JPS60122543A - Electronic dynamometer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (AlTechnical Field) This invention relates to an electronic grip strength needle used for grip strength exercises and for measuring grip strength for medical examinations.

...) Prior Art Grip strength trainers conventionally used to increase grip strength do not display grip strength values, so it is not possible to quantitatively know how much grip strength has been increased through training.
It was just a training tool. Furthermore, the grip strength needles conventionally used to measure physical strength mechanically measure grip strength and indicate the grip strength value with the needle, so there is a limit to measurement accuracy, and it is difficult to read the value indicated by the needle. It's winter when you can't read the measured values smoothly because it takes a lot of time.

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(C1 Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the purpose of the present invention is to be able to measure grip strength with high precision and automatically using a pressure sensor, and when continuous measurement is performed, To provide an electronic grip strength needle which allows a training effect to be quantitatively grasped by detecting maximum grip strength measurement values and displaying the sum thereof, and also enables smooth measurement of grip strength.

(d1 Structure of the invention The configuration of this invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

Pressure sensor A converts an external force, ie, grip force, applied against the elasticity of a spring inserted between the main body and the movable part into an electrical signal, and outputs the converted signal to output reading means B. The output of the pressure sensor A is sequentially read by the output reading means B within the time required for one stroke of the movable part, and the read values are given to the extreme value determining means C. The extreme value determination means C determines the extreme value of the value read by the output reader IB and outputs it to the extreme value integrator 11ij (D.Extreme value integrator vI
tD stores and integrates the extreme values determined by the extreme value determining means C for each stroke of the movable part, and displays the accumulated value on the display E.
Output to. The display E displays the integrated value as the sum of the maximum grip strength measurements. In this way, the present invention measures the change in grip force in one stroke from gripping the movable part to releasing the finger using the pressure sensor A, and calculates the maximum value of the grip force measurement value obtained during the measurement, and continuously The total sum of each maximum value during measurement is calculated and displayed on the display.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic grip dynamometer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same electronic grip dynamometer.

The electronic grip force needle of this embodiment uses a load cell 1.2, which is a type of variable resistance type, as a pressure sensor. The device is configured to measure and display the maximum grip force measurement value, the sum of the maximum grip force measurement values, and the number of grip force measurements. The main body is a guide piece 3 formed in an inverted U shape.
and a fixed piece 4 fixed via a guide piece 'ai7)m6iii load cell 1.2. A compression spring 5 is fitted along the outer periphery of the inverted U-shaped portion of the guide piece 3. Both ends of the compression spring 5 are connected to a movable part 6, and the movable part 6 slides along the mutually parallel shaft parts of the guide piece 3. In such a structure, when a finger is hooked on the movable part 6 and a pressing force is applied against the elasticity of the compression spring 5 inserted between the main body and the movable part 6, the force is applied depending on the magnitude of the grip force. Road-17
The outputs of elements 1' and 2 change. The case portion 7 that covers the guide piece 3 and the compression spring 5 has a maximum grip force measurement value,
A display screen 8 for displaying the sum of the maximum values and the number of measurements, and a changeover switch 9 for switching the power on/off and the display contents of the display screen 8 are provided. When a person to be measured uses this electronic grip dynamometer to measure grip strength, the person grasps the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 and tightens the grip. When using it for grip strength training, repeat the kneading and releasing measurement operation described above.

- One stroke of the movable part 6 is completed by the measurement operation of squeezing and releasing it twice.

The configuration of the grip force measuring section of the electronic grip force needle will be explained with reference to FIG.

The load cell 1.2 is a well-known device whose resistance value changes depending on external force (load),
Oscillator 1 configured so that the oscillation frequency changes with a time constant
Connected to 0. Since the grip force applied via the fixed piece 4 is divided into two parts at both ends of the guide piece 3 to which the load cells 1 and 2 are attached, the sum of the changes in the resistance values of the load cells 1 and 2 corresponds to the change in grip force. It is connected to the oscillator 10 so as to. The oscillator 10 outputs a pulse p of an oscillation frequency corresponding to a change in resistance value of the load cells 1 and 2, that is, a change in grip strength, to an AND gate 12. This pulse p is timer 1
Pulse counter 1 every sampling time specified by 1
It is counted by 3.

