JP4939962B2 - Pedometer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedometer that measures the number of steps by detecting a user's walking (including exercise walking and running in this specification and the corresponding claims) wearing the apparatus of the present invention. In particular, the present invention relates to a pedometer having a function of setting a stride and calculating a walking distance based on the stride and the measured number of steps.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a pedometer for measuring the number of steps, which can set a step length and multiply the step length and the measured number of steps to calculate a walking distance.

  In such a pedometer, although the number of steps can be measured with a degree of satisfactory accuracy, the step length is not constant and changes depending on the walking condition and the user's condition. Is a problem. In view of this, it has been proposed that there is a certain correlation between the stride and the walking pitch, and an appropriate stride setting is performed by correcting the stride based on this correlation and the measured pitch.

  For example, in a pedometer that is a portable electronic device described in Patent Document 1, a user's walking pitch-step characteristic is calculated, the walking pitch-step characteristic is stored, and the user is determined according to the walking pitch-step characteristic. The walking distance is calculated by calculating the stride length.

  In the motion index measuring device described in Patent Document 2, the user's stride is stored in advance, and the stride stored in advance is corrected in accordance with the fluctuation of the user's running pitch or beat.

JP-A-7-333000 (paragraphs 0009 to 0010, FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 8) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-216293 (paragraphs 0033 to 0035, 0038 to 0043, FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9)

However, according to the applicant's experiment, there may be an exceptionally constant correlation between the stride and the walking pitch in a limited condition. However, a constant correlation is not always recognized. Absent. Therefore, the above-mentioned prior art based on the premise that a certain correlation is established between the stride and the walking pitch does not necessarily enable an appropriate stride setting, and results in an error in the walking distance calculated from the stride and the number of steps. It was.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to estimate that the user's stride has decreased due to fatigue based on the current and past walking times, and thereby set the appropriate stride and solve the above problems. Is to provide.

According to the present invention, in a pedometer comprising a setting means for setting a stride in advance, a counting means for counting the number of steps, and a distance calculation means for calculating a walking distance based on the set stride and the counted number of steps, Timekeeping means for measuring walking time, first storage means for storing walking time measured by the timekeeping means, and calculating a predetermined reference time based on a plurality of past walking times measured by the timekeeping means A time calculation means that determines whether or not the current walking time in the current walk exceeds the reference time, and if the current walking time exceeds the reference time, the setting of the stride set by the setting means There is provided a pedometer comprising setting change means for changing a value to a value smaller than the set value.
The setting change means determines whether or not the current walking time in the current walk exceeds the reference time, and if the current walking time exceeds the reference time, the setting value of the stride set by the setting means Is changed to a value smaller than the set value.

  Here, pitch calculation means for calculating the walking pitch from the counting result by the counting means and the measurement result by the time measuring means, second storage means for storing the walking pitch calculated by the pitch calculation means, and the pitch calculation And a reference pitch calculating means for calculating a predetermined reference pitch based on a plurality of past walking pitches calculated by the means, and the setting changing means further includes a current walking pitch in the current walking of the reference pitch. It is determined whether or not it is larger than a predetermined ratio, and when the current walking pitch is larger than the reference pitch, the set value of the stride is set from the set value regardless of the relationship between the current walking time and the reference time. Also, it may be configured to change to a small value.

  Further, the time calculation means calculates an average time that is an average value of a plurality of past walking times measured by the time measuring means as the reference time, and the setting change means is configured to calculate the current walking in the current walking. It is determined whether the time exceeds the average time, and if the current walking time exceeds the average time, the set value of the stride set by the setting means is changed to a value smaller than the set value. You may comprise.

  Further, the reference pitch calculating means calculates an average pitch that is an average value of a plurality of past walking pitches calculated by the pitch calculating means as the reference pitch, and the setting changing means further includes It is determined whether or not the current walking pitch is larger than a predetermined ratio of the average pitch. When the current walking pitch is larger than the average pitch, the current walking pitch is not related to the reference time regardless of the relationship between the current walking time and the reference time. You may comprise so that the setting value of a step may be changed into a value smaller than this setting value.

Further, the setting changing means determines whether or not the current walking time exceeds a predetermined ratio with respect to the average time, and if it exceeds, the current walking pitch is larger than a predetermined ratio of the average pitch. It may be configured to determine whether or not.
The predetermined ratio of the average pitch may be 1.05 times the average pitch.

