WO2020004559A1 - Activity meter and activity meter system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an activity meter comprising: a housing; and internal components disposed in a housing. The internal components include: a substrate provided with an acceleration sensor, a processing unit which calculates an amount of activity on the basis of a detection value obtained by the acceleration sensor, and a storage unit; a secondary battery; and a power receiving circuit which charges the secondary battery, wherein the substrate, the power receiving circuit, and the secondary battery are arranged in parallel on substantially the same plane in the housing.

Description

Activity meter and activity meter system

The present invention relates to an activity meter and an activity meter system.

JP5489105B discloses a pedometer as an activity meter carried by a user. Inside the case constituting the pedometer, a step measurement board (10) provided with an acceleration sensor (11), a processing chip (12) and a button battery (14), an induction coil (21) and a communication chip (22) ) Are arranged on the communication board (20).

歩 The pedometer measurement board (10) has a first surface on which the button battery (14) is mounted, and a second surface on which the acceleration sensor (11) and the processing chip (12) are mounted. The communication board (20) has a third surface on which the communication chip (22) is mounted and a fourth surface on which the induction coil (21) is mounted.

{Circle around (2)} The pedometer board (10) and the communication board (20) are provided inside the pedometer in a state where the second surface and the third surface thereof are stacked so as to face each other.

In the above pedometer, since the step measurement board (10) and the communication board (20) are located above and below the case, they are connected three-dimensionally and accommodated in the case, so that the pedometer (1) The overall size is reduced.

However, the structure in which the step number measurement board (10) and the communication board (20) are stacked on top of each other has a structure in which the boards and components such as chips mounted on the board do not interfere with each other. It is necessary to secure some space. For this reason, there is a limit in reducing the thickness of the pedometer.

Especially, an activity meter, such as a pedometer, which detects a parameter representing body movement based on a user's daily activity, is assumed to be a user's daily mobile (long-time mobile). For this reason, it is desirable to reduce the burden on the user due to daily carrying as much as possible.

In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to reduce the burden on a user due to carrying an activity meter on a daily basis.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an activity meter including a housing and internal components arranged in the housing. Internal components, an acceleration sensor, a processing unit that calculates the amount of activity based on the value detected by the acceleration sensor, and a substrate including a storage unit, a secondary battery, and a power receiving circuit that charges the secondary battery, including. In particular, the board, the power receiving circuit, and the secondary battery are arranged in parallel on substantially the same plane in the housing.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, the activity meter, a charging battery including a power supply interface for supplying power to the power receiving circuit facing the power receiving circuit, and a power feeding interface facing the power receiving circuit. And a holder for holding the charging battery and the activity meter in a closed state.

According to this aspect, the thickness of the housing is further reduced by arranging the board, the power receiving circuit, and the secondary battery included in the internal components of the activity meter in parallel on substantially the same plane in the housing. Can be. In addition, by providing a secondary battery as a battery, it is possible to omit the configuration of a battery replacement lid required in a pedometer in which a conventional primary battery is arranged, and to reduce the thickness of the housing. can do. As a result, the total thickness of the activity meter can be reduced, and the activity meter can be formed in a thin card shape of about the thickness of an IC card or the like.

It is a figure explaining appearance of an activity meter by a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the arrangement aspect of the internal component of the activity meter by 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows roughly the arrangement aspect of the internal component of the activity meter by 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection between internal components of the activity meter according to the first embodiment. It is a top view which shows roughly the arrangement aspect of the internal component of the activity meter by 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of noise generation according to the position of an acceleration sensor. It is a figure explaining the modification of the arrangement position of an acceleration sensor. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of noise generation according to the position of an acceleration sensor. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating comparison of detection values according to the position of an acceleration sensor. It is a figure explaining appearance of an activity meter by a 3rd embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining electric connection between internal components of an activity meter by a 3rd embodiment. It is a figure explaining display change of a display of an activity meter by a 3rd embodiment. It is a figure explaining composition of an activity meter system by a 5th embodiment. It is a figure explaining the state where the activity meter system was put on the stand. It is a figure explaining the 1st modification of arrangement mode of an internal component of an activity meter. It is a figure explaining the 2nd modification of arrangement mode of an internal component of an activity meter. It is an outline perspective view explaining the composition of the activity meter by a 6th embodiment. It is an outline top view explaining the composition of the activity meter by a 6th embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the like.

(1st Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 3. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of a pedometer 10 as an activity meter according to the present embodiment. As shown, the pedometer 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular thin plate shape (card shape). Also, a position (close to one long side 11a (the long side located on the lower side in FIG. 1)) of the housing 11 and a position close to one short side 11b (the short side located on the right side in FIG. 1) At a lower right position in FIG. 1), a pair of LEDs 30 a and 30 b constituting a light emitting device 30 described later and an operation unit 30 c are provided.

The housing 11 is formed in a thin card shape (thickness equivalent to a general non-contact IC card) of several millimeters or less, for example, about 2 mm or less. That is, the entire thickness of the pedometer 10 that accommodates the internal component 12 described later is also formed in a thin card shape.

The pedometer 10 according to the present embodiment is carried by a user in daily life such as commuting, going to school, and leisure, and has a function of detecting the number of steps caused by walking or running of the user, and outputs the detected number of steps to the outside as information. It has a function to do.

The pedometer 10 is configured by incorporating an internal component 12 described later into a thin plate-shaped housing 11. Therefore, the pedometer 10 as a whole is formed in a thin card shape of, for example, about 2 mm or less, similarly to the thickness of the housing 11. In particular, in the present embodiment, such a thin card-shaped pedometer 10 is realized by an internal component 12 described later. Hereinafter, aspects of the internal component 12 will be described.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view schematically showing the arrangement of the internal components 12. FIG. 2B is a plan view schematically showing the arrangement of the internal components 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the internal components 12 of the housing 11 of the pedometer 10 include a substrate 13, a power receiving circuit 14, and a secondary battery 16. In the present embodiment, the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 are arranged in parallel on the substantially same plane in the housing 11. Details of each component will be described.

The substrate 13 of the present embodiment can be formed by a rigid substrate such as a glass epoxy substrate, or a flexible substrate using an insulating resin film such as polyimide or polyester as a base material. The substrate 13 includes a processing chip 22 as a processing unit, a memory 24 as a storage unit, a power receiving IC (Integrate Circuit) 26, a power control circuit 28, the above-described light emitting device 30, an operation unit 30c, an acceleration sensor 32, and a communication unit 33 including a communication IC 34 and a communication antenna 36 are provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection in the internal component 12. As shown in the figure, the internal component 12 is connected to the processing chip 22 so that the memory 24, the power receiving IC 26, the power control circuit 28, the light emitting device 30, the acceleration sensor 32, and the communication unit 33 can communicate with each other.

The power receiving circuit 14 is a circuit for receiving power for charging the secondary battery 16 from an external power supply. That is, the power receiving circuit 14 functions as a non-contact charging unit. In particular, the power receiving circuit 14 of the present embodiment includes an induction coil 14a for realizing power transfer according to a so-called electromagnetic induction method, and a wiring 14b connected to a terminal of the power receiving IC 26. With this configuration, the induced electromotive force generated in the induction coil 14a by the magnetic flux received from the external power supply is transmitted to the power receiving IC 26 via the wiring 14b.

