I lllll llllllll Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007297088B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Tsuji
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,297,088 B2
`Nov. 20, 2007
`
`(54) ELECTRONIC PEDOMETER
`
`6,254,513 Bl*
`
`7/2001 Takenaka et al. .............. 482/3
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Tomoharu Tsuji, Chiba (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc. (JP)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 194 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 111109,045
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 19, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0238132 Al
`
`Oct. 27, 2005
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`56086309
`63262784
`2697911
`3017529
`
`7 /1981
`10/1988
`9/1997
`12/1999
`
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Glenn E. Richman
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Adams & Wilks
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 20, 2004
`
`(JP)
`
`............................. 2004-124641
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`A63B 21100
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`A63B 22100
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................. 482/3; 482/8; 482/900;
`377/24.2; 702/160
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 482/1-9,
`482/54, 900--902; 235/105; 342/357.06;
`36/132, 136; 377/24, 24.2; 702/160
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,855,942 A * 8/1989 Bianco ....................... 702/160
`
`To enhance precision in measurement of the number of steps
`even when a walk cycle changes. An acceleration detecting
`portion outputs a walk signal corresponding to a walk of a
`user detected by a walk sensor. A step number counting
`portion of a counting portion counts each signal which is
`judged to be beyond a first reference cycle range by a walk
`cycle comparing portion among signals from the accelera(cid:173)
`tion detecting portion as the number of steps for one step,
`and when an extra-regulation step number processing por(cid:173)
`tion judges that a predetermined number of signals each
`within a second reference cycle range among the signals
`each beyond the first reference cycle range is continuously
`outputted, counts the predetermined number of signals as the
`predetermined number of steps.
`
`18 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`STEP NUMBER COUNTING
`PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`S203
`
`OUTPUT 1 COUNT
`FOR STEP
`
`S209 r--'-'N-"-0--<:_
`
`CLEAR CONTENTS IN
`EXTRA-REGULATION
`STEP NUMBER
`TEMPORARILY
`
`S210
`
`JUDGE THATOUTPUT
`IGNAL IS NOISE
`ND REMOVE IT
`
`S207
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 1 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`00 = N
`-....l = 00
`
`\C
`'N
`-....l
`rJl
`d
`
`0 ....
`....
`.....
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`(.H
`
`-....J
`0
`0
`N
`~o
`N
`~
`
`z 0
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`~
`•
`00
`
`e •
`
`__________________________________________________________________________ J
`I
`I
`
`112
`
`PORTION
`DISPLAY
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`' I
`
`PORTION
`COUNTING
`STEP NUMBER
`
`PORTION
`CALCULATING
`WALK CYCLE
`
`PORTION
`COMPARING
`WALK CYCLE
`
`108
`
`106
`
`111
`
`101
`
`100
`
`PORTION
`FILTER
`
`105
`
`PORTION
`DETECTING
`ACCELERATION
`
`'
`,--------------------------------------------------------------~----------
`
`107
`
`PORTION
`PROCESSING
`STEP NUMBER
`EXTRA-REGULATION
`
`HOLDING PORTION
`TEMPORARILY
`STEP NUMBER
`EXTRA-REGULATION
`
`I
`' I
`102
`
`104
`
`SWITCH
`
`FIG. 1
`
`109
`
`110
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 2 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 20, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 7,297,088 B2
`
`FIG. 2
`EXTRA-REGULATION STEP
`NUMBER TEMPORARILY
`HOLDING PORTION
`
`O
`11
`
`201
`
`202 203
`
`204
`
`FIG. 3
`
`STEP NUMBER COUNTING
`PROCESSING
`
`NO
`
`8209 NO
`
`CLEAR CONTENTS IN
`EXTRA-REGULATION
`STEP NUMBER
`TEMPORARILY
`
`8205
`
`8210
`
`JUDGE THAT OUTPUT
`SIGNAL IS NOISE
`ND REMOVE IT
`
`YES
`OUTPUT N = 4 COUNTS
`FOR STEP
`
`8208
`
`8203
`
`END
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 3 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`00 = N
`-....l = 00
`
`\C
`'N
`-....l
`rJl
`d
`
`(.H
`
`0 .....
