Mechanical measuring device and a measuring method

• US 20050017850A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Nissila, Seppo
• Application Number:
  US10/878,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017850A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.100
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/046 Indicating by means of a disc with a mark or window for simultaneous indicating G04B19/048
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/283 on rotatable rings, i.e. bezel for graduations on the bezels G04B19/18

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanical measuring device for measuring user-related data. A measuring device can be positioned in connection with a portable electronic device. The measuring device comprises a mechanical measuring scale and a mechanical pointer pointing at each measuring scale, and the measuring scale and the pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are arranged to move relative to each other. Indicating means generate regular mechanical vibrations when the measuring scale and the pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are moved relative to each other. The pointer is arranged to be used in such a way that it is adjusted to indicate the value corresponding to the user-related data on the measuring scale by means of the regular mechanical vibrations generated by the indicating means.

Claims

1. A mechanical measuring device for measuring user-related data, wherein the measuring device comprises:

at least one mechanical measuring scale and at least one mechanical pointer pointing at each measuring scale, and each measuring scale and the at least one pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are arranged to move relative to each other; and

indicating means for generating regular mechanical vibrations when each measuring scale and the at least one pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are moved relative to each other; and

the at least one pointer being arranged to be used in such a way that the pointer is adjusted to indicate the value that corresponds to the user-related data on said at least one measuring scale by means of the regular mechanical vibrations generated by the indicating means.

2. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the user-related data is the energy value taken in by the user, and the at least one measuring scale of the measuring device and the at least one pointer related to said measuring scale are intended for measuring energy, and the measuring device is arranged to function in such a way that the measurement is arranged to be carried out within a predetermined time window, whereby the value of the energy measured with the at least one measuring scale, indicated by means of each pointer related to energy measurement, is increased cumulatively at each intake time by the amount of energy in the food.

3. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the user-related data is the value of the user'"'"'s physical exercise, and the at least one measuring scale of the measuring device and the at least one pointer related to said measuring scale is intended for measuring physical exercise, and the measuring device is arranged to function in such a way that the measurement is arranged to be carried out within a predetermined time window, whereby the value of the exercise measured with said at least one measuring scale, indicated by means of each pointer related to physical exercise, is increased cumulatively in connection with each physical exercise by the amount of physical exercise.

4. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the energy value of the food taken in by the user and the energy value of the food expended by the user are measured as the user-related data with one measuring scale of the measuring device and with at least one pointer related to said measuring scale, and the measurement with the measuring device is arranged to be carried out within a predetermined time window, whereby the value of the energy measured with said at least one measuring scale, indicated by means of each pointer related to energy measurement, is increased by the amount of energy in the food at each intake time, and the value of the energy to be measured is decreased by the amount of expended energy.

5. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the regularity of the mechanical vibrations of the indicating means corresponds to a scale that is adapted according to the mechanical measuring scale.

6. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the regularity of the mechanical vibrations of the indicating means corresponds to a scale that deviates from the mechanical measuring scale in a predetermined manner.

7. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one measuring scale is positioned in a ring that rotates and is positioned in a portable electronic device, and at least one pointer pointing at the measuring scale is positioned fixedly in the electronic device.

8. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one pointer is positioned in a ring that rotates and is positioned in a portable electronic device, and at least one measuring scale is positioned fixedly in the electronic device.

9. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein at least one measuring scale is positioned in a rectangular structure, and at least one pointer is attached to the rectangular structure with sliding restrain, and each pointer is arranged to move in the direction of the measuring scale in the rectangular structure.

10. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a stop with which unintentional movement of the pointer and the measuring scale relative to each other is prevented.

11. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises means for converting the data indicated by the mechanical measuring device operated manually into electronic form and for transmitting the data in the electronic form to electronic circuits of an electronic device.

12. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer is a piece that covers the measuring scale, comprising an opening for indicating one reading on the measuring scale.

13. A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is positioned in connection with a portable electronic device measuring the functioning of at least one member.

14. A measuring method for measuring user-related data by means of a mechanical measuring device, wherein the measuring device comprises at least one mechanical measuring scale and at least one mechanical pointer pointing at each measuring scale, and each measuring scale and the at least one pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are arranged to move relative to each other;

and indicating means for generating regular mechanical vibrations when each measuring scale and the at least one pointer of the corresponding measuring scale are moved relative to each other; and

adjusting the at least one pointer to indicate the value that corresponds to the user-related data on said at least one measuring scale by means of the regular mechanical vibrations generated by the indicating means.