United States Patent 15
`4,962,469
`[11] Patent Number:
`Oct. 9, 1990
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Onoetal.
`
`[54] EXERCISE MEASURING INSTRUMENT
`[75]
`Inventors: Haruo Ono; Satoshi Kinoshita; Fusao
`Suga, all of Tokyo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo,
`Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 339,179
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Apr. 14, 1989
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Apr. 18, 1988 [JP]
`Japan ssccsccsssssssssssesesecee 63-51776(U]
`Jun. 15, 1988 [JP]
`Japan ssessccssssssscsssssseseseeee 63-79116[U]
`Oct. 31, 1988 [JP]
`Japan vccccscsecssscetecsnesees 63-142496[U]
`[51]
`Int. Ch5dasteceseseenseonsnssseneessees G01C 22/00
`
`[52] US. C1 oeeeeseteeseseecsenenenseee 364/561; 235/105
`[58] Field of Search............... 364/561, 565, 566, 564;
`235/105; 272/DIG.9; 377/24.2; 324/165, 166
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,797,010 3/1974 Adler et al. oe 272/DIG.9
`4,144,568
`3/1979 Hiller et ab.
`ees 364/556
`
`
`4,192,000 3/1980 Lipsey............
`364/413.29
`4,220,996 9/1980 Searcy .........0.
`364/561
`4,223,211
`9/1980 Alisen etal.........
`w» 377/24.2
`
`we. 235/105
`4,387,437
`6/1983 Lowreyet al.
`.
`4,466,204 8/1984 WU occceccsnscsssesseseeserereee 235/105
`
`
`4,510,704 4/1985 Johnson ........seccsesececeeeeteee 235/105
`5/1982 Wu...
`. 364/561
`4,571,680
`
`3/1987 Yukawaetal.
`w. 235/105
`4,651,446
`4/1988 Ma .ceecscceserssecseeeceensseesseee 364/561
`4,741,001
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2192475
`
`1/1988 United Kingdom ........0...... 235/105
`
`Primary Examiner—Parshotam S. Lall
`Assistant Examiner—Michael Zanelli
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman &
`e
`_ Woodward
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An exercise measuring instrument according to the
`present invention employs an acceleration sensor which
`comprises a piezoelectric piece having a pair of piezo-
`electric elements stuck to each other. An output wave-
`form of the acceleration sensor is supplied to an ampli-
`fier, gain of which is changed in accordance with an
`exercise mode selected out of a walking mode, an exer-
`cise-walking modeand a jogging mode, and thereby an
`output level of the amplifier is kept at somewhat an
`equal voltage level, although the voltage level of the
`output waveform of the acceleration sensoris different
`between the exercise modes. This improvement allows
`an accurate measurementof exercise.
`
`°
`
`34 Claims, 21 Drawing Sheets
`
`57
`
`
`DISPLAY CONTROL
`
`CIRCUIT sy |CzDISPLAY SECTION
`
`40
`
`ACCELERATION
`
`
`
`SENSOR
`
`
`
`:
`WAVEFORM
`
`CONTROL
`_ [SHAPING SECTION Fj COUNTERF=>
`SECTION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is}
`
`KEY INPUT
`SECTION
`
`
`
`TIMING—SIGNAL
`
`GENERATOR
`
`
`
`APPLE 1101
`
`APPLE 1101
`
`1
`
`

`

`4,962,469
`
`Sheet 1of21
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`US. Patent ©rs
`
`2
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet20f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.2
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 30f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.3
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 4 of 21
`
`4,962,469
`
` 0
`
`
`
`OUTPUTVOLTAGE
`
`0
`
`80
`60
`40
`20
`ACCELERATION
`
`109
`
`FIG.4
`
`
`
`STRIDE—LENGTH
`
`STEPS
`
`H
`
`x
`
`TIME—
`COUNTING REGISTER
`
`R1
`
`R2
`
`
`
`R3
`
`
` DISTANCE
`
`Y
`
`FIG.9S
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`”|Slov|19°|.8!||NOILO3Spe|ONIdWHSwi!WHOSSAVM
`:i;|{|F|XM4X=!