`
`(.H
`
`.....
`1J1 =(cid:173)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`-....J
`0
`0
`N
`~o
`N
`~
`
`z 0
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`~
`•
`00
`
`e •
`
`-CALCULATING
`WALK CYCLE
`(
`306
`
`PORTION
`
`I
`
`PORTION
`DISPLAY
`
`.
`
`STEP NUMBER
`
`r---. COUNTING
`
`PORTION
`
`PORTION
`COMPARING
`WALK CYCLE
`
`.
`
`PORTION
`FILTER
`
`....__.
`
`PORTION
`DETECTING
`ACCELERATION
`
`305
`
`304
`
`303
`
`302
`
`301
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 4 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`US 7,297,088 B2
`
`1
`ELECTRONIC PEDOMETER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to an electronic pedometer
`which is used by being mounted on a human body in order
`to electronically count the number of steps by a person
`having the electronic pedometer mounted thereon.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Heretofore, an electronic pedometer has been developed
`which is used by being mounted on a human body in order
`to count the number of steps by a user through an electronic
`processing.
`In general, for counting of the number of steps, an
`acceleration caused by vertical movement of a user's body
`during walking is detected to count how many times the
`accelerations occur as the number of steps.
`However, a problem arises in that various noises due to
`motions of daily life other than a walk are detected, and
`hence the number of steps cannot be precisely measured as
`has been pointed out formerly.
`In order to solve this problem, there have been proposed
`a method in which after an acceleration is detected once, a
`predetermined dead zone time period is set to avoid misde(cid:173)
`tection due to noises (refer to Patent Document 1 for
`example), a method in which detection signals are counted
`as the number of steps only when it is detected that the
`detection signs are continuously outputted by the predeter(cid:173)
`mined number of times (refer to Patent Document 2 and 30
`Patent Document 3 for example), and the like.
`However, the acceleration is not only caused by a walk,
`but also caused by motions in daily life. Thus, it is impos(cid:173)
`sible to distinguish the acceleration by a walk from the
`acceleration (caused by an office work for example) which 35
`regularly continues to enter the walk.
`In order to improve this problem, a method is proposed in
`which a cycle in a walk is detected, and the number of steps
`is calculated from the cycle and a walk time period (refer to
`Patent Document 4 for example).
`However, even if such measures are taken, a walk cycle
`is not usually maintained in a fixed state. A pace may be
`changed or a detection signal may be mixed with a noise.
`Hence, it is actually difficult in many cases to detect pre(cid:173)
`cisely a cycle.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a pedometer described in
`Patent Document 1 described above. The pedometer
`includes: an acceleration detecting portion 301, which is
`used by being mounted on the body of a user, for detecting
`an acceleration caused by a walk of the user to output a 50
`signal (walk signal) corresponding to the walk; a filter
`portion 302 for outputting a signal having a predetermined
`cycle corresponding to a walk cycle from the output signal
`from the acceleration detecting portion 301; a walk cycle
`calculating portion 306 for calculating a walk cycle as a 55
`reference by averaging a predetermined number of signals of
`the signals outputted from the filter portion 302; a walk cycle
`comparing portion 303 for comparing a cycle of each signal
`outputted from the filter portion 302 with the walk cycle as
`the reference calculated in the walk cycle calculating portion 60
`306 to output a signal having a cycle similar to the walk
`cycle as the above reference of the signals outputted from
`the filter portion 302; a step number counting portion 304 for
`counting signals from the walk cycle comparing portion
`303; and a display portion 305 for displaying thereon a count 65
`value obtained through the counting in the step number
`counting portion 304. It should be noted that the filter
`
`2
`portion 302, the walk cycle comparing portion 303, the step
`number counting portion 304, and the walk cycle calculating
`portion 306 can be configured with a central processing unit
`(CPU), and a storage portion for storing therein a program
`to be executed by the CPU.