The secondary battery 16 is constituted by, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery. In particular, the secondary battery 16 is configured by a single unit cell or a stacked battery obtained by stacking a plurality of unit cells. When the secondary battery 16 is formed of a stacked battery, the overall thickness of the secondary battery 16 is equal to or less than the thickness (including the chip) of the substrate 13 or the power receiving circuit 14, or approximately equal to the thickness. A number of cells are stacked. The terminals of the secondary battery 16 are connected to wires so as to enable input of power from the power receiving circuit 14 and output of power of each component on the board 13.

The processing chip 22 is configured as an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processing chip 22 detects a walking step from the acceleration signal Ks based on the detection value D1 detected by the acceleration sensor 32, and calculates the step count data Hs.

The processing chip 22 refers to the user's body data (height and weight, etc.) stored in the memory 24 in advance, as necessary, and refers to the user's body such as calorie consumption based on the acquired step count data Hs. It may be configured to calculate a parameter indicating a movement.

Further, the processing chip 22 receives a charge remaining signal indicating the remaining charge of the secondary battery 16 from the power control circuit 28, and outputs an operation detection signal indicating that an operation to the operation unit 30c has been performed to the light emitting device. 30. Note that, instead of this configuration, the processing chip 22 may directly determine the remaining charge from the terminal voltage of the secondary battery 16. When the processing chip 22 receives the operation detection signal, the processing chip 22 causes the pair of LEDs 30a and 30b in the light emitting device 30 to emit light in a predetermined light emitting mode according to the remaining charge.

The memory 24 includes, for example, a non-volatile storage unit (ROM; Read Only Memory) and a volatile storage unit (RAM; Random Access Memory). The memory 24 is a main storage device for temporarily storing each instruction used for the processing executed by the processing chip 22, and an auxiliary for storing a program for executing the processing and the calculated step count data Hs for a medium to long term. Functions as a storage device.

(4) The power receiving IC 26 controls the power received from the external power supply via the power receiving circuit 14 to a desired voltage and supplies the power to the power control circuit 28.

The power control circuit 28 is a circuit that controls supply of power received from the power receiving IC 26 to the secondary battery 16. The power control circuit 28 controls power supplied from the secondary battery 16 to electronic components such as the processing chip 22, the memory 24, the light emitting device 30, and the acceleration sensor 32.

The light emitting device 30 includes the pair of LEDs 30a and 30b described above and an operation unit 30c. Here, as described above, the light emission mode of the pair of LEDs 30a and 30b is controlled by the processing chip 22. The operation unit 30c is configured by a mechanical switch such as a push button switch or a sensor switch such as a touch panel, and is appropriately operated by a user.

In the present embodiment, for example, when the processing chip 22 receives an operation detection signal indicating that the operation unit 30c is operated, whether the secondary battery 16 has a sufficient remaining charge for using the pedometer 10 If it is equal to or greater than a first threshold value determined from the viewpoint of determining whether or not the LED is turned on, both the pair of LEDs 30a and 30b are turned on.

When the processing chip 22 receives the operation detection signal, the processing chip 22 determines whether the remaining charge amount of the secondary battery 16 is less than the first threshold value and is an amount that the pedometer 10 can use. If it is equal to or greater than a second threshold value determined from the viewpoint of determining whether or not the LED 30a is turned on, only one of the LEDs 30a or 30b is turned on. On the other hand, when the remaining charge of the secondary battery 16 is less than the second threshold, the processing chip 22 turns off both the pair of LEDs 30a and 30b. Note that the second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.

Accordingly, the user can determine whether the rechargeable battery 16 needs to be charged by operating the operation unit 30c at a desired timing and confirming the light emission mode of the pair of LEDs 30a, 30b.

The light emission mode of the light emitting device 30 set according to the remaining charge amount of the secondary battery 16 is not limited to the above example. That is, when the user operates the operation unit 30c, it can be visually distinguished according to the remaining charge amount of the secondary battery 16 so that the user can know whether or not the secondary battery 16 needs to be charged. Then, another light emission mode may be set.

The light emitting device 30 may be configured to perform a display that allows visually distinguishing that the battery is being charged. For example, one of the LEDs 30a and 30b may be set to a light emitting mode according to the remaining charge, and the other may be set to a different light emitting mode (blinking and lighting, etc.) between charging and completion of charging.

The acceleration sensor 32 outputs the detected value D1 of acceleration generated in the pedometer 10 due to walking or running of the user to the processing chip 22 as an acceleration signal Ks. The acceleration sensor 32 is configured by, for example, a known three-axis acceleration sensor.

The communication IC 34 of the communication unit 33 controls communication between the pedometer 10 and the outside via the communication antenna 36. The communication antenna 36 receives a radio signal from the outside. In particular, the communication unit 33 outputs, via the communication antenna 36, information including the step count data Hs stored in the memory 24 or a parameter related to body movement or the like to an external communication unit such as a reader / writer.

Therefore, comprehensive analysis and management of information on body movement (activity) based on the step data Hs of the user who owns the pedometer 10 by appropriately collecting the step data Hs obtained by the pedometer 10 in an external server can be performed. It becomes possible.

Since the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16, which are the internal components 12 of the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, are arranged in parallel, the thickness of the pedometer 10 is relatively thin. can do.

According to the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the present embodiment, the pedometer 10 is provided as an activity meter including the housing 11 and the internal components 12 arranged in the housing 11. In particular, the internal component 12 includes an acceleration sensor 32, a processing chip 22 as a processing unit for calculating an activity amount (step count data Hs) based on a detection value D1 from the acceleration sensor 32, and a memory 24 as a storage unit. It includes a substrate 13, a secondary battery 16, and a power receiving circuit 14 for charging the secondary battery 16. In the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 are arranged in parallel on the substantially same plane in the housing 11.

In this way, the thickness of the housing 11 that accommodates the internal component 12 is obtained by arranging the substrate 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 that are the internal component 12 in parallel on substantially the same plane. Can be made smaller. As a result, the overall thickness of the pedometer 10 can be reduced.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, the battery arranged inside the pedometer 10 is configured as the secondary battery 16. For this reason, unlike a primary battery such as a button battery used in a conventional pedometer, it is not necessary to replace the battery due to a decrease in the remaining power of the battery. For this reason, in the configuration of the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the structure related to the battery replacement lid that was conventionally required can be omitted. That is, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to omit a conventional structure in which the thickness of the pedometer is at least a certain value, such as a hinge or a screwing portion on the lid.

As a result, the entire thickness of the pedometer 10 can be reduced to, for example, several millimeters, particularly to a thickness corresponding to a thin card shape of about 2 mm or less. This can reduce the burden on the user due to carrying the pedometer 10 on a daily basis.

More specifically, since the activity meter including the pedometer 10 is used for detecting the amount of activity in the daily life of the user, it is relatively easy for the user irrespective of the purpose of commuting, going to school, or leisure. It is required to carry this with high frequency. Therefore, even if the activity meter has a size that is generally considered to be small from the viewpoint of being carried, such as a thickness of about several centimeters, it may be a burden on the user when carrying.