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`Sheet 5 of 21
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`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 60f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`(mV)
`
`2 1 0
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 7~~(sec)2 3 4 5 6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.GA
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`(sec)
`
`FIG.6B
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`(sec)
`
`FIG.6C
`
`(mV)
`
`5 4 3 2 1 0
`
`(mV)
`10
`
`5
`
`0
`
`7
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 7of21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`(mV)
`STEP ; STEP ;' STEP
`STEP| STEP| STEP| STEP l
`
`
`
`18ST| , 2ND,3RD , 4TH 5TH , 6TH |
`
`
`|
`
`TIME
`LAPSE(sec)
`
`FIG.7 A
`
`2ND
`
`4TH
`6TH
`Sp("ve HG
`STEP
`H STEP
`(mV) 1\
`i
`\
`\
`STEF
`I
`i
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`
`|
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`I
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`|
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`|
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`t
`
`|
`
`10
`
`0
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`TIME
`LAPSE(sec)
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 8of21
`
`4,962,469
`
`3
`
`TIME
`
`(sec)
`
`1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH 7TH
`ISTEP STEP 1 STEP! STEP ISTEP: STEP ISTEP!
`
`I| | {|| || |
`
`| {|||
`
`(mV)
`
`4
`
`FIG.7C
`
`18ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5STH
`6TH 7TH
`IsTER STEP ISTEP| STEP ISTEPI STEP ISTEP!
`(mV)
`frstne$<fonsnnn
`
`ferret
`
`0
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`TIME
`LAPSE(sec)
`
`FIG.7D
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`2S
`
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`
`Sheet 9 of 21
`
`4,962,469
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`

`

`US.Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 10 of 21
`
`4,962,469
`
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 11 0f21
`
`4,962,469
`
`JUTEzezt
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`DOnna7,TLEOLELETE
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`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 120f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`START
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TIME COUNTING
`
`PROCESS
`
`COUNTER 48
`
` CLEAR CONTENT OF
`
`FiG.12
`
`13
`
` TAKE IN CONTENT
`
`
`COUNTER 48
`
`— STRIDE—LENGTH
`x X-Y
`+X-> xX
` (CONTENT OF COUNTER x 2)
`
`
`13
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 13 0f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`FIG.13B
`
`FIG.13SA
`
`FIG.13C
`
`FIG.13D
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 14 of 21
`
`4,962,469
`
`YHOLVT119SO
`
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`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 150f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`10l
`
`TIME COUNTING
`REGISTER
`
`T
`
`STRIDE
`STRIDE
`STRIDE
`LENGTH “TitenatH “2|/LencTH "3
`TARGET
`MALE/ og| TARGET91.)TARGET
`
`FEMALE|nomBeR-°[DISTANCE "| catorieé 0!
`
`STEP
`CALORIE
`
`NUMBER © DISTANCE H|consumption |
`S
`i
`1
`STEP
`
`|
`I
`CALORIE
`|!
`CONSUMPTION! DISTANCE ; MODE;
`
`CONSUMPTION | DISTANCE|MODE|
`
`MONTH DATE;
`CALORIE
`
`| NOURER
`
`FIG.15
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 16 0f21
`
`4,962,469
`
`102a
`
`102
`
`
`
`ch mts
`buf bd Ibkg
`ve,
`em, kcal
`ot vd STEP
`yf bu incm
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`1O2e
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`102b
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`Cid Bee See CE eeSSeS gua »_
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`
`C3 Sen BSE 888 OS SS eseeees 5 Sees
`
`
`
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

`

`
`
`US. Patent—Oct. 9, 1990 Sheet 170f21 4,962,469
`
`
`
`a4
`
`
`
`
`
`SWITCH
`
`INPUT®) a2
`
`UNDER10 SEC
`MEASUREMENT
`a3
`
`
`CURRENT
`STEPSNUMBER
`
`
`TAKE IN
`
`
`AVERAGE
`SPEED
`CALCULATION
`(CURRENT)
`
`412
`
`PACE
`CALCULATION
`
`(PER MINUTE)
`
`
`
`
`
`a
`6
`
`CALORIE
`CALCULATION
`
`413
`
`
`a14
`
`OVER 10 SEC
`TIME
`MEASUREMENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` SWITCH
`ag
`.
