JPH07239239A - Pedometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pedometer superior in easy operation and durability having a simple structure capable of being used without injuring appearance of a women normally dressing and without giving an incongurous feeling by eliminating the incongurous feeling that might be given when a person has a waist attachable type pedometer heretofore sold on the market. CONSTITUTION:A thin chip for putting on a chest pocket is fixed to an outer side face of an elongated housing 1 with a narrow width in the longitudinal direction thereof. A movable magnet guide section 21 is provided in the housing body 11 in such a manner that an axis line of the magnet is along the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 so that a vertical movement due to the walking is counted. Fixed magnets 2a, 2a are provided in the upper and lower sections, respectively and the movable magnet is provided in the floating condition due to the rebound force of the same poles between them. The vertical movement of the movable magnet 2b is detected by a magnetoelectric transducer 5 and a one-chip-microcomputer 6 counts and amplifies the signal to indicate the counted steps on a liquid crystal display disposed in a portion opposite side of the clip. When the counting is reset or started, a start switch 7 on the top of the housing 1 is pressed by putting the pedometer body on the chest pocket.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a walk counter for counting the number of steps taken during a walk or a hike.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pedometer, which is usually referred to as a pedometer, has been used in order to maintain good health so that each person can easily know the number of steps they have taken and use it as a measure of the amount of exercise. In the current car era, walking is widely used because it is a health method that anyone can easily carry out.
In this pedometer, a swing magnet normally biased by a spring is used to detect changes in the magnetic field due to swing, or a weight is provided at the tip of the arm to obtain a signal by interrupting the contacts during swing. Used. Due to its structure, there are few narrow ones, and most of them are worn on trousers or skirt belts.

[0003]

Since most of the conventional commercially available pedometers are of the waist-mounting type as described above, a discomfort at the time of wearing the pedometer cannot be avoided, and there is a difficulty in appearance especially when used by women. However, the present condition is that it is rarely used during normal clothes such as a walk other than climbing clothes. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, is comfortable in wearing, is more rational in terms of shape, size, and cost, and can be easily worn by women without impairing their appearance during normal wear. The purpose is to provide a gait counter that can be used.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the walk counter of the present invention, the shape of the housing 1 accommodating the mechanism of the walk counter is narrower than that of the conventional one.
A vertically elongated clip 3 for mounting a chest pocket extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 is provided at a predetermined position on the side surface of the housing 1, and a vertical vibration counting means is built in the housing 1 for use when mounting and using the means. The vertical vibration count output is displayed as the number of steps on the step number display liquid crystal 4 provided on the outer surface of the housing 1.

[0005] As the vertical vibration counting means, the end of the moving magnet guide unit 2 ₁ provided so as to have an axis in the longitudinal direction of the Semahaba-elongated housing 1, the guide portion magnetic poles
The two positions of the fixed magnet 2a to 1 or faces brought located 2 ₁ axially arranged, the guide unit 2 _1, movable magnet 2b
And so that the same polarity magnetic poles of the inner side of the magnetic poles of the fixed magnet 2a is facing, the distance from the fixed magnet 2a by the repulsive force of the same poles and the magnetic pole is positioned in the axial direction of the guide section 2 ₁ Contact Are arranged so as to form a floating state. Therefore fixed magnet
2a is the case of 1 pc, when using a walking counter, and installed in a position where the lower side of the movable magnet guide unit 2 _1, fixed magnet 2a is 2
For Ke, respectively placed at both ends of the moving magnet guide unit 2 _1. Then, movable in the magnet guide unit 2 _1, the movable magnet displacement sensing member 5 for detecting a displacement from a predetermined position of the floating state of the movable magnet 2b due to vibration of the walking counter and attached state, the movable magnet displacement sensing member By constructing the present counting means from a counting / enhancing circuit for counting / enhancing the output from 5, it is possible to effectively construct the above.

[0006] As the movable magnet displacement sensing member 5, on the side of the moving magnet guide unit 2 _1, to face the movable magnet 2b, a position for detecting the displacement of the moving magnet 2b due to vibration of the walking counter In addition, various types such as a reed switch and a coil with an iron core can be used, but it is preferable to use a magnetoelectric conversion element (hall element) which is a semiconductor element.

