12 of the step count measuring device 1 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the program. It is a state transition diagram which shows the transition of the internal state of the step count measuring device 1. 3 is a time chart showing a first operation example of the step count measuring apparatus 1. 6 is a time chart showing a second operation example of the step count measuring apparatus 1. 10 is a time chart showing a third operation example of the step count measuring apparatus 1. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the program which the control part of the step counting device which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the program which the control part of the step counting device which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart explaining the process which counts the step count in the conventional step count measuring apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a step count measuring apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The step count measuring device 1 is realized by, for example, a mobile phone provided with an acceleration sensor. As shown in FIG. 1, the step count measuring apparatus 1 includes an acceleration sensor 11, a control unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a display unit 14.

  The acceleration sensor 11 is, for example, a triaxial acceleration sensor that can detect triaxial acceleration. The acceleration sensor 11 detects acceleration components in three axial directions generated by body movements when a user wearing the step counting device 1 walks, and outputs acceleration data indicating each detected acceleration component. . The acceleration data output from the acceleration sensor 11 is sent to the control unit 12 via an interface such as I2C (INTER-INTEGRATED CIRCUIT). The control unit 12 is a CPU, for example, and executes a process of counting the number of steps based on the acceleration data output from the acceleration sensor 11 by executing a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 13. The display unit 14 is a means for displaying the number of steps counted by the step counting device 1, and is configured by, for example, an LCD (LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY; liquid crystal display).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a program for counting the number of steps executed by the control unit 12. As shown in FIG. 2, a program for counting the number of steps is executed by each module of the sensor controller unit 21, the synthesized acceleration data generation unit 22, the state transition control unit 23, the pedometer algorithm processing unit 24, and the count processing unit 25. It is configured.

  The sensor controller unit 21 is a driver that operates the acceleration sensor 11, causes the acceleration sensor 11 to periodically measure acceleration at a predetermined sampling period, and sequentially acquires acceleration data from the acceleration sensor 11.

  The combined acceleration data generation unit 22 is a module that combines the accelerations in the three-axis directions indicated by the acceleration data acquired from the acceleration sensor 11 and generates combined acceleration data indicating the magnitude of the combined acceleration.

  The pedometer algorithm processing unit 24 analyzes the past predetermined number of combined acceleration data generated by the combined acceleration data generating unit 22, and when a change that satisfies a predetermined standard occurs in the combined acceleration data, specifically, a series of This is a module that generates a walking detection signal when a sufficiently large peak that can be regarded as the appearance of one step of walking occurs in the combined acceleration data.

  The count processing unit 25 has a spare counter 31 and a regular counter 32. The regular counter 32 is a counter for counting the number of steps. The count value of the regular counter is displayed on the display unit 14 as the number of steps. The preliminary counter 31 is a counter for counting the number of steps at a stage where the possibility of walking is not detected.

  The state transition control unit 23 is a module that controls the transition of the internal state of the step count measuring apparatus 1. The state transition control unit 23 in the present embodiment has a function of determining whether or not the step counting device 1 is in a stationary state. Then, the state transition control unit 23 counts the walking detection signal in the period before the preliminary count period of a predetermined time length elapses after the step counting device 1 is not in the stationary state and has left the stationary state. The normal counter 32 counts the walking detection signal in a period after the preliminary count period elapses after the step counting device 1 is not in a stationary state and has left the stationary state. Further, the state transition control unit 23 clears the count value of the standby counter 31 when the time during which the walking detection signal does not continuously occur exceeds the continuity determination period having a predetermined time length. Further, when the state transition control unit 23 detects that the occurrence of the walking detection signal affirms the possibility of walking, the state transition control unit 23 adds the count value of the standby counter 31 to the count value of the normal counter 32, The count value of the counter 31 is cleared. Specifically, the state transition control unit 23 generates the possibility of walking when the walking detection signal is continuously generated without interruption and the count value of the standby counter 31 reaches a predetermined value without being cleared. Considered affirmed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the program executed by the control unit 12 of the step count measuring apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the internal state of the step count measuring apparatus 1 in the present embodiment. The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to these drawings.

  First, in the control unit 12, the sensor controller unit 21 acquires acceleration data from the acceleration sensor 11, and the combined acceleration data generation unit 22 calculates combined acceleration data indicating the magnitude of acceleration indicated by the acceleration data (step SA110). . As shown in FIG. 3, in this program, the process returns from step SA140, SA160, SA190, SA200 and SA230 to step 110, and step SA110 is repeated. In this program, standby instructions are arranged at various points in the program so that step SA110 is always repeated at a constant cycle (for example, 5 MS), but the illustration is omitted in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated. Has been.

