JP2004118410A - Pedometer with walking distance converting function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedometer with a walking distance converting function capable of highly accurately calculating a walking distance even when a user walks with different pitches. <P>SOLUTION: A user sets a specific distance d (101), and when depressing a start input button (102), the measurement of a walking time is started (103), and the number of steps is detected by a walking sensor 20 (104), and integrated (105). When the user ends walking in the specific distance d (106), and depresses a specific input button (107), the measurement of the walking time is stopped, and a walking time t when the user walks in the specific distance d is stored in an RAM 13 (108). A CPU 11 reads the specific distance d, the number of steps n when the user walks in the specific distance d, and the walking time t from the RAM 13, and calculates a step width coefficient α being step width per unit pitch, and stores it in the RAM 13 (109). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function for automatically calculating a stride according to a walking pitch of a user and calculating a walking distance from the calculated stride and the number of steps.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-7-333000 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2001-1720029 [0003]
A commercially available pedometer with a distance conversion function generally includes a step number detection unit, a stride length input unit, a memory, and a distance conversion unit. That is, the user of the pedometer inputs his / her own stride by the stride length input means in advance and stores it in the memory. The distance conversion means multiplies the number of steps detected by the number of steps detection means and the number of steps stored in the memory to calculate a walking distance of the user. In this conventional pedometer, necessary accuracy is obtained when walking at a constant speed as training such as walking. However, since the stride of a person changes according to the walking speed, there is a problem that the accuracy of measuring the walking distance in daily life where the walking speed is not constant is low.
[0004]
Patent Literature 1 discloses a pedometer having a walking distance conversion function, a means for obtaining a walking pitch-stride characteristic of a user, and a means for calculating a stride of the user from the walking pitch-stride characteristic. . That is, the CPU causes the user to walk a predetermined distance while emitting pitch sounds synchronized with the two types of walking pitches P1 and P2 from the speaker, and counts the number of steps at that time based on a signal supplied from the walking sensor. Thus, the walking pitch-step length characteristic unique to the user is calculated in advance.
[0005]
For example, if the walking pitch P1 is 100 steps / minute and P2 is 140 steps / minute, and the stride of a certain user walking at P1 is 70 cm, and the stride of walking at P2 is 90 cm, the user is concerned. Is represented by y = (1/2) x + 20. Here, y is a stride, and x is a walking pitch. For example, if the walking pitch x is 120 steps, the stride y is 80 cm. Then, in actual measurement, a stride is calculated from the walking pitch of the user according to the above-mentioned walking pitch-stride characteristics, and a walking distance is calculated from the stride and the walking time. The measurement of the walking pitch, the calculation of the step length, and the calculation of the walking distance are performed every 30 seconds.
[0006]
This conventional pedometer having a walking distance conversion function is a pedometer that can automatically calculate a stride according to a walking pitch of a user and calculate an accurate walking distance and an average walking speed. However, in order to obtain the above-mentioned walking pitch-step length characteristics, two actions are required of the user. The two actions are to walk a certain distance at a walking pitch P1 and to walk a certain distance at a walking pitch P2. Further, since the conventional pedometer having the function of converting the walking distance calculates the walking distance every 30 seconds, the calculated walking distance is used when the walking pitch fluctuates greatly during the 30 seconds. There is also a problem that the difference from the actual walking distance becomes large.