`The acceleration detecting portion 301 detects an accel(cid:173)
`eration caused by a walk of a walker to output a signal
`corresponding to the walk. The filter portion 302 outputs a
`signal having a predetermined cycle corresponding to a walk
`10 cycle from the output signal of the acceleration detecting
`portion 301. The walk cycle calculating portion 306 calcu(cid:173)
`lates a walk cycle as a reference by averaging a predeter(cid:173)
`mined number of signals of the signals outputted from the
`filter portion 302. The walk cycle comparing portion 303
`15 compares a cycle of each signal outputted from the filter
`portion 302 with the walk cycle as the reference calculated
`in the walk cycle calculating portion 306 to output a signal
`having a cycle similar to the walk cycle as the above
`reference of the signals outputted from the filter portion 302.
`20 The step number counting portion 304 counts signals from
`the walk cycle comparing portion 303 as signals correspond(cid:173)
`ing to the walk. The display portion 305 displays thereon
`data on the number of steps as a count value obtained
`through the counting in the step number counting portion
`25 304.
`In such a manner, the electric pedometer is configured
`such that the walk cycle comparing portion 303 outputs the
`signals which are generated with a cycle similar to the walk
`cycle as the reference. Thus, a predetermined dead zone is
`provided so as not to detect any of the signals which are
`generated for time periods other than the time period similar
`to the time period having the walk cycle. As a result, it
`becomes possible to avoid that the noise is detected as the
`signal caused by the walk by mistake.
`However, a walk cycle is not usually maintained in a fixed
`state. A pace may be changed or a detection signal may be
`mixed with a noise. Hence, it is actually difficult in many
`cases to detect precisely a cycle. Moreover, even if a dead
`40 zone time period is provided, precision in measurement of
`the number of steps is low. This is a problem.
`<patent document 1 > JP laid-open disclosure public
`patent bulletin 56-86309
`<patent document 2> JP laid-open disclosure public
`45 patent bulletin 63-262784
`<patent document 3> JP patent number 3017529
`<patent document 4> JP patent number 2697911
`It is an object of the present invention to enhance preci(cid:173)
`sion in measurement of the number of steps even when a
`walk cycle changes.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`electronic pedometer having: walk detecting means, having
`a walk sensor, for outputting a walk signal corresponding to
`a walk of a user detected by the walk sensor; and counting
`means for counting the number of steps based on the walk
`signal from the walk detecting means, the walk sensor being
`used at least by being mounted on a body of the user, in
`which the counting means counts each signal within a first
`reference cycle range of signals from the walk detecting
`means as the number of steps for one step, and when a
`predetermined number of signals each within a second
`reference cycle range of the signals each beyond the first
`reference cycle range are continuously outputted from the
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 5 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`US 7,297,088 B2
`
`4
`on the cycles of the predetermined number of signals in the
`second cycle storing means, and obtains a moving average
`using the cycles of the signals the data on which is stored in
`the second cycle storing means.
`In addition, the walk sensor may be used by being
`mounted on an arm of a user.
`In addition, an electronic pedometer may be configured to
`have a timing function.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in
`the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic pedometer
`according to an embodiment mode of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the details of an extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number holding portion used in the embodi(cid:173)
`ment mode of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining processings in the
`embodiment mode of the present invention; and
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional electronic
`pedometer.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`3
`walk detecting means, the counting means counts the pre(cid:173)
`determined number of signals as a predetermined number of
`steps.
`The counting means counts each signal within a first
`reference cycle range of signals from the walk detecting
`means as the number of steps for one step, and when a
`predetermined number of signals each within a second
`reference cycle range of signals each beyond the first ref(cid:173)
`erence cycle range are continuously outputted from the walk
`detecting means, the counting means counts the predeter- 10
`mined number of steps as the predetermined number of
`steps.