Furthermore, as the housing 1, from the chest pocket mounting elongated clip 3 and the main body portion 1 ₁ which is provided on the side surface, the button of the cap type provided with a count start switch 7 on the top surface battery cover 1 ₂ which It is advisable to construct the housing 1.

[0008]

According to the walk counter of the present invention having the structure described in claim 1, when a person walks for a walk or the like, the narrow and vertical housing 1 is inserted into the chest pocket of the clothes worn by the person, and the elongated clip is provided. When the gait counter is mounted on the pocket edge according to 3 and walks, the gait counter receives a vertical vibration which is a vertical movement of the body, and the vertical vibration counting means incorporated in the counter counts the vertical vibration. The count output is displayed on the step count display liquid crystal 4 provided on the outer surface of the housing 1, and the number of steps taken can be counted by the displayed number. In this case, the appearance of wearing the walk counter is such that most of the main body of the walk counter housing 1 is stored in the pocket, and only the elongated clip 3 and a part of the housing above the clip can be seen outside. Unlike the pedometer that is worn on the pants or skirt belt so that the entire body of the pedometer can be seen externally, it does not give a feeling of discomfort when worn, unlike the fountain pens and mechanical pencils that have become more popular than before.

By adopting the structure described in claim 2 as the vertical vibration counting means built in the housing 1,
Relative to a fixed magnet 2a which is fixed with the movable magnet guide unit 2 within ₁ having an axis in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1, movable magnet 2b by repulsive force between the poles in the attached use state walking counter,
When the number of fixed magnets 2a is one, the movable magnet 2b is in a floating state with a space from the fixed magnet 2a. When the number of fixed magnets 2a is two, the movable magnets 2b are the same between the facing fixed magnets 2a and 2a. Due to the repulsive force between the poles, it floats at the magnetic force balance position.
Therefore, when a person moves up and down by walking, the movable magnet 2b
Attempts to keep its original position due to inertia, the movable magnet displacement sensing member position for detecting the displacement from a predetermined position of the floating state of the movable magnet 2b In the attached state to the movable magnet guide unit 2 ₁ 5
And the movable magnet 2b cause relative displacement, the state of the magnetic lines of force of the movable magnet 2b with respect to the movable magnet displacement detection member 5 changes, and the detection member 5 detects vertical vibration of the walking counter for each walk. The output from the detection member 5 is input to the counting / increasing circuit 6, and the output from the circuit 6 is integrated and displayed as the number of steps taken on the step number display liquid crystal. With the above configuration, the number of components is small, there are no wear parts, the structure is simple, the quality is stable and durable, and the parts are space-saving and space-saving.
It can be easily formed vertically, and it is possible to advantageously reduce the size and cost of the product.

[0010] As the movable magnet displacement sensing member 5, on the side of the moving magnet guide unit 2 _1, the opposite to the movable magnet 2b, walking counter magnetoelectric transducer positioned to detect the displacement of the movable magnet 2b due to vibration of the When a Hall element is used, a change in the magnetic field due to the relative displacement with the movable magnet 2b is detected by placing a current in the element, and the voltage due to the increase or decrease in the resistance value between the three output lead wires is detected. A signal for detecting the change and detecting the vibration (vertical movement) of the walk counter can be obtained with high sensitivity.

[0011] The housing 1, the breast pocket mounting elongated clip 3 the body 1 ₁ with the side surface of the cap-type button battery cover with the count start switch 7 on the top surface
By configuring from 1 ₂ which, together with a button battery cover 1 ₂ can be replaced easily battery removed from the housing body portion 1 _1, a walking counter remains attached state on the chest pocket, the switch 7 It is possible to easily perform a walk count without confirming the reset of the step count.

[0012]

Embodiments of the gait counter of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a walk counter according to the present invention in use, FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a of FIG.
It is a-a 'sectional view. 4 shows an internal structure diagram of the housing 1 taken along the line bb 'of FIG. 2 (when the housing 1 is cut along the line bb').