[0007]
Patent Literature 2 discloses an apparatus for measuring the exercise state in units of one step at a time of walking or walking of a subject, and the stride time tn, the _number of steps N, and the total distance D of walking or walking at the time of walking or walking of the subject. stride time measuring unit for measuring preparative respectively, pedometer, total distance measurement unit, measured memory unit for storing a correlation approximation equation between stride time t _n and the velocity y _n obtained separately by the stride time measuring unit averaging means, step calculation unit for calculating a stride Ii1 _n for each step of the subject based on the total distance D of walking or walking the mean treated stride time t1 _n for performing averaging processing of stride time t _n, the average complement of performing correction processing to stride Ii1 _n the calculated on the basis of the correlation approximate expression is stored in the processed stride time t1 _n and the memory unit Motion state measuring apparatus is disclosed which is characterized in that a processing unit. However, there is a problem that this exercise state measuring device is too advanced as a pedometer with a walking distance conversion function used by ordinary people, and is difficult to use.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a pedometer having a walking distance conversion function which can calculate a walking distance with high accuracy even when walking while changing the pitch, and which is easily used by ordinary people.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function that solves the above-mentioned problem calculates a walking distance W by multiplying the walking pitch P by a step coefficient α, and calculates a walking distance D by multiplying the step width N by the number of steps N. A step counter for counting the number of steps N, a walking time counter for counting the walking time T, a storage circuit for storing various data including a stride coefficient α, and an arithmetic circuit for performing various operations. , A setting circuit for setting various set values including the specific distance d, and a display for displaying the number of steps N and the walking distance D. The step length coefficient α is a step length per one walking pitch when the user walks a specific distance, and is calculated by the arithmetic circuit based on the number of steps and the walking time when the user walks the specific distance d. And stored in the storage circuit.
[0010]
More specifically, the arithmetic circuit calculates a stride coefficient α by substituting the number of steps n and the walking time t when the user walks the specific distance d into the equation α = dt / n, Is to be stored. The setting, the arithmetic circuit performs the calculation of N _{a /} T _a based on the walking time T _a required to reach the user in a predetermined number of steps N _a set by the setting circuit, or by the setting circuit in which carries out an operation of N _{b /} T _b calculates a walking pitch P based on the number of steps N _b where the user walks on, predetermined time T _b.
[0011]
The predetermined number of steps N _a a one step when display unit of the pedometer is smaller than a predetermined value, and the display unit of distance pedometer was set as the plurality of steps when greater than said value comprises a predetermined value. The predetermined value is, for example, 1 meter, 10 meters, 30 meters, 50 meters, 100 meters, 500 meters, or 1000 meters. Further, switching may be performed in conjunction with the number of digits to be displayed.
[0012]
Further, a plurality of stride coefficients corresponding to the walking pitch are set, and these are automatically switched at the time of walking measurement and used for the stride calculation.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
One embodiment of a pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function of calculating a walking distance W by multiplying a walking pitch P by a stride coefficient α and calculating a walking distance D by multiplying a stride W by the number of steps N is a block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 11 performs various calculations and controls in accordance with a program, a ROM 12 storing the program, a RAM 13 storing various data including a stride coefficient α, an oscillation circuit 14 for generating a reference frequency, and a clock for measuring a reference frequency. A frequency dividing circuit 15, a clock circuit 16 for measuring time based on a clock frequency, a display driving circuit 17, a liquid crystal display 18, a setting device 19, and a walking sensor 20.
[0014]
(Calculation of stride coefficient)
In the present invention, the stride W is calculated by multiplying the walking pitch P by the stride coefficient α, and the walking distance D is calculated by multiplying the stride W by the number of steps N. The step length coefficient α as a reference for calculating the walking distance is unique to the user, and is calculated by substituting the number of steps n and the walking time t when the user walks the specific distance d into the equation α = dt / n. , Are stored in the RAM 13. Since the stride W is calculated by W = αP, the stride coefficient α represents a stride per unit pitch unique to the user.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow in the case of calculating a stride coefficient α in a pedometer having a walking distance conversion function according to the present invention. First, the user operates the setting device 19 to set the specific distance d (101). The set specific distance d is stored in the RAM 13. Subsequently, when the user presses the start input button (102), the measurement of walking time is started (103), and at the same time, the number of steps is detected by the walking sensor 20 (104), and the number of steps is integrated (105). The accumulated number of steps is stored in the RAM 13.
