KR20040093811A - Method and device for executing pedometer in wireless terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and a method for performing a pedometer function in a mobile terminal are provided to count the number of steps of a user while the user is walking. CONSTITUTION: A user sets a pedometer mode in a mobile terminal to measure the number of steps of the user(201). When a controller detects a signal according to movement of the user(202), a detector calculates a velocity value(Vn) and a position value(Xn) of a moving part(203,204). If the position value(Xn) is positioned in the second boundary, namely, a maximum value(Xmax)(205), the controller gives the maximum value(Xmax) to the position value(Xn) and '0' to the velocity value(Vn)(206). If time(tn) during which the moving part is positioned in the second boundary is greater than the sum of time(tn-1) during which the moving part was previously positioned in the second boundary and a time interval during which the moving part has been moved from the first boundary to the second boundary(207), the controller increases a count value(207). Whenever the count value is increased, the controller displays the sum of the number of steps of the user(209).

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXECUTING PEDOMETER IN WIRELESS TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for counting the number of steps of a user through a portable terminal having a pedometer function.

1 is a view showing the internal structure of a general pedometer.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pedometer is counted when the user touches the additional electrode when the user walks and returns to the sponge which serves as a buffer. As the user walks up and down while additionally walking, the electrode and the sponge repeatedly reach the electrode while being repeatedly counted each time.

As mentioned above, the pedometer is a device that checks the number of steps by using the height change when walking, and the existing pedometer shows how long the person walked and consumed calories by walking. It allows users to check their health because they do not care for their health because of their lives.

The existing pedometer is a function-oriented simple one, and displays the number of steps (vibrations) of each day as a value, a graph, or a value converted from a distance or calories.

However, not only the pedometer but also a portable terminal is a device that should always be carried. When the pedometer and the portable terminal must be carried at the same time, each of the portable terminals has a problem that causes inconvenience to the user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for counting the number of steps of a user through the portable terminal by implementing a pedometer function in the portable terminal.

An apparatus for performing a pedometer function in a portable terminal for achieving the above object includes a sensor for detecting the movement of the moving unit for reciprocating the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion, and a signal combiner for making the output signals of the sensor into the same pattern; A detection unit for outputting a speed value and a position value of the moving unit through a detection signal of the sensor, a determining unit determining the position of the moving unit based on the position value of the detecting unit, and the moving unit located at the second boundary unit. It comprises a counter unit for increasing the count.

In addition, the method for performing the pedometer function in the portable terminal to achieve the above object, in the pedometer mode, detecting the movement signal of the moving unit for reciprocating the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion, and through the signal Detecting a speed value and a position value, determining whether the moving part is located in the second boundary part based on the position value, and increasing and displaying a count when the moving part is located in the second boundary part. It is characterized by consisting of.

1 is a view showing the internal structure of a typical pedometer.

2 is a view for explaining the principle of operation of the pedometer.

3 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for performing a pedometer function in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a process of performing a pedometer function in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5C are views illustrating an absolute value of an acceleration sensor signal output from a mobile terminal, a speed of a moving unit, and a position of the moving unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same components in the figures represent the same numerals wherever possible.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention described below, the moving part represents a weight in the pedometer as shown in FIG. Assume that the electrode to be counted is represented. In addition, it is assumed that an inelastic collision occurs in the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a view for explaining the principle of operation of the pedometer. As shown in FIG. 2, when the user of the portable terminal starts to walk, the first boundary unit 20, which is the starting point of the moving unit 10, comes down to the second boundary unit 30 and counts when the electrode touches the electrode. The elasticity of the second boundary unit 30 is measured. The process returns to the first boundary part 20 which is the original position of the moving part 10 again.

3 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for performing a pedometer function in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 and 3, the RF unit 123 performs a wireless communication function of the portable terminal. The RF unit 123 includes an RF transmitter for upconverting and amplifying a frequency of a transmitted signal, and an RF receiver for low noise amplifying and downconverting a received signal. The data processor 120 includes a transmitter for encoding and modulating the transmitted signal and a receiver for demodulating and decoding the received signal. That is, the data processor 123 may be configured of a modem and a codec CODDEC. The codec includes a data codec for processing packet data and an audio codec for processing an audio signal such as voice. The audio processor 125 reproduces the received audio signal output from the audio codec of the data processor 120 or transmits a transmission audio signal generated from the microphone to the audio codec of the data processor 120.

