JP5001669B2 - Pedometer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedometer that measures the number of steps.

Conventionally, a pedometer is used to measure the number of steps. Examples of the pedometer include a pedometer that is used while being worn on an arm or a waist, and a pedometer that is used while being stored in a portable bag or the like.
For example, in an arm pedometer used by wearing on the arm, in order to improve the step count measurement accuracy, a method of detecting arm swing and measuring two steps at a time, or a method of detecting upper and lower body movements and measuring one step at a time The method etc. are considered (refer patent document 1).

In actual use, in the method of measuring two steps at a time, if the arm swing does not reach one cycle when stopped, a measurement error of a maximum of two steps will occur. On the other hand, the detection accuracy is improved by the method of detecting the upper and lower body movements and measuring one step at a time. Therefore, it is easier for the user to recognize the method of measuring one step at a time than measuring two steps.
Known sensors for detecting walking include a mechanical sensor for detecting a mechanical contact signal and a sensor for detecting and measuring body movement such as an acceleration sensor.

In the case of the mechanical sensor, there is a problem that sound is generated and accurate measurement cannot be performed due to a difference in mounting angle (see Patent Documents 2 and 3). Therefore, at present, pedometers using acceleration sensors are the mainstream.
In the case of an acceleration sensor that is worn on the arm and used for the arm pedometer, the body movement (especially the movement of the arm) is detected, so even when not walking, the number of steps can be measured only by the movement of the arm during office work. There is a problem that it may be done.

10 and 11 are general waveform diagrams showing the influence of noise when performing step count measurement using an arm pedometer, and FIG. 10 shows a sensor when walking without swinging the arm (walking without swinging the arm). FIG. 11 is a waveform diagram of a signal output from the sensor when walking while swinging an arm (arm swing walking).
FIG. 10 shows a signal only by walking. When body motion (in this case, arm swing) is added, a signal in which noise due to body motion is superimposed on a signal representing the original walking as shown in FIG. become.

Therefore, there is a problem that the body motion noise is erroneously detected as a signal due to walking, and an error occurs in the step count measurement.
As a method to avoid this problem, a body motion sensor that detects body movement is provided separately from the sensor for walking detection, noise is removed using the signal from the body motion sensor, and the accuracy of walking detection is improved. However, since a sensor for detecting walking and a sensor for detecting body movement are required, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated and expensive.

JP 2004-20415 A (paragraphs [0019] to [0052], FIGS. 1 to 9) JP 2004-125551 A (paragraphs [0021] to [0045], FIGS. 1 to 3) JP 2002-221434 A (paragraphs [0016] to [0049], FIGS. 1 to 8)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the step count measurement accuracy by more appropriately determining whether or not walking with a simple configuration.

According to the present invention, one sensor that detects walking and outputs a corresponding walking signal, first filter means that passes a signal of a first period in the signal from the sensor, and a signal from the sensor The second filter means that passes a signal having a second period greater than the first period, and both the first filter means and the second filter means output signals. There is provided a pedometer characterized by comprising calculation means for calculating the number of steps based on a signal from the filter means.
The calculation means calculates the number of steps based on the signal from the first filter means when signals are output from both the first filter means and the second filter means.

  Here, a judgment means for judging whether or not a cycle of signals output from the first filter means and the second filter means has a predetermined relationship is provided, and the signals are output from the first filter means and the second filter means. The step calculating unit may be configured to calculate the number of steps based on a signal from the first filter unit when the determining unit determines that the period of the signal has a predetermined relationship.

When the determining means determines that the period of the signal output from the second filter means is approximately twice the period of the signal output from the first filter means, the calculating means You may comprise so that the number of steps may be calculated based on the signal from 1 filter means.
The first and second filter means may include a band-pass filter that passes signals of the first period and the second period, respectively.

The sensor may be configured to be an acceleration sensor having a single sensitivity axis.
Further, at least the sensor may be configured to be used by being worn on an arm.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the step count measurement accuracy by more appropriately determining whether or not walking with a simple configuration.