The walk counter is provided with a vertical vibration counter inside a narrow, vertically long housing 1 of a predetermined thickness. The front side of the housing 1 (the front side at the time of wearing) is for wearing a chest pocket. A slender clip 3 is provided, and a step count display liquid crystal 4 showing the number of steps taken is provided on the back side. That is, the cap housing 1, which includes a main body portion 1 ₁ having a number of steps display LCD on the back and includes a chest pocket mounting elongated clip 3 to the front, the count start switch 7 on the top surface to cover the body portion 1 ₁ Type button battery cover 1 and ₂ . The body portion 1 ₁ and the button battery cover 1 ₂ is formed in each synthetic resin, said elongated clip 3 has the same shape as the clips in fountain pen or mechanical pencil is integrally molded with the body 1 ₁ .

[0014] The main body 1 _1, inserting holding portion of the vertical vibration counting device and the button battery 8 is provided, the cover 1 ₂ loaded with the button battery 8 in a state of detaching the button battery cover 1 ₂ Used by covering the main body 1 ₁ . As the vertical vibration counting device, the main body portion 1 _1, the movable magnet guide unit 2 ₁ to the movable magnet 2b slidably guide to be described later is caused to coincide with the axial direction in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1, the main body parts are formed between a portion of a _first outer wall and the interior of the moving magnet guide wall 2 ₁ ', fixed magnet 2a at a predetermined position of the lower end of the guide section 2 ₁
But the S pole and N pole to pole in the axial direction of the guide section 2 ₁ inwardly allowed positioned outside are distribution設固wear. The movable magnet 2b is a pole as opposed to the N pole of the fixed magnet and the N pole allowed position in the axial direction of the guide section 2 _1, from slidably and fixed magnet 2a the counter state of use They are arranged so that they are located in a floating state at a predetermined distance. Also, opposite to the (upper end in use) the open end of the movable magnet guide unit 2 _1, in order to prevent separation from the guide portion 2 ₁ of the movable magnet 2b, a button battery to cover the main body portion 1 ₁ cover 1 ₂ inner surface of the movable magnet separation preventing in position ribs 1 ₃
There is projected, so as to prevent jumping out from the guide portion 2 ₁ of the movable magnet 2b when or reversing move when there is no transport or during installation using state of the counter.

Inside the housing body 1 ₁ , a rectangular circuit board 6 ₁ of a predetermined shape is formed adjacent to the movable magnet guide wall 2 ₁ ′.
However, it is provided with a circuit for detecting vertical vibrations of the movable magnet 2b (vertical vibrations when the counter is mounted and used), counting and increasing it, and displaying it on the liquid crystal 4 as a step count.
That is, as the attached state in a predetermined position of the position at which the movable magnet guide wall 2 ₁ 'outside for detecting the vertical vibration of the movable magnet 2b during walking, magneto-electric transducer in order to detect the change of the magnetic field lines by the upper and lower vibration The Hall element 5 which is
Counting up width circuit 6 to be displayed on the LCD 4 Zohaba is mounted at a predetermined position of the circuit board ₆₁ in the form of a one-chip microcomputer. Further, the circuit board _61, at its end (an upper end portion during mounting use) of button battery 8 "-" electrode and and provided plate 8a for contacting conductive, one-chip microcomputer 6 Required printed wiring including connection terminals is provided. Furthermore, a pair of terminals 8 ₁ and 8 ₁ is provided adjacent to the electrode plate 8a.
One of them is in contact with the "+" side of the side of the button battery 8, while the other terminal 8 ₁ is a contact on the back of the button of the button battery cover 1 ₂ when the counting start switch 7 is pressed. contact, the circuit board 6 ₁ voltage button battery 8 is adapted to be applied with.