`
`
`
`
`
`a7
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`ag
`
`STOP WATCH
`TIME
`MEASUREMENT
`
`COINCIDENCE
`WITH TARGET
`CALORIE
`
`SOUND
`PROCESSING
`
`DISTANCE
`CALCULATION
`
`a15
`
`{316
`
`PROCESSING
`
`
`422
`
`a23
`
`DISPLAY
`PROCESSING
`
`424
`
`FIG.18
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`US.Patent —
`
`oct. 9, 1990:
`
`Sheet 18 0f21
`
`4,962,469
`
`
`
`STOP WATCH
`TIME MEASUREMENT
`
`
`
`FIG.19
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`Sheet 19 of 21
`
`4,962,469
`
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`

`Sheet 20 of 21
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`4,962,469
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`

`Sheet 21 of 21
`
`8
`
`4,962,469
`
`US. Patent
`
`Oct. 9, 1990
`
`ATIVIILVWOLNY
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`

`

`The present invention relates to an exercise measur-
`ing instrument in which exercise in walking, jogging,
`running, and the like is measured utilizing an accelera-
`tion sensor which uses a piezoelectric element and the
`like, and the measured exercise is informed.
`Devices such as a pedometer are well known which
`are used to count the numberofsteps taken by the user
`of such devices while he or she is walking or jogging for
`the health. For example such devices are shown and
`described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,144,568, 4,192,000,
`4,223,211 and 4,387,437.
`In pedometers described in the above U.S. Pat. Speci-
`fications, a magnetic sensor or a mechanical sensoris
`used as a sensor detecting walking or jogging. This
`results in a relative complexity in the sensor-construc-
`tion and thereby the devices are made notonly large in
`size but also are easy to be damaged by an external
`shock and the like.
`While, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,510,704 and 4,651,446 dis-
`close techniques where pedometers are installed in
`Boots or shoes in which pedometers a piezoelectric
`element is used. Though in both the above U.S. Patents
`an electronic circuit is not concretely disclosed for
`processing a signal supplied from the piezoelectric ele-
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an elec-
`ment, it is considered that in case an electric signal
`tronic wrist watch in which an exercise measuring in-
`generated by vibration of the piezoelectric elementis
`strument according to the present invention is installed;
`relatively small, the electric signal is amplified by an
`FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a construction of an
`amplifier and the number of steps is calculated by
`acceleration sensor shownin FIG.1;
`counting points at whichalevel of the amplified electric
`FIG.3 is a view effective to describe an operation of
`35
`signal varies.
`the acceleration sensor;
`By the way, the above-mentioned pedometers using
`FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a voltage waveform
`the piezoelectric element are installed in Boots or shoes,
`generated by the acceleration sensor;
`but when these pedometers are worn for example on the
`wrist or the waist of the user of the device, the electric
`FIG.5 is a view illustrating a circuit arrangement of
`the exercise measuring instrument according to the
`signal generated by the vibration of the piezoelectric
`present invention;
`element is extremely small, so that an amplifier with a
`FIGS. 6A to 6C are viewsillustrating signal wave-
`high gain must be employed for accurately detecting
`forms outputted by the acceleration sensor;
`the electric signal.
`FIGS. 7A to 7D are viewsillustrating relationships
`However,
`the piezoelectric element generates an
`between number of steps and the signal waveforms
`electrical signal having a certain amplitude when the
`outputted by the acceleration sensor;
`user is walking, and it also generates another electrical
`FIG.8 is a view illustrating a circuit arrangement of
`signal having an amplitude greatly different from that of
`other embodimentof the present invention;
`the former signal when the user is jogging. Therefore,
`FIG.9 is a view illustrating details of RAM 52 shown
`there is a disadvantage that if the amplifier is set to a
`in FIG.8;
`“high gain”, the electrical signal generated when the
`FIG. 10 is a view illustrating details of a waveform
`user is walking may be detected while the electric signal
`shaping section 47 and a counter 48 shown in FIG.8;
`generated whenthe useris jogging cannot be detected,
`FIG. 11A and 11B are timing charts of the circuit
`because of the excessively large amplitudeof the electri-
`shownin FIG. 10;
`cal signal resulting from the high gain of the amplifier.
