Pedometer

• US 20080059113A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tsubata, Keisuke
• Application Number:
  US11/895,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

An acceleration sensor outputs a walk signal having a charge corresponding to a walk. The walk signal is converted by charge-voltage conversion means into a voltage walk signal, removed of noise by filter means, amplified by amplification means and converted by binarization means into a digital signal, followed by being inputted to a CPU. The CPU performs open-close control of switches, such that the walking pitch, calculated based on the walk signal, comes within a predetermined walking pitch range stored in the storage means thereby controlling the conversion gain of the charge-voltage conversion means and controlling the walk detection sensitivity properly.

Claims

1. A pedometer comprising:

walk detecting means having a sensor that detects a walk and outputs a corresponding charge walk signal and charge-voltage converting means that converts a walk signal of from the sensor into a corresponding voltage walk signal to output, to thereby detecting a walk and outputting a corresponding walk signal;

calculating means that calculates a step count based on the walk signal of from the walk detecting means; and

control means that controls a detection sensitivity of the walk detecting means by controlling a gain of the charge-voltage converting means.

2. A pedometer according to claim 1, comprising input means for inputting a detection sensitivity of the walk detecting means,

the control means, in a manual control mode for manually controlling the detection sensitivity of the walk detecting means, controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means to a detection sensitivity inputted from the input means.

3. A pedometer according to claim 1, comprising first storage means that stores a predetermined walking pitch range,

the calculating means further calculating a walking pitch depending upon the walk signal,

the control means, in an auto control mode for automatically controlling the detection sensitivity of the walk detecting means, controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means such that the walking pitch, calculated by the calculating means, comes within the walking pitch range stored in the first storage means.

4. A pedometer according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined walking pitch range is set with an upper limit value smaller than twice a lower value.

5. A pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has a capacitor circuit having a plurality of capacitors for determining a gain, and switch means for controlling a capacitance value of the capacitor circuit,

the control means controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means by controlling the capacitance value of the capacitor circuit through open-close controlling the switch means.

6. A pedometer according to claim 2, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has a capacitor circuit having a plurality of capacitors for determining a gain, and switch means for controlling a capacitance value of the capacitor circuit,

the control means controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means by controlling the capacitance value of the capacitor circuit through open-close controlling the switch means.

7. A pedometer according to claim 3, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has a capacitor circuit having a plurality of capacitors for determining a gain, and switch means for controlling a capacitance value of the capacitor circuit,

the control means controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means by controlling the capacitance value of the capacitor circuit through open-close controlling the switch means.

8. A pedometer according to claim 4, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has a capacitor circuit having a plurality of capacitors for determining a gain, and switch means for controlling a capacitance value of the capacitor circuit,

the control means controlling the gain of the charge-voltage converting means by controlling the capacitance value of the capacitor circuit through open-close controlling the switch means.

9. A pedometer according to claim 5, comprising second storage means that stores an open/close status of the switch means,

the control means storing an open/close status of the switch means, placed under open-close control, in the second storage means, and controlling, before starting a step counting, the switch means to the open/close status stored in the storage means.

10. A pedometer according to claim 6, comprising second storage means that stores an open/close status of the switch means,

the control means storing an open/close status of the switch means, placed under open-close control, in the second storage means, and controlling, before starting a step counting, the switch means to the open/close status stored in the storage means.

11. A pedometer according to claim 7, comprising second storage means that stores an open/close status of the switch means,

the control means storing an open/close status of the switch means, placed under open-close control, in the second storage means, and controlling, before starting a step counting, the switch means to the open/close status stored in the storage means.

12. A pedometer according to claim 8, comprising second storage means that stores an open/close status of the switch means,

the control means storing an open/close status of the switch means, placed under open-close control, in the second storage means, and controlling, before starting a step counting, the switch means to the open/close status stored in the storage means.

13. A pedometer according to claim 5, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

14. A pedometer according to claim 6, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

15. A pedometer according to claim 7, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

16. A pedometer according to claim 8, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

17. A pedometer according to claim 9, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

18. A pedometer according to claim 10, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

19. A pedometer according to claim 11, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.

20. A pedometer according to claim 12, wherein the charge-voltage converting means has an amplifier circuit that outputs a walk signal corresponding to a voltage which the walk signal of from the sensor is amplified, the capacitor circuit being a feedback circuit for the amplifier circuit.