In particular, such an activity meter can be carried around in a pocket or back of clothes, or directly or on a wrist, neck, etc., from the viewpoint of detecting the user's body movement with higher accuracy. It is common to carry it indirectly through a port. In consideration of such a mode of carrying, even if the thickness is about several cm, it is assumed that the burden on the user is not small. Also, if the user wears an activity meter on a part of the body such as the wrist or neck during exercise such as running, frequent contact between the activity meter and the user's body due to the vibration caused by the exercise. Is assumed to occur. Therefore, even in the case where the activity meter has a thickness of about several centimeters, the user feels stress in consideration of a situation in which the user starts to carry something that has not been carried in the past.

In such a situation, in the present embodiment, the pedometer 10 in the form of a thin card having a thickness of several millimeters is provided. Can be reduced.

In particular, if the pedometer 10 has a thickness of about several millimeters, an ID card such as a cash card, a credit card, an electronic money IC card, an employee ID card, or a name tag generally carried by a user on a daily basis. It is about the same thickness as cards. Therefore, when the user carries the pedometer 10 in a purse, a bag, a pocket of clothes, or the like, the user feels almost the same feeling as when carrying cards he or she regularly carries. In other words, the user can carry the pedometer 10 on a daily basis with almost no feeling of possession or wearing something other than the cards.

Furthermore, if the pedometer 10 is configured in the form of a thin card in the present embodiment, even for a young user such as an infant or an elementary school student, it can be applied to a childcare facility or a kindergarten, or a holder for a name tag worn in an elementary school. , Can be integrated into one without discomfort. For this reason, even for a young user, it is possible to carry the pedometer 10 on a daily basis without giving a burden or stress caused by possessing or wearing an object other than a name tag worn on a daily basis. it can.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the power receiving circuit 14 is configured as a non-contact charging unit (induction coil 14a) for charging the secondary battery 16 by non-contact charging. Thus, a wired charging structure such as a connector and a charging cable for charging the secondary battery 16 can be omitted. In this way, the space required in the thickness direction in the housing 11 can be further reduced because the charging structure can be omitted. That is, further reduction in the thickness of the pedometer 10 can be easily realized.

If the thickness of the pedometer 10 does not increase to the extent that a burden is imposed on the user, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment may be replaced with a secondary battery instead of the power receiving circuit 14 configured as the non-contact charging means. The power receiving circuit 14 may be provided with a configuration for performing charging to the 16 by a normal wire. For example, the power receiving circuit 14 may be configured by a structure for performing wired charging such as a charging cable and a connector.

That is, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment mainly has a configuration in which the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 are arranged in parallel on a plane, so that the pedometer 10 takes a thin card shape. Has been realized. Therefore, the size in the thickness direction occupied when the connection interface which is the charging structure for performing the above-described wired charging is provided is within a range that does not significantly impair the operation of forming the pedometer 10 into a thin card shape. For example, such a charging structure can be adopted.

Further, the front part (the surface on which the LEDs 30a and 30b are provided) of the housing 11 of the pedometer 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the like is configured as a display surface on which personal information (ID information) of the user is printed. Is also good. Thereby, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment can be used not only for obtaining the number-of-steps data Hs but also for presenting user ID information.

(4) A microcomputer including the processing chip 22 and the memory 24 described above may be employed to realize the functions of the respective IC circuits.

(2nd Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In particular, in the present embodiment, in a situation where the user carries the pedometer 10 by hanging it from the body such as the neck with a strap or the like to the neck, the pedometer 10 swings due to factors other than walking or running of the user. Accordingly, the pedometer 10 having a preferable configuration from the viewpoint of suppressing noise from being included in the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the arrangement of the internal components 12 of the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the outline of the housing 11 is indicated by a broken line for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the position where the acceleration sensor 32 is provided on the substrate 13 is different from that of the pedometer 10 of the first embodiment.

More specifically, the acceleration sensor 32 of the present embodiment is provided on the substrate 13 near the one long side 11c of the housing 11 and substantially at the center of the long side 11c. In particular, the acceleration sensor 32 is located closer to the long side 11c than a straight line connecting the midpoints of the two short sides 11b and 11d of the housing 11.

More specifically, the acceleration sensor 32 is located on the substrate 13 at a position closer to the long side 11c than the communication unit 33, and substantially at the center of the long side 11c in the extending direction (the power receiving circuit 14 and the secondary battery 16). (Substantially in the middle). The technical significance of disposing the acceleration sensor 32 at such a position will be described.

FIGS. 5A and 6 are diagrams illustrating the principle of noise generation according to the position of the acceleration sensor 32. FIG. In FIGS. 5A and 6, a mode is assumed in which the pedometer 10 is attached to the strap 80 worn by the user via the stopper 90. In particular, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, the stopper 90 is attached to the hanging support 10 a at the center position of the long side 11 c of the housing 11 of the pedometer 10.

5A and FIG. 6, the acceleration sensor 32 according to the present embodiment is indicated by a broken line, and its arrangement position is referred to as “sensor position A”. Further, as a comparative example, an acceleration sensor 32 ′ assumed to be arranged at a corner of the merging position of one short side 11 d and one long side 11 a of the housing 11 is indicated by a virtual line, and the arrangement position is referred to as “sensor position”. B ".

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, the distance between the stopper 90 and the sensor position A is shorter than that between the stopper 90 and the sensor position B. That is, the sensor position A is provided at a position closer to the stopper 90 than the sensor position B.

Here, when the user hangs the strap 80 around the neck and carries the pedometer 10 via the stopper 90, the pedometer 10 is suspended with the position of the stopper 90 as a fulcrum. Therefore, a rotational force that swings the pedometer 10 around three rotation axes passing through the position of the stopper 90 is generated due to the movement of the user or the like.

More specifically, the rotational force along the rotation direction Rd1 around the rotation axis extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface passing through the position of the stopper 90, and the extending direction of the long side 11c passing through the position of the stopper 90 are shown. A rotational force along the rotational direction Rd2 when the rotational axis is used as the rotational axis, a rotational direction Rd3 around the rotational axis extending in a direction parallel to the short sides 11b and 11d and passing through the position of the stopper 90, or these rotational directions Rd1. It is assumed that a rotational force in a direction obtained by combining the rotational force of the rotational direction Rd2, the rotational force of the rotational direction Rd2, and the rotational direction Rd3 is generated.

Here, in FIG. 6, from the viewpoint of simplification of the drawing, a state where the pedometer 10 is rocking by the rotational force in the rotational direction Rd1 is indicated by a dashed line. The rotational force in the rotational direction Rd1 increases as the vertical component of the distance from the position of the stopper 90 serving as a fulcrum (hereinafter, also referred to as “Y-axis distance”) increases. Therefore, the acceleration sensor 32 at the sensor position A where the Y-axis distance is relatively small has a smaller swing displacement in the rotation direction Rd1 than the acceleration sensor 32 ′ at the sensor position B where the Y-axis distance is relatively large. .