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the circuit shown in FIG.
`On the other hand, there exists another disadvantage
`that if the amplifier is set to a “low gain”, the electric
`signal may be detected which is generated when the
`user is jogging but the signal can not be detected which
`is generated when the user is walking, because the sig-
`nal is too small to be detected.
`
`25
`
`40
`
`35
`
`8;
`
`1
`
`EXERCISE MEASURING INSTRUMENT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`4,962,469
`
`2
`In order to achieve the above mentioned object, the
`present invention is construction as follows:
`an exercise measuring instrument comprising: an ac-
`celeration sensor to be worn on a body ofan exerciser,
`for outputting a waveform signal representative of an
`acceleration which is received by said acceleration
`sensor in response to movementsofsaid exerciser; am-
`plifying means connectedto said acceleration sensorfor
`amplifying said waveform signal outputted from said
`acceleration sensor; selecting means for selecting one
`exercise mode outof a plurality of exercise modes, each
`of which represents a type of an exercise performed by
`said exerciser; amplifier-gain control means connected
`to said selecting means, for varying the amplifier-gain of
`said amplifying means in accordance with the exercise
`modeselected by said selecting means; exercise-measur-
`ing means for measuring exercise data in said selected
`exercise mode on the basis of said waveform signal
`amplified by said amplifying means; and announcing
`means for announcing the exercise data measured by
`said exercise-measuring means.
`The present
`invention constructed as mentioned
`above, allows to firmly measure exercise in walking,
`jogging and the like with an extremely simple construc-
`tion and has a merit that the instrument according to the
`invention can be made compact in size.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIGS. 13A to 13D are views illustrating display
`states;
`FIG.14 is a viewillustrating a circuit arrangement of
`a further embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 15 is a view illustrating details of RAM 101
`shown in FIG. 14;
`FIG.16 is a viewillustrating a construction ofdisplay
`electrodes of a display section 102 shown in FIG. 14;
`FIG.17 is a view illustrating display states of display
`section 102d shownin FIG. 16;
`FIGS.18, 19 and 20 are flow charts of circuits shown
`in FIG. 14; and
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention has been made in order to
`overcomethe disadvantages stated above.It is an object
`of the present invention to provide an exercise measur-
`ing instrument which is extremely simple in construc-
`tion and can be usedto firmly count exercise in walking
`and jogging.
`
`65
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`4,962,469
`
`3
`FIGS.21, 22 and 23 are viewsillustrating changesin
`display states of the display section.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention will concretely be described
`hereinafter.
`
`(First Embodiment)
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an elec-
`tronic wrist watch to which a pedometeris installed. A
`watch glass 2 is provided on an upper surface of a wrist
`watch casing 1, and a mode-selecting switch S4 and a
`stride-length setting switch Sg to be described in detail
`later are disposed on a side wall of the casing 1. A sym-
`bol 3 represents a housing of synthetic resin on which a
`liquid crystal display panel 3¢ and a symbol4 represents
`a circuit board. On the circuit board 4 are mounted an
`acceleration sensor 5 and a LSI 7, as will be described in
`detail below,in addition to electronic parts of a quartz-
`crystal oscillator and the like (not shown in Figure).
`Thecircuit board 4 is also formed with a terminal sec-
`tion 6 through whichsignals are supplied from LS! 7 to
`the liquid crystal display panel 3a. In addition, the cir-
`cuit board 4 is formed with a battery receiving portion
`8 where a battery 9 is accommodated. A symbol 10
`denotes a base plate. The housing 3, the circuit board 4
`and the base plate 10 are integrally stacked onto each
`other, forming a watch module whichis to be accom-
`modated within the wrist watch casing 1. A symbol 11
`denotes a rear cover.
