Electronic device, control method for same and computer-readable storage medium

• US 10,413,239 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mourad, Rasem
• Application Number:
  US15/223,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic device includes an attachment section which is attachable to a user, at least one contact detection sensor which detects whether the attachment section is attached to the user or is not attached to the user, a function section which executes at least one function, and a circuit section. The circuit section judges that the attachment section is in a non-attached state to the user based on a detection result of the contact detection sensor and controls the function section not to execute the function when the attachment section is judged to be in the non-attached state.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to be attachable to a user;

one or more contact detection sensors configured to detect;

a contact state where at least one of the one or more contact detection sensors is in contact with the user; and

a non-contact state where the one or more contact detection sensors are not in contact with the user;

a function circuit configured to be controlled to execute at least one function; and

one or more processors configured to;

perform a scanning operation to scan the one or more contact detection sensors;

judge that the attachment mechanism is in a non-attached state where the attachment mechanism is not attached to the user based on the non-contact state detected by the one or more contact detection sensors;

judge that the attachment mechanism is in an attached state where the attachment mechanism is attached to the user based on the contact state detected by the at least one of the one or more contact detection sensors;

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached stated, set a period of performing the scanning operation to a first period; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the non-attached state;

control the function circuit to not execute the at least one function; and

set the period of performing the scanning operation to a second period longer than the first period.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input mechanism configured to be operated by the user,

wherein the input mechanism is provided in a portion of the attachment mechanism which does not come in contact with the user when the attachment mechanism is attached to the user, and

wherein the one or more contact detection sensors and the input mechanism are integrally formed while having the same structure.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to, in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, control the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, set a detection sensitivity of the one or more contact detection sensors at a first value; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the non-attached state, set the detection sensitivity of the one or more contact detection sensors at a second value lower than the first value.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input mechanism configured to be operated by the user,

wherein the input mechanism is provided in a portion of the attachment mechanism which does not come in contact with the user when the attachment mechanism is attached to the user, and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

judge whether a predetermined operation set in advance has been performed on the input mechanism; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state and judging that the predetermined operation has been performed, control the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect a movement state of the attachment mechanism,

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

judge whether the attachment mechanism section has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state and judging that the attachment mechanism has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor, control the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an input mechanism configured to be operated by the user,

wherein the input mechanism is provided in a portion of the attachment mechanism which does not come in contact with the user when the attachment mechanism section is attached to the user, and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to;

judge whether a predetermined operation set in advance has been performed on the input mechanism; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, judging that the predetermined operation has been performed on the input mechanism, and judging that the attachment mechanism has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor, control the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the function circuit is configured to execute, as the at least one function, at least one of measurement of the user'"'"'s activity amount, measurement of the user'"'"'s moving distance, measurement of the user'"'"'s moving speed, measurement of the user'"'"'s heart rate, measurement of the user'"'"'s pulse rate, display of information to the user, and communication with external devices.

9. A method for controlling an electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to be attachable to a user;

one or more contact detection sensors configured to detect;

a contact state where at least one of the one or more contact detection sensors is in contact with the user; and

a non-contact state where the one or more contact detection sensors are not in contact with the user; and

a function circuit configured to be controlled to execute at least one function,

wherein the method comprises;

performing a scanning operation to scan the one or more contact detection sensors;

judging that the attachment mechanism is in a non-attached state where the attachment mechanism is not attached to the user based on the non-contact state detected by the one or more contact detection sensors;

judging that the attachment mechanism is in an attached state where the attachment mechanism is attached to the user based on the contact state detected by the one or more contact detection sensors;

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, setting a period of performing the scanning operation to a first period; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the non-attached state;

controlling the function circuit to not execute the at least one function; and

setting the period of performing the scanning operation to a second period longer than the first period.

10. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 9, further comprising:

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, controlling the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

11. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 10, further comprising:

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, setting a detection sensitivity of the one or more contact detection sensors at a first value; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the non-attached state, setting the detection sensitivity of the one or more contact detection sensors at a second value lower than the first value.

12. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 9,

wherein the electronic device comprises an input mechanism configured to be operated by the user, wherein the input mechanism is provided in a portion of the attachment mechanism which does not come in contact with the user when the attachment mechanism is attached to the user, and

wherein the method comprises:

judging whether a predetermined operation set in advance has been performed on the input mechanism; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state and judging that the predetermined operation has been performed, controlling the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

13. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 9,

wherein the electronic device comprises a motion sensor configured to detect a movement state of the attachment mechanism,

wherein the method comprises:

judging whether the attachment mechanism has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor; and

that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state and judging that the attachment mechanism has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor, controlling the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

14. The method for controlling the electronic device according to claim 13,

wherein the electronic device comprises an input mechanism configured to be operated by the user, wherein the input mechanism is provided in a portion of the attachment mechanism which does not come in contact with the user when the attachment mechanism is attached to the user, and

wherein the method comprises:

judging whether a predetermined operation set in advance has been performed on the input mechanism; and

that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, judging that the predetermined operation has been performed on the input mechanism, and judging that the attachment mechanism section has been moved based on a detection result of the motion sensor, controlling the function circuit to execute the at least one function.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a program for controlling an electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

an attachment mechanism configured to be attachable to a user;

one or more contact detection sensors configured to detect;

a contact state where at least one of the one or more contact detection sensors is in contact with the user; and

a non-contact state where the one or more contact detection sensors are not in contact with the user; and

a function circuit configured to be controlled to execute at least one function,

wherein the program causes a computer to at least execute;

performing a scanning operation to scan the one or more contact detection sensors;

judging that the attachment mechanism is in a non-attached state where the attachment mechanism is not attached to the user based on the non-contact state detected by the one or more contact detection sensors;

judging that the attachment mechanism is in an attached state where the attachment mechanism is attached to the user based on the contact state detected by the at least one of the one or more contact detection sensors;

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, setting a period of performing the scanning operation to a first period; and

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the non-attached state;

controlling the function circuit to not execute the at least one function; and

setting the period of performing the scanning operation to a second period longer than the first period.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the program causes the computer to execute:

in response to judging that the attachment mechanism is in the attached state, controlling the function circuit to execute the at least one function.