  The outline of the pedometer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In general, paying attention to swinging arms during walking (arm swing walking), walking without swinging arms (walking without swinging arms) As described above, there is a clear difference in waveform between the two types of walking patterns as described above, and if the state without arm swing is considered as noise, it is possible to differentiate between walking and not. Conceivable.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, during arm swing walking, arm swing and upper and lower body motion signals are combined and output from the sensor, so that they are separated, and if both waveforms are present, it is determined as walking and walking is performed. The number of steps is calculated based on the corresponding signal. Note that the walking includes exercise walking and exercise walking in which the arm swings in the same posture as during traveling and performs fast walking.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pedometer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram common to each embodiment described later.
In FIG. 1, a pedometer includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, an oscillation circuit 102 that generates a signal of a predetermined frequency, and a signal from the oscillation circuit 102 is divided to output a clock signal that serves as a reference for timing operation to the CPU 101. A frequency dividing circuit 103, a key input means 104 constituted by a key switch, an acceleration sensor 107 for detecting a walk and outputting a corresponding walk signal, and a signal of the first period region in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107 as a CPU 101 Is provided.

  The pedometer includes a detection circuit 106 that outputs a signal in the second periodic region (period region larger than the first periodic region) in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107 to the CPU 101, a display unit configured by a liquid crystal display device, and the like. 108, a random access memory (RAM) 110 for storing data such as the number of steps, a read only memory (ROM) 111 for storing a program executed by the CPU 101, and a power source 112 for supplying driving power to the circuit elements. .

The CPU 101 executes a program stored in the ROM 111 to perform a step count calculation process, a control process for each circuit element, and the like as will be described later, in addition to a current time counting process by counting the clock signal.
The acceleration sensor 107 constituting the sensor is an acceleration sensor having a single sensitivity axis. At least the acceleration sensor 107 is used by being worn on the arm.

  Here, the detection circuit 105 constitutes first filter means, and the detection circuit 106 constitutes second filter means. The CPU 101 constitutes a judging means for judging whether or not the periods of signals output from the calculating means, the control means, the first filter means and the second filter means are in a predetermined relationship, and the RAM 110 and the ROM 111 are storage means. The key input means constitutes an operation means. Further, the CPU 101, the oscillation circuit 102, and the frequency dividing circuit 103 constitute a time measuring means.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the detection circuits 105 and 106, and the same parts as those in FIG.
In FIG. 2, the detection circuit 105 is a signal from a band pass filter (BPF) 201 that passes a signal in the first period range (a walking signal corresponding to walking) in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107, and a signal from the band pass filter 201. An amplifier circuit (AMP) 202 that amplifies and outputs the signal, and a binarization circuit 203 that outputs a digital signal (A signal) that is binarized by comparing the signal from the amplifier circuit 202 with a predetermined reference level. Yes.

  In addition, the detection circuit 106 is a band pass filter (BPF) 205 that passes a signal (period corresponding to a hand movement signal) in the second period range (period slower than the first period range) in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107. An amplifier circuit (AMP) 206 that amplifies and outputs the signal from the bandpass filter 205, and compares the signal from the amplifier circuit 206 with a predetermined reference level to output a binary signal (B signal) to the CPU 101. A binarization circuit 207 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the characteristics of the bandpass filters 201 and 205. The horizontal axis is the period, and the vertical axis is the signal level that passes. When walking or running with a pedometer attached to an arm, the period of swinging the arm is generally about twice that of walking or running.
Therefore, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the period of the walking signal obtained during walking is 0.8 seconds and the period of arm swing is 1.6 seconds, and the center period of the bandpass filter 201 is as shown in FIG. The center period of the band pass filter 205 is set to about 1.6 seconds, that is, the center frequency of the band pass filter 201 is set to about twice the center frequency of the band pass filter 205. Yes.

As a result, the signal at the time of walking and the signal by swinging the arm can be distinguished. Therefore, it is confirmed by the CPU 101 or the like whether both signals are input, and if both signals are present, it is determined that the user is walking and the number of steps is measured. I have to.
The central period can be set to a different value depending on the method, such as a pedometer that is worn on the waist and used, or a pedometer that is used while being stored in a portable bag.

Since the pass band characteristics of the band pass filters 201 and 205 are set as described above, the detection circuit 105 passes the detection signal corresponding to the walking in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107, and is shown as the A signal in FIG. The digital signal is output to the CPU 101, and the detection circuit 106 passes the signal corresponding to the arm swing in the signal from the acceleration sensor 107, and outputs the digital signal shown as the B signal in FIG. Here, the period of the B signal is about twice the period of the A signal.
5 to 7 are flowcharts showing processing of the pedometer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and mainly show processing performed by the CPU 101 executing a program stored in the ROM 111.