`FIG.2 is a viewillustrating in detail the acceleration
`sensor 5 shown in FIG.1. A piezoelectric-element piece
`16 comprising a pair of piezoelectric-elements 16@ and
`166 of a thin plate coupled to each otheris received in
`a cylindrical metal case 15. One end of the piezoelec-
`tric-element piece 16is fixed onto a bottom of the metal
`case 15 and the other end thereof serves as a free end.
`Endsof a pair of lead wires 17, 18 are electrically con-
`nected with soldering to portions in the vicinity of the
`fixed ends on side surfaces of the piezoelectric-element
`piece 16 and the lead wires extend outwardly away
`from the metal case 15.
`The piezoelectric-element piece 16 is fixed onto the
`bottom of the case 15 such that the side surfaces of the
`piezoelectric-elements 16a, 16b face to each other are
`disposed perpendicularly to the surface of the circuit
`board 4 shownin FIG.1.
`Hence, when the user of the device wears the elec-
`tronic wrist watch mentioned above on his or her wrist
`and walks or runs movinghis or her wrist up and down,
`the free end of the piezoelectric-element piece 16 con-
`tained in the acceleration sensor 5 vibrates in the direc-
`tion indicated by allows shownin FIG.3.
`Atthis time, each of the piezoelectric elements 16a,
`16b attached on the piezoelectric-element piece 16 re-
`ceives pressure and tension alternatively. Therefore, a
`positive and negative charge are alternatively induced
`in both the surfaces of the piezoelectric-element piece
`16. That is, when a negative charge is induced at the
`side surface of the piezoelectric-element 16a, a positive
`polarization charge of the same quantity as the negative
`charge is induced at the side surface of the piezoelec-
`* tric-element 165 and the polarization charge becomes
`maximum when the piezoelectric-element piece 16 is
`deformed maximally.
`Hence a voltage corresponding to the polarization
`charge induced at both the side surfaces is generated
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`across the lead wires 17, 18. FIG. 4 is a graph indicating
`a relationship between the above voltage and accelera-
`tion resulting from vibrations, impacts and the like ap-
`plied to the acceleration sensor 5, where the axis of
`ordinates indicates an output voltage (V) and the axis of
`abscisas indicates an acceleration (G). As shown in
`FIG.4, the induced voltage is proportional to the accel-
`eration which is applied to the piezoelectric-element
`piece 16 while the user of the wrist watch is running.
`FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a circuit arrangement of
`the present embodiment.
`A symbol 5 denotes the acceleration sensor, whichis
`constructed as described with reference to FIG. 2. One
`of the lead wires of the acceleration sensor 5 is earthed
`and the other lead wire is connected to a positive input-
`terminal of an operational amplifier 23. An output ter-
`minal of the operation amplifier 23 is connected directly
`to its negative input-terminal and the operational ampli-
`fier 23 serves as a voltage follower. A resistance Rj
`connected between the output terminal of the opera-
`tional amplifier 23 and a positive input-terminal of an
`operational amplifier 24, and a capacitor C; connected
`between the positive input-terminal of the operational
`amplifier 24 and the earth compose a low-passfilter,
`which attenuates high-frequency components contained
`in an output signal of the operational amplifier 23,
`thereby smoothing said output signal. The outputsignal
`of the operational amplifier 24 which receives at its
`positive input-terminal the signal of the operational
`amplifier 23 is in part supplied through a feedbackresis-
`tor Reto the negative input-terminal of the operational
`amplifier 24. Respective one-ends of resistors Rit, Rio
`and Ri3 are coupledto the negative input-terminal of the
`operational amplifier 24 and their other ends are earthed
`through transfer-gate circuits TG1, TG2 and TG3,
`open/close operations of which circuits are controlled
`by an open/close control signal supplied from a mode-
`setting section 26 which will be described later. The
`values of the resistors Rii, Rig and Ri3 are given under
`a condition of Ri; <Riz<Ri3. A capacitor C2 connected
`between the output terminal of the operational amplifier
`24 and a waveform-shaping section 25, and a resistance
`Rz2 connected between the input terminal of the wave-
`form-shaping section 25 and the earth composea high-
`pass filter, which eliminates a direct-current component
`from the output signal of the operational amplifier 24.