Therefore, the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 arranged at the sensor position A indicates the user in a scene where the user wears the strap 80 on which the pedometer 10 is supported by the neck via the stopper 90. The influence of the swing displacement caused by factors other than walking or running is difficult to be reflected. That is, it is possible to preferably suppress the detection value D1 from including noise due to effects other than the walking or running of the user.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing waveforms of the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 and the detection value D2 of the acceleration sensor 32 'when the pedometer 10 swings along the rotation direction Rd1.

検 出 As shown in FIG. 7, the displacement of the detected value D1 is smaller on average than the detected value D2. That is, the waveform of the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 has less variation in displacement due to noise than the waveform of the detection value D2 of the acceleration sensor 32 '. Therefore, the step count data Hs calculated by the processing chip 22 based on the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 is smaller than the step count data Hs 'generated by using the detection value D2 of the acceleration sensor 32'. Will be reflected with higher accuracy.

セ ン サ In the sensor position A, the horizontal component of the distance from the position of the stopper 90 serving as a fulcrum (hereinafter, also referred to as “X-axis distance”) is smaller than the X-axis distance of the sensor position B. For this reason, the rotational force in the rotational direction Rd2 is also relatively small, and the swing displacement in the rotational direction Rd2 due to the rotational force is also small. Similarly, since the rotational force in the rotational direction Rd3 is relatively small, the swing displacement in the rotational direction Rd3 due to the rotational force is also small. Therefore, by providing the acceleration sensor 32 at the sensor position A, it is possible to suppress the influence of noise due to the swing displacement along the rotation direction Rd2 and the rotation direction Rd3.

As a result, according to the configuration in which the acceleration sensor 32 is arranged at the sensor position A in the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the position of the stopper 90 obtained by combining the rotation direction Rd1, the rotation direction Rd2, and the rotation direction Rd3 is defined as the fulcrum. The influence of noise caused by the swing displacement in any direction can be suppressed.

According to the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

歩 The pedometer 10 of the present embodiment includes a hanging support portion 10 a (a mounting position of the stopper 90) serving as a fulcrum for the user to suspend and hold the pedometer 10. Then, the acceleration sensor 32 is provided on the substrate 13 at a sensor position A which is a position near the hanging support portion 10a.

Note that the near position is a position in the housing 11 where the linear distance (the square root of the sum of the square of the X-axis distance and the square of the Y-axis distance) from the hanging support 10a is within a predetermined distance or less. means.

In particular, the predetermined distance is determined by swinging around the rotation axis in any direction passing through the hanging support 10a (swinging and rotating in the rotation direction Rd1) while the user is hanging and holding the pedometer 10. This is determined from the viewpoint of suppressing noise included in the detection value D1 due to the swing in the direction Rd2, the swing in the rotational direction Rd3, or the swing in the direction combining the rotational direction Rd1, the rotational direction Rd2, and the rotational direction Rd3).

に よ り Thereby, it is possible to suppress the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 from including noise due to effects other than walking or running of the user. As a result, the accuracy of the step count data Hs calculated by the processing chip 22 based on the detection value D1 can be further improved.

The predetermined distance can be appropriately determined from the viewpoint of suppressing noise to an acceptable level from the viewpoint of maintaining the accuracy of the step count data Hs. For example, the matching rate between a walking waveform based on the number-of-steps data Hs created based on the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 and an ideal walking waveform based only on the influence of the actual walking or running of the user ( It is also possible to set a threshold of the matching rate of the phase or the displacement, calculate a linear distance from the hanging support 10a that exceeds the set threshold of the matching rate, and use this as the predetermined distance.

In setting the predetermined distance, the relationship between the linear distance from the hanging support 10a and the weight distribution according to the mode of the housing 11 and the internal components 12 of the pedometer 10 may be considered. .

For example, if the weight distribution can be regarded as substantially uniform in the entire area of the pedometer 10, a model is assumed in which only the linear distance from the hanging support 10a contributes to noise suppression. , A straight line connecting the midpoints of the short sides 11b and 11d may be set to a predetermined distance. Thus, the linear distance between the hanging support 10a and the sensor position A is at most half the length of the short side 11b. That is, the sensor position A is set at a position relatively close to the midpoint of the long side 11c in the entire area of the housing 11. That is, under the condition that the weight distribution is substantially uniform, by setting the predetermined distance in this manner, the swing in the rotational direction Rd1, the swing in the rotational direction Rd2, the rotational direction Rd3, and the combination thereof are obtained. The effect of suppressing noise caused by the swaying can be obtained.

On the other hand, when the weight distribution differs according to the linear distance from the hanging support 10a, particularly, even if the linear distance is the same, as the weight density increases, the rotation direction Rd1, the rotation direction Rd2, and the rotation direction Rd3 are increased. The swing displacement at becomes large. For this reason, when the weight density at a position where the linear distance from the hanging support portion 10a is large is relatively large due to the arrangement of components in the pedometer 10 or the like, the weight density is weighted when setting the predetermined distance. It may be considered as an element.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the acceleration sensor 32 is disposed at a position where the linear distance from the hanging support 10a is equal to or less than the predetermined distance has been described. According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress noise caused by the swing in the rotation direction Rd1, the swing in the rotation direction Rd2, the rotation direction Rd3, and the swing in the direction in which these are combined. However, depending on the configuration of the pedometer 10 and how the pedometer 10 is suspended, the component of one swing displacement in the rotation direction Rd1, the rotation direction Rd2, and the rotation direction Rd3 is changed to the other swing displacement. It is also assumed that the component is negligibly small as compared with the component of. In such a case, instead of providing the acceleration sensor 32 in a range in which the linear distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, from the viewpoint of suppressing the swing in a direction that substantially affects the generation of noise, Alternatively, the acceleration sensor 32 may be provided in a range where the X-axis distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the hanging support portion 10a to which the stopper 90 is attached is formed on the housing 11 of the pedometer 10. However, for example, when housing 11 is housed in a protective case, and when stopper 90 of strap 80 is attached to the case, hanging support portion 10a may be configured in the case. .

That is, when the pedometer 10 is configured to include the housing 11 and the case, the user puts the strap 80 on the neck while holding the housing 11 in a case (for example, a nameplate case and an ID holder). It is assumed that the pedometer 10 is carried while the pedometer is being used. In this case, the hanging support 10a to which the stopper 90 is attached is configured not on the housing 11 but on a case.

However, even in the pedometer 10 having the configuration in which the housing 11 is housed in the case, the configuration described in the above-described embodiment (the acceleration sensor 32 is placed on the substrate 13 in the vicinity of the hanging support portion 10a) By adopting (provided configuration), similarly, noise included in the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 can be suppressed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the stopper 90 is attached to one hanging support portion 10a, that is, the case where the fulcrum that can cause the pedometer 10 to swing is one place has been described. However, for example, a case in which the housing 11 is housed together with the above-described protective case (for example, a name card holder) provided with pins for attaching to clothes and the like is attached to clothes is also assumed. In such a case, depending on the shape of the pin, a linear region along the extension direction of the long side 11c of the housing 11 may be assumed to be the support axis. In this case, it is assumed that the extension direction of the long side 11c becomes the rotation axis, and the swing displacement in the rotation direction Rd2 increases. On the other hand, the acceleration sensor 32 may be provided in a range in which the Y-axis distance (= distance from the support axis) is equal to or less than a predetermined distance to suppress noise due to the swing displacement in the rotation direction Rd2.

