Exercise devices – Having specific electrical feature – Pace setting indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-07-03
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Having specific electrical feature
Pace setting indicator
C482S074000, C235S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254513
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a pedometer that counts the number of paces according to the motion of the body during walking and running, and particularly to a pedometer that can accurately detect the number of paces and the like independent of the angle of the main body.
BACKGROUND ART
A pedometer generally includes a main body, an acceleration sensor provided in the main body for detecting a pace signal according to motion of the body, and a pace counter for counting the number of paces according to an output of the acceleration sensor. The number of paces is counted from the (up and down) movement of the body during walking (or running).
In detecting the up and down motion, the upward movement and the downward movement respectively vary greatly depending upon the state of the walking site, the shoes worn, the manner of walking, and the like. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of paces cannot be counted accurately in a conventional pedometer that counts the number of paces by detecting only the output corresponding to either the upward movement or the downward movement.
In order to solve this problem, the “pedometer” described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2-161932 (referred to as first prior art hereinafter), for example, includes an upper detector and a lower detector for detecting the upward acceleration and downward acceleration, respectively, and a select unit for selecting which of the pace signals from the upper or lower detector is to be the object of counting. It is aimed to count the number of paces accurately independent of the walking site, the shoes, and the manner of walking.
The pedometer described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 1-287417 (referred to as second prior art hereinafter) employs a piezo-electric element formed in a cantilever structure as a sensor. A weight is provided at the free end of this sensor. An acceleration sensor having the fixed end supported via a shock elimination member is employed.
However, all the conventional pedometers including the one described in the first prior art has the main body of the pedometer in which an acceleration sensor is incorporated attached to the belt and the like of the pants or skirt to count the number of paces. There was a problem that the main body cannot be attached to one dressed without any belt and the like so that the number of paces cannot be counted. In the case where the main body is attached to the belt, the pedometer is noticeable since it has a size and thickness of some level. Others can easily perceive that the wearer is counting his/her number of paces. Even if the pedometer is covered by the clothing, the portion of the pedometer will bulge out to degrade the appearance. There was a problem that the style is spoiled.
The pedometer described in the above second prior art must have the weight and the piezo-electric element mounted in a weight case. There was a problem that assembly thereof is difficult, and the working cost increased. Furthermore, in the case where detection in a plurality of directions of virtual axes is required, the same acceleration sensor must be arranged individually at each direction of axis. There was a problem that the cost is increased.
The present invention is directed to these problems, and has an object of providing a pedometer that can count the number of paces without having to be attached to the belt, and that can easily be assembled and reduced in cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pedometer that can accurately detect the number of paces and the like independent of the orientation of the main body.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an angle detection sensor of high accuracy with a broad application, and an angle detection device including such an angle detection sensor.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The pedometer of the present invention includes a plurality of sensors arranged in the main body so as to differ from each other in the attached direction for providing an output signal according to vertical fluctuation components, an angle detector provided within the main body for detecting orientation of the main body, a selector for selecting one of the output signals from the plurality of sensors according to the detection signal of the angle detector, and a pace counter for counting the number of paces from the output signal of the sensor selected according to the selection of the selector.
One of the plurality of sensors provided in the main body so as to differ in its attached direction is selected according to the orientation of the main body. Since the number of paces is counted according to the output of the selected sensor, the fluctuation component in a constant direction can be reliably detected. As a result, a pedometer is provided that can count the number of paces without having to be attached to the belt, and that can easily be assembled and reduced in cost.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a pedometer includes a sensor provided in the main body for providing an electric signal according to the vertical fluctuation components, and a pace counter for counting the number of paces according to the output signal of the sensor. The sensor provides an output signal independent of the orientation of the main body.
Since the sensor provided in the pedometer outputs an electric signal according to the vertical fluctuation components independent of the orientation of the main body, fluctuation in the vertical direction can be detected reliably irrespective of the attached direction of the main body by using the output of the sensor. As a result, a pedometer that can precisely detect the number of paces and the like independent of the orientation of the main body can be provided.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, an angle detection sensor includes a main body of the angle detection sensor, a mobile unit provided movably within a range of motion including a predetermined region in the angle detection sensor main body, and a presence detector for detecting presence of the mobile unit in a predetermined region within the motion range. In the angle detection sensor, the motion range is a cavity enclosed by walls. The presence detector is an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a photodetector. The photodetector is arranged opposite the light emitting element with the cavity therebetween to detect whether there is a mobile unit on the optical axis of the optical sensor which is the predetermined region.
The state of motion of the mobile unit in the motion range varies according to the inclination of the angle detection sensor main body. The information of whether or not there is a mobile unit at the predetermined region in the motion range governed by the varying state of motion is obtained as a detection signal of mobile unit present/absent. The frequency or time of occurrence of the detection signal is extracted and compared with the frequency or time of occurrence corresponding to a predetermined angle to detect the angle. As a result, an angle detection sensor that can reliably detect the inclination angle can be provided.
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Patent Ab
Otani Toshio
Takenaka Masaaki
Tanaka Shinya
Watanabe Tomoo
Yamasawa Tsutomu
Omron Corporation
Richman Glenn E.
Rosenthal & Osha L.L.P.
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