U.S. patent application number 12/804501 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for electronic pedometer.
Invention is credited to Yoshinori Sugai.
Application Number | 20100312521 12/804501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34631987 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100312521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sugai; Yoshinori |
December 9, 2010 |
Electronic pedometer
Abstract
To realize miniaturization and detection of a walk state in
which no arm is swung in an electronic pedometer in which at least
a walk sensor is used in a state of being worn on a wrist. An
acceleration sensor is disposed so that a sensitivity axis of the
acceleration sensor is located in a range of 30.degree. or smaller
in a counterclockwise direction from the direction of 90.degree.
with respect to a longitudinal direction of a belt. A user of an
electronic pedometer wears the electronic pedometer on his/her left
wrist using the belt and starts processing for counting the number
of steps by manipulating a manipulation portion, and also starts to
walk, thereby starting counting the number of steps. The user
checks the counted number of steps and the measured time period
based on displayed contents on a step number display portion and a
time display portion of a display portion.
Inventors: |
Sugai; Yoshinori;
(Chiba-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE L. ADAMS, ESQ.;ADAMS & WILKS
17 BATTERY PLACE-SUITE 1231
NEW YORK
NY
10004
US
|
Family ID: |
34631987 |
Appl. No.: |
12/804501 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11879879 |
Jul 19, 2007 |
7792658 |
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12804501 |
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11109033 |
Apr 19, 2005 |
7263461 |
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11879879 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
702/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/06 20130101;
G01P 3/50 20130101; A63B 2071/0663 20130101; G01P 15/00 20130101;
G01C 22/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
702/160 |
International
Class: |
G01C 22/00 20060101
G01C022/00; G06F 15/00 20060101 G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2004 |
JP |
2004-124657 |
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. An electronic pedometer comprising: an acceleration sensor that
detects acceleration in vertical movement of a user's body during a
walking movement of the user to output a walk signal corresponding
to the detected acceleration; calculation means for calculating a
number of walking steps of the user based on the walk signal; and a
strap for mounting the electronic pedometer on a wrist of the
user's body; wherein the acceleration sensor has a sensitivity axis
along which a detection sensitivity by the acceleration sensor of
the acceleration in vertical movement of the user's body during the
walking movement becomes a maximum; and wherein when the
acceleration sensor is mounted on a right wrist of the user's body,
the sensitivity axis of the acceleration sensor is located within a
range of 30 degrees or less in the clockwise direction from an axis
disposed at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction
of the strap.
6. An electronic pedometer according to claim 5; further including
a display portion that displays the number of walking steps
calculated by the calculation means.
7. An electronic pedometer according to claim 6; further including
a time display portion that displays time data.
8. An electronic pedometer comprising: an acceleration sensor that
detects acceleration in vertical movement of a user's body during
walking movement of the user and outputs a signal corresponding to
the detected acceleration, the acceleration sensor having a
sensitivity axis along which a detection sensitivity by the
acceleration sensor of the acceleration in vertical movement of the
user's body during the walking movement becomes a maximum;
calculation means for calculating a number of walking steps of the
user based on the signal outputted from the acceleration sensor;
and a strap attached to the electronic pedometer to mount the
electric pedometer on the right wrist of the user so that the
sensitivity axis of the acceleration sensor lies within a range of
30 degrees or less in the clockwise direction from an axis that is
at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the
strap.
9. An electronic pedometer according to claim 8; further including
a display portion that displays the number of walking steps
calculated by the calculation means.
10. An electronic pedometer according to claim 9; further including
a time display portion that displays time data.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electronic pedometer for
measuring the number of steps by detecting a walk of a person or
the like.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Heretofore, there has been developed an electronic pedometer
for measuring the number of steps of a user by detecting a walk of
the user using a walk sensor.
[0005] A watch type pedometer which is used by being worn on a
wrist of a user like a watch has been developed as the electronic
pedometer (refer to Patent Document 1 for example).