The operation of the pedometer according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
First, when the user instructs the start of step count measurement by operating the key input means 104 while wearing a pedometer on his / her arm (for example, wrist), the CPU 101 counts the clock signal from the frequency divider 103. Then, the time counting operation is started, and the signal from the acceleration sensor 107 is counted to start the step counting operation.

  The acceleration sensor 107 detects body movement and inputs a signal to the CPU 101 via the detection circuits 105 and 106. Of the signals from the acceleration sensor 107, the first cycle signal is input to the CPU 101 as the A signal (detection signal corresponding to walking) via the detection circuit 105. Of the signals from the acceleration sensor 107, the signal of the second period is input to the CPU 101 as a B signal (a signal corresponding to arm swing) via the detection circuit 106.

  In FIG. 5, when the CPU 101 detects the B signal from the detection circuit 106 (step S501), when it is determined that the B signal is detected for the first time (step S502), it is not yet possible to determine whether or not walking has started. Is not turned on, but a holding flag representing counting as a provisional number of steps is turned on (step S503), and a walking end timer is started to detect the end of walking (step S504).

  If CPU 101 determines in step S502 that the B signal is not detected for the first time, CPU 101 determines that it is walking in this state, turns off the hold flag (step S505), and confirms that the hand is waved. The hand gesture flag to be represented is turned on, and the process proceeds to processing step S504 (step S506).

When the CPU 101 detects the A signal from the detection circuit 105 (step S601 in FIG. 6), the CPU 101 determines whether or not the hand shake flag is on, that is, whether or not the hand is waving (step S602). Is determined to be off (a state in which no hand is shaken), and further, if it is determined that the hold flag is off (step S606), a signal is input from the detection circuit 105 in a state in which the hand is not shaken. It is determined that the detected signal is not a signal due to walking, and the process ends without counting.
When the CPU 101 determines that the hold flag is on in step S606, the CPU 101 determines that there is a possibility of walking, and adds 1 to the step number holding buffer for counting and storing the number of steps (step S607). ).

  On the other hand, if the CPU 101 determines in step S602 that the hand shake flag is on, that is, the hand is waving, the CPU 101 counts the number of steps already counted as the normal number of steps and the current value of the detected A The current total number of steps is calculated by adding one signal step (step number + step number holding buffer + 1) (step S603), the count value in the step number holding buffer is cleared to 0 (step S604), and then the display unit 108 The current number of steps is displayed (step S605), and thereafter, every time the signal A is detected, the above process is repeated to perform normal walking measurement.

  After starting the walking end timer in processing step S504, the CPU 101 stops walking when the time during which no signal is detected continues for a predetermined time, that is, when the walking end timer expires (step S701 in FIG. 7). In step S702, the hold flag and the hand shake flag are turned off, and the step count hold buffer is cleared to zero.

  As described above, according to the pedometer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the CPU 101 detects both the B signal and the A signal, for example, it detects the B signal corresponding to the arm swing. When an A signal corresponding to walking is detected in a state where the user is walking, it is determined that walking is being performed, and the A signal (walking signal) corresponding to the walking is counted.

  That is, in the case of an arm pedometer, for example, a signal that is generated by moving a hand during work is erroneously recognized as a walking signal, and a phenomenon in which the number of steps is measured occurs. In order to avoid this, it is detected whether or not the user is walking, and the signal from the acceleration sensor 107 is treated as a walking signal only when the user is walking. Judgment of whether or not walking is based on the difference between the signal when walking with the arm and the signal when walking without shaking the arm and the upper and lower body movement signals generated during walking. The detection is performed separately.

Therefore, since it is possible to more appropriately determine whether or not walking, it is possible to suppress the possibility of misidentifying body movements that do not involve walking as walking, and it is possible to improve step count measurement accuracy. For example, it is possible to differentiate between noise signals generated during walking and office work other than that, and more accurate step count measurement is possible.
Further, since only one sensor for detecting walking is used, the configuration is simple.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing processing of the pedometer according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the portions that perform the same processing as in FIGS.
The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the period of the signal output from the detection circuits 105 and 106 is measured, and the detection circuit 105 , 106, it is determined that walking is being performed and the number of steps is measured when the period of the signal output from 106 satisfies a predetermined relationship.