(Modification)
FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an arrangement position of the acceleration sensor 32 according to a modification of the second embodiment.

As shown in the drawing, in this modification, the acceleration sensor 32 has a predetermined width (long side 11c or long side 11a) extending from the center position of one long side 11c of the housing 11 to the center position of the other long side 11a. (The width along the extending direction of the sensor).

In particular, in the example shown in FIG. 5B, the acceleration sensor 32 is disposed in the sensor arrangement area C at a position relatively close to the long side 11a, that is, at a position relatively distant from the hanging support 10a.

As described above, in the pedometer 10 of the present modification, the housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view having the pair of long sides 11c and 11a. The acceleration sensor 32 is provided in a sensor arrangement area C extending from the center of one long side 11c of the housing 11 with a predetermined width along the center of the other long side 11a.

Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the influence of noise in the rotation direction Rd1, the rotation direction Rd2, and the rotation direction Rd3 in the acceleration sensor 32. In particular, when the housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, the hanging support portion 10a is disposed at the center of the long side 11c or the long side 11a in consideration of the weight balance when the pedometer 10 is hung. Is preferred. In this case, the displacement in the rotation direction Rd1, the rotation direction Rd2, and the rotation direction Rd3 in the sensor arrangement region C extending in the hanging direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 5B) is smaller than in other regions. In particular, when the acceleration sensor 32 is arranged in the sensor arrangement area C, the distance (X-axis distance) from the position of the stopper 90 serving as a fulcrum to the acceleration sensor 32 depends on whether the acceleration sensor 32 is arranged in the sensor arrangement area C. In this case, the displacement in the rotation direction Rd3 is small because the distance is smaller than the X-axis distance in the case where the rotation is performed. Therefore, in the sensor arrangement area C, a certain effect of suppressing the influence of noise is realized even if the acceleration sensor 32 is not necessarily provided at a position near the hanging support 10a. That is, if the acceleration sensor 32 is provided in the sensor arrangement area C, the influence of noise can be suppressed to a certain extent. However, since the arrangement position of the acceleration sensor 32 and the allowable range are widened, the degree of freedom in design is improved.

On the other hand, when it is desired to further enhance the effect of suppressing the influence of noise, it is preferable to provide the acceleration sensor 32 in the sensor arrangement area C at a position near the hanging support 10a.

That is, in this case, the pedometer 10 is provided with a hanging support portion 10a serving as a fulcrum for hanging and holding the pedometer 10, and the acceleration sensor 32 is provided in the sensor arrangement area C at a position near the hanging support portion 10a. It is preferable to employ the pedometer 10 (that is, the pedometer 10 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A).

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. The same elements as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the external appearance of the pedometer 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown, in the present embodiment, information such as step count data Hs is displayed on the display 40a in addition to or instead of the configuration of the light emitting device 30 in the pedometer 10 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment. And a display switch 50 as a display command unit for switching information displayed on the display 40a.

The display 40a of the display device 40 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like.

The display switch 50 is a switch operated by the user to switch between a display state and a non-display state of information on the display 40a and a type of information to be displayed. The display switch 50 is configured by a mechanical switch such as a push button switch or a sensor switch such as a touch panel.

The display switch 50 of the present embodiment includes, in particular, a display on / off switch 50a for switching between display and non-display of the display 40a, and a display switch 50b for switching the type of information displayed on the display 40a. Have.

The display device 40 is disposed in the housing 11, and electric power required for display on the display 40 a is supplied by the secondary battery 16.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical connection of the internal components 12 of the pedometer 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the internal components 12 of the present embodiment are, in particular, a display device 40 and a display switch 50 communicably connected to the processing chip 22. That is, in the present embodiment, the processing chip 22 appropriately reads out information stored in the memory 24 and displays the information on the display 40a based on a display command signal generated based on a user's operation on the display switch 50. Function as display control means.

More specifically, the processing chip 22 displays the first display control mode for displaying the step count data Hs based on the display command signal, and displays the user ID information or date information other than the step count data Hs. The second display control mode and the third display control mode other than these are selectively switched.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a manner of switching the display on the display 40a in the present embodiment.

More specifically, particularly in the present embodiment, the display of FIG. 10A is a display mode based on the first display control mode, and the display modes of FIGS. 10B and 10C are the second display mode. This is a display mode based on the control mode, and the display (non-display state) in FIG. 10D is a display mode based on the third display control mode.

In the initial state, the processing chip 22 executes a third display control mode in which the display 40a is not displayed, as shown in FIG. That is, in the third display control mode, since private information such as user ID information is not displayed, it is possible to suppress leakage of personal information that can be caused by always displaying such private information. it can.

In the third display control mode of the present embodiment, the power supply from the secondary battery 16 to the display 40a is stopped by operating a switch (not shown). Therefore, in the third display control mode, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the charging power of the secondary battery 16.

Next, upon detecting a display command signal based on an operation on the display on / off switch 50a, the processing chip 22 executes the first display control mode in FIG. That is, the processing chip 22 displays the step count data Hs on the display 40a. Thus, the user can grasp the step count data Hs stored in the pedometer 10 at a desired timing.

Further, the processing chip 22 of the present embodiment, when the display of FIG. 10A, the display of FIG. 10B, or the display of FIG. When the display command signal based on the operation to the is detected, the display is switched.

Specifically, when the processing chip 22 detects the display command signal based on the operation of the left arrow key of the display changeover switch 50b shown in FIG. 8 while the display 40a is displaying the display of FIG. 10A. Then, the display is switched to the display of FIG.

Further, when the processing chip 22 detects the display command signal based on the operation of the left arrow key of the display changeover switch 50b while the display 40a is displaying the display of FIG. 10B, the processing chip 22 of FIG. Switch to display.

When the processing chip 22 detects the display command signal based on the operation of the left arrow key of the display changeover switch 50b while the display 40a is displaying the display of FIG. 10C, the processing chip 22 of FIG. Switch to display.

On the other hand, when the processing chip 22 detects the display command signal based on the operation of the right arrow key of the display changeover switch 50b while the display 40a is displaying the display of FIG. 10A, the processing chip 22 of FIG. Switch to display.

Further, when the processing chip 22 detects the display command signal based on the operation of the right arrow key of the display changeover switch 50b while the display 40a is displaying the display of FIG. 10C, the processing chip 22 of FIG. Switch to display.

Also, when the processing chip 22 detects a display command signal based on an operation on the display on / off switch 50a in a state where any of the displays in FIGS. 10A to 10C is displayed on the display 40a. Then, the mode is switched to the third display control mode (see FIG. 10D).

From the viewpoint of suppressing an unintended switch to the third display control mode due to an erroneous operation of the user, if the operation of the display ON / OFF switch 50a is continued for a predetermined time or more (for example, 3 seconds or more), The processing chip 22 may execute switching to the third display control mode.