[0006] With the above conventional watch type electronic pedometer,
since a pendulum sensor is used, the number of steps can be
measured in a normal walk in which a user walks while he/she
naturally swings his/her arms. However, there is encountered a
problem that the number of steps cannot be measured in a case where
a user walks with his/her arm being fixed to a predetermined
position (e.g., at the ear) without swinging his/her arms, for
example, in a case where the user walks while he/she communicates
with someone using his/her mobile telephone.
[0007] In addition, while not being of a watch type, a product has
also been developed with which the number of steps can be measured
even in a state in which no arm is swung as in a state in which an
electronic pedometer is held in a pocket or the like. In this case,
two sensors are used and are disposed so as to perpendicularly
intersect each other. As a result, the number of steps can be
measured even in a state in which the electronic pedometer is held
in a pocket or the like. However, there is encountered a problem in
that that a volume increases and circuits for amplifying signals
from the sensors are required to be doubled in number because the
two sensors are used, or when the electronic pedometer is driven in
a time division manner in order to prevent such a situation, a time
period required to drive the circuits increases, and hence the
electronic pedometer of this type is unsuitable for the watch type
pedometer.
[0008] <Patent Document 1> JP 2002-221434 A
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
electronic pedometer, used at least by wearing a walk sensor on a
wrist, which is capable of being miniaturized and of detecting a
walk in a state in which no arm is swung.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided an
electronic pedometer having: a walk sensor for detecting a walk of
a user to output a walk signal corresponding to the walk;
calculation means for calculating the number of steps of the user
based on the walk signal; and a belt with which at least the walk
sensor is worn on a wrist of the user, the walk sensor being used
at least by being worn on the wrist of the user using the belt,
wherein the walk sensor is disposed so that a sensitivity axis of
the walk sensor is located in a range of 30.degree. or smaller in a
counterclockwise direction from 90.degree. with respect to a
longitudinal direction of the belt, or in a range of 30.degree. or
smaller in a clockwise direction from 90.degree. with respect to
the longitudinal direction of the belt.
[0011] A walk sensor is disposed so that a sensitivity axis of the
walk sensor is located in a range of 30.degree. or smaller in a
counterclockwise direction from 90.degree. with respect to a
longitudinal direction of a belt, or in a range of 30.degree. or
smaller in a clockwise direction from 90.degree. with respect to
the longitudinal direction of the belt. A user of the electronic
pedometer uses the electronic pedometer at least by wearing the
walk sensor on a wrist of the user using the belt.
[0012] Here, when the walk sensor is disposed so that the
sensitivity axis of the walk sensor is located in the range of
30.degree. or smaller in the counterclockwise direction from
90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt,
the walk sensor is preferably used by being worn on the left wrist
of the user, and when the walk sensor is disposed so that the
sensitivity axis of the walk sensor is located in the range of
30.degree. or smaller in the clockwise direction from 90.degree.
with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt, the walk
sensor is preferably used by being worn on the right wrist of the
user.
[0013] In addition, the walk sensor is preferably an acceleration
sensor.
[0014] In addition, the electronic pedometer may include timing
means for timing time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of an
electronic pedometer according to an embodiment mode of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view showing the
external appearance of the electronic pedometer according to the
embodiment mode of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a maximum value of an arm swing
angle range in a normal walk of a general walker;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arm swing angle range of 80%
of persons;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a situation in which sensitivity
changes depending on mounting angles of an acceleration sensor;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a graph showing a change in sensitivity when an
arm swing angle is maximum;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a graph showing a change in sensitivity caused by
arm swing in 80% of persons;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 90.degree.;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 75.degree.;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 60.degree.;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 45.degree.;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a small output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 90.degree.;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a small output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 75.degree.;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a small output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 60.degree.;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walk
signal from a person for whom a small output is obtained from an
acceleration sensor when a sensitivity axis of the acceleration
sensor is set at 45.degree.; and
[0031] FIG. 16 is a graph showing an angle range of the sensitivity
axis of the acceleration sensor in which a walk level can be
measured.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] An electronic pedometer according to an embodiment mode of
the present invention is a watch type electronic pedometer which is
used by being worn on a wrist of a user. The watch type electronic
pedometer has: an acceleration sensor as a walk sensor for
detecting a walk of a user to output a walk signal corresponding to
the walk; calculation means for calculating the number of steps of
the user based on the walk signal; and a belt with which at least
the acceleration sensor is worn on a wrist of the user, and is used
at least by wearing the acceleration sensor on the wrist of the
user using the belt. The electronic pedometer according to this
embodiment mode will hereinafter be described with reference to the
drawings.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of an
electronic pedometer according to an embodiment mode of the present
invention, and shows an electronic pedometer for a left wrist which
is used by being worn on a left wrist of a user. In addition, FIG.