The timer 11 starts when the selector switch 9 is switched from the power off position to any of the display modes a to C, and outputs a timing signal t that defines the sampling time of the pulse counter 13 to the AND gate 12, and also outputs the pulse A counter reset signal t1 is output to the counter 13. Additionally, the timer 11 sends a timing signal t2 that instructs the maximum value detection circuit 14 (to be described later) to take in the count value of the pulse counter 13 to the memory, and a timing signal t2 that instructs the hand value taken into the memory to be transferred to another memory. A signal t3 is given. A time chart showing the operation of the oscillator 10 and timer 11 is shown in FIG. The timing signal t is a signal that repeats on and off at intervals of time T, and when it is on, the pulse p is input to the pulse counter 13, and the number of pulses is counted. The time T for intermittently sampling by the pulse counter 13 is set in advance to, for example, 25 milliseconds. Pulse counter 1
The count value of 3 is given to the maximum value detection circuit 14 and the powerlessness detection circuit 15, which will be described later.

The configuration of the maximum value detection circuit 14 is shown in FIG. The maximum value detection circuit 14 detects a sampling time T in one stroke of the movable part 6 from when the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 are grasped by hand until they are opened.
This circuit compares the magnitude of each counted value of the pulse counter 13 sampled by and detects the maximum value, and corresponds to the extreme value determining means C of the present invention. The count value counted by the pulse counter 13 at each sampling time T is sequentially stored in the first storage circuit 20 (that is, when the timing signal t changes from on to off, the timing signal t2 output from the timer 11 The count value given to the first memory circuit 20 and counted at that time is the first memory circuit 20.
0 and stored. The second E-storage circuit 21 sequentially counters the pulse counter 13 in one stroke of the movable portion 6 mentioned above.
This circuit stores the maximum value of the counted values.

The comparison circuit 22 is connected to the first memory circuit 20 and the second memory circuit 2.
1, and when the count value of the second memory circuit 21 is smaller than the count value of the first memory circuit 20, a high signal is output to the AND gate 23.

Next, the maximum value detection operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The output of the first memory circuit 20 is given to the AND gate 23, and when the output of the comparison circuit 22 becomes high,
At that time, the il value stored in the first storage circuit 2° is transferred to the second storage circuit 21, and the stored value of the second storage circuit 21 is updated. Further, the output of the first memory circuit 20 is AN
The output □ of the second memory circuit 21 is applied to the D gate 25 and the AND gate 24 and 25.
A timing signal t3 from the timer 11 is introduced. The logic output of AND gates 24 and 25 is the comparator circuit 2.
given to 2. After the timing signal t2 goes high and a new count value is stored in the first storage circuit 20, the timing signal t3 goes high and the stored values stored in the first storage circuit 20 and the second storage circuit 21 respectively A comparison is made. The value stored in the second storage circuit 21 is
When it is larger than the memory circuit 20, the output of the comparison circuit 22 becomes low and the value stored in the second memory circuit 21 is not updated. After the comparison circuit 22 compares the count values, the counter reset signal t1 is output and the pulse counter 13 is reset.

In this way, the maximum value of the count values obtained by sampling multiple times during one stroke of the movable part 6 is detected. The load cell 1.2 and the oscillator 1° generate a pulse p corresponding to the external force applied to the main body at that time, and the number of pulses output within the sampling time T as a reference time is used to detect the maximum value. The value detected by the circuit 14 and finally stored in the second storage circuit 21 corresponds to the maximum value of the grip force measured at that time. Further, the count value of the pulse counter 13 is used to generate a reset signal R for resetting the second memory circuit 21.
has been introduced. When the count value of the pulse counter 13 exceeds a predetermined value, the reset circuit 27 resets the second
A reset signal R is output for a certain period of time to reset the memory circuit 21.

The powerlessness detection circuit 15 is a circuit that reads the change in the count value of the pulse counter 13 and detects the end of one stroke of the movable part 6, that is, the completion of -times of measurement, and the count value has decreased to a predetermined value A or less. It is comprised of a known circuit configuration that determines that the same measurement is complete.