According to the pedometer 10 including the display device 40 described above, the user can switch the display mode of the display 40a of the display device 40 by operating the display switch 50 as necessary.

More specifically, in the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, a first display control mode for displaying the acquired step count data Hs (see FIG. 10A) and a second display for displaying the user ID information or date and time. The display can be displayed on the display 40a in accordance with the control mode (see FIGS. 10B and 10C) and the operation of the display switch 50.

Therefore, when the user grasps the step count data Hs, which is the amount of his / her own activity, the user displays the step count data Hs based on the first display control mode on the display 40a, and presents the ID information at the place of work or school. When it is necessary to confirm the date and time, it is possible to appropriately display such information on the display 40a based on the second display control mode, and to grasp these different types of information at desired timing.

Accordingly, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment is not limited to the acquisition of the step count data Hs, which is a basic use, but also displays the acquired step count data Hs on the display 40a, and also includes an employee ID card, a student ID card, a name tag, and a general purpose. It also has a function of displaying on the display 40a ID information that can be used for a typical identification card.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the pedometer 10 in the form of a thin card having both the function of acquiring and displaying the step count data Hs and the function of displaying the ID information, as well as the function as an ID card. That is, in the case of the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, it is recommended that the user carry the ID card on a daily basis from the viewpoint of appropriately reflecting the ID card that the user has on a daily basis and the daily activity amount of the user. It can be configured as a single thin card that integrates an activity meter.

According to the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the display device 40 as a display unit, the display switch 50 as a display instruction unit for executing a display instruction of information on the display device 40, and a command (operation) from the display switch 50 are provided. And a processing chip 22 as a display control unit for controlling the display device 40 by the control unit. Then, based on the command from the display switch 50, the processing chip 22 displays a first display control mode for displaying the first information including the detected step count data Hs (see FIG. 10A), and a step other than the step count data Hs. The second display control mode for displaying the second information (see FIGS. 10B and 10C) and the third display control mode for not displaying the first information or the second information (FIG. 10D) And switch.

Thereby, if necessary, the display on the display 40a of the display device 40 is switched between the first information including the step count data Hs and the second information other than the step count data Hs based on the operation on the display switch 50. Can be. Then, by selecting the third display control mode in which the first information or the second information is not displayed as necessary, the first information or the second information is always displayed while the pedometer 10 is carried for a long time. Of such information can be suppressed.

In particular, when the second information includes information such as user ID information that is highly demanded to prevent leakage from the viewpoint of protecting personal information, the third information may be used in a scene where it is not necessary to display the second information. By selecting the display control mode, a configuration that can selectively switch the display on the display 40a between the first information and the second information as needed while satisfying the requirement of the leakage suppression in the ID information. Can be realized.

In particular, in the third display control mode of the present embodiment, the power supply to the display 40a is stopped. Therefore, in the third display control mode, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the charging power of the secondary battery 16. As a result, the usable time of the pedometer 10 per electric energy of the secondary battery 16 can be substantially extended.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the processing chip 22 functions as a display control unit that controls the display of the display 40a, in addition to the function as the processing unit for acquiring the step count data Hs. However, instead of this configuration, a dedicated display processor may be separately provided in the pedometer 10, and the function of the display control means may be realized by the display processor. Further, the function of the display control means may be realized by paralleling the display processor and the processing chip 22.

The display mode of the display 40a shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D is an example, and can be appropriately changed. Further, the specific operation of the display switch 50 for switching the display on the display 40a can be appropriately changed.

For example, when a display based on the first information (step count data Hs) or the second information (display of a user ID or the like) is executed on the display 40a, the display 40a is used for a predetermined time or more (for example, several minutes or more). The processing chip 22 or the display processor may be configured to execute the third display control mode when the operation of the user on the display switch 50 is not detected. Accordingly, the above-described effects of suppressing the leakage of the ID information and the like and the power consumption of the secondary battery 16 can be further improved.

Furthermore, the display 40a can be made of so-called electronic paper. Here, the electronic paper in this specification means a reflective display, particularly a display having a structure in which display contents can be visually recognized even without irradiation by a backlight.

By configuring the display 40a with such electronic paper, certain information recognizable by the user can be displayed even in the third display control mode. That is, in the case of the electronic paper, in the third display control mode, it is possible to display predetermined information on the display 40a while stopping power supply to the display 40a.

The predetermined information corresponds to, for example, date and time information, a landscape photograph, and a still image such as a portrait photograph shown in FIG. Thus, the user can set a desired image on the display 40a in the third display control mode. That is, it is possible to display an image preferred by the user on the display 40a while suppressing the display of personal information such as ID information and the like on the display 40a except when necessary, while suppressing the power consumption of the secondary battery 16. .

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment will be described. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in the above embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the above-described communication unit 33 (see FIG. 2B) realizes so-called passive communication, based on the configuration of the pedometer 10 of any of the first to third embodiments. It also functions as passive communication means. More specifically, when the communication antenna 36 receives a radio wave from an external reader / writer, power is generated in the communication antenna 36 by electromagnetic induction, and the generated power activates the communication IC 34. Then, the communication IC 34 operates with the converted power, reads out the ID information for specifying the user of the pedometer 10 stored in the memory 24 in advance, and transmits the ID information to the external reader.

With such a configuration, it is possible to acquire the ID information of the user of the pedometer 10 using an external reader / writer without consuming the power of the secondary battery 16.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, the user such as the user ID information (eg, employee number, student ID number, grade, or class to which the user belongs) is specified in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10. By recording possible information in advance, the user of the pedometer 10 can be specified by communication between the external communication means and the pedometer 10. That is, the pedometer 10 can function as a device that electronically authenticates the ID information of the user.

Further, in the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment, since the communication unit 33 of the pedometer 10 also functions as a passive communication unit, power for communication can be secured by radio waves received from an external reader / writer. Therefore, it is not necessary to consume the power of the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 for the communication. Therefore, for example, even when the remaining power of the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 is substantially zero, it is possible to acquire ID information from the pedometer 10. As a result, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment functions as a highly practical and suitable ID device.

Note that, instead of the configuration in which the ID information of the user is stored in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10 described above, pedometer specifying information capable of uniquely specifying the pedometer 10 is stored in the memory 24, and an external reader / writer is used. The pedometer specific information may be obtained by communication with the pedometer 10. Then, in this case, the user ID information may be identified from the acquired pedometer identification information using a database in which the pedometer identification information is associated with the user ID information. In this case, since the ID information of the user is not stored in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10, it is possible to prevent the leakage of the ID information via the pedometer 10 carried by the user on a daily basis, and thus the Security from the viewpoint of information protection can be further improved.

According to the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

The pedometer 10 of the present embodiment includes a communication unit 33 that communicates with a reader / writer that is an external communication unit. In particular, the communication unit 33 is configured as a passive communication unit that performs passive communication with a reader / writer.

Thus, the information stored in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10 can be obtained from the pedometer 10 without consuming the power of the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 using the external reader / writer. It becomes. That is, even when the remaining amount of power of the secondary battery 16 is substantially zero, the communication function with the reader / writer is secured, so that the information held by the pedometer 10 can be obtained from outside. Function is maintained.