Hereinafter, the operation of the pedometer according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9, with respect to portions different from the first embodiment.
In FIG. 8, when the CPU 101 detects the B signal from the detection circuit 106 (step S501), when it is determined that the B signal is not detected for the first time (step S502), it determines that it is walking in this state. To turn off the hold flag and turn on the hand shake flag (steps S505 and S506), measure the period (hand shake period) of the B signal from the detection circuit 106 (step S801), and detect the end of walking. The walking end timer is started (step S504).

On the other hand, in FIG. 9, when the CPU 101 detects the A signal from the detection circuit 105 (step S601), the CPU 101 measures the cycle (step number cycle) of the A signal (step S901).
Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the hand shake flag is on, that is, whether or not the hand is waving (step S602), and determines that the hand shake flag is on or that the hand is waving. Further, it is determined whether or not the hand gesture cycle and the step count cycle satisfy a predetermined relationship (step S902).

  As the predetermined relationship, in the present embodiment, the hand shaking cycle is approximately twice the step cycle, that is, the step cycle × 2 × X ≦ the hand swing cycle ≦ the step cycle × 2 × Y (for example, X = 0.8). Y = 1.2). The predetermined relationship can be set according to the characteristics of the pedometer, such as the type and method of the pedometer used.

  When the CPU 101 determines that the hand gesture cycle and the step count cycle satisfy the predetermined relationship, the CPU 101 performs processing steps S603 to S605. When the CPU 101 determines that the hand swing cycle and the step count cycle do not satisfy the predetermined relationship. Performs the processing of processing steps S606 and S607, and repeats the processing each time an A signal is detected.

  In addition, after starting the walking end timer in processing step S504, the CPU 101 stops walking in the same manner as in FIG. 7 when the time during which no signal is detected continues for a predetermined time, that is, when the walking end timer expires. It is determined that the hold flag and the hand shake flag are turned off, and the step count hold buffer is cleared to 0 (step S702).

  As described above, according to the pedometer according to the second embodiment, not only has the same effect as the first embodiment, but also the CPU 101 has a predetermined relationship between the hand gesture period and the step number period. When it is determined that the user is satisfied, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not he / she is walking, thereby enabling more accurate step count measurement. In particular, when it is determined whether or not the hand shaking period is about twice as many as the number of steps, it is suitable for an arm pedometer that measures the number of steps with at least a sensor attached to the arm.

  In the above embodiment, an example of an arm pedometer has been described as a pedometer. However, a pedometer of a method used by wearing on the waist or a method of measuring the number of steps while being carried in a portable bag. It can be applied to various pedometers such as pedometers.

  The present invention can be applied to a pedometer that measures the number of steps in various movement operations such as walking and running while being worn on an arm or waist or housed in a portable bag or the like.

It is a block diagram of the pedometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a partial detailed block diagram of the pedometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a characteristic view of the pedometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a wave form diagram of the pedometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the 2nd Embodiment. It is a general waveform diagram obtained at the time of walking. It is a general waveform diagram obtained at the time of walking.

Explanation of symbols

101... CPU constituting calculation means, control means, judgment means and timing means
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 102 ... Oscillator circuit 103 which comprises time measuring means ... Frequency divider 104 which comprises time measuring means ... Key input means 105 which comprises operating means ... Detection circuit 106 which comprises first filter means ..Detection circuit 107 constituting second filter means ... Acceleration sensor 108 constituting sensor ... Display unit 110 constituting display means ... RAM constituting storage means
111... ROM constituting storage means
112... Power supply 201, 205... Band pass filter 202, 206... Amplifier circuit 203, 206.

Claims (5)

One sensor that detects walking and outputs a corresponding walking signal, first filter means that passes a signal of a first period in the signal from the sensor, and the first in the signal from the sensor In the case where signals are output from both the second filter means that passes a signal having a second period greater than the period, and both the first filter means and the second filter means, the signal from the first filter means based a calculating means for calculating the number of steps,
Determining means for determining whether or not the period of the signal output from the first filter means and the second filter means has a predetermined relationship;
When the determination unit determines that the period of the signal output from the first filter unit and the second filter unit has a predetermined relationship, the calculation unit calculates the number of steps based on the signal from the first filter unit A pedometer characterized by doing. When the determination unit determines that the cycle of the signal output from the second filter unit is approximately twice the cycle of the signal output from the first filter unit,
2. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the calculating means calculates the number of steps based on a signal from the first filter means. 3. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second filter means includes a band-pass filter that passes signals of a first period and a second period . The pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor is an acceleration sensor having a single sensitivity axis . The pedometer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the sensor is used while being worn on an arm .

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