The predetermined ratio may be 90%.
Further, the small value may be configured to be 80% or more and 90% or less of the set value.

  According to the present invention, if the current walking time in the current walking exceeds an average time that is an average value of the past walking times, it can be estimated that the user's stride has decreased due to fatigue. The step length can be set more appropriately by changing the preset step length to a smaller value, and the walking distance can be calculated more accurately based on the changed step length and the counted number of steps.

  The applicant of the present application has implemented the present invention in the following manner, paying attention to the correlation between fatigue and stride that the stride decreases when fatigue occurs, and that fatigue occurs when the walking time is prolonged. According to the experiment conducted by the applicant of the present application, a certain correlation is recognized between the walking time and the stride, and the following embodiments are based on this correlation.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a pedometer according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a pedometer corresponds to a walking sensor (acceleration sensor in the present embodiment) 101 that outputs a corresponding charge detection signal every time a measurement subject's movement is detected, and a detection signal from the walking sensor 101. Charge-voltage conversion means 102 that converts the voltage detection signal to output, filter means 105 that blocks a signal having a predetermined frequency or higher from the signal from charge-voltage conversion means 102, and amplifies the detection signal from filter means 105 Amplifying means 106 for outputting, and a binarizing means 107 for converting the detection signal in the analog signal format from the amplifying means 106 into a detection signal in the digital signal format and outputting it.

  The pedometer includes a central processing unit (CPU) 108 that performs a step count calculation process based on a detection signal from the binarization means 107, an operation switch, and the like, and performs various operations such as a step count start operation. Means 109, display means 110 for displaying the measured number of steps, pitch, etc., sounding means 111 for sounding alarms, etc., generating a reference clock signal for CPU 108 and a signal that is a source of a time signal when performing a timing operation. Oscillating means 112 and storage means 113 are provided. The storage unit 113 includes a ROM that stores a program executed by the CPU 108 and a RAM that is used as a work area when the CPU 108 executes the program. The RAM stores data such as the measured number of steps.

  The CPU 108 has an input terminal for receiving a detection signal, and performs a step count calculation process based on the detection signal input to the input terminal. The filter means 105 is configured to block signals having a frequency characteristic equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency for noise removal. The filter means 105 can be constituted by a band pass filter, or may be constituted by a combination of a low pass filter and a high pass filter. The binarizing means 107 is constituted by a comparator, and is configured to output a signal having a signal level equal to or higher than a predetermined reference value as a detection signal.

  The CPU 108, the input unit 109, and the RAM of the storage unit 113 can be used as a setting unit, and the set stride can be stored in the storage unit 113. The walking sensor 101, the charge-voltage converting means 102, the filter means 105, the amplifying means 106, the binarizing means 107, and the CPU 108 constitute a counting means, and the change in acceleration detected by the walking sensor 101 according to the user's walking. Based on this, walking can be detected and the number of steps can be counted. The CPU 108, the input means 109, and the oscillation means 112 constitute a time measuring means, and time such as walking time can be measured according to the operation of the input means 109. The CPU 108 constitutes a distance calculation means, a time calculation means, a setting change means, a pitch calculation means, and a reference pitch calculation means, calculates the walking distance by multiplying the set step length and the counted number of steps, and the measured past Calculating a reference time such as an average value of a plurality of walking times, changing a setting value of a step stored in the storage unit 113, calculating a pitch from the measured time and the counted number of steps, and It is possible to calculate a reference pitch such as the calculated average value of a plurality of past times. The RAM of the storage means 113 constitutes the first and second storage means, and the measured walking time and the calculated walking pitch can be stored.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the pedometer according to the present embodiment, mainly showing processing performed by the CPU 108 by loading a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 113 into the RAM of the storage unit 113 and executing it. Yes. In the following description, the pedometer according to the present embodiment is described as being used when traveling, but can also be used during walking or exercise walking.

  Before the processing by the pedometer of the present embodiment is performed, the user wears the pedometer on his / her arm or the like, operates the input means 109, and sets the step length to the pedometer, and travels. Data related to the user's travel is stored in the RAM of the storage means 113. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a RAM map of the RAM of the storage means 113, and shows a state in which travel-related data is stored.