The pedometer 10 of the present embodiment can be incorporated as an element of various systems used for the content of the information in accordance with the type of information stored in the memory 24 together with the step count data Hs. An example will be described below.

For example, the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment can be incorporated as an element of an entrance / exit management system that performs attendance management or attendance management in a facility such as a company or a school. Specifically, in such an entrance / exit management system, a reader / writer is arranged at the entrance of the facility, and information stored in an employee ID or a student ID card having a wireless communication function is acquired using the reader / writer. Then, it is assumed that attendance management or attendance management is performed based on the information.

In such an entrance / exit management system, ID information (information such as employee number, student ID number, or affiliation) of a user who is to perform attendance management or attendance management is stored in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10 in advance. The pedometer 10 can be incorporated as an element of the entrance / exit management system by recording the entrance / exit-related information including other corresponding information.

More specifically, by acquiring the entrance / exit-related information from the pedometer 10 with a reader / writer at the time of entrance / exit and transmitting the information to a predetermined management server in the facility, the entrance / exit-related information acquired by the management server is acquired. Attendance management or attendance management based on information can be performed.

In particular, at the time of communication between the reader / writer and the pedometer 10 when entering and leaving the building, the step count data Hs stored in the memory 24 of the pedometer 10 can be read in addition to the above-mentioned entry / exit-related information. As described above, the reader / writer and the pedometer 10 can be configured.

Thereby, it is possible to acquire information on the user's step count data Hs in addition to attendance management or attendance management at the time of entrance / exit. That is, the step count data Hs of the user can be acquired in association with the ID information included in the entrance / exit-related information. Therefore, in the management server, the step number data Hs of the user and the activity amount such as calorie consumption based on the step number data Hs can be grasped and analyzed. As a result, in organizations such as companies or schools that have certain responsibilities for the health management of users (members), data on the daily activities of the members are executed almost daily without any special procedures. It can be acquired together with attendance management or attendance management.

In addition, particularly when the pedometer 10 employing the passive communication means described in the present embodiment is incorporated in the above-described entrance / exit management system in the configuration described in the third embodiment, the entrance / exit related information at the time of entrance / exit is required. In addition, the acquisition timing of the user's step count data Hs can be associated with the switching of the display on the display 40a.

For example, when commuting to a facility such as a company or a school, a display mode based on the third display control mode (see FIG. 10D) may be selected. In this case, at the time of entry (at the time of commuting or attending), the display of the user ID information based on the second display control mode is performed at the communication timing between the reader / writer and the pedometer 10 which are required or required to communicate. (See FIG. 10B). Further, at the time of leaving the building (at the time of returning home), the display mode is switched from the display of the user ID information to the display mode based on the third display control mode at the communication timing between the reader / writer and the pedometer 10 which are required or required to communicate. You may comprise so that it may be.

Thus, while the user is at work or staying at school or the like, the ID information can be displayed on the display 40a to function as an employee ID card or a name tag (ID certificate), while the user can use the ID information at other times ( During commuting, commuting to school, or holidays), the ID information can be prevented from being displayed.

That is, in the entrance / exit management system, ID information can be displayed on the display 40a of the pedometer 10 only when required. As a result, it is possible to suppress the unintended leakage of personal information based on the ID information while securing the function as the ID certificate of the pedometer 10.

(Fifth embodiment)
Hereinafter, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 in particular. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in the above embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, a charging device including a pedometer 10 having any of the configurations of the first to fourth embodiments, and a power supply interface 100a that powers the power receiving circuit 14 by opposing the power receiving circuit 14 of the pedometer 10 A pedometer system 300 is provided as an activity meter system including a battery 100 for use and a holder 200 for holding the pedometer 10 with the power supply interface 100a facing the power receiving circuit 14.

When the user carries the pedometer 10, the pedometer system 300 uses the pedometer 10 even when the charging power of the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 is reduced ( It is assumed that the pedometer system 300 allows the secondary battery 16 to be charged while the step count data Hs is being acquired.

Here, in the pedometer 10 of the first to fourth embodiments, the power receiving circuit 14 is located at a position near the long side 11c of the housing 11, that is, in an upper region of the housing 11 shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. It is held by the holder 200 so as to be positioned.

The charging battery 100 is configured to house a battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery (not shown) and a power supply interface 100a inside the main body. The charging battery 100 is fixed to the holder 200 in a state facing the long side 11 c of the housing 11 of the pedometer 10.

Here, the capacity of the battery constituting the charging battery 100 may be arbitrarily set, but the capacity is set to such an extent that the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 can be fully charged a plurality of times. Preferably.

ス ト ラ ッ プ Further, a strap 100b is attached to the main body of the charging battery 100 of the present embodiment.

The strap 100b is attached from the viewpoint of the user hanging from the neck to attach the charging battery 100 and the pedometer 10 together with the holder 200. The strap 100b is appropriately formed of a loop diameter and a material suitable for the use.

Therefore, the user can carry the pedometer 10 by hanging the strap 100b around the neck. Then, in this portable mode, the power receiving circuit 14 is arranged in a region located above the housing 11 of the pedometer 10.

給 電 The power supply interface 100a has a configuration such as a coil for transferring electric power to and from the induction coil 14a of the power receiving circuit 14 as appropriate.

In the present embodiment, the holder 200 is formed in a plate shape having a space for accommodating the pedometer 10 therein. The charging battery 100 is detachably fixed to the long side portion 200b of the plate-like holder 200. In particular, holder 200 holds pedometer 10 with induction coil 14a of power receiving circuit 14 of pedometer 10 and power supply interface 100a of charging battery 100 facing each other.

In the present embodiment, the “state in which the induction coil 14a and the power supply interface 100a face each other” means not only a state in which the induction coil 14a and the power supply interface 100a are strictly opposed to each other, but also a state in which the induction coil 14a and the power supply interface 100a are strictly opposed. From the viewpoint of effectively performing power transfer between the power supply interfaces 100a, a state in which the induction coil 14a is located relatively close to the power supply interface 100a in the housing 11 is also included.

According to the configuration of the pedometer system 300 of the present embodiment, the pedometer system 300 is held by the holder 200 in such a manner that the charging of the secondary battery 16 from the charging battery 100 can be suitably performed. Therefore, when the user carries the pedometer system 300 by attaching the strap 100b attached to the charging battery 100 to the neck and carrying the pedometer system 300, the user uses the pedometer 10 to charge the secondary battery 16 using the charging battery 100. Can be charged.

According to the pedometer 10 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the power receiving circuit 14 is arranged in an area (an area near the long side 11c) located above the housing 11 when the user carries the pedometer 10 (see FIG. 2B or FIG. 4).

Further, in the present embodiment, a pedometer 10 having the configuration of any of the first to fourth embodiments, a charging battery 100 including a power supply interface 100a for supplying power to the power receiving circuit 14, and a power supply interface A pedometer system 300 including a holder 200 that holds the pedometer 10 with the 100a facing the power receiving circuit 14.