The surface having the connection terminal of the one-chip microcomputer 6 of the circuit board ₆₁ is an inner connector having a resilient
6 counter-Zohaba circuit in one chip microcomputer 6 in contact with the rear surface connection terminal side of the step count display liquid crystal 4 is attached to the main body portion 1 ₁ side via the ₂ rear surface of the connection terminals of the connection terminals and the liquid crystal 4 Are brought into contact with each other to make a required connection. The movable magnet 2b that is floating on the movable magnet guide unit 2 in _1, when the vertical vibration of the guide unit 2 in ₁ with the walking, magneto-electric transducer which is located on the guide part 2 ₁ side The output of the Hall element 5 is a state in which a current is made to flow through the element, so that the change in the magnetic field due to the displacement of the movable magnet 2b is detected and the output is sent to the one-chip microcomputer 6 which is a counting / increasing circuit. The difference in voltage due to the increase or decrease of the voltage between the three output lead wires based on the vertical vibration of the counter body is continuously detected, counted and widened, and the number of vertical vibrations is taken as the number of steps. 4 (see the circuit diagram in FIG. 6). In the present walking counter, the body portion 1 ₁ of the housing 1 hitting its manufactured, a split mold divided by the line b-b 'in FIG. 2, distribution of the counting device portion such as a circuit board 6 ₁ therein was set, it is preferable to form the body portion 1 ₁ coalesce.

In the walk counter constructed as described above, when the person is mounted on the chest pocket and the counting start switch 7 is pressed to start counting the walks, the walk counter moves up and down with the walking. The number of steps taken is displayed on the step number display liquid crystal 4 in response to the vertical vibration. This counting can be started very simply by pressing a button-shaped switch on the top of the gait counter mounted in the chest pocket without having to confirm the resetting of the number of steps. In addition, most of the main body part is not exposed to the outside and is hidden in the pocket in the mounted state, which does not cause any discomfort.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the walk counter according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line bb 'in FIG. The configuration of the vertical vibration detector is changed. That is, in this embodiment, the movable magnet 2b has the same configuration and appearance as those of the first embodiment except for the vertical vibration detector.
The floating state is improved so that rattling of the movable magnet 2b can be prevented even if the posture of the walk counter changes during transportation.

[0019] The walking counter is, in the main body portion 1 ₁ of the housing 1 as shown in FIG. 5, like the movable magnets as in Example 1
As the movable magnet guide unit 2 ₁ for guiding 2b slidably matches the axial longitudinal direction of the housing 1, the main body portion 1 ₁ of the part and the inside of the movable magnet guide wall 2 ₁ outer wall '
Each fixed magnet 2a, 2a is, the magnetic poles of the guide portion 2 ₁ of the axially and N-pole of a button battery cover 1 ₂ side (use state is formed, both ends of the guide portions 2 ₁ a between the in the upper side), the S pole body 1 ₁ of the bottom side (lower side in use state)
Are positioned and fixed so as to face each other and have a predetermined interval. The movable magnet 2b is replaced by the fixed magnets 2
Between a and 2a, both magnetic poles of the movable magnet 2b are fixed magnetic poles 2 respectively.
Make sure that the magnetic poles with the same polarity as the inner magnetic poles of a and 2a are located.
That is, the N poles face each other and the S poles face each other, and they are arranged in a floating state at a central position where the magnetic forces due to the repulsive forces of the same poles are balanced. And in a predetermined position a position for detecting the vertical vibration of the movable magnet guide wall 2 ₁ 'outside of the movable magnet 2b during walking, the Hall element 5 is electromagnetic element in order to detect the change of the magnetic field lines by the upper and lower vibration, It is disposed on the circuit board 6 _1. By doing so, the movable magnet 2b
Can be accompanied by a floating state without rattling regardless of the attitude of the counter. The processing of the output signal of the hall element 5 by the one-chip microcomputer 6 and the display of the number of steps of vertical vibration on the step count display liquid crystal 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same operation and effect during wearing and use are also the same.