[0016]
When the user has finished walking the set specific distance d (106), the user presses an end input button (107). Then, the measurement of the walking time is stopped, and the walking time t when walking the specific distance d is stored in the RAM 13 (108). Subsequently, the CPU 11 reads the specific distance d, the number of steps n and the walking time t when the user walks the specific distance d from the RAM 13 according to the program, and substitutes the step length coefficient α into the equation α = dt / n. It is calculated and stored in the RAM 13 (109). Subsequently, the CPU 11 terminates the user's stride correction setting, that is, the personal setting program (110). Thus, the stride coefficient α required for the stride calculation of the user is calculated only by the user walking once at the specific distance d. The specific distance d can be arbitrarily selected by the user.
[0017]
For example, when a certain user walks with 30 m set, the number of steps n is 40 (steps) and the walking time t is 28.7 (seconds). Since the walking pitch P is the number of steps per unit time, the walking pitch of the user is 96.17 (steps / minute). The stride coefficient α is a stride per unit walking pitch, and is 0.65 (m minutes / step) from the equation α = dt / n. If the walking pitch P (steps / minute) is plotted on the horizontal axis and the stride W (m) is plotted on the vertical axis, the relational expression between the walking pitch P and the stride W of the user is a linear expression W = It is represented by αP. Based on the specified linear expression W = αP, the user's stride W is uniquely determined corresponding to the walking pitch P.
[0018]
(Calculation of walking distance)
Next, a first embodiment of the operation of the pedometer provided with the walking distance conversion function according to the present invention for converting the walking distance while automatically adjusting the stride length according to the walking pitch will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first embodiment, the calculation of the walking pitch is performed by setting a predetermined number of steps.
[0019]
In FIG. 4, the user first resets the number of steps (201), and sets _a predetermined number of steps Na using the setting device 19 (202). Wherein the predetermined number of steps N _a is, CPU 11 is a number of steps for performing step calculation according to the program, a value which the user can arbitrarily select. Of course, the predetermined number of steps N _a set may be one step. Subsequently, when the user presses the start input button (203), the number of steps is detected by the walking sensor 20 (204), the number of steps displayed on the pedometer is calculated (205), and the walking pitch is calculated. Is performed by the function of the counter (206). The accumulated number of steps is stored in the RAM 13.
[0020]
CPU11 has accumulated number of steps it is determined whether a match to a predetermined number of steps N _a (207), when it is determined that the matched calculates a walking pitch P _a user in accordance with a program (208). The calculated walking pitch _{P a} is stored in the RAM 13. The walking pitch P _a case is calculated by performing the calculation of N _{a /} T _a based on the walking time T _a the user to the set predetermined number of steps N _a is required to reach. Walking time T _a has been omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 4, CPU 11 is accumulated number of steps from the start of measurement (203) is a time interval between when it is judged to match the predetermined number of steps N _a, CPU 11 is programmed Automatically detected in accordance with the above and stored in the RAM 13.
[0021]
Following step 208, CPU 11 in accordance with a program to calculate the footstep _{W a} user (209). That, CPU 11 reads the walking pitch _{P a} and stride coefficient α from RAM 13, calculates the footstep _{W a} by formula _{W a} = .alpha.P _a. The calculated step length _{W a} is stored in the RAM 13.
[0022]
Following step 209, CPU 11 in accordance with a program, the user calculates the walking distance _{D a} which walks before reaching the predetermined number of steps _{N a} (210). That, CPU 11 reads from the RAM13 the predetermined number of steps _{N a} and stride _{W a,} and calculates the walking distance _{D a} by equation _D a ₌ N a _{W a.} Calculated walking distance _{D a} is stored in the RAM 13.
[0023]
Following step 210, the CPU 11 calculates the total distance the user has walked according to the program (211), updates the display on the liquid crystal display 18 (212), and returns to the next step count detection (204). Hereinafter, the processing of steps 205 to 212 is sequentially performed.
[0024]
If the setting of the predetermined number of steps is changed on the way, the process returns to step 202 after step 210. Then, the processing from step 203 to step 212 is performed in order.
