Pulse detection apparatus

• US 4,807,639 A
• Filed: 08/28/1986
• Issued: 02/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Shimizu, Atsuko, Ohki, Shinichi, Fujii, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US06/901,783
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 128/690, 128/707, 128/706
• US Class Current: 600/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

A pulse detection apparatus includes a memory for storing the normal pulse count of a user. After taking some exercise such as jogging, the percentage of the pulse count, detected by a pulse sensor, with respect to the normal pulse count, is calculated, and the results are displayed, to allow the user to determine the recovery rate of his physical strength.

Claims

1. A pulse detection apparatus comprising:

key input means for inputting a pulse count per unit time;

storage means for storing the pulse count which is input from said key input means;

a pulse sensor for detecting an actual pulse;

pulse measuring means for obtaining a pulse count per unit time responsive to a detection output signal from said pulse sensor;

percentage calculating means for performing a percentage calculation using the pulse count obtained by said pulse measuring means and the pulse count stored in said storage means, and for obtaining percentage data based on the pulse count stored in said storage means; and

display means coupled to the output of said percentage calculating means for displaying, in terms of percentage, the result of calculation obtained by said percentage calculating means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse measuring means comprises a timer circuit for counting a predetermined frequency signal, and the pulse count for measuring responsive to a signal from said pulse sensor when the value of said timer circuit reaches a predetermined value.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said timer circuit comprises alarm tone generating means for generating an alarm tone when the value of said timer circuit reaches the predetermined value.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulse count input at said key input means and stored in said storage means is the pulse count per minute.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said percentage calculating means includes means for dividing the pulse count, which is obtained by said pulse measuring means, by the pulse count stored in said storage means, and for providing a result of such diversion in terms of percentage.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse sensor comprises a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, for receiving reflected light representing a change in blood flow caused by a change in the pulse rate.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse sensor comprises a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element means for receiving reflected light representing a change in blood flow caused by a change in the pulse rate, and an amplifier circuit means for receiving a signal from said light-receiving element, and said display means comprises amplitude display means for displaying the amplitude of a waveform of an output from said amplifier circuit.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said amplitude display means comprises a plurality of dot display elements.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse sensor comprises touch-detecting means for detecting that a finger has been brought into contact therewith, and said pulse measuring means starts pulse measurement according to a detection signal from said touch detecting means.

10. A pulse detection apparatus comprising:

key input means for inputting a pulse count per unit time;

pulse count storage means for storing the pulse count which is input from said key input means;

a pulse sensor for detecting an actual pulse;

time measuring means for measuring a frequency signal of a predetermined time period;

a start/stop switch for controlling a measuring operation of said frequency signal by said time measuring means and for measuring an exercise time;

timer means for measuring a lapse time following a stop operation carried out by said start/stop switch;

pulse measuring means for obtaining a pulse count per unit time in response to a detection signal from said pulse sensor when the lapse time measured by said timer means reaches a predetermined value;

recovery data calculating means for calculating, in terms of percentage, recovery data associated with a recovery of a user to a condition of a normal pulse count from the pulse count obtained by said pulse measuring means and the pulse count stored in said pulse count storage means; and

display means for displaying, in terms of percentage, the recovery data obtained by said recovery data calculating means.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said pulse sensor comprises a light-emitting element, and a light-receiving element for receiving reflected light representing a change in blood flow caused by a change in the pulse rate.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said pulse sensor comprises a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element means for receiving reflected light representing a change in blood flow caused by a change in the pulse rate, and an amplifier circuit means for receiving a signal from said light-receiving element, and said display means comprises amplitude display means for displaying the amplitude of a waveform of an output from said amplifier circuit.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said amplitude display means comprises a plurality of dot display elements.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said pulse sensor comprises touch-detecting means for detecting that a finger has been brought into contact therewith, and said pulse measuring means starts pulse measurement according to a detection signal from said touch-detecting means.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said pulse measuring means comprises means for generating an alarm tone when the elapsed time measured by said timer means reaches a predetermined value, and the pulse count is measured according to a detection signal from said pulse sensor after the alarm tone has been generated.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the recovery data obtained by said recovery data calculating means represents percentage data obtained by dividing the difference between that pulse count when the timer means reaches said predetermined value and the pulse count stored in said pulse count storage means by the difference between the pulse count stored in said pulse count storage means and the pulse count occurring immediately after an exercise has been finished.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising stop timing pulse count detecting means for detecting a pulse count at a stop timing by said start/stop switch, and wherein said recovery data calculating means comprises percentage operating means for calculating the percentage difference between the pulse count obtained by said stop timing pulse count detecting means and that stored in said pulse count storage means, and the difference between the pulse count obtained from said pulse measuring means and the pulse count stored in said pulse count storage means.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recovery data calculating means comprises comparing means for comparing the pulse count obtained from said pulse measuring means and that stored in said pulse count storage means, the lapse time of said timer means being displayed on said display means when said comparing means detects that the pulse count measured by said pulse count measuring means is smaller than the count stored in said pulse count storage means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said time measuring means further comprises pace tone generating means for generating a pace tone for every predetermined interval.

20. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising maximum pulse count storage means for storing a maximum pulse count higher than that stored in said pulse count storage means, pace tone generating means for generating a pace tone during measurement by said time measuring means, in-measurement pulse measuring means for causing said pulse measuring means to count the pulse count during measurement by said time measuring means, detecting means for detecting whether the pulse count measured by said in-measurement pulse measuring means is larger than the maximum pulse count stored in said maximum pulse count storage means, and pace tone control means for changing the pace tone generated by said pace tone generating means on the basis of a detection result of said detecting means.

21. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising minimum pulse count storage means for storing a minimum pulse count lower than the count stored in said pulse count storage means, pace tone generating means for generating a pace tone during measurement by said time measuring means, detecting means for detecting whether the pulse count measured by said in-measurement pulse measuring means is smaller than the minimum pulse count stored in said minimum pulse count storage means, and pace tone control means for changing the pace tone generated by said pace tone generating means on the basis of a detection result of said detecting means.