`Here, the counting means may include: first cycle judging
`means for judging whether or not each signal from the walk
`detecting means is a signal within the first reference cycle 15
`range; second cycle judging means for judging whether or
`not each signal judged to be beyond the first reference cycle
`by the first cycle judging means among the signals from the
`walk detecting means is a signal within the second reference
`cycle range; and step number counting means for counting 20
`each signal judged to be a signal within the first reference
`cycle range by the first reference cycle judging means
`among the signals from the walk detecting means as the
`number of steps for one step, and for, when the second
`reference cycle judging means judges that a predetermined 25
`number of signals each within the second reference cycle
`range are continuously outputted from the walk detecting
`means, counting the predetermined number of signals thus
`continuously outputted as the predetermined number of
`steps.
`In addition, the second cycle judging means may include
`first cycle storing means for successively storing data on
`cycles of the predetermined number of signals each judged
`to be a signal within the second reference cycle range, and
`when the signal judged to be beyond the first reference cycle 35
`range by the first cycle judging means is a signal within a
`predetermined cycle range with a cycle of a newest signal
`data on which is stored in the first cycle storing means as a
`reference, judge that the signal thus judged is a signal within
`the second reference cycle range and stores the signal thus 40
`judged in the first cycle storing means. The first cycle storing
`means may be configured such that when storing therein
`data on the cycles of the predetermined number of signals,
`the predetermined number of signals are outputted as the
`predetermined number of steps. The counting means may 45
`count the predetermined number of steps.
`In addition, the counting means includes reference cycle
`calculating means for movement-averaging cycles of a pre(cid:173)
`determined number of signals from the walk detecting
`means; and the first cycle judging means judges whether or 50
`not a signal from the walk detecting means is a signal within
`the first reference cycle range using as the first reference
`cycle range a predetermined range having as a reference the
`moving average calculated by the reference cycle calculat(cid:173)
`ing means.
`In addition, the reference cycle calculating means may
`include second cycle storing means for successively storing
`therein data on cycles of a predetermined number of newest
`signals each judged to be within the first reference cycle
`range by the first cycle judging means, and obtain a moving
`average of the cycles of the predetermined number of signals
`the data on which is stored in the second cycle storing
`means.
`In addition, the reference cycle calculating means may be
`configured such that when receiving data on the cycles of the
`predetermined number of signals from the first cycle storing
`means, the reference cycle calculating means stores the data
`
`30
`
`An electronic pedometer according to an embodiment
`mode of the present invention will hereinafter be described
`with reference to the drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic pedometer
`according to an embodiment mode of the present invention.
`In FIG. 1, the electronic pedometer includes: an accel-
`eration detecting portion 101 which has a walk sensor 100
`constituted by an acceleration sensor and which serves to
`detect a walk (including running) of a user by the walk
`sensor 100 to output a signal (walk signal) corresponding to
`the walk; a counting portion 102 for counting the number of
`steps of the user based on the walk signal from the accel(cid:173)
`eration detecting portion 101; a display portion 103 which is
`constituted by a liquid crystal display device and which
`serves to display thereon data on the number of steps of the
`user counted by the counting portion 102; and a switch 104
`as manipulation means for carrying out manipulations such
`as a counting start manipulation and a counting end manipu(cid:173)
`lation for the counting portion 102, and a manipulation for
`resetting the count value.
`The counting portion 102 may be constructed of a central
`processing unit (CPU) and a storage portion for storing
`therein a program to be executed by the CPU.
`FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram in which the
`counting portion 102 is functionally illustrated. The count(cid:173)
`ing portion 102 includes: a filter portion 105 for outputting
`a signal having a cycle within an allowable change range
`among signals outputted from the acceleration detecting
`55 portion 101; a walk cycle calculating portion 108 for cal(cid:173)
`culating a reference walk cycle by obtaining a moving
`average Ta of cycles of a predetermined number of newest
`signals (four signals in this embodiment mode) among
`signals each of which is judged to be a walk signal in a walk
`60 cycle comparing portion 106; the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106 for comparing a cycle of a signal from the filter
`portion 105 with a first reference cycle range (Ta ±10% in
`this embodiment mode) based on the reference walk cycle to
`output a signal having a cycle within the first reference cycle
`65 range among signals outputted from the filter portion 105 as
`the number of steps for one step to a step number counting
`portion 107 and to output a signal beyond the first reference
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 6 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`US 7,297,088 B2
`
`5
`cycle range among signals from the filter portion 105 to an
`extra-regulation step number processing portion 109; the
`extra-regulation step number processing portion 109 for
`comparing a cycle of a signal from the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106 with a second reference cycle range (a cycle of
`the newest signal among the cycles of the signals data on
`which is stored in an extra-regulation step number tempo(cid:173)
`rarily holding portion 110 in this embodiment mode) to store
`a signal having a cycle within the second reference cycle
`range among the signals from the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106, and for, when the number of cycles of signals
`data on which is stored in the extra-regulation step number
`temporarily holding portion 110 becomes a predetermined
`number (four in this embodiment mode), outputting the data
`of the number of cycles of signals stored in the extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number temporarily holding portion 110 to
`the step number counting portion 107 and resetting and
`erasing the data stored in the extra-regulation step number
`temporarily holding portion 110; and a step number counting
`portion 107 for counting the current number of steps by
`adding the numbers of steps obtained from the walk cycle
`comparing portion 106 and the extra-regulation step number
`processing portion 109 to a step number count value.
`The extra-regulation step number temporarily holding
`portion 110, as shown in FIG. 2, has a predetermined
`number (four in this embodiment mode) of storage areas 201
`to 204. The extra-regulation step number temporarily hold(cid:173)
`ing portion 110 is configured so as to successively store data
`on cycles of signals from the extra-regulation step number
`processing portion 109 in the storage areas 201 to 204. The
`extra-regulation step number temporarily holding portion
`110 is a shift register having an FIFO configuration. Data on
`a cycle of the newest signal is stored in the storage area
`201, ... , data on a cycle of the oldest signal is stored in the
`storage area 204. Thus, at the same time when data on a
`cycle of a new signal is stored in the storage area 201, data
`on cycles of signals stored in the storage areas 201, 202, and
`203, respectively, are successively shifted, and the data on
`the cycle of the oldest signal stored in the storage area 204
`is discharged to be erased.
`The walk cycle calculating portion 108 has storage means
`112 in its inside. The storage means 112 has areas, in which
`data on cycles of a predetermined number (four in this
`embodiment mode) of signals is to be stored, similarly to the
`extra-regulation step number temporarily holding portion
`110. The walk cycle calculating portion 108 successively
`stores data on cycles of a predetermined number of newest
`signals of signals each of which is judged to be a walk signal
`by the walk cycle comparing portion in the storage means
`112, and calculates the reference walk cycle by obtaining a
`moving average Ta of the cycles of the predetermined
`number of signals to output data on the reference walk cycle
`to the walk cycle comparing portion 106. Note that while, in
`this embodiment mode, a storage capacity of the extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number temporarily holding portion 110 and
`a storage capacity of the storage means 112 are made
`identical to each other, those storage capacities are not
`necessarily made identical to each other.
`In addition, when the walk cycle calculating portion 108
`receives data on the cycles of the predetermined number of
`signals stored in the extra-regulation step number tempo(cid:173)
`rarily holding portion 110 from the extra-regulation step
`number temporarily holding portion 110, the walk cycle
`calculating portion 108 rewrites the storage contents within
`the storage means 112 to the data on the cycle of the 65
`predetermined number of signals received from the extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number temporarily holding portion 110, and
`
`6
`calculates the moving average Ta using the data on the cycle
`of the predetermined number of signals obtained through the
`rewriting to output the resultant moving average Ta to the
`walk cycle comparing portion 106. Hereinafter, the walk
`cycle calculating portion 108 successively stores data on
`cycles of signals from the walk cycle comparing portion 106
`in the storage means 112, and calculates the moving average
`Ta using data on the cycles of the predetermined number of
`signals thus stored to output the resultant moving average Ta
`10 to the walk cycle comparing portion 106.