[0025]
Next, a second embodiment of the operation of the pedometer provided with the walking distance conversion function according to the present invention for converting the walking distance while automatically adjusting the stride length according to the walking pitch will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the second embodiment, the walking pitch is calculated by setting a predetermined time.
[0026]
5, the user first number of steps to reset the (301) sets a predetermined time period _{T b} by setter 19 (302). The predetermined time T _b is, CPU 11 is a time for performing the step calculation according to the program, a value which the user can arbitrarily select. Subsequently, when the user presses the start input button (303), the number of steps is detected by the walking sensor 20 (304), the number of steps is calculated (305), and the number of steps for calculating the walking pitch is counted by the counter. The function is performed (306). The accumulated number of steps is stored in the RAM 13.
[0027]
CPU11 the elapsed time from the start of measurement is determined whether match the predetermined time T _b (307), when it is determined that the matched calculates a walking pitch P _b of the user according to the program (308). The calculated walking pitch _{P b} is stored in the RAM 13. The walking pitch P _b in this case is calculated by performing the calculation of the N _{b /} T _b on the basis of the number of steps N _b where the user walks during the set predetermined time T _b.
[0028]
Following step 308, CPU 11 in accordance with a program to calculate the footstep _{W b} of the user (309). That, CPU 11 reads the walking pitch _{P b} and stride coefficient α from RAM 13, calculates the footstep _{W b} by equation _{W b} = _{αP b.} Footstep _{W b} calculated is stored in the RAM 13.
[0029]
Following step 309, CPU 11, the user calculates the walking distance _{D a} which walks during a predetermined time _{T b} according to a program (310). That, CPU 11 reads out the number of steps _{N b} and footstep _{W b} where the user walks during a predetermined time _{T b} from the RAM 13, and calculates the walking distance _{D b} by formula _{D b =} N b _W b. Calculated walking distance _{D b} is stored in the RAM 13.
[0030]
Subsequent to step 310, the CPU 11 calculates the total distance the user has walked according to the program (311), updates the display on the liquid crystal display 18 (312), and returns to the next step count detection (304). The processes from 305 to 312 are performed in order.
[0031]
If the setting of the predetermined number of steps is changed on the way, the process returns to step 302 after step 310. Then, the processing from step 303 to step 312 is performed in order.
[0032]
In the present invention, the predetermined value set for the walking pitch calculation may be either a predetermined number of steps or a predetermined time, and the value can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, it is possible to calculate an appropriate walking pitch according to the walking speed. By utilizing this feature, highly accurate walking distance conversion can be performed. For example, the predetermined number of steps N _a be configured for walking pitch computing is a one step when display unit of the pedometer is small, and when the display unit of distance pedometer is large and so that the plurality of steps. If the average walking pitch is calculated in units of steps, as compared with a case where the average walking pitch is calculated at fixed time intervals, for example, at intervals of 30 seconds, the average walking pitch can be calculated more accurately even when the user stops while walking. When the display unit is small, such as 1 m or 0.1 m, the walking distance is reflected in the display for each step and is easy for the user to understand. When the display unit is large, such as km, the pitch is calculated in a plurality of steps. Therefore, measurement variation can be suppressed to be small.