  The running time and the number of steps are measured and counted according to the user's running, and the set step length, hour, minute, second, 1/100 second and the number of steps are stored. The average pitch is calculated and stored from the travel time and the number of steps, and the travel distance is calculated and stored from the number of steps and the set step length. In the example of FIG. 3, the average travel time and the average pitch in the past 10 travels are further calculated and stored.

  Hereinafter, processing of the present embodiment configured to change the initial setting value of the stride according to the current traveling time when used during traveling will be described.

  A user who wears the pedometer on his / her arm or the like performs a start operation using the input means 109, whereby the measurement of the number of steps is started, and at the same time, the CPU 108 responds to the start operation of the input means 109 in FIG. The processing of the embodiment is started.

  First, the CPU 108 determines whether or not the measured current traveling time exceeds the past average traveling time (step S200). As the past travel time, the average travel time in the past 10 travels can be used, but the number of samples is not limited to 10. If the current travel time does not exceed the past average travel time, the CPU 108 performs cumulative calculation of the travel distance using the set stride 1 and then determines whether a stop command has been issued (steps S210 and 212). As the set stride 1, a stride set by the user can be used. If there is a stop command, the CPU 108 saves the data and ends the process (step S208). If there is no stop command, the CPU 108 returns to the process of step S200.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S200 that the current travel time has exceeded the past average travel time, it can be estimated that the user's stride has decreased due to fatigue. By switching to the set stride 2, the travel distance is cumulatively calculated using the set stride 2, and it is determined whether there is a stop command, and the calculation is continued until there is a stop command (steps S202, 204, 206). As the set step 2, for example, a value of 80 to 90% of the set step 1 can be used. However, the set step 2 may be a value smaller than the set step 1 and suitable for fatigue, and is not limited to this value. By performing the process of step S202, the stride can be set more appropriately, and the calculation in step S204 can be made more accurate considering the fatigue of the user.

  On the other hand, if there is a stop command in step S206, the CPU 108 saves the data in the storage means 113 and ends this processing (step S208).

  According to the pedometer of the present embodiment, the user's fatigue is estimated based on the current traveling time measured during traveling and the average traveling time measured in the past. If it is estimated that the set stride is set to an appropriate value commensurate with fatigue, the mileage can be calculated more accurately. This embodiment can also be modified and implemented so that the re-set stride is used for calculation of other walking related information such as calorie consumption, travel distance, and travel speed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the pedometer according to the second embodiment, and mainly shows processing performed by the CPU 108 loading a program stored in the ROM of the storage unit 113 into the RAM of the storage unit 113 and executing it. ing.

  The processing by the pedometer of the present embodiment is obtained by adding steps S400 to 408 before the processing of the first embodiment, and the processing after step S200 is the same as the processing of the first embodiment, so that the description thereof will be simplified as appropriate. Or omit it. The point that the RAM map shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the storage means 113 before the processing of this embodiment is performed is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  A user who wears the pedometer on his / her arm or the like performs a start operation using the input means 109, whereby the measurement of the number of steps is started, and at the same time, the CPU 108 responds to the start operation of the input means 109 in FIG. The processing of the embodiment is started.

  First, when the user's travel is detected and the number of steps is measured, the CPU 108 cumulatively calculates the travel distance using the set step 1, and then the calculated current travel time is β times the average travel time in the past. Is determined (steps S400 and 402). As the past travel time, the average travel time in the past 10 travels can be used, but the number of samples is not limited to 10. As the value of β, 0.9 can be used, but it may be a value that can be determined that the current travel time has approached the past average travel time, and may be, for example, 0.85 or 0.95. . If the current running time does not exceed β times the past average running time, the CPU 108 determines whether there is a stop command. If there is a stop command, the CPU 108 saves the data and terminates the process. If not, the process returns to step S400 (steps S404 and S406).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S402 that the current travel time has exceeded β times the past average travel time, the CPU 108 can estimate that the current travel time has approached the past average travel time. It is determined whether the calculated current traveling pitch exceeds α times the past average traveling pitch (step S408). As the value of α, 1.05 can be used, but any value can be used as long as it can be determined that the current running pitch is larger than the past average running pitch, for example, 1.03 or 1.1. May be.