`The filter portion 105 has an allowable cycle range storing
`means 111 for storing therein data on an allowable cycle
`range. Data on an allowable range for a cycle with which a
`signal from the acceleration detecting portion 101 is recog-
`15 nized as a walk signal, i.e., data on a fluctuation range
`(allowable cycle range) for a cycle when a user normally
`walks is stored in the allowable cycle range storing means
`111 in advance. In this embodiment mode, the allowable
`cycle range is set in a range of333 msec (180 rpm) to 1,000
`20 msec. The setting of the allowable cycle range in the
`allowable cycle range storing means 111 is carried out by
`manipulating the switch 104.
`In addition, while not illustrated, the counting portion 102
`has a timing function, and carries out the switching and
`25 display of data on the number of steps and time through the
`manipulation of the switch 104.
`It should be noted that the acceleration detecting portion
`101, the counting portion 102, the display portion 103, the
`switch 104, the walk cycle comparing portion 106, the step
`30 number counting portion 107, the work cycle calculating
`portion 108, processing portion 109, the extra-regulation
`step number temporarily holding portion 110, and the stor(cid:173)
`age means 112 constitute walk detecting means, counting
`means, display means, manipulation means, first cycle judg-
`35 ing means, step number counting means, reference cycle
`calculating means, second cycle judging means, first cycle
`storing means, and second cycle storing means, respectively.
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing processings executed in the
`counting portion 102.
`An operation of the electronic pedometer according to this
`embodiment mode will hereinafter be described with refer(cid:173)
`ence to FIGS. 1 to 3, and with reference to FIG. 4 as may
`be necessary.
`First of all, a user wears the electronic pedometer on
`45 his/her body as preparation for measurement of the number
`of steps. At this time, the acceleration sensor provided in the
`acceleration detecting portion 101 is mounted on an arm of
`the user. In this state, the user causes the electronic pedom(cid:173)
`eter to start an operation for measuring the number of steps
`50 by manipulating the switch 104, and starts to walk.
`The acceleration detecting portion 101 detects a walk
`(including running) of the user to output a signal (walk
`signal) corresponding to the walk. The filter portion 105
`judges whether or not a cycle T of the output signal from the
`55 acceleration detecting portion 101 is a value within a pre(cid:173)
`determined reference cycle range (the third reference cycle
`range) for a walk (Step S201 ). That is, the filter portion 105
`judges whether or not the cycle T of the output signal from
`the acceleration detecting portion 101 falls within the third
`60 reference cycle range the data on which is stored in the
`allowable cycle range storing means 111 in advance. In this
`embodiment mode, the filter portion 105 judges whether or
`not the cycle T of the output signal meets a condition of333
`msec (180 rpm)<T<l,000 msec.
`When the filter portion 105 judges in Step S201 that the
`cycle T is beyond the third reference cycle range, the filter
`portion 105 judges that the output signal is a noise, and
`
`40
`
`Apple v. Uniloc
`
`Page 7 of 10
`
`Apple Ex. 1010
`
`

`

`US 7,297,088 B2
`
`5
`
`7
`outputs no signal (Step S210). When the filter portion 105
`judges in Step S201 that the cycle T falls within the third
`reference cycle range, the filter portion 105 judges that the
`signal from the acceleration detecting portion 101 is the
`walk signal, and outputs that signal.
`Next, the walk cycle comparing portion 106 compares the
`cycle of the signal from the filter portion 105 with the first
`reference cycle range based on a reference walk cycle
`calculated by the walk cycle calculating portion 108, thereby
`judging whether or not the cycle of the signal from the filter
`portion 105 is similar to the reference walk cycle (Step
`S202).
`Here, the judgment reference related to whether or not the
`cycle of the signal from the filter portion 105 is similar to the
`reference walk cycle means a reference with which the
`frequency of occurrence of a counting error due to noises is
`small and the walk signal can be counted with less leakage.
`In this embodiment mode, Ta±10% (Ta is a moving average
`value of the cycles of a newest predetermined number of
`signals during a walk outputted from the filter portion 105)
`is set as the above first reference cycle range. Then, when the
`signal from the filter portion 105 is within the first reference
`cycle range, the walk cycle comparing portion 106 judges
`that the cycle of the signal from the filter portion 105 is
`similar to the reference walk cycle.