The predetermined value A, which serves as a reference for determining the completion of one stroke of the movable part 6 by the powerlessness detection circuit 15, is set to be slightly larger than the value B that defines turning on of the reset signal R in the reset circuit 27 (A >B). The reset signal R transmitted from the reset circuit 27 is transmitted as a pulse for a certain period of time when the value of the pulse counter 13 is exceeded. As grip force is applied between the fixed piece 4 and the movable part 6 and the force is released at the highest point, the count value decreases until the no-load state where the reset signal R is issued, but as described above. Since the determination level is set, the powerlessness detection circuit 15 is activated before the reset signal R is turned on.
The completion of one measurement is detected. Note that the maximum grip force measurement value stored in the second storage circuit 21 is reset by the reset signal R when the -stroke ends and the next stroke starts. Therefore, the maximum grip strength measurement value can be read at the end of the -stroke.

When the powerlessness detection circuit 15 detects the completion of measurement, it outputs a pulse K to the AND gate 26 and the decrement counter 16. When the pulse K is output to the AND gate 26, the value stored in the second memory circuit 21 at that time is set as the maximum grip force measurement value Cmaxj (value in the i-th measurement) by the maximum value integration circuit 17 and the display switching circuit 18. given to. The decrease count counter 16 counts the pulses K given from the powerlessness detection circuit 15, and outputs the counted value to the display switching circuit 18 as the number of times of grip strength measurement. The maximum value integrating circuit 17 corresponds to the extreme value integrating means of the present invention, and receives the maximum grip force measurement value Cmax from the maximum value detecting circuit 14 every time the end of the i-th measurement is detected by the helplessness detecting circuit IO.
It is composed of a well-known circuit that introduces and integrates the maximum value ΣCmaxi, and outputs the sum of the maximum values ΣCmaxi to the display switching circuit 18. The display switching circuit 18 displays the maximum grip force measurement value Cmax is decrease count 1 detected by the maximum value detection circuit 14.
This is for displaying either the number of measurements counted by 6 or the total sum ΣCmaxi of the maximum value integrated by the maximum value integration circuit 17 on the display 19, and the display mode a to c is set by the changeover switch 9. By doing so, the display value corresponding to the set position is displayed on the display 19. That is, when the selector switch 9 is set to display mode positions ac, the maximum grip force measurement value, the number of IM force measurements, and the sum of the maximum grip force measurement values are displayed on the display surface 8 corresponding to each center position. During continuous measurement, the display switching circuit 18 takes out display data from the decrement counter 16 and the maximum value integration circuit 17 and displays it. The display switching circuit 18 also includes a memory that stores and holds the maximum value transferred from the maximum value detection circuit 14, and updates the memory when the maximum value is transferred for each measurement, so that the latest maximum value is always displayed.

The grip strength measurement section having the above configuration measures and displays the above three data, namely, the maximum grip strength measurement value, the sum of the maximum grip strength measurement values, and the number of grip strength measurements. When performing grip strength training by viewing the display of the maximum grip strength measurement value, set the selector switch 9 to the display mode a position in advance.
Gradually apply force from the beginning of the grip at the start of training (until the reset signal R is turned on and the second memory circuit 21 is reset. As the count value is sampled, the maximum value is detected from the sampling data, and the reset signal R is turned off and the detected maximum value is stored in the second storage circuit 21. The force is applied up to a point and then released, and when the force falls below a certain value, a pulse K is output to the maximum value detection circuit 14.

When pulse K is generated, the second
The value stored in the memory circuit 21 is displayed as the maximum grip strength measurement value. When the above measurement operation is repeated, the movable part 6
The maximum grip force measurement value is displayed each time one stroke of the grip force is completed, and each maximum value is sequentially integrated into the maximum value integration circuit 17, and the number of times the operation is performed is counted by the reduction number counter 16. By switching the selector switch 9 to the display mode b or C at a desired time, the number of stitches, the number of cumulative grip force measurements, and the sum of the maximum grip force measurements up to that time can be displayed.

In this way, the maximum value of grip strength can be determined automatically and with high precision using a load cell 1.2, and the sum of each maximum value when grip strength is continuously measured is calculated and displayed. Therefore, with such a digital display, data can be read smoothly and the quantitative effects of grip strength training can be clearly understood. In addition, by switching the changeover switch 9, the maximum grip strength measurement value and the number of grip strength measurements are displayed, so by using these three types of display data together with the sum of the maximum grip strength measurement values, the grip strength enhancement effect of grip strength training can be evaluated. It can be improved significantly.

Further, since such a digital display is performed, even when the electronic grip strength needle is used for measuring grip strength in a health checkup, the measured value of the grip strength can be read smoothly, and the measurement of the grip strength can be carried out smoothly.