The key input unit 127 includes keys for inputting numeric and character information and function keys for setting various functions. In addition, the key input unit 127 may include a key for switching to the pedometer mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory 130 may include program memory and data memories. The program memory may store programs for controlling the general operation of the portable terminal and programs for controlling the number of steps of the user to display on the display unit in the pedometer mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the data memory temporarily stores data generated during the execution of the programs.

The display unit 160 displays the image signal output from the image processor 50 on the screen, and displays the user data output from the controller 110. The display unit 160 may use an LCD. In this case, the display unit 160 may include an LCD controller, a memory capable of storing image data, and an LCD display device. In this case, when the LCD is implemented using a touch screen method, the LCD may operate as an input unit. The display unit 150 may display the number of steps of the user counted in the pedometer mode of the portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The sensor 141 detects a motion signal of the moving unit 10. In the present invention, the sensor 101 represents an acceleration sensor of two axes capable of sensing the X and Y axes. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 141 is an acceleration sensor of two axes composed of a single IC, which is small in size, can be embedded in a portable terminal, and has low power consumption. Therefore, ADXL202 of Analog Devices, which is suitable for user's motion recognition, is suitable. Can be used.

The signal combiner 142 obtains the change amount of the signal by making the signals of the X-axis and the Y-axis in the different directions detected by the sensor 141 into the same pattern. The signal combiner 142 makes the signal a _x of the X-axis and the signal a _{y of the} Y-axis in different directions into the signal a _n of the same pattern through the following equation.

<Equation 1>

The detection unit 143 detects the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 reciprocating between the first boundary unit 20 and the second boundary unit 30 through the detection signal a _n output from the signal combiner 142 through the following equation.

<Equation 2>

In Equation 2, a means an output signal of the acceleration sensor, where k is the elastic modulus (spring constant) and m is the weight of the moving part.

The detector 143 calculates the position x _n of the moving unit 10 by substituting the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 detected through Equation 2 into Equation 3 below. Here, the position of the moving unit 10 indicates when the moving unit 10 is located in the first boundary unit 20 or the second boundary unit 30.

<Equation 3>

In Equation 3, x means the position of the moving part, v means the speed of the moving part, Means the time interval of moving parts.

The determination unit 144 determines whether the moving unit 10 calculated by the detection unit 143 is located in the first boundary unit 20 or the second boundary unit 30.

The counter unit 145 increases the count when the determination unit 144 determines that the moving unit 10 is located in the second boundary unit 30.

The controller 110 performs a function of controlling the overall operation of the mobile terminal, and may include the data processor 120. In addition, in the pedometer mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 110 increases the count by controlling the counter unit 145 when the moving unit 10 detects the position of the moving unit 10 through the determination unit 144. Control to display the count value on the display unit 160.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user starts to walk in the pedometer mode of the portable terminal, the controller 110 senses the position of the mobile unit 10 through the motion signal of the sensor 141. When the moving unit 10 is located in the second boundary unit 30, the moving unit 10 senses that the electrode touches the electrode and increases the count. Alternatively, when the detected moving unit 10 is located in the first boundary unit 20, the detected moving unit 10 detects the start point of the moving unit 10 and waits for the next sensor signal input. The count value that is increased whenever the moving unit 10 is located in the second boundary unit 30 and the count is increased is displayed on the display unit 160.

4 is a diagram illustrating a process of performing a pedometer function in a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, v _n represents the speed of the moving part, and x _n represents the position of the moving part. In addition, x _max represents the second boundary portion as the maximum value where the moving part is located, and x _min represents the first boundary portion as the minimum value where the moving part is located. In addition, t _n denotes the time which is located in the mobile part the second boundary, t _n-1 is the previous movement in addition indicates the time which is located in a second boundary, Tc is the mobile moving from the first boundary to the second boundary portion Time interval ( ).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, in step 201, when the user of the portable terminal sets the 20,000 pedometer mode to measure the number of steps, the controller 110 detects this and waits for a signal input of the sensor 141 according to the user's movement. When a signal is detected through the sensor 141, the controller 110 detects the signal in step 202 and inputs signals a _x and a _y in different directions on the X and Y axes to the signal combiner 142. The signals a _x and a _y input to the signal combiner 142 are made into signals a _n having the same pattern through Equation 1 and input to the detector 143.