2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1.
[0034] In FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic pedometer 100 includes an
electronic pedometer main body 101 having a display portion 102 and
a manipulation portion 103 which can be manipulated from the
outside, a belt 105 which is constituted by a main portion and a
buttons and with which the electronic pedometer main body 101 is
worn on a wrist of a user, and a buckle 104 provided in an end
portion of the belt 105.
[0035] The display portion 102 has a step number display portion
201 for displaying thereon the number of steps which a user has
taken, and a time display portion 202 for displaying thereon data
on a time, a walk time period, and the like.
[0036] A plurality of small holes 106 are formed in the belt 105.
The electronic pedometer main body 101 is worn on the arm of a user
by engaging suitable one of the small holes 106 with the buckle
104.
[0037] An acceleration sensor 203 as a walk sensor for detecting a
walk level of a user is provided inside the electronic pedometer
main body 101. The acceleration sensor 203 used herein is an
element able to detect an acceleration, and is called a shock
sensor, an impact sensor, a vibration sensor or the like. Various
kinds of acceleration sensors which are of a bimorph type, of
unimorph type, of a piezo type, and the like can be used.
[0038] In addition, the electronic pedometer main body 101 includes
in its inside calculation means for calculating the number of steps
of a user based on a walk signal which corresponds to a walk and
which is outputted from the acceleration sensor 203, timing means
for timing, display driving means for displaying data on the
accumulated number of steps of a user calculated by the calculation
means, data on a time measured by the timing means, and the like on
the display portion 102, and the like.
[0039] While the details of amounting angle of the acceleration
sensor 203 to the belt 105 will be described later, since the
electronic pedometer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an electronic
pedometer for a left wrist, the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed
in a position where when the electronic pedometer main body 101 is
viewed from the display portion 102 side, a sensitivity axis K of
the acceleration sensor 203 is located in a range S of 30.degree.
or smaller in a counterclockwise direction from a direction Y
making 90.degree. with respect to a longitudinal direction X of the
belt 105. Note that when a movement direction of the acceleration
sensor 203 or a direction along which a mechanical shock is applied
to the acceleration sensor 203 is aligned with the sensitivity axis
K, the detection sensitivity becomes maximum.
[0040] When the electronic pedometer 100 is worn on a left wrist, a
palm is on a B side and an elbow is on an A side.
[0041] It should be noted that in a case of a watch type electronic
pedometer for a right arm which is used in a state of being worn on
a right wrist, the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed in a
position where when the electronic pedometer main body 101 is
viewed from the display portion 102 side, the sensitivity axis K of
the acceleration sensor 203 is located in a range of 30.degree. or
smaller in a clockwise direction from the direction Y making
90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction X of the belt
105. When the electronic pedometer 100 is worn on a right wrist, a
palm is on the A side and an elbow is on the B side.
[0042] In this embodiment mode, a watch type electronic pedometer
needs to be constructed so that in order to make countable the
number of steps in a walk in a state in which a user's hand is put
into a pocket or such a walk that a user communicates with someone
using his/her mobile telephone on a walk other than a normal walk
(a walk in which a user normally walks while he/she swings his/her
arms), any of signals generated through arm swing is not detected,
and only a signal representing vertical movement of the body is
detected as much as possible. While an arm swinging form during a
normal walk depends on persons, generally, arms are largely swung
forward and are less swung backward.