`The waveform-shaping section 25 comprises a circuit
`which shapes waveforms of signals delivered from the
`operational amplifier 24 to obtain pulse signals. A sig-
`nal-producing section 22 is composed of the above men-
`tioned circuit sections.
`.
`Now,a construction of the mode-setting section 26
`will be described. The present embodiment has three
`modes, that is, a walking mode which is set while the
`user of the instrument is walking at a normal walking
`speed such as a strolling speed, an exercise-walking
`mode whichis set while the user is walking for exercise
`with relatively long strides and at a relatively high pitch
`for the purpose of physical training, e.g., strengthening
`the heart and lungs, and a running mode (a jogging
`mode) which is set while the user is running at a higher
`pitch than that of the exercise walking. A mode-select-
`ing switch Sy is used to select one of these modes. A
`one-shot circuit 27 generates a one-shot pulse signal
`each time the mode-selecting switch S,4 is operated. A
`mode counter 28 is a divided-by-3 counter which incre-
`ments the count by “+1” each time it receives a one-
`shot signal from the one-shot circuit 27. When the count
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`is “0”, the walking mode is designated; when “1”, the
`exercise walking modeis designated; and when “2”, the
`Tunning modeis designated. The mode counter 28 de-
`livers the count data to a decoder 29 and a central pro-
`cessing unit (CPU) 21. The decoder 29 controls the
`above mentioned transfer-gate circuits on the basis of
`the count supplied from the mode counter 28, that is,
`the decoder 29 makes the transfer-gate circuit TG) “ON
`state” when the count is “0”, the transfer-gate circuit
`TG? “ONstate” whenthe countis “1”, and the transfer-
`gate circuit TG3 “ON state” when the countis “2”.
`A stride-length setting section 30 comprises the
`stride-length setting switch S,, one-shotcircuit 31 and a
`stride-length counter 32. The stride-length setting
`switch Sz is used to set a stride-length. The one-shot
`circuit 31 generates one-shot pulse signal each time the
`stride-length setting switch Sg is operated. The stride-
`length counter 32 counts one-shot pulses delivered from
`the one-shot circuit 31 to obtain stride-length data,
`which is supplied to CPU 21.
`A displaysection 35 displays, for instance,in a digital
`fashion data delivered from CPU 21.
`CPU 21is provided with a time-counting circuit (not
`shown) for obtaining the present time data and a count-
`ing circuit (mot shown) counts the number of pulse
`signals delivered from the waveform-shaping section 25
`contained in the signal-producing section 22 in order to
`count the numberof steps. CPU 21 further calculates a
`distance-walked or a running distance by multiplying
`the counted numberofsteps bystride-length data deliv-
`ered from the stride-length counter 32 of the stride-
`length setting section 30, and also confirms the count of
`the mode counter 28. Thus, CPU 21 displays on the
`display section 35 the present-time data or the number
`of steps, the stride-length data, the distance-walked and
`the designated mode.
`OPERATION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT
`
`With respect to the present embodiment, the opera-
`tions in the walking mode, the exercise walking mode
`and the running mode will be described hereinafter,
`respectively.
`
`(A) Operation in the walking mode
`The operation of the embodiment in the walking
`modewill be described first. The user of the instrument
`operates the mode-selecting switch S, and sets the in-
`strument to the walking mode beforestarting his or her
`walking, that is, when the mode-selecting. switch S$, is
`operated. The one-shot circuit 27 outputs one-shot
`pulse signal to the mode counter 28 to set the mode
`counterat “0” and thereby the walking modeis set. At
`this time, CPU 21 takes in the predetermined count of
`the mode counter 28 to display it on the display section
`35, thereby allowing the user to confirm by viewing the
`display section 35 whether or not the desired modeis
`set. Then the user operates the stride-length setting
`switch Sz to set stride-length. At this time, CPU 21 also
`takes in the stride length designated by the stride-length
`counter 32 and displays it on the display section 35, so
`that the user can confirm on the display section 35
`whetheror not a desired stride-length is set.