  When step SA110 ends, the state transition control unit 23 executes continuous count invalidation determination (step SA120). In this continuous count invalidation determination (step SA120), it is determined whether or not the continuous count invalidation period, which is a period during which no walking detection signal is generated, has continued for a continuity determination period (for example, 5 seconds) having a predetermined time length. This walking detection signal is outputted in a pedometer counting process SA150 described later.

  If the continuous count invalid period has not reached the continuity determination period and the determination result in step SA120 is “NO”, the state transition control unit 23 advances the process to a still determination (step SA140).

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the continuous count invalidation determination (step SA120) is “YES”, the state transition control unit 23 maintains the current internal state, and the spare stored in the spare counter 31 in the count processing unit 25. The count value is cleared (step SA130), and the process proceeds to stillness determination (step SA140) (continuity invalidity determination ST160 and ST161 in FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, this continuity invalidity determination may be performed in both the preliminary count state Q120 and the stationary state Q110.

  Next, in stillness determination (step SA140), the state transition control unit 23 determines whether or not the combined acceleration data is less than the threshold value over a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). When this determination result is “YES”, the state transition control unit 23 considers that the step count measuring apparatus 1 is in a stationary state, transitions the internal state to the stationary state Q110 (stationary determination ST120 or ST150 in FIG. 4), and The process returns to step SA110.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the still determination (step SA140) is “NO”, that is, the predetermined time has not elapsed since the acquired synthetic acceleration data is equal to or greater than the threshold value or the synthetic acceleration data is less than the threshold value. In this case, the state transition control unit 23 advances the process to a pedometer count process (step SA150). Here, when the step count measuring apparatus 1 has left the stationary state and the determination result of the stationary determination (step SA140) has changed from “YES” to “NO”, the state transition control unit 23 changes the internal state to the stationary state Q110. To the preliminary count state Q120 (step start determination ST110 in FIG. 4).

  Next, in the pedometer counting process (step SA150), the state transition control unit 23 causes the pedometer algorithm processing unit 24 to analyze a series of synthetic acceleration data acquired so far. In this analysis, when it is determined that a peak having a sufficiently large size that can be regarded as an appearance of one step of walking has occurred in the latest synthesized acceleration data, the pedometer algorithm processing unit 24 outputs a walking detection signal. .

  Next, in the determination of necessity of counting (step SA160), the state transition control unit 23 determines whether or not the pedometer algorithm processing unit 24 has output a walking detection signal, that is, whether or not there is a need to count the number of steps. To do. Here, during the period when the user carrying the pedometer 1 is not walking and the walking detection signal is not output in the pedometer counting process SA150, the determination of necessity of counting (step SA160) is “NO”. Therefore, while this user is not walking, the first loop of step SA110 → step SA120 → step SA140 → step SA110, the second loop of step SA110 → step SA120 → step SA130 → step SA140 → step SA110, step The third loop process of SA110 → step SA120 → step SA140 → step SA150 → step SA160 → step SA110 or the fourth loop of step SA110 → step SA120 → step SA130 → step SA140 → step SA150 → step SA160 → step SA110 is performed. Repeated.

  On the other hand, when the user carrying the pedometer 1 is walking and the pedometer algorithm processing unit 24 outputs a walking detection signal, the determination result of the count validity determination (step SA160) is “YES”. In this case, the state transition control unit 23 advances the process to preliminary count period determination (step SA170).

  In this preliminary count period determination (step SA170), the state transition control unit 23 determines that the current internal state is the preliminary count state Q120 and the elapsed time from the exit from the stationary state (finally the determination result in step SA140 is “ It is determined whether or not (elapsed time since becoming “NO”) is within a preliminary count period (for example, 5 seconds) of a predetermined time length.

  When the determination result of the preliminary count period determination (step SA170) is “YES”, the state transition control unit 23 maintains the internal state in the preliminary count state Q120, and the count processing unit 25 stores the preliminary count value of the preliminary counter 31. Is incremented by 1 (step SA180). Then, the process proceeds to step count determination (step SA190).