[0043] In addition, the vertical movement of the body is caused
when a foot is landed on the earth. Thus, in a state in which a
person normally walks, when a hand's position is in the foremost
portion and in the rearmost portion in accordance with back and
forth swing of an arm, a foot is landed on the earth to cause the
vertical movement of the body.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a maximum value in an arm swing
angle range in a normal walk of a general walker, and FIG. 4 is a
diagram showing an arm swing angle range of 80% of persons. As
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, while the arm swing angle range of a person
is generally equal to or smaller than 45.degree. in a traveling
direction, the arm swing angle range of 80% of persons is equal to
or smaller than 35.degree.. While the arm swing angle range of a
person is generally equal to or smaller than 25.degree. in the
opposite (backward) direction, similarly, 80% of persons show the
angle range of 15.degree. or smaller.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a situation in which the
sensitivity changes depending on mounting angles of the
acceleration sensor 203. FIG. 5 shows a situation in which the
detection sensitivity of the acceleration sensor 203 changes
depending on an angle between the sensitivity axis K of the
acceleration sensor 203 and the shaking direction (movement
direction) of the acceleration sensor 203. In FIG. 5, when the arm
is swung in the direction of the sensitivity axis K of the
acceleration sensor 203, the sensitivity of the acceleration sensor
203 becomes maximum. It reveals that when the direction of the
sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is set at
45.degree. with respect to the movement direction of the
acceleration sensor 203, the sensitivity of the acceleration sensor
203 attenuates by 25% from a maximum value.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a graph showing a sensitivity change in a case
where the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is
changed when the arm swing angle of a user has the maximum value
(at 45.degree. in the traveling direction and at 25.degree. in the
backward direction). In FIG. 6, an axis of abscissa represents an
angle of the sensitivity axis K with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side, and an axis of ordinate represents a rate of change in
sensitivity with a maximum value of the sensitivity of the
acceleration sensor 203 defined as 100%.
[0047] In FIG. 6, a solid line represents a rate of change in
sensitivity when the vertical movement is carried out in a state in
which a left arm having the acceleration sensor 203 worn therein is
held upright, or lowered just downwardly (vertical state), a short
broken line represents a rate of change in sensitivity when the
vertical movement is carried out in a state in which the right and
left arms are held up in the traveling direction by 45.degree. from
the downward direction (refer to FIG. 3), and a long broken line
represents a rate of change in sensitivity when the vertical
movement is carried out in a state in which the left arm is held up
backward from the downward direction by 25.degree. (-25.degree.)
(refer to FIG. 3).
[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, it is understood that in a case where
the acceleration sensor 203 is worn on the arm so that the
sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 becomes vertical
to the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105, the sensitivity
attenuates by 25% from a maximum value when the arm is swung in the
traveling direction by 45.degree., and the sensitivity attenuates
by about 7% when the arm is swung backward by 25.degree.. In
addition, in a case where the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed
so that the sensitivity axis K makes 45.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105, the sensitivity becomes
maximum when the arm is swung in the traveling direction by
45.degree.. Also, the sensitivity attenuates by about 60% when the
arm is swung backward by 25.degree..
[0049] FIG. 7 is a graph showing a rate of change in sensitivity
when the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is
changed in a case where about 80% of persons swing their arms (in
the traveling direction by 35.degree. and backward by 15.degree.).
Similar to the example of FIG. 6, an axis of abscissa represents an
angle of the sensitivity axis K with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side, and an axis of ordinate represents a rate of change in
sensitivity with a maximum value of the sensitivity of the
acceleration sensor 203 defined as 100%.
[0050] In FIG. 7, a solid line represents a rate of change in
sensitivity when the vertical movement is carried out in a state in
which a left arm having the acceleration sensor 203 worn therein is
held upright, or lowered just downwardly (vertical state), a short
broken line represents a rate of change in sensitivity when the
vertical movement is carried out in a state in which the left arm
is held up in the traveling direction by 35.degree. from the
downward direction (refer to FIG. 4), and a long broken line
represents a rate of change in sensitivity when the vertical
movement is carried out in a state in which the left arm is held up
backward from the downward direction by 15.degree. (-15.degree.)