`Having prepared in the above mentioned manner, the
`user starts walking. Movementofthe user’s wrist causes
`the piezoelectric-element piece 16 of the acceleration
`sensor 5 to vibrate and thereby the acceleration sensor
`5 outputs a signal having a waveform as illustrated in
`FIG.6Aat the positive input terminal of the operational
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`amplifier 23. The signal of the above mentioned wave-
`form is delivered through the operational amplifier 23
`acting as a voltage follower to the low-passfilter con-
`sisting of the resistance Rand the capacitor C; where
`the high frequency components ofthesignal are attenu-
`ated, and then thesignal is further supplied to the posi-
`tive input-terminal of the operational amplifier 24. At
`this time, the mode counter 28 has been set at “0”, and
`thereby the decoder 29 sends an open/close control
`signal so as to makeonly the transfer gate TG ON. The
`operational amplifier 24, the feedback resistance Ryand
`the resistance R;; compose a non phase-inverting ampli-
`fier having a gain, 1-+Rj/Ri1. Thesignal is multiplied by
`1+Ry/Rj and then supplied to the high-passfilter con-
`sisting of the capacitor C2 and the resistance R2 The
`signal amplified by 1+Rjy/Ru, the direct current com-
`ponent of whichis eliminated by the high-passfilter, is
`supplied to the waveform-shaping section 25. The
`waveform-shaping section 25 deforms the supplied sig-
`nal into a pulse signal and deliversit to CPU 21. CPU 21
`counts variation points where the signal level changes
`from low to high to obtain step data and calculates a
`distance-walked data by muitiplying the step data by
`the stride-length supplied from the stride-length
`counter 32 and then displays thus calculated distance-
`walked data on the display section 35. The display sec-
`tion 35 sequentially displays the step data and the dis-
`tance-walked data.
`
`(B) Operation of the embodimentin the
`exercise-walking mode
`The operation of the embodiment in the exercise-
`walking mode will be described. In this case, the mode-
`selecting switch S,4 is operated in the same manner as
`the mentioned above in order to set the mode counter
`28 at “1”, thereby making only the transfer gate TG2
`“ON state”. Then the stride-length setting switch Szis
`operated to set a stride length to be taken during the
`exercise walking to the stride-length counter 32. After
`completion of the operations mentioned above,the user
`of the instrument will start walking. The user will walk
`with his or her arms bent and moving his or her arms
`more strongly and faster than during walking in the
`above mentioned mode. Therefore, as illustrated in
`FIG. 6B, a waveform of the signal supplied from the
`acceleration sensor 5 to the input terminal of the opera-
`tional amplifier 23 is higher than in the walking mode,
`and also its period is shorter than in the walking mode.
`In the same manneras in the walking mode,the signal
`having the waveform mentioned aboveis delivered to
`the positive-input terminal of the operational amplifier
`24 through the operational amplifier 23 and the low-
`pass filter consisting of the resistance R1 and the capaci-
`tor C;. As mentioned above, the mode counter 28 has
`beenset at “1”, and thereby the decoder 29 makes only
`the transfer gate circuit TG2 “ONstate”. In this man-
`ner, the operational amplifier 24 connected with the
`feedback resistance Ryand the resistance Rj has a gain
`of 1+Rj/Rp which is lower than that in the walking
`mode. Hence, the signal is multiplied by 1+Rj/Ri and
`supplied to the waveform-shaping section 25 through
`the high-pass filter consisting of the capacitor C2 and
`the resistance R2. Since the voltage output from the
`acceleration sensor 5 is higher than that in the walking
`modeas illustrated in FIG. 6B, though the gain of the
`operational amplifier 24 is lower than in the walking
`mode, the signal will have the somewhat same voltage
`level as in the walking modeandsaid signal is supplied
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`to the waveform-shaping section 25. The waveform-
`shaping section 25 deforms the signal multiplied by
`14-R//Rzto a pulse signal and supplies said pulse signal
`to CPU 21. CPU 21sendsthe step data and the distance-
`walked data obtained during the exercise walking to the
`display section 35 and the display section 35 displays the
`supplied step data and distance-walked data.