In the above embodiment, load cell 1. Although a pressure sensor consisting of 2 is used, the grip force may be measured using a pressure sensor consisting of a piezoelectric element.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measuring section when a piezoelectric element is used as the pressure sensor in the above example. Since the grip force is measured as analog data by the piezoelectric element 30, the output of the piezoelectric element 30 is A/D converted through the amplifier 31 and the A/D conversion circuit 32, and the converted data is sent to the maximum value detection circuit 14 and the powerlessness detection circuit 15. , to the reset circuit 27.

In this case, since a pulse counter is not used, the counter reset signal t1 is not required, and the timing signal generation circuit 33 generates the timing signal t2. It is only necessary to generate t3.

As another example of a pressure sensor, a variable capacitance pressure sensor consisting of an element whose capacitance changes according to an external force is used, and the output of the sensor is introduced into the oscillator 10 to generate a pulse corresponding to the magnitude of the grip force. You may also do so.

In the example shown in Fig. 2, the movable part 6 is held by four fingers, but as shown in Fig. 7, the movable part is divided into four fingers and a pressure sensor is attached to each movable part. You may also place . The movable parts 41 to 44 provided for each term protrude from the case part 40, and a compression spring is provided in the case part 4θ between the end of each movable part and the pressure sensors 49 to 52 attached to the board 53. 45-48 are intervening. Movable part 41~
When you put your finger on the tip of 44 and squeeze it, the compression spring 45
The grip force of each finger against the elasticity of ~48 is detected by the pressure sensor 49~
Added to 52. The grip force thus applied is measured by pressure sensors 49 to 52 for each stroke of each movable part, and the maximum value is determined from the sum of the outputs of each pressure sensor in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. , the maximum grip strength measurement value is displayed on the display surface (not shown) of the case part 40. In the electronic grip force needle described above, each movable part is provided with compression springs 45 to 48, so that force is applied to each term. Therefore, the increase or decrease in force exerted by each finger appears as a change in grip force value, and this change can be clearly seen on the digital display of the maximum grip force measurement value.
It can be used for grip strength training to strengthen all four fingers.

(Effects of the f1 invention As described above, according to the present invention, the grip force is measured automatically and with high precision using a pressure sensor, and the maximum grip force value in a single measurement operation of grasping and releasing force 1 is measured for each measurement. judge,
Since the sum of each maximum value is displayed together, the measurement data can be read smoothly, and by using the sum of the maximum grip force measurements displayed on the display, grip strength training can be performed by continuously repeating the above measurement movements. It is possible to improve the grip strength enhancement effect through grip strength training by quantitatively understanding the absolute amount of grip strength.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an invention configuration diagram for clearly showing the configuration of this invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic grip force needle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a grip force measuring section of the electronic grip force needle.
FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the large value detection operation of the grip force measurement value in the grip force measurement section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration around the maximum value detection circuit 14 of the grip force measurement section, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram of the main parts of the grip force measurement part showing an example of using a piezoelectric element in the pressure sensor of this invention, and FIG. It is a diagram. 1.2--Load cell (as a pressure sensor), 3-guide piece, 4-fixed piece, 5-compression spring, 6-movable part, 8-
Display surface (of display 19). Applicant Kubota Iron Works Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Hisao Komori

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a device that measures the grip force applied to the main body against the elasticity of a spring inserted between the main body and the movable part,
A pressure sensor that converts an external force applied to the main body into an electrical signal, an output reading means that sequentially reads the output of the pressure sensor within the time required for one stroke of the movable part, and a value read by the output reading means. extreme value determining means for determining the extreme value of the extreme value determining means; extreme value accumulating means for storing and accumulating the extreme values determined by the extreme value determining means for each stroke of the movable part; and an integrated value of the extreme value accumulating means. An electronic grip strength needle comprising: a display device that displays the maximum grip strength as the sum of the measured values of the maximum grip strength; (2) The electronic grip force needle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric element. (3) The pressure sensor includes a load cell.1. and an oscillator for introducing the output of the load cell into which the output reading means generates a pulse corresponding to an external force applied to the main body, and dividing the pulse of the oscillator into a plurality of times, the time required for one stroke of the movable part. 2. The electronic grip dynamometer according to claim 1, further comprising a pulse counter that counts every divided time and outputs the counted value to the extreme value determining means.