(refer to FIG. 4).
[0051] An angle of the arm of a person communicating with someone
using his/her mobile telephone or the like generally becomes
125.degree.. Here, this state shows the same rate of change in
sensitivity as that in a state in which the arm is swung in the
traveling direction by 35.degree..
[0052] FIG. 8 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a walking
signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained from the
acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the acceleration sensor 203
is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration
sensor 203 makes 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side; FIG. 9 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a
walking signal from a person for whom a large output is obtained
from the acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the acceleration
sensor 203 is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K of the
acceleration sensor 203 makes 75.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the
display portion 102 side; FIG. 10 is a waveform chart showing a
waveform of a walking signal from a person for whom a large output
is obtained from the acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the
acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K
of the acceleration sensor 203 makes 60.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the
display portion 102 side; and FIG. 11 is a waveform chart showing a
waveform of a walking signal from a person for whom a large output
is obtained from the acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the
acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K
of the acceleration sensor 203 makes 45.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the
display portion 102 side.
[0053] In FIGS. 8 to 11, each peak of the walking signal represents
one step. When an angle between the sensitivity axis K and the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 is in a range of
90.degree. to 60.degree., satisfactory signal waveforms are
obtained (FIGS. 8 to 10). However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the
angle between the sensitivity axis K and the longitudinal direction
X of the belt 105 is 45.degree., each peak of the walk signal
corresponding to a walk detected when the arm (the left arm in this
embodiment mode) having the electronic pedometer 100 worn therein
is swung in the traveling direction is large, but each peak of the
walk signal detected when the arm is swung backward is small. Thus,
there is a possibility that the walk measurement becomes unsuitable
to cause a measurement error.
[0054] FIG. 12 shows a waveform of a walk signal from a person for
whom a small output is obtained from the acceleration sensor 203 in
a case where the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that the
sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 makes 90.degree.
with respect to the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when
viewed from the display portion 102 side. FIG. 13 shows a waveform
of a walk signal from a person for whom a small output is obtained
from the acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the acceleration
sensor 203 is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K of the
acceleration sensor 203 makes 75.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the
display portion 102 side. FIG. 14 shows a waveform of a walk signal
from a person for whom a small output is obtained from the
acceleration sensor 203 in a case where the acceleration sensor 203
is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration
sensor 203 makes 60.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side. FIG. 15 shows a waveform of a walk signal from a person
for whom a small output is obtained from the acceleration sensor
203 in a case where the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that
the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 makes
45.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction X of the belt
105 when viewed from the display portion 102 side.
[0055] In FIGS. 12 to 15, each peak of the signal represents one
step similarly to FIGS. 8 to 11. Regarding a person for whom a
small output is obtained from the acceleration sensor 203, the
satisfactory walk detection signal becomes hard to obtain as the
angle between the sensitivity axis K and the longitudinal direction
X of the belt 105 becomes smaller. As a result, the walk
measurement becomes unstable. Hence, there is a possibility that a
large measurement error is caused.
[0056] FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing a range in which
a walk can be measured using the acceleration sensor 203. An axis
of abscissa represents an angle between the sensitivity axis K of
the acceleration sensor 203 and the longitudinal direction X of the
belt 105 when viewed from the display portion 102 side, and an axis
of ordinate represents normalized sensitivity of the acceleration
sensor 203. As shown in FIG. 16, the acceleration sensor 203 has
the satisfactory sensitivity in a region in which the angle of
sensitivity axis K is equal to or larger than 60.degree.. In this
embodiment mode, the range of the angle between the sensitivity
axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 and the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side is determined as follows with reference to the
characteristic diagram of FIG. 16.