  Next, in step determination (step SA190), the state transition control unit 23 determines whether or not the preliminary count value of the preliminary counter 31 in the count processing unit 25 has reached a predetermined number of steps (for example, 30 steps). If the preliminary count value has not reached the predetermined number of steps and the determination result of the step count determination (step SA190) is “NO”, the process returns to step SA110.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the step count determination (step SA190) is “YES”, it is considered that the user may be walking. Therefore, the state transition control unit 23 sends a preliminary count to the count processing unit 25. The value is added to the normal count value, and then the preliminary count value is cleared (step SA200), and the process returns to step SA110 (step number validity determination ST140 in FIG. 4).

  In the preliminary count state Q120, the elapsed time after exiting the stationary state exceeds the preliminary count period, and then the pedometer count process SA150 outputs a walking detection process, and the determination result of the necessity determination of the count (step SA160) is “ If “YES”, the determination result of the subsequent preliminary count period determination (step SA170) is “NO”. In this case, the state transition control unit 23 changes the internal state from the preliminary count state Q120 to the normal count state Q130 (preliminary count period expiration determination ST130 in FIG. 4), and the count processing unit 25 counts up the normal count value by one. (Step SA220), and the process proceeds to end determination (step SA230). In the normal count state Q130, when the process proceeds to the preliminary count period determination (step SA170), the determination result is “NO”, and the count processing unit 25 is incremented by 1 (step SA220). The process proceeds to end determination (step SA230).

  In the end determination (step SA230), it is determined whether or not the end of the step count measurement is instructed. If the determination result is “YES”, the process ends. If the determination result is “NO”, the process returns to step SA110. Then, the processing described above is repeated.

  5 to 7 are time charts showing first to third operation examples of the step count measuring apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. In the time charts of FIGS. 5 to 7, the circles shown on the time on the horizontal axis indicate walking detection signals, and the arrows indicate state transitions. 5 to 7, in order to clarify the correspondence with the state transition diagram of FIG. 4, the state transition in each diagram is expressed by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 4.

  In the first operation example shown in FIG. 5, a walk detection signal is generated after the transition from the stationary state Q110 to the preliminary count state Q120 by the walking determination ST110, and the preliminary count value is incremented. However, in this operation example, since the stationary determination ST120 occurs before the preliminary count period TA expires, the transition to the normal count state Q130 is not performed. In this operation example, after the gait detection signal is output, the continuity determination period TB expires without the gait detection signal being output while the stillness determination ST120 and the walking start determination ST110 are alternately repeated. The continuity invalidity determination ST160 is performed, and the preliminary count value is cleared. That is, since there is no continuity in the walking detection signal, this signal is not normally counted as being caused by an action other than walking.

  In the second operation example shown in FIG. 6, the walking detection signal is generated after the transition from the stationary state Q110 to the preliminary count state Q120 by the start determination ST110, and the preliminary count value is incremented. In this operation example, after the transition to the preliminary count state Q120, the preliminary count period TA expires without the stationary determination ST120, and the transition ST130 to the normal count state Q130 is performed.

  In the third operation example shown in FIG. 7, the walking start determination ST110 and the stillness determination ST120 are alternately generated, the preliminary count state Q120 is intermittently generated, and the walking detection signal is generated in each preliminary count state Q120. 3 is “YES”, and the determination result of step SA170 is “YES”, and the preliminary count value is incremented (step SA180). In addition, after the gait detection signal is generated, the next gait detection signal is generated before the continuity determination period TB elapses (that is, the determination result of step SA120 in FIG. 3 is “YES”). Therefore, the preliminary count value is not cleared (step SA130). In this operation example, the preliminary count value reaches the predetermined number of steps (30 steps), the determination result in step SA190 is “YES”, the preliminary count value is added to the normal count value, and then the preliminary count value is cleared. (Step SA200).

  In this third operation example, if the walking detection signal with the sign Q immediately after the second step determination ST110 from the left in the figure does not occur, the continuity determination period TB has expired thereafter. At this point, the preliminary count value is cleared.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the preliminary count value is not cleared only when the walking detection signal is continuously generated without leaving the time longer than the continuity determination period TB, and the preliminary count value is equal to the predetermined number of steps. The preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value when the value reaches the value. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when walking with a long interval between steps, such as a slow walking or a walking with a sliding foot, or a walking in which the displacement of acceleration is not sufficiently large, the actual number of steps and the number of steps are measured. The error in the number of steps counted by the device can be reduced. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value when the preliminary count value reaches the predetermined number of steps, the accurate number of steps can be displayed in real time.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, when the walking detection signal is continuously generated without interruption and the preliminary count value reaches a predetermined value without being cleared, it is considered that the possibility of walking is affirmed, and the preliminary count value Was added to the normal count value to clear the preliminary count value. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when it is detected that the walking detection signal is periodically generated, it is considered that the possibility of walking is affirmed, and the preliminary count value is added to the normal count value. To clear.