[0033]
Further, in the present invention, a reference value for automatically calculating a stride corresponding to a walking pitch is set as a stride coefficient, and the stride coefficient is calculated simply by a user walking a specific distance once. is there. Taking advantage of this feature, the stride factor in walking alpha ₁ and the stride coefficient alpha ₂ in running initialized, it is possible to use by switching these two stride coefficient in walking and running. In this case, when the walking is at a low pitch (that is, when the calculated pitch is later than the pitch at which the step coefficient α ₁ was calculated), the step coefficient α ₁ is used. When the walking is at a high pitch (that is, the calculated pitch is the step coefficient α). the stride coefficient alpha ₂ when faster than the pitch) when calculating the _2, walking by using the average value of the stride factor alpha ₁ and alpha ₂ in the case is between the low pitch and high pitch, calculates the respective stride . In this way, a more accurate calculation of the stride length corresponding to the walking pitch can be performed. In the present invention, a plurality of stride coefficients corresponding to the walking pitch can be set, and these can be automatically switched at the time of walking measurement and used for the stride calculation.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pedometer having a walking distance conversion function that can calculate a walking distance with high accuracy even when walking while changing the pitch, and is easily used by ordinary people. That is, the user-specific step length coefficient to be initially set is simply calculated by walking once at an arbitrary specific distance that is easy for the user to specify, and is stored in the storage unit. Further, the predetermined value set by the user for calculating the walking pitch after the initial setting may be either the predetermined number of steps or the predetermined time, and the value can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, since an appropriate pitch can be calculated according to the walking speed, highly accurate walking distance conversion can be performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pedometer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a relationship diagram between a walking pitch and a stride.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of calculating a stride coefficient initially set in the pedometer according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a first embodiment of a pedometer according to the present invention for converting a walking distance.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a second embodiment of the pedometer according to the present invention for converting a walking distance.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Oscillation circuit 15 Divider circuit 16 Clock circuit 17 Display drive circuit 18 Liquid crystal display 19 Setting device 20 Walking sensor

Claims (5)

A pedometer having a walking distance conversion function of calculating a walking distance D by multiplying a walking pitch P by a step coefficient α and calculating a walking distance D by multiplying the step W by a step number N, and a step counter for counting the step number N A walking time counter that counts a walking time T, a storage circuit that stores various data including a stride coefficient α, an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and a setting circuit that sets various setting values including a specific distance d. A display for displaying the number of steps N and the walking distance D,
The step length coefficient α is a step length per one walking pitch when the user walks a specific distance, and the arithmetic circuit is based on the number of steps and the walking time when the user walks a specific distance d at an initial setting. A pedometer having a walking distance conversion function, wherein the pedometer is calculated by the following and stored in the storage circuit. A pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function for calculating a walking distance D by multiplying a walking pitch P by a step coefficient α and calculating a walking distance D by multiplying the step W by a step number N, and a step counter for counting the step number N A walking time counter that counts a walking time T, a storage circuit that stores various data including a stride coefficient α, an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and a setting circuit that sets various setting values including a specific distance d. A display for displaying the number of steps N and the walking distance D,
The arithmetic circuit calculates a step length coefficient α by substituting the number of steps n and the walking time t when the user walks the specific distance d into the equation α = dt / n at the time of initial setting; and wherein it is intended to perform the calculation of the N _{b /} T _b calculates a walking pitch P based on the number of steps N _b the user in a predetermined time T _a which has been set by the setting circuit during walking measurement walks Pedometer with walking distance conversion function. Predetermined number of steps N _a when the display unit of the pedometer is smaller than a predetermined value is set to 1 step, and a predetermined number of steps N _a when the display unit of distance pedometer is greater than the value comprises a predetermined value so as to plurality of steps A pedometer having a walking distance conversion function according to claim 2, wherein A pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function for calculating a walking distance D by multiplying a walking pitch P by a step coefficient α and calculating a walking distance D by multiplying the step W by a step number N, and a step counter for counting the step number N A walking time counter that counts a walking time T, a storage circuit that stores various data including a stride coefficient α, an arithmetic circuit that performs various calculations, and a setting circuit that sets various setting values including a specific distance d. A display for displaying the number of steps N and the walking distance D,
The arithmetic circuit calculates a step length coefficient α by substituting the number of steps n and the walking time t when the user walks the specific distance d into the equation α = dt / n at the time of initial setting; and ones that calculates a walking pitch P by performing the calculation of the N _{a /} T _a based on the walking time T _a taken to the user in a predetermined number of steps N _a set by the setting circuit during walking measurement reaches A pedometer provided with a walking distance conversion function. The walking according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein a plurality of stride coefficients corresponding to the walking pitch are set, and these are automatically switched at the time of walking measurement and used for the stride calculation. Pedometer with distance conversion function.

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