Pedometer for walking, jogging, etc.

• US 5,164,967 A
• Filed: 09/04/1990
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marutaka Co., Ltd. (Fukuda Family)
• Original Assignee: Marutakairyoki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Endo, Mikiya, Ikeda, Mitsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Tai V.
• Application Number:
  US07/577,753
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 272/70, 272/DIG. 5, 272/DIG. 6, 272/DIG. 9, 377/5, 377/24, 377/24.1, 377/24.2, 307/234, 307/308, 364/561, 340/561, 340/384 R, 340/384 E, 340/323 R, 73/279, 128/779
• US Class Current: 377/24.2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A pedometer for exercise such as walking and jogging, comprising the fact that an appropriate intensity of exercise is set by setting reference signals, which the user of the pedometer is permitted to hear with a sound producer or an earphone, thereby making it possible to render the user conscious of the exercise at the appropriate intensity and to count or measure and then display the number of steps of the exercise, the period of time thereof, and the continuation period of time thereof as associated with the set reference signals.

Claims

1. A pedometer for walking, jogging, comprising a reference signal setting unit which serves to set a number of reference signals, a reference signal generator which generates the reference signals in the number set by said reference signal setting unit, a sound producer which produces a sound in response to the number of reference signals, an exercise detector which detects the walking, jogging and delivers detection signals as an output, a number-of-steps counter which counts the detection signals of said exercise detector, a measuring unit which measures an interval of the detection signals and delivers a measured value as an output, a comparator which compares an interval of the reference signals and the measured value in accordance with a preset comparison reference in said comparator and which delivers an output signal when the comparison reference is satisfied, an estimation unit which estimates continuity of the output signal of said comparator in accordance with a preset estimation reference in said estimation unit, a continuation period measuring unit which measures a continuation period of time on the basis of output signals of said estimation unit, and a display unit which displays outputs from said number-of-steps counter and said continuation period measuring unit.

2. A pedometer for walking, jogging as defined in claim 1, wherein the comparison reference is a condition that the interval of the set reference signals and the measured value of said measuring unit are substantially equal.

3. A pedometer for walking, jogging as defined in claim 1, wherein the comparison reference is a condition that the measured value of said measuring unit is smaller than the interval of the set reference signals.

4. A pedometer for walking, jogging as defined in claim 1, further comprising a number-of-conforming-steps counter which counts output signals of said comparator, and the count value of said number-of-conforming-steps counter displayed on said display unit.

5. A pedometer for walking, jogging as defined in claim 1, further comprising a number-of-conforming-steps counter which counts the output signals of said comparator, and a period-of-conforming-exercise counter which computes a period of time of the exercise from the interval of the reference signals set by said reference signal setting unit and the output of said number-of-conforming-steps counter, and which cumulates the computed periods of time, the count value of said number-of-conforming-steps and the cumulative value of said period-of-conforming exercise counter being displayed on said display unit.

6. A pedometer comprising:

reference signal setting unit means for setting a plurality of reference signals;

reference signal generator means, coupled to said reference signal setting unit means, for generating the plurality of reference signals;

sound producer means, coupled to said reference signal generator means, for producing a signal in response to the plurality of reference signals;

exercise detector means, for detecting the motion of walking, jogging and delivering a detection signal;

number of steps counter means, coupled to said exercise detector means, for counting each said detection signal;

measuring unit means, coupled to said exercise detector means, for measuring an interval between each said detection signal;

comparator means, coupled to said measuring unit means, for comparing the interval between each said detection signal with a predetermined interval;

estimation unit means, coupled to said comparator, for estimating the continuity of detection signals in accordance with a predetermined estimation reference in said estimation unit means;

continuous period measuring unit means, coupled to said estimation unit means, for measuring a continuous period of time based upon the continuity of said detection signals; and

display means for displaying outputs from said number of steps counter means, and said continuous period measuring unit means,

whereby a user can easily determined the continuous period of time of exercise that has been performed at a predetermined level of effort.

7. A pedometer as in claim 6 wherein:

the predetermined interval, the interval between each said reference signals, and the interval between each said detection signal are equal.

8. A pedometer as in claim 6 wherein:

the predetermined interval is less than the interval between each said plurality of reference signals.

9. A pedometer as in claim 6 further comprising:

a number of conforming steps counter means, coupled to said comparator means, for counting each said detection signal having a predetermined interval.

10. A pedometer as in claim 9 further comprising:

period of conforming exercise means, coupled to said reference signal generator and said number of conforming steps counter, for accumulator individual continuous periods of time.