Pedometer and/or calorie measuring device and method
First Claim
1. A method of measuring an approximate number of calories consumed by a subject performing an exercise routine, the method being performed with a computer having a predetermined cycle time, comprising the steps of determining distance travelled by the subject during the computer cycle time, entering an indication of weight of the subject into a memory of the computer, activating the computer to store an indication of the number of calories the subject burns in traversing a predetermined distance during the computer cycle time in response to the stored weight indication, calculating the calories consumed by the subject during the cycle time from the stored indication and the distance travelled during the cycle time, and accumulating the calculated consumed calories over several consecutive cycle times.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The number of calories consumed by subject performing an exercise routine is approximated with a computer having a predetermined cycle time during which the distance travelled by the subject is determined. Indications of the subject weight, sex and age are entered into a memory of the computer to cause the computer to compute and store an indication of the number of calories the subject burns in traversing a predetermined distance during the computer cycle time. The calories consumed by the subject during the cycle time are calculated from the stored indication and the distance travelled during the cycle time. The indications of calculated consumed calories are accumulated over several consecutive cycle times. To determine distance travelled, signals from a pedometer are combined in the computer with a subject'"'"'s stored stride length signal. The pedometer includes a mercury switch having an envelope containing contacts and a mercury globule for selectively wetting and bridging the contacts in response to cyclic motion of the subject. The entire structure is mounted in a watch case.
165 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of measuring an approximate number of calories consumed by a subject performing an exercise routine, the method being performed with a computer having a predetermined cycle time, comprising the steps of determining distance travelled by the subject during the computer cycle time, entering an indication of weight of the subject into a memory of the computer, activating the computer to store an indication of the number of calories the subject burns in traversing a predetermined distance during the computer cycle time in response to the stored weight indication, calculating the calories consumed by the subject during the cycle time from the stored indication and the distance travelled during the cycle time, and accumulating the calculated consumed calories over several consecutive cycle times.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- 4. The method of claim 1 further including entering an indication of the sex of the subject into the computer memory, wherein the number of calories burned by male and female subjects in traversing the predetermined distance is calculated by the computer in accordance with
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.1 =m.sub.1 x+b.sub.1, and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.2 =m.sub.2 x+b.sub.2where; y1 and y2 are respectively the number of calories burned by male and female subjects, x=weight of the subject m1 and m2 are different predetermined constants and b1 and b2 are different predetermined constants.
- 5. The method of claim 1 further including entering indications of the sex and age of the subject into the computer memory, wherein the number of calories burned by male and female subjects in traversing the predetermined distance is calculated by the computer in accordance with
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.1 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-26))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.2 =(mx+b)
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.3 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-21))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.4 =mx+bwhere m and b are predetermined constants y1 and y2 are respectively the number of calories burned by male subjects having ages above and below 25 years, y3 and y4 are respectively the number of calories burned by female subjects having ages above and below 20 years, x=weight of the subject.
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.1 =(m.sub.1 x+b.sub.1)(1-0.005(z-26))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.2 =(m.sub.1 x+b.sub.1)
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.3 =(m.sub.2 x+b.sub.2)(1-0.005(z-21))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.4 =m.sub.2 x+b.sub.2
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(m.sub.1 ≠
m.sub.2), (b.sub.1 ≠
b.sub.2)
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13. Apparatus for determining an approximate number of calories consumed by a subject comprising computer means, pedometer means coupled to the computer means for causing the computer means to derive a first signal indicative of number of steps taken by the subject in a unit length of time, switch means for supplying to the computer means electric signals indicative of subject stride length and subject weight, the computer means responding to the electric signals to derive a second signal indicative of a constant factor indicative of calories consumed by the subject traversing a predetermined distance during the unit length of time, the computer means responding to the first and second signals for deriving a third signal indicative of the number of calories consumed by the subject in each unit length of time and for accumulating the values of the third signals to derive a fourth signal indicative of total calories consumed by the subject, and display means responsive to the fourth signal.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the switch means supplies electric signals indicative of the sex of the subject to the computer, and the number of calories burned by male and female subjects in traversing the predetermined distance is calculated by the computer in accordance with
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.1 =m.sub.1 x+b, and
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.2 =m.sub.2 x+b.sub.2where; y1 and y2 are respectively the number of calories burned by male and female subjects, x=weight of the subject m1 and m2 are different predetermined constants and b1 and b2 are different predetermined constants.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the switch means supplies electric signals indicative of the age of the subject to the computer, wherein the number of calories burned by male and female subjects in traversing the predetermined distance is calculated by the computer in accordance with
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.1 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-26))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.2 =(mx+b)
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.3 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-21))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">y.sub.4 =mx+bwhere m and b are predetermined constants y1 and y2 are respectively the number of calories burned by male subjects having ages above and below 25 years, y3 and y4 are respectively the number of calories burned by female subjects having ages above and below 20 years, x=weight of the subject.
- space="preserve" listing-type="equation">m.sub.1 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-26))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b.sub.1 =(mx+b)
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">m.sub.2 =(mx+b)(1-0.005(z-21))
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">b.sub.2 =mx+b
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(m.sub.1 ≠
m.sub.2), (b.sub.1 ≠
b.sub.2)
- ±
15°
.
- 22. Apparatus for determining number of cycles taken by a member undergoing cyclic movement comprising a case to be mounted on the number so that it moves with the member, the case including a mercury switch including an envelope having contacts and a mercury globule for selectively wetting and bridging the contacts to selectively open and short circuit the contacts, the mercury globule being an inertial member, the case to be mounted on the member and the envelope being mounted in the casing so that in response to each cycle of the cyclic movement of the member the globule moves relative to the envelope and contacts to cause the contacts to be open and closed, and electric circuit means connected to the contacts for generating a first electric signal having a value indicative of the number of times the contacts change between open and closed circuit conditions, and display means responsive to the value of the first electric signal for displaying a value determined by the value of the first electric signal.
- 30. Apparatus for determining an approximate number of calories consumed by a subject comprising computer means for deriving a first signal indicative of the number of steps taken by the subject in a unit length of time, switch means for supplying to the computer means electric signals indicative of subject stride length and subject weight, the computer means responding to the electric signals to derive a second signal indicative of a constant factor indicative of calories consumed by the subject traversing a predetermined distance during the unit length of time, the computer means responding to the first and second signals for deriving a third signal indicative of the number of calories consumed by the subject in each unit length of time and for accumulating the values of the third signals to derive a fourth signal indicative of total calories consumed by the subject, and display means responsive to the fourth signal.
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39. Apparatus for determining number of steps taken by a subject comprising a wrist watch case, the case including:
- a pedometer, switch means, display means and computer means;
the pedometer including an inertial member having contacts positioned so that in response to every other step of a subject wearing the watch the contacts open and close, and means for connecting the contact means, switch means, computer means and display means to each other for selectively providing indications travelled by the subject of time and number of steps on the display. - View Dependent Claims (40)
- a pedometer, switch means, display means and computer means;
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41. Apparatus for determining distance travelled by a subject comprising a wrist watch case, the case including:
- a pedometer, switch means, display means and computer means;
the pedometer including an inertial member having contacts positioned so that in response to every other step of a subject wearing the watch the contacts open and close, and means for connecting the contact means, switch means, computer means and display means to each other for selectively providing indication on the display of time and distance travelled by the subject. - View Dependent Claims (42)
- a pedometer, switch means, display means and computer means;
Specification