  When the current running pitch is larger than the past average running pitch, it is predicted that fatigue will occur earlier than when the pitch does not change. Therefore, when the CPU 108 determines in step S408 that the current travel pitch does not exceed α times the past average travel pitch, the determination process in step S200 is performed as in the first embodiment, but in step S408 the current travel pitch is determined. When it is determined that the traveling pitch exceeds α times the past average traveling pitch, the CPU 108 performs the processing after step S202 in the first embodiment regardless of whether or not the current traveling time exceeds the past average traveling time. By performing the same process as above, the mileage can be calculated more accurately by setting the stride appropriately for the predicted fatigue.

  According to the present embodiment, when the current travel pitch is larger than the past average travel pitch, the set step length even if the current travel time is close to the past average travel time to some extent, even if it does not exceed the average travel time. By resetting to an appropriate value commensurate with fatigue, the mileage can be calculated more accurately as in the first embodiment. This embodiment can also be modified and implemented so that the re-set stride is used for calculation of other walking related information such as calorie consumption, travel distance, and travel speed.

  In each of the above embodiments, the example of a wristwatch type pedometer used by being worn on the arm of the measurement subject has been described. However, the pedometer of the method used by being worn on the waist is stored and held in a bag or the like. It can be applied to various types of pedometers such as a pedometer of a method used in a state in which the pedometer is used and a pedometer incorporating a clock function.

  Moreover, although the average value of the travel time memorize | stored in the memory | storage means 113 was used as reference | standard time, a reference | standard time is calculated by weighting so that it becomes more recent data, or the recent predetermined number of travel time data is used. A method for calculating the reference time, such as calculating the reference time, can be selected as appropriate.

  In addition, the average value of the running pitch stored in the storage unit 113 is used for the reference pitch. However, the reference pitch is calculated by weighting as the data becomes more recent, or the latest predetermined number of running pitch data is used. For example, a reference pitch calculation method can be selected as appropriate.

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

It is a block diagram of the pedometer which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pedometer which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a RAM map diagram according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the pedometer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 ... walk sensor 102 ... charge-voltage conversion means 105 ... filter means 106 ... amplification means 107 ... binarization means 108 ... CPU
109 ... Input means 110 ... Display means 111 ... Sound reporting means 112 ... Oscillating means 113 ... Storage means

Claims (8)

In a pedometer comprising a setting unit that sets a step in advance, a counting unit that counts the number of steps, and a distance calculation unit that calculates a walking distance based on the set step and the counted number of steps,
A time measuring means for measuring walking time;
First storage means for storing walking time measured by the time measuring means;
Time calculating means for calculating a predetermined reference time based on the past walking times measured by the time measuring means;
It is determined whether or not the current walking time in the current walk exceeds the reference time, and if the current walking time exceeds the reference time, the set value of the stride set by the setting means is determined from the set value. A pedometer characterized by comprising setting change means for changing to a small value. Pitch calculation means for calculating the walking pitch from the counting result by the counting means and the measurement result by the time measuring means,
Second storage means for storing the walking pitch calculated by the pitch calculation means;
Reference pitch calculation means for calculating a predetermined reference pitch based on a plurality of past walking pitches calculated by the pitch calculation means;
The setting change means further determines whether or not the current walking pitch in the current walking is larger than a predetermined ratio of the reference pitch, and the current walking time when the current walking pitch is larger than the reference pitch. 2. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the set value of the stride is changed to a value smaller than the set value regardless of a relationship between the reference time and the reference time. The time calculation means calculates, as the reference time, an average time that is an average value of the past walking times measured by the time measuring means,
The setting change means determines whether or not the current walking time in the current walk exceeds the average time, and if the current walking time exceeds the average time, the setting of the step set by the setting means The pedometer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the value is changed to a value smaller than the set value. The reference pitch calculation means calculates an average pitch that is an average value of a plurality of past walking pitches calculated by the pitch calculation means as the reference pitch,
The setting change means further determines whether or not the current walking pitch in the current walking is larger than a predetermined ratio of the average pitch, and the current walking time when the current walking pitch is larger than the average pitch. 4. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the set value of the step is changed to a value smaller than the set value regardless of the relationship between the reference time and the reference time. 5.   The setting change means determines whether or not the current walking time exceeds a predetermined ratio with respect to the average time, and if so, whether or not the current walking pitch is larger than a predetermined ratio of the average pitch. The pedometer according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the pedometer is determined.   6. The pedometer according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined ratio of the average pitch is 1.05 times the average pitch.   The pedometer according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the predetermined ratio is 90%.   The pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the small value is a value not less than 80 percent and not more than 90 percent of the set value.

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