The detection unit 143 calculates the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 through the signal a _n outputted from the signal combiner 142 and Equation 2 in step 203. Thereafter, the detection unit 143 calculates the position value x _n of the moving unit 10 by substituting the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 detected in step 203 into Equation 3 and inputs it to the determination unit 144. Proceed to step 204. The determination unit 144 determines whether the position value (x _n ) of the moving unit 10 detected by the detection unit 143 is located in the second boundary unit 30 that is the maximum value (x _max ) or in the first boundary unit 20 that is the minimum value (x _mix ). It determines whether it is located and informs the control unit 110. If the position value (x _n ) of the moving unit 10 is located in the second boundary unit 30 having the maximum value (x _max ), the control unit 110 detects this in step 205 and proceeds to step 206. In step 206, the control unit 110 gives the position value x _n of the moving unit 10 as the maximum value x _max and gives the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 as '0'. Thereafter, the control unit 110 determines that the time t _n at which the moving unit 10 is located at the second boundary unit 30 is the time t _n-1 at which the previous moving unit is located at the second boundary unit 30, and Time interval when moving from 1 boundary unit 20 to the second boundary unit 30 ) Is greater than the sum. If it is large, the control unit 110 detects this in step 207, increases the count to the counter unit 145, and gives a value of time t _n at which the current mobile unit 10 is located in the second boundary unit 30 to t _n-1 . Proceed to step. Whenever the count of the counter unit 145 increases in step 208, the controller 110 displays the sum of the value of the counter unit 145, that is, the number of steps of the user, on the display unit 160 in step 209.

Alternatively, when the position value x _n of the moving unit 10 is located in the first boundary unit 20 having the minimum value x _mix , the control unit 110 detects this in step 210 and proceeds to step 211. In step 211, the control unit 110 gives the position value x _n of the moving unit 10 as the minimum value (x _mix ), and gives the speed value v _n of the moving unit 10 as '0'. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 202 of waiting for a signal input from the sensor 141 according to the movement of the user.

5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an absolute value a _n of an acceleration sensor signal output from a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a speed v _n of a moving part, and a position x _{n of the} moving part.

5A is an absolute value (a _n ) of the acceleration sensor signal output in the pedometer mode of the mobile terminal, and FIG. 5B is a speed (v _n ) signal of the moving unit output in the pedometer mode of the mobile terminal. Position (x _n ) of the moving part output in the pedometer mode of the portable terminal. As shown in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the actual step is the count at the point where the position x _n of the moving part reaches the maximum value x _{max as} the second boundary part.

In the above description of the present invention, a specific embodiment such as a mobile terminal has been described, but various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalent of claims and claims.

That is, as described above, the present invention implements the pedometer function in the portable terminal, so that the user of the portable terminal can conveniently use the pedometer.

Claims (7)

An apparatus for performing a pedometer function in a mobile terminal, A sensor for detecting a movement of the moving part reciprocating the first boundary part and the second boundary part; A signal combiner for making the output signals of the sensor into the same pattern; A detection unit for outputting a speed value and a position value of the moving unit through a detection signal of the sensor; A determination unit determining a position of the moving unit based on a position value of the detection unit; And the counter unit is configured to increase a count when the moving unit is located in the second boundary unit. The method of claim 1, The sensor is characterized in that the acceleration sensor for sensing the X-axis and Y-axis. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector obtains a position value of the moving unit through Equation 2 below. <Equation 3> Where x means the position of the moving part, v means the speed of the moving part, Is the time interval of the moving part. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the detector obtains a velocity value v of the moving unit through Equation 1 below. <Equation 2> Where a means the output signal of the acceleration sensor, = k / m (k is the elastic modulus, m is the weight of the moving part). In the method for performing a pedometer function in a mobile terminal, In the pedometer mode, detecting a movement signal of a moving unit reciprocating the first boundary unit and the second boundary unit, Detecting a speed value and a position value of the moving unit through the signal; Determining whether the moving unit is located in the second boundary unit based on the position value; And when the moving unit is positioned in the second boundary unit, incrementing and displaying a count. The method of claim 5, wherein when the moving part is located in the second boundary, The position value of the moving unit becomes a maximum value and the speed value becomes '0', thereby increasing the count. The method of claim 5, wherein when the moving part is located in the first boundary, Wherein the position value of the moving part becomes a minimum value and the speed value becomes '0'.