`When the walk cycle comparing portion 106 judges in
`Step S202 that the signal from the filter portion 105 is within
`the first reference cycle range, the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106 judges that the signal from the filter 105 is the
`walk signal, and outputs the data on the cycles of the signal
`to the walk cycle calculating portion 108. The step number
`counting portion 107 counts the walk signal from the walk
`cycle comparing portion 106 and adds 1 count to the step
`number count value until now to output the resultant value
`to the display portion 103 (Step S203). The count value
`which is obtained by adding 1 count to the count value
`displayed until now is displayed as an accumulated number
`of steps on the display portion 103.
`The walk cycle calculating portion 108 successively
`stores data on cycles of a predetermined number of newest
`signals each of which is judged to be a walk signal by the
`walk cycle comparing means 106 in the storage means 112,
`and calculates the reference walk cycle by obtaining the
`moving average Ta of the cycles of the predetermined
`number of signals data on which is stored in the storage
`means 112 to output the resultant moving average Ta to the
`walk cycle comparing portion 106.
`The walk cycle comparing portion 106 executes the above
`processing using data on the reference walk cycle.
`On the other hand, when the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106 judges in Step S202 that the signal from the filter
`portion 105 is beyond the first reference cycle range, the
`walk cycle comparing portion 106 outputs the signal from
`the filter portion 105 to the extra-regulation step number 55
`processing portion 109.
`The extra-regulation step number processing portion 109
`judges whether or not a cycle of a signal from the filter
`portion 105 is similar to a cycle of a signal data on which is
`stored in the extra-regulation step number temporarily hold(cid:173)
`ing portion 110 the last time by the walk cycle comparing
`portion 106, i.e., judges whether or not a cycle of a signal
`from the filter portion 105 is within a predetermined range
`(second reference cycle range) which takes the cycle of the
`walk signal the data of which is stored in the extra-regulation
`step number temporarily holding portion 110 the last time as
`a reference (Step S204).
`
`8
`When the extra-regulation step number processing por(cid:173)
`tion 109 judges in Step S204 that the cycle of the signal from
`the filter portion 105 judged to be beyond the first reference
`cycle range by the extra-regulation step number portion 109
`is similar to the cycle of the signal the data on which is
`stored in the extra-regulation step number temporarily hold(cid:173)
`ing portion 110 the last time, i.e., judges in Step S204 that
`the cycle of the signal from the filter portion 105 is within
`the second reference cycle range, the extra-regulation step
`10 number processing portion 109 judges that the signal from
`the filter portion 105 is a walk signal, and stores data on the
`cycle of the signal from the filter portion 105 in the extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number temporarily holding portion 110
`(Step S205). Then, the operation proceeds to Step S206.
`15 Note that the judgment in Step S204 shows that the storage
`contents in the extra-regulation step number temporarily
`holding portion 110 are empty, the operation proceeds
`unconditionally to Step S205.
`When the extra-regulation step number processing por-
`20 ti on 109 judges in Step S204 that the cycle of the signal from
`the filter portion 105 judged to be beyond the first reference
`cycle range by the extra-regulation step number processing
`portion 109 is not similar to the cycle of the signal the data
`on which is stored in the extra-regulation step number
`25 temporarily holding portion 110 the last time, i.e., judges in
`Step S204 that the cycle of the signal from the filter portion
`105 is beyond the second reference cycle range, the extra(cid:173)
`regulation step number processing portion 109 judges that
`the signal from the filter portion 105 is not a walk signal, and
`30 clears all the storage contents in the extra-regulation step
`number temporarily holding portion 110 (Step S209).
`Next, the extra-regulation step number processing portion
`109 judges whether or not the signals outputted from the
`filter portion 105 through the step cycle comparing portion
`35 106 are signals each within the second reference cycle range
`and are continuously outputted from the filter portion 105 by
`the predetermined number of times (four times in this
`embodiment mode) (Step S206). When the extra-regulation
`step number processing portion 109 judges that the signals
`40 are co