  Since the system configuration and the module configuration in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a program executed by the control unit of the step count measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this program, the periodicity determination (step SA165) and the process of reflecting the preliminary count value on the normal count value between the determination necessity determination (step SA160) and the preliminary count period determination (step SA170) of FIG. Step SA166) is provided. Also, in this program, the step count determination (step SA190) and the process of reflecting the preliminary count value in the regular count value (step SA200) of the program shown in FIG. 3 are deleted, and the preliminary count value is counted up (step SA180). After that, the process returns to step SA110.

  In the present embodiment, in the periodicity determination (step SA165), the time interval from the previous progress to periodicity determination (step SA165) to the current periodicity determination (step SA165) is measured, and the measurement result is used. Time interval data indicating a certain time interval is accumulated. In the periodicity determination (step SA165), it is determined whether periodicity is recognized in the generation timing of the walking detection signal based on the past predetermined number of time interval data stored so far. Specifically, it is determined that the generation timing of the gait detection signal is periodic when the variation in the past predetermined number of time interval data is within a predetermined threshold, and the periodicity is determined when it is not within the threshold. Judge that there is no.

  If the generation timing of the walking detection signal is not periodic (step SA165 = “NO”), the process proceeds to the preliminary count period determination (step SA170). On the other hand, when the generation timing of the walking detection signal is periodic (step SA165 = “YES”), the preliminary count value is cleared by adding the preliminary count value to the normal count value (step SA166), and the preliminary count period The process proceeds to determination (step SA170).

  In the present embodiment, in a situation where a walk with a long interval of one step is performed, such as a slow walk or a sneaky walk, and the stationary state and the preliminary count state are alternately repeated, Similarly, every time a walking detection signal is generated, step SA180 is executed, and the preliminary count value is counted up. When it is detected that the gait detection signal is generated periodically, and the determination result in step SA165 is “YES”, the preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value. Therefore, also in this embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained.

<Third Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the walking detection signal is continuously generated without being interrupted and reaches the predetermined value without clearing the preliminary count value, or in the second embodiment. As described above, when it is detected that the walking detection signal is periodically generated, it is considered that the possibility of walking is affirmed, the preliminary count value is added to the normal count value, and the preliminary count value is cleared.

  Since the system configuration and the module configuration in this embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a program executed by the control unit of the step count measuring apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this program, the step count determination (step SA190) of the program shown in FIG. 3 is replaced with the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195).

  In the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195) in the present embodiment, time interval data similar to the periodicity determination (step SA165) in the second embodiment is generated and stored. In the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195), a first determination is made as to whether or not periodicity is recognized in the generation timing of the walking detection signal based on the past predetermined number of time interval data stored up to now. Do. In the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195), a second determination is made as to whether or not the preliminary count value has reached a predetermined number of steps (for example, 30 steps). The determination result of the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195) is “YES” when the determination result of at least one of the first determination and the second determination is “YES”. When both the determination results of the determination of 2 are “NO”, it becomes “NO”. In this embodiment, when the determination result of the step count / periodicity determination (step SA195) is “YES”, the preliminary count value is added to the normal count value, and the preliminary count value is cleared (step SA200).

  According to the present embodiment, since both the first embodiment and the second embodiment are combined and the possibility of walking is detected, as in the case of slow walking or walking with a slippery foot. It is possible to more quickly detect that walking with a long interval of one step is being performed, and reflect this in the step count display.

<Other embodiments>
Although the first to third embodiments of the present invention have been described above, other embodiments are conceivable for the present invention. For example:

(1) In the first embodiment (FIG. 3), when the determination result of the step count determination (step SA190) is “YES”, the determination result of the continuous count invalidity determination (step SA120) is “YES” thereafter. On the condition that this is not the case, the threshold used for comparison with the preliminary count value in the step count determination (step SA190) may be reduced. For example, in the step count determination (step SA190), it is determined whether or not the preliminary count value has reached 30 steps. When the determination result is “YES”, the determination result of the continuous count invalidation determination (step SA120) is “ Unless “YES”, the step count determination (step SA190) determines whether or not the preliminary count value has reached, for example, 15 steps. Then, in the step count determination (step SA190) after the determination result of the continuous count invalid determination (step SA120) becomes “YES”, it is returned to determine whether or not the preliminary count value has reached 30 steps. If the step count determination (step SA190) is “YES”, it can be said that it is confirmed that the user is walking slowly. Henceforth, there is no problem even if the preliminary count value is quickly reflected in the normal count value. Because it is.