In the one-chip microcomputer 6 having the counting / enhancing circuit, the connected counting start switch 7 is pressed to cancel / reset the step count displayed on the display liquid crystal 4 in the previously stored state. However, in the software program of the 1-chip microcomputer, if the count start switch 7 is pressed to start counting and the power is automatically turned off in 24 hours, the battery life will be reduced. A counter can advantageously be formed in this respect. Further, in this embodiment, the Hall element, which is a magnetoelectric conversion element, is used as the detection member 5 for detecting the displacement of the movable magnet 2b, but instead of this, a tongue-shaped contact made of a magnetic material is used in a glass tube of a small diameter. It may be possible to use a reed switch that encloses
The internal layout may be changed to form a fountain pen having a circular cross section, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0021]

According to the gait counter of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, since a narrow and vertically long housing having built-in vertical vibration counting means is provided with an elongated clip for mounting a chest pocket, a person can It can be easily attached to the chest pocket when walking, and most of the main body of the walk counter is stored in the pocket. Only a part of the housing can be seen, and the whole body is exposed to the outside when wearing it like a conventional pedometer, unlike the feeling of discomfort at the time of wearing like a fountain pen or mechanical pencil that is more popular than before. Don't give. Therefore, there is an advantage that even women can easily use it without losing their appearance when they are normally dressed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in order to count the number of walks, the vertical vibration of the counter is detected by using the displacement of the movable magnet arranged in a floating state. The structure is simple with no corners and wear parts, the shape of the counter can be easily made narrow and long, and it is possible to provide a walk counter with good quality stability and durability at low cost. it can.

According to the third aspect of the invention, by using the magnetoelectric conversion element to detect the displacement of the movable magnet, the displacement can be detected by an extremely small member, and the walk counter can be miniaturized. Can be advantageously performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the gait counter is mounted on the chest pocket for use, it is necessary to confirm the resetting of the number of steps simply by pressing the switch on the top of the counter in the mounted state. The gait counting can be easily started without the need for a check.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a rear view of a gait counter according to the present invention, FIG.

2 is a side view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line a-a ′ of FIG.

4 is an internal structure diagram of the first embodiment according to a bb ′ cross section of the housing of FIG. 2;

5 is an internal structural diagram of Example 2 taken along the line bb 'of the housing of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Housing, 1 ₁ ... Housing main body, 1 ₂ ... Button battery cover, 2 ₁ ... Movable magnet guide part, 2a ... Fixed magnet, 2b ... Movable magnet, 3 ... Slender clip for mounting chest pocket, 4 ... Step number display liquid crystal , 5 ... movable magnet displacement detection member (magnetoelectric conversion element), 6 ... counting / increasing circuit (1 chip microcomputer), 6 ₁ ... circuit board, 6 ₂ ... inner connector, 7 ... counting start switch, 8 ... button battery.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vertical vibration counting means is incorporated in a narrow and vertically long housing 1 provided with a narrow clip 3 for mounting a chest pocket extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing 1 at a predetermined position on a side surface, and counting from the means. A walk counter, wherein the output is displayed on the step count display liquid crystal 4 on the outer surface of the housing 1. 2. A vertical vibration counting means, one or opposing the magnetic pole on the end of the moving magnet guide unit 2 ₁ having an axis in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1 and disposed allowed position in the axial direction of the guide section 2 ₁ 2 pcs of the fixed magnet 2a, the guide unit 2 the fixed magnet 2a inside of the magnetic pole of the same polarity magnetic poles the pole as opposed to allowed position in the axial direction of the guide section 2 ₁ poles in _one of and arranged to movable magnet 2b to form a floating state at a distance from the fixed magnet 2a by the repulsive force between, from a predetermined position of the floating state of the movable magnet 2b due to vibration in the attached state to the guide section 2 ₁ A movable magnet displacement detection member 5 for detecting displacement,
2. The walk counter according to claim 1, further comprising a counting / amplifying circuit 6 for counting / amplifying an output from the movable magnet displacement detection member 5. 3. A movable magnet displacement sensing member 5, on the side of the moving magnet guide unit 2 _1, disposed at a position opposite to the movable magnet 2b, detecting the displacement of the moving magnet 2b due to vibration of the walking counter The gait counter according to claim 2, which is a magneto-electric conversion element. 4. A housing 1, the breast pocket mounting elongated clip 3 the body 1 ₁ with the side surface of the cap-type button battery cover with the count start switch 7 on the top surface
Walking counter according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of 1 _2.