Thus, even when the user is using the pedometer 10, the pedometer 10 is held by the holder 200 so that the charging battery 100 can charge the secondary battery 16. It becomes. Therefore, by carrying the pedometer system 300, the user can charge the secondary battery 16 of the pedometer 10 while using the pedometer 10.

FIG. 12 shows a state in which the holder 200 is placed on the stand 400. That is, when the holder 200 is not used, such as at home, the pedometer 10 can be removed from the holder 200 and the strap 100b can be hung on the stand 400 and set. In particular, by providing the charging battery 100 with a configuration that enables charging from a commercial power supply as appropriate, the pedometer system 300 can be placed on the stand 400 to charge the charging battery 100 from the commercial power supply. It becomes possible.

In the present embodiment, the pedometer system 300 including the pedometer 10 that performs non-contact charging of the secondary battery 16 from the charging battery 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the pedometer system 300 including the pedometer 10 having a structure such as a charging cable or a connector for performing charging from the charging battery 100 to the secondary battery 16 by wire is configured. May be.

(Sixth embodiment)
Hereinafter, the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in the above embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14A is a schematic perspective view illustrating the configuration of the pedometer 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 14B is a schematic plan view.

The pedometer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a main circuit 13 made of a copper material that is thinner and less rigid than a rigid substrate such as a so-called rigid substrate. The main circuit 13 includes at least a processing chip 22 as a processing unit, a memory 24 as a storage unit, and an acceleration sensor 32. In the present embodiment, the main circuit 13 corresponds to a substrate in the claims. In the example shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, in addition to the processing chip 22, the memory 24, and the acceleration sensor 32, the power receiving IC 26, the power control circuit 28, the light emitting device 30, the operation unit 30c And a communication unit 33 including a communication IC 34 and a communication antenna 36.

フ レ キ シ ブ ル Furthermore, a flexible substrate 60 (shown by a dotted line in FIGS. 14A and 14B) is provided so as to cover the main circuit 13. The flexible substrate 60 is made of an insulating resin film such as polyimide or polyester as a base material, and is formed in a thin plate shape having a thickness of, for example, several hundred μm to several thousand μm.

Further, the power receiving circuit 14 of the present embodiment is configured by forming a circuit pattern on the flexible substrate 60 using a method of etching a copper material forming the main circuit 13 or a method of printing a conductive paste or the like. I have. That is, the power receiving circuit 14 is formed integrally with the flexible substrate 60. 14A and 14B, a detailed pattern of the power receiving circuit 14 on the flexible substrate 60 is omitted for simplification of the drawing.

As in the present embodiment, the pedometer 10 can be made more compact by forming the main circuit 13 from a relatively low-rigidity copper material and covering the flexible circuit 60 on which the power receiving circuit 14 is printed with the main circuit 13. It can be made thin.

(4) In comparison with the case where the main circuit 13 is formed by a rigid board, the flexible board 60 and the main circuit 13 can have tolerance to bending deformation. Therefore, even when the housing 11 of the pedometer 10 is made of a relatively soft material, the bending stress unintended by the internal component 12 is protected.

Therefore, in particular, when the pedometer 10 is used in an application where the user carries it on a daily basis by wearing it on clothes or the body, that is, when the pedometer 10 is used in an environment where unintended bending stress is likely to occur. Also, the internal components 12 can be suitably protected.

As described above, each embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, each of the above embodiments is only a part of an application example of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is limited to the specific configuration of each of the above embodiments. It is not the purpose.

For example, the arrangement of the pedometer 10 in the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 shown in FIGS. 2B and 4 is merely an example, and can be changed. For example, the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 may be arranged in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. That is, from the viewpoint of realizing the effect of suppressing the thickness of the pedometer 10, the board 13, the power receiving circuit 14, and the secondary battery 16 are arranged in parallel on the plane in the housing 11 of the pedometer 10. Then, various aspects can be taken.

On the other hand, based on a parallel arrangement on a plane in the housing 11, the arrangement determined from the viewpoint of suppressing noise included in the detection value D1 of the acceleration sensor 32 described in the second embodiment, and the fifth embodiment It is more preferable to appropriately consider an arrangement determined from the viewpoint of realizing a pedometer system 300 for enabling charging of the secondary battery 16 when the pedometer 10 described in the embodiment is used.

In addition, an audio output device such as a small speaker may be employed instead of or together with the light emitting device 30 in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. That is, as a means for allowing the user to recognize that the remaining power of the secondary battery 16 has decreased, a notification unit such as a voice may be employed in addition to the visual notification by the light emitting device 30.

Furthermore, the above embodiments can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict.

This application claims the priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-122505 filed with the Japan Patent Office on June 27, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pedometer 10a Suspension support part 10b Internal components 11 Housing 12 Internal components 13 Substrate 14 Power receiving circuit 16 Secondary battery 22 Processing chip 24 Memory 30 Light emitting device 32 Acceleration sensor 33 Communication unit 40 Display device 50 Display switch 80 Strap 90 Stopper 100 Charging Battery 100a Power Supply Interface 200 Holder 300 Pedometer System

Claims (11)

A housing, and an activity meter including an internal component disposed in the housing,
The internal components are:
An acceleration sensor, a processing unit that calculates an amount of activity based on a value detected by the acceleration sensor, and a substrate including a storage unit;
Secondary batteries,
And a power receiving circuit for charging the secondary battery,
The substrate, the power receiving circuit, and the secondary battery were arranged in parallel on substantially the same plane in the housing,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 1,
The power receiving circuit is configured as non-contact charging means for charging the secondary battery by non-contact charging,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 1 or 2,
A suspending support is provided as a fulcrum for the user to suspend and hold the activity meter,
The acceleration sensor is provided at a position near the hanging support portion on the substrate.
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 3, wherein
The proximity position is set to a range equal to or less than a predetermined distance determined from the viewpoint of suppressing noise of the detection value caused by swinging of the housing during suspension holding,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 1 or 2,
The housing is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view having a pair of long sides,
The acceleration sensor is provided in a sensor arrangement area extending with a predetermined width from the center position of one long side of the housing along the center position of the other long side,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 5, wherein
A suspending support is provided as a fulcrum for the user to suspend and hold the activity meter,
The acceleration sensor is provided at a position near the hanging support in the sensor arrangement area,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
Display means, display command means for executing a display command of information on the display means, and display control means for controlling the display means based on a command from the display command means, further comprising:
The display control means,
A first display control mode for displaying the first information including the activity amount, a second display control mode for displaying the second information other than the activity amount, and a third display mode in which the first information or the second information is not displayed. Switching between a display control mode and a command from the display command means,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to claim 7, wherein
In the third display control mode, power supply to the display unit is stopped.
Activity meter. The activity meter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
A communication unit that communicates with an external communication unit;
The communication unit is configured as passive communication means for performing passive communication with the external communication means,
Activity meter. The activity meter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
The power receiving circuit is arranged in an area located at the top of the housing when the user carries the activity meter,
Activity meter. An activity meter according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A charging battery having a power supply interface for supplying power to the power receiving circuit,
And a holder for holding the charging battery and an activity meter with the power supply interface facing the power receiving circuit.
Activity meter system.

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