[0057] Since in the normal life, a human being does nothing with
his/her arms being held backward, a maximum value of the angle
between the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 and
the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the
display portion 102 side is set as 90.degree.. In addition, in
order to allow the walk signal to be detected every step even for a
person whose walk signal is at a low level, a minimum value of the
angle between the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203
and the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from
the display portion 102 side is set as 60.degree. (30.degree. in a
counterclockwise direction from the direction of 90.degree. with
respect to the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105). That is,
the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is set in a
range S of 30.degree. or smaller in a counterclockwise direction
from the direction of 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side, thereby allowing the number of steps to be satisfactorily
counted.
[0058] Note that in a case of the watch type electronic pedometer
for a right hand as well described above, the sensitivity axis of
the acceleration sensor can be set similarly to the foregoing. In
the case of the watch type electronic pedometer for a right hand,
the sensitivity axis K is set in a range of 30.degree. or smaller
in a clockwise direction from the direction of 90.degree. with
respect to the longitudinal direction X of the belt 105, thereby
making it possible to count the number of steps in a satisfactory
manner.
[0059] When the number of steps is counted using the watch type
electronic pedometer 100 for a left hand constructed as described
above, a user of the electronic pedometer 100 wears the electronic
pedometer 100 in his/her left wrist using the belt 105, and starts
the processing for counting the number of steps by manipulating the
manipulation portion 103, and also starts to walk, thereby counting
the number of steps. The user checks data on the number of steps
and data on a walk time period which are displayed on the step
number display portion 201 and the time display portion 202 of the
display portion 102, respectively.
[0060] When the number of steps is counted using the watch type
electronic pedometer for a right hand described above, the number
of steps is counted with the electronic pedometer being worn on a
right wrist of a user.
[0061] As described above, the electronic pedometer according to
this embodiment mode includes: an acceleration sensor for detecting
a walk of a user to output a walk signal corresponding to the walk;
calculation means for calculating the number of steps of the user
based on the walk signal; a belt with which the acceleration sensor
is worn on a wrist of the user; and a display portion for
displaying thereon data on the number of steps calculated by the
calculation means, in which the walk sensor being used at least by
being worn on the wrist of the user using the belt, the
acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that the sensitivity axis K
of the acceleration sensor 203 is located in the range S of
30.degree. or smaller in a counterclockwise direction from the
direction of 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction
X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion 102 side, or
in the range of 30.degree. or smaller in a clockwise direction from
the direction of 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105 when viewed from the display portion
102 side.
[0062] Here, when the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that
the sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is located in
the range S of 30.degree. or smaller in the counterclockwise
direction from the direction of 90.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction X of the belt 105, the electronic pedometer
is used in a state of being worn on a left wrist of the user, while
when the acceleration sensor 203 is disposed so that the
sensitivity axis K of the acceleration sensor 203 is located in the
range S of 30.degree. or smaller in the clockwise direction from
the direction of 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction X of the belt 105, the electronic pedometer is used in a
state of being worn on a right wrist of the user.
[0063] As a result, in the watch type electronic pedometer in which
at least the walk sensor is used in a state of being worn on a
wrist, the miniaturization becomes possible, and even in walking
with no arm being swung, the satisfactory walk detection becomes
possible.
[0064] Note that while in the above embodiment mode, the
construction is adopted in which the electronic pedometer main body
101 is used in a state of being worn on a wrist of a user, a
construction may be adopted in which at least the acceleration
sensor 203 is worn on a wrist of a user.
[0065] The present invention can also be applied to an electronic
pedometer which is constructed such that all constituent elements
of the pedometer are worn on the user's body when in use, or an
electronic pedometer which is constructed such that some (including
at least sensors) of constituent elements are worn on the user's
body, and other constituent elements wirelessly transmit/receive
signals to/from the constituent elements, and the other constituent
elements are provided away from the user.
[0066] According to the present invention, effects are offered in
which miniaturization becomes possible since a walk can be detected
using a single walk sensor, and a walk in a state in which no arm
is swung can be detected since the sensitivity axis of the walk
sensor is constructed so as to have a predetermined angle when the
electronic pedometer is used.
[0067] In addition, it becomes possible to construct the electronic
pedometer having a function as a watch, and to measure almost the
numbers of steps in normal life.
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