(2) In a situation where the user is walking slowly, the determination result of the periodicity determination (step SA165) of the second embodiment (FIG. 8) is “YES” each time the user advances one step, and the preliminary count value is This is reflected in the normal count value (step SA166). In this case, there is an advantage that the accurate number of steps is displayed in real time, but since the operation of reflecting the preliminary count value in the regular count value is frequently performed, the power consumption increases. Therefore, the flow shown in FIG. 8 may be changed as follows. First, after the determination result of the periodicity determination (step SA165) becomes “YES” and the preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value (step SA166), the periodicity determination (step SA165) is determined a predetermined number of times. When the result is “YES”, the preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value. Thereafter, when the determination result of the continuous count invalidation determination (step SA120) becomes “YES”, and thereafter the determination result of the periodicity determination (step SA165) becomes “YES”, the preliminary count value is immediately set. It is reflected in the regular count value. Thereafter, when the determination result of the periodicity determination (step SA165) becomes “YES” a predetermined number of times, the preliminary count value is reflected in the normal count value.

(3) In step SA165 of the second embodiment (FIG. 8), the current time interval data is predicted based on the past predetermined number of time interval data, and the predicted value of the time interval data and the time interval measured this time A prediction error with the data may be obtained, and it may be determined whether or not there is a possibility of walking depending on whether the prediction error falls within a threshold. For people who have a habit of walking, the time interval data is likely to change periodically. In this case, if the time interval data is predicted, the prediction error is likely to be low. Therefore, according to this aspect, the number of steps when a person with a habit of walking walks can be displayed accurately and in real time.

(4) In step SA195 of the third embodiment (FIG. 9), the first determination regarding the periodicity of the generation timing of the walking detection signal and the second determination regarding the preliminary count value are performed. Step SA200 may be executed when the first determination result is affirmative. In this case, the same effect as the second embodiment can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Step count measuring device, 11 ... Acceleration sensor, 12 ... Control part, 13 ... Memory | storage part, 14 ... Display part, 21 ... Sensor controller part, 22 ... Synthetic acceleration data generation part, 23 ... State transition control part, 24 ... Step count Total algorithm processing unit, 25 ... count processing unit, 31 ... preliminary counter, 32 ... regular counter.

Claims (5)

Acceleration detecting means for detecting acceleration;
Control means for counting the number of steps based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means, and determining whether the step counting device is in a stationary state based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means A determination unit; and a walk detection unit that generates a walk detection signal in response to a change that satisfies a predetermined criterion in the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit. A normal counter used, and the number of occurrences of the gait detection signal in a period before the pre-count period of a predetermined time length elapses after the step counting device is not in a stationary state and has exited the stationary state. Counting is performed by the spare counter, and the step counting device is not in a stationary state and the preliminary counting period is The normal count is used to count the number of occurrences of the walking detection signal in a period after the time has passed, and the time during which the walking detection signal does not continuously occur exceeds the continuity determination period of a predetermined time length in the preliminary counting period. When the count value of the preliminary counter is cleared and the possibility of walking is detected based on the generation mode of the walking detection signal, the count value of the preliminary counter is changed to the count value of the regular counter. And a control means for adding the step count measuring device.   When the count value of the preliminary counter reaches a predetermined value, the control means regards that the possibility of the walking being affirmed, and adds the count value of the preliminary counter to the count value of the regular counter. The step count measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the count value of the preliminary counter is cleared.   The control means considers that the possibility of the walking being affirmed when it detects that the generation timing of the walking detection signal is periodic, and counts the count value of the preliminary counter as the count of the regular counter 2. The step count measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a count value of the preliminary counter is cleared in addition to a value.   The control means considers that the effectiveness of walking is affirmed when the count value of the standby counter reaches a predetermined value or when it is detected that the generation timing of the walking detection signal has periodicity, 2. The step counting device according to claim 1, wherein the count value of the preliminary counter is cleared by adding the count value of the counter to the count value of the regular counter. A mobile phone including the step counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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