`
`(C) Operation in the running mode
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`The operation of the embodiment in the running
`mode will be described. As in the same manneras in the
`walking mode and the exercise walking mode,the oper-
`ation of the mode-selecting switch S,4 sets the mode
`counter 28 at “2” and causes only the transfer gate
`circuit TG3 to be ON. Andthen the stride-length setting
`switch Sg is operated to set a stride-length to be taken
`during running to the stride-length counter 32. After
`completion of the operations mentioned above, the user
`starts running. The user will run, moving his or her
`arms morestrongly and faster than during the exercise
`walking. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6C, the wave-
`form of the signal to be supplied from the acceleration
`sensor5 to the positive-input terminal of the operational
`amplifier 23 is higher than in the exercise-walking mode
`and the period of the signal is also shorter than in the
`exercise-walking mode. The signal having the wave-
`form mentioned above is supplied to the positive-input
`terminal of the operational amplifier through the opera-
`tional amplifier 23 and the low-passfilter consisting of
`the resistance R; and the capacitor Ci, as in the same
`way as in the walking mode and the exercise-walking
`mode. By the way, as mentioned above,
`the mode
`counter 28 has been set at “2”, and the decoder 29
`causes only the transfer gate circuit TG3 to be ON. The
`operational amplifier 24 combined with the feedback
`resistance Ry and the resistance Rj has a gain of
`1+-R//Rj3, which is lower than in the exercise-walking
`mode. Thesignal is multiplied by 1+R,/Rj3 and deliv-
`ered to the waveform-shaping section 25. Since the
`‘output voltage of the acceleration sensor 5 in the run-
`ning modeis higher than in the exercise-walking mode,
`even though the gain of the operational amplifier 24 in
`the running mode is lower than in the walking mode
`and exercise-walking mode,the signal having the some-
`what same voltage as in both the modes is supplied to
`the waveform-shaping section 25. The waveform-shap-
`ing section 25 deforms the multiplied-by-1-+-R//Ra
`signal to a pulse signal in order to apply it to CPU 21.
`CPU 21counts variation points where the pulse signal
`varies from a low level to a high level and calculates
`step data and a distance-run data in the running mode on
`the basis of the number of the variation points and the
`stride-length data transferred from the stride-length
`counter 32 and sendsthese calculated data to the display
`section 35 so as to sequentially display them on the
`display section 35.
`As mentioned above,in the embodiment, the acceler-
`ation sensor using a piezoelectric element can detect
`vibrations which are caused while the user is walking,
`exercise walking or running and an amplifier whose
`gain is determined based upon forms of the exercise
`such as walking, exercise walking or running amplifies
`the detected electric signal, and thereby an accurate
`number of steps taken can be counted.
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`(Second Embodiment)
`An example where the user walks for exercise with
`his or her arms bent has been described with reference
`to the above mentioned embodiment.
`However,it has been found that an accurate number
`of steps taken can not be counted when the user wears
`the pedometeron his or her wrist and walks for exercise
`with his or her elbows not bent and his or her arms
`extending straight.
`In addition, experiments have taught that the above
`mentioned trouble results from a phenomenon that the
`acceleration sensor sensing movements of a body in
`exercise walking can not accurately sense the walking
`motion in the secondstep.
`FIGS. 7A to 7D are views showing waveforms of
`outputs of the acceleration sensor. FIG. 7A is a view
`illustrating a waveform of the signal generated during
`walking. FIG. 7B is a view showing a waveform of the
`signal generated during running. FIG. 7C is a view
`showing a waveform of the signal generated while the
`user walks for exercise with his or her elbows bent.
`FIG. 7D is a view showing a waveform ofthe signal
`generated while the user walks for exercise with his or
`her arms extending straight. Note that in FIGS. 7A to
`7D,the axis of abscisas represents time lapse (SEC) and
`the axis of ordinates represents the output voltage (mV)
`of the acceleration sensor and the waveforms